Ch. 10

I looked up at the man and saw soft wide blue eyes. He looked down at me in awe and surprise. I righted myself in his arms, but he didn't let me go. He kept looking down at me. Analyzing me in his own weird way. I've seen that kind of look before. It was one where someone was trying to figure out what I was going to do. With bated breath I let him continue to examine me, hoping he didn't see anything that set him off. Luckily it ended soon because Roxanne came up behind me and had me take a step back from the officer.

"Well hello there officer Grayson. It's been some time since we ran into each other. How've you been?" it took the officer a moment to collect himself. His eyes were still on me though and his concentration on me made feel uncomfortable. I could still feel is hands on me though. They felt gentle and warm and had sunken through my coat. In all honesty it felt like they were familiar. Kind of reminded me of Randal and how he would hold me.

"I've been great Roxanne! How are the kids?" The officer finally replied. Roxanne smiled big and her white teeth flashed. The officer smiled back and let her go into each one of the kids and what they were doing. He kept looking down at me though. At this point Roxanne was holding me by my shoulders and pressing me against her. She kept talking to the officer and he listened patiently.

"Oh and now I've got 5 more! There's another girl, thank god, and 4 boys. In fact here's one of them now. Have you introduced yourself yet?" the officer turned his attention on me again and his eyes seemed to light up.

"No, we have not. I'm dick Grayson, I'm a police officer, see!" HE was very friendly and his smile relaxed me some, but I still kept my eyes ahead of me. I felt something under his joyful remarks. He was currently pointing enthusiastically at his bade.

"Yeah, that's cool." I said low. His face fell a bit at that, but he picked it back up before anyone else could catch it.

"What's your name?" he asked and he bent down a little closer to me. He was at least 6"3 and I was barely 5 "so for him to do that with ease was impressive. I looked up into his eyes. They were bright, and hopeful. His voice took on a light feel to it.

"I'm Damian." I said. The man looked like he was ready to burst into tears. I could see that his blue eyes were welling up with tears. I looked harder at him. Why the hell was he so emotional? He looked like he was about to jump me. Thank god Jerry came out.

"Hey guys, what's up? You're kind of blocking the entrance."

"Oh, Jerry. I was talking to Grayson here and introducing him to Damian here."Roxanne said. Jerry was at this point next to us. He looked down at officer Grayson, who was still crouching to my level. The officer was still staring intently at me. It was getting kind of creepy. I kept eye contact. I didn't want to back down from him, so I just narrowed my eyes at him. He seemed to a great amount of mirth from that and stood up to his height. His eyes no longer held anymore tears in them, but a peace was there.

There was at least till his eyes landed on Jerry. Jerry was now glaring at him. His brown eyes now a darker shade and his back stiff. Jerry reached his arm out and put it over me. Pushing me away from the officer. Making room for him to get pass me and Roxanne.

"Glad to see you guys have met, but we do have to make room, right?" Jerry's voice was tight and his glare never wavered. He kept his eyes on the officer as he now moved me from Roxanne's arms to his own. It took me a moment to realize that he too felt the odd vibes that the man was giving off and he was trying to PROTECT me. He wanted to keep me from this man. Just in case he wanted to hurt me. I don't understand. Me and jerry only met each other the other day, but he already was trying to keep me from harm. His one arm now was flexed across one of my shoulders and crossed across my chest. Gripping my arm that laid relaxed against my side. I had never noticed that though, jerry was lean he was muscled.

The officer eyes bulged a bit at the act and he blinked slowly. He looked at jerry and took him in. The two of them shared a moment of what I assume was some kind of macho y macho off. Whoever threw the first punch would lose. Whoever lost control would have to answer for it. He officer cleared his throat and looked away. Hiding his face under his hat.

"Hmm, you right. Sorry about that. Well it was nice seeing you again Roxanne and very nice seeing you Damian. Hope to see you soon. Say hi to the others Roxanne." And with that, the officer went to go sit with his mates at a booth in the corner. Jerry released me then. He exchanged some words with Roxanne. He ruffled my hair and said good bye to me. I waved back at him and followed Roxanne out. The city had cooled down a bit since we had left, but it wasn't unbearable.

"So from now on, Jerry will be walking you home every night after you two finish. You follow him. You do as he says. You don't take rides from anyone. Even if you know them. Ok?" Roxanne said as we walked back. I looked up and saw that she had he lips pursed. He jaw was set in a tight line.

"Ok, but what if jerry is abducted by aliens?" I asked. I didn't really know how to lighten the mood. I felt that Roxanne was very uncomfortable. She felt stiff. At my quip though, he pressed lips stretched a bit into a smile.

"If that happens then you go to Jane. She knows all about that stuff. Maybe she will be willing to trade?" I laughed at that. It was an odd thought, but I could see the black garbed girl chasing after a UFO trying to sacrificing herself to them. Roxanne chuckled too and she grabbed my hand. He hand was strong and her skin was dry, but it felt nice having her hold it for the moment. She brought my hand up to her waist and held it there for a moment.

"You should learn how to walk a lady down the street. You offer them your arm and walk them down it. You hook your arm like this and let them decide where to put it." She explained. I let her put my arm in the crook of hers and after she relaxed a bit I held it up there. We walked all the way back to the house like that. When we walked through the front door, she let me drop my arm and she took her coat off. After she hung hers up I took mine off too and she hung it up. I told my shoes off and lined them up with everyone else's. After that, I was released to go and do what I wanted till dinner was ready. I went upstairs to start reading the book Jerry leant me. It was the secret Garden.

Like the last book, once I started it, I couldn't stop. It was amazing and I was floored. Once I heard Roxanne's calling for all of us to come down I took my time putting it down. Randall and Ash still waited for me. Although, they did moan for me to hurry it up.

Once we were done, we sat for dinner and ate. I felt a bit more comfortable and was telling Sally about the book I was reading. She too had read it and loved every moment of it. Once we were done we cleaned up and I went to wash up so I could go back to my book before bed. The little ones whined a bit for me to come and draw with them again, but I told them that I would be sure to do so after I finished with the book. They whined a bit more till Roxanne came up and told them that she'd play with them in the living room. They left me after that and I basked in the silence. I got a good way into the book before it was lights out. I was forced to put it down and go to bed.

I fell into another light sleep till I heard Jerry come home again. He followed the same pattern as he did yesterday. When he came up to the room and changed he paused before he threw himself onto his bunk. He came up to the railing and stood there for a moment. I laid facing away from him and kept my eyes shut. I almost jumped when I felt a hand touch my head though. I laid there for a moment and ran through my hair. It felt comforting and familiar. Like someone else had done it, but that was impossible. Maybe Randal or Veronica had done it and I wasn't awake enough to feel it. When he pulled it back I felt sad. I felt like I was missing something.

I felt something sting my eyes and I resisted a sniff. I felt the bed shift in a telltale sign that he had laid down. When I heard his breathing join the rhythmic pace of everyone else in the room I let my tears slide down. I didn't know why I was crying, but I felt this ache in my chest. I didn't know why. It was just there and needed to come out.

I calmed myself by matching my breathing with everyone else's. When I felt myself finally calming I looked up at the window. I felt like something was out there for a moment, but brushed it off. I closed my eyes again and this time I let myself drift off. I could heard everyone breathing comfortably and the wind hitting the window with light taps. I fell asleep to those sounds.

Unfortunately, never noticing the dark figure outside the window recording the room.

Note: so yeah, short one this time. Honestly. Dick is a bit of a creep at first, ha. Umm anyway. Hope you guys enjoyed. I feel like I should give a shout out to those who have commented or message me. So yea, thank you to the following people

Zatannagurl: you've been here since I stared I think.

NovaRainbow: thanks. It makes me happy that you like it.

Vongolafan16: yeah, I really wanted the angst and the aggravation up

Crimsonshot: ummm, yeah, I don't want ships really. I don't feel like Damian or anyone else is good for it in this type of story. Anyway thanks for reading.

Luckystar34: thank you. I like to listen to random music when I write, but I do it late at night. My favorite song for this is ironically what's inspiring another idea I have, but that is a large project too and I want to finish too. Oh yeah the song is Rich kid by Medicine.

Msmtnest: umm sorry you feel that my story lost credibility. Maybe I should have posted that people are oc rather than just leaving it as an AU out the ass in the description. Thanks for the heads up. Ummm, honestly other than that. I'm sorry if you don't enjoy it anymore, but I hope you did it enjoy it till a certain point. Thanks for your time and for reading it.

Lostboys3: thank you! I'm glad that you found enjoyment from this and I'm glad you have subscribed to me. Yes I do have other batman stories in progress, but they take a back burner to this one currently and unfortunately I have work and school. So yea. Kind have to pick and choose.