Look at me go! Two chapters in as many days. I wish I could promise to keep it up. Anyway, enjoy.

Dick woke up because someone was touching his shoulders. Gently, but firmly. Not shaking him awake the way Damian did, not anxiously like Tim. He pried his eyes open a little and tried to lift his head. It worked, but suddenly he wasn't on the floor any more. He was looking up at the ceiling of the Cave. It was disorienting but Dick didn't mind. It was Bruce, Bruce had lifted him up. He didn't need to see to know that.

"Did Dami and Tim get back okay?" he asked kind of frantically, although it might just have come off as a pathetic mumble

"They're on their way now and I'm going to meet them," Bruce's voice rumbled next to his ear. "You were supposed to stay in bed."

"Are they okay?"

"Yeah," he said. "They're going to be fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Kay," Dick agreed sleepily. "I can go to bed then I guess." Bruce chuckled. Dick felt warmer, hearing Bruce laugh. "What?" he asked.

"It's almost like you think you have a choice," Bruce answered.

"I do," Dick insisted. "I walked myself over to the computer and stood up for almost five minutes yesterday. I can take myself upstairs."

"That's nice," Bruce answered. Dick couldn't decide if Bruce didn't believe him or if there was another reason he was still being carried up the stairs. He'd never, ever tell anyone ever, least of all Bruce or Damian, but on the rare occasion Damian was hurt enough or tired enough or upset enough to be carried, Dick kind of loved it. Not that Damian was in some kind of distress of course, he usually felt like he'd sell his soul to make the boy better, but sometimes he was just happy his little bird was in his arms, safe, warm, right where he belonged.

Bruce, had he ever felt that way? Could he still?

Dick wasn't going to fight him this time.

"How was your trip?"

"Fine," Bruce said.

"Short," Dick observed.

"Alfred didn't think you were following his orders and then I heard a news report about weird killings in Gotham. They reminded me of a case that almost killed you in Bludhaven and I accidentally mentioned it to Alfred. His worrying became so obnoxious I had to bring him back," Bruce explained gently as he climbed the stairs. "Turns out he was right."

"Sorry," Dick muttered.

"Never mind," Bruce said as he pushed his way into Dick's bedroom. "I'd forgotten a few things anyway. Important things."

He set the Dick into his bed, carefully holdings his head with one hand as he got the pillows in place with the other.

"Bruce," Dick said.

"Yes?"

"I threw up in your Cave," Dick mumbled.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Bruce answered, pulling the blankets up around his shoulders.

"Twice."

"Alfred's going to come up and watch you in a few minutes while I go help Tim and Damian all right?" Bruce said. Dick wondered if he had a fever, he was pretty sure Bruce was sitting on the edge of the bed and resting his hand on Dick's forehead, but that seemed like a singularly un-Bruce kind of thing for him to be doing. He was smiling too, fondly, affectionately. "Stay here and rest okay Dick? I'll take care of the others but you need to rest. I need you to rest."

"Kay," Dick agreed. "Damian's just a kid. Is he okay?"

"I'm going to find out right now," Bruce promised. "Don't move or I'll let Alfred handcuff you to the bed."

"What's going on Bruce?" Dick asked, fighting through the heaviness of his limbs and the confusion clouded his brain. Something about the way Bruce was looking at him, it wasn't the way he remembered Bruce looking at him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Dick," he said quickly. "You're all right, everything's fine. You rest. I'll find Tim and Damian, I promise."

"Master Bruce," Alfred said from somewhere outside of Dick's line of sight. "I'll watch him. Go."

"I'll see you in the morning," Bruce said, taking his hand away from Dick's face. If it wasn't Damian and Tim's life on the line he'd probably have begged Bruce to stay.

"Kay," Dick agreed. "Alfie, I'm sorry."

"Never mind Master Richard," Alfred said. "I'm going to put you back on a fluid drip all right? Just go to sleep, you'll be all right okay?"

"Tim, Damian?" Dick repeated, like a broken record.

"Master Bruce will have them home safe and sound before you've even got your fluids back up. Just rest now."