Chapter 4

The mansion seemed darker, less alive then it once had, upon entering he noticed the dishes unwashed in the sink, laundry still in the hamper, a small piece of paper tacked to their kitchen table, those two simple words covering the page "I quit."

Reluctantly Bruce made a cup of coffee and sat in the empty living room, usually Dick would be kneeling on the small table finishing up homework, while Alfred smiled and continued his dusting.

Alfred's empty room was gloomy, the bed was made, the room had been vacuumed, but not a single item of the butlers remained.

That couldn't be said for Dick's bedroom, the room looked just as the child had left it, posters of the Justice League hung upon the wall, his unmade bed covers thrown about, the boys school books and journals wide open on his desk ... Almost like he'd never left.

A loud knock at the door tore the ailing man away from the bedroom; he opened the door never once doubting who would be on the other side.

But he hadn't expected to see members of the Justice League and Young Justice crying on his front porch

The group made their way inside, each wanting an answer as to why Bruce had done it "Can you live with what you've done?" questions Wonder Woman "Giving up that boy."

Bruce didn't answer, how could he? "I did what was best, Dick deserves better."

"Better? You're Batman! And that kid loved you, he looked up to you and for a long time, he wanted to be you!" Yells Black Canary

the kids only stare, what could they say? Robin had wanted to be the leader, he wanted to fight just like his mentor

"You're the one who introduced him to crime fighting, made him into Robin and now you're taking everything away?" Says Aquaman

"I'm not fit to be his guardian, he's been harmed too many times under my care, I want what's best for him!" Declares Bruce "Why can't you understand that?"

"Why can't you understand that you made a huge mistake? You took that child in, gave him a life and friends, a family and then you go and throw it all away! Is that what's best for Dick?" Yells Superman

Bruce only stares, he honestly hadn't thought about how Dick would feel, he was blinded to doing what he felt was right

"You didn't think about that did you?" questions Wonder Woman "You were too busy thinking about yourself!"

Had he been? True he felt taking Dick back was his only option, but was it?

"You've not only taken him from his team, his friends and his life, but you broke his only family, you and Alfred were all Dick had!" Yells Barry

"I seem to remember a time you came to me, begging I give Conner a chance, saying how great it was being a parent, where's that Bruce now?" Demands Superman

Conner flinches; he'd had no idea Bruce had done that for him

"Why did you have to send him back to the orphanage? Why not let one of us take him in? Any one of us here would have gladly adopted Dick." States Aquaman

"That would have put the league at risk." responds Bruce "He had to go back to the orphanage."

Wally now steps up "Do you even hear yourself? You ruined Dick's life! He told me about that place, they hurt him! He hated it there and even had nightmares about ever going back!"

Bruce stares, Dick had nightmares about the orphanage? How come he never came forward about it?

"He didn't want to appear weak to his mentor, but I got him to talk and what he said, the things they did to him ... And you ignored his cries and handed him over! You may as well have given him up to the Joker!"

"We're getting him out." declares Conner "Either help us, or stay out of our way."

M'gan nods, she's remained quiet the entire time, silently reading Batman's mind, the man was starting to see what he'd done was wrong, but at the same time felt justified in his decision

"Batman, I understand your feelings, you feel Robin is safer and happier where he is, being with a new family." Begins M'gan

Bruce nods, finally someone was getting how he felt, in the long run this was the best option

"But you're wrong, you took Robin away from the only family he ever wants, no matter how many new families come, he's not going to allow himself to get close in fear that one day they too will turn on him."

Kaldur rests a hand on a breaking down M'gan "You know Robin better than anyone Batman; tell me, what will he do?"

Bruce was afraid of this, he knew Dick well and if the boy truly didn't want to stay there, then he wasn't going to "He'll try to leave."

"So you sent him away, knowing instead he'd run? He'll be homeless and alone!" Yells Conner

Wally shakes his head "He won't be alone, we're going to be there for him, we won't leave him to suffer."

Bruce shook at those words, these kids were dead on, he had feared so much of losing Dick due to his activities as Robin and being his son, that he lost sight of what truly mattered

"I see Alfred has left, how does that feel Bruce? Do you feel betrayed by the one person who's been there since you lost your parents? The one person who never left your side till now?" Says Black Canary

Bruce nodded, tears filling his now red eyes, he had felt so bad seeing Alfred say those words, coming home to no one and knowing it's all his fault.

"That's how Dick feels Bruce, all that pain and betrayal is racing through his mind as we speak, even more so when you claimed you wanted to adopt him as your son." finishes Wonder Woman

"Get your ass back to that orphanage and save Dick, before it's too late." Demands Superman

Bruce nods, his body moving of its own accord as he grabs his keys and races out the door, the team not far behind as he speeds his way towards his son.

Finally, Batman/Bruce realizes he made a huge mistake, but is it far too late? The worst is yet to come