Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are awesome. Keep them coming. :)

And a special big shout out to my buddy Dinasis for the help with this update and the pesky riddles that were horrible to write. It couldn't have come together without you!

Chapter 15

Batman glowered at the mythological creature that had unexpectedly come into view. After passing through a narrow straight carved through sheer rock, he had come across it as if it had been there waiting for him the whole time. He was sure it was no coincidence that he had been put on this particular path that led him here to it.

He cursed under his breath for not anticipating this encounter, but he had allowed his worry for Diana to consume his every thought especially now that he knew she was dying. He needed to stay sharp if he wanted to save her and get them both out of here in time for their wedding.

He glared at the great Sphinx that stood in his path, blocking him from getting to Diana. He didn't have time for this, but he knew that he was going to have to play the game that Hades had orchestrated in order to test him to prove his worth.

Even then, he still didn't have any guarantees that Hades would allow him to leave with Diana. Her father was hiding something from them, some private agenda that would no doubt cost them something. Whatever it was, he would willingly pay it without a second thought if it meant that Diana could return to the world of the living and be free from Hades' interference ever again.

He inhaled deeply through his nose before releasing a breath of pure fury as he sneered at the towering Sphinx, his scorching glower hot enough to melt ice and make any hardened criminal repent every single sin ever committed on the spot. He was sure that the Sphinx wouldn't be affected by it, believing that it had the advantage over him, but the mythical creature didn't have any idea who he was truly dealing with.

"Are we going to stand here and stare at one another or are you going to tell me your damn riddle?" Batman finally demanded to know after what felt like an eternity of waiting.

The Sphinx appraised him for a moment longer before finally speaking, an amused smile on its stony face. "If you are able to get past my three riddles, then I will let you go. If you fail, I will eat you."

"I hate to tell you, but Echidna already tried to make a meal out of me," he informed the Sphinx. "Since I'm standing here with you now, I'm sure you can guess what happened."

"You seem rather confident of your skills, but how about your intellect? No one can beat me…especially not an insignificant mortal like you."

"I think you'll find I'm full of surprises," Batman evenly stated, the whites of his cowl narrowed to thin slits. "I have more experience with this than you can begin to imagine."

"Oh? How so, mortal?"

"Ever heard of the Riddler?"

The Sphinx seemed to actually frown as he thought for a brief moment. "No, but he sounds like someone I might like very much. If I let you live, maybe you can send him to me so I can meet this interesting fellow."

Bruce's anger was simmering hotly in his core, his frustration in his lack of progress threatening to crush his spirit. His jaw clenched tightly only to relax the next moment as he fought to stay in control. "Just get on with this so I can find Diana and leave this wasteland."

"You seem rather sure of yourself and the Amazon," the Sphinx calmly replied, unruffled by the mortal's barely restrained anger. "What makes you think that you will even find her in time?"

"Diana is the strongest woman I have ever known and not just physically," Batman informed him. "Her character…her heart, her compassion and capacity to love is beyond compare. My princess possesses the most indomitable will I have ever known next to my own. She will fight until her last breath to get to me as I would do no less for her."

"You sound as though you are very enchanted by the Amazon."

"It goes far beyond mere enchantment. She is my life."

"Very well then," the Sphinx stated. "Let us begin. I'm anxious to see how you handle the first riddle, Batman. Just know that it will pain me greatly when you lose. You seem like a very fascinating creature…conceited but fascinating nonetheless."

"Just tell me the damn riddle," Bruce hissed.

"I am limitless yet measured, unnoticeable and yet you are constantly aware of me.

"I cannot be contained and yet I am perceived as fast or slow.

"I belong to everyone but I am useless to some. What am I?"

A tiny almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of Bruce's mouth. Without hesitation, he responded. "Time."

The Sphinx appeared to glare right through him, its pleasant demeanor disappearing. It was obviously enraged that the mortal had figured out his riddle so quickly. "Yes, you are correct. It is time and you are rapidly running out of it along with the Amazon."

"Then move on to the next riddle so I can get the hell out of here. Diana will die unless I can get to her soon."

"I can guarantee that you will not be able to figure out the next riddle. Besides, your Amazon is as good as dead whether you find her in time or not," the Sphinx smugly replied. "Here is your next riddle – A hand cannot contain me nor can the eye see me. I can be stolen, but you can catch me if you stand still. What am I?"

Batman thought for several moments, his fists repeatedly flexing and uncurling at his sides as his impatience stormed through him. "The answer is breath," he finally responded. "Can I leave now?"

The Sphinx threw back its head in rage, livid that this simple man could so easily figure out his riddles. "You insolent man!" the creature snarled, the ground seeming to literally rumble beneath his boots with the creature's roar. "I will make sure that you never see your precious Amazon again. You aren't free yet. You have one more riddle to solve or you will die."

"Just get on with it," Batman snapped, unaffected by the Sphinx's fury. "Every single moment I spend here with you is time that Diana is losing."

"I care little about your Amazon. All I care about is my next meal and I must say you are looking very appetizing," the Sphinx angrily bit out. "Here is your third and final riddle. If you can solve it, you will be free to go find your Amazon, but if you fail, I will more than enjoy eating you alive. Here it is…

"I am a hunter who comes for all that lives. In the end, I am always the victor. No one can stop me though many have tried. What am I?"

Batman thought for a long moment as he considered the words, playing them over and over again in his mind. His eyes fell closed as he struggled to put the pieces together. He needed to give the right answer or Diana was as good as dead…and she still might be. The thought made him sick to his very core. Losing her would destroy him.

If he gave the wrong answer, then he was good as dead as well. He'd be no help to Diana then.

"So it seems that I have created a riddle that even the great Batman can't solve," the Sphinx taunted him with great pleasure. "Do you surrender, mortal?"

"Never," Batman growled, straightening his shoulders as he prepared to answer him. "I know what it is."

The Sphinx smiled broadly at him in eager anticipation. "I doubt that you know the true answer, but please try anyways. Your answer will no doubt amuse me."

"The answer is death," Batman evenly stated.

The Sphinx roared like a ravenous lion, its eyes flashing dangerously. "How were you able to figure out the answer so easily?"

"Because I've witnessed it in Gotham more times than I can count starting with my parents when I was eight years old," he replied with equal fury. "Now, if you are done with your games, I have to find Diana before it's too late."

"It might already be, mortal," the Sphinx gloated. "Your Amazon's life is fading quickly. She will no doubt be dead by the time you reach her."

Batman didn't bother sticking around to argue with the Sphinx, his black cape snapping wildly behind him as he shot his grappling gun and took to the air once more. He had a horrifying feeling that the Sphinx was somewhat correct in what he had just said; the feeling of dread that had settled in the pit of his stomach since before this had all began expanding and growing stronger by the moment.

He feared he was going to lose her and there wasn't anything he was going to be able to do to stop it.

XXX

The first thing that Donna became aware of as she began to wake was the fact that someone had their arms wrapped around her, a firm body pressed fully against her back. It took her a moment to remember what had happened last night and that Dick had stayed here with her in her bed. Excitement combined with nervousness to create a flutter in her stomach with the thought.

The second thing that Donna became acutely aware of was the fact that someone was standing beside her bed. Peering through her long dark eyelashes, she found Artemis standing over her, a hot glare fixed on the Amazon's face.

"What are you doing?" Artemis hissed with a deadly tone, her hands on her hips.

"Shhh…" Donna whispered with a frown. "Don't wake him."

"What is this man doing in your bed?"

"I felt Diana's pain in my sleep," she sheepishly informed her. "He heard me scream and came running to comfort me. I asked him to stay."

"If your mother finds out…"

"She won't," Donna angrily murmured. "She's in the Underworld with Diana. Besides, nothing happened here except for sleep. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like some privacy."

Artemis growled low in her throat, not liking this one bit, but there really wasn't much she could do about it. Donna was a princess and next in line for the throne if Hippolyta and Diana didn't return from the Underworld. Besides, she'd noticed something between the two of them, something that she was sure was the stirrings of love.

"Fine," the Amazon bit out, turning on her heel and storming from Donna's bedroom, planning on a scathing lecture with the young woman later.

Donna smiled to herself as she snuggled deeper into Dick's hold on her, relishing the feel of him wrapped around her, his muscular leg draped over hers. The kiss they had shared last night had been rather heated and passionate, leaving her wanting more. She just hoped that Dick truly felt the same way.

Slowly and carefully, she rolled over onto her other side so she was facing the handsome young man. He shifted a little with her change in position, mumbling her name in his sleepy state. It caused her to pause momentarily, her pulse racing. Was he dreaming about her?

Settling in against him, she rested her forehead against his, hoping that he would wake soon. She was more than anxious to continue where they had left off last night. The fear she felt for Diana and what was happening to her at that moment warred with the steadily building desire in her body as her lustful gaze roamed over his face.

She knew that they should be working on finding a way out of the palace and down into the Underworld, but Dick had told her that they were surrounded by guards ready to throw them in the dungeon if they tried to escape. She felt so utterly helpless, unsure of what to do next. All she knew was that she needed him right now…wanted him.

She tightened her hold on Dick, pulling him even closer to her. "Donna?" he sleepily murmured. "Are you alright?"

"No," she softly replied. "I'm really scared for Diana and Bruce…my mother. I should be down there with them right now, not here."

"I know," he admitted, his eyes roaming over her beautiful face. "I'm scared too. I just wish we knew what was happening to them."

Donna gazed deeply into his blue eyes, losing herself in the tenderness and love that she found reflected there. She suddenly felt awkward…nervous. "Thank you for staying here with me last night."

Dick gave her a crooked smile as his hand released her waist to cup her cheek. "There's no other place that I'd rather be than here with you."

Donna swore that her heart was going to pound right out of her chest as his thumb gently caressed her cheek, his blue eyes focused solely on her. She felt a tremble roll through her as his darkening gaze fell to her lips. She secretly prayed that he would kiss her again like he had last night. It had caused an intense rush of sensations and feelings that other men before him had never been able to fully stir within her.

She didn't have to wonder for very long as he slowly closed the distance between them, his lips lightly brushing against hers in a tentative kiss as he secretly hoped that last night's kiss hadn't just been a wonderful dream. Donna swiftly responded, pressing her lips more firmly against his, silently letting him know that this was what she wanted.

Dick began to breathe heavily as the kiss continued to grow more desperate, more intense. He could hardly believe this was happening here…now, but he wasn't about to question it nor was he about to stop. He had wanted this for longer than he could remember and he was not about to let her go now.

Donna moaned something throaty and sensual that only managed to spur him on even further as he rolled her onto her back, his body moving to cover hers. His elbows came to rest on either side of her head as his fingers slid into her thick black hair. She parted her lips, beckoning him to taste and explore at will.

Dick readily complied, releasing a moan of his own with her sweet taste as his tongue tangled with hers. He groaned as Donna's hands began to roam over his back, her fingers moving to caress his abdomen right above the waistband of his boxers. She slowly slid her fingers along the waistband, just enough beneath it to send shivers racing up his spine in anticipation of where her hands were heading.

He thought for sure that he would explode if she didn't touch him soon where he wanted her most. Retreating from the kiss, he began to plant hot wet kisses along her throat, his body near quivering with sweet expectation as she continued to play with the waistband, her fingers itching to delve deeper.

"Please…Donna…" he begged her. "Touch me…please."

Donna's hand slid the rest of the way inside of his boxers, her fingers wrapping around his hardened length. He hissed in pleasure as she began to stroke him, his own hands gripping her hips tightly. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, trying to hang on for dear life as she continued to torture and torment him.

His lips suddenly slammed into hers again, kissing her with wild abandon that soon had them both panting heavily and desperate for more skin to skin contact. He groaned in disappointment as she released her hold on him until he realized that she was pushing his boxers down past his hips.

With a lustful glint in his blue eyes, his hands quickly moved to pull her nightgown up over head, leaving them both bare to each other. He took a moment to study every inch of her perfection that lay beneath him, his need becoming increasingly painful the longer he waited to finally join them.

"Dick?" Donna spoke his name with a breathy air of barely restrained passion as she watched his expression morph from lust to positively ravenous in less than a heartbeat.

"You're just…so beautiful," he breathlessly admitted, kissing her softly as his hand moved to stroke her thigh. "I can't tell you…how long I've wanted this…wanted you."

"Me too," she revealed with a grin.

A grin that matched hers spread across his face as he leaned in to kiss her again before creating a heated path of kisses to her breasts. Donna's fingers slid into his hair, gripping it firmly as he tasted her, bringing her unimaginable pleasure with his teeth and tongue and lips.

She was near writhing beneath him when he finally shifted his hips and entered her, filling her full in one smooth thrust. He quickly covered her mouth with his own, swallowing her cry of pleasure with his invasion inside of her body.

As he began to make love to her, Donna couldn't help the tears of pure joy that threatened to rise to the surface. Being with him was better than anything she had ever dreamed about, the sweet intimacy bringing with it an even greater connection between them.

Nothing had ever felt more right in her entire life than this. As she rolled him over onto his back, she leaned over and kissed him hard, her black hair tumbling down around his face as she continued to slide up and down over him. His hands slipped up into her hair, holding her there as he returned her kiss with equal passion.

Donna let her emotions go, feeling every single thrust, every kiss, every stroke of his hands on her body to the very fullest. She allowed it to inundate her, sweeping her up and taking her away in the rapture that filled every fiber of her being as she came hard, Dick following right behind her.

Collapsing on top of him, Dick held her close as they both struggled to calm their racing hearts, savoring the euphoria that was still washing over them. He tilted his head to kiss her lips, his fingers stroking her hair.

"I love you, Donna," he softly confessed. "I've loved you for so long."

Donna smiled at him, thrilled with his confession. "I love you, too."

Dick grinned at her before suddenly flipping her over onto her back. He began to kiss her again, his hands thoroughly exploring her as his lips roamed over her moist flesh. Donna's fingers gripped at the sheets beneath her as he began to make love to her all over again, wishing more than anything that they could just stay here like this forever, locked away in their own private little world away from the heartache that lay just outside her bedroom door.

XXX

A sultry moan rose up in her throat as he repeatedly teased her breasts, setting not only her blood but her whole body on fire. "Bruce…please…" she managed to plead with a gasp of pleasure.

Bruce smirked against her lips as he found her mouth again, giving her a kiss that only served to stoke the fire into a blazing inferno. "Please what, Princess?"

Diana growled in frustration, knowing he knew damn well what she wanted…what he was denying her in that heated moment where passion, lust, and undying love met in a fireball of unadulterated ecstasy. It was something that they had never experienced quite like this before and found that they both craved it more and more.

As amazing as it was being together like this, being fully sated never seemed to last for more than a few minutes before the desire was stirred once more, building and intensifying to almost unbearable levels until they could finally begin again.

She cried out as he suddenly gave her what she had wanted, a hiss of pleasure slipping past Bruce's lips as well with the incredible sensation of being completely surrounded in her tight wet heat again. Diana pressed the back of her head deeper into the pillow beneath her as he pressed her deeper and deeper into the mattress with every slam of his hips, setting a punishing rhythm that was rapidly driving them both to that edge where bodies entwined found unimaginable pleasure.

His hand moved to grab hold of her thigh; her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. He stroked and caressed her soft skin as he kissed her, his fingers pressing into her as he drove deeper and deeper into her heat.

Coming as one, Bruce held her close against him, legs tangled and trembling bodies slick with sweat. He kissed her deeply as she shifted to crawl over him, their bodies lining up perfectly and proving to them once again how they had been made solely for each other and no one else.

She affectionately kissed the tip of his nose, causing him to release a contented sigh in response. She pulled back slightly to look at him, noticing the lingering rapture that still clouded his eyes along with something else. "What is it?"

Bruce grew solemn…reflective for a moment as if searching for the right words before finally responding. "I just…I never dreamed that I would ever be this happy again. After my parents died, I thought my life was over, but you have shown me that it's just beginning again for the first time. I'd be so lost without you, Princess. I never want to go back to who I was before I knew you."

Tears suddenly glistened in her cobalt blue eyes as she gazed lovingly at him. She swallowed hard past the thick knot of emotions that had lodged in her throat with his heartfelt confession. "I'll always be with you, Bruce."

"Promise?" his voice barely above a whisper, suddenly finding it more than difficult to speak as he absentmindedly played with her long raven hair that he loved.

"Promise," she softly reassured him, noticing the vulnerability that had filled his eyes in that moment, allowing her to see to the very depths of his soul.

She sealed her vow with a heated kiss that only stirred their passion for each other even more, robbing one another of their ability to breathe. Breaking the kiss, she began a sensual assault as her lips ghosted over his throat, pausing to nip at his pulse point before moving down to his muscular chest.

His back instinctively arched as realization of what she was planning to do to him hit him like a freight train. One hand immediately clutched a handful of the sheets that lay beneath him in sweet anticipation, his other hand burying in her thick raven hair as she moved to torture him with her hot mouth.

"Diana…" he rasped as he bit down on his bottom lip, clinging to his shaky control that was becoming more and more tenuous as she continued her focus ministrations that was driving him wild.

She slowly kissed her way back up his body, leaving him hanging by a very thin thread now, his body trembling with a dire need for the release she had just denied him. Settling over him again, they lost themselves in each other's blue eyes, noticing every single fleck of varying shades of blue that resided there. She softly kissed his lips, his cheeks, his chin and along his jaw as her hands gently caressed his scar-riddled chest.

"I should probably go," she suddenly told him with a smirk.

A scowl formed on Bruce's lips as his hands slipped from her hair to roughly wrap around her waist in a futile attempt to keep her right where he wanted her. He knew she could easily break free if she truly wanted to, but he had to at least try. He didn't want this moment to end, not when she had left him still in dire need of release.

"And just where do you think you're going, Princess?"

"Monitor duty in half an hour," she replied with a playful grin as she nipped at his jaw on her way to his earlobe.

"I think we better finish what you started before you leave me here in such a painful state," Bruce half-murmured, half-growled as he tilted his head back in order to give her more access to him.

Diana giggled softly against his throat, sending a shockwave of desire through his painfully aroused system as her hand found his hard need again. "Hmmm…you do seem to be in need of some help," came her sultry reply low in his ear. "I wouldn't want you looking elsewhere for someone to take care of your needs."

It was Bruce's turn to chuckle with her words, his laughter turning into a throaty groan of pleasure as she began to stroke him once more. He squeezed his eyes closed to keep from coming right there in her hand, wanting to hold on for as long as humanly possible. Nothing in this world was better than plummeting over that sweet edge with her.

"There is no other woman in the world…who could come close…to taking care of my needs like you do, Princess," he managed to utter between gasping moans.

"And it had better stay that way, Mr. Wayne, or I will make sure you never walk again," she threatened him.

Bruce smirked in response as his hands roamed over her back, gasping sharply when she finally took him inside of her, his eyes nearly rolling back in his head as she began to move over him. This time, she was in full control.

Diana's eyes shot open as she gasped sharply, sitting up in utter confusion as she fought to catch her breath. She had been awakened by the unexpected influx of pleasure that had suddenly flooded her entire body. It had been a memory of making love with Bruce before they had discovered the microchip that Luthor had implanted in her brain – before her world had literally fallen apart.

She could still feel the intensity of that moment…overwhelming her and taking her by surprise. It felt as if she had just been with him now, the same fierce passion that she always experienced when she was making love with Bruce, but he was not here. In fact, she still had no idea where he was.

Despite the intensity of the pleasure that still lingered deep within her, she felt a crushing sense of isolation and loss. Looking around, she tried to remember what had happened to her. She remembered flying through the Underworld trying to find Bruce, dizziness and pain suddenly washing through her and then…nothing.

She frantically scanned the area for him, but found nothing except for cold desolation around her, the haunting resonance of miserable souls crying out filing her ears and adding to her own sense of bewilderment and loneliness.

Diana frowned as she forced herself to open up even more to the intense feeling of love and passion that kept roiling through her in fierce waves. It wasn't just the dream that had caused her to feel like this, so aroused and yet so satiated.

It was Donna. Her sister was with someone now. She could feel the love that was being exchanged, the strength of it overwhelming her. It was similar to what she always experienced with Bruce, passionate and mind-blowing, touching something deep inside of her soul.

She couldn't help but wonder who her sister was with or where she was at that moment. The happiness and love that Donna was experiencing right now filled Diana with a sense of peace, knowing how truly happy her sister was. She just hoped she would be able to see her again someday soon…to see Bruce and tell him how much she loved him, how sorry she was that he had been brought into all of this.

Diana's heart began to pound wildly in her chest as the lonely ache grew more severe. She missed Bruce more than ever, wishing more than anything that he was here with her now. She ran her fingers back through her hair as she slowly got up on wobbly legs. Nausea rose in the back of her throat, but she swallowed it down.

She groaned as she touched her forehead, bringing her hand down to find blood covering the tips of her fingers. She didn't have time to be slowed down by this, not now. She had to keep moving. She took to the air again as she continued to push herself, flying lower to the ground this time in case her body betrayed her again.

She knew that she was growing weaker by the moment, but she wasn't about to let it slow her down now. She'd finally made it to the Fields of Punishment, bringing her that much closer to finding him and getting him out of here.

She feared what sort of state he would be in once she finally got to him. Would he even be able to survive what had happened down here if she was able to get him out of the Underworld and away from Hades? The thought made her insides twist with dread.

No, he was Batman, his body and mind honed and sharpened to perfection in every way imaginable. How many countless times had he evaded death, looked it in the eye and denied it's sting? She couldn't help but smile to herself as she shook her head in awe, wondering how many times Bruce had truly defeated death out of sheer will alone. Now, would be no different she reminded herself.

Her thoughts about Bruce were suddenly interrupted when she noticed she was beginning to lose altitude, her strength wavering and threatening to give out on her. Before she could compensate, she skidded awkwardly across the rough rocky terrain with a groan of frustration and pain, finally coming to a stop on the ground. Dust rose up around her, clouding her vision and making it more than difficult to breathe.

She pounded her fist against the ground before trying to push herself up onto her hands and knees, struggling to regain her bearings only to be suddenly kicked in the gut. She rolled over onto her back with a sharp gasp, breathing hard as she gazed up into the face of Thanatos. She scowled up at him, her blue-eyed glare practically burning a hole straight through him.

"What dddo you want?" Diana demanded as she struggled to get back up on her feet again.

"I'm not here to fight you, Princess of the Amazons, even though I would love nothing more," Thanatos revealed with contempt as he leaned over to glare at her, noticing how beaten up she was. "I'm only here to deliver a message from your father Hades."

"Don't bother," Diana breathed heavily as finally pulled herself up onto her knees only to sit back on her heels.

Thanatos smiled down at her, a smug grin on his face as she studied the Amazon. "Stubborn to the very end, aren't you?"

"If you th…think I'm bad, wait until you sp…spend tttime with Batman."

"Oh, don't worry," Thanatos smugly informed her. "He is next on my agenda."

"Get on wwwith it then or get out of mmmy way," Diana growled, finding it more than difficult to connect her thoughts let alone get up onto her feet now. "I have to fffind Batman."

"Hades sent me to give you a message and I think you should heed his word, Amazon," Thanatos said as he roughly grabbed Diana by the hair, wrenching her head back to look at him. "He told me to tell you to give up now and he will spare your life. Pursue this path and you will surely die. The choice is yours."

"I will nnnever give up," Diana spat out, her fury boiling just beneath the surface.

"You are foolish to risk your own life for the mortal like this," Thanatos replied with utter disgust dripping from every word. "You could be healed, saved from certain death, but instead you chose to give it up for a man who isn't even worth having you."

"Bruce is more than wwworth laying my life down for," she shot back. "If my dying is wh…what it takes to save hhhim from Hades and the Underworld, then so be it. I will gladly gi…give it up for him."

Releasing his grip on her hair, Thanatos took a step back, but not before back handing her hard against her face. The force of his strike caused her to fall backwards, blood beginning to trickle from the corner of her mouth.

Breathing hard, Diana suddenly lunged at him with a sneer on her lips. "You will pppay for br…bringing Bruce down here," she growled, landing a right hook on her opponent before he had a chance to react to her attack.

Thanatos tightened his hold on the staff he carried; swinging it hard into Diana's already wounded back. She cried out as she stumbled, but quickly righted herself enough to grab hold of the staff and break it in two.

With a glower of pure fury that could have easily matched Batman's, Diana grabbed Thanatos by the throat, squeezing as she lifted him up off the ground. "Where is Batman?"

Thanatos managed to chuckle despite the fact that his airway was nearly being cut off. "I will not…tell you."

With a cry of rage, Diana threw him like a ragdoll across the rocky barren terrain, her chest heaving. "Tell Hades hhhe can ch…choke on his offer for all I cccare."

She watched as Thanatos disappeared from sight, leaving her all alone again. Weakened by the poison, she dropped to her knees as tears welled in her eyes. She didn't know how much longer she was going to be able to go on. She needed to find Bruce, but the fear that continually crept through her told her she wasn't going to make it to him in time.

She was going to lose him and it would all be her fault.