AN: Standard Disclaimer, I own nothing and never make any profit.


I was a young-ish cop in Gotham; my first real crime scene would also be the one I hated. A small boy sat stunned between the cold, dead bodies of his parents. Their times of death some four hours earlier, we had only just arrived; Ann old Volvo came onto the scene barely seconds later. I saw that a look of shock in the driver's eyes as he step from the car, the boy I had been trying to coax back to life ran to him - clearly a known figure. I could just hear what they were saying.

"Alfred," this was the boys voice, it was muffled by the man's coat.

"I'm right here, Master Wayne. I am right here." He spoke with a very English accent; most likely a servant of some sort. I walked up behind the boy and placed my coat over his shoulders, and I I saw a nod from the man holding the boy as we three walked to one of the police cars. I already had the child's statement, but I wanted to know whose blood was on his neck; it wasn't splatter. Myself and the man only spoke once 'Master' Wayne had easied into staring out of the window.

"Mr?"

"Penniworth, Sergeant?"

"Gordon, James."

"New transfer?" I nodded, and stunned at this Penniworth fellow. He sighed, "You better have a strong stomach if you want to survive in Gotham."

"Who will look after him?"

"I will, won't I Master Bruce?" The boy nodded stiffly. Three was something else bugging me.

"Just how long does it take the cops to respond here?"

"Between two and five hours." Once more I was stunned, I was that was the most 'Bruce' had said but then I realised what he'd said. His statement now made sense, the one he'd given to Detective Bullock. I spluttered in shock.

"That's insane!"

"Gotham's criminals are in the woodwork already; cops, lawyers, businessmen. It will never end." I looked away from the boy to Alfred Penniworth.

"Is everyone in Gotham this Gothic?" The man smiled, a light smile but still a smile.

"The city has that effect on people, although that is also her charm."

"Her?"

"Gotham always struck me as being female, Sergeant Gordon." I shrugged off this eccentric thought, which did have its merits. I turned to look at the boy who was still staring out of the window - he was shivering; even with my coat on.

"I will find whoever did this to your parents, and Mr Wayne." I felt a small hand grasp mine.

"I know you will." I swallowed at the trust this boy had put in me already; now I had a promise to keep, as I got out of the car at the station. I instructed the officer who was driving to take both Wayne and Penniworth back to the manor. As the car drove away I could see them both huddled together on the back seat.