Smoke choked everyone in a four mile distance. The flames lashed out at anyone who dared go near them, burning a few in their wake. Screams filling the air alerted those trained to save, that they were in need of help. But more than anything else, it was the smell that got to most. Burnt flesh was topping the list. Congealed blood coated the inside of everyone's nose, leaving its discussing scent even after you were out of reach.

Water came gushing from the fire hydrants, sending cold droplets onto the occupants of the area, chilling them to the bone. Night was almost upon them, darkness befalling.

Arriving on the scene, Vada quickly found the head of medical rescue, asking for permission to aid in trauma cases, codes red through black. Slightly surprised by her knowledge of the inner workings of search and rescue, she swiftly supplied the fact she had been in the military. Okaying her for the job, and supplying her with the appropriate tools, she was on her way in less than five minutes. Setting to work she immediately stuck with a search and rescue team that headed for the darkest places, they traveled into the heart of the crash. Remnants of desks and walls were pushed from where they resided, to make way for the eight medics, and abundant search and rescue personal that trekked to the middle of the, now demolished building. Motionless bodies lay strewn across rocks and cement blocks, their flashlights finding mere pieces of what was once a human being. Other medics who had been with them turned back, unable to take in the horrors of what was being seen, three remained on the journey.

"We need help over here!" a man called, his voice piercing through the sad silence that had a hold on them all. The first to respond was Vada, taking a few seconds to compose themselves, the others followed suit.

"Is one of a cardiologist specialist?" One man raised his hand warily. Looking over the damage he began to assess the worst injuries, and the least painful. Luckily the man was unconscious, thus the pail had let to be lived.

"There's another survivor over here!" quickly leaving the first found victim in capable hands, the two remaining medics hastily made their way to see the other living person.

The night dragged on, after looking over and assisting in most of the red through black cases, Ms. Ramsden made her way to speak with the head of the medical team once again.

The man was old and withered, but she could see he had had much experience in this area. She had briefly ran the articles and news reports on the past high risk, and high injury incidents that had occurred over the past year or so.

The Joker, public enemy number two, had been put behind bars for various accounts of murder, along with kidnapping, threatening the public as a whole, illegal possession of explosives and weapons, the list goes on and on.

Setting down the kit that had previously resided in the hand of the new Gotham arrival, she looked up to meet the gaze of the man she had been aiming for.

"Thank for letting me barrow this," she said with sincere thanks. He had a look of slight adoration dwelling in his old and tired eyes; it was gone seconds after it had been present.

"I heard you preformed quite the public service. You saved a good majority of lives tonight, Miss…." His voice trailed off as he looked to her for a reply, asking a silent question.

"Vada Ramsden, you wouldn't mind returning the inquirement?" she spoke as if she was not twenty years his minor. Her tone and word choice was evident that she spoke after she contemplated; a rare quality.

"Dr. Joseph Potter," he extended his hand in greeting, and she accepted it. You can tell a lot about a person by their hand shake, and this was no exception. Hers was firm, respectful, but had a gentle end. Mr. Potter had shaken many a person's hands in his days, but none quite matched hers.

"Are you in town for long?" a flash of surprise made its way into Vada's eyes, but she quickly understood where he could conjure up this conclusion. Her skills had yet to be shown in a hospital, and he, more than likely, would have heard of her if she was in active service

"No, only a few weeks tops. I arrived just this morning actually," she had begun to converse with the elder man, but was interrupted by a woman asking him to accompany her back to the hospital, they had packed up, and the last ambulance was about to leave.

"How did you get here Miss. Ramsden?" he asked as they began to walk in the direction of the departing vehicle.

"I took the train sir, I'll walk back, we aren't too far from where I'm staying," sticking her hands in the pockets of her red scrubs, she shivered slightly, there was a chill wind, and the moon had been out for an allotted amount of time; in her brain though, she had no idea.

"I warn you Miss, this city in the crime capital of the country, you have a high risk for your safety, I cannot allow you to walk on your own," his brows furrowed in fright, not for his own well being, but for the woman before him's.

"It's alright, trust me," she gave a smile that assured him she would make it home alright. Still a bit wiry about letting her go, he asked one final question.

"How far away exactly? Who are you staying with?" by now they had reached the ambulance, and the others just simply waited for the okay.

"Not ten minutes, my uncle lives in the better part of town, I'll be alright, I thank you for the concern," she nodded her head, and began to walk in the direction of her destination.

"Be careful!" he called after her as she turned to wave once more. The older man just shook his head, and entered the truck. He hadn't known the girl for eight hours, and he was already taken a liking to her; possibly because he never had kids of his own.

Breathing a sigh of exhaustion, Vada continued down the side walk, getting a few cat calls, an occasional whistle, and many odd stairs. Walking down town in red scrubs was an odd fashion choice she supposed. Snorting at the statement, her ears picked up a scream in a nearby ally. Looking around, she was almost shocked that no one paid it any mind, but it more than likely happened all the time in this part of town. Her route changed as she ran for the screech. A girl, no older than fourteen was being pinned against a wall by a dirty looking man.

"Sto…" he muffled her speech by placing his hand securely over her mouth. He growled out insults and pushed her up further against the cold brick wall. Another man appeared, holding a knife and his eyes darting around cautiously. Fortunately he hadn't seen the woman hiding behind the entrance to the alley.

"Come on, I want a turn to! Hurry it up," completely discussed, Vada quickly made a beeline for the man holding the girl, latching herself on to his back, and repeatedly scratching and hitting. So shocked by the attack, his friend didn't move. Soon however, the man she was assaulting reacted. Attempting to get her off his back, he tugged at her clothes, and tried to punch her. The angle more so than anything prevented him from doing so

"You little bitch!" unhappiness was prominent in his voice as he staggered around. Finally, she used her weight to slam his head against the wall, causing him to stumble. She jumped from his shoulders, and made her way towards the other man, defensive postiour in place. Taking out a knife he attempted to slash her. Quickly jumping back, the knife missed its intended target, the cuts that would have landed on her stomach.

Before the assailant could get any closed, the other man wrapped his arms around her from behind, one around her waist the other around her neck.

She automatically kicked his knee, using this slight release of his arms, and twisted out of the hold, taking his arm with her. A grim smile appeared as she heard the crack, affectively breaking his arm. Once again using her weight, the defender slammed him into the building beside them.

She felt a pain in her side, and saw the other man had sliced her. It wasn't deep but it was still painful. Anger only wheled in her more as she fell on the ground, not anticipating the attack. Trying as she may, her emotion took a stormy turn. Grabbing the knife out of its resting place, just inside her shirt. She quickly threw it with all her might, aiming for the place between the pelvic bone, and his leg. Hitting its mark, he dropped the frightened girl that had been dragged by the arm down the alley. The scream that he admitted was ear piercing. She knew the body, the weak and most painful part to attack.

Hearing a gun lock, she put herself in front of the girl and turned around. Coming face to face with a very angry man. His eyes smoldered and he was preparing to fire. Just as the was about to pull the trigger, a black blur passed them, causing the girl to scream, and the man to fly back a bit.

Looking up, she saw none other than the famed cape crusader. His cloak flowed out so she could see the man who had just stared at her from the barrel of a gun on the ground unconscious.

"You shouldn't be out here at this time of night," his voice was deep and raspy; his eyes strayed from the form of the two still standing and on the man lying on the ground behind them.

Following his gaze, Vada saw the slightly troubled look in his eyes.

"I only hit him in a very painful spot; he'll recover in the jails medical facilities," closely holding the girl, she scrutinized the black clad man in front of her. Confused even more by the fact his eyes held no emotion. What a god damn good wall he had set up.

Her attention soon found its way back to the young girl that was holding on to her for dear life.

"Honey, Honey open your eyes, it's okay, it's all over," at this she began to cry, her hands clutched the older woman as if she were a life line. Looking back up she saw the two men bound in rope, sitting back to back.

"You need to get her home,"

"No, I need to get her to a hospital to get her checked out," her voice held aggravation; he was the hardest person she had ever attempted to read. Usually, in some way, emotion was put forth by a person's very presence. But this… this Batman, had none, other than slight anger, he was clean.

"No, get her home, she needs her family," before she could respond, the dark knight handed her a piece of paper, an address not three minutes away from their current position was on it. Looking up to ask what it was, she saw her hero was gone. Furrowing her brow she looked again at the paper, then the girl. Shaking her head, she proceeded to walk the girl home. Why she was listening to a man who dressed like a bat over her own intellect was a mystery.

The rest of the walk home was uneventful, after taking the little girl home, well, she wasn't really little, the family had asked if she wanted to stay until the sun rose, saying there was less chance of her getting hurt. She thanked them, but declined, she really did need to be getting back to the pent house. She cringed slightly as she felt the cut on her side reopen when someone accidently pushed her into the side of a building. She had bandaged it up fine at the family's home, but she knew she would need stitches.

Slowly the night turned quite, less people around, it was half past three now, and most, normal people were asleep. However, she could feel a pair of eyes boring into her head, and knew exactly who they belonged to.

Turning to walk down an alley that had little room to see if on the roof, Vada looked about casually for the Batman, a shiver running down her spine when she saw a flash of his jet black cape,

"Why are you secretly walking me home?" her voice held a small quiver, it was cold, she was far from tired, and her side was bleeding once again. Muttering a curse as she felt the blood, and looking down to see if her conclusions were true, in fact they were, her eyes trained before her when she felt a slight change in pressure in front of her.

Almost letting out a squeal as her sight landed on the dark knight, he was very good at making people nervous, and she was no exception, not that she would ever admit to it.

"Your bleeding," the urge to roll her eyes was great, a 'thank you captain obvious' was on her tongue but she held it back. She took this time to study his eyes again, this was a difficult feet because it seemed that he refused to look into hers.

"Why are you walking me home?" she asked again, her side forgotten about for a moment, though her hand was still applying pressure. It was just a flesh wound, it wouldn't be able to do too much to her health if she took a moment to talk to the person that had saved her life not hours before.

"Why were you out this late?" his voice was something she would never understand, it sounded so painful, not to her ears, but for his voice. She knew he couldn't go around as the great hero all day, when the sun came, she speculated he had another identity. So how was his voice then?

"You never answered my question," she was getting annoyed with his lack of emotion, and the way he put everything off. Her mind whirled at all the possibilities. Who in their right mind would dress as a bat? He didn't seem crazy, so what was his motivation?

"To make sure you don't get into any more fight, and get yourself killed," there was a light tone that hinted at the fact he disapproved of her actions. But before she told him about what her night had consisted of before being saved by his truly, she blinked and nodded.

"I suppose that's reasonable," she was just about to ask why a bat, when sires were heard in the distance, she could tell he heard them as well.

"Get home," she was about to abject at his controlling attitude, but when she looked back, the place he stood was now vacant.

Taking a deep breath, and letting it out slowly, she ran a hand through her hair. Checking the time in her phone, she noted it was just past four.

She really needed to get home.

Bruce arrived back at the warehouse in anger, and confusion.

Why the hell was she out that God damn late?! He wonder if someone forgot to tell her the city was crawling with criminals that wouldn't blink if you were shot in their cross fire. He could tell she ran to the fight from the position she had when he got there. She had run to the scream, not from it. Isn't that just common scene?

Sighing heavily, he showered in the small bathroom just left of where he had placed his suit. Shaking his head, he prayed that it would help clear it. Sadly, after all of the night's events replayed in his head, Bruce was left with significantly more questions than answers. She knew how to fight, and she went for it; the lack of fear and self preservation was something he knew his Vada wouldn't dare attempt, let alone do with an attitude that was nonchalant.

A sad frown crossed his face; he hadn't seen her in almost eleven years. He knew she would change. But this drastically, he never would have imagined.

Turning off the water he proceeded to dry himself, and apply clothing to his now sore, but relaxed body. He needed to get home, but timing was his enemy. He knew she would speculate on his nightly actions, and give him hell for it later, but also, he wanted and needed sleep, waiting was not an option. He really didn't want to deal with her when his emotions were this raw, and his mind was up in the air.

Opening the door as quietly as she possibly could, the young doctor looked about for any sign of Alfred, she had hoped that:

A. she wouldn't wake him, and

B. he hadn't waited for her reappearance. Luckily none of the above had occurred.

Laying down in one of the spare bedrooms that had been claimed as hers, she stared at the ceiling; her thoughts wondering to far better time and place that only caused a small ach in her heart. She felt stupid, really, for missing Bruce more than her husband, but she understood why. She never loved her spouse as much as she had deeply and truly loved the billionaire playboy. Though, she would, also, take that to the grave. Snapping out of her thoughts, she heard the door gently open, and then close again. Sneaking silently, she peeked out the crack of her door to see the man that had just occupied her thoughts. A slight surge of anger ran through her, and she had half a mind to go in there and give him a piece of her mind for being out so late doing Lord knows what. But reality came rushing back to her as she realized she had no right. They weren't seeing one another anymore, and she had no room to stand seems how she had only gotten in twenty minutes ago. Sighing she shut her door all the way, not realizing she had caught the attention of Bruce as she did so.

Bruce's head snapped in the direction of the small sound he heard, and just in time to see the room that had been dubbed Miss. Ramsden's close all the way.

Shit

He had woken her, or she had just gotten home, but more than likely he had woken her. Making the rest of his journey to his own bedroom, he collapsed on his warm bed, a content sigh escaping his lips. His eyes slowly closed as memories came flooding back to him. Some that would make even his cheeks burn in embarrassment. They had done some very…. crazy things, though he tried not to remember, he hadn't done anything of the nature for longer than he would ever admit.

So how was chapter 4? Huh, huh? Please R'nR peeps, I love reviews, even if they aren't long, just one word even ;)

After a brief moment screams filled the air, however, these were different. They didn't belong to those in pain, but in fright, a scared and shocked shriek.

Everyone averted their eyes to the top of the now desolate pile of debris. No one saw anything; that was until the beginnings of a man appeared, little by little. First the out lined, and then emerged the clothing, and finally the white painted face.