A/N Thanks for your reviews and support. Hope everyone had a good Christmas yesterday.

Fangtasia: Thanks for your review my friend. Poor Neal.

white collar black wolf: Thanks for your review my friend.

Brandy Nelson: Thanks for your review my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes Neal it seems can't catch a break.

Neal's POV

Just when he thought his day couldn't get any worse. Out of all the people Tim could have brought to New York, the last one he expected was Bruce. His adoptive father should be in Gothma dealing with the villains there. Not in New York going through his stash of items.

He asked his mouth dry and his voice hoarse, "How? Why... Why are you here?"

Bruce could only stare at him for a moment. They were both frozen with shock at seeing the other. Neal had only reacted first because he knew a confrontation was coming. The only question had been with who. If he was honest with himself he expected Damian or Jason. Not Bruce. Never Bruce.

Bruce took a step towards him and Neal tried to retreat, only to hit the door. With a growl he moved to his right. If he was to face off against Bruce he could not allow himself to be cornered.

Noticing the way he moved and acted Bruce stopped his advance. Neal was beginning to feel like a cornered animal. It wasn't that far off the mark either. He was XIII the Black Cat and the bringer of bad luck. It seemed that for once his bad luck turned on him rather than another.

Bruce said softly, "Tim told me, I had to come to New York. He wouldn't explain why or what he found. Now I understand why. Dick we have been searching for you since you disappeared."

Neal snapped, "My name is Neal Caffery. There is no Dick here."

Why? Why couldn't they let him live his life? That's all he wanted. Live his life as he chose. Just as Saya wanted him to.

Bruce's eyes narrowed as he said lowly, "You are Richard Grayson. My adopted son. Did you think I wouldn't recognize you? It hasn't been that long, Dick. Even if your eyes are a different color."

With everything that happened he wasn't surprised that his eyes were grey. It always seemed to come out when he was prepared to fight. Prepared to die in whatever fight he had chosen to engage in. There were times he missed the simplicity of his life before Chronos. It was ironic how simple his life had been before. Even as a vigilante.

Neal said in a soft whisper, "You know nothing about me. You know nothing about my struggles or suffering. I didn't have any intention of returning to Gotham before this week. I still don't now. Leave."

Bruce replied his eyes narrowing, "I think not, Dick. This has gone on for too long. It is time to clear what is between us. About why you left the family and disappeared."

"I owe you, nothing. Whether you understand or don't understand doesn't matter to me. I made my choice the night I left."

Bruce's eyes narrowed even more. The man was analyzing every word he said. Every twitch of his muscles as Neal fought with himself not to run. This was his home and he would fight to keep it.

Bruce inquired softly noticing something that all others didn't, "What happened to you, Dick? You are not the same young man that left."

Neal's shoulders slumped. His eyes not meeting those blue eyes that knew him so well. He felt so small, a child who had Batman as his guardian.

Neal said, "You don't want to know what happened to me, Bruce, "Bruce's eyes widened at the use of his name. The proof that Richard Grayson was still inside him.

He forced himself not to continue. Not to open up about his time in Chronos. Or the time before he became part of the the FBI. Bruce wouldn't approve of him being a criminal.

He never forgot his life as Richard Grayson. Instead he chose to put it behind him. To not let the pain of being forgotten by those he called family continue to be his reason for doing things. He became his own person and made a name for himself. First as a Chronos Number then as a art thief. They were his accomplishments. Given to him not because of who adopted him. Instead because of what he had done earn them. If he continued with the name Richard Grayson, no one would see him. Instead they would see the boy adopted by a billionaire.

A knock on the door startled both men from their thoughts. Neal was clueless on how to proceed. He knew he had to get Bruce out of the room. His gun might not be hidden here but pictures that held many secrets were. Considering that his passport was already found, it wouldn't take the other long for the rest. Most he wasn't worried about. There was one that would reveal his secret.

The picture was taken when just after he turned twenty one. It was an entire three weeks after he first met Saya. They were at a small festival and for once Neal had worn something other than black. At Saya's instance. He wore a navy blue button down shirt with the top two buttons undone and black slacks. Hades of course was strapped to his leg in case someone tried something.

Nothing had that night and Saya insisted they had a picture made. It was the only picture he had of them together. Considering both of their lines of work it was difficult for them to both be around at the same time. So most of the time their meetings were at night on his roof.

The knock came again this time more insistent. Neal growled. Bruce was bad enough, to add whoever was at the door would be worse. He was not dealing with endless questions tonight.

He called out, "If it's you, Peter, I'm fine. I'll see you back at the office tomorrow."

There wasn't an answer this time and it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. If it was Peter or Mozzie they would have answered. At least acknowledged he said something. Even Sven would have acknowledged him.

The knock came again weaker and lower on the door this time. Old habits died hard as he threw open the door. A body fell into him. On instinct he caught the person instantly recognizing them. Ethan stared up at him pain in his grey eyes. The next thing he saw made his blood run cold. Blood was pouring down the man's face from and open head wound just below his scalp.

It wasn't his only wound. As he pulled Ethan inside he saw a large tear in the other's shirt. Blood was coming out of the wound endlessly. There was little doubt in his mind that it was made from a blade. Someone had tried to kill his information broker.

He snapped to Bruce, "Get my first aid kit. In the bathroom under the sink. Bring towels while your in there."

Bruce moved immediately to obey. Neal for his part began to pull off the tattered remains of Ethan's shirt. The smell of copper hit the air. The blood was fresh and was continuing to come out. They had to stop the bleeding.

It was then that he got his first good look at the chest wound. The slice was at least an inch and a half deep and went from right shoulder to left hip. A right handed swordsman made the wound. One who was experienced and knew the area well enough to take down such a careful broker.

Bruce quickly returned with his first aid kit. Without looking at his adoptive father Neal opened it. Compared to most kits his was stocked closer to that of a military kit. He preferred to be prepared for just an event. In this case it might just save his friend's life.

Grabbing a handful of bandages pressed them firmly into Ethan's chest. Looking at Bruce he said firmly, "Keep pressure on this, as much as you can."

Despite the obvious questions he had, Bruce did as he was asked. Neal then turned his attention to the kit. Butterfly stitches would work for the head wound. The chest wound was too deep for butterfly stitches. He had some basic needle and thread for stitching but no local anesthetic.

He turned to look his friend in the eye. Despite his pain, Ethan gave a quick nod. He could hold on while Neal stitched him up. He too, was once part of Chronos. Pain barely phased him.

Neal pulled the thread and needle and began to thread it. With the alcohol pad he sterilized the needle. With a short squeeze to his friend's shoulder he began to stitch up the wound.

It was a credit to the older man that he didn't cry out. As quickly as he could he stitched up the man's wound. It had to be done carefully so not to cause more damage than what was already.

When it was done he then turned to the head wound. He was stopped by a hand on his wrist.

Ethan said his eyes alight with pain but held determination in them, "Not yet. I have to tell you something, Heartnet."

Neal said shaking his head trying to pry his hand away, "Ethan it can wait. Let me finish stitching you up and then you can tell me."

Ethan shook his head hiding a pained wince as he did so. Even Bruce's eyes held a hint of concern. His adopted father had never met the man but he could see how much Ethan meant to Neal. Ethan was a vestige of his past one he didn't push away in fear or anger.

Ethan said his voice laced with pain but insistent, "Heartnet! This is important. Please."

Ethan had never begged anyone for anything. Whatever the problem was it had to be important.

Seeing his acceptance Ethan continued his voice becoming a rasp, "I know who you have searched for since your leaving. The one who took the only person you ever cared about. He is in New York... Heartnet... Creed is in the city... he will... stop at nothing..."

Before Ethan could finish what Creed wanted his eyes rolled into his head. The pain was too much for the older man. It was however enough for the younger man.

Creed Diskenth was in New York and if the information was to be believed, he wanted the Black Cat. An identity that Neal had long since put behind him. If it had not been for the man he may have never ended up in New York to begin with.

Neal might still be Train Heartnet without him. He still would have left Chronos but would have become a sweeper instead of a criminal. Without Creed he would still have Saya.

His heart twinged at the thought of her. No matter how much time passed it still hurt. Hurt more than words could describe.

Then the rage he had not felt since Kate's death filled him. He would avenge Saya's death. That meant however he had to get out from under the watchful eye of the FBI and Batman.