Disclaimer:I don´t own the characters of Batman

Flashes of memory

He was there again. The place that haunted him not only in his dreams but in every second of

his life. Tormenting flashes of memory assaulted him with the pictures of the dark, filthy alley.

He could see them. The eyes. The cold cruel eyes staring at him.

But he would fight it. He could fight his fears.

Bruce was all too familiar with the feeling of the hallucinogen creeping up his veins, piercing

every fibre of his body with this overwhelming onslaught of fear. Bruce thought he would

break under this crushing strain of memories that the poison of his tormenter exposed him to.

It almost choked him. Just to fill his lungs with air consumed all the little strength the fear has

left in his body.

Through his blurred vision he barely could see Alfred driving the car back to Wayne Manor.

Flashback--------------

After the distress call of Batman, Alfred immediately set out to come to his Master's rescue.

He was shocked at the sight of his Master Wayne lying on the cold damp concrete, shaking

uncontrollably.

The cape of his suit was torn and burnt and under the Batman-mask Alfred could see Bruce's

pain-contorted face. Alfred was sure would Master Wayne not be so weak he would scream in

agony.

Now barely a whisper left his lips: "Alfred…see them…want to stop …blood...".

Seeing his master in so much pain and with such a haunted look in his eyes, touched Alfred

in the very core of his heart.

He could not stand seeing the most important person in his life so weak, so broken. His

friend. His Master Wayne. Alfred could feel the tears coming to his eyes.

Hadn't his Master gone trough too much already?

Alfred laid his arms firmly around Bruce's waist and tried to lift the body from the cold, wet

ground. Very carefully not to do more harm to the already battered body of the man, Alfred

dragged him to the car and laid him gently on the back seat.

"…fight ….fears"

" It is going to be alright Master Wayne"

End Flashback--------

Yes, Bruce knew the feeling. He had felt it already back in the mountains, where Ducard had

trained him in the skills of the Ninja.

It was there, where he had experienced the intoxicating, fear-inducing effect of the smoke of

the blue flower's burning essence. The flower that he had brought up to the peak of the

mountain all those time ago. He has felt it before, this fear;

His mentor Ducard had showed him how to fight, how to conquer his fears. He had to focus

on that knowledge.

Bruce shifted uncomfortably. Through the drug-induced fog that clouded his mind, he could

feel a broken rib.

Not even his Batsuit could weaken a fall out of the window from that high.

Bruce knew that he had to focus on the training if he wanted his sanity to last for if he wasn't

able to have power over his fear his mind would collapse. He took a rattled breath, centred

himself to control the overpowering emotions attacking his mind with all those intense

memories.

The eyes…the lane

He could do it…he could defeat his fears!

His dead father's face.

Focus, find the harmony!

An untamed horde of bats attacking him, biting, hurting and scaring him

He was better than that, he was strong!

"Don't be afraid Bruce"

Bruce struggled hard but he could feel him growing weaker and weaker. He knew he was

close to break and crush under the burden.

"Why do we fall?" Bruce could hardly hear the imperceptible whisper that echoed in his ears.

"So we learn how to pick ourselves back up", were the last thoughts of Bruce when the

darkness of unconsciousness claimed him.

TBC?