Chapter 14-
This is the night Bruce gets drugged with the fear toxin in the movie. So as you can see after this is where the movie takes over the rest of the story.
The smell of pot roast was wonderful! Before Megan had met Alfred she would never have believed that any man could actually make such a wonderful-smelling meal. Megan had learned how to cook early from her Grandma Dawes so she was an excellent cook. Megan had offered to help Alfred when she had finished her homework, but Alfred had told her that he could handle it.
Megan had just finished the last math problem on her worksheet as Bruce entered the mansion. "Dad!" Megan exclaimed as she jumped up and ran into Bruce's strong arms.
Bruce wrapped his arms tightly around her thin shoulders, pressing his lips against her dark-brown hair. "How was school?" Bruce grunted softly, sounding tired.
Interesting. People more or less left me alone. Only Abby was the one who talked to me. I guess today was the day that I needed my best friend," Megan said, deliberately leaving out the part about Alexandra Earle tripping her on the front steps of the school. No point in saying that when her father looked this tired.
"Really? I guess they thought I could sue them if you told me about them being cruel," Bruce said, amused.
"I wouldn't have asked you to sue them. It sounds like rain tonight," Megan said, changing the subject abruptly. Megan was ready to stop talking about school. Fortunately the sound of thunder was the perfect topic to talk about.
Bruce rubbed her head gently with his hand. "I guess so," Bruce said, looking towards the window.
"Does the Batman work when it's raining, Dad? Do you think he would?" Megan asked, going over to her schoolbooks and putting them in her old backpack.
If she had seen Bruce's face she would have seen a look of surprise, tinged with alarm. She knew that Bruce had spent his time trying to shield her from all the newspapers, TV, and radio so she wouldn't hear about Batman, but it hadn't worked.
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Bruce wondered why she asked if he was going out as Batman while it was raining. She couldn't have suspected that he was Batman, could she? His daughter was very intelligent. It was another way she was like him. There was no way now that he could keep this secret from her for very long.
"Why do you ask?" Bruce wanted to know, hoping Megan couldn't detect the nervousness he was feeling.
"I just wondered. He'd have to be crazy to go out on a bight like this," Megan said, pushing her dark hair out of her eyes.
Bruce felt relief. Megan's face was enough to convince him. She didn't know he was Batman! She was just curious if he did go out while it was raining.
Bruce wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her tight as they walked to the dining room. "I don't know, Megan. He might," Bruce said.
Alfred came to the door of the dining room. "Welcome home, Master Wayne. Miss Megan, did you tell your father about your accident at school?" Alfred asked. Megan's face changed at those words. It was the first time he had seen his daughter look upset.
Bruce looked down at her, surprised. She had an accident at school? He wondered why she didn't say anything when he came in.
"I tripped on the front steps of the school. My legs are scratched, but not enough to bleed. Alfred and Abby helped me up," Megan said, not even looking at him.
Bruce knew she wasn't telling him the whole truth. Every time she avoided eye contact or was quieter than usual she was hiding something. In the four days he had known her she had gotten very transparent. He wondered if Rachel knew that Megan did this. Bruce wanted to ask what Megan was lying to him about, but he didn't know how to correct her for lying to him or ask her what happened.
"As long as you didn't get seriously hurt. Why don't you go wash your hands for supper?" Bruce suggested.
Megan went into the kitchen. A few seconds later they heard the sound of running water. "Sir, she lied to you," Alfred said, keeping his voice to a whisper.
"I know, Alfred. But I can't force her to tell me what happened. She's going to have to want to tell me herself," Bruce said, handing his friend his black overcoat.
"Are you going out tonight, Sir?" Alfred asked as they walked into the dining room.
"Yes, but I'll wait until Megan's in her room. I can't run the risk of her catching me if I go out after dinner," Bruce said.
"Sir, she's an early riser. What will happen if she sees you come in from the bookshelf?" Alfred asked, a worried expression on his face.
"I'll think of something to tell her," Bruce said, trying not to think about what would happen if Megan found out he was Batman. He became Batman to protect those he loved; Rachel, Alfred, and Megan. Right now it was best if his daughter made no connection between her father and Batman.