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 20

A dreaded silence prevailed.

"I…don't understand!" Superman muttered, finally! No one bothered to offer an explanation. Although Bruce knew that he would be right in reaching the conclusion, he was visibly shocked by this revelation. Diana bent her head, staring aimlessly at the bat-gadgets which littered the computer platform.

"I am sorry to have to intrude into your privacy, sir, but I believe that Green Lantern and Hawk Girl are at the door!" came the voice of Alfred, who despite his concern framed the sentence quite elegantly. He was talking though the communicator up in the mansion.

Bruce lifted his head and squinted at Superman.

"No, I didn't!" said Superman as an answer to the unheard question.

"I did!" Diana muttered slowly, tracing small circles on the table with her finger.

"Do they…"Bruce did not have to complete the sentence.

"No they don't know anything about you, or this matter we discussed. Hawk Girl was keeping me on watch ever since I first went out with you. Now that I am here for a considerable period of time, she must've suspected…" Diana stopped.

"Suspected what?" Bruce demanded.

"Something which is obvious. Don't pretend you cannot understand, Bruce! Something which made her apprehensive." she managed to show some authority in her voice despite the situation she was in.

"What do we do now?" Superman asked.

Bruce sat silently for a moment and then spoke, "Let's go upstairs." And then as though guessing his thoughts added, "No, we're not going to tell them who I am. We'll taking this exit and reach the store room beside the kitchen. And from there we'll make our way to the hall, into which I presume Alfred has led them. And then," he looked at Diana, "you will explain everything you told us to them. This matter has been a secret for too long, and by this time you must've realised that you alone are going nowhere in solving this. It will be league's job now!"

Diana did not protest. They followed Bruce to the secret exit, into the store room and from there, took a detour to Alfred's bedroom and emerged into the hall. Bruce came out first, followed by Superman and then Diana.

"What happened?" Hawk Girl questioned as she looked at Diana's weary face. She was still in Lisa's robe, so Green Lantern could not readily recognize her. May be he'd never have recognized her if Hawk Girl hadn't told him before persuading him to follow her to the Wayne manor. She eyed Bruce suspiciously, who looked stern and reciprocated her gaze. For a moment, she quivered, the gaze seemed familiar. Bruce quickly withdrew and stood with his back towards her.

"Will anyone explain what's going on?" Green Lantern asked.

"I want to know too!" sounded a shrill voice, followed by a red streak of light, or a lightning speed man.

"How did you find us?" Hawk Girl frowned.

"Hah! Thought you lost me ha? I was not going to fall for that same old underwater trick of GL's" Flash grinned. GL cursed under his breath.

"Come on out, Jonn! I know you're here!" Diana cried weakly. And suddenly through the wall, the translucent green figure emerged.

"Great! The entire Justice League Is here!" Bruce said exasperatedly, trying to sound as much like himself as possible.

"Well, Batz isn't here!" Flash remarked.

Diana and Superman tried hard not to look in the direction of Bruce as an impulse. Bruce let out a sigh and seated himself in the sofa, rubbing his eyes with his fingers, as though he had just woken up from sleep.

"How come you're here, Superman!" GL turned the attention towards the unexplained matter. They knew Diana would be there but weren't expecting Superman.

Superman did not answer; or rather he did not know how to answer. He walked towards Bruce and took a seat next to him. Bruce considered him for a while and then withdrew.

"Ok people! What's cooking?" Flash asked again.

"I will explain," volunteered Diana, as she knew that none of the other two would want to do it. She looked at Bruce but his eyes were fixed on the floor of the carpet, as though he was critically examining the Indian design on it. She realised she was not going to get any support from him, not that she expected any.

Diana began. The others listened keenly as the plot deepened, occasionally shifting their gaze to Bruce, who refused to take his eyes off the carpet. Superman stood up in the middle of the story to join the rest of them, but no one took notice of that. Adding to Bruce's discomfort was the fact that Tim Drake had come out from his bed room and joined the group. Dick and Alfred were present too.

When Diana finished with the line, "I was the person behind the attacks on Bruce" everyone was in the state of bewilderment. Even Superman seemed amused, although he had heard the story only a few minutes ago. Perhaps he thought, or he wished that he had heard it wrong, but Diana gave no scope for ambiguity this time. It was in the pure first person.

"How could you, Diana?" Hawk Girl muttered. She saw a tiny drop of tear escape Diana's eye and refrained from making any further remark.

"I don't believe you took such a bold step without consulting any of us!" Jonn remarked in a tone which lacked the necessary expression to carry the message forward with the intensity he meant.

"Yeah!" GL nodded, "I mean what if Bruce Wayne files a suit against you? You have no way to defend yourself." His eyes drifted in Bruce's direction as he spoke.

All of a sudden everyone's attention was on Bruce, for he was apparently the wronged person in the whole act, contrary to popular guess. Hawk Girl looked at him, with eyes filled with half sympathy and half expectation. Bruce rose from the sofa and his eyes and had to meet those of Hawk Girl again.

"Don't worry, I won't!" he said weakly, and then turned to Diana, "Although I wish you hadn't done all that you have, I believe you had valid reason behind doing so. I guess the ways of all you super heroes have to be so subtle. I am no one to judge. Rest assured, this will be forgotten…as soon as possible, and I will not interfere in this mission in any manner that might prove derogatory."

Bruce's words struck like a dagger in her heart, although others breathed out a sigh of relief. She turned away to hide her tears. Bruce remained indifferent, although his face showed more expression that it usually did. He shifted his eyes to Tim, who seemed to be filled with sympathy himself, and ordered him to go back to his room. Tim followed his guardian's order without raising a protest. Dick and Alfred turned to leave too.

"So what do we do now?" Hawk Girl asked.

"I say, let's call Batman!" Flash suggested. The others seemed to agree, except for Superman and Diana, who said nothing.

"I'll get him online." GL offered.

"Never mind!" Superman spoke suddenly, "he will not answer. He is busy right now?"

"How do you know?" GL retorted, and pursued the task of establishing contact. There was no
answer.

"I told you, I know!" Superman said grimly, "I'll call for a meeting tomorrow and ask him to join. I will apprise him of the situation, of course, so that Diana does not have to reiterate the whole thing. We'll decide on what action to take. But for now, I think we should leave Mr Wayne alone. We have troubled him enough for a day."

Bruce did not budge, although the expected reaction would be to brush off the inconvenience as a minor one. But he knew it wasn't, and so did everyone. So, there was no point making that statement.

"Alfred will…" he realised that Alfred had retired to his bed room. "I will see you to the door. Good night!"

It wasn't long before Bruce was all alone again.