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 14: Redemption

Taipana's eyes slowly opened. Groggily, she looked around to see that she was in the medical ward, again. That place was practically becoming a second home, a hotel suite for her. She didn't like it one bit. As the fog in her head slowly started to clear, she saw that she was in new clothing, normal clothing. Her disguise was no where to be scene in the room. What had happened? She was so confused and couldn't remember what had happened to her uniform. Actually, when she thought hard about it, the last thing she remembered was talking to Diana about the difference between Bruce Wayne and Batman.

The memory actually brought a little smile to her lips and she climbed out of the bed and walked towards the door. After all, the League certainly couldn't keep her locked up in the hospital forever, could they? She had work to do. It was when she finally saw the mess that things slowly started to come back to her. The fever, the transformation, all the fighting, the carnage, nearly biting Batman, and Superman holding her, the pain in her neck. What had happened?

"Oh, my God," she mumbled fearfully. "Bruce!" As soon as his name left her mouth, she took off through the Tower. She ignored the startled looks, and even glares, that were tossed her way as she looked for Batman. When she found him, he was simply standing in front of a massive computer, typing calmly with the other original Leaguers around him, all working quietly. He didn't look any different. "Thank God," she sighed, and his attention turned to her. "I thought the worst. What happened?"

"You don't remember," Shayera asked, walking over to her a bit cautiously. It was then that Taipana noted on her winged friend's bruised cheek and wondered what happened. Had she done that?

"It's foggy," she replied with a small nod. "Bits and pieces."

"Well, to sum up, you went psycho in the transformation and tried to kill us all. Beat up Wonder Woman here, and scratched up Bats. All in all, it was a rather interesting day," Flash told her, crossing his arms with an amused smirk. Obviously, he had forgiven her, but that was his nature. Wait, she'd scratched Bruce? Looking over at him, she saw the bandage on his arm.

"I'm so sorry," she said to all of them, and while the others weren't sure, Batman could hear her sincerity. "Really, if there's anything I can do…"

"You could leave," Diana suggested bitterly, glaring at her. "You've caused enough trouble," she added and walked away.

"Still a bowl of sunshine, I see," she mumbled, watching her leave before turning back to the others. "Am I free to go? Home, I mean, not prison," she added quickly, looking to Batman. It was here that silence followed, since no one really knew what to say, and the others looked to Batman, too.

"You're free," he told her stoically and walked towards her. "Come on," he said shortly and walked past her. Taipana waved shortly to the others before following him. "You should know that you can't go out on anymore late night vigilante missions."

"Why," she asked offensively. "Am I forbidden because you really have become by probation officer?"

"No," he replied with a withering look in her direction. "The antidote didn't just kill the steroid you were injected with; it killed the splicing drugs. You're human again," he explained and Taipana's sighed in awe.

"Wow," she said quietly. "A normal citizen of Gotham. Well, could be interesting, being a regular human again," she mused optimistically, but she didn't sound too excited.

"Not too normal," he told her and she turned to stare at him confusedly. "You still have your job," he corrected, referring to her bounty hunting for the police, and she smiled.

"And you're not gonna call me out on that," she asked in both amusement and amazement, but he just shook his head.

"Not as long as you keep it to the criminals," he replied, and she nodded. Somehow, he wasn't sure though, he knew he wouldn't have to worry about her getting off track.

"Um, are you okay," she asked quietly, almost awkwardly, and didn't even look him in the eyes but at the floor. "Flash said I scratched you, and I see that, but…"

"I'll be fine, once I have a solid ass to kick," he assured her dryly smirking. His tone made her look up at him and smile a bit. Same old Bruce, she thought. "Your poison was strong, but J'ohn was smart and thought ahead."

"Antitoxin," she asked. He nodded and she nodded back approvingly. "Hey, um, how'd you find the antidote?"

"It's funny how talkative a guy can be when he's hanging over the roof of a thirty-story building by his ankle," he retorted easily, and she looked at him wide eyed.

"Yeah, that's just down right hilarious," she deadpanned and they smirked at one another. "It's strange. I feel like I've been born again – only without the diapers and the crying," she mused and Batman shook his head, suppressing the urge to laugh as they stopped at the teleporter. "Why," she asked seriously, turning to them. "Just tell me that. Why'd you stick your neck out like that to help me? After everything that happened between us…I'm not sure I understand."

"Because I thought you were guilty…and I was wrong," he admitted, and Taipana smiled a little. Bruce was admitting he was wrong. That didn't happen often. Where was her video camera when she needed it? "We may have different ways of enforcing the law, but we both believe in it," he said and she nodded understandingly.

"Well then, I guess I'll go and have Alfred prepare your usual breakfast for me: toast, coffee…and a mess of bandages," she joked, and he smiled wanly as she smirked. "Why did you save me, Bruce, honestly?"

"Why do we fall," he asked, and she stared blankly at him. That question sounded strangely familiar, but why? She couldn't remember. Probably an effect of the antidote, she mused. "To learn how to pick ourselves up," he answered, and she smiled amusedly.

"You aren't giving up on me?"

"Never again," he swore. "After all, its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you. You taught me that, many years ago," he reminded her. Looking up at him, Taipana slowly leaned in and chastely kissed his lips before moving to walk up the steps onto the teleporter. Just as her foot was on the first step though, Batman reached out and pulled her back. "Why don't you stay with here, with us, me," he asked. "There's nothing for you there," he reminded her, knowing very well that Taipana wouldn't be able to handle being normal again.

"There's nothing for me anywhere," she replied wisely. "Gotham City is an open wound begging to be stitched. Someone has to do it while you're away," she told him, smiling tightly, and stepped onto the teleporter. "Besides…I prefer to work alone, remember," she asked with a smirk, waving goodbye to him as he set her coordinates and disappeared. His eyes still glued to where Taipana once stood, he didn't notice the Question walked up behind him with Shayera and Flash not far behind.

"I hope we'll be seeing more of Ms. Harrison now that she's free to prowl again," Question stated.

"I don't think so," Batman replied, his eyes still on the empty teleporter.

"Really? Why not," he asked curiously. "I thought she was quite fond of you. In fact, it's clearly obvious she is. I assumed the feeling was mutual."

"Almost," he replied. "She's in love with Batman," he explained and Question nodded, understanding completely what Batman meant.

"Oh, dear! These modern relationships can be so complicated," Flash exclaimed sarcastically and Batman turned to glare at him. Shayera just rolled her eyes at Flash and hit his arm.

"Sorry your mortal enemy didn't turn out to be your ex, who you wanted behind bars," she said sympathetically, but he easily caught her joking tone.

"That's the life of a crime fighter," he replied and sighed quietly. ""The fault lies not in the stars, but in ourselves,"" he quoted.

"That's awfully deep, especially for you," Flash commented and grinned widely, but Batman scowled at him and walked away. "What? What I say," he called after him with a shrug to Question and Shayera. Superman, who had been watching everything from an upper level, swooped down quietly and followed Batman through the halls until they were finally alone. Batman just leaned against the railing of the wall, looking into space at Earth, as Superman stood tall next to him.

"Well, as the Bard once said, "That which you seek and cannot find is the seeker. You are merely the eye trying to view itself,"" Superman told him helpfully.

"Mind telling me how do you always know the right thing to say," he asked, not really sure he wanted to know the answer from the practically perfect hero. Superman just looked over at him and smiled.

"Years of practice," he admitted honestly, and Batman even smirked, thoroughly amused whilst continuing to stare out the window.

P.S.: Four pages total.