I woke up covered in sweat. I felt my dream and the reality of yesterday intertwine. I've had those dreams before, plenty of times, but I haven't had them in a while, until now. It's like being plunged back into ice cold water just as you're getting warmed. The terror, the fear, the blood, I can still smell the metallic scent of the blood. I can feel my heart violently pounding against my ribcage.

"What's wrong?" a concerned voice asked, I knew it was Bruce. I couldn't answer him even if I wanted to. I didn't trust myself to talk. I could still hear her; it was too loud, too loud. I can't block her voice. She's just there and I can't reach her at all.

I can feel someone shaking me. My head is spinning and I can see the bedroom materializing right before my eyes. I recognized the room as Bruce's bedroom, how did I get here? Why is Bruce looking at me like that?

"Are you ok?" He sounded worried. I saw Alfred approach me carrying a glass of water. I drank greedily, more spilled on the bed than in my mouth. My hands were shaking and I felt like puking. Mom…

The dream was so vivid. It was like the events of that night happened again. Everything that I've tried blocking out suddenly came rushing back.

I went on a shut down after that night she died, or at least that's what the doctor said. I don't remember much. I was told that I didn't move or talk for a day. They told me I didn't even eat or drink anything. I don't recall it; I just remember feeling numbness. I hated that feeling. It was the state when you still have that lingering hope that it was just a dream but each time you wake up the next day you're reminded of the harsh reality.

Those dreams were addicting. I wanted to go back, back to when she was still alive. In those dreams, even for just a moment, she was alive. She was still with me. I shamefully wished I was still asleep.

A tight hug brought me to my senses. I was back to real life. I felt Bruce holding me, caressing my head, gently rocking me. I was so glad I had him, I was so glad I didn't lose him. I couldn't bare it if I lost him. I needed him.

"Please stay," I whispered. "please don't go,"

"I'll never leave your side," I heard him murmur. "I promise you,"

He held me until I was ready to pick myself up. I had to; nothing would change the fact that James Gordon was dead.

I ate breakfast quietly. Bruce didn't ask me how I got here, but I knew he wanted to know. I was too concerned about the well being of my friend to reveal it. I knew very well how close Jimmy was to his father. Gotham lost a great man yesterday.

"I am Batman," said a familiar voice in the TV. I noticed Bruce and Alfred watching it intensely, and I turned just in time to see Harvey being arrested.

"He can't be," I gasped, turning to Bruce, momentarily suppressing my grief.

He had a serious face on. "He's not. He's using himself as bait,"

"Bait?" I saw the reporters going crazy in TV.

"The Joker wants Batman, but Harvey knows he can't give up the Batman to him so he's using himself so that Batman would still be able to stop the Joker," Bruce answered tiredly.

"But Batman's going to save Harvey isn't he?" I searched Bruce's face for an answer, it gave me none. I studied Alfred instead, he looked solemn.

"What do you think Batman should do?" Alfred directed the question to me. I noticed that he was stressed, he should retire soon.

I frowned and clenched my fist, "The Joker killed Mr. Gordon didn't he?"

Nobody answered. Nobody needed to. I felt their grief, their anger. I knew we were all in the same page. I knew we all wanted something to be done about the Joker. I just hoped that Bruce doesn't do anything reckless.

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I sighed with relief as I saw Harvey. I asked Alfred if we could go to Jimmy's house, but on our way there the road was blocked because Harvey was being transported. When I heard it was over, through the radio, I asked the driver to bring us to him. We got there just in time to see him being led to a police car. I told Alfred to call Rachel and tell her to stay where she was. I had a really bad feeling about this.

"Harvey!" I yelled loudly. Thankfully he saw me and asked the police to block the media before he approached our car.

"Charlie," he greeted. I noticed how exhausted he looked. "What brings you in this part of town?"

"You have to come with us Harvey," I told him urgently.

"I have to get back to-,"

I grabbed his arm tightly, "I think something's going to happen to you. We need to keep you and Rachel safe until Batman manages to get the Joker,"

"Didn't you hear? We already have the Joker,"

I sighed exasperatedly, "Harvey," I snapped. "My mom was a cop, so trust me when I say I know a rogue cop when I see one," I looked pointedly at the police who were suppose to escort him. They were coming our way.

I was glad when Harvey nodded and got in the car with us. I saw the police look bewildered as was drove off. They didn't see my face, thankfully.

"Rachel is in her apartment," Alfred informed us. "I told her we'll come get her,"

"What's going on? How did you know they were rogue?" Harvey asked in the way a defense attorney would.

"I told you, my mom's a cop. I saw the look that Anna had, she was planning something,"

"I trust you, both of you, because Rachel trusts you," he told us truthfully.

Alfred took out his cell phone. "I'm coming to upstairs to pick you up,"

I asked Harvey to stay as Alfred left the car. "If someone sees you here, it'll be troublesome,"

"How do you know all these things?" he asked, watching the door of Rachel's building.

I shook my head. "I don't know. All I know is that you and Rachel will be safest in our penthouse."

"But the Joker managed to get in there already," he grumbled.

I gave a half hearted glare because what he said was true. "Is it true that the Batman already caught the Joker?"

"Technically it was Gordon who did," he answered distractedly since Rachel and Alfred where in sight.

"What do you mean Gordon did?" I asked sharply as Alfred opened the door.

I faintly heard a shout. "Gotham police! Stop!" Rachel hurriedly hopped in along with Alfred. He told the driver to go as soon as the door closed, leaving the police yelling after us.

"What do you mean Gordon did?" I repeated as Harvey comforted Rachel.

"Gordon's alive," Rachel answered. "He faked his own death to keep his family safe,"

I glanced at Harvey for confirmation, he nodded. "He was the one who captured the Joker,"

"And Batman? What happened to him?" I asked urgently. I needed to know. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

Rachel cupped my cheek. "He's alright"

When we got to the penthouse, I immediately started monitoring the security cameras. Since the Joker managed to enter, the security was tightened vastly. I highly doubted there was a way to enter the building without the cameras catching it.

"Where's Bruce?" Harvey asked as he looked around the place.

"Out," I answered simply. I saw Harvey pull a disapproving face. I knew he didn't like Bruce much, I didn't blame him; Bruce is after his girl.

The mood was somber. We were all lost in our own thoughts. It felt like a hospital waiting room, a group of people who were waiting for new about different people. Only we weren't strangers. We were all connected to those people

I felt relieved, Mr. Gordon was alive. I couldn't believe it. I was glad that Jimmy had his father back. I really was. Then how come I can't bring myself to feel happy for Jimmy? How come my mom couldn't have done the same thing, come back from the dead? I shook my head; I didn't want to think about that. It wasn't fair.

"Maybe we should call Gordon's office," Harvey suggested.

"I don't think that's such a good idea Mister Dent," Alfred intervened, "We don't know which of his people work for Maroni. It would be best if they don't know where you are for the time being," I was glad that it was Alfred who said it; I didn't think Dent appreciated being ordered around by a kid.

Rachel sighed; she had been quiet since we arrived, "Alfred's right. Our best bet is to stay put until Bruce comes back," Harvey didn't seem to agree but he didn't argue.

I didn't pay attention to the rest of their conversation. I heard them mention Bruce, Batman, Jim Gordon, Joker and a bunch of other familiar names, but I was too engrossed with the surveillance camera to listen. I wanted to stop thinking about what Mr. Gordon did. I truly was glad that he was back, but I couldn't help but be jealous. My mom didn't come back. Stop think about it! If I really was glad that Mr. Gordon was back, how come I haven't been answering Jimmy's calls? You've just been busy. I unsuccessfully tried reasoning with myself. It was no use.

"Tea?" I offered, talking for the first time in hours. "It's good for the nerves," I told them when they looked reluctant.

I handed one to both Harvey and Rachel, and waited for them to drink it. When they did, they passed out after a few seconds with a thud on the floor.

"What did you do?" Alfred asked accusingly.

I shrugged. "I slipped a sleeping pill in their drink," I told him noncommittally.

He gave me an exasperated look, "And why would you go do that?"

"We need to go hide them in the safe room. People are coming," I answered, pointing at the monitor. There were about five people heading upstairs. They managed to pass the security because a few of them were cops. I recognized one of them to be Detective Ramirez.

We needed to work fast. Alfred picked up Harvey's body while I dragged Rachel by the arm. I silently apologized for whatever bruise I might cause her after I accidentally bumped her on a corner a few times. She wasn't as heavy as I expected her to be but it was still pretty heavy considering how tiny I was compared to her. Thankfully Alfred had already placed Harvey in the safe room and took Rachel from me. I followed him as he gently placed Rachel next to Harvey.

I looked at them as they peacefully "They look good together,"

"Your father would disagree,"

"I know,"

We just stared at them. Both of us unsure what to do next. They were about to come in any moment now and we didn't know how to handle it.

"Alfred," I said softly. He looked at me, like a grandfather telling his granddaughter to continue telling her story, "I'm sorry for this,"

He momentarily gave me a confused face before his eyes widened, "Don't-," but it was too late and he too passed out. I had sprayed the sleeping gas in the room as I walked out. I couldn't let them just enter my home, I had to do something.

I don't know why I thought I would have been able to stop them. Maybe I had become too arrogant; maybe I thought that being a Wayne made me immune to what they were capable of doing. For whatever reason that made me believe that I could do something I would forever be reminded of that mistake.

They knocked on the door loudly. I calmed myself, making sure the safe room was closed and Harvey and Rachel's things hidden. Oh, and before I forget…

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Rachel was in trouble.

That was all that was in his mind. He needed to save her, no matter what.

A loud alarm alerted him of danger. It was from the house.

He had instructed Alfred and Charlie to press the button in case there was a life or death emergency and he wasn't around. He had sworn to himself that if that button was pressed that he would go to them, no matter what he was doing.

Maybe Charlie accidentally pressed it. Maybe there was really nothing in there. Was he really going to risk Rachel? Was he willing to risk Charlie?

There was no choice to be made, for he had already made the choice the moment he laid eyes on her. He knew he would risk everything to protect her.

I'm so sorry Rachel.

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I was shaking. I was really shaking. I was in a corner holding a pillowing shaking like crazy. I really am a useless kid. Why did I think I could do anything? Why did I think that I was capable of going against five fully grown adults on my own? Her eyes, Anna Ramirez's eyes, they were filled with anger as she looked at me. She wanted to kill me. I can fill her murderous intent as she gazed at me.

The others did not touch me; they believed me when I said that I did not know where Harvey and Rachel were. They went around the house, but they did not find anything so they saw no reason to kill me. But she knew I was lying. She did not believe me one bit and held a gun in my head as she glared at me. She wanted me dead. I was so sure I was going to die. I could see her hate. She hated me for ruining whatever 'plan' they had, she hated me for making the others believe that I wasn't lying, she hated me for having a good life, she hated me for the fact that she couldn't have what I had, she hated my very existence that she was willing to put a bullet through me. She had pushed me roughly on the table and a few of the figurines had crashed, I landed on some of the figureines and cut my hand badly.

The others pulled her away when they heard the crash and told me she had recently suffered a traumatic experience.

They acted like they were on official business, but I could see through them clearly. They could not hide the fact that they were paid by either the mob or the Joker, not from me.

The Joker.

I knew he was the one who made them do this. The mob could make the police jump through hoops as long as they police knew that they were going to land on cushion, but the Joker, he could make people jump in a tank full of sharks. He relished in people's pain and suffering, he was playing this city like a little puppet show. In his sick mind, we were all just chess pieces. The whole city was just a game about control and anarchy, peace and chaos, good and evil, him against Batman. He may have been insane, but he was brilliant insane.

I was reduced to a fumbling crying child. I thought I would be able to stand against them, like Jim Gordon, like Batman, like my mother, but I couldn't. In the end, I'm just a child in a corner crying, looking for someone to fight her monsters.

"What happened here?" asked the Bruce. His hair was disheveled, his clothes hastily worn, his face dirty, and his expression worried. I had no idea what he had just gone through, but by the looks of it, it wasn't pretty. I knew he was extremely worried. I had pressed the emergency button when the others came in; he had told me to press it only during life and death situations.

"Nothing," I said shakily. He looked conflicted, I felt like I walking on eggshells.

"I told you to only press the button when it's a life and death situation," He softly took my hands, they were shaking. "Now what's the situation?"

"I have them?" I whispered. I could taste my tears as they made their way down my face to my lips.

"Have who?" He wiped my cheek with his thumb.

"Rachel and Harvey," He stood up. "I knew they were going to take them somewhere bad so I took them,"

He looked around, keeping on hand on me. I led him to where I hid them. He opened the door after pressing the hidden button. "Why are they passed out?"

I bit my lip. "Well, I kinda drugged them because I saw cops coming over through the monitor and I knew that if they saw them then they would take them. Also, I knew Rachel and Harvey wouldn't just hide without a fight, so I figured the easiest way was to use those sleeping pills you had in the panic room. Alfred might have gotten hurt so I had to spray him with sleeping gas as well." Suddenly my explanation sounded so stupid out loud.

Bruce sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes. I was getting nervous. I think I may have over stepped my boundaries.

"How could you be so thoughtless!" he yelled. He had never yelled at me before. He was usually a calm and controlled person, and I've only seen him yell a few time, mostly during a game, but never directed at me. He would remain silent and mull over things before talking to me whenever I do something wrong, but he never yelled. "How could you possibly think that you would have been capable of handling those people! What made you think that they would just leave you alone? I didn't say anything when you came here from the lake house because I knew that you were in mourning, but maybe I should have. Maybe if I did you would know just how idiotic your actions could be! Did you even think about what would have happened if they did something to you and I didn't arrive in time? There is a reason why I made a panic room, there is a reason why I do the things I do, there's a reason why I am out there risking my life everyday and it's to keep you safe. So imagine how I feel when I find out that you're gambling your life like it was some kind of game!"

I was speechless. I was stunned by what he had said, and I knew he didn't realize what he had just told me. I didn't really care about what he let slip, I was more concerned what I've done. "I know I've been stupid, but I couldn't just not do anything. I wanted to protect them, like I couldn't protect her,"

His gaze softened. He knelt down in front of me and cupped my cheeks. "If you had tried protecting her, she would be just as angry as I am. It's the parent's job to protect their kids,"

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A message from TemperedRose:

If you may or may not know, but you probably don't, I write at least 75% of the story before publishing them (so yes I've already finished writing the whole story, well the gist of it anyway). I had a difficult time writing this bit. It was in my computer for weeks. There is absolutely no reason for me to be telling you this but eh...

'Tis the season to be jolly!

I absolutely love Christmas. It's my favourite time of the year. Unfortunately my Christmas was very horrible. Nothing bad happened really, but it's the first one I've spend without my family (minus my brother, who's with me but he doesn't count). We chatted on skype but it's still very different. I felt too bummed to really decorate the house but I did eventually, like two days before Christmas.

Oh well...

How was your celebration of Christmas (or whatever you did celebrate during the winter season if you don't celebrate Christmas)? What presents did you get?

Drop a comment in the review box and tell me about it!

Until then,

TemperedRose