No Heroes

Face to Face

Tabitha

Tabitha was pacing back and forth, waiting for Alfred to find Selina and Bruce.

After they walked out, Tabitha managed to let go of Barbara's grasp for enough time to get one hit on Jim. He would be sore for awhile. It hadn't made her feel better though.

What was she thinking? Tabitha's head was pounding. Selina had never done anything like that before. Tabitha was worried and confused, trying to sort through all of the thoughts in her head, which were flying a mile a minute, with little success.

She missed Butch. He would've understood. He would've helped her. She would've done anything for him, and he for her. Her head stilled. He would've died for me. Instead, he died because of me. She realized, that's what she was thinking. Selina was willing to die for Bruce, and if she wasn't, than he would be dying because of her. Damn.

She heard running, and found Alfred, his eyes wild.

"Did you find them?" Tabitha asked. He nodded.

"They- uh- need... a minute," he stuttered.

She looked at the clock on the wall, "We don't have that much time left, I'll go get them."

As if on cue, they came down the stairs. Selina looked tired, too tired to be a teenager.

They made their way to Jeremiah's holding cell, where Lucius had set up a cot. It would look comforting if it wasn't for the wires that lay beside the cot and led to the other side of the room, connecting to someone. Jeremiah was cuffed from head to toe, and had a disgusting smile on his face.

"Grasping for straws, are we?"

"Grasping for sanity, aren't you?" Tabitha sneered, "Oh wait, you already lost that battle."

"Selina," Lucius said sympathetically, "We should probably begin.

With a nod, she left Bruce's side and made her way to sit on the bed. She asked Lucius questions about how it would work, and Tabitha was only slightly dumbfounded at Selina's unending curiosity. Tabitha thought about when she had trained her, about how she was surprised to find a girl who wanted to know everything about what she was learning. Now, she was being dragged into hell, but still wanted to know how the reigns worked.

After Lucius finished, he looked at all of them, as if he knew what they would say, "It would probably be best if we all left. We don't know what the stipulations are, and we shouldn't risk another member."

All three of them rose their voices to argue, but Lucius silenced them with a hand, "I was only telling you what I am obligated to tell you as the 'doctor' in this situation. There's no way in hell that I'm putting myself in between the three of you and her. I would, however, recommend that only one of you stays with her. By the way, I wouldn't touch her when, you know..."

He turned back to Selina, gave her hand a squeeze, "Godspeed, Selina Kyle. You're strong. You can, you will, get through this," and promptly walked out.

"I'll stay with-," Bruce began.

"Oh, hell no. I'm staying with her, you guys can get the hell out," Tabitha demanded. She strode over to Selina's side, and sat on the chair that had been previously occupied by Lucius.

"Please, we want to be here, with her," Alfred pleaded.

"She doesn't like when people talk about her as if she wasn't here," Selina scoffed. Her voice softened when she looked at Bruce and Alfred, "You guys go. I'll be okay."