Chapter 18: No Easy Way to Say This.

It was the Sunday morning after. Bruce and Selina had some morning delight to start the day. As they cuddled in bed after she noticed he was getting ready for another bout.

"What never ceases to amaze is your reboot time." She complimented.

"You make it too easy." He replied.

"Oh, you sweet talker you." She kissed him.

"I do more than just talk the talk." He kissed her back. "I walk the walk." Just then another chest pain hit him. He collapsed beside her and grabbed his chest. "Ahg! Damn this one stings!"

Selina shook her head. "OK that's it. We're going to the hospital." She rolled out of bed. "Come on. On your feet."

"Selina it's nothing. I just strained a muscle or..."

"Bruce Robert Wayne!" She yelled. "You're going to the hospital with me if you know what's good for you!"

"When did you learn my middle name?"

She snapped her fingers at him and pointed at the bathroom. In an angry yet caring tone she yelled, "Get your sexy ass in the shower and get dressed! We are going to the hospital! Am I understood!"

He stared at her in shock and slight amazement. "Where is this coming from?"

"Get in the goddam shower! I will not tell you again!"

"Okay!" He walked to the bathroom and mumbled under his breath "And she thinks Lois is bossy."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"What did you just say?"

Bruce and Selina showered up, got dressed and headed to the hospital. Selina with the same intensity as before demanded to drive. Bruce gave in.

"I'm telling you, everything's fine." He assured her on the way there.

"Bruce, believe me this is the one time I don't want to say 'I told you so.'"

She had one hand one the wheel and one hand resting on the console. Bruce took that hand and squeezed it.

"It's gonna be fine, Cat."

"I hope so, Bat. I really hope so."

At the hospital they some took some of his blood and ran some tests. They also took some X-rays of his chest and back. After a while the doctor met with them in his office.

"Mr and Mrs Wayne..." he checked the sheet again. "I'm sorry, Ms Kyle." He corrected himself. "Now I'm afraid I have very bad news."

Selina kept her eyes on the doctor but reached over and gripped Bruce's hand tightly. Bruce maintained a calm expression but inside he could feel his heart beat out of his chest.

"What is it?" She asked.

"There's no easy way say this. Mr Wayne... You have cancer."

He tightly gripped Selina's hand back. His expression was calm and emotionless. But as Selina looked over at him and stared into his eyes, she could see him fighting the tears back.

"How bad..." Selina tried not to get chocked up as she talked. "How bad is it? What kind?"

"It's Hodgkin's lymphoma. Now the good news is that it's still in the early stages and is known to be a very treatable illness. But it's gonna be a rough grind for you for the next coming months. The treatment as well as the sickness itself will take a tole on your body."

Bruce nodded but he didn't say anything. Thoughts raced through his head as to what this meant for his future. What this meant for Selina, if he died.

She deserved to be happy with or without him, he thought. But what about that without him part? He couldn't bear the idea of another man taking care of the woman he loved if he died.

It was a quiet drive back. Selina wishing she knew the right words to make Bruce feel better while he stared aimlessly out the window.

When they got home, Bruce sat down on the couch. Selina sat right down next to him and wrapped him up in her arms.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she held him tightly against her breasts.

He sighed and nodded. "Honestly... I think I am."

"You are?"

"Yeah. I mean the news was awful but I know it's a treatable illness so i know I can do this. I refuse to give up. I'm okay."

"Good." Selina nodded as tears flooded her eyes. "Because I'm fucking not." She got up and walked away.

"Selina."

She stopped and turned back to him. "How can you be okay? I'm scared! No I'm terrified! For you. Losing you. I-I wouldn't be able to go on without you in my life."

Bruce cupped her face in his hands. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm a fighter Selina. You know that. And a damn good one at that. I'm gonna fight this thing and I'm gonna win."

Selina nodded and sank into his arms. "You're the only person I can truly be myself around, Bat. I don't have to wear a mask when I'm with you."

"I know how you feel. It's how I feel... Remember that poem I wrote?"

She looked up at him. "You mean the one you never let me read?"

"The man and woman behind the mask." He stared deep into her beautiful green eyes. "We wear the mask that grins and lies. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes. This debt we pay to human guile. With torn and bleeding hearts we smile. And mouth with myriad subtleties."

Selina knew Bruce was creative. But had no idea he was this poetic. "Damn, babe."

"Why should the world be overwise, in counting all of our tears in sighs? Nay, let them only see us while we wear the mask. We smile. But at great costs, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise. We sing but oh the clay is vile, beneath our feet, and long the mile. But let the world dream otherwise... We wear the mask."

She wiped away her tears and punched his shoulder. "A part of me is pissed that this is the first time I'm hearing this." She then lightly caressed his cheek. "But, the other part knows this was probably the best time for it." She then kissed him buried her face into his chest. "You better not die on me, asshole."

He let out a slight chuckle. "I'll do my best."

Alfred walked in and smiled. "Did I miss a touching moment?"

Selina and Bruce looked at each other and sighed.

"Kinda..." Selina turned to him. "We have some bad news."

Alfred had a very visible look of concern on his face. "What is it?"

Bruce broke the news to him. It broke Alfred's heart. He was afraid he was cursed with the burden of buying the entire Wayne family. He wrapped his arms around the young man he loved like a son and promised he was gonna do everything he could for him.

The next Monday went on as normal. Vicki had changed her schedule so that she and Bruce wouldn't have any classes together. Bruce and Selina were both happy about that.

Bruce acted normal but inside he was anything but okay. He knew he was gonna have to break the news to his best friends, his coach and his team as to why he wasn't going to be playing this season. And that his life was in danger.

He showed up the practice after school. Everyone was padded up and warming up as he walked around in his normal clothes.

He looked over and saw some of the experienced lineman showing Humphrey Dumpler the ropes. He smiled and waved at Bruce. Bruce smiled and nodded back at him.

"Wayne?" Coach Al Ghul yelled. He approached him with a very menacing stare. "You better have a good excuse to show up out of pads."

Bruce let out a sigh. "I wish I didn't." He handed his coach the doctors note.

Al Ghul read it and sighed. The cold demeanor of his coach changed to a more sympathetic one. Only to his favorite pupil ever, would he be like this to. "Wayne... I don't know what to say. I'm sorry, son."

Bruce nodded. "I'm gonna do what I can here at practice as a leader. Work with Micheal so he can step up. But my season is done."

Al Ghul nodded back. "You're made of heart Wayne. Miles and miles of it."

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to talk to the whole team."

"You got it." He blew into his whistle. "Knights, huddle up!"

"Huddle on coach!" Clark repeated.

The knights all huddled in a half circle in front of their coach. He stood in front of the half circle with Bruce at his side.

"Why ain't you practicing?" Victor asked Bruce. "You good?"

Bruce sighed and shook his head. "No. I uh... I won't be able to compete this season."

Everyone looked around shocked. A few whispers amongst the teammates were heard.

"Why?" Diana asked worried. "What's wrong?"

Bruce took a deep breath and let it out. "I have cancer."

All his teammates stood there shocked and worried for him. Bruce was their leader. And for all the captains, he was one of their closest friends.

Clark dropped his helmet, walked up to Bruce, and hugged him right there on the spot. Bruce hugged him back.

"I'm here for you the whole way."'Clark said. "Whatever I can do, I'll be there."

Bruce nodded. "I know brother. I know."

Clark separated and let Bruce continue.

"I'll do what I can. I won't pad up, but I'll try and do workouts with you guys. Micheal," he pointed at the backup Sophomore quarterback Micheal Lane. "I'm gonna be on your ass, getting you ready to lead this team."

Micheal nodded. "I won't let you down."

"I..." Bruce did his best not to tear up. "I love you guys. I really do. You guys have been like a family to me. I know that sounds sappy and cliché, but Clark, Diana, Victor, Arthur, and Barry with all the shit we've been through on and off the field; I can honestly say you guys are like my brothers... and sister." He pointed out Diana.

She smiled and they all let out a light chuckle.

"I'm gonna fight this with everything I got. Because I may not be able to play this season, but I'll be damned if I'll be denied a long life. And have my time with my friends cut short. I'm gonna fight this shit and I promise you I'll win."

Victor stepped forward. "Hey!" He addressed the whole team. "Let's hear it for Bruce! This man is a fucking warrior!"

The whole team huddle around Bruce hooting and hollering. Bruce smiled and began his classic breakdown.

"Who are we?" He shouted.

"Knights!" They shouted back in unison.

"Who?"

"Knights!"

"What are we gonna do?"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Who's got my back?"

"I got your back!"

"I said, who's got my back!"

"I got your back!"

"Bring it in!"

They all moved in as close as they could and raised their right hands in the air.

"I love you guys. Let's fucking get it done. Family on 3! 1,2,3-"

"FAMILY!"

Bruce was putting away some gear in the cave when Selina walked in.

"You know you can't do this when you start treatment."

"That's why I'm putting it away." He turned to her. "You could still do it."

"Not without you I can't. I won't. Im gonna be here for you. Cause you'd do the same for me."

He nodded and looked around. She could see he was looking around like it was the last time.

"Bruce," She cupped his face In her hands, "it's not goodbye forever. When we kick cancers ass, we'll come back to kicking crimes ass."

"I know." He pressed his forehead to hers. "I love you, Cat."

She smiled and gave him a long and loving kiss.

"Right back at you, Bat."

End of Book 4