Disclaimer: I do not own Justice League or Justice League Unlimited. I merely write this for my own entertainment and the entertainment of others.

A to Z, an Anthology
Salvage
(sequel to Fracture)

The Batcave was as dark and dank as ever. The bats were screeching further into the cave, keeping their distance from the lights that illuminated the main cavern. The screen of the computer showed that a search of some kind was in progress, forty-four percent complete.

Diana crossed her arms impatiently. While she had calmed down from the previous night's rage, she had no desire to be here. It had taken nearly ten minutes of pleading on Clark's part to get her to agree to talk to them here this morning. Truthfully, she had only agreed to listen to them so that they would leave her be in peace to work through her anger.

Footsteps caught her attention and Diana turned. Both Bruce and Clark were walking down the stairs that connected to the Manor above the Cave. The white hot anger from last night had cooled a bit, but she was still furious with both of them. She didn't bother greeting them when they approached her, just stared at them coolly.

"Ra's al Ghul has developed a new weapon," Bruce stated, immediately jumping in. "A flesh-eating gas that has no antidote. Talia came to Gotham to warn me, because the city and Metropolis are his first planned targets."

Diana raised an eyebrow. "That's highly unfortunate," she said after a moment, "but what does it have to do with me?"

Clark's eyes widened at the callous statement, but Diana ignored him. She was upset with the Man of Steel, yes, but that paled in comparison to her fury against Bruce. Not three weeks ago, they had spent a weekend in Paris, the first time either had been in that city since the Kasnian mess with Vandal Savage. Those two days had filled her with hope, as she had clearly seen Bruce enjoying himself.

The days following that trip had been busy ones, as several of Bruce's rogues had escaped Arkham again. Nonetheless, he had managed to send her the occasional email or message, keeping in touch. There had been no mention of Ra's al Ghul, his daughter, or a threat to Gotham and Metropolis. She hadn't even suspected anything. Then she had seen those newspapers.

"Ra's is in hiding somewhere," Bruce informed her, moving over to the computer and sitting down in front of it. "Problem is, we don't know where. Not even Talia knows. We have to flush him out."

Diana stared at him. "By marrying his daughter?" She snorted. "I'm sure he'll love that, actually. If I recall correctly, Ra's al Ghul offered you Talia's hand years ago."

"Diana," Clark interjected, "the engagement isn't real. It's to get Ra's to come here before he releases the gas." He gazed at her and then nodded meaningfully in Bruce's direction. "It's all a sham."

She shifted her gaze from Clark back to Bruce, refusing to admit that she was in any way relieved at the news. "Why did you two conspire to keep this from me?" she asked simply. She gave them a challenging look. "Am I considered untrustworthy?"

"No!" Clark exclaimed. He would have said more, but Bruce held up his hand, stopping him. "Check on Talia," he ordered as he met Diana's accusing gaze. Not for the first time, Diana wished he did not have those lenses that hid his eyes from the world.

Clark sighed and shook his head, but did as he was bid and flew up the steps, leaving them alone.

Neither said anything at first, just stared at each other in a silent battle of wills. Always less patient than him, Diana spoke first. "Why?"

"The engagement was Talia's idea," he replied. "You were right – Ra's has wanted Talia and me to get married for years. She thought that if we let the news get out that we were preparing to marry, Ra's might come out from whatever rock he's hiding under early in order to gloat."

Diana rolled her eyes. "Oh and I'm sure she only wants to use the engagement for that? Please." She glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me about this Bruce? I don't appreciate being used and led on."

She watched him clench his jaw. "You didn't need to know –"

"The hell I didn't!" Diana shouted. "Don't start with the whole 'Gotham's my city I don't need help' argument with me. The fact that you conspired with Clark on this proves that you are enlisting League assistance on this situation."

Bruce didn't respond and they stood in silence for several moments, each trying to out-glare the other. Finally, Diana asked with none of her former rancor, "Why, Bruce? Why did I have to find out from the damn press? I think I deserved a little warning, especially after Paris." He remained silent and she continued, "Or was Paris just a dalliance to you? A way to pass the time?"

He gripped the arms of his chair, his eyes narrowed into tiny slits. "No, it wasn't," he hissed. "I didn't tell you because I knew this was how you would react. I knew if I told you, you would have ripped Talia's head off the moment she made a pass at me."

Diana seethed. She freely admitted that she would have been grossly unhappy if she had known about this beforehand. She had no use for any of Bruce's former lovers. Selina Kyle, Andrea Beaumont, and Talia al Ghul were women whose existence Diana had always been happy to ignore. However, she also admitted that there were times when one had to accept help from unwanted sources.

Grappling her anger with every ounce of self-control she possessed, Diana answered with deceptive quietness, "So, you did not trust me."

"What?" he asked, clearly taken aback.

"You thought I would endanger the operation, that I couldn't control my emotions," she elaborated. Diana sighed. "Thank you, Bruce. Now I know your true opinion of me. Should I assume that Clark feels the same way? Is that why he assisted in keeping me in the dark about your… activities… with Talia?"

"Diana…"

"Bruce," she cut him off coldly, "I had to cooperate with the man who betrayed my mother; I had to work with the Legion of Doom. Did you really think I would fly off the handle because your old lover wants to flirt with you?" Diana laughed bitterly. "I am not one of your over-possessive floozies, Bruce. I know how to control myself."

The silence within the Cave was deafening. Diana shook her head. "Is this how it's going to be, Bruce? Because if so, tell me now and I'll be out of your hair for good." She stared at him. "You and Clark have both made it clear you don't trust me. How can I trust you if you're going to keep things from me?" She crossed her arms. "Is there anything here worth staying for, or should I just make this easy for all of us and go home to Themyscira?"

He shook his head, suddenly sounding tired. "That won't make things easier for any of us, and you know it."

"No," she said frankly. "I don't. Keeping this from me implies that not only do you not trust me… you do not know me."

Bruce stood up. "Not fair."

"No?" she asked, feeling a little satisfaction that she had managed to prick his pride.

"No. We both know you; I know you," he added in an undertone.

Diana snorted and waved her hand, indicating the area around them. "All evidence to the contrary."

"What do you want me to say, Diana?" he snapped. "It's done."

She folded her arms. "I want you to apologize for not trusting me! I want Clark to do the same, and then I want you to promise you won't do this again with any League business –"

"This has nothing to do with the League –" he began.

Diana held up her hand. "Don't start that again. When you involved Superman, you involved the League, and you know it. We've been through that already."

He was silent, which she took to mean she had scored a direct hit. "So, do we have an accord? Or do I leave? Know this Bruce – if I go now, I won't be coming back."

For anything, or anyone.

"Fine."

Diana was still. That one word could mean anything, but when Bruce pulled his cowl back, finally allowing her to see his face, she felt a surge of mingled relief and triumph. If he was about to tell her to go, he would have kept hiding his face behind his mask. He lifted his chin and stared her in the eye. "I'm sorry."

She nodded. "Apology accepted."

Neither of them commented on the fact that it would take almost nothing for her to forgive Clark for his part in the deception, or that the lack of trust mattered more between them than it did with the Man of Steel. Still, if he needed prompting, then his apology was worthless. She waited in silence.

"And I won't do it again."

Diana exhaled slowly. "Alright. Now, do you need my help with the case?"

"I don't think so," he answered, but in a much gentler tone than normal.

"Very well. I'll be up on the Watchtower if you need my assistance later on."

"What about Clark?" he asked.

Diana smirked. "Let him sweat a bit. I'm sure I'll see him later."

His amusement was obvious. "Agreed."

Chuckling, Diana turned away and put a hand to her ear. "Wonder Woman to…" She trailed off as a horrible thought filled her. She turned back to him. "Bruce… if it ever does become real, the engagement…" she met his eyes, refusing to acknowledge how painful this request was, "you will tell me, won't you? Finding out in the newspapers again is not a desirable prospect."

His expression was serious. "It won't, Diana."

The corner of her mouth lifted up in a sad smile. "I doubt even you can control the leanings of your heart that well, Bruce."

"I know," he chuckled humorlessly, "believe me, I know." His gaze turned more intense. "I've been trying and failing for five years now."

"Maybe you should stop trying then," she whispered without thought, edging closer to him.

He moved forward as well, his hand twitching, as though he wanted to reach out and touch her. "Maybe I should."

Diana swallowed reflexively, and was about to reply when they both heard the clock slide open at the top of the stairs. "I should go." She put her hand up to her ear again. "Wonder Woman to Watchtower. Transport me up."

"Affirmative."

"Goodnight, Princess."

She managed her first genuine smile of the day. "Goodnight, Bruce."

Just before she was transported away, Diana saw Clark come down the stairs, still looking rather nervous. Though she did not intend to stay, she nodded to him just as she vanished.

Perhaps the Trinity could recover from this.

Salvage: v. to save something for further use or from destruction; to rescue something from a bad situation.

Note: Many, many thanks to TheLadyIsis for her invaluable assistance on this. When I started writing this as a sequel to Fracture, I became quite stumped at one point and it was her brilliant muse that helped me through.