~~ 3 weeks later ~~

The world seemed to be crumbling from under the Earth's crust both literally and figuratively. The Justice League seemed to remain two steps behind Ra's at every turn. They'd been able to locate two of the devices that Ra's was utilizing in order to move the tectonic plates at his will. Using Batman's instructions, they were able to reverse the movement from the two shifts, but not before some damage had been caused. Superman's patience had begun to wear thin trying to play catch up. Especially when there was no signs of them catching even a glimpse of the Demon Head. Batman's lack of communicating with the League also was playing a part in Superman's frustration as he had become less and less willing to work with the League. He may not have officially resigned from the League, but his lack of being available when they called for his help didn't seem to indicate that he had plans on being a part of the League.

Even Diana hadn't been visiting Bruce like she had been after he had been injured by Bane. In fact, she hadn't been down to the Manor one time in the past three weeks. While things had been busy, there was certainly enough available time for her to have stopped in to check on his progress, but had spent the majority of her time in the training room instead. Flash had been the first to question her, and the glower she responded with would have made Batman proud. When she slammed a fist into the wall, which was all the notice that he needed to receive before zipping away as fast as possible.

Superman knew now that too much time had passed and along with J'onn, they were going to force Bruce's hand in one form or another. He could either join the next meeting via teleconference, or he would be receiving unannounced visitors. They simply needed to catch up with Ra's so that they could put a stop to the damage that he was attempting to cause. Superman chose the upcoming League meeting to reach out to Batman as it was highly likely that he would be a no show once again. Superman was actually the last one into the meeting room that would be in attendance.

The meeting started off normally until they reached the final topic, which was the pink elephant that no one seemed to want to bring up. Superman went around the tabled starting from his left where J'onn was sitting. The Martian had been researching every avenue that he could based off of the League's file on Ra's al Ghul, but that research didn't result in any plausible leads to go off of. Flash was next, but he had little to add as the investigative part of missions was not his strong suit. Next up was Shayera. She had been investigating Ra's from more of a ground level approach, preferring to get her hands dirty with real police work than being behind a computer. She had gone off of a couple of leads, but both turned out to be dead ends. John Stewart wasn't able to add much to the investigation as he had been called away for Green Lantern duties the majority of the week. That left Diana. Superman was acutely aware that Diana hadn't been seeing Bruce lately, and he assumed that Bruce had done or said something that got under Diana's skin. However she was a professional colleague and would simply have to put her anger aside for the sake of the League. He looked over at Diana when she didn't chime in after John finished. "Diana." Superman called to her. "Do you have anything to add? Perhaps something that you and Batman worked together on?"

Diana's head snapped to the direction of her Kryptonian friend violently. She threw a nasty glare at Superman for a moment before she responded. "I haven't worked with Batman since before the previous meeting Kal."

"I think Batman has been silent long enough then." Superman responded. "His insight is invaluable to the League."

"I have tried contacting him, but he isn't responding to my hails" J'onn stated.

"Diana, have you tried contacting him lately?" Superman asked turning back to face the Amazon.

"No." She answered quickly.

"You've got the best chance to get a response out of him Diana." Superman responded.

"Why would he be more likely to respond to me than anyone else?" Diana retorted.

"Oh come on Wondy." Flash chimed in. "Everyone here knows that he likes you the best out of all of us."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Look at the facts princess." Shayera explained. "You're the only one of us that he's even allowed to visit since he's been injured."

"That's…" Diana stumbled momentarily as she thought of how to divert this topic. "That's only because I found…." She stopped herself from delving any further. She knew that Flash wouldn't drop it if he found out that she knew Batman's secret identity. "Fine. I'll try contacting him." She enabled her comm link and opened a channel where she paged Batman. She waited about ten seconds before calling out to him again. Each call was met with silence.

Superman huffed in frustration. "Alright, I think it's time to take some more drastic measures." He stated. "Diana and J'onn, you both will come with me down to confront…"

"What do you want Diana?" Came the voice of Batman over the intercom for the meeting room. Flash leaned back with a shit eating grin on his face and placed his hands behind his head. He was almost saying that he told them so with his body posture.

"We're at the end of our meeting and discussing how best to put a stop to Ra's." Diana said.

"I'll let you know when I come up with any leads." Batman responded.

"So you're not having any luck finding him either?" Superman asked.

"I never said that." Batman answered. "I'm busy. I'll call when I have something to report. Batman out."

The line went dead and they knew that would be all they would get out of Batman. Superman sat back in his chair for a moment. "Alright, everyone continue looking for any leads." He ordered. "Diana, J'onn, I need a minute of your time. The rest of you, the meeting's adjourned."

Superman waited until John, Flash, and Shayera had left before he stood up and faced both J'onn and Diana. "That's not enough from Batman." He said. "We're going down to see him face to face where he can't escape so easily."

"Why the three of us?" Diana asked. She was still angry with Bruce and didn't want to go down to the Manor.

"Because we each know who he is, and the more of us that are there, the better our chances of getting him to cooperate." Superman explained.

"Also, each of us has a different approach and Batman may be more responsive to one of us over the other two." J'onn chimed in.

Diana audibly sighed. She knew they were right, and also knew that there was no point arguing further with either of them. She held her chin high in a regal stature so as to defy anyone to believe she wasn't going to handle a tepid situation with grace and professionalism. She remained a step behind Superman and J'onn as they all walked to the transporter room.

~~ Batcave ~~

"Damn it!" Bruce yelled out. He was gathering himself back up from where he'd fallen during his physical therapy.

"Master Bruce, you must slow down." Alfred half pleaded and half ordered at the same time. "Miss Leslie did not provide you with a normal therapy regimen, but if she'd known that you would increase her program tenfold she certainly would have only offered the standard exercises."

"I have to push myself Alfred." Bruce countered as he got back up to his feet with the help of the balance beam bars. "You know what's happening out there. I can't just sit back and let it continue."

"And you have a family of partners here that are more than willing to help you in that quest." Alfred fired back.

Bruce shot a glare to Alfred even though he knew it would get him nowhere. Force of habit perhaps when dealing with someone trying to tell him about his limitations. "Bane's still out there Alfred." Bruce responded. "He's already taken over the mob racket, and Joker's been warring with him for control of the city. Dick, Barbara and Tim are doing all that they can, but someone has to stop him."

Alfred actually revealed his frustration. It was something Bruce had rarely ever seen from the old man. He watched as Alfred shut his eyes while pinching the bridge of his nose as he took several breaths to compose himself. "Bruce…son." Alfred began with heavy emotion dripping in his tone of voice. "I've never before stepped in to question what you are doing, but I cannot in good conscience remain silent this time. I've loved you as a father would his own son. I fear each night that you will not return to the cave, even though you've always proven that to not be the case. But the last time you confronted Bane, he nearly killed you. In fact, if we hadn't alerted Master Kent of your situation Bane very well could have. I beg of you, don't confront Bane on your own. I don't want to live through burying my son next to his parents."

For a moment Bruce thought he could see a tear run down Alfred's cheek. Bruce looked down at his own feet in silence. He knew what he was going to say wouldn't sit well, but he refused to lie to Alfred about his intentions. "I don't want to disappoint you Alfred." Bruce started. "But I'm not going to stop trying because of one man and seemingly unwinnable odds."

Alfred took in a deep breath. He wasn't frustrated any longer, but was instead in a state of defeat. "Then sir, you will do so without my services." He stated. "I will not support this decision sir."

Bruce's eyes shot back over to his butler as Alfred turned and walked away from him and out of the cave. Bruce couldn't be certain, but he was leaning heavily towards the odds that Alfred was serious about resigning. Bruce wanted to stop him and convince him to stay, but he knew that Alfred would hear none of that. Besides, he still wasn't healed enough to keep up with Alfred walking up the stairs, and he had refused to use the elevator as soon as he was able to support his own weight. Bruce didn't get much chance of chasing after Alfred anyways as his thoughts were interrupted by the alarm indicating that the teleporter was transporting someone to the cave. Looking over to the computer screen, he was disappointed when he saw that it was Kent, but then two more warnings shot up. Kent was coming with reinforcements with J'onn and Diana. "Just perfect." Bruce growled to himself as the molecules of the three heroes combined to materialize each person before him. Superman led the three of them as they stepped off the teleporter platform. "What the hell are you doing here Clark?" They heard Bruce growl at them from the training room.

"We need to talk Bruce." Clark answered. "Ra's is still out there and we don't seem to be gaining any ground on him."

"And what exactly do you think I'm going to be able to do?" Bruce fumed. "Look at me Clark. I can barely walk under my own power for Christ's sake."

"Bruce, you're more than your body." Clark tried to reason with him. "You know how Ra's thinks. All we're asking for is some help locating him so that we can finally put a stop to him."

"Leave Clark." Bruce said in a near mumbling voice.

Clark looked back towards his two other friends for help getting through to Bruce. "Bruce, please." Clark pleaded. "We need your help."

Diana looked over to J'onn and reached out to him with her thoughts. Why is he being so difficult?

You have to understand Diana. J'onn responded. Batman is the only one of us that has no extra physical powers to rely on. His thoughts tell me that he doesn't like anyone to see his mortality because he considers it a weakness.

Being mortal is not weakness J'onn. Diana returned.

But Batman believes it to be. J'onn explained. Especially when compared to the other members of the Justice League.

Was that why he'd sent her away weeks ago? Did Bruce not want to be seen as weak in front of Diana? She wanted to investigate this possibility. She walked forward before placing a hand on Superman's shoulder. "Kal, J'onn." She said. "Please give Bruce and I a moment to talk."

Superman looked back to J'onn until the Martian nodded his head in agreement with whatever it was that Diana was considering. "We'll be up in the Manor Diana." He responded before leaning in and whispering in her ear. "Good luck Di. You're going to need it."

She waited until J'onn and Kal had left from view before returning her attention to Bruce. "The last time I saw you, you still hadn't had feeling in your legs." She commented. "Your recovery seems to be progressing quite well."

"Not well enough." Was his response as he grabbed hold of a cane before he walked slowly and with much care out towards the computers and his chair.

"Well, I suppose for Bruce Wayne that would be the case." Diana commented as a joke to try and break the tension. "According to reports, Wayne has absconded off with some beautiful woman for almost a month now. That exceeds most of his other conquests of women."

"Bruce Wayne is expected to return alone tomorrow." Bruce explained as he took his seat and faced Diana. "The story we're coming with is an accident which left Wayne injured, cutting his time short with any woman, so his reputation is safe. Plus it will explain the need of a cane. I'm thinking a parasailing accident will be sufficient. We've already lined up all the hospital paperwork and witnesses that will swear to have seen Bruce Wayne."

"So you've thought of everything." Diana surmised. "Perhaps then you can help us to find Ra's."

"I can't help you Diana." Bruce said as he turned the chair and began pulling up various videos on the computer screens. "Dick was caught in the middle of a war with Joker and Bane. They changed course when they saw Dick in my Batman uniform. That was two weeks ago. The uniform was beyond repair. Dick hasn't gone out as Batman since."

"And no Batman in Gotham means that the criminals are running rampant on the streets." Diana assumed.

"I have to focus on coming back Diana." Bruce stated. "Gotham needs me, and I need to stop Bane."

"But Bruce, if we can't find and stop Ra's then what makes you think there will even be a Gotham to save."

"The Justice League still has six of the best the world has to offer as heroes." Bruce countered. "I'm just one man and not an important piece of the League even when I was healthy."

"That's not true." Diana argued while she spun the chair around so that Bruce was facing her. "You have been our tactician, and I believe our unofficial leader. Sure Kal plays the role in front of the masses and during meetings, but you are the leader when in battle or investigating our enemies. That's what the League needs Bruce. A direction to go, and without our leader, we've been struggling to find the correct direction to go. We need you."

Bruce sat back in his chair, deep in thought. Diana leaned down, placing her hands on the armrests of the chair. She waited only a few moments in silence before her patience began to wear thin. "You know something Bruce, it's bad enough that you're not helping teammates, but ever since the charity event I had grown to believe that not only were you and I teammates, but we had become friends. Even though you won't admit it, I believe that you and Kal are friends as well."

Bruce sighed as he knew that Diana was right. "Fine Diana, send me what you have found, and I'll see what I can come up with." He conceded. "Is that good enough?"

"For the League yes, but for me, not quite yet." Diana answered. Bruce's eyes showed her that he hadn't expected that response. She found that she enjoyed catching him off guard. "I want to know why you refused my help and pushed me away, and why you never tried to contact me in these last three weeks either. Especially considering how much time I'd spent with you before that while you recovered."

"It's…complicated Diana." Bruce answered.

"That's not good enough Bruce." Diana fired back. "I deserve to know why my friend would do such a thing."

"I don't know why Diana." Bruce responded. It was the truth. He couldn't explain why he'd acted the way he had or why he'd said what he did to get her to leave. He only knew that the Bat inside him made it so regardless of the man's desire to reach out and convince her to stay. "If I knew I'd explain it to you, but I just don't have an answer for that. All I can do is move forward and hope that you'll be able to do the same."

"I have moved forward Bruce." Diana stated as she stood and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I've been acting as a liaison for the League and working with the United States government. They've assigned two men to work alongside myself."

"Steve Trevor Jr. and King Faraday." Bruce said. "Both are decorated soldiers in their own rights."

"Yes, but their connections haven't been useful in catching Ra's al Ghul either." Diana added.

"Ra's is never far away from a Lazarus pit." Bruce stated before he turned and pulled up a map that showed all of the pits that he was aware of.

Diana looked over the map hoping to find some clues. "There's none even close to the areas where Ra's has had the devices that we've stopped." She commented as she pointed to the locations where each device had been found. "I'm not sure how this will help."

"It's all about patterns Diana." Bruce explained. "While Ra's is hard to locate, once we find the pattern he's using, we'll be able to triangulate where he would most likely be."

Upstairs Superman was pacing about in the library. He wasn't comfortable with Diana handling Bruce on her own. The man was stubborn as hell and Diana's temper had already flared with Bruce the last time she'd seen him. Superman was concerned that Diana might lose her temper and anger Bruce to the point where he would simply refuse to help at all. "How much longer are we supposed to wait up here J'onn?" He asked.

"It's the correct decision to have made Kal-El." J'onn offered. "I can sense that Diana is doing well with Batman. She should have him working very soon."

Superman stopped his pacing around upon hearing that. "So, we just continue to wait?" He asked even though he already knew the answer to that question. His attention was then distracted by the sight of Alfred walking passed the doorway with a suitcase in hand. He could see the anger still on the butler's face. "Alfred, wait!" He yelled out as he gave chase. "What's wrong?"

Alfred stopped in his steps and turned to face the Man of Steel. "I apologize Master Kent, but I am taking leave of this place." He answered.

"But why?" Clark asked.

"I refuse to sit back and watch Master Bruce destroy himself." Alfred explained. "If he wishes to get himself killed going after Bane again, then I will have no part of it."

"Is that what he's doing down there?" Clark asked. "Getting ready to go after Bane again?"

"It would seem obvious Master Kent." Alfred answered.

"With Bruce, I've come to realize that it's never obvious Alfred." Clark responded. "I'm sure Bruce has some sort of plan to come out on top otherwise he wouldn't go after Bane. Bruce always has a plan Alfred."

Alfred sighed as he set the suitcase down. "This time, I'm not so sure that is the case Master Kent." He said. "Master Bruce vowed to protect this city, and the last few weeks he's been forced to watch as it slowly fades back into the darkness from which he pulled the Batman persona out of. I believe he is hiding inside of a blind rage. One which is hindering him from approaching this situation logically."

"I do not believe that is the case Mr. Pennyworth." J'onn chimed in. "Bruce's mind seems to be quite clear at the moment. I believe he does indeed have a plan."

"Yes, I do." Bruce said as he entered from the grandfather clock entrance. "It's time for Bruce Wayne to return to the office. I need to speak with Lucius and get to the R & D section of Wayne Enterprises. Diana has a list of possible locations for you to investigate on Ra's."

"What are you going to do in the R & D department Bruce?" Clark asked.

"I need a new suit." Was his simple answer.

Another week had passed since Bruce's unexpected guests had shown up at his doorstep. He was able to provide them with enough information to go on about their search for Ra's and leave Bruce to continue healing and rebuilding what he'd lost. The return to Wayne Enterprises had been a circus, but an expected circus none the less. By the second day, things had calmed back down and everyone was sold on his story about where the playboy had been all this time. He continued rehabbing like a man possessed while at home, and while he was at Wayne Enterprises he remained locked up in the R & D section. When Bruce gathered all of the material he felt he could utilize, it was then that Bruce moved back to strictly his office. He went straight to work designing the next version of the Batsuit. This one had more hidden access panels where weapons could be stored aside from the compartments on the belt. The CPU he would be using was enhanced as well. It would show up as a 3D image projecting off of the right gauntlet, and the images worked by touch. He also decided that the Batcave computer needed to be upgraded with this technology, and in the future the League computer systems as well. When the suit was completed, Bane would be in for a few surprises.

Alfred had ended up not leaving after all. Whatever Clark had said to him seemed to affect his decision to stay. He still was giving Bruce the silent treatment, and absolutely refused to go down to the cave for any reason. He may not have left, but he was making sure that his opinion on the matter would not be left to fall by the wayside. Bruce would have to deal with that issue head on instead of dancing around it, but that would have to wait for the time being.

~~ A palace in the Himalaya's ~~

"Why you are here Bane is because your efforts have apparently not kept the detective's mind focused on his beloved city." Ra's explained to the masked man standing before him. "The Justice League are getting too close, and I suspect they've managed to glean information from the detective recently. This is the critical portion of my plan, and until now they've only managed to slow the process slightly."

"So you've called me here to stop the Justice League should they interfere any further?" Bane asked.

"Precisely." Ra's responded. "You will help to keep the group divided and away from the Kryptonian. I will deal with him should the need arise." Ra's stopped speaking as he began to feel the palace tremble. He looked around as the trembling began to increase steadily. Standing up, he walked around slowly with his eyes set to the ceiling. The palace was built into a mountain and his throne room was built into the mountain. It was meant to be a safe room in the event of attack, but it seemed as though the room was about to be compromised. "Bane, it appears your abilities are needed sooner than I had expected."

Just then pieces of the ceiling began to fall to the floor and the room began to fill with dust. He could tell that unexpected guests had arrived.