Disclaimer: I do not own and am not, in any way, affiliated with the Dark Knight franchise.

"Goodbye - Because I love you."

― Kate Chopin, The Awakening

Chapter Fourteen

When Barsad eventually reappeared he looked more worn out than Audrey had ever seen him. He tilted his head, signaling it was time to go. As they exited she didn't bother to spare a glance in Andy's direction.

Outside, the sky was cloudy and gray.

While they walked she waited for him to reprimand her, to get angry with her; she was spoiling for a fight. It would have alleviated some of the pent up anger and embarrassment she was feeling, at least.

"Look, I shouldn't have-" she began, doubtful of whether she was actually about to apologize or just baiting him. He lagged behind her then stopped walking. With one hand on her hip, she turned around, prepared to defend herself as he ripped into her.

"I'm taking you home."

Her arm dropped to her side, lips pursed in confusion.

"What?" She asked it like he'd spoken to her in Russian. The world was suddenly spinning much faster than it usually did. She felt dizzy.

Barsad talked above her, eyes searching for something in the distance with that carefully constructed mask of detachment on his face. "It's not safe for you here anymore. I'm taking you back." Something in the way he said it indicated that this was his last option. He looked down at her, expression softening. With one hand he swept aside the loose hair that escaped her braid, resting it around the nape of her neck. His thumb brushed her cheek, the one not blooming with a bruise. "You trust me, don't you?"

Sure of her feelings, but not what would come out of her mouth, she nodded.

He changed course, leading her the opposite direction of the apartment. Occasionally he glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one was following them. Jack did not take reprimands well to begin with and this one had left him particularly incensed. He thought he had heard him mutter something about "repayment" on the way out and Barsad was in no mood to be ambushed.

Audrey was too dazed to notice any of this, however, and her heart soared with excitement. This had been what she had wanted more than anything else. She focused her thoughts on her father, hoping that he was okay. She wondered how she would even begin to explain everything that had happened to her. She stole a glance at Barsad, about to say something, when an unexpected jolt of sadness jarred her into staying quiet. Just going to have to deal with that later.

The building that acted as a sort of headquarters was a modern skyscraper, all glass and metal, crawling with men and women in red scarves. Deciding she had dealt with more than enough mercenaries to last a lifetime, she pressed herself close to Barsad when they entered. She was running on reserve energy, too tired to try to put on a brave face, and was relieved when he didn't shove her away.

A few of them nodded at Barsad or called out greetings. There was a respect in their stares that surprised her. Some looked tired, some brooding, but these were not people who were ruled by fear. Bane's words came back to her then and she was only half-listening as Barsad asked for use of a vehicle.

It felt unreal, as though she were dreaming. Any minute she would wake up to find out that she had imagined the whole thing.

Only when they were alone did he ask for directions.

The squeak of windshield wipers brought her back to reality. Fingers squeezed her own tightly, and she realized they were holding hands over the gear shift. When had that happened? She thought she might have been the one who had grabbed his hand first. It felt foreign, too much like the act of a normal couple instead of- well, whatever it was they were. She squeezed back.

"Audrey," he began, hesitated, and then launched right into it. "There's only a fortnight left until detonation."

There was an audible crack as she turned to look at him with lightning speed, mouth slightly agape. "It's been that long?" He nodded.

The vehicle pulled to a stop just outside of where the housing started. "Can't risk being seen, you understand."

Climbing out, she looked around. It was like coming home from her travels. Everything that she'd wanted over the last few months was in reach and yet… it felt so much smaller than she remembered, so much more closed in.

Snow fell around them in fat flakes. This part of the city was relatively untouched by the rebellion as it was not wealthy or impoverished enough to warrant attention. A few street lights still flickered on to dimly light the way.

It was a quiet walk, neither of them sure what to say.

When they were two blocks out, Barsad came to a standstill. Confused, Audrey stopped, watching as he took off his scarf before tying it loosely around her neck. She inhaled, drinking in his scent, and was glad for it. "Thank you."

"Think you can manage the rest?" he asked, lips quirking into a teasing half-grin.

She managed a frail smile in return. "I'm sorry- have we met? No promises."

With the same unexpectedness in the clinic, he drew her into a fierce embrace. She wrapped her arms around his middle, hiding her face in his heavy coat.

Neither of them wanted to let go.

Eventually, he took her by the shoulders and held her in front of him, those eagle eyes taking her in one last time. "It's going to be odd, you know, to come home and not have someone whinging at me," he teased. "You were a right pain in my arse, Audrey Campbell."

"Well, I'm going to enjoy the peace and quiet," she retorted. "And, for the record, Barsad, you were not exactly a peach either."

He leaned down and kissed her. Instead of their usual passionate frenzy, there was a finality to this one. When it ended, he rested his forehead against hers. "I'm going to miss you, you daft cow."

"Such a sap," she whispered. "I'm going to miss you too."

There was so much more she wanted to say, to confess, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. This was so much harder than she'd thought it would be. She wanted desperately to blame it on fatigue, Stockholm Syndrome, literally anything, as long as it meant she didn't have to face up to the realization that she'd come to while they were in that stupid room together. I love you, she wanted to scream at him. Don't you see that? I love you. But the words died in her throat.

He straightened up. "Off with you, then."

She gave him a mock salute, pulled up the hood on her jacket, and walked into the night with tears stinging her eyes.

She refused to look back. Not even once.

(-)

The lights beaming through the downstairs windows emitted a warm, homey glow.

The townhouse looked exactly the same as she had left it. She smiled to herself as she opened the front door. Of course nothing's changed.

Her fingers skimmed the table by the front door, the wood grainy and twisted under her fingers. Keys, wallet, and a book lay on it and she traced over them. The familiar photos of Audrey and her parents at all ages lined the hall. From the living room she could hear the soft sounds of a radio.

She found him fast asleep in his recliner. Lobelia gave a satisfied snort, curled up in her dog bed next to his chair. In sleep, the worry lines were erased from his face and he looked peaceful.

Impishly she thought about the story of Peter Pan and almost crawled into bed to wait for him to find her in the morning. The children had played the same trick on Mrs. Darling when they returned from Neverland. That had been a bedtime favorite in the Campbell household when Audrey had been in elementary school.

With a light shake of his shoulder she managed to wake him. He came to, disoriented, until he focused on her.

"Hey, Dad," she greeted.

"Audrey? Is that really you?"

"Really, really."

They were both crying when he got out of the chair and hugged her tightly, stroking the top of her head like he had when she was little. She stepped back and they took in each other's appearance. He looked a little older than she remembered, the worry lines around his eyes and mouth had deepened since she'd been gone.

"Oh, Auddy," he sighed using his nickname for her as he reached out and touched the ugly brown bruise forming on her cheek. She winced but remained focused on him. "Sweetheart, what happened to you?"

"It's a long story," she replied wearily. It made her think of Arjun.

"Good thing we've got time for it." He sat on the loveseat and patted the spot next to him. She collapsed into the cushions, leaning in when he put an arm around her.

Once she started, she found it was hard to stop. She artfully edited parts she thought were irrelevant like her escape attempt. That meant, of course, she also left out her confused feelings about Barsad and the League of Shadows. But there were parts that slipped out, and she found she couldn't control the distress in her voice as she talked about losing the boy. Throughout, she toyed with the fraying edges of the red scarf.

To his credit, her father took the story better than she would have imagined. He couldn't help looking horrified whenever she seemed to be in danger and had visibly paled when she told the story of her final confrontation with Jack.

"So, this man- Barsad let you go? Just like that?" he asked when she was finished.

By that time the sun had risen and two cups of coffee sat in front of them. Audrey took a sip, mostly content to just wrap her hands around the mug and enjoy the warmth.

"He did," she said quietly. "He didn't have to- I don't think he was supposed to. But he did."

Alexander Campbell studied his daughter carefully. She looked so much like her mother with her dark hair and those wide brown eyes. The whole time she had been gone, he worried that he would never see her again. That she would be dead. That he would never know it. Even though she was an adult, he couldn't help but think of her as his little girl. He was thankful that whoever this Barsad was that he had delivered his daughter back to him.

He had anticipated that she would be different- if she returned. A grim thought, but one that had been on a constant loop. He could tell she was leaving out information and there was something in the way that she talked about the mercenary that led him to believe there was more there. And, though it had certainly not escaped his notice, he hadn't said a word about the scarf. He had gone through this with too many clients, and Audrey herself, to know that he wouldn't- couldn't push her to share anything else. She would if, and when, she was ready.

"Well, I'm grateful he did. I was so worried when you didn't come back that I wouldn't get to see you before-" he choked up. Audrey pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere again, okay? I love you." She yawned into her hand and stood up. "I want to go in with you tomorrow, if that's okay?"

"Whatever you want, sweetheart." Despite himself, Alex couldn't help but smile. "The boys and Father Reilly have missed you something fierce. I'm sure Beth will be happy to see you again too. But, for now, go to bed."

"That sounds nice. Goodnight- or morning, I guess."

"Sleep well, kiddo."

Audrey trudged up the steps to her room. When she flopped on the bed it felt oddly spacious. So many thoughts bounced around her head, but she didn't want to deal with them now. "I'll think about them tomorrow," she quoted in a sleepy voice. "Tomorrow is another day."