A Basket Full of Bats

Bat Lullaby

Things in the Wayne house hold had settled down a bit, sort of. Richard was steadily gain weight. That was awesome.

Everyone got a good scare when they first tried to take Richard off the CPAP and three hours in, he spontaneously stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated with difficulty but he had very attentive care for a reason. They didn't try to take him off the CPAP again for another week. When the took him off the CPAP the next time he still had A and B episodes where he'd stop breathing and his heart would slow down but the apnea alarm usually startled him awake and he'd start breathing again or else a little pat, rub or gentle shake would wake him a little and get him breathing properly so they kept him on the nasal cannula instead of the CPAP gradually reducing the supplemental oxygen.

Bruce was not handling the weaning of breathing support well. He pretty much wasn't sleeping and had to be chased out of the nursery.

Diana (Wonder Woman) stopped by for a visit and took Bruce for a walk. When Bruce started crying because one of the ornamental garden cherubs had fallen over and it wasn't breathing. She brought him back inside and told him to go to sleep.

He went back to the nursery to check on Richard just one more time. Neither the doctor nor the nurse wanted him there right now.

"You're giving him a prescription for caffeine?" Bruce asked while drinking his sixth cup of coffee of the morning. He had to stay awake. "Whatever for?"

"He won't sleep as deeply, so it should reduce the apnea episodes," explained the pediatrician. "Your son Timothy I believe it is, has been charting the episodes. They are reducing Mr. Wayne."

Bruce really needed more sleep. He was picturing what people would say when he poured a serving of his Blue Mountain Java from the coffee shop into one of Richard's tiny bottles added some breast milk and passed it to his tiny baby with a sleep deprived 'Bottoms up! He likes his with extra milk folks.'

"Isn't caffeine supposed to stunt growth? He's itty bitty."

"Mr. Wayne please go have a nap. We won't let anything happen to him. This is all part of the process," the pediatrician coached.

Bruce wondered what he'd vocalized and what he hadn't. Given that the Jason nurse, oh dear that wasn't her name, what was her name? Any way, she was currently hiding her Starbucks so he thought maybe the sleep thing was getting a bit urgent.

"My name is Amy, Mr. Wayne. Please go sleep."

I'm Batman I should be able to handle a little sleep deprivation, thought Bruce.

"Batman, please go to sleep," repeated Amy gently.

Bruce staggered out of the nursery like a drunkard looking rather alarmed. "Goodness Snakes Alfred! I told Amy I'm Batman!"

Alfred escorted Bruce up to bed.

Damian watched quietly.

"It's horrible," Bruce confessed to Damian.

"You also thought the potted plant was a turtle attacking the nursery. No one is listening to you in this state father. Go to sleep. I will watch Richard until you wake."

Cassie curled up on one side of the bed very carefully nowhere near Bruce but watching to make sure he'd sleep. She had a blowgun loaded with a tranquilizer dart hidden under the pillow on her side of the bed. It was Batman's nap time or else it was Batman's nap time.

"Nobody sleeps around here but Richard, who doesn't know how to wake up," complained Bruce.

After an hour of watching Bruce toss and turn and shoot awake at every noise. Cassie took care of it.

"Ree'ard be fine. Daddy sleep now."

On Damian's watch Richard had two apnea episodes. The first time the alarm startled him awake. The second time Damian had to poke him. Then he scolded him. "Tiny idiot, breathing is not optional. I do not care how tired you are. It is not something you are allowed to take breaks at." Damian picked up his brother supporting his head and cuddling him to his chest, watching as Richard gasped trying to catch his breath. "You are alarming father. Stop it. No you may not chew on my finger. I am displeased with you. Your weight gain is adequate but I would appreciate if you could cease spitting up at every feed. You must work on that. Also, please attempt to relieve yourself more regularly. I do not appreciate that it seems to become a topic of discussion at every meal time."

Stephanie who'd come because it was time for milk smiled a little and considered discussing the poop situation just to get on Damian's nerves but decided that she'd rather the nursery be off limits in the general house hold war.

Jason was in the midst of trying to convince Alfred to help him plan a 0th birthday party for Dickie Bird in two weeks. It was the day Richard was supposed to have been born. Jason wanted to have, "Tiny cakes like they had in 'Alice and Wonderland' Alfie! Dickie Bird sized... and maybe Dickie could get some actual toys for his birthday and milkshakes! Babies like milk so that would be like respect'n his swag. No candles though cuz no fire in the nursery which totally works cuz Alfie it'll be his 0th birthday! Not breast milk milkshakes though. Ya know, just gross. Can we have balloons? And... I bet Cassie'd be all over making a birthday banner!"

Alfred watched as Jason animatedly bounced on the sofa in the room he was trying to dust. He should scold the boy but it would probably just be easier to arrange rental of a bounce house for the 0th Birthday party. "I'm sorry Master Jason. I'm far to busy to arrange a party."

"Dickie likes soft things and peak-a-boo... D'ja think he'd want a magician to pull a rabbit out of a hat and make things disappear and reappear? I think he'd like a magician. Do rabbits bite? I don't want no rabbit bite'n my little brother. His fingers are tiny still. A rabbit could nip em right off. Maybe a bunny stuffy 'nstead?"

"My word, Master Jason. Please refrain from such gruesome imagery."