Author's Note: Hey everybody. This chapter is very similar to chapter seven mainly because I don't think I did a very good job on it. What I had originally planned wasn't working so I had to rewrite this like five different times. I realize that I haven't updated for awhile, and I'm sorry about that. It's just that with school and homework I haven't been as motivated to write as I usually am. I also apologize for this being so short. I cut some things out and moved them to the next chapter just for the sake of getting it done before too many people lost interest. Thanks as always to everyone who reviewed, please keep them coming even if (like me) you didn't like this chapter all that much.

The Return

Chapter Ten

Matt and Elektra broke apart like two teenagers who'd been caught sneaking in after curfew. Abby's gaze continued to shift from one to the other, finally settling on Matt. Knowing that it fell to her to provide some sort of explanation, Elektra did her best to ignore the awkwardness of the situation.

"Abby, this is Matt Murdock. He- we- I…"

She was stammering. This wasn't good. Stammering was a sign of guilt. Not that she had anything to feel guilty for, but with the look Abby was giving them it was hard not to. Fortunately Matt stepped in, extending his hand and giving Abby a lopsided smile.

"Hi, it's good to meet you."

Abby didn't reply, and after realizing that his greeting would not be returned, Matt let his arm drop to his side.

"So, when you said you were in New York, you were with him?" Though she tried to sound normal, Abby couldn't keep the sadness out of her voice.

"Yes, but-"

She was cut off by Abby, who was addressing Matt for the first time.

"What's with the shades?"

Caught off guard by the suddenness of the question, Matt blinked several times. "Sorry?"

"The glasses. Nobody wears sunglasses in this weather." She waved toward the overcast sky.

"Well it tends to make people uncomfortable if I don't."

"Why would it…" Abby trailed off, noticing for the first time the cane lying forgotten on the ground. When it finally clicked into place, Abby's face turned a shade of red closely resembling that of the glasses she'd just commented on.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were- I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

Heavy silence fell between them while Matt and Elektra tried to figure out what to say. For her part, Abby was unsure what to make of this new development. Elektra dating someone was weird enough, but a blind guy? If anything, Abby would have expected her to go out with some ass kicking Bruce Lee type. This was becoming too tense, there was too much information to process, and she needed some time to figure it all out.

"You know what? I think I just got my appetite back, so I'm going to try and find something to eat that doesn't taste like toxic waste."

And with that she was gone, practically sprinting in the other direction before either adult could stop her. Matt waited until he was sure she was out of earshot before speaking again.

"Something tells me I won't be getting the top spot on her favorite people list."

"I can't believe she found out like that. Which reminds me, how did she manage to sneak up on you?"

The question wasn't accusatory; Elektra was simply confused as to how Matt hadn't noticed Abby earlier given how sharp his senses were.

"Me? She snuck up on you too."

"Yes, but I'm not the one who hears whispers from a block away."

Matt shrugged. "Sometimes when I'm with you I don't hear things the way I normally do." Feeling strangely embarrassed by the admission, he hurried to change the subject. "This might seem weird after what just happened, but I really like her."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I guess she reminds me of you."

"You realize that you're probably the only person on earth who would consider that a good thing."

"Maybe, but you're probably the only person on earth who would knowingly get involved with a man who spends his nights jumping rooftops in a devil costume. What does that tell you?"

"Probably that I need a hell of a lot more therapy then I originally thought."

"Really? I just thought it meant that you liked guys who wear leather."

Elektra smiled warmly, giving him a light kiss on the lips. "I need to go find Abby. We'll talk when I get back."

Matt was tempted to ask her to stay, but didn't stop her from leaving. It was clear that Abby was her top priority at the moment and he certainly couldn't blame her for that. Right now he had to concentrate on stopping Bullseye before he had the chance to hurt anyone else.

The man in question was currently sitting in yet another dingy hotel room, having another conversation with the man who'd originally contacted him about the job.

"You have failed to complete your objective."

"Look, it was your people who told me that the girl would be there. It's not my fault that your information was wrong."

"You don't seem to understand the severity of the situation. My employers will not tolerate failure."

"And I haven't failed. The job will still get done; it's just a matter of getting my hands on the kid."

"Easier said then done. We can assume that she's with Murdock and the Natchios woman, in a location which you could not possibly hope to penetrate."

"Relax. If they're in hiding, then all I need to do get them out in the open."

"And how may I ask are you planning to do that?"

"It'll be dealt with. Tell your bosses to sit tight. I've got a flight to New York later tonight and once I get there it'll only be a matter of time before all three of them are dead."