Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman or the characters involved except the evil burly men. Thank you to all who have not given up on me through this story that I have neglected and left many of you on hold for two years. I hope you enjoy this chapter. There is only an epilogue left and I shouldn't take two years to have it up!!

Gordon felt his heart pounding to the point of shattering through his chest. His grip on the steering wheel was tight. Sarah kept her eyes on Gordon as she watched his reactions. She had to admit that she was in as much shock as he was…Bruce Wayne? Batman? Never in a million years….still had it all seemed to make sense in its own right. A small part of her ached to shout this information to the world around her, but she knew that it could never be. It wasn't right and with her eyes gazing on Gordon, she knew he would never approve it.

"Where are we going?"

In their haste from the precinct, Gordon had grabbed her hand and dashed to the car.

"Since Bru…Batman is…well…one of him is anyway…very wealthy it makes sense that we check the sewers under Gotham's National Bank."

Sarah's eyebrow quirked. "Why again?"

Gordon sighed in frustration.

"Because that's how Crane thinks." Sarah didn't seem too sure until she heard him say, "Trust me."

Bruce had finally shifted his position after days of remaining motionless. His feet now lay planted firmly in front of him and any sign of self pity was erased.

Rachel and Alfred watched the change in Bruce with curiosity. His eyes were vacant. His chains lay idle by his side, forgotten by his captors. His handsome features were now lost in…nothing. Alfred sighed. He had seen Bruce like this many times before and prayed that this too would pass.

"He moved…that's a good sigh right?"

Alfred reached out a withered hand in hers wishing he had her innocence.

"One can only hope."

Their peace was soon shattered when the door creaked open. Two burly looking men, the same ones as before came in. Bruce's eyes refused to meet theirs.

"Get up."

Bruce remained still, ignoring the words.

"I said get up, you asshole."

Bruce tilted his head to briefly gaze in their eyes. He did his best to stand up but recent pain made it torturous. The men didn't care as they shoved him roughly by his arms causing Bruce to wince as his back slammed into the wall behind him.

"What's the matter?" the bigger of the two men stated while shackling Bruce to his chains. "Can't take it, fucker? " Bruce closed his eyes.

"Look at me."

Bruce opened his brown eyes staring directly into animosity.

The man leaned into Bruce's face breathing him in. "I should take you here, myself, pretty boy, especially since you like to put on shows for your friends here…"

His words were broken as the light in the box returned.

"You will do not such thing. Hasn't Mr. Wayne been through enough?" Crane's words made the larger man slink back wondering how Crane knew what he was up to, to begin with.

"Look at me, Mr. Wayne."

Bruce's wounded eyes met Crane's shadowed face.

"Are you ready for your final test?" Bruce lowered his head; strands of brown hair feel into his eyes over his whiskered cheeks.

"While you were sleeping…" Crane dragged the words out mockingly, "I strategically placed fourteen bombs around Gotham City."

Bruce lifted his head.

"You are now left with a choice. IF you allow me to execute what remains of your pathetic little family, then I will disarm the bombs. If you choose to spare the only two people who give a damn about you…then Gotham dies."

Bruce's heart echoed in its cage threatening to burst.

"Come on now, Mr. Wayne, I haven't got all day."

Bruce's eyes softened at the situation in which Crane created allowing his hands to clench in helplessness. Alfred watched his charge biting his lower lip.

"Trust yourself, Bruce," he murmured. Bruce's gaze penetrated his surrogate's. He saw the older man's lips twitch in an uneasy smile.

"Besides, "Crane's voice interrupted. "It's not like you haven't seen a father slaughtered before."

At these words, Rachel leapt to her feet. "You son of a bitch!"

The burly men pushed her to the ground. "Keep your woman in line, Batman!" they mocked.

Crane watched from the tower at Bruce's predicament. His captive's eyes were dormant and his lips moved without a sound. He saw sad, wistful eyes greet his before turning to his family.

Rachel reached out and clasped her hand in Alfred's fearing that this would be her demise.

Seeing the pain in Bruce as he looked at him, Rachel felt the tears welling in her eyes. "Crane is going to crush him," she whispered.

Alfred saw something else much more powerful tahn pain.

"No, Crane is going to create him."

Bruce's eyes turned steely in defiance and acceptance.

"I choose neither."

Crane scoffed. "You have to make a choice…"

"I choose myself."

Crane grew silent and pondered the answer waiting for further explanation.

"If I choose my family to die in order to save Gotham, I would never forgive myself." He paused meeting Alfred's eyes which were glistened with tears.

"If I choose Gotham to burn, I would never forgive them."

Bruce returned his gaze to Crane's dimly lit box.

"Therefore, I am making the hero's call: I choose myself."

Crane smiled and began to clap slowly in response. Bruce felt his arms grow weak as the chains shattered and he fell to the ground. Steel tipped boots made their way to his broken ribs as he gasped for breath.

"Enough!"

The brutes stopped like dogs on command and backed away. Bruce struggled to pull himself up resting on his bloody hands.

"He has made the honorable choice. The path of a hero is not set in stone, but altered to fit the situation. It seems as in this situation, we have discovered that our true Batman is the same as before: a self sacrificing bastard."

Bruce felt the stirrings of strength in Crane's words. He was about to try his best to fight when the door burst open with such force that it nearly took his breath away. He blinked away the dust and grime to see glimpses of his saviors in SWAT gear followed closely by Gordon and Essex.

The brutes were on their knees whimpering in defeat much to the pleasure of Alfred. His warm eyes meet Gordon's from across the room. A nod was exchanged between the two, a nod of understanding and gratitude

Gordon clambered over the rubble to Alfred and Rachel unlocking their chains.

"Are you two OK?"

Gordon knew the question was useless but he was at a loss of what else to say. Rachel nodded, shaking while tears spilled down her cheeks.

"What will happen to Crane, sir?"

Gordon reflected on Alfred's question, but just for a moment.

"He will get what he deserves."

Alfred accepted this at face value, a bit of smugness seeping in his soul.

"Good."

Gordon squeezed his old friends' shoulder before rising and heading over to face Bruce. He sighed at the sight of him. He was torn, bloody, a mere waif of what he once was. . He rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants before reaching out a hand to Bruce. Gordon saw the terror in his eyes and wondered if it was there before or if the terror that was there now was bred solely from the possibility of dire consequences from the actions of the Batman.

"How did you find us?"

Gordon could barely hear the young man's words. He crouched down close to Bruce's face pushing his glasses a smidge and leaned in ignoring the chaos surrounding him.

"A mutual friend left me a clue." Bruce trembled slightly as he saw his glove, Batman's glove peeking out of Gordon's bullet proof vest.

Bruce reached out a hand to touch it, feel it, and remember who he was. "What will happen to me now?"

Gordon tucked the glove away and patted his chest.

"Only you can decide your own fate, Mr. Wayne."

Gordon patted Bruce's knees affectionately before rising. A calloused hand grasped his.

"Thank you."

Gordon helped Bruce to his feet taking note of the strength behind Bruce's battered body as if he were seeing him for the first time.

"No, Mr. Wayne, thank you."

Thank you all for sticking with me. Only the epilogue left. Please review. I hope this was worth the wait. I will try to get the epilogue up within the next week or two.

.

.