The Batman: Downfall Ch. 09

The nurse finished up and asked if he needed anything else, "No not right now," came his response as she began to leave the room a thought came to him, something fresh and clean and it made him feel light, "Can someone contact my daughter for me," The nurse nodded with a smile, she left the room quickly her false smile dropping and her face filled with worry.

Even in Jim Gordon's weakened state it had taken two police officers to hold him back, he had staggered from his room, when, finally someone had relinquished knowledge of his daughter. He had sent one doctor to the ground with a clumsy punch that almost sent Gordon ass backwards to the ground too. You could see on everyone's face that they thought the cure had only a limited time of effectiveness; they fled and called in back up. The officers had managed to corner Gordon and get on either side of him it was only his calls and pleas to see his daughter that had finally sunk in to the on call doctor that this was not a relapse. "Sir, you cannot leave this ward you need to be monitored..."

"Do you know who I am?" Jim spat trying to break free of the officers who held him, "Do you know what I can do to you? I will send you to the deepest, darkest cell in black gate if you do not let me see my daughter." Even the officers seemed worried at this statement and the fact that he could mean both of them as well added an extra amount of tension to the situation.

The doctor held up his hands, "Okay, calm down. Five minutes okay, and then back up here."

Henry Greenwood met Jim outside of Barbara's room the two of them went way back. Henry had pulled a bullet from Jim's thigh when he was a beat cop and they had run into one another ever since. Jim was still in his hospital dressing gown and his face was drawn and haggard, making him look nearer one hundred years old "You can go in if you like?" Henry said.

Jim shook his head, "She's sleeping," he rubbed the heel of one hand at his eyes fighting back the tears.

"She said she had disturbed a gang trying to rob her apartment," Henry said filling the silence, "Sounds like she put up one heck of a fight too."

"Gets that from her mother," Jim smiled grimly and sighed loudly he tried to push himself up from leaning on the door but his body felt tired and used up. Henry looked the man over, his arms and legs were bruised and swollen in places his face though tired had only a set of scratch marks down one cheek.

"Look Jim we go way back and I have to tell you her story does not make much sense to me...or your boys at the GCPD," Henry felt guilt for what he was about to say but he could not stand idly by and let someone walk free from such a disgusting crime, "well from what I can tell and looking at the bruising and what not, it was only one assailant." Henry spoke quickly and in hush tones.

"What? why would Barb' lie about who attacked her?" Jim asked before his cop instincts kicked in. "She's protecting someone?" It was something he had heard a hundred times before when he was a lowly beat cop, the prostitutes and their Johns, the put upon housewife and drunk husband, the college kid and her abusive father. The story was always the same, they loved them and they promised they would change. The only change Gordon ever saw was when the woman was lying on her back in the morgue.

Henry shrugged, "Maybe. She did have a visitor, well I say visitor he was here just before she turned up..." Gordon listened to his tale it seemed absurd to think that Bruce Wayne would attack Barbara. Henry's story was a mixed bag of different perspectives of nurse and doctors and he could imagine something getting lost in the translation, but still...

Barbara had been gunning for Bruce Wayne since she came to the city, all that talk of crime boss and tax evasion...what if she had stumbled onto something. And to keep her quiet... it was too much for his drug dulled brain to cope with, he was making massive leaps of judgment with no real evidence. "You need to sign me out Henry."

Henry shook his head, "No can do Jim, you know that." He started to list the reasons on his fingers, "You have just survived massive trauma to your cranium, you have a badly strained arm and leg, and your white blood cells are dangerously low. You are not going anywhere."

Jim stood up straight, resolve on his face, "Then you are going to have to stop me."

Wayne Manor,

Alfred walked to the front door and the incessant ringing of the doorbell. He cursed under his breath at the downright rude behaviour of whoever was constantly ringing the bell. Alfred swore under his breath as the ringing stopped only to be replaced with the heavy hammering of a fist on the thick wooden door.

"How may I help you," Alfred spat out as he pulled one door open, his voice full of restrained anger with just enough leeching out to show his dislike in being summoned so rudely.

"I need to see Bruce Wayne," Gordon said leaning on the doorframe hardly able to stand on his feet, the exhaustion from banging on the door taking its toll on him.

"Commissioner Gordon, I..." Alfred stammered his anger washed away with the shock of seeing the man before him.

Gordon found new strength and pushed past Alfred, who, still in a state of shock did not have chance to put up a fight. "Where is he?"

Bruce could not face the Bat cave, his fury would take him on a path that there was no returning from. Instead he had stripped to his pants and had taken to the dojo. The room was spacious and blank. The walls painted a dull white with no patterns or pictures. The windows had been removed and plastered over, the outside world and the world of the Bat did not live here. But try as he might, Bruce could not shake his fury. The fury at himself and at Ivy and Bane, he bludgeoned every Body Opponent Bag he could find. He kicked, punched and threw himself at them with gusto until he collapsed to the mat sweat dripping out of every pore.

"You look like a very angry man," Gordon said, he had climbed the mansions grand stairwell with agonising pain in his legs, he had clung to the bannister as if his life depended on it but refused the help of Alfred when it was offered to him. When they had reached the room, Gordon could hear the noise through the door, the screams, the heavy thuds of punches landing had made his jaw clench, his broken teeth singing a new song of pain as he did so. Alfred tried to stop him but he had pushed the door open just as Bruce collapsed to the floor.

Bruce looked up with shock at the voice, "Commissioner Gordon?" Bruce exclaimed seeing the man.

"I need answers and I need the truth," Gordon said and forced his weary legs to carry him into the room right up to Bruce Wayne. Bruce found his own aching legs and stood up he had no time to see the clenched fist come flying at him landing on his sweaty right cheek and sending him reeling backwards. He stumbled and went to one knee, "You and Barbara, tell me" Gordon's renewed strength pushed him on, he let out a kick that Bruce easily deflected with a swipe of one muscular arm, an arm Gordon noted had fresh bruising running up the length of it. "Did Barbara do that?"

Bruce dodged the next thrown punch and felt stupid when Gordon followed through with a swipe at his gut, "Stop it Jim," he called out as another punch flew through the air. Bruce defended each thrown punch and kick that came his way but refused to retaliate. Gordon stepped forward with his next punch losing his balance momentarily it was more than enough for Bruce, he crouched and spun his leg out and swept the commissioner off of his.

Gordon hit the ground hard, all his fight escaped with his breath as it was violently expelled from him. He tried to move but Bruce Wayne had climbed onto his stomach and planted his knees painfully onto Jim's arms, pinning him down. "I need the truth Bruce," he gasped out, tears running down his hot cheeks, "Tell me the truth, did you do that to Barbara?"

The look of shock was all the answer Jim Gordon needed. He could see it in Bruce's eyes, the look of an innocent man being accused of something so horrible and also pain. Pain at what had befallen someone he cared for, "It was not me," the words were thick with emotion as Bruce spoke them.

"Then who was it?"

Bruce hesitated, he felt responsible for the attack on Barbara, in truth Bruce felt as if he had an indirect part in the rape. Leaving her alone like that he knew full well that Carlos and Ivy would go all out to get Klaus back or atleast even the playing field once more. "I wish I knew." He finally replied.

Bruce lifted himself off of Gordon and helped the man to his feet, "What is going on with you and Barbara? She's been gunning for you since she arrived in town and all of a sudden you're at her hospital bedside? That doesn't add up Bruce."

"It is a little complicated commissioner," out in the open their situation was difficult to put into words that would not get Bruce arrested, "dating is perhaps one way of putting it." It was an odd lie, but they had spent so much time together it was the only plausible one he could say.

Gordon's brow knitted together as he tried to process this information, "Barbara has her secrets, I know that I just did not think you were one of them." He held out a shaky hand, "I'm sorry for attacking you Bruce, it's just..." Bruce took the offered hand and pulled the man in for a hug, he held him as Jim Gordon cried.

Between them Bruce and Alfred had gotten Gordon out of the dojo and into a well-worn leather chair in the snug library room downstairs. A Brandy had been offered and gratefully received as had a sandwich. Gordon apologised repeatedly for accusing Bruce and for the crying but all the apologies were waved off. Alfred cleared away the plate and with a grudging no Gordon dismissed another glass of Brandy, he waited for Alfred to leave the warm snug room before he spoke again, "Could your friend help?" Gordon asked in a hushed conspiratorial way.

"My friend? I'm afraid I don't know who you're talking about Jim."

"Come on Bruce," Gordon replied and Bruce responded with a shrug of his shoulders, "Batman, that's who." Bruce was shaking his head as he opened his mouth to talk but Gordon cut him off before he could begin, "Do not even start to say you do not know him Bruce. Batman has money coming in from somewhere to fund his war on crime. It took me awhile to figure out that you or Wayne Enterprises are somehow linked to him and to be honest I don't care." Bruce sat back in his own chair and gave a curt nod. Gordon smiled, he had known it for some time but to discover he was spot on was gratifying. "He knows this town better than most, is there any way he can help find Barbara's attacker."

Bruce stayed silent for a moment as if he were mulling it over then said, "I will pass the message on...only, since you put a warrant on his head his life has been made considerably more taxing."

Gordon shook his head, "Blame the damn mayor for that! He rode the issue so hard I ended giving the go ahead to shut him up." The pieces were falling into place, Carlos controlled the Mayor and the Mayor controlled the Commissioner. Batman was a fly in the Axis ointment what better way to remove him than to push for his arrest. Bruce asked Gordon if he had heard about the mayor and Gordon nodded, "Shot at close range, his assistant is downtown right now believe it or not, claims Sebastian Garcia was crooked."

That was indeed good news, if the assistant had access to paperwork and bank accounts then a paper trail to Axis would be found and the chemical plant would not go ahead. "I never figured him to be on the take?" And that had been the truth for a long time, Bruce had even helped fund the Mayor's election campaign that could be a headache but no worse than the North Korea fiasco.

Gordon asked to use the phone, his own was missing along with his wallet no doubt still sitting somewhere in the hospital. Bruce waited patiently in the library for the Commissioners return, when he came back in the old Jim Gordon stood before him. "I have a press conference at seven out at GCPD, seems Mayor Garcia may have a lot more to do with what's been going on in town they we ever realised." Bruce stood up and walked Gordon to the front door, "Tell our friend that the warrant is being rescinded with immediate effect." They shook hands one more time as a police car pulled up.

Gotham City Police Headquarters,

Batman had watched the live feed as he sat in Gordon's darkened office his cowl ran the feed directly through one lens. He watched motionless as Gordon spoke of the Town Hall incident, he dismissed or down right ignored shouted questions from the press with regards anything that had to do with the inside of the hospital. The press exploded as Gordon announced an investigation into Sebastian Garcia's murder and his own dealings. Batman looked at Gordon's desk a hefty manila folder sat there with Batman's own findings, it would never see the court but it would send Gordon in the right direction.

"Lastly," Gordon said appealing for quiet from the gathered masses. He had been warned not to do the press conference, he had already passed out once while at the office and an Ambulance was waiting round the corner just in case, but Gordon had to finish what had been started. "I have a message for a friend of Gotham City," the crowd fell quiet microphones were raised and stretched out. "In our darkest hour you came and saved myself and others with a cure that, had it not arrived would have surely meant the death of many. Batman and Batgirl the city owes you our gratitude, the warrant for the arrest of Batman is now repealed until such time that the GCPD deem him a threat to the safety of the good people Gotham." The press pit exploded.

There were more claps than stone faces as Gordon retreated into the air conditioned coolness of the foyer of the Police headquarters. Many of the young cops mouthed well done and thank you at him for having the guts to say what the GCPD for a long time could never say, Gotham was safer with Batman than without. Those who did not clap or talk were more than likely mad at losing the chance to bag Batman and the reward that some of the crime families had issued for his legal death.

He reached his office forty five minutes after leaving the press in a cacophony of noisy madness and unanswered questions. "You really left them fuming Commissioner," Detective George Travis said walking alongside Gordon, "Just so you know I support the whole Batman thing, but others are not going to like it."

"It is those others I need out of this police force Travis, one way or another this police force is going to be cleaned up." Gordon looked over at Travis, "How's Bullock doing?"

Gordon watched the man's cheeks redden, "He booked himself out of the hospital and no one has seen him since, just hope to God he heard your message."

Gordon reached his office door and pushed it open, he flicked the light switch and it remained dark, Gordon said the first thing that came into his head "Could you get me a coffee Travis?"

Gordon watched Travis walk off before sliding into his office and closing the door behind him, "You hear my message?"

Gordon still got a quiet fright even after all these years watching Batman suddenly slip out of the shadows becoming a living, breathing embodiment of them. "I did and thank you."

"No, thank you and I mean it. For now anyway, once a new mayor is sworn in you can damn well believe that they will go tooth and nail to get you off the streets again." Gordon walked over to his desk, the dark wood now almost black in the murky darkness. The folder stood out, "What's all this?" he asked picking it up.

"A start,"

Gordon flicked through it, names began to appear, Garcia, Constance and Axis were the most prominent. "That's one heck of a start!"

"It will get you in the right direction, asking the right questions." Batman gave a grim smile. He slipped a photograph onto the table next.

Gordon looked up from the folder and at the photograph, "Who's that?" he said looking at the picture upside down.

"A friend told me about your daughter," the next part was taking a plunge into murky waters to help someone else. Someone trying to make amends for past indiscretions he only hoped Bullock was up to the task now, "Alberto Falcone, he's on your books for petty crimes most of his other crimes are quickly covered up, like rape for instance." It hurt to lie to Jim Gordon but in the long run it would pay off, as long as Bullock played along and nothing went to haywire. The variables were mounting up making the risks invariably higher.

Gordon grabbed the picture and turned it around. The face was young, but the one he had seen in the hospital was not much older. "How did you find this out?" He said, when he got no reply he looked up from the picture only to find his office empty.

Rooftops of Gotham

It was time everything had led to this point. The game Ivy and Harley had started would be finished by Batman and it would be by his rules, perhaps that was some small satisfaction but it still hurt him deep down with what he was about to become. He crossed the rooftops with ease and as he went he paid no mind to the streets beneath him. The police radio was muted, even Alfred's ever open line was now shut off he was alone.

The tall buildings began to give way, the small tenements passed beneath him and slowly the smell of the docks began to drift into his nasal passages. Batman cleared his mind, every now and then Barbara would swim to the surface and he fought hard to push her back down even though it hurt him to do so. Two shipping containers dwarfed the docks as their huge containers were off loaded, arc lights brought an artificial daytime to the workers. Batman landed on the outstretched arm of one of the container arms and without fear he walked the length of it towards the main structure. He climbed a little higher until he was at the very pinnacle of the crane.

Batman had the perfect view of the warehouses from here, he had pinpointed his destination prior to leaving the cave and now he stared intently at the dark mass, apprehension held him back, what if Cannon was wrong? What if he could not simply walk away? He swallowed the doubts and with a single step he launched himself from the crane.

Harley yawned loudly; she had been stuck in this grimy warehouse since late afternoon. Ivy had told her to get there and stay put until Batman turned up, Harley had complained but it had fallen on deaf ears as most of her complaining seemed to do with Ivy nowadays. What had worried Harley was the tone of Ivy's voice, something had happened that would get the bat moving but more than that something terrible had happened at the arboretum, Klaus had double crossed them. Ivy had told her bits and pieces in the same defeated, tired tone. Her voice had only shown any other kind of emotion towards the end, "Make a show of it my Harley Quinn, make Batman pay." She had said her voice almost shaky with excitement before the line went dead.

She paced back to the window that overlooked the almost monolithic structures of Gotham City, she lifted her night vision goggles and gave another sweep of the area...nothing, "If you're coming Bats, get a move on." Harley said to herself, though she still had doubts about the plan there had been a marked change in her attitude after their little fumbling in the Mayor's office. Beneath Harley's white foundation her cheeks blushed as she remembered seeing the Bat's cock for the first time, her stomach gave a little flip as she replayed taking him into her mouth and the unexpected excitement it had produced.

Her thoughts were brought back to the here and now when the few remaining strip lights suddenly died. She turned around squinting in the darkness until she remembered the night vision goggles dangling in one hand, she lifted them tutting to herself as she did so. The warehouse came into green fuzzy view, she scanned slowly left to right a creeping sense of being watched was building in her and she took a cautious step forward. She lowered the goggles cursing herself for being so jittery...then she felt it.