Chapter 14

The cave was silent except for the sounds of bats squeaking and flapping their wings. His cowl was off and he was alone, staring straight ahead at his massive computer screen. Glad for the lack of interruptions and prying eyes, he had set about to finally find Talia. She had sent a message to him and he fully intended to answer it.

In attempting to heal himself he had not only introduced another innocent soul to the death and decay of his life, but he had forgotten his primary responsibility of finding the woman who had murdered the Joker. Gritting his teeth in frustration he tried to tell himself he had done the best he could. Smirking slightly, he wondered when doing his best had become doing enough. He had never settled for such a low standard before.

Ubu's trail had been cold and he had finally sent Robin home after hours of futile searching. The henchman had disappeared into the night. Sending the message that Batman was vulnerable was all he had meant to do and when that been accomplished he had vanished, most likely retreating to his mistress.

His fingers stopped their rapid typing as he heard footsteps in his cave. Annoyance caused him to set his jaw even tighter and he briefly wondered if his teeth were going to crack. Putting aside such foolish thoughts, he resumed his typing, refusing to turn around and face the intruder.

"I heard you had a rough night." Standing with his arms crossed over his chest Dick waited for a response he was sure would be entirely too gruff.

Bruce's fingers continued to fly across the keys. "No more so than most others."

A sigh escaped him and carried his words with it. "I see…Leslie called Barbara and clued us in. Of course, Tim told us when he found you but…we got the whole story from Leslie."

"Go home." His tone was meant to convey he would not entertain arguments.

Dick, of course, was set to argue anyway. "I can help. We can find her together. We'll…"

"No," cutting Dick off Bruce spoke with finality. "I'm going to finish this once and for all. I was blindsided tonight. Caught off guard. That can't happen again. I've let myself become weak when I should have been at my strongest."

Letting his arms fall to his side Dick clenched his fists. "Yeah, you got dropped in the pit and you came out better than ever physically. What about the rest of you? You're more than just a fighting machine!"

Bruce's fingers did not for a moment loose their place. "I am done discussing this, Dick. Leave."

Taken aback at the undisguised and unapologetically rude comment, Dick felt himself start to shake with anger. "I think we all know what happens when you let your mind go and your body take over. Ask Tim about it some day."

His fingers paused momentarily at what he considered to be a low blow. Turning his head ever so slightly, he ground out a response. "This won't end unless I end it."

"Is that what you told Connie?" Dick was playing dirty and he knew it. Knowing his father, though, he also knew that Bruce would not respond unless he was truly affronted.

Turning back to computer screen watched as data scrolled in front of his eyes. His fingers were still but hovered above the keyboard. "She is not of concern to you."

"The hell she isn't!" Taking a step forward, Dick felt his voice climb in volume. "She's a good woman and she was good for you! You just used her to get your mind back in shape? Is that it? She was just your mental punching bag?"

Bruce's answer was little more than a whisper. "Why do you care?"

"Do you love her?"

The question hung in the air like the blade of a guillotine ready to crash down upon someone's neck. Bruce was motionless, simply reading information from his computer screen. Dick was waiting for a response he wasn't sure he would ever get.

When he didn't receive an answer, Dick decided to hit below the belt once again. "Are you even capable of that? Have you ever really loved anyone?"

An unbidden image of Selina flashed in his mind. Images of his parents, Alfred and Dick when he was a child floated into his brain before he fiercely forbid them access to his consciousness. "It's time for you leave, Dick."

Shaking his head though he knew full well Bruce couldn't see him, Dick responded. "Not until you answer me. Don't throw this away, Bruce. You've ruined good things before. Look me in the eye and tell me you're going to do it again."

"No…" he paused a moment before minimizing a window and bringing up a different one. "No, I don't love her."

Dick felt his chest constrict as he realized the truthfulness of those words. Wanting to weep for everything the man who had raised him had sacrificed and refused and tarnished for the good of the mission, Dick turned to go.

"You're going to be alone, you know. For ever." With that, Dick climbed the stairs to the manor.

Taking a deep breath Bruce tried to refuse the hurt that accompanied those words and swallowed hard. Looking to the screen, he stood and pulled his cowl on in one fluid motion. Forgetting his ribs and his head and Dick's words he started towards the hanger housing the planes and jets. It was time to finish his battle with Talia once and for all.