Alright...first day of fnals but who gives a damn. Long. Not sure on it. Sorry about the confusion in the last chapter.

Dinner had been spent in a dangerous silence.

Dick knew it had been and didn't dare try to question it. Oh he'd understood Bruce inviting his Uncle Rick Grayson over for Thanksgiving sure – he was Dick's only living family member and he'd asked to have a few visits every so often before Bruce had taken him in. He could almost understand Bruce bringing a date – even if it was Selina Kyle – since it would have been prudent for Bruce Wayne's most recent girlfriend, screw her histories, to come to a family meet and greet dinner; even if it was two days before Thanksgiving. He could even understand Lucius showing up since he was part of the family as well – even Alfred had been given orders to sit at the table with them all.

He really hadn't thought his day had warranted Commissioner Jim Gordon and his daughter, Dick's classmate, Barbara Gordon coming to dinner though.

He didn't mind Barbara; he found her mood swings entertaining to a point even. He didn't mind Jim either – it was only Commissioner if they were on duty or if a crime had happened around them and he showed up – he was a nice guy and a great cop. Dick liked both of them to be sure but damn it all, he hadn't expected them at dinner.

Barbara made it a bit worse considering she'd decided that since it was the Wayne Manor, she had to dress up a bit. It helped that Selina had come in a gorgeous dress that would have made Wonder Woman jealous of her hourglass figure but still. Barbara isn't flat chested either; but she's not nearly as voluptuous – god Dick hated vocabulary so much right then – as Selina or any female Dick knew outside of school save for Artemis.

That didn't stop her from wearing a dress that accented her figure not only well, but dangerously so. Dick had been surprised her father let her out of the house in it even though even he knew it wasn't nearly as dangerous as what Selina was wearing – strapless black evening gown with a slit up the right side that went almost to her hip, giving a peek of a black garter, and Cole Hann high heels of patent leather. God only knew how she'd earned the money for those!

"The turkey's wonderful as usual Alfred," Bruce stated easily as he tossed his napkin back onto his lap, his black plate cleaned. "I'm sorry to say I dare not eat any more."

Selina giggled in her own strangely deep contralto voice, a hand gracing her collar bone for a second before it reached to take Bruce's hand. "I have to agree," she said. "I'd be glad to take some off your hands though; it'll make a wonderful lunch." She sent Alfred a kind smile that almost looked believable.

If only some of them didn't know any better.

"I'm pleased you like it Miss," Alfred stated politely in his usual drawl. "I shall make up a care package for you before you leave. Pumpkin or mince pie?"

"Pumpkin," she cooed a bit ecstatic.

Well I know what she likes, Dick thought as he glanced over to his uncle who had cleaned his plate as well – with a certain bit of difficulty considering Dick and Barbara had ended up cutting his meat into smaller pieces for him. He hadn't said anything to them about it; just a soft smile to both before stabbing the pieces of turkey and ham a bit more violently than may have been needed. Not that Dick cared anymore.

People were finally talking and that was all Dick wanted.

He didn't want to think about how his day had begun at school; didn't want to think about how scared and horrified Artemis had looked from across the yard. He didn't want to think about the reason someone wanted him taken and what they may or may not do to him.

He actually didn't want to think at all period.

"Thanks Alfred," Lucius was saying as he helped the elder man clean up the plates. Jim rose from his seat and collected his daughter's plate as well as his own before following both men into the kitchen.

"I see Dick's had another growth spurt," Rick said casually with a kind smile. Selina nodded in agreement even though she knew Dick hadn't gained more than an inch since she'd last seen him – if that.

Bruce however smiled broadly at the man and chuckled. "Yes," he said. "And his grades are spectacular too."

"They're talking grades," Barbara hissed into Dick's ear. "Let's go watch movies huh?"

"Sure," Dick whispered back, slipping out of his seat when, suddenly, he recalled watching movies with the team.

Yeah, that was where he wanted to be right now; away from Bruce's overprotective looks, away from his uncle's injuries that brought up sickening memories, and away from the others because he was sure they all knew something and weren't telling him. He had a shrewd feeling that Selina had watched the news or that Lucius had been present for the call from Alfred and Jim. He didn't really want to deal with Artemis telling the others about it but even they knew what boundaries there were when it came to Gotham.

Right?

Dick couldn't bring himself to enjoy the movie; or Barbara's tries at getting him to smile.

Jim left as soon as he could pry his daughter away from the couch and Selina departed soon after him. Lucius and Alfred spent a bit of time with Bruce and Rick while Dick stayed on the couch, watching them. Rick and Lucius left together, Alfred beaming at them happily as he closed the door behind them, Bruce at Dick's shoulder. The door clicked shut and Dick felt his heart sink as Bruce's smile disappeared to be replaced by his patented glare.

"If you have any homework, get it done now," Bruce growled to Dick without looking down at him. Dick didn't bother to nod and went to collect his books when a thought hit him.

He could always go to Mount Justice and do homework there. There'd be a den mother and Conner wouldn't let him out of sight after what happened in Metropolis. Then again, Bruce and Alfred would likely kill him if he just went there without at least asking first – not that he'd get a positive answer from Bruce but that didn't matter…did it?

Oh, he was so confused about what to do and there was no good way out of his situation either. They weren't sure who'd sent the thugs out which meant they had even less than usual to go on and just how many unmarked, white vans, with overly tinted windows were actually in Gotham City alone was horrifying to think about when you had to find one. Bruce had found it on cameras all over and almost two thirds of them had gone somewhat near Dick's school but the one he was looking for had managed to blend in with seven others in traffic within seconds of being foiled.

Needless to say, Bruce was pissed off and was being overprotective as usual.

The sound of pencil scribbling on paper filled his large room eerily and Dick found himself dreaming once again of the hustle and bustle of his old circus home. He'd once fallen asleep to the trumpet of circus animals and the usual pounding of people practicing or finishing putting something up, taking something down, or fixing something on the wagons. He'd always heard the soft, rhythmic pounding of someone's routine music on a beaten up stereo as well.

God, he missed those sounds.

"Master Richard," Alfred called gently as he glided into the room with a silver serving platter. "I have taken the liberty of mulling some apple cider for you and Master Bruce."

Dick glanced over his shoulder as Alfred placed the platter on a bedside table and poured him a cup almost soundlessly. He could hear the implication as to what Bruce had already said to the offered beverage in Alfred's voice.

"Bruce is doing something in the cave isn't he?" Dick asked softly as he let his eyes fall back to the Pre-Calculus homework – sometimes he hated being brilliant. At least in the circus, he hadn't needed to use too many of his brains in his home schooling.

"Excellent intuitive guess Master Richard," Alfred drawled as he placed the mug on the desk. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"

"Can you talk Bruce into letting me hang out with the Team tonight? I'll take my homework, I swear," he almost pleaded. Alfred gave him a look. "Never mind."

"A good choice Young Sir," Alfred drawled casually as if he hadn't just manhandled the boy mentally. He swept out of the room, snatching up the platter as he went; the door clicking shut behind him.

"The times I hope for someone to shoot me," Dick muttered to himself as he finished his homework and went down to the cave, cider in hand.

He could hear Bruce's gloved hands flying over the keys of the computers before the elevator doors opened. He didn't need to look to see the man was engrossed, his eyes dark and dangerous. He quickly understood that if villains ever saw his eyes, they'd turn their acts around in two heartbeats; heroes would stay out of his way more often too.

"Homework done?"

"Yes. Can I-?"

"Start warming up then; we'll work on flip kicks today."

"I guess that's a no," Dick hissed back. Bruce's head lifted a centimeter.

"A no to what exactly?"

"My going to the Cave and hanging out with the team," Dick murmured innocently as he sipped on the hot cider carefully.

"Yes, you may take it as a no."

The mug slammed into the wall next to Bruce's head, cider and bits of ceramic going everywhere and spattering over Bruce's shoulders in a very impressive shower then. He stared at his soaking clothes for a moment, trying very hard to not yell from the amazing heat – damn Alfred to hell for knowing how to heat drinks so efficiently – before turning around to look at his son's enraged face.

"I'm going."

"You're not."

"I am!"

"You're not!"

"You can't stop me!"

"You want to test that theory?"

"Watch me win!"

"I would love to see you try!"

"Screw you!"

"Do you have any idea what you're asking for?"

"ENOUGH!"

Ah, they'd managed to piss of the Brit.

Bruce was standing not a foot away from his adopted son, his blue eyes snarling the profanities he'd managed to never say aloud around his son. Dick's blue eyes were glaring back up at him in a dangerous dare that Bruce had a feeling he didn't want to challenge. Neither one dared look to the steps to see what Alfred's face looked like. It wasn't vary difficult to imagine considering when Alfred yelled he showed his feelings in his eyes. However, from Dick's position in the cave he could see the man's entire face wrinkled in anger.

"That will be all," Alfred commanded like the king of the house that he was. "Both of you are low on sleep and neither of you will be going anywhere tonight. To bed with you both! Go! Now! Get going!"

Bruce didn't move, knowing full well that Alfred may allow him a few moments to cool off before he went upstairs. Dick however, was the youngest in the cave and even he had learned to be kind and respectful to elders; especially if they were pissed off at him. He was a bit surprised when Dick continued to glare at him passionately as he left the cave, eyes tearing up with frustration and the wish to understand a parent's motives. Alfred waited for the door to slam shut before he smoothly moved down the steps, eyes glowing dangerously.

"In all my years in the military I have never seen two people quibbled like that before," Alfred chided softly, his voice ringing off the walls far more loudly than even when he'd yelled. "Really, you two are worse than some of the people I knew in the war!"

"Do you know what he wants to do Alfred?"

"Be away from you, Gotham, whoever it is that wants him to disappear? I don't really know sir; it's so difficult to believe he would want to be within the city limits for days at the moment."

Bruce resisted the urge to chew on his bottom lip in slight irritation and shame. Alfred had a point. Dick wouldn't really want to be around whatever it was that was trying to probably kill him but Bruce also knew Artemis went to Dick's school; there was no way for the boy to escape the situation very well. Artemis however, knew how to keep secrets so maybe she hadn't talked to the others about it.

Then again, anything to deter from her own history would probably be a welcome story to tell.

It made Bruce shudder to think she'd be capable of that but then again, for all he knew she was and it was safer to think she was as dangerous as anyone else he worked with. No one was safe to work with other than yourself – trainees being a possible exception in Dick's case. Though, even then, Bruce knew he may be unable to trust his son at some point because of something.

"Forgive me for wanting to keep my son safe," Bruce ground out tersely as he crossed back to the computer, bending down to pick up the stray bits of ceramic.

"Did he throw a mug at you?" Alfred asked in shock.

"Yes. As soon as I clarified I didn't want him to leave, he threw it at my head," Bruce muttered. "Apparently, his aim needs work."

"Sir, forgive me, but I think the fact he didn't hit you means he needs to focus on something other than his nightly activities," Alfred huffed. Bruce tried to ignore the feeling that Alfred was about to beat him senseless if this conversation continued.

The man was old yes but he'd raised Bruce and Bruce would never dare harm the closest thing to his father he had. Not intentionally at least. He could only hope that was what had dawned into Dick's head before his – admittedly – damned good throw. The cider had been hot though.

"Forgive me if I need to get apple cider out of my uniform," Bruce muttered as he turned to leave, dismissing the ceramic bits from his mind a bit too easily.

He was pulling the cape from his shoulders when he heard Alfred hiss something that sounded suspiciously like, "I hope it was still hot."

He didn't dare reply.

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