The sound of the wind crashed into my ears like a 60 mph head on collision

The sound of the wind crashed into my ears like a 60 mph head on collision. It was dark, cold, and their was lightning lighting up the sky every once in a while. Under the sound of the wind, I heard what seemed to be a river, flowing as fast as a monsoon. My feet were bare and I felt a stinging coldness, like cold metal. Standing there with my eyes shut, tightly, I felt as if someone else was there also. Like someone was watching me, guarding me. I opened my eyes and was frozen from the sight I beheld. A great river was fastly flowing beneath me and the object I stood upon, a bridge. I began feeling the overwhelming urge to jump, but then suddenly I was halted by a calm voice, silently whispering. "Breathe…"

I shot straight up out of my solitary nightmare. My forehead scattered from a cold sweat, heart racing and mind confused. Glancing over at the clock I noticed it to be 2:30am. "Great", I muttered to myself, knowing that I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. Leaving my once place of slumber, I retreated to a newly found haven, my couch.

My name is Madeline Thomas, I'm a Doctor at Gotham City Hospital. You see, for the past 6 weeks I have been having the same re-occurring nightmare, same bridge, same river, and same voice. I've been doing my share of research about dreams and what they mean, but unfortunately, all it keeps telling me is that I have a subconscious fear of bridges and people giving me orders. I know better than to believe any of that information.

I would love to come to a conclusion about these dreams and deal with the matter because they are getting in the way of my sleep and for a Doctor sleep is a very precious gift. Between studying, classes and the residency at the hospital, I have to find time to eat and get some rest. But I can't rest if I'm afraid to close my eyes. I should really see a psychologist or some one in that field, yet that doesn't really fit into my agenda.

"Hiya Madi!!", I heard a very chipper voice say.

"Hey, Loren, what's up?" I muttered.

"Oh my God, Madi. You are never going to believe who I saw last night…" I opened my mouth to respond with the normal "no, I can't read minds. Tell me." But she responded too quickly.

"I saw Bruce Wayne!! Apparently he wasn't dead. He claims he was traveling around the world. He was looking really hot….."

"Back up, you mean Bruce Wayne, Prince of Gotham Bruce Wayne?" I interrupted her.

"Yes silly, what other Bruce Wayne would I be talking about? Are you okay? You're not looking too good." She said.

"I need to start my rounds. See you later." I said quickly grabbing my things and practically running out of the room.

The reason for my quick exit goes back about 12 years ago. You see, I went to high school with Bruce. Our parents were really good friends, so Bruce and I were always around each other. All throughout school, people would always ask if we were dating or they'd start rumors that we were. Honestly, I didn't think of Bruce as anything other than Bruce. He was my best friend, the one person who would always be there for me. Until 8 years ago, when he ran away. I can remember that day perfectly. Joe Chill's hearing was at 3 and Alfred had called me earlier telling me how Bruce was going to attend whether we liked it or not. I wasn't so sure how he would act if I said event he slightest thing about him not going. I pulled up to the Wayne Manor, a place I considered my second home. Alfred greeted me at the door, "Hello Miss Madeline, How are you doing, dear?"

"I'm alright, Alfred. Is he here?"

"He should be down shortly. I'll tell him you are waiting. You know you look more and more like your Mother every time I see you."

"Thanks, Alfred."

A few minutes passed as I stood their fumbling with my car keys. I heard footsteps behind me so I turned around to greet a pretty tired looking Bruce.

"Hey there." I said greeting him with a hug.

"Hey yourself." He said half smiling.

"So I'm guessing that there is no way that I can talk you out of going, correct."

"Madeline, someone has to be there to stand up for my parents."

"You know you aren't only one that loved your parents?"

"Well we better get going then." I said trying to change the awkwardness.

The courtroom was packed. Basically, Chill got off free because he tattled on a few of Carmine Falcone's thugs. I was furiated and I could only think of how upset Bruce was. We walked outside in total silence, I definitely wasn't going to be the one to break the silence either. I'll never forget the next moments.

As Joe Chill exited the courthouse a blond with a gun approached him and shot him right after saying "Falcone says thank you." At the same time out the corner of my eye, I saw Bruce pull out a small handgun. By the time Chill hit the pavement I had grabbed Bruce's arm and pulled him behind a tree.

"What the hell were you thinking, Bruce!!" I practically yelled.

"I had to get justice for my parents, Madeline."

"No Bruce, you wanted revenge. Not justice, trust me there's a difference."

"You don't understand. He was right there in front of me and I could have…"

I didn't even let him finish his sentence before I slapped him right across his face. He just stood there with his head down.

"I really deserved that." He whispered.

"I know." I lifted his chin to see a tear fall from his eye. Knowing the press was all around, I suggested that we go somewhere else. When we got into my car, I didn't know where we were going to go but I knew that we weren't going back to the Manor.

We ended up at the park right in front of the fountain, the place where I met Bruce. I got this uneasy feeling that this time it wasn't going to be as fun.

"I'm not going back to Princeton. I'm probably going to take a few years off." He said breaking the silence.

"I bet Alfred didn't take that news easily." I replied.

"Yeah, it wasn't a very good conversation. I think I'm going to head home, okay."

"I can give you a ride, Bruce. You don't have to walk."

"No, it's alright. I need some fresh air and I need to clear my head."

"Well then, if you need me you know where I'll be." I said.

I turned away and started walking back to my car when he grabbed my hand and spun me around to face him.
"I want you to know something." He said.

"What?"

"I could have never made it this far without you. You don't even know how much you mean to me."

I didn't even get a chance to respond before his pressed his lips against mine. My mind was paralyzed, I couldn't seem to grasp what was happening. He broke the kiss but still was holding the sides of my face. "I love you, Madi." He said.

"I love you, too" was all I could mutter. And with that he walked away…

"Dr. Thomas. Dr. Thomas!" Someone said breaking me out from my flashback.

"Yes." I answered.

"Dr. Thomas, your mother is on line 4," a nurse said.

"Thank you."

"Hello mom." I said.

"Madeline, darling, Have you seen him yet?" She said.

"No, I haven't. Have you?" I said assuming she was talking about Bruce.

"Yes, dear, I saw him this morning at Wayne Tower. He's taking good care of himself. He asked about you, and I told him you were working at the hospital finishing up your Pediatrician degree."

"What did he say?" I was always a nosey person.

"He said that he was very proud of you and He knew you would be a Doctor." She said.

"Oh, well mom I've got to run. Patients to see, Love you." I said quickly so I could end this conversation and avoid this whole thing, and try to forget about Bruce Wayne, for now.

The rest of my day was pretty busy and I had really forgot about the Prince of Gotham's return. That was until I got home and turned the television on. It was making me a bit angry. "How could everyone be so welcoming to a guy who totally abandoned Gotham and the people of it for 8 years?" I said to myself. On one hand I wouldn't mind seeing him and being his friend, catching up on old times, and maybe seeing what could be. But then there was the other hand. It seemed to be the one I was leaning towards. I could hold a grudge against him, act like he never came back, curse him til the day he died and never ever think of might have been. I was then interrupted by my phone ringing loudly, or louder than usual.

"Hello." I said.

"Madi, it's Loren."

"Hey, whatsup?"

"Well, today is Amanda's birthday and all of us are going out to dinner at the new hotel. And we thought you should come!" she said in a very convincing voice.

"You know what I think I need a night out with the girls. See you there in a half hour?" I said eagerly.

"Okay, meet you there."

"Bye."

"Byess!" she said.

I quickly took a shower and blow dried my hair. After applying some makeup and curling my hair, I raided my closet looking for something "girls night out" appropriate. Sadly, I haven't been shopping in a while because of work. I finally found a black strapless cocktail dress that fitted more like a corset top on the upper half. I grabbed some silver heels and a matching clutch and headed to the hotel. "I hope I don't look like a slut" was all I keep thinking. When I walked in I noticed there was more paparazzi than normal, I figured it was some rock star or ballet dancer. I quickly spotted the ladies and sat down in the empty seat.

"Hey, look who lives outside of the hospital." Amanda jokingly said.

"I know, hopefully I won't turn into a pumpkin at 12. So what major celebrity is here? Because there is more paparazzi here than normal." I said.

The table got quiet, too quiet. Just before Loren was going to spill the beans I heard a pleasant manager say, "Mr. Wayne those areas are not meant for swimming."

I looked at Loren, knowing she would get the hint I was not comfortable being here. "Alright Ladies, let's move this party elsewhere. I'm feeling club Tonic." Loren said saving me. They all agreed and grabbed their purses. I was never one to run away from situations but this was one I just wasn't ready to face.