Disclaimer: Still don't own Justice League, Batman, Diana, or any of the rest of them. Although wishes do sometimes come true!

A small summary: This story is set during the episode "Secret Society" where the Justice League faces serious internal friction, constantly fighting and bickering amongst one another and Gorilla Grodd sets up a team of villains to exploit the League's falling out. If you want more, either watch it, email me, or read about it here!

Thanks for the reviews and I hope all of you are enjoying this take on "Secret Society"!

Chapter 2, Take This Job & Shove It, by Johnny Paycheck

"Take this job and shove it, I ain't workin' here no more"

Bruce's perspective…

The weekly meeting at the Watchtower had been a relative waste of my time today, affording me the ability to see Diana, but to be completely unable to spend any time with her, unable to hold her close or even speak to her without an audience of avid spectators, each of them more than willing to try to find something in our words that would signify that something had changed between Diana and myself.

Therefore, at the first available opportunity, I had escaped the confines of the Watchtower, eager to leave temptation in my dust and find myself back in the cold, comforting surroundings of the Bat-cave. Often, these meetings were little more than ego-stroking and I rarely had the taste to indulge my ego with words when actions would say so much more.

I had barely even glanced at the luscious raven-haired goddess sitting next to me at the table today, preferring to keep my eyes averted and my attention elsewhere if at all possible, gazing instead into the boyish visage of Superman. Reigning in my impatience, a feat that was nearly impossible in and of itself, I had listened to Superman's words detailing the last terror that the team had faced, a mission I had avoided due to pressing issues within Gotham. The last few weeks, the City had seemed practically overrun with escapees from Arkham Asylum, intent on eluding capture and wreaking their particular havoc in Gotham in whatever form possible.

I had sat at the meeting table today, exhausted and sleep-deprived, and utterly aggravated at the utter and complete waste of time it had proved to be. All I wanted was a few hours of sleep and perhaps, if I was lucky, a little one-on-one time with a certain Princess. Our time together lately had been few and far between, owing to circumstances I would have preferred avoiding in Gotham and her demanding schedule of back-to-back missions. A little time together certainly wouldn't have gone amiss, but all I could think of during that meeting was how soothing the back of my eyelids appeared to be. As a result, I had stalked out of the meeting as soon as the word adjourned had left Superman's lips, not even pausing to give Diana a second glance, certain that would only lead to disaster in my current state of wishful thinking and sleep-deprivation.

The teleporter had speedily sent me home where I had a cup of coffee handed to me immediately upon my departure from the device, courtesy of Alfred. Truly, the man was often a god-send, knowing exactly what I needed in order to stem off the lure of sleep for a short time, just enough to allow me to head to the computer for a little research on what tonight's patrol would bring.

Sipping the scorching liquid as if it were the last vestiges of heaven, and to me in that instant, it was, I ran through the list of active criminals, trying to get a lead on what possible locales I could stake out during the night. Due to my activities of the recent weeks, the list was rather short, allowing me to focus my brain onto just a few criminal minds currently active in Gotham City. Sorting through the information available to me, I began to compile a list of potential targets, possible hideouts, and what type of social activities were occurring in the city that evening – high end parties, sporting events, anything that would invite either money or the masses. I noted with some interest that the Gotham Knights would be playing in a particularly high-profile sporting event this weekend, but for now, that knowledge was superfluous and ineffectual for tonight.

Blinking wearily at the screen, I began to hope in earnest that the caffeine would soon register in my system, but I was unable to tear myself away from the computer screen whilst in the search for information and evidence. Glancing quickly at the clock, I noticed that it had been some time since the meeting and that night was fast falling outside the walls of Wayne Manor. Anytime spent between the sheets today would have to wait until later – it was again time for patrol.

I was on the verge of wrapping up my patrol, body weary with exhaustion and pleading for sleep when a call came in from my Justice League communicator. Rather than ignore it, as was my first impulse, I answered it, certain that this would have to be considerably important for them to call me at this hour. Indeed, the tone of the Green Lantern's voice was certainly grave as he called for me to meet him and the other members of the team.

Converging on the rooftop of a building in downtown Central City, I arrived just prior to Flash and Superman, standing on the edges of the group while waiting to hear what had induced this impromptu meeting. Standing opposite the five of us were John Stewart and the Martian Manhunter, J'onn J'onzz, each with a serious expression, but that wasn't unusual for either of the two men. I stood rather rigidly, trying to keep my usually intimidating posture while wishing wholly for a steaming cup of caffeine-laced coffee. As usual, I let Superman lead the group, charging in with his endless questions while I surveyed the situation, allowing myself to clearly understand the situation and the people around me.

"What's the problem?" Superman asked, stepping forward to address John Stewart and J'onn J'onzz.

"Us," the Green Lantern stated baldly, "We're not working together as well as we could."

Flash sped forward to take a place at Stewart's side, eager to refute the man's statement of our ineptitude.

"C'mon," the speedster commented with a smile, "We're batting close to a thousand." Trust the Flash to phrase the matter in such a way, but the attempt at levity did little to lighten the expression on John's face. I began to get some idea of what had prompted the conversation here tonight and I also was receiving a fairly clear picture of what these two men intended for us and I wanted no part of it. I was never one to be described as a team player and I could only imagine the duality of that particular torture – working side-by-side with Diana during practices and having to spend additional time away from Gotham, time I was rapidly losing for a multitude of reasons.

"A lot of that has been luck," John declared, "We've taken some pretty bad hits along the way."

I surreptitiously observed the others, wanting to get their honest reactions to the proposition being made by the Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter and knowing that the others were more likely than myself to wear their true feelings on their faces and in their body language. Flash looked slightly aggrieved that Stewart had referred to our previous victories as nothing more than luck, childishly pouting and trying to stare John down at the same time. Hawkgirl, one Shayera Hol, looked aggravated by the circumstances of the meeting, but I was somewhat surprised to see that her mace was still hanging innocuously from her hip, a sure sign that she was at least listening to this teamwork drivel. She had never struck me as being that happy to be part of a team, more of a loner like myself, a former detective on Thanagar who was used to solving the puzzles by herself rather than relying on those around to, as circumstances had forced her to. Superman was of course listening intently to the words of John Stewart, processing them with a slightly quizzical and concerned expression on his face, probably wondering why he had never thought of team exercises before tonight. And Diana…

Well, I found it better for my sanity in my sleep-deprived state to steer clear of looking at Diana – I needed my thoughts focused on the situation rather than on her form. I needed all my wits and the brain is a fickle thing when a beautiful woman is in its sights.

But then I heard her voice asking the same question that was in everyone else's mind, the very question I was dreading hearing the answer to and not only looked her way, but moved closer, standing just a foot or two to her left.

"What are you suggesting?"

"Practice," answered John. A collective sigh heaved from the group, particularly loud from the female and Flash contingent of the group and I began to hope that this idea would indeed be pushed aside due to lack of interest. I had more than enough to currently occupy my plate and practice be damned. I could see an expression of dismay flit over Diana's face and I wondered if it was because she too had realized that this "practice" would certainly cut into whatever time we could make for one another. I certainly preferred that I practice my relationship skills and not my teamwork – there were some particular things that I enjoyed about a relationship that teamwork simply couldn't provide, yet another reason for my sleepless state.

And then J'onn entered the conversation, stemming the disapproval emanating from the group with a few choice words.

"It's that or more of what happened tonight."

Shayera had crept up between Diana and I and the five of us had formed a semi-circle facing John and J'onn, our faces each turning to each other to see what the others thought of this proposal.

Shayera spoke up, "What do we really have to lose?"

And then I felt the need to put my two cents into the conversation – I barely tolerated the formality of the group – the meetings and whatnot, but this was beyond what I had signed on for. I had chosen part-time member status because I had other commitments, commitments including more than just the Justice League and now they were threatening to take away what little time I had away from Wayne Enterprises and Gotham City.

"Time," I declared, crossing my arms over my chest and staring John Stewart directly in the face. I could feel Diana glancing at me but I kept my eyes facing firmly forward, until, as usual, Superman reigned on my parade with his team ethic.

"A little more teamwork wouldn't hurt any of us," he said, turning to include me in his statement and I wanted to either hit him, something I knew would lead to an immediate hospital visit, or roll my eyes in aggravation like a parent with a small child who thwarts them simply for the pleasure in it. I knew that the sadistic Boy Scout would enjoy the practice and would thrive on a team-building exercise and I wanted to stalk off into the night, but something held me there, someone held me there.

"Looks like you're outvoted," Lantern told me and again, I felt the urge to roll my eyes – as if we were a democracy and I a voting member. Instead, I held my temper and decided to simply humor the fools – I would supplement some of my normal exercises with some Justice League practice routines instead. But I wasn't about to let them get away with thinking that they had managed to one-up the Batman. I dropped my arms to my sides and drew up to my full height, slitting my eyes and glaring at the Green Lantern currently in my face with a smug look. And as the smug look disappeared, I realized that I still craved a cup of coffee and with a swift movement, I turned and disappeared out of sight, intent on salvaging at least part of this night with either some sleep or some caffeine.

Next Chapter: Bad Moon Rising – The team spends a little time on the practice range, bringing tensions to the surface and never realizing that their every movement is being watched…