This part is short, but I hope very powerful.
#
Forever Robin
By
AJ
Part 2
"I know you will learn the truth, " Dick said absentmindedly, repeating Bruce's words from the note.
"What is the truth, Master Dick? Alfred asked.
"Bruce is trying to tell me something. Do you know if he was working on anything, a case that might have been causing him difficulty?"
"That I cannot say for certain."
At that moment, something caught Dick's eye and he frowned. "Alfred, why has the clock stopped?"
"What?" Alfred was confused. "The clocks have not stopped."
"I'll be right back," Dick said. That was most peculiar. His watch said it was 9:30 in the morning. He left the study and went to his old room, then to Bruce's. He checked the other bedrooms. It was the same. "That's impossible." And yet every clock he came across was frozen and not just any clock. They were all digital and they read 2:02. How could a digital clock freeze?
Dick raced back down stairs to the study. Alfred continued to stare at the clock puzzled. "That is impossible," Alfred said. "If a digital clock stops, it goes blank because the power is cut. When the power comes back on, it shows 12;00 and must be reset."
"But the power isn't off. I've checked every digital clock we have," Dick said. "Every one of them says 2:02."
"That is not possible."
Dick moved over to the desk and reread the note. He hadn't taken the time to really scrutinize the content, because of yesterday's emotionally charged day. He carefully looked over the note again. He started to notice small details he hadn't noticed before. Certain words were underlined, time, truth, and Batman needs Robin. He looked at the digital clock, again. And it suddenly hit him. NOT 2:02 but . . .
"Quickly Alfred," Dick raced out of the room.
"Master Dick?"
"We've got to dig Bruce out of that gave."
"What?" The look on Alfred's face was one of shock.
"Don't you get it? He's trying to send us a message. He's not dead! BRUCE IS ALIVE!"
"Master Dick, this is insane.
"The CLOCKS, the digital clocks. Read them backwards and what do they say."
Dick raced out of the manor and into the family cemetery. The backhoe that was used to dig the grave was still at one end of the property. Dick climbed into it and drove it to the gravesite. He dug through the loose dirt, taking out as much as he dared. It wasn't long before he reached the casket containing Bruce's body. Dick jumped down into the hole to try to open the lid, but it wouldn't budge. Alfred appeared holding a crowbar. He tossed it down to Dick.
"Master Dick, is this wise? Let the dead rest in peace."
Dick didn't answer, but used the crowbar to release the seal to open the lid. When Dick got the casket open, a triumphant grin appeared on his face. He also saw something that confirmed his suspicions. "Alfred, since when does a dead man bleed?"
Alfred's knees buckled and they both stared down to see Bruce's hands clutching the batarang that Dick placed inside the casket. Bruce's grip was so tight around it the sharp edges had cut into his palms.
"BRUCE!" Dick opened the rest of the casket 's lid freeing Bruce's legs.
Dick lifted his mentor . . . his father into a sitting position and felt the warmth of Bruce's body against his when yesterday Bruce's body had felt cold and lifeless. How was this possible?
"Bruce," Dick called his name again, this time touching the man's face. "I read your message. I saw your SOS. Open your eyes, please."
Bruce's eyes fluttered open, "How . . . long?"
The question was odd, and both Alfred and Dick didn't understand.
"How long have you been dead? Or how long have you been buried?"
Alfred's face paled. "I'm sorry, sir. Three days."
"We buried you yesterday," Dick answered, swallowing. He never felt so terrible and so wrong in his life. "Bruce, what happened?"
Continues with Part 3