Disclaimer

The characters used in the story are the property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. I have used them in the story which is entirely a product of my own imagination. However the characters names Mark Smith, Amelia Smith and Gregory Smith are my own creations as a part of the story and do not refer to any person, living or dead

Chap 18

She paused. Her hands clasped involuntarily and moved to her quivering lips. She closed her eyes and let out successive sharp but deep breaths. Superman naturally felt the necessity to comfort her, but Bruce had his hand in his grip. Not that it was enough to restrain him, though he admitted that kind of grip on a normal man's hand would crack the bones, but he subscribed to the feeling that Bruce had a genuine reason to do so. He looked at him, and Bruce's face showed no sign of emotion other than his usual frown. The impact of the story on him so far could not be read from that expression. But he was obviously waiting for her to carry on, for he had registered that there was a murder and he wanted facts regarding the case, not its background. Dick did not approve of his guardian's apathy, as usual. And for he wasn't restrained as Superman was, he took the chance to speak.

"Would you like some water, Wonder Woman?" he asked, breaking the silence. He then looked at Bruce through the corner of his eye. His expression did not change, although Dick could swear that the corner of his mouth had twitched a bit.

She nodded "Yes, I'd love to, thank you, Nightwing!"

"Dick why don't you run upstairs and fetch her some water" Bruce said suddenly, but in a stern voice, not shifting his eyes off her. "And as long as you're there, you can ask Alfred to get the guests something to eat."

Dick frowned but could not disobey. For the sake of the damsel this time he said to himself, as he rushed past him to the stairs. Bruce then let go off Superman's hand and seated himself in the chair next to the bat-computer. He turned to the monitor and rested his fingers on the keys. He did not type, but read the screen with intense concentration while Superman went ahead to pacify Diana.

By that time, Dick had entered with his water glass, followed by Alfred, who brought them some milk and cookies. Diana took the glass from Dick and gulped down the water. Dick found it hard not to lay hands on the cookies, but refrained from them for the risk of being impolite.

"Your sister is with Mark Smith!" Bruce reported, his eyes on the screen showing the picture of a handsome, golden haired man and a tall and elegantly dressed woman, in a party. His voice startled the others, especially Dick who had just helped himself with his glass of milk.

"I know that!" Diana replied, easing out of Superman's comforting arm around her shoulder.

Bruce turned around, leisurely. "I thought you said she despised men?" he said, sardonically.

"I was coming to that." she said in an exasperated voice. She couldn't believe that the man who had her so fondly in his arms a few hours ago could be so cold to her. Bruce spoke no further. He waited for her to continue.

She put her glass away and leaned against the semicircular platform that held the keyboard and other peripheral devices.

"She wasn't going out with him in the sense that you men normally take," she said, stressing a bit too much on the gender. "He was the son of one of her students..."

"Gregory Smith!" Superman interrupted.

"She was going to say Amelia Smith," Bruce said, raising his eye brows at him. Diana nodded silently.

"Then I imagine he befriended her and tried to seduce her," said Dick, who was till then waiting for an opportunity to budge into the conversation. His attempt was only greeted by a scowl from both his guardian and the lady.

"That is all what you men can think of!" she snarled in disgust. Dick took a step back involuntarily. He hit Superman.

"You were going to say the same thing, weren't you?" Dick whispered to him.

"Yeah!" Superman whispered back, "but I am glad I didn't budge. Believe me, the results would've been worse."

"I see," Dick nodded.

"Shut up, both of you!" Bruce growled, as if he had heard the conversation. They fell silent, although Superman did not like his being bossed around.

Diana cleared her throat and resumed. "Yes, he did try to misbehave with her, but she taught him a strong lesson. That is not important."

"We were right," Dick whispered again to Superman.

"Why don't you two boys go upstairs and make yourself useful!" Bruce shouted in exasperation.

Dick hated it when Bruce called him a boy or treated him as one, as was his habit. He wanted to protest.

But it was Superman who was clearly hurt.

"And just whom are you calling a boy, kid!" he protested, "I am as old as you are, a little older to be precise!"

"Then behave like one!" Bruce ordered. Superman brought all the seriousness of this world and outer worlds into his face and folded his arms. He looked like he was going to fry Bruce if he made another remark. Fortunately Bruce let go off it, but Dick lost his only companion in the scene.

Diana continued. "I believe you know of the Metropolis General epidemic."

"Yes, and I know of the conspiracy surrounding the Smiths in that matter. But the case did not stand due to the lack of evidence. " Superman added.

"There was an evidence, Superman!" Diana said.

"Lisa?" he questioned.

"Amelia Smith!" Diana said gravely.