This is a rather long chapter so enjoy!
The next time Ann woke up, she was alone in the room her side felt as though someone had shoved a knife into her. Pain radiated from the injury in which had placed her in the bed she was now stuck in for only Batman knows how long. Looking around she realized something, the room wasn't stark white anymore and there was no steady beeping next to her head. The walls were now a light blue color with pictures adorning them, light filtered in through a window with white drapes, and she seemed to be surrounded by pillows on a rather large bed.
"The Manor?" she thought trying to not move too much. "When?"
"Mistress Marianne." came a voice with a British accent. "I would advise you to remain still for a moment longer."
"Alfie?" she asked turning her head in his direction.
The butler smiled at her as he set a tray down on the left bedside table and from what she could see had some pills, a cup of water and a bowl of soup. She grinned at him trying to hide her pain even though he would probably see right through her like he always seemed to know when someone was hurt. He helped her to sit up placing pillows behind her in order to keep her comfortable before handing her some painkillers and the glass of water.
"Alfred, when's I get here?" she asked quietly handing the glass back to him.
"Three days ago Master Bruce had you brought home believing that you would be more comfortable here." Alfred answered watching her. "And I daresay for someone as skilled as you in evading attacks I was surprised to heat of how you were injured."
Ann was quiet she had wondered when the lectures would begin of her mistakes but she had not expected Alfred to be the first.
"I'm sorry, Alfie." she said looking down at her lap. "I wasn't thinking."
Alfred stood by her bedside and shook his head seeing the little girl that had been brought in with her brother instead of the young woman she had become.
"Mistakes are made for a reason Mistress Marianne." Alfred told her gently. "Though the next time you are injured it would be best to use your communicator not jump from buildings."
"Understood Alfred." the girl said with a grin. "Oh how drugged was I when they brought me here? I don't remember."
"Let us just say that you were not in any pain."
"That out of it."
The older man smiled at her though still worried since she was like one of his grandchildren like all the children that had come to the Manor. Moving the tray, he placed it before her so that she could eat something knowing how she was when it came to being injured. Unless both arms were injured or broken she refused to be spoon fed by anyone including her twin though on rare occasionsshe allowed him to feed her.
"Thanks Alfred." she said quietly.
"You are most welcome." Alfred told her. "I shall leave this here and come back later for it. Is there anything you would like before I leave?"
"No I'm good right now."
Blue gray eyes met the dark eyes of the butler before the older man moved back toward the door and into the hallway. He looked back into the room closing the door slightly leaving it cracker open knowing she would be alright like all the other times before.
Sometime later that day, Ann was still propped up trying to read one of the books that Alfred had brought her from the library. Since waking she had dozed off twice that she knew of because of the painkillers and she was determined to stay awake for longer than a few minutes this time. Feeling somewhat proud for achieving at least twenty minutes so far she gave up on the book which wasn't helping her stay awake when her door opened. Looking over, her heart dropped slightly at the sight of all four of her brothers together with serious yet concerned looks on their faces.
"H-Hey guys." she stuttered slightly.
"Hey Anniebird." Dick said smiling. "We need to talk."
"I g-got that when y-you all walked in."
"Are you alright Annie?" Tim asked looking at her.
"Fine, Timmy."
She looked down at the closed book on her lap waiting for them to start their lecture on how stupid she had been. Looking back she'd already felt like punishing herself much like how Bruce would punish her and Dick when they first began in the hero business.
"Do you have any idea how much of a rookie mistake you made?" Dick asked quietly. "Do you have any idea what would have happened had Roy not been in the area?"
She flinched at his tone but understood why he was being like this, even though they had brothers and sisters, and people around them that were like family. She was still all he had left."
"I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking." she told them.
"Clearly." Damian scoffed.
"Sorry doesn't cut it Ann." Jason growled. "You nearly died in front of us."
"You scared us." Tim told her though Damian glared at him.
"I know I know and I'm sorry for that." she told them quietly side beginning to hurt again. "I-I didn't know... I should've done things differently but... I'm sorry."
"You shoulda just called out to us." Jason growled arms crossed over his chest.
"I know that Jay!"
She had jerked up so that she was sitting straight before her side seemed to explode and with a whimper sank back against the pillows hands going to cover the injury. All the boys stared at her until Dick was able to move again rushing to see if she had hurt herself further.
"S-sorry." she said softly letting her brother lift the tanktop she wore to see the bandage. "J-Just sat u-up too q-quick."
"Shit Anniebird." Jason muttered looking around Dick.
"Timmy, Dami go get Alfred and Bruce." Dick told the two younger birds. "And tell Alfred to bring the med kit."
The two birds both left the room quickly leaving the older birds alone as Dick gently moved his sister's tanktop to reveal the white bandage stained pink. He wasn't sure if she had popped a stitch or if the wound had torn itself open when she had sat up the way she did.
"L-Language jay." she muttered with a small smile.
She hated to think that her mistakes were causing her family pain without any of them truly being wounded by a physical weapon.
"I'll t-try not to b-be stupid next time." she said hoping to keep that promise.
"We'll hold you to that." Dick told her glancing over at Jason. "Right Jay?"
"You can count on it, Wingnut." Jason responded with a grin. "And if she don't I'll sick Demon on ya."
Ann giggled then grimaced, "Please don't."
A minute passed between the three when Bruce and Alfred entered the room followed closely by Tim and Damian. Bruce looked around at the three older birds before he took a seat on the bed beside his little girl who have him a small smile. Dick moved to allow Alfred to sit on her other side and examine what damage had been done.
"I dare say Mistress Marianne, you have an uncanny ability to create a scene when there is little wrong." Alfred said cleaning the injury and changing the blood stained bandage with a fresh one.
"Thanks Alfie." Ann said her signature grin on her face.
She closed her eyes slightly when she felt fingers running through her hair gently and looked up at Bruce.
"Boys can you give us some privacy?" the man asked watching her.
"Of course Father." Damian responded. "But I have one thing to say. Don't ever do that again Grayson."
The boy stared right at Ann who gulped at the fierce look in his blue green eyes and knew Jason's threat would be real. She nodded slowly to him as he walked out of the room, Tim gave her a smile which she returned though she had a feeling that beneath that grin there was a threat like Damian's, Jason frowned leaving the room but not before glancing back at her, and Dick came back to her giving her a hug around the shoulders being very gentle.
"See ya later Sis." he told her then left the room followed by Alfred.
There was silence that followed the departure of the others between father and daughter who sat back against the pillows.
"So let me guess entire Batcave and all vehicles to be cleaned once I get the all clear?" she asked breaking the silence. "And no patrol for a month?"
Bruce chuckled, "That barely worked when you were young."
"I'm not dead yet though."
She regretted saying that as his smirk turned into a frown not seeming to understand the bad joke she had tried to make. Blue gray eyes shifted so that she was looking away from him feeling terrible both physically and emotionally. Mentally she had no idea how she was being a Bat she never truly let anyone see her break though now it was only a matter of time.
"I'm sorry Bruce." she told him quietly. "I shouldn't have been so stupid as to try to make that jump when I knew the severity of my injury. I wasn't thinking... and I'm sorry."
Bruce was silent listening to her speak thinking back to the two nine year olds he had taken in all those years ago. She may have matured the best between the two but there were times like now when he couldn't help but see the child she had been and still was.
"I know you are sorry but Ann your mistakes have consequences." he told her. "You recklessly went into a fight with a man who is a known rapist and murderer. Then risked yourself further by not calling in backup when you knew you were seriously injured."
Ann was silent nodding her head at his words which were true because she had done all those things without thinking.
"And you seem to have no regard toward those of us that love and care about you." Bruce continued watching her.
Those words cut through her, tears pooled in her eyes as she tried to keep them from falling but she couldn't hold back.
"B-But I do." she told him shaking. "I-I was thinking a-about everyone when I-I realized that I-I w-wasn't gonna m-make t-t-the jump. I-I wanted t-to go b-back t-the m-moment I started t-to f-fall. I-I w-was sc-scared T-Tati... I-I di-didn't w-wa-want to d-die."
Bruce watched her heart melting as she cried, stumbling through her words which he could tell were sincere. He gently took her in his arms careful of her injuries especially her side holding her close to him. Ann at that moment didn't care how old she was she buried her face into his chest and let herself go; letting everything out.
"Tati." she whimpered seeming so small.
"It's alright." he whispered holding her as she shook. "Just try to remember that next time we're here for you."
The girl in his arms nodded unable to speak feeling like she was nine years old all over again. Bruce held his daughter as she cried herself out and began to calm down slightly leaning against him tiredly. In these moments anyone would see the true man beneath the mask of Batman and the playboy CEO of a major company. They stayed that way for awhile Ann wrapped in her father's arms until she was well off into dreamless sleep at least he hoped. Gently shifting her back onto her pillows, he stood to go talk to his sons hoping to be back before she woke. For he had a recording from his other girls Barbara, Steph and Cass who though wanted to speak with her themselves were needed on a mission for the Team. Leaving the room he left the door ajar so that anyone who walked by could look in to check on her if they felt the need.
Something woke her from a deep sleep and she groaned quietly at the presence that had been the cause of her wakefulness. Yet it was also her bladder that made her shift uncomfortably opening her eyes to a semi dark room hoping it wasn't any of the boys.
"Oh Kitten what have you done to yourself now?" a voice purred from the shadows.
Opening her eyes fully Ann looked around before staring at the darkest corner of her room with a smile on her face.
"I'm sure you've heard." the girl answered then blushed. "I – uh gotta go."
"I think you should stay in bed."
Ann giggled slightly then frowned, "Not what I meant."
"Oh I'm sorry Kitten."
The woman materialized out of the shadows to stand next to her bed as the girl pushed herself up slightly. Ann looked up at Selina Kyle otherwise known as Catwoman with a grin as the woman smiled back at her.
"Do you need help Kitten?" Selina asked quietly.
"Just to the door please." Ann responded slowly moving her legs over the edge of the bed.
Selina wrapped an arm around her, helping her to her feet and toward the connected bathroom where Ann stumbled in. Closing the door behind her she took in her appearance in the mirror as she stumbled to the sink trying not to whimper. She looked paler with tangled black hair that stuck out in places from constantly being in a bed. After taking care of things the girl sighed leaving the bathroom and stumbled straight into Selina's arms who was waiting for her. Though a criminal the woman had always been one of Ann's favorite people and she kind of wished Bruce would ask her out.
"Does Bruce know you're here?" she asked as she was placed back in bed.
"Not exactly but I wasn't gonna let the bat keep me from one of my favorite birds." Selina answered tucking her in. "I've heard word of said bird being in a fight and taking a bit of a fall."
Ann frowned at her words, "I've already been lectured about that."
"I'm sure you have, Little Birdie."
"Bats doesn't let me get away easily, the boys had their way and Alfred has let me know his thoughts as well."
The two smiled at one another at that knowing the men of the Batfamily better than any other save the three other females who weren't present.
"I'm probably gonna be stuck here in the Manor for a good few months then no one will let me out of their sights even when I'm not grounded anymore." Ann told Selina who shrugged.
"Well they have their protective side to show." Selina told her brushing a strand of black hair from the girl's face. "And I can think of a few others who would want to watch you back."
"Are you one of them Selina?"
"Possibly Kitten."
Ann couldn't help but smile settling comfortably back against the pillows that still kept her upright slightly. The two turned to look at the door though when a noise from somewhere in the Manor echoed into the room.
"I believe I should go now." Selina said in almost a whisper.
Ann nodded, "Thanks for coming... Mom."
The word slipped out but she didn't regret it when she noticed Selina freeze in front of the window in which she meant to leave through. As Catwoman left, Ann smiled to herself letting her eyes close on their own once more hoping that she would be able to fly once more with her family and friends soon.
Hope you liked this story.
It's kinda a spin off thing for the future of Songbirds.
But this is sadly the last chapter for this so that I can focus on Songbirds and go from there. SO please leave a review and I will get back to you with the next story!