When those with time and money wanted to escape Gotham while still remaining in the area, in case something came up and they would have to hurry home - there were two places they went.

Most went across the bay to Metropolis, a city with a number of tourist attractions, shopping possibilities, and a reasonable crime rate. But those who preferred the wilderness headed inland to the foothills of the mountains. And wilderness lovers who had enough money went to Brock's Extreme Resort. It had started fifteen years ago when a group of men, headed by the aforementioned Brock, started running rock-climbing trips and had somehow acquired an extensive property in the eastern foothills of the Appalachians. The property included a zip-line, a few high ropes courses of varying degrees of difficulty, several gyms, a ski slope for the winter, a spa, a stable for horseback riding, a motorcross track, and of course, many steep cliffs for the more adventurous climbers. In summary, everything a rich Gothamite could possibly want to experience on a break from boardrooms or classrooms in the city.

The Wayne family made regular weekend trips up there when they weren't too busy with various charity functions or work. Bruce always looked forward to them, especially in the summer months when he could do some climbing or zip around the motor cross track. But Thomas had turned on the radio on the drive out and the weathermen on GCN had issued several warnings about incoming rain clouds that had made him a bit worried that this weekend wouldn't be as fun as the others. He had been excited to wake up early this Saturday morning and see the sun shining in spite of the poor predictions of the forecasters.

Unfortunately, the sun was a lying jerk and it was raining. Sun showers.

So Bruce was stuck climbing the wall in the inside gym while the lying sun streamed through the skylight; hoping Harvey Dent, whose family had also made the trip to the mountains, would change the topic.

"I'm just saying," Harvey called over from his side of the wall. "You did a good job in debate club."

"I made Colin McKenzie cry. He asked for it for defending homeopathy but I know that is not the goal of a debate. Or a court case." Bruce lifted his foot up to reach another foothold. "Why are you bringing this up now, of all times? There's plenty of time between now and graduation when we aren't in the middle of climbing!"

"That is the kind of skill that could win over a courtroom Bruce! You know how to make your points and make them well!"

"At least until I'm held in contempt of court for- I don't know making the witness cry?"

"Actually, you'd make the judge cry."

"Then why are you asking me?"

There was a stretch of silence. Bruce looked down and noticed that Harvey wasn't climbing as fast as him and was starting to fall behind. Maybe if he climbed fast enough he could outpace this conversation but for now he was stuck in it. He reached up again. "You think making the judge cry might be a good thing, don't you?"

"It's hard to be impartial when you're moved to tears."

"I think making the judge cry would make us less likely to get a ruling in our favour." Bruce was getting really close to the top. The handholds were farther apart up here. If he could just reach-

"But! You're contemplating it now!" Harvey was so caught up in his excitement over getting the last word that he misplaced his foot and had to catch himself against the wall before he fell.

Bruce reached up and smacked the top of the wall before pushing off to rappel back down. Okay, he was thinking about it now. The idea of defending people who couldn't defend themselves was appealing but he had a hard time picturing himself wearing a full suit day in and day out. Something about wearing a tie was so stifling. That was probably what the weekend was for. He landed back down next to Ricky Martinez, a long time employee of Brock's Extreme Resort, who had had the other end of Bruce's belay and began to take off his harness.

"Ah, to be young," Ricky sighed. "And to have so many possibilities and so much life ahead of you."

"That doesn't mean I need to make a decision now."

"No it doesn't. I'm just reminiscing from when I was young."

Ricky had a far-away look in his eye and a smile on his face. "Do you think you made the right decision?" Bruce asked.

"Not at first, the years stuck behind a counter in a bank weren't great. But the decision to come out here and get a job where I can exercise and am surrounded by nature? That was probably the best decision I ever made." He frowned. "I'd probably take back the terrible diet too. I've been having heart problems and if that could fix it I would definitely change it no matter how good French fries are."

Bruce let out a small laugh and set his helmet on the ground. Behind him he heard a thump as Harvey reached the ground as well. "Better health is always a good idea."

"And so is being a lawyer! An excellent idea!" Harvey took off his helmet and started waving it around. "Helping people! A decent income!"

"I'm heir to a billion-dollar fortune and your family is pretty well off too."

"Well, it's hardly a downside is it?"

"Alright," Mr. Hughes, who would not hear of being called anything other than Mr. Hughes even though most of the other staff didn't mind going by their first names, spoke up. "This conversation can continue later. Right now you two need to finish getting your harnesses off and put them away. Mr. Martinez and I have other guests to help."

"And if we want to climb one more time?"

"You've already climbed one more time, Mr. Dent."

"Oh, come on. It's not like there is anyone else waiting." He gestured to the empty gym. "We could go again."

"It's lunchtime."

The group began to make their way towards the gym locker room when there was a sudden crash from the ceiling. Bruce spun around and was shocked to see two people rappelling down from the now broken skylight in jumpsuits, carrying….Yep, those were guns. The pair hit the ground and pointed their guns toward the group.

"Nobody move! Put your hands up! I'm talking to you!" The figure in front swung his gun around to point to Bruce's left. Bruce glanced behind him and noticed that Mr. Hughes had started shuffling over to the emergency phone in the wall. With the gun trained on him he stopped and stuck his hands in the air. The rest of the group slowly raised their hands too.

The second figure stepped forward so she was standing beside her companion. "Now, nobody has to get hurt. We're just going to take Bruce here," She focused her gun more clearly on Bruce. "With us. You can call the police after we're gone."

Harvey let out a strangled noise. "No you can't! We, uh, we- We won't let you."

"Right. Which of us has guns? We do. Don't try to be a hero." Harvey remained quiet. "That's what I thought. Now just come over here, Bruce."

Bruce absolutely did not want to go over to them. But they were pointing guns at them. He tried to cast his mind back to anything his self defense teachers had taught him that had to do with guns specifically. If he got close to them he might be able to do something. He couldn't let them get him out of here though if they took him to another location then-

Wait, they came in through the skylight. How were they planning on getting him out of here?

"Come on now. We don't have all day and I really don't want to use this."

Bruce started shuffling forward. "Okay, I'm coming. If you don't mind me asking though…"

"Yes, we will let your friends go unharmed once we get you in the helicopter."

"That partially answers my question. How are you getting me out of here and to the helicopter?"

The two criminals looked at each other. Unfortunately, they didn't lower their guns.

"We have ropes," The one on the left answered when it became apparent her companion wasn't going to.

"No, really, I want to know. How are you going to get me up through the skylight? You only have two ropes." Bruce really hoped they didn't come up with a solution before he got within grabbing distance.

Thankfully, as Bruce closed the distance they didn't seem to have an answer despite aggressively trying to communicate with one another through eye contact and facial expression. Unfortunately, they still had their guns pointed at the others even though they weren't looking at them. A quick glance over his shoulder told Bruce that no one moved. No one wanted to risk them turning back around and taking a shot.

"Okay. If you're going to be that way, we'll use my rope." The gunman on the right reached down to undo the rope attached to his waist, lowering his gun in the process.

Bruce pounced.

He moved swiftly into the reach of the nearest gunman and made a hard strike at his wrist. Behind him Harvey took the chance to spring forward and wrestle the other one to the ground as the gun dropped with a clatter.

Bruce kicked the nearest gun away while all of a sudden the others moved to action, rushing to help them.

Bruce turned into the gunman, kicking his knees forward and wrenching the arms back in a painful, locking hold.

Harvey managed to wrench the other gun away, but not without it firing. Glass shattered and fell down from the skylight. The sound of the helicopter faded as the pilot, sensing a change in the plan, took off, leaving the two would-be kidnappers behind.

Ricky came around to sit on Bruce's guy as Mr. Hughes took some of the ropes and came around to hog-tie Harvey's. Bruce let out a breath once they had been restrained.

That was close.

"Right." Mr. Hughes stood up. "I'm going to call the cops to report this so they can take these two away. Keep an eye on them." He abruptly turned around and walked back over to the emergency phone, the only sign that any of this was slightly out of the ordinary was the stiffness of his posture.

Harvey picked up the guns and moved them over to the base of the climbing wall, far away from where the now tied up criminals would be able to reach them. Bruce kept a hand on the woman while Ricky held on to the man. They were already tied up but they didn't want them trying to run off as well.

Now that the danger had passed Bruce could feel the adrenaline fading from his body as he sat down next to the woman. She was grumbling under her breath but Bruce was too busy processing what had just happened. He knew Gotham was dangerous. He knew that his family were often targets due to their wealth and position. He hadn't expected people to follow them out here to the mountains to try and get them. Those self defense lessons had paid off. Next to him Ricky also looked shocked, his face was pale and he was….having trouble breathing?

"Ricky? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" The corners of Ricky's month twitched up but it looked forced. "I just…" His hand went up to his chest as he winced. "Ow…" Then he collapsed. His face looked pale and grey, his expression was one of impending doom. Cold sweat beaded on Ricky's forehead.

Bruce jumped up suddenly on high alert again as he rushed over to him. Shortness of breath...chest pain… quickly he felt for the heart beat at his neck, the rhythm was severely random... oh no. Bruce checked quickly in Ricky's pocket for a pill - nothing. He yelled "Harvey! Get a portable AED! And call 911! Tell them it's a potential cardiac arrest at Brock's Extreme Resort!"

"I've got it!" Mr. Hughes called. "I'm already calling the police! Keep an eye on the prisoners!"

"Okay then." Bruce made sure Ricky was lying on his back. He glanced towards his friend and barked, "Harvey, watch me! I'm going to do 30 chest compressions. Watch how low I go and be ready to swap with me. I've checked his airway, he's clear. Whenever I reach 30, give him 2 deep breaths." He began to push down, counting in his head. When Mr. Hughes came back over he turned to him. "GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! Harvey, watch the rhythm I'm going for."

A tense period passed,as the Queen anthem played. Harvey and Bruce swapped a couple of times before the portable AED arrived. By the time professional help had arrived, the two teens were absolutely exhausted. The paramedics checked Ricky over and loaded him up to take to a hospital for further treatment.

The female ambulance driver smiled, "Good job son." as she patted Bruce on the shoulder before clambering back into the vehicle. Finally, Bruce allowed himself to sink backwards and let out a sigh of relief.

Harvey collapsed next to him. "I can't believe you saved his life"

"I took first aid. Dude, it's literally just basic CPR." He pointed a lazy finger over in the direction of the AED. "And use of that portable defibrillator. And keeping him going till the professionals arrived."

"Don't say that like it's not impressive. Oh jeez. Scratch the lawyer idea. If I ever get attacked by vengeful criminal I want you to be my doctor"

Bruce frowned. "What kind of career are you planning where vengeful criminals are coming after you?"

"An effective one." Harvey should not have looked so satisfied by that.

The two tied up criminals, without anyone pinning them down, were now sitting up, too enraptured by the drama unfolding in front of them to think of trying to run away.

"First he fights us off, then he saves a guy's life. Who is this kid, some kind of superhero?"

Author's Note:
What Ricky had was arrhythmia, not an MI. It's not advisable to use a defibrillator on an MI