Chapter 11

Bruce growled under his breath as he sank back in his chair in the batcave, a fierce scowl on his face as he glared at the bank of computer monitors staring back at him, refusing to divulge the answers that he really needed.

Two weeks.

It had been two weeks since the hit on Wayne Pharmaceuticals and since then absolutely nothing. "What are you up to this time, Joker?" he hissed to himself, his narrowed gaze scanning over the information they'd managed to gather so far.

No matter how hard he looked, no matter how he tried to put the pieces together, nothing seemed to fit. None of it made sense, the Joker's activities so random and scattered with no connection to each other…at least none that he could see as of yet.

And now he had been completely silent for two whole weeks. Not one ounce of illegal activity by any of Joker's men. It made the fine hairs on the back of Bruce's neck stand on end. He knew this was just the proverbial quiet before the violent storm that was no doubt about to hit Gotham at any time now.

And he had no idea what it could be.

Bruce suddenly leapt to his feet with a frustrated curse on his lips. He knew there had to be something that he was missing, something that he just wasn't seeing. He had usually been able to figure out what the Joker had been up to before, able to understand what he was planning.

This time, however, was different. Was the Joker working with someone else this time? A new mastermind behind the devious plot, pulling the strings and calling the shots?

Bruce snorted with the thought. The Joker was far too unstable to have a partner and he highly doubted he would ever allow someone else to be in charge, unless of course the payout was big enough or it was something that the Joker wanted bad enough.

He was certain the Joker would resort to anything at that point. It made his stomach begin to roil with dread. He had a terrible feeling this was bigger than anything he could begin to imagine.

Turning, he placed his hands on the back of his chair as he stared at the monitors again, hoping to see something he had missed. Maybe he needed a fresh set of eyes on it, someone else to review what they had uncovered so far.

He felt his anger suddenly grow hot with the thought, his jaw instantly tensing. He had never needed help from anyone before and he wasn't about to start now. He would figure this out on his own.

Returning to his chair, Bruce punched a few buttons, bringing up the schematics of the Akusu weapon that he'd downloaded into his system weeks ago as thoughts of Diana drifted through his mind just like she always seemed to manage to do. He'd still been unable to find a way to regain her powers for her.

It angered him deeply that he had failed her, but it was watching her growing more and more distant that was eating away at his heart. After he'd found her burning up with fever that night, she'd made slow but steady progress and no longer needed the IV's anymore.

Even though her body was healing, he knew it was her heart that was still in need of mending as she struggled to come to terms with all that had happened to her. Ever since the setback with the fever, Diana had grown more despondent and withdrawn and it scared the hell out of him. He hated seeing her like this, pulling further and further away from him. He had hoped that with time she'd improve, but she hadn't. She was only getting worse.

He missed that fiery spirit that burned so brightly within her, the smile that lit up his entire world like only she ever could. Now, there was a sense of melancholy about her, a sorrow that swam deeply in her blue eyes and pierced his heart.

He feared a part of it was because he hadn't had much time to really see her over the last couple of weeks or discuss their relationship with one another. He knew he needed to tell her how he truly felt about her, how he wanted her in his life forever. Unfortunately, he'd been consumed with stopping the Joker and, on top of that, he'd had to deal with a crisis at Wayne Enterprise that took several days to resolve.

Releasing a frustrated sigh, Bruce looked at his watch, suddenly realizing how late it was getting. He quickly shut down the monitors, deciding that things could wait at least until tomorrow, but Diana could not.

XXX

Diana stared at the single rose on her bedside table, the soft shade of pink so delicate and beautiful. Ever since Bruce had brought her supper that night two weeks ago with a red rose on her tray, she'd found a new rose in a vase on her bedside table every morning when she opened her eyes.

It had lifted her spirits in the beginning, but now it was just a reminder of how she was here in this room and he was not. She knew that Bruce had been tied up with numerous problems lately and a part of her truly did understand, but she was becoming more certain by the day that nothing was ever going to happen between them if ever.

He hadn't kissed her in two weeks, had never again brought up the subject of a relationship with her or how he truly felt about her. Maybe he had changed his mind, decided a life with her wasn't something that he wanted especially now that she was no longer Wonder Woman, no longer the woman he had known.

The only good news she'd received was that Dr. Leslie had told her that she could start getting up out of bed now for short periods of time during the day. Bruce had been adamant that she was not to be getting up unless someone was there with her to help her.

She felt the heat of her anger flare as his words echoed in her head once more. He was treating her like a child, a helpless woman in need of a man. Even though she had lost her powers, she was still an adult and didn't need her hand held. She was an Amazon warrior, not some feeble helpless woman.

With a frustrated growl, Diana threw the covers off of her, stunned to see how thin she had truly become. She was wasting away in this bed with every passing day. She needed to start building her muscles, regaining her strength before she was nothing but a frail skeleton. It was no wonder Bruce didn't want to be around her right now. She was just a shell of the woman she had once been.

With a renewed determination, Diana sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, feeling a wave of dizziness washing over her. She waited a moment, allowing it to pass after attempting to stand. Gritting her teeth, she put all of her weight on her right leg, careful to keep pressure off of her cast.

Steadying herself with her hand on the bedside table, she took a step, thankful when her leg held her weight. With a proud smile of victory, she took a couple more steps, breathing through the pain that pierced her body and momentarily caused her to reconsider this little adventure she had begun.

Releasing her hold on the bedside table, Diana took several more steps, determined to regain her toned muscular appearance, resolved to make Bruce notice her again. If she was going to regain her strength, she was going to have to do it herself.

Limping towards the middle of the room, Diana felt her leg suddenly buckle, giving out on her. She fell to the floor hard, landing on her side and knocking the air from her lungs. She couldn't fight back the cry of pain that tore from her lips as tears of pain as well as anger filled her eyes.

XXX

Bruce scrubbed his face with his hands as he left the cave and entered the mansion. He was fighting to banish the frustration that clung to him like a second skin, needing to see Diana. This whole problem with the Joker couldn't have come at a worst possible time.

He needed to be there for Diana, to find a way to restore her powers and rebuild her faith in herself again, but unfortunately, she'd had to take a backseat to the mess the Joker was attempting to create in Gotham right now.

His worry over her had been steadily escalating over the last couple of weeks as she grew more distant and withdrawn. There was such sadness about her, a sense of loss that had settled over her.

The full reality of what had happened to her had come crashing down upon her, hopelessness stealing away her fierce warrior spirit. The bright gleam that always used to light up her eyes had been replaced by a listless melancholy that clawed at his heart. It tore him up inside being forced to watch what all of this was doing to her and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

He was both annoyed and relieved that things had come to a standstill for a little while at least for now with the Joker, allowing him to spend the evening with Diana for a change. He had missed her greatly these last two weeks, only seeing her for short periods of time or coming in long after she'd already fallen asleep.

Besides seeing her, he was more than anxious to kiss her again, to feel the heat in her sensual caress, the urgency as her mouth moved over his. He flushed hotly just thinking about kissing her again, his heart racing with the idea of her belonging to him, making love to her someday.

He absentmindedly ran his fingers over his lips, remembering how passionate that kiss had become, how he had ached inside to be skin against skin with her. He'd had a hard time forgetting that kiss to focus on the Joker, the silent promise of something more that had danced between them in that moment and making his blood practically sing.

The sound of a loud thud followed by Diana's sudden cry caused his heart to clench with overwhelming fear as he raced up the steps and down the hall to her room, terrified of what he might find.

"Diana!" he cried as he ran to her. "What happened?"

She frowned as he knelt down on the floor beside her, his hands already checking her for new injuries. "I was trying to walk," she angrily ground out, furious with herself and her obviously powerless state. She couldn't even walk halfway across the room without making a fool out of herself in front of Bruce.

"Are you trying to give me heart attack?" he scowled, his harsh tone revealing his obvious anger with her. "I told you to wait until I could help you. You could've broken another bone or injured yourself worse than you already are."

Diana refused to meet his heated gaze that was no doubt filled with fierce admonishment. He gently picked her up, gathering her in his arms, his handsome face suddenly so very close to hers. His masculine scent caused her stomach to flutter as she wrapped a reluctant arm around his neck.

She felt a small measure of her anger abruptly melt away as their eyes finally met, his mouth hovering so very close to hers. She suddenly found herself unable to think, forgot what she was going to say as he carried her back to her bed.

"Diana, I don't want you getting out of this bed again without me," he snapped, causing her to quickly look away from him in shame. "What were you thinking?"

"I'm sick of being in this bed and I was tired of waiting for you to come back," she spat out as he carefully sat her down on the edge of her bed.

It annoyed her even more how he had so easily picked her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all. By the time she was actually free from this damn bed, she would weigh next to nothing.

Bruce knelt down before her, reaching out to brush her hair from her face as well as the remnants of her tears from her cheeks. "Did you hurt anything?" he asked, his eyes anxiously roaming over her as he tried to quell the panic that still raced inside of him.

"Just my pride," she snapped, refusing to meet his probing gaze.

"Diana, you have to be more careful," he sternly told her. "You've been in bed for over a month now. You can't just get up and walk and expect your body to cooperate."

"I'm not a child, Bruce," she fumed. "I don't need my hand held all of the time."

"I know that, Princess," he angrily bit out. "But you're not strong enough yet to be up and around by yourself. You need to give yourself more time, rebuild your muscles and endurance again."

He watched as her bottom lip began to tremble, her eyes suddenly filling with unwanted tears. She looked away from him, embarrassed to show weakness like this in front of him and yet she couldn't hold in the anger and hurt and frustration any longer.

Bruce's heart sank as he watched the tears begin to slowly slide down her cheeks, his anger with her abruptly vanishing. "I'm sorry, Diana," he softly said, reaching out and cupping her face with his hand and forcing her to look at him. "I promise it'll get better. I'll help you every step of the way. As soon as you're up to it, we'll train together just like we used to. You'll be up and going in no time."

"Except I won't have my powers," she bitterly fumed. "It won't be the same, Bruce, and you know it."

"Diana, I…"

"I don't need you or your pity," she spat out, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "Just go back to your batcave. I can take care of myself."

Bruce stiffened with her words, but refused to be pushed away. He had tried fighting his feelings for her for far too long. It had taken nearly losing her forever for him to finally face what his heart had been trying to tell him for years. And he wasn't about to back down now, not when she needed him the most.

"No, you don't need pity…not from me or anyone else," he coldly stated. "You have more than enough for yourself, don't you, Princess?"

Her beautiful eyes became twin flames of blue fire as she glared at him. "I am not wallowing in self pity," she hissed. "I'm finally facing reality, Bruce. I'm no longer a Meta, no longer useful. Now, I…I'm…"

"Like me?" he finished for her, his dark gaze flashing.

"What?" she asked, suddenly realizing what she had just insinuated.

His jaw clenched tightly. "You're no longer stronger or faster than me, can no longer fly or possess super healing abilities. I guess that means we're equals now...doesn't it?"

Diana scowled at him. "I have never thought of you as being any less than the rest of us just because you're not a Meta and I have never treated you that way," she glowered hotly at him, her chest beginning to heave. "I have always held the highest respect for you and your abilities. You are a true warrior in your own right, more than anyone I have ever known. It's one of the things that I…I…"

Bruce stared at her as her words abruptly cut off, his heart pounding as he silently pleaded with her to say the words. "You what, Diana?" he pressed, leaning in closer to her, allowing his nearness to affect her like he knew it always did.

She released a ragged breath, averting her eyes as she swallowed hard. "It doesn't…matter anymore," she softly said, her voice suddenly losing its heat.

A gentle hand beneath her chin forced her to look at him. "Why?" he pointedly asked. "Because you're no longer a Meta, no longer Wonder Woman, I can't possibly still be in love with you?"

Diana was stunned by his words, his admission that had slipped so easily from his lips. It had been the words that she had ached for so long to hear, but feared she never would, especially not after what had happened to her. Tears began to leak from her eyes again, trailing silently down her cheeks as they stared at one another.

"Love?" she whispered, fearful that he'd take it all back, pretend that he'd never said it or excuse it all away.

Bruce nodded his head, refusing to back down now as he erased her tears. "Yes…I'm so in love with you, Diana," he told her, his heated gaze never leaving her face. "Regardless if you're Wonder Woman or Princess Diana of Themyscira or if you are never able to leave this bed…I love you."

"I love you, Bru…"

His lips crashed into hers with a sudden fierceness that surprised and excited her, heating her blood like only he ever could do. Her hand found his cheek, caressing his face as he deepened the kiss, his hands roaming over her. She couldn't believe this was really happening. She had all but given up hope.

Pulling back, he brushed his nose again hers as he fought to catch his breath. "I am not going to give up on you nor am I going to sit back and watch you give up on yourself, Princess," he heatedly told her. "This is not who you are. You are a powerful Amazon warrior…my beautiful Princess…and I'm not going to let you forget that."

Diana smiled softly with his words, fighting back the overwhelming desire that was drawing her to him like a moth to a flame. "I never thought you were ever going to admit it," she murmured, tears shining in her eyes.

"I just wanted to give you time to heal, to adjust to everything that had happened to you," he told her. "You have no idea how hard it has been to walk away after kissing you like I did. If you only knew the number of cold showers I've had to take over the years because of you."

Diana dipped her head, a blush rising to her cheeks. "I didn't think you were interested for the longest time."

"I have wanted to make love to you so badly that I could hardly see straight half the time," he confessed with a heated look that sent a shiver racing up her spine.

"Will you sleep here in bed with me?" she asked, leaning in and brushing her lips temptingly against his. "I promise to not torture you too much."

"How could I possibly refuse an invitation like that?" he huskily replied. "Besides, you torture me just by existing, Diana. It's not something you can possibly help."

"I'm sorry," she murmured as she stroked his cheek.

"For what?"

"For not being able to give myself to you yet," she admitted, averting her eyes.

"Diana, I would be lying if I said I didn't want to make love to you right now, but now that you're mine, I can wait for however long it takes," he told her.

Diana leaned in, her breath suddenly warm against his ear. "I promise I'll make it worth the wait," she purred, earning a low growl in response.

"You know I'm going to need another cold shower if you continue to tease me like that," he warned her.

Diana shivered as the truth of his words burned hotly in his eyes. "You still need to show me that bath we took together."

Bruce chuckled softly as he helped get her settled in bed before sliding in under the covers next to her. "The next time we take a bath together, the water is definitely going to be much warmer and hopefully more romantic."

She quickly snuggled in against him, sighing contentedly at the feel of his warm muscular body next to hers, his arms snaking around her waist and pulling her close. He tilted down to kiss the top of her head, the feel of her soft feminine curves in his arms better than he could have imagined.

The only thing better would be making love to her, but, holding her close in his arms tonight, he knew that he could wait for now. For her, he'd wait forever.