And here is another chapter! Hope you like it….

Kayla barely beat Bruce back, and she was actually a little frightened at how upset he looked when he finally came through the door.

"Bruce?" Kayla stepped in line, following him as he paced for a moment. She actually felt bad for the man; it looked like he was in pain.

"Kayla," Bruce turned to her, "why do people like Gordon and Batman do what they do?"

Kayla smiled as she looked down for a moment, she knew what she thought and she knew what he wanted to hear, "I think they do it because they think they can help. He tried to save the mayor, and he did. What he and Batman do not seem to understand is that not everyone can be saved. Not everyone is worth saving. People die, people sometimes earn their pain and learn to bear it, and people like to think they can step up and stop bad things from happening. It's nice to think we can save people, it's why I'm a nurse, why Batman fights crime, and why you took me in. That's the sad truth, people are built differently from each other, we have to learn how to work around them, or else we'll end up like Joker, trying to bend everything to our will and hurting people because we can. There's a fine line between helping and hurting. "

Bruce collapsed in a chair, face deep in thought as he listened to the girl. He liked to hear her talk, she said what was on his mind, she said the truth.

"People need Batman, me, Gordon, you," Kayla sat stood a few feet in front of him, she felt something in her click as she tried to cheer this sad man up, he wanted validation. Why did he need it for Gordon AND Batman? Her brain spun as she tried to make sense of it all, but the only conclusion was ridiculous, Bruce was a playboy millionaire, not some caped crusader.

"Thank you," Bruce sighed, the weight momentarily taken off his shoulders, "did you do all your training?"

Kayla nodded as she stared down at her still bandaged hands, she hadn't realized she was still in her workout gear when she went to Joker's and then with Bruce's whirlwind return, "I did my stretches, practiced on the punching bag and the treadmill is still on, I think I ran about two miles before you got back."

Bruce nodded, he was impressed after all she'd been through she managed to complete the regiment he set for her, "good, I'm going out again tonight, work on your deltoids while I'm gone."

Kayla nodded as she watched him leave, she was a little amused she'd become his conscious. When he was gone she quickly did her reps, pushing herself to complete them in one go. When she finally felt as though she'd collapse she decided that she'd go out and find another mobster, she didn't need Joker's help in tracking one down, there were plenty around. If she threw a rock in any direction she'd probably hit one.

So she quickly took a shower and changed before telling Alfred she was going out and not to worry about her. She convinced him by showing him the tazer Bruce had bought her after her first night there, he was still worried but he didn't argue. That was good, since she needed the night out, and if she managed to bag a bad guy it'd be worth going out. After all, Joker wasn't after her yet.

The night club she chose for the night wasn't too far from her apartment, it was in the part of town that didn't care what was happening around it. She happily went to the bar and ordered a Bloody Mary, not in the mood for her usual sweet drinks, she'd go spicy tonight. She chatted with the bartender, getting a feel for who was who, and then going to the dance floor when she was done. Maroni was up in the balcony part overlooking the dance floor, a date with him. It looked like she wasn't killing anyone that night. With a sigh she let the throngs lead her back to the bar, going with the flow was always better in crowded rooms. With a plop she sat in front of the bartender, ordering a Nutty Irishman and keeping an eye on Maroni to see what he was up to, the date looked unimpressed with the whole situation, that made two of them.

Kayla was ready to go back to Bruce's when she saw heavy movement up in the balconies, it seemed like Batman was making another appearance. She could either jump in and fight with him 'accidently' killing Maroni, or she could sit back and see what was happening. What would make the Bats go to a popular bar and beat up a heavily guarded man? Her curiosity won over her want for justice. She watched from a little table in the corner, ignoring the movement and noise from the dance floor in front of her.

When Batman finally got pass all the goons he approached Maroni grabbing and dragging him outside, the date running in fear. Kayla quickly went out the door, looking up to see Batman had made it to fire escape.

"I want the Joker," Batman growled at the smirking man.

"From one professional to another, if you're trying to scare somebody, pick a better spot. From this height the fall wouldn't kill me." Kayla rolled her eyes, Batman didn't kill, the man knew what he was doing.

"I'm counting on it," Batman growled, and with that he dropped him. The man hit the ground by her with a crack, screaming in pain.

Batman soon followed landing gracefully, all business until he saw her in the doorway, the man seemed to falter for a moment, before going back to Maroni.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know," Maroni was willing to cooperate now, "he found us."

"He must have friends," Batman growled. Kayla finally approached gaining both of their attention.

"Have you met the guy?"

"Maroni," Kayla's voice was sweet as she knelt down by the squirming man, "Batman here is obviously in a hurry. Why don't you help him out? Joker must be holed up somewhere, how else can he never be spotted until he wants to be?"

Maroni glared up at the girl, "the the hell are you?"

"I'm an interested party," Kayla surged forward, grabbing his injured leg and putting pressure on it, the man screaming out, "come now, this shouldn't hurt too bad, I thought all you mobsters were so tough."

"I told ya, I don't know anything," Maroni gasped in pain, turning to Batman, "nobody will give you squat, they're all more afraid of Joker than you, he's got no rules. You do. You have one way of finding him, take off that mask, let him find you. Now get her off me."

Batman gently rested a hand on the girl's shoulder, guiding her away, "what are you doing in a place like this? After being attacked by the Joker I'd think you'd be smart enough not to go looking for trouble."

"Trouble finds me," Kayla shrugged, "besides, I don't think the Joker's out to kill me. He's having too much fun to just sacrifice one of his favorite little games." The Batman looked at her hard, dark eyes boring into her own.

"Do you know something you aren't telling?" Batman's expression was unwavering as he looked for cracks in her armor. But before she could answer a gunshot broke the silence. He was thrown into activity, rushing to the noise. Kayla wouldn't have normally rushed to more trouble, but tonight was just getting interesting.

She knew he wasn't the only one to be shocked at finding the DA looming over a cowering man, gun in hand. The man looked crazed as he raved on about the Joker.

"I don't know anything! God, don't," the man screamed. Kayla recognized him from earlier, he was the one to visit her doctor's office. Dent threw his coin up again, and Kayla was shocked when Batman caught it midair.

Kayla crept back, she couldn't be identified by that man or it was all over. She watched as Batman scolded him.

"The Joker killed Gordon. He's going to kill Rachael," Dent seemed desperate.

Kayla couldn't quite hear the response so she crept closer, and managed to make out, "no one else will die because of me. Gotham is in your hands now."

"You can't give in!" Dent shouted at the retreating man.

Kayla crept away, hoping Batman didn't know she followed and could get back to Bruce's without trouble. So she slunk back the way she came, watching her heeled feet in thought as they clicked on the pavement. The DA was crooked? Batman saved one of Joker men from an ally.

"Why are you out?" Batman's voice broke her musings, making her stop dead.

"Why do you care?" her voice came out sharper than she wanted it to, making her wince at her own words.

"I don't want any innocent getting hurt," he said after a long pause.

Kayla laughed humorlessly, sitting on the curb, not caring that it was unladylike, "nobodies innocent, you of all people should know that. I always thought bad people were better off dead, that it meant good people wouldn't get hurt."

"Nobody deserves death," Batman looked down at his ward, wishing he could reach out as Bruce but knew he couldn't. He knew he had pressing matters. Kayla's crisis was small compared to Joker's looming threats, especially over Rachael, "I have to go, will you make it home alright?"

Kayla was lost in her thoughts, but his voice broke her out. She looked up to the imposing man, decked out in black and ready to help the people even more.

"I'll be fine," Kayla stood and attempted a smile, "thank you for trying to protect Gotham… you may not get gratitude enough, especially now. The people need you, I'm glad I moved to a place that people can make a difference in."

Bruce was shocked again at hearing something that he didn't want to hear come out of her mouth. She seemed to say what was needed to be said.

He watched as she turned away, leaving him on the street, torn between following to see why she wasn't headed to his penthouse and going to find Rachael. With a sigh, he turned to his own house, disappearing into the night.

And done! Next chapter will be up soon.