3.
~ "Bruce?" Selina called. Her eyes were still closed and she had been talking to herself all evening. All during her X rays and when the nurses had rolled her to a private room that was nicer than most apartments in the city, she had refused to shut up.
The nurse had said that was normal for some patients to do. The drugs wouldn't make her sleep, just stop the pain and perhaps make her slightly giddy.
"I'm here." Bruce said once they were alone again.
The sun was coming up and Alfred had finally gone home under Bruce's orders. His old friend was mad at him for running off, then for ditching him at Gotham General. Alfred had made it known that he didn't approve of Selina Kyle being in Bruce's life again. He had always held fast to his opinion that she was the same saucy little minx she had been when Bruce had first met her.
"I'm hungry." Selina said in her drug induced half sleep.
"As soon as you wake up, I'll get you something." Bruce whispered. He had been sitting on the chair beside her bed all night. His own body ready for sleep as well.
"Okay." Selina sighed.
He watched her sleep a little before she jumped out of some nightmare. He wasn't used to seeing Selina Kyle helpless like this. She was always strong and confident in everything. He doubted if he had ever seen her with so much as a cold. Much less in a hospital. An odd serge of protectiveness washed over him. He had always wanted to care for Selina. Yet, she had always kept him at a distance.
"Bruce?" she called. Her eyes were still shut as if she were sleeping.
"I'm here." Bruce told her.
"Don't let him hurt me again." she said pitifully.
"Who hurt you?" Bruce asked gently.
Selina shook her head. Her eyes still closed.
"That freak. He'll find me here." she said weakly.
"No, he won't."
"He will." she cried in her twilight sleep.
"You're coming home with me." Bruce told her. "As soon as you wake up."
"I like your house." she whispered.
Before Bruce could ask anymore questions, Selina was asleep again.
~ Selina woke up slowly. Her bed was too soft and her room was too big. Sunlight was coming in from a high window and highlighting a vase full of fresh tulips.
'Where am I?' she thought to herself. She started to sit up when a pain radiated down her leg made her stop.
'The freak, the jewelry store, the fall, the rats in the basement, the emergency room. Bruce!'
Memories came flooding back into her mind flushing out the blissful innocence of the morning.
A wave of panic ripped through her. Last night had been a busy one. She hadn't been able to get the diamonds, the freak had attacked her, chased her off a roof and she had been hurt.
She had been desperate for help, so desperate she had called Bruce. He had come. Like a white knight on a noble steed, Bruce Wayne had rescued her.
Bruce Wayne loved to play the White Knight.
Selina winced in pain again as she tried to maneuver herself out of bed. She could still walk, although it wasn't pleasant. If she favored her good leg, she could manage well enough. She had to use the bathroom and remembered where it was from one of here many stays at Wayne manor. Bruce had always kept this room for her. Ever since Gordon had stashed her here for protection.
It was a lovely room with a south facing window that overlooked a massive lawn. Bruce said the lawn was molded after Chatsworth, whatever that was. Her bedroom at Wayne manor was pink. Not a lurid pink like a typical girls room. This pink was soft as rose petals. The famine touches were not too overdone, and not too youthful either. Selina liked this room with its paintings of flowers framed on the walls, and it's deep, comfortable bed. She knew that Bruce never allowed anyone else to stay in her room. It was always the same and she was grateful.
She wasn't sure what time it was after she had gone to the bathroom and taken a quick shower. It was hard to stand and she was hurting again.
She had forgotten to bring in a change of clothes with her into the bathroom and was a little surprised to see a fresh, new pair of pink pajamas sitting on the marble sink when she got out of the shower.
She didn't have to wonder who had provided them. Her benefactor was waiting outside the bathroom for her.
"Did you come in there when I was showering?" she asked pointing to the bathroom.
"I've hired a nurse for you." Bruce said ignoring the question. "Next time, please call her for help. I wouldn't want you hurt again."
"Thanks." Selina said.
"You slept a long time." Bruce told her. "It's almost time for dinner. I assume you're hungry."
Selina nodded. She was starving for something to eat.
"Good, let me help you back to bed and I'll have something brought up for you." he said.
Selina felt slightly distrustful of Bruce. He had always been kind to her. Always cared for her, and loved her. She had never deserved any of it. Didn't deserve his goodness.
She didn't deserve a white knight.
What choice did she have? Slowly, she hobbled out of the bathroom and took Bruce's hand. Her hip hurt her terribly and she almost lost her balance and fell. Bruce, stronger than she remembered, held fast to her and gently, helped her back to bed. His body now capable of easily holding her up.
As if she were a child, he folded the blankets over her. Selina remembered the wonderful the feel of the pink satin comforter from her previous stays here.
"You kept my old room." she said sadly.
"Of course." Bruce said easily. "It was always here for you."
He was sitting on the edge of her bed. His eyes, still as dark and lovely as she remembered, seeming to drink her in.
"What would you like to eat?" he asked. Breaking out of some spell they both were in.
"I'm not picky." she laughed. "You know that."
Bruce smiled.
"I'll have Alfred cook up some hamburgers like the old days." he laughed.
"Will you eat with me?" Selina asked.
Her hands went to his and held them tight. She didn't want to let him go.
Bruce looked down at their fingers intertwined.
"I have somethings to do tonight." he said avoiding her eyes.
She felt a pain in her heart at the disappointment.
"I was hoping we could watch TV together, or something stupid like that." Selina admitted.
Bruce smiled.
"I'll have Alfred get dinner started." Bruce told her getting to his feet. He gave her a curt, formal nod before leaving the room. He kept his gaze away from her. His failure to make eye contact meant he was hiding something.
For a moment, Selina felt a prickle of fear shiver down her spine. Bruce had always wanted to spend time with her. Was always the gentleman. For a terrifying moment, she feared he didn't really care for her at all. What else did she have, if she didn't have him to care for her?
~ Alfred wasn't happy when Bruce came downstairs to the kitchen.
"Is the invalid awake, sir?" he asked briskly. Bruce noticed the long time butler was cooking Selina Kyle's favorite meal, duck in orange sauce.
"Yes." Bruce said. He wondered if he should tell Alfred to make hamburgs instead. He decided the risk wasn't worth it. Alfred had his limits when it came to some things. Selina Kyle had tested them all.
"I think you should know, Master Bruce." Alfred said clearing his throat while he whisked the organic sauce. "I think it's a very bad idea to keep the lady here."
"She thinks she might be in danger if she stays at the hospital." Bruce explained.
"A danger that is her own making, Master Bruce." Alfred barked. He glared at the younger man. "I know you're reluctant to hear this, but Selina isn't that sweet girl Gordon dropped off all those years ago. In fact, I'm willing to bet she was never a good person."
"Alfred." Bruce sighed. "She's had a hard life."
"Many people have hard lives. They don't get arrested for stealing." Alfred scolded.
"She's not like that anymore. She's changed."
"Just as you like, Master Bruce." Alfred muttered. "But it's been a long time since you'e seen her. Maybe her change hasn't been for the better."
"What do you mean?" Bruce said hotly. He didn't like for Alfred to beat around the bush.
"How do we know Miss Kyle isn't… a woking girl." Alfred said with difficulty.
Bruce didn't understand right away. Alfred was trying to be tactful, but it was lost on the younger man.
Alfred read the confusion on Bruce's face.
"I mean, you don't have people after you if you're obeying the law. She might owe money to some pimp." Alfred said.
Bruce felt his stomach clench and his spin straiten.
"Selina isn't like that." he said in a cold, detached voice.
The idea of Selina, his childhood friend, allowing that to happen.
"She would never." Bruce said.
"We don't know that." Alfred said.
"I know that. I know Selina. She respects herself too much to become that." Bruce said.
"When people are desperate, sir." Alfred said gently. "They do desperate things."
"Selina is a survivor." Bruce reasoned. "She would never be that desperate."
The old friends exchanged stares for a moment. Each believing themselves to be right.
"Of course, sir." Alfred said stiffly. "I'll be bringing up the lady's tray soon."
"I'll bring diner to her." Bruce said. "She wants to watch some kind of program and has asked me to stay with her this evening. I was thinking now would be a good time to make use of the screening room."
"About time. What about your investigation of the jewelry shop?" Alfred asked.
"That can wait." Bruce explained.
"Patrols?" Alfred asked curiously.
Bruce ignored him.