Always Look Forward
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye or Batman Begins!
Chapter Twenty-six
"I'm sorry," apologized the Batman. "Go to your family."
"If I knew where they were, I would, but I made her run because of Crane. I don't know where she is anymore. But Crane will find her if I don't," sighed Jackson, sticking his right hand in his ruffled long hair. Things were not looking good at this point in time.
"Wayne Manor," offered the Batman. "She's at Wayne Manor with two young children and her father."
Jackson's distraught face brightened. "Thank you—but what about Rachel?"
"I'll take care of her," promised the bat. "Now go."
Jackson fled Arkham, taking to the dirty streets of the Narrows. He hopped on the monorail and thought about Lisa, his children, and their future. He had never expected to be a father—his own father had been far from kind—especially not at that moment in time. But Lisa and the twins made it worth the change in plans. He would do anything in his power to protect them.
When Jackson arrived, a birthday bash for playboy Bruce Wayne was already in full swing. He joined the crowd and quickly swept his long, dark hair over his eyes. It obscured his vision, but it would hopefully defer some of the folks in the ever-growing crowd from asking if he were Jonathan Crane. His usual suit helped him blend in as he worked his way through the mansion.
A familiar face stuck out like a sore thumb in the bustling crowd. It was Joe Reisert, in his normal clothes, unlike the richly attired people surrounding them. He seemed worried about something. Was something wrong? Was Lisa or the twins hurt?
He slided up next to Joe and asked as quickly and calmly as possible, "Joe, where's Leese?"
Joe spun around to face him, clearly shocked by his sudden appearance. "What do you want, Jackson? You're under a restraining order, remember?"
"A damn piece of paper is not going to keep me from my family when they're in danger," hissed Jackson, Jack dangerously close to the surface. "Now, where's Lisa?"
"She tore out of here earlier with some odd instructions for me."
"Where's JR and Henrietta? Did she take them with her?" Lisa would not have already left town, would she? Had she anticipated Crane's escape and fled with the twins?
"No, they're upstairs—Jackson, what's going on?" Joe questioned, grabbing the young man's arm as he turned to leave. "What kind of danger are they in?"
Before Jackson could reply, Bruce Wayne was making a seemingly drunken speech. He tried to free himself from Joe's grip, but it was useless. Joe Reisert was not letting go of his son-in-law until he received some answers.
"I just want to thank you for…drinking my booze," Bruce began, amid bits of laughter. "No, seriously. The thing about being a Wayne is you're never short of a few free-loaders to fill up your mansion…So here's to you people."
A brief scuffle ensued and a few words were said before Bruce returned to his speech.
"To you false friends…and pathetic suck-ups who smile through your teeth at me…You had your fill, now leave me in peace. Get out. Everybody. Out!"
Quickly, people rushed for the front door, leaving only a few people in the mansion. Joe, Jackson, Bruce and few suits remained.
Bruce Wayne seemed familiar to Jackson. Had they met before?
Yes, a long time ago… Ra's had been the reason for their meeting. Jackson had been sent to the far off mountain with the blue flowers at the base. He recalled seeing Bruce Wayne there. Which would make Bruce a member of the League of Shadows…and in league with Crane and the company.
With a hiss, Jackson ripped his arm free of Joe's grip and drew his knife. He stalked towards Bruce, fully intending to kill the other man. Most everyone was already gone and the fewer witnesses that remained, the less of a mess Jackson would have to take care of.
"Hello…again," snapped Jackson, raising the blade as Bruce spun around to face him.
Bruce remained calm despite the knife in his face. "Do I know you?" he asked innocently.
"Cut the crap, Wayne. I know that you're working with the League. I know what you're doing—what you're gonna do. I'm here to stop you. I won't let you hurt Lisa."
"Lisa?" Bruce was still playing dumb. "Lisa Rippner? What's she got to do with anything?"
The blade was pressed into Bruce's neck. "She's my wife," Jackson smiled through gritted teeth.
"Oh," laughed Bruce. "So you're Jackson!"
"Jackson," Joe was behind the enraged manager. "Let him go."
"No!" hissed Jackson, turning his head to glare at Joe.
Bruce seized the moment to turn the tables—and the knife—on Jackson. His own blade grazed his throat, as he looked at the man he had heard so much about in his short stay in Gotham.
"Let's get something straight, shall we? I'm not working with the League. I'm working against them and they're here. Are you with me or against me?" Bruce said to Jackson, impressing the seriousness of the situation upon him.
"With you," spat Jackson. "Now give me my knife and let's kill the bastards."
"Not so fast, Rippner," called Ra's al Ghul. "Not so fast."
"Ra's…" Bruce said simply and stiffly, removing the knife from Jackson's throat and slipping it into the manager's hand. "What do you want now?"
"We need to have a little chat—you and I. Stay here, Rippner and don't do anything stupid," ordered Ra's leading the way from the room.
Jackson glared openly at the man, but remained. Joe stayed as well. He would obey to a certain point. He was not going to risk his family, part of which were still in the mansion.
Once Ra's and the League members left the room, Jackson turned to Joe, "Go get the twins and get out. Now. I don't care where…just go."
Joe nodded and sprinted for the staircase that led to the upper level. Jackson remained behind, knife clutched tightly in his right hand. His shoulder was still sore from the bullet wound but no little pain would stop him now. He had a family to protect.
No one messed with the Rippners and got away with it.
A fire burned through the mansion and Ra's stopped to see Jackson on his way out. Bruce was nowhere in sight.
"It's a shame that you chose this path. You would have been an asset to the plan," remarked Ra's, with a hint of disdain in his voice.
"I'm going to stop you," insisted Jackson, raising his knife.
"Not when I have your family, you're not," smiled Ra's. "You know what I would do to your precious children."
Jackson's knife clattered to the floor. His face showed his emotions and his panic. This could not be happening…not again…
"Good-bye, Jackson Rippner. This time, be a good little dog and die."
Jackson did not feel the blow to his head that knocked him to the ground. He was still in shock over hearing that Ra's had his children. He was broken and unable to fight. He felt that it was hopeless to continue this never-ending battle. He was never going to be able to save his family. He was—like he had known since the red eye flight—a complete and utter failure.
It was only when the flames licked at his clothes that Jackson struggled to his feet. He grabbed the KA-BAR for reassurance and found the strength to search the mansion. The League would attempt to keep him from escaping and to keep Bruce and Joe from escaping as well. Why Bruce, he did not know. It was a piece of the puzzle that he would figure out later.
Jackson raced up the stairs and called out Joe's name, knowing that Lisa would never forgive him for letting her father die in the fire. He found him, unconscious and bleeding in the hallway. He grabbed the older man and started to drag him downstairs. Joe was not likely to survive, but Jackson was not going to let his body go up in flames.
Back on the first floor, he heard two men speaking. He rushed towards the sounds of voices, dragging Joe with him. He stumbled into the fire-engulfed room and saw Bruce lying on the floor, trapped by a fallen beam. An elderly man knelt beside him, trying to help him up.
"Get him out!" Jackson yelled at the stranger, motioning to Joe. "I'll help Bruce!"
The stranger regarded him strangely, but Bruce said, "It's okay, Alfred. Listen to him."
The man called Alfred left Bruce's side and gathered up Joe's dead weight. He left the room and Jackson helped lift the beam enough for Bruce to slide out. Jackson dropped the beam and helped the man to his feet. Bruce led the way to a piano—of all strange things—and played a few notes. A panel swung upon and Bruce raced towards it. Jackson followed and found himself in an elevator, hurtled down into a deep cave.
A bat cave…
Author's Notes:
Another chapter in which I changed events of the movie. Hope it worked out okay. Enjoy! Next chapter soon!