I do not own anything related to Batman either thru television, written books, comics or film. Everything belongs to DC Comics, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jon and Chis Nolan. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter Six
Song(s): Wife by Two Thousand (Sneaker Pimps)
Gotham General Hospital, 9024 Memorial Way, Gotham City…
"Barbara and the kids are on their way up from Cleveland. I'm actually surprised that she didn't just ship the kids up on a bus alone…"
Eavesdropping on the Deputy Commissioner's conversation as he kept his eyes closed, John Blake winced as he felt the sharp pain in his right hip from being stretched out over five plastic waiting room chairs for a good portion of the day.
"Do the Doctors think he is going to make it?"
"Well if he does, with the amount of recovery time he is going to need, he may as well retire" Foley spoke harshly as Blake sucked in a deep breath.
If there was some way, I could ask him a few questions about Teller…
"DC Foley?"
Opening his eyes fully at the strong voice that spoke from across the room, Blake crossed his arms over his chest as he slowly rose to sit properly on his seat.
"Did your guys find anything in the sewer?"
Holding his breath, Blake kept his head down as he tucked his chin into his chest.
Please be good news
"We found Officer Teller's issued jacket and belt burned to the point that would be supported by the explosion that occurred the other night. The night Commissioner Gordon went down. Someone should notify her family, if she had any."
Closing his eyes as he hunched his shoulders down, the young Officer sprung up to his booted feet and turned towards the nearest door that would lead to fresh air as he felt lightheaded.
"Such a waste. According to her Sergeant, she was actually on point. Fucking waste."
…
"Do you want me to stop?"
Hearing his question as she felt the tears pooling in her eyes, Charlotte said nothing as she closed her eyes tightly with excruciating pain.
He's giving me a way out
All I have to do is say "Yes, stop."
Feeling the searing pain shooting up through her arm, the young woman held her breath and waited for his decision as she listened to the masked man's steady metallic breathing.
She is refusing to give in
To give in to me
"You are a fool Charlotte Teller."
Giving her arm a good solid twist, he felt her ulna bone snapping against his fingers as the woman at his mercy let out a scream. Feeling her drop to her knees against his thigh, he released his hold and heard her scream for a second time as she slumped down against the cold dirty floor. Hearing a rush of boot steps, Bane raised his eyes and watched as Barsad pushed aside the hung-up curtain before skidding to a halt at the sight in front of him.
"Bring down the Doctor, but only to have her arm set."
…
Three hours later…
Jolting awake as she felt a pair of cold hands straightening out the fingers of her right hand, Charlotte tried to pull back as she spied metal circling her wrist.
Handcuffs?
Are these mine?
I didn't even get a chance to use them on a criminal before they were turned on me
Feeling intense pain radiating through her shoulder blade, Charlotte settled her dry eyes on the steady face of a man working from a black medical bag as she watched him pressing his hands down with the final white stripes that would harden into a cast.
He broke my arm
He broke it
"Are you an actual Doctor?"
Hearing her whisper, the man said not a word as he started to pack up his tools.
"Bane brought you down here?" she questioned again as the man refused to say a single word.
"Thomas? Have you seen Thomas?"
Slowly rising to his feet, the man pulled back as Charlotte tried to reach out for his hand, only to feel the sharp bite of the metal cuff against the flesh of her skin.
"HEY! LISTEN TO ME! THIS MAD MAN IS KEEPING PEOPLE DOWN HERE! MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE TELLER AND I AM AN OFFICER WITH THE GOTHAM POLICE FORCE MY BADGE NUMBER IS…"
Shutting her mouth as she watched the Doctor's eyes go wide, Charlotte slowly twisted around from her seat on the couch and felt her mouth falling open as she spied Bane leaning his shoulder against the inside wall of the room by the curtain.
Staring straight at her.
Oh Shit
"OW!"
Throwing her eyes onto her left shoulder, she felt a stabbing sharp pain in her upper arm as she watched the Doctor hold a syringe between his thumb and forefinger.
"What is that?"
"Morphine."
"That is all Doctor. Your payment will be given to you in cash upon escort."
Wincing as she heard Bane's thunderous voice from across the room, she watched as the Doctor took up his bag without a word before exiting the room via the curtain.
We are alone again
Glancing down at her casted arm, Charlotte slowly flexed her fingers as she ignored the sound of Bane's heavy bootsteps crossing the room towards her.
"You broke my fucking ulna bone. I have to wear a cast for about six weeks no thanks to you" she spat as Bane crossed his arms over his broad chest. Feeling her eyes following him, he took a seat in the leather chair beside the fireplace before leaning forward to toss a piece of split wood into the dying flames.
"You didn't ask me to stop."
Blinking quickly, she couldn't believe his words as she simply stared.
Is he fucking kidding me?
"Uncuff me so I can get away from you."
Tucking his chin into his chest, he breathed in deeply as footsteps approached the curtain. Without moving his eyes, he listened to Barsad tossing down Charlotte's dinner plate as he cleared his throat.
"As I said before, you will eat your dinners here in my presence."
Staring down at the well-dressed plate of steak, potatoes and green beans, she felt her stomach growling as she thought of whatever meagre scraps were being afforded to Thomas back out in the tunnel.
"Uncuff me then."
Rising to his booted feet, Bane reached into his cargo pant pocket and pulled out a single key as he walked towards her.
"You may have given your body to me in a pathetic attempt at forgiveness, but I do not trust you. Trust is earned, and I have not witnessed anything that you have done that would warrant trust."
How in the hell does one even start to trust a man who is a murderer and keeping me hostage?
"I know you want that. I will uncuff you to eat. If you try to run or strike at me again, I will break your other arm, and I will not…send for a doctor."
One trusts a murderer when their own very life depends on him
Feeling Bane's fingers against her wrist as he snapped off the cuff, Charlotte pulled her hand back and listened to the clanging of the metal cuff against the pipe as Bane stood tall.
"Remember my warning."
Listening to his stern words like a scolded child, Charlotte focused her eyes on the plate before her as she spied no utensils.
"Fork?"
Shaking his head as he caught her dismay, Bane walked from the table and re-took his seat by the fireplace.
"I'm not an animal if case you haven't figured that out."
"You've killed one of my men with a sharpened chicken bone. I will not give you a pronged item to stab me with."
You've fucked up big time Charlotte
His lack of trust in you is not gonna help you escape
Not in the slightest
He'll keep you on a short leash
Shorter than the rest
Making it even harder to try and run
Picking up a piece of potato, she slowly took a bite as she concentrated her eyes on Bane's breathing apparatus.
"Do you not eat?"
Hearing her question as a pop sounded from the fireplace, Bane crossed his ankles and rested his hands on the arms of the chair.
"Of course, I do."
Eating another piece of potato, she heard the irritation in his voice as he answered her question.
"If you let the doctor examine Thomas, I will…toe the line. Your line."
Hearing her words, he held her eyes as he watched her slowly rise from her seat on the couch. Letting his booted foot fall off the side of the table, he watched as she came to stand in front of him, staring down into his face.
"I know you will. Because you don't want me to kill you. Now sit down and finish your food" he spat, re-crossing his ankles as Charlotte swallowed hard. Moving her eyes down towards his hands, she noticed his bent pinky finger and frowned.
"If I had said stop, would you have?"
Raising his eyes once more onto her face, he could see she would settle for nothing but the honest truth.
"No."
Blinking quickly as she heard his reply, she felt the morphine starting to wash over her as she turned and walked slowly back towards the couch.
"Teaching me a lesson, were you?" she growled as she ignored the rest of her food.
"Yes."
You're a real asshole
Closing her eyes, she felt her exhaustion starting to take over as she heard the creaking of Bane's chair. Feeling herself slipping into sleep, she suddenly jolted awake as the masked man slammed a hand down on the table.
"Your bed is out there. If you are done eating, you can go."
Staring at his retreating back, she slowly rose to her feet and felt the dizziness washing over from the drug.
"I don't feel so good."
Slumping back down on the couch, Charlotte touched her cast with the fingers of her right hand before keeling over against the solid fabric arm. Staring at the young woman's closed eyes, Bane slowly approached and stood at the edge of the couch, staring down with narrowed eyes.
She would be exhausted
Letting out a slow deep breath as he watched Charlotte's chest rising and falling, he bent over and scooped her up easily in his arms, holding her firmly as he debated his next move.
Toss her out into the tunnel on a mat and be done
Or…
Turning towards his bed, he strode slowly and laid her down as he adjusted her casted arm before brushing his fingers along her loose brown strains of hair.
"Why must you continue to fight me?" Hearing his own whispered words, he touched the edge of his thumb against her bottom lip as he thought of his agreement with Roland Daggett.
"You either decide to join me, or I will kill you Charlotte Teller. It's as simple as that."
Hearing the approach of footsteps coming closer to the curtain, Bane cleared his throat as his second in command stood still.
"Have you killed the Doctor yet?"
"He is finishing up with Taner" Barsad spoke as he noticed Charlotte resting on Bane's bed.
"Have him tend to this, Thomas."
"If I may say so, that is a good idea. We need all of our men Sir. We need strong numbers."
…
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