A/N: 04.07.2022

Wow! Kept you all waiting, didn't I? Sorry about that! To make up for it, I'm dropping three chapters right now. We have some very heavy, sad subjects coming our way, they are necessary. Let's keep you all waiting any longer.

Chapter 2

Gotham City.

After Bruce's news, everyone went to the dining room, most of them sitting. Basem was leaning on the back of a chair while Michelle paced back and forth. Ace had wandered in the room and went over to Michelle. She stopped pacing, knelt down, and hugged Ace.

Basem looked up, "How many times did we beg you to get this checked out before now?!" He glared at Bruce.

Bruce thought for a moment. "18 was my last count."

"And you couldn't listen?! Why?!"

"B…" Terry said, dejectedly.

"Don't, Terry!" Basem argued. "Don't give him an excuse! He should've got this checked out long before now! He's been off for, at least, two months! Knowing him, it was probably longer, and he didn't say anything! If he'd have actually listened to us, then maybe we'd have a ton of options! Maybe they could do something! Maybe…" He huffed.

"Basem's not wrong, Dad," Helena declared. "You should've told us as soon as you suspected something was wrong."

"I know," Bruce admitted.

Diana lowered her hands. "You have to tell Clark. If he didn't hear it already."

"He has to tell everyone," Terry corrected. "Barbara, Tim, Dick. And Selina, Diana. She needs to know."

"Of course. I understand."

"In your defense, Diana," Helena said, "I get why you're worried. Mom doesn't take… bad news the best. She's more likely to… ignore it or… just… disappear, I guess."

"She still needs to know, Helena," Bruce said.

"I know."

"We'll call everyone here tomorrow," Terry said.

"We'll make ourselves scarce," Basem exhaled. "Probably better for them to process without us here."

"I mean, I'll be here," Helena shrugged.

"You're the daughter. Therefore, you're the exception."

Max sat back. "Bruce. I still want this to be a plan you guys have."

"I swear to you," Bruce replied, "I wish it was. But it's not."

Tiana exhaled. "Bruce… what do you need me to do? How can I help? The company? The hero work? What can I do?"

"I… may need you to do more, Tia. From now on. I'm sorry."

"Stop it. It's why I agreed to all of this. Whatever you need…" Tiana looked at everyone, "whatever all of you need, tell me. It's why I'm here."

"I'll… probably be less helpful for a while," Max admitted.

"Max," Tiana said, "I totally understand. I've got it. Trust me."

Bruce exhaled. "The company needs to know, too. But… let me talk to the others first."

"Absolutely," Tiana replied.

"If you need something from us, Tia," Basem said, "let us know. We got your back."

"Thanks."

Michelle looked up from petting Ace, standing upright. "Boss, Diana, do you need us to stay around here? I can take time off from the auto shop or…"

"Thank you, Michelle," Diana replied. "But I have no plans to go anywhere."

Michelle nodded, "If we can do anything…" She looked at Terry and Max, "you guys, too."

Basem smiled. "Look at who's stepped up to caring about everyone."

Michelle blushed a bit then folded her arms. "Yeah, well… do what you have to for family. Right?"

"Right." Basem looked at Terry, "You're not working tonight. Get ready to meet everyone tomorrow."

Terry nodded.

Basem looked at Hayate and Michelle, "You two good?"

Hayate nodded, "Yes."

"I can make it," Michelle answered.

"If you need some time, let me know," Basem said.

"Baby, you sure you're okay?" Sally asked Basem.

"She's right, B," Terry said. "This is hard for you, too."

"It is. But…" Basem looked at Bruce, "I'm pissed at him for not going to the doctor sooner. Or telling you, Sal. I need something to hit."

"Basem…" Bruce said.

"What?!"

Bruce smiled. "I'm eternally grateful for you coming to Gotham and looking after Terry. So much of his life is easier for him to handle because he has someone in costume he can trust. And out of costume, for that matter. I can't say it enough: thank you."

Basem stared at Bruce then leaned toward him, "If you think complimenting me out of nowhere is gonna help you… you're right and I hate you for it! Dammit, Bruce!"

"It is infuriating when you're suddenly nice, Bruce," Max joked.

Bruce smiled a bit. "Keeps everyone on their toes."

After Terry and Max picked the kids up from Mel's and Terry put them to bed, Terry walked into the bedroom to find Max sitting on the bed, staring at a picture on her tablet. Terry walked over and saw the picture.

It was Max, Terry, and Bruce on Terry and Max's wedding day.

Terry smiled. "That was a really good day."

Max sniffed. "The best." She looked up at Terry, "We've had some great ones since then."

"Right?" Terry sat next to her.

"I wanna talk about this. But… I don't know how."

"We can talk about it when you're ready."

"But don't you need to talk? I mean… you've been so quiet! Don't you need to scream? Or… or something! Just… Terry, how are you so calm?! If you need to go for a walk, punch something, scream and rant and rave, or just… be alone, I get it. If you need me to… do literally anything… just tell me!"

Terry smiled, sadly. He just exhaled. "I don't… know what I need. I'm… still trying to figure all this out."

Max set her tablet down and put her hands on his leg. "Whatever you need from me… I'll do. Terry, whatever you need. Just tell me."

He stared into her eyes, "I need you… to be the same Max I've always known. That's been enough my whole life. It'll be enough now."

Max hugged Terry as hard as she could. Terry put one arm around her, just staring at the floor. They stayed that way in silence for a long while.

It was a lot to absorb, and they weren't sure what would come next or how they would react. It was the first time, in a long time, they were both absolutely terrified.

Runner, Koutetsu, and Ember stood on top of a building in the business district.

"Quiet so far," Ember noted.

"Yeah," Runner agreed, absentmindedly.

Koutetsu stared at the city. "Bruce has lived for a long time. Longer than most. In particular, longer than most expect for someone who has lived this life. All the same… despite all of the logic of his impending passing… this… is the most difficult pain… I think I've ever encountered."

"You and me both, babe," Ember agreed. "Well… it's in my top 2."

Koutetsu looked at their de facto second-in-command. "Nightrunner?"

Runner took a deep breath and exhaled. "He started as just a boss. He's… more of a grandfather now. I just… hate that my kids will have to grow up without him."

"There's gotta be something we can do!" Ember punched her palm, causing a quick spark of flame.

"Sal's already got the x-rays. She's going over them right now. I don't know when she'll sleep."

Koutetsu exhaled. "Life has to come to an end. It's only logical." He looked at his comrades. "So… why then… must the ending be so painful?"

Ember swallowed. "Because that's when it matters."

Runner smiled a bit. "What she said."

"Guys," Tiana said, sadly.

"Yeah, Oracle?"

"Uhh… reports of an arms deal about a mile from you. The Yellowjackets."

"We're on it." Runner looked at the others. "Let's get going."

"Are you certain, my friend?" Koutetsu asked.

"Positive. I really do need to hit something! Let's move."

The next day Terry made a few calls for Bruce to invite others to the Manor, to break the news to them. That evening, Bruce, Terry, Diana, and Helena walked into the dining room, where Barbara, Tim, Dick, Selina, and Clark were already sitting at the table.

"Thank you all for coming," Bruce greeted.

"What's wrong?" Dick asked, immediately, as Bruce sat down. Diana sat in a chair next to Bruce while Terry and Helena stood against the wall.

"Straight to the point, eh?" Clark asked.

"He called us. I mean, Terry called us, but it was for him and he actually showed up. Something's wrong. I have to know." Dick looked at his former mentor. "Bruce. What's wrong?"

"It's…" Bruce began, "not easy to say."

A nervous and fearful silence immediately filled the room.

"If you have to say that, we can already guess," Barbara said, with a horrified expression on her face.

Tim wiped his hand over his mouth. "Just… just tell us, Bruce."

Bruce sighed. "Glioblastoma multiforme. Or GBM."

The whole room went still. Terry just bowed his head, knowing how hard it was for everyone to hear this. It wasn't any easier for Terry to hear it again. Helena and Diana just fought the urge to breakdown crying again. Terry looked at Helena and took hold of her hand; Helena squeezed Terry's hand, tightly, getting a hold of herself.

"Advanced stage," Bruce concluded.

Barbara's mouth fell open as she slowly sat back. Dick and Tim looked at each other in shock then back at Bruce. Clark quickly used his x-ray vision.

Much to Clark's horror, he confirmed Bruce's diagnosis. "Bruce…" Clark whispered.

Selina slowly stood up and opened her mouth to speak. She whispered, "Wh… what?"

"Are they sure?" Barbara asked, quietly.

Bruce nodded. "As they can be."

"Oh, my God…" Tim whispered.

"Well, what's the treatment?!" Dick asked, urgently. He paused when a sudden realization hit him like sledgehammer. "Wait… they…"

"It's too bad," Bruce explained. "At my age… my system just can't take too much treatment. I probably wouldn't survive it. So… I have a few months. Possibly less. Sally has my x-rays and, bless her, there's probably nothing that can be done."

Everyone took a few more moments to understand what was happening.

"You're serious?" Dick asked.

"I am," Bruce replied, solemnly.

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Tim asked.

"I didn't know how bad it was until yesterday," Bruce answered.

"But you always suspect! Why didn't you go to the doctor when you suspected?!"

"Stubborn, I guess."

"Oh my God, you actually are dying," Dick said, in amazement.

Selina blinked a few times then silently left the room.

Helena looked at Bruce. He nodded. Helena looked at Dick. He nodded as well. Terry patted Helena's shoulder then she headed after Selina.

"I didn't think she would take it so hard," Diana admitted.

"Never can tell with her," Dick confessed.

Clark sat back. "We have to tell the rest of the League. The originals, I mean. John, Shayera, Wally, J'onn."

"Aren't John and Shayera still living in space?" Bruce asked.

"They'd wanna know you're dying, Bruce."

"I haven't spoken to any of them in 50 years, Clark, except for J'onn. And I haven't seen him in about eight years. And Wally… all I said to him when I left… none of them have any reason to talk to me."

"Be that as it may, they would want to know this," Diana said. "Ollie and Dinah, too. So many others."

"Again, 50 years, Diana," Bruce reminded. "None of them want to hear from me. I exiled and excommunicated myself from all of them. I did it to myself and have only myself to blame."

Clark stared at Bruce. "I'm waiting for you to make a point."

As Bruce groaned, irritably, Terry smiled while Diana let out a light giggle. Dick, Barbara, and Tim smiled a bit. It always impressed them when Clark was, fearlessly and flatly, direct with Bruce. Dick's constant joke was that's what really made him Superman.

"All this time," Clark continued, "all that's happened, and you still don't get it, do you? No one stopped caring about you, Bruce. Just like you didn't stop caring about them, no matter how you try to hide it. If you're dying, they want to know. They deserve to know. We all went to war together. More than once. No matter how things ended, the friendships we made… they don't stop because of something like hurt feelings or decades past."

Bruce considered that. No matter how many times it happened, he was still amazed how wrong he could be about things. He rubbed his face, covering his mouth for a while. He lowered his hand, "I never thought it would happen this way."

"What do you mean?" Dick asked.

"When I was younger… I thought I would die in uniform. Just seemed like a matter of time. The older I got, after the cape and cowl, I thought… I would die alone in this house. No one would know… no one would find out until… years later." Bruce scoffed, "After a wellness check."

"Now?" Tim asked.

"Now… I hate that I'm causing such a fuss."

"Oh, yeah, you're fine," Terry groaned.

"Dammit, Bruce," Dick said. "Can't you just let people be sad about you dying without thinking about yourself or how it affects you?"

Bruce glared at Dick.

Dick smiled. "All this time… and I can still get that look."

"What's next, Bruce?" Barbara asked.

"I talk to the doctors," Bruce answered. "Sally, included. I go over the options that I don't have. And get my affairs in order."

"You don't already?" Tim asked.

"Of course, I do. This is for appearances' sake."

"And what can we do?" Dick asked.

"Not end up like me," Bruce answered. "Since you already did that… that's all I could hope for."

Helena chased after Selina, finding her walking out of the front door. It always impressed Helena how fast Selina moved, no matter her age.

"Mom," Helena called out.

Selina kept walking.

"Mom!" Helena growled. She raced at top speed, seeing Selina getting to her car and about to open the door. "Stop! Mom! Mom, stop! STOP!"

Selina halted as she opened the door, struggling to catch her breath.

Helena hurried over to Selina, got in front of her, and hugged her as tightly as she could. Selina started crying against Helena. She couldn't help it. This hurt. Far more than she was expecting. Selina's crying turned to screaming. Helena just held her closer.

"That's it," Helena whispered. "Don't fight it, Mom. I'm here."