Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Chapter Thirteen

It's been a long time since I last set foot inside Wayne Enterprises. Unlike last time, I won't need an appointment to come and see Bruce.

Whenever I had to come and see Bruce during the day, I'd have to call his secretary and she'd end up penciling me in about a week later. The last time I stepped into this building, I opened the doors, marched straight to the elevator and up to Bruce's floor. I didn't stop when the secretary told me he was in the middle of a meeting, I just threw open the doors and walked up to Bruce.

Both of our tempers flared as we argued back and forth. He kept telling me that I was acting like a child by coming in the way I did, while I shot back that I wasn't some business associate he could put into his schedule for fifteen minutes, and then brush off.

We were both right.

I was acting like a kid and he was treating me like some small-time businessman.

I took the elevator to the top floor of Gotham's tallest building. Leaning against the back wall, I watched as the numbers went up as the elevator ascended. When it came to a stop and the doors opened, I stepped out and buttoned one of the two buttons on my sports coat.

I walked up to the secretary's desk and said, "Hi. Could you tell Mr. Wayne that Dick Grayson is here to him?"

It was a different woman from the last, but that's not really surprising. Bruce goes through secretaries like babies go through diapers.

Another baby analogy. Clear sign that the new one is on the way, now that the first six months of Kory's pregnancy have passed.

"Mr. Wayne, there's a Mr. Grayson here to see you," the secretary stated, her voice very nasally.

"Send him in," Bruce replied through the intercom. I was walking toward his office door before she could even point it out to me.

The office was as large and empty as I remember it. His desk was still set in front of the large window overlooking the city. A few pictures sat on it, while some were hung on the wall. Three leather chairs were still sitting at the desk, the largest behind it.

Bruce looked up from the forms he had been reading and the tiniest smile appeared on his face. It wasn't much, but I couldn't help but return it.

I closed the door behind me before slowly walking over to him and extending my hand.

"Hey Bruce," I greeted him when he shook my hand. He replied with a nod before letting go of my hand and allowing me to take a seat.

"So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" he asked once I sat down.

"I've been thinking a lot recently about how it isn't enough," I started, and Bruce looked confused but waited for me to continue. "No one respects or fears a police officer's badge and, as long as I keep one on me and keep pushing the laws this way, all that's going to end up happening is more of my family and friends being put in danger. I need something else. Something more. I was hoping you could help me with that."

Bruce leaned back far in his chair and tilted it so he could look out the window. "I believe I have the perfect thing to help you." He turned his gaze to me and sat straight again. "I'll just give Lucius a quick call to see how a certain project of ours has been coming along. After that-"

Bruce was cut off by a piercing scream from outside and we both jumped out of our chairs.

Seconds later, the door burst open and my eyes narrowed upon seeing the trio that casually walked in as if they owned the place.

Dr. Simon Jones. He was a former scientist of Bruce's. Got fired because his plans for products were psychotic and bordered between mind-control and torture. Two things Bruce was strongly against.

Emil LaSalle. He was the man who hired the sniper to kill Jason a few years back. He didn't do it because he was racist, though, but more out of revenge. He likes to deal with time and, when both Bruce and the mayor suggested he take some time off of work. He ended up having an extremely bad day and laid the blame on Bruce and the mayor.

In the center of the group stood Laura DeMille, also a former scientist of Bruce's Research and Development department. Has an obsession with things that like to stretch and wanted to test a new product she had created. She tried forcing some other employees into it but Bruce caught on quick, fired her, and threw her out. When she broke into Wayne Labs, a few miles away from here, I was the one that caught her and brought her in.

Three people with grudges against both Bruce and I.

I should have expected something like this.

"Well, isn't this a coincidence," Laura stated as if in shock. A large smile graced her narrow face. "Well, at least you saved us the trouble of a ransom note, Mr. Grayson. Now that we have both of you, there's really no need for it."

"What are you three doing in my office?" Bruce growled.

"Why, kidnapping you and taking over Wayne Enterprises of course," Laura replied again. "Really, isn't it obvious what we're here for? Honestly, Mr. Wayne, I must say you're a pretty boy, but there's not much under those looks, is there? No matter." She turned to her accomplices. "Grab them both and let's leave. Knowing how much this city relies on Mr. Wayne, and how much Commissioner Gordon relies on Mr. Grayson, it'll only be a matter of time before we're swarmed."

Huh. She doesn't know the half of it.

LaSalle and Jones are sticks and like to rely on their inventions to do the work for them. That being said, I've got to take them down first.

"I wouldn't bother reaching for your gun, detective. You'd just end up wasting bullets."

Gotham cops are known for shooting off their mouths as much as their guns. Only a few go hand-to-hand, and no one really keeps track of who.

I smirked at her.

"Who said I was going for my gun?"

Just as Dr. Jones reached into his coat pocket, I bull rushed him. I've learned just how handy my high school football training could be, over the years.

Now's the time to make your move, Bruce. C'mon, don't tell me you just decided to learn kickboxing for fun!

As I put Jones into a strong chokehold, Bruce moved into his fighting stance and kicked Emil in the face, before the former businessman could do anything.

Laura somehow snaked around him and grabbed him from behind. She held a gun directly to his temple and smirked cruelly.

"This would be the reason you shouldn't take out your gun, detective," she told me as she tightened her grip on Bruce's neck. Dr. Jones fell limp in my arms and I dropped his unconscious body to the floor. "I know it would only take a second for you to shoot, but it would also take only a second for me to move your father, here, in the bullets path.

"You lose."

I lost once. I gave up once. I'm not going to do it again. I'm not going to let them down again.

My parents…

I let them fall. I knew he shouldn't have been there, but I didn't try to talk to them. Not as hard as I should have.

Ryan…

I left him alone. After I promised Kory I'd watch him and keep him in my sight.

Roy…

I…forgot. I was so lost in my rage that I forgot about one of the few people who wouldn't let me give up.

I'm not going to let anything happen to Bruce.

I pull out my gun and aim it at her head. She takes a step back, surprised that I actually pulled my weapon out.

Bruce's eyes narrowed on the gun. He has a thing about them. Hates it whenever one's pulled out.

Can't blame him. If it was a gun that shot and killed my parents, I'd hate 'em for a while too.

It wasn't, though. It was a knife that cut the trapeze rope which caused them to fall to their deaths. And yet, I'm not afraid of heights and I carry a Swiss pocketknife on me at all times.

Sorry Bruce, but you're going to have to get over this one. It's either you or her.

I fired, but moved my gun about an inch to the side the instant before. She pulled him closer to her at the last second, but the bullet whizzed past both of their heads.

I pulled out my pocketknife while her eyes were still closed in fear, flipped it open and threw it at her. The blade sliced into her hand and caused her to drop her gun in pain.

She fell to her knees and Bruce instantly moved away from her, kicking her bloody gun away in the process.

I walked up and slid my knife out of the palm of her hand.

"Can't say I wasted a bullet now, can ya?" I asked as I looked down at her. "Who sent you here?"

"W-we came on our-our own," she replied weakly before losing consciousness.

I don't even know why I bothered. When I questioned all the others, they just came up with the same answer. When I questioned all the others they just came up with the same answer. When I asked who broke them out, they'd just stare blankly at me.

Someone brainwashed them. If Blood hadn't answered with the same blank stare, I'd think it was him. Of course, the person who broke them all out could have just used the same tactics I used to catch Blood.

Two crooks left and I'm nowhere near close enough to solving this stupid case. I have my theories, but no proof to back them up yet.

Waiting for the next move is all I can do.

A/N: Yeah, I know its been a while and this is a pretty short chapter, but I hope you still like it. I wrote this one while I still had a bit of writers block, added some things to it after and pulled a bunch of stuff out that didn't really make sense. Simply put, this chapter was originally longer but that version just didn't make a lot of sense and didn't fit that well with the rest of the story.

Good news, though. I no longer have writers block! Bad news is, school started a few weeks ago and it's cutting into my writing time, so it could be a while before I update again.

Please review!