Unsuspected

"Put on your seat belt," he said.

"Thanks for the update," she muttered, buckling in her seatbelt.

The Tumbler rocked to the side as Batman rolled over a police cruiser. She fell to her side. Dang this thing was tough! Abby was definitely in for the ride of her life. She clenched onto her seat as she straightened herself. She became even more stressed when police sirens began to ring behind them. Abby saw Rachel slowly regaining her consciousness.

"Stay calm," Batman said to Rachel. "You've been poisoned."

"Like that's going to keep her calm," Abby protested.

"Abigail, what are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

"Long story short, I followed you after I suspected Crane was up to something."

"That is one of the stupidest things you have ever done, Abigail!"

"I understand that, but right now we have bigger issues."

The tank jerked to the side causing Abby to fall back on her seat. Batman continued to drive recklessly as he avoided the police tagging behind him. He swerved forcefully into a street.

"Breathe slowly," he advised.

Although it was aimed at Rachel, Abby took his advice anyway. Who knew how long they would be in this mess? They continued on swerving and running over any obstacle that Gotham had to offer. As they kept going Abby could feel the police's rage behind them growing. Despite all of this chaos, Abby only had her focus on Rachel. She didn't seem like herself.

"Hold on," he said to Rachel, making a hard left turn.

"It's okay Mom we're gonna make it through this," Abby comforted her.

Rachel looked at her and nodded.

"Just think about this like we're at Six Flags again," said Abby. "Remember? I was six and I challenged Bruce to a candy cotton eating contest."

"I remember. You threw up afterwards," said Rachel in a soft voice.

Abby smiled at her while Rachel returned her eyes to the road. She wanted to keep her as calm as possible. A small memory would do just the trick. Abby's heart began to flutter when she realized where Batman had turned into. They were curving up a parking garage where the police were still chasing them. He was totally insane! Didn't he know there was a dead end to every parking garage?!

"What are you doing?!" Rachel apparently had the more courage to ask than she did.

"Shortcut," he answered briefly.

"You trying to get us killed?!" Abby argued. "There's no way out of this thing!"

Batman didn't answer her. Once he got at the top of the parking garage, he backed up (wreaking two cars in the process) and came to a halt. Yep, he was trying to them killed. That seemed to be a clear fact at that moment considering the police was now making a circle around them.

"Turn off your engine," ordered a cop. "Step away from the car."

"We're defiantly done for," she muttered.

"Trust me," said Batman before ducking under the dashboard.

Whatever Batman had planned it must've been something daring because the next thing Abby heard was BOOM! Batman had blown off a wall of the parking lot. He straightened up and put his hands back on the wheel. Her eyes got wide as the zoomed over to the hole. He was going it jump it! There was only a ten percent chance or less that he would make it. Abby took Rachel's hand and closed her eyes. For one moment she felt gravity escape her, then the next a thump to the ground. She opened her eyes again. They made it! They were alive! Unfortunately Rachel didn't feel as relieved as Abby did. She was still breathing faster than she should.

"Calm down, Mom please it'll be over soon," Abby half begged.

The Tumbler once again flew in mid-air, this time landing on a much diagonal and bumpy surface. At this point, Abby wasn't quite sure if should be afraid for her own life or for Rachel's sanity. Either way, they were flying off of rooftops with Batman. They flew up in the air one more time, but this time landing on the road. She couldn't have been greater for solid ground than now. Instead of Batman trying to avoid the police, he was now making them crash into the boundaries he avoided. Abby took her concentration off of the road for a minute and looked at Rachel. She was fading!

"Mom, stay awake please!"

Luckily a hard swerve in the road kept her awake. As Batman continued to drive recklessly, Rachel continued to fade. Abby did her best to keep her awake, but it seemed worthless. She would always find Rachel nearly closing her eyes.

"Stay with me," Batman said softly.

She observed him. He looked at her as if he had known her for a very long time. It seemed too familiar in Abby's taste. This was one of the only times Abby had seem Batman show some sort of compassion. Batman turned his attention to the road, returning to his focused self. Something seemed off and she was going to find out.

Batman ran through a barrier on the freeway, causing the police to finally stop. Yes, now that the police was out of the way Rachel could be saved. He ran through gate, leading them into what seemed to be a dark forest. Abby looked at her mother with a hopeful face, but it faded into scared one. Rachel was almost nearly losing consciousness.

"Mom! Stay awake please! I don't wanna lose you!"

"Just hold on!" Batman shouted.

Tears ran down Abby's eyes as she shook Rachel. "C'mon Mom! Please don't go. I need you. Dad needs you. Please."

It was worthless, Rachel was collapsing.

Batman took one brief look at her and yelled, "RACHEL!"

He returned his eyes to the front as the Tumbler leaped into the waterfall. Abby held wide eyes at him. His wasn't deep and groggy as she usually heard it. It sounded like a normal person. It seemed so familiar that she couldn't let it go.

Water soon splashed around them as they landed on a rocky surface. The tank soon came to a stop. Batman didn't seem to waste a moment when he opened the car. He jumped out of the car while Abby still looked at her unconscious mother. She still held on to her hand. There had to be hope. Batman could save Rachel. She knew he could. He had to. Abby could bare losing Rachel. She didn't want to go through that kind of pain again.

Batman came back with what seemed to be the antidote to Rachel's hallucinogen. He injected her with the needle. Abby let go of Rachel's hand as he carried her away to a table. She looked around at her surroundings. Bats squeaked and fluttered around the dark cave. I see where he got the bats, she thought. It was a little cold down here too. She was sure glad she was wearing a jacket. Before she realized it, Batman was unbuckling her seatbelt. Dang, that man was quiet. She didn't even hear him walking over. He picked her up and carried her to a table near Rachel.

"Is she going to be okay?" she asked him.

He set her gently on the hard table. "Yes, the antidote should work."

"How long until she's up?"

"Probably an hour or less. Now lie down."

Abby obeyed. Batman took off her shoe and began feeling around her ankle. He put his hand on that one spot that caused her to yelp in pain.

"Ow! God that hurts!"

"Sorry, I needed to find where your ankle felt most tender to place the ice," he said in his raspy voice.

He pulled out a small bag of ice and pushed it onto her ankle.

"Ugh, that stings," moaned Abby.

"Well, it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't gone to Arkham like your mother had said."

Abby caught the anger in his voice.

She sat up and looked at him. "I had to go there. She was danger and I had to get her out of it."

"I would've been able to get there on time without your help!"

"Hey, let's not forget who got there first!" she argued.

"Let's not forget who saved you from Crane after he held you captive!"

"I got out of that myself without your help, thank you very much!"

Abby fumed. What gave him the right to contradict her like that?

"But you got hurt in the process," cornered Batman.

"Yeah, but I got over it."

"It doesn't matter. You scared the people you loved half to death. Imagine if Crane decided to spray you with the toxin as well. What good would that do you?!"

"Who are you to question me like this?! It's my own life and I can take care of myself. Besides you're no different than me."

Batman looked her in eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind…you won't understand," she began to slide off of the table. "Just take me home and forget this thing ever happened."

"No," he stopped her, "tell me what's on your mind."

"No, it's nothing."

"Please, tell me how I'm no different than you are."

Abby sighed. "You're a regular person just like me. Despite me being the Princess of Gotham, I'm still a regular girl. And under that mask….I know that you're just a regular guy just trying to save Gotham. That's what separates you from Superman. He's got powers to help him, but you don't." She tapped her head. "It's all up here," she pointed to her heart, "and here that makes you great hero."

"A hero?"

"Yeah. You're actually the only person who made a difference. And to tell you the truth my life has changed since you've come into the picture."

Batman stiffened. "Thank you, but I can't let you to become emotionally attached."

She gave a confused look. "Why?"

"I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

"Please, I've got sprained ankle and a bruise on my cheek on my own account. I being hurt because of you won't make that much of a difference to me."

"Well, it does to me. If you were smart enough you would stay away."

Batman lied her down before she could respond.

"I'm going to take you home and give you the antidote in case, but before I do…I want you to promise not to tell anybody what happened. It all has to stay a secret. I'll tell your mother you said goodbye."

She felt a quick poke at her arm. "What about you?"

"I'm gonna find out what Crane's up to and stop him. But don't worry about it. Relax and get some rest.

Her vision began to blur as she closed her eyes. Abby felt unusually tired.

"It'll be okay, I promise," was the last thing she heard Batman say before completely blacking out.

Abby remembered it as one of the coldest days in Gotham City. It was actually one of those days in her childhood that she realized that the world could be very cruel to those who weren't careful. Living in Gotham she had learned this quite early on in her life. Abby remembered exactly how her day started on that fateful day. She had gotten ready especially fast because of the news that her father, Bruce had returned from Princeton University. Ever since he started going to school, she had barely seen him and these were one of those times that she did.

She bounced impatiently on the back seat of her car as her mother drove her to Wayne Manor. Although Rachel constantly told her to stop, she didn't listen. Abby was too excited to see Bruce to listen to anyone at the moment. Despite her excitement, she couldn't help but wonder why he had come home so early. Bruce usually came on her birthday and all the vacations he could get his hands on. Abby had tried to ask her mother the meaning of this, but Rachel just said he wanted to come for a surprise visit.

"Abby, you're gonna give yourself an anxiety attack if you don't stop that bouncing," Rachel looked at her through her rearview mirror.

She stopped bouncing. "What's an anxiety attack, Mommy?"

"It's something you'll have if you don't stop bouncing."

With that Abby stopped. But her excitement didn't die down. The car soon began to come to a complete stop. She lifted her head as high as she could go to peak outside of the car window. It was Wayne Manor! She had always enjoyed going there. It was so big! If only Renee could see her now. She would be so jealous. Abby unbuckled herself in great haste as Rachel opened the door. She grabbed her mother's hand and headed into the manor.

Rachel knocked a couple times before someone answered the door. An elderly man opened the door with a smile. Abby immediately embraced him.

"Alfred," she cried.

"Why hello there, Miss Wayne," he said. "How are you?"

"Excited!"

"She doesn't lie," said Rachel. "She was bouncing in the car on way here."

Abby parted from their hug. "Where's Daddy?"

"He's upstairs in his room," answered Alfred.

Without a word, Abby ran into the manor with glee. She ran up the stairs and through the hallways in search of Bruce. She stopped at a room with a figure inside who had their back turned. They tucked something in their brown coat and turned around. It was Bruce!

"Daddy!"

Abby jumped up into his arms.

"Hey there, Little Abby!" He held her in his arms. "Wow you've grown so big!"

"I just turned seven! And I'm little anymore."

"Really? Because the last time I checked your height you were up to my waist."

"But I'm taller than Renee!"

Bruce chuckled. "Are you two ever going to stop fighting?"

"No because she keeps starting it. I try ending it but it doesn't work."

"Alright, I'll take that. Where's your mother?"

"Mommy's downstairs talking to Alfred."

"Well let's go see her."

Bruce carried her around the manor in search of Rachel. In the meantime, Abby was explaining what had happed to her since the last visit he had been there. Instead of taking her to the main room, he took her to the kitchen. Bruce placed her gently one the ground as soon as they got there.

"Alfred still keeps the condensed milk on the top shelf," said Bruce.

He faced a different direction. Abby looked in that direction and saw her mother standing by the island counter.

Rachel smiled. "Hasn't he noticed you're tall enough to reach now?"

Abby went to hug Rachel's waist.

"Old habits die hard, I guess," he said.

"Never used to stop us anyway."

"No, it didn't. How's your mom?"

"She misses this place," Rachel ran her fingers through Abby's hair. "So do I."

"Yeah, the staff is what made it what it was. Now there's only Alfred.

"And you."

"I'm not staying Rachel," he said quietly.

Abby was crushed by this. She hated the fact that he always had to leave. He could never stay forever.

"You're just back for the hearing," said Rachel, bitterly.

Bruce nodded.

"Bruce," she sighed. "I don't suppose there's any way to convince you not to come."

He paused. "Someone at this…proceeding should stand for my parents."

Abby became confused. Didn't Bruce come to see her?

"We all loved your parents, Bruce. What Chill did was unforgivable."

Who was Chill? Abby tugged on her mother's sleeve to ask the question, but she ignored her.

"Then why is your boss letting him go?" Bruce shot coldly.

"The person he shared a cell with, Carmine Falcone…he learned things and he will testify in exchange for early parole."

"Rachel, this man killed my parents. I cannot let that pass. I need you to understand that, please.

Abby had heard that her grandparents had been killed right in front of Bruce, but she didn't realize that he still held a grudge. Nonetheless she still understood. Besides she had no idea what she would do if Bruce or Rachel had died right in front of her eyes.

Rachel didn't answer right away, but said, "Okay."

They arrived at the courthouse at midday. Abby had to tag along because Alfred had to take care of some business and Rachel couldn't find a babysitter on such short notice. From the time they entered the courthouse to when Rachel had put Abby in Bruce's care; she kept her very close to her. Abby hated it when Rachel got overprotective. She didn't understand why anybody would want to attack her. She was just ordinary girl.

Abby sat with her father in the crowd. She leaned on Bruce's side, trying to fall asleep from the boredom in the room. But that was clearly impossible by Carl Finch's loud voice.

"The Depression hit working people like Mr. Joe Chill, worst of all," he boomed. "His crime was appalling, yes. But it was motivated not by greed, but desperation. In given the fourteen years already served and extraordinary level of corporation with one of these investigations, we strongly endorse his position for early release."

Mr. Finch sat down.

"Joe Chill," said the judge.

The man called Joe Chill stood up. "Not a day goes by that I wish I could take back what I did. Sure I was desperate, like a lot of people back then, but that doesn't change what I did."

Chill sat down on his seat. By now Abby figured out that this was man that killed her grandparents. She didn't like him for it, but they way he made his claim made it seem like he felt sorry for it. Abby looked up at Bruce. He seemed to be glaring daggers at the man.

The judge spoke again. "I gather there is a member of the Wayne family here today. Has he got anything to say?"

Bruce gently released himself from Abby's grip and stood up. To her surprise he said nothing. He walked away instead.

Moments after Bruce left, Chill was granted his early release. Rachel grabbed Abby from her seat as soon as people started to crowd for the door. She rushed her through the crowding of people around Chill. Abby desperately searched for Bruce, but all of the reporters were blocking her view. She glanced over at Joe Chill for one last time.

A blonde woman went up to him and said, "Hey Joe! Falcone says hi."

A gun shot fired throughout the room. Abby screamed. Rachel covered Abby's ears and hustled through the crowd as fast as she could. Abby didn't see much of the rest except for Chill falling and woman being put in handcuffs. Abby couldn't understand it. He said was sorry. Wasn't that enough?

They soon found Bruce staring at the chaos at the end of the hallway.

"Bruce, we don't need to see this," hissed Rachel. "Especially Abby."

"I do," was all Bruce said to it.

Abby tugged on his coat. "Please Daddy let's go. I'm scared."

When Bruce finally moved, they gathered themselves to the car. Once they got there, Rachel buckled Abby in securely.

"Mommy, why did that woman kill Joe Chill?"

Rachel paused. "I don't know."

She closed the door. Abby knew that Rachel was lying. She would always lie to her about this stuff. Rachel must've thought she wasn't mature enough to understand the truth at the time. It was partly true, but Abby still wanted to know.

Abby pretended to sleep during the car ride as she heard her parents talking. Maybe she would get her truth from this.

"The D.A. couldn't understand why Judge Faden insisted on making the hearing public," said Rachel. "Falcone paid him off to put Chill out in the open."

"Maybe I should be thanking him," mumbled Bruce.

"You don't mean that."

"What if I do Rachel? My parents deserve justice."

"You're not talking about justice," she interjected. "You're talking about revenge."

"Sometimes they're the same."

"No, they're never the same Bruce. Justice is about harmony. Revenge is making yourself feel better. Which is why we have an impartial system."

"Your system is broken," he snorted.

The car jerked to the side. Abby's eyes shot open as the other cars honked. She looked up at her window and saw Rachel driving in a different direction.

"Mommy, where are we going?" asked Abby.

Again she was ignored. Rachel spoke again to Bruce when they arrived in a very dark place.

"You care about justice. Look beyond your own payroll, Bruce. This city is rotting! They talk about the depression as if its history and it's not. Things are worse than ever down here! Falcone floods our streets with crime and drugs, preying on the desperate, creating a new Joe Chill every day."

As they drove by Abby saw the many homeless people wondering aimlessly. The place they were in was dirty and dark compared to the part of the city she lived in. According to her classmates' stories, this must've been the Narrows. But why was Rachel going there in the first place?

"Falcone may not have killed your parents, Bruce. But he's destroying everything that they stood for."

The car stopped. Abby was really scared now. Any moment someone could rob them right off of the back.

Rachel continued her extensive lecture. "You wanna thank him for that, here ya go. We all know where to find him. As long as he keeps the bad people rich and the good people scared, no one'll touch him. Good people like your parents who will stand against him in justice, they're gone. What chance does Gotham have when the good people do nothing?"

All this time that her mother had been speaking, Bruce had not said one word. Abby watched curiously as Bruce began to speak again.

"I'm not one of your good people, Rachel."

"What do you mean?"

Rachel seemed to be doubtful about this.

"After all these years, I wanted to kill him…now I can't."

Bruce pulled something out of his coat pocket. She looked closer. It was a gun! Abby's eyes got wide as Rachel's. But her dad wouldn't kill anyone! Would he? Rachel stared at him for a long time with an appalled face. She then slapped him across the face. His only response to it was a flinch. She did it again, but he didn't move.

"Whether you want to accept it or not, you are a father Bruce," whispered Rachel. "Stunts like these make me wonder why I let Abby see you. Your father would be ashamed of you."

With that Bruce got out of the car and slammed the door. Rachel sped off without him.

"Where's Daddy going?" Abby looked at Rachel with begging eyes.

"I don't know, and I'm not sure if I care," answered her mother's weak voice.

Abby didn't dare to ask any more questions after that.

Weeks, then months past and there were still no sign of Bruce. Abby thought he had gone back to Princeton unannounced, but she was proved dead wrong. Out of all of the memories in her life, Abby would always remember this as the day Bruce Wayne disappeared.

Thanks for reading! In case you were a little confuesed in this chapter towards the end, Abby dreamed of the day Bruce disappeared. I was actually debating whether or not I should put that flashback scene or not, but I'm kinda glad I did. Anyway, voting is now offically over. I will announce the winning title in the last chapter of this, which won't be that long from now considering the paste I am writing this. I mean I already have the next chapter done. I just have to edit it. (Not fun, but nessary).

~Emyrox567