A/N Requested by MIUKI1. I had so much fun brainstorming this. I hope you like it ;D


Batman crouched low as he observed the building across from him. He'd been tracking this drug cartel for weeks, and now, with his expert detective skills and a bit of luck, he'd managed to track down their latest hideout. "Nightwing," He called over the coms. "I've got a hit on the dealers, but I'm going to need backup."

"Robin and I are still on the other side of the city," Nightwing reported. "Batgirl and Red Hood are closer to your location."

"Tell them to hurry up." The Dark Knight instructed. No sooner had he logged off his com than Batman heard a truck pulling up to the back of the building. Men in dark fatigues were loading boxes into the back. The deal was going down now. Backup of any kind couldn't get there fast enough.

Batman swore under his breath as he jumped to the next roof over. The cartel members scattered at the sight of The Bat crashing through the skylight, but of course they couldn't all be lucky enough to escape. Most of the damage of the fight was from the few thugs who tried to salvage the supply.

As Batman charged after the drug dealers, he heard it. The beeping of a bomb set to go off. He had to defuse it before it blew the warhorse of evidence sky high.

Batman's fingers worked fast, separating the proper wires and trying to determine which one to cut. Still, he wasn't fast enough, and the last thing Batman remembered was wrapping his cape around his head and breaking for impact.

III

Bruce groaned as he came to and tried to sit up. His vision was blurry, and every part of his body was screaming for mercy. Suddenly a force of pressure slammed into him. Bruce started thrashing at the weight, trying to pin him down. "Easy Bruce." A familiar voice said in a soothing tone.

As his vision began to clear, Bruce could see Jason looming over him, still trying to keep his Father in bed. "What happened?" Bruce moaned as he gave in to his aching muscles and let Jason ease him back down.

"You let a building fall on your head instead of waiting for backup like you taught us." Jason smirked. He was never going to let Bruce live this down. "Thanks for scaring us all half to death by the way." Bruce rolled his eyes as Dick burst through the doors dragging Alfred behind him.

"Glad to see you've awoken, Master Bruce." Alfred told him as he made his way over to the bed. "Master Dick, Master Jason, perhaps you should go ease your siblings' nerves with this recent development." The boys nodded at the butler's tactful suggestion and slipped out of the room.

"You had us quite worried Master Bruce." Alfred scolded his oldest charge as he pulled out an array of bandages and antiseptics as well as a few pain killers. "I won't do it again, Alfred," Bruce promised. "Just help me get up so I can-"

"I should think not." The older man said. "You will be staying in bed by order of Dr. Tompkins and myself until we deem you fit to do otherwise."

"But I have work to do and patrol and…" Bruce tried to argue. "What you have, Master Bruce, are six broken ribs, three cracked vertebrae, a fractured collar bone, and a concussion. I could go on, but my verdict would remain the same. You are on bed rest." Alfred said, and that was final.

Bruce tried not to pout as Alfred changed his bandages. There was no way to win this argument.


Whether he wanted to admit it or not, the rest was doing Bruce some good. It wasn't even all bad, seeing as Tim and Damian, the ever-loyal and eager to please sons they were, would bring him things to read and keep him occupied.

Even so, a downed Batman was a restless Batman. He had to get up, even if only for a little while. But just as the thought formed, Bruce heard his bedroom door being pushed open and saw Cassandra poke her head through. "Did Alfred send you to spy on me?" Bruce asked, only half-joking.

Cass nodded as she slipped the rest of the way into the room. "He say to keep you in bed." She announced. "He worries too much." Bruce sulked. "You can help me show him I'm ok." Cass cocked a brow at her Father. It wasn't like him to try and disobey Alfred.

"You stay." Cass said, shaking her head. "I don't need to stay. I'll be fine if I get back on my feet." The downed Dark Knight insisted. "You hurt." Cassandra reminded him, her voice shaking a little. "I am not hurt. Alfred is overreacting. I'm fine." Bruce pressed, his voice rising as quickly as his temper.

He was a grown man in his own house, and everyone was making a big deal out of cuts and scrapes. "Just help me down to The Cave and-"

"Please Baba!" Cass cried, and Bruce felt a chill run down his spine at the sound of her voice cracking. Cassandra had backed herself up to the door. Tears were welled up in the corners of her big brown eyes, and her lip was quivering. She was scared. He was scaring her.

Bruce motioned for his daughter to come to his bedside and wrapped her in his arms as tight as he could. "You want me to rest?" He asked softly, wiping away her tears. Cass nodded and smiled when Bruce kissed the top of her head.

"Then I'll rest for now." He promised. "I stand guard." Cassandra smirked at him and planted herself at the door for the rest of the afternoon.


Bruce stared into the glow of the alarm clock on his bedside table. It was 4am, i.e., late, even by their household standards. The kids had all come in to say good night as they came in from patrol, and Alfred had come to check on him an hour prior. The Manor was silent as a grave, making it the perfect time for Bruce to stretch his healing legs.

Bruce swung his legs over the side of the mattress and clenched his jaw as they touched the floor. That action alone had him taking deep breaths, but he had to move. At the very least, he wanted to make it down to the kitchen to reclaim the dessert Alfred had deprived him of for being uncooperative.

Slowly Bruce pushed off the bed so he was standing. His legs felt as if they were made of concrete as he began to drag himself towards the door. But whether it was his injuries or vertigo from lying in bed all day, Bruce felt the room begin to tilt.

He reached out to grip a chair that had been left by his bedside in a feeble attempt at keeping himself upward but only succeeded in bringing the piece of furniture with him with a loud thud.

III

A bang from down the hall jarred Jason from his sleep. A glance at his alarm clock told him it was way too early for anyone, even Alfred, to be up. Jason crossed his fingers as he pulled himself out of bed and down the hall.

The boy broke out into a full grin as he pushed open the door to the master bedroom and found Bruce sprawled out on the floor. "Have we fallen and can't get up, Old Man?" He smirked, leaning against the doorway. "Just get me up." Bruce growled threateningly.

If his Father had been in any state to make good on his tone, Jason might have been a bit less smug as he lifted Bruce off the floor and helped him get comfortable in bed.

"This is ridiculous." Bruce grunted as Jason rectified the chair he'd toppled. "There's work to be done, and I've been grounded. What good am I laid up here?" Normally Jason would have made a joke about being laid, but instead, he slumped in the chair and laughed a bit darkly.

"You remember the… incident, with Joker, and the crowbar?" He asked. Bruce shuddered at the memory.

Finding his little boy beaten to a bloody pulp in that ally. Rushing him to the hospital. Sitting by his bed for three weeks, waiting for him to come out of his coma and another six months helping him recover. It had been a harrowing time for the whole family.

"That white-faced bastard clearly beat the sense right out of me. You remember how I kept trying to escape to get my revenge?" Jason chucked. Bruce rolled his eyes but felt the corner of his mouth twitch upward at the memories of coming into Jason's room, only to catch the boy trying to slip out the window with his limbs still in casts.

"You were always thick-headed." Bruce admitted. "Yeah, well, it runs in the family." Jason countered. "As useless as you feel Bruce, you'll be ten times worse if you don't let this stuff heal. And while you do, don't you trust us enough to keep things in check?"

"Of course I do." Bruce sighed. "When did you get so wise and mature?" Jason grinned. "Don't worry, I'm sure it'll wear off by morning." The second oldest Wayne child let out a yawn as he stood up from his seat and headed for the door.

"And by the way, as much as I am loving this new rebellious side of you, it seems only fair to warn you that Alfred is seriously considering strapping you down if you try to escape again." Jason winked as he slipped out.

Bruce sighed into the darkness as he made himself as comfortable as he could. In a rare turn of events, Jason was right. The sooner he gave in and let himself heal, the sooner he'd be back at work. Besides, it never did anyone any good to disobey Alfred.


A/N I loved writing this pure fluff ;D Thanks to MIUKI1 for the suggestion :