Homecoming

Chapter 2

A few nights had gone by with no sign of the Joker. Between the two of them, Jesse and Barbara had convinced Helena not to go looking for him. Huntress had been on her usual patrol route, when she saw the red and blue lights of a police car and decided to drop in on her favorite New Gotham Detective.

Jesse had just finished taking a statement from a witness, when a familiar shape emerged from the shadows. He stumbled back in surprise and said, "You really have to stop doing that to me."

"Aw, did I scare you, Detective? I'm sorry," Huntress replied, playfully. "So what's going on here?" she asked, trying to peer over his shoulder for a look at the crime scene.

"Serious police business," he replied, feigning a stern tone.

"C'mon, Reese. Maybe I could be of some assistance."

"The only thing I need from you," Jesse began, backing her into the shadows she came from, "is this…" He leaned in to kiss her, but she seemed distracted. "What is it?" he asked.

"I just…I feel like I'm being watched," she said, "For the past couple nights, when I've been on patrol, I can just feel these eyes on me. I can't shake it."

"I wouldn't worry too much," he replied, "All this talk about the Joker probably just has you more spooked than usual. The guy's a psychopath. He's even worse than that Harley character we took down not too long ago. Maybe you're just imagining things."

"Yeah…I hope you're right," she said, leaning in for the kiss she ignored earlier.

…..

The next night while patrolling the streets of New Gotham, Huntress still could not shake the feeling that she was being watched. She was walking down a dark alleyway when she sensed movement above her head. She looked up to see a shadow pull back from the roof. When she turned back to the alley before her, it took all her will not to show her fear.

The white, ever-smiling face, the purple suit, the green hair…the man who ruined her life stood before her. "So you're the one who's been following me," Huntress said.

"Who me?" the Joker asked.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard there was a new hero in New Gotham and I came to take them down. I see I've found her," he replied.

"Why do you care?"

The Joker looked surprised. "You don't know? I drove away Gotham's old Dark Knight. The world was finally drifting into madness. Now here you are, bringing order back," he paused, surveying her, "I wonder what tragic past led you to become this city's protector. Tell me…I didn't get your name…"

Oracle's voice was in Huntress's ear, imploring her not to tell him anymore, to get away as fast as she could, that she wasn't ready for this fight. But her words went unnoticed.

"They call me Huntress," she replied, brusquely.

"Huntress," he formed the word slowly, "Simple, catchy, elegant. I see why you chose it to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies."

Before she knew what was happening, Huntress was being rushed by the Joker. He was coming at her so fast. Suddenly, a dark shape leapt from the rooftop above and landed between her and the psychopath. She took in this stranger, clad in black, cape falling from his shoulders, and two pointed ears emerging from the top of his cowl. She knew who he was.

The Joker started to look nervous as the man advanced toward him in silence. "Batsy, old boy, how've you been? The silent treatment, eh? Is that any way to treat an old friend?" He paused and his face grew hard. "This isn't over, Batman." He threw something on the ground that erupted into smoke as the Joker disappeared, his laughter still echoing off the walls.

"It was you," Huntress said, realizing the truth, "You're the one who's been following me."

"Helena…" Batman began.

She cut him off, "No. Don't 'Helena' me. You left. This is my city now. You don't get to just swoop in and 'save the day.' Not this time."

Oracle's voice finally broke through to her. "Huntress, Bruce is there?" She could hear the mix of emotions in her voice: excitement, worry. "Bring him back to the watchtower."

"C'mon," Huntress reluctantly said to her father, "We're going to the watchtower. Oracle wants to see you."

"Oracle?" he asked.

"Barbara," she clarified, "She goes by Oracle now."

…

The elevator door opened and Barbara watched in shock as father and daughter stepped into the room. Bruce had removed his mask on the way up to reveal his familiar face and it's now permanently ragged expression. She knew the past seven years had not been easy on him. They hadn't been easy on any of them.

He took in the sight of Barbara in her wheelchair and his expression became even more pained. He walked right up to her and embraced her in a hug. "Barbara, I'm so…"

"I know," she said, "It's so great to see you." Dinah appeared at her side as Bruce rose to stand. "This is Dinah. She's Black Canary's daughter," she told him. "Dinah, I'd like you to meet Bruce Wayne, otherwise known as Batman."

Dinah went to shake his hand, "You're Helena's father." He nodded as he took her hand in his. Her eyes closed and she could sense all the pain he had experienced in his life. He carried it on his shoulders always.

Barbara asked her, "Are you alright?"

Dinah released his hand and said, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Suddenly, a beeping noise emanated from one of the computers. Barbara turned to check it out and said, "It's Reese. He's activated the Bat-Ring."

"Bat-Ring?" Bruce asked, slightly confused.

"What are the coordinates? I'll go," Helena said, quickly. She was eager to get out of there. Barbara gave her his location and she turned to go when Bruce's voice stopped her.

"Wait. Reese? Is that the guy I saw you with the other night?"

"Don't start this," Helena said angrily. "You don't get to tell me who I can spend time with. You have never been a part of my life. You have no authority over me," she paused to look him square in the eye, "I'm leaving."

Bruce watched his daughter walk away from him just as he did to her so many years ago. As he turned his attention back to Barbara, he asked in his best over-protective father tone, "How much do we know about this Reese guy?"

"Only that he's about the only honest cop left on the force and he cares about your daughter," she replied.

"That's not enough."

"Look Bruce, Jesse Reese makes Helena happy. I haven't seen her like this in a long time. And on more than one occasion, he's forgotten the rules and risked his job and his life to help her. He saved her life once," Barbara said, "Don't ruin this for her."

"Okay," he grudgingly agreed.

"I have a question," Dinah interjected, "Why did you come back?"

Bruce was taken aback. "I knew the Joker had returned."

"But how?" Dinah pressed.

Alfred emerged from around the corner and said, "I believe I can answer that."

"Alfred?" Barbara asked, "You knew how to reach him all these years? Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's not his fault, Barbara," Bruce said, "I asked him to keep it a secret. Anyway, he never knew where I was, only how to contact me."

"But you left. You abandoned your daughter and your friends. Why leave this one connection when you dropped every other one you had?" Dinah asked angrily.

"Dinah!" Barbara scolded.

"No, it's okay. She's right," Bruce said. He looked at Dinah. "I had to," he said simply, "I knew I had to leave, I had to get away from this place, but I could not sever myself completely from it. Too many things I cared about remained...it was a completely selfish act."

"You got that right," she mumbled.

"Dinah, stop!" Barbara yelled.

"No!" she yelled back, "How can you defend him after all that's happened? Think about what Helena has gone through because of him! I can't sit here and pretend to be glad that he's back. I won't do that to Helena."

After Dinah ran up the stairs and they heard the door slam behind her, Barbara said, "Bruce, I'm sorry. I think she's just transferring her anger toward her own parents on to you. Her story and Helena's are so similar."

"It's fine," he replied a little sadly.