AN: Okay so last chapter was a lot of Oswald feels, this chapter is Isabelle feels. Leave a review and thank you for the follows, favorites, and reviews. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own my OC.

Playlist:

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals-Nothing But The Water (I)

Tom Odell-Long Way Down

Chapter 20

A week passed since Isabelle was under Mooney's knife. Alfred and Bruce made sure she was taking her pain medicine when she was supposed to, and since the medicine made her sleepy, they were quite helpful because she wouldn't have remembered to take it herself. Mooney's cuts had been deep, but not so deep to kill her. Exactly what Mooney intended, not to kill her, just maim. But what Mooney probably didn't plan on was for her to be living at the Wayne mansion. Mooney was intelligent, but if she thought Isabelle was going to run to Oswald as soon as she could and show him what she had done, she didn't know Isabelle very well. Any hope of Mooney's for Oswald to do something rash in retaliation had backfired.

Isabelle's pain medicine ran out the previous night, which was fine since the pain from her cuts was barely there. Every day since she'd been staying at the mansion Alfred would come in and change her bandages while Bruce gave her the pain pills. Alfred had decided the night before that her wounds were well on their way to healing and would no longer need to be bandaged.

She sat up, groaning just a bit at her sore body, and realized she desperately needed a shower.

She was stepping out of bed just as there was a knock on the door.

"Come in…Good morning Alfred," she smiled.

"Well, look at you Miss. Gordon. Up and at em' this morning?"

She smiled. "I'm trying at least."

Alfred went to the window on the other end of the room and pulled back the heavy black velvet curtains. Isabelle sighed. She hadn't been this awake and alert all week and she enjoyed the rare sunlight entering and warming the room.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Bruce asked as he walked in to the room.

"It is. You don't see that much in Gotham."

"How are you feeling?" Bruce sat down on the bed so he faced her.

"Better. Thank you Bruce," she looked to Alfred. "And you too. For taking such good care of me."

"It was no problem at all. Actually I think it would be best if you stayed here a bit longer, just so we can be sure you're in good health."

"Thank you Bruce. I'd like that and I'm sure my uncle would too."

Alfred walked back over to her. "Yes, well he called several times but each time you were out cold or incoherent."

Isabelle nodded. "Right. I'll call him, but I think I'll have a shower first."

At that Alfred went into the adjoining bathroom and immediately started the shower.

"All set Miss. Gordon," he smiled when he came back into the room. "Miss Montoya brought your things over a few days ago. All of your clothes have been put in their proper place in your room and you'll find your toiletries in the bathroom."

"Thank you Alfred. You didn't have to do that."

"I insisted," Bruce spoke up.

Isabelle laughed at his innocent smile and stuck her right thumb in her mouth and pulling it back out she wiped a smear of raspberry jam from Bruce's cheek. "All set for school today Bruce?" He was dressed in his uniform, as he had been every school morning this past week, when he'd check on her before he left.

"Yes and now that you're better you can join Alfred and I for dinner and we can watch some movies in the theater if you like."

She grinned back at him, seeing the excitement in his eyes at having someone else in the mansion to spend time with, someone who could be a friend. He loved Alfred but he wanted to get to know Isabelle. He had a million questions about what happened to her as well. He didn't have many friends and he was hoping she would soon become one of them. "This place has a theater?"

"Complete with a concession stand."

"Wow."

"Yes well it seems we have a rather pleasant evening planned but we need to get going Master Bruce or you'll be late for school."

Bruce wanted to hug Isabelle bye but was afraid of causing her any pain so he squeezed her hand before he got up.

After they left Isabelle slowly made her way to the shower. She wasn't so much in pain as she was sore from the wounds and from being in bed for so long, only getting up to use the bathroom. She hadn't eaten much, being so out of it. Bruce would insist on bringing her a tray with chicken noodle soup, saltines and a sports drink. Isabelle would eat as much as she could stomach, which wasn't much.

The bathroom was already filling with steam as she peeled her clothes off and stepped under the spray. She let out an audible sigh. The hot water was perfect as it hit her skin and she stood there taking it in for a few minutes before washing her hair and bathing. She continued to stand under the spray, eyes closed, as the hot water soothed her soreness.

Her thoughts finally turned to Oswald and she opened her eyes, allowing herself to inspect what Mooney had done. As she carefully inspected each "Penguin" carved into her skin she could feel a growing lump in her throat. As she traced the cut on her arm, the first one Mooney had given her, she burst into tears. She swiped at the tears, despite being under the spray of the shower until she covered her face with her hands and slid down the tiled shower wall.

She hated what Mooney had done to her and if she was being honest, she was fearful of how Oswald would react when he found out. She knew he would find out eventually but resolved he wouldn't know soon or at least it could wait until Oswald's dreams were realized, until he was the king of Gotham as she hoped he would be. He just wouldn't get there with her.

Her uncle's words about what happened being Oswald's fault came to mind. Oswald had promised to protect her and he'd failed. Now her skin bore the nickname he detested. It made her sick. How could she have given in to him so easily? She'd told him about her past, she'd been closer with him than she had been with any guy before. She'd let him in, willingly let him consume her. A part of her wondered if he'd known he wouldn't really be able to protect her. Of course she was the one that decided to work at Fish's, when she did that she'd had no idea what she was getting into. Now she knew better.

She slunk further down the wall, until her face was pressed to the floor of the shower. She curled her knees up to her chest as flashes of Mooney's face leaning over her came to mind. Isabelle was starting to feel as if the pain was fresh, as if her wounds were bleeding freely into the drain. To distract herself from having a panic attack she turned her thoughts back to Oswald, wondering when she'd see him again. She admitted to herself that she desperately wanted to see him but she knew she'd have to wait. It was best for the both of them as she was still processing everything that had happened now that her brain wasn't clouded with pain killers. The hot water continued to rain down on her but it was no longer soothing since she didn't register it.

When Alfred returned he found her in the same position. He turned off the water, grabbed a towel and averting his eyes he picked her up off the floor of the shower and dried her off. After wrapping her in the towel he picked her up, carrying her bridal style back to her bed. She'd stopped crying and instead stared blankly ahead of her.

Alfred looked away. The sight of her in such a state reminded him a bit of Bruce the night his parents were murdered. He left the room and did not return.