Four months after the present…

Batman couldn't move. He could feel the rain beating down on him, but he couldn't move. All he could feel was a pain shooting through his spine. All he could remember was being raised into the air…

It had been Bane. He had done what he had threatened to do.

"Bru-Batman," Catwoman said with worry in her pretty voice. "I think, I think your back might be broken." She gripped his hand in her own. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"We have to call Leslie."

"I already did."

"Where's Bane?"

"He's unconscious. Gordon's on his way to arrest him. I told him to come alone because I don't want anyone else knowing." She caressed the skin the cowl did not cover, and he could hear a tremor in her voice as she asked, "Can you move your feet? Do you feel them?"

Bruce ignored her questions, so he wouldn't worry either of them. "What are you doing in costume?"

"I had a bad feeling. I came out to help."

"And you found us?"

"Not soon enough. He had already raised you into the air before I could even think of pulling the tubes from his head." She was trying not to cry. Batman could tell. "I don't think that I gave him the chance to inflict the damage he wanted to."

He tried to squeeze her hand. "You didn't steal anything, did you?"

"Even when you're severely wounded, you're an asshole."

Batman wasn't listening anymore. The pain demanded his attention. He didn't want to close his eyes, but he did anyway.

Dr. Thompkins walked in, tossing a pair of gloves into the trashcan. Selina had thrown her mask onto the chair in Leslie's office. Her dark hair clung to her face, and Gotham's polluted rain dripped from it and to the linoleum floor.

Staring at the doctor, Selina couldn't remember how many times she had sought Leslie for treatment, but this was the first time she had brought him.

Leslie had aged. More wrinkles had sketched themselves around her eyes and on her forehead. Selina knew how hard the woman worked, especially on nights like these.

"How is he?"

The old woman sighed as she closed and locked the door behind her. "Well, I ordered an MRI and a CAT scan. I'm almost positive Bane fractured at least one if not more of the Lumbar bones of the vertebrae."

"And the spinal cord?"

"He doesn't have feeling in his legs, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was severed. We'll know more once I get the test results."

"Will he need surgery?"

"I have to wait for the results before I can assume."

Selina narrowed her eyes. "Be honest with me."

"The chances of needing surgery are high. We'll need to realign his spine."

Selina chewed her bottom lip as she began pacing. "I need to make phone calls." She sat down in an uncomfortable chair. "I need to cover this up… Aspen. Bruce Wayne could have broken his back while skiing." She sighed. "Who could I call that would believe that horseshit?"

"I think you should have Dick arrange it." Leslie sat down beside Selina and took one of her hands in her own. "Bruce is strong. He always has been."

Selina pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ward off a headache. "He just let me into his life. Now, he could lose even more than he already has."

Leslie nodded. "I don't have to tell you that he'll need care. Alfred—God rest his soul— isn't around to protect him any longer."

"I'll do it. We can hire a nurse too, so I can keep an eye on Gotham while he's recuperating."

Leslie sighed. "You won't be able to do it alone; you have enough trouble with the East End. You know that as well as I do. He can't even do it alone anymore. He forgets he hasn't been thirty in a long time."

"There's still Huntress. Maybe Canary."

"But you still shouldn't get your hopes up, Selina," Leslie said. "There is a possibility the damage could be permanent. He may never walk again."

"That won't happen." After a minute of silence, Selina added, "I can't help but wish this is some elaborate scheme to get me to move in with him."

Leslie shook her head. "If only."

Selina nodded. "We can't allow the city to know he's injured. The last time he went missing –"

"The criminals ran amok," the older woman finished. "You'll think of something. Perhaps you could contact the Justice League?"

"I'll be sure to give the Martian a call tomorrow," Selina snapped scornfully.

"I know a specialist who could help him. I'll give her a call immediately." With a gentle squeeze of the hand, Leslie stood and assured, "I will update you as soon as I know anything. Why don't you get yourself a change of clothes? You're still soaked to the bone."

Six months after the present…

Catwoman watched as this Batman switched his communicator from on to off.

"I can't do this with him in my ear." He slipped his arms beneath the cape so it would slide and cover the rest of his body.

"He's only making sure we're safe, junior. What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem is this obsession he has. He can't be out here, so he has to listen in and watch everything that's going on."

"He's testing new equipment. He's stuck inside, and all he can do is try and create helpful devices –"

"He has got you eating out of the palm of his hand," Batman muttered.

"Excuse me?" she asked heatedly.

"He's going to suffocate you and then he'll push you away. He did it to me. He did it to Batgirl. He'll do it to you too." Batman shook his head. "Go home. Take care of him. Huntress and I will wrap things up." With that, he turned and hopped off the roof in a fluid motion that could have been mistaken for the real Batman's.

Catwoman bit her lower lip and sighed. She pressed the communicator in her ear and asked, "How much of that did you hear?"

Bruce answered, "Enough."

"I was afraid of that."

"Listen to him. You haven't gotten any sleep in the last couple of days."

"With Deathstroke active and in the city? Are you crazy?" She chuckled. "I suppose that last question was rhetorical."

He didn't reply.

"Come in, Huntress," she said with her finger still pressed to the communicator.

"Huntress here."

"I'm turning in. Could you do a second sweep of the business district?"

"Already done."

"I'll see you tomorrow night, then."

It didn't take Selina more than twenty-five minutes to get back to Bristol. Having a motorcycle helped. She'd been using the one that had once belonged to Batgirl.

When she drove into to the Cave, Bruce had his wheelchair stationed in front of the large computer. Selina pulled off her helmet and left it atop the cycle's seat. She walked to the platform and leaned against his chair, putting a hand atop his shoulder. He didn't respond to her touch, so she spoke.

"Did you want me to turn in early so I could take advantage of you without anyone knowing?"

"Bane's put a price on your head. You're the reason Deathstroke is in town."

"I'm more popular than I thought I was."

Bruce moved his wheelchair away from her. "Selina, I need you to stop helping Dick and Helena."

"What?"

"I called in Black Canary. She said she could help for a couple of weeks."

Selina shook her head. "You're replacing me because there's a price on my head? I've dealt with far worse when I was on my own, Bruce."

"We're not discussing this. Deathstroke is deadly."

"Hence the name."

"He doesn't know you're here at the manor."

"That doesn't matter because I'm not going to hide," she confirmed. "It isn't the first time my life has been in danger. I'll deal with it."

Bruce growled, "I'm ordering you to stay out of sight."

"Ordering? That's funny. You're beginning to think I'm one of your lackeys." She turned from him and jumped back onto the cycle. "You know, you're lucky Bane broke you. I don't like to punch cripples." Selina revved the engine and didn't look back as Bruce called to her.

When she got to the East End, she hid the cycle behind a pair of abandoned dumpsters and covered it with a sheet. To get to her apartment, she scaled the building and climbed onto the balcony. Her cats were there to greet her.

"Hello, darlings," Selina said and froze. The glass door was ajar. Without hesitation, she took Isis into her arms and pushed the other cats off the balcony. She knew they'd land on their feet and somehow survive the fall.

Selina jumped and latched her whip onto the next building's fire escape, but the blast came sooner than expected. She cried out when the explosion's force hit her from behind and awkwardly crashed her body against the metal fire escape, breaking two of her ribs on impact. Isis leapt from her arms just as Catwoman started falling toward the alley.

The full dumpster broke her fall.

Barely.

She cursed and cringed in pain when she tried to sit up. Before she could call for assistance, Deathstroke emerged from the lowest level of the fire escape and landed with his feet to either side of her form. He pointed his gun at her head.

"Miss Kyle," he said in a tone so low it could have rivaled Batman's.

"Nice to make your acquaintance," she responded sarcastically. "If one of my cats is injured, I swear I'll break your neck myself."

He laughed. "Cute, Kyle."

"Some think she's cute," Huntress interjected from somewhere Catwoman couldn't see. "Personally, I think she's an aging nuisance."

"Thanks, Huntress," she mumbled. "I'm glad you think so highly of me."

Deathstroke lifted his gaze to look straight ahead of him.

Huntress continued. "Don't move, Slade. I've got you in my sight, and you damn well know my aim is dead on."

Catwoman grabbed Deathstroke's arm, knocking his gun aside, and it fired into the dumpster, just missing her torso. She then kicked him over her head, sending the assassin over the edge of the container and in Huntress's direction. Catwoman resisted the pain and stood, lifting the weapon and aiming it at his back.

The gun sparked in her hands, and she dropped it. He probably had a self destruct mechanism built into all his artillery.

She couldn't do anything to help Huntress but watch. Deathstroke got in a good couple of punches and kicks, despite his fall, and managed to get away.

"Bastard," Huntress uttered and climbed to her feet. She touched her ear to contact Batman and give him the update. She then helped Selina out of the dumpster.

"You're hurt," she observed and touched Catwoman's ribcage.

"Damn it!" she cussed through clenched teeth as Huntress tried to examine the wounded area.

"I can't examine your ribs because of your suit."

"Well, not all of us are still living in the '90s and bare our midriffs."

"Funny." She helped Catwoman onto the back of her cycle. "You need medical attention."

"I wouldn't have made the same conjecture," Catwoman stated sardonically. "Anyway, thanks. Remind me to name my first child after you."

Huntress laughed and raced toward the Cave.