Part II

-x-

Casey awoke to a white ceiling and the smell of cleaning products in her nostrils. She was in the hospital, she realized. Right. She vaguely remembered the ambulance ride before she faded again.

She looked around carefully, noticing the various machines she was hooked up to. She took a deep breath, relieved to find her neck was unrestricted. She remembered Blackgate... and the Joker. He choked her and very nearly killed her. Until Batman intervened. He saved her life again.

Casey groaned and sat up, minding the various tubes surrounding her body. Her head felt heavy like she slept forever but also like she had slammed it against something very hard. Must be a side effect from nearly dying, she thought with a grimace.

The door to the room opened and a small, slight woman stepped through holding a Styrofoam cup. The woman caught sight of Casey sitting up and promptly dropped her cup, spilling coffee on the floor. "Oh!" She exclaimed and then looked down to the spilled coffee. "Oh," she said again.

"Hi Mom," Casey said and winced both because her throat was scratchy and at the sight of her mother.

Virginia Wilson and Casey looked little alike. Where Casey was tall with a figure, Virginia was short and wispy like a small breeze would push her over. Her hair, which Casey could vaguely remember as being blonde, hung limp and dull. Perhaps once they might have shared the same blue eyes but Virginia's blue eyes were flat and always darted around as if looking for a place to run away to.

"Oh dear, I should clean this up right away," Virginia said, wringing her hands as she surveyed the mess. "I'll go find some towels." Without saying anything to Casey, she ran from the room in search of towels.

Casey sighed and leaned back. She could have called a nurse or something and get a janitor to clean the mess up. Or she could have pointed to the small bathroom and told her to grab something from there.

But only a short minute later, Virginia came back holding some towels. She knelt down and mopped the spilled coffee up and then left.

Casey waited patiently and Virginia came back in. "Hi Mom," she said again.

"Hello Casey," Virginia said and approached Casey. Her eyes began to water at the sight of Casey in the bed. "I was terrified when I got the call this morning. I thought I—" She sniffled and pulled a handkerchief out from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

Casey reached for her mother, taking her bony hand. "I'm okay, Mom. See?" She gestured to herself. "I'm alive and awake."

"I know." Virginia smiled weakly. "I'm sorry Casey."

"You don't need to apologize, Mom," Casey soothed. "I just got into a car accident last night. The weather was bad. How did you get here?"

"Annette gave me a ride. She borrowed her son's truck. Please tell me you didn't get into your accident while trying to come home." Her mother tittered nervously, looking at Casey with wide eyes.

"No Mom!" Casey said hastily. "I got in my accident when trying to get back to my apartment last night."

She felt bad about lying to her mother about how she ended up in the hospital. But telling her a psychopath nearly choked her to death was the number one way to give her mother a coronary. No, Casey told herself, it was better if her mother didn't know what happened to her last night.

"I'm sorry to make you come up into Gotham on Christmas," Casey apologized. "I know how much you were looking forward to a quiet Christmas."

"It's alright," Virginia said. "As long as you're safe."

Casey smiled.

Their talk was cut short when the door opened. Virginia yelped and shot to her feet like a startled rabbit. Casey reached for her and took her hand. "Mom, it's okay. It's just Gordon." She gestured from Gordon to her mother. "Captain Gordon, this is my mother: Virginia Wilson. Mom, this is Captain Jim Gordon."

Gordon reached out his hand but Virginia flinched away, wringing her hands. He looked to Casey with a questioning look but she just shook her head.

"Is it alright if I speak to your daughter alone, ma'am?" Gordon asked Virginia kindly.

Virginia looked to Casey and nodded mutely. She stood up and shuffled back outside.

"Don't mind her," Casey said once her mother was gone. "She's a bit skittish."

"Right," Gordon said, clearly not convinced. He sat down in the chair her mother had occupied. "How're you feeling?"

"Not bad," Casey told him. "A little bit sore but I'll live."

He nodded. "That's good." Then he cleared his throat. "Listen Casey, something's happened."

"What?"

"We received a tip from... the Batman and that led us to more corruption in the GCPD." He shifted, looking uncomfortable. But he sighed and continued on. "Edward Nygma has been working for Sionis."

Casey's heart sank. She liked Ed and she always hoped he never worked under the table for someone. "I see," she said sadly.

"There's more. There's evidence he was going to blackmail people in positions of power or reveal their illegal activities to the public."

"You've got to be kidding me," Casey gasped.

Ed had been so nice if a little full of himself. And she thought he was a good boss.

Gordon sighed again. "There's still more, Casey. We found evidence Nygma took his information from everyone in the Cyber Crimes Department. Everyone's names were in his files."

"What do you mean?" She asked hesitantly.

"It means, that the entire department is under investigation. Until further notice, you're suspended without pay and forbidden from entering the Precinct with exception of when you meet with Internal Affairs. Your work computer will be confiscated and so will any electronics you have at your home."

While Gordon spoke, Casey's mouth dropped open in horror. "I'm suspended?" She whispered.

He nodded. "I'm sorry Casey but this is out of my hands." He reached forward and patted her arm sympathetically. "IA will contact you after you get out of the hospital."

"Okay," she said trying to will herself not to cry. "Thanks for coming by Gordon. Have a Merry Christmas."

"Casey, I really am sorry about this."

"I know," she interrupted. "I know."

He left and Casey settled back into her pillow. Virginia came back and sat down. "Are you okay, honey?" She asked.

Casey shook her head. "Just tired," she lied. "I think I might go back to sleep."

"Alright." Virginia smoothed Casey's covers over and tried to fluff the pillow but Casey gently shooed her hand away. "I'll be here when you wake up."

"Thanks Mom."

-x-

By the time Casey was drifting off to sleep the door opened again and the doctor walked in with her discharge papers. Virginia roused Casey up who begrudgingly got out of bed to sign them.

"I don't get why they could have told me they were releasing me," Casey grumbled as she pulled her clothes from last night back on.

"I'm sure they have their reasons," Virginia said softly.

She held Casey's coat and hat out for her which Casey shrugged on. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Is Annette still around?"

"She said she would wait for us down in the lobby," Virginia replied.

Gently, Virginia gripped Casey's arm, not to help Casey but to steady herself. Casey opened the door and they left.

Downstairs in the lobby, an African-American woman just slightly older than Virginia sat in a chair crocheting what looked like a blanket. The woman glanced up and broke into a smile, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. She put her crochet stuff away and stood up. "Casey!" She exclaimed and walked towards the duo.

She carefully extracted Casey from Virginia's grip before pulling her in for a hug. Casey breathed in the woman's perfume (warm vanilla sugar.) She was just the same as ever: graying hair pulled back in a bun and bright, brown eyes. "Hi, Annette," she greeted and pulled away. "Thanks for giving my mom a ride."

"No problem, darling," Annette replied. She turned away to gather her things. "It was the least I could do. Poor Virginia was a wreck when she came knocking on my door saying you were in the hospital. And on Christmas! I couldn't keep her separated from you."

Outside, it was no longer snowing but still cold. Casey shivered and shoved her hands into her pockets. She lost her gloves in Blackgate somewhere.

They piled into a large, black truck as Annette started it up. "You two are welcome to stay with me and Rodney today. We postponed family Christmas because of the weather. I'll make you two something to eat."

"Thanks Annette," Virginia replied. "But I don't want to be a burden."

"Nonsense," Annette said firmly. "You're not a burden and you're welcome at my house any time, Virginia. And you as well Casey. I dislike you living in the city. Too much can happen." She glanced at Casey in her rear-view mirror. "And not just accidents. All sorts of criminals wander those streets. You never know who you're going to run into."

Casey instinctively touched her bruised neck. An image of a grinning, red mouth ran through her mind and she shuddered. "I know," she said softly.

"What's going to happen to the police department now that Commissioner Loeb is dead?" Annette continued. "Are we to expect the same thing from our highly esteemed police force?"

Casey smiled slightly. "I don't think so," she confessed. "Captain Gordon seems to have taken over for the most part. If things continue to go well, I see the department getting a cleanse."

"Captain Gordon? Was he that police officer I saw earlier?"

"That's him. He came by to see how I was doing."

"Did he now? Well ain't that just sweet of him."

Casey laughed and then grimaced. Her throat still hurt. She rubbed it again, wincing when she pressed too hard against the tender skin.

"I tell you, Casey, that must have been some awful whiplash when you had your accident. I've never seen seatbelt marks that high up before."

Casey blanched. Annette had a nose for detecting bullshit a mile away. And the woman had seen plenty of car crashes from her days as a paramedic. "I might have been slouching a bit in my seat," Casey lied. She shot Annette a pleading look that said: please, not in front of my mother.

"Dangerous habits, Casey," Annette said.

"Please be more careful next time," Virginia said softly. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"Mom," Casey said, "I'm not going anywhere."

Despite Virginia insisting that Annette didn't have to take them in, Annette insisted they join her and Rodney for Christmas dinner. "Rodney even went out and bought a ham clearly too big for the two of us. And I'd like your company Virginia. We haven't had our tea in a long time."

"I've been busy," Virginia said faintly.

"Of course. I don't want to rush you."

As they got out of the truck, Virginia latched onto Casey's arm again. Casey guided her inside where she finally let go.

A tall, beefy man with dreadlocks done into a large ponytail stood up from his spot on the couch when they entered the living room. "Mom," he said and looked at Virginia and Casey. "Ms. Wilson. Casey."

"Hey Rodney," Casey greeted.

Rodney Browning, was Annette's twenty-one year old son. He and Casey used to be inseparable friends when Casey lived with Annette for a few years but fell out of touch when Casey went to college and found her own place. Perhaps that's why it was easy being friends with Barbara because she was used to hanging with people so much younger than herself.

"How you holding up at the GCPD?" He asked and bumped her shoulder gently.

"Not bad," she said and grinned. "How's school?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Hard. But Mom's making me study every day and stuff. She says it'll pay off when I get into veterinary school."

Casey smiled. Rodney loved animals. "I'm sure it will." She lowered her voice so Annette wouldn't overhear. "But if you need someone to get into your records to change a couple grades..." She winked at him.

He laughed. "I'll get in fair and square, Case. Unlike someone I know."

"Hey," she defended. "It was only one point!"

And she had already passed the class anyway. She just wanted to test out a new hacking technique she learned. No harm, no foul.

"Rodney," Annette called from the kitchen. "Go ahead and get started on the potatoes. The ham should be ready in a couple hours."

"Yes ma'am," Rodney responded and walked towards the kitchen as Annette walked out.

"And if you'd be so kind as to do the vegetables too." She directed her attention to Casey. "Casey, I've got some old clothes that might fit you and I'll wash the clothes you have on."

"You don't need to," Casey stammered but Annette took a hold of Casey's arm in a firm grip.

"Virginia, you make yourself comfortable," Annette called over her shoulder. She raised her voice. "Rodney will make you some tea."

"Yes ma'am," Rodney called back.

Virginia slowly sat down in a large, comfy armchair as Annette whisked Casey upstairs.

Annette's bedroom was the same as Casey remembered it: patchwork quilt on the bed, the faint smell of vanilla, pictures of Annette's family back home, and a large, potted peace lily in the corner.

Annette let go of Casey and strode over to the closet. She threw a pair of jeans, a white shirt, and a red flannel at Casey. Casey caught the pants and shirt but the flannel fluttered to the floor.

"Those should fit," Annette said.

She walked back over to Casey and placed a hand on her shoulder, stilling her. "Lift your chin up," Annette commanded.

Casey knew better than to refuse Annette so she obediently raised her chin so Annette could get a good look.

"What happened last night? Who attacked you?" Annette asked calmly.

"Huh?"

Annette tapped Casey's jaw once as a warning. "Don't lie to me, Casey. I was a paramedic for thirty-seven years. I know choking bruises when I see them."

Casey looked Annette in the eye. "Do you promise not to tell my mother?" She asked.

"Goodness child, you think I'd tell your fragile mother about these bruises? She'd faint from the shock. Unless..." Her gaze hardened into steel. "Someone you're seeing did this?"

"God no!" Casey said, offended. "I haven't had a boyfriend in years."

"I'm just covering bases," Annette said calmly. "I needed to make sure. Especially after your mother—"

"It happened at Blackgate," Casey interrupted.

"Blackgate?" Annette raised a brow.

"You heard about the riot last night? I was there and an inmate grabbed me."

"Gracious, Casey."

"I almost died, Annette," Casey laughed humorlessly. "But the Batman saved me."

"The Batman?" Annette repeated.

"Yeah." Casey picked up the flannel shirt. "If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead." Several times over in fact but Casey wasn't going to let Annette in on that. "He pulled the guy off at last second."

"What were you doing at Blackgate?" Annette said sharply.

"They needed someone to help reboot the system. As a Senior Analyst, I knew my way around that system. I was an obvious choice."

"That seems so irresponsible! You could have died."

"I am well aware of that Annette," Casey replied. She leaned down and picked up the flannel shirt. "I'm going to get changed. My old room still open?"

"Yes. You can sleep there tonight. I'm giving my bed to Virginia."

Grateful to get away from Annette's interrogation, she slipped into the bedroom at the top of the house. It had been a storage room at one point but converted into a bedroom when Casey came to stay when she was sixteen.

Casey expected dust but was surprised to find the room clean. Everything had been dusted and there were fresh sheets on the bed. No doubt Rodney's doing while Annette and Virginia had gone to get her at the hospital.

She dumped the spare clothes on the bed and sat down. Some of her old things dotted the edges on the room. A few old computer science awards sat on the shelf, a math textbook lay forgotten in the corner, and Casey even spied her diploma wedged between a couple books. Huh, she thought she took that with her when she moved out...

Casey stood up and ambled over to the body-length mirror affixed to the wall. In the upper corners, a younger Casey had written words of encouragement: "Love as though you've never been hurt before!" and "Sing as if no one can hear you!" and "You're beautiful!" She wondered which fortune cookie she got that from.

She examined herself in the mirror. Her eyes trailed down from her head to her neck. The skin around her throat was a mass of purple bruises. She turned her head to the side and saw longer, thin bruises surrounding her neck; those must be from his fingers, she thought.

Gingerly, she touched them and winced. They were still tender.

She went back to staring at her reflection before reaching out to touch her face in the mirror. Had she really almost died yesterday? Or really, this morning as it was still late Christmas Day.

Casey blinked. Staring back at her wasn't her face but a white one with ruby-red lips stretched into a grin. Green eyes twinkled maliciously at her. "Shame you won't get to see the rest," it said.

She jumped away from the mirror as if it were burning hot, her heart beating frantically in her chest. She looked back to the mirror but saw only her wide, frightened eyes staring back.

"Casey! I'm getting ready to do the wash! Bring your dirty clothes down here!" Annette shouted from the first floor.

"Okay!" Casey shouted back. She turned away from the mirror, shaking her head. That was nothing. Her mind was just playing tricks on her. The Joker wasn't here. He was locked up in Blackgate for good this time. Hopefully.

She shimmied out of her clothes and threw Annette's old ones one, only buttoning the flannel up to just below her chest. Gathering her old clothes up, she ran downstairs and delivered them to Annette before she could yell at Casey a second time.

"Go watch television with your mother," Annette said after Casey gave her the clothes. "Lord knows she could spend some time with you."

"Yes, ma'am," Casey recited dully and left before Annette could retort.

She found her mother listlessly watching an old rerun of A Charlie Brown Christmas. "Hey mom," Casey greeted as she sat down on the couch.

Virginia immediately reached over to grasp at Casey. Casey, in turn, took her hand. "I keep thinking I lost you," Virginia murmured. "And I think all about how much I failed you as a mother."

"Mom, don't say that! You never failed me. Not once. And you know that." Casey gave her hand a quick squeeze to reassure her. "I love you, you know?"

"I know you do." Virginia smiled at Casey but Casey could see the tears in her eyes. "You're my whole world Casey. Promise me you'll be careful in Gotham."

"I promise."

They finished the Charlie Brown movie before it switched over to the old, stop-motion Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie.

"I remember watching this every Christmas as a little girl," Virginia said fondly. "I wanted to be a dentist just like Herman."

And then she met Casey's father shortly after high school, Casey thought, who slowly squeezed the life out of her dreams. The bruise on Casey's neck pulsed and Casey nervously pressed herself into the couch.

It wasn't until Yukon Cornelius went over the cliff that Casey went ridged. Adam's lifeless body dropped to the ground, a bloody hole in the center of his forehead.

Casey squeezed her eyes shut. He's not here, he's not here.

"Casey!?" Virginia said, alarmed. "Are you okay?"

Casey's eyes shot open. Virginia stared at her with terror in her eyes. "Sorry, Mom. My bruise is just hurting, that's all."

"Do you need me to get Annette?"

"No," Casey said quickly. "I'm fine. See?"

To her great relief, she was saved when Rodney came back into the living room announcing dinner was ready.

-x-

Despite Virginia's refusals, Annette set her up in the master bedroom while she took the couch. "I'll be fine, Virginia," Annette said as she led Virginia upstairs.

Casey herself trucked upstairs back to her old room. She passed by Rodney's room and poked her head in. "Night, Rodney."

Rodney looked up from the movie he was watching on his TV. "Night," he said.

"What is that?" Casey asked, peering at the image on the screen.

"Clowns from Hell Part Five," he answered.

"Okay, have fun with that." Casey snorted and left. Kids.

She took off the flannel shirt and jeans and hopped into bed. She carefully lay down as not to hit the bruise on her neck and pulled the covers up.

I wonder when I'll get called into the precinct, she wondered. I can't believe Ed was working for Sionis this whole time. Ugh, how did he get into my stuff? And what am I going to do about the stash under my bed? Toss it in the bay?

She rolled over and hissed through her teeth in pain when she put stress on her neck. She rolled onto her back again and stared at the ceiling before drifting off...

A high-pitched, shrieking laugh sounded in her ears. Casey shot up, gasping for breath. She fumbled for her lamp and turned it on, half-excepting to see a tall silhouette in her doorway.

But there was nothing. Just Rodney's movie, she tried to tell herself. He was watching something about clowns from hell.

But still she sat in the bed, unable to turn the light off, and breathing heavily. The laughter echoed in her ears as she strained to hear if it was coming from Rodney's room.

The house was silent. She glanced at the clock: 2:18. Everyone was asleep.

Casey lay back down but didn't the turn off the light. She curled into a ball and shut her eyes. Just as she felt her mind drift, she heard the laughter again and she shot back up. Her room was empty.

She put her head in her hands and tried to will herself to sleep, telling herself she was safe. But as she faded again, she heard the same laughter and saw yellowing teeth behind a big, red smile.

-x-

And that concludes chapter nine! Casey's in trouble. How is she going to pull herself out of this one? Batman can't save her from this.

Reviews, favorites, and follows are love! See ya in chapter ten!