I was at work when I got his call. The events that unfolded with the Ultimen hit him hard and Long Shadow had passed away the night before. I picked up knowing he wouldn't call me like this unless it was important.

"I need your help with something," he said once I picked up.

"Hello to you too," I said being a bit cheeky.

"Are you available," he asked again. He was in no-nonsense mode.

"I'm leaving for my place now," I replied. He was not chatty at all. Something must be up.

"See you then," he said hanging up the phone.

When I got to my place he was already inside waiting for me as Batman.

"I know we have this thing going on, but we are going to need to talk about boundaries," I replied throwing my keys in the bowl next to my door.

"I need your hacking skills right now," he said ignoring my last comment. He must be "in the pocket" right now.

"What do you want me to hack," asked sitting down at my desk.

"More like who. Remember the government agent I told you about who showed up to collect the Ultimen?"

"Yes," I said hesitantly. I knew where this was going.

"I need you to hack into the Pentagon and see if we can figure out more about Amanda Waller. I was able to get into their system but there are some serious firewalls in front of the information about black ops."

"You have a name now so that is helpful, but they are black ops for a reason. You know, if this is League business, Mr. Terrific would be able to do this possibly faster than me."

"Perhaps, but I don't want the others to know about this. It's best if it stays between you and me," he said. Seems to be a theme between the two of us.

"Why," I asked now worried.

"Waller knows who I am. I need some leverage in case she ever tries to expose our identities," he said.

My stomach dropped. He studied my reaction and was probably not thrilled with it. "When were you going to tell me this?"

"Now," he replied flatly.

"Are you only telling me because you got stuck," I asked shooting him a glance. He stayed silent, which meant yes.

"Unbelievable," I stated and sighed at the same time.

"Are you going to help," he asked a bit annoyed that I called him out on his crap.

"Kind of have to now. I got a lot riding on this too," I said still reeling from the news.

It took me all night to get into her system. Talk about paranoia. I've never had to break into that many firewalls before.

I let my program run and I shut my eyes for a few moments. I was suddenly awoken by a beeping sound from my computer. Bruce quickly came over and stood behind me.

"We're finally in," I replied frustrated. I began to copy over all her files to our hard drive. Once that was done I quickly got out of her system. I started clicking through them and we both read the contents.

"Cadmus?" I said aloud, "Secret weapons, cloning, bypassing congress... oh, and they have files on almost everyone in the League." I looked deeper into her files and there was one folder called Bat-family. Sure enough, there was a file on not just me but my father. Great. I had a feeling something like this would happen one day.

"Bruce, are you sure you know what you're doing?" I asked. This was a bit terrifying. Big brother knew who we were.

"What do you mean," he replied genuinely confused.

"Well, most of the world's militaries probably don't like the fact that the League has a satellite orbiting earth with a laser cannon on it. You add what Clark did in Metropolis when he was under Darkseid's control and the whole Justice Lords scare - the Pentagon is probably not feeling at ease with the Justice League." I spewed this all out in such a matter-of-fact tone that I'm sure it annoyed Bruce.

"The only reason the laser cannon is there is so we don't have to resort to crashing the Watchtower again. You seemed to be just fine with the idea when you were installing the software aboard the Watchtower," Bruce said in his defense. Touché Barb. You can't be mad that he is trying to make things safer.

"As much as that gives me some comfort. I don't know how much comfort that would be to the Pentagon," I replied, "You are assuming that everyone trusts the League implicitly. Yes, the League has saved the world countless times but the League is still in a position of control."

"So what Waller and Cadmus are doing is right," Bruce had an incredulous sound to his voice.

"No," I replied hesitantly and a bit annoyed that he wasn't understanding the point I was trying to make, "but I'm just saying I can understand why." I finally looked up at him to see his reaction. The wheels were turning.

"Listen, I trust you and I trust the League, but I know three of the founding members personally. If I didn't, I'd be suspicious…and you would be too," I said in a softer tone.

He was quiet. The kind of quiet that I know I hit a nerve. I hated having to give him a reality check but I had to for not just his safety but the safety of everyone we care for.

"As the people without superpowers, we have to consider the optics of these things. We know what it feels like to be vulnerable and helpless in the face of those with extraordinary abilities," I said getting up and placing a hand on his arm. His gaze was a million miles away, which told me he was thinking about what I was saying.

"Bruce," I said hoping he'd respond. He looked at me and his eyes softened.

"Are those the new glasses? They look good," he replied looking at my face. Changing the subject because he knows I'm right.

"Yes. I got the most expensive frames because some billionaire was picking up the tab," I said letting him change the subject.

"I never said I was paying for it. All I did was just make an appointment for you," he said with a straight face.

"Take it up with Alfred. He used your AMEX to pay for it all," I said shrugging my shoulders, "I tried to protest."

"I guess I'll just have to deduct the cost out of his paycheck," he said still with a straight face. I knew he was clearly kidding.

"I'd like to hear you even joke about such things to his face," I said knowing Alfred would say something back so witty it would destroy Bruce. He finally gave a smirk knowing exactly what I meant.

"You should get some rest," he said looking at me.

"What about you," I asked concerned with my hand still on his arm.

"I'm going to do a round of the hotspots in the city and then head home," he replied getting ready to leave.

"Would you at least think about what I said," I asked calling after him.

He nodded and like a phantom he left out my window.

A few days later word got out that a large alien construct landed in the Nevada desert in a mesa. Neighboring that mesa were three separate towns. To make things worse, huge spider-like robots that emerged from the construct were spreading over the area like locusts to a wheat field. The army and General Eiling rolled in first and tried to keep the aliens at bay but none of their weapons were effective in stopping the spread. I stayed behind in Gotham in the cave so I could gather as much intel as possible. Batman flew to Nevada in the Batwing. From the air, he determined that the construct and robots were collecting matter and making the construct grow bigger. Batman flew in close and dumped an ice bomb on the construct to see if it would freeze it.

"Batman, I'm keeping an eye on communications within the military. I don't think they are going to be able to evacuate the towns in time before those things eat their way there," I reported speaking to just Batman.

"I'm working on that. Watchtower might be going offline for an hour very soon," Batman replied.

"What?! Why," I asked confused.

"We need to create a trench to buy us some time," he replied. I then realized what he meant. The only thing powerful enough and fast enough to do that is the laser cannon aboard the Watchtower.

"Are you serious right now," I asked knowing full well he'd never joke about such a thing.

"Stand by Oracle. Batman out," he replied. My blood boiled for a second. Did he just dismiss me? What the hell are they thinking? My stomach dropped. I didn't quite have time to really process the gravity of the situation but my instincts automatically told me this was going to change things for the worse.

I shook my head and tried to focus on the task at hand. I was researching who would be the most helpful in this situation. If it is nanotech then our best bet is to get Ray Palmer to the scene as quickly as possible. He is the only one that might have the knowledge of how to stop this thing. I was about to report to Batman about Palmer when the chatter on my military communication feed when crazy. I quickly hacked into a cam on a military helicopter so I could see what they were chatting about. It was the beam. As I predicted, the Pentagon was stunned. After a moment of catching my bearings, I tried hailing Batman.

"Batman, come in."

"I read you Oracle," he replied in his normal flat affect.

"Ray Palmer is going to be your best bet at figuring out how to stop this thing. Currently, he is in Boston," I reported while looking over his profile, "you're going to need someone fast to go get him since the Watchtower is down.

"Noted. Batman out."

Throughout the whole event, there wasn't much else I could do besides keep tabs on all the communication that was going on and setting into motion any backup plans that would be needed if the League failed in Nevada. I did at one point see that the computer was alerting me that the Batwing was going down.

"Batman," I hailed him on the radio again. I didn't hear anything. I tapped into the League's feed and heard Batman ask for air support. Within a few seconds later I heard him giving orders to others once again. He was fine.

I went back to working on more contingency plans and luckily those plans did not need to be executed. After the Dark Heart had been neutralized, I had a new task: keep tabs on what the government was saying about the giant space laser the Leauge had pointed down at Earth. To say the least, most were none too pleased to learn of it. The President was in fact furious that he was not aware of it and leaders from the entire free world were trying to figure out who knew about it.

I was so entrenched in my work that I didn't even hear Batman teleport back to the cave. "You're still here," he asked from afar. I turned in the chair to face him as he walked up the steps to the computer. I had my arms crossed and stared him down.

"You're angry," he stated as more of a matter of fact than a question.

I got up and walked toward him. He had a few injuries that needed tending to.

"Let me help you take care of these," I grabbed his left arm, which had several gashes on them.

It was silent as I began to dress his wounds. I wasn't going to yell at him or tell him anything. He already knew how I felt and nothing I said was going to change his mind. After a while, the tension was too much. I had to say something.

"I'm not angry. I'm scared," I replied.

His brow furrowed at that but he didn't say anything.

"What happened today was not good and is going to make things worse between the League and Cadmus," I said while focusing on wrapping his arm.

"It was our best option," he replied.

"I know," I said frustrated, "it's just, aren't you scared? Sometimes I don't know if I can trust my own fear due to this damn toxin and now I'm not sure if I can trust yours either."

He grabbed my hand and held it tight. "I'm being as careful as possible, but we still have to take risks for the greater good." The look on his face made me believe him. I was a bit floored for a second.

"That sounds like you are saying the ends justify the means," I said pointedly.

"I'm not a Justice Lord," he replied with a bit of anger in his tone.

"No you're not, so don't talk like one," I replied matching his tone of anger. I tied the bandage on his arm tight after that. He slightly grunted. He didn't say anything in return. Probably best because whatever he was going to say would be out of anger.

"I'm going out on patrol," I said leaving him to his own devices.

I sat at the computer in the cave going over case files. For some reason, I couldn't really focus on the actual text that came up on the computer. Alfred was not too far away from me going through medical supplies and Tim was in the training simulator. Bruce was nowhere to be found for some reason. I kept trying to focus on the task at hand when I felt it. I heard a loud bang and something tore right through my right shoulder. Was it a bullet? I was in shock as I got up and another sharp pain tore through my leg and then two in my stomach. My legs felt numb and I fell to the floor.

Next, I watched in confusion as Alfred was shot in the chest and Tim was shot in the arm. Tim tried to run but then was knocked down by three more bullets to his torso. I tried to yell but my voice just crackled.

"T-Tim," I reached out desperately. I tried to get up but my arm just slipped in the stickiness of my own blood. I couldn't feel my legs anymore either. Darkness was filling the edges of my vision as I saw both Alfred and Tim take their last breaths. I felt like I was going to fall into an abyss at any moment until he came. Bruce, dressed as Batman knelt at my side and put pressure on my abdomen. I didn't feel much now. My breathing was ragged and short. I must be in shock or I'm just going to die now.

"Barbara, what happened," Bruce wanted answers. His face was filled with horror and shock.

"Stay with me," he pleaded. I reached up to him and he grabbed my bloody hand and held it to his face.

"YOU STAY WITH ME," he pleaded again. Then I saw her behind him. Amanda Waller. She had a gun trained on his head. I tried to warn him but all I could do is spit up blood. I heard another bang and I screamed.

I woke up from the dream sitting straight up. I was drenched in sweat and my breathing was shallowing and quick. I was having a panic attack.

"Damn it," I cursed out loud. I looked at the time and it was 5:30 am. I was shaky and felt like I could vomit at any moment. Once I was able to not feel so nauseous, I got up and went to the bathroom sink and splashed cold water on my sweaty face. The coolness helped ground me even further into the present moment. I'm fine. It was just a dream. Then I thought about Bruce and him breathing with me and his forehead pressed up against mine when I had my episode up in the Watchtower. I started to feel better but it still wasn't the same as having him here with me. I then started to feel sad. I was sad because we had to keep our relationship so quiet but also sad because I was angry with him.

I barely talked to Bruce until the next night after we went on patrol. I went on my own and Bruce paired up with Tim. Tim could sense the tension between us over the radio. "Batgirl, have you patrolled the Burnley yet," Batman asked hailing me on the radio.

"No. I'm tied up in Tricorner," I replied. I already stopped three muggings, and an attempted rape, and helped evacuate a small strip mall fire.

"Don't bother coming to Park Row then," he replied coldly. I wasn't planning on going there anyways but the way he said it irritated me. Jerk.

"Did you two have a fight or something," Tim chimed in.

"Stay out of it," we both said simultaneously on the radio.

"That was creepy," Tim replied. I grimaced at that response. Tim was right, I was acting like Bruce. I decided that avoiding him was stupid and that when I was done patrolling I should go to the cave. I needed to restock on equipment anyways. By the time I got there on my motorcycle Bruce and Tim had just pulled in. I silently went to the workbench and started working on repairing a broken hinge on my utility belt. Bruce went straight for the computer. Tim stood between us and looked back and forth a few times.

"I don't know what is up both of your butts but I'm going to bed. I have a biology test tomorrow that I need to pass," Tim said aloud.

"Good night kid," I said giving him a small smile to let him know I was not angry with him. He smiled back as he passed by me.

Once Tim was up the stairs Bruce spoke to me. "You're avoiding me," he asked looking towards me as I was organizing my gear and replenishing my utility belt.

"If I was doing that I would have just gone home," I said working away.

"Then what is it that you're doing," he said flatly but knowing he was poking the proverbial bear.

"I don't know," I said finally looking at him. I truly didn't. I wanted to be mad so I could protect myself but I also felt emotionally exhausted. The nightmare I had the night before wouldn't leave my mind. Flashes of it intruded my thoughts throughout the whole day and I was now starting to feel numb.

"Start with what you do know," he asked approaching the workbench. He took his cowl off in front of me so I could see his face entirely. His face still had a brooding appearance but I appreciated the gesture and knew he was trying.

"We have a habit of pissing each other off," I replied taking my cowl off too. His face softened a bit at that. He always knows I will at least be candid with him.

"I thought about what you said," he replied.

"I've said a lot, you have to be more specific," I retorted.

"About how you aren't sure you can trust my judgment when it comes to Cadmus," he replied.

"And," I replied hoping he'd enlighten me on his thoughts.

"I want you to help me with tracking Cadmus on Waller's end. I've got the Question tracking Luthor's connection." I was surprised. He actually was taking this more seriously.

"Luthor...I suppose they are getting funded by someone," I thought aloud.

He just nodded and still stared at me, like he was trying to figure something else out.

"Are you having nightmares again," he asked.

"What makes you ask that," I said still being a bit terse. I really did not want to talk about it. It makes me feel weak and I don't want to feel like that.

"I'm not going to let them hurt any of you," he replied worriedly.

"Resorting to comforting lies is not like you. You know you shouldn't make promises about things you can't control," I said a bit irritated.

"I'm not," he said sternly. At that moment I actually believed him. If anyone could pull something off like that, it'd be him. I sighed a bit and closed my eyes. He took that opportunity to get closer to me.

"What was the nightmare about this time," he asked as he moved the hair that was in my face behind my ear.

"Government agents ambushed me, Alfred, and Tim in the cave and opened fire on all of us. Bullets ripped through my body and my legs went numb. I watched vividly as Alfred was shot and then Tim. I couldn't stop it because I was on the ground unable to move in a pool of my own blood. I watched-" I stopped myself for a moment, "I watched the life leave both of their eyes Bruce. And then you showed up and saw that I was still alive. You were trying to get me to talk but I couldn't. You were trying to stop the bleeding coming from my abdomen but it was too late and you knew it. From behind you, I saw Amanda Waller with a gun pointed at your head. I couldn't warn you. I just coughed up blood instead of words. She pulled the trigger and that's when I woke up." He frowned with more concern now.

"Do you think you're relapsing," he said referring to the fear toxin that just now seems to be a permanent part of the chemicals in my body.

"No. My nightmares just tend to be more intense since I got gassed," I replied sighing heavily. His gaze was piercing but it wasn't intimidating. His gaze made me feel like I was safe, that he wasn't going to judge me or think I was incapable.

"Do you ever have nightmares?" I asked. Of course he did, I just wanted to see if he would admit to being human.

"All the time," he replied like it was obvious.

"Are they as nice as mine," I asked a bit amazed he was telling me this.

"It varies but mostly they are reoccurring ones so I'm used to it by now," his stare was miles away as he told me. I knew immediately which one was his most reoccurring.

"After my mom died I had them so often that my dad took me to the doctor for them. They put me on medication. I used to pretend to take it. I missed my mom so much that even though most of my dreams of her were nightmares, I still at least got to see her. I know that sounds messed up," I said feeling a bit embarrassed.

"I did the same thing when they tried to put me on medication as a kid. Alfred realized that there was no reasoning with me about it, he gave up on trying to convince me," he replied.

"So basically we were and probably still are little masochists," I replied shaking my head a little.

"No. We just hold onto our grief because if we let go then they might feel truly gone," he said solemnly.

A lump in my throat swelled and my eyes began to water. I couldn't help it. Then simultaneously we both went in for a kiss. I felt the lump dissipate as a single tear fell down my cheek. He gently brushed it away with his thumb.

Later that night we both pretended to go to our separate rooms. Once Bruce came to the conclusion that Alfred had retired for the night, he quietly went into my bedroom. He slipped under the covers beside me and held me close to him. He only came so that he could stay with me until I fell asleep, but I had other ideas. As we indulged in those ideas I realized that this is the closest I have ever felt to anyone. He was both terrifying and comforting at the same time. I was terrified because I'd never let myself be so vulnerable with anyone but at the same time it felt so natural to be that way with him. The next morning he was gone but he once again left a small note by my bedside that read "Your place tonight". I couldn't help but blush as I hid the note away in my belongings.