Happy Monday everyone! I meant to have this chapter posted over the weekend, but I sadly left my computer back home as I went to visit my family for Father's Day. Sorry for the slight delay, but hope you enjoy chapter 10. I hope to have chapter 11 out before the weekend is up! For those that read my GoT tale, I hopefully will have an update posted by Wednesday morning. As always, thank you for your patience. Be sure you favorite and alert the story to keep up with all updates, and leave your reviews! Thank you all and enjoy - trs0010

Chapter X: The Dating Game

Friday dawned upon Gotham, bathing the city in gray light and clouded mist. The hint of rain kissed the air. Mother nature's gloomy promise only heightened the sickening feeling building in the pit of Cassidy's stomach.

She woke with a lump in her throat. The sense of dread kept growing, and she could not shake it. It was not her date scheduled that evening with Jon Blake that was unnerving her.

Something was coming, something big. She could feel it in her bones. Whether it was her woman's intuition or her instincts as an officer, she couldn't say, but she was on edge for whatever was coming next. She hadn't had this type of feeling since the Joker reigned terror upon Gotham.

Cassidy had not spoken to Bruce since her outburst in the sanctuary of the Bat Cave after the Dark Knight's triumphant return.

A wave of guilt rushed through Cassidy whenever she replayed that night in her head. She admitted she may have overreacted, but she had sound reasons. Bruce reached out to make amends, but his texts and calls went unanswered. Cassidy was still upset and hurt, not only at Bruce but also at herself. She wasn't ready to apologize.

In the clarity of the morning light, Cassidy's actions were childish. She knew better than anyone how short and precious life truly was. There was no need to hold petty grudges. Death waited for no one. She needed to men things with Bruce. He was all she had left in this cruel world. She needed him now more than ever.

Cassidy knew a traditional Wayne-Williams brunch was in order. They hadn't had a breakfast date in months, but their little talks were precious memories to Cassidy. Venting about her date with Blake would take Cassidy's mind off whatever foreboding feelings that were taking hold of her.

When Cassidy arrived at Wayne Manor, her uneasy feelings were not relieved. Waves of worry froze her in place as she stood beside her SUV, driver door still wide open, gaping at the unwelcoming mansion.

No lights showed from within the manor's walls. No life at all radiated from the ominous building. Cassidy jiggled the door handled only to discover it was locked. She rang the doorbell. She knocked on the door but never received an answered. Horror and panic spread through her veins.

She dug into her jacket pocket to find her keys, using her copy to unlock the massive mahogany doors.

"Bruce?" she called from the foyer. Her voice echoed throughout the halls. "Alfred?"

No answered came. Alfred always answered.

She darted from room to room, floor after floor of the manor. Her heart pumped faster with each second. Her legs sped her desperately along, and she frantically searched for any sign of life. She called their names, but the only answer Cassidy received was the echo of her voice.

Cassidy sank on the stairs that connected the first and second floors. She dialed Bruce's cell, her last lifeline to her cousin. Her heart sank ever lower. Her stomach churned. The call went straight to voicemail.

Cassidy ventured back outside towards the back of the grounds into the lavish gardens of the manor in a desperate final shot of locating the Butler and her missing cousin. Cassidy heard the faint sound of tires crunching over the gravel at the front driveway.

Her head instantly shot towards the sound her hope rose. It could only be Alfred or Bruce.

She sprinted towards the front of Wayne Manor only to spot a familiar police cruiser parked behind her SUV. John Blake peered through the front window looking for any signs of life.

"Won't do you any good," she called.

Blake jumped away from the window, startled that he wasn't along as he had originally thought. The two walk towards each other, meeting at his cruiser.

"No one is here," Cassidy spoke as her voice drifted into another world.

Her eyes never locked with Blake, but silently continued to scan the mansion praying for some sign from the two men she adored. She searched from window to window, but no movement came.

Blake gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders in comfort as Cassidy looked up at him for the first time. Her green eyes darkened with the fear of losing the last shred of the family she had left as tears threatened to escape.

"Why aren't they here?"

Blake's heart shattered as she asked a question he could not answer. She was vulnerable and trusted him enough to allow that wall to come down. She needed him, but he had no words. Nothing he could say would ease her fears.

What was he suppose to tell her? That Bruce was asking about Bane's whereabouts the last time he spoke to the billionaire? It would only make matters worse. He didn't know where Bruce Wayne went after they parted ways, but John Blake knew where to start searching.

"I dropped him off at Old Town yesterday afternoon," Blake finally spoke.

"Let's go," Cassidy determinedly broke away from Blake's hold, opening the passenger door of his cruiser.

"Cass," Blake murmured. "Stop." He firmly grabbed both her shoulders, turning her to face him. Blake didn't let go of his grip as he gazed down at the visibly upset woman.

"Go home," he gently ordered. "I'm not allowing you to worry yourself sick while scouring the city for him. I promise you, Cass, I will find him."

She nodded. Blake was right. She was emotionally not in a place to be part of the search. Her head wasn't not in the right place. She would only slow him down. She broke from his grip and trudged back to her car with her head hung low.

"Williams," Blake called after her forlorn form, defeated by the thought of her cousin missing in action. "I'll see you at eight. Don't think I forgot."

She turned a gave him a faint smile that never reached her eyes before disappearing within her car, leaving him in her rearview mirror.

Blake flowed her lead as he headed down the winding drive of Wayne Manor. His next stop – Old Town.

Blake spent the last hour and a half patrolling the streets of the Old Town district in the direction he last saw Bruce Wayne heading.

He questioned shop owners and residents in the area, but no one seemed to have seen Bruce.

Blake retreated to his car as his hope receded. He was gearing up to return to the station when someone across the street caught his attention- a tall brunette dressed in black and lugging suitcases.

A wide-brimmed hat shielded most of her face, but as the woman turned to hail a cab, Blake was able to glimpse a better angle of her face. She was without a doubt the same woman he helped at the bar on the night they found Congressman Gilley after his disappearance.

"Get Commissioner Gordon," he called into his radio. "Tell him I've got a line on the congressman's kidnapping."

He pulled away from his parking spot, following the cab as inconspicuously as he could. He wasn't sure if the mystery woman had any connection to Bruce's disappearance, but it was no coincidence she lived on the same street he last saw the Dark Knight.

He prayed for Cassidy's sake that the brunette would be able to give him some clue to track down Bruce.

The brunette's cab stopped at Gotham International Airport. Blake radioed in their location. He didn't know if backup would be needed. She seemed like a petite woman, but so was Cassidy. He was aware that Cass could certainly pack a punch. He wasn't taking any chances.

Airport security was alerted. She would not be making it past her terminal.

Blake entered the busy airport, keeping as much distance between him and the fleeing woman as possible to not tip her off. She spotted an uniform cop eyes her inside the terminal. She ducked down a service hallway. Blake knew she'd attempt to escape. He had to be one step ahead.

The brunette, now missing her hat, made her way down they jetway, satisfied she lost her first threat to her freedom. She spotted security at the far end of the hallway, but as she turned to dart down the other direction, the smiling face of Blake, his bade in hand, halted her.

"We need to talk."

The brunette now locked in cuffs inside Gotham's Police Department had not spoken a word since her escort from the airport.

She poked her head up as Blake entered the room with a file stacked to the brim with paperwork.

"I showed your picture to the congressman, and guess what?"

"Don't tell me. Still in love?" she questioned, her voice dripping with annoyance.

"Head over heels," he answered. "Pressing charges, though."

He plopped the file in his head down with a heavy thump.

"You've made some mistakes, Ms. Kyle," Blake commented.

"Girl's gotta eat," she retorted.

"You have an appetite," he quipped back. "Why run? You can't hide from us with this record."

"Maybe it's not you I'm running from," she answered with frustration.

"Who then?" Blake questioned. "Bane? What do you know about him?"

"That you should be as afraid of him as I am," she muttered deathly quiet.

"We can offer you protection," Blake countered.

Selina Kyle studied him with contempt. Blake shrugged his shoulders, switching off the tape that was recording the interview.

He headed towards the door, but stopped short.

"When I spotted you, I was looking for a friend," he mused. "Bruce Wayne."

His name piped her attention as she turned her gazed back to the cop. His eyes pleaded with her to divulge any information she may have.

"The only family he has left is searching for him," he began. "I've got to look her in the eyes tonight and tell her what happened to him."

"Did they kill him?" he finally asked. His heart dreaded her answer. He'd be the one delivering the news to Cassidy. He wasn't sure he'd be able to face her if he had to break her heart.

"I'm not sure."

Cassidy paced from one end of her apartment to the other. Her golden retriever followed her step by step. It was 8:05. He was late.

She shouldn't be upset or even worried that Blake was five minutes late, but he was never late for anything. He especially wouldn't be late for a date that was five years in the making.

Cassidy had thrown herself into preparation for their date to keep her mind off of Bruce. She had the best man possible on the job. If anyone could find an ounce of information on Bruce, it was Blake. She didn't need to worry, but they were talking about Bruce here. He was more reckless than ever now; so worrying was all she could do.

Cassidy was dressed to impress by Blake's request. A form-fitting, lightweight white sweater hid under her brown leather jacket. If possible, her ripped, dark skinny jeans stuffed into her calf-high boots were even tighter than her sweater.

Cassidy even curled her hair and made sure her makeup was immaculate. The kid had asked every day for the last five years for this night. The least she could do was give him a show.

Cassidy was reaching for he cell to check on Blake when a knock on the door stopped her.

"Where in the world have you been?" she asked, while opening the door.

The sight of Blake confused her. He was still in the clothed he was wearing when she encountered him early that morning at Wayne Manor. He hadn't been home to change.

He had a large pizza box in one hand and a case of beer in the other. A movie was tucked under his arm. Cassidy couldn't get past the troubled look he was trying on his face that hew as trying but failing to hide. This wasn't the date she was told to prepare for and it was all too much a red flag for Cassidy.

She collapsed against the doorframe, grasping the wood with a white-knuckled grip to keep herself upright.

"Is he… is he dead?" she choked out.

"I don't know what to tell you, Cass,' Blake responded, entering the apartment. He placed his date offering the coffee table. "He took on Bane last night in the sewers. No one has seen him since."

Cassidy moved in slowly motion as she shut and locked the door behind her. She finally turned to face Blake, moving past him to sink onto the couch, the shocking news too much for her to process at once.

Blake set next to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her towards his chest.

"I spent all day searching for any sign," Blake said as he squeezed her tightly. "I can't tell you how sorry I am to not have anything more concrete to tell you. I'll head back out now…"

"No," she struggled to squeak out as she pulled her head away from his chest to look at Blake. "Stay."

Cassidy's head swam. She didn't know if Bruce was alive or dead. Bruce could be hurt. He could be dying in some sewer and needed her. Or he could be perfectly safe held up in some secret getaway.

A million and one thoughts raced through her head. Cassidy didn't have time to process one before the next one jumped to the forefront.

Cassidy remained paralyzed. She knew she needed to take action. She wanted to spring to her feet and storm the city, but she couldn't shake herself out of her cationic state.

Even if she could, the dark of night was no place to start a frantic search party. It would be playing straight into Bane's wheelhouse.

"Talk to me, Cass," Blake cooed, trying to help her cope with the news any way he could.

"I'm okay," she managed to say with as much gumption as she could. "Tomorrow I'll start rounding up everything we have on Bane and start searching. Thanks for checking up on that."

"That's my Cass," Blake said with a smile after hearing the fire slowly creeping back in her voice despite the visible sadness on her face. "Anything for you. I'm just sorry I ruined our date. You look amazing."

She shot a sad smile at him as she broke his embrace. She shuffled through the last minute "date" he threw together. He knew with the lack of news on Bruce, Cassidy wouldn't want to go out anywhere.

"Is that Beauty and the Beast?" she asked with a hint of a laugh in her voice. "How did you know?"

"Bruce may have slipped a hint," Blake answered while rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"He was…" she stopped herself. "…is fond of you."

The side smile on her face was replaced by confusion.

"What's this?"

Cassidy reached for an envelope with her name scrawled across it. She hadn't noticed it lying on top of the pizza box when she answered the door.

"I don't know," Blake answered. "It was left on your desk at the station. Thought I'd bring it by when I came."

She opened the envelope carefully. Blake studied Cassidy as the color drained from her face. Pure terror filled her eyes as she shuffled through the contents.

Her hands finally went limp as the envelope and its contents fell to her lap.

"Cass?" Blake asked with worry, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. "What is it? Bruce?"

Cassidy gawked at him with tears spilling from her eyes. She was shaking uncontrollably. Blake had never seen her this frightened over anything. Hell, he had never seen anyone this frightened over anything.

"Leave," she begged. "You need to go now."

"What's going on?" he questioned again, his firm grip not leaving her shoulder.

"Please, Blake," she pleaded once more. "Leave!"

Her last word came out more forcefully, but Blake wouldn't budge. "Not until you tell me what is going on, Cass."

"John…" she cried with a voice cracking from an unknown terror. "Go. It isn't safe here. PLEASE! LEAVE!"

Blake snatched the envelope from Cassidy's lap, spreading its contents, three playing cards, across his.

The Queen of Heats and the King of Spades were altered. Their faces replaced with his and Cassidy's. Blake's card was disfigured. The final playing card was face down with an inscription scrawled across the back in red ink.

Love's a game?

Wanna play?

Blake slowly turned the card over. He wasn't surprised to find the Joker's calling card.

"He knows," Cassidy whispered. Her eyes never left the Joker card. "He won't stop until you're dead."

"Cass," Blake crooned as he moved closer to her. Cassidy leaped to her feet and moved to the opposite side of the room.

"You don't get it!" Cassidy shouted. "It's not a game. I will never be free. He is always watching even when he's locked away."

"I won't let him hurt you again," Blake wouldn't relent as he stood up and moved closer to her.

"That is what I am afraid of," Cassidy cried, her voice growing more and more frantic with each word. "You can't protect me, Blake. No one can. I've lost Bruce. I'm not letting him take you down too. We have to stop. You have to go. We can't be seen together anymore. I shouldn't have fooled myself into thinking otherwise."

"I'm not scared of the clown," Blake spat. "He can play all the games he wants. I'm ready. If he wants a fight, he'll get the fight of his life. He is never going to take you from me."

"John…"

"No," Blake shot her down with more fire in his voice than Cassidy had ever heard before. "You listen to me."

Blake stood face to face with Cassidy and looked straight into her eyes.

"He is not in control anymore. As long as I'm still breathing, he will never tough you again. You haven't lost Bruce. You will never lose me. You are not facing this alone. I'm not going anywhere, Cass. Nothing he can do or say will change that. I'm yours, Cass."

"If something happens to you," Cassidy choked through the tears, "I will never forgive myself."

The pain of Bruce, the threats from the Joker and Blake's sweet words were too much for one evening. Her emotions were out of control.

"I can't let you throw your life away for me, Blake. Don't make me have to hurt you."

"I'm not throwing anyway way," Blake countered. He pulled Cassidy into his arms, expecting her to resist, but she melted into his chest. "I'm gaining the greatest thing I could ever hope to have. I've known from day one what the risks are. It's didn't stop me then, and it won't stop me now, Cassidy Williams, you're worth it all. Whatever it lying in the dark will never be enough to scare me away. I'm crazy about you, Cass. The Joker, Bane, Bruce …I'll take them all on. You name it."

He pulled away from her just enough to look into her broken green eyes filled with tears. "Cass, you're it."

Cassidy broke under the pressure of it all and collapsed back into Blake's chest, and sobs racked her body. Blake held her tight as she wept into his chest, rubbing soft circles against her back.

Never had anyone been so adamant or so sure about her. Blake was willing to risk everything, even his life, and put everything on the line for a future together with her. Cassidy's heart broke under the power of it all.

Cassidy did not deserve Blake when she knew just how much he would suffer because of her – because of the Joker. Blake knew better than anyone what was coming, but yet there he stood when any other man would run.

Blake gently lifted her into his arm and carried her to the couch. He softly removed her leather jacket before holding her tightly as she cried. She let out everything she had stored within her over the last eight years.

Blake didn't ask. He didn't force anything. He just held her. He wiped away tears. He brushed his fingers through her hair. He rubbed her back. He whispered comforting words into her ear until the tears softened.

"Some first date," she hiccupped through a hoarse voice. She lifted her head off his chest to look at her best friend. "You waited five years for this…"

Blake smiled down at her with the most genuine smile.

"Worth it," he winked.

Cassidy laughed, burying her face back against his chest. She let Blake's warmth crash over her. She felt comforted. Cassidy felt safe, safer than she had felt in a long time.

Her fears of the Joker and Bruce faded into the strong arms that wrapped around her. Cassidy's concerns became Blake's, and they didn't seem as impossible to face knowing he was at her side.

Cassidy crawled out of his lap and loaded the DVD to begin the delayed date night. Grabbing a slice of the now cold pizza, she nuzzled into Blake's side.

The two swapped stories over cold pizza and warm beer. Cassidy told of him of live back home in California with her parents. She recalled the tales of her and Bruce as children, bringing with it hope in her heart that Bruce would be found. Blake told her about his sordid past of growing up at the boy's home.

They traded stories until the early hours of the morning, just the two of them lying on the couch wrapped in a blanket. His arm wrapped protectively around her, while she nuzzled her head on his chest.

"John," she yawned. He smiled at the sound of his name rolling of her tongue. Cassidy was exhausted. The late hour and the emotions of the night's roller coaster delivered the knock out punch. "Don't leave me."

Blake placed a kiss on her forehead, resting his head on top of hers.

"Nothing will ever drag me away."