The Flightless

The Return of Lee Thompkins

Despite being overrun at the clinic, I find myself on the way to City Hall with Harvey and Jim. I meet up with Loren at the top of the stairs while the boys attempt to diffuse the situation.

"What's going on?" She asks.

"Penguin's holding a trial for Victor Zsasz. Jim says the evidence clears his name. Oswald's not convinced."

"Ah." Loren nods along. "What do you think?"

"My brother is a good detective and Oswald is too hot-tempered and prideful to take it back. He's got an audience now. The only option is to let it play out. I hope my brother finds the person who's guilty," I choke out. Hot tears rise to my eyes and quickly drip down my cheeks. "I hope they catch the bastard."

"Sera?"

"Who would do that?" I weep. "Who would blow up an entire apartment complex full of innocent women and children?"

Loren rests her hand on my shoulder. "I don't— I don't know whether this is the pregnancy hormones or— I mean, it is really tragic but—" she stammers. "Nevermind. Come here, crybaby."

I cry on her shoulder as the trial takes place. Jim leaps into action seconds before Victor can be killed. Penguin, of course, retaliates and tries to murder my brother. It's one big circle they chase each other around. I wonder if my husband will ever grow tired of being the cat to my brother's mouse.

After that day, the word goes silent when it comes to the man responsible for blowing up Haven. Gotham returns to its regular programming with the arrival of a military force. Apparently, the head guy is Jim's old war buddy.

Funny. He never told me about this Eduardo guy.

I near the end of my second trimester at the medical bays with Loren. Together, we provide some order amongst the sick and injured. Penguin boots up the old factory to continue ammunition production. He promises a portion to the GCPD as long as they keep him informed about the Haven case.

Dinah is an early riser, so I am too. She kicks and wriggles around as early as 5 in the morning. My child wakes me up very shortly after she does. I trudge down the stairs to brew my first cup of ginger tea of the day.

Oswald is already sitting at the dining room table when I arrive. He's dressed as formally as ever with a cup of coffee in between his palms. It's hard to work out our relational issues in the middle of this city-wide war. We try to spend time together. However, it's always cut short and is never long enough to go anywhere. He's decided to get an earlier start in order to spend time with me.

I sit across from him. "Goodmorning."

"Goodmorning, Sera. How are you feeling?"

"Honestly?" I ask.

"Yes, please. I feel like I haven't seen you since Haven exploded."

"Honestly, I'm a mess. I have constant heartburn and backaches. My feet are so swollen I can't wear shoes anymore." I reveal my bare feet for emphasis. "And I'm so big, I can't even see them!"

My husband lifts his brows in surprise. He sips on his coffee before answering. "Wow. That sounds miserable. I would pay to get you a massage, but I don't know of a therapist that still operates."

"I appreciate the thought," I say, feeling a smile appear on my face for the first time in a long time, "but the idea of someone touching me is enough to make me violent."

"We should get out of Gotham," he blurts out suddenly.

My grin fades as quickly as it came to be. "I'm sorry, what?"