Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters except for Sandra. Please enjoy!

Bruce looked up at the window and waved. He began to have flashes of memory from when he was younger with Rachael and the two of them exchanging the same wave, only this time he was the one leaving. Bruce closed his eyes. I hope I am about to do the right thing. That's when he heard a low growl.

Sandra waved back from the dusty window. She was still so very confused but Bruce's/ David's gesture. She looked down at the $50,000 in her hand and thinking back on Bruce's/David's words,

"Use this to start a new life."

Her hand brushed the window. She hoped that she could and perhaps meet this wonderful stranger again someday. Sandra watched Bruce about to leave when she saw a huge shadow cowering over him. God, no, not him, she thought.

Bruce was about to turn to cross the street to his car when he felt a sharp pain in his side. He looked down and his hands were covered in blood.

"Did you have a nice fuck with my gal?"

Bruce looked up to see the man from the club take a swing at his face. Bruce ducked but immediately felt the throbbing pain in his side return.

"You cannot run from me little man. One of these days I will find you and when the time is right, I will break all of your bones," he smiled at Bruce seeking his face in the shadows.

Bruce stood up as straight as he could as the man laughed in his face. Bruce took a lunge at him Kevlar or no Kevlar. The two matched each other punch for punch. Of course the larger man's punches were bringing more damage to the already bloody Bruce. Bruce decided to see if he could get on top of the larger man's back and maybe take him down that way. Being that he was already injured and still feeling some of the effects y of the alcohol although mildly, this would be interesting. Bruce attempted to swing his leg out to knock the man to the ground first. It worked for a moment. The larger man fell, but quickly got back to his feet and started to wrestle Bruce to the ground again. Bruce continued to fight, but started to feel the loss of blood and the dizziness was taking over.

The larger man had his arm around Bruce's neck squeezing. Bruce thought this was the end. Maybe jail wouldn't have been so bad, he thought.

The larger man bent down to see Bruce' slightly bulging eyes caused from his arm lock.

The man smiled and whispered seductively in Bruce's ear,

"Remember me, you little rodent. You are nothing. I will have you screaming my name and begging me for mercy."

At that, he let Bruce go. Bruce lay on the ground not sure if he would even be able to make it to the car. God, he wished Alfred was here right about now.

Sandra watched the whole thing from her window in horror. She gasped when she saw her regular coming toward David/Bruce. She knew his temper and even though David/Bruce seemed like someone who was capable of defending himself, her regular was not your average thug. Sandra winced as David/Bruce felt every punch. In a small way, she felt like David/Bruce was fighting for her honor even though she could guess what the fight was really about. When she saw her regular leave and David/Bruce lying on the ground, it broke her heart. God, please don't be dead she prayed and dashed down the stairs as quickly as she could.

Bruce lay on the ground coughing up his own blood. Normally knife cuts are one of the minor kinds of wounds Bruce had experienced, but without Kevlar it definitely hurt much more than usual. He lay there broken and praying for the end to be swift when he heard his angel calling.

Sandra bent down over him crying. Bruce could barely speak.

"Help me to my …car…need …to get…home..."

Sandra looked at him in shock.

"You can't expect to go home and survive this without medical attention. You have been stabbed!"

Bruce shook his head emphatically.

"No hospital."

Sandra was truly beginning to wonder who this man was. Was he on the run?

Bruce continued mumbling, "My car… will drive me…. home. Don't...need…help…"

"Listen," she said, "You must be seriously delusional to think that your car will drive you home. I don't care about what you did or your past." After spouting out such words in anger at his defiance, her next words softened.

"You are the first man I have ever met to treat me with kindness. Please let me help you get home."

Bruce looked into her eyes. The words he just said finally made sense to him. He had forgotten that he didn't have THAT car with him at the time to drive him home. Bruce finally nodded in acceptance only wanting at this point to seek the solace of his home at least one last time.

Sandra tried to smile and offered her arm to help him stand as the two headed toward Bruce's car.

Well, now I am sure most of you if not all have guessed who Sandra's "regular" is. Thank you to Wikpedia encyclopedia for the quotes he uses! Please review and let me know how many of you knew who he was already!