A/N: Okay, so first things first. I believe we are definitely into the second arc of this story and things will be looking a bit differently. I think I'm much more comfortable writing in a non-hospital setting and hopefully it will show. I am so excited to move forward with Bruce and Selina's relationship! EEK! I am nervous about whether you all will like where I am going to take this, but when I look back at how I've developed their relationship up to this point, I don't think you'll have a conniption. I think it's safe to assume that a few of the next chapters will be at least 4k, given the nature of some of the scenes. If that does bother you...let me know. Anyways, I appreciate those of you who have stuck with me as I've told their story in a unique way. Also, I love your reviews - they really keep me inspired. Enjoy!

Bruce wrapped his hand warmly around Selina's, leading her through his terminal. Selina decided after a few minutes of strolling that the only way Bruce would spend an extended period of time in a hospital or clinic ever again was over her dead body. This - being somewhat normal - spoiled her and, at the same time, did something remarkable for Bruce's countenance. He was at ease, focused but relaxed. After the morning he'd had, she couldn't get enough of simply watching him be himself, or almost himself.

Bruce's hair was swept back into a ponytail once again and accentuated all the features of his face. Selina could not help but habitually sneak peaks at him. He didn't show the strain from the morning yet, and watching him walk with such ease and knowing he literally was free of pain for at least a little more time made her heart ache and mind spin in ways she wasn't sure she wanted to understand. Or think too much about. He guided her to the left and down a hallway that wasn't quite as large as the others. Not that they were large to begin with. The terminal was the perfect size - small. Considering it was miles away from cities and nestled between towns Selina wasn't even certain made the map, it was perfect for Bruce's cover.

Her gaze settled on his mouth first because it had been on her mind ever since they left the parking lot. His eyes, she saved for last so she could savor them. They compelled her, changing in their depths so often she wondered what was next. She liked seeing Bruce in a place other than a hospital - or on a speeding car. She liked it a bit too much, and her imagination was running wild, as it had ever since they had made out in the parking lot. He either knew she was watching him and was allowing her to indulge for her sake or was thinking too hard on his responsibilities, trying to remember it all. If it were the former, he simply adored her because what other guy would knowingly allow a girl to watch him without tossing her a smirk. If it were the latter...Selina tossed the thought aside. It had to be the first one.

She briefly looked away from him and realized they had passed the small crowd gathering at the corner coffee shop, a place that Bruce already had taken her. In fact, in her other hand she carried the coffee he'd purcheased for her. She didn't know exactly where they were going but she wouldn't question him. At least not yet.

"John is helping Fredericks, Annette, and Cora settle into their seats on the plane now," Bruce finally broke his silence. "We don't have much time but there is something I need to do with your help."

"It must be important if you're wanting to do this before we leave in thirty minutes." She took a sip of the liquid warmth, which was also the most spectacular cup of coffee she'd ever had. When she told him that earlier, Bruce had not been surprised. He admitted it had been a selfish choice for the rare occasions he came.

"It is."

"So, are you going to tell me where we are going?"

"A private office I use when I'm here catching up on my paleontologist paperwork. There's actually a bedroom attached. Do you still have it? I imagine you have it with you right now. You wanted it so badly, I can't imagine you ever letting it out of your sight."

Her breath caught as she followed his swift words and the abrupt change of subject. The clean slate.

"That's the first time you even mentioned it." Selina wondered aloud as they approached a door guarded by more security. Bruce flashed a card to them and they opened the door. After all this time, he remembers. "I imagine the only reason being that you forgot."

Bruce shrugged helplessly as they walked down a narrow hallway. "I knew you wanted to get far from Gotham, but the small detail that I actually gave the clean slate to you has been...missing."

"When did you remember?"

"When I was on top of the roof of a speeding car? I think? It has flashed through my mind a few times since, at least." He pulled out his set of keys, stopping her once they reached another door. He quickly opened it with one hand, not bothering to let go of her hand. Inside, a computer sat on small table. There were several comfortable chairs, a large window, and another door. The decor was appropriately streamlined for his cover but pleasant and included several framed archaeology prints and a few artifacts behind a glassed case. "After you."

He followed her in and turned on the lights. Ever the gentleman as Selina knew him to be, he pulled out a chair for her at the desk. Once seated beside her, Bruce looked at her quizzically.

Taking it as her cue to start talking - or prod him along with what he needed to say - she asked, "Did you remember anything else of that day?"

"A wire being wrapped around my neck by Bane," he frowned. "Not sure about that one. Also, the very words I spoke to Gordon before I flew away."

Maybe it was cruel, but Selina bit back the explanation once again. She didn't know if it was cowardice on her part or some sort of desire for him to remember on his own, but she couldn't tell him that she had saved his life.

"Why did you ask me about the clean slate?"

"You have it, don't you?"

"Yes." Of course it was on her. She continued in a sultry voice. "Would you care to have it back?"

He nodded. "I would, but for only a moment."

"Alright. You asked," she said with a delicate sigh. "You may want to look away."

He looked confused at first when she reached down through the top of her shirt without waiting for him to turn his head. Aware of his smoldering perusal and the very fact that he didn't look away, she slowly worked to open the hidden pocket in her brassiere.

"I knew you would have it with you." Bruce's eyes still burned as she extracted the drive and handed it to him. He grinned, reaching over and turning on the computer. "Wish I'd remembered to ask for it sooner. This is still yours, Selina. A deal is a deal. I'd like to just borrow it for myself."

She arched an eyebrow in her surprise and followed his elegant hands as they entered his information. Less than a minute later they were both watching the destruction of Gotham's prince. Selina stole a sideways glance at him, the contentment she found written on his face growing as his past disappeared.

"This is fun." He deadpanned, looking straight ahead.

"Times are swiftly changing. If this is fun, I can't imagine what stringing up a criminal would do for you now," she said amusedly.

"What can I say? The third time's a charm. I'm retired for good this time and you know how it is. Retired life can be dull."

"I'm not terribly certain your life would ever be dull."

"I honestly wouldn't mind it if it was a little more...normal." He hesitated, twisting in his chair oddly. "Why do I feel a strange pulling in my side?"

"Annette patched up your heroic self not too long ago."

Bruce blinked at her. "I felt the bandage earlier, but I can't remember..." His expression fell, although he tried to hide it. "Whatever happened, it's all a blur. But I do remember that they planted a tracking device in Cora's bear, and I was on top of a car."

"You must have reinjured yourself when you broke a window to hijack the car."

Bruce looked blankly at her. "I can't feel it."

"I know." His expression disquieted her. She moved her chair over and settled into his shoulder with exaggerated care. "That's why it's important you be careful."

"Good thing I have you to remind me," he said softly, and they watched the program continue in a comfortable silence.

"I assume you thought long and hard about what you're doing," Selina muttered a few minutes later, not denying the thrill that chased her thoughts as he wiped out all of his information on the face of the earth.

Bruce looked pointedly at her. "You mean what I did. Bruce Wayne of Gotham practically disappeared a few seconds ago."

The program finished none too soon. Selina glanced at the clock on the wall. They would soon fall behind schedule if they didn't move. "Bruce, I think it's time we got on the plane."

His brow creased as he typed, closing the program and computer. He pulled out the drive and handed it to her. "I know there is something else I was supposed to do before we take off, but...I'm drawing a blank."

"Alfred." Even though she said the butler's name as carefully as she could, he looked utterly crushed.

"It will hurt him to know I'm alive but that I won't allow him to see me." His voice broke, revealing the heartache Selina had already expected from him.

"You can't go on like this, Bruce. This is what happens every time." She paused. "And I don't think he'll be too upset. He'll be relieved - and willing to wait."

"Every time." Bruce muttered, running both hands through his hair. "How do you stand it?"

"To be with you, a man who is battling short term memory loss?"

He sighed, nodding. "Yes, Selina. It's demanding and frustrating, an endless cycle of work."

"How can you be with me- a thief and other things left best unsaid?" No matter how often she'd heard a similar frustration from him, it never irritated her.

"There's more to you than that, Selina. You wouldn't be here if there wasn't. There's not much more beyond the memory loss for me, unless you count that I'm crippled and must be sidelined the rest of my life."

"That's a pretty piteous remark coming from the Batman." Something other than that was bothering him again but instincts again told her to refrain from nagging him for an explanation.

"I'm not Batman anymore. I retired - again. And I'm trying to be honest." He looked sternly at her. "I don't know what the doctor will say tomorrow and part of me is terrified. Things may not get much better and tomorrow may be the day we find that out."

Selina's heart broke a little hearing he was frightened, but hearing the "we," she took a different approach to consoling him.

"You don't have to spell it out for me, Bruce. I knew from the beginning what I was getting into, except I didn't know it was you at first, not that it mattered. The only reason I remained in Gotham was because of you. I missed you."

He blinked. "Because of...what?"

"I came to the clinic because Leslie needed my help with a patient - you. I agreed because you inspired me and I missed you."

"You...missed me?"

"Yes," she said wryly. "I was packed and ready to leave my apartment for Paris when she called. You were on my mind so damn much I couldn't do anything but agree to help her because I missed a dead guy."

"Paris," Bruce echoed. "You were on your way to Paris?"

"That plane ticket was expensive," Selina mused aloud, tucking it in her memory that the way to completely shock Bruce Wayne was the simple phrase: I missed you. "Later that same day, I went to your grave. It was the very day of your funeral."

"You visited my grave?" He looked at her as if she'd hung the moon. "Selina, you're telling me that you actually did that?"

She kept quiet, not trusting herself to speak for fear that the wave of sadness creeping into her heart would burst through as it had that day weeks ago. With this confession, she tied herself even more to him. Had she not had that chance or stroke of luck or destiny, where would she be today? It was too heart-wrenching to consider, for it only meant - without Bruce.

"I don't know what to say." His eyes softened; he saw right through her in her silence. "Even more than my desire for Alfred not to have felt pain over my death and now resurrection is this...this desire that you could have remained untouched by it. Selina, I'm -"

"No," she smoothly interjected. "Don't tell me that you're sorry. Batman deserved that noble ending and concerning the aftermath - something went wrong in your head, Bruce, and I can't lay the blame at your feet for the outcome. No one can. You deserve peace with this. But now, you do have a choice to make for yourself."

She held her breath, waiting to see if he understood. Bruce stood abruptly. Indeed, he did.

"We should go," he clipped.

"Not so fast, big guy." She moved in between Bruce and the door. "You didn't make a decision, and you told me you would before take off."

He rammed his hands in his pockets. "I did make a decision, and here it is. I trust you to do the right thing...because I can't."

"I'll call Leslie right away, then."

"Selina...I'm sorry that I..."

She hushed him, pressing her fingers to his lips. This man, retired Batman or not, had just admitted to her his own inadequacy. Not only that, he was expecting her to do the right thing on his behalf, as if she didn't have to think twice about it. And the truly fascinating part was, just as other times before, she hadn't needed to think twice.

She lifted up on her tiptoes and barely brushed over his lips as she reveled in one of the first quiet moments they had together away from Gotham. He reciprocated, his lips feathering over hers. At the light touch, her knees weakened in a way they hadn't during their earlier and impassioned embrace. His tongue parted her lips but she was willing and ready, light-headed from his gentle caress. He plunged deeper and they tasted each other, Bruce finding that hint of coffee he loved and Selina brought to ecstasy just knowing it was him in her arms and his attention was upon her. His hands rested against the small of her back as if she would break. The contrast from their earlier passion amazed her; he truly was a man of many emotions and depths. He was light and dark, gentle and demanding. All sides, pulling her in and entrapping her. She was far from being a fragile flower, but in his arms, she felt like a cherished blossom. She was pleasantly surprised to discover it was a feeling she rather liked.

When she recalled their time schedule and most importantly, Bruce's inevitable fatigue, she regretfully pulled away from what had to be the sweetest, fullest kiss she ever had.

"We should go," she whispered in his ear, tugging it once with her lips before slipping from his arms.

"No," he groaned and in his diligence to keep her close he managed to sneak a kiss on her neck. "Don't stop. They can all wait. I own the place. Not to mention that particular private plane."

"True." She smirked at his cockiness and brushed the hair from his eyes. "But not all airport-owning paleontologists are going to need the nap of a century in about an hour. We have to leave, handsome."

Bruce searched her face and the tension melted away from him, as she'd hoped it would.

"Thank you," he said simply, his eyes becoming soft and warm and the affection reflected from them all she ever wanted from him in return.

Once aboard the plane, Bruce immediately took charge. It was no surprise when the serious and commanding demeanor caught the attention of those who were otherwise unused to that side of him. Fredericks and Annette watched him off and on, not in a blatant, rude manner but with the genuine curiosity such as they had in the car. Bruce conversed with the flight attendant towards the front of the plane. Selina caught a few words while reading their lips. Niece and first time flying and her favorite cookies and chocolate chip being just a few. He was most attentive towards their companions, especially Cora, and Selina's stomach flip-flopped.

"How is he feeling?" Annette said, expression thoughtful. "He told me fine but I'm not certain I believe him.

Selina almost growled in her frustration. She herself had failed to get a concrete answer from Bruce as left his office. From her experience, that meant he clearly felt a migraine coming. "I believe the drug has begun to wear off and he has the beginning of a migraine."

"Alright." Annette pulled out several bottles of medication from the bag on her lap. "When he returns, I will give him what Leslie prescribed."

Bruce ended the conversation with the flight attendant and walked to the front of the plane and into the cockpit without hesitation. Annette and Fredericks looked at her in confusion.

"This is his plane," Selina explained quietly the information they'd withheld from the family until now. "It's also his airport. He used it on occasions working as a paleontologist. That cover was already set into place. He wants to check with the pilot on some things before we take off."

Other matters would be discussed as soon as Bruce sat with them. Now that his secret was out, they needed to make sure Fredericks and Annette both understood exactly where they were going and why. For the beginning of the flight, however, their seats were together.

"He is not bankrupt," Fredericks murmured, absently rubbing his chin in thought.

"No," Blake said, flipping through a magazine as he sat beside Fredericks. To Selina's chagrin, it was also the seat across from her. "He's too smart to allow that to happen."

"I am thankful that he is a man of many secrets." Fredericks shook his head. "I am still in shock, and I confess I don't exactly know how to talk to him. He's not the boy I thought he was, but he is the boy I always wanted him to be. He's the man I know his father would have wanted him to become."

The words were spoken so sincerely and with such heart that Selina was certain Fredericks somehow had found the way to pull her newly acquired heartstrings - praising Bruce for the man he was while mentioning his father with great respect, all in the same breath.

"To start, you could tell him what you just told us." Blake set the magazine on his lap. "He never likes being thanked, by the way, but something like that I think he'd liked to hear even if he doesn't admit it.

Grateful for once that Blake was there to help and she could avoid looking at anyone in the eye, Selina took out her tablet. She quickly pulled up the information on Bruce's newly purchased home.

"Did you always know that it was him?" Annette asked her. Selina looked up from the mansion's image, meeting her widening eyes. Annette leaned in towards Selina and spoke with a discrete whisper. "When did you first meet, by the way? I love stories of when lovers meet."

Lovers, Selina mused, embers flaming in her belly. By the rate they were going, that wouldn't happen until after they walked down the aisle together. Correction. It wouldn't happen until they were both married and old. It was almost humorous: she, the seductive temptress and a thief who had bested him and he, the impossibly skilled and brooding man who had enticed her. Together, but with much barring their way.

However, she couldn't find anything funny about the obstacles and physical hardships Bruce was forced to endure, especially those during the past few weeks. Marriage might actually be a wonderful thing for them both. In the little spare time she had the last few days, she read on traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic headaches. She discovered that stability is recommended for his condition to improve, and she was too selfish to think of ever letting him go.

Selina took a sharp breath, blinking in astonishment that such a thought had even crossed in mind. Why would she even be thinking about marriage? She stared at the coffee cup in hand, contemplating the very possibility that Bruce had somehow slipped something in here to get her to sleep. It was the only explanation for her wild imagination. He asked about her own fatigue shortly before they boarded the plane, catching her yawning one too many times. But...marriage? She detested the thought of marriage - usually. Besides, Bruce hardly had the chance to get to know her and-

"I overstepped my bounds. I'm so sorry." Slightly shame-faced, Annette leaned back into her seat. "My mouth does have a mind of its own sometimes."

So did hers. Selina expected that question from Annette, but not this soon. She really hadn't expected the baggage accompanying the question at all. She wasn't the type for small talk, but she'd managed before. This would have to be more small talk. She wasn't about to leak anymore secrets. From the look on Annette's face, Selina realized that she must have taken too long to reply and decided to give a longer answer than she had originally planned.

"Our first meeting was...unusual."

Blake snorted from behind the magazine he'd so conveniently lifted to his face. Keeping to her vow she had made Bruce that she'd treat Blake cordially, she refrained from packing a punch to Blake's unsuspecting face. "

"However, he did intrigue me. When I saw him again, he wasn't quite the Bruce Wayne you all knew him to be and he was even different from the first time I saw him. He exuded charm but by no means in an irritating and self-serving manner. Even so, once I found out who he was, I confess it did still..." Selina glanced down at Bruce's house, absently tracing her finger around the window of what she knew to be the window of the master bedroom. "Surprise me."

"What did you say?"

If you're expecting an apology...

"Something that he expected, of course."

Bruce chose that moment to emerge from the cockpit and sauntered their way.

"Looks like we're ready," Selina told Fredericks. Cora hugged her repaired bear and squealed with delight when Annette whispered in her ear they were now ready to fly. Selina smiled at the child's enthusiasm, thinking all of them probably felt as much joy at leaving but were too chicken to show it.

Bruce stepped out of the aisle and slumped into his seat with a sigh, tilting his head back with his eyes closed. His hair clung to the sides of his face and as Selina took a closer look, his face did not look all that great either. He was too pale.

Selina stroked Bruce's forearm with her index finger. "Hey," she said gently. "You with me?"

"Just tired," he mumbled.

"Annette needs to give you medication."

He rubbed his eyes and stared at her. "Why?"

He was such a child sometimes. A completely self-less child. "So you're not dealing with the beginning of a migraine? We need to talk a little before you can't focus, handsome."

"I know," he said all too quietly. "But, I'm afraid I'm not focusing all that well now, Selina."

Selina exchanged a worried look with Annette, who reached across and gave Selina the meds. She pulled out Bruce's water bottle, going so far as to open it for him and placing it in his hands since he'd closed his eyes again.

"Drink it all if you can, Mr. Wayne," Annette said softly. "It will help."

He nodded and swallowed the pills. As he drank the rest of his water, Selina gave him a minute and checked her messages.

Selina read her most recent text message in response to the group one she'd sent a few minutes ago. Since Bruce already showed the signs that the fall out neared faster than expected, all further communication between Fox, Gordon, and Dr. Thompkins would now exclusively go through her. The responsibility was great, but there was nothing she would not do for this man whose head had gradually fell and now rested on her shoulder.

"Fox says the house is ready and the realtor will meet us there, but just to text her when we've landed and plan to leave the airport." Selina took the almost-empty water bottle from his limp hands and screwed on the lid.

"Hmm?"

"Your house - or should I say mansion- is ready."

"Yeah. Not bankrupt," Blake nodded at Fredericks.

"What house?" Bruce murmured, his words stretched thin with fatigue.

"Your house." She glanced down sideways at him, waiting.

"What?" His eyes sprung open. "Mine?"

"Yes, house. Well, mansion, in my opinion. You bought one, and we are all staying there indefinitely per your earlier request when we first discussed this."

"Mr. Wayne!" Annette exclaimed.

"We can't impose on you more than what is necessary. A hotel is fine." Mr. Fredericks said.

"No," Selina shook her head. "He made it clear you're to stay here...it's safer."

"I don't know what to say. Bruce, we owe you so much already."

Bruce didn't hear. He stared at Selina. "I bought a house?"

His incredulousness brought small, priceless smiles to the others.

"You should see the look on your face." Snickering, she pulled up the picture on her phone and held it in front of him.

A grin rested easily on his lips as she scrolled through images of the interior. "That's nice. It's...modest."

She snorted. Only Bruce would think a mansion three-fourths the size of his previous one as modest. "It has over a dozen bedrooms. And by the time we get there, the main rooms will be completely furnished, even Cora's bedroom. Fox has several housekeepers already lined up that we just need to interview ourselves."

"And..." He stopped. "A lake. It's a lake house."

"You also own the lake. It's pretty big and reflects a mountain." She scrolled to the photo of the mountain. "See?"

"That mountain is breathtaking. I can see why I bought the house." The next picture evoked a curious expression on his face. "What's that?"

"A fishing boat. There are several that went with the house. Fox wanted me to show this picture, specifically."

He broke into such a wide grin that she thought her heart was breaking. "I use to go fishing with my father."

"Oh," she said softly. "I wondered."

"You're going to go with me, aren't you?"

"To the top of the mountain?" She asked playfully, enjoying the life she was seeing in him.

"What mountain?" He looked at her confusedly.

"Bruce..." Selina faltered. He'd taken great steps forward with his memory, but that memory failure had been way too soon and she blamed it on his fatigue and growing headache. Taking a deep breath, she ignored the pained look of Fredericks' face and pressed on. "Do you mean go fishing with you?"

"Yes. It's supposed to be relaxing. From what I remember, that is."

"As long as I don't have to skin or cook any of it." Selina furrowed her brow.

"I thought you were adaptable?" Bruce leaned back again, smiling lazily.

"It lives in the water."

Bruce widened his eyes. "You don't eat fish, either do you? Huh."

Annette perked up. "I don't mind preparing the fish. There's nothing like cooking and eating freshly caught fish."

Selina would prefer to take her word for it, but the gleam in Bruce's eyes informed her he wasn't going to let this slide. "And I don't supposed you've cleaned fish before?"

"Yes, I have, but my fingers were hurting. I couldn't hold the knife well."

"Why were your fingers hurting?"

"It was after a rather difficult training session in Tibet about twelve years ago. I broke through the ice and got a little too wet." Bruce closed his eyes.

Selina was almost afraid to ask. "And that is how you caught the fish, I assume. It jumped into your pocket after you fell into the freezing water."

"When it became necessary to find food to eat and I wasn't shaking in my own skin, we went ice fishing, " he muttered tiredly.

"We?"

"Talia's father and I."

No, never dull.

Selina managed to explain the remaining details to the others, despite the lack of assistance from Bruce. She wasn't sure how much he caught with his eyes closed nor how much he would retain. By now, they were twenty minutes into their flight with two hours left and Bruce well on his way to being immovable from fatigue and a migraine.

Her whispered reminder merely prompted a slight movement from him and a grimace. He hissed in a breath and wrapped one arm around his ribcage. Selina glared at him for a fraction of a second.

"I knew this would happen," she muttered under her breath. Now they would be forced to move him to a more comfortable area while he was in pain.

Annette knelt beside them in the spacious area between seats. She held his hand briefly. "He's clammy. I need to check his blood pressure again."

While she waited, Bruce's head lulled and fell sharply onto Selina's shoulder. Her heart racing, she reached up with her hand and caressed his cheek. "Bruce?"

Annette looked up at her grimly. "He passed out. I already have a shot prepped for him to boost his blood pressure. It's too low, just like Leslie warned us would happen once the drug wore off. The other medication I gave him earlier actually helped ward off these symptoms."

Selina swallowed and caressed his cheek. "What can I do to help?"

"With proper rest and medication, he'll be fine but I would still like to move him so he can lay down and I can elevate his feet."

Annette cleaned a small area on his arm and administered the medication before moving out of the way. Blake came to the other side of Bruce without being asked. Selina put Bruce's arm around her shoulders and together, she and Blake slowly hefted the unconscious man out of his seat. Bruce awoke the instant he was standing and wavered. He shut his eyes again with a groan.

"Be careful. He's probably feeling quite light-headed," cautioned Annette. "I'll set him up with fluids as soon as we get him situated."

Blake and Selina took a step forward but Bruce's movements lagged behind.

"That was a shuffle, Wayne. I knew you were old, but not this old," she complained.

Bruce snorted, and the next step they took more promising than the first. She didn't push him again, more or less because of the agitated looks Blake sent her until they reached the area set aside for Bruce and Selina.

"You've got a fabulous bedside manner, don't you," Blake frowned.

"If it gets the job done," she said sweetly as they helped Bruce lower onto the narrow bed. He sat on the edge, holding his ribcage and miserable in the way he gasped a few breaths in exertion. Selina guided him carefully to lay on his back.

Blake's eyes were cold as he stared at her. "Kindness goes a long way, you know. In fact, kindness begins with not stealing. And maybe even not stabbing people in the back."

Unamused, Selina crossed her arms. "If you're trying to me to get me to feel guilty, it's not working. However, if you're trying to get me to like you even less-"

"You two," Bruce interrupted, muttering under his breath. He didn't bother to open his eyes. "I can hear you complain about each other even when you don't complain about each other. In my head. And my head hurts right now. Will you just...stop. You're going to be spending a lot of time together. Call a truce...or have it out or...or...something. Get it over with. Then...let me have some peace." He finished with a long-suffering, painful sigh. Selina was sure that the little speech had cost him.

Blake's expression said he'd more than happy to acquiesce with having it out but Annette glared daggers at him. "This stress is not at all good for my patient. Please put aside your whatever differences you have for his sake."

"Sorry," Blake shrugged.

"A truce?" Selina vaguely answered.

"Right," Blake said through clenched teeth. "I'll try harder. I promise."

Selina doubted that would last but she agreed with the truce. A heated discussion most certainly still loomed in the distance.

"Good." Bruce sighed, his words slurring and becoming less audible by the second. "Good. Because...I want to sleep...without...hearing...arguing...in my...my..."

Bruce slipped into deep, even breaths, and Annette fastened his seatbelt as a precaution. Selina's eyes caressed the face of the man she loved, fighting her worry. "Dr. Thompkins said he'd be impossible to awaken until tomorrow morning. His appointments at eleven."

"He needs this rest to recover from what he did this morning. I am aware that his body shouldn't have endured any of it in the first place. I can't believe he continued to sacrifice so much, despite his limitations."

"It is what he does," Selina murmured.

"I am learning that. Leslie informed me a ltitle bit ago that he has quite the list of the things that need fixed." Annette looked questioningly at her.

"That's correct." Selina clenched her jaw.

"He needs this rest, and I'm sure he'll be fine," Annette's assurance was only slightly helpful. "This rest is necessary for his body to reset itself. His vitals are going all over the place, Selina."

It may be necessary, but getting Bruce off the plane and to the house, would be difficult. Not only that, but the realtor would be waiting to meet the owner. Selina could handle that on her own, thanks to Fox's diligence in acquiring their newlywed cover, but she'd wanted Bruce to be able to see the house when they did for the first time.

Sighing, Selina tugged off his shoes and tucked a spare pillow under his feet. Annette handed her a folded blanket on the seat next to him, and Selina draped the lightweight cover over Bruce.

Blake's low voice interrupted her own ongoing, internal struggle. "I'm not saying I trust you, nor do I want to pretend to be best friends. But I do want to say, he's my friend and the best one I've had in a long time. I don't want to see him hurt. But...thank you."

Selina paused briefly, clutching an edge of the blanket in her surprise that he'd actually spoken to her without sarcasm. "For what?"

She didn't expect an answer and busied herself by tucking the blanket loosely around Bruce, leaving his arms outside of the cover when she saw Annette preparing to an IV drip.

"For taking care of him when he needed it the most." Blake drew in a shaky breath. "And for taking care of him when it's you who he clearly needs and wants the most."