A/N: Thanks for the comments, Harry Albus Potter Dumbledore! I haven't had any for a while so getting four in a row was amazing! :-)

Chapter 5:

Somewhere in Gotham City:

"This is ridiculous," the man muttered. "It makes no sense, at all." He had been working on the words for over an hour and had come up with nothing.

machine, educate, adjudicate, compartment, disregard, allergic, nibor.a

"The machine will educate me on how to adjudicate. Its compartments will disregard an allergic reaction to a nibor.a."

He felt like an idiot. The computer had given him the clues, but he was too stupid to figure out what they meant. Maybe they had nothing to do with the Boy Wonder. Perhaps he was supposed to apply them to himself. Frustrated, he threw his pencil across the room and stood up. Taking a walk might clear his mind and help him find a solution. So, he walked out of his ground-level office and joined the many other people ambling down the sidewalk.

The Batcave – midnight:

"One code each; no control over who knows codes; access depends on code clearance level."

Robin was mumbling to himself as he made a list of everything he had learned at Wayne Enterprises. He was sitting two desks away from the Bat-computer and he wanted to use the machine but was hesitant. If Batman discovered what the teenager suspected, he would probably be offended and stop the project. But the machine was so much smarter than him!

Batman was out following some sort of tiny lead that he hadn't discussed with the Boy Wonder. He could be returning soon or three hours from now. Robin had been instructed to stay in the Batcave, under Alfred's watchful eye, until the Caped Crusader returned. Alfred was cleaning on the other side of the room but would notice him go to the Bat-computer. The young crime-fighter was stuck trying to figure it out by himself; he had no other choice.

Why did the Bat-computer give them Bruce's name as a suspect – the only suspect? Robin had an idea: somebody at Wayne Enterprises had somehow discovered Bruce's code and was using it. But how? Bruce was so paranoid about everything; wouldn't he be the same way with his code? And would the security guards be suspicious if Bruce's code was used at midnight? Did they even know who had which code? Did a person's name show up when his or her code was entered into any machine or door? The Boy Wonder still had a lot of questions and the voice had interrupted his attempt to learn more this afternoon.

His list of knowledge and questions had filled an entire page of his Bat-notebook and he flipped it over to use the other side. There was a familiar roar and he quietly groaned while closing the Bat-notebook. No more time to work on his project for now. Maybe he would put his list in the bathroom; that was probably the only time he would be alone. Robin was sure that Bruce, and therefore Batman, would be upset with his suspicion. Why would any employee at Wayne Enterprises want the Boy Wonder dead? It was idiotic to think like that, but it was better than sitting here feeling useless.

Batman had climbed out of the Batmobile and was whispering to Alfred. Robin rolled his eyes; they were obviously talking about him. Why couldn't they just discuss it with him, instead of keeping secrets?

"If you have something to say that concerns me, please say it to my face," he lightly commanded. "I should be allowed to know what's going on!"

Both men glanced at him, then back at each other. Alfred nodded and Batman tilted his head, obviously unsure about something. The butler nodded again, more emphatically this time, and began walking toward Robin. Batman followed, albeit a bit reluctantly.

"It was a dead end," Batman stated when they arrived at the table where Robin had been working. Robin nodded, accepting the fact without showing any emotion.

"It always is," he commented and shrugged.

Silence reigned. Batman glanced at Alfred, concern filling his eyes and manifesting itself on his face. Robin was never emotionless. The hero gently placed his left hand on the boy's right shoulder and stared into his eyes.

"I'll find it, I promise."

"There's nowhere to find whatever it is, Batman. You have no ideas, no clues and eventually he is going to win. He covered his tracks so well that even the World's Greatest Detective has no place to start. Maybe we should just let it go."

"You're joking, right?! Please tell me that you're joking, Robin!" Batman immediately demanded.

Shrugging again, the teenager said wearily, "It's not going to matter anyway because, like I said, he's going to win. Stop stressing about trying to find a cure and just accept that fact."

Batman was shocked. His partner wanted him to stop looking and just allow him to die?!

"That is probably the worst idea you've ever had in your entire life, Robin."

The man knew he sounded furious but how else was he going to get through to the boy?

"Well, it is what it is, I guess." Robin's voice was still completely emotionless, as if he just didn't care anymore. "So, I can go up to my room by myself then, right?"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Batman exploded and Robin flinched. "WE ARE NOT GIVING UP AND I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO CHOOSE TO DIE! I PROMISED TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN. UNDERSTAND?!"

Batman's thundering voice echoed around the Batcave and Robin had to force himself not to cover his ears.

A single, silent tear rolled down the Boy Wonder's right cheek. The Caped Crusader took his hand off the boy's shoulder and caught the salty drop with his thumb. Crouching down in front of his partner, he wiped away the tiny track.

"Trust me," he said softly, "I will not let him win."

"I know you want to try," Robin replied just as quietly. "But he's so strong and I know that soon I won't be able to stop myself from doing whatever he commands. And you guys shouldn't have to babysit me all the time."

"Master Robin," Alfred suddenly joined the conversation, "I do not consider spending time with you to be babysitting. You are strong and intelligent and extremely mature for your age. Do not think for one moment that you are ill-equipped to handle this situation. You are the Boy Wonder; start acting like it, please, young sir."

The butler's tone was slightly reprimanding when he said the last sentence and both crime-fighters looked up at him in surprise.

"Where are you? I can't find you!"

The voice sounded worried this time. Robin was slightly encouraged by the fact that it couldn't find him.

"At least we're together again."

The taunt caused fear to immediately overpower the courage and he balled his hands into fists.

"Shut up!"

Alfred was taken aback by both the tone and the words.

"Master Robin! I understand you are upset but there is no need for such rudeness!"

Shaking his head, Batman replied, "I don't think he's talking to you, Alfred."

The teenager suddenly jumped to his feet and attempted to race away from the men. But Batman was ready, and he grabbed his partner mid-jump. Dropping to the floor, the Caped Crusader crushed the boy to his chest and waited for the struggling to end. It was much longer this time and Robin was strong. Batman was the one becoming weary, but he refused to let go.

A little over five minutes later, Robin relaxed into his partner, exhausted. Alfred was staring at them in shock and now understood why the Boy Wonder's torso was a mass of bruises.

"I…can't…breathe," Robin mumbled, and Batman realized that he was still squeezing the boy tightly. He instantly dropped his arms and the teenager took several deep breaths.

"Gone," he whispered. "At least he didn't know where I was."

"I installed anti-mind-control Bat-insulation last night after you went to bed. Apparently, it wasn't enough to lock him out. I'll work on that," Batman replied.

Robin didn't answer; he had drifted off to sleep.

Alfred, his eyes still wide with shock, whispered, "What are we going to do? I can't hold him down like that if it happens while you're gone!"

"I'll take a vacation; the board of directors can handle things while I go 'out of town'. I don't know what to do to keep him safe when I'm out looking for the cure yet."

"Strap me down." The words were muttered but enunciated well. "Put me in bed and strap me down while Batman is gone."

Alfred gasped and Batman grimaced. It was logical and a good idea. But could he really force himself to tightly secure his ward to the bed? It would probably work and the hero knew he had no choice.

"Okay, kiddo. I hate this idea but I think you're right. I'm sorry," Batman said softly.

Shrugging, Robin moved away from his partner's body and stood up. He walked to his Batpole then turned back.

"Are you coming? I'm kind of sleepy."

"I need Bat-straps. Wait for me, okay?"

The boy nodded and grabbed onto his Batpole to keep himself steady. It took Batman twenty seconds to locate the Bat-straps and he grabbed three of them: legs, waist and shoulders. Then he strode to the Batpoles, they both climbed on and he shot them up to the Manor.

Alfred carefully sat on the chair that Robin had recently vacated, put his head in his hands and allowed several tears to slide down his slightly wrinkled cheeks. Thirty seconds later he wiped the liquid away and went to the service elevator. He needed to be there, both physically and emotionally, for his boys.

The next morning:

Dick stirred and was surprised to feel that he could freely move around. Lifting his head, he stared at his body and wondered why there were no Bat-straps.

"I couldn't do it," came a voice from beside him. "I was here anyway so I just stayed."

His eyes wide with disbelief, Dick turned his head and growled, "How are you supposed to get any sleep if you do that every night?! You can't function on no sleep and you can't find a cure if you can't function!"

"I slept," Bruce replied defensively. There was a quick pause then he admitted, "A little."

"You don't want to, I get it. I would feel the same way. But you don't really have a choice, unless you are done being Batman."

"I know," the man said with a tinge of sorrow. "But I just couldn't."

The boy opened his mouth but Bruce shook his head.

"Neither could Alfred."

"Let's do a practice round!" Dick's eyes lit up and he grinned. "Then you'll know how it feels but you'll also be able to take them off right away. Get Alfred; we'll practice!"

Bruce stared at him and didn't move. Dick sat up, turned to face him and used Robin's version of the Bat-glare.

"Go. Get. Alfred!" he demanded.

The man still didn't move so the boy stood up and punched him on the arm. Bruce flinched then glared at his ward. Grabbing his arm, Dick pulled as hard as he could and got his guardian to stand up. He put his hands on the strong chest and pushed him away.

"NOW!" Dick shouted and a startled Bruce finally turned and walked out the door. Sighing, the teenager laid down again and waited for the two men to come back so they could practice making him immobile.

They returned several minutes later only to discover that Dick had seemingly fallen asleep again. Indecision filled both pairs of eyes and they glanced at each other. Alfred pointed out the door, silently ordering Bruce to go take a nap. The man shook his head and swept his hand toward Dick. How was Alfred going to take care of the situation if it happened while Bruce was asleep?

"Come on, already!"

The commanding voice of the teen startled both of them and they walked over to the bed. Dick was wide awake and lying perfectly straight with the three Bat-straps neatly laid out on the table beside him. The men stood at the side of his bed, their eyes flicking from the boy to the Bat-straps and back again.

"Holy hesitation, it's just a practice! Try it then undo it. It's not that difficult!"

"That's because you're not the one doing it," Bruce grumbled, and Dick rolled his eyes.

"Then let's switch spots and I'll show you how it's done," he smirked. Neither man grinned at his lame attempt at humor and Dick rolled his eyes again.

"Can we please just get it over with? Put them on, take them off and we're done."

Everything was quiet for several seconds and then Alfred walked around to the other side of the bed. Bruce situated the first Bat-strap across his ward's shoulders then he and the butler tightened it. They repeated the action on the boy's waist and shins then quickly undid all of them.

"There. Happy?" Bruce grumbled again.

Dick wordlessly nodded then got out of bed and strode to his dresser. He grabbed some clothes, went to the bathroom and locked the door.

"We might as well leave them buckled on your side, sir," Alfred said quietly. Bruce acknowledged the comment with a quick nod then put a finger to his lips. Tilting his head, the man listened carefully then glanced at his butler.

"I know, sir. I, too, can hear him attempting to hold back the tears."

"I should stay with him every night."

"Then how is Batman going to fix this enormous problem?"

"I don't know; I'll just…" he trailed off and ran a hand through his hair. "How can we do this to him every single night?! I barely made it through this 'practice round'! And it was definitely hard on him," Bruce threw his thumb in the direction of the bathroom, "although he did very well at acting like he wasn't affected by it."

"It's the only way, Master Bruce, and it was his idea."

Nodding miserably, Bruce sat on the edge of Dick's bed and waited for him to emerge from the bathroom. Water was running and the men decided that the boy was taking a shower. The water and that assumption almost caused them to miss the sound of a windowpane being shattered. Bruce rushed to the door and slammed his body into the strong wood. It shuddered and cracked so he did it again. The door burst apart and the first thing the man saw was the broken glass scattered on the windowsill. There was a sound directly beneath him and he looked down. His ward was sitting on the ground, knees pulled up to his chest, arms on top of his knees and head resting on his arms. The boy's entire body was trembling.

"Threw shampoo bottle out the window," he whispered. "Sorry."

Kneeling down next to the boy, Bruce asked, "Were you in control?"

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just frustrated and scared and I hate everything that's happening. I hate him, Bruce. What did I do to make him want me to die? Why me?!"

He was still whispering and his head was still on his arms. Bruce attempted to see his ward's face, but it was impossible.

"I don't know, kiddo. But I will not rest until this problem is solved. I will be working day and night; I will fix this."

Lifting his head, Dick admitted, "I have an idea."

Bruce was shocked and his jaw dropped open. "How long have you had this 'idea'?" he demanded, although his voice was quiet.

"A couple of days but I didn't want to upset you. I thought you would get angry because of it and I didn't want to put more pressure on you. I've been working on it myself, but I think I need the Bat-computer."

"What could possibly upset me more than the fact that someone is trying to get you to kill yourself?!"

"Well…it's about Wayne Enterprises and I thought it might offend you."

Pulling him up to his feet, Bruce led his ward back to the bedroom. Alfred was still on the other side of the bed and relief flooded his face when Dick walked in behind Bruce.

"Tell me," Bruce commanded as he sat them both on the bed, "and don't leave anything out."

Surprise was floating on Alfred's face now and he moved around to the writing desk next to the door. He sat on the chair and waited for whatever important piece of information Dick was about to tell them. Because, from the way his charges were staring at each other, it was obviously important.

"Remember that I was asking you about your security systems yesterday?" Dick asked. Bruce nodded so the boy continued. "What if, and I don't even know if this would be possible, that's why I need help from the Bat-computer. Anyway, what if someone knows your code and is using it for something. I mean, why else would we receive your name?"

"I don't know how that could happen, Dick. I have never written down my code and I've never said it out loud. Alfred doesn't even know it!"

"Right, I was pretty sure about that. So then I started thinking, when someone uses a code, does their name show up on a computer somewhere? If so, wouldn't people notice if someone's code was being used at midnight?"

"Well, there are people who work there at night or stay late."

"Okay, but that doesn't answer my first question."

"I'm getting there. When I punch in my code to enter my office, it is automatically logged and sent to security. It tells them where the code was used and the owner of that specific code."

"So the guards would know that it was you who entered your office."

"Exactly. They don't see the code number, they just see the name and location."

"But the codes have to be stored somewhere, right? How else does the computer know who is entering their code? And what if somebody forgets their code?"

"Okay," Bruce said thoughtfully as he stared at the floor in concentration. He was carefully following his ward's line of thought and was beginning to understand the idea.

"What if you have a tech guy, like a super-genius tech guy, who can hack into wherever the codes are stored, find the one that belongs to you and use it?" His guardian didn't reply and Dick's face fell. "It's kind of far-fetched, I know. I just thought…sorry if I offended you."

Bruce looked up in surprise. "No, I'm not offended. I was just thinking. And maybe it's not as far-fetched as you think. I do have an entire IT department on the ground floor of the building but there are over fifty employees. How are we going to find him?"

"That's another thing I've been thinking about. The voice is always directed to Robin, not Dick Grayson. So, he either hates Robin and wants revenge or hates Batman and wants revenge through Robin."

"We just need to find the connection," Bruce murmured. "You're right, we need the Bat-computer."

Excited at the possibility of a lead, ward and guardian raced down the stairs, flew into the study and jumped onto their Batpoles. Alfred, also excited but much less agile, walked quickly to the service elevator and met his charges in the Batcave.