As he pulled up to the gates of his mansion they opened. They were old fashioned yet undeniably well-kept. Sprawling green land stretched behind them and led to a small cream-colored mansion on top of a hill. Bruce sighed as Alfred followed him in. It would be home. For now.

He could already see several house employees gathering at the gate to help him take the still unconscious John inside. He slowly and painstakingly brought the car to a stop, as not to wake the sleeping and bandaged man in the back seat. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Alfred came to a stop, took a deep breath, and started to open the car. It played achingly slowly against his eyes, which fought to deny the man standing expectantly next to a red Nissan. With one last look at John he got out of the car and turned to face Alfred.

He had expected rage. Burning. Seething. Uncontrollable. Rage. He had not expected that an almost teary eyed Alfred would enfold him in a fatherly embrace so tight that it almost cracked his ribs.

"You blithering idiot." He said almost fondly as he stepped away and Bruce could not help but smile. He was about to return the sentiment when all humor left the older man's face. He cast a distasteful sideways glance at the car. "He's in there isn't he." It was not a question although both Alfred's disbelief and his disgust were apparent.

"Yes." Bruce said more heatedly than he had intended and the man who had raised him took a step back. He had prayed that Bruce would deny it. Not only the confirmation but its delivery blasted open the door to a whole new realm of worry. "And he's sleeping, so you should probably--" Bruce stopped as the sound of hesitant taps against glass echoed lightly. Alfred watched in horror as the car door was opened to reveal a heavily bandaged and simpering creature with wide eyes and shaking fingers. Little whimpering sounds escaped the bandages.

"Don't…she…no…" If the streams of panicked exclamations half-muffled by gauze were not enough to further disturb Alfred, who had half-expected to find Bruce dead at the Joker's hands; the sight of the man he had never even seen allow himself a moment of comfort whispering kind words and offering soothing touches sent him almost twitching. These were not the touches of someone with a mere friendly emotional interest. Alfred saw this clearly. He watched as The joker's skeletal fingers reached toward Bruce's own with all of the effort his drugged body could muster. His entire body looked painfully tense.

"They will take you to your room. Don't worry. I'll be there soon." Bruce said softly and John relaxed only marginally as two of the mansion's employees gingerly maneuvered him into a wheelchair and took him into a house. His fingers brushed clumsily down Bruce's arm as he was wheeled away.

Alfred watched as those fingers were at last out of reach, though they still grasped vainly at air. He turned his eyes back to Bruce who seemed to have forgotten that he was not standing outside alone. He looked toward the Joker with crippling pathos, his own hand unconsciously tracing the path on his arm that those cadaverous fingers had traced only moments before. Alfred understood all at once.

An appalled "Fuck me." escaped him as he put his hands in what was left of his hair. "This is not possible! He's the--" One look from Bruce silenced him.

"Come inside." Bruce said. His voice left no room for argument and without even another glance he started to walk toward the front doors of his mansion. Alfred followed behind, his numb feet dragging on the gleaming path through the green.


Jess: Glad you picked up on it. I wondered if anyone would. Then again, you seem to pick up on pretty much everything I throw at you.

andaere: It's cool. You're not beholden to me in any way. Thanks for coming back, though. Missed you! The truth is I'm very flighty also. The only obsession I've ever had that I haven't been able to shake off is David Bowie. God. I love that man… But, I digress. Glad I could pull you back in. You don't know how big of a compliment that is for me. Thank you kindly!