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Spotting Kate waiting for her two rooftops away, a smile broke out on Harper’s face as she grappled her way to the next rooftop. She hadn’t been able to spend any time with her girlfriend for the past week due to work and knowing they had a week together to just be with one another, it was the highlight she had been waiting for.She wanted to hold her and kiss her, breathe her in and sleep wrapped in her arms. She could see the smile on Kate’s face too as she appreciated how fine she looked as Batwoman.There was one rooftop separating them and as she grappled across to it, she felt her line go slack. The rooftop was approaching too fast and as she crashed into it, her left knee took the brunt of the impact. She could feel her knee guard had fractured into multiple pieces. Feeling tears spring to her eyes as her knee throbbed intensely, she tried to look around to see what happened, but her vision was swimming.A loud, sharp laugh cut through the night, disappearing quickly as footsteps landed close to her. She knew that laugh – it haunted her in her nightmares. She couldn’t deal with her again.Feeling a gentle hand against her forehead, she could vaguely make out the red of Kate’s suit.“What hurts the most, sweetheart?” Kate asked, smoothing her hair back and sliding her mask off so the tears fell freely. “Is it your knee?” Soft fingers wiped at her eyes, gently caressing her cheek.Sucking in a deep, shaky breath, she nodded. She was crying too much to get a word out. She had never felt pain this bad before. Kate was being soft… too soft, so she knew it wasn’t good.“I’m going to feel around it. It’s going to hurt but if it hurts worse than it currently does, let me know. I’m here baby, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”Feeling Kate’s fingers around her knee, Harper tried to even out her breathing and stop the tears from falling.“It’s gonna be okay, baby. I promise,” Kate murmured as she gently tried to straighten Harper’s leg.Pressing her lips tightly shut, she couldn’t help the sound that escaped them as Kate put the slightest amount of pressure on her kneecap.“Okay, okay. We won’t straighten it any more than that,” Kate soothed, giving her a minute.Looking at how the fabric of Harper’s pants ripped and the shattered knee and shin guard still attached to her leg, she slowly began to undo the guard, tossing it aside when it was free. She could see blood dripping down Harper’s leg she couldn’t see before.“I’m going to cut where the material is already ripped to get a better look,” she said, giving Harper’s elbow a quick squeeze before she pulled out a knife. Kate wanted to comfort her girlfriend more than anything but she also needed to see how badly she had been injured.Cutting out the material that covered her knee, Kate could already see the swelling and bruising and it didn’t look good. Gently feeling along Harper’s tendons, when there was no response to the pressure, she was pretty certain they were still intact. Looking a bit higher, she could see where the blood was coming from. Part of the guard had splintered off and wedged itself a little above her knee.“There’s a sliver of guard in your leg. I’m going to pull it out and it may hurt. Just let me know if it hurts too much. You’re being so brave, my love.”Hearing Harper’s breathing increase, Kate quickly shuffled up to look at her. Wiping away more tears, she tried to calm her.“It’s going to be okay, baby. Shhh, my love. Is there anything I can do to help?”Harper couldn’t say anything over her crying, so Kate felt around in her belt until she pulled out some tissues. Helping Harper to sit slightly, she wiped away the tears and snot before handing her another tissue to blow her nose. Pulling out a small bottle of water from her utility belt, she held it to her lips and got her to take a few sips.Holding Harper close against her chest as she sat up, Kate ran her fingers through Harper’s hair, tracing small patterns against her skull.“Does anywhere else hurt?” Kate asked, pressing a kiss to her temple then forehead.Shaking her head, Harper sucked in a deep breath and tried to will the pain away. Leaning into Kate, she closed her eyes but the tears wouldn’t stop. Something was throbbing deep within her knee and even the slightest of movement felt like fire was spreading through it.“The…the pain is… bad,” Harper tried to say as Kate tried to soothe her.“How bad is bad?” Kate asked. “I felt around your tendons and it’s none of those, thankfully.”“Fire… pai…pain bad.”“I think it’s a blunt force injury. It did take all your weight in one go after falling through the sky. If I ever see Punchline again, I’m going to make sure she won’t be a problem for us any longer.” Trying not to let her anger cloud her judgement, Kate pressed another kiss to Harper’s temple.Looking down at her knee, Harper gingerly reached out and touched it. It was hard, the swelling making her knee look like a softball. Touching the blood running down her leg, she looked up at Kate, panicked.“It’s just the sliver of guard, just here,” Kate replied, showing Harper where it was lodged in her leg. “I can pull it out but it might hurt a little.”“Please,” Harper whispered, wiping more tears away.Quickly pulling the piece of guard out of Harper’s skin, Kate heard her hiss in pain. Pressing some gauze over the wound, she waited until the bleeding stopped and wiped it over with a betadine wipe and put a Band-Aid over it.“I think we need to get you to Leslie’s,” Kate said a moment later as she brushed the hair back off Harper’s face.“I know,” Harper sighed, chewing on her bottom lip. She really didn’t want to move. Her knee hurt too much and she wasn’t game to try it out.“Leslie’s is three blocks away. We can grapple there pretty quickly if you’re up to it, or I can carry you there. Getting off this rooftop might be a bit tricky.”“What if the line gets cut again?” Harper asked, fresh tears gathering in her eyes.“She’s gone, and it won’t. Even Punchline isn’t stupid enough to go up against me again,” Kate said, doing a quick cleanup of the area.“I don’t th-think I can.” Burying her face in her hands, Harper felt Kate’s arm around her immediately, holding her close. Feeling fingers run through her hair, she leaned against Kate’s chest.“It’s more than okay, my love. We can use the fire escape or use the stairs inside the building. Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”Pursing her lips together, Harper felt Kate’s lips against her temple. The pain in her knee hadn’t died down at all, she couldn’t move it, but with Kate holding her close, she felt the tears begin to lessen.“I know you’re probably going to hate this idea but I think you’re going over my shoulder to get down and then you get a piggyback ride all the way to the clinic.”Feeling the cool of Kate’s suit against her hand, she sighed and wiped away more tears. Nodding her head, she knew there was no other option.“I’m too heavy for you to carry all the way there,” Harper whispered as a kiss was pressed against her forehead.“You’re nowhere near too heavy. I can bench press my own body weight and you’re like a good thirty pounds lighter than I am. A good five inches shorter too. I wouldn’t have suggested it if I couldn’t do it. I’m also ex-military, this is like a walk in the park,” Kate countered, running her fingers through blue and purple strands.“I don’t know…” Trailing off, Harper closed her eyes and felt the tears running down her face. She knew Kate was a lot stronger than she was, but what if it hurt her knee more? She didn’t know if she was willing to even touch it.“It might hurt your knee a little when moving you, but I promise I’ll do my best not to jolt it.”Opening her eyes, Harper felt Kate move as she pressed the softest of kisses to her injured knee.“Okay…” Harper agreed, wiping at her face. The tears had mostly stopped as Kate handed her another tissue and she blew her nose. Picking her mask up, she sighed and wiped her face once more before sliding it on.“You’re sure you’re not injured anywhere else?” Kate asked, reaching out and moving a strand of blue out of Harper’s face.“I don’t think I am. The only pain I feel is in my knee,” Harper replied as Kate stood.“Time to get you standing. Hold my hands and I’m going to pull you up. Try not to move your knee.”Taking hold of Kate’s hands, Harper held her breath as Kate slowly and carefully helped her stand.Feeling her knee try to straighten, Harper winced and bit the inside of her cheek. “I can’t put weight on it.”“I had a feeling. It’s okay, baby. I have a plan,” Kate said, still holding onto her hands. “We’re going down the fire escape and once we’re at the bottom, you’re getting on my back. It’s three in the morning, there’s barely anyone out on the streets.”Nodding her head, Harper had come to quickly accept this was going to be embarrassing.“It’s your left knee that’s injured… hmmm. This may hurt it a little and I’m sorry. Right arm up.”Listening to Kate, she raised her arm and within seconds Kate had her over her shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Taking a shuddering breath as Kate’s arm pressed into the back of her knee, she tried not to squirm.Standing to her full height, Kate made sure not to jar Harper’s knee while keeping a tight hold on her. Heading to the fire escape, she slowly made her way down the six floors of stairs.Moving this way and that so Harper wouldn’t go face first into a metal railing, she gently caressed the hand she had hold of.“You good, babe?” Kate asked, halfway down.“Apart from feeling like I’m going to die with every turn, I’m fine,” Harper mumbled, hearing Kate laugh softly.“I promise you’re not going to die, my little bluebird.”Making it down the last three flights, Harper was more than ready to be able to feel the ground again.Feeling Kate put her on the ground while keeping an arm wrapped around her, Harper let out the breath she didn’t realise she was holding.“I’m good,” she said, seeing the concern on Kate’s face even with her cowl on. Trying to straighten her knee again, she hissed and bit her bottom lip. She could feel the tears wanting to fall once more.“Careful, sweetheart. Don’t push it,” Kate whispered as she stood in front of her. “Ready for a piggyback?” Kate smiled, pinching her cheek gently.“This is so embarrassing,” Harper mumbled as Kate leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips.“It’ll be over soon. There’s spare clothing at the clinic so we can get changed and get a cab home.”“I know. I just hate being injured and so pathetic and useless,” Harper said, not able to look Kate in the eye.Feeling a gentle hand under her chin, she looked up at Kate. She wished she could see her eyes, she could get lost in the warmth of them forever. “You are none of that, baby. You can’t help that that psycho is after us. It wasn’t your fault your line was cut. That’s all on her. You are so brave and we’re going to make sure you’re okay. I love you and seeing you hurt is upsetting.”Leaning into Kate, she wrapped her arms tightly around her and hugged her. Feeling Kate hug her back, she allowed herself a minute in her arms.“I love you too,” she whispered, leaning up and kissing her quickly.“Time to get you to Leslie’s. Jump on,” Kate smiled. Turning so her back was to Harper, she bent down low. Hooking her arms around Harper’s legs, she made sure she kept her left knee steady as she could while she stood up. Harper had her arms crossed over Kate’s front as they began to head towards the clinic.Harper felt like she was holding her breath the entire time. With every turn she was expecting to see someone and have them laugh at her. Making it to Leslie’s in record time, Kate pushed the door open and entered. The clinic appeared to have no one inside.Hearing a door open, Leslie walked in and looked at them, raising an eyebrow.“Go to room three, I’ll be in in a second,” she said, pointing Kate down the hallway and to the left.Finding the room with Harper’s help, Kate gently set her down on the bed.Pulling her mask off, Harper handed it to Kate as she placed both mask and cowl onto the bench.“What happened?” Leslie asked as she entered the room.“My line was cut mid grapple and I landed heavily on my knee and now it feels like there’s something thumping and burning deep within. It hurts really bad,” Harper replied as Leslie began to feel around it.“It’s extremely swollen, but it feels like all your tendons are undamaged. Undress and put this on, and we’ll try to at least get an x-ray of it tonight to make sure nothing is actually broken.”“Thank you, Leslie,” Kate said, looking at the older woman.“Hn.”Going over to Harper, Kate brushed the hair from her forehead back to behind her ear. “How can I help?”“Shoes.”Nodding, Kate quickly got Harper’s boots off and set them aside as Harper added her jacket and armour piece to it.“All clothing except underwear off unless there’s metal in it,” Leslie said, setting up the device. “There’s no chance you’re pregnant?” she added.“Not unless I’m the next Virgin Mary,” Harper replied, grinning when she heard Kate snort.“I’m good, but I’m not that good,” Kate smirked, beginning to undo Harper’s utility belt.Chucking her shirt onto the pile of clothing, Harper looked down at her pants as Kate got her belt off. She had no idea how they were going to manage that.“Can you balance on one foot?” Kate asked, helping her slide off the bed. “This may hurt but I’ll do my best not to let it,” she added, slowly pulling Harper’s pants down and off her knee. Looking at them, she scrunched them into a ball to be binned later.Reaching for the gown Leslie handed her, Harper put it on and tied it at the neck and back.“Okay, good,” Leslie said, rolling the machine over. “I am going to manipulate your knee a little to get good x-rays of it but if it hurts too much, let me know.”Seeing Kate take a step back to allow Leslie room, Harper felt Leslie slide the board underneath it.With every movement of her knee, Harper could feel the tears getting closer and closer to falling once more. Leslie was taking image after image, moving her knee this way and that. Feeling Leslie hold onto her calf, the older woman looked at her.“Sorry, but I need to do this,” she said as she placed pressure on Harper’s knee to try to straighten it a little.Feeling a loud sob escape her as Leslie continued to press on her knee, Kate was by her side in a second, holding onto her hands as she leaned into her.“That’s enough, Leslie. You’re hurting her,” Kate said, moving one of her hands up to Harper’s face as she gently caressed her cheek.“This will have to do. Hold still,” Leslie said as she took another x-ray. “I’m sorry but I needed it as straight as it would go.”Watching Leslie walk across the room and open up a medications cupboard, she pulled down a box and a small bottle from the top shelf and handed it to Harper.“The box is oxycodone and the bottle is Valium. I think it would be wise if you took one of each,” Leslie said.Feeling her hands shake as she tried to stop the tears again, Kate took them off her, popped out one of each and got her a cup of water.Swallowing them, she leaned back into Kate and watched Leslie.“Good news, nothing is showing as broken on the x-ray. Your kneecap and the bones holding it in place are undamaged. Were you wearing a knee guard when you fell?”“I was,” Harper replied, not letting go of Kate.“When she landed, it split down the middle and the knee part shattered on impact. I pulled a sliver of it out of her leg before coming here,” Kate added, pressing a kiss to Harper’s head.“In my medical opinion, you have a blunt force trauma injury to your knee. It requires an MRI to confirm my suspicions and unfortunately, we don’t have one here. I can refer you to a place that does them and will send me the results so we know what to do.”“I can’t afford an MRI.” Harper looked at the ground and dug her fingernail into the side of her thumb.“I can more than afford it and I love you. I don’t want you hurting, Harper,” Kate said, rubbing soothing circles into her back.“Okay, good, I’ll write up the referral. Get it done in about a week when the swelling and bruising have had time to go down. You have a change or two of clothes in your locker, I’ll go get them for you. Can’t really have you two leaving here in your suits,” Leslie smiled as she exited the room.“How are you feeling, baby?” Kate asked.“In a lot of pain and very tired,” Harper replied, wiping the tears from her face.“The painkillers should kick in soon. When we get home, we’ll go straight to bed.”“I like that plan.”Seeing Leslie enter the room, she put down the backpack from Harper’s locker next to her.“I’ll give you two some privacy,” she said, leaving.Pulling the gown off, Harper put it at the end of the bed and opened her backpack. Pulling out two pairs of tights, a t-shirt, a tank top, and a hoodie, she pulled the tank top on, quickly followed by the hoodie she cuddled into.“I’ve been looking for that hoodie for weeks,” Kate smiled.“It’s comfy and it smells like you,” Harper replied as Kate pulled her suit off and got changed.Pulling her clothing on, Kate folded their suits and put them in a pile. Pressing a kiss to Harper’s head, she said, “I’ll be back in a second.”Finding Harper’s locker, Kate shoved their suits and boots into it and pulled out the two pairs of crocs Harper kept in the bottom of it.Going back to her partner, Leslie was in the room talking with her.“She’s good to go home, Kate. Please take care of her and make sure she puts no weight on her knee. Use these crutches until we get the MRI on your knee done and we know what we’re dealing with.”“Thank you, and I’ll make sure I treat her like the queen she is to me,” Kate smiled, seeing Harper blush as Leslie shook her head.“You found the crocs,” Harper said, noticing them in Kate’s hand.“I did. Why do you have two pairs?”“The dark blue are mine, and the black are yours. I made sure we had spare shoes for when stuff like this happens.”“Only for you will I wear crocs,” Kate smiled, sliding them on and realising how comfortable they were.Helping Harper to put hers on, she pulled the crutches over and helped her to stand.“I called you a cab, it should be here soon. Here’s the referral for an MRI and if you need anything more, let me know,” Leslie said, handing the paperwork to Kate.“Thank you, Leslie. Really,” Kate said, offering her a smile.Making it home, Harper collapsed onto the couch and loudly sighed. “No one told me crutches hurt so much,” she grumbled.“You’ll get used to it after a few days,” Kate replied, swapping her t-shirt out for a light blue tank top she was pretty sure was Harper’s.“I think I just want to go to bed. I’m sorry our date night couldn’t even start.”“It’s more than okay my love. As long as you’re okay that’s the only thing that matters. We have the next week off, just us – together. We can have dinner dates, movie dates, and cuddles all in the comfort of our own home.”“I like the sound of that,” Harper yawned as she took the hoodie off.“Come on baby, let’s head to bed,” Kate said, scooping Harper into her arms and holding her close as she made the way to their room.“I could get used to this,” Harper murmured, her eyes closing.Pressing a kiss to Harper’s temple, she laid her down in bed and pulled the covers over her. Getting in next to her, Kate smiled when Harper rolled over and cuddled into her. Wrapping her arms around her, Kate breathed in and felt like she could finally relax. Harper was okay. She was safe and at home and in her arms.Drawing soft doodles on Harper’s back with her finger, she watched as Harper drifted off into a light sleep.Running her fingers through Harper’s purple and blue hair, Kate pressed a kiss to her temple and closed her eyes. She felt warm and content with Harper in her arms as she softly snored.“I love you, Harper,” she whispered, pressing another kiss to Harper’s head.“Love you too, baby,” Harper mumbled, cuddling more into Kate.“Sleep my love, you need it,” she said, pulling the blanket up higher and tucking it around them.“I’m okay, it doesn’t hurt too bad.”“That’s the painkillers talking.” Brushing Harper’s hair back, she asked, “How’s your knee feeling?”“It hurts but not hurts, but hurts.”“Sleep, my love, I’ll be here when you wake up. If you need anything at all during the night, wake me.”“I will. I love you, Kate.”“I love you too, Harper. Sleep well, my love.”