BAE Chapter 24

Barbara feels a flood of warmth and dizziness. Red Cross rolls her onto her back and looks around, reaching out to grab something. She opens Barbara’s hand and presses an object into her palm, then dashes to the nearest wounded hood.

Barbara shakes her head and manages to sit up. Red Cross is providing first aid. Whatever she injected Barbara with is making her heart race, but it is clear that she is doing Barbara a favor.

Barbara staggers to her feet and looks down at the vial in her hand. She looks around. A thousand shell casings gleam on the floor, and several more of these vials. They’re unlabeled. She stows the vial in her belt and goes to the downed hood that Red Cross hasn’t gotten to yet. She puts pressure on his wounded leg, but also lets him get a look at her expression.

“What were you doing here?” she snarls. There isn’t much time before the police arrive.

“It was a deal! Dope, I guess,” the wounded mook groans.

Not helpful. Barbara wants to squeeze him, but there’s no time, and he probably doesn’t know anything. Barbara takes her hands off his leg, and blood gushes. She takes a battlefield tourniquet from her belt and straps it on him. When she looks up, she sees Red Cross watching her.

“Police! Come out with your hands up!” Someone’s got a megaphone out there.

Red Cross goes to the hood, kneeling beside him. Apparently, Barbara’s first aid isn’t up to Red Cross’s standard. Fine. Barbara grapples to the roof. The stimulant that Red Cross used must already be wearing off; the pain is rushing back, and she’s having trouble breathing. Barbara barely gets back to the Car, using autopilot to return to the Cave.

“Ms. Gordon? Ms. Gordon?”

“I’m here, Alfred,” she says once the car is moving.

“You gave me a fright.”

“Elite Pride gave me a fright,” she replies to that, wincing at even the slightest movement.

“Oh dear. Is that who crashed the party at the harbor? Even Master Bruce was wary of them.”

“What do we know about them? Anything that wasn’t in his note?”

“Not really. He suspected that they weren’t local,” Alfred replies.

“Perfect,” Barbara grumbles. “Red Cross showed up. She gave me a shot of adrenaline. Probably saved me.”

“She helped Master Bruce once as well.”

“She did?”

“Yes. A bystander was hurt. She took care of him so Master Bruce didn’t have to. That left Master Bruce free to go after Mr. Dent.”

“So she’s a friend,” Barbara says.

“So it would appear. I take it money was changing hands? That was what Elite Pride was after?” Alfred speculates.

“I can’t be sure. They had something there in a vial. I’m bringing it back for analysis.”

“Very good, Ms. Gordon. You don’t sound well.”

“I’m not. I was shot in the chest. It didn’t get through the armor, but my ribs are bruised.” She hopes that’s all it is.

“Should I call Leslie?”

“Would Bruce?” Barbara asks as the Car roars into the tunnel that will take it to the Cave. She emerges to find Alfred waiting on the rotating pad, a tray balanced in one hand. The Car screeches to a halt and he advances as the cockpit opens. He has a glass of water and a hot towel.

“I’d better have a look at you,” he says, seeing her pale, sweaty face.

Getting out of the Car is difficult and getting out of the suit is ****. Alfred watches impassively as Barbara holds an ice pack against her bare chest and swallows painkillers.

“You can say it,” she tells him. “I was sloppy.”

“I don’t know that Master Bruce would’ve acted differently.”

“What did he do when he ended up like this?”

“Raw stoicism. And steroids,” Alfred replies dryly, holding up a needle. “It’s effective at promoting healing, although there are side effects.”

Barbara sighs, taking the needle. “Is this based on one of Ivy’s serums?”

“Naturally.”

“Then I guess I know what kind of side effects we’re talking about.” Barbara groans. “Is it too late for me to have dignity, Alfred?”

“You have a great deal of it, Ms. Gordon. For now. I’ll run the vial you found through the computer. And I’ll check to see if Gotham’s finest have anything new on Elite Pride.”

Barbara nods.

If she uses the steroid, she will heal in time to be back in action tomorrow night. Without it, she’ll have to take the night off or risk working at half-strength at most.

Use the **** to heal more quickly?

Or heal naturally and keep a clear head?