A/N: I don't own any members of the Justice League. They belong to Cartoon Network, Marvel, and DC Comics. I do, however, own Taipana.

Chapter 11: Sand in the Hourglass

"So, what the plan," Superman asked as he flew beside Shayera, who was carrying Vixen while he carried Batman.

"There is no plan," Batman replied stiffly, a little uncomfortable being carried by the man who was basically his best friend. "We'll do whatever it takes to get the antidote. If that means killing Lex, then we will."

"Simple as that," he questioned in disbelief, not actually thinking Batman was serious.

"Uh-uh."

"Easy for you to say," he said begrudgingly.

The group was off to Metropolis to confront Lex, and Superman knew it wasn't going to go well. Lex had always been a thorn in someone's side growing up and he still was, only he was a thorn to everyone on the planet that knew better. The League had been looking for a way to stop Lex for years. Superman himself had tried to deal with Lex numerous times, but his threats and pleas to put and keep Lex in jail were all for naught. In Superman's opinion, Taipana was unknowingly helping them in the case to put Lex behind bars; they were indebted to her.

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"She's becoming delirious," J'ohn stated as he felt Taipana's warm and moist forehead. She was shaking her head back and forth, as if caught in a bad dream. The worst of the news was that she was continuing to become cold blooded and her skin was starting to form into scales. "Have the others contacted you yet?"

"No, but they're not in Gotham anymore," Flash told him in confusion as they left the room and headed towards J'ohn's post.

"Where are they," Diana questioned as Flash sat down and began to search for the group of four. "I thought Oz Corp. was in New York. Where would they be going?"

"Looks like they're headed for…Metropolis," he stated proudly, and turned to the others in even more confusion. "Metropolis?"

"Why would they be going there," John asked, crossing his arms as he looked at the giant map on screen.

"Gather 'round guys and gals, and I shall discover the truth to this mystery," Flash exclaimed cheerfully.

"Just contact them," Diana ordered with an annoyed scowl.

"Don't get your star printed panties in a twist," he retorted, effectively earning a smirk from John and a glare from Diana. Flash smiled weakly, and turned from her quickly to contact the group. "Hey, dudes! Why are you going to Metropolis?"

"Apparently, the kingpin behind the whole splicing fiasco isn't Scarecrow. It's Lex," Superman informed him hastily.

""Lex?" As in Luthor? You've gotta be kidding me," Flash exclaimed, looking to the others behind him, who wore the same look of shock on their faces.

"Afraid not," he replied with an annoyed sigh. "We'll contact you as soon as we have something more. Superman out."

"Well, you guys heard it," Flash sighed, turning to the other after the connection with Superman was cut. "Lex is off to make more money with Taipana's life on the line. Great guy, that Lex," he said with mock enthusiasm.

"Whether she lives or not, she's going back to jail, so it really doesn't matter," Diana conceded.

"She's going to live," J'ohn stated. "Batman won't let her die. He still has feelings for her, and her for him."

"That's a lie," she countered angrily, glaring at the stoic Martian.

"Look, I think we all just need to calm down," John suggested calmly, only to receive an annoyed glare from Diana and backed off immediately.

"Maybe we shouldn't interfere," Flash whispered to John, who now stood beside him, as the four walked back towards medical.

"But we always interfere! It's in the job description," he countered quietly as they stared at the fuming Greek.

"I'm going to check on Taipana," J'ohn announced as he entered Taipana's room, Diana close behind.

"Is he back yet," Taipana asked while trying to sit up in bed, but J'ohn gently pushed her down.

"No. They're off to Metropolis to find Lex Luthor," he told her, and Taiapana's face scrunched up in confusion.

""Luthor,"" she echoed. "He's behind this?" J'ohn simply nodded, and she sighed heavily. "I thought for sure Scarecrow was the mastermind. Whoa, there's a sentence I thought I'd never say."

"The two are quiet opposite," he agreed, moving to a machine to check her vitals.

"Much like you and Batman," Diana added stoically, arms still crossed in anger from Flash and John.

"Jealous, Princess," she asked teasingly, smiling at her. Diana just clenched her fists with a glare, trying no to rush over and strangle Taipana. "What? You think Bruce loves you, Princess? You think he cares about you, about what happens to you? Maybe he does," she conceded off-handedly. "Maybe he truly cares, but that doesn't mean a damn thing when it comes to Bruce Wayne and Batman. The first thing you need to know is that they're two separate people."

"You're crazy," she stated, trying to block her out.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. But, I know more about those two men than you ever will, Princess. Julie Madison, Gotham socialite. Rachel Dawes, Gotham District Attorney. Vicki Vale, photojournalist for the Gotham Gazette. Dr. Chase Meridian, psychologist. Silver St. Cloud, another socialite. Rachel Caspian, daughter of a murderous vigilante. Julia Pennyworth, his butler's daughter and a French Resistance fighter named Mlle. Vesper Fairchild, a radio show host. Sasha Bordeaux, his former body guard. Lois Lane, Metropolis reporter for the Daily Planet. I'm sure you two have met. And then there are all the models and such he was seen with in-between to keep up appearances," she listed, and Diana paled slightly.

"All them? They're the normal one, some of which know and have kept his secret. There's still Barbara Gordon a.k.a. Batgirl, his ex-partner, Zatanna the magician, who I'm sure you've also met. Natasha Knight, a.k.a. Nocturna. Shondra Kinsolving, psychic and sister of Benedict Asp. Those are the vigilantes, but what do you expect? He's a playboy, or pretends to be, with a sweet tooth for the bad girl. Talia al Ghul, daughter of murderous villain Ra's al Ghul. Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman. Pamela Isley a.k.a. Poison Ivy. Andrea Beaumont a.k.a. Phantasm. And then there's me. I've lasted the longest out of everyone.

"Is it likely that Bruce and Batman loved all of us? Yes. Is it likely that they love you? Yes, as much as it hurts me to say. Will anything ever happen? Will you get that idealistic, magical happy ending? No, and there in lays the kicker of both sides of the infamous Bruce Wayne. Because no matter how much he may love you, he'll never be with you because he knows the truth."

"And what truth is that, pray tell," Diana asked, both curious and humoring her.

"That we, the women he loves, are his greatest weakness. If things got personal for him, he would just be another vigilante. And that's not Bruce. To lose one of us is his greatest fear…well, besides bats, that is," she said, and closed her eyes with a sigh, leaning back in her bed to attempt sleeping.

""Bats,"" she echoed incredulously. "Why would he be afraid of bats? That makes no sense," she argued, and Taipana opened her eyes to look at her.

"If you can't answer your own question, then you don't know him at all, Princess," she stated, smirking triumphantly though it was half hearted.

"You're delusional, and don't know what you're talking about," Diana stated, but it sounded like she was trying to convince herself, and turned to walk out the door.

"Oh, but I do," she called and Diana stopped and turned, leaving both women to stare at one another. "I already know what Bruce thinks, but what about you? What do you think? Can I have a second chance," she asked seriously, and Diana eyed her a moment.

"Not unless you believe in reincarnation," she replied tersely and walked quickly out of the room. It was in this moment that Taipana looked to her right at J'ohn, who was quietly listening to the entire conversation.

"She's just a regular ball of sunshine, isn't she," she asked sarcastically and the two of them smiled at one another.

P.S.: Three pages total.