17

Recommended songs, "Frequency" By Duncan James, "Bleeding Out" by Imagine Dragons.If you think of a better one, please do leave it in the reviews!

As predicted, Gordon was not pleased when Batman gave him the basis of the scheme. He was less pleased when Jasmine and her father became involved.

However, he did agree to help.

Rachel proved the hardest to convince. "Not fair." She'd snapped.

"I'll be right there," Jasmine offered, "at least most of the time."

"Most of the…thanks a lot, that helps a bundle!"

Jack's voice came over the speakerphone held loosely in Bruce's hand. "We'll have eyes on you the whole time, sheesh. It's not like we didn't consider the possibility that something could go wrong."

Rachel crossed her arms furiously. "You have this on speaker? Bruce,"

"Sorry, sorry," he scrambled to try and look like he was going to turn it off, but then gave up and just held it out with a smile. Jasmine grabbed it and dropped in the front pocket on her jacket.

"Who is that?" the lawyer demanded.

"A friend, who happens to be working with us on this." Bruce said, "He couldn't make it, and I wanted him to hear what was said."

Jasmine caught her dad rolling his eye, and bit back a smile. Rachel studied them all, and then shook her head. "You are all just fantastic. I can't believe this. Okay, fine, what do I do?"

Bruce handed her a flash drive. "Just install this. Someone else will take care of the rest."

"I hate you, all of you." She wagged the drive in their faces to prove it.

As they walked down the stairs, Brian let out a sigh. "That went well."

Together, Bruce and Jasmine said, "Then you don't know Rachel."

"That's weird, don't do that." Brian muttered, dropping to the pavement to look for bombs under the car. Alfred leaned stepped out, making him jump.

"I was here the whole time, Mr. Richards. No one came near the car."

Sitting between her father and Bruce Wayne, Jasmine had to smile. In a novel it would have been a girl's worst nightmare, the handsome, rich guy on one side, the stern father who could shoot on the other. She thought it was great to have them all in the same space. Her mother would have had a fit, but she was having a ball.

For the moment.

At the manor, Jack had set out a scale model of a downtown building. He was putting markers on various points and punching notes into an iPad. He didn't even look up as they walked in. "I have the structures strongest and weakest points color coded, along with our routes. If you can make the dump on the roof this afternoon, I can set everything up overnight."

Bruce looked at the list his cohort had typed up. "I can get most of it done; you'll have to do the rest. I don't want to make more than one trip and tip someone off."

Jack chewed on his thumbnail. The scars rippled as the thought. "If you can put the last stuff in a few duffels and a backpack, I should be able to carry it in alone."

Brian leaned on the table and studied the model. "I can't believe you talked me into this. Where am I going to be?"

"Across the street, on the roof of the office building, here." Bruce showed Mr. Richards the city map for those few blocks. "We need a good shot to keep an eye on things from there."

"And where will Jasmine be?" He asked.

"I'm Rachel's guard." She replied, crouching to look inside the building model. Running a finger along the weakest lines, she mused, "This thing should have come down years ago."

"The owner's trying to get a few permits, can't budge yet." Jack ran down some calculations and made marks on the model. "Batty, do you think you can run a few charges from your post?"

Bruce was walking out of the room, and called over his shoulder, "Just load it into my vocal command unit." He turned to face them briefly. "Oh, and call me Batty again you're going to be strapped to one of those charges."

"That's nice," Jack was already in another world, checking a simulation on his pad.

Brian shook his head and went over to look out a window. "This is bringing back all sorts of memories about Unit 40. And reminds me why I was glad it was over."

Jasmine smiled and curled up on a chair. She desperately needed a nap.

Brian watched as the Wayne chopper took off, carrying a load of supplies and explosives. He was sure there had to have been a better way to do it, but couldn't think of it.

Jasmine was packing the model into a box, and reading numbers off a notepad to Jack. The older man studied them and listened to their friendly rejoiners.

Poor Jonathan Napier. He hadn't stood a chance with the brain of a master arsonist and the soul of a poet. Zeke had simply put him where he would have probably ended up anyway. That didn't justify it, it never would. But it was a sobering idea.

Jack was the kind who pushed back, pushed until he was broken. His scars were only the banner he wore to declare his cause. Zeke's treachery and brutality was the spark, Chris' family was the driving force, and once those were gone, there would be nothing left. He had no idea what Jack would do when that moment arrived.

Jasmine was much the same way. She had become used to existence only, not living that existence out. Her bright smiles that hid the emptiness, those weapons were her steel soul externalized. He knew now he was looking at a version of himself, a version of himself that continually looked for the hope without being able to feel it. She was the price society paid for its safety, and she would be the first to be trampled when they no longer understood that price.

Bruce called about an hour later and gave Jack the all clear. Painting his face and donning the purple and green get-up, he loaded a car and drove to the building.

It was three in the morning before they were all in the same room again. Jack pulled his gloves off, smacking his lips, licking the scars. Brain eyed him uncomfortably. "I think you and I need to talk about your professional appearance after this is over."

"This? This is expensive, I'll have you know."

"Well, you got hosed." Brian returned to the window and looked out again.

Jasmine joined him, grinning. "I like the driveway too."

"What?" He glanced at her.

She pointed. "The driveway. You've been studying it for hours."

"Just thinking."

"Lot of that going around."

They stood there, looking in the same direction, neither really seeing anything at all. Brian let out a gusty sigh.

"I love you, no matter what."

She smiled, and this one started in her eyes. "I love you too, Dad."

"I'm proud of you, princess. I want you to know that."

"I know."

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

Everyone but Jack descended the stairs, and found Alfred talking to a very agitated Gordon. The policeman charged towards Bruce, holding out his phone.

"The text just came in. They have Rachel." He sighed. "I already started the Bat-signal."

Nodding, Bruce gave them the sign to move. As they scattered, he called to the officer, "I'll head over to Wayne Enterprises; can you go to the station and relay dispatch to this frequency?"

Gordon gave one nod, and shot the others a strange glance before disappearing.

The group got in their respective vehicles, with their personal equipment and scattered. A brightly colored convertible passed Jasmine, and a black chopper flew over her head. She smiled dangerously.

The trail of crumbs was about to end for good.