Chapter Four

Four months ago...

"Well done Bruce, if you can keep going like that you will be back on the streets in no time" Dr Leslie watched the beads of sweat run down Bruce's heavily sculpted back at he attempted more moves on the rings.

"I... uh... use to be able to do three hundred just as my warm up."

"And you will again, it has still only been four months, it just takes time that's all."

"Yes, time I don't have Leslie." Bruce frankly replies.

"We all know what you must be going through Bruce, but if Oracle can't find any leads..."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? The fact that Barbara is incompetent!" Bruce's gravelled voice tore through Dr Leslie as she took a wary step back.

"I think Dr Leslie was only trying to make the situation seem a little less bleak if I may Master Bruce." Alfred's entered the work out area with much needed refreshments and a towel, seemingly blissfully unaware of Bruce's temper.

"Well I don't need words of wisdom Alfred, I need results and I need them now... where's my suit?" He barked his commands heartlessly at his old friend.

"Bruce you are in no fit state to go out like that yet" Dr Leslie warned.

"I'm not asking your advice or your permission for that matter, besides I don't think either of you are in a position to stop me." He hovered over the elderly pair.

"But I could." Tim's harsh tone echoed into the cave.

"Just suit up Tim, were going out." Bruce commanded, already semi transformed into his alter ego.

"No Bruce, I am going on patrol, you are going to stay here." Tim sounded almost as intimidating as the Batman himself.

"I'm going out on patrol Tim." Batman now responded dangerously, Tim knew mentally that Batman was not a man to be fought even if his physical condition may give Tim the upper hand in apprehending him.

"Fine, you want to go out and try and get yourself killed, go ahead, but i'm not letting you endanger my life again."

"What you're going to quit? Getting all a bit much is it Tim?" He watched as Tim turned his back after a mocked, almost pitiful smile and left him in the darkness alone,

"TIMOTHY!" Batman howled into the darkness of the cave, causing the bat's to all simultaneously leave their nest, causing an almost incoherent array of noise and movement around the cave.