Chapter 3



Maxine typed a few files into her laptop, and waited for a response from her friend Lorie. She chuckled, and entered in a smilie until she noticed a red light flashing on her desktop. She swore, and exited from her AIM. She looked at the alert, and Terry popped up on her screen.

"Terry, what?" she snapped impatiently.

"Now's not the time. I need your help…"

"Oh no! Last time you wanted me to babysit," she snapped angrily.

"But you gained a friend," Terry spoke, making her sigh, "And her life is currently at stake,"

"What?" she shrieked into the mic. Terry winced.

"Yes, she's in trouble. I need you to hack into her father's computer,"

"What? I can get into so much crap for this…"

"Yeah. And Dionne could die," he said, narrowing his eyes, "I know you'll make the right decision," closing the monitor.

Maxine laced her fingers together, and closed her laptop, sighing.

Dionne woke up, and her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She grunted in frustration, and struggled against the ropes.

"Damnit!" she swore in the darkness.

"That's the Di I know," came a raspy familiar voice.

Dionne looked up, and stared into the eyes of….

"Batman! I knew you'd come!" she said, relief clouding her voice.

He loosed her, and she wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her for a moment, and then he put a finger to her lips. She nodded, and he picked her up.

"Where are we going?" she whispered.

"To find your father," he said, gliding off as she gasped.

"Oh…my…" she said, swallowing repeatedly.

Terry grinned, "It's not bad once you get used to it," he said chuckling.

Dionne sighed, "Thank you," she said in his ears, holding on tight to his waist.

"Sure," he said, "And thank you for being light," he said making her grin.

"You remind me of someone I know," she said softly after a few moments when she started to feel safe.

His eyes twinkled, "Really? Enlighten me?"

"A boy from school…McGinnis…"

"Funny," he said, barely able to suppress his smirk.

She said nothing until they landed at the top of the tower.

"This is…"

"Yes," he said, putting a finger to her lips. She was silent, and Terry swooped down. Dionne swallowed.

Maxine typed in a few passcodes, "Come on…one more for mamma," she said, typing numbers at amazing speeds as green binary codes went up and down the monitor. She chuckled, as the program opened up before her eyes.

She looked at the miniature clock, and swore. There were only twenty minutes left until the shipments were all done. She opened a folder, and looked at the inventory. She nearly fainted.

"Get a grip, Maxy," she told herself as she scrolled down. Models for nuclear bombs were neatly typed next to each other like a library inventory. She swore, and quickly looked to see if she could stop the final shipments.

Terry looked up at the big clock, and then he glared down at Carlos DeLavega. He was by the river, smoking. He was alone…perfect for attacking. Terry leaped down on a crate right next to Carlos, and before he could launch a punch, DeLavega pulled a gun and put it to Terry's temple.

"FREEZE!"

Terry did as ordered, but quickly tapped his stealth mode button. DeLavega swore, and fired. Terry leaped up, and landed on top of him. Carlos pushed his invisible opponent away, and shot a few rounds around him. Terry ducked them all, and then he was visible again. He quickly kicked Carlos in the back. Three guys ran over in DeLavega's stead. One of them punched Terry in the head.

"No!" came a female scream from up high. Carlos and Terry both looked up. They locked glances, and then Carlos grinned, running to the tower.

Terry kicked the first security guard in his stout stomach. He flinched, and swore a bit. He finished him off by executing a fast roundhouse kick. The second security was short and pudgy. Terry easily finished him by chopping him in the back of the neck. The third guard was tall and lean. Terry jumped up to his level, and kicked him in the back of the neck. He fell to his knees, and Terry pushed his thumbs into the pressure points under the man's neck. In two minutes, he was unconcious. Terry leaped up, and started to glide up to the top of the tower.

"Daughter, daughter…I've taught you well havent I? Secure every angle, huh? Screw your hero to insure the fact that he'll risk his life for yours," Carlos spat, chuckling.

Dionne slapped him as her jacket hood flapped in the wind.

He clucked his teeth, and slapped her back. Terry jumped on top of the building and Carlos grabbed his daughter by the throat. He led her to the ledge, and held her over. She squirmed.

"What now, Batman? Kill me, stop the shipments or save your girlfriend?"

Terry narrowed his eyes, "I was always raised to be multitask efficient. Your shipments are cancelled asshole. And the other two are on my to-do list," he muttered.

Carlos laughed, "You know, I really like you. Don't you Di?" he asked, shaking his daughter, and slamming her over the ledge. She tried to scream, but her father held a firm grip on her throat.

"It's over. Don't make me kill you," Terry threatened.

Carlos arched a brow, laughed, and let his daughter go.

"Batman!" she screamed. Terry swallowed, and Carlos laughed. Terry ran, and charged into him. Carlos, unfortunately was prepared. He punched Terry in the face, and he staggered back.

"Ha! Give it up, Bat-shit!"

Terry glared, and swept Carlos off his feet. He landed hard on his back, and Terry stood up. He glared down at the man, and kicked him in the stomach. He coughed, and Terry leaped over the edge. Dionne was feet from the ground. If she hit the ground after a thirty story fall, there was no way she could make it…no way whatsoever. He pushed himself faster, and she reached her arms up to him. He grasped her fingers, but they slipped away in the cruelty of time. She screamed, and Terry pushed his muscles harder. He grabbed Dionne's arm, and glided down to the ground. He put her behind a crate, and she was crying hysterically in fear. He shushed her, and stood in front of her, making them practically invisible in the shadow of the night.

"Thank you," she sobbed.

Terry smoothed her hair, and shushed her. She tried to control her sobs, but to no avail. Terry looked around, making sure no one was around, and kissed her. He backed her farther into the shadows, and she responded gently. He moved away from her, and turned around. He saw a bloody Carlos DeLavega standing before him.

"Thirty stories is a long way down, Bat-shit," he said in huffs. Terry swallowed as Carlos raised his gun in aim. Terry clenched his jaw, and moved up from Dionne to allow her space to run. A bullet ricocheted off the walls, and Terry winced. He opened his eyes, and looked at Dionne. She was desperately holding onto him. Carlos was on the ground as a man stood over him with a gun.

"Thought you could use some help," Bruce Wayne spoke, his profile being exposed in the light. Police sirens wailed, and shouts were heard. Dionne smiled at the older man, and he nodded at her, disappearing as quickly as he had come. Terry looked back, and noticed his mentor gone. He knew it was his cue.

"Where are you going?" Dionne asked softly.

Terry stared deep into her eyes, "My job's done,"

"But I…I'll never see you again…"

His eyes twinkled, "Oh I think you will," he said, leaving her. A cop was at her side instantly.

"Ma'am! Are you alright?"

She could only nod, and look into the sky.

Days later…

"I knew you would make the right decision," Terry said, hugging Maxine. She chuckled.

"Yeah, consider yourself lucky I was feeling gracious," she said, and Dionne walked up. She looked a bit pale, and her lips were pursed.

"Max, may I speak to Terry alone?" she asked timidly.

"Sure…meet you over there," she said, walking towards an old tree.

"I know who you are," Dionne started off immidiately.

Terry arched a brow, "You do?"

She nodded, "You're a friend of Batman," she said. He swallowed, and suppresed his relief.

"Y-yeah. How'd you guess?" he stammered.

She arched a brow, "I have my sources," she said softly, "Can you deliver a message to him?"

Terry folded his arms, "I'll try,"

"Tell him…I just have to talk to him," she spoke softly, looking down. Terry frowned.

"Why?"

She looked up at him, "Tell him to see me tonight. I'l explain everything,"

Terry nodded, "I'll try," he confirmed.

They each went their separate ways.

Dana gripped Terry's waist from the back.

"Good day, Mr. McGinnis," she said, kissing him gingerly.

He smiled, and didn't respond to her tender embrace. He couldn't.

"I'm glad you're back," he fibbed, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"I missed you two," she said, folding her arms.

He shrugged, "You know, Dana…I think we should talk…"

Maxine hugged her friend tightly, "I'm sorry," she spoke softly.

Dionne shrugged, "The bastard deserved what he got,"

She shook her head, "I guess you're right,"

Dionne shrugged once more, and changed the subject, "You know, I know Terry's hiding something,"

"Something? Like what?" Mazine asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I don't know. Something really big…but I intend to find out," she said, determinedly.

Maxine chuckled as they walked to lunch.

Later that night…

Dionne dried herself, and put on a touch of body spray. She sighed, and put on a big comfy t-shirt. She clicked out the light, and tip-toed to her canopy bed. The window curtains rustled in the breeze, and she closed her canopy sheets. She closed her eyes, and started to drift off.

"Everything is taken care of. The police have no reason to convict her, so she's free. Carlos DeLavega is due for a trial on Friday, and the men involved in his shipment were sent directly to prison," Bruce informed Terry.

He nodded, "I'm glad she's safe," he said lowly, looking out the window.

Bruce smirked coyly, "Go to her, Terry. Tell her," he said lowly.

Terry looked at his employer, "Tell her? But…"

Bruce nodded, and Terry smiled. He could have hugged the old man.

"Go on, before I change my mind," Bruce said lowly, lacing his fingers together, and sitting back into his seat. Terry smiled, and glided out the window.

Terry walked into Dionne's room. The curtains rustled in the wind, and her sheer canopy covers did nothing to hide her angelic face. He walked on the carpet which was so familiar to him. He drew closer to her bed, and felt his heart beating. He moved her canopy sheet, and got on the bed. He caressed her cheek, and she woke up.

"Batman," she said, sitting up in bed, and holding his hand.

"I think you deserve to know the truth," he spoke softly, keeping his gaze on her.

"The truth?" she frowned.

"Who I am," he said softly, letting her go. She blinked, and kept her eyes on him. He took his gloved hand, and pulled off his mask. Dionne's eyes went wide.

"T-t-terry," she stammered.

He nodded, "Hey Di,"

She swallowed.

"Do you still think I'm a hero?"

Dionne pulled him close, and kissed him passionately.



THE END.