Irene sat her desk typing away to finish her exclusive with Lex Luthor. Although he gave her plenty of information that would have mad an excellent story, it was information that she simply couldn't publish. At least not yet. The rest of the world still didn't know about Kryptonite, and she planned on keeping it that was for as long as possible.

"Kent, you're sports today, while Lombard is on vacation. I want you to follow up on football." Perry ordered as he approached Clark's desk. Irene already knew that Clark wasn't going to be very happy getting assigned sports, especially when Perry kept shooting down every Batman story he wanted to cover. "Underdog dreams dashed 10 yards between Gotham and glory. Watch yourself over there in Gotham. Don't let them take your lunch money."

Irene turned her attention back to her computer finding herself stuck on what she should write. Perry was expecting some big story about the advancements in technology that Lex Luthor was embarking on, but she couldn't use most of the information that she collected.

"Hey. Are you guys watching this?" Jimmy declared loudly causing everyone in the office to turn their direction to one of the multiple televise screens around the room.

Jimmy pressed the remote, unmuting the TV showing news coverage on Heroes Park. The coverage showed as man being forced down from the Superman statue as he yelled in anger.

"Emergency responders quickly created a precautionary perimeter around Heroes Park while they brought the man down from this beloved monument." The news reporters said their expression solemn as they delivered the news. The last couple of days the news coverage on Superman was mixed, it was almost difficult to watch. And this was no different. "The suspect has been identified as Wallace Vernon Keefe."

"I work for Bruce Wayne! I work for Bruce Wayne!" The man yelled as he was being forced into a police car. Irene almost felt sympathy for him, the man was a double amputee and was missing both of his legs. It didn't take much to piece together that he was a victim of the Battle of Metropolis.

"There'll be arraign on charges of vandalism, resisting arrest and a felony charge of making terrorist threats that carries up to 40 years in prison." The reporter continued as the camera then focused on the Superman statue. Irene hadn't noticed it before, but it was clear now. Wallace Keefe had vandalized the Superman monument that swords 'FALSE GOD' graffitied across its chest.

"Irene.... no Cat." Perry immediately corrected, clearly aware that he couldn't give Irene the story. She was much too connected to Superman, it would look terrible if she wrote a bad headline about him. Not to mention that he knew that Irene would be too bias in the story. "Headline. End of love affair with man in the sky, question mark".

Cat looked to Irene, everyone knew that she was friends with Superman. That was no secret, but they didn't know just how close to him she was. They didn't know that Superman was their friend too.

Irene sighed before looking over to Clark. He was looking down at his hands thoughtfully and it couldn't be more clear how much this was all tearing him apart. Clark worked so hard to make sure that the world felt protected, and seeing those people slowly turn on him was terrible.

Irene felt terrible. She felt that she was to blame for all of this because it all began with that had happened in Africa. Superman saved her and now he was being framed for the mysterious deaths of dozens of people. And they had no way of proving it wasn't him. At least not yet.

She had planned on putting off investigating the bullet until she finished her story on Lex Luthor, but that would have to wait. She had to clear Superman's name as soon as possible and figure out who really had killed those people.

Clark stood up grabbing his satchel bag and heading out. She could tell that he was distracted because he hadn't even bothered to say bye to her before he left. Without giving it mush thought Irene quickly stood, gathering her things because Clark wasn't the only one who needed to go to Gotham.

"You're going to Gotham?" Irene questioned as she followed Clark towards the elevator. "I'll go with you."

Clark took her hand as they stepped into the elevator, and she could see how his mind was still focused on what had just happened at Heroes Park. It wasn't until they elevator doors finally opened to the first floor lobby that he looked at her confused. "Why?"

"I wanted to visit Barbara." She replied, which wasn't a lie but it didn't mean that she was telling him the whole truth.

At first she didn't know why she felt the need to hide it from him, but she quickly realized that it was because he wouldn't want her to look into the bullet. That he would tell her that it was too dangerous, and that it didn't care what the people thought because he did what he needed to do to keep her safe. But he did care what they thought of him and even if he didn't Irene couldn't let them continue to question Superman.

Not when she knew that he had the purest of intentions. That he did it all without expecting anything in return. Mostly because it made her angry that they spoke so terribly of the man that she loved and she couldn't let it go on for any longer.

She created this mess and she was going to fix it.

Irene had only been to Gotham a handful of times, at it always amazed her how different a city just a short ferry ride away from her's could be so different. Even during the day there seemed to be a gloom around the city and everyone that lived in it.

Clark seemed almost frustrated as they walked one block to the bus stop. He had begun to give money to every homeless person they encountered on the street to the point where he had no money left in his wallet. It wasn't that there wasn't those living in poverty in Metropolis, but somehow there seemed to be three times as more in Gotham. And they all seemed to be in much worse shape.

"Clark, you can't give money to every homeless person in Gotham. You aren't Bruce Wayne." Irene told him as they finally arrived at the bus stop.

"I just...wish there was more that I could do." He replied, which almost sounded ridiculous from him. Clark already did so much for everyone.

Irene looked around to make sure no one was overhearing their conversation. "There's just some things that even Superman can't fix."

"No, but maybe Clark Kent can."

Irene stopped walking as she turned to Clark finally understanding why he so willing accepted the sports story for Gotham. "You're going to go after The Batman story aren't you?"

"Yup."

She couldn't say she was surprised, she probably would have done that same thing. But she knew that Perry wasn't going to be happy about this, and even knowing that she wasn't going to try to stop him. "Okay, well I'll meet you here at six?"

"Be careful." Clark warned knowing that they were going to be in opposite ends of the city, and that Gotham wasn't the kind of city where anyone could walk along its streets without caution.

Quickly giving him a kiss she stepped into the bus that was going to take her directly to the heart of Gotham. Having never owned a car Irene had always used public transportation systems, and she had never felt uncomfortable using them. But there was something about the city that made her feel like she needed to be alert at all times.

Maybe it was her own prejudice, and all the stories about the city. It was almost like she expected The Riddler or Two-Face to appear at any moment.

Irene had never been inside of the GCPD, but it was as much go a legend in Gotham as Arkham Asylum once. Some of the most famous criminals in history had been detained here at some point. But Irene headed directly towards the forensics department hoping that Barbara Gordon would be working today. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to show up without warning, but she wanted to be cautious.

It was never easy seeing Barbara in that wheelchair. But losing her ability to walk never made her any less strong or incredible intelligent. Even after what happened she was able to find a way forward.

"Hello Babs." Irene greeted from the doorway. She watched as Barbara paused before turning her chair towards her. She wasn't sure why she was surprised when Barbara smiled, but she was definitely relieved. She was just as beautiful as she remembered her. With the reddish hue to her curly hair and the glasses that were maybe a little to bug for her delicate features. But there was a sadness in her eyes that would never truly go away.

"Irene Miranda. What are you doing in Gotham?" She questioned looking genuinely surprised to see her. Not that Irene could blame Barbara it had been years since they had seen each other. And ever since what happened Barbara had never really been open to visits. "You know you stick out like a sore thumb."

Walking further into the room Irene took a seat on the chair next to her. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you are much too happy to be living in a city like this. You're practically glowing."

Irene smiled because she knew that it was true. That there was a natural gloom around the people that lived in Gotham that just wasn't present anywhere else. But besides that she was very happy, with many aspects of her life. Her brother was doing well, she was in a good place in her career and she had Clark. She didn't need anything else. "I'm almost in a really good place."

"And what's keeping you from being there?"

"This." Irene said as she held up the plastic bag where where kept the bullet.

Barbara reached over taking the plastic bag from her not looking very impressed as she pushed her glasses farther up her nose. "A bullet?"

"Recovered from the scene of the fire fight in the desert. I'm sure you heard about it on the news."

"Kind of impossible not to." Barbara replied taking a closer look at the bullet. She was one of the smartest people that Irene knew and she had no doubt that she would be able to get her the information that she needed. "All of this so you can help your superhero boyfriend?"

Irene felt herself blush a little, she wasn't a fan of being referred to as Superman's girlfriend. She didn't want that to be the only thing that her name was associated with. Though at this point it seemed impossible, she was the one that discovered Superman and that would always be her legacy. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Really? A lot of people seem to think so." Her friend questioned, her eyebrow raised. It was a rumor, though many also believed that it was impossible for a man like Superman to just date a reporter. They probably expected a celebrity or some kind of model.

"I'm seeing someone."  Irene quickly told her, no longer wanting to be on the subject of Superman. Barbara was smart, and if she continued to ask more questions Irene was afraid that she would figure it out.

"Go on."

"His name is Clark. He works at the Planet."

Barbara laughed as she leaned back in her chair. She seemed more comfortable now, more like the Barbara that Irene knew before. Although it had been years since the Joker attacked her, but there was no way she was going to bring it up. Barbara had lost a lot, she didn't deserve any of it but fate didn't care. "Girl you've got it bad."

"Yes, I know. Can we focus on the bullet again please?" Irene suggested never having been big about talking about her relationships. She tended to be a really private person, and now she had too many secrets that she needed to keep to be openly talking about her relationship.

Sighing Barbara returned her attention to the bullet seeming interested, but also seeming unsure. There was something going on, maybe it was troubles with her dad or something else entirely. But there was something weighing down on her, and Irene wondered if it was even a good idea to ask. Barbara tended to be just as private as she was. Even when she had called off her engagement to Dick she refused to speak of it. "Alright, you're going to need to give me either a couple of hours or a couple of days to find whoever manufactured this."

"Two days max?" Irene quickly questioned not sure how long she could wait. The conflict with Superman was quickly escalating and in two weeks she was going on the trip with Clark and wouldn't have time to work. She wanted this issue resolved before they left.

"Irene... I do have other things that I need to do."

"Please?" She questioned again, feeling so desperate that she would be willing to beg on her knees like a fool.

"Fine. I'll make it priority and call you when I have something." Barbara replied as she turned her attention back to her computers, like she was ready to focus on the task at hand.

Irene wished she didn't have to seek out Barbara after all these years just to ask for a favor, and maybe that was her fault for allowing their relationship to break the way it had. But Irene had no other choice, and would have to make it up to her friend later.