A/N: Hi all, sorry for the delay, but things in school are very busy. Here we have the third to last chapter.

We come to the moment all of you have been waiting for, the scene where our two heroes reunite. I'm sure all of you have been weeping for both of them since Bane broke them up, but now they're back and ready to kick ass.

Remember, after this story ends I'll be coming up with my new EO story Countdown. Be sure to check it out.

Disclaimer: I have no ownership of either story, though if Wolf and Nolan are willing to sell…

PS: If you haven't read or reviewed the last chapter of Prey, would you mind doing so? It would mean so much to me

Please Review!

Chapter 16: Reunited

In the streets of Gotham, what few people dared to venture out fled inside as the two Tumblers escorted the black Lincoln towncar through the snow lined avenues. Gas was almost nonexistent to the common people, and only Bane's men, the GPA, and the official PRGC vehicles were allowed to partake in the remaining reserve. This was one of them, and the people all knew which government official fancied Lincoln towncars.

Arriving at a small, decrepit warehouse in Lower Gotham, the hulking former mob soldier exited the towncar and opened the rear door. Out stepped General Secretary Cobblepot, clad in his trademark finery. Stepping out of the trucks were his GPA honor guard, all sporting fancy uniforms and assembled in formation for their leader. He grinned, thoroughly enjoying himself. The past few month had been fun, interviewed by foreign press, praised by fellow leaders such as Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un of North Korea, and ruling over Gotham once again like his own personal fiefdom. Yet, with the bomb detonating tomorrow it would soon end, but he wasn't about to self-immolate like Bane and Porter.

Entering the warehouse with only his most trusted guards, Penguin arrived at a small storage shed, which he then stepped into. Pressing several buttons in a panel which seemed out of place, the floor of the shed immediately began to descend to a large cavernous pen beneath the warehouse. Penguin smirked inwardly; almost immediately after escaping Florence Supermax he and his contacts had been hard at work restoring this little gem, a relic from when he had been the mob kingpin. In the event where he would need to quickly escape he could slip out of the city quietly in his own personal submarine.

Upon his conviction, the pen and its contents had been rapidly neglected, but now they were all in working order. Stepping out of the elevator and onto the metal planking, he looked over his masterpiece lovingly. By this time tomorrow Gotham would be ashes, and he would watch it from afar, having linked up with a merchant ship miles off the coast. God, he loved it when he won.

TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR

With the collapse in the electrical grind and the end of newspaper distribution due to paper shortages, information in Gotham spread the old fashioned way, by word of mouth. It may have been primitive, but by all means it was still quite effective. Today the buzz was all about the impending sentencing of Elliot Stabler, Jim Gordon, Richard Stabler, and several others in the resistance. Selina Kyle was in despair; sure, outwardly she was her normal calm, collected self, but inside she felt a sense of fear. It wasn't fear for her life but instead fear for two individuals particularly.

First off was Chief Wayne, currently hiding out at her old apartment in the lower-class district of Gotham. Ever since Stabler and the others had been rounded up she had fallen into a depressed state of catatonia, sleeping most of the time and spending the rest gazing out the window or at the picture of her and her husband; it was something Selina would have never expected. The former Batgirl seemed to have given up all hope, and part of the thief couldn't grasp it.

The other part, much to her chagrin and disbelief, understood completely, and that part also feared for the life of one Elliot Stabler. Much as she tried to avoid personal connections with anyone, Selina had to confess that the police commissioner had wormed his way into her heart. He was just so damn smart and understanding, and the fact he had the general looks of a Greek god didn't help matters. These feelings were completely new and strange to her, and Selina still wasn't completely sure what they meant. 'Figures; I'm trapped in a city run by mobsters and psychopaths and this is what I don't understand.'

A sharp sound of scuffling jarred Selina out of her thoughts. Ahead, a small boy bolted out of a building with two burly guys hot on his tail. One grabbed the boy by his collar and slammed him into a wall. "You think you can steal from us?" he snarled, rifling through his jacket. "Huh?" The man pulled out an apple. "You little punk."

He raised his hand to strike the kid but unbeknownst to him, Selina had crept toward him. Grabbing his hand, she pinned it to his back. "Now boys, you should know that no one can come into my neighborhood without asking nicely." Twisting the arm until a sharp crack could be heard, she slammed her elbow into the man's head causing him to collapse to the ground. Catching the apple in her hand, Selina whirled around and caught the other man in the head with a sweeping kick before he could lay a hand on her. "First rule kid," she said to the boy, throwing him the apple. "Never steal from someone faster than you." Smiling at her, the kid ran off.

"You're pretty generous for a thief," called out a voice from afar.

Selina froze, turning slowly. Out of the shadows, clad in a leather jacket and jeans was none other than Bruce Wayne, a slight smirk on his face. 'Chief's going to flip,' thought Selina, immediately covering any happiness or relief with her usual mask of indifference. "I thought they killed you Wayne."

"Not yet," Bruce answered back, striding close to her.

"Look, if you're expecting an apology…"

"It's not your style I know."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled; Selina hated admitting she was wrong but a voice in her head said that it was probably what Stabler would have wanted her to do. 'Damn him.'

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "You really mean that Kyle," he stated.

"Don't get used to it." She looked into his eyes. "Your wife's fine by the way."

Selina noticed his eyes flash with pain mixed in with love. "Where is she?" he croaked.

"She's at my place. Before you ask any more questions I think she'd answer them better than I could."

He composed himself, though inwardly his heart was racing. "I need your help."

"And why would I do that? I am not keen on getting shot by the GPA."

"This might change your mind." Bruce held up a memory stick. "It's the clean slate. You get me to Lucius Fox, and I'll give it to you."

"You'd trust me with that? After what I did to you?"

"I'll admit I was let down," he said. "But from what I can gather from listening to people you more than made up for it. Olivia and Elliot obviously saw the same thing I did. I know you have more at stake now than your own life."

Selina bit her lip, assessing her options. "You and the missus will get your powerful friends on the case?"

"Yep."

"Very well Wayne. Go meet up with the wife and then I'll get you to Fox, but no promises." Nodding, Bruce headed off. "You are right," she muttered softly, "I do have more to lose."

TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR

She just wanted to die. Nestled in the blankets of the large, queen sized bed in Selina's apartment Olivia began to believe more and more that the sweet bliss of death would be preferable to living in this hell. 'What was the use,' she thought. 'Bruce is likely dead, Elliot will die tonight, and the city will be incinerated in a thermonuclear blast come morning.' She would never see her husband's smile again, the way his eyes brightened when they caught sight of her, or (most painfully to her) the laughter of future children, a mix of her and Bruce's features. Olivia had given up hope, and the only thing left to do now was sleep, practice for the long, final one that was soon upon her.

Silently entering the apartment, Bruce's breath hitched. It had been months since he had seen his beautiful wife, and the sight of her in the deep peace of sleep brought tears of joy and sadness to his eyes. She was still radiant, her olive skin flawless, her chocolate tresses spread around her head like a halo, her chest rising softly with each breath. However, even while she slept he could see her pain, her suffering, all for him not being here. Bruce knew he did not deserve her in the least, but he was determined to never let her out of his sight ever again. The months without her had nearly destroyed him as well.

After staring at her for nearly five minutes, convincing himself that she was indeed here and he wouldn't wake up back in the pit, Bruce walked forward quietly until he was right above his wife. Smiling softly, he leaned down and put his lips on hers.

Olivia was in the middle of her usual dream, the one that haunted her subconscious whenever the nightmares of the fight with Bane and Porter. It always involved Bruce, torturing her soul with happy moments that always ended too quickly, however this time, on the Pacific beach where they had spent their honeymoon, it seemed so real. When she and the dream Bruce kissed, it ignited a passion inside her that his conscious kisses usually did. Deciding to enjoy this for once, Olivia ran her tongue on his bottom lip, Bruce immediately granting her access. She moaned, for she swore she could feel their movements as their tongues danced with the other. However, when Olivia felt a hand grip her shoulder she opened her eyes, realizing this was not a dream. Shrieking from reflex, she slammed her fist in the mystery man's chest, sending him sprawling to the floor. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she was about to spring up in fighting stance when she froze. 'It can't be.' "Bruce?"

Rubbing his chest, Bruce whistled and gave his wife a smirk. "Glad to see you haven't slacked off," he quipped, though the catch in his voice betrayed his emotion.

Shaking, Olivia blinked again, hoping her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. "Is it really…"

Bruce cut her off. "Yes Liv, it's me."

Without a second thought, with a cry filled with both pain and joy, Olivia leapt out of the bed and threw herself in Bruce's arms. Hearing his love sobbing with abandon, Bruce hugged her as tight as possible, lifting her into the air. "You came back to me," Olivia breathed between sobs. "You came back."

Gently putting her down, he cupped her cheek and wiped away the tears with his thumb. "I always will. God Liv I missed you so much."

Olivia gave her husband a warm smile filled with love. "I missed you more than I could ever describe."

Neither said another word as their mouths met hungrily, Bruce backing his wife toward the bed. They fell in a heap of arms, legs, and clothes halfway in the process of being shed. Bruce's lips broke the kiss as he moved them down Olivia's neck. "I never," he whispered lovingly between kisses, "Want to be away from you again."

"Me neither," Olivia moaned as Bruce bit her pulse point. "I want to have you children Bruce."

"Only if they look like you."

She smirked at his statement, unzipping his pants. "Come here." They looked each other straight in the eye. "I love you Bruce."

"I love you too Liv." They both gasped as he entered her.

Afterwards, they lay breathless and sated next to each other. "Liv?"

"Yes Bruce," said Olivia, snuggling into her husband's side for the first time since that night by the fireplace. "What is it?"

"Did you mean that? Do you really want to have kids with me?"

She gazed up at him, her chocolate eyes locking on to his green ones. "Of course Bruce. The only person I'd even consider having kids with is you."

His heart melted at her words. "You are so perfect Olivia."

Olivia smiled. "I take after my teacher." He was silent, answering her with a kiss.

For the first time in months, as they began going over plans for the counterstrike both Bruce and Olivia felt at peace. There was still a city to save, friends to free, and enemies to defeat, but for now they were content in each other's embrace.

TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR

In his decades long career as a Gotham City police officer, Elliot Stabler had been in many a courtroom. He thought he'd seen it all, but the Soviet style farce he, his son, Jim Gordon, and the others captured yesterday were in now was something he had never envisioned nor wished to envision. "No lawyer? No witnesses? What sort of due process is this?"

Up on the dais, George Huang was enjoying himself. "General Secretary Cobblepot has already determined your guild Mr. Stabler. This is merely a sentencing hearing. So what'll it be? Exile or death?"

Glancing at his men and receiving sharp nods from all of them, his son included, Elliot turned to Huang. "If you think we're going out on that ice Huang, then you're mistaken."

"So you choose death I suppose?"

"Looks that way."

"Fine, death." A small smirk appeared on Huang's face. "By Exile."

TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR

Meanwhile, down in the lobby (which was serving as a holding area for the "Enemies of the workers of Gotham") Lucius Fox and Casey Novak watched as two GPA thugs led in a pair of hooded prisoners.

"These two got a big day tomorrow," one remarked with a chuckle.

"Yep. It's not every day you bag Bruce and Olivia Wayne." They threw them down on the floor and exited the lobby.

Eyes wide, Fox and Casey quickly rushed to the figures and ripped off their hoods. Low and behold it was Bruce and Olivia, alive and in the flesh. "Bruce, Liv," said Casey, hugging both of them.

"Well this is a nice surprise," said Fox. "Hell of a time to come home from vacation Mr. and Mrs. Wayne. What brings you to the Gotham Hilton?"

"How long before that bomb goes off?" asked Olivia.

"Less than twelve hours," Fox replied.

"We need to get you out of here Lucius," interjected Bruce. "You need to reconnect the core with the reactor."

"Can we get Casey out of here?"

"Not tonight. Sorry Case," Olivia said to her friend.

Casey waved her off. "Do what's necessary Liv. I'll be fine."

"Tonight Lucius, we need you to get us back in the game." The three shared a knowing grin.

"Sorry to spoil your fun boys." All four heads turned to see Selina, clad in her black jumpsuit, entering the lobby. "But Bane and Porter want those two and the grandpa all to themselves." Flinching at the mere mention of the Masked Man and his insane apprentice, the GPA guards wasted no time in leading Bruce, Liv, and Fox out of the lobby.

When they passed into a hallway, out of sight from the main group of GPA guards, Selina swung into action. Knocking the first guard out with a sweeping kick, she punched the second one in the throat and the third in the face, bringing them all down in less than ten seconds.

Fox stared at her wild eyed. Noticing that, Olivia leaned in and whispered in his ear, "The commissioner's girlfriend." Bruce smirked at that, Olivia wearing a cheeky grin.

"Let's move," Selina ordered, cutting off their restraints.

"My, my," observed Fox. "The commissioner sure has a nice girlfriend."

"He should be so lucky," responded Selina, a small smile on her lips due to the comment.

TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR

An hour later, Bruce, Olivia, and Fox were deep beneath the streets of Gotham in the old Temporary Batcave that they had used when the mansion was under repairs. Instead of decommissioning it the two heroes placed it as an emergency headquarters, and boy was this an emergency.

Clicking a button on a remote control, Olivia watched as a wall panel opened and a shelf of gear rolled forward. "Nice to know the place is as we left it."

"Home sweet home," quipped Bruce, beginning to look over the gear. "Now if anyone gets near the bomb or threatens to overthrow Bane, the triggerman will detonate it."

"He can't use radio waves," added Olivia, grabbing a set of her stun darts. "Too much interference."

Fox nodded. "Infrared doesn't have the range, so it's going to have to be a microburst. We can jam it, but we'll both need the EMP cannon guidance mount from the Bat and someone with enough balls to get it on the truck to block the signal. Do you remember where you parked the badboy?"

"Yep," answered Bruce.

"Dis she fly ok?"

"I guess so," Olivia answered, since she was the pilot. "Even without the autopilot."

"Isn't that what you're there for Mrs. Wayne?" asked Lucius with a twinkle in his eye. "Ok, so we have the Bat, but now where do we find a trained guy with the balls to do it?"

Olivia looked at Bruce, a grin on her face. "I have just the guy." At that moment two cabinets holding their suits emerged out of the floor.

"Showtime."

TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR

Lowell Harris was enjoying himself immensely. Though he couldn't get his revenge against Chief Benson – or Chief Wayne he guessed her real name was – revenge against Commissioner Stabler seemed good enough right now. Everyone back at GPA HQ made fun of him for losing two of his fingers to Bane, but this would show them. "Alrighty gentlemen," he said in a fake cheery voice, his mouth contorted in an evil leer, "Let's go."

"Fuck you," spat Jim Gordon.

Responding with a burst of automatic fire in the air with his AK-74 carbine, he and his men leveled it at the cops. "Next time it'll be at your head, now start walking!"

Night had fallen, and in the sub-zero temperatures the group of cops headed carefully onto the iced-over Gotham River. Never one to shy away from a verbal fight, Elliot turned his head to look at Harris. "When this is over it'll be you who dies under the ice."

Harris laughed. "Like that'll ever happen Commissioner. First, you'll die, and second I'll find that bitch Olivia and finish what I started back in Sealview." Elliot, Dickie, Gordon, and the rest gritted their teeth. All were in agreement that this guy needed killing.

Too engrossed in watching their boss tell off the police commissioner, the GPA soldiers did not notice a shadowy figure on the bridge's columns. One by one, the figure threw poison-tipped darts at them, killing them instantly. Harris, having finished another sick joke, began to grow angry when his men didn't respond. He swiveled around only to catch a boot with his face.

Placing his foot on the ice, Elliot noticed a flare resting on the frozen surface. Curious, he bent down and picked it up.

"Light it up," came a menacing, but still feminine voice from the shadows. Out strode the Batgirl in all her glory.

Ignoring the whoop from his son, Elliot threw the flare into a puddle of fuel on the ice, watching as the flame streaked upward along a column.

Across the city, from the Tucker household, to the orphanage, and to countless others all watched as the top of the bridge ignited, the twin bats with crossed wings that all recognized burning brightly.

"Impossible," breathed Bane, watching the fire with an increasingly angry Porter. "Assemble the men, they'll come for us."

"What about Penguin master?"

"Let him leave. What use is he to us?"

Admiring his work, Elliot turned to the Batgirl. "Nice of you to show up," he remarked. "Where's your partner?"

"On other business. Where's Bane holed up?"

"He's at city hall with the entire GPA. It would take an Army to dislodge him."

"We'll get you one." Olivia handed him the device. "I need you to place this on the bomb. It'll stop any signal that gets through. Gordon, Richard Stabler, I need you to come with me."

"Look out!" All heads swiveled to see Lowell Harris rise and aim his carbine straight at Olivia.

"Eat lead whore!" he snarled, firing. Olivia was too agile for him though, immediately crossing the gap and kicking him in the ribs. Harris went flying across the ice, but managed to pick up the gun just as Olivia froze. At point blank range there was no way he could miss. Harris sneered. "Any last words bitch?"

Olivia was about to growl when a groaning sound from the ice flow where Harris was standing made her smirk instead. "Bitch?" she questioned.

"That's right." He raised the carbine, only to hear a sharp cracking sound beneath him. He glance downward just when the ice cracked, sending him to the dark, freezing depths with a scream.

Olivia chuckled. "Who's the bitch now?"

A/N: Wow, who loved Olivia's last line? The entire reason I had Lowell Harris in here was so that she could say that line, LOL!

And I leave you with only two more chapters: The big battle, and the conclusion of the fight/epilogue. I hope to see you all along the way. And remember Countdown will be published shortly after.

God Bless