I'm sorry this chapter was such a long time coming... and that it's such a short one at that, but it's one I needed to get off my chest as I worked to finish Learning to Live Again.

In any case, I'd like to thank all my lovely reviewers. Seriously. You guys are amazing!

Enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen: A Father's Instinct

"Bruce," the Commissioner said tiredly, warily. "I'm not so sure that this is a good idea."

Bruce's fist tightened at his side. "I need to see him," he growled, determined.

Gordon looked at him. "After everything this man did… to Jason… I'm not sure you being in the same room with him is the wisest choice."

"And if it had been Barbara, Jim…" Bruce countered fiercely. It was a low blow and he knew it, but if it got him in that room, he would use it.

"I would be doing the same thing in your place," Jim finished for him. He pushed his glasses up his face, rubbing a hand over his eyes. He sighed. "Five minutes. But I can't let you talk to him alone."

Bruce nodded, his face deliberately a mask. "Fine."

Jim nodded to the heretofore silent pair of officers who had accompanied them and the first one unlocked and opened the door to the interrogation room.

The man, Owen Roger, former Wayne Enterprises employee, fired after he was caught embezzling Bruce's mind supplied him, sat at the table, handcuffed hands calmly clasped in front of him.

He looked up as Jim entered the room, looking surprisingly peaceful for someone who nearly murdered a twelve year old boy.

Something murderous stirred in Bruce's gut, a white hot rage. He forced it down, but still felt it, simmering just below the surface.

"Someone hear to see you, Rogers," Jim said as Bruce stepped in beside him.

Rogers eyes alighted on Bruce and he smiled. "Hello, Mr. Wayne," he said serenely.

Jim put a restraining hand on Bruce's shoulder. Bruce ignored the hand and took a seat opposite him. "You almost killed him," Bruce ground out.

"And then you would understand my pain," Rogers snapped back. "My son is dead," he spat. "Because of you, my wife left me! Because of you my son died! Twelve years old is older than Sammy ever lived to be!"

And for a moment, Bruce felt something akin to pity for this man. This man who had lost everything.

But then it was gone.

Bruce's face hardened. "Do you think for one second that your son would be proud of the monster you've become?" he asked. "Is that the kind of father he deserved?"

"Don't talk about Sammy!" Rogers snarled, slamming his fists down on the table. He would have made an attempt to stand had Jim not rushed to hold him down. "Don't you dare talk about him! You took him from me." Rogers had worked himself into a full blown rage, spittle flying from his mouth as he struggled under Jim's grip.

"Don't make me call in backup," Jim muttered, holding Rogers down. "Because you aren't going to like that." His attention turned to Bruce. "This conversation is over," Jim said firmly, giving Bruce a pointed look, even as Rogers growled and kicked.

Bruce nodded grimly, getting up from his seat and moving towards the door. There was nothing more to be gained from talking with this man.

He wanted to hit something-someone. Jason had been in the hands of this madman for two hours. Two hours!

And if the Batman hadn't gotten there, Bruce Wayne would be mourning a son.

His mind froze on an image-on a memory-of Jason terrified, clinging to him, like there was no tomorrow. He remembered the rage he felt-how he wanted to hurt the one who was the cause of that terror, the cause of the nightmares the boy was now having.

It was a father's instinct to protect his child.

And he'd come so close to losing Jason forever.

He was shaken from his morose thoughts by Jim's approach from behind. "Bruce."

Bruce faced him.

"He's going away for a long time," Jim said. "The man killed his wife. Did you know that?"

No, he hadn't. It was rare that the police knew something that the Batman didn't.

Something cold washed its way over Bruce.

The man was sick.

But he was going away.

Perhaps for life.

And Bruce Wayne had the power to ensure it.

Owen Rogers would never lay another hand on Jason Todd again.

I'm thinking there might be one more (short, but hopefully a little longer than this) chapter dealing with this storyline: one with Dick and Jason, since we didn't see Dick last chapter. And he's such a good big brother that of course he's going to help Jason get through this.

Until next time!