AN:
Weirdo chapter. o.O

Chapter 10

Lori woke up, the sweet aroma of rose blossoms bringing her back. Opening her eyes slowly, she lay calm, for a moment confused. Bright sunlight streamed in from the wide windows, which overlooked a perfect lawn. She could see the morning sun just glancing over the horizon.

On her left, a tray burdened with covered dishes and a vase of the most gorgeous roses she had ever seen. Then she looked down on herself. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and black sleeping pants that were obviously too big for her. She didn't dare to think about whom the person was that had put them on her.

Sitting up in careful movements, Lori reached for the vase and took out one of the roses. Putting it up to her nose, she inhaled the deep aroma of blood-red roses.

"These are gorgeous. Someone must be lovingly taking care of them daily."

"Well, I'm trying to do my best, Miss Davis."

At the familiar voice, Lori looked up into the kind eyes of Bruce Wayne's butler.

"Alfred?" Lori said in a confused voice, but then she remembered it all. "What happened with me?"

"You passed out," he said mildly. "Have you slept well?"

Lori stared at him and blinked twice. "Yeah… I slept fine."

"Master Bruce sends his sorry for not being able to greet you this morning. He had a meeting with the Wayne Foundation Board of Directors. However, he widens his welcome and hopes you're feeling much better this morning."

You don't say, Lori thought to herself. Maybe this guy really is a hard worker after all.

"I felt a light meal might be in order," Alfred said as he walked over to her and soothingly, he uncovered a plate, containing fresh fruit, orange juice, and toast. "Miss, are you hungry?" he asked.

Lori nodded. "A little bit, at least I feel that I can actually eat something." That was almost a lie. She was hungry, but she didn't think she would be able to hold anything. Alfred added some more pillows behind her head to help her sit more comfortably. Placing the breakfast tray across her lap, he ensured that the television remote was within hands reach.

Prior to leaving, he said, "It's my pleasure to be of service so if you should need anything more just–"

"Alfred," Lori quickly interrupted. "This…breakfast in bed and everything – it's very nice of you, but I really have to go." Removing the tray, she rolled over and was about to climb out of bed, when Alfred caught her arm, pushing her back.

"What are you doing?" she snapped in shock.

"Master Bruce mentioned that he thought you might want to do that," Alfred said softly. "He also ordered me to not let you leave or go to somewhere else."

"Alright, I'll sue him for kidnapping then," Lori said dryly.

Alfred smiled. "Well, I can see that your humor is back on running," he said.

Lori rolled her eyes at Alfred. And he calls himself a butler. He's crazy, that is. Standing there smiling when I have to get back home and god…I have work today. She glanced over at the watch standing on the nightstand, and once again pulled her up from the bed. This time she was too fast and before Alfred could have had a chance to pull her back, she was already standing.

"I don't think Master Bruce will be so happy when he finds out about your behavior," Alfred said.

Lori snorted. "I don't really care about that now. I just have got to get to my work." Suddenly she looked down and realized that she was still wearing only the too large clothes. "My clothes, where are they?"

"I got them all cleaned up. They were a little grimy," Alfred said. "And I also got rid of your ruined jeans. No worries, I bought you a new one." He pointed to Lori's left and she glanced at the stack of neatly folded clothes on the chair.

Lori quickly pulled off the clothes she was wearing and pulled on the clean ones. Without talking, she rushed out the door and hurried down the great staircase, passing other doors until she reached the first level. As she approached the entrance hall, she pulled on her blue coat and stepped into her shoes. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that Alfred was coming down the stairs.

"I do think you should stay, at least until Master Wayne comes back," he said firmly.

"I am back," a voice said from behind Lori. Bruce. His voice was flat in tone, however his eyes twinkled, and mouth was twitching as if he was trying to repress a smile or laugh. Lori had the uncomfortable feeling that he was inwardly laughing at her own escape attempt.

"Ah, I see that there is some trouble with our special guest." He winked at her. "Don't worry, Alfred. I'm sure she will appreciate our services after a quick lunch. Or what do you think, Miss?"

"You're not going to drive me home. Are you?"

"It was not my intention to do so," he said with a naughty grin.

As he moved past her, Lori thought first she could smell the taste of blood, but shrugged at the thought. Breathing deeply she turned around and saw that Bruce was heading for the living room. Even though she couldn't see his face she knew he was grinning, and she snorted angrily. "Fine. I can get to work on my own."

"I have spoken with Mr. Lancer," Bruce said calmly. "I told him what happened and he said it was okay."

Lori's eyes blinked. How did he know where she worked? In fact, why did he know so much about her when she knew so little about him? Except everything she had read in the magazines, of course. She snorted again. "There's no chance that Mr. Lancer would have agreed to that," she said.

"Well, if you know what kind of person you're talking with you can always do something to change their mind," Bruce said, smiling. "And with Mr. Lancer, I instantly saw what kind of person he was."

"You paid him off, didn't you?" Lori asked.

"Yep," Bruce answered and grinned at her. "The man needed some extra cash."

Lori rolled her eyes at him. "You're unbelievable. When I first want to go to work, you have already paid him for not letting me come." Damn you. She shook her head bitterly. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but I don't want to be here. I have got better things to do."

"Oh, really? Like what? Looking around for masked heroes?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lori asked, frowning.

"Nothing," Bruce said, smiling, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Look here, I can understand that you're not feeling so well right now after what has happened to you. I mean your stepfather and your knee. I just thought that a day-off would be good for you."

"Thanks for your concern, Mr. Wayne, but to your information I'm doing all fine," she said. "The only thing I want to do now is just to go home."

He gazed back at her. She wasn't really looking at him or anything when she said it, and he knew that she meant it. "Fine," he finally said and looked up at Alfred. "Please drive her home."

"Thank you," she whispered when she heard what he said. She looked at Bruce, but he didn't look back. Smiling lightly, she walked over to Bruce and held out her hand. "I'm thankful for your generosity while I was here. And I promise you, I will try to not bother you again with my clumsiness."

Bruce took her hand and shook it firmly. "Goodbye," he said before he walked through one of the doors on his left side.

Lori watched him go as he went through the doors. She was somehow relieved for finally leaving, but she also had a strange feeling saying this was not right. That it wasn't the time yet to leave. She shuddered and walked down to the front of the house. Alfred held the car door open for her, gesturing slightly.

"Please take your place inside, Miss Davis."

He had his hand to her and helped her inside, using formality which gave Lori a pleased feeling. She liked him, much better than the stupid-playboy-ass. His softly wrinkling white face, the deeply carved lines along his eyes and his lips that curled into a smile was comfortable. But he was also the only one who was normal at this place and not as strange as the consistence of the Wayne Manor and Bruce. Maybe she would go back there someday, but not now. The time was not right yet to do something like that. Batman was the one she needed to focus on. People had to believe in Batman, that he wasn't not only bad things, but a real hero. But right now, that was something no one would ever understand.