Chapter 26

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New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

One year and six months before the Siege of Gotham.

It had been almost seven years since Harvey's death and the secret we were all keeping burdened us. Gordon had wanted to reveal the truth every year. Rachel was finding it harder and harder each day to forgive Harvey Dent for what he had done. She could no longer stand it when people called Harvey a hero, she barely went to his memorial in the late years. And as for myself, I was too busy worrying about the Siege that I could barely think about the secret we were all keeping. Although, I told Bruce what I knew about what would happen, at least, some of it. I did feel lighter in some way. But not entirely, I had not told him everything. There were no names and no indication of what Batman was doing during that time. Or even Bruce Wayne. He never asked and I never told.

Nevertheless, Bruce had slowly stopped going to important events that he was invited to. Adding to this his knee condition had grew worser. He was now using the cane to get around these days. It was hurting him more and more each day and he could barely walk. He refused to see a doctor for the joint, insisting on the fact that it was pain from the inactivity. I knew better but I did not insist. Just letting things went the way they were supposed to.

"Evening, Alfred." I smiled as I stepped through the kitchen.

"Good evening, Detective Sanders." Alfred smiled back. "Would you like something to eat?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you." I shook my head. "Where's Bruce?"

"In the only place where he spent most of his days." Alfred answered concerned.

I sighed. "I'll convince him to eat and to sleep."

"It would be very much appreciated. Thank you, Detective Sanders."

I left him in the kitchen taking the road I became so familiar with in the last few years. Down the hall, through the library and up to his study. I found him there, dressed in his robe, he was lit by desk lamp and the computer screen. Deeply focused, typing away as he did more and more researches. More and more planning. When I told him about what I knew, of what was about to come. I hoped and thought it would reignite some fire within him. That he would make a stand and fight. And for a time it did. It was as though he had been revigorated after the failure of the energy project. But it hadn't last. He somehow became desperate, almost obsessive about the whole thing. I thought that keeping Gotham safe was motive enough for him to keep fighting as Bruce Wayne. But I could see it. He needed Batman than he cared to admit. He needed some sort of closure. A closure he may never get.

"Still working, uh?" I asked as I walked up to him.

He leaned back, the chair creaking as he moved. "We have to be ready. Nothing can be left out."

"I didn't tell you all of this so you could overwork yourself." I move to stand behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He wrapped a hand around my forearm. "You need to rest too."

"I know." His lips brushed against my wrist. "But we're running out of time."

I sat on his lap, mostly on his good leg. "We are not running out of time. We still have an entire year." I reasoned with him. "And no matter the amount of preparation you'd go through, you won't be satisfied. We know what's gonna happen. We know how. I think we are prepared enough, Mr. Wayne."

"There's still a lot of work to do." Bruce said quietly.

"I know." I brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. "Do you know what else I know?"

"What?"

"I know that you and I need to use our time wisely." I replied. "Sure, we know what's coming and we know it's going to be chaos. And when that happens we won't have time for each other." I pecked him on the lips. "So, how about you and I enjoy the time we have right now? How does that sound?"

"Sounds like a brilliant idea."

"I'm full of brilliant ideas, Mr. Wayne."

In a little more than a year, Bane would set foot in Gotham, wreaking havoc as he pleased. People would die, some buried in the undergrounds, others gravely wounded. There wouldn't any time or peace left for us to enjoy. We wouldn't even be in the same city. I didn't know how things would actually go down? Could everything go wrong? Yes. Could Bruce, Gordon, Blake or others die? Yes. But I was determined to not let it happen. And the only way was to not intervene or meddle with the events, in any sort of way. Knowing was a burden, now more than ever. There was nothing I could do for that. What I could do, though. Enjoy what little time I had left with Bruce and my friends.

Gotham City wasn't perfect. I came to love this city and its inhabitants. They were not all innocent or good people. For the most part I was confronted to the mobsters and the regular junkies and dealers but apart from that, this city had woven its way into my heart. I had friends and family there and I would hate to see it all go down into ashes. But it was inevitable, I knew what was coming. I feared to lose everything I had.

Eight Months before the siege of Gotham

Bruce Wayne had officially became a ghost. A shadow of who he used to be. Even working towards saving Gotham wasn't enough of a drive for him to keep fighting. He had stopped researching. He stopped calling Lucius Fox about his secret project. When asked about it, he would say that the project had been finalized. He wouldn't say more than that. I supposed he was allowed some secrets. Bruce hadn't been in a great shape. His knee had gotten worse, he had lost plenty of weight. He had stopped living. He became the ghost of Wayne Manor. A ghost roaming through the corridors of this great mansion, without being seen by anyone. Except for me and Alfred. A shadow of the man he used to be.

We were hearing more and more about the masked mercenary: Bane. His name was often mentioned in conjunction with Daggett's. Nothing to alarm others, nothing to let them think he might be headed to Gotham. But I knew better. He was headed towards Gotham. Soon, he would be here and wreak havoc. He would put the city under siege, holding the lives of its inhabitants by a thread. I did not know what would happen during that time. During the time where Batman would be away from the city. I did not know what exactly went down during the siege and that scared me even more. I knew it wouldn't be pretty. I knew there would be many deaths and many crimes committed during that time. Knowing was a burden. Knowing only half of it was terrifying.

On top of it all, I was wondering if Bane and Talia had suspicions of my knowing of the events that would take place. And if they did? What action would they take against me? Did they even see me as a threat? After all, the Joker had suspicions, why wouldn't they? I had no ways to know, I could only find out. I hated it. I knew what was coming, I knew what I may lost. And I knew there was nothing I could do to prevent it. Even if there was, I wouldn't act. There were too much at stake. Too many lives that could be lost or destroyed. I was lost. I did not know what to do. I, too, had become a shadow of whom I used to be.

I was still fighting the good fight. But within the last year, as words of the masked mercenary was going around more and more. I grew more scared. Hesitating in taking actions, scared of what the consequences might be. Scared of what I may lost. I did not want to influence the events but it was already done. My being there had already changed things. Rachel Dawes being alive had already changed everything. She was the reason why Alfred and Bruce fought among other things. Ultimately, Alfred left and was out of Gotham when it all took place. Would he still be here? Would they still argue? Would that change too? There was a high chance that it would. In what way? I did not.

So many unknowns. Too many uncertainties. Too many things could go wrong still. I could lose Bruce to Bane. Instead of just breaking his back, Bane might just kill him. Selina Kyle might just be more rotten than she seemed to be in the movie. Not caring about anyone but herself. Would she still be hired by Daggett to do his dirty work? Somehow, I hoped that wouldn't change. So many things to do and ironically so little time. It was funny how I had eight years to prepare for this moment. Eight years during which I ignored everything I knew. Eight years, during I decided not to do anything to stop it. I could have stopped Bruce from building the reactor soon-to-be-turned bomb. I should have stopped him. I had eight years to prepare for that moment and I did nothing. I let things happened.

Bane was coming. I knew who was really the brain behind it all. Talia Al Ghul AKA Miranda Tate. But I was more afraid of him than I was of her. Despite of everything I thought of getting involved again and of what the consequences that may come out of my involvement. I did believe I stood a chance against her, I had an advantage. I knew who she really was. Unless, she knew or had suspicions of my own knowledge. I could face her. I could fight her. But Bane. He was brutal force, ruthless, cruel. He had nothing to lose. He was ready to die for her. And that scared me. Terrified me. How was I supposed to face him?

Eight years, and I was not prepared for Bane. I regretted not getting prepared enough.

Next Chapter would be the beginning of the third and last book of this story. Book Three: Siege. Buckle up folks, it's coming.