Thank you so much for all the amazing support and comments! I can't thank you all enough. The feedback is very much appreciated! And to those who are worried Diana will not wake up you should be pleasantly pleased with the turn of events in this update! Enjoy! :)

Chapter 5

Batman stood before the window in the infirmary beside Diana's bed, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out at the billions upon billions of stars shining brightly back at him. The view from up here in the Watchtower never ceased to amaze him or make him realize how small he truly was, how insignificant.

And yet, he still fought to make a difference despite the overwhelming odds against him, despite his lack of meta powers. He had to. He had avowed to protect those who could not protect themselves, to defeat evil at every turn no matter the personal cost to himself. It was something that had become a living breathing part of him, a lifelong sworn duty, a self-inflicted sentence that he had placed on himself.

He'd never stop or give it up. No one could make him give up what he knew was in his heart, what he had promised his parents at their grave so many years ago. Not even for her.

Without even turning around, Bruce knew he was there in the infirmary with him even though he had entered as silently as if he were a ghost.

"I really thought you were going to slice him to shreds," his voice suddenly cut through the bleak darkness that seemed to press in around the room.

"I almost did," Bruce softly admitted, his tone grim as he continued to stare out the window.

Clark couldn't be certain, but he thought there was almost a trace of regret in his steely voice. Almost. "I wouldn't have stopped you," Superman confessed as he came to a stop at the foot of Diana's bed. Her still, silent form stung his heart.

"That's what worries me," he thoughtfully brooded.

"The threat about slaughtering the Akusu if they attacked again was a nice touch," Clark said, trying to lighten his dark mood.

"Liked that?" Bruce asked with a hint of bitter amusement. "I'm not so sure it was just an empty threat. There was a part of me that wanted to do it."

"Bruce, it's not always a bad thing to allow yourself to feel something," Clark told him.

"It is if it causes you to lose yourself…your focus, your values."

"I can say with all certainty that you are nowhere near losing yourself, Bruce," Clark reassured him with a shake of his head. "Just because you love Diana doesn't mean you're soft or any less intimidating. It just means you have a heart. You're human. Love can only make us stronger…better in the end."

The words were hauntingly familiar to J'onn's, strength coming from love, from allowing someone into his heart. But his heart was no place anyone as beautiful and pure and good as Diana ever deserved to be. It felt as if being in his world would taint her somehow; cause an ugly blemish on her beautiful soul.

That didn't seem to keep him from still wanting her, though.

Silence fell between them making Clark wonder if he would even acknowledge what he'd said to him. Just as he was about to say something more, Bruce finally responded.

"I'm taking Diana to Wayne Manor," Bruce abruptly announced, refusing to discuss his feelings any further with him.

Superman immediately frowned, stunned by the unexpected news. "You can't be serious?"

"Dead," he bluntly stated. "She's no longer safe here, Clark, and you know it. She's a sitting target if the Akusu decide to attack again. I don't know if the Watchtower can handle another attack and I don't want to take that chance."

"And she won't be in your home?"

"They don't know my true identity," he reminded him. "I can keep her safe there."

"There has to be another way to keep her safe," Clark scowled. "What about…"

"Hippolyta?" Batman cut in as he spun around to face him, his black cape swirling with his movement and creating an even more menacing air about him. Clark could see an arched eyebrow even with his dark mask on.

"Yes, Hippolyta," Clark told him. "She has every right to know what happened to her daughter."

"She'll whisk her away to Themyscira and we'll never see her again," he ground out, terrified by the thought. "You know we're not allowed to set foot on their island. Besides, do you really think Hippolyta will let Diana return after what 'Man's World' did to her daughter?"

Clark knew he had a good point, but he hated to admit it. He didn't know why the idea of Diana recovering at Bruce's mansion bothered him so much, but it did. Was he afraid that this would just push them that much closer to each other?

"Look, you know I'm right about this, Clark," he pressed. "Alfred will help take care of her and I'll have the best doctors checking on her every day."

"Alfred?" Clark repeated, his tone skeptical. This time it was his turn to cock an eyebrow of cynicism.

"Yes, Alfred," Bruce frowned. "He's fixed me up more times than I can remember."

"This isn't a skinned up knee, Bruce," Clark exclaimed, pointing at the Amazon lying unconscious in the bed beside them. "Look at her. Diana is going to need extensive care that could take months unless we can find a way to reverse what they did to her."

"I know," he softly said, casting a glance at her. "I will do whatever I need to do to make sure she gets better."

"And what about Gotham?" he shot back. "Are you prepared to turn your back on Gotham to take care of her?" Clark knew he finally had him there. He'd never turn away from the city he loved…not even for her.

"I won't be turning my back on Gotham. I can take care of her and still protect my city," he insisted. "Nightwing has been covering for me while I've been here at the Watchtower. He can help me keep an eye on things."

Clark released a ragged breath as his gaze fell on Diana, a thousand thoughts and arguments racing through his mind, but in the end he knew Bruce was right. He had the ability to take care of her like she needed, had the resources to keep her safe without exposing her location.

"Clark, you can come visit her any time you want," Bruce told him, understanding suddenly permeating his tone. "I know the two of you…are close," his voice tightened as he said the words that were so bitter on his tongue. "I'm not trying to keep her away from you or any of the League. I'm just trying to keep her safe, to allow her the time she needs to recover."

Superman slowly nodded his head as he swallowed hard. "I know," he agreed. "It…it's just hard seeing her like this. She's always been full of such life, so strong…so…immortal. Seeing Diana like this…is…is…"

"I know," Bruce whispered, swallowing hard only to find that pesky think lump filling his throat again. Watching her like this was next to unbearable for him too.

"Make the arrangements," Clark suddenly said, squaring his shoulders. "I have an alien I need to return home with a warning to his people."

Batman slowly nodded his head as he watched Superman exit the infirmary, his shoulders relaxing with relief. He was somewhat concerned that Clark would put up more of a fight especially since he had discovered that he had feelings for her. He feared Clark would never agree to it, but he had.

Now, he needed to talk to Alfred.

XXX

"I'll begin the preparations right away, Sir," Alfred immediately replied, frowning at the site of him. "Might I add that you appear to be in need of tending to as well, Master Wayne?"

Bruce rubbed his weary eyes with his thumb and forefinger, doing his best to banish the fatigue that clung to him, but it was futile at this point. "I'm fine," he curtly said. "I just need to get Diana taken care of and then I'll sleep."

Alfred simply nodded his head, a knowing gleam in his eye and a tug at the corner of his mouth that Bruce readily dismissed. He didn't feel like going into it with Alfred either. He had too much on his mind and too much worry weighing down his heart.

"I'll be bringing her home tonight," he informed him. "I want to use the cover of darkness to help cloak our movements just in case the Akusu are watching us."

"Wise decision," Alfred agreed with a nod of his head. "I'll have everything ready for your arrival."

"Thank you, Alfred," Bruce replied. "See you tonight."

With a click of a button, Alfred disappeared from the computer screen. He glanced over at Diana, thankful that Dr. Bennett had agreed it was safe to move her now. He needed to get her out of here.

Turning his attention back to his laptop, he began reviewing the schematics of the Akusu weapon for what felt like the hundredth time. There had to be something that he was missing, something in it that he could find to reverse the damage they had done to her.

"Bruce…"

The soft groan of his name coming from the bed beside him made his heart leap in his chest. Turning, he saw beautiful blue eyes staring back at him, bewilderment lining her beautiful bruised face. Although her eyes were only partially open, it was still the best thing he'd seen all week.

"Diana," he softly breathed, swallowing back the emotions storming for release inside of him.

He quickly reached out and pushed her hand away but not before she pulled the oxygen tubing free from her nose in irritation. "Don't, Diana," he gently chided her as he sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning over and carefully replacing the tubing behind her ears and under her nose.

He snatched up her hand, holding it tightly in his in an effort to soothe her and keep her from pulling anything else free. With his other hand, he pulled his cowl back, revealing his face.

"Bruce…" she murmured again, her eyes falling closed, her forehead creased in obvious confusion or agitation or possibly both.

"Shhh…I'm right here, Princess," he said, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. "You're going to be alright."

"So much…pain…" she gasped, wincing.

He leaned over and pressed the button on her pain pump so it would deliver more morphine to help ease her pain. He hated seeing her suffer like this. It was disconcerting to witness. Most of the other times she'd been injured, she'd always been able to brush it off as nothing, her ability to take pain beyond all human limits allowing her to ignore it and press on.

Now, it was very different. She seemed so frail, so broken. It was unsettling to say the least.

The monitors beeped loudly, measuring her rapidly increasing heart rate. She was breathing harder, her face revealing her pain and disorientation, her fear. He knew he needed to settle her down.

"Diana," he called to her more firmly, his hands cupping her face. "It's going to be alright. I promise."

She gazed up at him through slitted eyes, a thick haze of confusion clouding her mind. The feel of his strong hands on her face, the gentle sound of his voice that was so unlike him created a sudden small sense of peace deep within her.

She fought to calm her hammering heart as she tried to catch her breath. She didn't understand what was going on, what had happened to her. It was a blur of disjointed sounds and images that made no sense to her.

She hurt from her head clear to her toes, not one part of her exempt and some parts much more painful than others. She'd experienced extreme pain before, but she'd always been able to deal with it, to banish it to the farthest reaches of her mind and keep going on.

But this was different. She could barely stand it, couldn't escape its overwhelming grip on her. "What…what happened?" she softly cried as tears began to leak from her eyes.

Bruce felt his heart breaking seeing her like this. Even though she'd been stripped of her powers, she was still the same Amazon warrior he had always known, still Diana. Still Princess…his Princess.

No…she's wasn't his…not yet.

"You were badly injured during the Akusu attack," he told her as he carefully brushed away her tears.

"But…I…" she breathed heavily, trying to sort through the things that he was telling her. "Why?"

"They hit you with something that neutralized your ability to heal like you're used to," he informed her. "You have several broken bones, internal injuries."

His insides twisted as her tears fell a little faster. "You are going to be alright," he firmly said, his heart beginning to pound with the helplessness that was escalating within him. "I'm going to take care of you, Diana. I'm not going to let them hurt you ever again."

She raised her arm, IV tubing tangling as she reached up to grip his forearm, his hands still cradling her face. He was instantly stunned at how weak her grip was on his arm, so unlike the powerful iron-like hold he had felt during their numerous sparring sessions. He didn't think she could even fight off a child right now if she had to.

Without even thinking or realizing what he was doing, he leaned forward, pressing his lips against her forehead. "Shhh…it's alright," he repeatedly murmured as he brushed butterfly kisses over her eyelids and nose.

Something from the dark murky recesses of her mind suddenly sprang forth, the familiarity of this moment reminding her of something. She had felt this before. Bruce had kissed her forehead, reassuring her that he would take care of her. Hadn't he?

She felt her heart being to calm, her breathing beginning to even out as her tears slowed. "Bruce," she whispered as a pleasant warmth seemed to seep through her body, a sensation that only he seemed to create within her.

Her hand came up to trace along his jaw in wonder, stunned to find stubble lining his face where only smooth skin had always ever been before. It both confused and excited her at the same time. Why hadn't he shaved? What had he been doing?

"Rest," he softly said, his fingers lightly raking through her raven hair that felt like the finest silk ever created.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips, the taste of her still dancing on his tongue. It was perfection, as if the gods had made her skin out of the sweetest honey. He gently stroked the side of her face until she settled back down, unconsciousness claiming her once more.

It saddened him to see her slipping away from him again, but he knew she'd get better with time. He suddenly checked himself, realizing what he had just done by kissing her face. He quickly sat back away from her, releasing his hold on her as conflict warred inside of him and yet he was unable to tear himself away from her.

He couldn't believe that had just allowed himself to react to her like that and yet he knew he had needed to for her…wanted to comfort her, to make sure she knew he was here for her and that she was safe.

He cursed under his breath as he got up off her bed, angry with himself for allowing her to have this overpowering affect on him and yet he found himself still longing for so much more from her.

Settling down in his chair once more, Bruce began to wonder just exactly what his heart had gotten him into…and how he was going to finally deal with it.

XXX

Diana felt like she was floating as she felt her body being lifted, the feel of strong arms cradling her causing a peaceful sense of security to drift over her. The familiar masculine scent filled her nostrils and warmed her heart, causing her to murmur his name in her drug-induced haze.

She snuggled against his muscular chest, feeling him pause momentarily in his steps as he carried her to her unknown destination. She had no idea where she was or where was going, only that she felt so safe, protected. Cared for.

Diana fought to open her eyes, but it took too much effort, took strength she just didn't have. She didn't realize she'd moved her arm until she felt her fingers curling around the soft cotton fabric of his shirt, clutching it tightly as if he was her only lifeline.

She shifted her head, her cheek caressing against his shirt, her lips and nose suddenly finding warm soft skin. She sighed contentedly knowing she was in the arms of someone she loved deeply even though she couldn't understand why she was there.

She wanted so desperately to open her eyes, to see him and know what was going on, but the thick fog that shrouded her mind and numbed her body made it next to impossible. She could barely connect her thoughts at that moment.

It was all Bruce could do to put one foot in front of the other as he carried Diana up the stairs to her bedroom. The feel of her snuggling further into his hold on her, her lips resting against his pulse point in the crook of his neck was beginning to drive him wild. Her intoxicating feminine scent that was so Diana wasn't helping matters any either.

His breath hitched as she murmured his name in her drug-induced sleep, her lips brushing against his throat and setting his blood on fire. His heart immediately began to race, arousal flooding his system as he finally entered the bedroom Alfred had prepared especially for her.

Reaching the bed, he gently laid her down on the silk sheets, the sudden emptiness of his arms creating a knot of longing to settle in his belly. He didn't want to let her go…ever.

Bruce gently lifted her broken leg, propping it up on a pillow before pulling the blanket up to keep her warm. Seeing her clad in the standard issue black tank top and shorts from the infirmary wasn't helping his heated state either.

Diana's head gently rolled towards him, her raven curls falling into her face as she murmured his name again in her sleep. Carefully sitting down on the edge of her bed, he brushed her hair back out of her face, revealing the gash that still marred her skin along with the countless bruises.

He would be so relieved once her numerous cuts and bruises had finally healed, when she was finally herself again. He carefully checked her bandages on her arm before remembering the ones on her abdomen. Pulling the blanket down, he carefully lifted the bottom of her form fitting tank top, relieved to find her bandages still intact. He had feared the trip from the Watchtower had reopened her healing wounds.

Bruce quickly fixed her shirt again, a part of him so hungry to see so much more. He shoved his heated thoughts aside, angrily reminding himself she was in no shape for attempting anything like that.

Adjusting the covers over her, Bruce got up and moved to the chair next to her bed. Settling down in the overstuffed chair, exhaustion quickly began to win out over his desire to stay awake to keep watch over her.

As he fell into sleep's welcoming depths, he readily decided he needed to get new chairs for the infirmary at the Watchtower.