The truth was, Cassidy had gotten the bruise from a car thief the night before. About a year after her brother's death, Cassidy had realized that while Batman was Gotham's protector, he wasn't there for the people. So Cassidy became Fever. All her powers were natural, she could create and control fire, heal faster than the average human, fly and she was strong (not Superman strong but strong enough). She chose her name because of her demon heritage. Because she was half fire demon her average temperature was a human temperature. Her parents supported her, they felt the same, and helped make her costume. Cassidy was also training in several forms of martial arts. Batman did not like Fever. Cassidy thought back to the first time she met Batman as Fever.

Batman ran over the roofs of Gotham, he had heard the struggle from a block away. In an alley a young girl, dressed in a fairly professional looking superhero costume and mask, was battling a store robber. Since the guy's gun was in his pocket, Batman decided to observe. The girl was kicking and punching fairly fast for an amateur but they were not as powerful or precise as they could be. Despite this, she dealt with the criminal fairly quickly and tied him to a fire escape. Batman could see burns all over him and, after a quick heat scan of the girl, saw she was the source. Must have a Meta gene. Though Batman was being, well, himself the girl looked right at him and floated up until he was in her line of sight. He had been behind an air conditioning system AND in the shadows. She should never have known he was there. Batman noted her flying ability.

"How did you know?"

"You were there? I sensed another heat signature. Someone on the roof of Gotham, near a crime, it's usually Batman."

"This is my town,"

"No. It's not."

"Why are you doing this? The city has me."

"You have the big baddies to worry about. The city needs some to take care of the people."

"I do." The girl was shaking her head.

"In the beginning but now if you are busy with the Penguin on one side of the city you can't help the person getting mugged on the other. That is what I do."

"What about the police?" Batman allowed himself a small smirk. He thought he had her stumped.

"Oh please!" Batman could imagine her rolling her eyes. "The only cops you can trust are Gordon's team. 20 cops and 1 Batman for the whole city. You need help.

"Name."

"Fever."

"Not what I meant."

"Tell me yours."

"No."

"Then don't expect me too." She flew off. "See ya, Batman."

"How is your schoolwork coming Miss Pennington?"

"Good thanks," Cassidy had been at the manor for about 3 weeks. She had already fallen in love with Alfred's cooking and was still trying to get Dick to look at her. He was still a bit scared of her.

"That's good. Dinner will be ready in a few moments"

"Awesome!" Cassidy saved her work and closed her laptop.

"Would you inform Master Dick please?"

"Of course Alfred," Cassidy closed her door and crossed the hall to Dick's room. She knocked lightly.

"Come in," A small voice floated out from behind the door. Cassidy opened it. There was a flash of red as Dick shoved something under the bed. Cassidy chose to ignore it, she could find out later.

"Dinner is ready,"

"Okay thanks Cassidy," Cassidy hide her surprise. This was the first time Dick had addressed her directly. He was looking at her.

"Feeling okay?" Cassidy knew he was still traumatized by his parent's death.

'Yeah but…" Dick clapped his mouth shut and looked down.

"But what?" Cassidy prompted. Bruce and Cassidy had talked about Dick. Bruce wanted Cassidy to get him to open up. He wouldn't talk to anyone Bruce took him to and after the first he stopped talking to Bruce too.

"Nothing. Nevermind," Dick ran out of the room. He thought that Bruce took him to a therapist because he didn't want to hear about Dick's problems. After that he swore he wouldn't bother anyone with his feelings again.

Cassidy woke up around midnight. She had decided to take the night off and leave the streets of Gotham to Batman. Bruce had said he had a charity function to go to. Cassidy sat up in confusion. What had woken her up? Then she heard it, a whimper. Then a cry. It was coming from Dick's room. When Cassidy didn't here Alfred go by, she threw the covers back and tried to tiptoe over to Dick's room. He obviously heard her, Cassidy was horrible at being silent, because the crying stopped. Cassidy pushed the door open and found Dick with his head under his pillow. He was shaking.

"Dick?" Cassidy called softly.

"mmph,"

Cassidy crossed over to the bed, sat down and put her hand on Dick's back.

"What's the matter?"

"nothing…" was the muffled reply.

"Why won't you talk to me? Or Bruce?"

"Don't want to bother you," Cassidy barely caught the reply.

"What would make you think that your feelings would bother me?"

"I would just annoy you,"

"Dick, talking about your feelings to the ones you care about will never annoy them. Ever."

"Then why did Bruce take me to a therapist?" Dick's head popped out from under the pillow, his eyes brimming with fresh tears.

"Because he wanted to make you feel better. I went to one."

"Why?" Dick moved over so Cassidy could lie down.

"Because my brother was killed."

Dick was quiet. Cassidy slipped her arm under his head and brought him close.

"How long ago?"

"A year, almost two. I miss him but it was easier to remember him in a good way when |I faced my feelings."

Dick was silent for a long time. Then Cassidy realized he was crying.

"I miss them so much!" Cassidy shifted around until they were both comfortable and let him cry. He cried for a long time.

"I don't want to go back to a therapist."

"Bruce won't make you if you tell him that. You just have to talk to him, okay? Keeping everything bottled up is not healthy."

"Are you sure it won't bother him?"

"I can't think of anything that would bother him less."

Cassidy was walking back to school after having lunch out with her friends. Since there was half an hour till the end of lunch, Barbara and Clare had gone to a boutique to look around. Cassidy said she would meet them at the book store down the street. She didn't feel like shopping for clothes. As she was passing an alley, someone grabbed her arm. Cassidy spun around.

"YOU!" Cassidy didn't know how much you could hate someone until she was faced with Harley Quinn, almost 2 years after her brother death.

"HEY PUDDIN' SHE'S HERE!"

The Joker stepped out of the shadows in the alley. Cassidy ran at him and Harley, intending to beat them into oblivion. Before she could the Joker sprayed some gas at her. She immediately started laughing uncontrollably. It was a strange sensation, laughing with no joy at all. Cassidy was on the ground, she couldn't move she was laughing so hard. Then everything went black as the Joker brought his hand down on the back of her head.

AN-Sorry I haven't updated in so long. That is all I am going to say, excuses are useless. Anyway, this was going to be the last chapter of the explanation of her past but I decided to be mean and end with a cliffy. Okay, so this story is lacking in cover art. I can't draw so if any of you can and would like to make a cover I would really appreciate it. My deviantART account in Red-Fever. Thank you! Also thanks to all the people who recently added the story to your alerts. You guys motivated me again! Thanks again!

~Kasei