::Chapter Three::
"Miss Barbara just called in, Master Bruce."
Alfred's voice penetrated his brooding thoughts. He looked up, and the butler could note the bit of worry showing through his normally masked features.
"And?"
"And she said that Dick has neither been to her place nor called her. She also tried to reach him at his apartment without success."
Bruce's mouth set in a firm line.
"Then I know where he is."
He rose to his feet, brushing past the older gentleman without a word. Alfred knew exactly where the young man was as well. With that thought in mind, he hurried up the stairs to prepare a warm drink, turn down Dick's old bed and lay out some of the clothes he had left at the Manor in days past. And if he were anything like his mentor.which he was.he'd need the first-aid kit as well.
~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce wrapped his long jacket closer about him as he stepped out of the car. He didn't bother with an umbrella, even though the rain had already plastered his hair to his forehead as he entered the cemetery. His eyes paused momentarily in the direction of his own parent's resting place. I certainly have never been the kind of father figure you were father, he thought grimly to himself. He was still amazed, with that fact in mind, with how well Dick had turned out. Better then he could or would ever be. Dick had a natural knack for earning friends wherever he went, especially with that warm and friendly smile of his. He had courage and loyalty that could never be broken or falter for a moment. A wonderful, loving, strong- willed man, and a one in a million son.
And you never say anything, came the nagging voice from the back of his thoughts. You never praise him, though you know that that's all that he wants from you. just some kind of acknowledgement-a smile, a hand on the shoulder, one word, something..anything.
You give him nothing.
Bruce finally shoved the overburdening thoughts to the side as he spied the huddled form exactly where he knew it would be. He found himself breathing in a sigh of relief. Kneeling down he noticed the young man's body shivering slightly, though he was completely asleep himself. Softly, and with the utmost tender care, Bruce slipped his arms under Dick's cold and wet form, hauling him up from the ground in one swift movement. Something shiny slipped from Dick's limp hand, making a soft thud upon the muddy ground below. With skill only someone like himself could possibly have, Bruce knelt down and retrieved whatever it was that Dick had dropped. He swallowed hard as his fingers brushed away a few flecks of mud from the gold colored badge:
B.P.D
7554
Grayson
Dick stirred,
"I'll quit."
He stammered through chattering teeth. His eyes drooped sleepily.
"If you just asked me. I would do it."
As quickly as he'd awoken, he had already slipped back into the welcoming arms of unconsciousness by the time Bruce glanced down at him.
"Not a chance, son. Not a chance."
"Miss Barbara just called in, Master Bruce."
Alfred's voice penetrated his brooding thoughts. He looked up, and the butler could note the bit of worry showing through his normally masked features.
"And?"
"And she said that Dick has neither been to her place nor called her. She also tried to reach him at his apartment without success."
Bruce's mouth set in a firm line.
"Then I know where he is."
He rose to his feet, brushing past the older gentleman without a word. Alfred knew exactly where the young man was as well. With that thought in mind, he hurried up the stairs to prepare a warm drink, turn down Dick's old bed and lay out some of the clothes he had left at the Manor in days past. And if he were anything like his mentor.which he was.he'd need the first-aid kit as well.
~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce wrapped his long jacket closer about him as he stepped out of the car. He didn't bother with an umbrella, even though the rain had already plastered his hair to his forehead as he entered the cemetery. His eyes paused momentarily in the direction of his own parent's resting place. I certainly have never been the kind of father figure you were father, he thought grimly to himself. He was still amazed, with that fact in mind, with how well Dick had turned out. Better then he could or would ever be. Dick had a natural knack for earning friends wherever he went, especially with that warm and friendly smile of his. He had courage and loyalty that could never be broken or falter for a moment. A wonderful, loving, strong- willed man, and a one in a million son.
And you never say anything, came the nagging voice from the back of his thoughts. You never praise him, though you know that that's all that he wants from you. just some kind of acknowledgement-a smile, a hand on the shoulder, one word, something..anything.
You give him nothing.
Bruce finally shoved the overburdening thoughts to the side as he spied the huddled form exactly where he knew it would be. He found himself breathing in a sigh of relief. Kneeling down he noticed the young man's body shivering slightly, though he was completely asleep himself. Softly, and with the utmost tender care, Bruce slipped his arms under Dick's cold and wet form, hauling him up from the ground in one swift movement. Something shiny slipped from Dick's limp hand, making a soft thud upon the muddy ground below. With skill only someone like himself could possibly have, Bruce knelt down and retrieved whatever it was that Dick had dropped. He swallowed hard as his fingers brushed away a few flecks of mud from the gold colored badge:
B.P.D
7554
Grayson
Dick stirred,
"I'll quit."
He stammered through chattering teeth. His eyes drooped sleepily.
"If you just asked me. I would do it."
As quickly as he'd awoken, he had already slipped back into the welcoming arms of unconsciousness by the time Bruce glanced down at him.
"Not a chance, son. Not a chance."