AN: Thank you guys so much for all those lovely reviews! They totally made my week :) One more chapter so enjoy!

All mysteries will be explained in due time (like in three or four chapters or so). But if you have been following New 52 Justice League and events you would know the answer already! I am following that plot line rather closely.

Chapter Eleven: An Undeniable Confrontation

When Billy opened his eyes again he found himself staring into the masked face of the Dark Knight himself. He shot up into a sitting position and wanted to shout, but quickly regretted his impulse. The sudden motion set his back on fire, black spots danced before his eyes, and he couldn't even hiss or groan properly; the strange device still clamped down over his neck and mouth, and he couldn't make a single sound.

"Steady," Batman said, both hands on his shoulders, "Slow and steady, Billy. Don't panic." His voice held the slightest tremble, and his posture looked tenser than Billy ever remembered seeing. And then Batman turned and called, "Cyborg, he is awake; I need you to get this thing off him."

Billy's eyes widened when he saw his closest friend on the Justice League approach. Cyborg read his expression wrong and threw up his hands instead, speaking in a gentle and friendly manner, "Hey, it's alright kid, I am here to help. And don't you worry, everything will be just fine. Let's take a look at this weird thing on your neck and get it off now, okay?"

It took Cyborg a good five minutes to finally disarm it, and the device fell off his face with a click. Billy drew a huge, staggering breath and then promptly started coughing. Batman was holding his shoulder again, patting the base of his neck gently. He murmured, "It's going to be fine, Billy, relax."

"Alfred! Is he okay? I couldn't wake him! Is he alright now?" The boy exclaimed.

"I am right here and I am fine, Master William, only worried sick about you," Alfred stepped forward, wearing a sad frown on his face.

Billy breathed a sigh of relief, before alarm overtook him once more, "What about that guy wearing a red ski mask? I… I didn't even check on him… Oh man, please tell me he is alright."

"I am fine; don't worry about me," The young man in grey body suit and red mask answered from a corner, sounding awkward, "And uh, it's not a ski mask."

Billy turned towards the young man in red mask. Seeing the other really appeared fine, the little boy sighed, finally relieved, and gave the vigilante a small, tentative smile. He walked up and extended a hand hopefully, "It's uh… it's nice meeting you. What do you go by? My name is Billy Batson by the way."

The red mask was as expressionless as always, but the posture spoke of shock and incredulity. Eventually the two shook hands. "Call me Red Hood," The vigilante said.

Billy looked as if he was about to say something, when Batman cut in and said, "Now Billy, you have been through a lot; we can speak later, after you have rested. Alfred, why don't you take the boys up? Red Hood, can you see to the kid? His cuts will have to be cleaned up and wrapped. And then all three of you get some food and sleep."

Billy frowned and said, "With all due respect, sir, I think I need to be here right now. Let me tell you what happened in detail…"

"That's enough, Billy," Batman's voice became sterner, "Alfred and Red Hood already told me what happened, and we have cameras in here. You need to go upstairs."

Just then Aquaman emerged from the pools and joined them in the cave, tracking water in his wake and saying, "Batman, they did not come in through the river. Even if they can breathe underwater the current would be too strong for most... Uh…." The King of Atlantis stopped and looked at Billy and Batman alternatively, rather confused by the now conscious and very calm and focused small boy and a tense looking Batman.

"You are right, Aquaman, I am pretty sure the intruder came in through the Wayne Manor," Billy said in a firm voice, "He left the secret passageway into the Batcave wide open! That's why I came down here; I was in the library and basically saw a hole in the wall. I thought something was wrong. And when we fought he used a gadget that basically made a lightning storm inside the cave; maybe that was how he broke all the cameras and sensors."

This time the silence lasted even longer as every stared at the small boy with disbelief. "'When we fought'?" Batman eventually growled out, "You fought him?"

Billy blinked, before saying, "I was trying to run away from him, and then he put that thing on my neck and I was really scared. I was just trying to run, really. Anyway, about what happened? When I got down here I saw Alfred and Red Hood, but the intruder wasn't in this room. Another secret door was open. Hmm, where is that door? Wait, I think it's here…"

He started walking towards one corner of the cavern, but only took a few steps before he collapsed onto his knees with a hiss. While the others were still staring a little slack-jawed Batman swooped up the child in his arms. "What's wrong?" He asked, trying to sound gentle but failing.

Billy answered nervously, "Nothing much, head… just a little dizzy." With that he started shaking his head vigorously, as if trying to shake his head clear of something.

Batman put a gloved hand on the child's head and snapped, "Hold still; if you have a concussion this is only making things worse. Alfred…"He glanced towards the old butler and paused for a moment, before saying, "Red Hood, take Alfred upstairs. Go get some rest, both of you. Vic, Arthur, I am trusting the two of you with this for now. Keep collecting evidence and see if you can pull anything off the computers. I will be over at the back, in the med bay."

"Batman, but…" Billy was about the protest again, but swallowed his words at Batman's severe look.

With the child ensconced firmly in his arms, Batman swept into the medical bay tucked in a corner of the Batcave. He set the child on the bed and dug out some supplies. "I will clean the cut on your head and it's going to sting," Batman warned, "Try to hold still as best as you can."

Billy nodded and did not reply. He sat perfectly still, barely even blinking, as Batman dabbed at the long bloody cut on his head with alcohol, seemingly oblivious to the pain. After Batman finishes wrapping his head he murmurs in a small voice, "So can we…"

"Take off your shirt," Batman said brusquely, "Let me take a look at your back."

Billy gave Batman a surly look, but still took off his shirt obediently. This time he did hiss when his clothes dragged across the scraps and cuts on his back. Unbeknownst to Billy, Batman was clenching his jaws so tightly they threatened to lock as he fixed the small boy's back. When Batman was finishing up with bandaging Billy tried again. "Should we go back to find Cyborg and…"

"No," Batman said, "You need to eat something and then sleep; I will take you upstairs."

There was a pause, before Billy said in a louder voice with palpable frustration, "Will you ever let me help?"

"No. You stay upstairs."

"But this is important!" Billy jumped down from the bed and stood facing the Dark Knight with a very serious expression, "Someone broke into the Batcave, he went pass all security just like that, and he knows your secret identity, I am sure of it! He called me 'Batman's brat'. There has to be a big plot! He went through two doors and went down those stairs. He wanted something and he knew where it was."

Batman stood very still and stared at his son. The boy was wearing such a fierce expression, so purposeful and completely unafraid, he could not be the boy who stumbled onto a terrible big secret unprepared.

"You knew you would find the Batcave when you stepped into the secret passage," Batman said, and it was not a question.

Billy bit his bottom lip. He had a pained look on his face, almost as if he was fighting someone inside. Eventually he muttered, "Just the way you talked about Batman yesterday, it sounded personal. And you aren't home at night, and you always have bandages or bruise on you. It made sense. Then yesterday, when I said I ran away to buy a game, I actually went to the Hollows. I thought perhaps… And then I saw Dick leaving. He didn't see me but I know he left that game Swordhunter there, at a new grave without a name. Barbara told me it was Damian's favorite game."

And that was when Billy started crying. Tears filled his big blue eyes, and with a couple blinks they all came rolling down his cheeks, leaving wet streaks. The boy sniffed and continued in between heartbroken sobs, "Why didn't you tell me? It's okay if you can't tell me that you are Batman, but why didn't you tell me about Damian? I thought he would be home for Christmas! I was trying to find a present for him. And I kept asking you and Alfred about him, I bugged Dick and Barbara nonstop too. They must all hate me for this! I am sorry, I am really sorry. Can you tell me everything now? Tell me what happened, or tell me I am wrong, tell me Damian really is fine…" The boy's already strained voice completely fell apart, and he was now crying openly without even any attempt to hold himself together.

Batman only stood there, utterly frozen like a statue, even incapable of a small gesture like putting a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Batman," Cyborg was seen approaching the med bay, "Batman, we have got a situation. Superman and Wonder Woman are seen in Khandaq; you know the sanction on interference there… Oh, um…" He too stared at the crying boy with an awkward expression, almost as if he suddenly did not know where he should put his hands and feet.

Batman finally seemed to awake. He drew a shattering breath and said, "Alright, that's enough. Billy, go to your room, and go to sleep. There is something I must deal with right now." When the boy simply stared back at him with those blue eyes brimming with tears Batman clenched his teeth and hissed, "I said go, elevator is right over there!"

Billy did not speak. Still sobbing quietly, he turned around and walked towards the elevator, disappearing behind its sliding doors.

"Get me to Khandaq, I need to talk to those two," Batman said to Cyborg.

But Cyborg was still staring at the elevator door and looking more uncertain than ever. "But Batman, don't you think the boy…"

"Stay out of it," The Dark Knight growled, "And stay focused."

Aquaman walked up and gave Batman a sidelong look, before saying, "Though the boy is correct, we need to get down to the bottom of this."

"I have a pretty good idea what the intruder came for, which is why it's paramount that I get to Khandaq and talk some sense into those two clueless kids over there. Now. And as for finding the intruder I will get to it."

Aquaman was still gazing at the Dark Knight with this critical look, and he began in an earnest voice, "Look, Batman…"

He barely said a few words when he was interrupted by an angry roar. "Stay the hell out of it Arthur!"

Aquaman said no more and only gave a sad shake of his golden head.