Chapter 2
Bruce Wayne awakens startled in his bed in Wayne Manor. Bright sunlight streams through the balcony window where the heavy black velvet curtains have not been pulled together tightly enough. The caretaker of the Manor, Alfred Pennyworth, saunters in with freshly pressed clothing for his charge. "Awake before noon again? Keep that up and people shall begin to talk, sir."
Bruce looks around wearily, as if he doesn't quite recognize where he is for those first few moments. Then as the fog of exhaustion lifts from his eyes, he remembers what roused him from his mid-morning slumber. A look of sadness and guilt settles into his face. The moment isn't lost on Alfred, "Miss Dawes again, Master Bruce?"
Bruce nods unable yet to put the grief aside to form words. He musters the strength to say only one thing, "I'd like to go see her today, Alfred."
"As you wish, sir." This reply has been given before, along with other thoughts from the fatherly butler, in the seven months since the night Rachel disappeared from that rooftop.
Seven months and all that matters to Bruce is that he didn't stop it from happening. Standing in front of Rachel Dawes' grave in Gotham Holy Trinity Cemetery, only one thought lingers in the mind of the young billionaire.
Why can I never save those I care for?
This thought repeats like a Buddhist mantra, until the same interruption, which always ends this contemplation, finally comes. "Are we to have this conversation again Master Bruce?" Bruce stands like a mourning statue, the rainy day in Gotham running down his face like tears. Behind him, Alfred stands with an umbrella, ready to shelter his charge should he decide to stop punishing himself for the loss of Rachel.
"There is a chance, you know, that she is still alive. After all, you were gone 7 years; she's only been away for 7 months."
"I chose my path, Alfred. She was taken, while my back was turned. All my training and I let it happen again."
"With all due respect, she also chose a path. She knew the dangers of her lifestyle and career and accepted the consequences. I would have expected you to understand that better than most. Now, I've grown tired of having this talk week after week, so this part I've saved for just the right occasion." Bruce is caught off guard with this remark, he knows Alfred well enough to know what comes next will be a stern reprimand for behavior unbecoming of a Wayne. Alfred folds the umbrella and walks to the side of the rain soaked Bruce.
"You can choose to honor her by continuing the fight both of you believed in or you can cheapen her sacrifice by standing here like a nancy-boy in wet knickers. The choice is yours, but I'm going to the car."