Chapter 130

I'm welcomed to a hectic police precinct, as officers and desk jockeys scurry about the platforms and lower levels. In the middle of the floor level of the precinct, a projector along with a screen has been set up, with Detective Bullock, and Captain Essen talking off to the side.

I flinch as two long arms wrap themselves around me in a tight hug, "It's good to have you back, Nat."

I chuckle, and turn around as Ed removes his arms and places them in front of himself, "Have you been called back to duty?"

I nod, "Yeah, gotta help with the Arkham breakout, I think I saw something about it in the papers this morning. A...Jack Gruber?"

Out of his lab coat pocket, Ed removes the folded up front page of this morning's newspaper. He opens it up to the headline: Electrocutioner Escapes Arkham.

"The papers are calling him 'the Electrocutioner' because of his use of unconventional shock therapy and other electricity-themed methods of attack. It's a fantastic name, if I do say so myself," Ed comments, his eyes quickly scanning the paper.

Our attention is turned to the projector, as Captain Essen slams her hand on the side of the projector, "Everyone! Let's have a look at our perps."

Ed scurries over to man the projector, getting a stack of paper-thin slides to place on the lit area of the projector.

Captain Essen reviews the facts of the case, as well as any possible leads, "Jack Gruber. In Arkham off a rape-murder beef. We can't find any records on Gruber prior to his incarceration so we're guessing Gruber is an alias. We're sending his prints nationwide, see if we can find another name for him. Whoever he is, he's clever, and angry, and a grave public menace. The Commissioner is deeply concerned, and he's on his way here to talk to all of you right now. You know what that means? And you know-"

Captain Essen suddenly stops, as she spots James Gordon moving amongst the crowd of officers and detectives.

"Wasn't Gordon was demoted a while back? I'd heard he'd been assigned to guard duty," I whisper to Ed.

He nods, "Yes, this is true, to Arkham Asylum, which makes his presence relevant to this case."

"Jim?" Captain Essen looks over at him.

"Captain," he responds.

"Hey, partner," Detective Bullock mumbles in his usual sarcastic tone.

Gordon glances over at Bullock, "Hey."

"You're out of your jurisdiction," Captain Essen tells Gordon.

"Captain, this is my case," he argues.

She takes a step forward, "Jim, you need to get out of here."

He shrugs, "It's my case."

Bullock intervenes, "No, no, no, the Captain is right. You need to leave, before the Commissioner gets here."

Leaning over to Ed, I ask, "Why are they so concerned about the Commissioner?"

"The Commissioner is the one that had James Gordon demoted," he explains, "after his attempts to investigate possible police corruption."

Detective Bullock takes Gordon by the arm and starts leading him out when he looks up, "Oh fudge, he's here."

Making a snap judgement, Bullock hides Gordon behind a nearby decorative column, "And you're there. Sidestep."

The two of them behind the column, Commissioner Loeb doesn't notice them as he makes his stern walk up the stairs to where Captain Essen and the rest of us are standing.

"Captain Essen," the Commissioner greets.

"Good morning, Commissioner," she nods.

The Commissioner comes to a stop, and without turning around, he grumbles, "Officer Gordon, isn't it?"

From out behind the column, Gordon steps forward, "Yes sir."

The two of them meet eye-to-eye, and the Commissioner asks, "Why are you here?"

"I have a better question," Gordon responds, "why are you here Commissioner?"

He takes off his glasses, "...excuse me?"

"This is the first I've seen you down here with the rank-and-file. You must be desperate," Gordon is unwavering in his defiance.

The Commissioner tilts his head, and gestures to Captain Essen's office, "Follow me."

"It's been nice knowing you," Bullock quips.

"And bring your friend, Detective Bullock," the Commissioner commands.

Bullock clenches his teeth, and points to Gordon, "I hate you, I hate you..."

The two of them follow the Commissioner into the Captain's office, and the door is closed shut. Who knew that the reason Gordon was so neglectful of Barbara was because he's passionate about investigating police corruption? Maybe he's not so bad after all.

The other officers and detectives disperse, wanting to get away from the trouble being brewed by James Gordon. I help Ed pull up the projector screen and wheel away the projector.

"Nat, thanks to the combustion chamber you got me, my transdimensional portal is nearly complete!" he tells me as we take the projector equipment into a small storage cupboard.

I smile, "That's amazing to hear Ed, just...promise you won't blow this place to smithereens in the process, okay?"

"You know, Nat, I must ask you: where did you find my gift? I've been looking specifically for the combustion chamber of a 3.5 L V8 182 hp Carburettor, and I couldn't find one anywhere! And I scrounged every garage sale, every second-hand auto dealer, even embarked on some late-night junkyard escapades. So...how did you beat me to the punch?" he questions, leaning his narrow head close to mine.

Truth be told, I actually acquired it while under my Trickstress identity. Batwoman and I were stopping an illegal arms smuggler, who'd disguised themselves as importers of luxury cars. But, because no one's buying cars due to the gas shortage, we immediately knew it was a front for some shady dealings. They were stashing the guns inside the cars, so we had to break them open anyway, and I spotted a model that carried the combustion chamber Ed needed. It was all a matter of lucky coincidence. Otherwise I would've just bought him candy, maybe some Turkish delight.

"I lucked out, was browsing the trinket shops at the Flea when I spotted it lying among other pieces of scrap metal. Bought it off of a street kid for pennies," I lie, pushing the projector all the way to the back of the closet before closing the door.

"The Flea? Oh, you know I'd never dream of venturing into such dangerous territory," he shakes his head, "and while I'd naturally be concerned for your safety as well Nat...you called that place home for quite some time, and...and I trust you to be cautious."

I place my hand on his shoulder, "Of course I'm cautious. Besides, if it wasn't for me 'venturing into dangerous territory', you might've never gotten your combustion chamber."

After his feet do a pivot to face me, Ed gives a small bow, "Well, thank you Nat, for your extreme generosity that will potentially allow me to reach a scientific breakthrough!"

We both laugh, and Ed pulls me into a tight hug, his hand running through my hair, "I only hope you find the same success."

With a quick kiss on the forehead, Ed releases me, "Now, I need to assist Detective Bullock and Officer Gordon! After that confrontation with Commissioner Loeb, they're bound to need my help."

I chuckle, "Alright."

I turn around to walk back to my desk when he speaks up again, "You should offer your assistance as well."

I stop in my tracks. Me? Help Gordon and Bullock? Why? Sure, maybe Gordon isn't as much of a jerk as I'd originally thought him to be, but that doesn't mean I'm going to start-

"Eh, Officer Wha-cha-ma-call-it!" I turn around again as Detective Bullock pats me on the back, leaning in on my officer's badge to glimpse my last name, "Oh, no can do on that last name. I don't speak Swahili."

"Just...Officer K. is fine Detective. Now what do you want?" I ask, my voice stern as I place my hands on my hips.

With a gangly swagger, Bullock walks in closer to whisper, "Look, I know about you and Penguin. I saw you getting all friendly with him when he was locked up in the pen."

Friendly? I gave him a towel and a box of Chinese takeout, but Bullock is a detective. And it wouldn't take much personal snooping to figure out our relationship.

"So, I won't go to the boss telling her that you've been sleeping with a known criminal...if...you do this small favor for me," he offers.

I cross my arms, "What do you want?"

"Your boyfriend works for Don Maroni, am I right? So, you get Penguin to pull some strings, get some of his men to find out where our perp Jack Gruber is," he proposes.

"Detective Bullock, a cop entangled in the mob is hardly considered a scandal around here," I tell him with some scepticism, "if you really want me to help you and Gordon-"
He shakes his head, "No, no, no, business between you and Gordon is your business. You won't have to talk to him at all, just help me on this."

I sigh, before responding, "Fine, I'll see what I can do."

"Great!" Bullock turns around to leave, but suddenly doubles back, "You know, seeing you're Nygma's best bud, you'd think you and Jim would be all buddy-buddy as well. But then...I find out you're Barbara's friend as well."

"Someone's been doing their homework," I raise an eyebrow.

He chuckles, "Well, when you have more work visitors than any other person here...it's not hard to find out who your friends are."

That's true, I talk to Ed at work all the time, and Barbara did visit me here early on before she left Gordon to be with Renee.

"Barb probably painted ol' Jimbo as some kind of loveless stiff. And...while that's probably true, she isn't blameless either. Society broads can lie and manipulate like no one else, you can't trust them," Bullock warns me.

Twisting my lips, I respond, "I'll help you Bullock, but I'll trust Barbara before I trust a dirty detective."

I walk away, and Bullock shifts his weight, "Suit yourself, kiddo."

Author's Note: As I watch the newest episodes of Gotham, I can't help but realize how far behind BOAF is from the actual show. Do you guys want me to speed it up to try and catch up? It would however, mean less romance and side-plots

Thanks! :)