Date: Sat, 8 Oct 1994 15:39:20 CST Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Jason R. Tippitt" Subject: Dark of Knight, Part 14 of 13 ************************************************************************ D A R K O F K N I G H T ************************************************************************ A Higlander/Batman Crossover Jason R. Tippitt, 1994 EPILOGUE: ******* Alfred showed up at the safehouse ten minutes after Bruce called for him. Jason had awoken in the sewer and helped him carry MacLeod up the ladder back to the surface. Alfred had bathed MacLeod, but left off on suturing his wounds when they began to heal themselves before his eyes, with little flickers of energy dancing across his skin's surface. Alfred walked into the living room of the small apartment, Jason taking his place by the Scotsman's side. Bruce turned from the fire blazing in the fireplace to look at the tall Englishman. "Something odd happened down there, Alfred." "Indeed, sir?" "Yes. When I was fighting the Joker, I shoved a handful of what I thought were sleeping-gas capsules into his mouth--but somehow I had grabbed several capsules of acid instead." "A most unfortunate circumstance, sir." "The Joker started pleading with me to kill him, put him out of his misery. He ran off into the tunnels and blew himself up, as far as I can tell. Then Jason told me some more about this immortality stuff; he claims that energy wave that hit the Batmobile was this thing called the Quickening, that it was released when the Joker killed that homeless man and found its way to Jason, and now he's inhabited by--but that's not important. He says that the acid would only hurt the Joker, not kill him. I guess that's a good thing, because that would mean that either I had murdered the Joker by grabbing the wrong weapon, or that the capsule chambers had been improperly filled by you." "Neither a very pleasant thought, sire. It's a good thing we don't have to worry about such things--if he is, after all, an immortal." "Very good, Alfred. We just need to make sure this doesn't happen again. So we never have to worry again." "Absolutely, sir." Duncan awoke in a small bed in a sparesly-decorated room. He was undressed. Jason was standing over him. "Bruce, he's awake." Bruce Wayne walked into the room carrying a new set of clothing. "Thought you might appreciate a change of clothing." He looked at him. "The others were quite a mess. Alfred burned them, I believe." Duncan sat up. "Thanks, Bruce." "Um, I think I'm going to get some food." Jason left the room. Bruce sighed. "The last few days have been a lot to absorb. You're really him, aren't you? The man my father and Alfred knew?" Duncan shrugged his shoulders. "Depends on what you want to think, I guess. Are you really Batman?" "I'll keep your secret if you'll keep mine. The only question on my mind is--How?" Duncan looked at the taller man. "Magic, I guess. There's no other way to explain it. Why someone like the Joker lives on while Tessa and your parents die, I have no idea." Bruce shook his head. "That's not a good enough answer." "I'm sorry--" "No!" Bruce barked. "Don't apologize. It's just another of life's little absurdities. I'm just not sure I can deal with all this." He turned and walked toward the door. "Stop. Right. There." Bruce froze, turned to look at the Highlander, who was now dressing. "What is it?" "You're not sure *you* can deal with this?" MacLeod walked over to look Bruce in the eye. "How bloody *arrogant* can you be? That kid was in a grave for five years, and *you're* the one with problems?" As he spoke, he poked Bruce in the chest. "You better keep an eye on the kid, Bruce, treasure him, because the next thing you know some girl's gonna come along and he's gonna fall for her, maybe kill someone for her, and it's all gonna be over between the two of you--unless you let him know you give a damn. And then where you gonna be?" Bruce looked at the Immortal. "I hope you enjoyed your visit to Gotham. Hopefully your next visit will be less eventful." He turned and walked out of the room. When Duncan came out, he was alone. [It's not over between us, Batman. It's never over until we lose our heads...literally or otherwise...] ******* THE END (for now) Hope you enjoyed. Thanks to everyone who's written in with ideas and corrections and comments! --Jason =========================================================================