Title: Come What May

Author: DC Luder

Rating: T

Summary: "You know better than anyone that it's only just beginning."

Infringements: All recognizable characters belong to DC Comics, not DC Luder.

Author's Note: References made to events in Son of the Demon.

^V^

"From the sounds of it, he was trying to. He volunteered the information-."

Without thinking, I snapped back at Dick, "Are you taking his side?"

"Whoa," he raised his hands up defensively, "I'm just saying that maybe he was trying to do the right thing… maybe he'll answer whatever questions we- you have."

The anger had already been building up overnight, and to my surprise, seeking solace from Barbara had only resulted in it bubbling over. Moments earlier I had been on the verge of tears, but at that second, my brow was low, nearly as low as my tone, "I shouldn't have to ask him, I shouldn't have to interrogate him! He should have told me!"

The looks on both of their faces were nearly identical, a mixture of worry and fear. Barbara appeared to be a tad more worried, Dick a fraction more fearful. I found myself looking to find Ethan still blissfully engaged with his morning television program. There was a handful of times that I had fought with Bruce in earshot of the kids, causing me to regret not only the level to which I had lost control of my emotions, but for also losing track of my priorities.

A lioness was supposed to protect her young… and the young of her pride.

"I'm sorry," I found myself saying, taking a seat back on the couch, "I didn't sleep last night…"

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Dick smirking, "Well, cats are nocturnal."

Although I wanted to smile at his remark, I found myself sighing, "And you're not the one I should be yelling at."

Barbara reached over and briefly placed her hand on my shoulder, "It does sound like Bruce was trying to come clean. Trying to tell you the truth."

I had come to Barbara for support, for help.

"He doesn't do it very often, it's no wonder he messed it up," she added.

Now, to hear the defendant's case.

After a beat, I replied, "That's not what's bothering me… it's the fact that it has taken him fifteen years to do so." When neither managed to form a response, I continued, my tone softening, "And I honestly don't think I can forgive him."

Barbara nodded, "I understand… listen, we'll get cracking on those files right now, see what we can access."

Bruce's face flashed before my eyes, his words muted, the apologetic look in his eyes unnerving.

"No… I think… I think maybe I'll just ask him."

"You sure?" she asked.

Nodding, I proceeded to exhale slowly, "Sorry for ruining your morning."

"Don't even start, cat-lady," Dick commented as he walked over to sit beside Ethan, "It's best to get second opinions before combating with Bruce's line of thought."

My eyes remained on father and son, trying not to think back on finding Bruce sleeping with Nathan earlier that morning. Or when he had stayed with him through Strep throat. Teaching him to ride his bicycle. Seeing Bruce hold him for the first time in the NICU.

His lies had been justified in his mind, a place that no one would ever truly understand.

But if anyone could, it should have been me.

I was about to apologize again before leaving when the cell phone on the coffee table came to life. Dick leaned over and grabbed it, handing it to Barbara after looking at the display. She let it ring a third time before answering with, "Hello?"

Dick said softly, "It's Bruce."

Barbara paused, then said into the phone, "Oh, hi… you're up awful early, aren't you?"

A pause, then, "What?" Barbara proceeded to cover the bottom of the device, looking to me while sighing, "He wants to talk to you."

I shook my head, "I can't, not right now."

Dick asked, "Is he pissed?"

Barbara answered, "No, just… sad."

Rising to my feet, I repeated myself, "I can't, I can't talk to him right now. Tell him… I'll be home after getting the kids from school."

After a brief moment of silence, she took her hand off of the phone and said, "Bruce, I'm sorry… she… she doesn't want to talk to you. She said she would be home later, after picking the kids up from-. Bruce? Hello?"

While she set the phone back down on the coffee table, Dick asked, "He hang up?"

Barbara nodded, "Yeah… For what it's worth, he genuinely sounds upset, Selina."

"I bet he does," I replied softly, thinking even in his morning haze, even he wouldn't have missed seeing the rings on the bathroom counter. "I just need time to think about it. Alone."

Leaving the city had been much easier than the drive in, both figuratively and literally. I let my mind wander while automatically navigating, trying to figure out the best way to broach the subject at hand with Bruce. Specifically, how to do so without resorting to more senseless fighting and lying. If he was interested in telling me the truth, without prompting or force, than perhaps there was a chance we could settle things once and for all.

I was due at the Preserve for a meeting with our supervising veterinarian mid-morning. After taking the previous week off, I had been barley able to fathom the amount of paper work, phone calls and e-mails that were waiting for me. It would have been easy enough to get on the Taconic and head north, making it to my office with plenty of time to spare. After my meeting, I very well could have locked myself in, catch up with as much as possible and still make it home to pick the kids up from school. The hour drive to and from and general busy work would have given me ample time to think things through, plan my next move and at the very least let tempers cool.

Just a few of the things that crossed my mind as I headed up the drive towards Wayne Manor.

I took the time to park in the garage, not surprised to see that Bruce's BMW was still idle in its place. At least I wasn't the only one playing hooky, I mused while heading through the service entrance. Despite the fact that breakfast had been served two hours earlier, I was greeted with warm smells. I followed them to the kitchen where Alfred was plating a tray with an omelet and the remnants of the potato and ham hash from earlier.

He glanced up at the sound of my soft footfalls, genuinely surprised to see me, "Ms. Selina…"

"Is he up yet?"

Alfred hesitated before nodding, "Yes… in fact you have just missed him."

"Down in the Cave?"

He shook his head, leaving the tray in order to focus on his words, "No. He came down not terribly long after you left in order to send Master Tim and Ms. Cassandra home to rest… I was in the process of preparing him breakfast when he had a petit mal seizure."

As angry as I was with Bruce, I was unable to suppress the twinge of guilt on my stomach. I covered it by asking, "Is he okay?"

With a nod, Alfred continued, "Just tired, it seemed"

I paused, staring at the unattended coffee mug that sat before one of the stools, "Did he tell you about last night?"

"No, madam. I informed him that it was none of my business as to what had transpired between you, just that I desired it to be mended in a reasonable amount of time."

Without thinking, I stepped forward and reached out to touch the cold, glossy marble counter top. My fingers proceeded to trace the mug's handle, surprised that it yielded to move so easily. Looking up at Alfred, I found myself admitting, "He told me… that he and Talia were once married. Not long after Jason died."

There was a quick shadow of shock on his face, but he managed to cast it aside in order to offer me comfort, "It was a very dark time, for all of us. We all made mistakes, out of grief, out of anger. Master Bruce's errs tended to involve willfully allowing himself to be harmed, physically… and apparently on an emotional level as well."

"Did you know?"

"No, I assure you," he pleased, striding closer to stand beside me, "I never truly understood what transpired in those three months that he had been away. All I know is that he left us as a violent, senseless being in pain and returned to us in a near opposite form. Calm, quiet… but still in pain."

He had tried to apologize. He had tried to come clean. I wouldn't let him.

Deep down, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to know what else he was hiding.

Before I could ask, Alfred said, "He was heading up to your quarters to rest. When I deliver his meal, I will tell him you've returned if you wish…

"No," I interjected quietly, "I'll take it up… and tell him myself."

The ride up in the elevator was in as much of a fog as the drive back from Gotham had been. My mind, however, was eerily quiet. Arriving at the master bedroom, I balanced the tray in one hand and silently opened the door. The drapes were still pulled back but the overhead lights were off. Setting his breakfast down on the night stand, I called out, "Bruce?"

I checked the bathroom, finding the room cold and dark, the shower still baring droplets of water on the tiled walls. Touring the bedroom itself, the only thing out of place was the shattered portable phone as it lay in pieces by the far wall. No doubt after being rejected by Barbara, he had thrown it in place of hanging up on her…

Systematically, I checked the rest of the rooms on the floor, finding no sign of life save for the rumpled blankets on Nathan's bed. It was then that I realized Ace had not been down with Alfred, meaning he was at Bruce's side, wherever that was. Taking the steps two at a time, I nearly rushed passed the second floor landing, stopping at the sight of the big, sable dog laying in the middle of the corridor. My next intended stop had been the study, followed by the Cave.

In my momentary lapse into forgiveness, I hadn't even thought of checking Talia's room.

Quickly, I strode down the hall, not surprised to the see the door securely shut. Moving into the next room, my eyes quickly found the surveillance monitors still running, still recording. My breath hitched as I spotted Bruce sitting in the arm chair, Talia standing before him with her hand gently touching his cheek. She spoke to him, making his solemn look intensify. I wanted to turn the volume up on the monitors but I was frozen in place.

Finally, when her hand fell away, I reached for the knob just in time to hear her say, "As distant as we have grown, I could not sit idly by and allow you to endure another tragedy."

Bruce was motionless, his gaze filled with what appeared to be remorse on the small screen. After a moment, he sat back into the chair and said, "Tim will still want to speak with you before you are relocated to the Watchtower."

She was quick to ask, "Do you honestly think that is safer, for me?"

"It's safer for my family. And if they are the reason that you came here, then I see no reason for you not to comply," he replied, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Very well," Talia nodded as she sat on the bed, "If that is what you wish."

I was uncertain as to what to call the emotion boiling inside. Anger didn't seem to do it justice, nor did hatred. Watching them casually talk with one another after Bruce and I had shared such heated words was painful to watch. He should have been battling with her, not me.

A sudden movement drew my focus back to the screen as Bruce stood to his feet. Talia rose as well, quick to move close to him again, "If you find my father and Jason… what will you do?"

He replied, "I won't be the one looking for them… You know that."

"Then your protégés… your Justice League? Their encounters with my father have never ended well in the past…. Not without your assistance."

When Bruce turned for the door, I stormed out of the room, placing myself directly in front of it. As it pulled back, I heard Talia say, "Bruce, please wait, I need to-."

The remorse, the pain, whatever he was feeling vanished before my eyes, replaced with sheer surprise. He shut the door behind him, quickly locking it before turning to face me again, "Selina… I-."

I punched him square in the jaw, hard enough to leave my knuckles singing and to drive his head to the left two inches. Ace rose to his feet and let out a low growl but Bruce stilled him with a gesture of his hand. When he had reclined back down to the carpet, Bruce responded, "I suppose I deserved that."

"I came back to apologize… to talk things over… to hear your side of the story… and I find you with her?"

"You're being irrational," he said, all too calmly.

"I'm being irrational?" I snapped, holding nothing back as I proceeded to growl, "I just heard you on the monitor, Bruce! It's safer for her to be at the Watchtower for our Family... Then why the hell did you keep her here for three days?" When he didn't reply, I continued, "And if they're questioning her later, what the hell were you doing in there? Getting your stories straight? Making sure the lies were all on the same page?"

Finally, he barked, "That's enough!"

"No, no it's not even close, Bruce."

"Selina, my talking to her, the Watchtower… that's not why you're upset, don't pretend that it is!"

I nodded, throwing my arms up, "You're right, it's not. I wonder, though. Why I would be upset about finding you alone with her..."

His lip twitched into a snarl at that remark. Not that it stopped me.

"Oh, wait, I know," I carried on, unable to hide the sarcasm nor the pain in my tone, "A plan backfired on you, once again. God, Bruce, if she hadn't shown up… would you have ever told me?"

He didn't answer, which was an answer in itself.

^V^

I waited until Ms. Selina had exited the kitchen before exhaling slowly.

Directing her to Master Bruce's location had the intention of allowing him to apologize for his actions and to initiate a reconciliation, at best. At worst, it would allow her to carry on her tongue-lashing from the previous night. Having learned the root of their woes, I found myself hoping that it was for the latter.

Shortly after losing Master Jason, Master Bruce had been grievously injured while intervening a hostage situation. A vicious bullet wound to his abdomen had been compromised when he had fallen into the Gotham River to escape a burning helicopter. Not long after the criminals were in custody and the victims were safe, he had collapsed from blood loss in an alley. Before the era of biometric feedback monitors in his suit, there would have been no way of knowing how poor his condition was…

And then, a miracle. Or so it had seemed at the time.

Ms. Talia had been shadowing Master Bruce's efforts, also seeking the terrorist that had been behind the hostage predicament. Although the diabolical gentleman had sent his underlings to do his work, Ms. Talia had hoped that her former beau's deductive reasoning would have allowed for some insight as to his true location. He had fallen to the bullet wound before she had been able to approach him, leading her to bring him home to be healed.

It had taken a blood transfusion, thirty-odd stitches and IV antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to put him back together. After watching him trapped in and uneasy sleep for three hours, I had left to retrieve tea for myself and Ms. Talia, leaving him under her watchful eyes. Returning, I had found him awake, she sitting on the edge of the gurney, their lips together.

It had been long before Ms. Selina had entered both of his lives. Long enough that Ms. Talia had been a somewhat welcome presence, capable of bringing life to icy blue eyes that had been cold and dead since we had laid Master Jason to rest. As expected, Master Bruce had risen from the bed, donned his guise and prepared to leave despite our pleadings. Before they departed, I had asked her to take care of him and she had replied, "I will, Alfred."

That had been the last I had seen of him for three months.

No calls, no messages, no sign of Master Bruce nor his alter ego in Gotham or anywhere, for that matter.

Despite his abilities and resourcefulness, I had started to fear the worst.

And then, out of the blue, he had randomly appeared one night in the Cave, sitting before a blank screen in the computer bay. I had tried to contain my questions and queries, knowing that letting them loose would anger him and they would likely go unanswered. To my surprise, he had apologized for not returning sooner, explaining that he had aided Ra's in hunting down the terrorist. I had congratulated him on his efforts and expressed my sincere relief that he was home at long last.

At that, he had risen to his feet, stared at me blankly and then headed towards the stairs.

I had always expected that something dire had transpired during his time away, but not once did I fathom that he and Talia had been wed and subsequently separated.

There was very little that Master Bruce kept from me, or was able to. The fact that he had managed to hide something so pertinent from me for nearly two decades suggested the measures he had taken to do so. That in itself reflected how on much his secret pained him.

With the kitchen tended to and the laundry well underway, I debated as to whether or not it was best to leave them to their reconciliations. Interfering, especially in an uninvited sense, was less than likely to be welcomed for either party. There was plenty to do to get the great house in order given the number of guests over the long weekend, another reason to avoid the third floor.

Briskly walking towards the elevator, I decided that I would tend to Master Nathan and Miss Mattie's rooms first. And if I happened upon their parents in the process, then so be it.

As expected, Miss Mattie's room was in order, forcing me to perform fruitless tasks such as re-making her bed, adjusting the lamp on her night stand along with tidying her spotless bathroom. Even the sitting room was in order, the video games and DVD cases neatly sitting on the black bookshelf on the far wall, the pillows sitting quietly on the couch and the collection of electronic devices all powered down. Stepping back into the bedroom, I spotted her calico sunning itself by the bay window. Whether she was in such a blissful state as a result of the quiet of the room or the lack of worry in her feline life was unknown.

Master Nathan's room was the polar opposite.

Aside from the unmade bed, I was greeted with tennis balls belonging to Ace and toys belonging to his boy, along with bits of clothing strewn about on the floor. Expected given the child's age and penchant for mischief. What was unexpected was to find Master Bruce's loafers resting on the far side of the bed. Before departing for school, Master Nathan had made mention of the fact that his father had stayed in his bedroom for the night.

All the more reason for Ms. Selina and Master Bruce to have a moment to discuss the previous evening's events.

Knowing the task would require more effort, I decided to arm myself appropriately. Retreating down the hall and to the elevator, I mentally checked off the necessities I would have to retrieve from the second floor storage closet. Vacuum for the dog hair, mop for the bathroom in addition to fresh linens for the bed. I was thinking on whether or not it was wise to change the sheets of Miss Mattie's bed as well when the elevator doors opened.

I heard Master Bruce before I spotted him down the corridor, towering over his wife, "Selina, my talking to her, the Watchtower… that's not why you're upset, don't pretend that it is!"

Ms. Selina threw her hands up in frustration, "That's right, it's not. I wonder, though. Why I would be upset about finding you alone with her..."

She paused, giving him ample time to respond.

When he chose not to, she continued, "Oh, wait, I know. A plan backfired on you, once again. God, Bruce, if she hadn't shown up… would you have ever told me?"

He remained silent, although his gaze traveled from the furious look on Ms. Selina's face to the surprised one that had taken hold of mine.

There had been very few times that I had bore witness to one of their feuds, generally spaced out by yearly intervals. Regrettably, this was the second vicious argument I had been caught in the middle of in the last month. The previous battle had been the result of Master Bruce discovering that Miss Mattie had been on ortho-trycylen for months without his knowing.

A feud I had been able diffuse and one that lord and lady had mutually apologized for.

With both of their heated faces looking in my direction, I suddenly regretted not delivering Master Bruce's breakfast myself.

"Have you come to pass judgment as well?" Master Bruce growled lowly as he began to stride towards me, his left leg painfully stiff.

Ms. Selina was quick to follow him, "Answer me, damnit!"

He paused, spun around to face her and snapped, "You want an answer that you don't want to hear."

I found myself frozen in place, unsure as to whether it was wiser to stride forward and interfere or retreat to safer ground and pick up the pieces later. As an adult, Master Bruce had rarely allowed himself to lose his temper, even in the most trying times. On the few instances I recalled hearing his bellow it had been a result of far too much strife being endured for far too long. Granted, he had snapped or snarled on occasion, but the life he had led held no room for pleasantries and common courtesy.

As a child, he had differed significantly. He had ranged from being silent and withdrawn or blatantly shouting. Thankfully, with Leslie's efforts, we had been able to help him find a balance through controlling his emotions. Unfortunately, he had taken it too far, burying them or simply brushing them aside. Unknowingly, it had been one of the stepping stones for him being capable of a life of vigilantism.

Watching the scene unfold before me, it was if he had reverted forty years emotionally, unable to hold back the pain, inflicting it on others without hesitation.

"I would have never told you about it," he finally answered her, "Because it doesn't change anything. Yes, it happened. It happened seventeen yeas ago. And in all of that time, you were fine without knowing."

"That's where you're wrong, Bruce. I wasn't fine without knowing… you were fine with lying to me."

At that, his eyes softened, followed by his tone lightening, "If I told you at the beginning… every dark secret that I have, every mistake that I've made… We wouldn't be standing here right now. It was three months of my life… a blink of an eye compared to fifteen years..."

Continuing to ignore my presence, Ms. Selina countered with, "I don't care what happened or why you did it, Bruce… and the fact that you don't seem to understand that..." she paused, suddenly losing her voice. After one last glare, she stormed by him and in my direction. As she passed me by, I realized just how painfully glassy her eyes had become, the lids barely capable of holding back tears.

"Selina," he sighed, "Stop."

She hastily boarded the elevator and pressed the down button, disappearing as the doors closed in front of her.

I waited a full minute before opening my mouth, "Master Bruce-."

"Shut up, Alfred."

My typical response to such a terse demand was along the lines of As you wish, sir or But of course.

Surprising him and even myself, I replied, "No."

"What?" he responded.

"No, sir. I will not stand idly by, not this time." Moving to stand before him, I looked beyond the slight flush on his face, the scar on his left brow and the vein that throbbed beside it. He wasn't a forty-nine year old man who had endured enough heartache to last ten lifetimes. He was the boy, hurt beyond words, unwilling to accept that there would be a life beyond tragedy.

Not giving him an opportunity to speak, I proceeded, "Denying the rest of the Family of the truth is less reprehensible… even of myself, sir. But you have done so to Ms. Selina one too many times. Granted, she has known you and your mannerisms for some time… but it still doesn't change the fact that it upsets her. That it hurts her."

Finally, he spoke, "I tried doing the right thing, I told her the truth… and I regret it."

"She is upset with you at the moment, sir, but she will accept it, you must give her time."

Master Bruce shook his head slightly, "You know the only time she ever accepted any truth I revealed to her… was when I told her my identity."

"That instance, you showed that you trusted her, by giving your secret to her. Doing the same so many years later, it shows that you didn't trust her, that you wanted to keep it from her."

As much as I wanted to urge him to confront Ms. Selina to put an end to her suffering, I knew it was as unwise as it was untimely. Much like her feline idols, once she was ruffled, there was a necessary period of time that needed to pass before she would be willing to accept an apology. I had thought that the night they had spent apart would have sufficed, but given their individual tempers, it was sadly not so.

"Rest, sir. I will tend to matters as best as I can."

He nodded slightly, looked at me briefly and then proceeded to limp towards the elevator, waiting silently for the car to return to the second floor.

Alone again, I found myself torn between following him or Ms. Selina. Choosing the latter, I briskly walked to the stairs and began to descend them as quickly as I dared. On a hunch, I proceeded to the kitchen, arriving just in time to see Ms. Selina donning her coat in the open room at the service entrance. Although I had barely made a sound, she was quick to face me, still fighting back the same tears.

"Alfred.. I have to get going to the Preserve… can you… can you get the kids after school? I don't think I'll be back by then," she said, her voice on the verge of breaking.

"Gladly, madam."

She began to speak again, but shook her head silently before stepping out of the door.

Having been unable to aide her, I decided it was worth a return trip upstairs to see if I could further console my other troubled charge. Thankfully, I found him in the master bedroom, sitting on the sofa by the bay window and staring out at the morning that had greeted him so poorly. Where his wife had immediately detected my presence, he hadn't looked over his shoulder at me until I had been in his peripheral vision.

"Ms. Selina has departed for the Preserve, she will be home later this evening."

His eyes returned to the window.

Moving to stand at the arm of the sofa, I added, "I was uncertain of your plans for the day, sir, so I will arrange for the children to be picked up after-."

"She was pregnant."

Taken aback, I inquired, "Who, sir?"

"Talia… when we were… together." His voice was a painful whisper, heavy with guilt. I remained silent, not out of shock, but as a way to encourage him to continue. He took a moment to do so, "She was only a few weeks along… but Qayin attacked the compound, she fell during an explosion… miscarried the next day."

He looked back up at me before saying, "That's why I… acted the way I did when I returned. I had finally come to terms with losing one child, only to have another taken from me."

Kitten trotted over suddenly, leaping to sit beside Master Bruce. The cat rubbed his face against his human's thigh, mewed softly then jumped back to the carpet and out of sight.

Master Bruce exhaled slowly, then finished with, "Like I said… Selina wants an answer she doesn't want to hear."

^V^

Just dozing off on the couch as Ethan played with his magnetized building blocks, my cell phone rang. I ignored the first four rings and even as it chimed when the voicemail was received. Yawning, I glanced down at my son and remarked, "Mommy better finish her nap soon, Daddy is getting ty-ty."

"Ty-ty?" Ethan asked, and adorable look on his far too awake face. When I nodded and repeated his word for tired, he showed no further interest and resumed his work connecting all of his blocks.

With my eyes closing again, the house phone rang.

Not wanting Barbara to actually wake up anytime soon, I leapt over the back of the couch and grabbed the portable phone off of the credenza on the wall. I answered with a fast, "Hello?"

"Master Dick, I do hope I am not interrupting you…"

"Never, Al, just playing with the munchkin. What's up? Talia giving you trouble?"

He hesitated before responding, "No, not in the least. However, I do have a favor to ask of you if you are willing, sir."

"Sure, anything," I asked, my curiosity rising seeing how Alfred rarely asked anyone to do anything for him, with the exception of staying safe on patrols.

"Ms. Selina will be late in returning from the Preserve this afternoon, I was inquiring as to if you would be willing to drive the children home from school."

I hadn't planned on being back in Bristol that early, but there was no way I would be able to turn him down, "No problem… Is everything okay?"

"Never the better, sir. I will be doing my best to get Master Bruce to rest for the remainder of the day, if the children are accounted for, it will be one less excuse for him not to."

"Good call," I replied, "Anything else?"

"That would be more than sufficient, sir. Do try to get some rest yourself."

"Don't worry, Alfred, that is the only thing left on my To Do list for the day."

Hanging up the phone, I looked over at Ethan and said, "Well, Egg-man, what do you think? TV time or play time?"

"Dah-ie, pay under ets!"

"Wonder Pets, you say…" I smirked at him before grabbing the portable phone once more, using it as a prop as I sang his favorite show's infamous songs, "The phone, the phone is ringing! The phone… we'll be right there!"

I spent the better part of the day making it up to Ethan for my recent absence. We played tag, roused Frank for a few rounds of fetch, worked on speaking and counting, ate a box of Teddy Grahams and even worked on his toddler puzzle. For lunch, I made grilled cheese sandwiches, tater tots and sliced up two pears. Although I knew Barbara would still be sleeping, I made sure to prepare food for her as well, even though Frank was at my heels and willing to eat in her stead.

Sitting at the kitchen table with Ethan in his high chair, I smiled on as he hand fed himself bits of sandwich, the dollop of ketchup on his cheek making him impossibly cuter. Letting him enjoy his meal without my assistance, I grabbed my cell phone and proceeded to dial Tim's.

When he answered, he sounded wide awake, "Hey, what's up?"

"Just checking in. Looks like I'll be going up around three," I said while giving a bit of my crust to Frank.

"So no office then… Well, I already called Will and said I wouldn't be in either… Why are you going back up so early?"

I watched as Ethan fought with his sippie cup, tilting it to get the last bit of milk inside, "Looks like I'm picking up the Wayne children from school. Alfred has a full plate, Selina will still be at the Preserve and well, Bruce needs to sit still for once."

"I can get them, you haven't been home in two days."

It wasn't an offer. It was a decision.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I need to talk to Bruce anyway… and not a replay of the five second chat we had this morning." He cleared his throat and added, "I won't do anything until you get there, I promise."

"All right… but if I get there and you have her trussed up like a piñata over the northeast precipice, you're going to be in a world of trouble, mister."

He laughed softly, a sound I had missed for far too long.

Hanging up, I proceeded to yawn loudly. Ethan laughed at me, and I responded with, "You wait, little man, it's almost time for your nap, too."

Once his tray was as clear of food as it was going to be, I wiped him up and made sure he was food free in mouth and hand before setting him back on the floor. He toddled down the hallway, calling out, "Ello?" while knocking on the various doors. Frank decided that it was best to wait in the kitchen, no doubt to try and beg off of the next human who dined. As Ethan reached the master bedroom, I opened the door before he struck it with his tiny fist.

Surprisingly, Barbara was already up. She was in the process of making her side of the bed, pointless seeing how once I was horizontal on the queen sized mattress, the blankets would quickly be in chaos. Ethan ran as fast as his little legs would allow, showing no hesitation in climbing up onto Barbara's lap, greeting her with a hug and a loud, "Mahmie!"

"Hi, baby… you have fun with Daddy?"

"Under ets!" he declared before bumping his head into her collar bone.

"Wonder Pets, no way," she turned to face me, "Hey."

"Hey yourself, sleeping beauty," I smirked while crossing the room, opting to sit on the bed, "Feel better?"

"Much… now it's your turn… the both of you."

I let her know that he had already eaten and that her lunch and Frank were waiting for her in the kitchen. She beckoned me forward and as I leaned over, she kissed my cheek, "Thanks, boy wonder."

"Anytime, ginger," I said before kissing her cheek. Being in such close proximity to my pillows, I found myself yawning again.

"I'll put him to bed."

I raised an eyebrow before asking, "And then you'll put me to bed?"

"No… then I'm going to play super-encrypted file hacker."

"Ah," I replied, watching as Ethan slipped down off of her lap in order to walk around the room. "Do you think we still need to do that?"

"Do you think Bruce will tell her everything?"

I waited a beat before saying, "I meant what I said, if he already told her about Talia… I think he won't hold any more back. That's just about as detrimental of a secret as you can have."

"I thought you were just being nice…" she smirked.

"I was trying to give Bruce the chance to be nice to Selina… and vice versa. Life is so much easier when they aren't at each others throats." Ethan returned, opting to attempt to climb onto my lap. I helped him up and kissed the top of his caramel covered head before adding, "I want to say that it's hard to believe that he did it… but deep down, I can't. I remember seeing them together the first time, after I was kidnapped by Ra's… and really every time since… there was always something."

Barbara remained silent.

I didn't, "No matter how many times she burned him… I actually thought once, after he married Selina, that if Talia ever showed up again it would have been the cat-fight of the ages."

"Which is why we've been keeping them separate," Barbara added. She sighed softly then said, "Get some sleep. Let Bruce worry about it for now."

"You're right," I nodded, helping Ethan back to the floor when he began to squirm, "I'm probably not going into the firm today…"

"I'll wake you for dinner," she smiled before heading to the door, "Come on, Ethan, let's find Frank."

Ethan looked to me and then to his mother as she passed through the door, toddling after her calling out, "Fank, Fank!"

Rising to my feet, I shed my socks, pants and watch before pulling back the blankets and collapsing into bed. Although Barbara wanted me to sleep in until five, I set my alarm for three-thirty, wanting to get back to the Manor as soon as possible. It wasn't that I didn't trust Tim, it was more along the lines of just wanting to be there for him, for Bruce.

Sleep came quickly, but it wasn't long before dark, blurry visions loomed over my slumber. It had been months since I had dreamt of the Joker crouching over me, his grin bloody and glorious. Lately, it had been a collection of confusing and claustrophobic images, being in boxes or a crevasse, stuck in a sinking boat, pinned so tightly I was unable to move.

As technologically adept as Barbara was, she did have a dream interpretation guide on the bookshelf in our bedroom. Claustrophobic dreams and nightmares were supposed to represent subconscious feelings of guilt. Guilt over what, I was uncertain.

Two nights without sleep following a week of going non stop all day and all night had me sleeping right through my alarm. Thankfully, Tim called my cell phone at four, forcing my eyes to open as my hand fumbled for the chiming device, "Yeah?"

"When does Mattie's gymnastic practice get through?"

"What?"

"Her after school practice… I went to get her but Nathan said she has practice… couldn't remember when it was over."

"And you're asking me instead of Alfred why?" I rolled onto my back in order to stare up at the ceiling.

"… Well I tried, no answer. Got to the house, found a note that said he was going to pick up Leslie early."

Yawning loudly, I replied, "Just… go to the school, man. Watch your future sidekick in action until practice is over." After a pause, I added, "Bruce was home, right?"

"Yeah, down in the Cave. But I wasn't about to let Nathan run wild upstairs while I went downstairs… didn't help that he refused to pick up the line."

Sitting up, my mind became viciously clear as dread filled my gut, "Are you sure he's in the Cave?"

"Yeah, Barbara is online, says he has been on the computer since noon."

I suddenly wondered if Bruce had spent his afternoon countering Barbara's efforts of cracking his encrypted files. I had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt that morning and not eight hours later I was doubting him.

Guilt defined.

After I told Tim I was going to eat with Barbara and Ethan before coming up for the night, I added, "And… after patrols, I think I'm going to come home."

"That's fine," Tim replied, "I actually want to move her to the Watchtower before we go out… I just have to check with J'onn to make sure everything is in order."

"Wow… that will be a sigh of relief."

"Well, it will be one less thing to worry about. I'll happily sigh when I know where Ra's and Jason are and what the hell they're up to."

We bid farewell to one another for the time being, giving me the chance to either rise for the rest of the day or collapse back into down-filled heaven. I opted for the latter, taking a five-minute shower to clear my head of thoughts, both real and from the dream world. With a towel around my waist, I headed out of the bedroom and down the corridor, peeking in to see Ethan still slumbering. I stopped once more in the kitchen, lured by the aromas of something heavenly brewing in the oven.

Another cracked door and I smiled to see lasagna bubbling away and garlic bread toasting.

As expected, Barbara was hard at work in her lair, fingers attacking the keyboard, monitors filled with a variety of images ranging from weather patterns to footage of the sniper in Bludhaven. Without looking back at me, she greeted, "Nice towel."

"Thanks… figure it really showcases my derriere," I replied while patting my behind. "Any luck?"

"No, but I've been shadowing Bruce while he's worked on the computer in the Cave… but even the files he can access, it's not letting them come through on my end. A lot of them are files matching the dates when Jason died, when he returned from the ordeal with Ra's… It's like he's making sure he has all of his facts in order."

"Or maybe he's reminiscing… you have to remember, Babs… he lost odds and ends from the radiation."

"I know… It's just… I hope whatever he's finding, he's telling her."

Leaning over, I kissed the top of her head, "I'll get dressed… anything else you need done for dinner?"

"Just to set the table… and make sure Ethan is wearing a red shirt under his bib. I still haven't been able to get the stains out of his shirt from last week."

Juggling the telecommunication efforts of the world's finest and multitasking with motherhood.

I had no other choice but to reply with, "You got it, Babs."

^V^

The first day back to school after a five day weekend was tough for most kids. After sleeping in for so many days in a row, not having to think beyond XBOX Live games with friends and of course having been able to spend time so freely made it difficult to go back to a structured schedule. I found myself distracted as well, although for entirely different reasons.

My first class was English, where we reviewed the last chapter we had read of The Outsiders, where Johnny had killed the Soc. I had the read book for summer reading the previous year and had even seen the old movie a few times. It was a tale of family and of tragedy, something I could easily identify with. While we recalled the previous events and discussed a few of the scenes in detail, my mind kept drifting back home, wondering what was going on.

Math had been equally trying. Again, review of the work we had done the previous week, a few problems on the board and then a extra credit quiz. From there, I had gone to gym, happy to finally push my worries aside and focus my brain on physical work. Thankfully, we had just started the swimming unit, so I was able to work on diving and various strokes for the better part of an hour.

Under water, everything was calm and quiet.

Lunch was also a welcome distraction, catching up with friends and to see what they did on their breaks. Since so many of them had traveled, including Terry, I had spent my vacation at home and with the Family.

Piper twirled her spoon in a yogurt cup and said, "It was so cold in Minnesota… they have way more snow there than we do."

"Who lives there?" Angie asked.

"My mom's family," Piper answered before finally tasting the spoon, "We haven't seen them in like forever so she decided we should have Thanksgiving there… but it was cool because we also had like an early Christmas, too."

"That's fun," Angie replied, "We just went upstate to see my dad's parents. But my Uncle Joe came so that was fun…"

Katarina's eyes widened, "Isn't he the one in the army? The one that has the picture in your living room?" When Angie confirmed as much, Kat smiled, "He's hot."

Fixing her bangs, Angie commented, "Weird-o… what did you do, Mattie?"

"Me?" I shrugged, "Not much… We had the charity stuff in the city all week but I ended up having Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's place."

"Yeah, we saw your parents on the news the other night… Did you get to go down and help?" Piper inquired.

Nodding, I replied, "Yeah, it was pretty fun, actually…"

"Guess you had to do something with Terry in Arizona," Kat laughed.

I smiled as well, "Yeah, and we didn't even get to talk much… with the time difference." I glanced over the faces in the cafeteria, spotting Terry sitting with his friends. Usually, he spend lunch with them and study hall with me. I didn't mind, I knew how uncomfortable he was sitting at a table full of girls. Sometimes, I felt the same way.

We all agreed to do something together that Friday, movies and dinner and the mall. Seeing how I didn't share classes with any of them in the afternoon, I bid them goodbye after lunch, promising to be on instant messenger that night. Throwing away my trash by the door, I looked up to see Terry approaching, his sunburn looking slightly less painful.

"Hey," he greeted me with a smirk.

"Hey yourself," I elbowed him softly before taking his hand into mine.

After we navigated through the mass of students exiting the cafeteria in search of their next class, we stopped at his locker first. Terry put his lunch bag into his backpack before unearthing his math text book and binder, "So, you have practice after school?"

"Only until five. Why?"

"Well… Wednesday won't work for coming up to your house, Dad has some big lecture he wants to drag me to."

"Okay… well, we're doing the mall and a movie on Friday…" I pointed out.

"You girls and your malls," he sighed before looking at me, "What about tonight? After practice? I was going to stay and watch you guys anyway."

"Um, I'll have to check with my mom when she picks me up."

"Sure," he closed his locker, "That's fine. If not, maybe we can watch NBC Thursday together."

He walked me to my locker, waited through the warning bell as I found my French books and then kissed my cheek before bolting down the hall to make it to his class. The midday break had done little to put my mind in focus, made even more difficult by the fact that Madame Morris had called in sick and the substitute had showed us a cartoon movie of Le Petit Prince. I had loved the book as a child, reading it so many times that I nearly had it memorized.

Having to watch the childish film added fuel to the fire, my mind going back a day and playing it over from start to finish. The empty casket in the cold grave, hiding in my room, working with Tim and Cass, going to Terry's, coming home and putting on a brave front for my mother.

Pretending everything was all right, just as she had been doing for me and for Nathan.

Thankfully, my study hall with Terry was my second to last period of the day. We shared only the last two hours of school together, the pointless period of pretending to do homework followed by Social Studies. The second semester would be different as we already had planned our schedules to have Art, Telecommunications and Home Economics together.

By the time I arrived, I found he had already claimed a table in the study room by the windows. His math class was right next door, allowing him to have first picks of the tables every day. I decided that the trek back to my locker was pointless seeing how there were no assignments due for the next day save for reading. And studying during study hall was an equal waste of time.

"Okay," Terry retrieved his iPhone as I sat down across from him, "I believe it's your move, Wayne."

Back to the class monitor, I pulled out my phone as well, discovering that it was indeed my turn for Words with Friends. With the weak letters available to me, I conjured up Open and sent it to him. He smirked and quickly countered, using my O to creating Orange.

Pretending to quietly read, we alternated between playing the game and texting back and forth with one another. Given the school's strict policy about phones in actual classes, lunch and study hall were the only safe times to use them. I know Piper had lost her phone privileges during the day from her parents after the principal confiscated her four-hundred dollar smart phone back in October.

She didn't have the finesse and stealth that I had…

Pounce led to Petite.

Tight led to Grape.

I was about to return with Gaunt but a text came on screen from Tim: Don't get expelled to answer this but what time are you done with practice?

Confused, I replied, with: Five, why?

Coming to get you, Mom is running late tonight. Latte is on me : )

I smirked, and said I would be ready for him outside the gym doors.

Terry then whispered, "Who was that?"

"Tim, he's picking me up after school…"

He was quick to point out, "Guess we can't ask your Mom if I can come over."

I smiled at him and sent my word, "Guess not."

The rest of the day was less painful as the hours that had preceded. Terry and I worked together on a packet for Social Studies, trying to put ancient civilizations in chronological order. Given that his father had always pushed for Terry to learn about all things history, it had been a breeze for him. From there, we had made our way to the gym, Terry volunteering to help set up equipment with the coaches and assistants while I changed and stretched in the locker room.

Stepping out into the gym itself, I heard Coach April call my name. When I crossed to where she was standing beside the trampoline, I asked, "What's up?"

"Hey, I have a very important question to ask you… Now don't feel any pressure to answer right away… but… there will be a spot on the varsity team. Clare Allen strained her ankle over the weekend skiing in Colorado."

"Is she okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned for Bristol's top floor exercise gymnast.

"Nothing that rest won't solve. But as you know, we can't have an incomplete team for Regionals in February. If you are interested, I would like to give you that spot."

"Really?"

Coach April nodded, "Really. It would mean practicing with the Varsity girls in the morning, from six to seven-thirty, and with the Junior Varsity team if you were up to it in the afternoons. I want you to think about it, though, as it is a commitment not to be taken lightly."

"Okay, I will think about it."

"Good girl, now, let's get you warmed up for the rings."

Practices ended at five but often times, we stayed later. Thankfully, the basketball teams used the high school gym for their drills, allowing us to use the middle school gym without conflict. Volleyball had moved to the cafeteria in the evenings given how well the gymnastic teams had been doing over the last ten years. With everyone having their own space, it led to less trouble in and out of uniform.

Tim showed up at a little before five, just in time to see me finish my balance beam routine. After a great backwards dismount, I waved at him, "Hi Tim!"

The other girls on the team looked over at him and giggled. Then again, he had asked for it by wearing dark jeans, a fitted black tee shirt and a worn leather coat. Kat had once said, "Forget your dad, your neighbor is the hot one."

After getting my critiques for the assistant coach, I walked over to Tim and said, "Let me just grab my bag, I'll shower and change at home."

"Sounds good," he nodded before spotting Terry, "Hey there, how was Arizona?"

"Good. Sunny," he smirked while gesturing to his reddened face.

As Terry shifted his backpack higher onto his shoulder, I said, "Well, you guys can go, I'll be right out."

"Oh, was I giving you a ride home?" Tim asked.

Before Terry could ruin it, I said, "No, Mom said he could come over tonight." When Tim's brow rose in surprise, I added, "You can call her if you want."

"No, that's okay… it's just… don't you think it's a little busy at the house right now?" Tim pressed lightly.

"We're just going to do homework and play video games in my room… Mom said she would give him a ride home after dinner." I looked over my shoulder and added, "Right, Terry?"

"Yeah, I mean if it's still okay," he smiled sheepishly.

Tim sighed, then shrugged, "Okay."

Ignoring Nathan as he prattled on in the backseat beside me, Terry and I survived the eight minute ride home. Once Tim pulled around to the garage, I practically dragged Terry into the house and upstairs as to avoid being seen by Alfred or my father. It had only been a white lie, my mother saying Terry could come over Wednesday instead of Monday. As we reached the third floor, Terry finally spoke up, "You're going to be grounded forever."

"Nah, maybe a week, although it might feel like forever," I replied as we reached my bedroom door. Letting him in first, I shut it behind him, carefully balancing a small water bottle filled with coins on the door handle. When he asked what that was for, I explained, "I still don't have a lock on the door… so it's kind of like an alarm if anyone tries to turn the knob."

"Clever," he smirked.

"I know, right?" I replied while heading into my sitting room, dropping my bag on the floor beside the couch. Peeling off my sweatshirt left me in my Lycra shirt and my spandex leggings.

He set his bag on the floor as well before shrugging out of his coat, "Well, if you want to shower, I know I have a nasty Halo level to beat-."

I silenced him by stepping forward and planting my lips on his.

When he pulled back, he smirked, "Warn me next time… I had Doritos during your practice."

Smirking up at him, I replied, "I could tell."

Even still, it didn't stop from leaning forward and kissing me, wrapping his arms around my lower back. I instinctively pressed myself against him, my arms looping around his neck in order to be closer to him. Having never been apart from one another for more then a few days since first grade, the last week had been hard, more so with the latest upheaval in the family.

The previous night at his house, I had shared dinner with his sister and father before retreating to his room to watch That 70's Show on Netflix. It had felt so good to laugh and not worry about anything, even thought deep down I knew real life was waiting for me at home. Laying on his bed, we watched three episodes of the Wisconsin teenaged antics, laughing at Fez and Kelso, smirking at anything Hyde said and of course growing quiet whenever the onscreen couples kissed. During the fourth episode, I had found myself rolling over to face Terry, slipping a leg between his thighs while my lips sought out his.

He guided me to the couch, nearly tripping over his bag. I lay down and allowed him to lay on top of me, resting his legs between mine. Terry wasn't much heavier than me, but he still bore his weight on his forearms as opposed to my torso.

It felt good to forget the problems my Family faced.

I could feel him against my inner thigh, the material of my leggings yielding to the warmth.

The life that was ahead of me.

"Now you smell like Doritos, too," he whispered before pressing his lips to my neck, forcing me to laugh.

The trials I had endured that no other teenager would be able to fathom.

It felt good to be normal, even if it was only for a little while.

^V^

The last I had seen of Bruce, he had left mid-meeting in the Cave the previous night.

From the look on his face, he had been equal parts frustrated and furious.

Which was why his quick chat with Tim the following morning had seemed even more odd than it had already…

When he had said we could go home to rest instead of watching Talia, I had to doubt his reason why. Yes, we had all needed to relax after the last two days and of course the best thing to do was go home and clear our minds. It was nice to be able to lay in my own bed with Tim beside me, Robbie at our feet and a surveillance monitor out of sight.

But not out of mind.

Tim had tried to calm any worries with his words, "She's locked in, Bruce can easily watch her from the room next door or down in the Cave. The grounds are at maximum security right now, sensors activated over a mile from the house. And we're right next door."

I had sighed, "You're right."

"Besides, I'm fairly certain Alfred is hiding a loaded rifle in the bread box."

"That's a baguette."

He had kissed my temple, "That's what he wants you to think."

After a silent moment, I had asked about his brief discussion with Bruce this morning, seeing there had been anything more that he had yet to relay. Regrettably, there hadn't been, but he had added, "I think he and Selina are fighting… which ought to make life real interesting for the immediate future."

"How do you know?"

"A hunch… backed by more fact than I would care for."

He had explained Selina's unkempt state, her forced amicability, the bare fingers on her left hand and the fact that Nathan had said his father had slept in his room. Adding in with Bruce's faux "I don't care" attitude and the threatening female presence in the household, it wasn't a jump.

"Talia will go… they'll forgive and forget," I had said softly.

"Hope so," he had sighed.

As exhausted as I had felt, it had taken far too long to fall asleep. I had spent the better part of an hour watching Tim as he inhaled and exhaled slowly, his bare chest rising and falling all on its own. When I had drifted off, it had been fitful, my eyes opening every half hour or so, instantly searching for Tim and Robbie.

Shortly after noon, I had awoke to find myself alone.

A quick trip downstairs, I had located them in the kitchen, Tim hard at work at the stove top and Robbie supervising from a few feet away. Tim had glanced up at me and said, "I was going to do lunch in bed."

"It's okay. I'm up now," I had replied while moving to sit on the counter by the sink. Since our Panini maker was such a pain to clean, we had invested in a grill lined pan to make sandwiches in. I had smirked to see he had decided on Reubens, one of my favorites.

"Have some stuff in the oven, too… and I think we have dill pickles left," he had pointed out after putting the spatula to work.

Hopping down, I retrieved the pickles and plated for two at the island counter, including two glasses of milk. By the time my tasks had been completed, Tim's had been as well. He put the sandwiches, servings of seasoned fries and baked asparagus in golden, flaky crescent rolls. When he had taken his seat beside me, I had asked, "How long have you been up?"

"Thirty minutes… Dick called, I guess Selina is going to be late coming home, so I'm going to get the kids after school." He had paused to eat half of the roll before continuing, "I was going to try to get some work down for the Firm, even just catch up on e-mails and calls… But I'm just going to go next door, get logs done for last night."

I had washed down a bite of sandwich then replied, "Okay… I can do some e-mails. Calls."

"You sure?"

Shrugging, I had said, "No problem, then I'll come over… work out. You can get Mattie and Nathan after."

He had raised his glass of milk to mine, "Sounds like a plan."

He had stayed to clean up, leaving Robbie under my care in order make his way next door through the tunnel. I had curled up on the couch, responding to inquiries and scheduling as few appointments as possible for the next week. Tim had desired to move Talia up to the Watchtower as soon as possible, but it was uncertain where any information gained would lead us.

Will had suffered enough because of our alternate lives.

I hadn't realized how late it had become until Robbie had started to whine. The plan had been to head over to the Cave to spar and get in a quick work out before we moved on to more pressing matters. Somehow, the clock on the laptop read half past four.

While taking Robbie out one last time, I had called Tim. Answering on the third ring, he had explained that he had already picked up Nathan and they had stopped in for ice cream before heading back to get Mattie after her gymnastic practice. I had apologized for being late and he had quickly responded, "No worries… I'm sure we'll get our fair share of work later."

Leaving the Boxer in the house with a bowl of water, an early dinner and treats hidden in various toys, I had made the trek to the Cave. Given that I had missed my intended workout, I had opted to jog the length of the tunnel, adding in shadow boxing to get my blood pumping. Reaching the entrance, I entered my code and biometric scans, calming my heart rate as the reinforced lead-lined doors opened.

It had been just shy of twenty-four hours since I had seen Bruce, but there seemed to be no change in his disposition.

Without my pupil to train, I climbed the tier steps to the main platform and approached the computer bay quietly. The screen was less chaotic than it had been the previous night, only news reports, the police scanner and patrol logs. I noted that the surveillance window was partially obscured by the police scanner window but dared not to voice it.

"Cassandra," he greeted me.

"Tim back yet?"

"Yes, he's upstairs still," he replied, finally looking up at me. Tim was supposed to get the kids so Bruce could rest for the afternoon, but from the looks of it, Bruce had taken the opportunity to work straight through the day. He cleared his throat before standing, "Dick is on his way. As is J'onn."

"J'onn… J'onnz? Why?"

"If we're going to take invasive measures, they might as well be useful ones."

"Not keeping it in the Family?" I asked.

He took a moment before responding, "It's too late for that."

As the silence between us grew awkward, it was thankfully broken by the elevator arriving, letting Dick and Talia step off onto the stone floor. They approached at a reasonable pace, especially considering that neither appeared to be in a good mood. As they climbed the steps to join us, Talia put a soft smile on her full lips, "Is this everyone?"

"Tim will be down shortly. And we are expecting one more," Bruce answered as he appraised her with a calm look.

Dick replied, "Selina?"

"No, she won't be back from the Preserve until-," Bruce began.

Shaking his head, Dick cut him off, "She was leaving when I was just coming up the driveway."

"What?" he asked, his brow lowering. If anyone hated being out of the loop, it was Bruce.

"I called her, she said she and Nathan were running into town to get dinner since Alfred was on his way to get Leslie from the Clinic," Dick paused and then added, "She didn't tell you?"

Talia and I silently watched their discussion, her eyes on Bruce, mine on her.

"Doesn't matter," Bruce moved on, "I've already talked to her this morning."

Dick nearly spoke again when two more figures appeared, Tim taking the granite steps two at a time and the flash of the teleported fading to reveal J'onn J'onnz.

Of all of the members of the Justice League, save for Superman, he had remained close to Bruce both before and after his retirement. During his recovery from amnesia thirteen years earlier, J'onn had been instrumental in helping Bruce regain his memories. He had also stepped up to help Tim adjust to being a JLA member and offered refuge for the youngest members of the Family when the Joker had started moving in on us. J'onn had always been one of the super-powered beings that Bruce had been able to hold confidence in.

And the fact that he was a powerful telekinetic and telepathic didn't hurt either.

"You look well, old friend," J'onn greeted in his deep baritone as he walked over.

"You look well, I look like hell," Bruce responded before grasping the Martian's hand. While Tim strode over to join us, Bruce continued, "I'm sure you remember Talia."

Glaring coldly at her with red eyes, J'onn said, "Of course. The daughter of Ra's Al Ghul. I believe I spent the better part of a day on fire because of you."

"Because of my father," she corrected him.

Once he had stood beside me, Tim nodded his greeting instead of shaking hands, doing his best to hide his surprise by saying, "Thank you, J'onn, for coming. For helping."

Bowing his head slightly, he responded with, "Bruce has done so much for this world, far be it for me not to lend a hand when needed."

After a moment, Bruce spoke, "Talia and I discussed some details this morning about her father's previous whereabouts." He turned to face the computer, bringing up a digital map of Europe, zooming in on Turkey. "She last saw him at his base of operations here, south of Urfa. She saw Jason last at Charles DeGaulle airport in Paris," he skimmed a finger across the sensor pad, immediately closing in on his target. "As far as she knows, Jason is no longer with the group tracking her down, from the sounds of it, he has more important work to do."

"Like what?" Dick asked.

Talia voluntarily spoke, "He has spent nearly two decades training with the League of Assassins. My father has him lead every major operation because he knows Jason will get the job done, no matter what. Hunting me down is not a priority, not anymore."

"Then what is?" Tim asked in a low growl.

"I've told you, I don't know," she snapped at him.

"Enough," Bruce interrupted once more. "J'onn is here to help determine what Talia does and does not know. He will be on guard at the Watchtower, continuing to monitor her until we can settle matters here."

"Bruce," Talia started, "Please, don't do this."

"This is the easy way, Talia. You don't want us to do it the hard way," he replied.

After being directed to take a seat by Tim, J'onn stood behind her, eyes closed as he focused on her thoughts. Dick and I stood back with Bruce, watching Tim as he started off with, "When and where was the last time you saw your father?"

"June, in Urfa. That was the base I escaped from. The one I had sent the transmission from."

J'onn nodded and Tim proceeded, "When and where was the last time you saw Jason Todd?"

So began thirty minutes of questions, each response offering little information but was readily deemed to be truthful by J'onn. I was surprised that Bruce had simply handed the reins over to Tim, but quickly reasoned that Bruce already had heard his answers that morning. It was Tim's turn to try to get to the bottom of things.

"Do you know what base they are at?"

"No, I don't."

"When was your last active mission?"

"Thirteen years ago, after that, my father opted to send Jason out as a leader."

"When did your father 's men take Jason's remains?"

"Seventeen years ago."

"When did you mail that letter to me?"

"Mid-October. From Iraq."

Eventually, Tim paused, unable to trip her up. As much as he wanted her to be lying, she wasn't. She had been excluded from her father and Jason's plans and unable to warn us of exact threats, but had still risked everything to do what she could. It was difficult to think that she had turned over a new leaf, but given the pain she had endured in recent years, it wasn't impossible.

"Is that all?" she asked when Tim remained silent.

"For now…" Tim looked to Bruce and then back to J'onn, "Are the quarters ready?" After the Martian nodded, Tim continued, "Good… We'll go now, get you settled in."

"Right now?" she asked, her body language growing slightly tense, "And for how long will I be stowed away?"

"Until we can find your father," Tim answered coldly.

"I could help, if we go to Urfa, I could get you access to the base, the computer systems…"

Bruce stepped forward, "That's not necessary."

Getting to her feet, she pleaded, "Beloved, please… I've been a prisoner for so long, don't let them lock me up again…"

"It's for your safety, Talia. If something arises and your assistance is needed, maybe then," was all he could offer her.

Her lips parted again to speak, but her words failed her.

Matter settled, J'onn and guided Talia to the pod, set the coordinates for the Watchtower and vanished. As Tim waited for his turn, he said, "We will go to Urfa… but not with her."

Bruce said nothing, choosing to only nod.

"Tonight would best… Dick, I can have someone help you and Cass with patrols…"

"I'm coming, to Turkey," I said, doing my best to convey a tone that was nonnegotiable.

Tim nodded as I followed him into the teleportation pod, "Fair enough…" he paused to look at Bruce and Dick as they stood in place, "Coming?"

Dick waved a hand at us, "Nah, you guys have it covered. I'll suit up and get cracking on the city… give Wally my best."

Tim then looked to Bruce, who shook his head silently.

At that, we stepped into the pod. Tim entered our personalized scan codes, set the destination and sighed, "Let's hope this works."

I was fairly certain he wasn't referring to the teleported.

^V^

When Tim had arrived at the Cave earlier in the day, his first words had been, "I meant what I said earlier. You can't walk away, not now."

Rising from the chair by the computer, I had replied, "And I meant what I said. That I trust to you to do the right thing."

He had been visibly upset, not out of anger but of frustration. My suggestion for him to rest may have been heeded, but it seemed as if it hadn't helped. The same tension from earlier in the day still had its hold over his brow and jaw. His eyes still had bore the burden of constant thought and endless calculating.

"Damnit, Bruce," his voice had lacked infliction, "What is going on? Why are you are you being so passive about all of this? You should be up in arms, pushing us every step of the way… and you're not… You're just… sitting there, as if you're waiting for something."

"You're right," I had agreed him while slowly getting to my feet. Ignoring the slight wave of light-headedness, I had continued, "I am being… passive."

Tim had stepped forward, locking eye-to-eye before saying, "You know, I thought I was beyond the point of having to be tested. I thought by now you could trust me… like I trust you."

Shaking my head, I had responded, "I told you, I have my owns demons to face."

He had stared at me, disbelief crossing his face briefly before he remarked, "If this is about me questioning Talia, you can stop right now. I'm going to have J'onn come down, telepathically evaluate her when I question her… here and at the Watchtower."

"I told you not to second guess yourself on my behalf," I had found myself saying.

"And I didn't," he had replied, "I decided that it was an alternative with benefits outweighing the risks."

"The risks being?" I had inquired, even though I had already known his response.

"Putting another soul in the middle of this god damned mess… which was what you wanted me to do, wasn't it?" he had said, his brow rising while he shook his head.

"It is a better alternative."

Unpleasantries over, I had informed him of my questioning Talia that morning and the information I had managed to gain. I had stressed that it wasn't much, but it certainly was more helpful than the tidbits she had shared in the previous days. We both had agreed that the base her father had last been seen would be the optimal starting point, once it was verified to be true.

"Do you doubt her?" he had asked, finally leaning against the workstation's counter.

"No," I hadn't hesitated in responding. "Although I should know better."

"Well," he had admitted, "She certainly has been more forthcoming to you. She never would have told me about Urfa on her own… or that Jason had been in Paris."

I had grunted in response.

A little before three, he had said he was going to get Nathan and Mattie from school, on relayed orders from Alfred. I had reminded him that Mattie had a gymnastic practice, although I honestly couldn't remember when it ended. He had told me not to worry about it, for me to go ahead and get in touch with J'onn to make arrangements for later.

I had decided it was his brand of punishing me, having me ask for help even from the likes of J'onn.

Help that had been unnecessary for my sake, but had certainly given Tim peace of mind…

I trusted J'onn to watch over Talia. I trusted her not to set him on fire again.

The look I her eyes as she begged not to go…

Not five seconds after his allies had disappeared from the teleportation pod, Dick spoke softly, "Just like that, huh. It's over."

I glared at him before taking back my seat at the computer, "You know better than anyone that it's only just beginning."

"True," he noted before adding, "Hopefully this globe trotting ordeal doesn't take too long… I know I'm good, but it's been a while since I've had to tackle Gotham single-handedly."

"I'm sure you'll manage," I remarked, bringing up the map of Urfa once more. I zoomed in on the longitude and latitude tags I had already determined to be the base on interest. It had taken most of the afternoon, but I had been able to narrow down the location of the base through thermal and satellite imaging. A skeleton crew was still on site, but it certainly wasn't anything that Tim and Cass weren't capable of handling.

"Well, I'm going to go fuel up the jet for Tim, do some pre-flight checks… Then I guess I'm going to head out… unless you need anything?" Dick asked.

I shook my head, "No."

"I can wait until Selina and Alfred get back…"

"Unnecessary," I said instinctively. The strife of the last few days had my mannerisms resorting back to old habits. Terse, short and stern answers, refuting the concerns of others as a way of camouflaging my own worries.

Whatever Tim learned from

"You sure?"

Activating the link between the onboard computer to the main crays, I uploaded maps, layouts and the head counts of soldiers in the base. The jet itself was a modified F-35 with a larger cockpit for up to four occupants and added boosters to allow for nearly vertical landing. With a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a travel range of close to three-thousand miles on internal fuel, it would require one stop to refuel before Tim would be able to cross over the Syrian border and into Turkey.

The easiest and safest place to refuel was an airport in Portugal, a place that had never turned down large envelopes of cash from a masked man.

When I didn't reply, he sighed, "Bruce… Selina came to the Clocktower this morning… she told us what was going on. Between you two."

"I know," I replied curtly, even though it had only been conjecture until that point.

When Selina felt she had no where to turn, she often sought out Barbara, the only other female figure that had been able to tolerate me for decades. Whether it had been her discovering she had been pregnant with Mattie or coming to terms with my retirement, Barbara had always done her best to help Selina understand the situation at hand. Even if I had been in the wrong, she had done her best to at least point out my perspective.

While I proceeded to check the flight schedules of the Aeroporto Internacional de Faro, Dick continued, "I just want to say… Selina might not, but I understand. Not why you did it, but… why you kept it from us."

I inhaled slowly before responding, "Is that all?"

His reflection on the main monitor smirked and shook his head, "Yes."

When he departed towards the hangar on the lower level, I allowed myself to look over my shoulder, watching him until he disappeared out of sight. Same old habits, pushing them away when their only desire was to help in any form they could. Lying as a means of preventing them from enduring any more heartache. Showing anger instead of appreciation…

That morning, Talia had said that I hadn't changed.

I had tried to bury my skeletons in the closet but they were scratching at the door, grasping at the knob.

One skeleton in particular…

I managed to make it to the elevator, passing by the case immortalizing the suit Jason Todd had once proudly worn without looking at it. Every time I tried to picture him as an adult, I could only see him doing the evil deeds Talia had described. Harming her and slaying others, relishing in such vile acts. Hating every fiber of my being, planning a fate just short of heinous.

She had said that he came out of the Lazarus Pit different than the others. Cold. Unfeeling. His laughter made of something from nightmares.

The young boy who had teased Alfred for calling cookies biscuits and the young partner that had always waited for me in the driver's seat of the Mobile before patrols was long gone.

I took the elevator straight up to the third floor, not even bothering to check if Selina and Nathan had returned from Bristol.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, realizing it was nearly the exact same spot I had been in when I had called Selina earlier that morning. Glancing towards the wall, I was surprised to see the pieces of the phone still laying in the carpet. I thought to myself that perhaps Alfred had left it as a reminder to stop taking out my frustrations on innocent and inanimate objects. From the front pocket of my slacks, I retrieved my cell phone. No missed calls from her or anyone else for that matter.

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to dial her mobile number for the second time that day.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"This is Selina, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can."

My voice was quiet, my words sincere.

"I know you don't want to talk to me… but I hope you will at least listen. You said this morning that I didn't understand why you were upset… But I do. I understand that there is nothing I can say or do that will take back what I've done…"

My gaze fell to the picture of us that she kept on her bedside table, the one she had given to me during my recovery from amnesia. I proceeded, my eyes never leaving the smile on her face, "But I want you to know that I regret hurting you. I regret every time I've brought tears to your eyes. I don't deserve your forgiveness, because I won't forgive myself. I do love you, Selina… and as difficult as it may seem, everything that I have ever done was meant to protect you."

Before I could say anything more, an automated voice greeted me, "If you are happy with the message you have left, press pound. If you would like to delete this message and try again, press-."

Hitting the pound button, I closed the connection and set the device on the night stand, forcing the lump in my throat back down into my chest. Crossing the room, I entered the bathroom in order to splash water on my face, pop back an Aleve and stare at myself in disgust. Briefly, I looked at her rings as they silently stared up at me from the countertop, judging me with white gold irises.

Returning to the bedroom, I spotted headlights coming up the drive. Moving to stand by the bay window, I watched as Alfred pulled up in the Lincoln, stepping out quickly in order to open Leslie's door for her. I wondered if trekking back down to the Cave to await Tim and Cassandra's return was worth the effort or the lecture from Alfred. He had been right, I should have taken more time to rest, just as I had practically ordered my protégés to do.

If I hadn't spent all afternoon in the Cave hunched over the keyboard, I very well could have been some assistance to Barbara as she had her efforts split-.

A perimeter alarm broke my concentration.

Returning to the bed and retrieving the laptop from my night stand, I incidentally knocked the alarm clock to the floor the process. Bringing up the security program that shadowed the one operating below in the Cave, I located the activated sensor just as another one came to life. Both were along the rear drive, the seasonal road that had once been an emergency escape route but more recently acted as the path Nathan and I walked with Ace.

As a third sensor went off at the large oak three we had buried Isis beneath, the Manor's security program went into high alert, alarms sounding in the corridors while countermeasures prepared for action. I tried to bring up visual markers closest to the sensors, but the feedback was compromised. As I started to run an electromagnetic scan for signal blockers, the power gave out.

Counting the seconds until the generators kicked on, I should have reached no more than ten. Passing the fifteen mark, I knew the generators weren't going to come back on. The situation was made only more troublesome when the laptop reported a connection error to the crays, security system overrides being performed left and right.

Even my cell phone refused to cooperate.

Talia had come through the old barn entrance, making her way directly into the Cave.

As proximal sensors went off on the back terrace and the defense system treasures failed to spray potent weaponized gas, I deduced that the men who had been hunting her down had decided to take a more direct approach.

I backtracked to the bathroom, left my ring beside Selina's and then summoned the will to run towards the hall, screaming my daughter's name.

^V^