Ohyaho everyone! CJzilla here with another update. Sorry it was so late; I fought with this chapter. In this update Commissioner Yin and Police Chief Bennett are forced to come to grips that Gotham's savior is only human. Then Robin and Batgirl come, feeling the shame and guilt of the mentor's fall. Among the termoil, an uninvited guest shows. Enjoy.
As I trample all over this town, alls CJzilla has to roar is this: R&R! Love... hate... review.
AN: This story is set along side Jeff Matsuda's "The Batman". CJzilla owns nothing of Bob Dylan's and the "dear reviewers" will be discontinued. Thank you.
"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."
Bob Dylan
US singer & songwriter (1941 - )
Chapter 3
Human and Vulnerable
Crowds of people and press clamored outside Gotham's biggest hospital. Hospital security and the police worked together to shut down the building because of the near riot outside. Visitors were impartially dismissed and patients were confined to their hospital rooms. If you didn't need to be in the hospital, you were not allowed in. The reason for all of this madness? The Batman checked in as a critically injured patient.
Police Chief Ethan Bennett stole a glance out of the waiting room's window. Brushing past the thick curtains, he saw the growing mass of people outside of the hospital. Cameras flashed as live news crews surrounded the scene as banners and picket signs flailed in the air. Some of these people were Batman super fans while others would have him unmasked and paraded down Main. The bald black man with blue eyes withdrew his face from the window, releasing the curtains as he did. A frown curled onto his lips. How could so many people get wind of this?
Grunting in anger, the chief of police left the waiting room, slamming the door behind him. Outside he startled the nurse examining Commissioner Ellen Yin's face and head. The cool commissioner of police glanced over at her police chief and friend.
"Have you looked out the window yet, Yin?" Ethan was frustrated and irate. Ellen Yin simply cast her eyes to the floor and let the nurse dress her injuries.
"No." She replied. Ethan stood before her and the nervous nurse.
"Half of Gotham is out there, including all major news crews." He crossed his arms, taking a firm stance. "And you know exactly why."
The oriental beauty turned her head to her friend. She stayed so calm while Ethan was ready to sic the entire Gotham police department on the mob outside. Yin knew that the people outside were news hungry vultures mixed with a crowd of Batman super fans and partnered with those who wanted the crime fighter's head on a stick.
"It was only a matter of time, Ethan." Yin explained but then her right cheek pulled into a half-ironic smirk. "But I didn't expect it this soon."
She saw Ethan's fists tighten as he dropped his arms.
"He's not safe here anymore." The tall man responded. Yin brought her eyes up again and locked them with his.
"Can you give us a moment?" She spoke to the nurse. The woman nodded and walked down the hall and out of the secure area.
Yin stood and gave her police chief a deep stare. Ethan traced her head and saw her beautiful face marred with black and blue, where the Penguin had struck her.
"We have to move him, Yin." He voiced, a worried look on his face. Yin's dark red lips thinned as her expression momentarily became faraway.
"The Batman's not even out of surgery yet." Yin responded. "And even when he's out, he's going to be too unstable for an immediate move. He'll need a while to be well enough to-"
"I understand, Yin- but if the people outside know that he's here, how long until the Batman's enemies decide to pay us a visit and finish what the Penguin and Freeze started?" Ethan reasoned. "We can't fight off someone like Joker or Hideto Katsu. If we're not careful, both of us could lose a friend and Gotham could lose its only source of control."
The oriental woman nodded. Ethan's statement was brutal but true. Her eyes fell soft as Yin was reminded that the police couldn't provide this city with so much as a tourniquet, only Band-Aids over bullet holes. Both cops witnessed first-hand that the police have minimum control and without the Batman, this city would revert back to what it once was: a criminal's candy store and toy.
"I know that we can only do so much. We can, at best, slow crime down. Without the Batman, the city is doomed." Yin stated nodding resolutely. "And so, as soon as he gets off of the operating table, Batman's safety is my number one concern. That's why I've placed a call to Robin and Batgirl. They will help us with security."
Ethan's face creased with subconscious anger and concern.
The Caped Crusader's sidekicks were strangely missing tonight. The teens were always by the Batman's side so why were they not there when the masked crime fighter needed them the most? And now, once Batgirl and Robin arrives they were stuck doing security. Oh, the irony; when the boy and girl should have been with their mentor neither was and now they were an hour late and a dollar short. Ethan's face gave away his tumultuous thoughts; this all could have been avoided if the young duo were with Batman tonight.
Just then the doors down the hall swung open.
Yin nodded over Ethan's shoulder. The fit black man turned. His eyes came to the figure of a young boy and young girl dressed in a costume and being escorted by two police officers. The boy with spiky black hair had an angry and urgent gate to him while the petite red-headed girl looked more frightened than anything. Both commissioner and chief sympathized with Robin and Batgirl; their partner was critically injured, so how couldn't their heartstrings be plucked?
"Thank you for coming, you two." Yin stepped in front of Bennett, greeting the boy hero and girl heroin. Her heart sank when Robin scowled at her.
"Shut up!" The teen snapped, his nose plugged and a cold sweat clearly seen on his forehead. Now Yin knew why he was absent from the fight; he had a cold. "Just-!... SHUT UP!"
Then the two officers laid their hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Don't talk to the Commissioner like that!" One cop chastised. The man's reprimand was met with the boy's heel in his stomach.
The other officer lunged at Robin but he too was easily dispatched. The livid teen snapped his eyes to Yin and Ethan.
"You idiots should have called me BEFORE this happened!" The boy snarled. "You should have TOLD me that Batman needed help!"
His dangerous scowl only went deeper as he formed fists with his hands. Then Batgirl put her hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Robin, stop." The girl said, her eyes resolute but her face showing her distress. The Boy Wonder shrugged off her hand and turned to his partner.
"Stop defending them!" Robin fumed. "They let Batman take on Mr. Freeze AND Penguin, ALONE! They're USELESS!"
Just when Yin thought Batgirl would have to catch a fist from Robin, the boy's stance changed. His shoulders shrunk back into his body, his hands relaxed and his scowl turned to a withheld warble. The Boy Wonder, sidekick to the Batman, normally steely and wisecracking was reduced to what he truly was inside: a young boy.
"I wasn't there to help." Robin gritted his teeth, his eyes from behind his mask tightening in an effort to fight of tears. "I SHOULD have been there!"
He trailed off. The masked teen girl wrapped her arms around the boy, sharing his guilt as she set her chin on his shoulder. Ellen Yin gestured for the pummeled officers to back off and leave. The woman then sighed, making Batgirl look up.
"Please…" She voiced calmly. "Take a seat and we'll fill you in on what's going on."
The Boy Wonder pushed Batgirl off of him. He gave Yin a dirty look and walked to the nearest chair. The boy swung the chair in front of him and set his feet on it.
"Enlighten me." Robin growled.
Bennett looked at the teen and his face gave away what he was thinking.
"The Batman's been seriously injured in a fight between he and Mr. Freeze and the Penguin." He explained, his angry grimace going deeper. "He was frozen then stabbed and left to burn alive in an art museum fire. He was pulled from the rubble and been in surgery ever since."
There was a silence between the two mini heroes. Then Robin shattered the quiet. He scowled and kicked the chair his feet were on. The chair sped across the large hall and smashed into the wall with a loud sound. The teen was on his feet, that furious look on his face but his chin softly trembling.
"And Batman never backed down, did he?!" Robin fumed at the tall man. Bennett shook his head.
"You should know that about Bats by now, kid." The police chief growled. The Boy Wonder balled his fists.
"Oh, stick it, Bennett!" Robin stuck a finger in the man's face. "I know Batman better than anyone. He should have known better! He's too OLD to take on two villains at once! He's too soft for his own good! He SO STUPID! He SHOULD have let me come!"
The teen snarled, swatting the air and spinning on his heels in an effort not to punch the chief of police.
"Let me guess." Yin voiced calmly. "You've caught the local flue floating around."
Robin dropped his head but gritted his teeth.
"I told him I was fine. It was only a little cold!" He growled. Yin had to disagree; a blind man could tell that Robin was far from fine. "That old fruit loop told me to stay home at and get some bed rest. I never figured he'd get himself mangled…!"
"But he did and here we are." Bennett crossed his arms. "The Batman needs US to look after him now. So I'd suck up all that anger and guilt and put that energy into the issue at hand: Batman's safety."
The young teen spun and glared. But the Boy Wonder knew the chief of police to be right; he'd be more productive if he kept a clear head.
"Fine. I'm yours. What do you want me to do?" Robin returned.
"I want you on a non-drowsy cold medication." Yin instructed. "See a nurse outside and get something."
Robin scowled but nodded. Spinning, he moved past a quiet Batgirl, back down the hall and burst through the doors.
"HEY!" He shouted, doubtlessly startling everyone out there. "I need meds. NOW!"
And the doors shut, muffling the volume of the boy's voice.
As soon as they were along, Batgirl sighed. The young red-headed teen turned to Yin and Bennett, an apologetic look on her face.
"I'm sorry about Robin, Commissioner." Batgirl spoke softly. "He's got a very bad cold."
Then the girl sighed and blinked past the tears threatening her eyes.
"I wasn't with Bats tonight because…" Her voice warbled drastically. "I have a big day at school… tomorrow."
And the teen turned, tears of complete grief and guilt gliding down her face. She gave a silent sob into her hand before clearing her throat and spinning back around to Yin and Bennett.
"You know the alter-ego life of a masked crime fighter shtick." Batgirl put on a fake, ironic smile. "I have to keep up the impression that I am nothing but a girl-next-door. Hiding in the spotlight and defending the defenseless at night."
She laughed and wiped her eyes. Cocking her hip a little, the girl placed her hands together.
"Since I'm the only sane sidekick, tell me exactly what is going on." Batgirl told them. "I want to know how injured Bats is, how long he's been under the knife and all that good stuff."
Bennett nodded and took up the challenge of filling in the Batgirl. Just as the first word was to pop out of his mouth, they heard the crunching of sterile foot-garb of the head surgeon. All spun to the adjacent hallway. They saw an older surgeon walking down the hall, pulling the surgical mask from his face. There was a look on the man's face like he had just had his hands inside the body of an alien. Ethan, Yin and Batgirl found themselves running to the doctor.
"What's Batman's status, Dr. Duncan?" Yin questioned. The old doctor looked between the police commissioner and then to Batgirl.
"He's suffering from the standard symptoms of a flaming building collapse; broken bones, third-degree burns, deep contusions and lacerations that you could fit a loaf of bread inside." The surgeon returned, pulling off his gloves. "The blade inside his chest was successfully removed but his body is too badly battered for us."
Batgirl's eyes went wide as she pushed past Ethan.
"Meaning?" The girl cut to the chase.
"There's nothing I or any surgeon can do to this man's battered body until his body's healing process has healed the injuries." Dr. Duncan added. "But let me say that it could have been WAY worse. His suit…"
The old man paused, that look of astonishment coming to his face again. The three gave him funny looks. The doctor then chuckled and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry-…" He clapped a hand on his head. "I'm having a hard time believing that I just operated on the Batman. Anyway, his suit protected his skin from the fire. Only his face has got burns. Rest assured, once his body has healed enough, we will give him skin graphs and mend his legs."
And with that, Batgirl's strong-willed demeanor cracked. The teen girl's chin quivered, a sob passing through her tightly pinched lips. Batgirl buried her head on her hands.
"Batgirl!" The doctor and two cops heard Robin's voice from down the hall. They looked up to see the Boy Wonder running down the hallway to get to his partner. "Batgirl! What happened?!"
The teen boy came to her and tried to pull the girl's face up to look at him. Batgirl sobbed again and threw her arms around Robin, crying into his chest. The Boy Wonder hugged her.
"WHAT… happened?" Robin looked up at the surgeon.
The expression on the adults' faces was grim.
"Bats is busted up pretty bad, Robin." Bennett spoke.
Robin's mouth fell.
"Once the Batman heals enough for us, we will find out how extensive the damage is." The surgeon stated. Batgirl sobbed again. "He's been wheeled into the ICU. You may see him there if you wish."
With that the surgeon walked down the hallway.
"Dr." He turned when Ethan Bennett called to him. "You are to speak to no one of his condition. You are under penalty of law now."
The old surgeon cracked a smirk and nodded.
"Patient confidentiality. I won't breathe a word." With that Dr. Duncan walked down the hallway and disappeared.
The friends of Batman were silent, not a word or feeling reaching them except for shock. Robin and Yin helped Batgirl to stand and led her to the room where Batman was kept. The Caped Crusader was severely injured, the results of which were yet to be seen. Regardless, this impact would send shockwaves over everyone who cared for the crime fighter.
Dr. Duncan exited the wing of the hospital and walked tiredly into the elevator. As the doors shut over him, the old man was alone. Now he could come to grips with who he operated on. Thanks to the Batman, the amount of crime-related injures dropped drastically. For that, the aged doctor was thankful. Now the savior of Gotham city needed a miracle; the city itself, needed a miracle.
When the elevator came to a stop, the surgeon walked out, hands in his pockets and looking forward to a cup of hot tea inside the lounge. Then he heard a skirmish ahead of him. Dr. Duncan looked up and to his absolute surprise, there was about a dozen police officers trying to restrain someone dressed as a clown. He suspected that one crazed fan from the outside crowd made his way into the hospital. But only when the clown with green hair, red eyes and a white face pulled off a feat not unlike a professional fighter that the surgeon knew who it was.
It was the Joker.
The elderly doctor's mouth was on the floor and he took a few steps back, toward the nearest exit. But it was too late. The ding of the elevator had already reached the crazed harlequin's ears. Dr. Duncan's blood froze ten times over when the Joker's red eyes focused on him. The supervillain planted his heel in one officer's face before bringing an elbow down on one cop's shoulder. When all officers were dispatched, Joker moved at the old surgeon. Dr. Duncan made an effort to run, but he had no chance to escape the much faster supercriminal.
Joker seized the man by the back of the surgeon scrub and pulled him to the ground. The crazy clown flipped the elderly man over and looked him in the eye.
"Batman. Where is he?" Were the only words that left Joker's straight mouth. There was a moment of hesitation from the doctor, possibly where he thought about secrecy he was ordered to uphold.
Lucky for Joker, that moment was brief. The old doctor looked to the elevator but didn't breathe a word. That was enough for the Joker to work with. He gave the man no second look as he looked between the elevator and the stairs. The maniacal harlequin ran to the elevator, hit the button and the doors closed.
Dr. Duncan held his old heart as he felt the aftermath of the adrenaline and surprise. Nurses and other orderlies rushed to his side. He pushed them away.
"Warn them! Joker mustn't get to Batman!" The elderly surgeon pleaded. One dazed officer was on his feet and radioed a warning to Yin.
Yin, Bennett, Robin and Batgirl stood aside the Batman's bedside. Their eyes traced the many tubes running from the man's mouth and nose. The crime fighter's head was wrapped, his mask removed but his eyes covered. Robin, a.k.a. Dick Greyson stole a glance at Yin and Bennett. The teen apprentice of Batman could only wonder if they had guessed his mentor's identity. When he met Batman and gained his trust, Dick was then taken under the Caped Crusader's wing. It was only then that he found out that the Batman was Bruce Wayne. It made perfect sense, almost stupefying at how obvious it was. Bruce Wayne had the resources, the means and the smarts to pull off a masked alter-ego. Dick only hoped that it wasn't as obvious to Bennett and Yin.
Dick placed his hand on Batgirl's shoulder. Barbara Gordon, which was Batgirl's true identity, had not stopped quivering. Barbara was so strong-willed and stubborn as Batgirl, Dick was taken aback to see her in such a state. It was at that point that Dick had an out of body experience. Bruce was untouchable, superhuman and unbreakable. For a second, the boy thought that the critical injured man lying on the bed in front of him wasn't his mentor and second-father. He was just some other man and Dick expected Bruce, in his Batman costume to kick down the door and call them to their next mission. Maybe it was his head cold but that's what he felt.
Then a panicked voice over the radio cut through the silence and constant beeping of the heart monitor.
"Commissioner! The Joker! He's here and on his way up to you!" It was over the police walkie-talkie. Yin shot her hand to the radio.
"What?!" She nearly screamed, again cursing the P.D.'s embarrassingly inept effort to be security.
"The Joker's HERE! He took the elevator! He's coming up to you!" The officer replied. Batgirl and Robin gasped, looked at each other and then raced out of the room.
They'd meet the Joker and fight him like never before; for Batman, for Bruce.
R&R! LONG LIVE ROCK!