Spent a long drive listening to Sam Smith's Stay with Me and decided to throw in this chapter, I already had it typed I was just waiting on when to put it in. Right now seems about right. As for Kate and Barsad there is something there but I believe we all know why she can't and won't give into the feeling. So do enjoy and it helps to listen to the song while reading this chapter. I'll admit I even felt the heart break between them.

Chapter 13

Kate

They had spent the remainder of the day there. They had gone to Bane's office but he wasn't there so they waited outside until the sun disappeared. Kate thought about what had happened at Avery's. She suddenly remembered what fear was. She knew that Avery wasn't bluffing about pulling the trigger. She had forgotten how good Barsad was with a sniper rifle in hand. The nickname he earned always slipped her mind, Deadshot.

They shared a few cigarettes talked about the day and other things. It was cold out but she didn't mind it at all. She just looked out and saw lanterns, flashlights and fires begin to light the street. She watched for a moment.

"As crazy as it sounds. It seems peaceful out here. No blinding lights, cars, people. Just silence." She said looking up and down the street. It did sound crazy thinking about it. Barsad chuckled. "Have you never gone camping out in the wild? The nearest civilization is hundreds of miles away. Only the fire pit and open sky above?" he asked.

Kate thought about it for a while. "No, not really." She said, "I spent years in the wild. Nothing compares to it, the freedom." Barsad said resting his elbows on his knees looking out at the dark city. Kate turned and just beamed at him, she hadn't realized how much about him she didn't know. As he looked at him she saw that she always liked his eyes. Even his strange sense of humor, he wasn't anything like Ryan or Daniel and that bothered her.

"Thank you." She said realizing that she hadn't thanked him for saving her life. Barsad looked her then grabbed her arm. Kate stopped for a moment then slowly turned to face Barsad. She hadn't realized either how close he sat beside her until now as his face was just inches from her own.

"I didn't do it out of duty for Bane. I did it, because I don't want anything to happen to you." He said holding his gaze into Kate's brown eyes. She blinked and looked at the steps then up at the doors then back to Barsad. His grip and tightened around her wrist making it painful. She looked away again.

"I know. But not here, not like this." She said and pulled her arm from his hands. She stood up then walked up to the doors, she rubbed her wrist when she walked through the door and Barsad was still outside. That had made her uncomfortable. She had known him as a name on a file, then person who had followed her and invaded her life with the scope of a sniper rifle. She had known for a while of his "feelings" but she ignored them.

She quickly turned the corner and read the sign above. LADIES ROOM, she bolted inside. As she entered she went straight for the mirror. She avoided seeing herself.

Her hands trembled. She stared at her hands, they stopped trembling. She couldn't understand why, she wasn't afraid of Barsad. He couldn't frighten her the way Bane use to. Thinking about that made her feel strange. She wasn't afraid of Bane anymore. She used to be afraid of seeing him, hearing that mechanical voice would send chills through her. But now even those cold grey eyes didn't seem to see through her anymore. She found comfort in that.

Now it was Barsad she didn't want to hear, nor see his smile. She stood there at the sink; she had to put away the thoughts. She had to hide herself, from what she wasn't sure. She was just afraid again. Not for her life but her feelings. She stopped and dared herself to look at the mirror. Brown eyes stared back with judgment. She looked away. She took a deep breath then went for the door.

Barsad waiting alone in the lobby, she looked him in the eye and buried everything that happened on the steps.

"I want them held here until we round up the others." She commanded. Barsad's eyes seem to be searching for something in hers. She raised her eye brow.

"They won't be going anywhere." He said then turned away. Kate followed him as they went into the elevator. He turned to face her.

"I'm not stupid I know your hiding yourself." He said standing directly in front of her. Kate snickered, "I have to. This, can't happen." She snapped pointing to him and herself. Barsad wasn't moved; she hated it when he did that. "Tell me you feel nothing and I'll leave it alone." He said just as the elevator stopped. Kate was relieved but Barsad hit the next button to the top floor.

Kate flared up. "What do you want from me?" she asked staring up at him challenging him. "Tell me." He said raising his voice standing his ground. Kate forced herself to hold his gaze. "I feel. Nothing." She said but her voice broke.

"You're lying." He said, the elevator stopped the doors opened then Kate ran to it and out into the hall. Barsad followed after her. She kept running ignoring his calls after her; she saw the doors leading to the roof.

She ran up the stairs and to the door. Barsad was still behind her. As it flung open she took a deep breath of the chill winter air, there was comfort she hadn't realized how claustrophobic she felt in the elevator. She saw Barsad come through the door.

"We can't be up here." He hissed but it was too late. She turned around the corner and saw Bane standing there his hands entangled with a woman whose face she couldn't see clearly. She had only a moment when Barsad pulled her back to the door and down the stairs. He had her by her waist as he half dragged half carried her down back into the hall way.

"What the hell was that?" she asked when they were alone in the elevator. Barsad ignored her question and kept his back to her.

Bane

He hadn't heard door open only the voice which he recognized and the scuffle. He turned a second too late to see who it was. Talia pulled her small hands away from him his. He was surprised by that and saw her back away from him. He tried to tell her it was ok and there was no one, but the damaged had been done. Talia only said that it was a mistake coming here and like that she was gone again.

Grief and anger boiled inside him. He remained on the roof long after Talia had gone. The small moment was stolen and ruined. He clinched his fists then slammed them against the wall, pieces of rock scattered everywhere. All there was left in him was the anger. She had arrived only minutes before and now she was gone.

He knew who the intruder was. Kate. He closed his eyes let the cold icy air calm him. If he let the anger take control again, he knew that he would kill her if he saw her anytime soon. For her own sake he hoped that Barsad took her out of the building.

Bane watched the city again. Everything around him was cold and still. Winter always had that effect. It seemed as if everything had just froze, paused. He enjoyed that feeling. But even now he couldn't find the pleasure in it. He always hated being away from her. The loneliness was at times impossible to bear, even with his army behind them. They feared him greatly so they kept their distances to an extent. But was Talia who never feared him.

She never found his face frightening or unbearable. It was the opposite. He wanted that moment back but of course he knew that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. The feeling every time she left was dreadful. There were times when he had to fight with his very being to ask her to stay. Even for just a while longer. But he could never bring himself to ask the simple question, he already knew the answer. And that's what hurt the most.

Barsad

He knew the second that Kate ran for the roof exit that it was a big mistake to have pushed the top floor button. He mentally kicked himself for focusing on his personal feelings than what was important. He ignored her completely as he forced her into the elevator and back down to the first floor. He was leading her by the arm down the steps and into the street.

"Where are we going?" she asked trying to pull back but Barsad held on and kept walking until they were across the street. He didn't care where they went just as long as they were away from Bane. He walked into the building, there others around. Most he recognized as his own brothers but there were a few new faces but he didn't care.

He took the stairs. Kate stopped fighting and followed him up a few more flight of stairs until he saw the exit sign on the third floor. He entered the hall then saw a few others down the hall just sitting there minding their own business. Kate was behind him, she kept quiet. He pulled her down the hall and went into the first office on the left. There were three guys in there with a lantern and playing cards.

"Get out." Barsad ordered. They saw who he was and without a word they gathered their cards and left closing the door behind them. He went to the window. Kate looked around the room; there were a couple of couches and sleeping bags lying around the floor. Barsad sighed then dropped his rifle on the table and unstrapped his vest also lying on the table. He looked at Kate who put her AK47 down and leaned against couch. He watched as she pulled off her vest.

"Who was that?" she asked again after Barsad had settled himself on the couch across from Kate. He sighed then pulled out pack of cigarettes and lite one. Kate waited patiently.

"That was Talia." He replied and didn't bother to meet Kate's questionable eyes. "Who is Talia? This isn't the first time I heard her name." said Kate. Barsad took a drag, "Her connection to Bane is… Complicated." Said Barsad. He looked up and saw Kate's expression, "So? Is she his woman?" asked Kate. Barsad smiled and shook his head. "No, and Yes." He said and ran his hand through his hair.

"Which is it?" Kate continued. Barsad leaned back in the couch. "I can't, It's not my place to say." He said. Kate leaned forward, "You've seen that before." She said. Barsad stared back. "More than a few times, I never said a thing." He mumbled.

He sat there staring at the ceiling until he felt Kate sitting down beside him. "I can't answer your question because I don't know what I feel." She said grabbing his hand. Barsad sat up and looked down at her hands. He never realized how small they were. To his surprise her hands were very soft, even as she held his hand. Her grip was very gentle.

"Do feel this?" he asked lifting their hands up, Kate stared at them. "No." she said plainly and looked him in the eyes as she said it. Barsad nodded, she was telling the truth.

"Maybe in a different life, another place." She said. Barsad smiled then pulled his hand away. "Not even then." He said and closed his eyes. How stupid could he be? Of all people? It had to be her. Of course she would never feel anything. He and Bane had taken so much from her, what were they expecting from her? He thought to himself. He could still feel Kate beside him.

"You had a wife." She said finally, Barsad kept his eyes closed, "You had a husband." He said feeling Kate shifting herself to where she rested her head on his shoulder again. "He's dead. Your wife is alive somewhere." Said Kate. Barsad opened his eyes sat up and grabbed her hand, "She didn't die, and she left me. If you think his death was bad enough to take, try having the one you love the most leave you by choice." He said squeezing her hand. Kate didn't say a word,

"Just, stay with me. Here for tonight." He said and let go her hand just to out his arm around her shoulders. He took her hand in his again with his right.

Kate

She thought about Barsad's words. Ryan's death was painful. Daniel's reminded her of that pain. But it was true, they were taken from her. They didn't decide to pack up and leave taking their love with them. She kept her head on his shoulder and her hand in his. His arm around her was comforting. She remembered this feeling. Someone holding you at night and knowing that they'd be there in the morning.

Then she felt it. Her heart leaped to her throat. She tried to fight it but the tears came. She trembled and let the tears roll. What had she become? What was happening to her? She cried but in silence. Barsad's arm tightened around her.

Everything about this was wrong she knew that much. She knew what Barsad was capable of and knew from the reports and witness statements that he could be cold. But Kate had seen another side of him; most importantly the side of him that she knew was true. He wouldn't let anything happen to her.

Right now she thought of Ryan. He came off as cocky and flirtatious but when they started dating, he was sweet and loyal. He was just perfect to her. But he's gone now. Kate remembered everything about him. That's when she realized that his eyes, Barsad's eyes. They were the same. They both had rough calloused hands, strong in the chest and always smiled. Now it made sense.

(Sam Smith-Stay with Me)