Jerome is pretty sure he is going to live in the hospital now. He's been here for days, but he's not complaining. It's nice to live in the hospital. You don't have to steal food because they bring it to you for free. No more cleaning up after the animals either which is a lot less smelly. Mom and Uncle Zach aren't around. Jerome can sleep a little better now. He hopes this isn't a dream.

The cop is still here. He said his name is Jim. Jerome thinks he's weird. He's never met anyone who doesn't believe he's crazy. The doctors don't say he's crazy either. They probably just haven't been around him long enough. Jeremiah even said that he was crazy after he lied to mom about him. That one was probably the one that hurt the most. Just wait, soon enough everyone will hate him like they always do. Jerome gulped. Jim looks a lot stronger then his uncle.

He slid off the bed as quietly as possible. Jim was asleep in a chair. He didn't look comfortable. His head was at a weird angle, but Jerome wasn't going to wake him up. He wanted to explore the hospital. He's been sitting in bed for days. He's getting bored. He's glad he doesn't have to wear that baggy gown anymore. Another guy, Harvey, had brought Jerome some clothes a few days ago.

Jerome took the red jello he had hid under his pillow. Last time he didn't hide it and they took it away before he could eat it. Jerome was going to make sure that didn't happen again. He grabbed the plastic spoon he also hid and slipped out the door. It was the middle of the night, so the halls were empty save for a few nurses Jerome had to hide from. He can't remember ever being in a hospital. It was very colorless compared to the circus. Maybe this is where Jeremiah came to when he left. Jerome walked faster and checked every door he saw that wasn't locked. He'll have to find a key for those.

The morning after Jeremiah left, Jerome searched everywhere for him. He thought they killed him until weeks later when his mom finally admitted she sent his brother away. She said Jeremiah wanted to leave him because he was crazy and Jeremiah wasn't safe with him. He'd never hurt his brother. He misses him.

The third door he opened was empty. He was about to move on when he heard footsteps coming. He hid in the room silently eating the last of his jello and listening for the footsteps to fade away. The room was like his just rearranged differently. It took a few seconds for Jerome's eyes to adjust to the dark room. The window and bed was on another wall then his was. Jerome threw away the empty jello container. There were tools on a table that looked cool. He saw a few weird shaped knives, scissors, and tweezers. He picked one of the knives up when the door swung open.

"What are you doing?" Jerome turned to see a woman standing in the doorway. The bright light coming from the hallway into the dark room made Jerome squint his eyes. "You're not supposed to be in here. Where are your parents?"

Jerome was like a deer in headlights. The woman turned on the lights making Jerome squint more. As she walked towards him, he saw a cleaning cart in the hallway. "Why do you have that knife? She held out her hand. "Hand it to me." Jerome didn't know what to do. He could run, but all that did was delay the beatings. If he handed it to her, she might use it on him to teach him a lesson. Uncle Zach would do that. If he didn't do anything then things would only get worse.

The woman raised her eyebrow when Jerome did nothing."Hasn't anyone ever told you not to play with knives? You could hurt yourself." She took a step toward him and Jerome took two steps back, bumping into the table. The woman's stern expression turned into a worried one which confused Jerome. Why hasn't she screamed at him yet?

"Hey, kid, it's alright. Just put the knife back on the table please." Jerome obliged, but he didn't turn away from the woman. "Good. Thank you. Now come with me. We'll find your parents or whoever is in charge of you…"

"My parents aren't here." Jerome said meekly. He dreaded telling her about Jim. Harvey and the doctors come around him many times during the week, but Jim has been the main one who stayed with him. He doesn't want to make Jim angry at him.

"Well then who are you supposed to be with?" Jerome just shrugged. "Well you have to be with somebody. How old are you?"

Jerome debated on telling her, but what harm could it do? "I'm nine."

"Nine years old is a little young to be wandering around a hospital."

Jerome got defensive. "I can take care of myself."

The woman hummed and stretched out her hand. "Well, you shouldn't have to. Come with me and we'll find your guardian."

Guardian? Did that mean Jim was his guardian? He is always at the hospital with Jerome. Sometimes he leaves at night and Harvey stays, but he is always back in new clothes when Jerome wakes up. He likes Jim. Jerome hopes Jim doesn't get mad at him when he finds out Jerome snuck out.

He flinched when the woman put her hand on his shoulder. She gave him another worried look. "It's alright. Let's go to the front desk and see if they can help." Jerome sluggishly followed her out. It's better to get it over with.

———————————————

Jerome's gone. Jim is panicking. He had only fallen asleep once he had thought Jerome was asleep. He woke up to use the bathroom and realized Jerome wasn't in the bed when he got back. He searched everywhere. He went back to the bathroom, under the bed, in the closet. He wasn't in the room. There is no sign of struggle anywhere. He doesn't know if he was taken or if he just left.

He's searching the hallways right now. After the sixth hallway, Jim called Harvey. "What?!" Jim yanked his phone away from his ear. If he wasn't awake before, he is now. "Where is he? I'm coming right now." Jim heard some movement. "Can't never get no sleep in this city…"

"Don't send a squad, Harvey."

"Why not? We have to find him!"

"I know, but sending a bunch of cops to a hospital is going to cause a scene. We don't need Jerome's followers here if they aren't already."

"You know what… that makes sense. Never mind. I'll be there soon."

Jim hung up. He's pretty sure he's been running in circles with no sign of Jerome. He started following the signs towards the front of the hospital. He needs to look at the security cameras. He wished he'd have thought of that sooner.

After a few confusing turns, he'd finally made it to the front entrance. Jim was pacing as he impatiently waited for the automatic door to open. There was a line of people at the desk, but Jim didn't care. He pushed his way to the front. Someone started cursing at him, but he didn't pay them any attention.

The two women at the desk jumped out of their seats at his appearance. Jim flashed his badge at them-he's really glad he hadn't taken it off- and explained he needed to see the security footage.

One of the ladies brought him to a room. There was a security guard there. It took Jim awhile to remember the room number, but once he did the guard started to find the right video.

"Stop." Jim pointed to the little head popping out of the doorway on the screen. "That's him."

"Looks like he snuck out." The guard chuckled. Jim glared at him.

"He did. Keep playing." The guard unpaused the video. Jim could see as Jerome checked both ways before stepping out. The kid was casually eating something while walking down the hallway. Jim hung his head down. He'd almost had a heart attack thinking Jerome got kidnapped.

The guard chuckled again. "Your son looks like a handful."

Jim closed his eyes. He needed a break. "He's not my-"

"Mr. Gordon?" Jim recognized the woman as the other lady at the desk. He stood up straighter, maybe they found Jerome.

"Yes?"

"I think one of the janitors found him. She's over there with him right now."

Jim burst out the door when Jerome saw him. He was staring at him fearfully. That made Jim stop in his tracks. He doesn't need Jerome freaking out on him right now. He's guessing that Jerome probably thinks Jim is going to get angry with him. While he's certainly not happy right now, he's not angry at Jerome either. He just needs to be calm.

He walks up to the two. The woman looks at him skeptically. Jim shows his badge again. He's been doing that a lot lately. "I'm Jim Gordon, a detective."

The woman squinted at him. "I see. I'm guessing he's under your care?"

Jim nodded. "Yes, he is."

"Be careful with him. He is scared." The woman said sternly.

Jim nodded again. "I know, I am doing my best to make sure he's safe."

"Good." The woman stepped away. "I guess this is goodbye." She told Jerome. He waved at her and stared at Jim when she walked away.

He knelt in front of Jerome so that he wouldn't look so much like a giant to him. What was he going to say? He didn't really know. He needs to say something because Jerome is looking at him like he's seeing a monster. "Jerome, I'm… not mad at you. Okay?"

Jerome didn't say anything. "I was just worried. You scared me. I thought you got taken."

"I scared you?" Jerome's gentle voice was almost a whisper.

"Yeah you did. I didn't know where you were. How about you not go anywhere without me or Harvey from now on, okay?"

Jerome smiled. "Okay."

Jim stood up. He offered Jerome his hand. The boy studied it quizzically before finally taking it with his own. "How about we go back to our room." Jim said. He'll have to call Harvey soon.