Adriana sat beside Bruce as he slept, feeling like she would not be able to sleep until she could talk to him. The problem was confirmed. In a way, it was a relief. She felt they were ahead of the problem before it got too bad. He would kick this habit easily, she told herself.
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Adriana woke up after flinching at something touching her nose. She opened her eyes and saw Arsenio in the bed beside her. She had fallen asleep.
"Arsenio..." she said sleepily. "Did you just stick your finger in my nose?"
Arsenio laughed without answering. Adriana grabbed him and began to tickle him and he laughed loudly. His squeals lightened her mood as her sleep had been tense.
"I though we were letting your mother get her sleep, little one," Adriana heard Bruce say as he came out of the bathroom.
"It's alright," Adriana said and tickled the bottom of one of Arsenio's feet and he squealed again. "I'm getting him back."
Bruce walked over and gave Adriana a kiss on the lips.
"You're dressed for work," Adriana remarked. Bruce hadn't been in to work in a few days.
"Today I'll need to show my face and handle a few things," Bruce said. "I won't be home any later than 6."
"I go too!" Arsenio said. "Mommy?"
"Hm?" Adriana looked at her son. "You want to go with your father? You could ask him-"
"He's asked," Bruce said. "And now I suppose you're looking for a second opinion, aren't you little man?"
"Well, 'Seni," Adriana said. "If your father already said no...I guess you'll spend the day with me-"
Arsenio made a noise and began to kick his foot against the pillow in front of him.
"Heyy," Bruce said and looked at Arsenio. "Are we pouting?"
"No..." Aresnio lied and flopped back onto the mattress.
"I'll be back in a few hours and we'll have the whole evening to spend together," Bruce said.
"Six!" Arsenio said and then looked over at the clock beside the bed.
"Right.." Bruce said, reminded of how intelligent his child was. "A little more than a few, but I will be back as soon as I can. I promise."
Arsenio didn't look happy so Bruce reached over Adriana and picked him up. Bruce looked over Arsenio's shoulder and they exchanged a look, trying not to laugh. Arsenio and Bruce has spend a great deal of time together since Bruce has taken several days off work. And now that Bruce was going back, Arsenio was behaving as though it were the end of the world.
"Heyyy we are going to have a fun day," Adriana said and sat up to tug on Arsenio's ankle.
Arsenio turned and looked at her for a second, then looked like he was about to cry. He then turned back to Bruce and threw his arms around Bruce's neck.
"The betrayal!" Adriana laughed.
"Arsenio," Bruce said while rubbing his son's back. "I need you to stay here today and keep your mother company. And take good care of her okay?"
Arsenio nodded.
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"Mommy?" Arsenio said as he played with a few puzzle pieces while sitting in his high chair. "Mommy? Mommy?"
Arsenio looked at Alfred who was looking at Adriana curiously since she appeared to not hear Arsenio calling her.
"Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!" Arsenio said repeatedly.
"Oh!" Adriana said and turned to him. "Sorry baby...I was concentrating.."
"Mommy, I help?" Arsenio said and looked at what she was doing.
"This knife is really sharp," Adriana said as she diced vegetables to blanch and freeze. "It's not safe for little ones...but I'll tell you what, when I make soup you can be my special taste tester okay?"
"Okay mommy," Arsenio said and went back to his puzzle.
Adriana continued chopping the large carrot in front of her when Arsenio called her again.
"Mommy," he said.
"Yes baby?" Adriana replied.
"I love youuuu," he said to her.
"Awww sweetheart," Adriana said and wiped her hand and went over to kiss him. "I love you too."
Arsenio smiled and yawned.
"It's a certain boy's naptime," Alfred said.
Surprisingly, Arsenio didn't complain and insist that he wasn't sleepy. Adriana gave Arsenio another kiss and Alfred took him to his room. Adriana put the mixture of diced vegetables into the pot and set a timer. She was washing the cutting board and knives when Alfred returned.
Together they packaged and put away the prepared food in the freezer.
"Adriana," Alfred said when they were done. "I've been told I am a great listener."
Adriana smiled. Alfred could see that her smile was sad.
"Something is distracting you," Alfred said and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah," Adriana said. "Let's...let's sit."
Adriana and Alfred sat at the table in the kitchen of Wayne Manor. The enormous paneled windows seemed to glow from the fog outside. It was a cool and wet day, but bright despite the fog.
"It's about Bruce," Adriana said and Alfred listened attentively. "Early this morning I found...he's hiding pills. Well..a pill...I found one. Vicodin."
"You said he is hiding them?' Alfred asked.
"It was inside of his shaving brush," Adriana said. "I put it back after I found it...I haven't confronted him about it yet. Alfred...I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say to him. Should I call Dr. Kapoor first? Or would that be bombarding Bruce and going behind his back without talking to him about it first or-"
Alfred took Adriana's hand, calming her.
"I want to talk to him about this myself, Alfred...I need to talk to him about it first but how can I? I've asked him about it a few times and he's been lying...he's already lied to my face about it," Adriana said.
"This is a delicate situation," Alfred said to her. "I am astonished."
"So am I," Adriana said. "Bruce doesn't seem like he would get caught up in something like this but he had that knee injury that he insists is healed or healing...I don't know. Maybe he needs an intervention. But that seems...like I'm escalating things too much too quickly...but he's hiding pills.."
Alfred patted Adriana's hand and looked into her eyes.
"What are you thinking, Alfred?" Adriana asked, curiously.
"That, Bruce has done well in choosing you," Alfred said. "You love him dearly. His habit is a problem we will have to face, but he could not have a better woman at his side."
Adriana smiled and felt like she would cry.
"I hope you're right.." Adriana said. "I just want him to overcome this."
"As do I," Alfred said.
"So what should I do?" Adriana asked.
"I believe you should contact Dr. Kapoor first," Alfred said. "For his advisement. I do not believe Bruce would respond well to an intervention, but the doctor may have some alternative ideas on how to proceed."
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"Don't open it!" the thief said to Shade as she picked up the bag he had been carrying.
"Why did you break in here?" she asked and looked around the ethnic shop. "Looking to steal some goat skins to make a drum?"
"Shade I-" he said and held his arm, which she had snapped. "If you open that I'll get more time for killing you-"
"What's in here?" she asked.
Sirens' undeniable cry could be heard in the distance. Shade rolled her eyes and reached for the zipper on his bag.
"Okay!" he shouted. "It's anthrax! Don't open it!"
"Wow," she said and sat the bag down. "Stockpiling biological weapons...that's new."
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"You're early.." Adriana said to Bruce.
She has showered and scrubbed her skin as soon as she got home. Although she was assured that she had not come into contact with the anthrax at all, she was still concerned enough to clean her skin and suit thoroughly.
Bruce had found her in the bathroom as she stepped out of the shower.
"Well, I did promise my son I'd do my best to be back to spend time with him this evening," Bruce said and kissed her before handing her a towel.
"Oh.." Adriana said.
She had talked to Dr. Kapoor and he seemed to agree with Alfred that a classic intervention would likely not have the best effect on Bruce. They decided that a simple intervention..where Adriana confronted him alone..was likely to impact him more effectively. She needed time to prepare but since he was home early she knew she wouldn't have it.
"Where is Arsenio by the way?" Bruce asked.
"He's...spending the night with Aymara, I asked her to watch him," Adriana said.
Bruce raised his brows. "Did we plan that?" Bruce said, wondering if it had slipped his mind.
"No," Adriana said and grabbed another towel for her hair. "I just thought you and I needed...to take some time..."
"I was looking forward to some time with my son...but, I am always," Bruce said and wrapped his arms around her. "Up for that."
Adriana closed her eyes and felt Bruce kissing her.
"Sweetheart," Adriana said mid-kiss. "I..actually need to talk to you about something."
"What is it, my beloved?" he asked and caressed her chin.
"Let me get dressed and then we can sit down and talk," Adriana said,
Bruce raised his eyebrows again. "This certainly sounds serious."
"It is," Adriana said. "And I just...need a few minutes okay?"
Bruce's eyes were rich and warm, and were the only things keeping her calm and poised. She had to keep it together.
"Okay," Bruce said. "I will wait for you downstairs."
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Bruce poured his own drink since he couldn't find Alfred anywhere. As he took a drink of his scotch, he wondered what could be on Adriana's mind. He wasn't nervous about their marriage because she didn't seem like she was about to break up with him. She seemed like she needed to reveal something. He loved her enough to not care what it was.
But then he was overcome with irrational anxiety and worry. What if she was going to leave him? Why would she? The only thing he could think of was that she had taken another lover. And the only person who came to mind was The Joker.
Jack? Jack was, at the very least, an honest man in Bruce's eyes. Bruce couldn't imagine him having an affair with Adriana behind his back. But what if Adriana was in love with him? The thoughts were absurd and there was no evidence for them but Bruce couldn't stop thinking them. His palms immediately broke into a heavy sweat.
"Hey," Adriana said as she came into his study. "You're having a drink.."
"I figured I may need one," Bruce said to her. "Am I right?"
Adriana walked over to him. "No...I wouldn't say so."
Adriana saw him relax a bit.
"That's a relief," he said and took her hand.
They went over to a couch and sat down.
"Okay, my love," Bruce said, leaving his drink on the table beside him. "I am all ears."
"Great," Adriana said. She was strong, she told herself. This was just words...she could do it. "I need you to be all ears...and...just let me say everything I need to before you say anything."
Bruce sat up a bit straighter and nodded.
"Okay," she said after a deep breath, wondering he was prepared for the words about to confront him. "Bruce...early this morning I found a pill hidden inside of the handle of your shaving brush."
Adriana looked at Bruce. She could tell he wanted to speak, but remembered he had agreed to let her speak.
"I know that I've..come to you a few times with questions about possible use of..opiates," Adriana said. "And you've denied using them. So, obviously..finding that pill there was really concerning to me. "
Adriana was extremely careful with her words, not trying to accuse him of anything. She wanted to be understanding, kind and loving. But at the same time, she needed to demand he seek help.
"So.." Adriana said. "Now that..everything is out in the open and we can be more honest with each other about what's going on."
Bruce's expression was difficult for Adriana to read. He seemed to be hearing what she was saying but it almost felt like he was wearing a poker face.
"We both know that..using this type of substance for this long isn't..the best idea," Adriana said. "It's highly addictive and really unhealthy. So..I just want us to move forward past this. I have to be honest..I already spoke to Alfred about this which is why he's not here right now. He agreed to give us some space for the moment. I also spoke to Dr. Kapoor. This is..something we can overcome. You'll have to end your use of these painkillers so we can go back to..having our relationship go back to normal. Where we were completely honest with each other with no need for secrecy or anything. I don't want you to feel ashamed."
Bruce waited to see if she was done.
"The..next thing I'm going to say isn't easy.." Adriana said. "So I'll just say it. This...isn't negotiable or something we need to discuss. You have to go to treatment for this. Dr. Kapoor knows of a great place..super confidential and excellent record. The best. You'll be there 30 days inpatient and then after that, depending on how things go, you can come back home and do the rest of the treatment outpatient."
He waited again.
"Okay..I'm done," she said.
"Adriana," Bruce said, heavily.
Adriana waited to hear an apology..an apology for lying. Followed by acceptance of what needed to happen.
"You are entirely right that I need to end my use of these painkillers," Bruce said.
Adriana nodded.
"And that is what I will do," he said.
After a silent moment, Adriana spoke.
"Yes," she said. "Through treatment...with people that can help-"
Bruce was shaking his head.
"I don't need rehab," he said. The words she had feared hearing."I've been using opiates longer than is typically recommended but my dosage is very low. I can stop this at any time. And I will stop right now. I am very careful, Adriana-"
"I know you're careful Bruce, you're a careful person," she said. "But i think the best option is getting help-"
"I can go days without it, Adriana," he said. "I have barely any withdrawal. Rehab would be a waste of time, money, as well as a risk for my reputation-"
"Bruce..no one would know, Dr. Kapoor assured me," she said,
"Do you want me to leave for some reason?" Bruce asked, his irrational fears rising again. His hands began to sweat once more.
"Yes?" she said. "I want you to get help."
Bruce swallowed.
"I don't require help with this, though," he said. "Our ultimate goal is honestly and for me to cease my use of-"
"You can't just quit Bruce, you need therapy so..you can get to the bottom of why this started and...just to make sure it never happens again," she said.
"It started from a simple injury," he said. "There is no deeper reason."
"I think there might be and I don't know what it is...but hopefully with treatment and therapy we can communicate about it-" she said.
"You're asking me to miss a month of my son's life over something I don't need," he said.
"You need it," she said. "We need it."
"I cannot suddenly miss work for an entire month," Bruce said. "Even if this place is confidential, people will talk-"
"I don't care," Adriana said, beginning to grow frustrated but refusing to let it show. "All I care about is you getting better."
"And I will," he said. "On my own."
Adriana looked down.
"I..." she said. "Didn't want to have to resort to this but.."
"Resort to what?" he asked her even though she was looking down into her lap and not at him.
"If you don't go," she said. "I'm leaving."
"Leaving," he said, and she looked up into his eyes.
"Yes," she said. "If you don't get help and go to rehab now...I will leave you. I will take our son and I will leave."
Finally, there was a break in Bruce's unreadable poker face. He could see that she was serious.
"But if you go," she said and leaned forward, placing a hand on each of his cheeks. "I'll be right here when you get back. And...we can move forward together with all this behind us."
He held her wrists and lowered her hands.
"30 days is a long time," he said. "Arsenio couldn't handle that."
"Yes..he could," Adriana said. "He's...insanely attached to you and it won't be easy for him but once it's done it's done and you'll never have to leave him again."
"This is.." Bruce said and looked at her.
He wasn't sure he had even been in such a position. Being forced to do something he did not want to for so long. He knew that she loved him dearly and her intentions were noble, but he still felt rehab was ridiculous.
"I meant what I said, Bruce...I will take Arsenio and go," she said, reminding him of her threat and assuring him that she meant it.
"Right..." Bruce said. "In that case...I suppose I don't have much of a choice."
"You always have a choice," she told him. "I just want you to make the right one for our family and for your health."
"Right then," Bruce said. "I will go."