Title: Time Will Tell
Author: DC Luder
Summary: After a tragic injury, Bruce must make the long road to recovery with the help of family and friends.
Rating: T
Infringements: All recognizable characters belong to DC Comics, not DC Luder.
Author's Note: This chapter has been modified to make it more awesome-er.
^V^
"Come on, Jim. My treat."
Sitting at my desk, I looked up to see the face of Renee Montoya with a slight upward curve in her lips. My gaze then returned to a small framed photo of Barbara that was just visible behind a mountain of special crimes files. The picture was over a decade old, but it had captured the very essence of my daughter. Braided shoulder-length hair, face full of freckles, bright white smile. She wasn't more than sixteen at the time I had taken it.
Same time she donned the cowl?
I had spent a majority of the summer digging into a theory that I had ignored for far too long. The deeper I had looked into her youth, the more plausible her being Batgirl had become. Every sprained ankle from "gymnastics" or bruised body from a bad "karate lesson" had by chance matched up with front-page articles declaring the success of the caped crusaders.
Batman.
Robin.
Batgirl.
Barbara had always been interested in justice, far beyond what any normal policeman's daughter should have been. She had always inquired about my dealings with Batman and his allies, her soft smiles making sense after so many years. Hell, the way she and Robin had first met, on the rooftop, they way they had stared in shock at one another.
I once was blind, but now I see…
Batgirl had disappeared from the city's night life shortly before the Joker had shot Barbara and taken me hostage, rather than after. Confusing, but at the thime I had far more important things to worry about. She had returned during the No Man's Land that had seized Gotham, but obviously a much smaller and younger girl. One who never uttered a word where the original had always been forthcoming…
I had also found out something inconsequential in regards to my daughter being the former Batgirl.
Bruce Wayne was back in town, still on a sabbatical from his duties at Wayne Enterprises but making attempts at private visits in town. Dinner in secluded restaurants, walking in Robinson Park and more importantly, making long visits to my daughter's apartment in the Clocktower. Since I had overheard the message he had left at her apartment, I had been keeping tabs on him, hoping to find him courting another woman rather than my daughter.
On the Fourth of July, I had dropped by her place unannounced just before dusk.
"
"
"
"
"
The look of surprise on her face suggested she had forgotten I had been a detective once, "Dad, how did you know that?"
"
Barbara had smirked at that before replying, "We're not dating, Dad…He's just going through a rough time… needs someone to talk to, someone who knows him outside of being a billionaire playboy."
"
Her smirk had faded before she had answered, "Dick knows, he understands."
"I bet he does," I had sighed while trying to accept the fact that she had passed on her strained relationship with the ward of the man she wasn't dating.
We had left it at that, never mentioning it again.
When Montoya proposed lunch once more, I nodded as I stood and grabbed my blazer. It was in the eighties but I needed something to cover the holsters as I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's lunch. Montoya, who had just closed a special crimes case involving the estranged Cornelius Stirk with the aide of Gotham's newest caped crusader, was in a mood to celebrate. I, on the other hand, needed a distraction from my constantly brewing thoughts about Barbara being courted by a man ten years her senior.
She paused while I donned my coat, "Fresh ocean air will do you good, Jim."
"So would a Chastity belt on my Barb…." I muttered.
She turned, "What, Jim?"
"Nothing. Should we invite Bullock?"
"He's interrogating that head of the car theft ring… said to bring him something back."
Upon arriving at the restaurant, making good time in the early afternoon traffic, we had made it ten minutes before our reservation. Although the place was far from packed, the bar was and we were asked to enjoy drinks out on the front patio. Unlike the interior, the wrought iron tables were barren. It had seemed odd considering the nice breeze that was battling the humid air. As the hostess had escorted us to one of the smaller tables, she stated that the patio was reserved for a dinner party at five.
We chatted about Montoya's case in between a waitress arriving to take our drink orders and then delivering them five minutes later. After twenty-five minutes and two complimentary drinks each, I noticed a couple step through the front doors and down the steps and towards a tree shaded sitting area.. The woman appeared to be pregnant, early on maybe second trimester at best. She was still very attractive in a tailored pantsuit, makeup accenting a stunning face surrounded by dark, wavy hair.
Walking in front of the patio, I noticed she had taken his hand into hers, just another happy couple enjoying an afternoon together. I couldn't help but to think back to my first wife when she had been carrying my firstborn son. As much as we had loved one another, my decision to move us to Gotham had driven a wedge between us and we spent most of those long nine months fighting.
As they passed, I looked up while taking a sip of my tea, just in time to see his face.
My chest was soaked as I dumped the tea all over myself.
Bruce Wayne…. holding hands with a pregnant woman? Was it his child? Or was she just a friend? Did he get married abroad and no one knew?
I studied his face as Montoya exclaimed, "What happened, Jim, miss your mouth?"
"Excuse me," I rose from the table as the happy couple approached a pair of chairs, "I'll be right back."
^V^
I had lost the ability to breathe.
The skin of my face had been burning where her lips had touched me. My ears had been ringing from her words. My chest had closed up and my head had gone light from the lack of oxygen…
I had barely felt Selina's arm snake around my shoulders as she pulled me to her. Her breath had landed softly on my neck as she whispered, "Bruce?"
My mouth had opened slightly but nothing had come out.
Father? How could I be a father?
I didn't even know how babies were made, let alone for me to do it to Selina?
Why hadn't anybody told me?
After a moment of silence, her arm had dropped slowly and she had repeated herself, "Bruce, are you okay?"
I had cleared my throat, "Selina?"
"Yes, Bruce?"
My eyes had glanced down at her abdomen and then back to her eyes. What had I even wanted to say? I hadn't been that confused in months… I had needed Alfred, or Dick. They would have known what to have said.
Another thought had struck my frenzied mind, if I was the father of Selina's baby, were we married? Had they lied to me?
As much as I had wanted to, I couldn't ask her, not there. Instead, I had simply mumbled, "I… I don't feel good… I'm sorry, I… I ruined our dinner."
She had sighed as she took my hand into hers "No, I shouldn't have told you… not like this…Bruce, if you want, I'll call Alfred and we can go home."
Home. Was it our home?
I had nodded, my words lost once more.
Selina had stood upright after kissing my cheek. She had made her way to the waiter's booth where she chatted a bit with the man who had taken our orders. After she had handed him some money, she had retrieved a cell phone from her purse and turned away from me as she spoke into it. When she had returned to our table, she had grabbed my hand once more, "Alfred's on his way… Let's get some fresh air while we wait for him."
I had nodded and unsteadily walked beside her out to the main entrance, our hands only separating when I held the door for her. Alfred had said that manners had never been my strong suit but I couldn't imagine why.
I would have done anything for her, especially then.
We had walked in front of the patio and headed towards a small sitting area that had wrought iron chairs situated beneath a number tall, willowy trees. Before taking a seat, I had managed, "Selina?"
Turning to face me, she had smiled softly while cocking her head to the left, "Yes?"
"I… are we married?" She had looked away as I continued, "I mean, I don't have a ring and you don't…"
"No, we aren't," her eyes had continued to avoid me, "We were dating before your accident…"
"Did we want a baby?"
Selina had finally looked up at me, "Bruce, I don't know how to answer that…"
Nodding, I had apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm just really confused."
As my words had given way to a nervous laugh, Selina had turned to take a seat and motioned for me to do the same, "Good, that makes two of us."
Since I had been looking down at her, I had my back to the restaurant as well as to the gray-haired man that was approaching. I hadn't even seen the man coming.
Or his fist.
The next second, I was on the pavement with blood seeping from between the fingers pressed to my mouth.
As if I hadn't been confused before…
The man growled something under his breath as Selina jumped from her seat, yelling at him to back off. He was about to yell back but stopped as he recognized her, "Selina Kyle?"
She ignored him as she knelt beside me, setting one hand on my shoulder while the other cupped the side of my face, "It's okay, Bruce, let me see…" After Selina inspected my split lip, she returned her focus to Gordon, "What in the hell was that for?"
He sputtered a bit as a woman in a dark blue pantsuit approached, poised for action, "I… He's dating the both of you."
"What?" Selina snapped as she helped me to my feet. I looked up at the man and the woman's confused faces and then looked at my feet. I wanted to be anywhere in the world other than right there.
"You. And my Barbara," he growled as he pointed at me.
She growled in response, defensively stepping in front of me, "He isn't dating Barbara… Where'd you… He's not even… Damn you for…" Although she hadn't been able to get a complete sentence out, she hesitated as Alfred pulled up. She then looked to me, "bruce, get in the car."
"But what if he---." I started.
"I'll take care of this."
I glanced up at the man and woman once more, their confusion had finally matched my own. Reluctantly, I turned and got into the car before Alfred had been able to open the door for me. As he grabbed the handle, he looked at me with concern, "Sir, are you all right?"
"Yeah," I touched my lip, "I guess…"
He nodded, still with a worried look on his face, and then spoke before shutting the door, "Very good, sir."
^V^
Before leaving Master Bruce in the safety of the Town Car while I joined Ms. Selina, I telephoned Master Dick. He had been in Gotham for a prisoner transfer and had intended on dropping by the Manor before returning to Bludhaven for the evening.
Using my rarely used mobile telephone, I dialed and waited impatiently for the duration of two rings. He then answered, "Hey, al, what's up?"
"Sir, there has been an incident requiring your attention---."
"What's happened, is he all right?" he inquired frantically.
"No worse for the wear… He attended an early dinner with Ms Kyle and… it appears Commissioner Gordon intervened."
"What? What are talking about--- never mind, where are you?" After providing the address, he growled, "I'll be there in two minutes."
Looking once more to the tinted window where no doubt Master Bruce was intently looking out at the scene before him, I took a breath and began to quickly walk over. Thankfully, those within the restaurant had not noticed whatever had transpired and the voices of the three individuals I was approaching had remained civil.
Although the tone had certainly not.
Ms. Kyle promptly was feverishly growling at a dumbfounded Commissioner Gordon and Detective Montoya. I recognized a number of colorful words and then, "--- assume anything, why in the hell would you think that?"
It was reassuring to know that she had not lost her innate aggression due to her childbearing induced hormones
As the police officers looked in my direction, Ms. Selina did as well. I cleared my throat before inquiring, "Ms. Kyle… Master Bruce seems to be all right, and… might one inquire as to how this altercation arose?"
Commissioner Gordon cleared his throat, "I.. overreacted. I thought he was dating my daughter and when I saw him with Ms. Kyle… I---."
"Punched him. In the face," Ms. Selina finished for him.
I nodded, "I see… then this has been an unfortunate misunderstanding, has it not?"
"Unfortunate for him," Ms. Selina glared.
Before I could make another attempt appease the situation, Detective Montoya looked behind me, "You called the cops, we are the---."
"No," the commissioner interrupted her, "That's Bludhaven PD."
the patrol car approached taking the nearest spot. Even though Master Dick had pulled up without lights and sirens, a hostess appeared out the front entrance with a look of fear on her face. After Dick stepped out of the car and donned his hat, he waved and offered a friendly smile, "Just visiting, ma'am."
"Oh… um… the table is ready for the party of two."
Commissioner Gordon nodded, "Give it to someone else."
Although she had returned inside the restaurant, there were no doubt a series of prying eyes were within. Nodding the Master Dick, he then proceed, Al, why don't you take Bruce to the Manor, I'll bring Selina up shortly. Maybe we can have dinner… without an audience."
Returning to the car, I took the driver's seat, buckling in as I stared into the rear view mirror. Master Bruce had wiped his face clean, and seemed to be proudly sporting his battle wound as a soft smile was gracing his lips.
"Sir?"
He looked up at me, "Funny seeing Dick driving a cop car."
"That it is, sir… An eventful afternoon, sir."
"Eventful… I suppose… I mean, I did become a father."
I nodded as I carefully pulled out of the parking lot and onto a one-way street. It wasn't until I had maneuvered three traffic lights that his words sank in. After a methodical breath, I asked, "Sir, did you say, you became a father?"
"Yeah. With Selina."
With my mind instantly dragged into the filth of the gutter, I asked, "Where did this event take place?"
"At the restaurant. Right there at the table."
My eyes nearly leapt from their orbits in shock at picturing Master Bruce and Ms. Kyle… On the table… Partaking in inappropriate actions with wary eyes watching.
No wonder the commissioner had hit him.
"In public, you say you did this?"
Master Bruce nodded and touched his sore lip, "Yeah. No one heard us though."
I found myself coughing before being able to continue, "Uh, sir, did… I'm not quite following you, sir. Please, tell me what happened?"
He shrugged and looked up at my reflection, "Nothing really. She just did it."
"Did what, sir?"
"You know, Alfred."
"Enlighten me, Master Bruce."
"She just said that I was the father."
I felt an immense weight free itself from my chest. Words, Alfred Pennyworth, just words, not… Actions.
I smiled slightly, "Well, than, sir, congratulations are in order."
His shoulders slouched a fraction, "Alfred?"
"Yes, sir?"
"What did I do to make her have a baby?"
I had given a twelve-year-old Master Bruce a similar talk decades ago. It certainly would not happen again, "Well, sir, I will have to put that question up to Master Dick. I'll see to it that he comes to the Manor this evening."
^V^
Breaking up a fight between Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon wasn't exactly how I had intended to spend my afternoon
Given my ties to Gotham, I had always seen to it that I was available for any ad all prisoner transports from Bludhaven. When Bruce had been framed for the murder of Vesper Fairchild, I had even gone as far as paying off my co-pilot for the night, leaving him at one of Gotham's premiere strip clubs so I could visit Bruce in his holding cell.
Seeming him in that dark cell, alone and riddled with fury, had once been the worst thing I had ever seen.
A lifetime ago…
After Alfred had left with Bruce, I looked back to the tense figures before me, "All right, what happened?"
As Selina opened her mouth, Jim stepped forward and explained things from his point of view. I had to fight back a smile, knowing full well that his false assumptions had been well supported from his point of view. Barbara and Bruce had been spending the last four months together more often than not. My busy life had prevented from me spending any alone time with her, not even so much as a dinner.
Typical jealous man thinking.
"Okay," I offered as he finished, When Selina went to speak up, I shook my head, "Okay, I said. What's done is done."
She crossed her arms over her chest and sent me a glare that would have rivaled one of Bruce's.
Suppressing a shudder, I proceeded, "Jim… If you've got some time, I'd like to talk this over a bit, in private."
We all looked to Montoya who shook her head, "Fine by me."
Jim sighed, "Hold things down at the fort… I'll be back as soon as I can." Once she had begun walking towards her unmarked, Jim continued, "What in the hell is going on, son?"
I found my hands resting on my hips, my right thumb grazing the butt of my service weapon. As I looked around the parking lot, I replied, "Little too public… mind going for a drive?"
"If I can get some answers."
"You can have them all," I smiled back.
Selina looked to me, "Damned if I'm riding in the back."
It was a long, painfully tense and silent drive to Bristol, made only longer by commuters making the trek home. Once I navigated the patrol car up the winding drive, I pulled around back and parked behind the garage. We all noticed Bruce sitting out on the rear terrace by himself, staring out at the expansive green of the rear lawn.
Selina excused herself, slamming the door shut before walking briskly up the walk and stone steps. I smiled when Bruce looked up at her just before she leaned over and kissed him.
"Bet you wanted to kill him."
"What?" Jim asked.
"Thinking he was with Barbara and seeing him with Selina."
"Close to it, son."
Althoguh I had taken my hat off after getting in the car at the restaurant, my scalp still tingled. Running a hand through my hair, I proceeded to rub it over my face as well, pretending I could wash away the fatigue.
"Is it his?"
"The baby?" I asked, and when his reflection clarified with a nod, I proceeded, "Yes. Four months along now… Kind of a surprise for all of us."
He sighed before asking, "They going to get married?"
I couldn't help but laugh, knowing that remembering his vows was the last thing Bruce needed to worry about, "No. I don't know about that. He's not ready…"
"He better be responsible at least."
My smile grew, picturing an infant in Bruce's arms, "Oh, I'm sure he'll want to play with it all the time."
"Play with… Damnit, you have more maturity than he does!"
My amused smile quickly died off, "For the moment, yes. He'll get better, though."
His reflection in the mirror said it was time for me to stop skirting around the real issue at hand.
Letting my voice drop an octave and a half, I explained, "I should have never lied to you… that he had died after Pasqualle shot him… After he woke up form the coma… he had lost everything, he was infant trapped in a grown man's body… Now, look at him…"
My eyes left the rear view mirror and found Selina and Bruce walking hand in hand into the house, "Leslie had given him so little odds of ever recovering… it just felt like the right thing to do at the time. Like telling you the truth now… It just seems right."
Given that the only sound from the backseat was heavy breathing, I continued, "I know he never told you who he was, but he had always thought that if you wanted to know, you were more than capable of finding out by yourself… But now… I don't think there's a reason to hide behind a mask… I think you deserve to know..."
I finally turned in the driver's seat, looking back to see his eyes glassy, no doubt not at my revelation of who Bruce was but the fact that his best friend was still alive.
"I think… you deserve to be Family."
As I fell silent, I waited for him to say something, anything.
Five minutes later, his moustache twitched and he asked, "Can I… Can I see him?"
I grinned, "As long as you keep that right cross to yourself."
^V^