Chapter 7

Raven drove up and into the cave, in her newly refined Bat-Mobile. She has just come back from stopping a couple of shipments of drug trafficking down at the docks; nothing that she couldn't handle. The thing that really spooked her was what she found down there. She began to take off her gloves, then her armor. She put on some sweats and put the item in her bag, and got in the elevator. She was afraid, What does this mean? Are they back? If so what are they doing? What are they doing here in Gotham? Whoa, alright Rae, don't get ahead of yourself; it could be nothing.

She was now in her room inside then mansion. It was about six in the morning and she hand just enough time to get dressed in her normal clothes and head on to work with Bruce. She hoped in the shower, but she couldn't get the hat damned thing out of her mind. She got out the shower and got dressed quickly. She needed to talk to Bruce about this. When she arrived at his door, she knocked.

"Come in," a raspier than normal voice commanded her.

"You're still in bed, that's not like you," Raven said raising an eye brow.

"I'm not feeling well," Bruce started to cough.

"Yeah, you don't sound too great. Do you want me to stay hom-" Raven said, sounding very concerned.

"No, I'll be fine. You're on your own today. You sure you can handle things without my guidance?" Bruce said with a small smile. Raven turned to walk out the door and called behind her, "Oh I don't know Bruce, how will I ever get along without you?" He's sick, I can talk to him about what I found later when he's feeling better, thought Raven as she got into the limo.

At the office, Raven wasn't able to concentrate on anything that was going on. She needed answers, and she knew someone that could find them. She took the office to the basement, where Victor was waiting for her. He sat at his desk, with his hands behind his head and had a smirk on his face.

"So the queen bee has come to grace my presence. What can I do ya for Ms. Roth?" he said in a joking way with his friend. As he saw that something was troubling her, he asked in a very stern and serious one, "Raven what's wrong."

"Victor is there anywhere that you could look up any unusual disturbances within the Gotham's docks. Or how about within any labs, or hospitals? Or how about—"

"Rae slow down. Yeah, I could probably find anything you want.. But why do you need to know these things?"

"Victor, can you just.. Can you just do this for me? Please?

"Raven I will, if you will tell me what's going on. First you and Mr. Wayne come down here looking for armor, and every few weeks you come back for some crazy tech, and I know it damn well wasn't for mountaineering. Raven you know I'm not stupid, what is going on." Raven felt trapped, she didn't want to keep anything from him, but what would she say; her situation was not one that would be taken lightly. Raven needed to decide, right here and now: tell him or don't…..

"Oh. My. God." Victor could barely get out.

"Yes, I know, it's shocking, Raven said getting out of the car. Victor followed, but in stunned silence.

"How did..You are.. He just.. *GASP* then that makes him.. Aw man, this is crazy!" Raven listen to Victor try to get grips on the reality set in front of him as she quickly jogged straight to the library. She pulled Crime and Punishment off the shelf, which mad the bookcase reveal the small freight elevator.

"OH. MY. GOD!" Victor stared. Raven pulled him in to the small compartment, and they went down in to the cave. They turned the corner and the wonders of the Bat Cave were unveiled to Victor, "OH. MY—"

"Yeah, you think this is crazy, wait until I show you what I found." Raven took the item out of her bag and divulged it to her new workmate. Victor's eyes widen with not only surprise, but with fear also. In her hand, Raven held a small disk, and engraved upon it was and "S". They both knew where they had seen something like that before; on Terra's chest plate. It was mandatory to be worn, by Slade's apprentice.

"So what do you think it means?" Victor asked in his serious voice again.

"I'm not sure, but we're going to find out. You get started, you can use the super computer," Raven stated walking towards the elevator.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to talk to Mr. Wayne." Victor nodded, and sat down and got to work. Rave traveled up stairs. As she reached the master bedroom, Raven saw a small crowd of people standing in and out of Bruce's room. She stood, in the hall staring.

"Ohh Ms. Raven, you shouldn't be bothered with this right now," their young butler Geoffrey said putting a concerning arm on Raven's shoulder. She yanked out of his grasp, and walked on to the door. She walked into the room, and there were a couple of doctors and a police officer standing around the bed talking. In the bed she saw Bruce; her mentor, her friend, and he was not moving. Raven let out a small breath, hearing this, the officer came over to her aid.

"What happened," Raven said, her voice shaking with nervousness and rising anger.

"I'm sorry Miss. He went bed as normal, but he just didn't wake up. One of your house workers found him and called nine-one-one. Don't worry it was peaceful…," one of the doctors continued on, but Raven tuned him out. She couldn't believe it, I just saw him this morning how could he be…gone. Raven found herself beginning to cry, she quickly ran out of the room and down the hall. Anywhere but there would suffice. The tears became great sobs, and she felt as though she couldn't breathe. It was agonizing. So much pain and anger building up; she felt as though she was going to burst. She let out a heartbreaking cry and at the same time punching the wall in front of her leaving a small hole where her fist had gone through. She doubled over, still sobbing; there was nothing that could stop it. So Raven sat there and cried a great cry.

Coming Up Next: Bruce's funeral, Another familar face, adn a WHOLE lot of drama! Stay tuned!