Chapter Three
Bruce took the first aid kit from Alfred and checked the girl over. He had removed her torn shirt and checked her back and arms for damage he may have missed and was now simply cleaning the cut on her cheek while Alfred worked with his contacts to get her some fresh clothes. Her back was a map of healing bruises and old scars, a legacy of abuse and neglect. Bruce could count her ribs even through the thin shirt she had been wearing. Anger simmered through him, but he forced himself not to show it. Part of the damage had been done by Joker - after all, he had seen the psycho cut the girl himself - but some of the damage was too old. Joker could never have done this, not all of it. Not unless he'd had access to the child before he had kidnapped her and killed a young boy to do it. Which reminded him he needed to talk to Gordon, but he didn't think much of it. Gordon wouldn't be expecting him anyway, not for another couple of hours. Midnight had been their determined meeting time, by the old bat signal the city used to use. Before he became a scapegoat for Harvey Dent's crimes.
It didn't bother him too much. He didn't let it. Certain things could not be avoided, and that sacrifice was one of them. Besides, the work that Dent had begun had not been undone. That was one battle the Joker hadn't won.
Alfred walked over to Bruce and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "I put in words with Lucius. He said he could get us some clothes for the girl in a few hours." he informed him. "In the meantime, I've requested some records that might come in handy for explaining her." At Bruce's look, he added, "Well, come on, Master Wayne. She doesn't look six years old."
"No. She looks younger." Bruce agreed. "But then again, she's been abused. Look at the scars."
Alfred nodded. "I see your point. She could very well have developmental delays. Have you spoken to her yet?"
"Tried, but she won't speak." Bruce sighed. "It's like she can't, or she doesn't see the point in trying."
"That would make sense, considering her background." Alfred said. "Still, we'll know more when my contact gets back with me. I'll at least know the circumstances surrounding her birth." Bruce chuckled.
"Well, that would be handy." he agreed. He picked up one of his old shirts off the ground and pulled it over the girl's head. It fit her more like a dress than a shirt, but it covered and it would keep her reasonably warm in the chilly night air. "I'm going to have to take her to Gordon."
"Is that wise?"
"Maybe not. But I don't really have a choice. He needs to at least assure the cops she's safe and sound, even if he can't produce her himself."
"He'll try to take her from you."
Bruce grinned humorlessly. "From Bruce Wayne? No doubt. From Batman? He'd be insane to try." He once again grabbed his armor to change. "Remind me next time not to take this stuff off. This is stupid." he muttered under his breath. Alfred chuckled.
"I'll try to do that, Master Wayne." he said lightly. Bruce, once again under the disguise of Batman, walked up to the child. Her eyes brightened and she smiled at him. He couldn't help but smile back. Now he understood why even some of the most hardened criminals would willingly kill anyone who messed with children.
"You ready to go?"
She nodded and reached up, allowing him to pick her up. Her small fingers once again latched on to his armor, making it so much easier to carry her. Sooner or later he would figure out why she did that. Most kids would have hooked their arms around his neck, not held on to a piece of fabric. Alfred smiled slightly.
"Well, this will make for an interesting sight. Batman with a child attached to his hip."
"Oh, be quiet." Batman groused. The girl seemed to giggle.
/--/
Gordon seemed to echo Alfred's sentiment. "That's got to be the most amusing thing I've seen all night." he commented, his eyes alight as Batman landed as gently as he could on the rooftop. The girl was still clinging to his armor, but he made no move to detach her. She would let go in her own good time. He shot Gordon a look, which the Commissioner just shrugged off. "So, she's the one Joker had with her? Is she safe?"
"For the moment." Batman replied. "Joker let me take her."
Gordon gave him a look. "He let you take her?"
"Yes. Surprised me, too. I thought he'd put up a bit more of a fight than that." He kept one arm underneat the girl, bracing her weight in case her grip failed. Somehow, he doubted it would, but he still didn't want her to accidentally fall. "I've looked her over, taken care of her injuries. Gordon, she's been abused. For a quite a while, from the looks of it."
Gordon nodded, his face darkening. He had kids of his own. "I know. The orphanage noticed it when she showed up on their front doorstep. She wouldn't tak, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out what the scars mean. They never did figure out who gave them to her." He looked up at the masked man, his brow creasing in thought. "I should take her back to the orphanage. After all, the boy was found dead like we suspected. It will do the city well to see that the girl has been rescued."
"And who will you say rescued her?" Batman asked, his voice thick with dark amusement. Gordon didn't answer. He knew as well as Batman tha no one could know. It would mean nothing short of Gordon's life. The masked man sighed and removed his arm, allowing the girl to hang there for a moment. "If you can pry her off, be my guest. I don't think she'll go willingly."
Once again, Gordon found himself amused. That happened rarely around the Batman, but increasingly often. He was getting comfortable around the Commissioner, able to let a bit more of his personality show. Gordon was learning that Batman had a sarcastic sense of humor. "At the very least, let me take her until morning. Then I'll find a way to get her up here and you can take her, if you think you should."
Batman hesitated. There was an opening here, if he could do it without raising suspicion. "I cannot take her myself." he said slowly. "But I know of someone who will show an interest in the girl. A few days, and he'll be there." A few days, and then Bruce Wayne could come and formally request to adopt the girl. It would be a bit less suspicious than her suddenly disappearing and then reappering at the cave. Gordon nodded, deliberately not asking how Batman knew this or who he thought would want anything to do with a first-grade orphan who couldn't talk. The less he knew, the safer he was. He watched with some interest as Batman carefully pried the girl from his armor, setting her down on the rooftop. She automatically reached up and grabbed his hand. He took a step back, gently pulling free. A soft whine started in the back of her throat.
"None of that." he reprimanded her quietly, so Gordon couldn't hear. "I want you to go with him. He'll take care of you until I can get you back. You understand?"
She hesitated, then nodded miserably. Batman nodded back and looked to Gordon. "She's yours."
Gordon nodded curtly. In a flash, Batman was gone, leaving the confused Commissioner with the young girl, tears of abandonment streaming down her cheeks.