When Bruce Wayne entered the room, soaked in blood and carrying the unconscious Selina Kyle the only person who wasn't surprised was Clark Kent. His enhanced hearing had picked up the faint gunshot, as well as the sound of a bullet impacting flesh, and his friend's voice. All sounds which the music and several half-deaf knickerbockers had drowned out. He'd already been moving across the room when Bruce not-quite-rushed in. A wave of panic spread towards him as people noticed the besmeared billionaire and began to rush about, drawing the attention of those nearby them, until the whole room had erupted, like a basalt volcano.

"Come on everyone, let him through," Clark shouted as he tried to clear a path between Bruce and the doctors. "Lois call 9-1-1," he called over his shoulder.

"Already on it Smallville," she shouted back as Dick joined him in navigating the sea of panic.

"Alfred," the aforementioned Nightwing began, "get these people out of the room." Somehow Alfred managed to communicate to the crowd that as it was very likely that the assassin had already left there was no need to for panic and the guests either needed to wait calmly downstairs for the police to arrive.

"What happened?" Clark asked, when Bruce had handed Selina over to Leslie.

"Someone must be trying to get to me. And either they are an extremely bad shot or they're trying to play games," Bruce answered in his usual calm and detached manner, his heartbeat told Clark otherwise. It was almost romantic, in a sad and twisted way. Oddly, the dark glower that Clark associated with Bruce's Bat-mode hadn't quite solidified. Almost like, a part of him was fighting the change from Bruce to crimefight. The only sure thought he was thinking was, Who would know?

"Look Bruce, you should go to the hospital," Clark said quietly. "Nightwing can sit in the cave and monitor things for one night. No, I mean it. You'll be distracted and just be danger to yourself if anything should happen. Trust me, I know." Bruce started to protest, but what Clark had said got to him. The man was right, after all, Clark had been through this before. "Besides, didn't you tell me that even crime takes a break for Christmas?" And for the first time in a long time Batman gave way to Bruce Wayne.

* * *

Gotham Memorial Hospital

Christmas Day

I'm floating in darkness. Somewhere, I hear someone moaning, it takes awhile for me to realize that it's me. But I can't feel anything. Am I dead? I decide that the best way to find out is to open my eyes and take a look. Bad idea. In one flash of bright light all the pain comes flooding back.

"Nope, definitely not dead," I mutter. I hear a chuckle. Bruce. I open my eyes again, the light isn't quite as bright as it was before. To the side I can see the rosy glow—is it sunset or sunrise—on the curtains. Either way, what was he doing here? Shouldn't he be holed up in the Batcave, trying to solve this as usual? Or beating the evidence out of some poor lackey? Bruce doesn't do non-constructive things, especially not when there is a crazy, cat-hating, trigger happy maniac out and about.

"How do you figure that?" Great, he's trying to be funny.

"Well, if I were dead, I don't think I'd hurt this much," I began. "And secondly, if I am dead, then God looks an awful lot like my ex-boyfriend." He grinned, not just smirked, Bruce—Batman—gave me a full-fledged smile.

Wow.

Talk about taking my breath away. He should do it more often—when I'm not in pain. Then I realized that he looked relieved. He had actually been worried about me?

"What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be on patrol?" I asked so quietly he had to bend down.

"It's Christmas, you know things are usually quiet during the holidays. Besides, I don't think I would have been much use to anyone last night," he said looking away.

"Bruce," I said sleepily, he looked at me—was that concern? "Tell Leslie that she's going to have to find a new date. I'm tired of getting shot." I joked, wearily. He just looked at me, in a way he never had before. He'd been thinking last night, I could tell. "Merry Christmas Bruce." I could feel myself drifting off, but I smiled. Maybe things would work out my way after all. Just before I fell asleep I heard Bruce's voice come quietly,

"Merry Christmas Selina."

This is not the end...I repeat, for those of you panicking like I would be, ;D This is not the end.

It's a bit short I'll admit, but I didn't want to get into the second part of this story arc in the same chapter. I know, I was mean to leave ya'll at that cliff hanger, but you knew I wouldn't kill of Catwoman. A couple of Hush references up there...And I think "God must look an awful lot like my ex-boyfriend" has to be one of my favorite lines that I've ever written (even if it's not very original).

Real quick...I'm thinking about starting a little something on Fiction Press account to help people out with writing prompts (it's so hard to find good ones online). Basically, what I"m thinking about doing is posting four or five words (adjectives and nouns) on a semi-regular basis to help people exercise their wiriting skills. I'd also be posting my own story (which is where the semi-regular part comes in). Give me a line and let mw know what you think. I'll put a poll up. If you like the idea, come lemme know. Figured I put this little blurb on my Fan Fic account because I have a larger audience her, but the actual piece would be on Fiction Press.

And as always, please R&R!!!