Batman Alternate Universe--Conquering the Beast

Her Sidekick Snatched

"How are we going to explain this to his parents?" Alfred fretted.

It was the next morning and both Bruce and Alfred were sitting up in Bruce's room, on her bed trying to figure out what to do.

"We'll..." Bruce thought hard for a moment. "We'll have to convince them that we've got him staying over longer this weekend."

"They'll ask questions! They'll want him to go back to school!" Alfred said, trying in vain to keep tears from leaking down her cheeks.

"We'll figure something out Alfred..." Bruce said, her face worn and worried as she wrapped an arm around her friend. "I'm so sorry...This is all my fault." Her voice shook. She swallowed down the painful lump in her throat.

"No." Alfred shook her head and looked up at Bruce. "Don't say that. Just don't. We've just got to find him. That's all." She stated firmly.

Bruce nodded and said nothing, but inside, she was kicking herself over and over again. This is my fault. I'll never forgive myself for this one...

Ding-dong.

Alfred made to get it, but Bruce set a hand on her knee and shook her head. "No, just take it easy, I'll get it."

"But Master Bruce, I'm fine. It's you who needs to take it easy." Alfred said, her tired eyes full of care. "Besides, you don't want anyone to see you like this. They'll ask questions."

True, Bruce wasn't in the best shape. There was a big bandage across the lower part of her face, and though Alfred had relocated her shoulder, her arm felt like it needed to be in a sling.

"I'll be fine." Bruce said, leaving the room and heading downstairs.

She opened the door, and to her surprise she found both Barry and Kara standing on the step.

"Hey Bruce." Barry said, his lips drawn thin across his face with concern.

"Hi, Bruce." Kara said. Her eyes looked watery as if she might cry.

"What are you guys doing here?" Bruce asked, cringing inwardly with how accusatory she'd made that sound.

"Um...well." Kara said, looking at Barry and then to her shoes "Alfred called me and told me what was going on while you were sleeping."

Barry just stood there, his mouth open as if he wanted to say something, but was waiting, his eyes on Kara.

"Oh yeah, and uh, I told Barry and Oliver." Kara added.

"Can we come in?" Barry asked delicately.

"Sure." Bruce backed away and they entered.

"I hope you're not mad..." Kara said, looking worried.

Bruce sighed. Yes, she was mad. This was one of the biggest failures of her life, she certainly didn't want everyone to know about it and come to try and help in something that she, and she alone had to fix. "Alfred's upstairs in my room." She said to Kara, pointing.

Kara looked at Bruce once more, looking upset, then went up the stairs.

Barry stayed, turning and looking down at Bruce. "Hey...how are you holding up?" His eyes were on the bandage on her cheek.

Bruce wanted desperately to tell him that Alfred hadn't been able to get to the cut soon enough and that there was a good chance that it would scar. She wanted to tell him that she was scared to her bones for Dick and freaking out that she'd just gotten him killed. She wanted to dissolve into tears and cry into his shoulder for the next ten years. But that, she told herself, would not solve anything. "I'll be fine. I just want to know where that bastard took Dick." Bruce's voice shook with emotion. "I want to know why. Why he took him."

"Bruce." Barry said. "That's why we're here. We want to help. Oliver will be here as soon as he can—"

"No."

Barry blinked, his eyebrows lowering. "What?"

"No. I don't want you're guy's help. I can do this alone."

"But Bruce." Barry said, looking flabbergasted. "You've been hurt badly. We'll cover more ground as a team. Why would you want to do this alone?"

"Because..." Her hands were shaking. She clasped them together tightly and they were still. "I failed. It's my duty to fix this. I have to do this alone."

Barry stood there silently and stared at her for a long moment. "Is there no way I can convince you to do otherwise?"

"No."

"Do you want me to leave?"

Bruce fought with herself for a moment. Yes I want you to leave! I don't want your sympathy! I don't need your help. Get out so I can focus on finding Dick!! Her ego said.

No. I didn't mean it. Please don't leave me. I need help. I'm scared. Barry, what have I done? What do I do?! The rest of her said.

"Yes." She said. She immediately regretted it.

Barry's face turned cold, a twinge of pain washed through his eyes. "Alright then." He turned and walked to the door. "Kara! I'm leaving!" He called up the stairs. He looked back then. "Give my regards to Alfred. And if you change your mind..." Barry opened the door. "Give me a call."

A red blur and he was gone.

Bruce clamped a hand to her mouth and a tear fell down her face. She turned and ran for the entrance to the Batcave.