A.N. So sorry for the delay in this story. I've been sick and am finally getting back into writing. This is a shorter chapter, but we'll be getting into some more action in the next few chapters so enjoy! Please read and review!

Ch. 5

Bruce bolted upright in his bed. He blinked confused for a second. Why was he awake? He glanced around his dark room, but everything was silent. Bruce had always been a light sleeper, but recently he'd been so exhausted he'd slept deeper than ever. He cocked his head. Something had woken him up, but he didn't know what. He crept out of bed and headed over to his desk. He hit a button which pulled up the security cameras.

He narrowed his eyes scanning for anything out of the ordinary. No alarms had gone off and it was three in the morning, so Alfred wouldn't be up for a few more hours. Bruce switched the cameras to the outside, but nothing moved. Not even the leaves in the trees. Everything was still, silent, undisturbed. So, the grounds were secure, but something was wrong.

Something woke him from his blissful sleep, but what? He closed the cameras and headed back to bed when he heard it. A soft whimper. He froze ears straining. Had he imagined it? The mansion was old and often made strange noises, but this sounded different. It had been so soft he almost missed it. It sounded like a small puppy, but Bruce didn't think Alfred bought a dog.

The sound came from beyond his room, so he grabbed his robe and peeked out his door. Then an ear-piercing shriek resounded turning his blood to ice. It had come from Dick's room. He bolted down the hallway and threw open the door to see the boy thrashing against his sheets. Bruce flicked on the lamp and hurried to the bedside.

Dick had tangled himself in his covers, so Bruce grabbed his flailing arms. With his other hand he gently shook his shoulders trying to wake him.

"Kid, wake up!" Bruce frowned.

Dick was still deep in sleep and jerking about like he was fighting someone invisible. Bruce shook him harder until the kid's eyes snapped open. They were glazed in terror and he flinched away from Bruce as if he was going to be attacked.

"Whoa, easy Dick. It's Bruce. You're okay."

Dick's eyes went wide and looked about him in confusion. "No, no, no…"

"Dick? Look at me," Bruce lightly touched the kid's arm. He waited until the kid's eyes landed on him. "You're safe. It was just a dream."

Bruce could feel the kid tremble in fear underneath the blankets. His breath came in gasps and he looked up at Bruce with wide frightened eyes. Then the boy looked down, but Bruce could tell he was crying from the hitch in his breath.

Bruce sat there unsure of himself. He wanted to comfort Dick, but he didn't want to scare the child. He cleared his throat nervously. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly.

Dick sat there before swiping a hand across his face. He peeked up at Bruce with tear stained cheeks.

"Is it really you?" Dick asked hesitantly as if Bruce would suddenly disappear.

Bruce looked down at him surprised. "Of course, it's me. I'm right here," He scooted closer and reached out his hand. Dick grasped it and then to Bruce's surprise the kid flung himself into his arms. Bruce caught him before he could fall off the bed and pulled him onto his lap. Bruce rubbed his back as the kid let out a shuddering breath.

"I thought you were gone. They took you away from me...and then...they…." Dick gripped Bruce's robe tightly fighting the lump building in his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut against his growing panic. He rested his forehead against Bruce's shoulder and tried to calm down, but all he could see was that scarred face sneering down at him. All he could smell was the breath that stank like rotten eggs and cigarettes. Dick didn't realize he was sobbing until he had trouble breathing. He was hyperventilating and Bruce was saying something to him, but everything felt muted like he was underwater.

Bruce had moved the kid till he was facing him directly. The kid was having a full-on panic attack and he had to get him to calm down.

"Dick, look at me. I need you to breathe. Breathe with me, okay. One, two, three. In and out. There you go. In and out. Good job. Just like that."

Bruce lifted a thumb and wiped away a tear. He watched Dick with concern as the kid seemed to lose focus and began to withdraw. He rubbed his back while whispering words of comfort.

"Shh, you're safe Dick. It was just a dream. None of it was real. I'm right here. You're okay."

After a few more minutes, Bruce pulled him into a hug stroking his black mop of hair. Bruce was familiar with nightmares but seeing Dick struggle with them broke his heart. He couldn't take them away, but he could be there for him. It scared him seeing the kid so terrified clinging to him like his life depended on it.

As Batman he could deal with pretty much anything that was thrown at him, but seeing a vulnerable child nearly undid him. He had to be strong for Dick because he had no one else. He had never planned on being a parent, but circumstances said otherwise. As he sat there holding the sniffling child, it struck him how much of an effect this kid had on him. Though Bruce had kept his distance at first letting Alfred take over, something drew him to the kid. This almost ten-year-old boy had wormed his way into his heart and Bruce had no idea how to handle it.

Perhaps it was the fact that his house seemed too quiet and serious. With it being just him and Alfred for the past twenty plus years maybe it was time for a change. Bruce liked it when it was quiet and he could be alone working, but he realized he loved hearing Dick's laughter ring through his home. Alfred knew Bruce didn't have many soft spots but seeing Dick's smile and laugh was one of them.

Bruce was beginning to realize that he had been missing something in his life. His work as Batman had closed him off to family and now Dick had opened that door once more. Over the past year, the three of them had grown closer and Bruce reached the point where he wanted Dick to become part of the Wayne family. Deep down he realized he wanted Dick to be his son.

Bruce looked down to see Dick had fallen asleep on his chest his face still wet with tears. Though he still looked tense some of the anxiousness and terror had left leaving him looking exhausted and worn. Bruce had no idea what the kid's dream was about, but it worried him. He needed sleep to get through his studies and function as a normal child.

Bruce had learned some deep meditation methods to help calm the spirit, but it had taken months for himself to uncoil and relax. He wasn't sure Dick was ready for that. Maybe he could talk to Dr. Bell about some medication that could help the child sleep better. Alfred had told him he gave Dick a sleeping pill, but it eventually wore off. The last thing Bruce wanted was for Dick to withdraw and face his nightmares alone. He didn't want him to fear going to sleep and facing his demons. He wanted a normal life for the kid or at least as normal as he could make it.

Another part of Bruce was worried how he could keep the kid safe. As Batman he had made many enemies and even though few people knew his secret identity, he wasn't taking any chances. Alfred had already been targeted more than a few times in his early career though that was years ago. He still worried something would happen. He had some of the best security in the world laced throughout his home and the Batcave. Years ago, he had spoken with Alfred about backup plans for nearly any scenario. Though he hoped and prayed none of them would come to fruition.

Dick had a background as an acrobat and Bruce had begun giving the boy self-defense lessons a few months ago, but he was nowhere ready to go against some of Batman's rivals if one of them attacked. Only his closest friends knew about his new ward and he didn't want to bring him into the public eye until the boy was comfortable. As a member of the Wayne family, the media loved picking apart every bit of their lives and Bruce hated it, but that was a sacrifice of being one of Gotham's top billionaires.

Bruce sighed and watched the sleeping child nestled against him. Bruce glanced at the alarm clock on the stand near the bed. It was almost four in the morning and Bruce could feel the stiffness settling in his bones. He shifted to set Dick back in bed, but even in his sleep the boy protested against the movement.

The boy had a grip of iron on his robe and had curled up closer to him. Bruce frowned. This was going to be harder than he thought. Bruce slowly gathered the kid in his arms when Dick mumbled something.

"What?" Bruce whispered quietly.

Dick furrowed his brow, but kept his eyes shut. "Stay...please…"

The desperateness in his voice almost broke Bruce's heart. But he had a dilemma. Both of them wouldn't fit in Dick's bed even though he was quite small. Either Bruce laid him down and he grabbed a spare chair, or they could sleep on the floor, but how was he going to peel the boy off him? Guess it was plan C.

He gathered Dick in his arms, grabbed a blanket and pillow and headed to his room. His bed was plenty big for the both of them. Bruce never had anyone in his room accept Alfred when he cleaned the windows. Bruce's room was off limits, but this was a special circumstance. Dick needed him and Bruce was sure the kid wasn't fully aware of what was happening.

Bruce laid the pillow down and slowly lowered himself down to the bed. Dick had finally fallen into a deeper sleep, so Bruce gently shifted him off him tucking him into the right side of the bed. Though he slept on, the kid seemed to sense he was safe. His face relaxed a little more and his breath came in steady pulses. Bruce sat there for a few minutes studying the boy's face. He looked so innocent and frail his cheeks stained with tear tracks. Bruce brushed a strand of loose black hair out of his face. "You're going to be okay, Dick. I promise," he whispered to the sleeping child.

He finished tucking the boy in before he climbed into bed himself. Bruce sighed staring at the ceiling. This was going to be a long night. Part of him wanted to stay awake in case Dick woke again, but he knew he needed sleep too. Bruce switched to his side, so he faced the boy. He listened to his soft breath as the kid curled deeper into the blankets. After a while, his eyes closed, and he too drifted off.

The following morning, Alfred found himself searching the mansion for the young master. The house was quiet, so he was surprised to find Dick's room empty. Then he heard light snoring from Bruce's room. His door was cracked open slightly, so Alfred quietly peeked in and he stifled a laugh. Bruce was sprawled out with an arm over his face while Dick curled up next to him. The butler smiled and wished he had a camera for that moment was too precious. It must have been a rough night. He thought to himself. However, it was the weekend, so Alfred decided to let them sleep. He knew they both needed it, so he silently slipped away to make some coffee.