To JustMeAndADream,

Thanks! Every time you review, my spirits are lifted! And yes, I AM VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY excited for the new episode with Oracle and Nightwing!!!! Hope it will be good!!! (DC comics, please don't disappoint us!)

Glad I got guts. ;)

xOraclex

chapter 4 coming soon!

They made it to the batcave, and took off their masks. Bruce went straight to a microscope and placed Commissioner Gordon's hair sample under it.

Dick looked on curiously.

"Hair?"

"Whatever toxin Strange used, if it's in the victim's tissues, we can identify it from this. You help Alfred research—"

And then…

They heard it.

Coming from the entrance to the cave.

A low, dark, growl.

"Alfred?"

Alfred walked along wearily, like he was drunk. His white hair was all mangled, his eyes bitter black, and there was a black gash on the top of his fleshy head. He uttered one word. "…..sick……."

Dick's face was in pure fright, Bruce's in pure shock. Bruce knew what he had to do. Although he didn't want to, he took a knock-out gas canister out of his utility belt and threw it at Alfred. In the mist of grey smoke and countless coughs, the butler lay lifeless on the concrete batcave floor.

-----

Bruce carried the unconscious Alfred to the jail cell they kept in the batcave. He laid him carefully on the stiff bed.

"Rest easy, old friend."

Bruce got no response, except for a soft groan.

"How'd he get infected down here?" asked Dick, standing close to the jail cell.

"I don't know. But I intend to find out."

Bruce shut the cell door, and went to the batcomputer, Dick trailing behind.

SECOND NIGHT

"Combat log."

Bruce was sitting at the batcomputer, making an audio journal of the events. Dick was pacing nervously behind him. Nether had slept or ate. They couldn't go up to the manor because there was no air filter system up there. They had to stay down in the cave.

"I've checked against every known infectious agent and toxic compound. No match." He pounded the table hard with his fist.

"There has to be a variable we're not seeing!"

A yell came from the cell. It was Alfred. Bruce clenched his teeth, and tried to ignore it.

"No!...You…help!"

Dick couldn't take it anymore.

He put his hands over his ears, and pierced his eyes shut. "Stop it!" He yelled. "STOP IT!"

"Dick! I need you to focus!"

Robin started to break down. "It's not fair!" He sobbed.

"We're all alone! First batgirl, and now Alfred. The whole city is infected! And we don't even know WHY!"

Bruce suddenly remembered something. He slipped on his cowl.

"But their's one man who does."