A/N: As always, thanks to you wonderful peeps for your awesome comments! Cookies, good karma and Robin hugs to you all! :D
oOo
Bruce stared at her. "You can't be serious!"
"I'm completely serious, Mr. Wayne. My job is to ensure the welfare of this child, and right now I don't trust that you are a safe guardian for him."
"Of course I'm a safe guardian for him!"
The CPS agent looked grim. "That remains to be seen. There will be a preliminary hearing within the next few days so I suggest you contact your lawyer. And, Mr. Wayne, any attempts to communicate with Richard will not go in your favour. Understood?"
Bruce nodded weakly.
She turned to the other woman. "Dr. Lewis, thank you for contacting us. CPS will be in touch with you regarding testimony."
Testimony? Cold horror trickled through him. They were really doing this. They were trying to take his son.
Nodding at them, Margaret Elliot turned and left. Bruce watched her go before turning to face the doctor. "Why would you do this?" he demanded angrily.
"Because I was concerned." She glared at him. "You think seeing children being abused and taken from their homes is something I enjoy?"
"I'm not abusing Dick!"
"Then let the courts prove it. If you really are innocent then what have you to be afraid of?"
"I would say the possibility of losing my son gives me plenty to be afraid of," Bruce replied coldly.
She narrowed her eyes. "Like I said, Mr. Wayne, if you're innocent then what have you to be afraid of? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm rather busy. Good day, gentlemen."
The doctor walked away, her shoulders stiff with disgust. Bruce turned to Alfred in despair. "She thinks I'm guilty. They both do."
"Well, Master Bruce, you shall just have to show them that they're wrong," Alfred replied firmly.
He sounded confident, but Bruce knew him well enough to see that he was worried. The tiniest twitch to his left eye was his tell. Bruce swallowed hard. Alfred was a pro when it came to dealing with CPS – he'd done it often enough when Bruce was a boy. And if he was worried…
Bruce swallowed. "This won't be easy, will it?"
The butler laid a hand on his arm. "Probably not, but I daresay you will not let that stop you from fighting for him."
Damn straight it wouldn't. Bruce would always fight for Dick. And this was one fight where he intended to come out swinging. "I'm calling Kevin Green," he said decisively, pulling out his cell phone. His lawyer needed to get on this ASAP.
"Sir, before you contact Mr. Green, might I make a suggestion?"
"What is it, Alfred?"
"The hospital will not permit us to see Master Dick, removing any reason for us to stay here. We should consider leaving before the press arrive. They will be rather unpleasant once word of this reaches them. Leaving would allow you to contact Mr. Green from the privacy of the car."
The billionaire opened his mouth to argue, but snapped it shut as the truth of Alfred's words hit him. He wilted in defeat. The last thing he wanted to do was leave, but Alfred was right; this was going to get ugly.
And Dick would be caught right in the middle of it.
oOo
Arriving at his lawyer's office the next morning, Bruce felt worn out. He hadn't been to bed yet, and while he was used to surviving on little to no sleep as Batman, the emotional strain of this was tearing him up. Over the last four years, Dick had come to mean everything to him. He couldn't lose him.
Upon leaving the hospital, the first thing he had done was contact his lawyer, Kevin Green. The man had assured him that he would do everything in his power to get Dick back. The billionaire had wanted to meet with him immediately but Kevin pointed out that he would need to gain access to CPS' notes before being ready to discuss the case. Bruce had reluctantly agreed to wait until morning, insisting that they meet first thing.
He had spent the rest of the evening creating a fake identity for the caving guide that he and Dick had supposedly been with when the boy had broken his arm. Oliver Benson was thirty-two and had been caving since he was fifteen, eventually setting up his own caving expedition company at thirty. Bruce had forged a birth cert, school and medical records, and a college degree for Oliver. He had also hacked into the DMV to upload a falsified driving licence – complete with a composite image – and the government's social security website to imput a social security number for the fictitious guide. Oliver's company had been given a similar treatment with its own website and business licence. It was over the top, but Bruce knew his position meant he would be subjected to a more in-depth investigation by CPS and the press. He couldn't afford to leave loose ends that would unravel everything.
He had also contacted Leslie to ensure her notes in Dick's medical records matched the stories he had given Margaret Elliot. The doctor had been horrified to hear what was happening and promised Bruce that she would try to see Dick in the hospital. As Dick's paediatrician, no one would question her reasons for doing so.
Bruce had even gone as far as contacting Martian Manhunter to ask if he would shapeshift into the imaginary Oliver Benson should his testimony be required. Even though he was loathe to ask a fellow Leaguer for help, Bruce was willing to ignore his pride when it involved Dick.
But as he strode through the plush lobby of Jackson and Green, Bruce was concerned that he still hadn't managed to accomplish the most important task of all, which was talk to Dick. He needed to make sure their stories matched before CPS questioned the boy.
He had hoped to talk to Dick the night before, and Batman had slipped into the boy's hospital room sometime after midnight with that intention. Unfortunately, Dick had still been unconscious – something that disturbed him greatly. What if this prolonged unconsciousness was a sign of brain damage?
Bruce sighed heavily as he hit the button for the elevator and the doors pinged open. He hadn't even been able to stay with Dick because he was in the ICU and nurses were continually coming in to check on him.
Stepping into the elevator, he pressed the button for the third floor. As the doors slid closed and the lift jerked upwards, Bruce reflected on the only advantage that Dick's continued unconsciousness brought them; CPS would be unable to question him.
It gave him little solace.
The elevator shuddered to a halt and Bruce stepped out before the doors had even finished opening. A secretary showed him to the boardroom rather than Kevin's office, and Bruce was surprised to find an attractive blond woman with his lawyer. The table was littered with files and Bruce frowned. Kevin had involved someone else in this? The billionaire didn't like the idea of a stranger poking through his personal life.
"Mr. Wayne, good morning," said Kevin, getting to his feet as the secretary closed the door.
"Morning, Kevin," Bruce greeted him, shaking the lawyer's proffered hand while his eyes went questioningly to the woman sitting at the table.
Kevin responded accordingly. "Mr. Wayne, this is Amanda Ryan. She joined the firm six months ago and her speciality is family law. I think her expertise will be very helpful."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne," said the woman crisply, remaining where she was. She radiated a distinct no-nonsense attitude that reminded him of Leslie.
Bruce inclined his head. "Likewise, Ms. Ryan."
Formalities dispensed with, Kevin sat back down, indicating to Bruce to do the same.
The billionaire complied, getting straight to the point. "How bad is this?"
"Well, it's not good," said Kevin carefully. "I've got Dick's hospital records as well as the notes from CPS… It seems Dick has a lot of old injuries that you can't account for?"
"I adopted Dick when he was nine," Bruce pointed out. "He was raised in a travelling circus as a trapeze artist before that. Some of those injuries must have happened then."
Amanda leaned forward. "The problem is proving that, Mr. Wayne. Tracking the medical records of a travelling circus from several years ago would be next to impossible. It doesn't help that Dick sustained injuries whilst in your care that look highly suspicious, not to mention that taking him to Gotham's Free Clinic for treatment instead of Gotham General makes it look like you had something to hide."
"But Leslie Thompkins is his paediatrician," Bruce protested.
"She's also an old friend of yours, and you donate vast sums of money to her clinic on a regular basis. That's going to cast doubts on her credibility as a witness."
"You sound like you think I am abusing Dick."
The woman sighed in exasperation. "Of course I don't think that, Mr. Wayne. But I want you to understand how much of a fight you have on your hands: those X-rays are very persuasive evidence."
Bruce scowled. "Was it even legal to perform those X-rays without mine or Dick's consent? They exposed him to a lot of unnecessary radiation."
"Hospitals are within their right to perform whatever tests they see fit when they suspect child abuse," Amanda replied. "The courts will balance the benefits of rescuing a child from an abusive home against the radiation dose of an X-ray."
Bruce's shoulders slumped. "So how do I prove that I'm not abusing my son?"
"You can't," Amanda told him seriously. "To be honest, Mr. Wayne, the outcome of this case is going to hinge on what Dick says to CPS. At thirteen, he's old enough for his testimony to be taken seriously by the courts. If what he says corroborates your account of his injuries then no judge will rule to permanently remove him from your care."
"But he's unconscious in the hospital," Bruce reminded her. "What if he has memory problems when he regains consciousness? What if he doesn't regain consciousness?" He shuddered at either thought.
It was Kevin who answered. "That could present a bit of a problem but it's one we can work around. Your name is strongly associated with philanthropy in this city, and your good deeds are going to make it harder for a judge to believe that you are capable of child abuse. Plus, you have an advantage over CPS in that you can provide better security for Dick, something this morning's papers clearly prove."
Bruce blinked. "What do you mean?"
Kevin and Amanda exchanged a look. "You…haven't seen the papers this morning?" Kevin asked carefully.
Feeling his stomach dip, the billionaire shook his head. Having no desire to see the headlines accusing him of abusing Dick, Bruce had asked Alfred to cancel their deliveries for the foreseeable future. "Why? What's in the papers?"
The lawyers once more exchanged an uncomfortable look before Kevin reached behind a stack of folders and pulled out a newspaper, which he handed to Bruce.
Bruce's eyes widened at the picture on the front page: a large, full-colour image of Dick, unconscious in his hospital bed. The photograph clearly showed the splint on his arm and the bandage around his head. It also showed Dick wearing a hospital gown covered in rocket-ships – something Bruce hadn't noticed in the dark of the room the night before. It made the boy look far younger than thirteen.
"How the hell did this happen?" he growled, crushing the paper in his hands.
Kevin grimaced. "A paparazzo got into Dick's room last night and took the picture. It's front page of almost every paper this morning."
"WHAT?!"
"Calm down, Mr. Wayne," Amanda instructed. "Yes, it's despicable that someone would target an injured child like this, but the photograph will work in your favour."
"How could this work in my favour?" Bruce demanded, shaking the crumpled paper towards her with the screaming headline, Bruce Wayne Accused of Child Abuse.
"Because it gives weight to your reasoning for not bringing Dick to Gotham General for treatment," she replied coolly. "And the biggest issue we're facing after the X-rays is the question of why a man in your position had Dick treated at a ghetto clinic instead of a hospital. It makes people wonder what you had to hide. This picture will help to circumvent that because you told CPS that you don't like bringing Dick to Gotham General for this very reason."
Bruce shook his head, a more immediate concern plaguing him. "I don't want Dick exposed like this. Isn't there anything I can do to stop it from happening again? Can I pay to have security placed outside the door to his hospital room?"
Amanda shook her head. "I would advise against it, Mr. Wayne. CPS could use it against you by suggesting that you're trying to get someone close to Dick to either influence or intimidate him."
"But that's ridiculous! If they really have Dick's best interests at heart then why leave him vulnerable?"
"They won't," Kevin responded. "It's in CPS and the hospital's best interests to make sure this doesn't happen again. I guarantee you, Mr. Wayne, Dick will have security after that picture. And," he added, when Bruce opened his mouth to object, "as your lawyer, I can contact CPS and the hospital to make sure of that."
"Fine," Bruce ground out. He was seething at the idea of someone creeping into Dick's hospital room and taking his photograph while he was so vulnerable. It was the worst invasion of privacy that Bruce had ever seen. "What happens now?"
"CPS will file a petition with the courts," Amanda replied. "If the courts don't dismiss it – and I can't see any reason why they would – you'll be served. You'll also receive notice of the jurisdictional hearing."
"What will that involve?"
"CPS will have to prove the allegations in its petition. They'll present the evidence they have, and we'll be given the chance to cross-examine and present our own evidence. But the burden of proof will be on CPS. If they can't convince the judge that you're abusing Dick, then the case will be dismissed and CPS will have no further authority to continue investigating your family."
"And if they do convince the judge?"
"Then most likely an order of temporary custody will be granted, formally placing Dick in CPS care. Placement for Dick will then be established, and the judge will set the dispositional hearing date."
"Dispositional hearing?" Bruce repeated anxiously. "What's that?"
"The dispositional hearing is to decide on Dick's long-term placement," Amanda explained, giving Bruce an almost sympathetic look. "Basically, the courts will decide whether Dick can be returned to your care or–"
"Or whether I'll lose him for good," Bruce finished grimly.
oOo
Artemis watched what felt like Wally's hundredth over-the-top stunt and wondered if the speedster had been dropped on his head as a baby. M'gann clearly wasn't interested in him and Wally was verging on 'special child' territory with his continued attempts to impress her. But then, it was Saturday afternoon and they hadn't yet received a mission assignment. The lack of anything to do was probably driving the hyper speedster to distraction. And without his usual partner-in-crime there to distract him, he was driving everyone else to distraction as well.
M'gann was showing her usual tolerance for Wally's pathetic attempts to flirt, but Superboy looked like he was ready to stage a less-than-subtle intervention. Even Kaldur, who was trying to watch the news, seemed more than a little irate. Artemis hoped for all their sakes that Robin wouldn't be out of commission for too long.
Robin.
Artemis sighed. She had mulled over the possibility that Robin might be Dick Grayson until her head hurt, but she still hadn't come to a satisfactory conclusion. Her initial reaction had been to dismiss Dick as a crime fighter; he was short, slight, and far too small to hold his own against the scum of Gotham city.
Until logic reminded her that Robin was small too. If Artemis hadn't known what Robin was capable of, she would have laughed at the idea of him as a hero. And maybe that was the point. Robin's size made criminals underestimate him, why shouldn't the same thing apply to his civilian identity? After all, by making Dick Grayson as nerdy as possible, no one would ever connect him to Robin the Boy Wonder.
Except making him a mathlete might be taking it a step too far.
Artemis pursed her lips. Dick Grayson was an honour roll student and a mathlete honoree freshman who took sophomore math, despite the fact that he had already skipped a whole grade. His academic prowess made it hard for Artemis to believe he was Robin. It just wasn't possible for anyone to maintain such high academic standards when they were spending their nights fighting crime. She should know; it was a constant battle to maintain decent grades when she lived a double-life as a crime-fighting vigilante. And she didn't have the same level of social obligations that Dick as Bruce Wayne's son had. Dick couldn't be Robin; it just wasn't possible.
But 'not possible' didn't explain the strange coincidence of Dick showing up with the same broken arm as Robin. Nor was the broken arm the only parallel. Now that she was looking, Artemis couldn't ignore the physical resemblance between them.
But then there was the whole Bruce Wayne thing. Because it stood to reason that if Dick Grayson was Robin, Bruce Wayne had to be Batman. And the idea that Gotham's biggest playboy could be Batman just didn't add up in her book. Not to mention that the idea of Batman flirting his way through the female population of Gotham just flat-out messed with her head. But what if that was another ruse to discourage anyone from looking too closely at–
A loud crash interrupted her thoughts and Artemis looked up to see Wally on the ground, where he had clearly tripped over his own feet. She smirked. "Nice move, Kid Klutz." How he didn't get himself killed on missions, she would never know.
Uncharacteristically, Wally ignored her, scrambling to his feet while staring at the news report that Kaldur was watching. Artemis raised an eyebrow and turned her attention to the TV as well.
An image of Gotham General was on the screen. From what Artemis could see behind the blonde reporter facing the screen, the outside of the hospital was thronged with cameras and news-reporters. She zeroed in on what the reporter was saying.
"…still unconscious and has been unable to confirm or deny the accusations against Bruce Wayne."
A picture of Dick Grayson appeared on the screen and Artemis' eyes widened; he was unconscious in the photo and wearing a hospital gown. The picture had obviously been taken in the hospital, but who was low enough to creep into his room while he was unconscious to take that photograph? And what did the woman mean about accusations against Bruce Wayne?
"What's that about?" she asked Kaldur, pointing to the TV, but Wally shushed loudly before the Atlantian could respond.
Both she and Kaldur glanced at the speedster in surprise, but he ignored them and remained staring, wide-eyed and unblinking, at the television.
"Wally, are you alright?" asked Kaldur.
"Huh?" The redhead blinked and looked at him. "Me? Oh. Yeah…I'm fine. Totally cool. Beyond cool. In fact, I'm just going for a run."
Before any of them could respond, he was gone, leaving behind a blast of air and his teammates staring after him.
After a minute's silence, M'gann ventured uncertainly, "Is…Wally okay?"
"He's fine," Superboy replied irritably.
Kaldur nodded his agreement. "He probably just needs to burn off some energy. He has been rather restless today."
Artemis glanced back at the TV where the news was now focusing on a plane crash in South America. She highly doubted that Wally's sudden disappearance was down to his hyperactivity, he had been quite content to remain here and drive them all crazy until he saw the report about Dick Grayson. That news report had clearly freaked him out. But why would Wally care about some rich kid from Gotham City?
Unless he knew him.
Artemis swallowed. The only possible way for Wally to know the son of a world famous billionaire was if said boy was also a crime-fighting hero. And since Artemis had often suspected that Wally knew Robin's real identity, it looked as though her hunch about Dick Grayson was correct.
And from what Artemis had just seen, it looked like he was in a whole mess of trouble.