Part 7

Batman stood with his arms forded across his chest, watching as the red haired archer paced back and forth explaining the events that had occurred in the past few months of his life. The young man never had learned to think things through and the description of his recent activities only confirmed that thought.

"Ollie never mentioned that you were getting married when I spoke to him last week." Batman said.

"You spoke to Ollie last week?... I tried calling him but as usual he hasn't rung back yet..." Roy broke off and ran a shaky hand through his hair.

"When did you last eat or sleep?" Dick asked.

Roy shrugged. "Look Ollie wouldn't have mentioned anything because he doesn't know...no one does..or did, until now." he said.

"You didn't even tell Ollie?...Shit Roy what were you thinking. I thought you and Ollie had patched things up. Why would you want to keep something this big to yourself?" Nightwing asked, not even attempting to disguise the surprise in his voice.

Roy sighed and walked over and sat down on the sofa reaching up to rub the back of his neck with his hand.

"This isn't another Cheshire incident is it?" asked Batman, anything was possible with the fiery young man sitting in front of him, the boy had a taste for strong, dangerous women.

Roy looked startled, "Excuse me?"

"This woman doesn't have certain...issues with the justice system that you don't wish to disclose?" Batman asked.

Roy stared at Batman for a moment, anger turning his face red, before turning to Nightwing, "What the hell did you bring him here for?" he snapped.

"Hey, you wanted help didn't you?... Well don't go getting pissy when the questions get hard." Nightwing said, before adding gently..."Look Roy I know you stressed, but it's a genuine question that needs answering."

Roy stood up again and walked over to Lian's bedroom door, opening it carefully to check on the two children inside, then closing it softly before turning to face the two hero's. "Look Rach isn't any kinda super villain..she isn't any kinda super anything, she's a normal human woman and marrying me brings her into a world that's...not so normal. I admit I jumped in an asked her to marry me before I thought things through properly...But I'd do it again in a heartbeat cause I love her man...After we got married it occurred to me that Cheshire might not react the way I'd like once she finds out there's another woman playing the Mommy role for Lian...I've got a lot to lose here..I just needed time to think it out, I woulda told everyone eventually."

"Is it possible Cheshire may already know?" Batman asked.

"I've thought about that don't worry...Look it's possible, if Cheshire's involved I'm not stupid enough to think I can do this on my own...That's why I called Dick." Roy said as he flopped down in the sofa.

Nightwing looked at the archers pale face, the dark rings around his face making it obvious that he hadn't slept in a long time...and the tremor in his friends hands made him doubtful he'd eaten any thing in an equally as long. "Ok we're going to have to do some work on this so we're going to need details...Photo's, of friends and family, addresses she frequents anything you can think of...But before we do that your going to sit there and eat something before your of no use to anyone." he said as he stood up and headed to the kitchen.

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She heard his footsteps as he returned, whimpering she scooted back into the corner shaking, not knowing what he planned to do this time. The cold brick wall was rough against her bare skin. He opened the door and although she was blindfolded, some of the light that entered through the open door way filtered through the fabric that was bound tightly over her eyes, and she could make out his dark shape as he approached her. He grabbed her by the hair, pulling her roughly to her feet, she stumbled towards the wall and was unable to stop herself from hitting it because her hands were tied behind her back. Her head hit the hall hard and she stifled a cry.

"I'm gonna ask you again bitch, WHERE IS HE?" he bellowed.

I took all her effort not to flinch as he yelled. She would never tell him what he wanted to know, no matter what he did to her, she would die first.

He backhanded her across the face and she fell, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth, then crying out as he kicked her in the side.

He pulled her to her feet again. "You'll tell me everything I want to know by the time I've finished with you." he growled, his face so close to hers that she could feel his hot breath on her cheek.

She felt his hands close around her throat, his thumbs pushing into the hollow of her neck...She struggled uselessly against his grip, and just as darkness was about to claim her, he released her, letting her fall to the floor gasping.

Then she felt him leave, the silence he left behind broken only by her ragged breathing...She could not even be relieved that he was gone...all she could think about was that he would be back and this would all start all over again. She crawled on her knees to where she thought the corner of the room was, huddling against the wall "R...Roy" she whispered, finally allowing herself to give way to the sobbing that had threatened to erupt earlier.

end of 7