Chapter 27

Diana rested back on her pillows and tried to steady her thoughts. Just when she thought she had the Batman figured out he would do something to set her reeling. He did seem to love her, she mused, if the expression of true concern was any indication. It made her heart ache in her chest to think how she would react if something happened to her. Batman was tough, but his heart was damaged. Would he be able to recover if something happened to her?

Before she could brood further Shayera swept in, her eyes bright with triumph.

"I knew you were holding out on me," she declared with a grin.

"Excuse me?" Diana managed with some dignity before she started to laugh.

"Oh please, Flash was just telling us how he walked in on you and Batman in an 'intimate moment'. Then Batman found him. The look he gave him almost had me shaking."

"Oh really," Diana said with an amused expression.

"Yes." Shayera pulled a chair next to the bed and sat. "So, is he a good kisser? I always thought he might be … bad boys always are."

Diana could not suppress the satisfied smirk or the sigh and Shayera leaned in.

"That good, huh? Well, hummm," she said and tilted her head. Her expression went from teasing to serious. "You love him, don't you?"

"Oh yes," she said and sighed again. "And he says he loves me, believe it or not."

"You know, I do believe you. You didn't see his face when they brought you up here after the explosion. He never gives much away, you know how he is, but he couldn't sit still. I've never seem him pace that way before."

"That's what that kiss was about just now, I think," Diana said. "He's always been more careful before to make sure we were alone and the doors were locked."

"Before," Shayera said, arching an eyebrow. "Do tell."

Diana laughed and told Shayera everything.

…

"Your progress would be remarkable if I did not already know your Amazon physiology," J'onn said. Diana sat on the exam table, her thumb tapping her thigh with impatience. "I was not sure if you would be feeling well so soon, considering the amount of toxin in your system when Superman and Batman found you."

"You were able to flush it out, and the antidote Batman prepared did the trick." Diana smiled hopefully, "So, am I released for regular duty?"

"Yes, tomorrow."

Diana was not able to hide the defeated sigh.

"Today" he continued, "I want you to limit your activities. Desk work or monitor duty."

"That's fine," she said hopping down. Batman said he had some things to show her, and a good strategy session with him would keep her mind off her physical restrictions. She smiled, pleased with the thought.

"It isn't like you to be happy about limited duty," J'onn said.

"I need to figure out who tired to hurt me, and that means I will likely be stuck behind a computer for the remainder of the day," she said. "I will follow your orders so when I do find out who did this I won't be stuck on the sidelines."

"Interesting logic," he said with mild expression.

"Thank you," Diana said, patting his shoulder before going into the hall to contact Batman.

"Batman, this is Diana, over."

"All clear?" he asked.

"Yes, light duty today, full duty tomorrow. Have any light duty for me?" Her tone was teasing.

"I have plenty to keep you busy. Transport down."

"Got it," she responded and headed to the transporter platform to head down.

…

"Luthor set the bomb!?" she asked, incredulous.

"Yes, the component parts were meant to look like they were Russian and the explosive device was the same as those used by Grodd at the truck yard, but the explosive compounds are the ones used by Luthor before he found 'enlightenment'."

"So, Luthor tried to make it look like Grodd tried to duplicate a Russian sanctioned assassination?" Diana frowned. "Luthor is trying to drive a wedge between the Russian financers and Grodd, and he used me to do it." Her hands clenched into fists and her pulse throbbed in her temple.

"Luthor got tired of waiting, it seems," Batman said. "I imagine he had the bomb planted when you went to see him. He had to know most of our resources would be occupied in and around his hotel giving his goons. It also gave him time to get into your embassy and plant the explosives."

"What about the poison? Luthor had to know it wouldn't kill me," Diana said darkly.

"True," Batman said, "but it did slow you down, making the attack look more effective to the press."

Diana remembered the footage of her bloody body being pulled from the rubble on GNN and knew that Batman was right. From a media perspective she looked beaten and that was an image the world would remember. If they could take down Wonder Woman then the rest of the League looked just as vulnerable.

"That means Clark was right," she said sourly. Standing she walked to one of the solid rock walls of the cave and punched it hard enough to have dust and small bits of rock raining down from above.

"Don't break the cave," Batman said absently as he began typing.

"It was either punch the wall or hunt Luthor down and punch him," she said, anger making her voice sharp.

"Don't worry," Batman said in his careful monotone, "he'll pay."

Diana began to pace. She knew Russia was pushing hard for the 'one government' proposal, and Grodd's weapon was supposed to be their 'ace in the hole'. However, if Russia thought that Grodd was going to have too much power after the vote had been cast they would see Grodd as not only a threat, but expendable. With Grodd out of the way they would have the weapon and no one behind the scenes pulling the strings. Making the Justice League look bad was just the icing on the cake. It made sense to her but she wanted to bounce it off Batman.

"Luthor could be working for the Russians," Diana said. Batman turned in his chair and looked at her. "Think about it, Grodd makes the Russians a weapon that would help them, in essence, take over the world, but, their government is a puppet with Grodd pulling he strings."

"If they can create a reason to get rid of Grodd then they have would total autonomy, and Luthor exacts revenge on Grodd and ensures his future safety. Making you look bad was a bonus considering your UN and League ties," added Batman as he swiveled back to his computer and began typing furiously.

"You're right." Diana paced again, "If Luthor helps the Russians he may not get the perks Grodd would've had, but he wouldn't have to worry about being captured by a Grodd led super-government either," Diana said, watching Batman's fingers race over the keys.

"There," Batman said. "Two days ago Luthor had an off the record visit with a Yuri Botkin. Know him?"

"He works in the Russian Ambassadors office as a press liaison," Diana said.

"Apparently he does more than that," Batman said. "This meeting was on Luthor's personal calendar," Batman added.

"How'd you get into his … never mind," she held up her hands and smiled. "You're the Batman. I shouldn't question it."

He smirked but continued to type.

"We are going to have to move Grodd," Diana said. "The Russians will move fast to get rid of him now that they have a good reason."

"That may not be a problem," Batman said. "Apparently he broke out of prison two hours ago."

…

"So, you're telling us that Luthor was paid by the Russians to try and assassinate Diana using a bomb that would look, at least to the average investigator, that it was created by Grodd so that the Russian's. They would then have an excuse to get rid of Grodd so they can take over the world, using Grodd's weapon as insurance, with out Grodd calling the shots?" asked Superman.

"You two must be channeling the Question," said Flash as he scratched his head in confusion.

"Luthor must have reached out to the Russians and offered to help them get rid of the one person who would stand between them and complete power," said Diana.

"And, in the process Luthor is making sure he will be free and clear once the new government steps into place," said Batman.

"What about Grodd?" asked Shayera. "Did he really escape, or was he abducted by the Russians?"

"He escaped. Word must have gotten to him about the assassination attempt and Grodd knew what that would mean," said Diana.

"He'll want to get back at the people he feels have betrayed him," said Flash. "So now we have a bomb to look for, a power hungry government to thwart, Lex Luthor to bring down, oh, and a crazy genius gorilla plotting revenge."

"Just a day in the life of the Justice League," Shayera said with a grimace. "We know where Luthor is. Let's go get him."

"No," said Batman. "If we do this the right way we can take down Luthor, Grodd, and the Russians down all at once," said Batman.

"And I assume you have a plan?" said John.

"Do you even need to ask?" Batman replied.

…

Diana stood in her League office and realized she had no place to sleep. The embassy would put her up in a hotel if she wanted, but that was too public. Word would get out about where she was staying and the press would rip the place to pieces to get to her.

Her other option was only slightly less repugnant. She could stay in a room in the League's dorms. Rooms were designated for sleeping after long missions, or if a League member was pulling a double and needed a break. Diana could commandeer one of those rooms for herself until the repairs to the embassy were complete. In six months, at best, she thought with a frown.

"What's wrong," said the dark voice behind her.

"Nothing." She sighed. He pinned her with a look and she gave up all pretense of nonchalance. "Fine, I was deciding if I wanted to stay in a hotel or in a League dorm room," she said.

"I take it neither option appeals to you," he said.

"Either option ensures a lack of privacy, but the League dorm would be press and gawker free," Diana said with a grimace.

"You could stay at the Manor, like you did after the Watchtower was destroyed." Batman said, his eyes behind the white slits in his cowl still holding hers.

Diana looked down at her feet. "You're asking me to move into the Manor. Are you sure?"

Batman closed in on her, blocking her against her file cabinets but not touching her. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't want you there," he said. Gently he kissed the corner of mouth. Diana felt her stomach clench as her thighs went lax.

"Are you trying to persuade me?" she asked in a tone that more breathy then taunting. Batman made a noise deep in his chest and ran his hands up her arms to grasp her shoulders.

"Is it working?" he whispered into her ear. She shivered against him and he smirked.

"Maybe," she said and lifted her chin. "You could convince me some more, if you wanted."

His mouth captured hers and Diana stopped actively thinking. Triumph swam in her blood and she wrapped her arms around his neck to gain better access to his mouth and body. One of Batman's arms banded around her waist while his other fisted in her hair, dragging her head back so he could devour the smooth column of her throat.

Her body felt taught as a bowstring yet soft as fresh clay, and she struggled with the urge to rip away their uniforms and have him beneath her on the floor. She knew he would not want that to happen at League Headquarters. He did not mind it so much a few nights earlier in his bedroom, and remembering it had a fresh wave of heat ripping through her.

"We should stop," she managed to say before his lips took hers again. The kiss was hot and hard, and she was doing her best to restrain her violent need within her.

"Come over tonight," he said against her lips, "and I will do everything I can to convince you." He abruptly pulled away and strode from the room. Diana slumped to the floor, a wide satisfied grin on her face.

Author's Note:

Yes, I know ... I have not updated in a few days. Not typical, and I'm sorry. My job drained me this last week and I did not feel up to writing when I got home.

Things are settled down now, and I am back.

The story is nearly finished! Hooray!!

Thanks all for the reviews, encouragement, and comments. They are, as always, appreciated.

TTFN,

GG