8

                                    

                                          
We didn't make it towards the sniper's building. We hardly made it a couple blocks before another shot rang out from behind us. It missed, thankfully, but Dick and I were even more eager to get away now. He pulled Haley up into his arms and gripped my arm. He pulled me into an alleyway, forcing me into a run that didn't agree with my healing wound. I felt the seeping warmth of my fresh blood causing me to swear. Still being dragged by Dick, I had no choice but to push forward despite the newfound ache that coursed up and down my side.

"We need to move up," Dick told me, changing a glance at me over his shoulder.
I followed his gaze up when he turned his attention away towards the upcoming fire escape. I grit my teeth and pressed on, letting Dick keep his grip on me as he pulled me towards our new destination.
"What about the people following us?" I quipped, looking over my shoulder just as two men in dark suits entered the alleyway.
"Let's worry about staying alive right now," Dick shot down, releasing his grip on my arm to reach for the first run of the fire escape.
He made his way up, slowly with Haley held under one arm. I was quick to follow him as a shot rang out, followed by the whizzing of a bullet by my head. I ignored the screaming in my side and hurried up, grateful to gain some cover as I made the first landing. But I was far from being in the clear as several more shots rang out from below. I hurried up the few flights of stairs after Dick.
Frantic shouts from below only seemed to get closer as the two men did their best to follow behind us. I was already falling behind and pushing myself became more of a challenge with each step up. It didn't help that I felt my blood staining my shirt and seeping into my jeans.
"Dick," I called out, noticing that he was already reaching the next staircase, "We gotta figure something else out."
He looked at me with a look of panic and he looked past me. The clanging of feet on metal told me all I needed to know and I forced myself to step faster up the stairs. I could see him trying to format plans in his head, faster than I could and I trusted he would figure something out. 
"Take Haley and keep going. I'll throw these guys off," he told me suddenly, coming down to meet me. 
"You're an idiot if you think I'm leaving you behind," I argued, but taking Haley out of his arms anyway. 
"Do you trust me?" Dick asked with full sincerity not pulling his eyes from mine. 
The few seconds that passed felt like hours and I finally nodded. I held Haley tight in my arms, even giving her a quick kiss to her head. I looked back up at Dick giving him silent instructions which got a nod from him. 
"I'll meet you later. Just get to safety and find a redhead, freckled woman with green eyes and glasses if you can. She'll be looking for you too," he said before racing down the stairs.
I hurried the rest of the way up, even managing to climb the ladder to the rooftop with the wiggling pup tucked under an arm. I refused to let her out of my sight for a second, no matter what happened. And I would not let Haley die in any crossfire.
Standing on the rooftop I was grateful for the taller building, blocking my view from the sniper's window and building in general. I looked around for some other exit and found a door that would lead down from inside the building. Letting out a received breath, I hurried for it, grateful to discover it wasn't locked. I fought back a triumphant laugh and hurried down stairs, wanting to get to the ground floor as soon as possible.
"Let's do this right, okay?" I spoke up to Haley, mostly to keep myself from giving into my adrenaline-run temptation to turn around and go help.
She gave me a lick on the cheek which made me smile and fight off the temptation as we reached the ground floor safely. I ignored the looks from the other people and made my way outside, hurrying down the street and keeping an eye out for the woman Dick described in the rush of the moment. It wasn't the best description but, given the situation, I would let it slide this time. 
I tried to look as casual as possible walking down the sidewalk but, seeing as I had blood seeping darkly into my clothes and was now beginning to find it harder to hide my pain, it was a feat to say the least.It didn't help that I was also starting to feel more worn out than I should've been on any other chase I could have possibly been in. Hell, running from Batman didn't wear me out like this did.