A/N - Sorry for the extended break. Family comes first and with that I must say that the past few months have been the most trying for me in a long while. The best news is that I'm pregnant again! Unfortunately, the first 16 weeks I was puking up a storm...not fun! All I could do was wake up, get the kids breakfast and get them dressed. I'm glad that my oldest is old enough now to make sandwiches for her brothers so at least I didn't have to smell or even look at food when I was at my worst. I'm happy to say that the worst is over and I'm hoping that it just gets better from here on out. I'm due in February so here's hoping for an uneventful next few months so I can finish this story. I have a few others in mind, but I want/need to complete this before I can work on anything else.

Thank you so much for those of you who continued to review and put this on their story alerts. My heart was wanting to continue, but my body was not willing. I just want you to know that I saw each and every one of them and I'm very appreciative!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"I'm staying here with my wife and your mother who was severely injured," Bruce stated clearly as he now stood in front of David. "This is where I need to be right now."

"Well, in that case, I'll find my fiance on my own," David said as he reached for the door knob. His hand never reached it and instead was quickly twisted around to his back. He could feel Bruce right behind him with his wrist in his grasp and in a moment of reaction, David turned his body and pinned that of Bruce's against the wall, causing a loud thud. David turned around, and grabbed Bruce's forearm as Bruce took a hold of David. He paused when he heard a voice cry out in the room.

"Master Bruce! Master David!" Alfred exclaimed, as the two men froze in a stand-still to a fight. David watched Bruce, almost instantly regretting what he was about to do to his Dad if Alfred hadn't interrupted. He quickly let go of Bruce's arm.

David stepped back and let out a scoff before readjusting his shirt. He glanced over at Alfred's startled expression and turned to Bruce, seeing the darkness in his eyes that mirrored his own.

"I'm out of here," David finally said, grabbing the door knob and swinging it open broadly before leaving the room and the hospital.

Allison stood frozen as she had watched the entire scene unfold in front of her. She couldn't believe what had happened - that David and her Dad nearly fought before Alfred brought them back to their senses. She looked from the closing door to her Dad as he walked back towards her Mom, looking every bit ashamed. Without another thought, Allison ran towards the door and quickly pulled it open just as it was about to close.

"Allison!" she heard Alfred call from behind her as she slipped through the door. Down the hall she could see David walking as he pulled his jacket on over his shoulders. She called out his name, urging him to stop. Finally, hearing his sister's quick steps behind him, David stopped and turned.

"I don't want to hear it from you too," he said, rolling his eyes as she slowed to a stop in front of him.

She sighed and shook her head. Suddenly, she reached up and wrapped her arms around David's chest.

"Be careful," she said softly, as David slowly put his arms around her.

"I will," he replied. "Let me know if anything happens with Mom while I'm gone."

"Of course." David turned to walk away. "You know, Dad is proud of you. He's just upset with everything that is going on. He's stressed out, you know."

David paused and nodded. "I know. I just wish he could say it."

David continued down the bleach white hallway and through the double doors.

-.-

The ride in the van seemed to last forever. Every bump they went over made Kate groan. Heather grimaced. She had assumed that the last extended stop would've been theirs, but instead, they sat for a short while before the van suddenly lurched forward again.

"When the hell is this ride over?" Kate gasped.

They felt the van swerve to the left.

"Soon, I hope," Heather replied.

Just as the words came out of her mouth, the van came to a halt, causing Heather to brace herself and released some pressure on Kate's wound. She quickly recovered and slapped her coat back over Kate's stomach.

"You're loosing quite a bit of blood," Heather commented, softly.

Kate winced.

"It's no wonder I'm feeling light headed."

Heather leaned down over Kate. "I'll get you help as soon as I can."

The back door to the van suddenly opened and a bright flashlight shone into Heather's face. Less than second later, she felt a hand on the back of her neck, pulling at her collar as she was dragged out the back door of the van. Heather yelped as they caught part of her hair in their fist as she was pulled out.

"Say another word and I'll kill you now, rather than later."

Heather recognized the voice. It was the same that spoke to her at the store. She saw the man as he stood a few feet in front of her, but couldn't believe that it was the man that first took her from the hospital. Heather watched, confused. A half dozen men stood around them, each with a gun or rifle in hand.

"Is everything in place?" the man asked the large burly man to his right.

"Phone's hooked up and everything is set to go."

She watched as the man in front of her smiled as he turned to look back at her. He walked towards her.

"I have something that I need you to do for me."

-.-

Bruce watched the slow rhythmic motion of Olivia's chest with each breath she took. He looked up to her face, waiting for her to wake up and he could hear her voice. The only sound he would hear would be the consistent soft beeping of the machine beside him; the only indicator to him that she was still alive.

How many hours had it been?

Bruce leaned over in his chair beside the bed and ran his hands over his face and into his hair. Time seemed to have slowed to a complete stop while he sat and waited, alone in the dimmed hospital room. Finally, he stood up and walked towards the window as the night life of the city and the small lamp on the bedside table were the only things lighting the room. Bruce sighed.

"He's not a boy anymore."

A smile tugged at Bruce's lips, as he continued to look out into the night sky. Finally, he nodded and turned as Alfred walked towards him with a Styrofoam cup in hand.

"I know," Bruce said. "I need the reminder sometimes. But I don't know if he's ready to face what he'll encounter out there. The last thing I want is to find out in the morning that not only is my wife in the hospital, but my son is as well."

"You have taught him well."

Bruce took the cup from Alfred and turned back towards the window.

"It's a parent's job to worry about their children, even when they're grown up," Alfred added. "In fact, I still worry about you."

Bruce turned and smiled, looking over at Olivia. "Where's Allison?"

"I sent her for a walk down to the cafeteria," he said, as he watched Bruce walk up to Olivia.

Bruce leaned over, tenderly brushed Olivia's hair away from her face and kissed her lips before whispering something to her. He stood back up and sighed.

"Keep an eye on Allison and Olivia for me," he said, walking towards the door. He pulled out his cell phone.

"Of course, sir. But..."

"I'm going to go catch up with David," Bruce said. "I have a feeling he may need more help than he realizes."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The tumbler leaped through the wall of water and swerved slightly as it made contact with the soft ground on the other side. David kept his foot on the gas, not bothering to slow down. On his way back to Wayne Manor he decided that he would go straight to Coleman Reese's place. He had nothing else to go on and he was hoping that he would find something of use there.

A beeping sound inside the Tumbler caught his attention and David glanced down at the centre console to see an incoming phone call to his cell. He didn't recognize the number but answered anyways.

"Hello?"

"David? It's Heather!"

"Heather? Where are you?"

"I'm at the corner of Metro and fifth. At the old tool and die shop," she replied, her voice wavering slightly. "He told me to tell you to get Batman to come."

"Who did?"

"He's the guy..." She paused for a moment, taking a deep shaky breath and he could barely hear the sound of another voice in the background. "Just tell him to come. He wants Batman to come."

"Heather, I'm on my way. I'll get you."

"Don't you dare come, David!" she cried. "Do you hear me! He'll kill you!"

Heather looked over towards the phone cradle where a hand had pressed down on the handle.

"I think he got the message," the man said, taking the phone from Heather's hand. The man placed it onto the cradle before pulling out a mirror from behind the door and glancing into it. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box and set it on one of the many oil drums that sat in the room with them.

"Who are you?" she asked nervously, not wanting to think what the man was planning with the drums.

The man grinned and looked over his shoulder. "I've been called many things over the years. I've had many names. But the one that the Wayne's would be most familiar with is Coleman Reese."

"And you work for the Joker?"

Reese let out a chuckle as he continued to look at himself in the mirror. "Joker's dead. He's been dead for years. That clown is who made my life a living hell. The Wayne's only fuelled that hellish fire by carrying on with their charade."

He watched as Heather glanced towards the closed door. "If you're planning on running, you wont get very far."

"Where is Kate?"

"Oh, the girl? She's leaving a nasty stain on the floor down the hall."

"I need to see her."

"You will," Reese replied, as he glanced over his shoulder at Heather. "After I take care of the Batman, whenever he shows up."

Heather let out a nervous laugh. "David doesn't know who Batman is. He wont be able to get him to you any more than I would."

Reese grinned. "Oh, you would be surprised." He turned around and walked towards Heather, placing one hand on either arm of the chair that she was sitting in. He smiled down at her, like a chestire cat. "How well do you know the Waynes?"

Heather didn't dare make eye contact with the man standing above her, just inches from her. "I've known them for years."

"And you obviously still don't know who they really are."

Heather watched as Reese walked over to her, resting his hands on either side of the chair that she was sitting on. "What if I told you that they knew who Batman is and personally funds all of his toys?"

Heather scoffed. "You're crazy."

A small smile tugged at Reese's lips. "

At that moment, the door busted open and one of Reese's men walked in.

"We have company. There are about a dozen police cruisers on the ground outside the building and I just lost contact with Schultz at the east door."

Reese stood up.

"What?" he exclaimed. "How the hell did the cops get here so fast?"

He looked down at Heather and quickly grabbed her by her cuffed wrists. Reese followed the other man out into the hallway and quickly stepped behind Heather, wrapping his arm around her stomach and continued to push her forward as they walked. Ahead, she saw a half dozen dressed SWAT men. Heather was about to call out but decided against it when she felt a cool metal against her neck. The other man beside Reese quickly ducked into a room leaving Reese and Heather alone in the hallway with the SWAT team.

"Hold your fire!" one of the SWAT called out, holding his hand up to the other men behind him. "Suspect has a hostage!"

Heather heard Reese curse as he backed into a room, pulling her backward in with her before quickly turning and locking the door behind them.

"That should hold them off for a while," he stated, turning on the light to the room they were in. It was empty but had another door that led them into the main tool and die shop. Reese pushed the other man forward and slowly they walked out into the large room. It was dark. The only light was from the cracks around the large bay doors and from under the outer doors.

"Stop," the man in front of Heather said. Reese stopped pushing her forward. "I heard something."

A bird tweeted as it flew around the rafters of the building.

"It's just a damn bird," Reese stated, just as they heard a loud scuffle followed by silence.

Reese grabbed Heather and pulled her in front of him and she winced, feeling the knife pushing into her neck.

"Touch me, and she's dead!" Reese called aloud confidently out into the darkness.

Heather looked out into the darkness and saw nothing but a void. She could hear Reese's ragged breathing against her neck.

"Come on," he said, as he reached for another door and stepped backward into it. He slammed the door as soon as they were both inside. It wasn't lockable, so he let go of Heather for a moment in order to turn the latch at the top to seal the door.

Heather took that opportunity. As soon as he let go of her, she ran down the hallway. It felt like she wasn't running fast enough and her sneakers squeaked as she raced as fast as she could. She could see the outside door from where she was. But instead, she suddenly felt like something jumped up and bit her in the leg. The sound seemed to come afterwards. A gunshot. Almost instantly, her leg gave out and she found herself falling to the ground. Heather braced herself with her bound hands and hit the floor.

The back of her thigh stung. She carefully rolled over and reached to her leg and found her hand covered in blood. She had been shot. Heather looked up and saw Reese's face as he walked up to her.

"Look what you made me do," he said, shaking his head.

A noise further down the hall caught his attention and he quickly picked Heather up by the arm. She had no idea how much pain she was feeling until she was made to stand. Her leg screamed in agony as she finally glanced down to see the red blood staining her pajama pants. Heather gasped as she felt herself once again being pulled backward down the hallway. She struggled to keep herself standing as Reese continued to pull her along. Heather gasped with each movement, and forced herself not to make more sound.

Reese pushed open a door with his back and shoved Heather inside. She landed on the ground, hard. Heather barely had a chance to turn around when she heard the door close and being locked from the outside. A noise beside her in the dim room caught her attention.

"Kate?"

Heather clenched her teeth together tightly as she pulled herself along the floor towards her friend. She was glad to see that her coat was still sitting against Kate's stomach wound, but felt her stomach lurch when she could feel the stickiness of blood that had seeped through it. Heather reached up and brushed the hair out of Kate's face.

"Kate?"

Heather heard her moan slightly. "Open your eyes."

"Come on, Kate," she begged.

Kate didn't comply but she spoke weakly in words that Heather couldn't understand. Heather laid back on the floor beside Kate realizing for the first time that she was beginning to feel lightheaded from the blood loss from her leg. She pushed up onto her elbows and glanced down at her left leg, seeing the horrible stain that was growing on her leg. She sighed, realizing that she had nothing to wrap around it to slow the bleeding, until she looked over at Kate. Her friend had a belt on. Grimacing slightly, Heather twisted onto her side and began to undo Kate's belt. She heard her friend moan from the movement and Heather apologized softly as she pulled the belt through the loops, praying that it would come out easily.

Finally, she found the end and quickly sat up. Heather wrapped the belt around her leg and took a deep breath before pulling it as tight as she could and fastened it off before laying back down, trying to once again relax.

-x-x-x-x-x

He had heard the gunshot after that short scuffle in the large warehouse and felt a knot grow in the pit of his stomach. David knew he was running out of time. He had no idea how the SWAT team arrived when no one knew what was going on in the shop.

David turned a corner and saw Reese standing behind a wall, filling his own gun with bullets. There were obvious blood stains on his clothes as he carefully reloaded. He slowly walked up behind the man and pushed him into the wall, causing the man to drop the gun. Reese quickly turned and David pressed his hand against his neck.

"Where is she?"

A look of satisfaction crossed Reese's face for a moment until it turned to confusion.

"Wait a sec," he managed to say. "You're not him."

"Of course not," Batman replied. "He is where he is supposed to be and I'm where I want to be."

"I should have known," Reese stated, pulling against Batman's fingers as he held him securely against the wall. "You have feelings for her."

"Tell me where she is and I'll let you go," Batman growled deeply into Reese's face.

Reese sighed. "Down the hall, turn right down the flight of stairs. She's in the room, second door to the left."

Batman released the pressure against Reese's neck. "I don't ever want to see you in Gotham again. If I even hear that you're breathing in this city, I'll find you. If you terrorize my family again, I'll kill you."

Reese grinned. "It's good to know that unlike your father, you're willing to do what is right."

Batman didn't say a word but turned and walked away from Reese.

"He could have learned a thing or two from you!" Reese called out as he watched Batman walk away.

Reese glanced down at the gun on the ground and slowly bent over to pick it up. "He could have taught you a few things too," he whispered to himself as he raised the gun. Batman quickly turned at the sound of a gun going off, but instead he saw the gun sliding across the floor and heard Reese scream as Batman held tightly onto the man's arm. Swiftly with the back of his elbow, Batman hit Reese in the face making the man instantly go unconscious and fall to the floor.

David sighed, not realizing how glad he was to see Batman until he was there with him in the hallway. Batman quickly walked towards David.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he began. "What are you doing here?"

"Helping you," he said. "Now let's find Heather and get out of here."

Agreeing, David turned to walk down the hallway with Batman beside him. "Reese said that she was down this way."

"Wait, he told you?"

David nodded, not slowing down. Batman paused for a moment before an image flashed in his mind. Rachel. Reese had been using the Joker's tactics from the beginning. Why not now?

A flash of light caught his eye.

"David, wait!"

Batman could see the thin wire on the floor as David paused and turned, his left heel stepping into it.

They could hear the rumbling of the explosions coming towards them. Batman ran into David, catching him by the arm and quickly jumped out the window. Behind them, the explosion shot debris out the window as glass flew all around them.