Chapter 12
After a night of searching the streets and working at the Batcomputer, Bruce finds that he is no closer to figuring out who attacked Dick than the police are. Frustrated and tired, he heads for his bedroom to catch a few short hours of sleep. Entering his room, he turns on the overhead light and the first thing he notices is a lump in his bed. Walking softly over to his bed, Bruce stares down into the face of a sleeping child.
"Dick?"
"Ummm?" moans a sleepy voice, as Dick raises a hand to rub his eyes and look up at Bruce.
"Couldn't sleep?" asks the older man.
"I couldn't sleep in my room. Alfred didn't think you would mind," replies the boy, as he sits up in bed.
"It doesn't bother me," replies the older man, as he lifts his eyes to look around the room. "I'll find another room to sleep in."
"Wait!"
"Yes, Dick," says Bruce, as he looks back down at the child.
"I don't want to kick you out of your own room," says Dick, as he flops the covers back. "I'll…go back to my room."
"You don't have to, son," replies Bruce, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Go ahead and stay in my room. I just needed to grab some things before I head back down to the 'cave."
"Are you sure?" asks Dick, as he drags the covers over his body again.
"Stay, Dick," says Bruce, as he turns away from the bed.
Walking back to the door, Bruce raises a hand to turn off the light.
"Good night, Bruce," calls a voice from the bed.
"Good night, Dick," replies the man, as he turns off the lights and leaves the room.
Shutting the door quietly behind himself, Bruce leans against the doorframe. Hearing a noise off to his left, Bruce turns his head to see Alfred walking down the hall.
"I didn't think you would mind, sir," says the butler.
"If this will help Dick heal, then I will give my bed over to him," replies the rich man.
Turning to walk away, Bruce hears Alfred clear his throat.
"Yes, Alfred?" says Bruce, turning back to the older man.
"Did you find out anything?"
"No matches on the DNA," replies Bruce, shaking his head. "Batman won't rest till the man who did this is punished."
"The sooner the man is put behind bars, the better I will feel," replies the butler.
…………………..
Listening in the dark, Dick can hear the conversation taking place just outside his door.
They haven't caught him, thinks the boy. They don't even know who he is.
Taking a deep breath, Dick tries to fall back asleep, but the safety he had found earlier that night disappears with the knowledge that his attacker is still out there….and waiting.
