Sorry that this chapter is both late and short. Work has picked up speed and I've been very busy. Postings will be spotty until the second week of October or so. But, as always, encouragement and reviews are loved and worshipped :)

CHAPTER 18

BATMAN'S JOURNAL

...he looked so like Dick on that terrible night his parents were murdered. This young boy, tears running down his face, knelt next to his father as the blood pool spread over the dirty floor. I looked at him; Jason was about the same age I was when Mom and Dad were killed, about twelve. I glanced over at Dick, blind and battered, huddled on the floor with Kid Flash's arm around his shoulders. I had failed Dick. He was left half dead on my watch, with an incurable handicap. And it had happened in this very building. The blood from Willis Todd's body were overlaying my own boy's rusty stains. I wasn't going to fail another boy in this cursed place.

I stood up, feeling the gritty floor under my boots. I moved over to Jason and crouched down beside him. Jason was rocking and moaning with pain. He scrubbed at his face with a dirty hand and fixed his green eyes on me.

"My Dad...He shot my Dad..." Jason said with barely suppressed rage. "All Dad did was try to save me and he shot him dead!" He fisted his hands together as though trying to find someone to hit. Two Face was out of reach, securely restrained by the team. I knew that rage, that despair. I'd lived with it for half a lifetime.

I lowered my voice. "I'm sorry, Jason. I'm sorrier than you know, son. "

"He wasn't much of a Dad, y'know?" Jason's voice quavered. "But he was all I had. After Mom died, it was just us. Half the time, Dad din't know what t'do with me. The other half, he was out trying to score us the rent money. But he always made sure we had a roof an' some food in the fridge, even if it did come outta some dumpster." He looked at me defiantly. "My Dad was a crook, Batman, but he tried. He really tried to take care of me." He sniffled a bit and ran a dirty arm under his nose.

"Do you have any family?" I asked. I had already begun making plans for this boy. A Wayne scholarship lay in his future, and any other help I could quietly give.

He shook his head. "No. Mom was a foster kid and Dad doesn't...didn't...have anyone. It was just us." He looked over his shoulder. The police had arrived with a familiar figure in tow. Miss Simms from Social Services. She wouldn't know me in this costume, but I certainly knew her. And so did Dick.

"Why, Richard," she said, stalking over to the boy. "What has happened to you?"

Dick's face turned towards the sound of her voice. He looked in her direction blindly, while an expression of panic crossed his face. "Ms. Simms, is that you?"

"Why yes, Richard, it is me." She beamed at him. "I will take charge of you until Mr. Wayne can come and pick you up."

Kid Flash glanced from Ms. Simms to Dick and back again. "I don't think we've met," he said with an ingratiating smile. He stuck out a hand. "I'm kid flash," he said.

"I didn't know there were heroes here," Ms. Simms eyed Kid Flash's gaudy costume with distaste. She evaded the offered handshake and Kid Flash withdrew his hand with a frown. "Richard, you really must have an adult caring for you until your father can pick you up."

Dick struggled to his feet, with Kid Flash's help. "I can wait here until Bruce gets here," Dick said, clearly struggling with his emotions. "Besides Batman is here. He can take care of me."

I wasn't the only one noting Dick's increasing upset. Beside me, Jason got up and strode over to Miss Simms. "Dick doesn't need you. His Dad is coming and the cops are here already. He ain't an orphan, he's got people already taking care of him."

She swiveled and looked at Jason with narrowed eyes. "You must be the other juvenile I was sent to pick up. Your name is Jason Todd, I understand. I need you both to come with me. You'll be at the shelter until we locate some family."

Jason's chin was set at a stubborn tilt. "I ain't got no family, lady," he said.

"So then, it's foster care for you," she said, grabbing his wrist. With a lithe movement, Jason quickly wriggled his hand out of her grip and positioned himself out of her reach. Better yet, he stood protectively between the woman and Dick. Kid Flash moved in next to him.

Bruce Wayne was clearly needed at this point, so I slipped out of the building to don street clothes and called Alfred to come with the car.

When Bruce Wayne walked into the room, the three were still at a stand-off. Miss Simms looked frustrated, while Kid Flash continued to block her access to either Jason or Dick.

"Where is my son...Dick!" I called and ran over to my boy. Dick's face split into a blinding grin. Following the sound of my voice, he ran over to me and into my open arms.

"I'm glad you got here before the war could start," he murmured into my lapel. "Simms is gonna have a coronary pretty soon if KF doesn't let her at Jason or me."

"We'll see about that, Dick," I replied. "Alfred will take a look at your throat when we get home. But, in the meantime..." I stood and laid my hand on Dick's shoulder. "Miss Simms. How good to see you again."

"Hello, Mr. Wayne," she said cautiously. She remembered our last clash, over Dick's adoption, as well as I did.

"I see that you have another child to find accommodation for," I said, glancing at a fuming Jason who was still crouched behind Kid Flash. "I might be able to help." I gave her my patented charming Wayne smile. "I'm still a certified foster parent with Gotham City. I'd be happy to offer Jason a place to stay until something more permanent is found for him."

She frowned, undecided.

"If you like, I can telephone your superior and get his approval," I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket and held it ready.

"No," she decided. "That will be fine, Mr. Wayne. You have an excellent reputation," she fairly spat the word out. "With Social Services in Gotham. I'll just have you sign this," she handed me a release and I quickly scrawled my signature. "All right, the boy is in your custody until other arrangements can be made." With a closing glare at us, she left the room in an only slightly disguised huff.

"Hello, Jason," I said, squatting down in front of Jason. "I'm Bruce Wayne, Dick's father. You'll be coming home with us for the time being."

His green eyes drilled into mine as he gave me a long and suspicious look. He seemed to make a decision. "Hi Mister Wayne," he said. "Thanks for taking me." He cast a stare towards Miss Simms retreating form. "I've heard about foster care. Not that I'd be staying long."

As I suspected, Jason had probably lived on the streets his entire life and would return to them unless a caring adult stepped in. In five years, maybe less, he would be a problem for Batman to solve. "Come on, then." I smiled at the team. Give them credit, only Artemis and Kid Flash looked shocked at my change of demeanor. "And thank you, youngsters, for saving my boy. I truly appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Mr. Wayne," Kid Flash choked out. At a gesture from him, the team vanished, leaving the police to finish with the crime scene. Alfred stood in the doorway, smiling broadly at Dick. It was time to go home.