Title: Batman: Again and Again
Summary: This takes place after War Games, so everyone left Batman and he was alone once again. Part of the Batfamily, Dick, Tim, and Cassandra, start to make their way back slowly and eventually things are as "normal" as can be. Batman is given a Groundhog Day-like opportunity, but to what end?
AN: The second half of this chapter inspired by the Batman: The Animated Series episode called "Over the Edge".
Disclaimer: the cat, the bat, and everyone else are property of DC Comics and are used without permission. Groundhog Day is property of Columbia Pictures also used without permission.
Bruce approached the apartment complex. He looked at his watch. It was 2pm. She should be home.
Since the moment Dick had suggested he take the night off, Bruce had been tempted to agree, only because he knew there could be no surprises tonight, but had delayed accepting because he was so used to doing so.
He parked the jaguar out of view and walked to the front of the building. He pressed the intercom button next to the name "Catty Whips." There was no reply. He tried again. Maybe she had not returned yet. But her meeting with Harrison ended at 11:30.
He should have called, but he wanted to surprise her. This was the reason he wasn't spontaneous. He turned around and decided to drive back to the Manor. Dick would be disappointed that he would be going out on patrol after all.
A cab pulled up and he saw Selina open the door. She was carrying two shopping bags. She got out of the cab, her back to Bruce.
"Let me help you."
Selina froze when she heard his voice. She turned around slowly to face him, "Bruce. Wh—what are you doing here?"
"Let me help you with those." He took the bags from Selina, "You can open the door."
"Right." Selina held the door for Bruce to walk through. She pressed the elevator button and turned to him, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes."
The elevators doors opened and they stepped inside.
"So, nothings wrong?"
"No."
They stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to her apartment door. She unlocked it, stepped inside, and held it open. Bruce walked in. She leaned against the closed door and looked at him.
"Where should I put this?" he asked.
"Couch is fine."
Bruce placed the bags on the small couch. He looked up and Selina had disappeared. She came back into the living room without her coat.
"How have you been?" Bruce asked.
"Good. And you?"
"Fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." He almost smiled.
Selina walked towards him and placed her right hand on his forehead, "Well, you don't have a fever."
"No, I don't."
She looked at him. He looked at her.
"What's going on, Bruce?"
"Nothing."
Selina brought her hands up to her waist and tilted her head. Bruce almost smiled again. She was getting in Catwoman mode to better deal with the situation.
"Look, you should just tell me what's going on because this doesn't make any sense."
"What doesn't make any sense?"
"You. Here. Now."
"Why not?"
She raised an eyebrow.
He smiled.
"And now you're smiling. Something's definitely wrong."
"Nothing's wrong. I just...wanted to see you."
Selina sat down on the couch. A gray cat jumped on her lap. She stroked the cat absently, then placed it down on the floor. She looked at Bruce, "Really? That's it?"
"That's it." Bruce sat down next to her.
For the first time since he surprised her outside, she smiled, "In that case, I'm glad you're here."
ooo
The sky was growing darker as the sunlight disappeared slowly over the tallest buildings. A few gray clouds were scattered over the horizon.
Selina got out of bed and turned the lights to help her see. Bruce admired her as she looked through different piles of clothes for some item in particular.
She noticed him looking at her, "Can I help you?"
"No, just looking." He felt unusually relaxed and in good-humor. He had been disappointed when she had not been home, but his mood changed instantly when he saw her get out of the cab.
Selina sat down on the bed next to him. He was amazed that she could walk around without any clothing and not be self-conscious. Of course she was exquisitely beautiful and had no need to be, but he, despite having a body in peak physical condition, could not walk around as freely as she was doing now.
"Bruce," the concern had returned to her eyes, "are you sure every thing's okay?"
He sat up and nodded. The sheet slipped down from his chest to his lap. He cupped her face tenderly and kissed her. He slid his hands slowly along her back and started to lay back down, pulling her along with him, but she broke the kiss.
"You might be ready to go again, but I'm hungry," she smiled, "you sure you don't want something to eat?"
"Not really," he replied.
"I'll order something for you anyway, just in case." She finally found her robe and put it on as she walked out of the room.
Bruce heard her on the phone. He got up to take a shower.
Selina heard the water running when she came back in the room. She was still surprised he was there. It was not like him to make the first move. She had gone to buy a white strapless dress to wear to the Ball where she hoped to run into him, but he had come to her. Well, she wouldn't disappoint.
She walked towards the bathroom and dropped her robe before going in. She got in the shower with him, "The food will be here soon. You got 30 minutes."
"I'm not sure that's enough time," he grinned, his hands instantly on her.
"Oh, please..." she started to joke, but stopped as he kissed her neck and shoulders. She couldn't focus on anything except the warmth of the water and his presence between her thighs.
ooo
"Sorry I'm late."
"What took you so long?" Dick asked.
"My dad...giving me another lecture." Tim ran into the vault to change and yelled out, "I don't get him. He tells me he understands and before I head out he wonders why I do it? Why do I put myself in danger and stuff like that." Tim sighed.
"Good thing," Dick said, "Is you know he cares, right?"
"Right." Robin felt like a jerk. Out of everyone, he was the only one who still lived with his father and here he was...complaining, instead of appreciating it, "I'm heading out."
Dick nodded.
A moment later, Robin called in.
:.Where do you want me to go?
"Batman wanted you to take the north and east sides of Gotham. I sent Batgirl 'cause, well, you weren't here. Go to," Dick looked at the screen, "the corner of Adams and 8th. They're trying to load two trucks of drugs into the orange condemned building on that corner. Let me know when you get there."
:.Is Batman already there?"
"No, he's taking the night off."
:.Really? Why?
Dick didn't feel like explaining the whole Groundhog Day thing, "I talked him into it."
:.How?
"Robin, hold on. Go ahead Batgirl."
:.What...street?
"South Flower and Main St."
:.Okay. Out.
"What were you saying, Robin?"
:.About Batman taking the night off...
"I'll tell you later. Call me when you get to Adams and 8th."How did Babs do this? With many more people no less!
:.Got it. Robin out
ooo
Robin left the Redbird in the alley two buildings away from the old orange one.
"Nightwing," Robin reached the roof and jumped to the adjacent building.
:.Go ahead, Robin.
"I'm across the orange building."
:.There are two tied security guards on the third floor. Eleven armed men, one with a detona—"
A violent explosion sent Robin stumbling backwards and shorted out his commlink. He could no longer hear Dick's voice.
The building was on fire and he knew there were two guards and eleven thugs that had to be accounted for. The first floor was already covered in flames.
Robin landed on a third floor fire escape and broke the window nearest to him. He could already feel the heat from below, but it would be a few minutes before the flames consumed the second floor. Luckily, he saw the two uniformed men tied together in a corner of the fourth room he checked. He cut the rope used to bind them together.
Robin threw the larger man over his shoulder and dragged the other, making his way to the window. He broke it, but there wasn't a fire escape on that side. He took out a grapple gun, secured it, and jumped out.
He handed the unconscious man over to Bullock who had just arrived on the scene.
"The bottom two floors are clear." Bullock yelled.
"Good." Robin replied and then disappeared into a cloud of smoke. He found the smaller guard in the same spot he had left him. Just as Robin threw the man over his shoulder, part of the floor collapsed.
"Time to go." Robin jumped out. On the ground he handed the man over to Bullock who asked, "Is there any more?"
Robin figured the thugs had set the explosion to erase any evidence of their having been there, so they were probably long gone, "Don't think so, but I'll check."
Bullock looked on as Robin flew off. He would never say it out loud, but he thought they were all beyond brave, hell, even the bat.
Robin reached the fourth floor. "Hello! Anybody here?" he yelled. He conducted a quick search, but didn't find anyone. He went up to the roof to check it out. He saw a man lying face down near one of the corners. Robin approached and reached out to grab the man to throw him over his should and carry him to safety. Before he could reach him, Robin heard rumbling under his feet. The building would give way pretty soon.
Robin turned the man over, "C'mon, we gotta go."
The man opened his eyes and it was then that Robin saw the sword coming towards him. The floor gave way under his right foot and just as he regained his balance, he looked down and saw the sword impaled into his chest.
ooo
Dick could hear faint sounds coming from Robin's side. The sound came and went.
On half of the screen, Dick had the night's patrol for Robin and Batgirl laid out. On the other half was a news channel covering the fire and he could see the orange building in flames. He saw the lower part of the building collapse.
"Robin get out of there!" Dick yelled, fearing he couldn't be heard, but hoping he might be. The flames began to consume the third and fourth floors.
:.C'mon, we gotta go.
Dick was surprised to hear Robin find another survivor. The two guards and ten men had been accounted for, Dick has assumed the eleventh guy simply got away.
Dick heard Robin grunt, he probably underestimated the weight of the last thug. Robin's breathing was ragged, likely caused by all the smoke.
:.No one is going to stop this from happening. Everything must be destroyed.
Dick froze when he heard the unfamiliar voice.
"Robin! Can you hear me? ROBIN!"
Dick looked at the live coverage of the fire. The good thing was the building was still standing. His eyes searched ceaselessly through the smoke and then he saw him. Robin's body was flung from the roof.
"TIM!" Dick couldn't move. His body felt cold and numb. His sight was blurry. He blinked and wiped away the tears.
Dick pressed a button, "Alfred! Contact Bruce, Tim's been injured."
"Batgirl!"
:.Here.
"How close are you to Adams and 8th?"
:.Not done.
"Get there now! Robin's hurt!"
Dick could hear Batgirl's breathing as she ran and jumped across rooftops, trying to get across the city to Tim as fast as she could.
ooo
Jack walked towards the living room holding a bowl full of popcorn. No one was home, so he wouldn't be embarrassed to watch the made for tv movie which was about to start.
:We interrupt this program for late breaking news. Andy Smith is on the scene where the masked vigilante known as Robin has been injured trying to save various individuals from a burning building. What can you tell us Andy?
Jack dropped the bowl and it shattered into tiny pieces as it hit the floor.
:.Thank you, Steve. No other information has been released except that Robin, Batman's sidekick and partner, fell from the roof of a four story building while trying to save the lives of various men trapped in the burning building.
:Has his identity been released?
:No, at this time it is still unknown who lies injured underneath that mask. All we know is that he is being taken to Gotham County Hospital.
Jack grabbed his keys and headed to his car.
ooo
"I think that's your phone, Bruce."
"Where are my pants?" he asked, putting on his underwear.
"Check in the kitchen? What time is it anyway?"
He reached into the sink for his pants and looked for his phone, "10:10. How did they end up here?"
Selina laughed. "You couldn't wait," she informed him as she slid out of bed.
"Bruce Wayne."
:.Master Bruce, you need to come to the manor right away.
"What's wrong, Alfred?"
:.It is of the greatest urgency.
"Alfred!"
:.Master Timothy has been injured, sir."
Robin. Not again. Bruce hung up and dressed as quickly as he could.
Selina walked into the kitchen, her smile disappearing upon seeing Bruce.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go."
"I'll go with you." Selina ran back in her room, put on a coat, and grabbed her Catwoman suit, "Bruce, you don't need your shoes, let's go."
Selina changed in the car and Bruce drove barefoot.
They arrived quickly and Bruce ran to the cave. Selina followed closely behind.
Dick and Alfred were looking at the various windows on the computer screen and listening to the police and ambulance frequencies.
"What happened," Bruce demanded.
Dick lowered his head and Alfred informed Bruce and Selina how Tim had departed late for patrol. When he arrived at his destination, the explosion had caused Tim's commlink to short out. They believe Tim was thrown from the roof of the building.
"Where is he?"
"Gotham County Hospital."
Bruce ran into the vault. Selina went after him.
"I'll go," she said, but he ignored her. "Bruce, you can't go out there." He put on his boots. "Bruce, listen to me!" she yelled, "You can't be out there." She put on her goggles, "They'll be looking for you, all of you. I'm not one of—"
He sat motionless. She didn't need to finish.
Catwoman walked over to Dick, "I need to be able to communicate with you." Dick nodded. He got a tiny ear piece and turned it on. She took it and placed it in her ear, "Is anyone else out there?"
Dick spoke softly, "Batgirl. She wants to be close to Tim."
"Call her. It's not safe for her to be out there."
Dick nodded. Catwoman ran to a bike, hotwired it, and roared out of the cave.
ooo
Catwoman reached the roof of the hospital. There was a small crowd forming at the emergency door entrance. She looked around and spotted the corner of Batgirl's cape fluttering on the rooftop of the adjacent building.
"Batgirl is across from the hospital. Let her know it's me going in."
She waited for Batgirl to move. Once she did, Catwoman broke into the hospital via the roof access door.
:.Catwoman, proceed.
It was Bruce's voice. "I'll let you know when I find him."
Catwoman found an isolated work station on the first floor she looked in.
"Name?"
:.Timothy Drake.
She searched for Timothy Drake, Tim Drake, Robin and found nothing. There was a John Doe who had been admitted half an hour ago.
"Oh, no."
She found the nurses locker room and borrowed some scrubs from a Nurse Rena. She made her way down to operating room 436. She opened the large two way doors and looked in the room. There was no one in there and all the equipment had been turned off.
Selina held her breath as she pulled back the sheet to see a slightly blueish and very still Tim. Her knees gave way and she almost lost her balance. She closed her eyes trying to hold back the tears.
"I found him." She squeezed his cold hand, then covered him again with the white blanket. She found his chart and took it.
:.Where is he? He's not in any room we can look into.
"There aren't any cameras in here." Selina paused trying to keep her voice calm, "I'm so sorry."
ooo
It was a while before Bruce could reply. He knew there were no cameras in the operating room or the morgue. Either way, Tim was gone. Dick sat on the floor, resting his head on his hands.
Cass looked at Bruce, then at Dick, both hung their heads low. She looked at Alfred who couldn't hide the emotion he was feeling. His lip quivered and his eyes were filled with the tears he didn't allow to fall.
Cass stood motionless. She was afraid that if she moved, she might lose her composure. Just a few months ago she had lost her best friend. Stephanie had helped her so much, Cass felt more like a regular girl when they were together than at any other time, but she was gone. And now...Tim. They had become good friends, maybe because they were so close in age. He didn't treated her like the outsider she felt she was. And, he was gone, too.
Dick broke the silence that engulfed them, his voice barely above a whisper, "I'm so sorry, Bruce." He shook his head, "I should have been with him. I could have...it's my fault."
"No." Bruce spoke without looking at him, "It's not. You didn't do anything wrong. I should have been there, not with..." he couldn't continue, ashamed of his own selfishness.
:.They know!
Bruce turned to look at the monitor. Catwoman was breathing hard, she was running. They could see her appearing and disappearing into different security cameras throughout the hospital halls.
:.Stop!
She was being chased by four police officers. The police might have assumed someone working with Catwoman was listening in on their frequencies because in the cave, they never heard any orders to proceed against her.
:.That was too close.
"Are you alright?" Bruce asked.
:.Yeah, but they're getting faster. I'm headed to the roof. Stop! Ah, shit.
They heard gun shots.
Had she been hit? Bruce wanted to yell for her to get out of there, but the lump in his throat prevented him from speaking. He shouldn't have allowed her to go. He should have gone looking for Tim.
"Are you hit?" he finally asked.
:.Ugh...I'm okay.
She was running outside now. They could hear the noise of the city around her.
:.A man...I think it was Robin's father...he told the police...ugh...they're going after you...
They heard Catwoman grunt in pain, she must have stumbled. They could hear the helicopter clearly through the commlink.
"Change the channel," Dick yelled, getting up, "If there's a police pursuit, there's probably a news chopper following it."
"Catwoman!" Bruce yelled, but there was no response. "Selina, can you hear me?"
Bruce knew she wouldn't want them to hear her in pain. She probably removed the commlink on purpose.
Dick found the coverage of Catwoman's pursuit. She ran across various rooftops, but couldn't evade the helicopter. Dick raised the volume.
:Yes, that is correct, Eric. Earlier this evening, Robin, now known to be Timothy Drake, son of industrialist Jack Drake, was killed trying to save three men caught in a burning building. He saved their lives, but unfortunately lost his own in the process. However, it is not certain whether he died in the fire. Apparently, he had a severe puncture wound through his chest and the surgeons were unable to save him. It seems that Jack Drake knew of his son's activities and in an astonishing turn of events, has revealed to the police the identity of the Batman.
:Has that information been released?
:No, it appears that at this time, only the police know and they want to keep it that way to prevent Batman from finding out and escaping arrest.
"Why?" Alfred asked helplessly.
Bruce spoke without looking away from the screen, "Drake feels betrayed, and maybe he was. He won't give up until he gets me."
Bruce knew Selina would never let them take her in. He stood helpless as she fought for her life. He let Jason...Tim...he would not stand idly by as Selina fought alone.
:The police found Catwoman leaving the hospital. They think she might be responsible for the death of the young vigilante.
:Is it known why Catwoman would try to kill Robin?
Bruce put on the cowl and ran to the Batmobile.
"No! Master Bruce! You cannot go!"
"I have to."
:Oh, it looks like they've finally cornered her.
"Bruce...look." Dick turned to the screen.
Bruce, Dick, Cass, and Alfred saw Catwoman without her goggles. She was surrounded by six S.W.A.T. officers, all pointing their weapons at her. With the light from the helicopter, the blood on her leg and stomach glistened, bright and red.
Gun shots rang from the screen. She managed to take three of them down, but the others unleashed a hail of bullets onto her already battered body. Selina fell back and the envelope she had been holding spilled open.
In the cave, they immediately recognized the part of Robin's suit that fell out.
"She...she was trying to bring it back..." Alfred's voice was low and full of sorrow.
:It is always unfortunate when fatal force must be used and a life is lost.
:Yes, Eric, it is.
Bruce stood motionless, his eyes taking in yet another image he knew would haunt him forever. She died because of him, because she was there with him. If he had ignored her, shunned her like he knew he was supposed to, she would still be alive. And Tim. Tim was a boy on his mission. How could he drag others into this? It was his to bear, no one else's. How many more people would he fail? He looked at Dick, Cassandra, and Alfred.
"Dick, take Alfred and Cassandra and leave. You know how to access the offshore accounts. You can easily live off of that."
"Bruce, we're not leaving you."
The intruder alert flashed on the screen. Dick pressed a key and the GPD could be seen breaking down the main entrance gate.
"Master Bruce, we should make our exit soon."
Then, Dick smiled.
Alfred looked at the young man in confused horror. Cass couldn't understand what could be funny at a time like this. Bruce didn't notice. When he finally looked up, Dick was gone. Alfred and Cass watched as the police surrounded Wayne Manor.
When Dick reappeared, he looked eerily calm, "Bruce, we really should get going."
"I can't."
"Fine!" Dick yelled and all eyes were on him. He looked at Cass and Alfred, "Let's go."
"We cannot leave him here, Master Richard," Alfred protested.
Dick walked towards Bruce, "I always believed you did the best you could, which is far more than any man should ever have to put himself through. I never blamed you for any of the things you choose to take responsibility for," Dick paused and waited for Bruce to look up at him. When he did, Dick hugged him.
Bruce was about to bring his arms up to hug his son, when he felt a tiny pinch on his neck. Through blurry vision he saw Dick remove the syringe and faintly heard Dick say to him, "If I'm right, you'll wake up today again and all will be fine. If I'm wrong, I'm so sorry about everything, including the terrible headache you'll have tomorrow."