Batman Before

By Wildfire

Chapter Three

Terry walked slowly on the treadmill. He had been in physical therapy for a couple days now, and would be going back to school tomorrow. He was still nowhere near his old strength, but he was getting better every day; he could walk for over a mile now without getting winded. He looks up as sees the door open, and the Commissioner walks in. "Hey, kid. I'm glad to see you're up and about. I saw Tim today. He says he's sorry and gives his regards"
Terry smiles. "Good to know he's doing okay." He stops the treadmill and carefully steps off, holding his side as he does so. "So what brings you here"
"Just wanted to see how you were doing. Mary and I went out for tea; she's a sweet woman"
Terry cocks and eyebrow at her. "Mary? Since when are you on a first-name basis with my mom"
"Since you were shot and she wanted to talk to a cop to see all that was being done. She's a bright woman; you're lucky to have her"
"She's more stubborn than Bruce! In fact, even Bruce has trouble dealing with her at times." Terry smiles and runs a hand through his hair; it fell lightly over his eyes again. He walked back over to the bed, sitting down with a hiss. "Never knew getting shot could be so painful." He smiles.
Barbara laughs. "Well, I wouldn't recommend doing it again." She sat beside him. "Terry… have you ever thought about telling her"
Terry sighs. He didn't need to ask who the 'her' was; it was his mother. "No, she'd freak out. She'd make me stop and I have no interest in stopping." He looks down at the floor. "Bruce tried to tell me to stop… I told him no. He said we'd talk about it later, but I'm not giving up this suit!" his fists clench.
"Well, right now, I think the biggest thing is for you to get better and for Bruce and I to figure out how that shot went through you and not the suit"
Terry smiles and nods. "I'll be fine. I'm going back to school tomorrow"
She smiles and nods. "I know. Your mother tells me you have a special girl there, too"
"Dana? Nah, we broke up. We're still good friends, but not together anymore; this job takes too much out of you for any steady relationship to last"
Barbara frowns. "Terry, don't let the Bat take over your life. You have a right to be happy and live a nice life, just like everyone else. You don't want to grow up alone and have no one"
Terry knew she was talking about Bruce, but what could he say to that? He shrugs his shoulders. "I know, but right now I like being the Bat. Plus, I don't think Dana was the girl for me. She's sweet but I need someone more outspoken, someone who can challenge me and I can fight with, and someone who'd understand why I'm Batman"
"Sorry, kid. There's not many people out there that would understand that, not really. In fact, your pretty much limited to the people who have in some way been involved in the Bat's family. So… me." Terry's eyes widen, then they both start laughing. "And here I thought you were happily married"
She laughs harder. "Well, I might make an exception for you." She stands and ruffles his hair. "Get some sleep, kid. I have a feeling going back to school may tire you out more than you think." She helps him lay down and covers him up. "Later, McGinnis." She left the room, closing the door softly.
Terry lay in bed, thoughts racing through his head. Sure, Barbara was making a joke about her being his only choice, but as he lay there thinking, he wondered who else could understand him. Who would love him for who he was?

7878

It was only midday and Terry was already gasping for breath while holding his side. The Commissioner was definitely right when she had said the school day would tire him out. He takes a deep, shaky breath; his side felt like it was on fire.
"Terry"
Terry looked up to see Dana standing there, looking concerned. "Terry, are you okay?" He nods, not quite able to form words at the current time. "Maybe I should get you to the nurse's office. You're pale as a ghost"
Terry shakes his head. No, the nurse would send him home and he'd end up back at Wayne's house in that damn bed with that damn treadmill and those damn doctors standing over his shoulder.
"I'm... fine. Just got winded"
She sighs. "Alright. Well, at least let me walk you to class"
Terry smiles. "Aren't I suppose to walk you to your class"
She smiles, flipping her hair. "Not today. Today, I'm babying you." She takes his book bag.
"Jeez, McGinnis, can't you even carry your own bag? I knew you were a girl, but this is ridiculous!" Nelson stood behind them laughing with two others of his jock buddies.
Terry turns sharply and grabs his side as he does so. "Shut it!" His face was pale and his body had a slight tremor through it.
"Terry, forget it. Come on." Dana gently pulls at his arm.
Terry yanks his arm away. "Come on, Nelson. You can't beat me when I'm at full strength, maybe you can when I've been shot and I'm sick! But I dunno; even then I don't think ya have much of a chance. Come on, Nelson. I dare you"
Nelson glares, and his fists clenched. "I don't hit girls." He turned and walked away.
Terry growls, but allows Dana to lead him away. "Terry McGinnis, what were you thinking! He could have killed you!" Dana was glaring daggers at him.
Terry gave her a half smile. "I don't think he would have killed me. I doubt he wants to be the prettiest boy in prison." He winks and she actually smiles. She takes him to his class before hurrying off to her own.

7878

Terry slowly made it through each day of class. He was living back at home and things were slowly getting back to normal. Bruce had allowed Terry to keep the bat suit, for now, to avoid argument, but told him if he even tried to put it on he'd shut it down on Terry and not turn it back on. It had been almost a month since he had started school again and he almost felt normal. He still couldn't do any long-distance running, but the doctor said that that was more just from having to be laying down so much.
Over the month, Terry also felt like he was being watched more and more. At first, he figured it was just his brain picking up on everyone staring at him 'cause he had been shot. But as time progressed and the feeling kept growing, he figured he was being watched. He thought he even saw someone the other day, but he wasn't sure. He was going over to Mr. Wayne's house today to talk about Batman again; he'd bring it up then.
He jumped back to the now as a bell rang through the school. Class was over. He blinks, clearing his thoughts. Had he really been daydreaming that whole time? He yawns and grabs his book bag. He takes a second to stuff his materials in it and heads off, to head to Bruce's.
"Hey, Terry!" Max and Dana run up to him. "Wanna ride home?" Max asks, wiggling a new keycard in front of his noise. "I just got it. Brand new"
"No way!" He grabs the keycard and looks it over. "How did you afford it"
"Saving one's money helps a lot!" She smiles and takes the keys back. "So we're heading down to the Juice Bar. You wanna come"
"Nah, I can't. I got to go see Mr. Wayne. Talk about starting work again"
Max frowns. "You sure you want to go back?" She wasn't crazy about one of her best friends always being in danger.
"'Course. I love the job, it's fun, and pays great"
"And takes up all your time," Dana points out, crossing her arms. "I dunno, Terry. Maybe you should think about getting a different job. I mean, how fun can running errands for an old man be"
Terry hesitates before answering, "You're kidding, right? I'm dealing with a man that nearly ran Gotham for years. His insight on the world is amazing; I've learned so many things from him. It's going to help me advance any job I want in the future. There's no way I'd quit this job"
Max frowns, understanding what that meant, but Dana smiles. "I'm happy for you, Terry. I hope it works out for you"
"I hope you don't work yourself to death…." Max shifts her books, giving Terry a pointed look.
Terry smiles. "I doubt an old man could bring me down." He winks and heads out of the school, heading toward Bruce's house.
"It's not the old man I'm worried about…" Max mumbled under her breath.
"What?" Dana looks at her oddly.
"Nothing. Let's go." She hurries off toward her new car.

7878

Terry walked slowly to Bruce's house. It was a beautiful day, but the wind was blowing harshly. His coat was pressed firmly to his chest as the wind blew against him. His eyes squinted, so his hand went over them, trying to block the wind. The wind beat at him, as if trying to make him fall over; turn away to go back. He wasn't getting the message. In fact, he was just getting irritated that this damn wind wouldn't die down. His walk was so slow as the wind fought against him, that his legs were getting sore. He felt a strange twinge in his side. He looks down, hoping his wound wasn't acting up again. The last thing he needed was to be bedridden for another time. The first time practically bored him to death. His side twinges again. He gasps slightly and steps back, leaning against a wall. The wind beat on, his hair blowing to the side. Why was his side… hurting? No, it wasn't a pain; it was a funny feeling…. It felt…. Well, he had never felt this before. It didn't hurt, but it certainly didn't feel good, either. He holds onto his side, looking down at the ground. He had to focus…. The wind seemed to be blowing harder as he closed his eyes tightly, but he just couldn't focus. He felt someone touch his shoulder and he jerks up, looking into the eyes of a man. He looked to be in his thirties with a white lab coat.
"Hello, young man. Are you alright? You look pale." His voice was very calm and almost soothing. "Is there somewhere I can take you"
"I need to get the Wayne Manor... but I'm alright…. I just... I just needed to rest for a second…." Terry looks up and takes a deep breath. "But I thank you for your concern"
"Please, let me take you. You look like you could keel over at any moment. Come, now. My car is right over here…. Here, I'll give you my cell phone. You can call and give whoever it is a head's up you're coming and my license number, okay"
Terry glares. "No, really, I don't think so." He shrugs away from the man. "It's a nice gesture and all, but really I don't like strangers"
"Well, I can tell you who I am, and then you can"
"No, dude. I'm not some five-year-old you can con. I'm not going anywhere with you. Get lost!" He knew he was being slightly rude, but this guy was just irritating him. Why couldn't he have just gotten the clue and backed off…? "Well, Mr. McGinnis, I'm afraid I'll need you to, anyway"
Terry immediately stepped back when the man said his name. "Who are you?" His eyes narrowed.
"Well, on the risk of sounding corny… your worst nightmare." He chuckles at his own joke, then pulls out a small remote control. "I shot you a while ago with something that never left your system… and it won't until I remove it, which I won't. Well, say goodnight, Batman." He pushes down firmly on the button and then it did hurt… badly. Terry curls up on the ground and his eyes roll back into his head.

7878

Terry blinks his eyes a few times. What had happened? And he was upright. How was he waking up when he was standing up? Wait… he wasn't standing… he was being held? His foggy eyes drift up, looking up at his left arm. It was strapped down. Why? His eyes move back toward the center of the room and jumps when suddenly a man's face was right in his.
"Hello, Terry. I'm glad to see you're awake. I was starting to think I might have attacked you too soon. Sorry about that, by the way…. You know how science is…. You have to get the subject as soon as the product is ready for testing"
"'Ogecthic?" His tongue was thick and felt like is mouth was full of cotton. What had happened to him?
"Ohh, how rude of me. I completely forgot it'd dehydrate you…." Terry felt his chin ripped up and something cool flowed into his mouth. He swallowed quickly to avoid choking, but still ended up coughing slightly.
"There, now…. All better?" The man ruffles Terry's hair.
Terry groans; this man was more insane than his other enemies! "What do you want?" His voice cracked and felt raw.
"A test subject. You see, I've been working on this project and I need to test it…. But I can't test it on myself as, well-- First off, I'm not important enough in the past; and two, if it goes wrong, I won't be able to redo it. So what does any scientist do? Find a test subject, of course, but who? I needed someone that would make an impact so I would know it works"
Terry just stares at him. "What the hell are you talking about"
The man's face almost seemed to split in two from his smile. "My time machine!" He prances over to a large white door that just stood in the middle of the room. "Isn't it pretty?" The scientist pets the door like it was a special family animal. "She's my baby. I've been working on her for my whole life…. In fact, you may see me working on it when you go back. Oh, I wish I could bring you back here again so I could ask you questions"
"What do you mean? This is some kind of joke! Why me? I'm just a kid! Sending me back won't do you any good"
"But you're Batman! You don't think the papers in the past will not report on a second Batman"
Terry's eyes widen and he looks to the door back to the scientist.
"What? Wondering how I know? The attack at the mall. You must be wondering how you got shot…. It's a genus invention I made in my spare time. It'll only cut flesh! Not cloth, and nothing else. It's fantastic! I came across it almost completely by accident!
"You see, when I realized I needed to find Batman, I knew I had to come up with something that would track you. However, I figured a simple tracker would be removed and destroyed, so I thought in a bullet. But again, by the time I started tracking the bullet it would be removed, so I was thinking liquid 'cause you can't remove liquid. It was a complete accident that the substance not only holds it's own, but will only cut a certain thing. So from there it didn't take much to make it only cut skin, which also solved the problem of your bat suit. It's like those old movies…. Star Fights or something? They had glowing swords! I actually created that!" He pulls out a small pen-looking thing with a glowing side and slashes his arm down onto Terry's chest. Terry gasps and looks down as his shirt starts turning crimson from the blood spilling free from under it.
"Isn't it fantastic!" The man was practically giddy over this. "Anyway, back to the point: Time travel. I'll be sending you through soon. I'll give you your backpack, mostly 'cause I'm sure the bat suit is hidden in there somewhere, but I can't find where…. I don't suppose you'd tell me how you hide it in there?" He smirks at Terry's glare. "Didn't think so, but I wanted to try. Now, when you get back, try and make a scene so the papers will pick up on you. I'll be looking over them everyday to see if there's any change, alright"
"Why do you think I'd help you? And what even makes you think this thing would work"
"Oh, it'll work. Well, on some degree, you might be split and half of you sent one place and the other half somewhere else, but even that should make the papers! See, it really doesn't matter to me how you go, as long as you make the papers 'cause that's all I need. And even if I did care, it wouldn't matter because there's no way to send you home again, so I suggest you find a nice home down there.
"Now, back to business... Ohh, wait, I almost forgot. At the mall, you sent quite a few of my men to jail, and even more you injured. I promised them they could repay you a bit for that." He claps his hands and about twenty men walk in with nasty smiles on their faces. "What's a bad guy without minions, right"
Terry struggles against his bonds. No way was he getting thrown into some machine that would probably cut him in two! What about his mom and brother!
"Oh, and before they begin, when you get back you'll probably suffer some light memory loss…. Well, actually, you probably won't remember the last two days at all. So I suppose telling you this won't actually help, but hell, what can I say? I like to talk. Go ahead, boys." He turns his back to them and starts booting up the machine. "Oh, and Mr. McGinnis, you'll be happy to know you won't be the first to go through. Mr. Wuffy will." He pulls out a small black and white kitten from a box. "He'll make sure"
Terry didn't hear anything else as he felt a fist connect with his jaw, and another into his stomach. He felt the rain of fists for a while before he passed out, sagging into his bonds.