“Ok, ok! Let me go! I’m not going anywhere.” He angrily looked at the five of his men who were restraining him from the fiery blaze. He had already tried running in again but they had secured him in a vice like grip.

            “We can’t afford to lose you too, Commissioner.” One them said in stony voice.

            “This is an order from your Commissioner.” He said through gritted teeth.

            They finally let him go. He shook the feel of their hands on him off. He kicked the nearest piece of burnt wood beside him. He walked a short distance away but not enough to raise their concern, he hoped. 

            What the hell, were they going to do now, he asked himself angrily. None of those lawyers would be able to stand up to the plate like Dent and prosecute the underbelly of Gotham. They were all going to walk and he was going to have to watch them do it. Maybe Rachel could do it. He knew she could do it. Damn it, he had not been able to save her fiancée. Guilt unraveled in his stomach, he had promised to protect her, Batman had saved her and he couldn’t even get here fast enough to save her fiancée. He had let all of Gotham down. At least they had all worked together and got that maniac the Joker.

            A crackle from over the radio broke into his thoughts. The office closest to him answered it. He saw the man, swallow visibly. That was not a good sign. He nodded, he caught the look in the man’s eyes, they looked grim. The man got out of the cruiser.

            “What’s the news officer?” Gordon walked the short distance over.

            The man cleared his throat. “Dent, is alive but in serious condition at Gotham General.” The man cleared his throat and looked past him. “That means…” His voice trailed off.

            The news hit him like a ton of bricks, he whirled around and looked at the burnt out hulk of the factory. It was Rachel’s final resting place, no he screamed in his head. In actuality, he had failed Rachel. Sadness and anguish gripped him, angrily he looked down.

            “Dent is alive, Jim. Just.” He turned to look at the officer. “But back at M.C.U. the Joker’s gone.”

            “With Lau?”

            The officer nodded.

            “The Joker planned to get caught. He wanted me to lock him up at M.C. U.”

            “We better get back and see who is left.” The man said grimly.

            “Yeah.” He said flatly.

            Dawn was going to break in about an hour or two, he couldn’t go home again. Not yet anyway, there was so many things that had to be done. But now he had to, he had to say goodbye to her. He drove over to 52^nd street, emotions mostly anger and grief swam in his head. Pulling up the smoldering haul, he saw that there were some firefighters still putting out some of the flames. He went to the side that he knew they wouldn’t see him. He got out and walked the few short feet to the mouth of the building.

            He looked around all he saw was blackness and soot, he heard dripping water could be heard. His heart was racing, he felt sick to his stomach. He felt like he was going to be sick. He clenched his hands into fists. 

            “I’m so sorry, Rachel.” He whispered. “I’m sorry.”