Alfred´s POV

The news were not very good. Master Bruce had undergone percutaneous angioplasty and got some stents in order to maintain blood flow for the heart and prevent further ischemia, but the doctors stated, that aortocoronary bypass will surely be necessary. At the moment his state was so serious and unstable, he probably wouldn´t survive it. So they first have to stabilize him.

I translated doctors´ slang to normal speech for the family, while trying to sound as calm and composed as ever. My voice trembled only slightly, as I explained them what will happen next – we will have to wait until Master Bruce´s state is stable enough so he can undergo a major heart surgery.

I wished all of them could be here. I was aching to try to reach all of these young people I considered grandchildren, so they could support each other. Some of them, Miss Cassandra for example, were quite easy to find. But I´ve had one particular young man on mind now. I surely did have some ideas how to get in touch with Master Jason, but I wasn´t quite sure whether he would want me to do so.

I sighed internally.

If only Master Jason knew how hard it was for Master Bruce when he refused to talk to him anymore. And if only they both were not so stubborn.

Young male nurse in ordinary clothes, wearing a cap and a mouthshield rushed past us into the patient´s room. I noticed him with the corner of my eye and paid him almost no attention. But in the back of my head a small bell rang. He was somehow familiar in the manner of his walk. I strained my head. But… It can´t be, can it?

Silently I left the family and entered the room. I stopped and stood right behind the door, unnoticed.

.…...….

Jason´s POV

I watched Bruce lying silently on the bed, connected to the drip, tube under his nose. Heart monitor beeped steadily, I could hear soft hissing of oxygen too. His chest raised and fell slightly, but there was no other movement, apart from the fluid dripping from a bag hanging above his head.

I crept closer, pulling the mouthshield off my face. Man, how can anybody possibly breath with this on?

Bruce was apparently still unconscious. Somehow I couldn´t decide if that was good or bad thing. Sure, it would be better for him to be awake, but for me it was admittedly easier this way.

One more step and I stood next to his right side. I reached my hand to touch his. It was warm. Good sign, I suppose.

"Bruce?" I whispered. "What are you doing to us, Old man?"

Seconds passed by, measured by the constant beeping. Words were swirling in my head, so many things I would like to say, shout, yell at him. But I couldn´t. I sat on the chair, holding Bruce´s hand carefully – I didn´t want to pull the needle out.

I sighed. How could I ever think this will by easy.

I was thinking about all the times I saw him laying in the Batcave´s Med bay, beaten and bruised, but never defeated. He would always get up and walk away. Sure, sometimes it would take hell lot of time, stitches and painkillers. Who would be surprised I was expecting him to do the same this time?

"C´mon, Old man, get up and lecture the crap out of me. Fight!"

Tears welled in my eyes. Would he sit by my side like this, if he could make on time back then? Yesterday, I´d say no way. No matter how hard Dick tried to persuade me otherwise – those years ago when he still tried to talk to me, I always rejected to even think about that possibility. But perhaps he was right after all. Perhaps Bruce really did care. And perhaps I´ll never know now.

"I´m sorry," I breathed.

I felt a hand landing softly on my shoulder. I jerked and jumped up, reaching for my gun instinctively, forgetting for a moment I left it at home.

It was Alfred, smiling knowingly, as he always did.

"I am glad you came, Master Jason," he said silently. "And I am sure Master Bruce is too."

And again, sorry for the cliffhanger. But I find it quite hard and a bit emotionally exhausting to write this story, so I have to pause from time to time.

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