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Chapter 12

Bruce stepped out of the bathroom, hands balled into fists.

"So that's Tom."

"Yes." Diana walked towards him, her hands raised in surrender and a frown on her face. It was clear she felt guilty, but that did not lessen his anger one bit. His heart felt like it had been gouged out of his chest, but he was too furious to let her know it. She had been keeping many things from him, and the revelations were growing more and more unpleasant.

"How much did you hear?" she asked.

"Everything."

"Bruce, we will talk about this, but it can't be here. Someone else might come up, and they can't know you're back." Logically, it made sense. The League had told him that Bruce Wayne was supposed to be somewhere in Southeast Asia, not Wonder Woman's bedroom. But he didn't care.

Bruce stalked over to her desk, grabbing the picture of Diana with a man with blond hair he had seen just before he had been ordered into her bathroom. The man—Tom, he corrected—had his arm was around her, and she was smiling. His fingers twitched, longing to hurl the frame across the room. "How long were you with him?" he demanded.

The 'thud' of her bag falling to the floor was followed by the sound of footsteps coming toward him. Taking the frame from his hands, she placed it back on the desk, the photo facing down. "Bruce, we will discuss this later, but now we need to get on the jet."

He made no argument as went to retrieve her things. "Hold my bag?" She didn't wait for his answer, just shoved it into his arms before sweeping him off his feet.

They were back at the plane a few seconds later, and she palmed the air, opening an invisible hatch. Once inside, he could see the innards of the jet. After placing him in one of the passenger's chairs, she took the pilot seat and prepared for take-off, only speaking to let him know they were now on their way to Wayne Manor.

After about forty-five minutes of silence, she spoke up again. "I'm going through one of the back entrances, and I will be parking my jet in the cave."

Bruce didn't reply. He didn't want to talk to her, not until he could process through the all the information and doubts that suddenly surrounded the woman next to him.

Is that where she had gone during the days while he had been left alone to fend for himself in the jungle? Flying into the arms of this other man? Why had she not told him of her powers? Or of his skills? Why had she let believe he was weak until now? Why had she kept him in the jungle for so long, when she could have flown him to safety?

It wasn't long before they were approaching a large mansion made of stone. Her jet traveled about a mile away from what was apparently his manor and began hovering over a certain spot in a copse of trees. Darkness swallowed the jet as it sank into the ground. The engine had stopped roaring, and they were now being conveyed through a dimly lit corridor.

It was difficult to see exactly where they were now. Everything was so dark. Even what was lit up was horribly unfamiliar.

"I'm surprised I still have landing privileges," she said, taking his hand. "It's a bit confusing down here. I'll help you."

He wasn't sure he wanted her help. Releasing her hand, he took her bag instead. "Lead the way."

Bruce could hear her sigh, but he ignored it. He had trusted her with everything, hadn't even asked for it to be justified. And she had ripped his heart out. It wouldn't happen again.

"Watch your step," she said.

As soon as they walked out of the jet, Bruce was hit by a chill air. Up above his head somewhere, he could hear a light fluttering. One of the sounds from his nightmare. He gripped the handles of the bag tightly, trying to ignore the beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Staring at her back, he followed her through the gargantuan cavern. It seemed to go on for ages and was filled with the strangest objects. A humongous coin, a gallery of costumes, a monstrous screen. And many other things he couldn't put a name to. And then she was leading him up a staircase.

Once at the top, she pushed against the wall and they were inside what he presumed was the Manor. It wasn't what he would call light and airy, but it was better than the oppressive atmosphere of the cave.

Once he walked out into the hall, she closed the opening, which was concealed by a grandfather clock. Looking at him, she said, "If you want to go back down there, all you need to do is place the minute and hour hand right here." She twisted the hands, so that the clock showed 10:47, and it sprang open from the wall.

"Seems like you know this place well," he said snidely.

"You could say that." She closed the clock again and began walking down the hall.

He did not know what to expect when she had told him he had a Manor, but it was difficult to conceive just how large his estate was. And how he spent all his money.

He was pulled from his ruminations by Diana. "I'll show you to your old room."

They were now in a grand entryway, and Alfred appeared out of one of the hallways.

"Welcome home, Master Bruce…and Princess Diana. I have placed you in the room across from his. Your meal is awaiting you in the dining room."

Diana smiled at the butler. "Thank you, Alfred. We'll just get settled in first."

"Very good." And then the old man disappeared back down the hall he came from.

Bruce followed her up a wide staircase to the second level of his home, then stopped at the fourth door on the right side of the hallway. Pushing open the door, she let him in first.

The room was dominated with dark browns and blues; it was clean, stark. Like everything else in the Manor, it was large.

She started to follow him in, but he stopped her. "I want to be alone."

It was getting harder to ignore the increasing hurt he saw on her face. Perhaps he should speak with her, hear her side of the story.

But she didn't say anything, just accepted it. "I'm beginning to think that my staying here isn't a good idea. Maybe I should go. Is that what you want?"

He should say yes, but that would be impossible He was angry with her, but had never considered her leaving. The idea filled him with panic. He forced himself to take a few calming breaths as he decided how to answer her. . If only he didn't feel so damned helpless! But he did, and he needed her.

"Diana…"

"Yes?" she answered, taking a step forward.

"That's not what I want." he said, embarrassed by the sound of pleading in his tone. "Please…don't leave."

She placed her hand on his shoulder, staring at him earnestly. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have taken you to the Embassy."

He could not think straight with her so close to him. Walking over to his bed, he sat down and watched Diana, who remained rooted at the entrance to his room. "I don't understand. You were with me every day; you never mentioned him."

She opened her mouth, and quickly closed it. His irritation grew with her continued silence.

"What is it?" he snapped.

"Bruce, I have something very important to tell you, but I'm worried that if I do, you won't handle it well."

He was without his memory. He was a stranger in his house who had to rely on the help of other strangers. Add to that, his parents were dead. And worst of all, the only person he could remember, the woman he loved, had been seeing another man behind his back.

"I don't think there is anything else you could tell me that would make me feel any more badly than I already do," he said, laughing bitterly.

He saw her take a deep breath before she walked over to him. Sitting beside him, she braced her hands on her knees and stared forward. When she finally looked back at him, her eyes were filled with pity and fear. Her hand darted out to his face, and he tried not to flinch at her touch. She was beginning to scare him.

"Bruce, I'm sorry, but that wasn't me with you in the jungle."

TBC