"This is wonderful." He examined the object in his hands with a magnifying glass. "You did a wonderful job."
"I know it."
"I'll get a lot of money with this." He turned and smiled at her touching her chin, "You are making me pretty rich, honey."
She pushed his hand back roughly, "No touching, honey. We are here for business."
He smirked. "All right. Just because you are my best… 'cat'."
"Thanks." Catwoman moved back and rested her back on the wall. "But we need to move. Batman is kicking my ass. He knows I'm behind the Reinassance painting thefts."
The small man stood up and stretched his arms, "Well, we can do it. Move to more interesting things."
"Like diamonds?" Blue eyes sparkled.
"Yes, like diamonds."
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She took the device in her hands and examined it.
It was pretty small.
Microscopic.
She moved her head back from the microscope. She had her cowl over her shoulders
"Well?" Batman asked from behind her. They were at the Batcave trying to figure out how to stop Mad Hatter and end his spell over Catwoman.
"We need to find out how to disable it."
"Desintegration is very dangerous," he said rubbing his chin. "Mad Hatter usually puts it behind the back of the head where it would kill anyone."
She knew he was nervous: he was afraid that Mad Hatter would kill Selina like the other guys. The redhead scratched her head.. "I'm sure he uses something to install it. Maybe we can use the same device or whatever he uses to remove it."
"We need to catch Mad Hatter."
"Yes, and trap Catwoman too." She stood up.
"I have a clue." Batman walked toward his computer "On the shoes of two of the guys that we trapped, I found mud from the land near the lagoon."
"How do you know?"
"That land has a lot of sulfur. It's the only place in New Gotham that has it."
"I'd like go with you, but… Helena is clingy with me all day; I can't do many things with her on top of me all day."
"All right. I'll check it. Don't worry."
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'The breathing you will be doing in zazen becomes very, very deep. Your abdomen will rise and fall much the same way an infant's belly rises and falls. In general, as we mature, our breathing becomes restricted, and less and less complete. Allow the diaphragm to move freely so that the breathing can be deep, easy, and natural. You don't have to control it. You don't have to make it happen.'
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"Leroy, come on!"
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'The mouth is kept closed. Unless you have some kind of a nasal blockage, breathe through your nose. The tongue is pressed lightly against the upper palate. This reduces the need to salivate and swallow.'
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"All right, we can try again. Just don't move."
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'The eyes are kept lowered, with your gaze resting on the ground about two or three feet in front of you. Your eyes will be mostly covered by your eyelids, which eliminates the necessity to blink repeatedly. The chin is slightly tucked in. There should be no tension in the body. It doesn't take strength to keep the body straight.'
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"Leonard no! Don't do that! Stay quiet!"
Soft steps.
A thump.
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'The hands are folded in the cosmic mudra. The dominant hand is held palm up holding the other hand, also palm up, so that the knuckles of both hands overlap. If you're right-handed, your right hand is holding the left hand; if you're left-handed, your left hand is holding the right hand. The thumbs are lightly touching, thus the hands form an oval, which can rest on the upturned soles of your feet if you're sitting full lotus.:'
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"Okay, now, we will start again. Sit, Leroy… Leonard, don't distract him!"
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'The breath is life. The word "spirit" means breath. The words "ki" in Japanese and "chi" in Chinese, meaning power or energy, both derive from breath. Breath is the vital force; it's the central activity of our bodies. Mind and breath are one reality: when your mind is agitated your breath is agitated; when you're nervous you breathe quickly and shallowly; when your mind is at rest the breath is deep, easy, and effortless.'
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"No, no, you are doing it all wrong. Leonard! Where are you going? Come back!"
More steps.
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'It is important to center your attention in the hara. The hara is a place within the body, located two inches below the navel. It's the physical and spiritual center of the body. Put your attention there; put your mind there. As you develop your zazen, you'll become more aware of the hara as the center of your attentiveness.'
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"Leonard! I said come back!"
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Well, that was enough. Barbara opened her eyes, taking a deep breath. She sat in lotus position. Meditation must wait. How could she concentrate if Helena was yelling in the room next to her? She stood up and went toward the child's room.
The brunette was kneeling on the floor in her pajamas, her turtles walking around her. "Okay, let's start again." She took one and put it in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Barbara asked, trying to remain calm "It's late, bedtime. I told you go to bed an hour ago."
"I can't now."
Barbara rolled her eyes. The girl's favorite sentence. "You can't now," she repeated in a low voice. Helena remained on the floor. She rubbed her temples. "Hel, get in the bed. It's late."
"I can't now," the girl answered.
"Did you take your shower?"
"Later."
Barbara put her hands on her waist and glared at her. "I asked you two hours ago."
"I was busy," Helena answered without turning.
"How busy can you be? Go take a shower and then go to bed."
"I'm busy, Barbara."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm teaching Leroy a trick." Helena turned. Little blue eyes shone.
"What trick?" The redhead scratched her head.
"To sit."
Barbara closed her eyes and counted from 1 to 10 in record time. Maybe she was loosing control. She needed do more zen things.
"To sit…" she repeated. She took a deep breath.
"Yeah." Helena turned and looked for her turtle, who was now walking down the bed.
"Helena, turtles don't sit. They can't."
"Maybe that's why he doesn't obey me. Maybe I'll teach him to stay."
Barbara walked toward her and picked her up by her waist.
"Hey! Let me go!" the child said.
"We're going to the shower."
"But I'm training Leroy!"
"You are avoiding bed."
"No… wait!"
"And you need to change these pajamas. You haven't changed them in weeks."
"I like my red pajamas."
"We need to wash them at least once per year."
"They don't smell bad. Can you wash them now and I'll put them on again?"
"It's midnight, Helena."
"Mom has a dryer, do you have a dryer?"
"I have a headache." Barbara opened the bathroom door and put the girl inside. "I'm not going to dry clothes at midnight, now take a shower."
"I need to find Leonard, he ran when he saw you."
"I'll look for him. You take your shower."
"Leroy is under the bed…"
"Helena…" Barbara warned her.
"I hate you!" The little brunette sighed and walked inside the bathroom slamming the door behind her.
"I love you too."
Barbara picked up one of the turtles off of the floor and kneeled to look under the bed for the other small pet.
"I don't hear anything, Helena! Why is the water not running?" Barbara said, moving down the bed following Leroy. When the damn turtle wanted to, he moved fast.
"I need to take my clothes off!" Helena shouted from the bathroom.
"Don't take all night to do it." Barbara tried to catch the turtle, but it slipped.
The sound of water running started. Helena began to sing at the top of her lungs.
"I need send her to a voice class." Barbara caught the small turtle and dragged it back. She put the turtle inside the aquarium. "I got you."
"No, I got you…"
The redhead felt a whip around her neck and was pulled back, hitting the ground. In a moment, Cawoman was on her, her knee pressing into her chest. "Hello Bat-pest, so… you stole my kid, no? I see you didn't get my last warning."
"Selina, you are not yourself. Mad hatter is controlling you…"
The blonde pulled her whip tightening it around Barbara's throat. "I didn't give you permission to talk."
"Helena…" the redhead gasped, looking at the bathroom door, afraid that the brunette would open it.
"I asked you to leave her alone and now I come back to my home, and I find that my little girl is not there." Selina leaned over her, a few inches from her face. "I think it's time to make you disappear."
Barbara hit Catwoman's head with her own, stunning the woman and making her release the whip. She slammed her fist against her face, the woman hit the furniture knocking the aquarium to the floor. It broke.
"I'm sorry, Selina." Barbara hit the back of the woman's head, knocking her down. She needed to hide her before Helena saw her.
She dragged her to her bedroom where she tied her hands to her legs using the whip and covered her mouth with a cloth. She picked up the phone. Tapping her fingers nervously, she waited. "Come on… answer me…" she looked toward Helena's bedroom. Finally, a voice was heard at the other end of the line "Alfred, it's Barbara, listen to me, contact him, it's urgent. Tell him that I caught her, in my home… He will understand, but tell him to be careful, Helena is still awake. Tell him my window is open."
She hung up the phone and opened the window. Immediately, she ran toward Helena's room, closing her door first, and looked inside. The aquarium was broken, a lamp had fallen to the floor, and the turtles were walking around. She picked them both up.
"Hey, what happened here?" Helena opened the bathroom door.
The redhead turned and brushed back the hair that had fallen over her forehead. "Oh… Well…"
"Why is the aquarium broken?"
"Careful," Barbara put the turtles inside a drawer. "there is glass on the floor. What are you doing here?"
Helena frowned. "I'm living here."
Barbara touched her head, it was dry. "That's the fastest bath I've ever seen. Go back and wash your hair."
"Why is the aquarium broken?"
"Leroy was arguing with Leonard, now, go back and wash your hair."
"I don't want to, it took a long time to dry it."
The redhead pushed her inside "Go, I'll clean up this mess."
"I hate wet hair."
"I'll help you dry it."
"May I use your hair dryier?" Helena turned to look at her.
"I'll use it. You broke it last time," Barbara said.
"It wasn't me, it was Jaçques."
"Sure."
"I want to use it."
"Helena, please! Just go and wash your hair!" The young woman tried to remain calm.
"All right." The brunette shook her head.
Barbara picked up the glass from the broken aquarium as fast as she could and, taking the turtles, she went toward her room. "Wash your hair well."
Barbara opened her door and closed it behind her with the turtles in her hand. Catwoman was still unconscious.
"Trouble?" a deep voice asked.
Batman was at the window.
"A bit, come in." she said walking into her bathroom. She put a towel in the dry tub and put the turtles there. When she returned, Batman was leaning over the unconscious woman touching the back of her neck. "I feel it."
"We need to remove it."
"I'll take her to the Batcave." The dark knight said, "I'll keep her safe while we find a way to help her."
"All right. I'll follow you as soon as I can get Helena in the bed." Barbara arranged her clothes.
Batman lifted the masked woman in his arms and looked at the redhead. "You need vacations."
"I just need to kill a girl."
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It had been a long night. After a small discussion of half of an hour – a discussion of half of an hour with Helena was short- about the dryer of hair, she had finally managed to practically drag the girl to the bed. Luckily, Helena was a hard sleeper, and it was diffcult to wake her when she was deeply asleep.
She had met Batman at the Batcave a few minutes later and, after examining the small piece Mad Hatter had installed inside Selina's head, he began to work on a device to remove it. She had returned at almost dawn to her home.
A heavy weight on her announced her sleeping must wait until later. The TV turned on and the sound of cartoons was heard in high volume. Now she remembered why she was still single.
"Could you please watch cartoons at a normal volume?" she mumbled sleepily.
"It's the flinstones."
Half opening her eyelids in the brightness of the sun, Barbara moved her hand around, looking for the remote. She found it and lowered the volume.
"I'm hungry," Helena said.
"You always are."
"Can we eat peanut butter sandwiches?"
"What time is it?"
"Six thirty…"
"Six thirty?" The young crime fighter rolled her eyes. "I'm tired, Helena."
"Just one…" Little blue were fixed on the TV screen.
Barbara opened her eyes and looked at her. "Why are you wearing those pajamas? I told you to change them last night."
"I like these." Helena took a pillow and rested her head on it.
"You've worn those for a week. We need to wash them."
"Later."
Barbara pressed the "off" button on the remote control.
"Hey! Don't do that!"
"Go to sleep, Helena."
The brunette took the remote control and turned the TV on again. The young woman covered her eyes with her hand. "I'm not in the mood for this, Helena, go to your room now and let me sleep."
"I want to watch TV."
"Go to the living room."
The girl didn't answer. Barbara sat up and took the remote control. She turned off the TV. "I said, go to bed."
The girl tried to take the remote control, but Barbara pulled her hand. "No! Go to your bed!" she scolded.
The girl angrily jumped up and turned on the TV with her finger and crossed her arms. Barbara glared at her. "Are you challenging me? Don't go there. Turn it off."
Helena remained still. Barbara extended her hand and, using the remote control, she turned off the TV. Helena turned it on and put her hand over the sensor to prevent Barbara from turning it off again.
"That's enough!" Barbara shouted angrily. She stood up and took Helena by her hand, "You are grounded!"
Helena growled and pulled her hand back.
"Helena…" the redhead warned her.
"I want to watch TV!"
"You are grounded, I said, go to your room!" Barbara tried to take her hand, but the child pushed her back. "Hey, hey! Don't do that!"
"You are not my mom!" Helena shouted. Blue eyes turned to gold slits.
Barbara took a deep breath. "I know I'm not your mom; don't shout at me."
"I hate you! I can shout at you!"
"Helena…"
The litte brunette pushed her back again. "I hate you! Go away! Leave me alone!" she turned and walked out of the room.
The young woman rubbed her temples. She needed to remain calm. What was the zen thing? .Breath is the vital force; it's the central activity of our bodies. Mind and breath are one reality: when your mind is agitated your breath is agitated; when you're nervous you breathe quickly and shallowly; when your mind is at rest the breath is deep, easy, and effortless.
Helena walked back into the room with her back pack and Jaçques in her arms. "Where are my turtles?"
Barbara shook her head. "What… what are you doing?"
"I'm leaving! I'm going home! I want to see Mom!"
Barbara waved her arms. The was the last thing she needed. "Helena! It's six in the morning, too early for tantrums! Go back to your room! Now!"
"No! I'm leaving!" Helena walked outside.
Barbara, angry, grabbed her hand and tried to drag her back to her room, but the girl was strong. Fighting with her in feral mode wasn't a good idea. She took her by her waist and dragged her to her room. She put her on the bed.
"Now listen to me, little lady. I'm very patient, but you love defying me. So now I'm not going to ask you; I'm ordering you to stay here. You are grounded all day!"
"Let me go! I wanna see my mom! I want to go home!" Helena jumped at her trying to hit and kick her.
Barbara grabbed her wrists. The girl was really annoyed. She held her by her back; using her legs, Helena used the furniture to push off and both fell to the floor. She struggled trying to free herself and the young woman had a hard time trying to keep her still.
"Helena! Calm down!"
The girl started to cry. "I want to see my mom! Where is my mom?"
"Easy!"
A hard kick on her shin make the redhead release her. Damn. That hurt. She held her leg while Helena ran toward the bathroom and closed the door behind her. "I hate you! I want Mom!" she shouted.
"Ow…" Barbara kneeled on the floor and, hopping, went toward the bathroom door. She knocked it. "Helena, please, open the door." The answer was just sobs. Resting her head on the wood, Barbara rubbed her shin. The skin would bruise soon. She kept silent a few seconds thinking of what to do. Helena missed her mom. It was natural; but what could she tell her? Your mom is now restrained because an insane criminal is controlling her mind?
"Helena…" she said with a soft voice "I'm sorry. I'm tired; I said things I shouldn't have. Open the door please."
"Go away! I want my mom!" the brunette shouted.
Barbara sat on the floor resting her back on the door. "I'm sure your mom will be back soon, Helena, I miss her too. I'm sorry. I love you."
"No! You hate me! You hate Jaçques too!"
"I don't hate you and I don't hate Jaçques …"
"I'll stay here forever! Until my mom comes back!"
Barbara closed her eyes. "Your mom loves you. I love you. If you want to stay there, stay. I'll wait for you here."
What a day….
After a long hour Helena had stopped sobbing. Barbara thought that was enough. She stood up. Her leg was bruised. That girl was really strong. She went to her room and took two small objects. Walking back, she kneeled in front of the bathroom lock and after a few tries the door unlocked with a soft click. She opened it slowly.
"Hel?" Looking inside she found her asleep on the floor of the bathroom holding Jaçques. She sighed and carefully lifted her up.
"I hate you…" Helena mumbled sleepily.
"I know, I'm sorry for that…" She kissed her forehead and took her to her bedroom. She felt bad for her. Hopefully, Batman would find a way to free Selina from the spell of Mad Hatter.