The Night of Scarecrow

The bright sunlight woke Abby up this time instead of the constant wheezing of sickly Bruce. At first she didn't realize where she was at first, but then she remembered Alfred had convinced her to move her air mattress across the room. He didn't want her to have Bruce keep her up all night just as he did the nights before. She didn't mind it though. Just as long she was within a seconds' distance away from him, she was satisfied. Whispers gradually made their way into her ears until they were at a full sound. Abby tried to ignore it, but she was awake enough to not be able to go back to sleep.

"I've felt these effects before," said familiar tired voice. "But this was so much more potent. It was some kind of hallucinogen weaponized in aerosol form."

The voice sounded painfully familiar, but it couldn't be possible.

"You've been hanging out at in the wrong clubs, Mr. Wayne," said the voice of Lucius.

It was him!

"I called Mr. Fox when your condition worsened after the first day," said Alfred's voice.

Abby sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"I analyzed your blood," Lucius stated. "Isolating the receptor compounds and the protein based catalyst."

"No offense, Lucius," Abby yawned, "but I'll heard from that statement after analyzing blood was blah-B-blah."

They all turned their heads towards her. Alfred sat in a chair next to Bruce's side, Lucius stood next to him and Bruce sat up on his bed with a glass of water in his hand.

"Good morning, Miss Wayne," greeted Alfred. "I trust you slept well."

"Semi-well," she got up to her feet. "But I slept. Now about that scientific thing, Lucius I did not understand a word of it."

"Yeah, and am I supposed to understand any of that?" asked Bruce, confused as well.

"Not at all," smiled Lucius. "I just wanted you to know how hard it was. Bottom line, I synthesized an antidote."

Bruce raised his eyebrows. "Can you make more?"

Abby's eyes slightly narrowed at Bruce. What would he want with those antidotes?

"Planning on gassing yourself again, Mr. Wayne?"

He smirked at the comment. "You know how it is, Mr. Fox. You're out at night, looking for kicks, someone's passing around a weaponized hallucinogen."

Unbelievable. Even after nearing death, Bruce still had that childish personality.

"Bet that's what got you the first time," she teased.

He shrugged. "My date was boring so I had to leave, sue me."

"I'll bring what I have of the antidote," said Lucius. "It should inoculate you for now."

He turned to leave. "Alfred always a pleasure."

"Lucius," Alfred replied.

"So how are you feeling, Bruce?" asked Abby, walking towards his side.

"Much better," answered Bruce. "How about you? How've you been the past two days?"

Alfred answered for her. "Just plain worried is the way to describe it. She never left the room either, except when Mr. Fox brought out the needles."

She shivered at the thought.

"That's right, you're afraid of needles, aren't you?" Bruce pointed out.

Abby was taken aback. "You remember?"

"How can I forget? You literally broke out of the doctor's office as if it were a prison for your shots before kindergarten."

She blushed in embarrassment. "Yeah, good times."

"Well, I'd better go make preparations for your birthday party, Master Wayne," said Alfred, getting up. "I'll take this for you."

Bruce handed his now empty glass. "Thanks Alfred."

He gave a nod before leaving.

"Well, happy birthday," she smiled meekly.

"Thanks."

"Mind if I ask how old you are?"

"Not at all, I'm thirty."

Her eyes widened. "Wow, that's young."

"Does that come to some kind of shock to you?"

"Not really…it's just that most my friends' parents are like in their mid-forties or something. It feels kinda weird to me to be fourteen years old and have a dad just turn thirty."

He shrugged. "You're mother and I had you earlier than most people. It's not your fault."

"I know, but the feeling's still the same."

"Imagine what it was like for your mom back in high school. Sometimes she felt like a complete outsider, but she kept her head up high and made it through. I admired her for that."

"Can I ask you something really quick?" she asked cautiously.

"Sure."

"What happened to you that night? You know, when you got gassed."

Bruce took a few moments before answering. "I don't know. I left my date; I was walking to my car, the next thing I know I can barely breathe. I called Alfred to come get me before I got worse. That's all I really remember. Why do you ask?"

Abby sighed to herself. So it wasn't her fault.

"I'm just curious," she answered. "But anyway, I gotta go take a shower before I start stinking up the place."

Bruce must've spotted her faded bruise because when she turned to leave he stopped her. "Where'd you get that?"

"You know," she grinned sheepishly, "I really don't want mess up your birthday, so I'll tell you tomorrow."

Abby walked as fast as she could to her room before Bruce could ask any more questions.

Once she had finished taking her shower and putting on a fresh set of clothes, she ventured to her closet. She desperately searched for a dress for the party. Abby knew that she was going to need something very extravagant if she was going to the party as the Princess of Gotham. Plus this would be the first time Bruce's rich friends would actually talk to her considering she was now an important figure. Personally, she didn't quite understand why Bruce considered them his friends. They were just in the same upper class as him. That's all they seemed to agree on. She continued to search for a dress, but all of it led to a dead end.

It was then she realized she didn't pack a dress. She didn't expect to be going to a party when packing to stay at Wayne Manor. Oh well, knowing Rachel would stop by, she would probably bring a dress for her. Abby yawned. She was still tired. She took the time she had to nap in her comfortable bed.

When Abby woke again, it was about close to four o'clock. Realizing that she hadn't had anything to eat yet, she headed towards the kitchen. As she went down the stairs, she not only heard the decorators flourishing the main room, but her mother's voice. At that she bolted for the front door.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in?" Abby heard Alfred ask.

"I have to get back, I just wanted to leave a couple things," said Rachel's voice.

"Mom?"

Rachel and Alfred both stood on the steps of the front door. She held a hanger in her hand draped with a cover presumably to be her dress.

"Hey Kiddo," she beamed.

Abby rushed to hug her mother. It seemed forever she had seen her.

"Rachel?" Bruce's voice came from behind.

Bruce approached them, still in his pajamas, while Alfred passed him and handed him a small box. They parted from their hug as Rachel smiled at Bruce.

"Looks like someone's been burning the candle at both ends, it must've been quite an occasion," Rachel commented.

"It's my birthday," he grinned.

"I know. I'm sorry I can't come tonight. I was just dropping off your present."

Abby was surprised at the news. "You're not coming?"

"You've got better plans?" said Bruce with a hint of disappointment.

"My boss has been missing for two days," explained Rachel, solemnly, "which, in this town, means that I should start looking at the bottom of a river."

"You mean Carl?" asked Abby.

"Unfortunately."

"That's too bad. He was one of the only boyfriends I didn't mind."

Rachel opened her mouth to add to the comment, but obviously left it alone.

"Rachel—"

Bruce was cut off by Rachel's phone.

"Excuse me," Rachel answered her phone.

"Don't feel bad, that happens to me too," Abby whispered to Bruce.

"Rachel Dawes....Who authorized that?....Get Crane down there now!...Don't take no for an answer! Call Dr. Leeman. Tell him we'll need our own assessment on the Judge's desk by morning."

Rachel hung up her phone with force. There were only a few times when Abby heard Rachel with that irritated tone, one: when she was questioning a criminal or two: when she was angry with her.

"What's wrong?" asked Bruce.

"It's Falcone. Dr. Crane moved him to Arkham Asylum on suicide watch."

Rachel put her phone in her purse.

"You're going to Arkham now? It's in the Narrows, Rachel."

Abby caught the protective tone his voice.

Rachel in return gave him a forced smile. "You enjoy your party, Bruce. Some of us have work to do. And here's you dress, Abby. You left it at home when you were packing."

"Thanks," said Abby as she handed her dress to her.

"Have fun Sweetheart. I'll see you when I can."

"Be careful," Bruce added.

"Happy Birthday," she said briskly before walking to her car.

Wait, Falcone, the city's crime lord, in Arkham Asylum. It just didn't add up. But coincidentally Crane issued this. It was then she realized it was no coincidence. Abby ran after her mom.

"Mom, wait!" she called after her.

Rachel snapped her head up as she opened her car door. "What is it?"

"You shouldn't go to Arkham. I don't have too good of a feeling about this."

"Relax, I'll be fine. You just have fun with your friends tonight, okay?"

"But Mom—"

"Look Honey, not to be rude but I gotta go. Just have fun for me, alright. I'll see you soon."

Rachel got into her car and drove off before Abby could respond. As soon as she couldn't see Rachel's car in view, she ran inside past Bruce.

There was no time to think. Something horrible was going to happen to Rachel and she didn't even know it. Abby, without any moment of thinking this through, placed her dress in her closet and readied herself to go back to the Narrows. According to her time limit, she was not able to pack as much as she would want to. A cell phone, twenty dollars, and a jacket was all she packet for the trip.

Once she was finished, she ran for her balcony doors. She tried to turn the knob, but it was jammed. She went for the window, but it wouldn't budge.

"Dang Alfred!" she cursed under breath.

He must've locked everything when she was watching Bruce. Oh well, there were other ways. Abby almost immediately raced for the kitchen. She didn't see Alfred in sight, but she still kept an eye out. He was just one of those people that knew about anything possible. While sneaking by the decorators, she stealthily rushed through the main room. The kitchen was unfortunately almost filled with caterers. Geez, all this for just one birthday party. Alfred was definitely overworking himself. With quick thinking, she grabbed one of the covered silver rolling carts and ducked right next to it. She held onto it while she slowly crawled to the back door.

Thankfully, she had luck with her little plan. Abby nearly bolted to the road when she got outside. She just hoped that she would get there on time.

It was dark by the time her taxi made it to Arkham. She tossed the money to the taxi driver as she got out.

"Keep the change," she said to him.

When the taxi drove away, her logic finally caught up to her. What was she thinking? Arkham was place for nut cases and the Princess of Gotham wouldn't last that long there. She relied on the hood of her jacket to hide that title from her. Besides she was only there for one reason. To save her mom from the clutches of Crane. How she would do this, she didn't know. Instead of entering at the front door she looked for the back door. Going to the front would result in a call home to Bruce. Plus more secrets were revealed in the back door than the front.

Before taking one step at the back of the building, she caught a glimpse of two men walking into the facility. One man didn't close the door right when he entered. She took this as her golden opportunity and went for the door. Once inside, she wandered through the halls.

She never realized how big this place actually was until now. Abby had no idea where in the world Crane would take Rachel, but it was getting on her last nerve. Suddenly she heard distant voices down the hall. It must've been the doctors or some sort of official here. If they found her, Abby's plan would be ruined. She had to think fast. The door labeled, Stairs gave her the perfect opportunity. She swiftly opened the door and entered the room revealing a staircase only pointing down. Maybe he took her somewhere underground, she thought. Besides that's what all moles like Crane did these days. As she went deeper down the steps, she heard the running of water. Running water in an asylum? This was definitely something to look into. The flight of stairs finally ended at the door at the bottom. She quietly peeked through the cracks of the door before opening. Seeing that the hallway was empty, she proceeded.

Abby followed the hum of running water. She arrived at the balcony and froze. Below the balcony was a woman laid on a couple boxes with Crane, his covered by his potato sack, hovering over her and a few other men surrounding him. Wait that woman was Rachel! She was too late. She clinched the railing in anger.

"Who knows you're here?" Crane asked in his cool sly voice.

In response, Rachel shook her head from side to side, taking deep breaths. She closed her eyes as if she was afraid of the sight of Crane. He did something to her. She just knew it.

"WHO KNOWS?"

His scream made Abby's heart skip a beat. Rachel yelled out a fearful scream.

"Hey! Who are you?!"

The demand came from one of Crane's henchmen obviously aimed at her. Without a word, Abby sprinted for the door.

"After her!" Crane commanded.

Just as Abby was about to reach for the door, she fell to the floor turning her ankle in the process. A strike of pain came from her ankle. She tried to get back up to her feet, but that clearly proved impossible. Out of all the times to sprain her ankle, why this one? The henchmen didn't waste a moment in picking her up and dragging her to Crane. In the meantime, her ankle piercing with pain because of the henchman's careless dragging across the floor. The pain finally stopped when she came face to face with Crane.

"I see you have your mother's judgment in coming down here," he said smoothly. "Oh well, I gave you a couple of fair warnings."

Abby's eyes widened. "That black mailing was you?!"

"Who else would've wanted your mother out of the way more than me?"

She struggled through her captor's tough grip. "I swear if you did anything to her, I'll—!"

"Let's not make threats now. Especially since you have such limited time left."

Crane's potato sack blocked her from seeing or at least guessing what devious plan was on his mind. Now that she thought about it, he looked more like a scarecrow with it on. Before Abby could ask why, she heard a loud noise from above. Everyone at that moment of time looked around. Crane took off his sack and ran his fingers through his thick dark hair.

"He's here," said Crane.

"Who?" asked one of the men.

"The Batman."

Abby couldn't help, but feel relieved.

"What do we do?"

"What anyone does when a prowler comes around…call the police."

Oh no. Abby knew well enough that the cops were after Batman. Even if they found Crane guilty, they would still take Batman into custody.

"You want the cops here?" the man looked at him incredulously.

"At this point they can't stop us," he said in low voice, "but the Batman has a talent for disruption. Force him outside and the police will take him down. Go!"

"What about her and the girl?"

Abby looked down at her mother. She looked exactly like Bruce when he was sick, except worse. Anger and worry rose up within her.

"She hasn't got long. I gave her a concentrated dose. The mind can only take so much."

She tried to fight the tears that she felt. C'mon Batman, please help us, she begged mutely.

"And the girl," he continued, "can stay with me. The Batman might think twice before striking."

Without any objection, her captor handed her to Crane. He forcefully held her against his chest as he told some of his henchmen to go ahead.

"The things they say about him…can he really fly?"

"I heard he could disappear."

She didn't know about the flying, but she knew by now that he could disappear.

"Well," said Crane. "We'll find out, won't we?"

Crane forced her to move back with him. God, she hated her ankle now. He took her underneath a staircase where he put on his mask again.

"Don't say a word or else you'll be seeing fear yourself," he hissed in her ear.

Abby did not say a word or make a sound after that. Another noise from Batman came. He was close. Everyone—including Abby desperately looked around for him. She watched as the men became fearful. With one soft zip Batman appeared behind one of the men. He took his arm and shot the gun in his hand toward another man's foot. As she watched him battle the rest of the henchmen, she couldn't help, but be amazed. Batman was so clever and skilled it was hard to believe.

She suddenly felt her body being lifted off of the ground by Crane. While she was still unwillingly attached to him, he dove for Batman. He pointed some kind of spray bottle at him. It must've been him that sprayed her dad in the first place! Now she was mad. Before he could spray anything, she kicked him in the shin with the back of her foot.

"That was for my dad!" she shouted.

In the moment that he loosened his grip, she freed one arm. With that free arm, she punched him in the stomach.

"And that's for my mom!"

Before she had time to blink, Crane punched her on the cheek far harder than Ethan did and pushed her to the ground. Getting up, she rubbed her cheek and looked up. Batman had grabbed Crane by his hair.

"Taste of your own medicine, Doctor?" said Batman in his raspy voice.

He grabbed Crane's sleeve and sprayed smoke in his face. Batman then took Crane held him up in the air, holding only his head. Abby quickly got up and limped over to Rachel.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded from Crane.

Abby shouted to Rachel, "Mom…Mom wake up! Please wake up!"

"Who are you working for?"

She looked in time to see Crane's face full of fear.

"Ra's. Ra's al Ghul," whispered Crane.

"Ra's al Ghul is dead. Who are you working for, Crane?"

"Dr. Crane isn't here right now. But you'd like to make an appointment—"

Sirens rang all around them. Batman threw Crane to the ground and walked towards Abby.

"There's something wrong with my mom," said Abby, "and I can't figure it out. Please help me."

Batman lifted Rachel in his arms. "Follow me."

Abby went as fast as she could to follow him. A sprained ankle didn't really help anyone in this case.

"Are you alright?" he looked back at her.

"I'm fine," she responded coldly. "Don't worry about me. Worry about my mom right now."

As ignorant as he was, he walked back to her. "Lean on me and hold on to my arm."

"I told you I'm fine."

"Don't argue!"

Within an instant, Abby grabbed onto his arm.

He pulled her over to a circular room with a curved staircase and stopped.

"Can you stand on your own?"

"Yeah, I've sprained my ankle like a million times."

Once she let go of Batman's arm, he jumped up into the air. He really could fly. He returned within a few moments notice and grabbed her by the waist. They zipped up to what seemed to be the top of the building. He gently set her down on the platform.

"Lie down," he commanded. "You're ankle will get worse if you stand on it."

Abby lied down without any objection. It was already killing her enough as it is.

"Do you know what's wrong my mom?" she almost demanded.

"She was sprayed with a toxin," he kneeled down to her, examining her sprained ankle. "It's not broken, it's just swollen. But you won't be able to walk on it for a couple hours."

"Just my luck," Abby snorted.

"I'll be back. Watch your mother while I'm gone."

Abby crawled toward her mother as Batman jumped back down. The symptoms were working a lot faster than it did with Bruce. This worried her greatly. Batman came back up with a brown haired man and horn-rimmed glasses. His eyes widened at the sight of Abby.

"Sergeant Gordon?" she said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Abby didn't exactly know him personally, but she had met him through Rachel. From what she had heard, he was one of the only honest cops in Gotham.

"I could ask you the same thing," said Gordon.

She didn't answer, but she pointed at Rachel. Apparently it was explanation enough.

"What's happened to her?"

Both Gordon and Batman joined Abby in hovering over Rachel.

"Crane poisoned her with a psychotropic hallucinogen, a panic-inducing toxin," Batman answered facing Gordon.

Gordon reached into his pocket. "Let me get her down to the medics."

"They can't help her, but I can."

The bright lights abruptly flashed on, nearly blinding Abby. The police were on their way.

"Maybe I should go to the meds, Batman," Abby suggested. "I've sprained my ankle; I'll just slow you down."

"No, I have all the medical attention you need just stay with me," he rejected. Then he turned his attention to Gordon. "Get her downstairs. Meet me in the alley on the narrow side. I'll take Abby with me. Crane's been smuggling his toxin hidden in Flacone's drugs and they're dumping it into the water supply."

Abby's heart once again skipped at beat. So that was the running water she was hearing before. What was this master plan?!

"What was he planning?" asked Gordon. He must've been wondering the same thing.

"I don't know."

Great, a question Batman doesn't know the answer to.

"Was he working for Falcone?"

"He went to someone else," he paused. "Someone worse."

Abby couldn't think of anyone worse at the moment, but she remembered Crane mentioning a man named Ra's al Ghul—whoever he was.

Batman handed Rachel to Gordon. "I need to get her the antidote before the damage becomes permanent."

"How long does she have?" he asked.

"Not long."

Oh no, she was going to die! If only Abby had told Rachel about the black mailing earlier then maybe Rachel's life would be spared. Batman gently pulled her to him, holding her tightly.

"Hold on," he whispered in her ear.

She wrapped her arms around Batman's neck. Abby looked around as she heard faint squeaking and fluttering.

Gordon looked around as well. "What is that?"

"Backup."

Before she knew it, screams from the policeman outside echoed through the halls. It wasn't long before Abby saw the hoard bats circling up to them. Batman dropped something down the ground that made the bats circle downward. Without any warning, Batman jumped down along with her into the drop. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be afraid or not, but she did feel tons of adrenaline flowing through her. Her stomach seemed to have risen up to her chest by the time they reached the ground. From there he carried her instead of her leaning on him.

Thanks to the bats blocking her view, she didn't know where he was taking her. Abby didn't mind though. She trusted him now. He had saved her life four times by now and her trust was the least she could give him. With a few bangs here and there, they were out in the cool air again. Batman placed her on a soft cushion. Her eyes wandered around her surroundings. She once again in the Tumbler, except this time in the back seat. Batman left and came back with Rachel in his arms. He placed her in the passenger seat and jumped inside. The seats slowly elevated down as the cover of the Tumbler sealed them in.

The next thing she knew, the jolt of the Tumbler pushed her to the back of her seat.

Thanks for reading! Wow, that is one of the fastest update I've ever done. I have no idea what came over me. After I updated the last chapter, I started with this one and then I finished this just yestarday. It's probably because this story is kinda nearing towards the end and I want to start on the sequel. But don't worry there are plenty of chapters left including the car chase scene in the next one. Anyway there is one last round of voting for the title. So if you wanna vote I suggest you get moving. Like I've said before, I've reseted the poll so those who voted last time can vote again.

~Emyrox567