I am so so so sorry that it took me so long to update! School started back up and I had some of this written but I wasn't too happy about it so I stopped to establish the plot line a little more before finishing this chapter. I'm still a little unhappy with this chapter butplease let me know what you think and like always, advice is welcome and encouraged! Just a little warning, with school updates will be kinda slow but I will try for 2 updates a week, and if I don't get 2 in then blame my teachers for being evil :) Okay heres chapter 4!
In the end it only took ten minutes for me to pack, but on the way down the hallway I came to a dead stop. I dropped my bag and rushed into the guest bedroom. I was horrified that I had almost left without my books. It took mere seconds for Bane's heavy footsteps to echo through the apartment as he strode into the room, demanding to know what I was doing.
"I have to find something." I murmered, distracted in my quest for one of the most important gifts I had ever been given as I searched the book shelf.
"I can have books bought to you."
"Yes, but not this book, it's special to me." Which was true, especially now because I hadn't heard from Bruce once during this and I knew without a doubt that something terrible had happened. I heard the bed dip and groan as Bane rested his heavy frame on it. I spied Pride and Prejudice and grabbed that also. I searched the entire bookshelf before turning to Max, who had followed Bane into the room.
"Maximus, do you remember where I put it?" Bane looked up in surprise at the fact that I was asking a dog for help and not the other human being in the room.
"I'm tiring of this game, Abigail, I will carry you. Do not test me" I sucked in a sharp breath as my full name left his lips and gave a sharp nod.
"It's just that this book is really, really special to me, even more than before." Suddenly I felt anger rise inside of me. It was Bane's fault that the rich had been hunted down like dogs, that Bruce had been hunted like a dog. Before I could do anything too rash, Max let out a bark and then rushed out into the hallway. He led me into my bedroom and then he jumped up onto the bed. I pulled the covers back, suddenly remembering that I had been reading nights before. Not finding the book hidden under a pillow or in my nightstand, I kneeled on the floor and searched under my bed. I wiggled under the bed frame, spying the thick, hardcover volume. I reached forward, snatched it up, wiped the light layer of dust off, and then clutched it to my chest as if it were a lifeline even though I was putting pressure on my bruises. I looked up at Max.
"Thanks boy." I whispered, my throat tight and my eyes stinging with emotion. I sniffled and then stood and walked back to the living room. I found Bane with my bag, standing in the hallway, shifting impatiently from foot to foot. He was obviously unaccustomed to having to wait on people. I made a mental note not to make him wait again.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" He asked stiffly. I merely nodded, the book still clutched firmly to my chest.
"What is it?" Even though Bane asked it, it still sounded like a demand. I held the book out for him to read.
"The Count of Monte Cristo. What is so special about this volume?" He asked, his eyes swimming with curiosity.
"Well someone very special gave that to me and now, well, I don't know whats happened to him." Bane looked from me to the book and then handed it back to me, his eyes filled with the same emotion when I had mentioned Bruce earlier. I just couldn't identify the emotion.
"Are you ready now?" I nodded again, to afraid to speak in fear that my voice would crack in my sadness, and then he led the way to my front door, Max trotting by my side. Once out in the hallway I shut and locked the door, depositing the keys in my back pocket. I looked up, feeling Bane's eyes on me.
"You won't need to keep those, you're not coming back." His eyes held mine almost as if he were daring me to argue the point.
"Sentimental reasons" I supplied. Bane grunted and then threw my bag over his shoulder. We walked for a good twenty minutes until Max started to limp. Instantly I stopped, leaning down to check his leg. He let out a yelp when my fingers ran over a particularly sensitive spot.
"Bane!" I called out for him. He whipped around, obviously shocked that I had managed to escape his attention so easily.
"Why did you not stop me?" He nearly snarled, his voice had taken on a rough quality with his anger.
"I...I..."
"You what? It's dangerous out here, little one, or was last night not enough proof of that?" He snapped at me and I sneered.
"Gotham was dangerous long before you came around and I stopped because Max started to limp. I told you we couldn't move him so soon." I turned back to Max only to have my elbow caught in Bane's tight, unrelenting grip. He turned me to face him and I erased all traces of pain from my face, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"Do not lecture me Abigail, you will find that I am not a man to allow such disrespect." Even though he said this nice enough, his eyes told a differet story. They gave me a warning and I gulped while nodding, I would heed his warning. "As for Maximus, he is in luck." Skeptical, I arched an eyebrow.
"My men are to pick us up a block away." Bane explained. I looked pointedly at my arm and he squeezed my elbow, a reminder as to who was in charge, and then let it go before kneeling beside Max. As he ran his hands up and down my dog's legs, I watched his hands. He was careful and precise in his movements and I wondered, for just a moment, what it would feel like to have those hands on my back, pulling me into him. I bit my lip in an effort to keep the sound of pleasure the thought caused from escaping me.
"It's his back right leg. It's a light sprain." I told Bane confidently.
"Are you a doctor?" He asked me, arching his eyebrow in a condesending way. It infuriated me, I'd show him condesending.
"Actually, if you must know, before you came I was going to school to become a doctor." I had risen to my full height, which wasn't very impressive, and was towering over his kneeled form. I felt a jolt of empowerment course through me...and then he stood up. I stepped around him to stand beside Max.
"He'll be fine as long we slow down for him." I said firmly, making it clear that in the case of my baby, there would be no argueing. His chocolate brown eyes meant mine and I hoped he'd see fiery determination burning there. He must of saw something along those lines because he gave a curt nod and then spun on his heel, walking down the side walk. I scooped up Max's leash and encouraged him to start walking.
With our slower pace, it took almost twenty minutes to walk one block. Pulled up at the curb of the street was a simple black van. Sliding the door open, Bane threw my bag into the car and then motioned for me to get in. I hopped into the car and then whistled for Maximus. He was looking at the distance from the ground to the van floor and must not have liked what he saw because he looked back at me as if I were crazy. Then he sat down on the pavement refusing to move an inch. I narrowed my eyes.
"Maximus." I called gently but firmly, like they taught us in doggy classes. Bane made an impatient sound in the back of his throat and then bent and lifted Max, setting him on the floor. I gave him a gentle smile and then watched as he shut the door, climbing into the passenger seat. That was the first good look I got at the driver, who I realized looked very familiar. It was the janitor from the stock exchange or I guess his true occupation was a terrorist. He had dark, short brown hair and his eyes held a haunted look about them, as if he had seen too much in such little time. He gave me a nod and then turned the key in the ignition and started to drive through the empty streets. Finding nothing else to do, I let my fingers sink into Max's coat as he lay resting by my seat. I watched out the window as we slowly drove through the narrows and started to arrive in the nicer part of Gotham. I assumed we would have stopped soon but we continued on. The houses started to change into large towering buildings. I should have realized that Bane would need a base at the center of Gotham in order to over see all the happenings. Finnally the car rolled to a stop in front of a tall building, full of lofts and luxurious apartments I knew. It was much easier for Max to ease his way down onto the pavement and didn't require Bane's help.
Bane led the way through a lobby and into an elevator. We went to the very top floor, while his henchmen, I had a sneaking suspicion it was his right hand man, Barsad, had gotten off several floors before. The doors dinged open and then Max and I were being led down a hallway again and then let into a door.
The apartment was large with a nice sized kitchen and a living room that was fully furnished. Where there should have been a solid wall, there was a complete glass wall, letting you look out at Gotham in all it's glory as you relaxed on the plush, brown, leather chairs. The chairs sat opposite the glass wall and the couch was settled on the north wall, across from it a large, if you asked me, ostentatious, T.V. I pivoted to inspect the kitchen and found stainless steel appliances and cream colored cabniets lining the sunshine colored room. The bright color made me smile. I looked over at Bane, who had dropped my bag and now was waiting for me to finish my scrutiny of the apartment.
"It's very nice." I told him. Nicer than anything I've ever had. I thought but not bitterly, I had had a great life, a great home, until my parents had died. But even then I had been very fortunate. More fortunate than most orphans.
"There are two rooms just down that hall. One is a bedroom, where there is a bathroom. The other is the only room you are not allowed to enter, is that understood?" I nodded quickly and then Bane continued. "Good. My men have been ordered to leave you be. There is food in the kitchen if you get hungry. I have bussiness to attend to and do not let that dog sleep in the bed. " I nodded once more but at his stare I realized he wanted me to speak aloud.
"Okay, no going into the west wing and there's food in the kitchen." I repeated but not being able to resist refrencing Beauty and the Beast. I purposefully left out that bit about Max and Bane noticed.
"What did I say about the dog?"
"Oh you said something about Max?" I asked innocently.
"Abigail..."
"Sorry, I didn't hear you." I teased. He finnaly seemed to catch on and his eyes narrowed. I raised my hands in surrender.
"Don't let him sleep in the bed." Bane nodded before turning and walking to the door. He stopped and turned, his hand on the knob. I meant his eyes and shivered. He spoke softly and his voice wraped around me like silk.
"And, little one, do not leave this apartment, for any reason at all." I was going to nod but the seriousness in his eyes dragged the words from my mouth.
"I promise."
Bane shut the door behind him and I felt my shoulders sag, my facade slipping. I let the mirade of emotions rage through me. Rage, fear, helplessness, disgust (at myself), lust, and then a heart crushing sadness. It sat like a stone on my heart. I crossed the living room where Max was laying beside the maroon sofa. I kneeled next to him and rubbed the back of his floppy black ears.
"Maximus, what am I gonna do?" He gave my palm a tentive lick in answer. I stood and then went to stand and look out of the glass wall. You could see the whole of Gotham from the height of the building. I let my eyes rove across the scenery until I found what I was looking for. Sat atop a hill was Wayne Manner and I lifted a finger to trace the house. The feeling in my chest becoming overwhelming. Bruce was gone and now I was with the man that was responsible for his disappearance, although Bane hadn't killed him or hurt him with his own hands, but he was the cause of it. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek and I wiped at it angrily. I snatched my bag up, called for Max, and then dragged the bag into the bedroom. I peeled off my shirt and track pants and then threw on my pajama shorts and a plain while tanktop. I dug though my bag and lifted the Count of Monte Cristo. I pulled the covers from the bed, to tired to study the bedroom as I had the kitchen and living room, and then I patted the bedside for Max to come up.
Screw Bane and his rules. I opened the front of the book and traced the words Bruce had written in the inside cover. To Abby, this is a story that, once, I never would have understood, never connected with. But in recent years I have been able to identify with the character of Edmond Dantes more than any other literary figure I have read about. In case something happens to me, this book will help you understand. Abby, we may not be connected by blood but I have come to learn that blood doesn't always determine who your family is. You like to tease me and say I have issues with the L word and maybe I do, but I do love you Abby, don't ever forget it. Love, Bruce.
I dissolved into sobs and that night I slept with the book cradled to my chest and my tear streaked face buried in Max's fur.
If the note from Bruce seems a little OOC please keep in mind that Bruce and Abby have a past which will be explained in later chapters and I really wanted to show that he thinks of her as a sister, I wanted to show a different, slightly softer side of Bruce Wayne.