Chapter 4

Bruce didn't know what the hell he was doing. This woman knew his secret. She was a liability to him and possibly even Dick. There was just something about her though. He watched her as Alfred led them to the sunroom for lunch. She had looked ready to fight when he showed up last night. She was tiny, too tiny to have been able to fight all of them. When he saw the look in her eyes, he knew she had no plans of letting anyone know she wouldn't win.

Her eyes on their own were an enigma. He could have easily made it home without her. But the look in her ice-blue eyes made him feel safe. They showed kindness and held a look of steel that made him want, need, to comply with her. Alfred could have easily stitched him up. It would have been sloppier than how she did it, but he had done it a million times before.

The black-haired woman in the blue dress was dangerous, and for some reason, he invited her to stay for lunch.

Elle was smiling at something Alfred said. She was taking in the sunroom, it plants, and the view of the garden outside. Bruce pulled out a chair for her that gave her a nice view of the garden.

"Thank you," she said softly. She twisted her hair and brought it around one shoulder. The landscaping was incredibly beautiful. Everything was emerald green and lush. What she wouldn't give to be able to curl up in this room on a rainy day with a good book.

She was brought back to reality by the sound of Bruce's voice. "Did you want a glass of wine?"

"Oh, no thank you. Water will be fine. I'm not much of a drinker." She said honestly.

"Neither am I." He agreed.

They let the silence envelop them for a moment before Elle decided to break it. "Your secret is safe. My patient's confidentiality is important to me."

Bruce folded his hands under his chin. At that moment, he very much looked like the powerful billionaire CEO she knew from the public.

"I thank you for that. To continue to do what I do, no one must know." He told her seriously.

"So, the public image of the rich playboy is all fake?" she asked smiling.

He chuckled and nodded. "Yes. I don't exactly have time to juggle women."

Elle blushed as Alfred walked into the room with two trays. He sat them down and revealed the plate of grilled lemon salmon, asparagus and rosemary potatoes.

"Thank you, Alfred. This looks great." Bruce announced as he unfolded his hands to place his napkin in his lap. Elle followed suite, thanking him as well.

"Always a pleasure." Alfred was apparently not the type to bask in compliments. He quickly poured them some ice water from a pitcher. "If you'd like more, I'll be in the kitchen. Just ring Master Bruce, Miss Elle."

He left them alone to enjoy their meal. Elle was glad her stomach didn't growl embarrassingly. It smelled amazing. She even moaned when the first taste of the salmon hit her tongue.

"Cooking is definitely one of his superpowers. This is incredible."

"I've never had a meal of his that I didn't enjoy."

They ate their meal in mostly silence, but it was comfortable this time. Bruce pushed his plate away when he finished and waited patiently for her.

"What is your next step to finding the kids?" She asked while finishing her potatoes.

"I'm not sure. I've checked his usual haunts. Nothing. Not even any clues. It's beginning to get frustrating." He sighed.

"Six kids are a lot to hide. Children are loud and opinionated. At least one would be screaming. I'm betting it would be the three-year-old. He'd have to have them somewhere he could easily control them if need be." She said slowly as she thought it through.

"You're right." He agreed.

She was getting ready to respond when a yell echoed through the manor.

"Alfred?! You here? I'm starving!"

"Master Dick, really. We have company. I'd prefer it if they didn't think you were raised by heathens." Alfred said with a bit of irritation.

Elle was smiling when she caught Bruce rolling his eyes.

"Company? Since when do people come here?" said a boy walking by. He stopped when saw the sunroom was occupied.

"Oh, hey Bruce." He said cheerfully. The boy was slim with dark hair. He was obviously a teenager in high school. He was still sporting his Gotham Academy uniform.

"Dick. I hope school went well today."

"School was school. As always." He shrugged it off, letting it be known he was already bored with the topic.

"Dick this is Elenore Devereaux. Dick is my ward. I guess I lost track of time and didn't realize it was around the time he usually gets home from school." Bruce stood and introduced her. A bit of shock ran through Elle as he used her full name.

Elle followed and stood next to Bruce. She extended her hand Dick, smiling warmly. "Please, call me Elle. It's nice to meet you."

Dick shook her hand. He seemed like an overall happy teenaged kid.

"Dick is my ward. He's been with me for a while now," he explained.

Elle didn't miss the way Dick's eyes narrowed just a tad bit before he covered the expression. He didn't seem to like the word 'ward', and she didn't blame him. It sounded so detached.

"How did this old man manage to get a beautiful girl like you to give him any attention?" flirted Dick.

Elle laughed loudly and Bruce looked anything but amused. "I'm pretty sure I'm a hell of a lot closer to his age than yours."

"That may be true, but I'm cuter and I smile more." He kept teasing at Bruce's expense. She liked this kid. He wasn't being serious, but he could tell he had a gift for making people laugh.

"Dick I'm sure you have some homework or something else you could be doing other than harassing her," grunted Bruce. Elle bit her lip to keep her laugh from bubbling out.

"Okay, okay, okay. I'll take the hint. I'll go get my food from Alfred and make myself scarce."

"You really don't need to do that Dick. I was just getting ready to head out." Elle said, trying to play peacekeeper.

"No worries. He's right. I have a mountain of homework. It was really nice meeting you. Hopefully, I get to see you again soon." Dick took off before she could say anything else.

"He's quite the charmer. He seems like a really good kid." She turned back around to face Bruce. She caught a brief glimpse of pride as he looked towards the direction Dick had just headed.

"He is. He can be a handful, but he's a good kid." Bruce looked down at Elle and smiled. "If you're ready, I can walk you out."

"Thank you."

They walked side by side through the manor, to the front door. Whenever he saw her eyes linger on something, he would tell her the history behind it, leaving her fascinated. When they reached the front door, he handed her purse.

"I'll go back to where I found you tonight and see if your wallet is there. Your security system will be installed tomorrow sometime. You'll be safe."

"Bruce, you really don't need to go through the trouble. I'm just being paranoid. I spend more time at work than I do at home anyway." She felt like his gestures were too much.

"Better safe than sorry."

"Well, thank you. Again. For everything," she said shyly, tucking her hair behind her hair. "I should be going. Come see me later this week to look at your neck. I want to make sure infection hasn't set in. I'm working nights the rest of the week."

He raised an eyebrow at her and before he could refuse, she was ready with a rebuttal. "If you don't come to me, I'll be forced to come here, which is incredibly out of my way. It would just be so much easier if you stopped by while you were in the city."

He narrowed her eyes and nodded his head once. "I'll see you later this week."

She smiled and walked down the steps to her car. She had only gotten about fifty feet past the gate when her phone pinged, letting her know she had a text. It was her boss letting her know the hospital was severely short-staffed today and they needed her to fill in.

She groaned out loud. So much for the blissful nap she was thinking about taking. Instead of heading home, she went straight to the hospital. Half of her was excited that she didn't have to sit at home and feel the fear and paranoia creep in.

Her phone pinged again and this time, she smiled when she read it.

Text or call this number if you need anything. -B.W.

Batman and Robin sat on the roof of Wayne Tower, surveying the city below them with high tech binoculars. They had been searching the city all night for signs of Joker, Harley, or their henchmen. Nothing had come to the surface which was leaving Batman was feeling more and more frustrated.

"So, are we not going to talk about her?" Dick asked curiously.

"No. Stay focused," was his gruff answer.

"She's beautiful. And Alfred said she's a nurse. So that means she's smart. Are you going to see her again?" He kept going, ignoring his mentor's unwillingness to discuss Elle.

"Robin! Pay attention!"

"Relax. I'm still searching. Doesn't mean we can't talk about it."

"Because I said we weren't talking about it, it means we aren't talking about it."

Robin smiled. "So, you admit that there's something to talk about though."

His mentor sighed at this comment. "I helped her, she helped me and now the Joker might be after her. It's our job to make sure that doesn't happen. We don't get involved. It's dangerous and a distraction."

Robin put his binoculars down and looked at the man he had idolized for so long. "I get what you're saying. I really do. I don't agree with it though. Just because we have a job, doesn't mean we have to be alone. Even if you don't want to try with Elle, you should try with someone."

Batman stayed silent as he continued to search.

"You didn't find her wallet?" Robin asked, switching the subject.

"No. Worst case scenario is that Joker's guys came back and found it. We won't take chances. You and Alfred are installing her security system tomorrow."

"Understood."

They were quiet for several more moments as the city hustled below them.

"There! I have eyes on Harley Quinn. She looks like she just left the narrows," exclaimed Robin.

"Then we head that way. I want every place there searched."

They leaped off the building at the same time. Using their grapples, they were there within 15 minutes. The Narrows were filled with the scum of Gotham. It's not his usual hiding spot but Batman wouldn't be shocked to find him there.

"Keep your eyes open Robin. We have more than one enemy on this turf."

Robin nodded his head in understanding. They perched up high again and started their search. This time, Robin remained quiet. It didn't take long before they spotted a clown mask. They look at each other before descending. He was sitting on the front steps of a condemned building. They slipped in a window quietly, hiding in the shadows.

They began searching hoping for a sign of the kids. The building was filthy with evidence of rats everywhere. Robin walked over to a closet and opened it, discovering a secret door.

"Batman." He whispered, grabbing his attention.

They opened the door and were shocked by what they saw. The walls were lined with steel cages, typically used for feral animals. In the corner sat a pile of kids' clothing. Robin held them up and immediately felt depression as he realized he was holding a small set of footie pajamas with teddy bears' faces and ears on the feet.

Batman reached for the pajamas. "This is what the parents described the youngest victim wearing when she was taken. Chloe Kate. She would be three years old in a few months. Batman had every intention of making sure she was home for that.

A door opened from below and Batman and Robin sunk into the shadows. The man in the clown mask that was outside, came into the room and flopped on a dirty mattress that sat in a corner by the cages. He closed his eyes, intending to fall asleep until someone called him with his next orders. He never got to dreamland. He felt as though he was being watched. When he opened his eyes, he saw the Bat hovering over him.

He screamed and tried to scramble away but before he could, Batman grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. Rats could be heard scattering in fear.

"Where did they take the children!?" Batman Roared.

"I don't know! I swear! They won't tell us where they take the kids after we grab them! I'd tell ya! Honest!"

"You don't know how to be honest." Batman sneered.

"I promise I don't know anything. The boss took the kids in a truck after you hurt him. He told us to listen to Miss Harley while he was away. She's been lookin' for the girl who wouldn't help us make him better."

Batman and Robin's eyes narrowed in anger. Robin beat his mentor to the million-dollar question. "What does Harley Quinn know about the girl?"

"Not much. She was really mad at us for not bringin' her back. She almost set Bud and Lou on us. All she knows is she works at Gotham General."

The two heroes looked at each other before Batman punched the clown unconscious.

"We're going to her apartment. You'll set up security. If she's not there, I'll go find her."

Batman left the room and jumped out of the window before Robin could respond.