Perfect Dark pt 18a: Biblical Proportions (Rated somewhere between PG-13 and R)

[The_NewCatwoman]

Bruce and Selina lay side by side atop their bed, each staring at perspective undetermined points around the room. Their bodies avoided each other unconciously, more than a foot apart, afraid of the warmth and ultimately realization of the other's presence.

The stillness of the room enveloped them, swallowing them like Jonah held captive in the whale. Thoughts of the day's revelation repeated itself occasionally, reminding them of their self-imposed burdens.

Instead of saying anything to A.J. about his jailbreak, Bruce had chosen to let his youngest son mull over it throughout the night. For Bruce knew that A.J. had a very overpowering honor code, and if he knew that he had disobeyed his father in some distinct way or another, no matter how much the ends justified the means, A.J. went to war in his head about it.

Selina herself had pulled A.J. aside in the cave and had a few choice words with him, telling him how much it hurt her when he felt he had to go behind their backs. She had such a gentler approach to him than Bruce did, and A.J. always responded like it was causing him some kind of physical pain for her to have to say such things to him. She didn't doubt that it had some kind of affect, as short of his smart mouth, A.J. had always been very obedient to her, doing her will as best he could, which itself was often outstanding.

Now the two of them lay in bed, already four-fifty in the morning. Bruce stared thoughtlessly forward, his eyes traveling inch by inch across the room, finally setting his gaze across his wife's body. Surprised to find that she was looking in his direction as well, except for her eyes being on the mirror behind him by several feet. Mistakenly their sights fell to each other, and they beheld each other in quiet consideration, apologizing for their arrogance with silent expressions. Then he watched as she rose from the bed and spread the curtains, letting the moonlight wash across their place, exposing them to the dark skies that warned of snow and ice. Far in the distance lay the skirts of the city, it's lights and tower's blinking on and off like a urban morse code.

Selina raised her hands behind her, clasping them around the back of her neck, as she walked back towards the bed. Bruce reached out to her, and took her into his arms, as she in turn to him. The touched their foreheads together, and stared contently into each other's eyes.

<"Let's go to the garden." >Selina whipsered in spanish as she pulled away.

Bruce rose wordlessly from the bed, following her out of the room, and down the hallway, and large staircase, out the back doors, and down the path.

The two of them stood silently in the center of the garden, ill-dressed for the weather, which had turned in a few hours from steely rain to soft, fragile snow.

They each took the other into their arms, and became each other's heat. Trying to regain the temporary comfort they'd acheive that morning.

**

A red haze settled across her mind, drilling screaming thoughts into her brain. Telling her repeatedly to rise, until her body did so, freeing itself of her willpower, and instead obeying some unseen force.

She couldn't focus, the pain bit into her senses, dulling her responses, and pulling her forward through the darkness of the house around her.

The invisible power was pulling her someplace, someplace far. She walked further and further, leaving her home behind her, seemingly untouched, as if she'd disappeared into the night of her own will.

Her head filled with fog, blocking out all other thoughts from her attention except for one: She must find Wayne.

With Wayne was an answer, a feeling she couldn't duplicate, with Wayne held the answer to her questions, with Wayne was her true love intended, or so she believed. For he could lead her out of her imprisoned hell. Or so her insistant instincts told her.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered how it was she was so far away. And why she couldn't go back. Or why she was here in the first place. Why was she seeking Wayne? But a voice told her to shut up, and she fought against it, but her body was lost to her, and her cries went unheard as she was locked away inside her head, and a new being took control of her functions.

"I am coming dearest." the cruel thought called into the dark air, taking her voice from her. And she found herself in a familiar position, one where she was forced to do what was unforgivable. Where she took what wasn't her's, and she understood why she'd sinned, the whole time she'd had no choice. She began to pray that no one should cross her path, hoping to slow the demon that led her, should they be found dead in the most definite way.

[The_NewCatwoman]

**flashback**

*October 15th, 1967*

"Young master Bruce, please slow down, you'll hurt yourself!"

"Awww, Alfred it's just grass!"

*Omph!* "Ow! My knee!"

"Just as I warned you, we should be getting you back to the house to clean you up..."

"It's just a scratch really, besides I haven't found the ball yet, how am I supposed to play catch with Father if I haven't even found my baseball?"

"Young Master, that ball has been missing since the beginning of your spring term, it's now fall, I highly doubt that you'll recover it."

"Hey look! There it is." *he takes off running*

"Young Master, come back! The grounds are dangerous this far out!"

*ignoring Alfred's insistant cries* "There you are, got cha!"

*Soft cracking noise as he dives for the ball, and the earth gives way*

"Ahhhhhhhhh! AHHHhhhhh!" *his screams echo throughout the cavern as he falls, and a dense thud is heard as he lands*

*Soft whimpers as he looks about himself, and finds nothing but darkness*

"Alfred?" he asks in a small, meek voice, there is no answer.

*A swooshing noise is heard, and a thousand tiny eyes light surrounding him.*

He isn't alone.

*He feels something hot and wet slide past his cheek, then again as the motion repeats itself, over and over again. Blood wets his clothing in slow drips, his cheeks sting and burn with each turn.*

*He whimpers again, and lashes at the unseen assailants. Then stops as a loud screech fills his ears*

*Large eyes cast apart the darkness, and giant ancient wings glide through the air. Heat fills the space. It's breath is hot with death and damnation. His enemy is his feast*

*The lone boy pushes his lifeless body back a few inches, half-paralyzed by fear, half-captured by awe.*

*The horrible thing screams again, and he falls back in fright. His head catches the sharp end of a rock, he is now unconcious.*

--#--

Thomas returned from the bottom of the chasm with his son in his arms, his face frozen in numb doubt.

He had spent the last two hours searching through the darkness for his son after his flashlight had burned out. He found him bloodied and cut, thin gashes along his cheeks. His forehead cut open against a rock.

He then spent the next hour and a half bandaging and repairing his boy's wounds with meticulous detail, careful not to let anything escape his attention.

Now he is sitting beside his son while he sleeps, thanking God that his boy didn't die, and that he just got to save the most precious life in his world. Something someone else he knows didn't.

**

William Warren Kyle leaned against the wall, staring at the two other figures in the room. A man sat blindfolded in a chair, tied tightly so that the ropes rubbed his skin raw and bloody when he moved. Another stood, also blindfolded, with a set of thick washers in his hand.

The man in the chair was named Derrick Drake, he owed Doc money, simple as that. Unfortunately, Derrick had been carrying this same debt for months, and Doc was getting very tired of the nervous young man. Derrick had apparently sensed this, and coincidently Selina had disappeared yesterday morning, and had yet to be recovered. Derrick had the most to lose or gain within this turn of events, and Doc saw this as the perfect opportunity to clear everything up. Derrick tell Doc what he knew, and he walks away debt free. But every second that went by told Doc that she was not coming back alive as long as this bastard ran around in circles, so he'd called in his good friend and confidant Emilio García de Ramírez aka "Oculto Dolor" or Hidden Pain.

He was quite an efficient torturer, but his downfall was that he couldn't stand to watch his work. The phrase was coined when he began to don blindfolds in order to carry out his duties. As he'd explained to Doc at a previous encounter, "Torturing a man,.. it agrees with my conscience, but not with my stomach."

Emilio calmly took Derrick's finger into his hand, and pressed the first washer to his fingertip.

Doc stared on boredly, then pushed himself off of the wall, and closed the door. "Now Derrick, I know you want to walk out of my house as clean as possible, and I want that as well. But as long as you sit here and stutter, my little girl's out there scared to death, and you're here with screws around your knuckles!"

Emilio took the hint, and began to twist the washer up Derrick's finger. Derrick screamed in pain, as the skin wrenched from his fingers, and blood began to dribble from his exposed flesh.

--#--

Monica sat in the kitchen, staring at the clock next to the refrigerator, struggling to bring the cigarette to her lips. She jumped again as another scream enveloped the house, comforting herself with the thought that they'd find Selina after all of this was over. She moaned to herself slowly, wondering how she'd ever gotten into it with a man like Doc.

--#--

Doc watched unflinching, as Emilio pushed another washer onto Derrick's trembling finger.

Derrick had already bitten through his tongue, and blood was now flowing freely from his mouth and lip. This had been going on for the past five minutes, and he was running out of space on his pinky. "Fine!" Derrick exploded, "Apparently word is that Michael, you know, Donald's brother, is tryin' to get back to you through 'Lina!"

"Donald?" Doc asked, his eyebrows rising in surprise, "Donald... Donald,... Oh yeah. He's got a brother?"

"Yes!" Derrick said, his voice constricted in pain, as Emilio began to remove the washers.

"Hmmm," Doc said rubbing his chin, "Now look, you could have walked out of here with a perfectly usable pinky if you'd just told me that from the beginning."

"I wasn't supposed to say anything, even to you, people've got hits on both of our heads. If Michael finds out that I even knew, let alone told you, he's gonna put a few in my back real quick!"

"You're telling me you're more scared of the dork's brother, than you are of me?" Doc asked, as Emilio began to untie the ropes.

"You don't have any idea, he's got people on your team, watchin' your every move." Derrick said, eying Emilio suspiciously.

Doc caught his hesitance, and slowly brought his hands together behind his back, pressing them readily against his gun.

Doc stepped back cautiously as Derrick rose from the chair, and began to walk slowly forward, nursing his injured hand. He purposely kept his eyes on Derrick, as if he was weary of him, while his senses stayed on Emilio, who had turned his back to the both of them.

Derrick reached Doc, and whispered in his ear, "Watch Janey for me, make sure nothing happens to her okay?"

Doc nodded, frowning only slightly as two gunshots sounded, and Derrick's body slumped forward and fell to the ground.

Doc looked forward to Emilio who was now standing in the middle of the room with his gun drawn, smoke flowing from the barrel. Doc quickly revealed his gun, and the two men stared at each other.

"Why'd you do it 'Dolor, I said he was getting on my nerves, not that I wanted him dead." Doc said they both cocked their weapons.

<"Michael pays better."> Emilio said in spanish.

"Geez, the guy's got kids, what am I supposed to tell his wife huh?"

"Donald had kids too!" Emilio said with a thick accent, "Just because that whore of your's couldn't take a blow or too, you go and kill him!"

Doc narrowed his eyes, and lowered his gun, "Whore huh?"

Emilio saw the opportunity, and fired, noticing at the last moment that Derrick was still alive on the floor.

The bullet tore into Doc's knee, but he only gritted his teeth, as Derrick fired several rounds through Emilio's chest and head.

Doc finally slid against the wall, gripping his leg, watching as Derrick lowered his head to the ground.

"Doc, why didn't you just kill him?" Derrick asked, breathing heavily.

Doc shrugged, "I figured I'd let you get in the last shot."

He looked back down at Derrick to find that he was now officially gone.

"Considering what I know about that wife of your's, I think you're probably better off dead." he added to the silence.

**

Thomas sat in the great room, staring thoughtfully into the roaring fireplace. It was late evening on the first night off he'd had in months. He'd promised Bruce that they'd play catch in the backyard once he got back from his last shift. But the day had been soured by Bruce's accident. They were probably going to rope off the entire area.

"Father?" came a small voice from the stairwell.

Thomas turned to find Bruce standing in his pajamas, wincing as he caught sight of all the various bandages that covered his wounds.

Bruce walked uneasily down the rest of the steps, then paused awkwardly infront of his father, his face cast to the ground. "I'm sorry." he whispered.

Thomas smiled, and pulled the young boy into a hug, "That's all right, it's not your fault."

"Yes, it is!" Bruce insisted, pulling away. "Alfred told me to stop, he told me that it was dangerous to run around out there, but I didn't listen, and now we can't play catch or anything."

Thomas stared at his son in surprise, Bruce had never been one to insist upon his being guilty before. His eyes shone with grim concentration, dark and angry.

Thomas leaned back in his chair uncertainly, as Bruce continued to stare at him, face washed in shame. He was blaming himself.

Thomas sighed, "I know a game we can play that doesn't require us to go outside." he said hoping to lighten his son's sudden mood.

Bruce's eyebrows raised in interest, but then he turned away. "No, tonight we were supposed to play baseball, I ruined it, I shouldn't get another chance."

Thomas watched as Bruce walked to the other chair opposite him, and sank down into it's cushions, the fire playing shadows across his angered face.

The boy who fell down the rabbit hole this morning, was not the boy who rose from it this afternoon.

Thomas opened his mouth to say something else, when the doorbell rang. He rose sadly from his chair, as Alfred called. It was yet another emergency, they seemed to come so frequently now.

He came to the door, and joined Alfred in wonder as Dr. William Kyle stood bleeding in his doorway.

"Will!" he exclaimed, "What are you doing, you should be in a..."

"I told you Tom, no hospitals. I've got business to attend to, and I need this bullet out of my leg as soon as possible."

"What are you talking abo.." Thomas started.

"It's Selina, my little girl, they took her Tom, I've got to get her back, I don't know what I'd do if..." Will started, closing his eyes in pain, another shot of guilt riding down his spine.

Thomas frowned sympathetically, "You know I'll have to report this right?"

Will looked up at him, face blank. "I can't let you do that." he said simply.

"It's not a matter of what you will or will not let me do, it's my job to uphold the law, that includes reporting all gunshot wounds I treat, you know that Will!"

"No! You can't! They'll know I know, they'll kill her for sure!" William stated frantically.

"Who's "they", what do they have to do with you?" Thomas asked as Alfred handed him his medicine bag, and Will eased into a chair.

"They took my daughter Selina yesterday, they think I killed his brother, the guy is crazy!"

"Why would they think that?" Thomas asked, as he cut into Will's pants.

"I don't know! I told you he's crazy! Tom, it's like trouble just follows me around, all I want is my baby back."

"Have you told the police?"

"God, no! They'd kill her on the spot if they even thought I was trying to knock them over!"

"Will you're not telling me everything!" Thomas insisted.

"Yes, I am. Do you think I would lie to you Tom?" William asked.

--#--
Bruce:

There's this strange man in our house, I recognize him. He is an old friend of Father's.

He has blood coming out of his leg, and he looks scared.

He keeps blabbering on about some people who took his daughter, I think he said her name was Selina.

I don't think I've met her, but her name sounds pretty.

He's pulling out a picture of her now, he looks pretty proud of her. I wonder why I haven't met her, I thought I knew all of Mother and Father's friend's children. Like Harvey, he's my best friend, his dad is a nuero-sur-ge-on. Maybe I'll ask Father who Selina is when this guy leaves. Maybe she likes the Grey Ghost as well.

--#--

Bruce steped forward and picked up the picture, staring at the smiling little girl.

"You think she's pretty?" William asked him, his voice grinding as Thomas pulled the bullet out of his leg.

Bruce looked up at the man, his face stern. "Is this your daughter?"

William nodded, and grabbed the table to steady himself as Thomas began to sew his leg up.

Thomas pulled a handkerchief out of pocket, wiped his hands, took the picture from Bruce and handed it back to Will.

"Remember what we talked about Will? I said if you ever needed help, you could come to me."

"And I did, but you're trying to kill my daughter."

"No I'm not, I think the police would be quite detrimental in finding Selina don't you?"

"No I don't, not when all they are going to do is get her shot. I told you Tom, I lost Marilyn, I absolutely refuse to lose Selina too!" Will stated angrily.

Thomas stared at William in silence, the two of them hadn't dared utter his dead daughter's name a single time since her funeral. "I'll ask you to leave now Will." Thomas said taking Bruce by the shoulders and leading him out of the room. "Alfred, will you please show our guest to the door?" he added.

"Don't do this Tom!" William warned. "For your sake as well as her's."

His warning fell on deaf ears.

[Panther]

I thought I knew all of Mother and Father's friend's children. Like Harvey, he's my best friend, his dad is a nuero-sur-ge-on
If you're implying what I think you're implying then hat's off to an EXCELLANT use of irony!

I also liked how you referred to Bruce's inadverdant discovery of the caves as a tumble down a rabbit hole. Very fitting.

I must admit I am slighlty confused by the fact the flashbacks are not sequentional, but I think I have a good idea of what's hapenning.

At first I was thinking how sad it was knowing what's in store for Monica and Doc - but then I realized how even worse it was for Tomas and Martha. I had actaully forgetton for a bit what was going to happen - Bruce's childhood seems so /normal/ at this point.

Ah, c'est triste.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Yeah, ummm this part was originally supposed to be written before it, but as it tied into the whole Selina thinking about Ted Jr. thing, I kinda forgot. Oops.

And also, I'm not sure what you mean, what do you think I'm implying? I'm thoroughly confused. I know I wanted to use it as the perfect opportunity to put Harvey in the story as he was sooooo sweet in TLH and all. Please clarify.

Also forgive, I've not had much time to read your story, but I promise I'll get it together.

- tNC (Because not too many people have called me that since the old boards, which secretly I liked better.)

[Panther]

Hey tNC -

My bad. I only said 'implied' casue I'm dense and you didn't come right out and hit us over the head with it and say "Harvey is the son of Dr. Dent". I just meant I thought it was wicked awesome writing how you are introducing Harvey Dent as Bruce's friend way back in childhod, pre-everything. I also loved the irony of two-face's father being a nerosurgeon. Huh - it just hit me that all these kids are doctors' children. Interesting.

later,

[The_NewCatwoman]

Thanks- I'm still working on the next part, so I want to get it right before I post it. I can understand what you mean about Harvey's dad and everything. Thomas really was only around Doctor's. That was his profession, and he devoted 85% of his life to it. So, it was a given that Bruce's friends would be the children of various doctors Thomas had befriended.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Uhhhhh, thanks alot. I know it's a lot of reading, and some parts might be a little odd. Unfortunately, the first four parts are on the original board that I joined bak in 2000. I stopped writing this to write a story called "Breakdown" on the old boards, although it's inaccesible at this moment. I'm glad you're enjoying it, and welcome to the boards.

[The_NewCatwoman]

**Present Day**

Selina opened her eyes, and grimaced at the distinct gurgle she felt rupturing through her stomach. Looking about herself, she became overwhelmingly frustrated as she found herself hopelessly enthralled with the sheets. Kicking furiously, she jumped out of the bed and rushed for the adjoining bathroom, praying she wouldn't vomit before she reached the toilet.

Flipping the toilet lid, she wreched endlessly into the bowl. Sitting on the floor next to the toilet, she felt herself becoming increasingly hot. "Sh*t!" she cursed into the darkness, she hadn't experienced morning sickness for sixteen years!

Hearing an odd sound behind her, she turned and was promptly met with a hard object to her forehead. She cried out suddenly, as unconsciousness met her halfway to the floor, blood falling like tears down her forehead.

--#--

Bruce opened his eyes, frowning as he looked to the empty space behind him. Hearing a thud come from the bathroom, he sprang from the bed, thankful he hadn't slept nude, and rushed to the lightswitch.

Blinking in the harsh sudden light, he looked first to Selina's body on the floor then to the figure standing over her.

"Helena?!" he asked confused. "What the hell have you done?!" he demanded furiously.

Helena didn't answer, she just kept staring at him, a strange look on her face.

Bruce ignored her, and rushed to Selina's side, gently slapping her pale, sweaty cheeks. "Selina? Selina, you have to wake!" he begged desperately.

Helena, infuriated by his actions promptly threw her foot into his stomach, sending him crashing into the countertop. To her dismay, Bruce didn't stay put, he instead rushed her, watching as her body fell into the open shower stall.

Bruce went back to Selina quickly, his love and concern for her conquering any lingering lust he might unfortunately have for Helena. "Selina? Selina please wake up." he tried again, but she didn't respond.

"Good heavens!" the distinct voice of Alfred said from the doorway.

Bruce turned to Alfred, panic beginning to set into his features. "She won't wake!" Bruce stated.

A.J. appeared behind Alfred just as suddenly, and rushed to Helena. Bruce stared at him angrily, wondering what he could possibly want with her.

A.J. promptly, turned her stirring body over onto the cold tile floor, and used a towel to tie her wrists behind her back. "This won't be enough!" he said, "Alfred, please, do you know where any chains or extremely heavy ropes are?"

Alfred nodded, "Right away sir!" and disappeared.

A.J. straddled Helena's back, and pressed her face to the ground, an odd look of sorrowful determination on his face.

"What are you doing?" Bruce asked, taking Selina's body into his arms.

"I'll explain later, I just need you to be quiet, and don't let your eyes meet." A.J. said with an odd sense of finality. He groaned angrily as her eyes popped open, and she began to thrash.

"Away from me!" she screamed, her voice sounding strained.

<"I know you are not Helena Grayson!."> A.J. spoke directly to her in latin, <"Who are you so that we may cast you from her body demon?!">

The demon replied, <"No! My tongue shall be still!">

A.J. begrudgingly lifted her head and rammed it against the floor.

"A.J.!" Bruce said appalled by his actions.

"This is not the time Father." A.J. said without raising his head. <"Who turned you? Answer me, and I might find a way to salvage your life."> he spoke again to the demon.

<"I will never betray my love!"> she cried into the cracks of the tile, now being stained with Helena's blood.

A.J. bit his lip and pulled his cross from under his t-shirt. Lifting it over his head, her placed it down next to her, <"Lest you want me to burn you, I suggest you speak!"> he said, making it clear she wasn't going to be offered anymore chances.

The demon didn't respond, instead lifted her eyes to Bruce's. Bruce stared at her, bewilderedly, an odd rushing sensation coarsing through his veins.

<"Stop looking at him!"> A.J. demanded, grabbing the crucifix between his fingers and pressing it to her flesh. She immediately howled in pain.

Bruce shook his head, pressing the throbbing feeling from his brain. "What was she doing?" he asked, sitting back onto the floor, resting Selina's body across his lap.

"She's using Helena's feelings towards you to manipulate your actions." A.J. said pressing the cross that much more into her skin.

<"I am Dimanche, Joseph turned me!"> she finally screamed out, just as Alfred returned with steel cables.

"I won't ask where you got those." A.J. said as he used them to bind her arms behind her.

"Who might I ask is Joseph?" Alfred asked, having only caught the last part.

"She means Caine, don't worry I'll explain." A.J. said replacing the crucifix to his neck. Raising her to her feet, he led her out of the bathroom, deciding that the cave was a proper place to hold her until the morning.

"Helena's feelings towards me?" Bruce asked the empty room, as he stood with Selina's body.

Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, he took Selina back to their bed and took the telephone into his hands. Dialing Leslie's number, he waited impatiently until she picked up the phone.

"Leslie, I need you here now!"

"Bruce, you sound frantic, what is it?" Leslie asked, sleep tugging at her words.

"Selina has been knocked unconscious!"

"What happened?" Leslie asked, various noises playing in the background.

"I think she got up to use the bathroom, I woke up when I heard a noise. I got up, and she was on the floor, and Helena was standing over her. I'm positive Helena attacked her!" Bruce said quickly into the phone.

"Calm yourself, you're no use to her in shock Bruce, now, did you try to wake her?"

"Of course I tried to wake her, she won't even flinch!"

"Don't attack me Bruce, I'll be there as fast I can!"

"She can't die Leslie, she can't. I don't know what I'd do without her." Bruce said, sitting on the edge of the bed, and burying his head between his knees.

"I don't think she'll die Bruce, you've both lived through greater, just calm yourself. Now listen to me, she might have a minor concussion. I'm going to switch onto my cell phone, hold on..."

Bruce turned to his wife, her face was pale and sweat still rolled down her cheeks, mixing with the now thining amount of blood at her hairline. Bruce reached across and wiped it away with his thumb, "Please don't leave me Selina. I love you."

Setting the phone down onto the receiver, Bruce crawled up next to her and wrapped his arms around her. Pressing his face to her midback, he whispered over and over, "I love you so much, you can NOT die on me Selina."

The telephone's cry cut through the tense air, and Bruce lunged for it, knocking the lamp and clock away from the nightstand.

Picking up the receiver as well, he set the phone down between his legs and pressed the earpiece to his ear. "Leslie?"

"Yes, Bruce. Now you've done this many times with Dick and Tim, you have to remain calm Bruce, I know this is hurting you, but remember you're not just saving Selina, you're saving your child as well."

Bruce's grip tightened on the phone's neck, "My mind is a complete blank, I'm surprised I remembered your number." he remarked sadly.

"Do you have a flashlight handy?"

Bruce reached over and pulled the nightstand drawer open. Pushing aside several different objects he grabbed the flashlight. "Yes, right here."

"How big is it?" Leslie asked, the sound of early-morning traffic now periodically sounding.

"About six inches, it's pretty small." Bruce answered.

"Hold it a few inches away from her face with one hand okay?" Leslie said as if Bruce was two.

Bruce nodded to no one in particular and did as he was told. "Okay, now what."

"You really can't remember can you? Okay, now cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder, and use that hand to hold one of her eyes open."

Bruce again did what he was told, "Okay."

"Turn it on!" Leslie said a little impatient that Bruce seemingly chose now of all times to lose his characteristic composure.

"What am I looking for?" he asked, feeling useless.

"If her iris contracted, that is got smaller..."

"I know what 'contracted' means Leslie." Bruce said slightly insulted.

"If her iris contracted, then there wasn't any substantial damage to the brain, which is good."

"Will she be okay?" Bruce asked still unsure.

"Yes, Bruce, but I better check her out just to be sure. Try waking her again.

Bruce looked uncertainly at Selina's frame. Raising his hand, he gently stroked her cheek. "Please wake up Selina, please."

"Unhhhh." Selina moaned, her eyelids finally fluttering.

"She's awake!" Bruce exclaimed into the phone.

"Don't let her get up Bruce, I'm pulling up now."

"Okay,... Leslie... thank you." Bruce said hanging up the phone.

"Selina!" Bruce said as she looked at him.

"Wh-what happened?" she asked, her hand going to her head. "Errhhhh! My head."

Bruce sighed, "Don't worry about that, just relax Leslie will be here in a minute."

Selina bit her lip, small tears forming at the corners of her eyes, "What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything wrong, my God you didn't do anything. You're okay." he said hugging her again.

"Bruce what's going on?" she asked raising slightly, "Ugghhh, I feel nauseated." she said making a face.

"I love you so much Selina." Bruce said ignoring her complaint.

"Huhhh? Bruce really, let me go, I'm going to-- *Bwahhh*"

Bruce leaned back surprised, a puddle of vomit resting on his lap. He looked to Selina, eyebrows raised confusedly. She only shook her head, her face a greenish color, "I tried to tell you."

Bruce shrugged, "Are you okay, is this normal?"

"It's called morning-sickness, quite characteristic of pregnancy." Leslie's voice stated behind him.

Bruce turned to the doorway, "You're here!"

"You knew that, now move-- Selina lie back!" Leslie said in her stern tone.

Bruce watched, a small smile claiming his lips as Leslie examined Selina, and explained to her some of what happened. Only relaxing when Leslie gave Selina a clean bill of health and left.

As he lay back on the bed-- in a fresh pair of pajama bottoms-- it dawned on him, A.J. had been speaking Latin. But he decided the matter could wait, and settled down for some much deserved sleep.

[Panther]

Wow - /Helena/ is the reincarnate of Dimanche? I so had Mila pegged for that role. I'm surprized Bruce went back to sleep. I thought this latest development would cause more of a fuss then that.

waiting for more,

later,

[The_NewCatwoman]

**About 10:35am that morning*

"You're not actually trying to send me to school are you?" A.J. asked between bites of Cocoa Pebbles.

"Yes. You haven't been in a day, you are more than able now, your wounds are closed, and you've stopped bleeding completely. i.e. School is the next step." Bruce said taking a sip of his gin.

A.J. stared at him with an odd expression, then to the glass. "You're an alcoholic." he stated simply.

"What?" Bruce asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"That's your third glass this morning, that's ridiculous." A.J. said sliding the small glass an inch closer to Bruce with his forefinger.

"I am not an alcoholic. You saw what happened last night, that just the everyday b*llsh*t I've been going through for the last twenty or so years."

"Most addicts deny their behavior until it's too late and they have liver failure." A.J. said cooly, draping his arm around the corner of his chair.

Bruce frowned deeply, it was not often he ever hit his children. Tim had been subject to many a swift tap to the back of the head in his knuckle-head days. But A.J. A.J. it seems wanted him to take some kind of action against him. The boy had a mouth on him that could get even Dick rattled, and Dick was probably the most level-headed person he knew. "You listen to me, it's for your mother's sake that I don't get with you often, I put up with that kind of sh*t from Angel, you on the other hand don't have your sword to protect you from me. And if I feel like it, and I usually do, I'll put you over my knee just like when you were a child."

"Your knee?" A.J. asked slightly skeptical, but not stupid enough to acknowledge it.

"Yes." Bruce stated simply.

A.J. went back to his breakfast. Bruce back to his drink.

"What if Dick calls, he's probably worried that she's not home." A.J. said, keeping his head down.

Bruce paused, "She has a job, he'll most likely assume she's there for now, we will worry about that later. Now, go to the car, Alfred will take you to school."

"It's ten-forty! It's a little late don't you think? They won't even let me get past the attendence office."

"So you're saying they won't let you in class is that it?"

"Yes. It's pointless for me to even go."

"Fine. Stay. I will be gone for most of the day, I have a press conference to attend."

"About what?"

"Wayne Industries is annoucing research on computerized replacement joints for parapheligics." Bruce said standing and going to the sink to extinguish his drink.

"For Dick." A.J. said bowing his head.

"Yes. What's so wrong with that?"

"It's seems kind of backward considering everything." A.J. said finishing his milk, and standing.

"Considering what?" Bruce asked in a strained voice.

"Considering that you can't even tell him why his wife is tied up in the cave." A.J. said, his voice equally tortured. "Or your wife, which would explain why she was attacked wouldn't it?"

Bruce's hand began to shake around the empty glass which he still clutched. His chest heaved, and his grip became tighter, until the glass gave from the pressure and broke in his hand. So here it finally was, A.J. had finally thrown it back in his face. He watched as A.J. turned and left the kitchen, leaving him alone with his demons. He looked down to his bleeding hand, and grabbed the dishtowel to make a tourniquet. Steming the bloodflow, he set off to find Alfred so that he could give him stitches.

[witness]

Well, when you're right, you're right! I think you are a talented writer and it's about time I said so. While I'm not too big of a fan of mushyness and love, there are elements to this story that I am really enjoying.


I like the whole A.J. / Caine aspect of this story. I became interested in vampire stories when I started watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". This story reminds me of that show. Especially when Caine took the little girl!!!!!!!! Ack that was so horrible. It reminded me of the Buffy episode where we see Druscilla and Angel interact for the first time. Druscilla was in a playground and was trying to get a nine year old boy. Angel stopped her and told the kid to go home. It must be true that the blood of a child is truely the sweetest to vampires.

I was completely shocked that Helena was the old vampiress!!! I also thought it would have been Mila. I can't wait to see what happens next with that!

[Panther]

:eek: So sorry I didn't reply sooner!

I had never thought of it, but teh second you mentioned Bruce drinking it struck me how he could /easily/ become an alcoholic. Three cheers for AJ confronting him!

And I see a /major/ confronaation boiling. I do hope it doesn't come to anything...deadly, but Aj and Bruce have issues that I serioulsy doubt they will just sit down and discuss.

You are a truly talented writer and I'm waiting for more!

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by witness
Well, when you're right, you're right! I think you are a talented writer and it's about time I said so. While I'm not too big of a fan of mushyness and love, there are elements to this story that I am really enjoying.


I like the whole A.J. / Caine aspect of this story. I became interested in vampire stories when I started watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". This story reminds me of that show. Especially when Caine took the little girl!!!!!!!! Ack that was so horrible. It reminded me of the Buffy episode where we see Druscilla and Angel interact for the first time. Druscilla was in a playground and was trying to get a nine year old boy. Angel stopped her and told the kid to go home. It must be true that the blood of a child is truely the sweetest to vampires.

I was completely shocked that Helena was the old vampiress!!! I also thought it would have been Mila. I can't wait to see what happens next with that!

Yeah, I had a feeling people thought it was her, I did that on purpose. Thanks for replying. My sister drove me to BTVS hell, I cannot stand that show anymore, but I can see where their similar.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by Panther
:eek: So sorry I didn't reply sooner!

I had never thought of it, but teh second you mentioned Bruce drinking it struck me how he could /easily/ become an alcoholic. Three cheers for AJ confronting him!

And I see a /major/ confronaation boiling. I do hope it doesn't come to anything...deadly, but Aj and Bruce have issues that I serioulsy doubt they will just sit down and discuss.

You are a truly talented writer and I'm waiting for more!

I LOVE writing A.J.'s parts because he's a total confliction. On one side, he's lthe chosen one, he protects humanity from vampires, and works for the church and everything. But, although it might not come up in this story, he doesn't hold the church in high regard. Mostly because they've involved themselves in some pretty scandalous stuff over the years.

He is by far no priest, he isn't held in by celibacy vows or anything, but he's chosen to separate himself from all that because he knows what it did to his grandparents, and what it's doing to his family now.

Bruce is kind of hard to write about because there's this expectancy that he be in total control of his actions. He's the last person you'd expect to drink, and have horrible fights with his wife, and want to hit his son. But at the same time, it's not hard to see him anywhere else. He can no longer use the Batman to get out his frustration and pain, and it's taking it's toll.

[The_NewCatwoman]

**I know I said in Broken that I wouldn't be writing anything for a while, but I just sorta found myself here. So I guess I'll write, and see where it takes me.**

Bruce, eight and a half years old:

There's too many people here. Their flooding the house with their tears and good wishes. They keep saying, 'They were such beautiful people.' They don't cry, they just look sad. And if they do cry, it's too loud, or too soft, or too fake. I hate what they're saying. They don't know Mother and Father! They don't know how Father would sit me on the counter and let me tell him stories while Alfred made breakfast, and he got ready for work or bed. Sometimes he went to work after dinner, sometimes he stayed home with me and Mother. On Thanksgiving we waited until he got home before we ate. It was so late sometimes, the food was cold, but Father was there so Mother and I were happy. He promised me that we would play catch and do all the things we never got to do 'cause he was working, but now he can't...

I miss you Father and Mother. Please come back, please come walking through the door and say it was a big joke, and send all the people home. I won't be mad. I won't be mad at all.

*sob*

...This isn't fair... I'm sorry I made you promise to take me to see Zorro. Old stupid Zorro with his big, stupid cape. Me running around trying to sword fight and stuff. You pulled me back, you told me to get behind you. *sob* You told him to put the gun down, and that you would give him whatever he wanted. He said you weren't fast enough... But that's not true, I saw you, I saw you run needles through people's legs and arms and stomach as fast as you could. He did it for no reason.

Remember that time I said that bad curse word, and you told me bad curse words were only for grown-ups Father? Today Uncle Phil asked me if I wanted butter on my toast and I yelled them at him. Really bad ones too. He didn't get angry with me though. He just hugged me and told me he knew. What did he know? I'm confused... What is it everybody else knows that I don't know. I just want you two to come back. That's what I know.

When I get big enough, I'm gonna find that man who took you away from me. I swear, I'm gonna make him pay. I'm gonna hit him, and tell him how much he hurt me. I'm gonna hurt him. He wasn't supposed to take you away! I'll never forgive him! You, big stupid man! You made my Father and Mother go away! I'll make you go away, I will...! *breathing heavily*

I'll make him cry, just like me... Because he didn't stop when you told him to, because he didn't stop when Mother cried. Because he only stopped with me, because his gun made that noise, and it didn't explode like before... Because,... he didn't kill me too...

**This post is dedicated to my grandfather Fortune Brown Jr. R.I.P.**

[Panther]

Oh God! :( That had me on the edge of breaking down - I can't even imagine what it was like for you to write this. It's so sad that so much truth went into that. But I hope, in some way or another, writing that helped you.

Again, my condolances,

[The_NewCatwoman]

*sigh* I'm feeling a lot better now than I was on Tuesday, so I figure I work on this story, as it has been neglected a bit, something I thought was long forgotten after Breakdown was finished. Thank you for the comments and condolences Panther.**

Please forgive if the story is jumping around right now, and some things are being left unresolved for the moment. I just really want to write this part:

*May 4th 1980*

Selina sat on the front porch clutching her stomach, tears sliding this way and that down her olive-toned cheeks. It had been just over an hour since she'd said goodbye to her baby T.J. She hadn't seen Ted since the week before. They'd had a ferocious fight about the adoption.

The weeks before she'd told Jane that they'd decided to give him up, and they had gone through all the paper work. That had been a lie.

Sorta.

Ted hadn't known about her decision. Of course, he'd been... "Dangerous" is a good word.

He'd tightened his fist so hard that his palms bled from the nail impressions. Choosing to die rather than hit Selina he'd told her that she'd just thrown their relationship away and left.

Now a week had gone by, no phone calls, no letters, no nothing. She feared that it was truly over for them. Sobbing, she buried her head between her knees, and moaned.

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she wondered if Doctor Thompkins was in her office. She needed desperately to speak with her.

Knowing nowhere else to turn, she ran inside and grabbed her keys. Writing a quick note to Jane, she went outside and got in her car. Starting the engine, she adjusted the mirror and checked to see if there were any tear trails on her face before pulling out of the driveway.

--#--

Bruce Wayne sat twiddling his thumbs as Dr. Leslie Thompkins paced before him. A small smile threatened his stoic expression, so he bit his tongue as hard as he could, pleased at the bitter salt of his blood as it spotted his mouth.

"Bruce, you've been gone for the past six years, accomplishing God knows what... What is it you're trying to do exactly?"

Bruce took a deep breath, and pushed his now heavy, cut frame into the hard wooden chair he sat in, preparing to explain himself. Something he rarely did these days.

"I told you all those years ago how I felt about my parents death, how they shouldn't have had to die. How it should have been prevented--"

"Bruce, we've dicussed this before, you aren't to blame, it was just an unfortunate circumstance of city life."

"It wasn't just anything, they were my parents. And it certainly wasn't a 'circumstance'."

"*Sigh* I don't know what you want me to tell you Bruce, we've had this talk maybe a thousand times, you said something needed to be done. What exactly do you think needs to be done?!"

Bruce bit his lip, "I haven't decided everything, but I know what I want to do..." he paused as Leslie gave no reaction, "I want to put a stop to the criminal element of Gotham City. I want to make sure no one else here feels what I went through."


"I know already that you're going to do what you feel is right no matter what I say..." Leslie started.

Bruce nodded agreeably.

"...But honestly Bruce, that is something that the police have been trying to do since this city was founded. That surely isn't a task for just one man."

"Then who else Leslie? Who else will do this?"

"I don't know, I really don't know Bruce."

**I have to finish this later**

[The_NewCatwoman]

Selina sat in the waiting room of Dr. Thompkins's, tapping her feet, and drumming her fingers impatiently, smiling gratefully when the secretary called "Next!". Her body jumped slightly as the door opened, and revealed possibly the most beautiful man she'd ever seen in her life.

Of course she didn't let his looks fool her, instead she merely stood and walked past him like nothing had happened. As if, for some strange reason, he hadn't made her heart beat four-thousand times faster. As if the her moon and stars hadn't just collided with his sun.

--#--

Bruce's eyes scanned the room before him, soaking in every detail, every dog-eared magzine resting open on the couch, and rings left by a drink on the wood surface of the table. He'd use his now-perfected photographic memory to recall the images one by one later on.

He then felt his interest in his activity heighten considerably once he beheld the figure of a girl not much younger than him. He felt himself slipping into some feeling he hadn't known for quite a while. Something he couldn't readily identify yet. But whatever it was, he liked it.

He frowned slightly as she walked by unaffected into Leslie's office. Normally, girls were enraptured by his apparent good looks. His mind didn't stay on the subject though, instead he wondered what she could possibly be there for. She didn't look the type to have any mental problems or anything. She looked like a wonder bread kid who'd grown up commuting from New York and back to Gotham every weekend. The kind who only quit the girl scouts after her parents made her, and had a football player boyfriend who was going off to state. Then of course, as he knew, looks could be deceiving. He promptly settled into a chair and decided to wait until she came back out, and maybe strike up a conversation.

--#-- *An hour later*

Bruce sat, ever patient, having been pretending that the magazine in his hands was shockingly fascinating for the last fifty-seven minutes. The secretary Dolores was giving him weird looks every ten minutes, and had done so much as to ask whether he wanted to go back in.

He'd nodded, and said that he was just waiting for somebody.

He froze as the door finally opened, and Leslie walked the girl into the waiting room. Using his peripheal vision, Bruce observed that she had been crying. Leslie hugged her, and wrote her a prescription for something, then watched forlornly as she left. Bruce felt his body tensing uncontrollably as she turned to him, and pulled the magazine down from infront of his face. "What are you still doing here Bruce?"

Bruce stood quickly, and threw the magazine back down, "Who was she?" he asked softly, leaning in close.

"Doctor-patient confidentiality. Besides, you wouldn't like her, she's not easy." Leslie joked, knowing full well that Bruce was a virgin.

"Ha-ha-ha. I'm serious Leslie, I've never seen anyone like her."

"You mean someone who wasn't trying to get in your pants?"

"Yes, and no. I mean,... she made me feel something... something I haven't felt in a long time."

"She--" Leslie said pointing at the door, "Got a reaction out of you? Well that is serious..."

"Just tell me who she is, come on please?"

"I'm sorry, I can't--" Leslie said frowning.

Bruce let his head fall back, looking up at the ceiling frustratedly.

"--But she can." Leslie finished with a smile, "Maybe if you hurry and catch her, you can use that Wayne Family charm."

Bruce smiled a tiny smile and raced out of the room, calling a thanks over his shoulder.

Running breakneck down the hallway, he chose to take the stairs instead of the elevator to save time, both thankful and sorry that they were only five floors up.

Reaching the lobby, he looked frantically around the room, then rushed into the parking lot. Cursing as he found she wasn't there.

**several hours later**

Bruce fliched as a french fry hit him in the chest, snapping him out of his daze. Across the table, past his lone strawberry milkshake, only half eaten, sat his best friend Harvey Dent.

"Come on Bruce, this is the third time you've blanked on me, your first night back in town and you spend it off in space." he said as he produced another fry, and lobbed it at Bruce.

This time Bruce blocked it, and let it fall onto the booth table they sat at at Choosey's Space Diner. "I'm sorry, I just keep thinking about something."

"A 'feminine something' or an 'everyday something'?"

Bruce raised his eyebrows worriedly.

"Ohhhh," Harvey said with a smile, "That something. So, who's the lucky girl who got your attention?"

"Why does everyone assume I've never had an attraction for a girl before."

"One, because you use the word 'attraction', and two, I know for a fact that the last crush you had was on Sister Samantha back in 2nd grade." Harvey said laughing.

Bruce's face reddened, but he remained speechless.

"Sooo, like I said, who's the lucky girl?" Harvey asked between bites of his Comet Burger.

"I don't exactly know her name, she was in the waiting room when I got finished with my session with Leslie.." Bruce started.

Harvey was the only person outside of his family who knew he was seeing Leslie, and who also was a shared patient. It was an unfortunate statistic that their generation of Gothamites were majorily orphans. Harvey included.

"What did she look like?" Havey asked, burping and excusing himself quickly.

"Long wavy black hair, green eyes, warm skin kind of like a suntan from Florida."

"Wow, I've never heard you detail so enthusiastically, she must have been a knockout... Kinda like her?" Harvey said pointing over Bruce's shoulder.

Bruce turned quickly, eyebrows raised in surprise as he stared at the girl at the counter. The same girl who'd been in the waiting room. He leapt up quickly, forgetting Harvey and shouldered his way through the crowd of teenagers towards her.

He stood behind her, his pulse racing, waiting as she finished her order, then tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned around, and recognition shone clearly in her eyes, which up close he found to be aqua green. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" she asked narrowing her eyes.

Bruce smiled, and scratched his neck, this was not something he was used to. "Yes, ummm in the waiting room this morning... I wanted to ask your name..."

"It's Selina, there now you know, excuse me." Selina said pushing past him.

Bruce frowned confusedly, then caught her arm, "Don't you want to know mine?"

"It's Bruce Wayne, I know, everyone knows, now let me go."

"But I thought you didn't know who I was?" Bruce said with a smile.

"A girl's gotta be able to hide something." Selina said pulling away.

"Selina." Bruce said to himself, watching as she pushed through the crowd, the feeling creeping back up through his throat for the second time that day.

[The_NewCatwoman]

**Disclaimer: Catcher in the Rye belongs to J.D. Salinger. And The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to C.S. Lewis. Also mild sex on a beach. Yes, I know it's cliche**

Selina sat down at her own booth in the back, smiling to herself as Bruce followed her. As he passed the table two down from her's, another guy got up and followed him, the two exchanging bit sentences. Bruce stopped infront of her and asked politely, "May I sit with you?"

"Whatever." Selina said trying to sound uninterested.

Bruce smiled a small smile, which Selina got the feeling was a big deal for him, and sat down. The other guy introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Harvey Dent."

"I've heard that last name before." Selina said cocking her eyebrow.

"Really? The only people who really know me have or had doctors for fathers. Was your dad a doctor too?"

Bruce saw Selina flinch, realizing something seemed slightly coincidential about this. "Selina, was you father a doctor? Mine as well as Harvey's both were."

"Yes, but he's dead now." Selina said biting her lip.

Bruce sat back, took a deep breath then continued, remembering the name Selina in terms with a man his father knew from long ago. "Selina, if you don't mind my asking, what was your father's name?"

Selina looked up at him angrily, "I only met you this evening and already we're into the personal questions?"

Bruce sighed, "Look, a long time ago my father had a close friend who was a doctor, this said friend told us he had a daughter, his daughter's name was Selina. I don't think this is a coincidence." he stated, the words pouring out of his mouth as fast as he could remember.

Selina shifted uncomfortably, noticing Harvey's bewildered expression out of the corner of her eye.

"You're right, it's not--" she started just as a waitress delivered her food. "Oops, sorry, shouldn't talk with my mouth full." she said as she took a bite of her burger.

Bruce sighed angrily and crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her intently. Obviously, he was prepared to wait it out.

Harvey stared at his old friend, confused by his behavior. Bruce had never been this intense when they were younger, he'd changed completely in the six years he'd been gone. Harvey then snuck a look at his watch, "Aw s**t, I was supposed to be home at seven, Maggie's gonna kill me." Harvey said referring to his aunt Maggie who'd been taking care of himself and his sister for the past seven years.

"Bye Bruce, bye 'Lina." Harvey said with a smile.

Selina swallowed and threw a fry at him, "Don't call me that."

"Okay 'Lina!" he called over his shoulder as he left.

Selina turned back to Bruce, then rolled her eyes, "What is your problem?"

"I just want to know your father's name, that's all." he said cocking his eyebrow.

"Then you'll leave me alone?"

"I never said all that..."

"Why?!"

Bruce took a deep breath, "To tell the honest truth, I don't think I could."

Selina scruched up her face in confusion, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Bruce scratched his chin, wondering how he should say how he felt. "I think I'm attracted to you, in a way I've never felt before." he said, deciding on the the straightforward route.

Selina's face relaxed, and she stared blankly at him for a moment before smiling weakly. "The most sought after guy in Gotham has a crush on me. Hmmm."

"It's not a crush." Bruce stated simply. "I don't believe in crushes."

"Oh really, why not?"

"You can have a crush on anybody, even your dentist. An attraction on the other hand, that doesn't come by too often." he said. "I notice you relaxed once my friend disappeared."

Selina raised her eyebrows in thought, "I guess so."

"Are you going to tell me your father's name or not?"

"His name was Doc." she said quickly.

Bruce frowned, "I guess they aren't the same person.

"Guess not."

A silence formed between neither calm nor awkward.

"I think you have an attraction for me too." Bruce said that same smile making it's rare presence known.

"What would make you say that?!" Selina said eyebrows arching.

"If you didn't, you would have played along, but you do, so you couldn't."

Selina turned red and stayed silent. He'd caught her in her own web.

"Sooo?" Bruce asked.

Selina stared at him, he wasn't being obnoxious, he just wanted to know his advances weren't unwanted.

"When I saw you this morning, I felt like someone had laid my heart on a bed of feathers."

He smiled again, "A poet."

"I try."

"What else do you like?"

"I've read The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe at least a billion times since I was four."

"I'm the same way about Catcher and The Rye, I'm right at the part where Holden is visiting Phoebe while his parents are at that party, and he has to hide in the closet because they came home early."

Selina laughed, the first time that night. Bruce noticed she had deep throaty laugh, that complimented her slight spanish accent perfectly.

"I read that, my favorite part is when he's talking about that girl Jane who used to keep all her kings in the back row." Selina said suddenly growning serious. "I guess if I was in that book I'd be her, and you'd be Stradlater."

Bruce frowned. "Stradlater? I don't think so."

"Oh yeah, you're right," she laughing again, "You'd be Ackerly!" she said as she tossed a fry at him.

"No, I think I would be Holden, or maybe Allie."

"Yeah, you seem like you're ready to punch a few garage windows out." Selina added.

Bruce's smile disappeared, and he got really quiet.

"I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sorry." Selina said quickly realizing her mistake.

"No, it's just... You're right. After my parents deaths, I felt just like Holden. I didn't do it though, I knew it wouldn't bring them back." he said softly, "You know when he talks about how he can't make a good fist anymore with his hand, I feel that way, except with my heart."

Selina stared at him eyes wide, getting the feeling that he didn't open up like this with just anybody. Selina reached across the table and took his hands, "Do you want to leave, go talk somewhere else?"

Bruce looked up surprised, "Yes." he answered, his voice calm and sure.

The two stood to leave, weaving through the shoulder to shoulder traffic of students. Once outside, they drove to the cliff outside of Wayne Manor that looked out over the ocean. There they sat in Bruce's car, a cadillac, a talked some more.

"Are your parents...?" he asked.

Selina nodded, "I woke up one morning to find police officers all over the house. I couldn't find my Mommy or my Daddy. Finally my Abuela showed up, and told me that my parents had gone to heaven. I never cried so hard in my life."

She then went on to explain how she wouldn't eat for days, and then go to sleep for hours, only lay awake just as long. How she'd cry so hard that she'd vomit blood, and run fevers as high as 104 degrees. Bruce listened avidly, never having met someone other than Harvey who understood his loss.

Finally Selina began to cry again, Bruce wrapped his arms around her, and found himself rocking her back and forth; something he'd never done for anybody, orphan or not.

Selina looked up at him, eyes red, and took his chin into her hand. Leaning up against him, she began to kiss him deeply. Bruce responded, slowly massaging her back with his strong hands. He'd never imagined it could be so easy, it was as if he knew what to do already.

He ran his fingertips over her stomach, and kissed her chin and cheeks, and neck. She simultaneously bit his earlobes gently.

Bruce decided to take a chance and began to unbutton her shirt with one hand, using the other to pull her closer.

Selina pulled away, and Bruce froze, face reddening in shame.

"I don't want to do this in a car, who knows who else you've had in here." she said half-jokingly.

Bruce eyebrows rose, he was relieved that she wasn't disgusted with him, but angry that she'd assumed that he'd had every girl in the city. "I've never gone this far with anyone else." he said a bit harsher than he intended.

Selina's face softened, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed... If you don't want to now, I understand."

"No, I've never felt this for anyone else, I don't want to stop." he said opening the car door. Walking to the other side, he opened her door, and helped her out. Determined to be the gentleman his mother raised him to be.

Selina looked out over the dark blue water, marveling at the moonlight as it reflected off of it's surface. Right below the cliff was a beach dotted with large boulders that were half buried in the sand. This was a magnificent veiw, and Bruce got to see it everyday.

Bruce walked to the trunk of his car, and opened it, pulling out a large light blue blanket. His Uncle Phil made him pack it incase there was an emergency of some kind.

Bruce took her hand and led her down the side of the cliff, and to the beach. Spreading the blanket out under a overhanging edge, Bruce motioned for her to sit down.

He joined her and leaned back on his elbows, looking up at the stars above.

"What made you wait?" Selina asked, cutting into the silence.

"I've never had any kind of real feelings for a girl before, mostly I just ignored then. Besides, my father made me promise to at least wait until I found a girl I could be with forever."

Selina shifted her gaze to the ground, "So you're saying you could be with me forever?"

"I really think that I could. But there are other things I would have to resolve first."

Selina shook her head understandably, she too had things to do before she considered a lasting relationship. But she definitely could see waking up to Bruce every morning. She jumped suddenly as she felt Bruce's warm hands wrap around her waist.

She turned to him, and allowed him to pull her to his body. Using her hands to hold herself off of the ground, she watched as he lay back on the blanket. Slowly, she lowered herself onto him.

Bruce ran his hands over her back, and began to kiss her again. She raised her hands to his chest and unbuttoned his shirt, kissing the exposed flesh.

A great burning sensation ran through Bruce's body, as he laid her on her back and they finished undressing.

Taking his time, he kissed her neck, and pushed himself inside of her. Selina wrapped her arms around his back, and soon felt the burning sensation herself.

This went on several times until the sky began to turn a light red, to pinkish color, signaling the rise of the sun.

Bruce pulled out, and kissed Selina deeply for the millionth time, before laying down next to her, and wrapping the blanket around them. He began to whisper in her ear how she made him feel, his smile tickling her earlobe. She giggled, and leaned into him, feeling sleep tugging at her eyelids.

"Goodnight Selina. Or should I say, Good morning?"

"Good morning Bruce." she whispered as she fell asleep.

[Kali]

A well-written romantic tale of Bruce and Selina's first meeting.


My condolences about your grandfather. :(

[Panther]

Bruce would read 'Catcher in the Rye'. I'll restrain myself from my usual rant on that book.

Very touching how Bruce and Selina first met. Love at first sight, how romantic. :)

later,

[The_NewCatwoman]

Panther- What about Catcher in the Rye, do you like it, hate it, wish it could be burned in a hellborne bonfire?

I just wanted to get off the Tom Sawyer shtick, and jump on someone else's bandwagon for once. I love that book, my fave part is when Holden is drunk in the phone booth, and when he writes that paper for Stradlater, and basically the whole book. Hmmm, anyway thanks, I should probably get back on track now and check up on Mila and Caine, but give it a few days.

Kali- Thanks so much for the condolences. They are greatly appreciated. Also, glad you enjoyed the part. I've been wanting to write it for ages.

[Panther]

I don't think /any/ book should burned. It's one of the few things I believe is (or should be) carved in stone: Thou shalt not burn books.

I can tell you really love 'Catcher in the Rye', but since you asked... well, I don't. Holden spent the whole book /whinning/. He whines about everything and everyone. I also found it frustrating that he gives the audiuence an /incredibly/ detailed play by play of an extremly short period of time and then flat out refuses to tell the audinece what happened before or after. And why was it so contraversial when it was first published? So it admits teenage years can be boring and negative - so what? Do all grownups develop amnesia about the first two decades of life? Apparently.

Well, anyway, that's just my opinion.

later,

[The_NewCatwoman]

Well, the whole ruckus started in the 50s. You know, and I know that 50s America was pretty sexless. It was almost funny if not abusively repressive. NEway, we discussed this when my english class was reading the book, and it was because of the part in the hotel where Holden sees that guy walking around in women's clothing. Now you know that it's not a big deal today, but back then that was absurd. Just and FYI thrown in for ya.

-Now onward to storyland.

*sings in the tune of "Toyland"* Storyland, storyland, wonderful girl and boy land....

-tNC

[The_NewCatwoman]

**Present day**

Selina stood outside of A.J.'s door, her hand pressed against the doorframe, wondering why he was still home. "Alexander?" she asked, opening it a crack.

A.J. stood at his mirror straightening his collar, his hair looked damp and wild. She guessed it was because he hadn't combed it yet.

He turned to her as she entered the room. His brow furrowed slightly, suggesting that he was angry about something.

She walked up to him and put her arm around his shoulders and kissed his forehead. "How about we go for a walk huh? We need to talk."

A.J. nodded and grabbed his towel off of his bed and rubbed it furiously over his head, in an attempt to speed dry his hair. Selina grabbed the corner with one hand and his chin with the other and proceeded to dry out his ears. "You'll get an infection leaving water in your ears like that." she said with a smile.

A.J. raised his eyebrows, "Are you angry with me?"

"Nooooo, just... disappointed. You shouldn't have left without telling us first, especially in your condition."

"What did you want to talk about?" A.J. asked as they exited his room and headed downstairs.

"Normal stuff you know. This family has too much of one thing and not enough of the other."

"Hhmm." A.J. murmured in thought. "Define 'normal'."

"The things that other families talk about. Sports, or movies, or... maybe girls. Have you gotten yourself a girlfriend yet?"

A.J. cleared his throat. "There's no one I'm particularly interested in if that's what you mean."

"What about that Mila girl?"

"No." A.J. said flatly, "I'm pretty sure she likes me, but... she's on the outside, I'm on the inside. There's a window there that she can't see, but I'm all too familiar with."

"Hmmmm, you're too smart for your age you know that?"

"I've been suspecting it for some time." he said with a small smile.

"There's something I haven't seen in a while." she said squeezing his shoulder.

"Excuse me Young Master A.J. There's a young girl here to see you, a 'Mila'?" Alfred said, appearing suddenly.

"Speak of the devil." Selina said sighing.

"You have no idea." A.J. said following Alfred to the foyer. "No idea at all."

[The_NewCatwoman]

**Donald Dilly Jr.**

They say when you have a memory that is too painful for you to bare, your subconscious blacks it out so you can't remember. I guess it's the body's way of protecting you from your past.

If that's the case, I need a lot of protection.

The memories of my childhood are very fuzzy, somethings I can't remember at all. I have memories of waking up in the hospital one time with bloody guaze on my stomach and right arm. I remember wearing long sleeves and pants to school even when it was hot because I didn't want anybody to see what my father had done to me.

My parents divorced when my father left and my mother tried to get custody of me. But in those days, men raised boys and women raised girls. So I was sent to live with my senior. Eventually my mother got word to the wise about my father's habits of beating on me and got the custody grant, but my father still had visitation rights.

Hmph, my mother was powerless then. And that's when things get confusing. I often times can't tell my true memories from things I might have watched on television, or saw in a moving picture. And that's a sad fact. I don't know what happened to my father, he eventually just disappeared, and no one has heard from him since.

I don't speak to my wife much about my childhood, yes she knows I grew up with my mother and older sister Dawn in Metropolis, far from my dad. But how am I supposed to tell her where that ridiculous scar on my back came from? Or that that odd little "O" burn scar on my left hand was made when my father put a cigarette out on me?

Or about my brother?

My father had an illegitimate son with a married woman. I believe his mother's name is Jane "Janie" Drake. Her husband as I know of it died without ever knowing the truth. As I know it, he was killed by a man nicknamed "Occulto Dolor" who also turned up dead. So our father is dead, one guy who thought he was the father is dead, two widows are left, and here I am with a half-brother I never see, who might even be dead.

Maybe you know of him. They tell me his name's Stephen Drake. If you know where he is, please let me know. For knowing's sake.



**Back at Wayne Manor**

"Well there must be a reason you graced us with your presence, am I correct?" Selina asked looking pleasantly to the girl who was now seated across from them.

"Yes, I have to speak with your son, it's urgent."

A sudden frown came over Selina's face, but A.J. spoke for her. "I thought you were forbidden to be seen with us?"

"Seen being the operative word, besides I wondered why you weren't at school, yesterday OR today. And there are... other things we need to speak about."

"Things like what?" Selina asked.

Mila looked slightly annoyed by the line of questioning but answered nevertheless. "I was wondering when your son was going to ask me to 'go steady'." she said with a touch of attitude and a devious smile.

Selina glanced at A.J. who sat next to her, his expression hadn't faltered a bit. "Fine, don't tell me. But whatever it is, stay in your corner, you wouldn't want to deal with 'daddy' now would you?" Selina said with her own bit of sarcasm.

Mila looked at her inquisitively, she wasn't sure which 'daddy' she meant, her's or A.J.'s. And she wasn't in the least bit worried about A.J.'s father. Sure the guy looked like he had ice water running through his veins and was notoriously harsh. But her father was more than enough to be concerned about. If he found out she'd skipped school to see A.J. she guessed her days were just about numbered.

They both watched as Selina stood and left, whispering something to A.J. she couldn't quite hear. Probably about her.

A.J. sank back into the couch watching her with an expressionless gaze.

Mila opened her mouth and prepared to speak when A.J. suddenly interrupted her. "What the hell did you say that for?"

"You mean the 'go steady' crack?"

"What else?" he asked.

Mila stared at him, even though his voice was raised, and sounded angry, his face was like stone. She noticed that though he was annoyed with her, he still looked unfathomly sexy. The way his crystal-blue eyes reflected light at just the right angle, the way his hair, usually combed, stuck out all over his head, the way his eyebrows arched at just the right spot...

"Hey, I asked you a question!" he said in a demanding tone, now he was definitely angry.

"Oh?" she asked, not even hiding the fact that she was thinking about him. She'd since learned that trying not to think of him was just as futile as doing so.

He folded his arms over his chest and cocked his head. She noticed that he was wearing a white button-down, probably the first since she'd known him.

"Yeah, the least you could do is stop staring at me and answer the damn question."

Mila frowned and stood up, "Well, it's true. I think we could do fantastic things together."

Now she had made her way over to him and had her forehead against his. She placed both hands on either side of the couch behind him and pressed her nose to his. "Like this." she said as she began kissing him.

She must have kissed him for several seconds before he responded, just not in the way she wanted.

He reached up and pushed her back, "Stop. The main thing we need to be doing together is getting rid of that demon,... or do you want to stay a vamp haven all your life?'

"No!" she insisted leaning back on her haunches. "What's your problem anyway? You act like you don't know half the school, female and male want you."

"Do they?" A.J. asked sounding disinterested.

"Alexander James!" she insisted angrily, "Honestly, you act like you've never had a girlfriend or something."

A.J. stood and turned away, "Haven't."

Mila's eyebrows shot up. "Are you serious?! You don't even sound sorry for the fact."

"I'm not. I have bigger things to worry about. Besides it's better than throwing myself at people."

"I do not!" Mila said angrily. "I just don't like to play games, besides you're the first guy that I've had a crush on that didn't mindlessly agree with everything I said. I've known you for maybe a week and this is intense!"

"I think maybe you should set your sights on somebody else, like I told you before, we're on two different sides. The protector and the protected."

"You're too young to think that way about things." Mila said, "Besides... I don't want anybody else." she added softly.

A.J. groaned, "I think I'm starting to become sensitive to my father's plight."

"What?"

"Nothing." A.J. said, his back still to her.

Mila pouted and walked around to face him. Cupping his cheek in her hand, she pulled him in for another kiss. Who knew what this could lead to? As she'd already known, she was going to find the chink in his roman armor.

**

Theodore Grant sat in his living room enjoying a Heinekreg keg-can. His first for the day.

He deserved this, the chance to relax after a morning of rigorous training. He chuckled as he eyed his disgarded boxing gloves.

His thoughts turned to a particular piece of jewelery he owned. Rising from the couch he went to his bedroom dresser and opened the top drawer. Hidden beneath a pile of balled up socks was a charm. It was silver and in the shape of two boxing gloves. The chain it hung from was also silver.

He smiled fondly, the necklace had been a gift from his first girlfriend when he told her he wanted to become a professional boxer. His adopted parents Daniel and Grace had thought it was an awful idea, him wasting his God-given brilliance at the sciences to have his brain bashed out in the ring. She'd been the only one who'd supported him.

"Selina." he whispered to the mirror in front of him.

Then his smile faded, and he struggled not to become angry with her. They hadn't spoken since twenty-eight years before when he'd come to her house and gotten into that fight with the rich boy.

He slammed his fist onto the wooden surface of the dresser. He'd been a total fool for thinking a fox like her would just wait for him to cool his jets. To get over what had happened between them.

He'd been initially furious with her because she'd given their baby, yes they had a child, up for adoption without telling him. He'd come back about a month later, ready to forgive her and try to work things out, when he found a young man, not much older than him, waiting on the front porch in formal attire. The guy he'd recognized as Bruce Wayne, and Bruce's reputation had preceeded him immediately.

Wayne was known as a man about town even though he was only about seventeen or so. There were plenty of guesstimates as to just how many girls he'd bagged already.

Ted had tapped him on the shoulder and even before he asked what was going on between the two of them, decked him square across the nose. Wayne's head snapped to the side, but his body stayed stationary. He'd turned back around and without wiping the blood from his nose prepared to speak. Ted didn't wait for an explanation and this time using his left hand, socked him in the gut.

Bruce took several steps back, and as it appeared, weighed the pros and cons of continuing this fight. Ted wasn't about to debate his position and charged forward, only to have Wayne sidestep him. He crashed into the front door headfirst.

Stumbling upward, he clutched his forehead, where a thin stream of blood was trickling down. He raised his fists, ready to go at it again when Selina had opened the door.

"Ted!" she'd said angrily causing both teens to break concentration and turn towards her.

Ted stared at her dumbly, while Bruce only pursed his lips and remained speechless.

"What's going on here?" she asked looking back and forth at each.

"I came over here to tell you 'I'm sorry', when I noticed this creep standing here!"

"So without probable cause, you just decided to beat him up is that it?" Selina asked crossing her arms and cocking her head.

"Well,.. yeah!" Ted said stumbling forward.

Selina caught him and noted the bloodflow. "I'm sorry Bruce, will you just come inside so I can get you some ice and decide what to do with this knucklehead?"

"Why's he gotta come inside?!" Ted yelled, the effects of his injury starting to sink in.

"Shut up and sit here!" Selina demanded setting him down in a chair.

Bruce followed wordlessly and sat across from Ted at the dining room table. He watched as Selina went to the kitchen to fetch some ice and the first aid kit.

"Who are you anyway?" Ted asked, slumping down into the chair's cushy padding, his arms hanging over the chairs wooden arms.

"I think you know who I am." Bruce said, his frown deepening.

"Nooo!! I mean, who are you to 'Sal'?"

"Who?!" Bruce asked, as he began to wonder if Ted was drunk.

"What'd'ya mean 'who'?! Selina, you rich prick!"

"Uh huh." Bruce said, "We're good friends, and that's all you need to know."

"You know who I am?" Ted said loudly, "I'm the stinking father of her baby!"

"Sure you are." Bruce said, deciding that Ted was drunk and that everything he said should be taken worth a grain of salt.

"No, I really am! Besides, what're ya doing... doing here, this is my girlfriend's house! You just lookin' for another girl to knock over, is that it?!

"What?"

Ted had prepared to go on, but that was when Selina had come back. Ted watched as she gently pressed a handkerchief under Bruce's nose to stem the bloodflow, and wiped some sparse spots off of his dress shirt, apologizing when they looked as if they'd already set. "What about me?" he whined jealously.

"I'm getting to you!", she said coming over to his side.

Ted could feel Bruce's eyes burning into his flesh as Selina tilted up his head to get a good look at the wound. "You idiot." she mumbled as she wet a cloth with peroxide. "Now take care, this might sting."

Ted growled as she pressed the solution to his head and held it there. He could hear Bruce chuckling quietly across from him.

"Shut up Richie Rich!" Ted said.

Selina immediately rapped him on the back of the head. "Stop it, you're acting like a seven-year-old."

"Hey, Sal baby, tell him."

"Tell him what?" Selina asked as she began to dress his cut.

"Tell him who I am to you baby!" Ted said, his voice rising with each word.

"Are you drunk?!" Selina asked pausing from her work.

"No! Okay, maybe,.. yes. Or no! I don't know!" Ted said, tilting his head up at her again. "I only had a little beer. That's all, juss thiss tiny little bit." he said, holding his thumb and forefinger in front of him to show how much he'd had.

Selina groaned throwing back her head in frustration.

"Awwww, come on babyyyyyy, don't be like that!" Ted said, grinning up at her.

"Yeah, look you've got to go." Selina said as she placed tape around the edges of the gauze, "Go home and go to sleep."

"Promise me, juss oneee little thing my sweetie, my ladyeee, my Sally" he said standing suddenly, and taking her hands, "Promise me my darlingggg."

"Whaaaaat?" Selina said looking longingly to Bruce.

"Promise me we'll talk tommorow, you gotta talk to me. I want us to be in love again."

"Yes! We'll talk, call me, whatever. Now GO HOME!" she said pushing him to the door.

The next day they'd talked alright. But half-way through the conversation they'd gotten into a screaming match, which didn't exactly help the king-size headache he had, what with being in the middle of a hangover.

She'd broken up with him once and for all, going into how he'd made a fool of himself for the last month and that he was being a jackass. He'd countered with the whole thing about the adoption.

Then she'd really gone off, "Do you really think we would've made good parents?! Do you?!"

"Yeahhhh. I mean, we would've made it. We could have made it WORK!"

"Work out for the worse." she added bitterly.

"Whatever, fine you want to be like that, be like that!" he'd said slamming the phone down.

They'd avoided each other in the halls for the rest of the school year, and he'd tried to convince himself that he wasn't jealous when Bruce showed up to drive her home.

After they graduated they'd moved away from each other. She'd traveled the world before settling back in Gotham and marrying none other than Bruce Wayne. He'd moved to Las Vegas, pursued his boxing career and made himself a pretty penny as the former champ. He'd even had another son, this one named Victor, with his long time girlfriend Samantha. But that never stopped him from thinking about her from time to time. Especially on days like these.

[Panther]

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, let me se if I got this straight: Donald, who is Selina's dad, has a half brother who is Tim Drake's dad, meaning Selina and Tim are related which means Tim and AJ are related, making them...what exactly? Coisins of some sort? What a twist!!

And AJ is being his usaul holier than thou self.

Can't wait to see what happens!

[The_NewCatwoman]

Uhhhh, some of that is right, but not all.

Doc /is/ Selina's dad, Donald Sr. is Stephen Drake and Donald Jr.'s dad.

A.J. and Tim are related in that Tim was Bruce's adopted son. That's it.

But thanks for reading, I liked writing this part.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Every now and then I have these dreams. They vary from happy to sad to torturous to confusing all in one night's worth of sleep. One time I was back in the war saving everyody's go**amn life and the freakin' army is so happy and they give me all these medals and crap like that. And then out of nowhere the ambulance pulls up with a couple of shell victims. I mean the shrapnel had just blown them apart. And they're moanin' and crying and Tom and I... Tom and I, we try our damndest to help them. Now they have on these giant gas masks so I can't see their faces, and the nurse has been trying to pull them off but the soldiers grab them and won't let her get them off. So I stop what I'm doing and try and help but Tom starts yelling and cursing. One of them, blood is coming out like a freakin' gyser from their wound. It's pretty nasty and so I grab some clamps and manage to close the wound... but by then it's too late. They both flatlined. Suddenly everyone else has disappeared and there's a spotlight on the operating tables and me. Finally I get the gas masks off. And it's Anja and Marilyn.

I woke up then... crying.

I never cry anymore, it doesn't do any good. But there Monica is, beside me, trying to find out what's wrong. I hold her and knead her flesh like dough, just making sure she's still alive. She makes small noises like she's in pain and I know I'm holding on too tight but I don't stop. Her skin is turning reddish now and she wants me to stop. So I stopped. I stopped and pushed her down onto the matress, not too hard, I don't really want to hurt her. Then we made love until the sun came up, and it was like a dream.

The best damn dream that wasn't a nightmare that I've had in a while. Yes it was.


**October 16th, 1967**

Doc stared at the lifeless body below him. I had once belonged to Michael Dilly, the older perhaps dumber brother of one Donald Dilly Sr. Michael had called him on the telephone and requested his presence at the Moore Co. Warehouse on Birdswell street twenty minutes before. When he'd gotten here, he'd found the guy swinging from the light fixture by a rope. Unfazed, Doc had cut him down.

Doc smirked for no particular reason and stepped over the pile of useless flesh. Now Michael was out the way, he wasn't sure of who had killed the guy but he was sure that Selina was near and that that was all there was to it.

"Selina baby, where are you? Daddy's here, I've come to get you sweetie pie."

"Daddy!" came a weak voice from the side.

Worry claimed Doc's senses as he became William once more and raced towards the source of her cries.

He found Selina in an off to the side bedroom tied to the bedpost. She looked like she hadn't eaten since she disappeared.

"Oh baby." Will said as he untied her and pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry sweetheart, that spazz is long gone."

Selina pulled away and tried to say something but was having troubled getting in enough air.

"Breathe slowly, you're hyperventilating 'Lina."

"Daddy--it was--this BIG man--and--and--and he--he--he said that Mr. Michael Dilly--was--was guilty--and--and he put this rope around--his neck!" Selina's voice got higher and higher and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"Shhh." Will said trying to calm her down.

"Noooo! Daddy, he drug him out the room--and--and... I don't know what happened next."

"I told you, that dork won't be hurting you again." Doc said cutting his eyes away from his daughter.

For the past few weeks criminals had been coming up dead all over town. The news called him The Reaper, because in most of the cases the body looked like it had been sliced apart by a sicle.

Will picked Selina up and carried her out the room wondering if he should be worried or not.

[Panther]

Yet another terrifing ride into Selina's past. You're a great writer. It's amazing how much you've expanded this charcter, something Catwoman definilty deserved - but I'm just slighlty confused by the ever expanding character list and the fact the flashbacks are not in order. Any chance on a quick sum up of past events for somone with a bad memory?

later,

[Daughterof_Evil]

You did a great job with the Mila A.J. part. I loved how you explained how much she thinks about him in a straightforward way, and A.J.'s somewhat unsatisfactory response.

The Reaper, huh? I remember reading that somewhere. I better read up on it again, since I think you're going to throw us for another bumpy ride...

Loving it!

[The_NewCatwoman]

**That evening in the library**

"How do you know latin Alfred?" A.J. asked pulling a book by Poe off the shelf.

"Why would you want to know that master Alexander?"

"This morning while I was talking to Helena, you understood what she said."

Alfred smiled, "Well master A.J. that is a story for another time." No response from A.J. "I suppose your father will be arriving soon, what with him driving himself so often these days." Alfred added mostly to the room.

A.J. remained silent, thumbing through the text.

Alfred glanced at his young charge before changing the subject. "I haven't seen the madame of the house since this morning, where do you think she could be?"

A.J. paused and they both looked at each other before bolting out of the room and down the staircase, Poe discarded on the library's floor.

A.J. reached the study first and stared at the exposed stairwell where the clock was supposed to be. Alfred soon joined him and they both descended cautiously into the cavern below.

**Not much earlier**

Dimanche groaned, pulling desperately at the leaded chains threaded through a pair of bolts on the floor. Normally she liked being tied up, but this was ridiculous.

She'd been stuck in this hell-hole for the last eighteen hours and it wasn't getting anymore fun.

She looked pitifully down at her wrist, red from the friction, bleeding in some spots. Pulling once more, the pain on her exposed flesh caused her to involuntarily let back her head and scream.

Not so much later did she hear footsteps on the stairs. She sniffed the air, no it wasn't Wayne, but that woman she'd knocked unconcious earlier. The one he'd foolishly overlooked her for on the bathroom floor.

She hissed angrily as the woman approached her, a look of confusion on her face.

Dimanche let her eyes roam over the woman's body getting strangely arroused. She smiled and licked her lips.

"Helena?" the woman asked, looking as if she wanted to get closer but wisely staying back.

Dimanche smiled, she'd let her think it was Helena, sure. "Selina, I'm confused, I don't know how I got here."

Selina smirked, "From what they told me, you attacked me this morning, care to explain yourself?"

"I don't know what your talking about!" Dimanche stated adamantly.

"Sure, attack of the doppleganger huh? Look save it for someone who cares, once Bruce gets back, we'll figure out what to do with you."

"Did Bruce tell you I did that?! That a**hole!" Dimanche said.

Selina quirked an eyebrow, "And what reason would he have to tell me different?"

"You mean you don't remember?" Dimanche asked.

"I don't remember much at the moment no, but it will come to me." Selina stated frowning.

"We didn't want you to know. Last night, I flew in from Bludhaven. Bruce picked me up on his boat and we went around the shore. He told me you were gone for the rest of the week, so we came back to the manor. You confronted us, and started to hit Bruce. He tried to defend himself and accidently knocked you unconcious. I tried to run but he got to me too, I woke up down here."

"Your lying." Selina said in a voice so flat with pain and anger Dimanche almost thought she really didn't believe her.

"Your husband's the liar, he's been with me before."

Selina bit her lip and stalked as close as she could without placing herself in danger. Raising her arm behind her, she brought it down against Dimanche's face.

Dimanche smiled and licked the blood from her lip, "You two had had a fight, I came across Bruce stumbling around drunk. I offered to take him home, but I had to change out of my suit first. I was meeting Dick later on. While I was changing in my bedroom Bruce came out of nowhere and grabbed me. You should have been there Selina, it was probably the best throw I'd ever had. Next time you two make love, why don't you ask ol' Brucie to give it to you rough?"

Selina felt the tears coming fast now, the first one was incredibly doubtful, but the second account was solid. Bruce had cheated on her, and as far as she could tell, he could have done it again the very night before. He had been drinking quite a little bit now and he was getting violent. Grabbing her, pushing her, breaking glasses in his hand.

Selina turned away from the woman on the floor and walked towards the staircase, and that's when A.J. finally appeared to rescue her.

"A.J." she said in a distant voice, "Pack your bags, we're leaving."

"Good heavens." Alfred exclaimed bringing a hand up to his mouth. "Madame are you sure?"

"Yes Alfred I'm sure." she said in a tired voice.

A.J. shot a glance over at Dimanche who was smiling widely and fanning her fingers at him. 'Hi Angel.' she mouthed before he shot up the stairs after his mother's retreating form.

[Daughterof_Evil]

Arrrrgh! Dimanche that b*tch!!!

She made Selina cry! Curse her! I thought the sense of darkness and forboding was awesome, especially as Dimanche lied to Selina and mocked her and Bruce's personal life. Just great. It was so creepy.

And now where's Selina going? Somewhere else, I know, but where? A hotel? A secret lair, maybe? Well, don't leave me guessing!!

[The_NewCatwoman]

I'm sooo glad you enjoyed that part, my sister seems to think I'm so evil for putting my characters through the ringer, but what needs to be done needs to be done.

-tNC

[The_NewCatwoman]

**Disclaimer: I'm sorry I didn't mention it before, but I terribly sorry if I've offended anyone with this post. It is told from a Christian veiw I suppose, and I have no intent to harm or insult anyone with Selina or A.J.'s comments. -tNC**

A.J. caught his mother at the top of the stairs followed closely by Alfred. "What did she tell you?" he asked in an odd tone.

"It doesn't matter what she said A.J. What matters is what I said. Now I will only ask you this one more time, will--you--please--go--get--packed." She ended more in a direct order than as a question.

A.J.'s face remained hard but his eyes pleaded with her. Selina walked away unable to look at him directly any longer.

A.J.'s mind rocketed in fifty-million different directions all at once. Then it hit him like a demolition, Dimanche had told his mother about his father and Helena. A.J. cursed and ran upstairs even though he knew he was pushing his luck.

"Mother, will you listen to me for a moment... please." he said, face tight with emotion.

Selina was at the bureau pulling out her clothing. She said nothing.

"Please." he said again even more desperate.

Suddenly Selina turned around came to him and grabbed his chin roughly, "I will NOT repeat myself Alexander James, I don't want you making a single excuse for that man do you hear me?!"

A.J. frowned and went to his bedroom, choosing his own clothing and placing it in a single suitcase. Going to his dresser he took his rosary into his hands, bowed down on his knees and began to pray.

Ten minutes later, Selina appeared at his door, dressed in her standard black attire, black dress, heels, medium brimed sun hat, and large, matching sunglasses. In both hands were her Louis Vuitton graffiti baggae stuffed with clothing. "Ready?" she asked.

"Yes." A.J. answered rising to his feet, and joining his mother.

Selina closed the door for him and led him by the shoulder down the stairs. Alfred met them at the bottom and took Selina's luggage. "Madame, perhaps you will reconsider?" he asked gently at Selina's car, a classic black jaguar, as he placed each's things in the trunk.

"No Alfred," she said turning to him, "but thank you, for all that you have done, if it weren't for you or A.J., I think I would have gone insane." Then she spread her arms with a teary smile.

Alfred looked confused for a moment before returning the gesture. "You do know what this will do to him don't you?" Alfred asked sadly.

Selina pulled away gently, her smile gone, "I wonder if he didn't think about what this would do to me."

With that she turned and got into the car.

A.J. and Alfred stared at one another for a moment before nodding and shaking hands. "You are a fine courageous young man Master Alexander, see to it your mother keeps well, and do so yourself."

"What are you going to do?" A.J. asked looking out into the twilight ocean sky.

"I suppose I shall await your father's return, heaven only knows how he's going to fix this one."

A.J. nodded again and got into the passenger seat.

Selina started the engine and told him to put on his seat belt, and they left down the long Wayne Manor drive.

--#--

After some time A.J turned to Selina and asked, "Where are we going?"

Selina smiled sadly, "I've always kept a kind of safe house downtown, in case the heat was on, or I needed some time to myself. I never guessed I'd have to use it again."

"How long have you had it?" A.J. asked, struggling not to let emotion crack his voice. He was through with that whole voice change thing and hardly wanted to go back.

Selina laughed almost bitterly, "It's only a few years older than you, you know I used to be a thief, in fact I was the world's greatest."

"As the Catwoman, that's why he doesn't want you to suit up anymore."

"It's mostly because while I was pregnant with you I was taken hostage one night. Scared him out of his mind. He made me give it all up then, not just the stealing. It was all a part of the grand package I suppose. Him or my baubles. Guess which one I chose?"

A.J. side-glanced her but said nothing.

"I used to have cats too you know, but when you were a baby they scared you, quite badly." Selina looked sad again.

A.J. cocked his eyebrow, "They scared me?"

"Horribly. I had to give them to a friend of mine, Slam Bradey. He wouldn't seem like the type, but he loves animals, especially cats."

"Who was your favorite?"

"Isis. You know the husband of Osiris, sister in law to Set, mother of Horus. She was the Egyptian goddess of fertility."

A.J. frowned deeply and simply answered, "Heresy."

"We all know it wasn't real A.J., but it's still something to think about. Some say the Egyptians saw Aliens and thought of them as gods, but I'm not sure about all that. I mean what about the greeks, the romans, the aztecs, the vikings, Hindu's, and all the other little religions?"

A.J. cleared his throat, "I don't know about all of that, people saw rain, they made a rain god. Simple."

"So how do we know it's all real?"

"Biblical history is world history, it actually happened, I don't know about the others, besides how did we even get on this topic?"

Selina smiled, "Your quite sensitive aren't you?"

"More so than not."

"We're here." Selina said suddenly stopping the car.

"Why are you talking to me as if nothing just happened?" A.J. asked.

"Because what happens between myself, your father, and whoever else is none of your business. I won't place my problems on you A.J. Now go get your suitcase, here's the key, go let yourself in, it's on the top floor. I need some time to think, I'll be up in a moment."

A.J. nodded and followed her instructions, disappearing into the building.

Once she saw he was out of sight, she folded her arms across the stering wheel, buried her face, and began to cry.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Bruce slowly unlocked the door, savoring the cool November air having been locked in a stuffy board room for most of the day. He smiled quite large for himself as the icy breeze crept under the collar of his shirt.

Pushing the door the rest of the way, he immediately draped his suit jacket over the back of a chair and left his briefcase in the foyer. With fingers of intense prescision, he began unbuttoning his dress shirt and headed upstairs towards the bedroom.

No sooner had he opened the door and asked in a quiet voice "Selina?" did he notice something was wrong. Everything was as he'd left it this morning. The room was cold, maybe even more so than outside. He stopped his work and looked at the bureau. There leaning against the bottom frame of the mirror was an envelope with his name on it.

He found himself with the letter in his hand without really realizing it and unfolded it tenderly. Bruce felt a special kind of dread knot his stomach. He let his eyes graze over Selina's beautiful rushed cursive without digesting the words, dried tear stains dotted sparsely, and a few words were distored and smeared by them.

Without thinking too hard, Bruce knew deep inside that those tears had been shed on his account, and that he owed his wife a debt he could never repay. He'd made her cry.

Slowly he made it to the end of the bed and sat down finally deciding to read what she had to say and get it over with.

Bruce:

I guess I really have no words or thoughts for how I feel right now. Just questions. You promised me so long ago that you would always protect me, keep me safe, and as you put it, hopefully even happy. You tried for so long to shield me from the light of day that I guess I began to resent you. But I would not have ever hurt you like this. I wouldn't have made you cry. Even though it didn't seem like it sometimes Bruce Wayne, I loved you with everything I possibly could. I just hope that what was once a marriage to us hasn't become a burdening problem for you. Maybe one day we can put this behind us, but honestly I don't see it happening. You can have her if you want, but just know you've lost me and will lose Dick in the process. Your decisions are your own to make, and I respect that. But like I told Alfred upon leaving, I wonder if you didn't think about what this would do to me.

Selina

Bruce felt his heart clutch almost violently, the letter fluttering from his limp fingers. He stared ahead with the most inconceivable pain he could feel in his since-numbed heart.

"Selina." he said to the dead room. It had been a long time since he felt alone. But here, back from the dead, were his old foes loneliness and heartbreak. And he was just as unprepared as ever for the onslaught of attack. It was official, he'd lost the battle. But that wouldn't stop him, he just knew he had to find Selina at whatever cost, but not without visiting the little demon downstairs and settling whatever she thought was still going on between them.

He had to still the guilt.

[witness]

Wow, this story's coming along great! It's sad that Selina found out, but it had to come out sooner or later. I mean, that kind of secret just doesn't stay hidden, usually. So, where is Caine in all of this? What will Bruce say to Helena/Dimanche? What is A.J. going to do? Will Dick find out the same secret? So many questions.... Write again soon!

[The_NewCatwoman]

The cordless phone blared into Ted's ears shaking him out of a rather restful sleep. He looked at his watch, it was only seven in Las Vegas, who could be calling him?

Feeling around through the sheets he finally came across his prey and stilled it's nagging ring. "Hello?"

"Hello yourself playboy." came a feminine voice from the other end.

"Who is this?" he asked, pulling himself up to the headboard.

"I guess it has been awhile... but you mean to tell me you really can't recognize my voice?"

Ted settled into the pillows, tucking the sheets back in. It couldn't be his ex-girl Samantha, the two of them hadn't spoken in eight years. Then who? "I'm sorry, I don't..."

"It's Selina numb-nut."

Ted felt himself smile uncontrollably, she was the last person he expected to hear from. "You always had a way with words Sal."

"And you with alcohol."

Ted shrugged, "I'm a drinker. So how's Gotham treating you these days?"

He heard Selina groan, "Is something wrong?"

"Selina?"


"I'm here Teddy." she said, it sounded like she was crying.

"You haven't called me 'Teddy' in years. What's going on, do you need me?"

Selina sighed on the other end of the phone, "There's a lot of things I need you for, but right now I just want to talk okay?"

"Of course!" he said forcing himself to calm down.

"*sigh* Bruce, he..."

"Your still with him?!"

"Ted! We've been married for sixteen years!"

"Well sorry, I didn't exactly get an invite!"

"I'm hanging up now." Selina said in a flat voice.

"No, no! I'm sorry Sal. I didn't know. What's wrong? Did he hurt you?"

He could hear Selina pause on the other end, he briefly remembered something similar being said in a car years and years before, but it was fuzzy.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked again gently but firmly.

"Yeah, he.. he cheated on me."

Ted felt his insides collapse, "He...what?" he choked out.

"He cheated on me." Selina said in a small voice. "I mean I know it hasn't always been heaven between us, but... I didn't expect this!"

"I know Sally, look do you want me to come there?"

"I... I don't know, you've got matches and everything."

"No, I'm not sheduled for another nine weeks! I can come... What else did you want to talk to me about?"

"I want to find our son." Selina said firmly.

Ted stayed silent, another shock inducing idea by Selina sent to his system.

"What you don't want to see him?" she asked, her voice sounded small again.

"No, that's not it, I just... It's been so long, I mean... what if he hates us or something?"

"He won't. He'll understand, I'm sure of it."

"You're always sure."

He felt Selina smile on the other end. "I know."

"Any more life changing secrets you feel like confessing?" Ted asked casually. He felt Selina's mood change instantly.

"*another sigh* Yes, I want to tell you finally.. about my father, and why I never wanted kids. I almost told you before but..."

It all came flooding back to him then, their conversation in the car, he'd felt like she was holding back, even more so than she always did. "Yeah Sally baby, I'll come over there and see you. We can talk then. I'll see you in a few hours okay?"

"Bye Ted. Thanks."

Ted smiled, "Bye Sal."

[Daughterof_Evil]

It's interesting how deeply religiously indoctrinated A.J. is, especially for Bruce Wayne's son. And also interesting that Selina seems to be the voice of logic when he's illogical just as he is hers when she's illogical. And now Ted is back in the middle, does that mean Selina is going back to him? Will he ever forgive her for giving up their child?

And how is Caine doing? Sooner or later, I guess, he's going to find out that Dimanche is in the Waynes' wine cellar. Definitely lookin' forward to that.

Great episode. I love the domestic/romantic/adolescent tension.

[Panther]

Interesting. I really didn't expect AJ to be so ...closeminded on the subject of relegion. Doesn't seem like him. Meanwile - where is Caine and more importantly where is Mila? And /Ted/ is coming back into the story? Interesting.

later,

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by Panther
Interesting. I really didn't expect AJ to be so ...closeminded on the subject of relegion. Doesn't seem like him. Meanwile - where is Caine and more importantly where is Mila? And /Ted/ is coming back into the story? Interesting.

later,

You'll see more of this out of A.J. as the story gets along, don't worry. And Mila's coming back, and Ted's got a very important role to fulfill in Selina's life also.

Thanks for the reply Panther, I'm really loving this part of the story for some sadistic reason. Hah!

-tNC

[Kali]

Ooooh poor Selina and Bruce. But, especially poor Selina, with Helena lying to her like that.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by Daughterof_Evil
It's interesting how deeply religiously indoctrinated A.J. is, especially for Bruce Wayne's son. And also interesting that Selina seems to be the voice of logic when he's illogical just as he is hers when she's illogical. And now Ted is back in the middle, does that mean Selina is going back to him? Will he ever forgive her for giving up their child?

And how is Caine doing? Sooner or later, I guess, he's going to find out that Dimanche is in the Waynes' wine cellar. Definitely lookin' forward to that.

Great episode. I love the domestic/romantic/adolescent tension.

Ahhh yes, but no one's trying to help Bruce. Heh heh heh.

Yes A.J.'s uber-religious. I guess he kinda has to be.

Ted's basically support in boxing trunks. I really appreciate his character, and if I wasn't such a Bruce/Selina supporter (although at the moment it might not seem like it) I would be rooting for Catwoman and Wildcat all the way!

-tNC

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by Kali
Ooooh poor Selina and Bruce. But, especially poor Selina, with Helena lying to her like that.

Yes, it's true Dimanche has it in for them. I admit it here and now!

;) thanks for the comments, sympathy is a friend to all.

-tNC

[The_NewCatwoman]

**I would also like to thank Witness for his flattering post, sorry I didn't reply sooner**

Selina stood in the middle of her bedroom, admiring the newly completed task of cleaning and dusting she'd spent the better part of the evening on. It was after twelve by the time she finished. Now all that was left was to go out and get new things.

It had been quite a long time since she'd used this place, and although she kept the rent up and bills paid, the furniture had become quite dated. And there was also the matter of it being a single-bedroom apartment, and she had a son now.

She groaned, now that A.J. was here, she'd have to find a room to clear out that was big enough for him.

Contemplating her task she went into the large bathroom across the hall and began running bathwater.

Stripping down, she eased into the steaming hot water and relaxed against the rim, her head against the wall. Not long after she drifted into sleep.

--#--

Batman stood on the edge of the apartment building roof across from where he knew his wife was staying.

It had taken him six hours to find her. He had gone through all of her aliases and various addresses before it dawned on him to try her actual name.

He'd looked up an old friend of her's named Slam Bradey. It had took him longer than usual to get the information he needed, it seemed Slam was rather protective of Selina and knew better than to just tell anybody where she could be. He'd felt some jealousy that she trusted this guy over him, and that Slam obliged by fiercely guarding her whereabouts.

But then he felt shame burn in him, because he knew that he had no one to blame but himself for her feelings towards him.

He knew that she most likely had A.J. with her, she'd never leave without him, given that he was the reason they married anyway.

Sighing, he shot a line over to her lit bedroom window. Gliding into the air, he swung his legs to the front and gently landed on the ledge. Walking to the window, he pressed his gloved fingers to the glass and slid it to the side leaving enough space for him to squeeze through.

Walking casually through the room, untouched by time, he felt himself enter a past life, when he played the part of irresponsible playboy and she saw through it continually.


**eighteen years earlier**

Bruce pressed his tongue determinedly between his lips as he looked to the blonde on his left arm and the red head on his right. They were both chattering mindlessly as if the other wasn't even there and demanded his attention just the same.

He groaned as Angela, the red head, tried to pull him onto the dance floor. "Come on Bruce, why don't we show them how it's done?" she said in her sultry voice.

Bruce looked at her surprised, he realized that she had been complaining about the sorry ballroom dancing that the elderly crowd was attempting in the middle of the room.

"Uh-uh!" Carmen, the blonde, demanded, pulling back with equal force.

"Oh let go!" Angela demanded jerking Bruce forward and sending all three spining forward.

Bruce managed to get a hold of a table edge with one hand and grab both women with his free arm before anyone got seriously injured.

"Now look what you did!" Carmen shouted grabbing Angela's shoulder and giving it shake.

"How dare you blame me!" Angela defended exasperatedly.

Carmen came forward, pushing Bruce out of the way. Angela in an attempt to arm herself for the onslaught grabbed a piece of cake and hurled it into Carmen's face.

Carmen screamed in rage and grabbed the other woman. Both fell and rolled across the floor clawing at each other desperately.

Bruce tried to talk the women down, but a crowd was forming and his words disappeared into the murmur's of the crowd. Somehow he ended up at the back, unable to even see them.

He felt a finger tap him on the shoulder. He turned around, expecting another angry woman, but instead found his ex, Selina Kyle smiling cooly. "Need a little rescuing?" she asked.

[Panther]

Oh what a wonderful bit of comic relief!!!!!! :D :D :D :p

I'm still laughing - let me catch my breath!

....

Okay, okay, I'm good. Great post, although I'm curious as to what is happening in the present timeline, despite the interesting flashbacks. Only Bruce would think breacking and entering was the correct way to handle things. Well, maybe Selina too - I guess they /are/ well matched.

later,

[The_NewCatwoman]

Tank ku for the kind words.

I will now continue, for your reading pleasure, the scene which you were just reading.

[The_NewCatwoman]

**cont**

Bruce smiled nervously and scratched behind his head.

"Ohhh, you never used to smile so much when we were together... Don't tell me Betty Boop (tm) and Jessica Rabbit (tm) over there had some impact." Selina said cutting her eyes but otherwise remaining cool.

"No, no." he looked back to the crowd. "How about we go out to the balcony?"

"Awww, sorry honey. My date would be jealous." Selina said turning around as a brown haired man joined her.

Bruce's face took on a surprised expression. The man held out his hand to be shaken. "Art Wesley." he said with a tight smile.

Bruce hesitated and Selina noticed. "He won't bite Bruce, at least not you."

Art laughed, "Bruce Wayne I presume. Boy Billionaire and then some. Your parents left quite a load didn't they?"

Bruce frowned and straightened up, choosing to ignore the man's former gesture.

Selina elbowed Art in the stomach. "Geez I'm sorry. Touchy subject huh?"

Bruce's frown as well as his stomach tightened and he pushed past them. "Excuse me."

Selina smiled and turned to her date, "Uh listen Art, it's not working out. Call me sometime okay?"

With that she trailed Bruce and left the confused man in the middle of the floor.

Catching up to him halfway down the street, she fell into step and they walked two blocks in silence.

Selina sighed, "Bruce I'm sorry. Art has a tendency to put both his feet and both of his hands in his mouth from time to time."

"It's not that." Bruce said without turning his head to face her's.

Selina stopped and grabbed his arm, stopping him as well. Cupping his chin into her hands she looked at him, "Then what is it darling?"

Bruce suddenly smiled his trademark half-smile, "How many other men have you called 'darling'?"

"Jealous are we?"

"Really Selina. I think I am." he answered.

"Well darling just you and only y--"

"Do you want to leave with me?"

"What? Where?!"

"Leave with me. Anywhere."

"When?"

"Now!"

"Why?

"Just because."

"Bruce, baby, you're not drunk are you?"

"I didn't drink a thing. Listen, I haven't seen you in God knows how long. I want to take you somewhere. Maybe make up for lost time."

"Bruce darling, that's crazy."

"This isn't the first time someone's said that to me."

"I wonder why." Selina murmured turning away.

Just then a large explosion sounded a few blocks away.

"Oh for the love of G--!" Selina started before turning around and finding Bruce gone.

"Oh yeah Bruce, real classy." Selina spat angrily before heading back to the party. "You're a regular Holden Caulfield!"

Stopping halfway down the street she quietly added, "And I guess that makes me Jane."

[The_NewCatwoman]

**Lyrics by Ginuwine from a song called "Stingy". And A/N (author's note) I couldn't resist putting this in my story. I absolutely /ADORE/--this--song.**

You know what, baby
I need to tell you something
And...it's something very important
You know...
I want you to take this time out and just listen
And hold me close
You hear me?
Listen

Can I have you for a minute
Don't get shy 'cuz my heart's in it (When I say)
You got me strung out
I don't know and I can't call it
But whatever it is you've got it (Naw babe)
Without a doubt, yeah
Never been the one to cling
And I don't like to be needed (But now)
I guess that's all changed
That's why I get mad at your phones
'Cuz I don't want you to go (Naw babe)
I want you to stay


Batman shook himself from his reverie, feeling at once unsure of his actions. Approaching Selina so soon wasn't the most tactful thing to do, that he was positive of. But at the same time, he longed to see her... dare he say... happy? Not furious, not compliant, not "okay", just really truly happy. And also at the same time he knew that he was for the most part the cause of her pain and disatisfaction with life. He blamed himself for her suicide attempt. He'd confessed his guilt to Leslie after that first meeting. Leslie had sternly told him that he had nothing to do with it, and that it had been Selina's stubborn past that had tried to do her in.

**to be continued**

[The_NewCatwoman]

"What are you doing here?!" came a sharp question from behind him.

He turned to see Selina in the doorway wrapped in a bath towel and dripping wet. He tried to work his mouth, but the words didn't come, the sight had rendered him speechless. Finally his mind grasped onto something and he blurted it out, "Selina--!"

She sighed and crossed the room, when she spoke, her voice sounded tired and worn. "Bruce, you're the last person I want to see right now. Believe me, I'm exhausted with everything I've gone through with you and I'm exhausted with all the work it's taking for me not to cry in front of you and I really wish you'd leave me alone."

He wanted to respond, but again he was dumbstruck. This time by her removing her towel and fishing nude for a nightie. "Bruce I swear, if you don't get out of my sight I'm going to shoot you dead."

He shook himself, realizing his eyes had glazed over. When was the last time he'd been with her? He could barely remember. But at the same time he didn't have time to think before he heard a clicking. He then realized that Selina was holding a small shotgun in her right hand, the clicking was her pulling the hammer in anticipation to shoot him.

She smiled in an odd way and pulled the trigger.

And all he saw was red.

**

Selina jumped and opened her eyes. She cursed, realizing that she was still in the bathtub. She'd merely fallen asleep. It must have been at least an hour, because the once hot water had grown tepid and dull.

She pulled the stopper and wrapped a towel around herself, still trying to push away the haunting remnants of her dream. She felt stomach pull, she could never shoot him. In all his arrogance, and even idiocy, in some respects, he was all the more innocent. He had no real grasp on anything around him outside of his mission. "Yeah well he found something to grasp onto didn't he?" she asked the mirror cynically as she passed by.

"No, no, we won't think about that. I mean can you really trust that bi*ch?" she said trying to calm herself down. "But then, I wouldn't have left would I?"

She sighed, for everything that man was lacking good or bad she still loved him. And that's why she left. If she didn't care, it wouldn't have hurt her so badly. She began to wonder what he had to say, a man at least had the right to defend himself didn't he?

She took a long, full breath when she reached her bedroom, wishing and not-wishing that the Batman was there waiting for her. She got her wish.

Batman stood before her, face as blank as in her dream. They stared at each other in silence for sometime before she felt something come to focus in her mind. Then she felt the most painful anger wash over her being and ran up to him, hitting him until he fell back. He wasn't fighting her, he wanted her to hit him and beat him and make him bleed. And she wanted to too.

She barely noticed that she'd left her towel behind, and that her knees were burnt from the carpet. She didn't feel the sting in her eyes as they teared, or notice the long string of spanish cursewords that poured forth from her mouth.

Finally she collapsed on top of him, and cried. She felt his hand timidly caress her back. She looked up at him and gasped at what she had down. Somehow, she'd removed his cowl. Blood dribbled down from his mouth, his nose, cuts over his eyes and on his cheeks. She quickly tried to scamble up and away from him. This wasn't how you do things. But he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down, "More." he said, his eyes boring into her's.

"No, that's not what we do. We can't do this back and forth anymore."

"Yes we can, I hurt you, I want you to hurt me."

"No!" she insisted angrily.

"Yes!" he came back worse.

With that he yanked up his suit's sleeve and ran his fingernails down his arm, pulling up his skin, leaving a trail spotted with blood in his flesh. "I want you to do this! I deserve it. I deserve punishment!"

Selina slapped him, "You're mad Bruce Wayne. Stop this now!"

"No!"

"Yes." she said through gritted teeth before rising from the floor and crawling onto her bed.

She'd seen this side of him before. He'd purposely cut his finger open when they were teenagers, but she forgot why. She shivered as he watched her from the floor, and began biting her fingernails.

"Why don't you hate me?" he asked.

Selina looked up surprised, it was the voice he'd used in the garden. That tiny childlike voice.

"Bruce go away from me, I need time to think."

"You didn't answer my question. Apparently, all I've done since you became my wife is cause you pain. And yet you never left me. Now you have a reason to. You can be done with me forever and you won't do it."

"Is that why you cheated? So I could get a 'Get out of marriage free card?'"

"No. I didn't do it on purpose."

"Oh yeah," then she began in a mocking voice, "Help I've fallen on your d**k and I can't get up."

Bruce growled angrily, "No! That's not what happened. Something took a hold of me. I couldn't stop myself."

"Yeah, it's a little something called the male libido."

"NO! A.J. told me, just after he tied Helena up in the bathroom--"

"There's that name, I was wondering how long it would be before you said it."

"STOP IT! Let me finish! He said that she was using Helena's feelings for me to manipulate my actions. She tried to do it to me again but he stopped her."

Selina remained silent for a long while, her face blank. "That's why he tried to stop me earlier."

Then she added, "What do you mean, 'She manipulated my feelings?'"

"She's a vampire."

"I'm not even going to ask."

Bruce didn't respond at first, but then he continued, "I made her tell me what she said to you. You didn't believe everything did you?"

Selina shook her head.

"Why not?" Bruce asked averting his eyes to the floor.

"Because, I know you don't have a boat." she said matter--of--factly.