A/N: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter. Exams, holidays and a lack of internet. I have plans for a spinoff story stemming from this, possibly a prequel of a sort, so hang in there. Thank you for reading :)

"Are you absolutely sure this is a smart idea?"

"Yes Foggy, I didn't ask you to come here for sightseeing. I've been out of the game for too long, I need some help."

"That's a first, Matt Murdock saying he needs hel-" Matt covered Foggy's mouth and placed a finger on his lip. He pulled his mask over his head. Slowly he got out of the van, but he exploded from the ground, leaping to a ladder far higher than any man should be able to reach. He climbed up the ladder and stood on the fire escape for a moment, peering down at the van.

"Testing one two, testing one two. Can you hear me Foggy?" Matt took a deep breath. He smelt the fresh, cold air of the night and sighed.

"Yeah sure can. Hey Matt, maybe it's about time I get a superhero alter ego…." Foggy's words trailed off into introspective thought. Matt laughed heartily and continued up the fire escape. The night air was silent except for the metallic clang of Matt advancing up rung after rung on the numerous fire escapes on the apartment building. He reached the top of the building and sprinted off.

Foggy shook his head in disbelief but was secretly happy. Matt Murdock was Daredevil after all. One could not exist without the other. Deep down he had yearned for something to wake the Daredevil in him. If jumping up the sides of apartment buildings as a blind lawyer wasn't enough, nothing would be. Foggy was still concerned about Matt though. He didn't know what his plan was or even why he had got his old gear back on. He hadn't even enquired into what would happen when the media caught wind of the fact that Daredevil wasn't dead.

All of these things were apparently the least of Matt's worries. This worried Foggy, a lot. Foggy contemplated asking Matt what he was even doing but he knew Matt would respond with a cryptic answer that would leave Foggy even more confused.

"I just hope he is safe. That is all I want." Foggy laughed when he realised the irony of this statement. Matt would never be far from danger. It was who he was. It was a part of him. It defined him. Matt Murdock was a bit of a daredevil. A blind one at that.

Bruce listened to the roaring behemoth of water before him. It had been a long time since he had entered the Batcave through this entrance. He shook his head as he realised it was his own fault for sealing the entrance from within Wayne Manor. Not even Alfred had been in the Batcave since Bruce gave up his cape. Bruce scratched his chin and held his breath.

The water was ice cold as he plunged through it. He landed hard on the other side, coughing and spluttering in the process.

"What a classy entrance," he mumbled to himself. He got up and took his soaking wet shirt off. He cracked his neck and made his way towards the Batcave. Its lack of recent use was evident. There were cobwebs everywhere and the place smelt stale. Bruce never truly thought he would have to go down here again. If that was the case though, why hadn't he destroyed it? Why hadn't he removed all the evidence that he was Batman? Bruce knew the answer and he knew Alfred would tell him the answer as well, albeit in a smart assed way.

Bruce had decided to don the cape one last time, to save Dick. He still had no idea who had taken him, but Alfred had told him where Nightwing was being held at lunchtime. Bruce had to cut his lunch with Matt Murdock short and get back to Wayne Manor quickly. Bruce was grateful Nightwing was being held in a remote location. He wanted to rescue Dick without any media presence, without anything to worry about. He just wanted to clean up the mess. His mind wandered briefly to the new DA Matt Murdock. How much did he know? Did he know anything, or was he just a naturally paranoid guy? Bruce pushed the thought away, resolved to fix that issue when it became one.

He focused his mind on the matter before him. He had to become Batman again, and save his dear friend, a friend he had turned his back on. Bruce doubted he would ever fully be able to recover what he had lost with Dick. He shook his head in resigned frustration at his own stupidity. Batman had become bigger than Bruce Wayne and Dick knew that. Bruce hadn't been seeing the bigger picture.

Bruce knew that he couldn't put the batsuit on though, not yet at least.

He walked over to the batcomputer and typed in a command. A stainless steel cabinet rose from the floor next to him. Contained within were the latest and most advanced suits available, from Lucius Fox of course. He had said that "they could stop a shotgun shell and survive a live grenade." Bruce hoped it wouldn't come to that. As his stint as Batman had been cut short, Bruce was yet to spray paint the suit and its accessories. It came in a dark blue colour with grey splotches all over it; quite different from the jet black design of the batsuit.

Bruce reached into another cabinet and pull out some other prototype gadgets. He opened a line to Alfred in Wayne Manor.

"I am almost ready to go after Dick."

"If I was to be entirely honest, Master Wayne, those you care for will always be hurt. Maybe that's why you keep people away from you, at a distance. Maybe that's why you chose a solitary life. You are the strongest man I have ever known, stronger than your father. He would be proud, so would your mother. For that matter so would Jim Gordon. All I know is that you didn't choose this life for the glory, or for the fun of it. You chose it because you need this city, and this city needs you. Gotham needs Batman, Gotham needs Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is stronger than Batman. There is no Batman without Bruce Wayne. Master Wayne, look deep down inside of yourself and find that strength. Pardon my French, but for God's sake, you are a superhero! There is a meaning to the word after all…."

A single tear ran down Bruce's cheek. The sunlight emitted from the waterfall caused it to glisten in the dark cavern. There was a moment of silence before Bruce spoke. He tuned everything else out. The roar of the waterfall faded to a few drops of water. The screeching of the bats living in the cave were reduced to a mere scratching sensation. He took a deep breath. He could smell the water, the rock. He closed his eyes for a moment and let his breath dissipate into the cold air, forming a cloud of condensation, rising above his head.

He was ready.