(A/N: 'Ello! Nice to see y'all again! :) I'm back with another exciting chapter of B&R! Thank you so much for all of the kind reviews on the last chapter! Really, seeing your reviews and the amount of faves and follows on this story is very inspiring!

Let's begin the next chapter now, shall we?

Part Six: When Disaster Strikes

It's been nearly three weeks since our apartment was trashed. The police did an immaculate job of restoring it. In fact, it looks even better than it did before the trashing. The GCPD even threw in some new furniture and appliances, much to my surprise. He won't admit it, but I have a feeling Blake had a lot to do with this.

Anyway, things have pretty much returned to normal for Bane and I. The protestors have slowly drifted away. There've been no more attacks on our apartment. We've settled back into normalcy quite easily.

Currently, I'm getting my butt beat at Scrabble by a certain masked menace.

"Predilection?" I cry while sending Bane an incredulous look. "I'm positive that that…" I point at the word, "…is not a real word!"

Bane is sitting across from me, the picture of smugness. He's dressed in his metal vest and a short-sleeved white shirt. His thick arms are crossed over his chest as he watches the nearly-filled board with considering eyes.

"Predilection," he pronounces in a clear voice. "A preference or preferred way of accomplishing a task."

I scoff. "Cheating. That's your 'predilection' sir," I growl while angrily flipping through the three letters left on my rack. I hear Bane laugh, which grates my nerves. This will be the fifth time in a row that he's beat me. I see nothing funny about it.

I am not going down without a fight. I scoop up my last three letters, an E, I, and F, before slapping them on the board. I glance up, matching Bane's smug look with one of my own.

"Rife," I announce proudly. "Which means, in case you were wondering, filled with unpleasantness."

Bane looks proud of me. He cocks his head back and gives me a masked smile. "Very good, Rose!" he rasps.

I grin smugly at him, feeling on top of the world. Suddenly, he put down a "V" and an "X". I stare open-mouthed at the board, refusing to believe that he had just beat me for the fifth time in a row.

"Vex?" I cry. I growl incoherently at the board before flinging myself backwards. I flop back uselessly on the soft cushions around me before releasing another string of growls.

"I believe that's enough points for me to win the game," Bane's voice crawls over the table and into my ears, a taunting rasp from a distance. I push myself back up into a sitting position and shoot him daggers. I pick up a letter and flick it at him. It bounces away from his mask like a mosquito.

"You vex me," I say with a pout that morphs into a smile when I hear Bane's chuckling follow my comment. I climb to my feet and stretch, the fabric of my cami rising just a bit over my waistline as I reach upwards. "Alright, I'm going to bed to sleep away these painful losses."

"No training today?" Bane asks as his husky fingers dance over the Scrabble board, rearranging the letters into complicated phrases that seem to be in a foreign language.

"Not tonight, if that's alright with you," I say with a yawn. "I'm pretty beat."

Ever since our evening on the abandoned building's rooftop, Bane and I had taken to training with one another in the same spot, honing my self-defense skills. I've made drastic improvements, considering the fact that I used to be unable to harm a fly. Now, I even manage to get a few licks in on Bane every now and then.

"Very well," Bane exhales. "Pleasant dreams."

"Good night!" I reply before gathering my blankets from the floor and dragging them down the hallway to my room.

After showering, brushing my teeth, and changing into my pajamas, I climb beneath the fluffy covers of my new bed and snuggle beside my pillow. Every item on this bed is brand-new, Blake told me. I'm happy. The old beds I owned were ratty and sprouting gray, metal hairs that hurt like crazy when they pricked you.

I lay on my back, staring up at the lazy ceiling fan that spun above me, barely providing a breeze from where it sat. The blades of the fan are decorated with little pink roses that crawled towards the ends like graceful hands. I listen to the "thck, thck, thck" of the fan as it continues to spin.

I can't believe how much my life has changed since meeting Bane. Since that fateful day when Bane walked into my life, which was now over two months ago, everything had turned upside down. I never thought that we'd become friends, heck, even acquaintances, when I first laid eyes on him all of those days ago. I'd been terrified when I saw him, the hulking man with the mechanical contraption strapped to his face. After the first few days, I was already contemplating simply dropping him off at the police department, ridding myself of him completely.

If I'd done that... Things would certainly be different for me now. I'd still be coming home to an empty house, filled only with the air of loneliness. There'd be no one to joke around with, to tease, to read with... I'd be back to living alone. I used to think that's what I wanted but Bane opened my eyes and made me realize that's the exact opposite of what I needed.

The truth is, I can't imagine living without my bossy, sarcastic, knowledgeable tyrant of a roommate anymore, which scares me. I wasn't supposed to start enjoying his company.

I feel my mouth fall into a frown. He'd have to leave, eventually. When our six months together was up, the police would return for him and strip me of my new friend.

It's an unpleasant thought. I push it away. That's months from now. There's no use in fretting over it today.

I feel my eyes growing heavy under the hypnotic gaze of the flowery ceiling fan. Before I know it, I slip into an easy slumber.

0-00-0-0-0-00-0

Bane sits in the darkness, fingers sliding letter pieces across the board like it's a puzzle. When he's finished, his dark eyes look down upon his work. Four simple words are there:

EL TIEMPO ESTA CERCA

I sit up with a start, snapping awake by a sudden loud noise. I glance around, still groggy. My cell phone is vibrating on the bedside table, seeming to shake the entire room. My hand fumbles around for it before it latches on. I bring it to my ear.

"Hello?" I mumble with a muffled yawn. My Tweety Bird clock reads "2:12AM".

"Rose, you need to get out of there...NOW."

Blake's voice comes across loud and clear, but my sleepy mind takes a second to register his loud words.

"Leave?" I repeat. "Why...what's...what's going on?"

"Someone's there, in the apartment-"

My eyes widen when I hear my door slowly creak open, as if a slight breeze blew it. I only have time to turn around before a hand is clamped over my mouth.

"Rose! ROSE!" Blake's cries sound through my speaker, panicked and concerned. I struggle wildly against my captors but there's at least five of them and they're all grabbing some part of me, holding me down, restraining me from moving too much.

Bane's first lesson comes back to mind. No hesitation, Rose. No...hesitation.

I bite down hard on my captor's hand. He lets out a pained cry and releases me. I push the man away from me and he stumbles backwards into one of his comrades. Both of them fall to the ground, leaving only three men on their feet. All three lunge at me.

I kick one man in his stomach and claw him across the face and then go to elbow another, but the final man decides to make a sudden attack. He swings his fist out. It connects with my ear, sending vibrations through my skull. My ears start to ring and I feel dizzy. I fall back into one of the captors' arms as blackness begins to fill my vision. I try to fight it away and try work up a scream, anything to alert Bane and get him out of here before they come for him.

Blake's panicked yells follow me away into the darkness.

-0-00-0-00-0-0-

Something cold washes over me and brings me abruptly out of darkness's chilling grip. I sit up with a scream only to have my head shoved back down by a rough hand. My head slams against cement, sending waves of blinding pain through my entire body.

"Stay down, traitor!" a harsh voice barks at me. My eyes flicker around, wide and panicked, trying to survey my new surroundings.

I'm in a gray, cement room. There's not a piece of furniture in here. There's a door but it's blocked by two men armed with heavy machine guns. They shoot me desolate glares from the distant, their eyes sunken and shallow.

Finally, my eyes come to rest on the person yelling at me. He's a tall, thin man, dressed in loose-fitting clothes dipped in black. His pale face is gaunt and etched with fresh, red scars. Black eyes burn down into mine, filled with rage and hatred.

"Wh-Who are you?" I cough out. Water is slick over my body, pouring into my eyes, nose and mouth.

The man's jade eyes narrows and he leans closer to my face. His breath is rancid and hot against my wet skin. "Who we are isn't important, little girl. What happens next is."

He snaps his fingers and yells for one of his men to come over. One does, still toting his gun.

Gaunt-Face's eyes return to me. "You shelter the terrorist, Bane, correct?" he asks, his voice suddenly pleasant. He sounds as if we've just stepped out for a cup of coffee instead of this being a kidnapping.

I clamp my lips together, afraid to speak. Gaunt-Face studies my face for a few seconds. His lips twitch into a surprised smile when I still don't respond. He nods at his companion. The companion raises his gun and gently places its freezing muzzle against my wet forehead.

Gaunt-Face squats down beside me."We need answers, little girl. Answer them and you'll keep your life," he explains. He takes out a cigarette, lights it with his cheap, plastic lighter, and sticks it between his thin lips. He takes a puff and blows the smoke into my face. "Now, answer my question."

The muzzle is like fire against my skin. There's really no point in denying the fact that I "shelter" Bane. They would have seen him anyway if they stormed my house. I glance around, wondering if Bane was brought here, too.

I lick my lips and inhale. "Yes," I breathe. "He's living with me, yes."

Gaunt-Face nods and smirks. "See? That wasn't hard at all, now was it?" He inhales on his cigarette and blows out more smoke. "Next question: Where is he now?"

I blink in shock. "You...you didn't find him?" I ask incredulously.

Gaunt-Face looks just as shocked as I am. "No, we didn't..." His eyes narrow. "Where'd you hide him?"

"Nowhere!" I declare before setting my jaw. "I guess he figured out your little plan and escaped."

And left me behind. I bite the inside of my jaw, trying to fight away the painful realization with a source of physical pain.

Gaunt-Face flings his cig away from his dusty lips and curses wildly for a second. He snatches the gun from his subordinate and pushes the muzzle up against the base of my throat. I can barely swallow against its heavy weight.

"That just means he got lucky today. Unfortunately, you didn't." He presses the gun harder against me. "Now I want you to listen good, little traitor. Listen really...really good. You listening to my every word is the only thing keeping your head attached to the rest of your body. Understand?"

I grind my teeth together but nod. There's nothing else to do in this situation unless I want a bullet blasting through my neck.

"Good girl. Now, listen. I don't want to kill you. I don't want to be the one to close those big, adorable eyes forever. You're young; still gotta big, long life ahead of you. You don't want it to all end here, do you? All because of a maniac?"

Are you referring to yourself? I ask silently but I know better than to say the words aloud. I try to swallow again and I do, with a bit of difficulty.

"What do you want with me?" I cough in a weak voice.

Gaunt-Face gives me a tight smile. "That's simple. We want Bane—dead or alive. It doesn't really matter. We just want to see that insane criminal right here, ready to pay for his crimes. And you're going to help us get him here."

"Why would I do-" My sassy quip is cut short when I hear the safety switch off on the gun. My nails claw silently at the cement floor. "H-How would I do that?" I correct myself.

"We've been watching you two. We see how...disgustingly close you've become to him. My guess is that he trusts you by now."

I'm not sure how to respond to that. I know that I trust him, for the most part. There's still a little part of me that fears him, or fears the side of him he rarely shows me. The side filled with immense power and leadership, the side capable of destroying an entire city without remorse, to break a man's neck without feeling an ounce of guilt.

That side I still don't trust. It's a side Bane rarely shows to me. When it does rear its ugly head, I'm like a deer in headlights, frightened but too afraid to go anywhere.

But does he trust me? I can't climb inside his head and find out, no matter how badly I would like to. His demeanor towards me has shifted dramatically since the day he moved in. He no longer acts like the manic terrorist but Bane, my intelligent, brooding roommate with a powerful presence and disturbingly eloquent voice. But he still won't tell me everything. There's still parts of him he refuses to reveal to me, for reasons only he knows.

"I...I don't know if he trusts me that much," I admit.

"I know he trusts you enough to drive him wherever your little heart wishes," Gaunt-Face challenges. "And I have somewhere special for you to take him. The police department."

My throat struggles beneath the gun, trying its hardest to get liquid through. "You want me to give him back to the police," I state in a tight voice.

"Back to the people," Gaunt-Face corrects me with a smile. "We'll be waiting there for him. All you need to do is drop him off to us and we'll take care of the rest. It's a 'win-win' situation, sweetheart! You get him out of your dirty apartment and we get our revenge on the man who ruined our lives without much effort on our part."

My being is overwhelmed with so many emotions at one time that I don't even have enough room to get angry over that "dirty apartment" comment. Fear is the most dominant emotion I'm feeling. Fear for both Bane and myself. This situation couldn't go well for either of us. At least one of us was bound to be severely hurt by this, if not both of us.

The men will kill Bane when they got him or they'll kill me now for not agreeing to turn him over. It seems more like a 'lose-lose' situation to me.

I can't bring myself to answer. I don't want to condemn Bane to death nor do I feel like getting shot in the throat myself. It's a rare day when I actually want that to happen.

Gaunt-Face looks impatient. He moves the gun's muzzle to my forehead and places his sweaty finger on the trigger. "I'm going to need that answer now, doll."

I open my mouth to speak, having every intention of giving him the answer he wants, but something won't let me. All I can see are Bane's dark eyes, and the slippery trust that he's placed in me. To open my mouth and respond with a "yes" would be to forever sever the delicate bond we've forged together and to willing participate in his murder.

I can't do it. I won't.

Gaunt-Face studies my face with twitching eyes before he turns his head to the side. He laughs once, a short laugh filled with disbelief. His furious gaze returns to me.

"Do you really care that much about a man that killed hundreds of innocent people? That tried to blow up a city? Who left you behind tonight to save his own skin?" Gaunt-Face is yelling by this time. His words dig under my skin, planting seeds of doubt like a skilled gardener. "You mean nothing to him! He's just waiting for the chance for you two to be all alone so that he can strangle you to death, escape and go back to his people. Don't tell me," he shakes his finger in my face, "don't tell me that you've never looked at him and felt scared. Don't tell me you don't feel the darkness emitting from that tainted being. He's waiting, sweetheart. For the perfect moment to escape your apartment and to get back to his real job—not reading books, not watching movies, not going to the beach or the museum, not playing board games, not any of that! He's waiting to squish Gotham City with the heel of his boot and believe me, sister..." Gaunt-Face wipes his dark bangs to the side of his face and stares at me. "You'll be under it with the rest of us."

My chest is heaving. My eyes sting. Every word he's said is true. I don't fully trust Bane. There is something in his eyes that I've been overlooking, something that is easily missed.

Expectancy. He's waiting for something, someone. All of the time. I never paid much attention to it but Gaunt-Face's words bring it to the forefront. He's always lost in thought, always thinking and I'm not privy to whatever it is he's seeing. Who's to say it isn't the next revolution, his next big plan to rid the world of Gotham City?

Plus, he knowingly left me behind tonight! He's part of the reason I'm in this predicament in the first place. I thought we were friends, but friends don't leave friends behind.

My mouth finally gives an answer. "...I...Okay. I'll...I'll do it." I'm instantly ashamed of my choice. No, no, I didn't mean it, my head screams but my mouth is clamped shut, refusing to speak again.

Gaunt-Face looks pleased. "Good girl! I knew you'd see things our way. Bring him to the GCPD tomorrow morning. We'll be waiting."

In one quick movement, he's jerked me to my feet. He spins me around and shoves me towards the door.

"Go out the door and to the left. You can find your own way home. And don't forget...we'll be watching your every move from here on out."

I don't bother looking back. I stumble out of the room, feeling like a completely useless and helpless child. My entire body is aching, especially the back of my head. I head out of the building and into the rainy streets of Gotham. My pajamas are instantly soaked through as sheets of cold, icy rain slam against me, nearly knocking me to my feet.

I'm sure to get a good look of the warehouse the Abolishers had me in. It's a tall, green one, pushed away from the main part of the city. Dozens of flatbed trucks are parked around it, some covered in dents, others torn to pieces.

I pull my gaze from the warehouse and continue stumbling forward. I don't even know where I am. I've never been to this part of the city. It's a seedy part of town, filled with disheveled characters slinking around, some giving me twisted grins, others simply staring. I continue past them.

By the time I make it to somewhere even remotely familiar, I'm shaking like a leaf and barely able to stand. My legs are weak and my head's started to throb. I sit down at a bus stop, taking a second to get out of the rain. An elderly woman on the bench beside me gives my pajamas a strange look before she pushes out her umbrella and waddles away.

My knees pull up to my chin and I bury my face between them, just wanting to escape everything right now. I feel so ashamed in myself. I willingly agreed to turn Bane over to those men. I agreed to help in his murder.

Tears roll down my face, gathering at my chin before dropping down to meet the soft material of my pajama pants. I swipe at my dripping nose and listen to the sobs racking through my body and the rain falling against the plastic roof of the bus stop.

A hand suddenly grips my shoulder. Fearing that it's one of the Abolishers, I do as Bane taught me and grab onto the person's wrist and give it a sharp twist.

I hear a pained hiss before someone says, "Ma'am! Ma'am! It's me!"

I'd recognize that voice anywhere. I look over my shoulder and see Detective Blake, his face contorted in pain.

"Blake!" I cry while quickly releasing his wrist. Blake pulls it away and holds it with his other hand.

"Nice grip, Rose," he jokes, face still pained. His eyes soften as he looks down at me. "What the heck happened tonight? I just came from your apartment after seeing the cameras. I would have brought other cops but….they didn't…."

"Want to get involved," I finish for him. "I understand."

I rub my shaking arms and lower my eyes from his. I can't tell him the truth about what happened. It would only drag him onto this unnecessary path I've carved out for myself, the one I wish I could stray off of. But there are alligators on every other side of the path and all I can do is go forward on my own.

"Just some...people took me. They thought I had money or something..." I lie while looking at the slick pavement. Barely any cars are out at this time. The streets are unusually dark and silent, save for the harsh downpour.

"People? What people?" Blake asks as he takes off his black jacket and wraps it around me. It's big enough so that I can slip my bare feet into the small tent it provides.

"I-I didn't get a good look at them. They put me in a room by myself. I was able to get out before any of them came back."

My eyes stay glued on the sidewalk, even as I feel Blake studying me. He places a warm hand on my shoulder, causing me to drag my eyes from the ground and up at him. His smile makes me feel even guiltier.

"We'll find them. I'm glad you're safe, Rose. You're a strong person."

I want to turn and run away from him. I'm not strong. I've always been weak. I sentenced one of my only friends to death.

The execution is tomorrow.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Blake delivered me home that night and I fell asleep on the couch, still dressed in my dripping pajamas. Bane wasn't home. I'm not sure how he got the memo that the Abolishers were coming, but at least he was safe...for now.

The clock on the kitchen wall reads "7:08". It's nearly time for me to rendezvous with the Abolishers. I'm not sure how I'll be able to do it. To willingly hand over Bane to people who would kill him... Isn't that just as bad as murdering him myself?

Suddenly, the door to my apartment vibrates with a powerful knock. I sit up straight. Were the Abolishers outside? Did they think I wasn't going to follow through with the plan? Fear racks through me as I tip-toe over to my door. I press my shaky hand against the door and stand up on my toes to peer through the peephole.

Bane.

A million emotions course through me at once as his gaze lifts upwards to meet mine. The small fluttering feeling of relief in my chest causes me to smile. I reach up and unlock every single one of my five locks before swinging open the door.

We stand there, staring at each other in silence. His eyes watch me, waiting for my next move. My body is blocking the doorway, stopping easy entrance into the apartment. I contemplate what to do. Should I slap him? Punch him? Or simply step aside?

I decide on none of the options. Instead, guilt drives me to slam the door right back in his stunned face. I stand with my back to the door, my face burning with embarrassment. Crap. That's embarrassing and so not what I intended to do.

I can't even face him. Knowing that I'm about to send him off to his death, how can I possibly meet his eyes again?

I turn back around and crack the door open just enough so that he can see my face. I give a sheepish grin and laugh nervously before opening the door. "Um. Sorry," I apologize while stepping to the side and swiping at my nose. "It's been a...a long night."

Bane steps into the apartment and glances over my wet attire, crazy hair, and dirty, bare feet. His eyes look concerned. "What happened?" he asks.

"Long story. I'll explain the rest in the car." I force a smile, one that's so dry it hurts, before I spin on my heel to retrieve my coat, shoes, and keys. None of the Abolishers said I needed to dress to kill so soaking wet pajamas would have to do for today.

Bane watches me as I run around gathering my things. His eyes are squinted up with confusion.

"Where are we going?" he finally asks.

"Oh, um... the library!" I announce with a grin as I head towards the front door. "I-I need to pay for those overdue books."

Bane eyes me a second longer before he nods. He doesn't seem convinced but doesn't push it any further.

Together, we leave the apartment and make it down to my car. We climb in and I start her up. The car purrs to life before the radio turns on, pushing the hypnotic beats of Ellie Goulding to our ears. I pull onto the streets.

Usually, I'd be talking to him about what's on his mind, what's on my mind, or at least singing along to the radio. Today, I can't utter out a single word. My hands are wrapped around the steering wheel like it's a deadly, coiled snake that's about to strike. My eyes are bouncing around the streets, looking for any Abolisher spies.

"You are worried."

Bane's rumbling voice nearly causes me to scream. I bring a hand to my heaving chest before sputtering out a laugh.

"N-No, I'm not!" I lie with another nervous giggle. "Why would I be nervous...?" My fingers tap on the steering wheel, impatiently awaiting his answer.

"Your hands are shaking," Bane notes as his eyes zoom in on my agreeably quaking hands. "Either you're worried or fearful."

Try both.

I laugh again, a laugh that nearly transforms into a sob. We are stopped at a redlight behind loads of cars. It doesn't look like we're getting to the GCPD anytime soon.

"I'm not," I say again, trying to make my voice more forceful. I swipe my hair with my trembling fingers. "I'm just cold from these wet clothes."

Bane's breathing lowers before he speaks. "How did this happen to your clothes?" He pauses. "Be truthful."

I exhale. "Like you don't know!" I snap. The light turns green and I slam my foot on the gas, ready to get the job done. Bane can play the innocent act all he wants to. He ran off and left me last night. He forced my hand in this. He could have easily warned me, tried to help me, or something. But no, he just saved his own skin.

Kind of like I'm doing now. I bit down on my bottom lip. The police department is only a few blocks away. What will I do when I get there? I can't grab him and toss him out of the car.

"You will give me a direct answer, Rose."

Bane's voice is suddenly filled with such a demanding tone that it sends quakes down my body. I grip the steering wheel. My stomach feels nauseous.

What the heck am I doing? Am I really about to turn over my friend to a group of people who want to kill him? I promised myself and everyone else that I would look out for him and guide him through his time of rehabilitation. Leaving him there to be killed would go against everything I've been fighting for, everything I've ever believed in.

"I'm so sorry, Bane," I say. My mind is made up. "You are going to hate me in about ten seconds."

We're headed right towards the police department in packed traffic with no other way to go besides forward. My hands wrap around the steering wheel as tightly as they can. The department is five seconds away. I can see groups of Abolishers looking right at us from the department's parking lot. Their piercing eyes are focused on the car as we approach.

"This is why I always remind you to put on your seatbelt," I joke before slamming my foot down on the gas.

We shoot forward, dodging cars that blare their horns at us. I swing from lane to lane until I make it to one with less traffic. I press down harder on the gas pedal. My gas will most definitely be gone by the end of this high-speed chase.

Bane is giving me an incredulous look, his brows knit together. "Rose," he speaks. "What is the meaning of this?"

I adjust my rearview mirror and frown when I see Abolishers yelling after us. They're climbing on motorcycles and trucks and are making their way towards us. I don't miss the guns strapped across their backs.

"Please don't hate me forever for this..." I say as I push the car to go faster. My poor baby is sputtering in disagreement but it's trying. "I thought you'd left me last night! Left me to get kidnapped and threatened and hurt and—"

"Lower your head," Bane says suddenly. I cut my eyes over at him, wondering what he meant. All it took was a glance out of my rearview mirror again to see what he meant.

The Abolishers have their guns raised.

We both duck our heads right at the moment my back window shatters into a million pieces. I scream as bullets whiz right above our heads, burning streaks of metal across the sky. Other cars around us begin to swerve in wild maneuvers meant to get them away from the gunmen. Unfortunately, this just makes it harder for me to escape.

"I'm really sorry, Bane!" I yell over the madness as I try my hardest to peer over the steering wheel without getting a bullet sent through my skull.

I notice that Bane is unbuckling his seatbelt. "You may explain later. For now... I want you to get ready to jump from the vehicle."

"What?" I cry. "Are you crazy? We're going way too fast."

"Your car is too old to maintain such a high speed for much longer. Send a message to the good detective and prepare to leap."

"You're crazy!" I yell. Another round of bullets elicit more of my screams. "Fine! Just...Just tell me when!"

We're coming up to the bridge leading out of Gotham. Bane's eyes watch the road in front of us, steady and calculating. I look behind us and see that the Abolishers are catching up. I send a quick "GOTHAM BRIDGE, WE'RE IN TROUBLE, PLZ HELP!" message to Blake before shoving my phone away.

"When, Bane?" I shout over the chaos. Cars are crashing all around us, some even flying off of the cliff and into the freezing water below.

"You're too frail to make such a leap without harming yourself. Climb over to me," Bane commands.

"And leave the wheel? We'll crash!"

"Not before we jump." He looks out the window. "It is time. Come."

I look out the window one more time. The bridge is so close. I unbuckle my seatbelt with one hand, steadying the steering wheel with the other. I look at Bane, filled with fear. His calm eyes relax me.

I reach over and wrap both of my arms around Bane's neck and clasp my hands together. The car immediately starts swerving. One of Bane's hands wrap around my waist while the other opens the car door. I scream and hide my face into the folds of his jacket as he leaps. His arms find their way around my waist and back of my head as we tumble on the ground. His heavy body muffles our impact, but only by some. We roll and tumble on the pavement, earning cuts and scrapes along the way. Bane keeps me held close, taking the brunt of the fall.

We finally come to a halt with me ending up on top of him. I lay there, thanking the Lord above that we survived Bane's insane stunt. When I look up, I have to do a double take. Poor Bane and his chest get the brunt of my bony elbows digging into them as I sit up and stare after my car, which cruises right off the cliff.

"My baby!" I moan. My car is followed closely by screeching Abolishers who aren't able to stop in time.

I suddenly hear a horn blare at us. I look to the left and see a minivan barreling right towards us. The man in the driver's seat is slamming his palm against his wheel and waving us out of the way with his other. I scream and climb off of Bane.

"Come on, Bane, we've gotta move!" I yell at him. That's when I notice that his eyes are wide and panicked, his fingers bent in agony. A whistling sound is pouring out of the broken tubes on his mask.

Shoot. I don't know what's happening but I can see that he's in no condition to move. I go behind him, grab him under his shoulders and begin dragging him the best I can towards the sidewalk. The car is getting closer and closer. There's no way they'll stop in time.

Okay, you can do this, Rose. Bane's protected you and saved your life more times than you've doubted him. I grab Bane tighter.

Pull it together, get a good grip, and...

"Argh!" I use all of my strength and pull Bane onto the sidewalk right as the minivan zooms past us. I fall on my butt and groan. I felt like my arms almost popped out of their sockets from dragging him.

After gathering myself together, I slowly drag Bane into a nearby alley and sit him up against the wall so that I can get a good look at his mask. The alley is dark and shaded, providing us with safety for the time being. The only other things in the alley are a few rusted trash bins, cardboard boxes overflowing with tattered clothes, and a rat or two.

Bane's breathing is coming in short, ragged bursts and dark blue veins pulsate around the back of his head. His eyes flutter as his hands try to fix the broken tubes on the mouth of his mask.

"Hey, hey, calm down, Bane," I say in a soothing manner as I pull my hair behind my ear and move his hands aside. "I'll fix it... Just hang in there."

I'm surprised when Bane actually lowers his hands and, after a bit of hesitation, nods.

I quickly grab onto the whistling tubes with my small hands and try to plug them back in their designated slots. Darn it, this is extremely confusing. I need to connect the tubes to the right plug, but each plug looks exactly the same.

I'm going way too slow. The whistling is still happening. Bane's eyes are squeezed shut and he looks like he's in so much pain.

"Hang on, Bane! I've almost got it!" I say as my trembling hands struggle to put the tubes in place. I'm starting to panic, but I try to keep my emotions under control.

Finally, I'm able to snap them in the right spots.

"There!" I cry. "I think I've got it!"

Bane's breathing slowly returns to normal, releasing my heart from the chokehold it's been held in. His eyes remain shut. I use the opportunity to swipe the tears out of my eyes, not wanting him to see that I was crying. A relieved laugh escapes my throat as I wipe the last tear away.

I sniffle. "You scared me, Bane... I'm glad you're o—"

Suddenly, Bane's hand shoots out. His fingers wrap around my neck and I'm slammed against the brick wall behind me. I gag as Bane's fingers wrap even tighter around my throat. I grasp at his thick arm, trying to get a good hold.

His dusky eyes swim with rage as they lock onto mine. He inhales, long and slow, before stating, "You planned to betray me."

It's a simple statement, five words in total, nothing too complex about it. He said it in such a calm, simplistic way that I would have dismissed it with a laugh if it weren't for the grinding anger in those eyes. They're the eyes of a person intent on murder.

Heck, there's no reason to lie now that I'm about to die in an alleyway. "I...I was going to turn you o-over," I manage to choke out. "But I didn't...!"

Bane's eyes search my soul for a few more agonizing seconds in which I begin to see white spots dance around his face. Then, he releases me.

I slide against the wall and crumple to the ground. I cough into my fist and struggle to correct my hoarse breathing. Bane stands over me, his arms folded over his chest. The anger is still there, in those bottomless eyes, but it's not as strong as it was.

Shakily, I climb to my feet, using the wall behind me for support. I glower at Bane before taking a step forward and jabbing my index finger against his chest.

"I didn't have a choice!" I nearly yell, punctuating every word with another jab of my finger. "I got kidnapped last night and was literally forced into a deal that involved me bringing you to the Abolishers! I didn't want to do it but then...then you left me last night, and ran away and saved yourself. I was angry! I was mad and hurt and I...I don't know why I agreed to do it."

I lower my hand from his chest and fold my arms. I look down at the ground before looking back at his face with teary eyes. I shake my head. "Why'd you leave me behind?" I whisper.

Bane's eyes finally soften. "How easily your mind jumps to conclusions," he says in a calm voice. "I was escorted to the station last night while you were resting." He pauses to breathe in. "There were questions some officers wanted me to answer and I was asked to stay overnight."

I open my mouth to speak but slam it back shut. I spin away from him, needing a moment to process this new information he just shoved on me. When I spin back to face him, I'm still confused.

"Wait, wait, wait... So you're saying that you didn't run away last night?" I inquire.

The smirk in Bane's voice is evident. "I believe the police would have noticed if I had."

"But…. But, Blake saw me last night! He was with me!"

"The good detective did leave me earlier in the night to follow up on some business and never came back. I suppose he went to look for you without telling me what was going on?"

"Yeah… I suppose he did."

I blink stupidly at him before covering my face and groaning. Ugh, I'm an idiot! Of course, Bane hadn't run away last night! The police have a constant view on him. They would have been out in droves if he'd left my house last night.

"I'm so, so sorry, Bane!" I cry. My face remains covered by my hands. "I should have known you wouldn't have run away. I'm sorry."

"So... That was the reason you were considering giving me to the Abolishers?"

"Yes. Partially. That and they were aiming a gun at my face," I say with a shrug.

Bane's breathing is my only source of a reply for a while. "Then, what made you change your mind?" he finally asks.

His question takes me by surprise. I uncover my face and blink at my wet hands.

"Well, I..." My voice trails off as my mind searches for an answer. Why did I slam on the gas instead of the brakes when we came to the police station? I was set on dropping him off at the lions' den, but something made my foot slam down on the gas pedal and wouldn't let up.

"...I don't know exactly," I answer truthfully. "I can't pinpoint the exact reason." A sense of what's right and wrong, my loyalty to his rehabilitation...? I'm just not sure.

Bane seems like he knows the answer but doesn't say a word. Instead, he folds his arms and leans back against the brick wall. He stares at me, watching me like I'm an interesting specimen he's dissecting with his eyes.

I sigh and lean back against the wall behind me. There's hardly enough room to move in this tight alleyway, especially with Bane standing directly in front of me. We're only inches apart, both leaned against the wall behind us, our eyes transfixed on the other person.

"We've got to trust each other from now on," I announce. "No more of this doubting one another stuff. And don't choke me again," I order with a stern eye. I grab at my sore neck and glare at Bane. Bane's eyes are unapologetic as he stares back at me.

I huff and continue. "This city hates us. We've got to be able to stand together against this, okay? I don't want any other misunderstandings between us. I'm sorry for doubting you. You have my complete trust now," I inform him. I close my mouth and wait for him to speak.

Bane cocks an eyebrow at me. "You expect my trust as well?"

"I already said I was sorry! And I didn't give you over to them, did I?"

Bane considers my words, his breathing steady and calm.

"You have earned my trust as well," he concludes with a hidden smile.

I feel a bright smile take over my face. "Great," I beam. "We trust each other now. So." I pause to glance over at the utter chaos in the streets. Cars are flipped over and on fire. People are running down the streets screaming bloody murder at the top of their lungs.

"Any ideas on how we're getting home?" I ask.

"You could ask for a ride."

Another voice speaks, nearly scaring me out of my skin. Bane and I look over to find Detective Blake smiling at us. His forehead is slick with sweat and he's panting heavily. I imagine it was no easy feat making it to us.

"A ride home would be great," I say with a smile. My smile quickly vanishes as reality sets in. "But... couldn't this craziness just happen again? Those Abolisher people are still out there and I'm pretty sure they're going to want to kill me now."

"The Abolishers kidnapped you last night, didn't they? Not people wanting ransom."

I feel myself blush. "Yeah. Sorry for lying. I didn't want to get you involved..."

Blake grins. "Getting involved is part of my job. We're going to round up every Abolisher we can find and get them behind bars. Do you remember where you were taken last night?"

"Yes!" I say excitedly. "I think I remember exactly!"

"Alright, let's go round 'em up then."

-0-0-0-0-0-

After spending the afternoon with Blake, mostly answering questions and straightening out bent truths, Bane and I are finally transported back to our apartment. Blake left us with the promise that we didn't have to worry about the Abolishers anymore. Blake's word meant a lot to me, but I'm still a little jittery. Being kidnapped from your own home can work nightmares on your head.

"I can't believe I don't have a car anymore," I whimper as I flop onto my sofa and curl up into a little ball. "How am I supposed to get to class, to my job, to the grocery store?!" I cry.

Bane walks past me and sits on the other sofa, the one tilted at a diagonal position to the television. "Walk," he offers as if it's the simplest solution in the world.

I give him a blank look before sighing. "That might be my only option, as bad as it sounds," I say as I hug myself tighter. "Maybe Blake can fish my car out of the water?"

"Considering the antiquity of your car, it would be both pointless and not worth the money, I presume."

"You're an antique," I joke while throwing one of the sofa's pillows at him. He catches it with ease and places it beside him. He gets up from the couch and adjusts his bomber jacket before heading towards the hallway. I sit up and watch him, feeling alarmed. "Hey, wait! Are you about to go to sleep?" I ask.

"Yes. It's been a taxing day for us all," Bane explains. I can hear the fatigue in his voice, coming across loud and clear despite the mask. I feel myself growing nervous the further he walks away from me. Finally, he's gone into his room. The door shuts behind him.

I'm left alone in the dark living room. A creak sounds from the kitchen, causing me to jump. Okay, I'm a bit jumpy after today. Who's to say I won't be kidnapped again tonight, this time with no hope of being set free? I can only imagine what Gaunt-Face would do to me if he caught me this time.

Another creak sounds. I squeal and make a beeline for my bedroom, my bare feet slapping against the wood paneling. I slam my bedroom door behind me. I glance around the room, imagining the forms of the husky men who took me captive the night before. There's no way I'll be able to fall asleep in here tonight.

The only place I'd feel safe sleeping would be...

My stomach sinks as I realize the answer at the same time it does. Bane. I'd only feel safe if Bane was around me. He's a big guy! He'd be able to take on a roomful of men, no problem. I know he would protect me. But that meant sleeping in his proximity, which meant sleeping in his room, which meant sharing a bed, since there's only one bed in that room. I'm not going to be rude enough to tell him to sleep in that tiny armchair near his bookcase and I'm not gonna sleep in that ratty thing.

My face is on fire, burning at the thought of Blake seeing me crawl into bed with Bane. What would he think? What is one left to think upon seeing a woman crawl into bed with a man?

I shake my head and fold my arms across my chest. Alright, there's no way I'm pursuing that adventure. I'll just have to tough it out and sleep in my room tonight. I'm a big girl.

Shaking like a maraca, I crawl into my bed and pull the covers over my head. My eyes squeeze shut but that does nothing to block out the frightening images from last night or the sounds echoing through my room. Every creak sounds like a heavy footstep, every groan sounds like one of my kidnappers. My fingers clutch desperately at my sheets and I swallow.

After a particularly loud creak, I jump out of my bed, taking a pillow with me. Forget it. Bane might say no (in fact, he most likely will say no) but there's no way I'm not going to ask. I leave my room and head down the hall to Bane's room. I suck in a deep breath before knocking gently against the door.

I wait patiently. I don't hear any movement behind the door so I'm certain he's sleeping soundly. My hand finds the doorknob and I push. The door slowly creaks open. I see Bane's hulking figure on the bed. He's facing the wall opposite to me, covered with his sheets up to his waist.

He's shirtless.

Darn it. Doesn't anyone go to sleep wearing clothes anymore? Still, I can't help but to secretly admire the impressive back muscles he's got going on there. He has to work out somewhere, somehow, on the down low.

I creep over to him and gently tap his bare back with my index finger. My hand jerks back like he's made of fire. This is embarrassing. I feel like a child who watched a horror movie and sneaks into their parents' bed that night.

Bane twitches slightly before he rolls over and catches my eye with his. They're tired and red-rimmed.

"Yes, Rose?" he asks in a voice riddled with sleep.

"Um, hey," I begin shyly. How can I put this delicately without sounding too eager to climb into bed with him? I clear my throat. "Um... Would you mind if I slept with...slept in your bed tonight? With you?"

Smooth, Rosey-gal. Smooth.

Bane's eyes flicker over my face before he gives a hesitant nods and sweeps out his hand in a grand fashion.

"Be my guest," he invites me before turning away. I smile.

Carefully avoiding any creaky floorboards, I go over to the other side of the bed and climb under the covers with Bane. Fortunately, he's decided to at least wear his dark pants to bed.

Wow, I hate to admit it, but it feels almost normal lying in Bane's bed. It's like some sort of twisted slumber party.

I place my pillow on the bed and snuggle my head against it. My eyes shut and my smile grows as I feel how comfortable Bane's bed is. Blake must have bought him a bed with extra cushioning for his heavier frame. It feels like I'm sleeping on a layer of fluffy clouds.

When I open my eyes, I freeze. Bane's staring right at me. My eyes drop before rising up to meet his again.

"What?" I ask, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

"Why are you here?" His mask sounds like it's in perfect condition again, pushing his heavy, grating breathing out and in.

I snuggle up under the covers, hoping to find some courage under here.

I poke my head out. "I was scared," I admit finally. "I just couldn't stop thinking about the Abolishers breaking into my room last night."

"That was scary for you."

I nod. "It was. I thought they were going to kill me right then and there."

"And you thought I had left you."

I look away, shame burning through me. "Yes," I admit. "I did think that. And I felt really hurt because I thought you had left me behind while saving yourself." I bite my thumb and close my eyes. "Sorry that I doubted you."

"We have already cleared that matter up. Let us not speak of it again."

I smile and nod. "That sounds good to me. Thanks."

We lay in silence, staring at each other in the shadowy room. I shift around, feeling my silky pajama pants with one foot and popping the strap of my black cami. I'm a good distance away from him on the bed. I don't feel comfortable with snuggling against him, even though, if I'm going to be honest with you guys, that's what I would like to do at the moment. Ever since our hug back in Orlando, the recesses of my mind have been filled with nothing but how safe it felt to be that close to him.

I don't risk it, though. That's a bit too brazen for me to attempt, especially when the guy is shirtless. It's hard enough to pretend that I'm not staring at his abs.

I blush as another thought comes to mind. I twirl a strand of dark hair around my brown finger. "Do you remember when we were watching that movie in Florida?" I ask. "The one about the girl being bullied?"

Bane's eyes, which had fallen closed, flutter back open. "Yes," he breathes. "Why?"

"Well, I've been wondering..." I try to work up the courage to ask him the question that's been weighing on my mind ever since that night. "Um, I fell asleep on your bed that night. D-Did you fall asleep by me?"

Bane hesitates to answer but his eyes don't leave mine. "Does the thought concern you that much?" he asks.

"Yes!" I say, more loudly than I'd meant to. "Falling asleep in a guy's bed is a big deal to me! It was hard enough coming in here tonight!"

"You are inexperienced when it comes to men," Bane states, seeming amused. I pout, feeling like I'm being teased. Yes, I'm no expert when it comes to guys and the...the stuff that comes with them but that doesn't give him the right to talk down to me like I'm some schoolgirl asking how to kiss a boy.

"I am experienced in men," I growl while kicking his leg from beneath the covers. "I've had exactly two boyfriends before, thank you very much. And one of them was even older than I was."

"How long did these relationships last for you?"

I look away again. "Less than five months..." I mutter. I shake my head and glare at him. "But that's not the point!" Every time our conversations fall into this area, romance and the like, I always feel like Bane is making fun of me. I don't know how experienced he is in women but I get the feeling that it's leaps further than I am in men. "Anyway, you didn't answer my question. Did you fall asleep by me?"

"...No," Bane admits with a hidden smile. "I moved to your room that night."

A feeling of relief washes over me. So, I'd been worrying over that night for absolutely nothing, like I thought I had.

"Awww, you're such a gentleman," I tease while reaching out a hand and patting his arm. "Ladies must have been falling over you way back in the day, grandpa."

Bane's eyes are shaded. "I'm afraid I remember very little of my life as a younger man. My memories of the past are all shrouded in darkness."

I watch his face. He seems to be reliving a memory, an unpleasant one at that. Feeling pity coursing through me, I lightly kick my foot out and hit his leg. His eyes are finally drawn back to mine, still shaded.

"Hey. Chin up," I say, offering him a tiny smile. "We've made some pretty exciting memories together during these past months, right? The happy memories are the only ones that should matter."

The darkness slowly melts away from his eyes and is replaced by a glimmer of amusement.

"I believe that you are the one trying to give me life lessons this time."

I laugh. "We should totally be teachers or psychologists, maybe. Whichever gets paid the most."

Bane's rasping laughter brings a smile to my face. When things lull into a peaceful silence between us, I roll on my back and use the moment to reflect.

Am I really lying in bed with Bane, cracking jokes, and swapping advice like we're best friends on a Friday night? If you would've told me we'd be doing this months ago, I would have probably thought you were crazy. But here we are. I don't think anything crazier has ever happened in my life.

"Hey, Bane?" I murmur at the ceiling. When Bane doesn't reply, I spare a look in his direction. To my surprise, Bane's eyes are shut. The breaths that eject from his mask are heavy, indicating that he's fast asleep.

I grin at the innocence that sleep can bring to even the most terrifying of faces. He almost looks…happy.

I shift around in bed so that I'm facing him again. His sleeping face is such an anomaly that I can't help but to reach out and lightly touch his cheek with a whisper of my fingertips. When he doesn't open his eyes, I allow my hand to rest there.

"Good night, Bane," I whisper. I remove my hand and curl up into a ball, preparing for a peaceful night of sleep. I sniffle and cough a bit. I really hope I haven't caught a cold after all of that rain and excitement.

Blake is probably watching from the camera with his mouth hanging open but I'll worry about that later. Right now, I'm going to focus on the happy memories.

"I'm glad you're here," I whisper before sleep finally stakes its claim on me.

(Blake: *watching the security cam monitors* :O

Lol, thanks for reading! ;) The BaneXRose moments are beginning to increase and this girl couldn't be any happier! We're getting closer and closer to something AMAZING happening between these two! :D

Next time, Rose gets the biggest surprise of a lifetime-she's asked out on a date! Who asked her? And how will someone who has never been on a date prepare? With a little help from her best friend, that's how!

See you next time!)