Chapter 10

Moving Forward

The two women had remained in Gertrude's room, and Barbara had worked to reassure Mrs. Cobblepot that no matter what she heard, Jim wouldn't go too far with Oswald even though it sounded rather bad from afar.

True to Barbara's words, Oswald's squalls of pain were heard quite well down the hallway, and Gertrude cringed noticeably, "Oh I cannot stand to hear my boy cry!"

Barbara stepped next to her placing a hand on her shoulder, "I know it might be hard to hear this Gertrude, but the path Oswald is walking now is going to lead him into an early grave. Jim has tried speaking to him without much effect, so now Oswald has forced his hand to get him to understand the gravity of his circumstances. Trust me when I say you'd rather he go through this than be discovered by those people that really want to hurt him."

Gertrude sighed as she nodded, "Yes; what you say is true. Oswald never gave me much reason to have to actually punish him in such a way, but now I feel like for so long I never saw what was really right in front of my face," she shook her head, "You must think me a very bad mother." Gertrude turned back to Barbara her eyes pricked with tears.

Barbara shook her head, "Of course I don't! All mothers want to believe the best of their children, and I'm sure being so close to your son would make it hard to see or want to believe he could be doing something you couldn't fathom him doing."

She smiled weakly at Barbara, "I think you and the detective are good people. I don't think I could have ever brought myself to take Oswald to the level you have. He has only been with you a couple days, and I already see a marked improvement from just being in your company." She paused a moment listening to the sounds of distress Oswald was making as she took a deep breath to steady herself, "It is hard for me not to run to him now as I hear him crying out in pain, but I want you to know I trust the both of you, and I will support you as much as I can to help get Oswald to see you are trying to help him and not hurt him."

All went quiet for a few minutes before Gertrude and Barbara heard the door down the hall open and close. Gertrude paused in her moving about to look back at Barbara as if to get some sense of direction.

For her part, Barbara didn't know what to say opening the door and peering out to see Jim walking towards the kitchen. She held out a hand to halt Gertrude from leaving, "I'll go talk to Jim and see how everything went."

Gertrude nodded eagerly wanting to know herself.

Barbara met Jim at the refrigerator as ice clinked into a cup he held, "Did everything… go okay?"

Jim smiled at Barbara, though the long day was beginning to take its toll and he knew that she'd see it. "I don't know how 'okay' things are. I suspect it's going to be a long road for things to change. I do feel Oswald's willing to try... at least for now." He shrugged. "He wants to be alone for a while. I thought I'd take him some water and then give him a bit of space. He said he doesn't want his mother to see him like that."

Barbara moved closer to Jim placing a hand on the small of his back and rubbing up and down the length of his spine in a comforting gesture, "Well, if it's any consolation, Gertrude says she'll stand behind you in your decisions with Oswald and try to get him to see you're trying to help him." She sighed thinking on what Jim had said, "Although I don't know how well she's going to take that news…"

"I don't think it will last for long... just enough for him to collect himself and try to let go of the embarrassment," Jim said, relaxing into Barbara's touch. "I can talk to his mother, if that's easier.

Barbara considered Jim's words before stating, "It might be good if you spoke to her. I could bring the water to Oswald and see if maybe I can get him to be a little less squeamish to see her... unless you don't think it's a good idea?"

"I think he needs gentle encouragement right now," Jim said. "But if you want to take him the water... I know he likes you. He'd be more likely to listen to you."

Barbara gave Jim a small smile taking the glass from him, "I will do my best to get through to him. This whole thing is kind of crazy, but somehow, it feels right… I don't know. It's hard to tell whether or not we can help Oswald, but I guess I feel invested. Like if we try hard enough we will eventually reach him. Do you think that's too hopeful or foolish?"

"If I didn't think there'd be any chance of reaching Oswald, we'd just be wasting our time doing this," Jim said. "But I don't expect it'll be easy. Having his mother's support might help, though."

Barbara nodded her agreement, "I think having her on our side will make a big difference since the two are obviously close and he seems to take stock in her opinion. I guess only time will really tell." She gave Jim one last smile before walking towards Oswald's room.

Jim smiled at Barbara and then walked over to the door to Gertrude's room. He knocked lightly on the door, not wanting to just open it and barge in on the woman.

Gertrude opened the door as if she'd been standing right next to it the whole time. She seemed surprised that Barbara wasn't with Jim and peeked around him before opening the door fully. She smiled wearily, "Hello detective Gordon; is everything okay with Oswald?"

Jim nodded, giving the woman a reassuring smile. "Barbara took some water to him. He's feeling a bit embarrassed right now and did want some space. I think Barbara's going to try talking to him."

She seemed a bit disappointed, "Oh. I see." She stepped back to give Jim room to enter. Gertrude took a moment before continuing, "...What you're doing... Oswald may not appreciate it, but as his mother, if you are able to get through to him, I will be forever grateful to you."

Jim stepped into the room. "I am trying to get through to him, but I suspect it will take some more work," he said. "Oswald has been used to doing this kind of thing for quite a long time now."

Gertrude frowned looking into the distance as she considered Jim's words, "A long time... yes, Oswald can be so hard to convince." Turning back to face Jim fully, she asked in all sincerity, "What can I do to help?"

Jim thought seriously about that for a moment or two before speaking. "It'll help for Oswald to know you support what I'm doing. And no matter how hard it is, it won't help him if you let him get away with anything... or succeed in manipulating you to go easier on him."

Gertrude blushed, "I admit that you know me too well already James. I regret I have been too lenient on him." She grimaced now, "Oswald is a very bright boy, and I see now that he has been up to mischief. I will not be so gullible this time I promise you, and you can be sure that I do support you, and he will know that full well."

Jim nodded, giving her a smile. "I do appreciate that, thank you. I know it will be hard, but I think it will ultimately be good for Oswald to know he can't get away with things any longer."

Gertrude also nodded, "Yes, you are very right. He is not going to be happy with us, but he will come to understand this behavior cannot be tolerated."

"I'm sure he will," Jim said. "Even if it does take a little while."

She sat down on her bed, "Oswald will see reason, I just know it." She smiled warmly at Jim, but the stress of the evening had definitely taken its toll, and the bags under Gertrude's eyes were a testament of how she felt.

"After you see Oswald, perhaps you should have a warm drink and retire for the evening... I think all of us should," Jim added, aware that the rest of them were probably as tired and stressed as Gertrude was.

Gertrude took in a deep breath nodding, "That might be nice; it is getting very late." She looked at the door and then back to Jim, do you think it's alright go see him now?"

"I'll go and see how he's feeling... and if he's up to talking," Jim said with a slight smile, walking towards the door and stepping out into the hallway, heading towards Oswald's room so he could check on the other man.

Barbara knocked lightly on Oswald's door frame.

Oswald had been lost in thought still sitting on the bed where Jim had left him his eyes downcast staring into his hands that laid limply in his lap. At the sound of the soft knock, his red-rimmed eyes rose to meet her. His face flushed as he lowered his eyes once more this time in shame. He had been expecting Jim and was a bit taken off guard to see Barbara standing there, "Uh, hello Barbara…,"he stammered before clearing his throat.

"I asked Jim if I could bring you your water; do you mind if I come in," Barbara asked.

Oswald shrugged as he fiddled with a string in the seam of his pants, "Don't think I could stop you… it is your place after all," Oswald murmured.

She strode over to the bed placing the water in front of Oswald, and he gingerly took it from her whispering a small, "Thanks."

Barbara looked him over, and he looked so melancholy that she wanted to give him a hug, but she wasn't sure the gesture would be welcome, so instead she sat next to him and patted his knee, "Want to talk?"

Oswald's eyes had drifted to her hand now, and he took in a deep breath. Did he want to talk about it? On some level he did want to share the comfort Barbara was offering, and on another, it made him feel very weak. Tears welled in his eyes once more and he sniffed wiping them away as he flushed an even deeper red, "I'm okay," he warbled.

Seeing Oswald working so hard to hold back his emotions and seemingly causing the opposite reaction made Barbara's heart break as she gave his knee a small squeeze, "You know, it's okay to cry… I can't say I fully understand what you're going through Oswald, but I do know that it can't be easy to deal with. You've had a lot of upheavals in your life recently, and as unpleasant as what Jim just did to you, you do know deep down he isn't doing it to hurt you right?"

Oswald frowned thinking that Jim had a funny way of demonstrating he cared about his wellbeing, but Barbara's words rang true; he did know that Jim wasn't being a sadistic bully even if it would be an easy light to paint him in considering how much his ass still stung right now. He didn't vocalize a response choosing to just nod affirmation.

Barbara continued, "It's going to get better Oswald, just hang in there okay."

Oswald looked wistfully at her, "Better? Hardly. Everything I worked so hard to attain has been flushed down the toilet. I could have been somebody… now I feel like I'm destined to be a nobody." he huffed as he took a drink from his glass and stared off straight ahead clearly still feeling more than a little perturbed about his current situation.

"A nobody Oswald?" Barbara questioned in a disbelieving tone, and Oswald turned towards her with a grimace as if to imply she couldn't fathom the depths he had fallen. His pout made her chuckle, "So you really think dealings with the mob are going to end well? From your track record with them so far, you're lucky to still be alive."

Oswald wrinkled his nose at the reminder of his current failures, "Well, I could have built lasting connections if I were able to…"

Barbara cut him off, "I'm sure you could have Oswald, but the real question is; is that person you're working so hard to become really anyone you can look up to as someone that will make you feel good about yourself when all is said and done?"

Oswald's mouth was open to rebuttal her statement, but her words caught him by surprise. Did he look up to people like Fish and Maroni? He thought he had. Sure, he aspired to be them in the way of holding power and money, but did he think they felt good about the people they were? Probably not. He imagined they likely had to sleep with one eye open in their line of work. His jaw tightened, "You wouldn't understand."

Barbara sat up straight and raised an eyebrow, "Try me."

Oswald sighed as he commented in an almost condescending fashion, "In Gotham, you have to be connected in order to have any real respect… and the people running this city are corrupt, so it stands to reason in order to have any real standing in this city one has to play the game by their rules."

Barbara frowned giving Oswald a look of displeasure, "You may think that's true Oswald, but things change. Besides, there is more out there than just Gotham. This city has its issues, but just because you live among roaches doesn't mean you have to become one."

Oswald blanched not expecting Barbara to compare his aspirations to being akin to a roach, "Well I… I didn't mean that… of course there are limits to the rules." Although he wasn't sure where that limit was for himself or what he would be willing to do to move up along the way.

Seeing Oswald lost in thought again, Barbara commented, "Your mother is right you know."

This caught Oswald's full attention as he looked back to her now curiously, and Barbara continued, "You're a smart fellow Oswald, but what you seem to lack is wisdom."

Oswald glowered now, but said nothing as she continued, "You've got a lot of potential to do a lot of good. I know Jim is trying to straighten out this city, and I think if you applied yourself, without putting yourself in danger, you could really help him do that. Just think, if you did, you'd change the rules of the game."

Oswald had to give her a wry smile now, it was a sweet thought even if he did think it likely ludicrous to accomplish. But, Jim had made a lot of waves already in Gotham, and the thought of actually helping Jim bring down Fish did sound quite appealing. He would be more than pleased to see her thrown in jail to rot and to have had a hand in doing so. That would make him feel good about himself at the end of the day, "Maybe you're right Barbara."

Barbara smiled, "In the meantime, I was thinking that you really liked my art gallery, maybe when things calm down a little bit, you can travel with me to other galleries to help me pick out new pieces… I'm always looking for good deals on art to add to my collection."

Oswald genuinely smiled at her now, "I think I would like that."

Jim cleared his throat, and the two both looked up to see him in the doorframe. He smiled at both of them, relieved to see that Barbara and Oswald both seemed to be engaged in conversation. "It is getting late. It'll be a good idea to turn in soon," he said, before continuing to Oswald, "Your mother is worried about you. Are you up to talking to her, even if it's only for a little while?"

Oswald ducked his head. He really didn't want to see her at the moment, but he knew she would worry herself sick if he didn't, so he sighed, "Yeah, you can tell her to come see me... I'm as ready to face her as I'm ever going to be."

Barbara patted Oswald's knee once more before rising, "She just wants to make sure you're alright."

Oswald nodded, "I know. She can be a bit overbearing sometimes."

"It's been a long day for everyone," Jim said, trying to help Oswald to feel better by suggesting that his mother would probably turn in soon... without actually stating that. He gave the other man a reassuring smile and then walked back to let Gertrude know it was all right to go and see her son.

Gertrude seemed to brighten when Jim stated that Oswald was now willing to see her. She thanked him giving him a tight hug before scurrying down the hall to see him.

Barbara had been leaving Oswald's room and raised an eyebrow at Jim giving him a big smile as the older woman hugged him affectionately, and the poor man seemed caught in indecision on how to react before the woman was off hurrying down the hall towards her son.

Walking to Jim, she gave him a kiss smiling up at him lovingly, "I'm one lucky gal to have a man with such a big heart."

Jim gave a slight smile and wrapped his arms around Barbara. "I'll try not to bring in any more strays," he promised. "Thank you for being so supportive. I'm not sure I'd be able to do any of this without you."

She laid her head on his chest, "You're doing all the grunt work, the least I can do is help by showing my support." Barbara glanced at her watch, "It's already past midnight... let's get some sleep."

Jim nodded. "Good idea." He slid his arm around Barbara's waist and headed back through to their bedroom, holding back a yawn.

Gertrude couldn't help rushing to her son to wrap him in a hug, "Oh Oswald! I hated to hear you screaming out like that!"

Oswald cringed inwardly. He had hoped that the flat would have been a bit more sound proof, but now he was assured it most definitely wasn't. Not wanting to remain on the subject of him getting a spanking for any length of time, Oswald moved to change the subject quickly, "It's done now, so let's not dwell on the past mother. I'm sure you're quite tired, so now that your mind has been set at ease, you can retire and sleep soundly."

Gertrude stood back unwrapping her arms from him and taking Oswald's face in her hands as she pouted at her son, "Don't you worry about me. I will be fine. It is you that I worry for."

Oswald sighed his eyes dropping from her concerned gaze, "I'm okay mother. Really."

She jerked his chin forcing his eyes back to meet hers, "No. You are not okay. You have been lying to me Oswald. Your own mother." Her eyes reflected deep hurt.

Oswald's expression showed the guilt he felt to have her say that to him, "I… I didn't exactly lie… I…"

Gertrude's demeanor turned stern, "No. You will not do this to me any longer Oswald. I don't want to hear half-truths from you. No more lies."

Oswald paused looking wounded before he continued, "I didn't mean to keep you in the dark mother. I… I just thought if you knew…" he trailed off unsure how to address his current plight.

She gave him a look of pity as fresh tears welled in his eyes, "Oh Oswald, I am your mother, and I will always love you." She leaned down to kiss him several times on his temple.

The show of affection and the overpowering feelings of his guilt made Oswald hitch as he clutched a trembling hand to the side of her face to embrace her in a hug, "I'm so sorry mother," Oswald choked.

Gertrude hugged him tight feeling about to cry herself but knowing her son needed her to be strong for him at this moment, "Shh. No, no, no." She cooed as she hugged him back tightly before sitting and guiding Oswald to lay his head in her lap.

This was a familiar affection his mother had used to comfort him throughout his childhood when Oswald had come home with many a fat lip, dirty from being beaten by bullies or a particularly bad day where he felt as lost as he did right now. Oswald didn't resist her as he scooted onto the bed to lie in a semi fetal position his arm wrapped around her knees like a lifeline as she ran her hand lovingly through his hair, and he cried silently.

Gertrude spoke gently as she continued to caress her son, "My dear sweet boy. So sensitive, and for this I love you all the more. This path you have been walking is no good. Please Oswald, I know you do not want to follow the detective, but I could not bear to lose you to these bad people!" Her voice cracked as she leaned down to clasp him tightly, "Please tell me that you will listen to James and do your best to stay out of trouble."

Oswald sniffled, "I promise mother. I won't worry you anymore," it broke his heart to hear his mother so distraught, and the thought of her having to endure his death and how that would affect her hit him like a bus. He really was being selfish he thought absently. Oswald sat up now taking Gertrude's face in his hands as he said with new resolve, "I'm going to do better mother. I never wanted to see you like this… I will make you proud of me."

Gertrude smiled through tears of her own as she had been crying to, "I know you will," she squeezed his wrist fondly, "You always make me proud."

Oswald smiled gratefully letting out a small nervous laugh as he pulled her in to peck her on the lips, "Thank you for always being there for me mother."

Gertrude tilted her head, "Oh Oswald," she pulled him into another hug. They stayed that way for a long moment before Gertrude rose.

Oswald rose as well, and Gertrude pulled back his sheets and fluffed his pillow. She held the sheets up, and he climbed in pausing stiffly as he adjusted himself to lay on his side verse his back. His bottom was still quite sore from his bout with Jim.

Gertrude gave him a sympathetic understanding look, "Oh my poor Oswald."

Oswald cringed but said nothing as he continued letting her tuck him in as he just watched her wondering how he had been so lucky to have a mother that loved him so completely.

She leaned down to give him one more doting kiss once she had finished tucking him in to her satisfaction, "You sleep now. All will be better in the morning you will see."

Oswald gave her a nod stating in a small voice, "Good night mother. I love you."

She touched his cheek tenderly, "I love you too. Sleep well my son." With that said, she turned heading out of the room stopping momentarily to turn out his light. Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer before she finally closed the door softly, and the the sound of her feet could be heard creaking down the hall as Oswald sighed feeling somehow content now. He was quite emotionally and physically spent, and it was not long before he let himself drift into a dreamless sleep.