AN: Okay so transitioning from "Harvey Dent" to "Lovecraft" here. Enjoy and please review!

Playlist:

The Offspring-You're Gonna Go Far Kid

Florence and The Machine-Heavy In Your Arms

Chapter 24

Isabelle stood frozen on the stairs, Bruce and Cat in front of her, where she could see Alfred talking to a woman who looked like she was scared. But that's not why she was frozen.

"Isabelle," Oswald's voice sounded softly in her ear again.

"I…"

"Where are you?" he asked, now with a desperate tone growing in his voice. "W-why did you leave?"

"Alfred," Bruce spoke up. "Everything all right?"

"No, Master Bruce, this lady's been involved in a car accident."

Isabelle noticed the woman's hostile stare at the same time the others did.

"Run. Isabelle go with them. Run!" Alfred ordered the three of them.

Isabelle slammed her phone shut and pushed Bruce and Cat in front of her and up the stairs.

Oswald had heard everything, quickly realizing that Isabelle was at Wayne Manor but also that something was wrong.

Isabelle followed quickly behind Cat and Bruce as they turned down the hallways and into a room where Bruce shut the door.

"This better be a way out," Cat said.

"The old servant's hallway, it's through the closet. But I need to help Alfred!"

Both Cat and Isabelle grabbed Bruce to pull him in with them. "There's no time!" Cat said as Isabelle closed the door behind them.

They continued to run, hearts pounding, Isabelle and Cat following Bruce. When they made it outside Cat took the lead, jumping over a wall. Bruce hesitated when it was his turn.

"Go, Bruce!" Isabelle hissed from behind him and he jumped off the ledge as well, quickly followed by Isabelle.

Isabelle was behind Bruce when he stopped.

"Bruce, come on!" Cat urged.

"Alfred might be hurt. I can't leave him."

"He told you to run."

"She's right Bruce; we have to listen to Alfred. Do what he says," Isabelle insisted.

Bruce hesitated.

"Fine. Stay, but I'm out," Cat said, taking off.

Isabelle and Bruce looked back to see two people after them and she shoved him forward. "Go! I'll find Alfred! Go!"

She turned around to see the woman coming straight for her and so she took off running, heading down another path than the one Bruce and Cat took. The woman and her pal were gaining on her and Isabelle was thankful her diversion had worked. Isabelle had just been taught the basics by Alfred but it would have to do. She turned and swung a fist forward. The woman blocked it but was unable to get a hold of Isabelle. The man that was with her, however, grabbed Isabelle from behind. The woman sneered. "Where are your little friends?"

Isabelle didn't say a thing. The woman pulled out a knife.

She heard gunshots and saw Alfred as he was grazed on the shoulder and took a shot at another assassin, which met its mark.

The woman and her companion were distracted as Alfred advanced on them, gun raised. The guy punched Isabelle and she went down.

"Go the other way," Isabelle heard the woman order.

Alfred came to a stop in front of Isabelle and yelled out, "BRUCE!"

"They went that way," Isabelle pointed as Alfred helped her up.

"But you drew those two this way, to buy them some time. Good, good. We need to call your Uncle."

~O.o~

"Local PD is searching the woods, but so far no sign of Bruce or Selina. What can you tell me about this woman?" Jim said as an officer with a first aid kit checked out Alfred's arm.

"Well, she was, uh, early 30s. A tasty fighter, actually. Look, mate, it's just a scratch," Alfred said to the police officer. "Shove off, will ya? I've got stuff to do."

"Look we've got 50 police in the woods, even more on the roads." Jim said, following Alfred. "We need to focus on this woman and her people. What can you tell me about her?"

"They were trained killers. And your bloody little girl brought them here."

"We don't know that yet."

Bullock had entered the room and now he and Jim were arguing. Alfred had enough. "Will you shut up, the pair of ya! You can argue later! Right now, we need to find Master Bruce."

After Jim got Harvey to agree to help find the two kids Isabelle spoke up, "What can I do?" she asked, holding an ice pack wrapped in a dish towel to the side of her face.

"You can stay here," Jim dictated.

"I have to do something! Bruce is out there!"

"I know, I know." Jim placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'll focus on Lovecraft. Harvey and Alfred will help look for Bruce and Selina and you will stay here. And I mean it, Isabelle."

Isabelle nodded. She knew her Uncle was right. She certainly didn't know the city like Selina did. "You'll call me if you need me though, right?"

~O.o~

Oswald was sitting across from Falcone. "Tell me how to find the mole," Falcone said. "Or, I'll tell Fish to do much worse to Isabelle Gordon."

Oswald kept his features composed but Falcone didn't miss the way his face, even though it seemed impossible to do so given that he was already so pale, drained of any remaining color. "S-s-sir?"

"I want you to know where you stand," Falcone spoke. "Some pictures surfaced of you and Isabelle, on a park bench, looking very, very close, the same day you revealed yourself at the police station. Fish, ever loyal, approached me on the matter. I advised her not to harm your Isabelle, since she's Jim Gordon's niece. It wouldn't do to have a detective such as him harboring any more against her than we all know he already does. She wondered the same. I told her perhaps she could spin Isabelle to her side, to spy on you for her. Ultimately though, Isabelle was Fish's employee, it was up to her. Fish took the risk."

"I-I don't understand, sir."

"I see. You don't know what Fish did. I know Fish used Isabelle to send a message to you and in the end Jim Gordon as well. How she did that I don't know, I wasn't given details and I didn't want for any. I didn't know she was your girl until those pictures either, you never said."

"I-I-"

Falcone held up a hand. "I know why. To protect her. I know you would do anything to protect Isabelle from harm, as I would do for precious Liza. So, I think it's best for everyone involved if you keep up the honesty with me on Maroni."

"O-of course Don Falcone. You leave finding the mole to me. Dirty work. I'll find your mole for you. Trust me…he'll belong to Fish."

Falcone leaned forward over the table. "Bring me proof," he ordered before giving Oswald a light smack to the cheek with his hand.

~O.o~

The afternoon sky was melding into the darker hues of night while Isabelle was restlessly exploring the manor. The doorbell rang and she hurried into the foyer, wondering if it was Jim or Harvey back with news, or Alfred back with Bruce and Selina, safe and sound. She looked through the peephole when she got to the door and her heart felt like it was stuck in her throat.

It was Oswald.

She leaned her forehead against the cold wood of the door for a few seconds before taking in a deep breath and unlocking the door.

She slowly opened it to come face to face with the one person she'd been thinking about almost constantly for the past two weeks.

"Oswald."

"Isabelle. May I?" He gestured to be let inside.

Instead of allowing him entrance she stepped outside, watching him carefully in the warm yellow light from the manor that shone through the doorway.

"So," his face was hard, unreadable. "You've been here the whole time?"

She nodded.

"What was that on the phone earlier?"

"Assassins are after Selina Kyle because she may be a witness to the Wayne murder. She and Bruce ran. They're most likely in the city. Do you know anything about who sent them?" she said quickly.

Oswald shook his head. "Is that why you're worrying your bracelet so much?"

Isabelle stopped the unconscious action immediately and shoved her hands into the back pockets of her skinny jeans. "Yes. I've grown pretty fond of Bruce. And Cat."

Oswald stepped closer. "Why did you leave Isabelle?" He clearly wasn't concerned with the plight of Bruce or Selina.

"I…I can't tell you."

"Why not?" He took another step closer.

She stayed where she was and looked down at her Chucks.

Oswald took another step closer and she could smell his expensive cologne mixed with his own scent, which sent more butterflies to her stomach. He pulled her hand from her pocket and held it up, touching her bracelet. "You still have the charm I gave you."

He felt something hit his hand and narrowed his eyes. Oswald placed gentle fingers under her chin and his face softened at the tears he saw. "Isabelle, why won't you tell me why you left? I need to know. I can't…I can't stop thinking about you!" He dropped her hand. "I have spent the past couple of weeks wondering if you left because I'm not good enough for you! If you finally realized how dangerous it really is for you to be with me! If you were just playing me the whole time! Poor little Oswald Cobblepot," he chuckled. "With his crooked leg and inexperience."

Isabelle shook her head and this time it was her turn to step closer. "No! None of those reasons are true Oswald," although she had always realized the true danger in being with him.

"Was it Fish?" Oswald interrupted.

"What?"

"Fish said something, about you, and so did Falcone. They both found out about us. I need you tell me if she did something."

He could tell by the look in her eyes that his words hit the mark. He moved so he could place his hands on either side of her face. He wanted to be sure. She was still crying silent tears. He wiped the tears from her face with his fingers.

"I'm sorry Oswald. I-I can't tell you. Y-you n-need to leave." She jerked away from him. "Now."

"Isabelle-"

"LEAVE!" she screamed and her hands connected with his chest as she shoved him backwards a little. He was so shocked at her outburst that he didn't move against her, instead letting her push him. She had him off the porch and shoved against him one last time. "Please, don't come back Oswald," she said, her voice growing softer as his name left her lips.

"Why won't you tell me why you left!? Why won't you tell me anything!?"

"I'm not telling you, for your own good! Please, leave!"

"What's going on here!?"

Isabelle looked through watery eyes to see Alfred and Bruce coming up the walk.

"Uh…nothing, sir, I was just leaving," Oswald said.

"Right you are. Who are you, exactly?"

"I'm Oswald Cobblepot." He presented his hand for Alfred to shake.

"Is that so?" Alfred ignored his gesture.

"Yes, sir." Oswald said as he awkwardly lowered his hand back down to his side.

"Well then, I suggest you do as the lady says. I've had quite the trying day already but I won't be against showing a criminal like you what this, old man, has in him. Are we clear?"

"Y-y-yes sir," Oswald stammered. He looked at Isabelle one more time before turning and walking back to his car, utterly defeated.