AN: Takes place after leaving the IHOP.

APieceOfThePuzzle-Yes, they do. You'd think they'd learn, seeing as I never stay there, but oh, well. I certainly have nothing to complain about. Apart from the fact that the guards often break my glasses. I don't appreciate that.

He sank back onto the bed with a low groan, wishing Kitty would stop panicking. For heaven's sake, everybody had thought the cashier was having an anxiety attack. (He'd been a mild reactor, thankfully-tears, mostly, and little else.)

"There's nothing to worry about."

"Jonathan…"

"Relax."

"Lying low should not be that hard!"

"Batman hasn't broken in yet. Stop worrying."

"But…"

"Calm down. Everything is fine. Go to sleep, it's getting late."

"If he hadn't opened his big mouth…"

"Nobody even noticed. Now at least stop pacing, I'd like to get some sleep."

She flopped down on the bed, the vibration making him wince. At least she'd stopped pacing. Now maybe he could go to sleep.

"What if Batman comes in?"

Oh, for…

"Then we deal with him. Now go to sleep."

"But…"

"Kitty."

That shut her up for a few minutes, leaving him to turn his thoughts to the potential bedbugs-was that something crawling on his skin?-and their next move. He'd intended to remain here for a few days, but maybe it would be better to leave tomorrow morning and slip back into town. They might not be expecting that.

Or maybe it would be better to go a little farther out of town for a day or two.

Hm.

"Are you sure-"

"Yes. I'm sure. We'll be fine. Now stop worrying. What's the worst thing that ever happens, anyway? We get thrown around a little and dragged back to Arkham."

She mumbled something that may have been 'scythe' and he scowled. That had been a freak accident, and it had only happened once.

Granted, it had only happened once because she got rid of the scythe while he was in the hospital, but no matter.

"I lived."

"Barely."

"I still lived. And I don't have it now. What could possibly happen?"

He hadn't expected her to answer, but she did-promptly and (typical!) with the worst-case scenarios.

"He could throw you out the window and you could get a broken neck. Or you could get a broken rib that pierces your lung. Or…"

He was sorry he'd asked.

"Kitty. Stop worrying. Do you need a sedative?"

"No, and don't even think about trying it."

"It's not healthy to lose sleep because you were stressing out."

"Broken necks aren't healthy, either."

His palm hit his face of its own accord.

"I don't have a broken neck, and I don't plan on getting one. Now go. To. Sleep."

"But…"

He really should have just left her to panic, but he got the feeling she wouldn't let him get any sleep if he did.

"I am not going to get a broken neck or anything else. He isn't coming. But I will wreck the car tomorrow if I don't get any sleep, so…"

"I'll drive."

"You'll wreck it if you don't get any sleep."

Finally. Silence.

"Promise?"

"Yes. Promise. Good night."

She didn't say anything else after that.

THE END