Chapter 12 the Aftermath

The evening had gone to hell in a hand basket and she was completely to blame. She should have never started this relationship with Bruce, not as long as Jack was around. She couldn't be Jacqueline Nallier anymore. Her secret had come out with a bang and now all of Gotham City would know who she really was behind the tailored suits and tough exterior. She would be guilty by association and would probably be disbarred. She stood in the middle of the guest bedroom at Jack and Harleen's house still dressed in her gown and jewels. Nothing had gone as planned tonight and now her life was ruined.

"You ok hon?" Harleen asked from the doorway.

Jacqueline kept her back to her and shrugged her shoulders. "You need some help getting out of that dress?" Harleen asked quietly.

Jacqueline nodded slowly, her back still to Harleen. Harleen helped her undo the closures that held the dress together and brought her a gray silk robe to wear. She then gently took down Jacqueline's hair. "How many damn bobby pins do you have in this do?" Harleen had asked, making Jacqueline giggle.

"I imagined Bruce getting pissed as he took them out of my hair tonight," she had responded before the dam finally broke and she began to sob.

Harleen held her and let her cry herself out. "Mr. J. is a hard man to love Jackie. I should know. I've literally killed myself for him."

Jacqueline wiped her face with a tissue. "He's my brother and I love him. I guess it's nice to finally not be living a lie anymore. Of course I'll have to leave the practice. I can't imagine they will appreciate having a partner that has a notorious criminal for a brother."

"Are you crying over your job or over a tall, dark, and handsome fella?"

Jacqueline shook her head. "I knew better than to get involved. I never should have let it go that far."

"Harley!" came a shout from the hallway. "Where the hell are you?"

Harleen's face lit up. "In here Mr. J. with Jackie!"

The door to the bedroom swung open. "Come here baby… I've got plans for us tonight."

Harleen left her side and she could hear them both giggling behind her. "Stay as long as you need doll face. I'll always take care of you." She was shocked to realize he was right behind her and flinched when he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks Jack," she said softly and he gave her shoulder a squeeze before leaving the room with Harleen.

Of course he would never own the fact that he was the cause for her misery or that he had just ruined her life and everything she had worked to achieve. That was part of Jack's charm, he never admitted to doing anything wrong. No matter the crime he was always innocent.

Jacqueline glanced behind her at the closed door and debated about locking it before she went to bed. Not that it would do any good if Jack wanted into the room bad enough. "I guess there really is someone for everyone," came a deep voice from behind her.

She turned around slowly to face him. "Are you scared?" he asked.

She shook her head no. "How did you get in here?" she asked trying to sound calm.

"The window wasn't locked."

"What do you want?"

He pulled her overnight bag from beneath his cape. "I was sent with this. I suppose you left it in your sudden departure from Wayne Manor."

"Did Alfred or Bruce send you with it?" she asked the vigilante, not expecting an answer.

He glared at her and she returned the stare. "Thanks for bringing back the bag," she finally said and he nodded curtly.

She stood up from the bench she had been seated on and closed the distance between them. Before he could react she slipped her hand under his cape and along his left hip where she felt the fresh stitching in the material. "I didn't realize you ran errands for Mr. Wayne," she said, running her hand up the plate that covered his chest.

He grunted but didn't answer and didn't move away from her hands. "Could you relay a message to Mr. Wayne for me? Let him know that I'll be in my office around six in the morning to clean out my things. I'll be resigning and at that time of the morning he can catch me alone."

The vigilante stared at her for a moment before grabbing the back of her head and smashing his lips to hers. The quickness of the action caused her to open her mouth and he used the moment to his advantage and slipped his tongue inside. Her hands stayed pressed against his chest and she wished he wasn't covered in all this armor so that she could feel the real him. She felt him change positions and lift her up against him, never breaking the kiss. She wrapped her legs around his waist and bucked her hips against him. She wanted more, but through all of his layers she couldn't tell if he was as aroused as she.

A deep growl emanated from him before he separated their bodies. He ran his gloved fingers over the simple knot that held her robe together. "A simple tug is all it would take," he said softly. "On simple tug and I could see you in all of your naked glory."

"What's stopping you?" she asked almost begging for him to undo the robe.

"I'll give Mr. Wayne the message," he said abruptly before backing out of the window.

"We all have secrets to hide," she thought to herself as she watched the black vehicle race into the night. "I wonder how no one realizes who he is hiding behind that mask and façade of a vigilante."