I knew Batman

Chapter 14 -- The calm before the storm

I spent a few days at the Wayne Manor recovering from my injuries. But after that, I went back to work at the hospital. Bruce tried to convince me about not going back to work until Joker was caught but I just couldn't sit idle all day at the Manor. But I agreed that he or Alfred would take me to work by car.

Even though Bruce was working obsessively to find the Joker and spent his nights tracking down every known associate of him, it was like Joker vanished into thin air. There was no sign of him. He definitely knew how to disappear.

After a few days at the Manor, I told Bruce that I should go back to my apartment but he asked me to stay a bit longer. After a week, I told him again, and he asked me to stay a bit longer. Then days became weeks, and weeks became a whole month and I still lived with him. After a month, he asked me to move into the Manor permanently. After some hesitation, I accepted it.

To tell the truth, I didn't have much hope that this relationship between Bruce and me would last. He spent almost every night on the streets of Gotham and spent the days with a strict training regimen, planning his next action and sometimes overseeing the Wayne Enterprise. I had the Emergency Department to lead, which was still short-staffed after the explosion and a renovation project to supervise which required constant consultation with the Hospital Board. Although we lived together, sometimes we didn't see each other for days. What kind of relationship is that?

But somehow our life got its own rhythm, which we both liked. I took the night shifts at the hospital, so we could spend the mornings in bed together - usually not just sleeping. Sometimes I helped him with his investigation with new ideas, sometimes he gave me advice about how to navigate the political battles of the Hospital Board. Maybe this wouldn't work for others but it worked for us. If Joker's threat hadn't kept us on our toes constantly, I would have said it turned out to be a happy relationship.

And I had to admit, living in the Wayne Manor had its perks. Alfred was taking care of everything in the house. When I first went back to work, and I was just getting my coat in the hallway, Alfred approached me with a food box.

"I prepared this for your lunch, I hope you will like it," he said.

"Alfred, you do not have to bother yourself with this. I just grab something at the cafeteria."

"With all due respect, Miss Judy, it is my job to take care of the members of the Wayne family. And I'm sure as a doctor you know how unhealthy fast food is."

"I'm....." I wanted to argue that technically, I'm not a member of the Wayne family but I saw that he won't take no for an answer. I looked inside the box, it had two amazingly looking sandwiches and even baby carrots in them! It was definitely much healthier I would have eaten in the hospital cafeteria. I gave in. "Thank you, Alfred, this is very nice."

At the hospital, I didn't talk about Bruce with my colleagues. I didn't want to keep our relationship a secret, I just didn't want to be at the centre of gossiping.

One day, we ran into each other with Eve in the changing room. She was an exception, I told her about the Amusement Park - without some details of course.

"So, how it is to be the girlfriend of Bruce Wayne? Fancy restaurants and yacht cruises?" she asked me curiously.

"Actually, he is not really into that stuff. Neither am I." I felt bad and uncomfortable that I could not tell my friend the whole truth. Being secretive before one's friends takes its toll.

"Oh, don't tell me he is a workaholic? He's got the world's money to spend!" She sighed and continued. "But you are an overachiever too, maybe that's why you fit together so well."

I was surprised by this last statement.

"Yeah, we are okay," I said.

"Well, whatever he is doing, it works. You look happier, more confident and you have the glorious glow of a new love around you. You know I love my husband more than anything but I'm a bit jealous." She laughed and leaned closer. "And tell me, is THE Bruce Wayne any good in bed at least?"