The next few days were weird for Dick, everyone was crowding him whilst giving him space. He had tried to talk himself out of the little hope that he was loved but couldn't. Hell even the new Robins seemed to be making his life easier, to be honest the only person who had changed radically was Batman. He had taken Dick back to the manor when he was well enough and had pretty much doted on his eldest son. He even let a few people in, mainly Roy, Wally and Garfield but when Dick complained he let some of the Teen Titans in. Life was easy but Dick was beginning to think that it would be pulled from underneath him. He could only stand to be smothered for so long.
It was around ten o'clock when he ended up on the roof, he wasn't really doing anything except staring at the stars. In the distance he could hear people call his name but he didn't have the energy to answer. He heard someone sit next to him and looked up.
"Master Dick" he said respectfully.
"Alfred" Dick replied. They didn't say anything for a while, letting the silence speak for itself.
"How did you find me?" Dick asked
"You may think you are grown up now but I took care of you, I know all your hiding paces" Alfred replied. Dick drew his knees to his chest and sighed.
"Why do I feel so lost Alfred?" The butler didn't say anything and Dick began to cry, leaning into his friend. Alfred held the young man tightly.
"I have never been in your position Master Dick so I do not understand but the mind and body is complex, the fact that you are still here proves your body thinks you are strong enough to survive" Dick shook his head and stopped crying.
"My body is punishing me Alfred I don't deserve this" Alfred didn't reply, choosing to guide the boy back downstairs.
That night Brice was sipping on his Brandy, trying to remain emotionless.
"What am I going to do Alfred? The boys won't tell us how bad it had got and I don't know how to save Dick from himself" Alfred shoulders sagged
"Dick needs to want to save himself sir, trying to make his life easy and luxurious is not the way, maybe you should show him that people need both Dick and Nightwing. Throw a national Nightwing appreciation day and get Dick to talk to the boys, he needs to understand Master Bruce, he needs to understand that he is worthy." Brice looked up at his friend
"Maybe that would work, I can't lose him" and then he put the brandy glass down.