how it all went down {batfam}

sixteen

"Come have your breakfast and we'll head over," Alfred said walking in on the boys.

"Why couldn't we go with him?" Dick asked.

"Master Wayne wanted some alone time to talk to the doctors and be with Lady Camilla in case..." he didn't know what to say next.

"In case what?" Stephanie asked walking in. Alfred remained quiet. "What were you going to say, Alfred!" she yelled.

"Don't use that tone of voice with me!" he snapped at her. Everyone was taken aback. Alfred has been acting out more and more and no one knows why. "Eat your food and we'll see what's going on. Now excuse me for a moment," he said untying his apron and walking out.

"Is he okay?" Tim asked.

"Alfred is trying to keep this house together," Grayson said finishing his food.
~
When Bruce got to the hospital he rushed up the stairs into her room and saw her laying there. Pale, weak, lifeless. That's what Bruce thought when he saw her.

"I shouldn't have let her into this life. I knew it would get her killed."

"Mr. Wayne," a man said knocking on the door. He turned quickly and saw a man in a white coat, her doctor.

"Hello Dr.-"

"Everett."

"Yes. Dr. Everett. Is my daughter okay?" he asked turning back to look at her.

"She gave us a scare in the middle of the night. Her heart stopped. We successfully revived her but she has severe blood loss."

"How can I help?" he asked.

"All we could do is wait."

"Well I guess I know what I'm doing." Bruce sat down in a chair next to her. He started feeling awful. He felt a tear slip down his cheek but quickly wiped it away. "Cam, I'm so sorry. I wish I could take back everything I said. I shouldn't have left you. Instead I went on a goose chase where Joker ended up back in Arkham in the end anyways." He stood up and looked out the window. He saw the view of Gotham in the day. It was the sun shining over the Wayne Enterprises. The tallest building besides the hospital.
~
Alfred and the kids arrived two hours later to the hospital bearing gifts. They brought Bruce food and Cam gifts on top of gifts.

"Do you know anything?" Grayson asked.

"She has to fight."

"That's it?" Todd said in disbelief. Everyone looked at him. "We've waited all this time for that! I need more. I need to know she'll be okay!"

"Well you're in luck," the doctor said walking in. "We've updated her results and it looks like she's trying to pull through. She's improved in the last hour. Hopefully by tomorrow she'll wake up." Everyone relaxed for the first time in 24 hours.

"Thank you, Dr. Everett," Bruce said. "Can I talk to you outside, alone," he said. Everyone looked at them but no one cared enough to walk out.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Wayne?" he asked.

"Did you find anything else on her?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like any DNA that isn't hers." The doctor looked down and closed his eyes.

"I was hoping to not have to say this in front of your family. Your exceptionally large family. But we did. We don't know who's it was. But very good sources says it's the Joker's." Bruce looked down.

"No one else?"

"No, sir."

"Could you leave that off the report? I would like to keep that under wraps."

"Mr. Wayne I don't think I can-"

"Listen here Dr. Everett I am a powerful man, as you know, so let's make a deal. I let you keep your job and you do this tiny favor for me. Okay?"

"Yes, Mr. Wayne."

"Thank you." Everett left in silence and ready to forge some records. Bruce walked in and everyone became silent.

"So?" Dick asked.

"So, what?" Bruce asked.

"Your not going to tell us?"

"Tell you what?"

"The doctor looked like he was going to shit his pants at whatever you asked him to do. So what did you ask?"

"Nothing."

"But-"

"God dammit, Dick!" he shouted. "Just drop it." So they did.

"Are you staying with her?" Bruce asked, All the kids nodded.

"Okay, I need to hold a press conference to explain all of her mistakes at my gala last night."

"Are you seriously degrading her when she's fighting for her life?" Cassie said.

"He's not! It's not her fault everything happened. Well except the one with Mr. Thomas," Tim said. Cassie lunged at him. The family was trying to get her off as she clawed at him. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Tim said brushing himself off.

"You-," she said trying to catch her breathe. She had tears in her eyes and hated everyone looking at her like she was crazy. "Screw all of you," she said pushing Jason off her and walking out.

"Alfred's going to have fun trying to keep this together," Tim said to Grayson. Dick looked at him and rolled his eyes. He walked out the door going after Cassie.

"Cassie!" Dick yelled down the hall. He ran down to catch the elevator.

"What do you want?" she asked with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry this happened. I know how much Cam means to you and to see her like this must break you." She looked at him and saw how much pity he had for her. Then the elevator doors opened.

"Screw you, Dick," she said walking out and going to the exit.

"Alfred, you're our only hope."