PROLOUGE

Dear Journal,

Another night without Dad.

He left a note: Hey Barb, gotta work late again. Frozen pizza in oven. I love you, Dad.

The pizza laid half eaten next to 15 year old Barbara Gordon, completely cold. The cheese on the pizza that had once been warm and gooey was crusting over, looking like yellow rubber. She wished that he had been there to share it with her. Supper is miserable no matter how good the food when you're alone.

I never really see him anymore. His new position as Commissioner leaves him on the job 24/7, with me left in the dust.

They really aren't kidding when they say a policeman is married to his badge.

Barbara looked up at the clock. 11:15. She really should have been in bed, it was a school night, but she had decided to wait until her Dad came home. She wanted to talk to him.

I really miss him. It's like I'm in a room full of people, but I feel so alone.

She brushed a strand of straight red hair out of her eyes.

At school, no one understands me. I have friends, of course, but none of them are close to me. None of them can feel what I feel. High School is so much different than middle school. More classes. More people. Harder homework. I hate it.

The pen scratched at the notebook, but no matter how many words she wrote, none of them could express her loneliness.

The clock read 11:20. It was late, and she was tired. It's about time I turn in; I guess I'll talk to him tomorrow.

Just as she got up, there came a knock at the door. At first, her heart gave a leap, thinking it was her father. Why would he knock?

The knocking started again, startling her, and she quickly walked to the door, looking through the peephole. She spoke through the intercom. "Yes?"

On the other side of the door stood a policeman, of whom she recognized from Gotham PD as Captain John White; the other she didn't recognize and he simply looked straight ahead.

"I'm Captain White, and this is agent McCallister." The man showed her his credentials, up close to his face, and said in a stern voice, "May we come in?"

"Of course." She pulled the chain off, unlocked the door and led them in, inviting them to sit at the table with her.

"What's this about?"

The Captain cleared his throat nervously. "We're sorry to awake you."

"No trouble." She said, smiling softly. "I was still up anyway, waiting for my father."

"I'm afraid we have some bad news."

Barbara's heart stopped cold. "What?"

"It's your father. " He looked down.

Agent McCallister stated flatly, "Your father is missing and is presumed dead."

Barbara felt the tears coming.

"Dead?"

The return of Oracle! -cheers- I bet you're all wondering where I've been for about a year.

I missed my batman fanfictions, and decided to write another one this summer. Sorry I've been on hiatus again with ; I've been busy with my website. The idea of this story happened when I saw The Dark Knight in theatres.

That movie is flat-out amazing.

Plus, like I said, I missed writing Batman fanfictions. (:

I'm hoping this will be my best fic yet. I've really grown out of the lubby-dubby feeling and really got serious with my writing.

Look for the next chapter, coming soon.

Oh yeah, and like all others, this fic has lots of BGXR goodness. ;)

Please also leave me a review on your thoughts.

Thank you all, Oracle