Thomas Elliott
His Cell

Batman flung another cup of slop and a bottle of tepid water outside of the cell.

"Why?" He asked. Again. For the thousandth time.

"You know how to get me to talk, freak. Bring them here." He wasn't too sure what he was eating, but it tasted like pinto beans and potting soil. A new delicacy. "You're a really shitty cook."

"Sean Jensen."

That got his attention. It was the first time the bonus death had been brought up. He kept eating the slop, hoping he didn't react too much to the name.

"Sean Jensen," he repeated. "Why?"

Such a robust vocabulary.

"Now, if you want me to talk about that, bring in your pal Catwoman. I'd love to discuss it with her."

"You seem to think you're in control. Do you really feel in control?"

"Do you? You're the one who keeps coming in here...dying to know 'why'." He knew he had all the leverage...or at least as much as one can have while sitting in a cell and eating potting soil pinto beans. "Thanks for lunch. Or dinner...whatever it is."

"It's your one meal for the day. It's all you'll ever get again unless you talk to me."

"Guess I'll be developing a palate for it."

With that, he walked away.

See you tomorrow.

The Accomplice
Gotham City

How to get a bat's attention…

It wasn't too hard of a puzzle to solve. Batman's tendencies were known to everyone in Gotham City. He saved lives, punished criminals without killing, and loved to perch on dark buildings. More importantly, his net of allies had grown over the years. There was the Justice League, of course, which was expansive and skilled. In addition, his fellow bat sidekicks were starting to become as well known as he was.

A whole family of lunatics running the streets.

And they were all supported by one Commissioner James Gordon. The Bat had allies all over the city now...a stark contrast to his starting point. The Accomplice remembered the days when he was feared and hated. He was the hunted and the hunter – a mystery creature that no one understood or trusted. Not anymore. Now, he was the "Dark Knight". The "Caped Crusader" there to right life's wrongs and protect the innocent. Those alliances and teammates could be used, though. Even someone as insane as Batman should know better than to allow weaknesses to enter into his life.

You're vulnerable, Bat. Where to start.

There were limits to who he wanted to go after. Elliott was an idiot for ever considering going near a Justice League member. The Accomplice wasn't an idiot. Batman had people around him that were mere humans with no superpowers or alien origins. Those were the targets to focus on. Capture just one and he would have no choice but to hand the foolish doctor back over. Batman's weakness was his humanity...his need to do what was right could be used as a weapon.

And I will use it.

Batman
Gotham City

"I'm not sure, Jim. Maybe we scared him off for good," he lied. He hated lying to the commissioner, but he didn't have much choice until he knew more. There was a very real possibility that he would never be able to hand Elliott over to the police, and protecting "Bruce" and Zatanna would be a vital part of that decision-making process.

"We thought that before and he came back. I don't want to get too comfortable just to find another dead young lady."

"Neither do I. Trust me, I'm doing everything I can to make sure no one else dies." That part wasn't a lie, at least. Keeping the killer locked in a cell would ensure no one else died.

"Nothing on the other person? Whoever helped him get away?"

"Nothing. They seem to have vanished off the face of the earth."

"Here. Riddler clue," Jim said, handing him a small box. "He's my kind of lunatic. Just leaves little presents for you around town. It's thoughtful, really."

"Jim..."

"Yeah, yeah. Let me know if you need any help."

He returned to the batmobile and opened the box Gordon had found tossed in a gutter near the police station. "Batman" was written on the outside and inside was a small index card with sloppy writing on it. Not his usual.

Squinting, he deciphered the scrawled words: "take something of mine and I'll take something of yours."

"The hell?" It wasn't a riddle and it wasn't Nygma's handwriting. "Tim, I'm scanning a box for fingerprints and sending you some handwriting. See what you can find."

"Okay, it's coming through now. Oh, lovely...just for you. I'll be in touch."

Turning the car around, he headed to finish patrol. Someone was sending him a message, and it wasn't too much of a mental leap to assume it had something to do with Elliott. There wasn't much else he had "taken" recently. His heart rate increased. Something of mine. He punched the gas and headed toward the manor as he dialed the phone.

"Hey, what's up?" Zatanna asked.

"You okay?" He was relieved that she answered on the first ring.

"Tired and my back is killing me, but otherwise fine. Why? You sound freaked out."

"Probably nothing, but can you do a quick check of your wards? I'm feeling paranoid this evening."

"Kcehc sdraw. They're solid. What's going on?"

"I'll let you know when I figure it out. Thanks for checking. I'll see you in a few hours."

"Be safe," she said, hanging up the phone. He turned back around and headed toward the city again, hoping he didn't worry her too much. It gave him some peace of mind to hear her voice; she was due in three weeks and becoming more vulnerable. Three weeks. Holy shit.

The pregnancy was wearing on her to the point that she wasn't even going to Shadowcrest when he was on patrol. He wanted to do more to help her, but the best he could offer was foot and back massages. She still seemed happy, so they were maintaining the status quo as much as they were able; it was becoming more and more difficult for him to leave her for work.

"Hey, Batman, I have something you may want to check out," Tim said across the communicator.

"I'm listening."

"There's a car burning on an abandoned road just outside of town. Fire department is on the way, but you're closer. Take a right turn ahead and drive straight until you see the flames."

"Headed that way. What's so interesting about it?" The glow of the fire was already appearing over the outskirts of town.

"It's a red sedan."

The batmobile was moving at top speed now as he drew closer. Can't be a coincidence. When he arrived, he could feel the heat coming from the flames. Fueled again. He made a mental note of the similarities and searched the area with his scanners. There were footprints everywhere and he recognized the pattern on the sole as one they had found when they rechecked the murder house site. The accomplice seemed to be sloppier...which meant there could be other evidence.

"Tim, I could use some help here. See if Barb or Kate can suit up and join me."

"Got it."

Why do this? He already had his attention with the note he had left behind. This seemed more than a little over-the-top. It likely wasn't just an attempt to destroy evidence.

He's baiting me. Why?

"Tim, run the drone over the area and see if anyone's watching me work."

"Feeling eyes on your back? I'll give you cover. Kate will be there in 20 minutes," Tim said.

"Thanks."

Zatanna
Wayne Manor

The concern in his voice had put her nerves on edge, but she hoped he didn't notice over the phone. She checked her wards several more times and settled down with a book and a cat in the nursery. Alfred came to check on her a little after midnight, probably at Bruce's request, but she assured him that she was fine. If she was being honest, she didn't feel fine, but she knew pregnancy miseries weren't what they were concerned about. Her feet were so swollen that walking was only done in necessary situations and wards were the only magic she could manage. Even those were a struggle, but she knew she was safe within their confines. Her final doctor's appointment was the next day and she was pretty sure the baby had turned and dropped, so she was hoping and praying for one last good report card. There were days where it felt like he had taken up his own sparring sessions with her spine as his opponent and today had been the worst. There was no getting comfortable as the sharp pains came and went throughout the evening.

"Merrrow." The Nameless Cat looked up at her as she failed to concentrate on the words in the book. "Meow." His nose nudged her belly.

"Yeah, he's ready to meet you, too," she said, patting his head. They'd had several long discussions about future cuddle options and he had steadfastly insisted that there were none and that she had used up all remaining eight lives worth of his cuddle patience the last time. She understood, but it would have been nice to just give him a quick squeeze when she was feeling lousy.

"Mrrrrrr."

Stupid, mind reading fur bag.

Tossing the book onto the pile by the chair, she decided she needed something more effective to distract her from the discomfort. She waddled to the den and looked around until she found a series of leather-bound albums that were stacked neatly in the corner of the room. The first was filled with photos of a baby Bruce, the second of a growing toddler. There was one dedicated to each year of his childhood, so she scooped them up and settled onto the couch to look through them. He was a happy child...a loved child. His parents looked like the ideal couple...smiling and laughing. And then, she reached the year where everything shifted. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at the face of a boy who had lost everything; the sadness in his eyes broke her heart. It was a part of his life he'd never talked to her about...she didn't blame him and understood why he kept it locked away. That part was what drove him every day to be the man he was and she would never want to intrude upon something so deeply personal. Closing the latest album without looking further, she returned to the earlier books. She tried to focus again on the happy boy with messy black hair, wondering how much their son would favor him.

I hope he's as happy.

The tears weren't letting up, but that was par for the course. There hadn't been anymore wild swings, but her heart was definitely being worn on her sleeve. If she started crying, she knew she would be in for a stretch of it.

"Miss? Is everything alright?" Alfred's voice made her jump.

"Yeah, my back's keeping me awake. Just looking through some old albums. I figured you'd be asleep by now."

He smiled and walked to sit down next to her on the couch. "I rarely sleep well on his patrol nights."

"I can relate to that recently."

"May I?" He reached for the album in her hand and started to look through the photos. "Ah, he always did love to dress in dramatic costumes," he said as he came to a Halloween photo when Bruce was five years old. He was dressed as the Lone Ranger, complete with a stuffed white horse to carry around.

"He seemed so happy."

"Oh, he was. And such a sensitive and loving young man." He fell quiet for a while as he looked. When he spoke again, his voice was low and quiet. "It was such a tragedy, what happened. A less sensitive child might have adjusted with time, but Master Bruce..."

"Sensitive Bruce, huh?" She grinned.

Alfred laughed and nodded. "More than you know. He just doesn't express it in quite the same way as others."

"Now, that I believe," she said as he closed the album and returned it to the table. "You know him better than anyone, Alfred. Do you think..." She tried to find the right words. "Is he okay with all of this?" Her hand went to her stomach.

"Okay with it? I dare say he'd lose his mind if he didn't have 'all of this'," he gestured toward her hand. "He almost did while you were away. Of course, it wasn't your fault, and I know he didn't realize it at the time, but you had become such an integral part of his family that losing you so abruptly sent him into a tailspin. Since you've returned...well, let's just say it's good to see him happy again."

"Is he? Happy?"

"As happy as he's been since he lost his parents. I know he'll never be that carefree youth again, but to see him now with hopes for the future that don't revolve solely around Batman is something I had given up on. There's a dark part of him none of us will ever reach, but he's found a new life with you and that child." They sat in silence for several minutes as her tears continued to flow. Pain shot through her back again and she shifted to try to ease the discomfort that seemed to be getting worse instead of better as she rested. "Do you know what he said to me when I found out about your involvement?"

She cringed, remembering how Bruce had gone from lover to stranger in a matter of minutes when Alfred found out. "No. We didn't talk for a while after that morning."

He sighed and shook his head. "He thought I was angry. I was, at first, but I misunderstood the situation. Once he told me how much he cared for you and loved you..."

"When?" She interrupted abruptly.

"When? After that morning, of course. Just before your unfortunate capture."

The information wasn't processing in her brain properly as she considered his new timeline. "Before my capture. The warehouse." Alfred was looking at her like she'd gone stupid. Bruce had acted so distant after the incident that she was sure he had decided to end things until their mutual brushes with death. It had been many weeks after the warehouse when she'd blurted out that she loved him and several more days before he had said it in return. Could he really have felt that way so early on?

"Have I said something wrong?" He asked, with a concerned look on his face.

"No. No, I'm sorry," she said, patting his hand and shaking her head clear. "I just didn't know how he felt at the time."

"Well, frankly, I'm shocked that he wasn't more forthright in telling you. So unlike him," he deadpanned before breaking into a smile. "I take it he's doing better in handling things now?"

Her eyes started to well up again. "You have no idea," she said. "I never imagined I'd be this happy."

With another big smile, he stood and put his hands on her shoulders. "It pleases me hear that. And please stop worrying about how he feels. He has strange ways of showing it, but he loves you and that child more than you will ever know."

"I know that now," she whispered. "Thanks for keeping me company for a while this evening."

"Will you be retiring now?"

"No, but I'm sure I'll pass out once I find a comfortable position. Have a good night, Alfred."

"You, also," he said as he left the room. "Let me know if you need anything."

Batman
Just outside Gotham

"We'll run it, Commissioner." Gordon showed up at the site of the car fire and was asking about the evidence they had found so far. He was a good detective and that made Batman nervous. If the police started to get on the trail, then they might draw a line to Elliott...which then might lead them to Bruce, Zatanna, and him.

"Do that and let me know as soon as you get something. This might be the break we need," he said as he climbed back into his squad car. "Anything I need to know about that Riddler box?"

"Nothing useful so far, but I'm running it for evidence, too."

"Alright, thanks. I'll be in touch."

Damn it.

He hated lying to Gordon. It had taken a lot of years to get to the level of trust they were at and honesty was a big part of that. If he found out things were being hidden…

Gotta move fast.

"Hiding things from the police, Batman? I'm appalled," Kate said as she walked to stand next to him.

"Me, too. We need to figure this out before he starts to."

"What was the bit about Riddler?"

He walked to the batmobile and pulled out the card with the scrawled message to hand to her. "Certainly not Nygma."

"So, you get this little letter and then we find a burning red sedan within a few minutes. Seems pretty obvious they're connected," she handed the card back to him. "Someone knows you have Elliott and they want him back."

"Seems like it. And if they don't get him back, something of mine will be taken...or already has been. Let's regroup tomorrow afternoon and go over the results of Tim's analysis."

"Got it. Does that mean I get to go back to bed?"

"Unless you miss hanging out on campus with all the..."

"Night, boss."

She grappled up and out of sight before he could finish his sentence. There wouldn't be a lot to do before they met the next day, and he could handle the rest of patrol alone. If the night stayed calm, he would be able to ruminate on what they had so far. If it didn't, he would be able to take his mind off of a puzzle that he wasn't likely to solve before he had the results of the evidence analysis.

Think I prefer the latter tonight.

He headed toward the industrial district, hoping to find some activity, but the streets were empty. As he headed toward the other side of the city, a call came over the radio that got his blood pumping again.

"Any available units, we have two officers in pursuit of an armed suspect with shots fired near Gotham City Museum. Possible second suspect at large. Any available units, please respond."

The engine roared as he floored the pedal and flew through traffic toward the museum. It didn't take long to find the abandoned squad cars, with their lights still flashing, two blocks from the museum entrance. He skidded to a stop and jumped from the car, quickly shooting his grappling gun and getting to the top of the nearest building.

"Your heart rate's up, boss, what's going on?"

"Foot pursuit near the museum. I'm on the roof of the American Bank branch down the street." He scanned the area, kicking on his infrared vision that had been upgraded with Lucius's tech that Barb had tested and installed. When he looked to the south, he saw a fast-moving figure dart across the street. "I'm on him."

Jumping, leaping, grappling, and gliding, he made his way closer to the unsuspecting criminal. There were no cops in pursuit...this was the possible second suspect. When he was close enough, he jumped into one last glide and flew down at top speed, twisting to catch the suspect squarely in the back with the heels of his boots. They skidded to a stop, the criminal crying out and trying to roll away until he was tasered into submission.

"Stop struggling and I'll spare you further punishment." Another groan of pain followed a reluctant ceasing of his attempts to escape. "See how easy that is?"

"Piece of fucking cake," the man growled as the cuffs snapped on his wrists. Batman zip tied his ankles together and jumped to his feet.

"Robin, there's a suspect subdued at my location. Send the police here so I can get the other guy."

"They're already on their way and will be there in a few minutes. Go ahead and move."

Adrenaline flowing, he grappled up again to the top of a nearby church. From the vantage point, he could easily spot the suspect and cops in pursuit.

One to go.

He dove head first off of the spire, extending his cape 100 yards from the ground and hitting another glide that had him screaming toward the pursuit at breakneck speed. The infrared let him focus in on his target, growing closer as he flew over the heads of the winded cops. Rather than hit him in the back, he soared over the armed suspect's head and turned, suddenly heading at him. The runner lifted the gun, but it was grappled from his hand before he could fire. Batman hit him in the chest with his shoulder, knocking every bit of breath out of him as they tumbled onto the pavement. A quick two hits to the head and he was out cold.

"He's down. Any others?"

"Not according to reports, but might be a good idea to get up and check. Nice work, Bruce. That was slick."

"Is that a hint of envy I hear?" He made his way back to the top of the church to take another look.

"Me? Envious? Please, have you seen me? I'm fantastic. Don't let Zee see you try that move, though."

"Believe me, I won't." The area seemed clear as the sun started to rise and change the horizon to shades of red and orange. "I think we're done here. Thanks for the overwatch. I'm tired. Headed in soon."

"Uh...check that. I have another alert coming in. Its..." There was a long pause, so he checked his communicator, thinking the connection had dropped.

"Tim? You there? What's going on?"

"Head to midtown ASAP. I'm sending backup to meet you."

Shit. No rest for the weary.