I don't own The Dark Knight Rises or any of its characters.

Warning: if you have NOT seen the movie The Dark Knight Rises, don't read this. It'll ruin shit.

Note: Speaking of shit, I understand that there's a strong chance that that's all this is. I just had an idea bouncing around in my head after seeing the film and just had to get it down to see what came out of it. I got a little attached to Bane and so my mind coped with his ending as it always copes with such an end to a character I like: It created a different ending. Kinda. Try to bear with me here.

Be aware that I'm not extremely medically intelligent but I can get the gist of shit and be fairly convincing with making other shit up. I'll try to explain and work this out the best I can.

Also, this is set just a few days after Bruce's funeral.

Goodbye Is A Second Chance

Chapter One: Final Wishes

The two men walked along the dank, dimly lit corridor. Not moving briskly but one could tell they had somewhere to go, regardless of that somewhere being in a questionably legal place. They were in the the bowels of Arkham Asylum, on their way to a hidden room near the main basement.

"I didn't ask earlier because you hinted that it wasn't a good time, but I'd really like to know what's going on. Please tell me why we're here." said Blake, politely as he kept in step with the Police Comissioner. The older man stopped and sighed, turning to look at Blake.

"We are running an errand." replied Gordon, scanning the younger man's face to read his response.

"For who? Where? What? I mean, from what I can see there's no logical reason for us to be underneath Arkham right now." said Blake.

"You want me to answer all those questions at once, son?"

"I guess."

"Batman left me a note in my office. I don't know how he did it, but he did. That's who we're doing this for." his expression a bit sad at mentioning the friend he thought was dead.

"Oh, what's he sending us to that's down here?" asked Blake.

"An old room that very few people know still exists. It was used for the experiments in the eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds that were eventually deemed inhumane. Basically, the doctors tortured the insane. Mainly it was done because they thought it would help them, nonetheless, it was torture." explained Gordon.

"That's really interesting but I still don't see why he'd have wanted us down here."

"Because it's been transformed into a high tech operating room."

"For who?"

"Bane." replied Gordon, expecting the surprised look that Blake gave him.

"What? He's dead, it was reported."

"The report was a lie. Think about it, did we ever show a body?"

"No. But, how?" asked Blake, in disbelief.

"Replace a body, no one really cares because everyone's happy that the whole thing's just over."

"Why? Why has he been kept alive? And why is he here, why are we here?"

"I guess Bruce felt some sort of pity for him. He thinks we can reform him, without taking away his full freedom." replied Gordon.

"Reform him? Bane? Am I the only one who thinks this is a really bad idea, to even attempt this?"

"Trust me, kid, I'm not too keen on this either. However, I owe Batman. He never let me say thank you and this is how I do it. If he thinks or even wants me to try and secretly reform Bane, then I'm gonna do my very best. If you don't want to, you don't have to. You just leave right now and never speak of this to anyone. I could use your help, though." said Gordon. Blake thought about what the comissioner said for a few quiet moments, then nodded.

"Okay. I'll do whatever I can to help. But just for the record, this is a horrible idea." replied Blake, making Gordon chuckle. They turned and continued walking until they reached a security guard outside a shut door. The guard was standing at attention and to say he was shocked to see the police comissioner was an understatement.

"Wh..Sir, how can I help you?" asked the guard.

"I'm here to see Doctor Willis. I believe he's in there." said Gordon.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't know where Doctor Willis is or what's behind this door. My job is to guard the door and that's all." said the guard. Before Gordon or Blake could say anything else, the door opened and a man who looked to be a few years older than Gordon walked out.

"Take it easy, Scott. Come in, comissioner." said the man. Gordon and Blake passed the confused but silent guard and the door shut behind them. They were now in a stone room with a few desks and a huge window overlooking a torture chamber turned operationg room. Glancing around at the almost gothic architecture, Blake could see how what Gordon had told him would've been true. It was creepy down here.

"And that man really doesn't know what's going on in here, right?" asked Gordon.

"Of course not. He's just a very loyal security guard who will do whatever I tell him. Pardon me, but who's your friend?" asked the man.

"This is a close friend of mine, he's invovled. Ex detective Blake. Blake, this is Doctor Willis." said Gordon. Blake stepped forward and shook the man's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Sir." said Blake.

"Likewise, young man." replied the doctor.

"Will you bring us up to speed now?" asked Gordon. The doctor sighed and smiled.

"Certainly. The patient has undergone several procedures that were not very easy, let me tell you. I removed the mask and had to almost completely redo his nervous system to fix whatever had caused him to need the be honest, he should be dead. He has inhuman strength still and is healing at an alarming rate. I had to fix the damage done to his chest when he was shot, that's all worked out far better than expected. Also, he'll probably need glasses. The blast from when he was shot ruined part of his eyes and I expect his eyesight will not be as good any longer. He would've woken up by now but I've been keeping him unconscious for safety reasons. He's ready to be taken out of here if you're here to pick him up." explained the doctor.

"Okay. Can you wake him up so I can go speak to him?" asked Gordon.

"I can, yes. I'll warn you, I'm fairly certain he can break the straps holding him down." replied the doctor. The men walked over to the window now, looking down into a relatively large chamber. Bane was strapped to a table that was connected to the ground. Under him was what looked like a closed off pit.

"What's that under him?" asked Blake.

"Oh, this room was used for questionable methods back a century or so ago. This was where they'd tie patients to the table and submerse them in icy water." answered the doctor, a little too matter-of-factly.

"Oh...uh, cool?" replied Blake, the doctor didn't answer him but he saw Gordon slightly smile at his reply.

The doctor flicked a few switches, turning on a bright overhead light in Bane's room. He gestured towards a door and Gordon walked over to it, Blake right behind him. They opened it, walked into the operating room, and gazed.

Even unconscious and strapped to a metal table, Bane was an imposing figure. Another light turned on directly above the unconscious monster, lighting his whole body. He was clad in only hospital pants and had a few fresh scars on his chest. They could both see his face now, both feeling slight surprise as they saw him as a human for the first time.

Xxxxxx

He felt his mind starting to wake as he tried to remember anything at all. He caught flashes of images. The Batman...fighting him...snow...coldness...her, her saying he loved her...something flashing and then nothingness. He couldn't figure out if he was dead or waking from a long sleep. It was much like when he was first put in that prison, and when they mutilated him for helping her escape.

Slowly easing his eyes open, he still wasn't sure as he was greeted by an extremely bright light and couldn't see anything else. Suddenly, the light turned off and he blinked rapidly, figuring he must just be waking up. He could see a high ceiling and a light above him but it was blurry. There was something wrong with his eyes.

Speaking of wrong, he couldn't feel his mask. It was gone, but there was no pain.

"Good morning, sunshine." said a familiar voice to his right. He turned his head. Although the figure was blurry, he could see enough to know who it was. It was Gordon, the Police Comissioner. There was another man next to him but Bane didn't know who the man was.

"What have you done with me, Gordon?" asked Bane, noticing how different his voice sounded. His voice was still rough but it was clearer than in the mask, and a little softer.

"I haven't done anything with you, yet. Would you like me to update you on the status of Gotham and yourself?" asked Gordon.

"Yes." he replied.

"Gotham is repairing itself and recovering. Your army was all either killed or imprisoned. Your friend, Miss Tate, she was killed trying to prepare the bomb for its explosion..." right about there was where Bane stopped listening. He opened his mouth to speak but felt something in his chest tighten and couldn't utter anything. Something wet rolled down his cheek, on one then the other. It took him a moment to realise it was tears.

He didn't notice when Gordon stopped talking, staring at him in concern and confusion.

"Are you okay?" asked the other man, the one next to Gordon.

"She's dead." replied Bane, his voice quiet and broken. Gordon and the other man looked at each other then back at him.

"Yes, she is. As I was saying, the bomb was carried out of the city by the Batman. It exploded while he had it, killing him but otherwise only killing a few fish." said Gordon, Bane heard him this time.

"What's happened to me?" asked Bane, again. His voice was back to normal and he'd forced his eyes to stop watering.

"You've been surgically repaired. You don't need the mask anymore."

"Why have I been fixed?"

"I guess the Batman knew he wasn't going to make it out alive. He left final wishes. He left me a request. That I get you fixed and see if you'll be reformed. According to the world, Bane is dead. Batman created a whole new identity and life for you. You can let us reform you or we can kill you here and now, saving us a lot of time. Your choice." said Gordon.

Bane listened to all the man said, and lay there in silence. Thinking. Gordon was asking him to abandon all he'd known, all he'd been trained for, everything about himself. A strong part of him wanted to just say no, another part argued. He only became what he'd been for Her, now she was gone forever. He could change, his entire life could be started over. Part of him was screaming for that, screaming that all he believed in was for Her and now that she was gone, those beliefs didn't matter. He was being handed a second chance, knowing he didn't deserve it.

"Will you let us reform you?" asked Gordon, stopping his train of thought.

He lightly tested his restraints, then forcefully tested them. He flexed his arm muscles and snapped the three inch thick leather straps that held him down, reaching and also breaking off the ones that held his legs. Climbing off the table and standing, he saw both Gordon and the other man had pulled their guns out and were aiming at him.

"Don't come any closer." ordered the second man. WIthout speaking, Bane reached out one bear paw of a hand toward Gordon.

"I'm agreeing, Comissioner. I do believe the Western Civilized thing to do in this situation is to shake hands." said Bane.

Gordon and the other man very slowly lowered their guns, too surprised to think Bane was being sincere. The comissioner hesitantly put his gun away, his eyes never leaving Bane to be sure this wasn't a trick and that he'd be able to defend himself in case it was. Once his gun was away, he reached out and took the bigger man's hand.

Bane gave Gordon a slight nod of the head as he shook his hand, barely squeezing but unknowingly causing the comissioner to wince in slight pain. Letting go of each other, Bane reached his hand to the other man as well, who'd watched the whole thing.

"No thanks. Let's just say that Gordon's handshake was good for both of us." said the other man.

"Very well. Tell me more about this new life the Batman created for me." replied Bane. Gordon set the suitcase he'd been carrying down and opened it. Pulling out a few manilla folders. Opening the first one, he turned back to the other men before reading and explaining.

"I hope you like your new name and everything because we can't change it at this point, none of this can be changed. You are a 34 year old investor by the name of Thomas Charles Baker. You just moved to Gotham from your hometown of London, England a few weeks ago. You've earned your wealth through the stock market and dealings with Wayne Enterprises. One deal in particular, actually. Applied Sciences. According to these papers, the weaponry that the company owned but never acknowledged owning, came from you. Seems fitting, since you stole it." said Gordon.

"I do hope a new life means no suttle attacks, comissioner." replied Bane, crossing his enormous arms.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, your other dealings that you've just begun are with the police force. Those weapons in Applied Sciences go to my special task force, courtesy of you. This gives you an excuse to visit me and for us to become friends too."

"What about my boardings? Where will I live?" asked Bane.

"You have two residences. One is Bruce Wayne's old penthouse, in Gotham. The other is on the outskirts, just down the road from his mansion. It's a very big, old, abandoned home that I guess was owned by the Wayne family in the 1800's but was left to fall apart after the Civil War was over."

"These are mine indefinitely, already?" asked Bane, not comfortable with having so much already. He couldn't tell if it was because he wasn't used to owning so much or if it was because he felt like a hypocrite.

"Yep. You have a huge amount of money already, put back through stock dealings set up by the Batman in your name. The only thing he didn't do for you was set up your wardrobe, that's all up to you. Probably because he knew you'll need all your clothing to be tailored."

"I'll get to that. You, what's your name?" asked Bane, looking at the other man.

"Ro...Blake. Just Blake." answered Blake.

"What are your stakes in this? I can understand what Gordon is doing here, but you...Did the Batman leave this for you to do as well?"

"Well, no. He left me a different job."

"Filling his shoes?" asked Bane, Blake went wide eyed with surprise, then tried to hide it.

"No, what makes you say that?"

"Do you think I'm an idiot? It makes sense. Someone has to continue what he started or it was all for nothing. It would explain your presence here, as well."

"Even if I was, what's it to you?" asked Blake, politely defensive. Gordon was just watching with curiosity, he hadn't known Blake had been given that job.

"How's your fighting skills?"

"I was trained the way all the police were trained."

"In other words, pitiful. I see. He wasn't just trying to give me a second chance then." said Bane.

"What?" asked Gordon, now confused.

"I was trained by the most elite fighting unit in existance, comissioner. As was he. The League Of Shadows. His other reason for keeping me alive must be to train the new boy. I'm all that's left of The League, the rest of the members are dead. I'm his only hope to be prepared to fight crime." replied Bane, chuckling at the irony. Gordon thought about this, then realised Bane was right. That had to have been a huge factor in keeping him alive. Blake couldn't figure out if he was happy about this or not. He knew he'd needed to train better and was struggling to figure out how, he wasn't sure if he was happy with how it was possibly going to happen now.

"Okay, then. Are you gonna train me?" asked Blake, knowing that even though he didn't like the idea that the Batman wanted it to happen.

"I suppose. Where are you living now?" replied Bane.

"A tiny apartment on the East End, near the Narrows."

"Sell it. You shall live at the home on the outskirts. With me. At least until your training is complete. I cannot train you properly, otherwise." said Bane. Blake looked at Gordon, Gordon raised his eyebrows.

"The man probably knows what he's talking about, I'd follow his advice if I was in your shoes." said Gordon.

"Okay." said Blake, sighing and putting his hands in his pockets.

"It will probably be easier for you to become this new identity if you read through all the papers yourself, studied them, rather than me reading it all to you. He's got you completely covered. From your favourite game during childhood all the way to your favourite music nowadays. Hobbies, food, and everything in between. I think he even explains your military background, saying you were in the Royal Navy or something. He also forged papers saying you graduated from Oxford and were a boxer there." rambled Gordon, handing Bane the folders.

"Where do we go from here?" asked Bane, thinking it would be best to burn all these papers as soon as he had them memorized.

"Well, the doctor got you some clothes to wear to either your house or the penthouse. Then we'll leave you to study that information." said Gordon, pulling clothes off of the table. He handed the pile to Bane.

Bane walked to the other table, set the pile down, set the folders down, picked up the dark green boxers, and proceded to get dressed.

Gordon and Blake turned away, Blake leaning towards the comissioner after a minute.

"I'm still not convinced that this is a good idea." whispered Blake.

"He's trying, we have to let him."

"Don't you think he's agreeing a little quickly?"

"I don't like to waste time, Mister Blake." said Bane, pulling the large flanel shirt on as he approached them. He'd heard every word, his hearing still being very good. The two men turned back to him. Blake looked a little ashamed.

"Oh, uh sorry." said Blake.

"Nonsense. I would be far more hesitant than you two to trust my enemy."

"Good, then I'll be completely honest with you. I don't fully trust you yet. I'm extremely nervous about walking out of here with you. I'll warn you now. If you pull anything on us, I will shoot to kill. As will Blake." said Gordon.

"Understood." replied Bane.

"And that goes for more than just escorting you to the penthouse. That goes for any time after we walk out that door. Tomorrow, five days from now, six months from now."

"As I said, understood." replied Bane.

"Good. Let's go." said Gordon.

*(okay...there's the beginning...please for the love of baby Jesus, leave me a review.

Okay...I'm definitely gonna do more with this than I thought I would...I can already tell. Wheels are moving..please review. Thanks for reading.)*