Hello my lovely readers, I do apologize again for not updating in like forever. But, here is the next chapter!
Enjoy!
REVISED: 8/28/2012
Caught in the Middle:
Chapter 8
"What do you mean he is sick, Alfred? I don't understand. He was fine yesterday afternoon." Selina asked.
"I don't know how he got sick, but I know that it's not food poisoning." Alfred said over the phone. "He, he keeps saying your name, Miss Selina, I think it would help if you came to the mansion."
"I'll pack my bags and get a cab to the mansion. You should stay with Bruce."
"Okay, see you when you get here."
"Bye, Alfred, everything will be okay."
"Thank you, Miss Selina, but that may need to be said a lot tonight."
They hung up the phone.
Selina hurried to get dressed. She put on a loose pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She got out a backpack and packed enough clothes in it for three days, not really knowing how long she would be there for. She also packed her toothbrush and hair brush. She got her shoes and coat on and left her apartment quickly.
Selina caught a cab to Wayne Manor and thanked the driver as he dropped her off. She quickly pressed the buzzer at the gate.
"Miss Selina?" Alfred's English accented voice came out of the speaker after a minute or two.
"Yes, Alfred, I'm here."
The gates opened up immediately. Selina almost ran up to the front door and let herself in.
"Alfred?" She called as she set her bags down and took off her coat.
"Miss Selina! Thank God, you're here." Alfred exclaimed coming down the stairs.
Selina froze when she saw him. The old butler looked so worn down. His face was pale and he had bags under his eyes. Alfred obviously hadn't slept last night. This worried her. Bruce must really be sick for Alfred not to sleep.
"Alfred, are you okay? You look terrible."
"I'm fine, I'm just really worried."
"You should go-" She was cut off when she heard someone scream from upstairs.
'Bruce,' Selina thought as she started running upstairs. Alfred followed close behind her. Her bag and coat lay forgotten on the floor of the foyer.
Both of them burst into the master bedroom. Selina froze when she laid eyes on Bruce.
He lay on the bed with a blanket up to his chest. He was clenching the blanket in his hands down by his waist. They were shaking he was squeezing so hard. His face held pain and fear. His eyes were shut tight and he was gritting his teeth.
What could have happened to him?
Selina rushed forward when Bruce started mumbling, crying somewhat, in his ill sleep. She reached for his hand and had to pry his fingers off of the blanket. She held it tightly as she sat on the edge of the bed. She could only catch a few words.
"Bats…Selina…Get away!" The part came out clearly and loud.
Selina stroked his head and whispered soothing things to him.
"Bruce, I'm right here, it's okay. Nothing is going to hurt you." She whispered.
Bruce jolted and grabbed Selina's wrists with both hands painfully. Alfred start forward to help her but she stopped him. She will get through to Bruce.
"Bruce, its Selina. Everything will be okay, can you hear me?"
He paused, and then opened his eyes and she nearly gasped. They held such fear. Fear like she had never seen before in his eyes. It scared her.
"Selina?" He asked through his daze.
"Yes, Bruce, I'm here."
Bruce relaxed his grip on her and fell back against the pillows.
Selina turned back to Alfred who still looked worn out.
"Alfred, we need to get him to a doctor."
"We can't make this a big deal though. I don't want Master Bruce's reputation in Gotham to go down the drain."
"Then who do we call for help if we can't take him to the hospital?" Selina asked still thinking the hospital was the best place.
"I know just the person to call." And with that, Alfred left the room.
She let Alfred go, she just wanted to stay and be there for Bruce.
Fifteen minutes passed before Alfred came back to find Selina in the same exact position as he left her; sitting on the side of the bed, stroking Bruce's hair, and holding his hand. It was hard seeing them like this, one seemingly near death and one worrying over the other.
"Who'd you call?" Selina asked, bringing Alfred from his thoughts.
"Lucius Fox, he said he'll be here with the next half hour." He explained hoping to put her at ease.
"Who's Lucius Fox?"
"An old friend, he works at Wayne Enterprises."
Selina nodded, feeling calmer. If Alfred said he was an old friend, then he can be trusted.
"Miss Selina, how about a nice cup of tea?" Alfred suggested.
"I think I'm going to need one, I really do need to relax."
"Then why don't you stay here and I'll go make a pot." Alfred gave a reassuring smile to her and left the room.
Selina looked back down at Bruce. His breathing was still rather shallow and his forehead was drenched in sweat. His lips kept moving as if he was mumbling something but no sound came out. She put her hand on his forehead and her eyes widened. He was burning up.
She got up and walked briskly into the large bathroom. There, she got a wash cloth out of the cupboard under the marble sink. She wet it under cold water from the faucet. She squeezed the excess water out and rushed back into the bedroom. She sat back down on the edge of the bed and draped the wet cloth on Bruce's forehead. He shivered at the cold feeling. She took his hand again and looked around the master bedroom.
She hadn't been in this room for years. When Selina and Bruce were younger, after Thomas and Martha were murdered, they would sleep in the bed when they couldn't settle down. It started one night when Selina woke up and found that Bruce wasn't beside her as he usually was at night. She had gone out of her bedroom and walked down the hall to Bruce's room. He wasn't there. She then saw a light coming from under Thomas' and Martha's bedroom door. She opened it to see Bruce lying on the bed. He was fast asleep. Selina had sat on the edge of the bed, much like was now, and just watched him for a while.
From that night on, Bruce and Selina sometimes slept in Thomas' and Martha's room.
Selina smiled at the memory and looked up as Alfred walked back into the room with a tray. On the tray were two teacups with plates made out of porcelain. Next to them was a medium size teapot.
"What kind of tea did you make?" Selina asked.
"Breakfast tea; I hope it's okay." Alfred answered. "I know you prefer coffee."
"No, breakfast tea is perfect." She smiled.
Selina accepted the cup that Alfred poured her and added cream and sugar.
Alfred set the tray down on a table and pulled up a chair. He fixed his own cup and they sipped their tea in companionable silence.
Both were somewhat startled when the doorbell rang.
"That would be Lucius." Alfred said as he got up and left the room again.
Selina sighed; she hoped Bruce would get better soon. No, she knew he would get better, he had to. She couldn't lose him again.
Alfred returned to the master bedroom with another man in tow. The other man, who Selina presumed was Lucius Fox, was a tall, African American man with graying hair. He had a heart warming smile on his face as he made eye contact with her as if saying everything was going to be okay. Selina returned the smile with a sad one of her own. She stood to greet him.
"Hello, you must be Lucius Fox." She greeted, extending her hand.
"Yes, and you must be Selina Roth, how are you today? Good I hope." Lucius responded shaking her hand.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I could be better."
He nodded in understanding.
Selina noticed, for the first time, that he held a case in his other hand.
"What's in there?" She asked.
"Vials and needles to take blood from Mr. Wayne; I am going to analyze his blood to see if I can make an antidote for him."
Selina nodded and stepped aside.
Lucius walked forward and knelt beside the bed next to Bruce. He set his case on the bedside table and opened it. He got out a syringe and a vial. Lucius then found a major vein in Bruce's arm and stuck the needle in. Bruce twitched. Blood filled the vial at a steady rate.
Selina and Alfred watched as Lucius filled two more vials with blood before he started to pack up.
"How long do you think it will take to make an antidote?" Alfred asked.
"I'm not sure; it depends on how complex the poison is." Lucius answered.
"Whoa, wait a minute! Alfred, you just said Bruce was sick! Not poisoned! What happened?" Selina asked suspiciously.
Alfred and Lucius glanced at each other. There was something they were keeping from her.
"What's going on?" She pried.
"Miss Selina, I think it would be right if Master Bruce told you, not me. It's not my place to say what happened." Alfred told her in all honesty.
Selina thought for a minute. If it was private to Bruce then Alfred was right about not telling her. She should ask Bruce about it. "Alright, I understand."
Lucius left after another minute of mild conversation.
Selina flopped down in her chair she was sitting on before. She was confused and worried over Bruce. What could have happened to him?
Hours passed with no word from Lucius. Bruce got steadily worse. He was shaking more and mumbling louder. He kept saying three words.
"Blood poison." And after a while the occasional "Selina!" would come out.
During all of this, Selina was always in the room. Either she was sitting in a chair by the bed reading a book or, when Bruce started to get unsettled again, she was sitting next to him on the bed comforting him.
Alfred would come in from time to time to check on them both and to bring Selina more tea and food. This continued like so with no word from Lucius well into the evening. All the while, Bruce proceeded to get more ill. His fever rose and his panic attacks were more frequent, longer, and more severe.
Alfred made dinner and both he and Selina ate in the master bedroom.
Half way through the meal of tomato soup and toast, Bruce got another attack. Selina quickly put down her bowl and plate and hurried over to the bed.
He was trembling and crying slightly. Selina sat on the edge of the bed again and took his hand, but Bruce tensed, which hadn't happen before. Usually, he relaxed at a person's touch.
"Bruce? It's Selina, it's okay."
She reached out to stoke his head but as she touched him, Bruce screamed and lashed out, swinging his arms around wildly. Selina moved just in time but ended up on the floor.
"Miss Selina, are you alright?!" Alfred gasped and he helped her up.
"Yes, I'm fine." She kept looking at the trembling figure on the bed.
She went back toward the bed but the old butler stopped her.
"Miss Selina, you'll get hurt, Master Bruce is not safe to be around." Alfred warned.
"Alfred, I need to help him, it hurts to see Bruce like this."
Alfred reluctantly let her go.
She went forward again and sat on the edge of the bed. She winced as Bruce grabbed her wrists when she touched him again. Alfred started to come to help her but she stopped him.
Ignoring the pain pulsing in her wrists, Selina started talking to Bruce again; trying to get through to him.
"Bruce, it's okay; you are safe. Nothing is going to get you, not while I'm here."
He paused before relaxing against the pillows again. He released her wrists. Both Selina and Alfred breathed a sigh of relief.
"Miss Selina, are you alright?" Alfred asked worriedly.
"Y-yes, I am." She stuttered, she rubbed her wrists, they were going to bruise, she could tell.
Alfred frowned; he could tell this had shaken her up. "You need to rest."
"No, I'm fine." But as Selina said this, she let out a yawn. "I have to stay with Bruce anyways."
"Miss Selina, I insist. I'll stay with Master Bruce. I won't leave the room."
Selina relented and thanked Alfred. She gave him a quick hug before leaving the master bedroom and walking to her old room. She changed into her pajamas which were sweat pants and a tank. She climbed under her covers and slowly let her tense body relax.
While it was good to have Bruce back, she hated worrying about him. She had always worried about him: when they were young, as a young adult, especially when he disappeared, and now. She was sick of it. Selina sighed and rolled onto her side.
She cared for Bruce, a lot, he was like her brother.
As soon as she thought that, the scene where Bruce kissed her all those years ago came to the front of her mind. That had been one hell of a kiss that was for sure. Sure, she had been kissed before that and after, but never, ever like that. Bruce's kiss was so passionate, so overwhelming, held such feeling, and made her crave for more. Others after that kiss had been so dull. All she could think about the guy she was kissing was how much Bruce could do better and how much she wanted him more.
Selina blushed at the thought of wanting Bruce. The word "want" had such a down to dirt meaning of no emotional attachment. And she certainly wanted and had that with Bruce. He had always been there for her and her with him. They were each other's rocks.
So what did she want then? She knew she wanted Bruce, well, not want Bruce. What she did crave was to be kissed like that again, to be held like that. She knew that but she also knew that she also felt something toward him. He was very special to her. She didn't know how deep her feelings went. It was certainly more than friendship, but that means that she would like Bruce, and she was certain it wasn't a stupid school girl crush. She didn't squeal every time he looked her way. If it wasn't that, then what was it? Could she possibly like him?
Her eyes shot open. Having feelings for Bruce?! That was unthinkable!
'Until now…' A voice reminded her inside her head.
She yawned again which reminded her she was supposed to be sleeping. Selina would deal with this in the morning. She closed her eyes again. As she was drifting off her mind was still on that kiss. That one hell of a kiss.
"Yes, indeed." She sleepily murmured as she fell asleep.
-Three Hours Later-
Selina woke up to the sound of footsteps and voices passing by her door. One was clearly Alfred. The other, she realized, was Lucius Fox.
She threw back the blankets and got out of bed. She shivered, already missing her warm covers. She got a sweatshirt on. She left her room and walked down the hall to the master bedroom. At the doors, she paused and listened. It sounded like Alfred and Lucius were having a very serious conversation. She was about to leave when she heard Bruce's name.
"How long until Master Bruce wakes up?" She heard Alfred ask.
"It can be anytime from a couple of hours to a day. The poison wasn't as strong as it could have been, but it was deadly enough. We were all lucky it wasn't worse." Lucius answered gravely.
'Deadly?!' Selina's mind screamed as she peaked into the room.
"Do you know how it got into his system?" Alfred asked another question.
"The compound was in the blood rather quickly so it had to have been inhaled or injected. My guess was that it was inhaled because I saw no injection marks on either of his arms."
"Alright, thank you Lucius for doing this for us."
"Not a problem, but you should call me when he starts to stir. I would like to check on Mr. Wayne when he is awake."
"I'll be sure to do that." Alfred said as he shook Lucius' hand.
This conversation had only made Selina more suspicious of what happened to Bruce. What was so bad that only he could tell her? What could have possibly happen?
Then, she realized, that both men were coming toward the door. She had to do something, anything but look like she had just been eavesdropping. Maybe if she acted like she just woke up.
Selina made her eyes droop as she opened the door. She paused and yawned before saying, "Oh, hello Mr. Fox." She greeted sleepily.
"Hello, Miss Roth, I was just leaving." Lucius smiled.
"Is Bruce-"
"He will be fine, I just injected the antidote and Mr. Wayne will be up in a matter of hours." He was pleased to finish for her.
"Oh, thank God." She exclaimed in relief. "I can't tell you how grateful I am, Mr. Fox."
"It was my pleasure." And with that, Lucius gave his good byes and let himself out.
"How did you sleep, Miss Selina?" Alfred asked.
"I slept alright, I'm still tired though. I only slept for three hours."
"Why don't you go back to bed, your job must make you lose sleep and with this happening you must be exhausted."
"Could I stay in here with Bruce?" Selina asked.
"Yes, of course, he has calmed down drastically."
"Alfred, have you slept at all?" Selina asked as she noticed how tired Alfred looked.
"No, I have not. Will you be okay if I go rest for a bit?" He asked.
"Alfred, you don't have to ask, you can just go sleep, and you need it. I'll be fine." She smiled.
"Thank you, Miss Selina, sleep well."
"You too, Alfred."
They hugged and the butler left the room. Selina took a deep, cleansing breath. She walked to the bed.
Bruce was visibly calmer. His face was relaxed and wasn't pinched like it was before. Selina noted that he was wearing a new t-shirt. Alfred must have changed his clothes before she woke up.
She climbed onto the bed and got under the blankets. When she got herself situated, she reached over and took Bruce's hand. As she fell asleep again, she faintly felt him squeeze her hand.
-Next Day: Late Afternoon-
"Bruce…why do we fall?" A voice whispered as Bruce opened his eyes.
The first thing he registered through his half-awake half asleep haze was that it was very bright. What happened?
He remembered being out in the Narrows as Batman. Then that rundown apartment and then Dr. Crane.
Fear Toxin.
He had been poisoned.
Sloppy! He should have been smarter and more agile. He cursed in his head.
Then the nightmares came back. They were worse than usual, probably because of the poison. But he remembered something else, there was a voice, Selina's voice, was calling to him in his terrible dreams. That had got him through.
He finally realized that someone was sitting beside the bed stirring something in a glass. Bruce forced himself to get used to the light.
It was Alfred.
"How long was I out?" Bruce asked.
"Two days." Alfred said quietly. "It's your birthday, many happy returns." He handed Bruce the glass.
He took a sip and struggled to swallow. He felt awful. His mouth was dry and he felt sick to his stomach.
"I've felt these affects before. But this was so much more potent. It was some kind of hallucinogen, weaponized in aerosol form." Bruce took another sip of the drink Alfred made him. It didn't taste good at all but it was making his stomach feel better so he kept drinking. Alfred knew just what to do, what would he ever do without his butler?
"You have been hanging out in the wrong clubs, Mr. Wayne." A new voice said and Lucius Fox stepped into view.
"I called Mr. Fox when your condition worsened after the first day." Alfred answered Bruce's unasked question.
"I analyzed your blood, isolating the receptor compounds and the protein based catalysts."
"Am I meant to understand any of that?" Bruce asked skeptically.
"Not at all. I just wanted you to know how hard it was. Bottom line, I synthesized an antidote."
"Could you make more?" Bruce somehow knew it would become in handy soon.
"Planning on gassing yourself again, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius asked.
"Well, you know how it is, Mr. Fox, you're out at night looking for kicks, someone is passing around a weaponized hallucinogen." He joked.
Lucius smiled. "I'll bring what I have. The antidote should inoculate you for now." The scientist turned to the butler. "Alfred, always a pleasure."
"Lucius." Alfred returned.
"I would say good bye to Miss Roth, but it appears she is still sleeping." Lucius smiled as he saw Bruce perk up the Selina's name.
"Selina is here? Where?" Bruce asked hurriedly.
Alfred chuckled. "Turn around."
Bruce did and saw her lying next to him. How could he not have noticed before?!
He had thought she was there in his nightmares calling to him, but he hadn't believed it. He was happy. Selina was here, for him.
Yes, despite everything, it was good to be home.
-End Chapter-
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Until Next Time,
Hope's Survival
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