Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Outtakes

By BetterInTexas

Outtake 09: The Start Of Something Beautiful

Cathy Perkins

Timeline: Knightmare, Epilogue II

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The day started early for Cathy Perkins as most days did. Except on weekends, she woke at five a.m., three and a half hours before she reported to work at eight thirty a.m. sharp. Though her work hours were nine to five, she preferred to be there earlier to prepare for the day.

Cathy lived in a gated community with neighbors who were highly placed executives, with Wayne Enterprises or other companies based in Gotham. Being executive assistant to Diana Wayne made her quite comfortable, and she loved her three-bedroom house. When Cathy first started at Wayne Enterprises, she had lived in the Executive Suites. As time went by, her early childhood goal of owning a house became reality.

She could have easily afforded a larger one, but this house was already too large for only her. A part of her, somewhere in the back of her mind, hoped maybe one day, she could have children. They could play at the playground across the street from her, play little league baseball and soccer at the nearby fields. This area was perfect for children.

First, she would have to overcome her fear of relationships. She had no desire to be a single mother. Yet the few dates she had gone on over the years had not gone well. Despite the years that had gone by, the memories and effects of domestic violence still haunted her and possibly always would.

A wrong move or word could easily trigger flashbacks, causing her to leave a date abruptly. She had begun going to therapy in college at Diana’s encouragement and attending support groups at Diana’s dogged persistence. Diana had even gone as far as attending a few open meetings with her until she became comfortable.

She also suffered from depression and took medicine, medicine that had changed over the years until the right dosage could be found. She tended to stay away from people, not developing personal relationships, Diana being the only one she truly felt close to. She had a female bodyguard who stayed near her in college, not because she was in danger but because she felt safer with her nearby.

The PTSD was the worst: panic attacks, flashbacks, and disassociation that interfered with her schoolwork at times, making her struggle to complete the most basic tasks.

Cathy fought through it. With therapy, medicine, support groups, Diana’s constant presence in her life as a rock to cling to and the eventual bonds she formed with members in the groups and friendships in college, it became easier for her to function in her everyday life.

She had a loyal dog that she had raised from a puppy, a pit bull named Suzy, who was loving but also protective of her. Suzy stayed in the house and at the foot of her bed warming her feet. Cathy felt safer with her near.

One thing she had never done was go on more than one date with the same man. She shunned intimacy, turned away men she truly liked and kept to herself. But tonight, Friday night, at eight p.m., Aaron Cash was picking her up and taking her to dinner. He didn’t have a huge date planned. A simple dinner at a hamburger place he thought she would like.

When they had vacationed with the Waynes on their private island, the two had talked about their favorite, little-known eateries in Gotham, places only longtime residents knew of, and she had never heard of his favorite hamburger place. He asked her to allow him to take her when they returned home and, in an unusual moment of spontaneity, she agreed. Perhaps she had been swept up in the atmosphere, the tropical island, his chiseled physique, and his kind and fun nature. The man could make whoever was around smile. Even Tatsu smiled at a few of his jokes, and she rarely smiled except around Violet where she was like a different person.

Despite the number of beautiful, single women that were vacationing with them, like Samantha Arias and Barbara Gordon, he only flirted with her.

As a result of her intrigue, she was facing another possible disaster. She wanted to talk about her date to someone but also wanted to keep it to herself in case she turned into a walking, talking disaster. Diana had too much going on for Cathy to share with her and Terrance would want to know everything tomorrow. He wouldn’t even bother to call, instead, showing up on her doorstep in the morning. She had held off the date because of Parlow’s murder spree and Lex Luthor almost ending the world but Aaron had called again to remind her now that things had settled.

She forced herself to focus. She would pretend it was far away, not a half day away.

She fed Suzy in the kitchen then dressed in her workout clothes to begin a religious workout routine. One of the bedrooms had been turned into a home gym. She got onto her fancy Wayne Enterprises treadmill that showed videos of famous running trails all over the world on an attached giant screen. Once she had made five miles up the Swiss Alps, breathing heavily due to the machine raising the incline to match the terrain she was seeing, she stopped and began a thirty-minute ride on a stationary bike with similar capabilities along the French countryside and coast.

A routine of sit ups, pushups and pull ups, followed by stretching, prepared her for the day.

Shower and hair came next then she walked into her kitchen, opened the door to let Suzy into the backyard for the day and made a cup of tea. Alfred had shown up one Saturday morning with only a phone call notice and insisted tea would help her relax more than coffee would. He worked with her all day until she could make a passable cup of tea. It had been a fun day and while she still liked her coffee, she began drinking tea every morning before work.

After a breakfast of fruit, she dressed for the day in a smart grey and black pinstriped top and skirt, watched the news and then drove into work. Her commute was thirty minutes but the freedom, security and quiet her small community provided was well worth the trip.

The suit she wore was one of those Terrance called her ‘head mistress’ look and didn’t approve of. She didn’t care. It made her feel powerful. Fridays were usually Diana’s black dress days, her boss’s version of casual Fridays, and she liked to somewhat match.

She arrived in the parking garage, stopping by the elevator. An attendant took her car to her parking spot, and she walked into the Wayne sisters’ private elevator.

Cathy was pleased to see Diana wasn’t in the office, meaning she had family breakfast rather than rushing into work at six a.m. as she often did. Diana had been stressed lately, meaning she was clingier towards Kara, constantly checking her location and leaving the top floor throughout the day to watch her wherever she was in the building.

It hadn’t always been as bad, but it seemed to be worse lately. Ever since Kara had been taken to the manor by helicopter after she had broken out in a fever one day, Diana had changed.

Cathy never asked what happened but assumed everything was fine when Kara came back to work a week later, perfectly healthy. But despite Kara’s obviously improved health lately, Diana was more anxious when she was away, especially from the Tower. There were small tells that only someone who had known Diana for years, someone who spent considerable time with her, would know.

Vanessa, Sam, Terrance and Sam’s bodyguard Sasha, walked in at eight-fifty, a late day for Sam who usually was in the office before seven a.m. The top floor was once so quiet, only Kara, Diana and Terry to keep her company. She enjoyed the new faces.

“Good morning.” Cathy greeted them.

Sam smiled brightly. “A late morning. Ruby has a big robotics competition and needed my help getting her latest robotics project to school. I accompanied her to school and helped her carry a sixty-pound robotic crane and drill into the gym.”

“The drivers wouldn’t help you?” Cathy asked, surprised.

Sam looked a bit sheepish. “They offered… but I wanted to do it myself. It’s something I’ve always done and don’t want to stop now. High school is going to go by so fast and I promised myself that I wouldn’t miss the small things, like helping my daughter lug oversized science projects into school.”

“That is so sweet.” Cathy said, an approving smile on her face.

“It’s ridiculous.” Terry disagreed. “She is rich now. She should have gotten the guards to do it with their shirts off. I’m not rich and I would have paid guards to do it with their shirts off.”

Sasha slapped Terry in the back of his head and had a seat at her small desk outside Sam’s office. Vanessa had a seat at her larger desk, filled with files on it, across from Sasha.

Sasha had taken an offered desk as nothing more than a place to sit by the door while Sam was in her office.

Dig had a larger desk by Kara’s door, but he actually had paperwork on his. Unlike Sasha, Dig was responsible for all Wayne Security, including teams overseas. He took advantage of the mornings to check in with units all over the world, read training reports, readiness tests and personnel placement and scheduling, contacting his division leaders.

Tatsu still refused a desk, standing just outside Diana’s door like a silent sentinel.

“Vanessa, are you okay?” Cathy asked, noticing the girl looked a bit sick.

“Sam has a meeting with the North American banking managers and wants interest rate graphs, and loan repayment reports. I know you showed me how to pull the information last month, but I can’t remember.”

Cathy smiled but internally sighed. Vanessa was new and starting work as a secretary with no experience. Working on the top floor of Wayne Enterprises for the third most powerful woman in the world, who directly supervised many business units all over the world, was like throwing a person who couldn’t swim into a shark tank with a weight chained to her ankles and a bleeding cut.

Terry had been the same when he started and Cathy taught him. Now he did most, if not all of Kara’s paperwork, including setting budgets for her labs and approving purchase orders in addition to organizing construction of new labs and the needs of startup projects.

“First of all, what have I always told you?”

“Relax.” Vanessa said and took a deep breath.

“As soon as Diana is settled for the day, I will help you prepare it. What time is the meeting?”

“I think two o‘clock.”

“Never ‘think’ anything. One thing you must know at all times is Sam’s schedule. You must memorize it, know it by heart. It is your bible because your job is to make her job easier. Eventually, you will be setting her schedule. Now what time is the meeting?”

“Two o‘clock.” Vanessa said with conviction.

The elevator opened, and Diana, Kara, Tatsu and Dig entered the floor, greeting everyone. Kara grabbed Terrance and dragged him into her office, the door closing behind them. Kara either had good news or needed dating advice, or perhaps disagreed with a contestant being voted off some reality show she and Terry were watching.

Cathy followed Diana into her office and had a seat in front of Diana’s desk with her electronic pad in her hand.

“Good morning, Cathy. What is wrong?” Diana asked as she settled in her chair.

Cathy raised an eyebrow. “Nothing this morning. No major disasters, the world managed not to screw itself up between five p.m. yesterday and now. You have no meetings this morning, you wanted to go over last year’s oil production fluctuations compared to this year’s. I prepared and emailed a set of graphs yesterday afternoon, that includes the recent Alaskan holdings, even though they were a month after…”

Diana raised a hand. “You know what I mean. Something is bothering you. You are anxious, your left eyebrow is twitching, and you said good morning without your usual gusto. You were also popping your knuckles when I walked in. Has someone made you uncomfortable, threatened you? You can always tell me anything.”

Cathy let out a breath, frustrated. Since she had met Diana, the woman knew all her tells. She could hide nothing from her it seemed.

“I have… a date tonight.” She admitted.

Diana smiled brightly, then it dimmed. “You are understandably nervous. There is nothing wrong with that. It is expected.”

Cathy nodded. “I know, I just don’t want to screw it up. I really like this guy.”

Diana tilted her head, obviously puzzled. “Why do you think you would screw it up? It is his job to impress you. You are beautiful, intelligent, accomplished. You are an amazing woman. You have nothing to prove.”

Cathy hesitated, not wanting to speak her fear, but given Diana’s uncanny ability to read her like a book, knew she wouldn’t get away with anything less than the truth.

“What if I have a panic attack?” She asked quietly.

Diana was quiet for a moment, looking thoughtful and not dismissing Cathy’s concerns.

“You are still taking your medication.” She said, not a question. “How long has it been since your last attack?”

“After my last date, a year ago.” Cathy admitted.

Diana nodded, leaning forward. “They are frightening. I recently had one myself. I understand why you fear them.”

Cathy was almost speechless. “You… had a panic attack?”

Diana nodded, a small smile gracing her lips, her eyes full of compassion. “I tell you because I know you keep my secrets. I also want you to hear me when I tell you there is no shame in having one. At first, I was ashamed, thought it made me weak, but Steve made me see that there was no reason I should consider myself above things like panic attacks. We are human after all.

“If it would make you feel better, I can be waiting at your home afterward. Then if you feel the need to break down, I can catch you.”

Cathy almost cried, her eyes definitely tearing up, but she kept it together. “I think I can handle it. I have to try.”

“Would you at least text me after you arrive home?” Diana asked.

Cathy nodded.

Diana smiled, satisfied with that. “I would be more comfortable if you told me who this lucky man is so I can run a background check on him. It is your business of course, but for my peace of mind would you tell me?”

Cathy shrugged, not seeing the big deal, and knowing Diana would find out eventually anyway. “You already know him. Aaron Cash.”

Diana smiled brightly. “Excellent. I’ve looked him up before and John Blake has spoken of him often. I also talked to him several times at the island. He is a kind man, and you know I am good at reading most people.”

Cathy knew Diana was good at reading almost everyone in an eerily accurate manner. It was one reason why she still blamed herself for not knowing Emily Parlow was a psycho. It didn’t matter that none of them could have known.

“I assume you are having lunch with Steve today… in the office?” Cathy asked, wanting to change the topic.

Diana reddened a bit. “That is becoming a bit obvious. I am planning on having lunch with Hi… Dr. Prince. We need to discuss changes in the art on the eighteenth floor.”

“She is changing it… again?” Cathy asked, wondering why Diana gave the woman such free reign but deciding it wasn’t her place to ask.

“Not if I can talk her out of it. She is a delightful woman and I am becoming quite fond of her. I really enjoy her company.” Diana replied, a happy tone in her voice. “So… this afternoon?”

“A virtual tour of the recently acquired shipping facilities to inspect the progress and a call with the contractors involved. Real Estate sales and energy acquisition are arguing over land in Texas and its purpose. I thought you would sneak in unannounced and put an end to the squabbling. This is the fourth argument they have had this month that required cross divisional meetings.”

“Done.” Diana stated. “How is Vanessa doing? She looked frightened a moment ago.”

“She is going to be better. I’m working with her this morning.”

Diana smiled. “Thank you for that, Cathy. Her mother is a dear friend, but I wonder if I should have suggested a job on a lower floor. Sam loved her so she must see potential, but I do not want her to be overcome with anxiety.”

“I’ll take care of her.” Cathy promised. “I should start now unless you need anything else?”

Diana shook her head. “I am fine. Please hold all calls unless they are priority.”

“I’ll handle it.” Cathy promised and left the office. Rather than sitting at her desk, she pulled up a chair next to Vanessa and began working with her in between calls.

By the time she had finished with the girl, it was nearly eleven and she was able to focus only on calls.

“Diana Wayne’s office.”

“This is Ron Bartlett, photographer for…”

“Diana Wayne does not do photoshoots. She is a CEO, not a model.”

“It’s for an article about CEOs under thirty!”

“Everyone in the world already knows who she and that she is a CEO under thirty. Actually, CEO is a bit tame for her. She is an owner and CEO. She doesn’t answer to, nor is she appointed by a board of trustees. I doubt the others on your list can say the same. She doesn’t need your article for the public to take note and she is not going to attend a photo shoot to help your publication sell more issues. Good day.”

She ended the call and began planning Diana’s schedule for the next week. It would change throughout the week, but Cathy could usually predict Diana’s wishes. Despite her hectic life, Diana was somewhat a creature of habit.

The wedding was coming up quickly and she would be spending quite a few sessions with Silver and Kara next week which would throw a wrinkle into her carefully crafted schedule but it was completely worth it.

Another call came in. She saw the ID and groaned. This man would not give up. Diana had already told him she was not interested and argued with Alfred over him giving the man her office number.

Sighing, Cathy connected the call. “Wayne Enterprises, Diana Wayne’s office.”

“This is Basil Bennett, head of public relations for Buckingham Palace and Her Majesty, the Queen. May I speak to Diana Wayne, on the Queen’s behalf?”

Cathy wished she could pass this call onto Diana but her boss had made her instructions clear. “I am sorry, but Diana is in very important meetings all day and asked me to hold all calls. I am afraid it is impossible to speak with her today, however I can inform you her stance has not changed. She is simply too busy at this time to visit the Queen.”

“The Queen wished me to convey that she insisted on it.” He told her coldly.

Cathy held back a laugh. “I am afraid that has no bearing on Diana’s schedule or wishes. She simply does not have time to visit England.”

“She visited Paris.” The man retorted.

“Yes, she did.” Cathy agreed. “Her sister wished to see the Eiffel Tower. I have no doubt she will one day wish to visit England, but it will be at a time of her choosing. Diana holds the Queen in the upmost respect but…”

“Then why isn’t she obeying the Queen’s request?” The man asked.

“Because of a little something called the American Revolution.” Cathy reminded him sharply. “Look Bennet, I understand you are doing your job, but I am doing mine. I have told her of the Queen’s request before and she expressed gratitude but is unable to visit at this time. When Miss Wayne tells me she wishes to visit England, I will mention again that the Queen wishes to meet her. Right now, she is busy keeping the economy of the free world afloat in these difficult times after a frightening global event. Perhaps you remember it? Red skies ring any bells?”

The man sighed. “The Queen will take this as a personal affront.”

“If it is that important that the Queen meet her right away, we can have Her Majesty flown to Wayne Manor for a weekend.” Cathy counteroffered.

“You expect the Queen to visit her!?”

“Her?!” Cathy turned red, immediately angered, forgetting all protocol. “Remember, you are calling her office, begging her to visit your palace. She would be happy to host your queen in her home but if that isn’t acceptable, Miss Wayne will visit when she has time and only if she wishes. Do we understand each other or do I need to break it down into smaller words for you?”

Bennett hung up the phone.

Cathy buzzed Diana. “Bennett says the Queen insists you visit her as soon as possible.”

“She insists?” Diana asked.

“Yes, quite fervently.” Cathy replied.

“Did you remind him about the American Revolution?” Diana asked, obviously humored.

“I did. A bit of a touchy subject. He is probably adding a little something extra to his tea. I may have breached acceptable etiquette in my response to him after he disrespected you. I had offered to let her visit the manor for a weekend but apparently, that is beneath her.”

“As it is beneath me to fly to England simply because a queen with no power beckons me like a servant. Thank you for letting me know. If he keeps bothering you, I will handle it.”

Cathy chuckled and ended the call.

It was an hour to the dot when her phone showed a familiar number. She sighed and answered.

“Hello, Alfred!” Cathy greeted him cheerfully.

“Good day, Miss Perkins. Diana is not answering her cell.”

“I believe she is with Kara in a lab. Some of those labs have such poor reception.” Cathy lied.

“I spoke to Kara, who is in her office, and she believed Diana was in her office.” Alfred pointed out.

Cathy cringed. “Oh, really? I’ve been so busy with work; I haven’t had chance to look.”

“Could you have a look now? Your desk is roughly ten feet from her door.”

“I believe she is on a call.” Cathy tried.

Alfred had no response, While his silence was not as heavy as Diana’s, it was effective, even over the phone.

“Miss Perkins… Cathy, I do appreciate your loyalty and understand you are only doing what is asked. No doubt Diana does not wish to speak to anyone while she is doing whatever it is she does in her office.

“However, I believe she will talk to me. Please be so kind as to ask her to answer her phone.”

Cathy sighed. “Please hold.”

Rather than calling Diana, she knocked on her door and stepped inside when she answered.

“Alfred is on the line. He sounds very… Alfred. Extra Alfred today, in fact.”

Diana smirked. “Yes, he has called me ten times in the last hour and sent four texts ordering me to call him. Bruce is at his desk learning about budgets and tax laws with Miss Hart, Steve is doing whatever he does during the day. Kara is miraculously in her office. Everyone I love, including you, is in the building today. That means he wants something not related to the family. I’m pretty sure I know what he wants to talk about. I’ll handle it.”

Cathy walked out, closing the door, doubting it would make a difference.

Terrane perked up as did all the present staff, excited by this turn of events.

“Alfred is on the phone?” he asked.

Cathy nodded. “I suspect Bennett called Alfred when I refused to let him talk to Diana.”

“I don’t have time to take a trip to London, Alfred! You go if it’s so important to you !” They heard Diana shout from behind the closed door of her office.

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and listened closely.

“You might want to remember what army it was that saved you when your British mates left you behind. You believe this is the time to take a trip to London? Really? Red skies, blasts of energy, men made of mud, scientist disappearing out of their cars and in some cases their clothes. Any of this ringing any bells?”

“I wonder what it was like in the manor when Diana was a teenager.” Terry asked.

“Of course, I would go see the Pope if he asked. I can’t turn down the Pope! I don’t think anyone is allowed to turn down the Pope! It’s bad luck and would be bad publicity to turn down the Pope after the world nearly ended. Taking a vacation to see a powerless queen would seem frivolous at this time. Reassuring the Pope that the book of Revelation isn’t coming true is expected! Comparing the Pope to the Queen is ridiculous!”

There was silence from the office for a while, while everyone in the front office held back laughs at Diana and Alfred’s argument. The two had many over the years and, while Diana never lost her cool or yelled at anyone, that never applied to Alfred. Even Tatsu was slightly smiling. Dig took a photo of her and she stopped smiling.

“Bennett can take his personal affronts and stick them up his ass… No, I will not call to explain! If you are so passionate about it, put your red coat on and go visit the Queen yourself! Why do you have to be so British all the time?!”

The entire front office began laughing, even Tatsu. Kara walked out of her office and smiled, suspecting what was going on. Only one person could bring out that level of irritation in Diana and that someone had just called, wanting to know her sister’s whereabouts.

“Alfred?” Kara asked.

Cathy nodded.

“Great. Dinner tonight will be awkward.” Kara said, not seeming to be bothered. “Dig, I just had the best idea for an assault rifle. Want to accompany me to the ballistics lab?”

Dig stood up and straightened his tie. “I do love my job.”

Cathy and Terry walked to lunch at a nearby Italian restaurant, and she finally broke down and told Terry about her date despite her promise to herself not to.

“So… soon we might have two women on the top floor of Wayne Tower banging Gotham City’s finest. Partners at that.” Terry responded, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Cathy snorted. “Kara isn’t the kind of girl who rushes into things. I doubt they are doing anything of the sort. I know they have been getting closer….”

Terry waved her off. “They have been dancing around each other, with each other and back around each other for weeks. Apparently, they had their first date and it ended in the Wayne Tower Amory and Ballistics lab… all night long.”

Cathy’s eyes widened. “No!”

“Yep.”

“Where was Dig?”

‘Waiting on the floor below. Kara told me this morning.” Terry said quietly. “I got all the details, then we conferenced Babs. Kara is still on that ‘just got laid for the first time in four years’ high.”

“On one of those tables the workers put guns together?”

“Nope, it started against one of those tables but then wound up on the floor.”

Cathy shook her head and wondered if she would be able to look at Kara the rest of the day without blushing.

The day went by surprisingly fast. She was out the door at five and at home by five-thirty. This left her with something she didn’t want.. time to think. Time to question if she was ready for this.

It also gave her time to remind herself that she was brave. She was strong. She wasn’t the teenage victim anymore. Not every guy was like… him .

Aaron Cash rang her doorbell at the exact minute he told her he would be there.

She took a deep breath, planted a smile on her face and opened the door.

She hadn’t seen him since the island, only talked to him and texted him. She had forgotten how handsome he was. He was also tall, and muscular.

“Hi.” She said quietly, realizing she may have been staring a bit and hadn’t greeted him.

“Hi.” He replied, smiling. “I hope you are hungry. I got the best seat in the house reserved at Benny’s and the best chef is going to personally prepare your meal.”

“The best, huh?”

Cash nodded. “You ready to roll?”

Before Cathy could answer, she remembered that she hadn’t put Suzy outside. The dog walked to the front and sniffed the air.

“Suzy, be a good girl. Don’t make a move towards me.” She whispered to Cash. “I should have put her outside.”

Cash knelt down and called to Suzy who trotted over to him and began licking his face as he petted her.

Cathy stared at him in shock. “Suzy usually hates everyone but me.”

Cash chuckled. “She is a good judge of character. We taking her with us?”

Cathy shook her head, told Suzy to follow her and placed her in the back.

Aaron drove the two of them in his car, a Camaro convertible that had seen better days. It was an early two thousand model, but the engine sounded good and the feel of the wind blowing through her hair was exhilarating.

He took her to a hole-in-the-wall burger joint Cathy didn’t know existed but had obviously been here for decades.

Cash waved hello to the owner and the man greeted him, ushering them both into the kitchen.

A table with a single rose in a vase had been set up for them with two seats.

“You ready for the best burger you ever had?” he asked.

“I can’t wait.” She told him, enjoying the exuberance on his face.

“Good. This is my Uncle Lou’s place. He taught me how to cook burgers here. Tell me how you want it and I’ll make it perfect for you.”

“You are going to cook?”

Cash nodded. “I spent many summer hours and a lot of weekends working this grill growing up. I must have forgotten to tell you that I was the one who made the best burger in Gotham City. Sit back and watch the grill master at work.”

Cathy admitted the cheeseburger was amazing. The two began talking about themselves, Cathy talking about her life as it was now but avoiding talking about the past. Cash told her about his three little sisters and his mother. When she asked about his father he shook his head.

“I didn’t mean to pry.”

Cash grinned. “You aren’t. We are finding out about each other and that’s what this date is all about. My dad was a no-good, violent drunk. I got no idea if he is alive or dead. He used to beat my mother something fierce. He put her in the hospital a few times, slapped me and my sisters around. He kept at it until one day, I realized I was bigger than him. He took a shot at my mom and I put him down. I told him to leave. He was lying on that floor, looking up at me and I saw it in his eyes. He knew his time was over. He took off with only the clothes on his back and never returned.”

Cathy winced, wishing she hadn’t asked. “I’m sorry to hear that happened to you and your family.”

Cash nodded. “We had each other. We all worked, had enough to get by and then some. He was never employed for long so it wasn’t like him leaving was a hardship for us. I only wish I could have stopped him sooner. My Momma did everything she could to protect me and my sisters. She took the brunt of his violence. He left ten years ago and she still has problems today with it.”

“She does?”

Cash nodded. “I guess you could say she has PTSD. She gets nervous when someone she doesn’t know is too close to her, in a shopping mall or on the sidewalk. She has this big dog that goes everywhere with her. She can flinch at the slightest touch. I can’t sneak up behind her and hug her. My sisters can be that way as well. When we are all together, we have to keep it real quiet. My momma walked through hell.”

Cathy was quiet for a moment, taking that in. “When I first came to Gotham… I…”

“Don’t.” Cash told her. “Don’t tell me anything you aren’t comfortable with. We got time. I don’t want this to be a one-shot deal. I’m not going to try to talk my way into your house tonight or even try to kiss you good night. I just want us to be comfortable around each other. I like you, Cathy, and I think you like me. That means we gotta do this right.”

Cathy felt a warmth inside, and a weight lift from her chest at his words. “How did you know?”

Cash shrugged. “Just a feeling. It’s more the way you hold yourself. You seem relaxed but you are always ready to run if you need to. You lean to the side of a car door, you step back immediately when you answer the door, maybe five feet back. I’ve seen a lot of things in my life, Cathy. I’ve seen a lot of people hurt and I’ve seen a lot of survivors. I am one myself. Knowing what I know about you, the work you do and the friends you keep, you must be one hell of a survivor.”

“Did you know when we first met? After you thoroughly examined my bikini, I mean.”

Cash raised an eyebrow. “As a fan of the fashion industry, that bikini was very well made, had a unique design and I only took a scholarly interest in it.”

“That’s too bad. That wasn’t why I was wearing it. I suppose, as a fan of human anatomy, I was interested in your torso in a purely academic manner.”

“Aren’t we a bunch of geniuses?” He told her with a smirk. “Yeah, I suspected but it wasn’t my business. Doesn’t matter one way or another to me.”

“I come with a lot of baggage.” Cathy said, pushing a little to see how he’d respond.

“I got strong arms. Now, we said a burger for tonight but let me talk you into one beer at O’Malley’s. Just one.”

Cathy smiled and stood up, offering her hand. “Make it three and a few games of pool and you have yourself a deal.”

“Cathy, I think this is going to be the start of something beautiful.”

She followed him outside, feeling a lightness she hadn’t expected, believing he may be right.