Dick POV
I looked at Bruce. "He was real Bruce. He was there.I-I felt him there." I said. Bruce stood by the side of my bed. "Richard, I need you to tell me what drugs you've been taking." he said. I cannot believe he really wants to talk about this right now. "I think it may explain the nightmares, and why your heart rate accelerated like it did."he continued. Red entered the room with the monitor and some water. "Bruce is right Dick. You could have died tonight, we are on a whole different playing field." Red agreed. I sat up and moved to get up. "Alright you two, that's quiet enough!" said a booming voice. I looked up and saw Alfred standing there with a cross look on his face. "Alfred, Richard needs to-" bruce began. "Richard needs to rest and be calm. You two are only upsetting him." he stood arms crossed against his chest. "Alfred, he-" Bruce tried again. "Now leave the both of you or I will throw you out." he said. Bruce sighed and moved towards the door. "You too Red." Alfred said. Red looked at me and I looked down at my hands. "Rest up." he said and left too. Alfred walked in and shut my bedroom door. Silence passed for a few moments as Alfred sat in the chair Bruce had been using. "Am I crazy?" I asked. Alfred looked at me. "No,little bird. You are not crazy, but you are in mourning. You feel responsible for your friend's death, and I do not understand why. But I would like to help, if you would let me." he said. I looked at him. "Al, its my fault. If I never would have sent Artemis into the LIGHT, then Kid would be alive. Artemis wouldn't hate me and his parents wouldn't be so depressed. How do I cope with that?" i said. "You don't have to. Because the outcome would have been the same regardless of the process leading to it. The only difference you would not have gotten the intel that lead to the LIGHT's capture. Richard you are not responsible for this." Alfred said. I felt tears fill in my eyes. "I can't do this anymore Alfred. I miss him so much, and I feel so guilty everyday. Its like I'm trapped in a room and I can't get out." I confessed. Alfred grasped my hand. "I know Richard. Guilt and grief can be a truly deadly mix,but you don't have to do this on your own. In this family you're never alone." Alfred said. "Then why do I feel more alone then ever?" I asked. "Grief can make a person feel that way. Know this though we will never abandon you." he promised. "I've messed everything up so bad Alfred. My dad hates me. Tim is afraid of me. Damien and I haven't really seen each other in three months. I hit Red. I don't know who I am anymore Alfred." I confessed.
"You are still the same little boy who came here all those years ago. The one who mended his father's heart even though his was broken. The one who loved his brother even when he didn't love himself. The boy who taught the most stubborn headed man in the world to bend. You are what you have always been young master. You are a hero." Alfred said. For the first time in a long time I felt hope. Hope that I could mend everything I had broken. Hope that I could still save the world, and maybe even myself. "You need to rest now. We will talk more in the morning. " Alfred said. I nodded and laid back. "Thank you Alfred." I said. He didn't say anything back, but simply smiled. When my door shut I drifted off to a dreamless sleep almost immediately.
Alfred POV
I sighed as I turned to see the boys waiting for me in the hall. "How is he?" Bruce asked. "Calmer. You two are not to speak to him about his drug problem again without me. Am i understood?" I said. They nodded. "Richard is in mourning and needs comfort not judgement and ridicule. And he most certainly does nt need you two at each other's throats so behave." i ordered. "Red off to bed. Your father and I need to speak privately." i said. Red looked like he wished to argue but left without a word. We watched in silence as Red entered his room and began to walk to the den. When we get there both of us sit in front of the fireplace. "Richard needs to get clean." Bruce says. "Richard needs his father to be there for him." i corrected. "I am here for all of my sons. They all know that." he said. I shook my head. "Master Bruce, do you truely know what your son went through when he lost Wally?" i asked. Bruce looked at me confused. "He was his best friend. Its was traumatic for him, i know. This is no excuse for his behavior." he answered. "Wally was the one that Richard opened his soul to. He told him everything. He trusted wally. And we both know how hard it is to get the boy to trust anything." i said. Bruce looked into the fire. "He feels as though everyone either hates, fears, or pities him. Richard needs to feel your warmth again." i said.
Bruce ran a hand over his face. "I don't even know what to do anymore Alfred. I've never seen Richard so scared. Just, please, tell me how to save my son." he pleaded. I placed my hand on his shoulder. "By showing him that you are human too." i said.