Lost Hope
Chapter 11
It also took Alfred to convince him not to disallow his friends' rights to visit. If nothing else one of them might be the trigger needed to bring him back mentally. Besides the fact they were tired of having to turn away people who cared for the boy and who was just as much a part of his family as Bruce Tim and Barbara.
"Right now" Leslie argued, "He needs those people. But he is confused and afraid."
"They are frightening him. Leslie," Bruce rebutted. "He doesn't understand what is happening to him. Hell, he's frightening me. That man in there is not Dick Grayson, he is totally different.
"NO! Not a different person! Master Richard is still there he is the same person. I will not let you hide him away the same way you did Bruce Wayne." Alfred piped in. "Even if he never gets his old memories with his friends there at least it will give him a chance to create new ones. For God sake son don't give up on him like you did yourself."
Bruce and Leslie just stood dumbfounded they had never heard this man talk down to anyone, yet alone Bruce.
"Alfred Pennysworth!" Leslie scolded, "I don't believe my ears."
He too could not believe he spoke that way. But it was already said and too late to take it back. He apologized but Bruce told him it was not necessary he was only speaking the truth. and as always the truth hurt
Bruce gave in to their request and went to Roy personally to hand him a list of rules that had to be followed if they wanted to come by and visit. They were to always call ahead of time. No costumed visitors. He knew the last two rules would cause the biggest ruckus. First because one of the last rule he stipulated was that "the children would not be able to see him," the final rule was "those who visited where under orders not give him any information that might force memories".
"Name, rank, and serial number?" Roy asked. "Is he allowed red cross packages?
"My rules, Roy. You don't want to follow them don't bother to come by." Roy's scowl didn't penetrate Bruce's blue eyes he was serious. "Look Mr., my daughter isn't just a child she is his Godchild. Hell, I wouldn't even have her if it were not for your son. They are as close as I or any Titan is to your son if not closer. He has sat with her when I wasn't home, and he has sung to her when she couldn't sleep. Hell, he taught me how to changer her diapers. Don't think I will allow you to cut that bond just because you can't handle having children in that mausoleum you called home." At first Bruce wanted to lash right back at him, as Dick would say: Confrontation is something that he can handle truth is a little more difficult to swallow and often hurts. He wasn't here to pick a fight. He was just protecting his son and more than likely Arsenal's daughter. Maybe in the some way he could understand why he had to make that rule for now. Maybe if he approached this the same way his son would he could make the titan understand. Bruce pulled back his cowl and sat down in the large conference chair. Here goes nothing.
"If you were asked what is the attribute that made Dick a "hero" what would you say?" The look that crossed a startled Harper would have been priceless in another time or place "Are you nuts? He was... is the best." Roy Admitted. "He was always thinking always moving always one step ahead of the bad guy. His mind is as sharp as a tack and his athletic skills unbeatable." "I would have to agree. But the person in my house or mausoleum as you called it; is not the person you hoping to see. He looks like the Dick Grayson you remember but it isn't him. His body is mending. For a while he would even follow me around the house. He acts like a child lost, he would stop when I stop and move when I move and shy away if anyone moved toward him. His actions are sometimes autistic in nature. He acts as if he is not aware anyone is there, and yet seems to be aware of something more. Sometimes he will eat at the table other times Alfred has to try and feed him. He sleeps most of the day and except for Babs and Tim he hasn't attempted to hold any kind of conversation with anyone. Donna Wally and Tempest have all been by but he didn't even seem to see them." Bruce explained "Why do you think that is?" "I have my theories." Bruce mumbled "This morning I found him in the garden sitting in the dirt with the watchdogs. He had written the words Bat, Angel, and boy in the dirt then the word Survive underneath it. It was the same thing he had written on the wall of the cave. It seems to be the only part of his whole ordeal he remembers or acknowledges." "Then it would make sense that he talks to her and the kid." "What about the bat? Has he talked to him?" "NO" Bruce admitted almost too quickly. "When he was in the hospital he couldn't remember anything or anyone. I think he recognized my voice, but not me. It was as if when they relieved the pressure on his brain they wiped his mind clean too. When we brought him back here he couldn't even remember the hospital. But when I came in to his room he trusted me even if he doesn't really remembered me.. As for the batman, He has not put the two entities together yet. You cannot tell him. The doctors believe it would be best if I had Dick institutionalized he has for all intensive purposes withdrawn from life. It's like you said Dick is a thinker." It was as if a light flashed on in Roy's head. "He is withdrawing from us because he doesn't remember us yet something deep inside is telling him he should?" "Roy, I am not trying to keep your daughter from him. I am only trying to give him a chance to come back to us, and keep her from being emotionally injured." Bruce explained. "If she said something that that triggered another withdraw what would that do to her. I know it isn't fair but all I am asking is for time. If there is any hope of finding the old Dick Grayson we have to let him figure it out. " "Is there any hope? Bruce just shrugged. "Alfred says that Dick is in there somewhere. I am not so certain. Maybe." Bruce pulled the cowl back over his head. And turned to leave "Please let the others know and try to make them understand it is for the best. Also when you do come by: If he asks you about something specific answer him. But try not to give him more than what he asked for. It won't be easy but let him work it out."
Chapter 11
It also took Alfred to convince him not to disallow his friends' rights to visit. If nothing else one of them might be the trigger needed to bring him back mentally. Besides the fact they were tired of having to turn away people who cared for the boy and who was just as much a part of his family as Bruce Tim and Barbara.
"Right now" Leslie argued, "He needs those people. But he is confused and afraid."
"They are frightening him. Leslie," Bruce rebutted. "He doesn't understand what is happening to him. Hell, he's frightening me. That man in there is not Dick Grayson, he is totally different.
"NO! Not a different person! Master Richard is still there he is the same person. I will not let you hide him away the same way you did Bruce Wayne." Alfred piped in. "Even if he never gets his old memories with his friends there at least it will give him a chance to create new ones. For God sake son don't give up on him like you did yourself."
Bruce and Leslie just stood dumbfounded they had never heard this man talk down to anyone, yet alone Bruce.
"Alfred Pennysworth!" Leslie scolded, "I don't believe my ears."
He too could not believe he spoke that way. But it was already said and too late to take it back. He apologized but Bruce told him it was not necessary he was only speaking the truth. and as always the truth hurt
Bruce gave in to their request and went to Roy personally to hand him a list of rules that had to be followed if they wanted to come by and visit. They were to always call ahead of time. No costumed visitors. He knew the last two rules would cause the biggest ruckus. First because one of the last rule he stipulated was that "the children would not be able to see him," the final rule was "those who visited where under orders not give him any information that might force memories".
"Name, rank, and serial number?" Roy asked. "Is he allowed red cross packages?
"My rules, Roy. You don't want to follow them don't bother to come by." Roy's scowl didn't penetrate Bruce's blue eyes he was serious. "Look Mr., my daughter isn't just a child she is his Godchild. Hell, I wouldn't even have her if it were not for your son. They are as close as I or any Titan is to your son if not closer. He has sat with her when I wasn't home, and he has sung to her when she couldn't sleep. Hell, he taught me how to changer her diapers. Don't think I will allow you to cut that bond just because you can't handle having children in that mausoleum you called home." At first Bruce wanted to lash right back at him, as Dick would say: Confrontation is something that he can handle truth is a little more difficult to swallow and often hurts. He wasn't here to pick a fight. He was just protecting his son and more than likely Arsenal's daughter. Maybe in the some way he could understand why he had to make that rule for now. Maybe if he approached this the same way his son would he could make the titan understand. Bruce pulled back his cowl and sat down in the large conference chair. Here goes nothing.
"If you were asked what is the attribute that made Dick a "hero" what would you say?" The look that crossed a startled Harper would have been priceless in another time or place "Are you nuts? He was... is the best." Roy Admitted. "He was always thinking always moving always one step ahead of the bad guy. His mind is as sharp as a tack and his athletic skills unbeatable." "I would have to agree. But the person in my house or mausoleum as you called it; is not the person you hoping to see. He looks like the Dick Grayson you remember but it isn't him. His body is mending. For a while he would even follow me around the house. He acts like a child lost, he would stop when I stop and move when I move and shy away if anyone moved toward him. His actions are sometimes autistic in nature. He acts as if he is not aware anyone is there, and yet seems to be aware of something more. Sometimes he will eat at the table other times Alfred has to try and feed him. He sleeps most of the day and except for Babs and Tim he hasn't attempted to hold any kind of conversation with anyone. Donna Wally and Tempest have all been by but he didn't even seem to see them." Bruce explained "Why do you think that is?" "I have my theories." Bruce mumbled "This morning I found him in the garden sitting in the dirt with the watchdogs. He had written the words Bat, Angel, and boy in the dirt then the word Survive underneath it. It was the same thing he had written on the wall of the cave. It seems to be the only part of his whole ordeal he remembers or acknowledges." "Then it would make sense that he talks to her and the kid." "What about the bat? Has he talked to him?" "NO" Bruce admitted almost too quickly. "When he was in the hospital he couldn't remember anything or anyone. I think he recognized my voice, but not me. It was as if when they relieved the pressure on his brain they wiped his mind clean too. When we brought him back here he couldn't even remember the hospital. But when I came in to his room he trusted me even if he doesn't really remembered me.. As for the batman, He has not put the two entities together yet. You cannot tell him. The doctors believe it would be best if I had Dick institutionalized he has for all intensive purposes withdrawn from life. It's like you said Dick is a thinker." It was as if a light flashed on in Roy's head. "He is withdrawing from us because he doesn't remember us yet something deep inside is telling him he should?" "Roy, I am not trying to keep your daughter from him. I am only trying to give him a chance to come back to us, and keep her from being emotionally injured." Bruce explained. "If she said something that that triggered another withdraw what would that do to her. I know it isn't fair but all I am asking is for time. If there is any hope of finding the old Dick Grayson we have to let him figure it out. " "Is there any hope? Bruce just shrugged. "Alfred says that Dick is in there somewhere. I am not so certain. Maybe." Bruce pulled the cowl back over his head. And turned to leave "Please let the others know and try to make them understand it is for the best. Also when you do come by: If he asks you about something specific answer him. But try not to give him more than what he asked for. It won't be easy but let him work it out."