A Basket Full of Bats

Angries

When Dickie started to turn yellow and his pediatrician recommended sun lamp therapy he'd have to be blind folded for, his blind fold ended up looking rather suspiciously like a domino mask. Bruce frowned then looked around. Cassie was tiptoeing out of the room with her craft scissors in hand.

Catwoman will kill me if she sees that blindfold thought Bruce.

Dickie was currently trying to earn a bead for eating on his own. Suck, swallow, breathe was a really big deal. Bruce never thought he be excited about cleaning a baby's diaper but it was big progress that Richard's gut seemed to be functioning well enough to fill diapers.

Tim was thoroughly curious about the learning process for feeding, the specialized pacifiers, a tiny milk tube attached to a finger, the funny little bottles. Tim would lecture Dick when he wasn't doing it right which was still most of the time.

Bruce rubbed at his face in disbelief. We're all loosing our minds he thought. Tim is old enough to know Richard won't learn a thing from lectures. Bruce thought of the Charlie Brown cartoons with the teachers Whaa, wha, wha Whaa...

"Stop lecturing him butt head! He's doing his best." Jason shoved Tim who'd been supporting Richard's head while the tiny baby was trying to suck on a pacifier.

Bruce with lightening fast Batman reflexes, leaped and stabilized Tim and the incubator bed with Richard in it, that Tim had his arms in.

Jason realized what he'd almost done and froze like a deer in a spot light. He was panting in panic. He swore then bolted.

Richard having been jostled was crying and flailing.

Tim's hand was tangled in the medical lines leading to and from the baby.

"I've got it Mr. Wayne go take care of Jason," ordered the nurse.

Bruce ran to find Jason. Alfred pointed out the front door. Bruce slipped shoes on and ran after Jason, who he could just see disappearing into the tree line. He missed the cowl which protected his eyes letting him run full out even through a forested area, without poking his eyes out. Bruce really didn't want to tackle Jason like some common thug so when he had him clearly in site again, he just kept pace with him. Jason was fast but he was seven. Bruce was a lot faster.

Jason ran for about 30 minutes flat out before he finally seemed to clue in that Bruce was just keeping pace with him. He staggered to a stop. He was red faced, sweaty and a mess of tears.

Bruce approached him like he would a wounded animal. "Jason are you okay?"

Jason didn't have the breath to answer.

Bruce slowly knelt beside Jason and took his hands pulling him close gently. "We're working on the anger and the impulses right?"

Jason nodded.

"We visit with Richard when our bodies and minds are calm. Put your hand over your heart. Are you calm."

Jason shook his head.

"When did you start feeling like a closed fist?"

Jason who was still shaking didn't answer and wouldn't look Bruce in the eyes. When Jason still wouldn't answer after about ten minutes Bruce slowly stood.

"I'll carry you. You took off without your shoes. Ouch, your feet are going to be a mess. Come on Buddy. Let's get you home."

Bruce had shifted Jason to piggy back and they'd been walking for about half an hour when Jason finally answered.

"You let Tim give him a pacifier but not me."

"It's not fair. First step." Bruce coached.

"Calm body, calm mind, calm words," answered Jason tiredly.

"Second step."

"Talk to a grown up."

"Third step."

"Make a plan. Think about what will happen. Then act. Bruce life's not "Dora the Explorer". The angries just happen. Not every action can be three steps long. What if it was a criminal about to knife someone?"

"Then you can't be a closed fist. The angries have to stay away so you can make good choices."

Jason sighed. "I really hope I didn't hurt Dickie Bird. He was crying. I made him cry."

"Someone would have called on my communicator by now if he was hurt."

"Can you check, just to be sure?"

"Alfred? It's Bruce. I've got Jason and we're headed back to the house. Was Richard alright."

"He's crying Bruce. I can here him crying." Jason knew Alfred must be right in Richard's room. Dickie had a soft little sobbing cry. His lungs still weren't strong enough to make much noise.

"Master Richard is currently having his nappy changed and is rather disagreeable due to a nasty rash one of his medications seems to be causing."

"Thank you Alfred."

Jason rested a tired head on Bruce's shoulder.