A/N: Patricia, all i can say is wait and see what happens. i don't like ruining romance because taking the journey to how they end up together is more fun when you're oblivious to the destination. with my crazy twists now and again who knows what's going to happen between the two muahahahaha!

FallenAngelx3, mmmm read on :D

Mistoflees, thank you! i'm glad you enjoyed it! i try to make it enjoyable as much as possible.

Olena, thank you too! i always worry about rushing certain aspects of the story because i do have readers who want to see them happen at this moment, but i don't necessarily feel the same way. this though felt right and about time it happened. and btw, you're in luck. i've been working on this chappie for a while and tonight is when i decided to post it, so you won't have to wait long. i'm actually pleasantly surprised to hear Jazz is in the top 3 favorite characters, that's one of the best compliments i've heard so far, especially since i'm terrible at updating.

i take a while between updates sometimes because life tends to get in the way (it's so pesky sometimes), or i'm just not feeling the content i'm writing so i start all over again, as i've done with this. originally i was going to take this in a whole different direction, but only yesterday did i get smacked in the face with an epiphany. i'm actually a bit excited to post it, so here goes!

Thanks for all the kind reviews! always looking forward for more!

Panicked eyes dart from side to side taking in the surrounding dark environment; somehow, he's no longer in Jazz's small apartment. Instead, he finds himself standing in the middle of a dingy, windowless room; unsure of what to make of his current situation, Terry takes on a defensive attitude. He has the feeling something isn't right, he isn't safe, his mind feels hazy and he can't clear it. He takes careful steps forward, but the sound of his footsteps makes him stop and look down at his feet.

Terry frowns with confusion when he recognizes the boots of the Batsuit before he switches his gaze to his chest where the red mark confirms his suspicion. He may not remember putting the suit on, but he's pretty sure his footsteps sound different than usual; something is definitely off. He takes another quick look around the room and finds a computer monitor glowing on the other end. Before he can use it to answer the questions flying around in his mind, a familiar voice stops him cold, making the hairs on his neck bristle.

"Hello, Batman," Blight sneers from behind him.

Spinning to face him, Batman glares at the first enemy he ever made. "Blight," Batman returns with a tightened jaw.

"Been a while hasn't it," he continues unaffected by Batman's threatening presence. With hands held behind his back, he slowly begins circling Batman. "I bet you're wondering how it is I found you here." Batman doesn't respond as his eyes lock onto Blight's. "Unfortunately for you, I think some things should be kept a mystery," he continues with a menacing look on his face. "But one thing I can reveal," he stops and turns towards him to hold up a hand before a ball of radiation suddenly forms in it. "I'm ready for round two." With a grin on his face, his arm shoots forward hurling the ball in Batman's direction.

Diving out of the way, Batman rolls into a forward summersault landing crouched. When he flicks his wrist to call out a batarang, nothing happens making his eyes widen with fear. He tries again and gets the same response. Before another glowing green ball hits him, Batman jumps out of the way and runs across the room towards a door he hadn't noticed before. He tries the handle only to find it locked. With nothing to offer him cover in this room, Batman knows he needs an escape, fast. One powerful kick forces the door to swing open before Batman runs through it just as Blight fires another ball missing his head by inches.

To buy some time, he closes the door, grabs a coat rack from a corner, and wedges the post between the floor and the handle jamming the door. Quickly turning his attention to his suit, Batman once again flicks both wrists trying to get out a batarang. When nothing yields, he looks down at his belt and opens a compartment only to find it empty. Panicked and confused, he begins cursing with each compartment that turns up empty.

'What the hell is going on?' he asks himself before a bang at the door makes him look up. Afraid he'll have to face a dangerous monster without the help of weapons, Batman takes a quick look around the room in search of something he could use to keep distance between him and the glowing health hazard. Unfortunately though, this room is almost as bare as the last. With only a torn up couch, a dusty rug, and the coat hanger furnishing the room, he realizes he doesn't have a lot of options.

Cursing for the last time, he decides the coat rack is his best choice right now. Plastering his body against the wall by the door, he takes a deep breath and dislodges the pole allowing the door to swing open the second time Blight bangs on it. With Batman hiding behind the door, Blight doesn't notice him when he first walks in.

"Really, Batman? Don't you think you're a little too old to be playing games?" He taunts looking around the seemingly empty room.

As Blight carefully walks around the couch checking to see if he is behind it, Batman pushes the door and hurls the coat rack in Blight's direction hitting the back of his head. Without wasting another precious second, Batman takes advantage of the confusion and rushes at Blight. He leaps onto the couch to get some height before kicking Blight straight in the jaw. When his foe takes a few steps back to recuperate, Batman continues his attack closing the distance between them and delivering a few more punches to the face and gut.

Losing his footing, Blight topples backwards giving Batman the chance to deliver a final blow, but an enfolding darkness stops his fist in midair. Before he realizes what's happening, Blight and the surrounding room drown in shadows, and Batman suddenly finds himself freefalling. Turning his body over in mid air, he instinctively shields his face and head with his arms before he hits an invisible ground.

When Terry's eyes fly open, he quickly shoots up only to have his head collide with something as hard as rock forcing him back down and holding a hand against his throbbing head.

"Ow! Motherfff-," a familiar voice gasps in pain, making him sit up more slowly this time.

Although his vision is a bit blurry, he can see Jazz sitting beside him on the floor and vigorously rubbing her forehead. "Jazz?" He asks finding his breath laboring. He takes a quick look around to discover he's back in her apartment.

"Terry!" She exclaims looking at him with wide eyes.

"What the hell just happened?" He tries standing up, but Jazz stops him.

"Whoa, take it easy. How do you feel?"

"A bit dizzy, but I'm fine. What happened?" He asks again.

"You passed out for some reason," she replies looking more worried than he expected.

He picks up on her obvious distress. "What is it?"

"You should go to a hospital," she hesitantly replies.

"Why? I feel fine."

"Henry said I should take you."

"Henry?" He asks sounding more insulted than anything else. "You called Henry?"

She nervously shifts to a kneeling position. "I got worried. You didn't show signs of heatstroke or dehydration, so I didn't know what to do."

"I'm fine," he reassures again this time getting up.

"You mind telling me what happened then?" She asks rising with him.

"I'm not really sure," he replies, checking to see if the head butt with Jazz made him bleed. "Why were you leaning over me?" He asks after his fingertips turn up clean.

"I was going to check your pupils," she explains holding up a tiny flashlight.

"Oh." He takes a seat on the couch. "You should call Henry back; tell him I'm fine."

"Uh, sure," she replies eying him suspiciously before picking up her phone from the floor. "You sure you're okay?"

"I could use some aspirin," he replies rubbing his temples.

After she disappears into the kitchen, his brow furrows in thought. He vividly remembers every detail of his dream which is unusual. He doesn't even know if he should classify his experience as a dream; it felt so real, the musty air of that room, the heat from Blight's radiation balls, but it never happened. The only time he's felt something like this, like he was in a different world, was when he got flashed by Spellbinder. He has to be responsible for this in some way, but how? He doesn't remember getting flashed the last time he saw him, and Bruce said the tranquilizer was clean.

"Something's not right," he mumbles to himself.

"What?" Jazz asks; Terry didn't notice her walk back to his side until she spoke up.

"Nothing," he quickly replies, taking the medicine she's holding. After swallowing two pills, he sets the bottle down and stands to leave. "I have to go, but can I call you later?"

"Yeah, sure," she replies stepping aside. "Are you okay to drive?"

"Anyone ever call you a worrywart?" He asks, managing a small smile and walking past her.

"Just looking out for you, McGinnis," she replies, returning a hesitant smile. After saying their farewells, Terry heads back to his car and drives off.

"Perfect," Spellbinder's satisfied voice echoes through the dank room.

He pushes away from the computer and moves to the next room to stare at the cynthoid still lying on the ground. The experiment went better than expected, which means he could be using his new technology as soon as tomorrow night. Good news for someone anxiously waiting to make a debut at the art museum's unveiling of priceless artifacts; and this time, he's sure Batman won't be there to interfere ruining his plans.

"I'll just try not to have too much fun," he says laughing to himself before turning away to modify his new equipment.

- to be continued - reviews welcome -