Title: Flashbacks

Author: ElleKnowsNot

Fandom: The Dark Knight Rises

Pairing: None

Rating: T, for language I guess

Summary: Ella promises John to stay out of danger, but not even she could foresee this.

Author's note: I've been writing this chapter for like a week and it was a like a parasite in my brain that slowly kicked out every other idea I had until I sat at my computer and wrote this.

Author's note#2: No Bruce and Selina this chapter, but don't worry they will be back next chapter.

Author's note#3: The suit Bane wears in the end of the chapter was inspired by that photo of Tom Hardy and Christian Bale at a premiere of TDKR. It was so cute. I just couldn't help myself.

Alfred helped Ella pack the small two-door sedan with camera equipment. John stood by off to the side in the garage, patiently waiting for Alfred to leave so he could try and reason with Ella. It wasn't that he was afraid to let Ella out on her own, although given recent events he really had every right to be apprehensive. But this was more of a feeling in his gut. Sure, their life has changed greatly since their run-in with Bane. With John leaving the force, much to the chagrin of Police Commissioner James Gordon, and switching careers to vigilante where he haunts Gotham's gang zones and underground tunnels. But he believes, deep in his heart, that he along with Bruce and Commissioner Gordon and his best men can keep the city safe and criminal-free.

Even if that means that he has to leave his girlfriend alone for countless hours at a time with only a drafty large mansion and butler to keep her company. It was at the butler's suggestion that she go after this particular hobby, after all. She loves photography and she loves her city. But the city that she loves happens to be home to some of the seedier elements. And this is what frightens John the most. Alfred hands her the keys to the vehicle and pats her on the back before smiling at her then to John before retreating back into the mansion.

Ella pockets the keys before turning to John with a serious expression on her face. "Alright. Out with it." She says, leaning on the trunk of the car and fussing with the azure scarf around her neck so it laid against her wool peacoat.

John feigns innocence. "Out with what?" He asks as he walks up to lean next to Ella.

Ella sighs and rolls her eyes. "Try your best to sound protective yet supportive when you try and explain to me why you don't want me to go out alone in the city."

"I'm beginning to think you're the former detective." He chuckles nervously, scratching at the back of his head.

"Date a cop and you learn about the power of body language and interrogation techniques." She stuffs her hands in her pockets and turns to John more. "I know I have given you scares in the past but I promise you, I'll be safe. No reason to worry. But you are a worry-wart at heart. It's in your nature."

"Make me seem like such a…" John starts, but Ella cuts him off.

"Protective father?" Ella quips.

"Yeah." John clears his throat. "And I'm not a worry-wart. I'm cautious. Just after being out there with Bruce and Selina, I just feel like there's even more danger these days. Even without Ba-" He stops short, not wanting to bring up Bane.

"You can say his name. I don't react like I used to. It's fine. It's been months. Anyway, I'm going to be fine, John. I promise. I'll be back before nightfall alright?" She leans in to kiss him lightly, then squeals and laughs as John pulls her closer and deepens the kiss before brushing the hair from her eyes.

"Don't keep me waiting too long." He says, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he steps around the car and opens her door for her as she gets in and turns on the car. He winks at her before shutting her door and watches as she drives off. He doesn't move into the house until her car passes out of sight.

For the last few months, Bane has adopted the identity of Thomas Hindley. Investment banker. Graduate of Gotham University with a major in Finance and a minor in Business. Along with references falsified by Ra's, Bane was able to secure a job at the Gotham Stock Exchange, almost as a joke to himself seeing as he held-up this place some time ago. But he actually enjoys the mundaneness of a regular nine to five job with benefits and coffee breaks and office parties. He purchases a sizeable high-rise apartment in the Palisades and lounges in the lap of luxury.

However, the life of a Gotham City playboy escapes him easily as he reminds himself that he was risen from death for one purpose and one purpose only. To bring Gotham to its knees. It's not as if he doesn't have women throwing themselves at his feet with this new persona. Money, intelligence and good looks take you a long way in this town, after all. But the gorgeous airhead models and power-hungry business women that he runs into don't interest him. The last time he truly enjoyed good conversation and great passion was with…

…Ella.

As he thinks the name, he shudders. He remembers her as the last vision his eyes had before he sunk into darkness and died. He remembers what he did to her and forgives her for killing him. But there is a part of him, a part that he dare not admit out loud, that…misses her. Misses her smile, the way she hung on his every word, the way she felt under his hands, the way she moaned when he plunged deep inside…

He stops himself again from thinking of her as he sits on his couch in his apartment. He palms himself through his slacks and thinks that maybe he should at least get laid once in a while. He hasn't had sex since before he was risen. And it doesn't get any easier when he can only think of Ella when he goes to the bar after work on Friday nights to find someone he can stand to be around for one night. They never suit him and he always goes home alone. Usually to masturbate or even sadder, just to read until he goes to bed.

He could never have seen what was happening on his way home from work one afternoon.

Ella sets up her equipment near the docks on the east end of Gotham. Construction crews were preparing to build some kind of high rise apartment complex. Ella loves the hustle and bustle of all the men and women moving about. She photographs workers going over blueprints and those on their lunch breaks, even capturing a man with a power saw as sparks flew from the machinery. It's then that she gets a jolt of a flashback. Damp, chilly sewers. Trying to hold a riveter before being summoned in to see…

…Bane.

She shakes the thought from her head and turns back to her camera as she pulls it up to her face and focuses in on a group of men looking at her and to each other before walking towards her slowly before picking up the pace. She grabs her camera and tripod and starts to run but one thug catches up to her and knocks her to the ground before she can make it very far leaving her to fall on her front with her hands stopping her from hitting the ground face first. The camera and tripod go tumbling to the ground in front of her and one of the thugs kicks it out of reach.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doing out here, huh?" One of the thugs grabs Ella by the waist and flips her over and grasps her by the neck. Ella retaliates but kneeing him in the groin and tries to scurry out from under him. Another thug kicks her in the leg and she screams out in pain. He picks up the tripod and delivers a blow to her abdomen, she spits out blood and curls in on herself. Just before he can raise the tripod again to lash out, a man catches his arm from behind, twisting it with a sickening crunch of bone. He crumples to the floor and the other two thugs run off in opposite directions.

Ella's eyes are filled with tears as the stranger asks if she is alright. She wipes at her eyes and looks up to see a well-dressed man in a plain black suit with a white dress shirt and black tie with a tan raincoat. His grey eyes are sympathetic and he narrows them as he registers who she is.

"Ella?" Bane all but whispers, not believing his eyes as Ella collapses from pain into the sandy ground underfoot.