Never…

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye or Batman Begins!

Chapter Sixteen

Amy awoke in what had come to be 'her' room at Wayne Manor. She had been tucked under the covers with her shoes on the floor beside the bed as was her usual habit. She rolled up the sleeve of her jacket and frowned at the puncture mark from the needle in her arm. She could vaguely remember Bruce restraining her and his friend Fox forcibly giving her an injection. Was it really an antidote?

Amy surely did not feel any differently. She was not overtly nervous and jumping at shadows for the moment, but did that mean anything at all?

A voice drifted in from the hallway. It was Bruce. "Rachel just called. Crane's made bail."

"Are you sure?" Jim Gordon asked.

"Positive. Lisa Crane walked in with the money in hand and he was released just a thirty minutes ago."

"How long do we have before he tries to get Amy?"

"Not long unfortunately. Technically, he is still her legal guardian," Bruce sighed dejectedly.

"Should we warn her?"

"No, I don't want to worry her. I promised to keep her safe and I will. Crane won't touch her here."

Amy was already digging into her duffel bag, searching for a change of clothes. If she moved quickly, she could steal a car from Bruce and be out of Gotham within an hour or so. Then, she could head to Miami, where she at least knew the area. She would find a hotel for the night and continue her escape the following morning. She could easily dodge Jonathan Crane temporarily as long as she stayed moving. She could dye her hair, change her name, change her style of clothing and do whatever it would take to avoid him.

If her father ever caught up with her, she was dead.

No, not my father…my uncle. My Uncle Jonathan. My father is dead and buried in Miami. I should go and see him. Or at least his grave.

Amy suddenly knew her destination. She would flee to Miami to find her father's resting place, and then spend the night nearby. Surely, his ghost would protect her in someway from his homicidal brother. Even Jonathan would not be able to fight a ghost.

As if he ever cared about me! What kind of father leaves you with a lunatic?

She slipped on a pair of fresh jeans, a dark blue tee-shirt, and a jean jacket while she pulled on her sneakers. No matter what it took, she would not allow Jonathan to take her. She shoved the rest of her belongings into the duffel bag and tossed her worn backpack on her shoulder. The voices had faded away, but Amy was still not about to risk the hallways. Instead, she opened the doors to the balcony and stepped outside.

Sure enough, there was a pillar leading down from the balcony. Amy quietly tossed her duffel down to the grass and swung over the rail. Once on the other side, she carefully shimmied down the marble pillar and landed lightly on her feet in the yard. She collected her bag and raced to the garage. Once inside the garage, she spotted all the car keys dangling from a rack with each one labeled. She would need something fast and reliable.

Without a second thought, she snatched up the key to a sports car and dashed towards it. She flung her duffel into the seat beside her and inserted the car key into the ignition. She started the car and headed down the driveway, praying that Bruce remained inside. The gate was open and no one stopped her as she sped down the road that led out of Gotham.


Hours later, exhausted but exhilarated, Amy Crane was deep in downtown Miami. She had opened her backpack and found the article that described the location of Jackson Rippner's funeral. She managed to find the cemetery and was now parking in front of the iron gates. She raised the roof of Bruce's car and locked the doors, pocketing the keys while she grabbed her backpack. Time to go exploring…

Amy climbed the imposing gate and dropped down on the other side. She had come too far to let something as minuscule as a tall gate stop her now. Her heart was pounding in anticipation. This was it. She was going to finally meet her real father, not the pretend one that she had spent the last sixteen years with.

Amy searched the graves, her eyes squinting in the darkness. When did the moon rise?

Finally, she stumbled upon the correct grave. The marble headstone was worn but smooth to the touch. Amy ran her hand over it, shivering at the coolness of the marble beneath her skin. She lazily traced the writing and then plopped down on the ground beside it.

Jackson Rippner

1976-2006

You will be sorely missed.

Amy sighed. There was nothing more on the gravestone than the simple, lackluster epitaph. That was hardly a clue as to the kind of man her father had been. Not even as much as a 'loving husband', huh?

She stretched out beside the grave, resting her head on her backpack as a pillow. She turned her head to face the headstone.

"Hi dad," she began. If it felt odd to be conversing with a grave however her expression did not reflect it. "It's me, Amy. You know; the daughter that you left with the psycho? Yeah. Well, guess what? He hasn't managed to kill me yet. So if that's what you were aiming for, that's just too damn bad."

There was no response. Only silence.

Come on Crane, what were you expecting? A ghostly whisper? That's so not gonna happen…

Amy released a deep sigh. "Why'd you have to die? Like mom could seriously kill you. She couldn't even kill an ant if she tried. Did he have something to do with it? Was he jealous of you? Did he kill you and blame it on mom?"

She chatted with Jackson, the dead father that she had never met and knew absolutely nothing about. She talked with him until long after her eyes finally closed and her voice began cracking from exhaustion.

For the first time in a long time, Amy slept peacefully and soundly without drugs, medicine, or being knocked unconscious. As she started to drift on a wave of sleep, a stray remnant of thought crept into her mind.

Good night, daddy…

Author's Notes:

Okay, I think I might post again later tonight or very early tomorrow morning. I'll be in New York until very late on Wednesday, but I'll try to finish hand writing (maybe typing if I can bring my laptop) the rest of the story. There's only another 4 chapters and maybe an epilogue left. Thanks to emptyvoices and everyone who has reviewed. Enjoy!