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By the time Oracle contacted Dad with this information, he was already on his way back. The tone of voice he had, it sounded like he hadn't had much success with Penguin.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes." Bruce said coldly.
When he arrived I knew by the look on his face not to try and ask him how it went.
"Elizabeth, go to bed." He said, and I gaped.
"You're kidding me, right?" I said sceptically.
"I don't want you involved in this." He said, his tone expressionless.
"Three hours ago you had no problem with it." I snapped.
"It's too dangerous for you." He said, and I rolled my eyes.
"So let me get this straight." I said. "It's too dangerous for me to be helping you out on the computer in the most secure part of our home?"
He gave me an impenetrable look. "I don't want you involved with this case."
"Well too bad." I said. "They crashed my birthday party. Some guy held me at something close to gun point. Consider me involved."
"Elizabeth-," Bruce nearly growled, and I whirled around, rolling my eyes and typing away at the computer.
"Oracle, cut her access." He said, and I spun around, jabbing my finger into his chest.
"Oracle, don't you dare!" I yelled to the computer.
"Do it, Oracle."
"Bruce, I think you should reconsider." Oracle's voice sounded over the computer.
"Stay out of this Oracle, and do what I said." Bruce said harshly.
"Bruce, it was Elizabeth that thought of looking at unreported incidents." Oracle tried to persuade him, and I was thankful to her. Yes, I was sure it was a she.
"I don't want her in this, Oracle. Lock her out now." Bruce said firmly, and I gaped at him.
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth." I heard Oracle say. I glared at Bruce.
"This changes nothing." I snapped, turning and stalking my way up the stairs.
He could cut out my access to his resources, but I was sure I could find something on my own laptop.
Just let him try and stop me.
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On my fifth trip down to the kitchen for coffee, Roy found me.
"Oracle told me about Bruce." He said. "If it helps, I can see where he's coming from."
I glared at him. "It doesn't." I snapped, turning the coffee maker on.
"H just wants to protect you." Roy said, sounding helpless, and I whirled.
"From what? The Batcave's uncomfortable chairs?" I turned back around to the coffee machine, trying not to scream.
"No, from seeing things he doesn't want his daughter seeing." Roy said softly, his hands resting on my shoulders, rubbing gently.
"I don't need to be protected, Roy." I said, my anger trickling away with his touch.
"We can't help but try though." He whispered quietly, his arms coming around to hug me to him. "Its part of what makes you, you." He said. "That innocence, knowing that whatever else happens, you don't know, or don't see that part of our lives that have jaded us so much."
He drew me around to face him. "Can you blame him for wanting to keep you out of that?"
"You're not jaded." I murmured, gazing up into his eyes.
"I don't feel like I am when I'm with you." He leaned down, burying his face in my shoulder, his nose in my hair. "Did I tell you how gorgeous that dress is on you?" he said suddenly, and I smiled.
"Not yet." I said, and he ran his hands down my back, drawing me even closer to him.
"It's really, really, pretty." He breathed into my ear.
"You know…" I ran my hand down his arms. "I checked my room for hidden cameras."
"And?" he said, his lips against my neck.
"I couldn't find any." It took all my being not to collapse in his arms.
"Babe, you saying what I think you're saying?" he whispered, and I nodded.
"We'll see where it goes." Was all I got out before I started squealing. Roy had thrown me over his shoulder, my coffee forgotten as he started marching up the stairs with me in tow.
"I can see you're not tired from the excitement tonight." I giggled, resting my hands on his back.
"Not by a long shot." He said, putting me down gently on the bed, before wrinkling his nose up. "But I do stink. Mind if I freshen up a bit in your shower?"
I flapped my hand towards the ensuite. "I'm not arguing."
He gave me a quick, but not entirely innocent, kiss on the lips before bounding over to the ensuite.
I sat up with a sigh, standing to turn off my computer. I let out a small smile. He'd already put his overnight bag in my room.
While the shower was still running I made myself useful, taking the bobby pins out of my hair, putting them on my bureau. My earrings were next, and my necklace. I grimaced when I realised I wouldn't be able to get out of my dress by myself. I'd need someone to at least start the zipper.
Then I grinned. I'm sure Roy wouldn't mind helping me out.
I turned around at a sound by the ensuite door, and was speechless. There, standing with nothing but a towel on, and water dripping down his chest, was Roy. I bit my lip, breathless.
"Wow." I clamped my mouth shut as soon as I said that, blushing horribly.
His muscles rippled as he walked – no, sauntered – over to me. He brushed past me with a smirk, bending down and gripping the towel around his waist he grabbed his bag up, pulling out a pair of boxers.
"Be back in a sec, babe." He said, his voice low, and I couldn't help but sit down suddenly on the bed. My knees wouldn't hold me anymore.
Did I really want to go through with this?
One look at Roy as he came back out of my bathroom made up my mind.
Oh, hell yes.
I was on him in moments.
He looked surprised for a moment when my lips descended on his, but then he got into the moment as well, his tongue probing my mouth for entry. I threw my arms around his neck, and he gripped my waist, walking my backwards as we kissed, towards the bed.
We fell on it together, and he began to kiss his way down my neck, focussing on my pulse point. His hands ran up my stomach, skimming the swell of my breast. I gasped, and he made an absolutely male sound.
"This dress needs to come off." He mumbled into my neck, and I nodded, sitting up enough for him to slide the zipper down my back. His lips followed its path, until it was on the floor in a heap.
We lay back down, his hand coming up to cup a breast through my bra, and I gave a happy sigh.
Now this, this was how I wanted to spend my birthday.
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I woke up cushioned happily to Roy's chest, his lips touching my hair. I smiled, and wrapped an arm around his bare chest.
"Good morning." He said, and I tightened my grip.
"It certainly is." I said, drawing the blankets up and over us more firmly.
"Alfred knocked on the door an hour ago." Roy said softly. "He left some breakfast supplies outside by the door. I brought it inside." He nodded to a tray of fresh fruit and cereals, as well as a jug of juice, droplets of condensation dotting the outside of it.
"Yum." I sighed happily as he levered himself out of the bed, grabbing the tray and setting it up.
"What do you say, after breakfast, we take a shower?" Roy's murmur was low and heated with something else, and I shivered.
"Don't have to ask me twice." I said, reaching up to give him a satisfying kiss on the lips. "We could just…skip breakfast."
His laugh was the only answer I got before he was sweeping me up into his arms, and carrying me to the bathroom.
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Roy left with a lingering kiss that I was still feeling when night fell. I worked on what leads I could think of for the rest of the day, calling up suppliers of certain parts some theorists on the freeze cannons thought would have to be included in the schematics. Of course, these theorists were only bloggers that I found on the internet.
But I figured, these people were the ones who would have put the thought into this. They would be spending days and months researching this stuff. Probably almost as long as Bruce would have.
That's fanatics for you.
When I had a few places scoped out with rather large orders of some rather unique parts, I printed out the information I had gathered, and marched down to the Batcave.
Bruce and Tim were in there, searching on the computers.
"I think my protected self found something." I said, my tone challenging.
"Elizabeth." Bruce warned. "You're not involved in this."
He was expecting a fight. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
I slammed the pages I'd printed out down on the desk, knowing that eventually he would look at them. He may not want me apart of their investigation, but that wouldn't stop his curiosity. He'd want to know exactly how alike I was to him.
And with that little act, I walked out, head held high.
He'd cave within five hours.
I just knew it.
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Five hours came and went. I refrained from fidgeting as I waited for Bruce to come and talk to me.
He didn't.
I tried to ignore the hurt I was feeling, and instead I focussed on looking through old case reports I'd found emailed to me on the Riddler, Penguin and Dr Freeze. I thought maybe it was Oracle that had sent it to me, but with no note explaining the files, I couldn't be sure.
Although, really, who else would it have been?
I was looking for any pattern between them that might let us know where they would plan to ice first. Or where Penguin might attack next. Although that point was moot. It had been pretty obvious that the reason Penguin had attacked where he had attacked was to lead us to the Riddler's involvement.
Someone was trying to lead us to a certain conclusion, and that wasn't something I liked to think about. Because if someone was trying to lead us to a conclusion, the only thing that could mean for my father would be a trap.
I sighed, resting my head in my hands for a few minutes. My eyes were starting to hurt from staring at the computer screen for so long.
Without meaning to, my eyes slid shut, and I rested my head on the desk. I was asleep in minutes.
I woke with a start. What had woken me?
Then I remembered. Somewhere, in my subconscious mind, I'd come up with something. There was always that old adage that if you slept on something, the answer would be more apparent when you woke up.
Apparently, that was true.
I needed to look for public gatherings, festivals, that sort of thing.
If there was one thing obvious about the criminals of Gotham, they wouldn't want Batman to die in private. The trap would include some sort of public event, or broadcast or something, so everyone could see what a failure he was.
It would have a bigger impact if it was done in public.
I opened my email up again.
Invites upon invited bombarded me everyday from different events, hoping I would go with Dad, or even by myself. I was a novelty still, and people were still under the impression that having me at a party made the party.
They were wrong, but that assumption would help me now.
I bit my lip, thinking through the most likely events.
I could rule out the ones happening that night. They would need some time to recover and get more diamonds after Penguin had been caught.
The ones classed as small private parties I steered clear of as well. While the rich of Gotham had a different opinion of 'small' and 'private' then I did, it would probably still be a little bit small for a public trap.
Then one caught my eye. Murdoch Fundraising Committee for the Organised Charities of Gotham. Otherwise known as a bunch of rich people donating miniscule amounts of money in order to brag about the different causes they've worked on. Dad had told me that they were the ones that could make or break my good name if I went to one of their balls.
I smiled to myself as I saw the date…it was two days from now. If they could make or break my good name, I'd better get some tips from the experts before then.
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Bruce had gone into Wayne Enterprises for a board meeting, and that was when I struck.
"Alfred, I need to go shopping." I said.
"Of course, Miss Elizabeth." He said. "What are we shopping for?"
"A dress." I said, trying not to sound like it was such a stretch of imagination that I would be going shopping again after my less then happy trip the other day.
He raised his eyebrows. "Would this be for a formal occasion, or something more casual?"
"I was thinking about the MFC's fundraiser ball this coming weekend." I said innocently.
He looked amused. "And why were you thinking about that?"
"I figure its time for me to come out in the world." I said, smirking. "You know, be my fathers daughter and all that."
If he got the double meaning in my statement he didn't show it except for that small twinkle in his eyes.
"Indeed, Miss Elizabeth." Alfred said. "And you wanted my advice on what sort of attire would be appropriate for this type of function?"
"Among other things." I said, biting my lip, and praying he would help.
"And I suppose you want Master Bruce kept out of the loop, so to speak?"
I grinned, and threw my arms around him. "Alfred, you're a legend."
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I was nervous as I hopped out of the limo to the river side parkland area designated for the function. Alfred had promised not to go out of his way to tell Bruce, but that was all he would commit to. I got that. Dad was his boss, not to mention family, and who was I to get in the way of that?
Before I'd left I'd found a small box in my room on the bed side table. I frowned. I knew Dad was still in the habit of leaving small presents occasionally for me to find, but I didn't expect him to be so foolish as to do that while I was angry with him. He had to know that was the one thing to piss me off even more then I already was. But if Bruce had gotten me the earpiece that was inside the box, I'd swallow the box it came in.
I'd plugged it into my ear immediately, following the few instructions that had been left with it until a voice came over the line.
"Elizabeth, are you there?" it was Oracle.
"I am." I'd answered. "Does Bruce know I have this?"
I could almost hear the grimace in her voice. "No." she'd said. "And if he knows he's going to be very annoyed, so keep it to yourself."
"No problem for me." I'd said, arranging my hair to cover my ears, hoping no one would notice the small, flesh coloured device. "Thanks for sending those files to me as well."
"What files?" I could read the confusion in her voice.
"The old case files." I frowned. "Of Penguin, Freeze, and Riddler."
"That wasn't me." She said, and my frown deepened.
"Who then?" I asked.
"I'll look into it." She said, then changed the subject. "I'll be monitoring you throughout the night." She said. "If you need help, it'll be there."
"I'll keep that in mind." I'd said as I grabbed my small clutch purse. "And Oracle?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
I smiled tensely at the cameras going off around me. If Dad didn't know now where I was, he would know by tomorrow.
"Oh, Elizabeth Wayne…" a voice just near the doorway made me grimace. Magda Linett…the few times I'd met her I'd disliked her quickly. The type of woman you didn't want to tell anything personal to. "You made it! I'm so glad you accepted our invitation."
I plastered a smile as fake as hers on. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Magda." I said, returning her air kisses with a tolerance that surprised me. "I'm just so glad that you chose to include me in the festivities."
"Oh, we wouldn't have it any other way." She said, her eyes glinting. "Now don't tell me you came all by yourself!" she asked, sounding scandalised. "What's Bruce up to this evening? Or better yet," she smirked. "That young man all those cameras caught you kissing on your birthday?"
"Bruce was busy for tonight." I said as sweetly as I could, and then looked down demurely. "As for that young man…well, lets just say he wasn't ever going to be a permanent fixture."
Just because I wasn't one of them, didn't mean I didn't understand what all the other billionaire heiress' lives were like. Having several passing fancies was expected of me. In fact, it would make me seem more like my father, and more desirable to have at parties.
She laughed. "Of course, my dear." She said, then looped an arm through mine. "Now you must come meet some of my friends. They'll be delighted you made it. And of course your fathers chequebook."
Magda let out that grating laugh again and I forced a smile out with it. "Of course." I said as smoothly as I could, hoping Bruce wouldn't kill me for going out tonight and spending a LOT of money. "Anything for charity."
She smiled that smug little smile, and I had a feeling that was exactly the answer she was looking for.
I sighed quietly. This was going to be a long night.
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I'd made polite chit chat for nearly three hours, and I was ready to pack it in and go home.
"I don't think this leads going to get us anywhere, Elizabeth." Oracle's voice sounded in my ear. "I think you should just go home."
I sighed into my champagne glass, looking out wistfully over the river. I was thinking of the time Roy had taken me out on top of those factory buildings to look over Gotham. "Yeah." I muttered. "A waste of time."
"Don't beat yourself up." She said. "It was a good lead. Great detective work." She said, and I snorted.
"Thanks." I murmured, then frowned as I looked up at the man wearing a large bulky fur jacket. "Hang on, Oracle." I said. "There's a guy here, I haven't seen him tonight at all, but he's got a winter fur coat on."
I looked around at the other party goers. They were all looking at him in confusion as well.
"From the looks he's getting, I don't think he's meant to be here." I said. I scanned the rest of the parklands that I could see. More men in heavy jackets were showing up.
"I'm hacking into the CCTV of the area now." Oracle said into my earpiece. "Give me two seconds."
"They have CCTV of the parklands?" I asked, sceptical.
"This many rich people in one area?" Oracle said, sounding distracted. "You bet they do."
I snorted, looking around to make sure no one had noticed me seemingly having a conversation with myself. Nope. I was safe from those particular rumours so far, at least.
The warning came two seconds too late. "Elizabeth, get out of there, Freeze is approaching with the Riddler."
I bolted out of my seat, turning for the exit, but by then the big guy in the equally big coat had stopped trying to be inconspicuous and had pulled out what I realised must be a Freeze cannon.
"Oh shit." I said, even as it was pointed at me.
I threw myself to the side, over a table before the ice could hit me.
And then I just kept running, dodging the blasts until I ended up circled by men, other supposed charitable benefactors with me. I ignored the woman beside me, crying heavily on the shoulder of a man half her age. I suspected half of those tears were fake…he was good looking. If I'd gotten there first, well…I'd want to be crying on his shoulder as well.
Nobody moved. We all stood there staring at the goons, who looked calmly back, their freeze guns raised and aimed at us.
Then we heard it. A crackling, weird sound that I'd heard when I heard the freeze cannons hitting something. The sound of something freezing. I turned and looked behind me, and gasped.
The river.
They had frozen Gotham river over, or at least the part I could see.
Then they showed up, riding, of all things, something that looked like a snow mobile. How it drove on the ice, I had no clue, but that wasn't my immediate concern. My immediate concern was seeing a few psychopathic mass murders on the loose.
"You are the lucky ones." Freeze said, and I bit back a shiver. "Only a few of you need die tonight, unlike many of this cities inhabitants."
I bit my lip. That wasn't something I wanted to hear.
"What is it you want?"
I was surprised when the voice was of the young man who had previously been comforting the terrified older woman.
"What we want?" the Riddler spoke. "We want what the rich cling to and the poor live happily without."
Money, I thought instantly, thinking to myself that that couldn't be all it was about. I mean, why not keep robbing smaller establishments?
Sure, it was less money slower, but it was safer. This kind of thing would cause public outcry, not to mention that police would be on alert for months after this, just because the rich expected it of them. but then again…psychopaths. Never really known for their cunning decisions when it came to thinking about the outcome of certain plots.
"You won't be getting any money from these ones, Riddler." I heard, and whirled to the female voice.
"Who's that?" I murmured.
"Huntress." Oracle said into my earpiece. "Your fathers on his way, but Huntress was in the area."
And then I saw thugs flying from every direction.
"Does Huntress have some friends?" I asked in amazement as I saw four more women join the fray.
"No." Oracle snorted. "But I do. These are the Birds of Prey." She said. "I'm patching you in to their frequency. I can't keep flipping back and forth."
"Go for it."
I stayed with the other guests of the MFC, most of them still cowering in fright as I studied each hero carefully. They all fought with a ferocity that made me smile. It was so like Dick and Tim.
And then I saw him. A black shape descending from the night, and I smiled.
"It's Batman!" an excited shout made me grin. Looked like people didn't hate him as much as Bruce thought.
Then I saw the silver flash in his hands, and I frowned. Was that a knife? Dad never attacked bad guys with knives…
"That's not Batman."
Oracles voice sounded over the comms, and immediately the Birds of Prey piped up.
"Then who the hell is it?" a young voice said, and was quickly followed by "Star, don't use that sort of language."
Then I saw Batman's first target. One of the few children I'd seen at the party. Before I knew it I was running, pushing the kid out of the way, onto the ice of the river.
I gasped in pain as the dagger he was wielding bit into my shoulder. It wasn't serious. I'd made it far enough out of his swing to stop the slice being life threatening, and my move had gotten the kid out of the way, even if he was now on the ice, closer to Freeze and the Riddler.
I turned just in time to see Batman 2.0 slicing length ways down an older gentleman. He crumpled to the ground, and I stifled a scream. Intellectually I knew it wasn't my father doing all this, but still, it was hard to watch anyone getting hurt, let alone someone that at that time, beared resemblance to dad.
One of the Birds of Prey, Star by the looks of her uniform, took on the pseudo Batman, but he easily knocked her back, a slice in her shoulder making her stumble back.
Then I had to stop watching them, and start worrying about myself. A hand had grabbed my hair, and started walking, dragging me along the ice, despite my struggling. I pulled at the hand in my hair, my feet flailing against the slippery frozen turf. I knew where they were taking me. Where else for someone with my luck?
I was thrown at the feet of Dr. Freeze, rolling uncontrollably until I stopped, propped against the snow-mobile.
"Ah…" Freeze said. "Miss Wayne. A perfect candidate."
I scooted as far away from him as I could, standing slowly, not daring to turn my eyes away from him.
"For what?" I asked, proud of myself when my voice didn't tremble.
He smiled at me, a sinister grin that chilled me to the bone. "As an example." He said.
The shadow on the ice, and Oracle's voice in my ear was the only thing that gave him away.
I ducked as the not-Batman swung his knife at me, rolling away clumsily. Heels and ice did not mix.
"You'll be the perfect example that Batman is evil." Freeze said, not loud enough for anyone but me, "Batman", and the goons could hear. "He will kill you, the precious Princess of Gotham, and he will never be trusted again."
I stood carefully as I could, watching "Batman" warily, and I squeaked as I slipped and fell on the ice. It was the only thing that saved me from the dagger that was slashing towards my neck. I skidded for a few feet, landing towards an unconscious goon, and my surprising salvation.
There, lying beside him was a freeze cannon.
I grabbed it, trying to figure out how it worked. God I hoped it was just point and shoot.
I really needed it to be point and shoot.
A shadow fell over me again, and I turned onto my back, all fingers and toes crossed as I pointed the freeze cannon at the imitation of my father and pulled the trigger.
As soon as I saw the ray shoot out of the barrel of the cannon, I bolted. This ice wasn't stable, and there was no way I would be going to all the trouble of getting out of the clutches of pseudo Batman to fall pray to the ice cracking.
A hand clasped around my forearm, and I almost had the freeze cannon shooting at whoever it was before a voice interrupted me.
"I'm the help, point that thing someplace else."
I almost sagged to hear the unfamiliar voice of Huntress as she dragged me to the frozen shoreline.
She was pulling me up on the river bank, and sturdy ground.
"Frigging heels." I muttered to myself as I slipped yet again on the ice. Her snort was the only thing that gave away she'd heard me. She clambered up the bank, and then turned, holding her hand out to me to grab so she could drag me up as well.
I reached to take it, and it was only the shouted warning by Oracle that saved Huntress as a goon swung at her with a staff. She ducked, and I raised the freeze cannon up, pulling the trigger and shooting the thug before I really knew what I was doing.
Huntress looked up at the man, his feet frozen in place on the ground, and then reached her hand down to grab mine again. I took it this time, scrambling up the bank with considerable difficulty…party dresses and heels aren't good for out doors.
"You've got incoming, Elizabeth, Huntress." Oracle's voice sounded tired. "It's Batman."
"The real one this time?"
"Yes, Elizabeth." I winced…Oracle hadn't said that, that was Bruce's voice, and he was angry.
"Hi Batman…" I said weakly.
"Huntress." His voice barked. "Get her out of there."
Without a word Huntress grabbed my arm again, and started walking farther away from the river with me.
I hung on to the freeze cannon. There'd be no telling when I'd need that. I didn't want to be caught out by Riddler or Freeze's thugs without a weapon. God knew I wouldn't be able to defend myself without a weapon.
We had almost made it back to the chairs and tables of the function when a black shape crossed into our path. I almost smiled in relief when I saw the black cape. Dad.
"Batman!" I said with relief, rushing closer to him. "Thank god."
"Elizabeth! That's not me!" Bruce's voice over the comms said, and my eyes widened as the Batman in front of me raised a shot gun from behind his cloak.
It was only Huntress pushing me out of the way that saved me from getting a shot gun blast to the chest. As it was, my arm and shoulder were hit, sending me falling back, onto the ground, gasping in pain when I landed.
I looked up when I could bear it without screaming in pain, watching as Huntress took on the imposter. Then the real Batman was there, with Dick and Tim, helping me up. He bundled me off to Dick to look after, before joining the fray with Huntress, knocking the fake Batman back into some tables.
"Get her out of here Nightwing!" Dad shouted, and Dick swung me up into his arms, sprinting away towards the batmobile.
I tried not to make a sound when he jostled my arm. It hurt like hell, but it wasn't something they needed to be worrying about right that minute.
He manoeuvred me around so he could reach a button on his belt, and the door to the batmobile opened up. Dick placed me carefully into the passenger side, looking down at me with a serious expression.
"I'm locking this door." He said. "Whatever happens, don't open it for anyone unless Oracle tells you. There's no telling who else they're imitating."
I nodded, holding my shoulder, biting my lip.
"One of us will come get you soon." Dick said, before he leaned over me. "If anyone comes close to the batmobile, press this button. It'll lock it up tight. No one will be able to get in until Batman or Oracle give the code."
I nodded, and he left me there, huddled in the seat, clutching my shoulder as tight as I dared. I threw my head against the head rest, clenching my teeth.
This could have gone better.
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As the fighting raged around the batmobile I stayed hidden, trying to ignore the nausea that was rising in me from the blood loss. My head pounded, and I fought the urge to give in and sleep. I needed to be alert in case anyone came close to the batmobile. I didn't really want to put it into lock down until I really had to.
"Oracle?" I gasped into the ear piece.
"What is it, Elizabeth?" Oracle asked me, and I tried to focus past the pain and dizziness.
"I think I need to put the batmobile into lockdown. I'm not liking my chances of being alert for much longer." I bit out.
"Elizabeth?" the question was unspoken.
"The shot gun blast." I said quietly. "I think it was more serious then I thought before."
"You're not going to go and do something pansy and pass out on me, are you, Lizzie?" Oracle asked, making it sound like a joke, but I could hear the worry underneath it all.
"I think I might just be doing that now." I murmured, eyes closing briefly.
I wrestled them open again, slapping the button Dick had shown me to lock down the batmobile.
"Stay with me, Lizzie." Was the last thing I heard before darkness took me, and the noise from the fighting around me blurred to static.
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Dimly I heard someone talking to me, and the feel of being in a moving car.
We took a particularly hard corner, and my eyes flew open, my body jerking to the side. I gasped as pain seared through my arm, squeezing my eyes shut as I righted myself with my uninjured arm.
"What's going on?" my words sounded slurred, even to me.
"Just sit still, Elizabeth." Dad's voice from beside me made me crane my neck to look at him where he was driving the batmobile. "We're almost at the hospital."
I let my eyes slide shut again, but I fought hard to keep awake, focussing on the pain my shoulder was causing me when I felt like I was slipping back into unconsciousness.
Finally we jerked to a stop, and the batmobile's doors lifted up. Bruce vaulted over to my side of the car, undoing my seatbelt and lifting me up gently. I wrapped my good arm around his neck as tight as I could manage, holding on for all I was worth.
I could hear the instant bustle our entrance into the ER made. Doctors and nurses rushed over, and soon I was placed on a gurney. Bruce tried to take my arm from around his neck, but I wouldn't, burying my head into his neck while I was at it.
"Elizabeth," I heard him whisper into my ear. "You have to let me go."
I shook my head, tightening my grip. "These doctors are going to help you." He said, and I felt other hands try to pry my arm from around his neck. "I'll be back soon."
Something of what he was saying got through the fog around my brain, and I slowly released my hold around his neck, my hand travelling down his arm until it grasped his tightly.
"You're safe now." Dad said, and from the looks the ER staff was giving him, I didn't think the gentle side of him was one Gotham had seen often.
I held onto his hand a moment longer and the allowed my own to fall by my side. He turned away and was out the hospital door in seconds.
"Let's get a blood transfusion going," I heard above me as someone cut the shoulder strap of my dress away from the wound.
My last thought as the drip was inserted into my uninjured arm was wondering why they had to cut the dress…it had taken me so long to find one I liked.