My Father is Death

Chapter 21

!Trigger Warning!

....Maybe....

Read at own Risk

Slade sighed, shutting the door with a soft snick behind him. It was the second week of consistent nightmares. The second week of waking to the blood curtailing screams from the room across from his every night, at one on the dot. Slade felt exhausted and he couldn't even imagine how Dick felt. The boy could barely speak in the morning his vocals were so raw. Wintergreen had already made a habit of making either hot cocoa or Honey tea in the morning.

"How is he?"

Slade looked down the hall to see Wintergreen leaning up against the wall not too far way, "How do you think?"

"You give him a sleeping pill?"

"Yes. They're not working. Or that's what Dick's saying." Slade rubbed a hand through his shoulder length hair, "Damn it. I thought he was getting better." He turned around to throw a punch into the wall. He quickly thought about Dick's restless sleep and realled back. Making a small thunk with his knuckles.

"Three steps forward and one step back."

"One? This is more like taking all three back."

Wintergreen snorted, "Two at most. He's not scared of us. He's at a heathy weight. He's just not sleeping well."

"That's the understatement of the year." Slade sighed again, letting his fist fall from the wall, "How the hell are we suppose to help? I can't fight nightmares. I can't. No matter how much I want to."

"Bring him to your bed for the rest of the night. I think he'll feel better when he knows your there." Wintergreen yawned, covering it with one of his hands, "I'm going back to bed. One of us needs to be awake in the morning."

Slade grunted, watching his friend head back to his room. After a brief minute Slade turned to go back into Dick's room. Taking heed to Wintergreen's advice. But Dick wasn't in his bed. The covers were thrown back. Zeika was missing but the Tiger was still there. Slade tried the window on the far side. Locked. Slade kneeled down, looking under the bed. Nope.

A crash came from the bathroom and a small shuffled curse. Slade sighed both in relief and annoyance. Either Grant or Joey was going to take responsibility for those words. Walking to the bathroom, noting the light wasn't on underneath the door, he knocked, "Dick? You in there bud?" He tried the knob. It turned. Walking in Slade flipped on the switch, earning a hiss from Dick. 

At first Slade really didn't see anything wrong. Dick was kneeling on the sink counter, he's done odder things, staring at him with Zeika in one hand. What was in his other hand made Slade rush forward, snatching out of his hand. Dick flinched back clashing to the floor, curling back into a corner.

"Did you take any?!" Slade barked at Dick.

Dick jumped, curling further back.

"Dick, answer me! Did you take any?!"

Dick shook his head franticly; no.

Slade led out a relived breath sagging to the floor, "God, damn it, Dick." He looked to his son and sighed, "Come here kiddo." He made his tone more welcoming, letting the fear rush out of him, "You're alright. Come here." Slade held out his hand to Dick. 

Dick looked at him, eyes blown wide, sweat glistening on his brow, and body trembling. Slowly Dick uncurled himself and moved towards Slade. Reaching out Slade pulled Dick all the way into his arms. Dick froze fear taking hold of him but strong arms wrapped around him. Rubbing his back in circles.

"Shh, Dick." Slade whispered, "You're alright. I'm sorry I yelled."

Dick's breathing hitched trying to hold in his tears but they came all the same. Slade hummed to the boy, trying to get his own heartbeat under control. With little notice, Slade placed the sleeping pill bottle on the counter above his head.

"I'm, I'm, I'm Sorry." Dick sobbed.

Slade pulled the boy closer, "I know. I know. Now you know better. Ok?" He clamped an arm around Dick as he got carefully to his feet, "Let's get to bed now."

Dick shook his head, "NO. No. No. no...no...n...o......." his pleads turned back into sobs.

Slade rubbed the boy's back, reaching down and picking up the stuffed Elephant abandoned on the floor, "Shhh, Dickie. I'm right here. I'm not leaving. You can spend the night with me. We'll start trying to figuring this out in the morning."

Dick didn't seem to hear him but Slade just kept rubbing the boy's back and holding him close. Slade put the bottle away before taking Dick out of the room and to his own. Slade sat down going to pull the boy off to lay him down but Dick wouldn't let go. He really shouldn't have been surprised. Slade sighed, pulling himself on to the bed and setting Dick in his lap. He than pulled his laptop to him.

~   ~   ~

Wintergreen found Slade the next morning with Dick on his lap and the man wide awake. Dick on the other hand was fast asleep. Slade held up a finger to his lips. Wintergreen nodded, walking over to Slade.

"How are you two?"

Slade sighed softly, "He was going for the sleeping pills when I walked in."

"God. I don't think he knew the danger."

"I know but seeing that bottle in his hand nearly gave me a heart attack." Slade closed his laptop, "I did a little research-"

"Little?"

Slade ignored him, "And I saw that if you change the environment to rapidly or change people too much, it could cause a slight relaps before he can settle again."

Wintergreen hummed, reaching over to pick Dick up, "Breakfast is ready." Dick's eyes fluttered open looking around before closing once more.

"You're not waking him up?"

"I think he deserves some sleep. Maybe you can take him to the beach today? We are in Star City after all." Wintergreen patted Slade's knee before walking out, calling back, "Go take a shower, you're all sweaty."

Slade groaned, "Oh shut up you old man."

"Watch those comments. I just might slip with the pepper on your eggs."

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