The next week Clark came over to check on Dick and make sure no horrible side effects had occurred. He and Bruce were sitting in one of the large living rooms discussing what had truly happened that day. Bruce had made sure that no one was around who could hear before he started talking. Tim and Alfred were out for the day and Dick was sleeping. Bruce was still adamant that he was not going to tell Dick and that Dick did not need to know. Clark was still arguing that Dick had the right to know and Bruce should tell him.

"He doesn't need to know Clark. It will only hurt him."

"Bruce he should know. He has the right to know. You are depriving him of his rights."

"He doesn't need to know and I am not depriving him of anything except pain."

"What don't I need to know?" "What are you depriving me of?"

Bruce and Clark turned to see Dick standing in the doorway.

Damn! Bruce thought. I thought he was asleep! How had he not heard him; not known he was standing there at the door?

"What don't I need to know Bruce?" Dick asked

Bruce looked at Clark then looked back at Dick then back at Clark. What do I do? He seemed to be asking.

"Well um…um there is um something I need to tell you about what happened back there when you were being held captive. It is about what happened when you blacked out. What you don't remember."

"Wait when I blacked out… you were there? But you said…" he looked at Clark. A series of wheels were turning in his head as he began to piece things together. "You said that you had just gotten there when I woke up. Which means…I did see you coming up the stairs right before I blacked out. you were there!" "Which means you lied to me!"

"Yes we were. And yes we did but it was for your own good. We had just gotten there when you…" he trailed off.

"When I what?" blacked out?"

Bruce and Clark exchanged a glance.

"What the fuck do you guys keep looking at each other for?" "Will you please just tell me what the hell happened?" What do you mean it was for my own good and why do you keep saying I don't need to know?"

"I'm sorry Dick but trust me you do not want to know please just let it go."

"I do want to know. This is not fair you cannot decide what I do and do not get to know!"

"Alright Alright fine you really want to know?" "When they chained you to the altar they injected you with some kind of serum that transformed you into some kind of wolf-cat monster and then Clark had to take you down until we could find an antidote. That's why you blacked out and that is why you don't remember anything."

Dick looked at him dumbfounded. He could not believe what he was hearing. He could never have expected this; never prepared for it. A monster? Those sons of bitches! Just the thought of it made him seethe with rage. He looked at Clark who refused to look at him and he knew it was true but still he had to ask.

"Is it true?"

"Yes it is" Clark said.

"So what happened? Did I hurt anybody?"

"No most of the cult people ran away screaming when you transformed; like they didn't expect it or something."

"Yah they thought they were going to be able to control you or something." Clark said. "When they found out they couldn't they freaked and ran away"

"But I didn't hurt anybody?"

There was a moment's hesitation and then: "No you didn't hurt anybody."

"You're lying again!" "Who did I hurt?"

Bruce sighed. Dick was just not going to let any of this go. He was going to have to tell him the whole truth.

"I tried to talk to you, to reason with you, calm you down but it was no use and you threw me through a wall."

Dick looked horrified. Bruce knew the thought that Dick had hurt him must be killing him.

"But I'm ok. I wasn't hurt that badly."

"But you were hurt by me. Bruce I am so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for Dick. It wasn't really you."

"Alright so then what happened next?"

Clark then went on to explain the series of events that occurred after he transformed.

"Wow" was all Dick could say after Clark had finished it all.

"I can't believe it." he said

"I know neither could we. Believe me neither of us expected anything like that to happen. "

"Yah it was pretty unbelievable." Bruce said.

"And you just were never going to tell me this?" Dick asked incredulously.

"I thought it would be better if you didn't know. I thought it would only hurt you if I told you."

"That's not your decision to make!" Dick said angrily.

"That's what I said!" Clark stated

Bruce gave him an angry "you are not helping" look.

"Look Dick I just figured you had been through so much already, that anymore would be too much and you wouldn't be able to handle it. I was just trying to protect you.

"Well stop trying to protect me! I am an adult now you don't have to protect me anymore! Bruce you have to let go and back off a little. You have to let me live my life on my own two feet."

"How am I supposed to do that when you just almost got killed? You are my son it is my job to protect you!"

"Not anymore it's not! Look Bruce I know I got into a bad spot back there, but believe it or not I can take care of myself ok? So you need to just back off alright?"

"Well ok I'll try but I am not making any promises alright?"

"Ok."

Come here" Bruce said and put his hands on Dick's shoulders and looked him straight in the eye.

"You will always be my little Dickie you know that? You will always be my son and I will always be worried about you so don't' expect that to ever change alright?"

"No I won't. I would be very sad if it did." Dick said and smiled

"Well if you guys are all done with this heart to heart mushy stuff I think I am going to go home." Clark said.

"Why don't you stay for dinner Clark?"

"Sure that would be great. I'm always up for Alfred's cooking."

As they sat and ate dinner Dick couldn't believe how much had happened in the past few weeks. He couldn't believe that just over a week ago he had been a captive of some crazy cult who turned him into some ferocious monster. And now everything seemed so…normal. It was weird but that was their life. It was his life and even though some really bad things happen sometimes he still wouldn't trade his life for anything in the world.

FIN