Icy Love

[Batgirl_2005]

Well here it is! A sequel to Daughter! I hope you enjoy!

(PS... I'll work on my other story as soon as I get my OTHER computer back.... promise!!!)

Prologue

A group of Jokerz walked into the basement of a dilapidated Wayne Enterprises building. One door caught their attention more than the others did. Large letters across the door stated that this was a restricted area for certain people only.

Glanced at each other for a moment before deciding to take a chance. They crashed open the door and stormed inside. They were surprised to find only a tank connected to several computers to be the only thing in the room.

The leader walked over to one of the computers. The words ‘Poison Annulled’ flashed before him. The tank was labeled. The words Cathryn Wayne were painted on.

He lifted up his club, shrugging, and smashed the computer. The girl in the group took her spike sporting rubber chicken and smashed the glass of the tank. She jumped back when a blonde-haired girl tumbled down to the ground. Soon the floor was covered with ice water.

"Dude… This is really weird…. It’s like… Aliens or something!" One of the men shouted. "I’m outta here!" He turned on his heel and ran. The others quickly followed suit, but not before painting the girl’s face to look like a clown.

-=-=-=-

The girl lay on the ground for quite a while. Slowly, her aqua eyes opened. She regretted it immediately, though. As soon as her eyes were open, pain rushed through her body. She was weak. She hadn’t eaten in… days? It felt like she hadn’t moved in the same amount of time.

She slowly stood up. Then she frowned. Where was she? Something wasn’t right. Where was her father? She made her way to the door and wandered into the cool night air.

-=-=-=-

Batman stood in the middle of a group of men sporting ski masks. He had just interrupted a bank robbery and was now surprised to find himself outnumbered.

"TERRY!" Bruce’s voice shouted over the earpiece. Batman jumped slightly.

"A bit busy here. What is it?!"

"There’s a silent alarm going off at Wayne Enterprises on 3rd street and Main. Get over there. NOW." Bruce’s voice was suddenly filled, uncharacteristically, with emotion.

Suddenly one of the men rammed his shoulder into Batman. An impact grunt escaped his lips.

It took him a while but he finally fought all the men off.

"Where’d you say there was an alarm going off?" Batman asked. No answer. "Bruce? Yo, old man. Where you at?"

-=-=-=-

Bruce pressed the gas even more on his hover limo. He felt badly for leaving Terry, but this was important. Besides, Terry should be able to handle himself. He stopped the limo and hobbled down into the basement.

A half inch of standing water greeted him as he walked into the room that once held his daughter. Other than glass water and ruined electronics. The room was empty. No life, whatsoever. No Cathryn.

[The_NewCatwoman]

hobbled?

hobbled?

:rolleyes:

NEway, YES, this is perfect. I didn't know whether this story would take place during BB or not, but you've answered my question more than I could have hoped for. I thought what the Jokerz did was cruel and thoughtless, but nevertheless I'm more worried for Cathryn, she's still sick I presume. Oh well, hope she fares much better this time.

-tNC

[Panther]

All right! The adventure continues! Poor Cathryn, forgetton about then attacked by Jokerz - can't you cut a girl a breck? Does the words 'poison anulled' mean your gonna give her half a chance?! Oh please! And of pleasepleaseplease let her be reunited with her big brother - that would be so awesome!

later,

[witness]

And so the story continues! As Panther said, does the fact that it said anulled means that she's cured? This is a nice continuation from "Daughter", I do hope you'll post another chapter soon.

[Panther]

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooo?

How long do you plan on leaving us in suspense? When do we get more of 'Icy Love' and the other side of family?

Don't leave us in a lurch! What's gonna happen to Cathryn?

[Batgirl_2005]

~pulls herself out of the abyss of her absence~ ACK!!!! I'm here!! I should have warned everyone I was in the spring Musical for the past couple weeks... sorry for my disappearance I'll hae stuff ^ ASAP!!!

[Batgirl_2005]

Chapter I

As Cathryn wandered weakly around the city, she quickly found herself to be lost. The city had changed. What had happened? What day was it? For that matter, what year was it? She shivered slightly, she was dripping with icy liquid and it was a cool night. Thankfully, she didn’t get sick.

That struck another thought in her head. The poison! What had happened? She should be dead. She pondered this as she walked. Where was Dick? Dad? What was going on?

A hover limo zoomed by. Cathryn paused mid step. A hover limo? She was intrigued now. Her stomach growled loudly, waking her from her thoughts. She didn’t have any money and she was lost. And she was wet. She wasn’t happy.

After an hour of walking, she was about to collapse from exhaustion and hunger. Cathryn slipped into an all night store and smiled at the heavy set dark haired man behind the counter.

"You’re all wet." Said the man. Cathryn looked at him with one eyebrow raised. Then she rolled her eyes and went to a shelf which held doughnuts. She turned her back to the man and took a package. She glanced back and fortunately the bathrooms were an easy exit. She wandered back there, all the while keeping her back to the man at the counter.

Ten minutes later she emerged empty handed and a bit less hungry. She walked to the park and lay down on a bench, feeling sorry for herself.

-=-=-=-

The next morning Cathryn awoke and looked around groggily. Today she had to find Wayne Manor. She got up, stretched and began to slowly make her way on a road which she hoped would lead her home.

Soon she found herself getting hungry again. She would wait, when she got home Alfred would be sure to fix her something. As she walked she began muttering a song.

"I like big butts and I can’t deny.. you other brothers can’t deny… When a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get SPRUNG… Wanna pull up tough cause you noticed that butt was stuffed… Deep in the jeans she’s…"

Suddenly Cathryn realized with a start that a familiar road lay ahead of her. She smiled to think that she was almost home. Forgetting her hunger she broke into a run.

She reached the gates a few minutes later. She frowned not remembering the gates being this tall or the Manor looking this old. It seemed to have aged fifty years in the time she had been gone. Cathryn sighed and pressed what she hoped was an intercom.

"Daddy? Are you home? Alfred? Bozo? Dick?" Asking for all the people she could think of.

-=-=-=-

Bruce stumbled slightly as he walked from the cave. The sound of a familiar voice had caught him off guard.

"Daddy? Are you home? Alfred? Bozo? Dick?" Came the girl’s voice.

It was impossible. After having been out of the cryogenics tank for this long, Cathryn should be dead. The poison would have taken over… Unless…

Had Cathryn’s immune system grown used to it, and gotten rid of anything harmful? Bruce quickly pressed the button and heard the gates open down below. A few minutes later there was a sharp knock at the grand double doors. Without waiting for Bruce to answer the tall blonde girl stepped inside.

Bruce’s jaw nearly fell when he saw that Cathryn hadn’t aged a day. He hadn’t been down to check on her in a few years for there had been no improvement.

"Who are you?" She asked defensively when she saw Bruce standing there. Bruce could hear a bit of weakness in her voice.

"Cathryn… It’s me." Bruce said, almost hurt.

Cathryn frowned. How could this old man be her father. Her father was young and strong and handsome. This man was creepy looking and old. What was going on?

"Ummm… no…. My dad is only like… thirty-four… MAYBE. You… you’re what? Ninety somethin’?" Cathryn nearly spat. Her temper was rising.

"I am eighty-five. Cathryn maybe you should sit down." Bruce said, leading the girl to a chair. Cathryn, using what little strength she had, hurled Bruce over her shoulder.

"I don’t know what’s going on here. I don’t know what you did with my dad and I don’t know where my older brother is but I’M going to find them!"

Suddenly a black and red clad figure leapt from the shadows and tackled Cathryn, then kept her pinned to the ground.

"You ok Wayne?" Asked the man.

Cathryn gave up. She was out numbered and weak, she couldn’t fight.

"Get off of her." Said the old man weakly. He had had the wind knocked from his lungs.

Batman frowned, but followed orders. He climbed off of the blonde girl and pulled her roughly to a standing position.

"Cathryn look at me." Commanded the older man.

Cathryn’s head lifted up, her aqua eyes shone with tears. Her eyes locked with the elderly man’s bright sapphire orbs. Familiar blue eyes bore into her soul searching her.

"Daddy?" She asked timidly.

"Cathryn." Bruce said softly. Cathryn lunged forward and collapsed sobbing into his chest.

As confused as he was, Terry sensed that this would be a good time to leave. He slunk away and into the cave.

-=-=-=-

"Daddy, what happened to you?" Asked Cathryn a while later.

"You’ve been gone a long time, Cat." Bruce said. Cathryn frowned.

"But… No…. I haven’t…."

"I couldn’t let you die. I had to save you, and so I had you cryogenically frozen. For fifty years."

"Fifty… Oh god… Alfred… Dick… Tim… Babs…." Her voice trailed off as she drew her knees into her chest.

"Alfred died. But Tim and Barbara are still alive."

"What about Dick? What about my big brother? Daddy? Where’s Dick?" Cathryn sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I… I don’t know… We didn’t keep in touch… I don’t know what happened to him…"

"Where’s my big brother?" Cathryn demanded, Tears stopping, and her eyes sparking with anger.

"Cat.. I don’t know… After we froze you… That was it…. He didn’t have a reason to stay near by any longer…. He left…"

"I’m going to find him."

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by Batgirl_2005



"I like big butts and I can’t deny.. you other brothers can’t deny… When a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get SPRUNG… Wanna pull up tough cause you noticed that butt was stuffed… Deep in the jeans she’s…"



Hey, I remember that song, I've got it on cd upstairs... NEway, I'm glad Cathryn and Bruce could find each other again. I wonder how she'll react to Terry. I really hope she finds Dick, it'd be nice to find out what happened to him.

-tNC

[Coran]

Now this could get very interesting... is it possible Dick and Terry will meet? What would their reactions be to each other? And what would Cathryn think of Terry? Somehow I see dislike forming because of his tackling her and all... much like her beginning dislike of Tim but what will happen...

Can't wait to read mroe. Keep up the great work.

[Panther]

Oh, poor Cathyrn. Her whole world's been yanked out beneath her feet. :( I think the worst part, though, was when she /didn't/ know what was going on and just walking around expecting things to go back to normal any minute.

But - Yes! /She's/ the one who's going to solve the mystery of where's Dick been at!

later,

[witness]

I wonder how she's going to treat Terry? I think someone else said like she treated Tim. That could be funny. I also hope that she'll be able to give us a solid answer for what happened to Dick. In my story, I just threw him in there so I could kill him. Hopefully you'll be able to give us some idea of what could have happened! I can't wait to read the next chapter! Keep it up, this story's gonna be a good one.

[Batgirl_2005]

Chapter II

Cathryn Wayne sat at the batcomputer reading an old article on happenings in Blüdhaven. That had been where Dick had retreated to last time, but now…

Cathryn didn’t know where she was going to find her older brother. That thought scared her. Her brother had always given her strength. She needed him.

She sighed and clicked out of that article. She had gone through articles from the past five years that had anything to do with superheroes. The only things she found were stupid things. Things like "The Terrific Trio!" That had made her laugh.

She sighed and searched again for articles on superheroes, this time widening her scope to all cities.

She scrolled down the list that came up in a bored fashion. Suddenly something caught her eye.

Nighthawk, Flash, and Panthress; jokes no more

It wasn’t Nightwing… But it was pretty close. Cathryn speedily clicked open the article coming from Central City.

Cathryn read through, and by the end, she was positive this, Nighthawk had something to do with Dick Grayson.

"DAD!" She shouted, she took a deep breath and shouted even louder. "DADDY!!!!!!"

Bruce ran into the cave as fast as he could at his age. "What is it, Cathryn? What do you want?"

"Look!" She pointed to the large screen.

Bruce read through the article quickly.

"It does seem promising. You may check it out." Cathryn frowned.

"What about you? Don’t you want to see Dick?"

A pained look passed over her father’s face. "I’m needed here."

Cathryn raised an eyebrow at him. "OK, daddy. Look at yourself in the mirror. You’re what did you say… 86?"

"85." Provided Bruce.

"I’m sure this new bozo you got working for you can handle it. You’ve been doing this for a long time daddy. You deserve a break. We’re going to this… Central City whether you want to or not!" She stuck her tongue out at him. "Now let’s go get packed." She raced up the stairs her father behind her.

-=-=-=-

A couple days later Cathryn walked through the streets of Central City absentmindedly. Her father had been meeting some old guy… Wally something or other… And so Cathryn was out looking for Dick.

"I could look up Grayson in the phone… No… he wouldn’t have his number be public knowledge… Ummmm…" She talked to herself as she dodged wandered down the sidewalk. She nibbled on her lower lip as she tried to think of ways she could find Dick.

Suddenly Cathryn was on the ground. (Normally if she ran into something \she would have been able to catch herself, but after being immobile for fifty years, her muscles were weakened considerably.) She looked up at the tall man above her. He looked familiar almost.

He was tall and had bright azure eyes. His hair had at one point been black that was obvious. But old age had tinted it gray, it was a nice distinguished silver color at the temples. His face was handsome, but wrinkled. Cathryn swore she knew him from somewhere.

He smiled down apologetically and reached down to help her up.

"Thank you sir." Said Cathryn.

"No problem." The man frowned slightly. "I know it’s a bit forward, miss. But may I ask your name?"

"Cathryn Mitch… Cathryn Wayne." A small smile came to the blonde girl’s lips. Shock and happiness registered in the man’s eyes.

"I ummm…"

"Cathryn! Let’s go." Shouted a deep voice from the street, a limousine was parked there waiting for her.

Cathryn nodded to the man and ducked into the car.

-=-=-=-

A young woman hung upside down from the edge of a building. She had her right fingers pressed to her temple. Using her binocular vision to watch the city.

She wore a pure black costume, her mask covered half of her face. It was shaped like a bird’s beak and was blue.

A voice cut into her vigil.

"Be on the look out for a girl calling herself The Phoenix." Said her grandfather’s voice.

"Who?" Asked the girl.

"The Phoenix. She’s an old friend. Just trust me, Nighthawk."

"You got it, pops."

"Quit it with the pops."

-=-=-=-

The Phoenix stepped out onto the roof. Her long blonde hair was down on her back. She stepped off the edge, and just before hitting the ground, soared up using the rockets her father had added only the day before.

She soared into the sky in search of her older brother.

[witness]

Yay!!! She's looking for Dick! And it looks like she might meet him after all! If that wasn't him that she bumped into in the first place.

Love the references from BB. "The Terrific Trio" making her laugh, and Bruce taking to some old guy named Wally. Really cool.

I want to know who's going to be your new Flash and who this Panthress is. Should be quite interesting. Keep it up! This story just keeps getting better and better!

[Panther]

>groans< Oh! They were face to face!!! You're going to drag this out as long as possible, aren't you? I love the renasscene(sp) of superheroes. Are Nighthawk and Phoenix going to meet? I hope so!


"Quit it with the pops."
LOL!

[Batgirl_2005]

What's the best way to get a superheroes attention? Thought The Phoenix as she hung upside down from the magnetic soles of her boots.

She had been searching for two hours and had yet to see any sign of this.. Nighthawk or her older brother. But she had yet to lose hope.

Suddenly an alarm went off.

"Of course!" Exclaimed the Phoenix as she soared off in the direction of the alarm.

The best way to get a superhero's attention… is to commit a crime!

-=-=-=-

Nighthawk darted inside the jewelry store to see someone else fighting the thieves. She raised an eyebrow and casually walked up behind the blonde girl.

The blonde performed one last spin kick and the thief went flying. The girl was visibly out of breath and didn't look to good.

Nighthawk tapped the girl on the shoulder and she spun into a fighting position. She looked at Nighthawk and raised an eyebrow. Then she visibly relaxed and stood up out of the fighting position.

"Who are-" Nighthawk began angrily.

"Are you Nightwi… I mean Hawk. Night hawk?" Asked the girl.

"Maybe. It depends on who wants to know." Nighthawk stated.

"Are you in anyway related to the original Nightwing?"

"Perhaps. Who's asking."

"The Phoenix." Stated the blonde girl bowing low.

Nighthawk flipped her short black hair over her shoulder and looked at the girl.

"Did she say her name was Phoenix?" Asked her grandfather's voice in her ear.

"Yes." Stated Nighthawk. The Phoenix frowned.

"This is who I told you to look for… Ask her what she's doing in town."

"What are you doing in town, girl?" Asked Nighthawk.

-=-=-=-

The Phoenix paused. She stepped back to be able to see Nighthawk's entire body length. She was about five-foot-five and well built. She looked quite strong. If this girl was the new Nightwing, she would have to be a good fighter if Dick trained her. Nighthawk had short black hair and a pale complexion. The Phoenix absently wondered if her eyes were blue like Dick's.

"What are you doing in town, girl?"

The Phoenix paused at this. Memories from when she lived with Dick and her father came flooding back to her.

"I'm looking for someone. I lost him a long time ago." The Phoenix said, her voice seemed far away even to her own ears. She snapped out of her reverie and looked at Nighthawk. She was listening to something in her ear.

"Who are you looking for?" Asked Nighthawk. Her voice was completely bored.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Said The Phoenix.

"Maybe I could help you."

"Maybe I don't want your help. This is my own dæmon. I need to find Dick-him on my own." The Phoenix soared off into the night.

-=-=-=-

"Cathryn…" Muttered a man. He sat in his own cave which he called the lair.

"Hey pops? Who's the chica?"

"Come on in and I'll tell you about her, Alex."

-=-=-=-

"So she's like… your sister?" Asked Nighthawk.

With her mask now removed her bright green eyes shone with curiosity. Her short black hair was a stark contrast against her pale complexion.

"Yes." Admitted the older man. He smiled at the girl. "Alex. Do me a favour. Go find her and bring her here."

"Of course pop…" She paused as she received an evil look from the older man. "Of course Grandpa Dick."

[Panther]

Ah, the ultimate irony. Having a child or grandchild just like a young version of you! Poor Dick! :D

can't wait to see more!

later,

[witness]

Things are getting interesting! I hope Dick will be able to explain this on the best of terms. It will be interesting to see how his heroes react to the Phoenix. Can't wait to see where you'll take this one next! Please post soon!

[The_NewCatwoman]

Wowie wow wow! I'm glad she's getting closer to finding Dickie. I just hope she doesn't pass out or anything first.

-tNC

[Batgirl_2005]

(~Ducks as people throw things at her for taking so long~ SOrry!!! I've had like three family emergencies in a row since the end of school. but from here on in you'll be getting the chapters more often... I hope.)

"May I help you?" Asked an elderly man as he opened the door.

Cathryn Wayne grinned at him, her white teeth gleaming in the dim lights of the hallway of the apartment building.

"Hi! Are you Mr. West?" Asked Cathryn. She held both hands in front of her holding a duffel bag.

"Yes. Yes I am. Who are you?"

"I'm Cathryn Wayne." She took the duffel in her left hand and stuck her right hand out for Mr. West to shake. "I'm here to see my father."

"Oh. Yes of course. Won't you come in." He shook her hand.

Such a nice girl. Quite a change from her father... West thought to himself.

"Thank you." Cathryn stepped inside and walked over to where Bruce sat.

"Hello Cathryn."

"Hey dad... Umm listen... Problem, major. Could I talk to you outside?"

"We'll talk on the way to the hotel. It was nice talking to you Wally."

Cathryn and Bruce walked outside and were in the car quickly.

"What's the problem?" Bruce asked.

"I didn't find him."

"Did you expect to?"

"Well.. Yeah. I have never not found something I was looking for."

"What about that bracelet Dick gave you when you were a kid. The one that had your name on it... It cost him 250 dollars because he had to take it back three times because they couldn't spell Cathryn right?"

Cathryn blushed slightly. " Well... That was something else... That was SOMETHING. This is SOMEONE... Get your facts straight." She grinned up at her father. He couldn't help but give her half a smile back.

-=-=-=-
A young man watched from the shadows as the man with three legs and the turquoise eyed girl walked past him. The man would be easy enough to take out. He needed the extra leg to stand up and he was old. The girl was special... He had orders not to harm her in any way. He would have to be careful. She was special cargo...........

-=-=-=-

An elderly Dick Grayson sat in his living room. It was nearing two in the morning, too late for this old man to be awake. His eyes part way closed and his mind drifting off into dream land. Suddenly the phone broke his reverie. He reached over and picked it up.

"Grayson. How can I help ya?" He said into the phone.

A female voice on the other end of the line squeaked. She cleared her throat. Her voice seemed like it had too much emotion in it. "Dick? Dick Grayson?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"It's..." The girl said, unable to think of her name she stuttered. "It's... It's Squirt..." A sob escaped over the line.

"Cathryn?" Dick muttered. He cleared his throat. "How did you get this number?" He asked.

"You're starting to sound like dad." Said the girl.

"I think I've just been insulted by my own sister." Said Dick.

Suddenly Alex walked into the room, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Pops? Who's on the phone?" She asked.

"It's not important, go back to bed." Dick said closing the door. "Where are you Squirt? What happened? What's going on?" He asked.

"You ask too many questions and you talk too fast. Now then to answer your first question. I'm at--"

A gun shot rang out over the line and then all Dick heard was a dial tone.

[Panther]

Ah! :eek: Horrible cliffhanger Batgirl '05!! Who'd want to shoot Cathyrn? Don't leave us hanging too long!

later

[Coran]

Personally, I'm guessing that Cathryne wasn't actually shot... if she had been shot, then the phone wouldn't have been a dial tone right away. I'm guessing that the phone itself was shot, and then she is either knocked unconscious, or she subudes the criminals in your next chapter. So don't keep us hanging here... post already!

*grins* Anyhow, great story. I can't wait to read more.

[The_NewCatwoman]

I'm right on the edge of my seat!

Hurry up and finish before I go nuts!

-tNC

[Batgirl_2005]

OK... I'm finally back from the dead. Unless someone decides to kill me for (a) taking so long or (b) bringing up an old thread... anywho. I've had a lot of stuff going on but now that the whole start of school weeks are over I'm back into normal slacker mode and will now be working on my stories more... so here's the next chapter......

PS. Sorry for the delay and any future delays. I'm also working on another story which I'll post after cncluding this one and the other side of the family....

------------------------

Cathryn jumped back as a bullet cut the phone line. She emitted a little squeak when a man dressed in black stepped into the room through the window.

"Who are you?" Growled Cathryn, finally finding her voice. "What do you want with me?"

"I don't care about you but my employers sure do." The man said. "So you going to come along peaceful like? Or do I have to hurt you?"

Cathryn couldn't help but laugh. The man before her was more than a little overweight and quite short.

"Do you think this is funny?" Asked the man. Cathryn stopped laughing and kicked the gun out of his hand.

"Now I think it is funny." Cathryn said. "Ok. Actually it was funny before because you're a tiny person. Well... height wise anyway."

"I'm thinking about getting limb lengthening and going on a diet. What do you think? Look at me from the side. Do I need it?" He turned to the side then paused and turned back, grabbing another gun from his back pack. "Trying to get smart with me, are you?"

Cathryn rolled her eyes. She did a roundhouse kick and the gun went flying again. Then she drop kicked the man. She dug her knee into his stomach and kneeled over him.

"Please don't hurt me… I'm just a decoy please don't hurt me…" Cried the fat man.

Cathryn frowned down at him then stood up and closed her eyes. Someone else was after her. She had to figure out where they were. The man scurried away and out the window.

A soft thud and a crumpling sound behind her made Cathryn turn around. Bruce stood there his cane in the air a man lay on the ground. He wore a black kevlar suit and his cowl was the face of a cat. On his hands were two machines that looked like they could shoot something.

Cathryn kneeled down and touched one of them. She withdrew her fingers as soon as she touched it.

"Hot?" Asked Bruce.

"Cold."

-=-=-=-

Nighthawk watched the old man and the blonde girl as Dick talked in her ear.

"Sheesh… Bruce looks… old. Cathryn looks same as always though. Alright. You can come back in. They're ok. I'll see them while you're at school tomorrow."

"That reminds me. Pops… Do you think you could write me a note excusing me for being absent sixth period on Friday?"

"We're just starting the third week and already you're ditching?! Where were you?"

"I was with Chris. We went and got a shake at RD's."

"That doesn't take an entire hour. What else."

Alex's voice took on a strange giddiness. "We went to Inspiration Point."

"We need to have a long talk when you get in." Dick growled quietly.

-=-=-=-

"Can I wake it up, dad?" Cathryn asked, poking at the cat.

Suddenly the cat's eye jolted open. He raised his arms and ice shot out of the contraptions on his arms. It head for Cathryn's head but she jolted away barely in time.

"I will kill the bat." Said the man as he kipped to his feet. He had a strange accent that Cathryn identified as Dracula.

"Well, guess what. Ya got the wrong person." Cathryn growled. She kicked him.

"I kill the bat's family I kill the bat. First the turquoise eyed girl. Next the three legged man." He threw a punch at her she grabbed it, spun and flung him over her shoulder.

"But I'm not really connected with 'the bat' ya know?! I'm just… kind of… a loner… Really."

"Really. I don't care. You're with the original bat. So die turquoise eyed!"

"Can't you people ever come up with something original!" Cathryn dropped to one knee and skidded forward knocking the cat over. "And they're aqua not turquoise, Dracula."

With that the two fought in silence for several moments. Suddenly the man stepped back and shot ice at Cathryn She held her arms up and it encased it her arms. She ran over and crashed it over his head. The kept fighting.

"So who are you so I can yell by name while we fight?" Cathryn asked.

"They call me the Cat of Ice. You can see why."

"Hmm… Interesting. Although, for my taste, the name is too long." She threw a punch, "I'd go with IceCat." She blocked a punch flying at her face, "Or maybe IceKitten…" She stopped and leaned on her back foot. "Although. IceKitten would work better for a girl."

IceCat took this opportunity to knee Cathryn in the stomach. While she was down he brought her chin to his knee.

Bruce watched waiting to see if Cathryn could recover quickly enough to do something about the next attack.

IceCat raised his hands and prepared to shoot ice again. Cathryn looked up and growled quietly. She rammed her shoulder in to his stomach and he went flaying through the window.

"Is he coming back?" Cathryn asked as Bruce went to the window. IceCat was scurrying across the grounds.

"No." Bruce stated.

"Good." Cathryn's knees buckled and she toppled to the ground.

-=-=-=-

The next morning Cathryn opened her eyes to her father's weathered face.

"Hey daddy. Did IceKitten come back?"

"No. You alright?"

"Fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You passed out. You were out cold all night."

"Was I?"

A knock made them both jump. Bruce went over, looked through the hole, and opened the door to a familiar elderly man.

"Hey old man." He said, stepping inside.

"Dick." Bruce said questioningly.

Cathryn's eyes lit up. She jumped out of bed and tackled Dick.

"Get off Squirt!"

"Oh Dick! When I came home and everybody else was either old or not around I was so pissed! It wasn't fair! Everyone was gone!" Cathryn said, her voice was getting thick with emotion.

"Get off!" Dick said. His voice was out of breath.

Cathryn blushed slightly and jumped off. She helped Dick up and over to the most comfortable chair.

"I've got a meeting to get to." Bruce said. "Watch him Cathryn."

"Sir, yes, sir."

Bruce left on that note and Cathryn got Dick a bottle of water.

"What have you been doing here for so many years, Dick?" Asked Cathryn, sitting cross legged in front of him and leaning back against the bed.

"I got married. A wonderful woman named Alexia. Had kids… Then grandkids. One of them is about your age."

"Nighthawk." Cathryn questioned.

"Very detective of you."

"Why thank you. Dad told me you left because you had no reason to stick around. Couldn't you have waited until I woke up?"

"I didn't know how long that would be. I needed to beat it."

"When I got to the mansion and found nothing to be the same I was so scared. I thought nothing was going to be ok. I still don't know if it is. A man attacked last night. I got too cocky he got a couple lucky hits in. He wants to kill the bat. He came after me though. He was good. I'm scared Dick."

"Do you remember the night you got in that big fight at school. You were so scared because you thought for sure Bruce was going to hurt you. He was mad."

Cathryn glared slightly. "I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Do you remember how you stole everyone's music that night? You found the Mama's and Papa's record."

Cathryn grinned and sang quietly the song that had calmed her down so easily. "Al the leaves are brown/ And the sky is gray. / I went for a walk. / On a winter's day…" Cathryn hugged her older brother.

-=-=-=-

IceCat watched several rooftops away.

"Aqua eyed one. Three Legged man. Little Bird. Old Bird. Bat's family. Bat…"

[The_NewCatwoman]

Oy, okay a little confusing, but otherwise cool. Who's this Icy Cat guy and why does he want to kill them?

Anxiously awaiting more.

tNC

[Batgirl_2005]

Normally I would wait for more replies, but my story drags on and on and so, I'm trying to finish. Here's another chapter..............

VI

Cathryn and Dick had talked for an hour or more. Cathryn was starting to get bored.

"Hey Dick? Do you have any money?" Cathryn asked innocently. She gave him her most innocent smile.

He looked at her suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. "Maybe… Why?

She grinned at him. "I am in need of the little thing called food. Is there a place for ice cream in this city?"

He smirked at her, then. "Yeah. Come on. We’ll write a note to the old man and we’ll go get some."

Cathryn jumped up on the bed. "Neat! Let’s go!" She jumped on the bed a couple times then onto the ground.

"Did you ever grow past the age of five?" Dick asked as he scrawled a note to Bruce. Cathryn stuck her tongue out at him.

"Let’s go." Cathryn said as she went out the door.

Dick sighed and followed.

-=-=-=-

Bruce walked into the hotel room at six o’clock that night. He was not at all surprised to find the room empty. He sighed deeply and went over to the dresser to find a note.

Bruce,

I took Cathryn to get ice cream. We’ll be home by four. I’ll see you later.

Dick

Bruce paused. Two hours late, even that wasn’t like Dick or Cathryn. He looked at the phone and was somehow surprised to find that there were no messages.

Bruce was definitely worried now.

-=-=-=-

Dick stormed into his house with Cathryn – smiling ever so slightly – in tow. Alex walked behind them, her head hung in shame.

Cathryn walked in and sat down on the couch, a small smile on her lips. Dick pointed to a chair and Alex sat down.

"What did I tell you?" Dick demanded of Alex. She sniffled quietly and ran her hands through her hands through her short black hair.

"I’m sorry, pops. I didn’t mean to."

"How could you not mean to do this?!" Dick nearly yelled.

"Dick. Chill. You’re starting to sound like Daddy." Cathryn said, propping her feet up on the couch.

"I don’t need insults from the peanut gallery." Dick growled. "Now I told you that Chris guy was trouble!"

"Jeez pops! I told you! Nothing happened!"

Alex finally lifted her head to show off her new eyes. They were no longer normal human eyes. They were yellow and cat-like.

Cathryn grinned. "Personally I think they look spiffy."

"Well no one asked you now did they, Cat?"

"No one asked you to turn into a total jerk now did they Dick." Cat retorted, jumping off the couch and running off.

Dick sighed. "Squirt!" He shouted after his little sister.

"Can I go now pops? I’m meeting Chris at RD’s."

"No. You’re not going anywhere. Stay right there." Dick said, then he ran after his sister.

Cathryn was sitting outside on the ground.

"I’m not mad Dick, you know that right? Not at you." She said when she heard him behind her.

"I was around you for how many years? I know you better than you know yourself. Now what’s wrong?"

"If you know me better than I know myself shouldn’t you know?"

"I know you, but I’m not a mind reader." Dick said.

"Everything is going so fast. I come back to the manor and everything’s different. Everything I once knew is either dead or old. While in the case of such things as the Joker and what not it’s not a bad thing; it’s still so new. I’m having a hard time adjusting."

"Did you really understand what was going on when they froze you?" Dick asked.

Cathryn shook her head. "All I understood was I was going away for a while. I was kind of doped up on various cough syrups and sedatives and I’m beginning to think dad even through in a little bit of morphine."

Dick smiled at her. "I really though they should have explained it instead of just treating you like a baby." Cathryn smirked at that. "But I promise you that everything will be ok."

"Are you sure?"

"I’m positive." Dick said. "Come here you brat." He gave his sister a quick hug just before a gunshot rang out.

"I, myself, am not a big fan of these… guns. They’re so primitive." Said a voice.

"Ah great… IceKitten’s back." Cathryn growled. She stood up.

"But you see I just wanted to get your attention." He threw the gun over his shoulder. "I much prefer these." He tapped the mechanism on his wrist.

"You know. It’s not nice to go places you’re not wanted." Said Cathryn.

"I got over that a long time ago." Said IceCat.

"Why do you want me dead?"

-=-=-=-

Dick had backed off slowly and was on his way down to the lair.

"I’m already on my way up, don’t worry pops. And I promise that later we’ll finish our little chat. But I like the eyes and I’m not getting rid of them."

-=-=-=-

"Well see. I want to kill the bat. But I want to torture him first. I want him to feel the pain I felt when he and his predecessor before him took away my family. I’m starting with you."

"I don’t think he’s going to care much if I die; but you gotta do what you gotta do." Cathryn lunged forward, readying herself to slam into his stomach.

He only smirked and raised his hands. Ice flew out of the mechanisms. Cathryn ducked under the first barrage of ice and slammed her shoulder into his legs. She went to tackle him again, angry that he had interrupted the touching brother daughter reconciliation moment.

His hands flew up and ice soared out of his hands once again. This time, embedding itself deep in Cathryn’s stomach.

Cathryn continued on her path completely over IceCat and into a wall. The man jumped up again and raised his hands to shoot more ice.

Nighthawk tackled him from the side and sent him flying. She jumped back up and prepared to fight him. He shot little spears of ice at her making her back off. Then he ran.

Nighthawk started to go after him, but then saw Dick kneeling over Cathryn. She looked back and forth between them and finally ran over to Cathryn.

"Come on I’ll-" She stopped when she actually saw the wound.

Cathryn’s entire stomach was layered in ice. It seemed that one spear of the ice had gone straight through her other smaller stakes also went into her stomach. It was all connected and layered around her stomach. And blood seeped from under it, very slowly melting the ice.

"Come on I’ll take her to the hospital." Said Nighthawk.

"No… No hospitals…I’ll be fine. " Cathryn coughed. "Besides… The doctors wouldn’t… wouldn’t understand my… bi-biochemical make up."

"I’ll call Bruce. We’ll get you back to Gotham." Dick said.

Cathryn gave him the number and he called. Several minutes later he came back

"He’s not happy, but he’s on his way." Dick said.

"I think I could hear him yelling all the way in here." Nighthawk said.

Cathryn lay on the ground shivering and weak. Dick scooped her up in his arms.

"Everything will be ok. I swear it." He said.

"You swore that… ten minutes ago, stupid." Dick smiled.

Soon Bruce arrived and they rushed Cathryn to the car.

"Everything’s going to be all right." Bruce said.

"Stop saying that and make sure of it!" Cathryn exclaimed as loudly as she could. She stopped to take several deep breaths. "Let’s just get out of here… I have a tummy ache."

[Coran]

And the question remains unanswered... who is this IceCat person? BG2005, you sure know how to run with a story. I appologize for not replying to your last post but with unpacking still going on, it's kind of hard to always find time. Anyways, great story and keep up the good work!

[The_NewCatwoman]

Oooooh, spiffy

Heh,

Anyway, another lovely, yet no more revealing post. I hope we find out soon who this IceCat person is, and why he has a grudge against Bats.

c-ya

tNC

[Batgirl_2005]

Chapter VII

Cathryn pulled herself out of the canyon into the light to see her family standing above her. ‘Daddy… Dick… Bozo… Alfred…’ She called out. She lunged forward to let her father console her. He stepped back and she fell. The people she once considered her family laughed at her. She looked up at them, her eyes scared. Slowly each one faded away before her eyes. She sobbed quietly.

Bruce’s leathery hands wiped away the tears on Cathryn’s cheeks.

"Come on Cat…" Muttered Bruce. He kissed her forehead.

"She’ll be fine." Dick said. He seemed to be convincing himself more than anyone else.

"Can I help?" Asked a voice.

"No, Terry. Just do some flybys." Bruce said.

Terry, on the other side of the cave, nodded and left.

"I have an idea." Said a weak voice coming from the heap that was Cathryn.

"Cathryn. Are you all right?" Dick asked.

"Did you get stupider with age?" She asked him. She sat up, cringing slightly. "Look. This Icy Kitty wants all of us dead, right? So make him think I’m dead and he’ll move on to the next person."

"You don’t know that for a fact."

"He said he wanted to torture Batman. It all makes sense." She looked at everyone else. "Well it all makes sense to me…"

"I promise that we’ll do something Squirt. Get some sleep." Said Dick.

"I’m lying on a metal table. I can’t sleep."

"Go upstairs, then." Dick said. Cathryn glared at him.

"A little help?" Said Cathryn.

"I sense a father-son argument so I’ll take the chica upstairs." Alex said.

"Tight." Said Cathryn.

She turned and swung her legs, gingerly, over the table. Alex darted forward and helped Cathryn up the stairs.

Cathryn sat down on the bed and waved her hands in the air as dust seemed to explode from the mattress.

"I think dad should have hired another butler after Alfred passed on…" Cathryn said. "Not that anyone could’ve replaced Alfred."

Alex smiled. "What was my pops like when he was younger?" She asked.

"Not much different than he is now. Immature… Stupid… Rude… Arrogant… Mean… And yet sweet as anything."

She cringed holding her arm over her stomach.

"You ok?"

"I’m fine. So yeah that was your ‘pops’."

"Grandpa Dick was immature? That can’t be true. He like yells at me nonstop. The only reason he even tolerates me is because he made a promise to my mom."

Cathryn chuckled quietly.

"I really don’t think this is funny. My own grandfather doesn’t give a care about me."

"No. It’s not that. Truth be told I know exactly where you’re coming from." Cathryn said. "See… like… fifty years ago, I was living here and I was convinced that Daddy didn’t care about me. All he ever did was yell at me. I stayed out a bit too late he yelled, I went out and followed in his footsteps, and he yelled. I breathed the wrong way, and he yelled. I thought he didn’t care about me. The truth is he did care about me. All he ever did was protect me. All he ever did was love me. It was pointed out to me time after time that if he didn’t care he wouldn’t yell. It was true. It was all true." She laid back breathing as deeply as she could.

"You sure you’re all right? Do you want me to go get pops or… ummm… great pops? Nah that doesn’t sound shway…"

"Nah. Don’t bother them. I’ll be fine."

"So great pops… or… hmmm… I’ll think up a name later. Wayne really did care about you?"

"Don’t put it in the past tense. I like to think he still does. But yeah, he really has this caring side. Most of that whole side is taken up by his love for this city. But there’s a small slice that he leaves for us."

"Well I’m going to head back down stairs."

"All right. I’ll be sleeping."

Alex smiled and went back downstairs. She walked straight over to Dick and hugged him.

"I love you pops. I’ll get rid of the eyes and I’ll think about what you’ve said about Chris."

-=-=-=-

Cathryn watched Alex go then sat up and lifted her shirt up a little. The dressing that her father had put around her torso was covered in blood. She touched it and wasn’t surprised to find that her fingers were covered in blood.

She put her head in her hand and sobbed quietly.

Her entire stomach was on fire and hadn’t stopped bleeding. She hadn’t felt this much pain since she decided to slam her hand through a wall. She knew, somehow, that she might not heal.

She sobbed and leaned back. Through her tears she sang quietly, "All the leaves are brown… And the sky is gray… I went for a walk… On a winter’s day…"

-=-=-=-

Cathryn sat awake in her bed all night concentrating on healing. Her father, her first father, had told always told her mind over matter, mind over matter. One of his theories that he had never gotten to test, had been that if Cathryn thought about healing, it would happen faster.

Of course, it was only a theory.

Every time Cathryn concentrated her stomach burned worse. At first this had made her think it was working. Finally she realized when she told herself to concentrate, she took a deep breath and held it, in the process flexing her abdominal muscles, making her wounds hurt.

She hadn’t tried to concentrate after that.

In fact she was starting to give up hope that she was going to heal. Cathryn had been stabbed time and time again it had never hurt this much. There had to be something different about this time.

Maybe the ice wasn’t just ice. Cathryn speculated mentally. Maybe Ice Kitten put… like… stuff in it. But that doesn’t make sense. Hyper immune system and all.

Just then Terry walked into the room interrupting her thoughts. Cathryn felt wetness on her cheeks and realized she was crying. She wiped her tears and looked at him.

"You ok?" He asked.

"I’m fine." She said. Her voice was hollow and weak.

"You sure?" He asked.

"I need daddy. Help me to the cave."

"Eh… OK…"

He lunged forward and grabbed her elbow. He helped her down to the cave.

"Bruce. Someone to see you." Terry said.

Bruce looked up and walked over to Cathryn.

"Go home Terry." Bruce said.

"Alright. I’ll see you tonight Wayne." With that he was gone.

"You should be resting." Bruce told Cathryn as he helped her to a chair.

"Daddy. I’m still bleeding. It hasn’t stopped."

"It will stop."

"No. If it was going to stop it would have by now. It won’t stop. Nothing will make it stop. Daddy. I’m going to die."

"Cathryn. When we first brought you to the cave you had been stabbed with a knife and badly beaten. You were unconscious for two days." Dick said from where he sat, his feet propped up and he leaned back in his chair.

"That’s not the point. This is different."

"How?" Bruce asked.

"My chemical make up could have been altered when I was frozen. Maybe I don’t have my tolerance any more. Maybe it’s gone."

[The_NewCatwoman]

Ohhhhhhhhhh, things are definitely getting a lot more interesting. Geez, I hope Cathryn's okay after all that. It'd be a true shame to lose her.

tNC

[Batgirl_2005]

Hey everybody!!! Thanks so much for replying. I feel tres loved... I promise I'm not killing Cathryn off... *cough*yet*cough*. (jk...) I've grown rather fond of Squirt... is it bad to grow fond of the characters you create?? Hmmm................

Anyhoo... here's another chapter. Have at!

Chapter VIII

"Maybe it’s gone."

Bruce shook his head. "No."

He pulled her from the chair and over to the examination table. Dick walked over as well. Bruce lifted up Cathryn’s shirt and removed the dressing from her wound.

Cathryn looked down at her stomach and was surprised to find that the wound was visibly smaller, yet still bleeding. She sighed in relief, thinking now that she would be fine.

Bruce let the shirt back down and went and sat back at the computer.

"Did he get grumpier as he got older?" Cathryn mumbled to Dick.

"I might be old but I’m not deaf. I heard that, Cat." He said.

"Sorry daddy." Cathryn said.

There was silence for several minutes before Cathryn cried out, not in pain, but in realization. Dick jumped and Bruce looked over at her.

"What is it Squirt?" Asked Dick.

"I think I’m having a thought!" Cathryn said. She swung her legs off the table and jumped off, cringing only slightly at the pain. "Yeah. Yeah. That’s most definitely a thought… Ooh… Now it’s a idea."

Alex came running down the stairs. She had been sleeping on the couch upstairs.

"I have an idea!" She exclaimed.

"Now I’m havin’ a wiggins." Cathryn muttered.

"You watched Buffy again didn’t you." Dick accused.

"It’s better than whatever it was you watched… What was it again? Futurama?" Cathryn retorted

"Hello! I said I have an idea!"

"What’s your idea, Alex?" Asked Cathryn sitting back down on the examination table. Bruce walked over to bandage her torso.

"Pops you told me once about the dude… ummm… umm… Chilly guy!" She said.

Dick rolled his eyes. "You always called Fries that… Are you saying this guy is Victor Fries?"

"Well maybe… maybe not… Maybe it’s like… His kid…"

"Nah. Fries couldn’t do the whole… Sex deal… It gets too hot for him." Cathryn said.

"Well he had a wife. Maybe the wife had a kid… and… The kid’s pissed off because he thinks Batty here killed his dad… or who he thinks to be his dad."

"Ok wiggins is definitely growing now." Cathryn said. "That’s, like, exactly what I was thinking. Hmmm… Just goes to show… Great minds think alike."

-=-=-=-

Batman soared into the cave and exited the batmobile. He looked over to see Cathryn sitting there alone. He removed his mask and walked over to her.

"Boo?" He asked. Cathryn yelped and fell out of the chair.

"Ow!" She cried out holding her stomach. Terry laughed and helped her back into the chair.

"What are you looking at?" He asked.

"Interpol." Responded Cathryn simply. She turned around to face him. "I’m supposed to find out about this Icy Kitty-Cat. And then, when I’m all healed, I’m protecting ya."

"Right like you could." Terry said. He leaned over her and typed something into the computer.

Cathryn raised an eyebrow at him. She kicked his legs out from under him and pounced on him. She grabbed his wrists and pinned them together behind him pressing them forward, toward his head.

"What was that, Bozo?" She growled in his ear.

"You couldn’t protect me even if you tried." Terry responded. They wrestled for several minutes until finally Terry ended on top.

"You want to bet I couldn’t protect you?" Cathryn asked.

She brought her knees into her chest, (ignoring the pain in her stomach) planted her feet on his chest, and forced him off. She then kipped up and turned to face him.

They glared at each other for a moment before Cathryn gave in to the pain. She fell to one knee holding her stomach. Terry lunged forward and helped her to a chair.

"You alright?" He asked his voice filled with what sounded like genuine concern.

"I’m ok." Cathryn said weakly. "Once I’m healed there’s gonna be a beat down in Wayne Manor. You just wait, Bozo."

-=-=-=-

"How you doing Cathryn?" Asked Dick the next day.

Cathryn lay in her bed half asleep. She’d been there ever since her match with Terry.

"I’ll be ok." Cathryn said quietly. "A little sore and I have a little bit of a headache, but I’m ok."

"Good. Do you need anything?" Dick asked.

"No. Could we just hang out for a while. I need someone to talk to."

"’Course." Dick sat down in a chair and put his feet up on the bed.

"Alex was asking about you."

"When?"

"Yesterday. She wanted to know what you used to be like. I told her that you were still the same self centered jerk you had always been." Cathryn grinned.

"I’m not self centered." Exclaimed Dick.

"Sure you’re not. You just keep telling yourself that." Cathryn told him.

Suddenly an explosion rocked the manor. Fire was everywhere. Cathryn screamed and closed her eyes, perhaps letting déjà vu wash over her. Tears already streamed down her cheeks.

Dick lifted Cathryn into his arms and searched through Cathryn’s things until he found a grappling hook. He swung out of the room, crashing through a window.

"It’s him. It’s that stupid Ice Cat…" Cathryn said. Then she paused. "Daddy!" She cried out. She was on her feet and headed back toward the house in a flash.

"Cathryn!" Dick cried out. He grabbed her arm and pointed to where Alex and Terry were helping Bruce out of the house.

-=-=-=-

A BUILDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY

A man sat in wheelchair in a room running his hands through his light blonde hair. His hands were shaking slightly. His face was illuminated by the light emanating from the monitor in front of him. His gray eyes were shining with tears.

The monitor showed the manor. Fire suddenly exploded from various corners of the house. The man shook his head and turned off the monitor.

He sat in the dark room for several minutes before the door opened. He spun the chair around as quickly as his arms could go. In the door stood IceCat.

"Tommy." The man said curtly. "I see the everything went well."

The black suited man stepped into the room. "You really should turn on some lights, friend."

"We are not friends. We are brothers-in-law." He said. "And please drop the accent."

"Sorry Nate. Romanian is just so much fun to do."

"I’m sure you have been having fun. Do you realize how much I don’t want to do this, Tommy?"

"You’re torn, man." Said Tommy. "You’re grandmom tells ya to do one thing your granddad tells you to do another. Which one do you do?"

"Both. Grandpa’s first. Then Grandma’s. I hope."

"I’m here to help ya, man." Tommy said. "So… Dude are we going to lunch or not?"

"Yeah… Go change first. I’ll be waiting outside."

"Gotcha." Tommy left with that.

Nate stood up and wheeled himself out of the room. On the outside of the door were the words Dr. Nathan Jones-Fries.

[Panther]

Ah ha, so the title doesn't just refer to Cat being cryogeneticly frozen. Clever. And very, very intriging.


"What was that, Bozo?" She growled in his ear.



So who are you so I can yell by name while we fight?" Cathryn asked.

"They call me the Cat of Ice. You can see why."

"Hmm… Interesting. Although, for my taste, the name is too long." She threw a punch, "I'd go with IceCat." She blocked a punch flying at her face, "Or maybe IceKitten…" She stopped and leaned on her back foot. "Although. IceKitten would work better for a girl."

hehehe, she comes up with the cutest nicknames for everyone. :D

I also loved the little side story with the splicing. Awww, he cares!

later,

[Batgirl_2005]

hehe!!! Someone responded. I feel loved! Now you can get the next part... (Once I find it...)

IX

"Is everyone ok?" Terry asked.

Everyone nodded. They were all fine, a bit scratched and shaken up, but other wise fine.

"Who did this?" Alex asked.

"IceCat." Cathryn provided. "It’s obvious."

Bruce sent her a look and she sent an identical one back.

"I really think we should leave." Alex said, running her hands through her black hair.

"Right. Dick bring around the limousine. Alex, you and Terry are going to need to be in top condition the two of you will be running simulations so you can get used to working together, instead of yelling at each other while saving a person." Bruce said making sure to accent every word while he was addressing the two teens. Then he turned to his daughter, "Cathryn. You are not to leave the cave without my permission."

"What? But when my stomach is healed I can…" Bruce glared at her. "Daddy I lived with you for years. So you know what? The whole glaring thing doesn’t work on me!"

Bruce stood up and glared down at her. He was hunched over and looked like an evil old man. Cathryn glared at him for a few minutes before breaking down and shying away.

"But the whole intimidation thing does." She said.

"Let’s go." Dick said from the limousine.

-=-=-=-

Later on Cathryn was lying in the cave staring up at the ceiling. Dick was asleep in a chair and Bruce was running Terry and Alex through some simulations.

Cathryn looked over at Dick. She groaned quietly and sat up. She started to put her arm over her stomach but was surprised to find only minor pain. She grinned and jumped up to a standing position on the table. She jumped up and did a toe touch then flipped off the table.

She grinned to herself and changed into her Phoenix attire. Just as she started to leave she ran right into her father.

"Hi.. Daddy…" She said waving at him nervously.

"Busted." Said Terry walking past her.

"Loser." Coughed Alex. Cathryn smacked Terry upside the head and tripped Alex who fell flat on her face.

"Now who’s the loser, Bozos?" Cathryn growled.

Bruce cleared his throat loudly and pointedly. Cathryn grinned sheepishly.

"May I ask where you’re going?" Bruce asked.

"Ummm… Costume party?" Cathryn said, then added, "Deeper in the caves?"

Bruce pointed back to the main area of the cave with his cane and he walked that way, expecting Cathryn to follow.

"No. Daddy. No. My stomach is almost completely healed. I am not going to listen to you anymore! I may look seventeen but I’m sixty-seven! I’m going to do whatever I want to!!"

Bruce turned on his heel practically seething.

"Cathryn. You are not really sixty-seven." He growled. "You are mentally, physically and emotionally a seventeen-year-old girl. I am not going to allow you to go out there and get killed!"

"You can’t stop me daddy. You can’t stop me!" Cathryn yelled.

She turned around and ran. Bruce ran after her but Cathryn was too fast. Terry and Alex were soon in pursuit, but even for them Cathryn was too fast.

Cathryn was out of the cave and out alone in Gotham.

-=-=-=-

Phoenix sat atop a roof crying silently. Her suit was in camouflage mode and she hoped that no one could see her.

She threw a rock down to the ground and absently wondered if it hit anyone.

Suddenly an shock went through her and her suit wasn’t in camo mode anymore. An arm wrapped around her throat and carried her, unconscious, off the roof.

-=-=-=-

Batman nearly flew into a wall when he saw Phoenix appear upon a roof and the be dragged off. He could hear Bruce yelling in his ear and Dick yelling behind him.

"I get it! I get it!!!! Go after the girl!!"

-=-=-=-

IceCat walked into the office dragging The Phoenix behind him. He grinned at Nathan who glared back.

"I don’t want to do this. I am not a villain." Nathan said.

"Oh come off it, Nate. You’re way past villain now. You’re like super villain boss dude! Anyway. What do you want me to do with the head case?"

"Strip her down and chain her to my examination table in Lab Double H."

"Pause! Rewind that. Did you say strip her?"

"Yes, Tommy, I did. And wipe up the drool when you’re done."

"Nora wouldn’t be happy about this." Tommy said shaking his head.

"Well my dear little sister is dead. I’m sure she won’t mind you stripping down a minor."

With that Tommy began to leave. Dragging the Phoenix along.

"Oh Tommy. Be sure to inject her with some of my sedative."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

Tommy saluted him and dragged The Phoenix outside.

When Tommy was gone, Nathan looked up at the ceiling. "I don’t think I can do this grandpa." He said, sounding like a little kid. "I am not a killer. I may want to get revenge on this girl for killing you, but not badly enough to kill her. "He waited for a moment, then sighed. "Not surprised. You never were there when I needed you."

-=-=-=-

Cathryn woke staring at blinding white lights. She tried to turn her head away, but was not surprised to find her head tightly strapped down.

Cathryn groaned loudly in exasperation. She’d been through all of this before. It had taken five years for her to be saved the last time; she didn’t think she could wait that long again.

She sighed as the door opened, but was surprised to see someone, instead of walk, roll into the room. She realized, when her was above her, that this table must be lower than the others for a man in a wheel chair to be able to see over her.

"Hello Cathryn." He said, "My name is Dr. Nathan Jones-Fries."

"Heya! How’s it going?" Nathan seemed surprised at her congeniality. "So what? You Victor Fries’ kid?"

"No. Now normally I would bother to explain myself, but somehow I feel the need to right now." Nathan said. He took a deep breath. "My grandmother, Nora Jones-Fries, had one wish for her children which she told them as she died."

"Really now. What was her wish?"

"Don’t interrupt." Nate growled. "She wanted her children to kill the Batman for killing her first husband. This wish was passed down to me, her grandson, because none of her children had the guts to kill him."

"Well that seems stupid. I mean, it was, like, her ex…"

"Don’t interrupt. My grandfather, Dr. Drake Jones-"

"Oh! You’re related to Dr. Psycho! Congrats!!"

"Shut up!" Shouted Nathan as he back handed Cathryn. "My grandfather," Nathan paused and took a deep breath to calm himself. "My grandfather left instructions to my father; that if he should die to kidnap you, Project Phoenix, and run tests on you to discover the cure for the diseases in this world, and then employ you. My father, though, was an idiot. He was incompetent and was unable to fulfill these instructions. I, on the other hand, am very competent and intend on fulfilling every wish left by both my grandparents."

"The fact that you’re on wheels kind of prohibits that doesn’t it?" Cathryn asked. Nathan backhanded her.

"That is exactly why I have employed the Cat of Ice."

"IceCat." Corrected Cathryn causing Nathan to backhand her once again. "Would you stop that?"

"I will run tests while the Cat of Ice-"

"IceCat." Backhanded.

"Finishes off your family." Nathan growled in frustration.

"Why?" Cathryn asked angrily. "Can’t you just leave Daddy and Dick out of this? It’s me and Batman you want."

"I have to get rid of ’daddy’ because he was the original Batman. The rest of them I have to get rid of because they’ll never let me keep you as long as they’re alive."

"So I get to stay here forever."

"Oh hardly." Nathan said, "I have a personal grudge against you. As soon as I’m done with your tests. I’m killing you."

"What the hell did I ever do to you?!" Cathryn demanded.

"You killed my grandfather!" Yelled Nathan.

"Well if you want to get all technical about it…" Cathryn mumbled.

-=-=-=-

Batman followed Cathryn as the man dragged her away. Suddenly she was inside this very official looking building.

Batman put his suit into camouflage mode and turned on his rockets. He went around the building several times looking for a way in. Strangely enough, the building had no windows. He flew up to the roof and broke in through the roof access door.

Standing before him was IceCat. He wore infrared goggles upon his face.

"Hello, Bat."

[Panther]

I believe witty is the word I'm searching for. Definitly a very witty post. I loved all of Cathryn's smart remarks

Some favorite lines:

"Ummm… Costume partyt?"

"Now who’s the loser, Bozos?" :p

"Oh! You’re related to Dr. Psycho! Congrats!!"

"Well if you want to get all technical about it…"

Trust this girl to come up with soemthing flippant in a life-or-death situation. You go girl! :D

The plot is thickening and things are starting to look tense, but wow, was I giggling the whole way through.

Greta job!

[Batgirl_2005]

X

"I’m not going to stay in here for five years again, you know that right?" Cathryn told Nathan.

"Oh I know. I don’t want you in her for five years." Nathan responded.

Cathryn struggled against the chains. Her first father had said that she would have superhuman strength. Where was it now? She pulled up and finally broke off the chains that held her head.

"Very impressive." Nathan said.

He sat in his wheelchair his hands behind his head.

Just then, Cathryn realized something was amiss. She’d been slightly groggy but was just now clearing up. She lifted her head and looked down at her suddenly nude body.

"I’m going to kill you." She said, anger and embarrassment filling her voice.

She pulled on the chains and, with the added adrenaline from her anger, was able to break them. She jumped to a standing position atop the table. She flipped off and kicked him across the face. She jumped away from him and fell into a fighting position. She stood there for a minute before coming out of it.

"This is pointless. You can’t fight back. Where’s the fun in it?" She said to him. "All I have to do is this."

With that she pulled him out of the wheelchair and onto the ground. She grabbed one of his arms and broke it. As she went to break the other one, she noticed the grown man’s tears.

"I didn’t want to do it… I promised grandpa…I’m not a bad person…" Nathan told her through his tears.

"I bet." Cathryn said incredulously.

Still, she could not bring herself to break the other arm. She sighed and the pulled the chains from the examination table and chained him to the table.

She looked around the room until her eyes fell on a black and red glittering lump. She walked over and slipped into her costume. Then she turned back on Nathan.

"Toodle!" She said, blowing him a kiss. With that she left.

-=-=-=-

When she was gone Nathan ceased crying. He suddenly was angry, he seemed almost possessed. He began growling under his breath. His entire body seemed to be swelling. He broke free from the chains and crawled over and into his wheelchair.

-=-=-=-

"Hello Bat"

"So you’re the guy who has it in for me?" Batman said calmly.

"Actually," Said IceCat in his Romanian accent, "it’s not me personally. I just say what the super-villain boss dude tells me to say. Do what the super-villain boss dude says to do."

"Why? Do you not have a mind of your own?"

"I do. But this," He gestured to his get up, "is my job."

"Stupid job."

"Hardly."

Then they began to fight. Fists and feet were flying everywhere. IceCat would shoot his ice and Batman would counter with a batarang.

"You know you’re sloppy. You’re delivery is all off." Batman said after a lame quip from IceCat.

"I will dig your eyeballs out with my fingers!"

With that IceCat showered Batman with ice. Batman dove to the side and shot a batarang right into one of the devices attached to IceCat’s wrists. It sparked and began to cover itself with ice.

"Damn!" Yelled IceCat.

He tore the device from his wrist and flung it at Batman. It hit his chest and attached there. Ice spread across his chest along with electrical shocks.

Through the pain Batman looked up to see IceCat suddenly hovering there. He was confused, but it passed when another jolt spread through his body.

Suddenly something pushed him over and pulled the device from his chest. He looked up but didn’t see anything. Suddenly The Phoenix was there, taking her suit out of camouflage mode.

"You OK?" She asked. She was inspecting his chest carefully.

"Yeah." Batman responded.

"What are you doing here anyway, bozo?" She helped him up as she said this.

"Saving you." He explained.

"Ya know… It normally helps if you get past the entrance." Phoenix quipped.

They turned and headed back out the way Batman had come in.

-=-=-=-

As they were heading for the cave The Phoenix suddenly changed her direction and headed downward. She landed on a rooftop. When Batman looked back to check on her he couldn’t help but groan. He twisted back and dove down to land next to her.

"You hurt?" He asked almost cautiously. If she was anything like her father, she would probably just glare at him.

"No…" She responded, "I’m fine." Her voice, though, was thick with worry and confusion. "You can go back now if you want to."

"Nah. Bruce’ll have my head if I came back without you." Batman said.

Phoenix half smiled. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and removed her mask.

"Well I’m not going back." She told him.

"Why not?" Batman asked, taking her mask to examine it.

"I’m not going to endanger my family anymore." Cathryn explained. "It isn’t right to have them threatened, when it’s me Nathan wants. Besides, it’s what daddy wants."

"Ok. A. Who’s Nathan? And B. What about me? Isn’t somebody after me?"

"Oh… right…well that’s your own fault. You[/I[ killed Freeze."

"I did not! I just couldn’t save him! He killed himself!" Batman exclaimed loudly. "So who’s Nathan?"

Cathryn took a deep breath and explained the whole story. Batman nodded, "You get that Bruce?"

Cathryn’s eyes registered with shock. She groaned and snatched her mask from Batman’s hand. She turned so her back was to the edge and leaned back until she tumbled off.

Batman cursed loudly. Bruce and Dick were yelling in his ear, he was very close to cutting them off.

"I get it! I’m going! I’m going! I’m-" Just as he began to say [I]gone Cathryn righted herself and activated her rockets. She landed easily on the ground. "Still here."

-=-=-=-

"What should I do?" Terry’s voice filtered through the speakers and into the cave.

"Nothing." Bruce responded.

Bruce sat with his back to the monitor. One hand rested atop Ace’s head the other hung feebly beside the chair. His eyes were closed and bags were visible below them. (He hadn’t truly slept since Cathryn came back.) When he opened his eyes they were filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow.

Dick sat near by, his cheeks stained with tears of frustration. He sat on the edge of his chair, his fingers gripping the edge until they were white.

Alex sat on the other side of the cave atop the hood of the old batmobile. Her jaw was tense and her eyes angry. Her arms were folded across her chest. When she had been unable to find Cathryn she had come back. Now she found that she had barely missed her.

"Nothing?!" Batman repeated in anger. "Bruce she just ran off! Your own daughter! And you’re telling me not to go after her?"

"She’ll come back." Dick explained for Bruce.

"You can’t know that!" Batman nearly yelled.

"Yes. Actually, I can." Dick said.

"How?! How the hell can you know that?!"

"Be careful Terry." Bruce warned. "Get too angry, people will begin to think you know the girl well."

"She’s beautiful! I want to know her!" Terry said before what little tact he had kicked in. "I just know how you’ll get if you lose her again."

"Terry. Leave her alone. She’ll be back." Dick said.

"Fine. I’ll come back soon. Not now. But soon." With that Terry severed the link between the cave and Batman.

-=-=-=-

Cathryn sat in the darkest corner of an alleyway she had found. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck and simultaneous thunder rang through the night. It began to rain then, mixing with the tears already streaming down Cathryn’s cheeks.

She threw a rock into the middle of the alleyway, piling it atop the ones she had already thrown. Her mask was off still and lying in her lap. She shuddered violently as the cold of the night finally hit her.

Without warning Batman sat beside Cathryn. He removed his cowl and look at her. He smiled meekly at her and held out his hand. She handed him a rock and he threw it, missing the pile. She couldn’t help but give half a laugh at that.

"So dad heard everything, eh, bozo?" Cathryn asked, throwing another rock. It landed atop Terry’s.

Terry nodded at this. "He told me not to come after you. Said you’d come back. I guess I didn’t believe him."

"He’s right, ya know. I’d end up going back whether I wanted to or not. I can’t stay away. He’s the only father I ever knew. No. That’s not true. I knew my first father. I guess he’s the first father I ever loved."

"Why do you think Bruce doesn’t want you to come back?" Terry asked.

"Because he doesn’t like being put in danger."

"He was Batman for how many years? I don’t think he has much of a choice."

"He does now. If I go away Daddy and Dick will be safe."

"What about me?" Terry asked in a flirtatious way.

"You’d come with me." Cathryn said quietly.

"Why?" Terry asked.

"To keep Dad safe." Cathryn said. It was obvious she had something else to add on, but was keeping it to her self. She had a mischievous, secret smile on her face.

"I can promise you that Bruce doesn’t want you to leave. Neither does Dick. And neither do I." He paused. "And I’m sure Alex wouldn’t be all too happy about it, either."

"You don’t want me to leave?" Cathryn asked incredulously.

"Nah. The old man’s been tolerable since you’ve been around. It’s been shway."

"Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should talk to Dad before I leave."

"That’s a good idea." Terry said. "Ready to go now."

"No. Would you sit with me for a while?"

"Yeah. Sure." Terry said.

He cautiously wrapped his arm around her. She laid her head on his shoulder.

"Terry?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah?"

"I’m scared. Something just doesn’t feel right."

"Don’t worry." Terry said. "I’ll keep you safe."

The rain began to let up then leaving the two to dry. They made a rather beautiful couple. Wet. But nonetheless beautiful.

[Panther]

The rain began to let up then leaving the two to dry. They made a rather beautiful couple. Wet. But nonetheless beautiful.

Awwwww >sniff< how romantic!

Good stuff here, but poor, poor Cathyrn! Can't that girl ever get a break?

later,

[Batgirl_2005]

Originally posted by Panther
Good stuff here, but poor, poor Cathyrn! Can't that girl ever get a break?

No. It's not allowed. :)

Buhbye

[AceOfKnaves]

Very intriguing story. Although I will have to go read the prequel. :D

[Bleu Unicorn]

Where the heck have I been? I started reading this in like May and then the summer was so hectic I sort of fell out of it. But as I'm in a procrastinating-on-studying-mood today, I caught myself back up. Batgirl, I love it. It's a great story you've got going. Though, I definitely have to say Cathryn's got about the crappiest luck in the world. Poor thing. Can't wait for more! Hopefully it won't take me four months to get to this again, though!

[Batgirl_2005]

Panther - Yeah... That was the whole point of doing that... Cathryn wasn't being all happy so I made her fall in love :rolleyes: I kind of let Dana drop from existence, in case you didn't notice :p

Selena - It sometimes helps to read prequels. Especially if you're all confuzzled.

Bleu - That 's ok! It took me four months just to post another chapter! (Actually I think it may have been two.......)

Any hoo. Next chapter comin' up!!! :D

XI

Batman flew into the cave with the Phoenix right behind him. The Phoenix did not even stop she just went into the nearly destroyed manor. Dick ran up after her.

"You went to find her." Bruce said simply.

"Yeah. Sorry." Batman said, removing his mask.

"Go home now Terry." Terry nodded and left.

-=-=-=-

Cathryn had only made it up the stairs. She had collapsed at the top and now was just sitting there. Dick had sat down next to her.

"So Squirt. You want to talk?" He asked.

"No." Said Cathryn. She paused and took a deep breath. "I just made a fool of myself. My whole life I’ve struggled to impress him and now I just embarrassed myself to an extreme. I just couldn’t look daddy in the face."

"Squirt… it’s ok." Dick said. "I know how you feel."

"I spent fifty years frozen in time probably trying to dream up more ways to impress him." Cathryn mumbled. "Should’ve known every one of them would backfire. Everything I think up does. Why do I try?"

"Cathryn come with me." Dick said. He led her back down into the cave.

"Bruce, Cathryn had a problem." Dick said. Cathryn had removed her mask and now stood behind Dick her head down.

"She’s embarrassed because she disobeyed me." Bruce said.

Cathryn looked up and raised an eyebrow. "I really wish you couldn’t do that."

"You’ve done this before, you’ll do it again." Bruce said, his voice monotone. He was obviously unhappy about it.

Cathryn walked over to him. She all but threw herself at his feet.

"I’m so sorry daddy. I know I was wrong and I swear I’ll never mess up again! I’ll never do anything wrong ever again. I’ll be the good little girl scout!!! I’ll be like Superman!!! I swear… just don’t be mad at me." She yelled into his knees.

Bruce placed a hand on her shoulder and lifted her face with the other.

"It’s ok Cathryn. It’s ok."

-=-=-=-

Alex came running into the cave later on yelling for her pops. Dick fell out of his chair when Alex woke him with a start.

"Flash and Panthress are coming here!" She yelled.

"Wha…? Why?" Dick asked, rubbing his rear and climbing back into his chair.

"They said they didn’t have anything better to do. Flash felt bad about the house and wants to help rebuild. Panthress wants to help too."

"Great… The klutz triplets in one house again… I’ll hide the valuables." Dick grumbled. "When will they be here?"

"Five… ten minutes." Said Alex.

"Gee… Fun…" Dick said.

Cathryn and Bruce walked in just then. Cathryn grinned at him and he rolled his eyes away.

"Cathryn. You need to calm down while you fight. You can’t just attack the next thing that comes at you." Bruce scolded.

"Ah come on daddy. It was just a simple right hook. Probably won’t even leave a mark."

"That’s not the point." Bruce explained. "You have to control your temper."

"I don’t have a temper!" Shouted Cathryn. Bruce raised an eyebrow. "OK… Maybe a little bit…"

A gust of wind entered the cave and Cathryn yelped in surprise, jumping and landing in a fighting position.

Suddenly, a girl and a cat were flying. The cat flew farther and into a wall while the girl fell flat on her face and skidded into the same wall.

"You klutz!" Screamed the cat. She had a French accent. "You stupid blonde dreg! I don’t care how fast you are! You have to learn how to watch were your feet are going!" From there she began yelling obscenities in French.

The cat stood up on two legs, her tail twitching. She was covered in pure black fur and had the face and ears of a black panther. Her body, though, was that of a woman. She had long claws and a long black tail.

"Panthress!" Alex shouted running over to her.

Panthress stopped her rant then and grinned at her friend, "Bonjour Alex!"

"Bonjour!" Alex returned.

"Whatyoupeopledon’twanttosayhitomethat’snotveryniceI’mapersontoo.Fastestonearoundafterdadofcourse." The girl said as she jumped up. She began running circles around Alex. "Sowhere’smyhihuhwhere’smyhiwhydon’tyoueveryellatme!?"

"Lena. Chill." Alex said, patting the top of the Flash’s blonde head.

The Flash had long blonde hair. She wore goggles with two lightning bolts coming off the corners. A bright red leotard and yellow loose pants covered her body. A gold lightning bolt necklace hung around her neck and the same lightning bolts from her ears.

"Learn how to breathe, m’amie. S’il vous plaît, take a breath in between each word." Panthress said as she licked her hand to cleaned her whiskers.

"I *breath* don’t *breath* think *breath* I *breath* can *breath* do *breath* that *breath*." Flash said.

Panthress and Alex laughed. Cathryn smiled silently wishing that at some point she had had friends.

Terry was suddenly running into the cave.

"I was attacked. I was attacked at school" He shouted. When he saw that there were four women in the cave he grinned.

"Who attacked you Terry?" Cathryn asked heading for her suit. Bruce grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"You’re not going out."

"Daddy, frankly, you can’t stop me."

"Je…" Panthress said then shook her head, "I like the girl."

"Idotoo!"

Cathryn grinned at them then looked back at her father. "Dad. I’m going out tonight. It’s that simple. No discussion, no arguments, and no ands buts or ors!" She yelled, then started to storm away. Bruce grabbed her arm again, more forcefully this time. "Daddy let me go." She growled at her father. "I will not argue this with you. I hate you."

"Doesanyoneelsesensemajortensionhere?" Flash asked.

"Say again?" Panthress asked.

"Does anyone else sense major tension here?" She repeated, quick breaths between each word.

"Shut up." Growled Bruce.

"I got it Bruce." Terry said. "Miss Melodrama needs to talk to someone who won’t lecture her."

Terry ran up the stairs and right into Cathryn. He suddenly hugged her.

"You alright?" He asked. Cathryn was shocked at the sudden contact. Also surprised because she liked it.

"I’m fine." Cathryn said. Terry pulled away, when he did she hugged him again. "So who attacked you?"

"That stupid cat friend of yours."

"Not friend… enemy." Cathryn growled.

"I was trying to be funny." Terry said.

"You didn’t do a very good job, bozo."

You don’t have to be rude." Terry said acting insulted. He turned his back away. Cathryn reached for his hand.

"I’m sorry, Terry." She said quietly. When her hand touched his a spark ignited between them.

"It’s ok…" Terry said quietly, turning back to her. "What about you and Bruce? You guys are real tense."

"Ah…that’s easy." Cathryn walked away. "The house is wrecked. The house where daddy grew up and the house where I grew up… it’s virtually gone."

She ran her hands across a pile of wood… it used to be an antique hutch. Terry walked over and grabbed her hand.

"We’ll rebuild it. It’ll be ok." Terry said.

"Thanks. I need to go apologize to daddy."

She walked away and ran into a wall.

"There’s not a wall here." She muttered and reached her hand out to touch it. "It’s ice."

Cathryn jump kicked the ice only to find it was much too thick for her to kicked through.

"You ok?" Terry asked.

"I’m fine. We have to get through here. I have to apologize to daddy." She began slamming her shoulder into the wall while she yelled out to her father.

Terry grabbed her shoulders. "Calm down Cathryn." She sobbed quietly but nodded.

"I’m sorry."

"It’s ok just get a hold of yourself."

Cathryn nodded and looked around. "This way."

She ducked under a beam and flipped over another. Terry was right behind her. Cathryn found a standing wall and ran her hand along it. After a moment she punched her hand through the wall. It collapsed to show a passageway.

Cathryn grinned at Terry’s shocked expression.

"Follow me." She ran through the passageway and ended up in a pitch dark cave. A quiet beeping sound emitted from the darkness.
"One… two… three…" She muttered as she walked three long strides forward. She placed her hand on the wall and light emitted from a panel. She opened her eye and a quiet voice said ‘Retinal scan accepted. Cathryn Tina Wayne.’

The wall opened and closed behind her and Terry.

"I must say… I’m impressed." Terry said.

Cathryn smiled back at him as she led him by the hand through many hallways and corridors and into the main cave.

Panthress jumped on them from above. Then automatically jumped off.

"Je regrette." She said bowing. "I could smell fear. I didn’t know who you were."

"It’s ok." Cathryn said.

"Weren’t you up there a minute ago?" Alex asked, pointing up the stairs.

"Yeah… IceCat’s here." Cathryn said quietly.

"HereyoumeanlikeinGothamrightnothereasinthelairhereIsupposeit’scaveasthat’spops’splacethisistheBatcav e…" Flash said.

"No. He’s here. He’s either in the cave or in the manor."

"Try the cave." Terry said pointing to where IceCat stood behind them.

[Bleu Unicorn]

Ok, first off, Flash's speech is a pain to read with screen reading software! lol, spelling entire sentences is just slightly annoying, but still nice way to add to the character. Speaking of which, I love these new characters. They're just too cool. Eagerly waiting more, Batgirl -- you've officially gotten me hooked.

[Panther]

Okay, Flash had me laughing the whole way through! :D


"Great… The klutz triplets in one house again… I’ll hide the valuables."

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And omigod - it's icekitty! In the cave!! :mad: Somebody take himout already! :rolleyes:

Great story, can't wait to see more! :cool:

[Batgirl_2005]

Warning... This chapter is a bit muddleded... even to me... And there's a minor hole due to laziness... (First one to find it might get an imaginary prize...) anyhoo... Hope it's enjoyable...

XII

"Aren’t you supposed to be Mr. Detective?" IceCat said. "I’m rather insulted that you didn’t notice me."

Bruce stood up and moved in front of Cathryn. Cathryn reached forward and grasped his hand, shaking.

Terry began slinking off to the left while Panthress did the same to the right. Panthress stepped completely into the darkness. IceCat turned and shot ice in front of Terry. He jumped back and glared at the cat.

"MEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!" Came a violent war cry. Panthress tackled IceCat, sending her claws into his face.

Flash was next to her in less than a second. She ran around him a couple of times while Panthress backed off. IceCat suddenly covered the floor with ice and Flash fell flat on her face. Panthress suddenly found her arms pinned to her sides with ice.

Alex pushed forward to attack IceCat. Before she got there he shot ice and locked her ankles together. Terry followed suit only to get a spear of ice through his shoulder.

"Terry!" Cathryn shouted. Throughout all of this she had begun to move forward, only to have Bruce holding her back. "What do you want IceCat?"

"Well… I’m supposed to get you and take you back to the supervillain boss dude… but this is fun. Are you next, then?"

"Yeah. I’m next." Cathryn said. She tore away from Bruce and ran forward. "Flash. Get everyone else out of here."

"Areyousure?" Flash asked, standing up, and moving away from the patch of ice.

"Yes. And don’t let them tell you any different." She sent a punch at IceCat’s face which he blocked

A moment later the cave was empty except for the two fighting.

"Why not make it a fair fight?" Cathryn asked. "Get rid of the ice things."

"I don’t need them anyway." Said IceCat.

He removed them and jumped, landing in a fighting position.

-=-=-=-

Bruce and Dick were dragged from the cave. Bruce stood up, as soon as he was let go of and headed back toward the cave. Flash grabbed his arm.

"I’msorrysiryoucan’tgobackinthere." Flash said.

"That’s my daughter. If you don’t let me go I will make you."

"Bruce. Terry’s in a lot of pain. As soon as we fix him up, we’ll go down and check on Squirt." Dick said as he pulled the ice from Terry’s shoulder.

"I’m going too." Terry groaned. He sat up painfully, "I like Cathryn a lot. I’m going back down there."

"We all like Cathryn." Said Alex.

"Oui, oui. Je… I think we should help her."

"YesbutIthinkyoutwooldfogiesshouldstayhere." Said Flash.

"No. That’s my sister down there." Dick said as he continued wrapping the bandages around Terry’s shoulder.

"Pops you and Bruce are a bit too old to do the whole combat thing." Alex said in a cocky tone.

-=-=-=-

Cathryn smiled at IceCat.

"I don’t think this is anything to smile about." He said.

"Well I do." Cathryn said. She hitch kicked his chin and he flew back a little way. "You hurt everyone, you’re not going to hurt anyone else."

She threw both legs into a straddle and spun. One leg hit IceCat but he caught the second foot. When he began to slam her face into the ground she went into a forward roll and slammed him into the ground.

Alarms were going off in Cathryn’s mind. Something wasn’t right about the way she was acting. She wasn’t this cocky. She wasn’t this cruel. She never just broke people’s arms. She would not normally try to take him on herself. What was wrong?

"You’re beginning to realize it aren’t you?" IceCat said.

"Realize what?"

"That something is just a little bit off? That something isn’t quite right." IceCat said.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about… or why you’re talking for that matter. I really have never liked witty banter part of the fights…" Cathryn said.

"We won’t be fighting much longer… which is good, because that stupid injection really helped you out."

"Bull. My dad always said I’d have superhuman strength."

"You would have. But your parents put the poison in you. It’s really quite the long story."

"I know my story. Get on with what that has to do with this before I dig your eyeballs out with my fingernails."

Cathryn paused… She’d heard that before.

"Ooooh… Threatening… Anywho… The supervillain boss dude came up with this injection to make you… well… That reveals too much. We only have to wait a few more seconds to see if the boss’s plans worked." He pretended to look at a watch on his wrist, "Five… four… three…"

Suddenly Cathryn doubled over in pain. Her head was pounding her stomach was burning and her pulse was pounding in her ears.

"Daddy…" Cathryn tried to call out through her pain. Instead, a pained cry came from her throat.

IceCat laughed, "Foo! This is more amusing than boss dude said it would be!" He dropped his accent in his amusement.

Cathryn closed her eyes and tried to harness the pain. The harder she tried, the more it seared in her stomach.

The pain eventually brought her to her knees. IceCat brought his foot to her chin and Cathryn flew to her back. IceCat walked over and kneeled.

"Don’t worry!" He said, putting back up his accent, "Boss says the pain will pass in a moment." Cathryn responded by trying to lunge at him, only to cry out in pain. "Aaaaaawwww…. Poor baby!"

IceCat stood up and slammed his foot into her side over and over again.

Cathryn gasped suddenly, then relaxed, her eyes closing and drifting out of consciousness.

-=-=-=-

A girl awoke staring up into darkness suddenly she heard a voice next to her.

"Hello, Project Phoenix." The girl sat up and looked to her left.

"Who’s there?" She called to the pitch-darkness.

"Don’t you remember me?" The voice said.

"Eh… No." She said.

"Stephen Heath."

"No… See… I killed you." The girl said. Somehow, she was surprised that she knew that.

"Yes. That you did. Wasn’t very nice of you either."

"What are you talking about? Where are you?" The girl asked, anger welling up inside of her.

"Nothing. Listen I’m here to tell you not to forget."

"You’ve seen Titanicway too many times. And where’s here?!"

"Your subconscious. You’re dreaming. Just trust me. Don’t forget. Never forget your brother. Bozo. Alfred. Never forget your new infatuation. And most importantly, never forget you father."

"Well duh. How could I?"

"Nathan will make you forget. Don’t forget. And don’t believe him. You have to escape."

"You’re creepin’ me out Mister. Now why don’t you just get out of my consciousness… or my subconscience or whatever."

Suddenly Stephen appeared before the girl. He roughly grabbed her shoulders, then yelled to her;

"DON’T FORGET!"

-=-=-=-

The girl awoke with a start, trying in vain to remember her dream.

Suddenly, she realized she didn’t know where she was. On top of that… she couldn’t think for the life of her what name was. The year… The date… everything was lost to her.

Suddenly a man in a wheelchair rolled into the room, a wet cloth in his hand. He smiled at the girl. "Good you’re awake. I was beginning to worry."

"Where am I?" She asked.

"Oh no…" He breathes. "You must have hit your head harder than we thought."

"What are you talking about?!" She asked. "Where am I? For that matter who am I."

"Oh no…" He brought the washcloth up and it stung painfully as it hit a cut on her forehead. She hit his arm away.

"No! Where am I?! Who are you!? What’s going on?!"

"It’s alright Tina. You fell really hard and hit your head. You’ve been unconscious for about an hour."

"What? But… My head hurts…" She complained in confusion.

"Your name is Tina Mitchell. You are seventeen-years-old, you’ve been living with me, Nathan, your boyfriend."

"What?! What are you talking about?" Then, almost jokingly. "I want my mommy."

"The Batman killed your parents." He responded coldly.

"That jerk!" Tina called out in anger. She didn’t even know her parents, but that was ok.

"Good. Now come here."

Tina frowned but stepped off the table. Nate pulled her into his lap. He seemed content, but Tina somehow knew this isn’t right.

[Bleu Unicorn]

Ok, I'm hooked. It's absolutely official. I love all these new characters, Batgirl. It's cool how even the ones that are supposedly newer versions of older characters still are unique and very cool. Anyway, can't wait for more.

[Batgirl_2005]

*glomps bleu* thankee for responding!!! I was waiting for someone to post...

OK. I'm bored, so.. *grin* next chapter!! Enjoy!!

XIII

The cave was silent except for Bruce’s insistent typing on the computer. He was too busy working on finding his daughter to notice anything else going on. Not that anything was.

Panthress busied herself in grooming as Flash ran pacing circles around her. Alex sat on the floor next to her grandfather, her head on his knee. Dick’s face was etched with worry and anger as his glassy eyes stared at the computer screen, not really seeing it. Terry stood on the other side of the cave, staring at the ground.

Terry suddenly pulled his mask on and jumped into the cockpit of the batmobile. Seconds later he peeled from the cave, startling Dick to attention.

"You going to go after him, Gramps?" Alex asked.

"No." Bruce said simply.

"Bruce, how can you expect to find her. Unless she wants to be found she won’t be—"

"Her chemical make up. I should be able to track it."

"That’s a long shot."

No response came from Bruce.

Suddenly the screen changed to show a familiar figure and when the two men shouted her name, everyone gathered about the screen.

-=-=-=-

Tina flipped her long hair over her shoulder and glared at the red and black vigilante before her.

"You killed my parents." She said simply. Batman frowned and stepped forward.

"Cathryn… What are you talking about?"

Tine grabbed his arm and flung him over her shoulder. She flipped forward, bringing her leg down on his stomach.

"Cathryn! Stop this!" Batman cried as she jumped up and kicked his side. He stood up and looked her in the eye. "Stop."

"I’m not Cathryn. My name is Tina Mitchell." She slammed her hand into his nose then flung herself at him.

-=-=-=-

"Is she…" Sick began only to have Bruce finish for him.

"Holding back. She’s holding back."

"But why?"

"There’s something wrong. She knows something isn’t right. She doesn’t know who she is but she knows she shouldn’t be fighting Terry."

"Smart kid." Said Dick.

"She always was." Bruce said quietly.

"Terry use all of your knockout gas and bring her back here."

"All?"

"Just do it."

Moments later the batmobile was in the air with one tied up passenger.

-=-=-=-

Batman glanced over at Cathryn’s restful face. He turned off the link between him and Bruce. Batman removed his mask and kissed her cheek.

Suddenly her anger filled eyes popped open. She did not speak, just began struggling against the bonds.

"Calm down." Terry said, "I’m not going to hurt you."

"You killed my parents." Cathryn said.

"No I didn’t. I swear. No killing. It is a rule. It’s even in the superhero handbook!"

"But Nate said…" Cathryn said.

"Nate lied." Terry replied quickly.

"Don’t you call my man a liar!" Cathryn said, still struggling.

"Your man!?" Terry repeated in shock.

"You… You…" She struggled for an insult and finally pulled one from her mind. "Bozo!" Realization passed across her face.

"That’s right! I’m a bozo!" Terry exclaimed, encouraging her memory.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. That just happens to be what popped into my head. I don’t even know where it came from."

"Cathryn…"

"My name is not Cathryn!!!" Cathryn screamed.

"Cathryn," Terry continued pointedly, "Your name is not Tina."

"That’s not what Nate said."

"I don’t care what Nate said. He could have said that you were Queen Elizabeth V and I still wouldn’t care! Your name is Cathryn Wayne. You’ve been around for sixty-seven years, but you look seventeen because you got frozen. Your favourite colour is burgundy. Your favourite animal is the hawk. Your favourite song is…"

"California Dreaming." Cathryn suddenly yelled, "My favourite band is the Beach Boys. And my favourite musical is Jekyll and Hyde. I know all of this Captain Obvious!"

Terry was on the verge of screaming, "Please Cathryn…" He breathed.

"Tina."

"You have to believe me!"

"I don’t have to believe anything you say, you liar!"

Cathryn broke free of her bonds and lunged for Terry just as he landed in the cave. He grabbed her arms and pinned them to her sides, not letting her go. He lifted her from the batmobile and then stepped out.

She began to run but tripped to fall into Bruce’s arms. She pushed away from him and found herself surrounded. Panthress to her left, Flash everywhere, Alex to her right and Bruce in front of her. (Dick was sleeping upstairs)

Her eyes changed from angry to pure fright when they fell upon Bruce. She walked in a circle around him. When she came back to the front she leaned close and stared into his ice blue eyes.

"D…D… D-daddy?" She whispered timidly. Cathryn shook her head and pointed a finger at Terry. "He killed my parents."

"No," Said Bruce, soothingly, "A gunman killed your parents."

"What… But Nate said…"

Terry groaned, annoyed enough now to smack the back of Cathryn’s head. "What did I tell you? I don’t care what Nate said! He lied!!"

"My Nate is not a liar!" Cathryn yelled.

"Stop it with the your Nate deal." Terry exclaimed, his voice sounded wounded.

"But he is! I’ve never liked an…" She began to say another but the word caught in her throat.

"Yes?" Bruce encouraged.

"Batman… I like Batman." Terry’s ears perked up at this. Cathryn took a breath, "Not the original Batman. The original Batman was my…" She closed her eyes and though hard. Suddenly her eyes popped open, "Oh God…"

Her knees gave out and Bruce caught her. She stood up and leaned on his chest.

"Cathryn?" He asked guardedly, wondering if she was truly back.

"Daddy?" She said quietly. She looked up at him. "Daddy?"

Cathryn buried her face back in his chest and cried softly. Bruce put one arm around Cathryn, protecting her. With his cane he waved the group away. Only Terry lingered behind. Bruce pointed with his cane and reluctantly the young man left.

"Don’t worry Cat. It’s ok." Bruce said quietly to his daughter.

"I’m sorry daddy. I was weak… I didn’t fight."

"Don’t worry about it. It’s ok."

"I feel horrible. I know it wasn’t right…"

"You’re back now. You’re safe. It’s ok." Bruce repeated.

"I knew something wasn’t right! I knew that I shouldn’t be fighting Batman. I knew that I shouldn’t have…" She paused then stepped away from her father. "Oh God!" She began spitting. "I kissed him!!!!"

-=-=-=-

Dick had left the cave to get away from the deafening silence. He had ended up asleep on the couch.

Suddenly Flash stood over him yelling at him breathlessly. "PopsgetupCathryn’sbackgetupgetupgetupgetupgetupgetupNOW[I]Cathryn’sbackupupup!!!!"

Dick jumped up and rushed into the cave, quite a ways behind Flash. He stopped and couldn’t help but laugh at the spectacle before him.

Everyone stood crowded around the corner from where Bruce and Cathryn stood, Cathryn still crying. Nonetheless, He stood by Panthress to join them in their eavesdropping.

-=-=-=-

Cathryn now stood spitting of to the side repeatedly, trying to rid herself of the taste and the memory.

"GOD! I kissed him!" She shouted again and again.

"Cathryn." Bruce said piercingly.

Cathryn stopped what she was doing, bent over with a bit of saliva hanging half out of her mouth. She sucked it back into her mouth and stood at attention.

"Pay attention." Bruce ordered.

"Sir, yes, sir!" Cathryn yelled.

"Let’s go." Bruce said. Cathryn followed him back into the main part of that cave.

Cathryn grinned at everyone and let her eyes take in everything. When her eyes came upon the red bat symbol on Terry’s chest she grinned in enlightenment.

"I have a plan."

[Batgirl_2005]

Hey all! I was going to wait, but since I finally finished this story (yahoo!!!) i decided to post it and let you all read. Then I'm moving onto my next story. Crystal Clarity (or The Clarity of Crystal. I'm not sure yet...) Then after that... The Mind of Revenge The last part in the Dawn-Star Trilogy. Yahoo!!

Anywya, here's the last chapter and epilogue to Icy Love. There might be a fluffy Cathryn story sometime in the future just because I love the character... Anyway... Enjoy!

XIV

Cathryn dragged an unconscious Batman into the laboratory and smiled proudly at Nathan.

"What do you think, Nate?" She asked him. "Did I do good?"

"Yes, babe." He responded, holding out his arms.

Cathryn frowned slightly in confusion. "Wasn’t your arm broken?" She muttered.

"What, lover?"

"Nothing!"

Cathryn threw Batman to Nate’s feet, cringing almost imperceptibly when his head hit the ground with a soft thud.

Nate reached forward and pulled Cathryn’s chin closer. Reluctantly she allowed him one long kiss. As she pulled away she felt his hand grip her neck with surprising strength. She gasped for air and struggled to get away as he squeezed even tighter.

"So Cathryn’s back.," he growled, "and she thought that she could fool me?"

"It worked didn’t it?" Cathryn croaked.

"I will kill you for deceiving me, you stupid…"

Suddenly Nate was out of his chair, on his back. Batman had over turned his chair in anger when he threatened Cathryn.

"That wasn’t part of the plan." Cathryn scolded.

"Forget the plan."

-=-=-=-

Flash, Panthress and Nighthawk stood facing IceCat, who had his back to them.

"Hey." They all chorused.

He spun around to respond with a blast of ice. They dodged away, prepared this time.

Flash was the distraction. While she ran about trying to get IceCat to hit her, Nighthawk and Panthress attacked from the sides.

Soon he was tied up and begging for mercy as Panthress threatened to slice him open with her claws.

"Panthress calm down." Ordered Nighthawk.

"E… Mais oui, oui!" She flicked her hand, retracting her claws and, in her embarrassment, began grooming her whiskers.

"Allfinishedbosses!" Flash said into a little radio.

-=-=-=-

"You see Nate," Cathryn said, turning off the radio. "I was raised by the original Detective. His fault was that he didn’t exactly play well with others. I do, though. We work as a team. IceCat is taken care of and you’re being turned over to Commissioner Gordon."

"You’re bluffing." Nate said.

"And you’re an idiot." Cathryn said. Then, to Batman, "Tie him up."

Batman quickly obliged, knowing this was Cathryn’s fight.

"You’re lying."

"Believe what you want. Either way you’ll end up locked away."

-=-=-=-

Epilogue

"Buhbye now! Have a fun time in Arkham, you psycho!" Cathryn yelled as the police dragged Nate away later on.

"You did good." Batman said quietly in her ear.

"Thanks. Let’s go home."

-=-=-=-

"So if you broke his arm, then how…" Dick began.

"Drake Jones, his grandpa, created this steroid from my DNA. It, like, worked every angle. Makes them strong, hyper immune system… everything I can do they can do." Cathryn explained.

"And how did he…" Alex got cut off, as well.

"He created a substance that messed me up. Gave me amnesia and stuff like that."

"But everything is OK now, right?" Said Terry.

"Everything is fine now." Bruce answered for Cathryn.

"Yes. Everything is fine now."

-=-=-=-

Terry stood on a roof staring out over the city. Slowly two black gloves wrapped around his waist from behind. Terry turned around to see Cathryn.

"Hello." He said, deeply.

"Hi Terr." She said laying her head on his chest.

They hugged tightly, never wanting to let go. When they slowly pulled away, Terry pulled on his mask. Cathryn smiled and did the same. Two sets of pointed ears now were silhouetted with the skyline.

Batman and Batgirl flew off the building, hand in hand to keep the city safe.

[Panther]

Awwww, what a cute couple!



"Oh God!" She began spitting. "I kissed him!!!!"


Ok, I was in a fit of giggles over this image! I can just imagine her acting like that too!


Great job!