"Mommy?" Arsenio said to Adriana.
"Yes, baby?" Adriana replied.
"I can...see dogs?" he asked.
There was a team in the manor with detection dogs. They were searching everywhere for opiates. Arsenio had seen them through the window as a team searched the grounds. Adriana and Arsenio were staying in Arsenio's room while the search went on. Adriana had just gotten her stitches removed but the scarring on her face was still very apparent. Arsenio understood that the scar was not bad, but it was a secret. Sometimes he forgot.
"Sweetie, remember the secret," Adriana said and tilted her cheek towards him.
"Ohhh," he said to her.
He didn't understand why the dogs were there. Adriana had lied and told him that they were searching for bats, which regularly made their way into Wayne Manor and would sometimes even nest in the higher areas of the mansion.
"Mommy?" Arsenio asked.
"Yes, my love?" Adriana replied and watched him assembling his Lego robot that he had been designing. He was too small at two years old to play with tiny Legos, Adriana told him, but he insisted that he knew to never put them into his mouth. He was a very smart child.
"Daddy is helping them?" he asked.
"Yes, baby," Adriana said to him. "I'm sure they'll be done soon."
Bruce was with Dr. Kapoor. Since he had decided to complete rehab at home, they were setting everything up. Bruce was being drug tested and talking with the doctor about the plan going forward.
"Sweetie," Adriana said. "How about we clean up and take a break from building? Alfred traerá nuetro almuerzo pronto."
"We eat potatoes?" Arsenio asked after Adriana told him that Alfred was bringing up lunch soon.
"Complete with little potato cubes, like you requested," Adriana said with a smile.
Arsenio smiled and began to collect Legos and put them into a box. Alfred was in a few minutes later and Arsenio insisted that Alfred eat with them. Adriana wasn't sure Alfred would be up for eating on the floor with them picnic style on a blanket but he joined them easily. After lunch, Arsenio asked again about Bruce.
"Daddy still helping dogs?" Arsenio asked.
"I believe so," Alfred replied. "But I was informed that they would be completed with their work at around 1:30."
Arsenio reached for Alfred's wrist and looked at his watch. It took him a moment to look and the watch's hands to determine what time it was. Adriana and Alfred watched him try to remember which hands meant what.
"Um..." Arsenio said. "One...Four!"
"Correct," Alfred said. "It's 1:04."
"I could go check and see how everything is going," Adriana said. She was genuinely curious.
"Are you certain? I could go if you'd like," Alfred offered.
"No, I'll just wear my mask," Adriana said and pulled the large blue paper surgical mask out of her pocket. It covered the entire lower half of her face. "If any of the people out there ask any questions, I'll just start a rumor that I had a rhinoplasty or something. Still healing."
Alfred laughed briefly. "Alright then."
"I'll be right back 'Seni," Adriana said to Arsenio.
"Okay mommy," Arsenio said, excitedly, hoping he would be able to see his father before his naptime, which he knew was coming soon.
Once she was gone Arsenio turned to Alfred.
"Alfred," Arsenio said Alfred's name clearly.
"Yes, Master Arsenio?" Alfred replied.
"Rhino," Arsenio said. "Plastic? Rhino plastic?"
Alfred laughed. "Rhinoplasty," Alfred said. "I'll have your father explain it to you later."
Adriana spotted a team of two men with a dog in the room next to Arsenio's. One of them smiled at her and nodded. She smiled back, hoping they could tell that she was smiling even though her mouth was covered.
"Allergic to dogs," she said, coming up with excuse on the spot for her mask.
"No problem, Mrs. Wayne we are nearly done," one of the men said to her.
Adriana made her way to the west wing of the manor and as she walked, finally alone, she felt her thoughts immediately go to him. To Jack. She had tried to call him a few times and he had sent her texts in response saying that he was buy. She knew he wasn't. He was waiting for her to tell him that she had come clean to Bruce about what had happened. They had kissed. And Adriana had told Jack that she wanted to leave Bruce to be with him. She remembered saying the words, it felt real. But now, she was not sure of anything.
She was surprised to see a woman sitting at a desk in the middle of a large wide corridor through the west wing. She looked like a receptionist.
"Mrs. Wayne!" the woman said with a great deal of excitement. Then she cleared her throat and calmed down. "Hi..I'm Laura."
"Hi Laura," Adriana said to the woman who's hair color was also dark blonde, similar to her own. Her eyes were grey and she wore a white top tucked into a black skirt. "Are you...a secretary or..?"
"I'm the receptionist here," she explained. "I'll be here from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day."
"Wow that's a long shift," Adriana said.
"I don't mind at all and it's only for a month or so hopefully," she said with a smile.
"Have you been told why you're here?" Adriana asked.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Wayne," Laura said. "Everyone here has signed confidentiality agreements and everything is under HIPPA law for your husband's treatment."
Adriana nodded with relief.
"Great," Adriana said. "Can I see my husband?"
"Yes, the doctor just left but should be back shortly," Laura said. "I believe Mr. Wayne should still be in Room 4."
"Room 4?" Adriana asked.
"On the left," Laura pointed.
"Ok, gotcha," Adriana said, seeing that a few doors down the hall had been given numbers.
Adriana found the room with the number 4 on the door. She went in without knocking . The room was a study with a short wall of books, a fireplace and several seats. She found Bruce sitting hunched forward with his face in hands. He looked defeated.
She went over to him and knelt. "Bruce.." she said softly.
She had clearly startled him. His head popped up quickly. Adriana was immediately concerned. It wasn't like him to look so broken and to also not be aware of his surroundings.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He smiled and she could see the smile was only there to reassure her.
"I am fine darling," he said. "Just tired. It's been a long day."
Adriana touched the dark hair falling forward onto his forehead. She pushed it back and looked into his eyes. The moment became peculiar, because as she looked at him lovingly, she began to see their son. She knew that Bruce was not Arsenio's biological father, but right now...he looked like their son. She saw Arsenio in him.
"Okay," Adriana said and pulled her surgical mask down and kissed him.
"Thank you," he said, his eyes still closed after the kiss. He seemed to be savoring it. Adriana suddenly felt guilty, for having been so distant from him. He needed her support now.
"I'm sorry," Dr. Kappor's voice said.
Adriana turned around and saw that the doctor had come in and was holding some papers.
"I didn't realize you were here, Adriana," he said.
"It's alright," Adriana said and stood up.
"I was just here to go over some results," Dr. Kapoor said.
"Results?" Adriana asked.
"Of Bruce's tests," Dr. Kapoor explained.
"Oh..right...that was fast," Adriana said. Bruce's drug tests.
Adriana placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder.
"Well, whatever the results are it's fine," Adriana said to Bruce. "We're here to work on this and support you. I love you no matter what and we'll get through this."
Bruce nodded and then they both looked at the doctor.
"All of your tests were clear," the doctor said. "There were no opiates, or any other drugs in your system."