Concerned

Part 9

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Dick had gotten back to the Weidman's at four the next morning, tired but calmer after seeing Barbara. They had done more than talk of course because they were both young, but that was what Dick had craved the most-not just the sex they had first, but a soothing and loving friend with whom he could talk about everything that was happening without having to worry about all of his secrets being spilled. She knew them all. She already knew all the stuff he kept to himself and didn't share with anyone except her. She was safe and she had held him afterwards, letting him talk it all away for now. After hours of talk and back and forth and take out food so no one would see them at some restaurant, they stopped talking and made love again before she drove him back to the Weidman's, promising to call him later.

Tom was furious when he finally heard the door but realized that Dick had needed the safety valve he'd used and managed-barely- to contain himself, telling Dick to get some sleep since they had to be up at seven to make it to court by nine. Dick hadn't bothered to mention that he was going anywhere before he left and he and Nancy had been waiting for him all day and most of the night, worried that he'd run away or was hurt somewhere. Tom restrained himself, but it wasn't easy.

Dick was not easy to live with these days.

The pictures, with his face blurred or blacked out in a sop to the privacy laws, had appeared and the press was calling the hearing a retread of the 'poor little rich girl' hearing involving Gloria Vanderbilt decades ago. Dick was being cast as the poor misused orphan and Bruce as the big bad wolf. Reports of the enormous holdings Bruce controlled were bandied about and Dick's own estimated wealth was speculated on. The story of his parent's deaths was brought out again and there was simply no escaping it.

People magazine ran three stories on it, including a cover, and there were plans for an instant dual biography of Bruce and Dick, set to hit the bookstores next week. The author was just waiting for the custody decision so the final chapter could be written. When this was protested as an invasion of privacy, Bruce's lawyers were informed that they were now celebrities and so were public property. Maliscious intent would have to be proved and that would generate more publicity. The matter was dropped.

At eight-forty-five they were driven into the underground garage under the courthouse through the crowd of reporters and film crews and by five to nine they were seated in the courtroom.

There weren't many people there. It was a closed custody hearing and only the interested parties were allowed in due to the fact that Dick was, obviously, a minor.

Like it mattered at this point.

Bruce sat on the left side of the court room with a couple of his lawyers, Dick was on the right with the idiot Olivia Clarke who kept stroking Dick's back and rubbing his arm. He wanted to slap her, but restrained himself. He also wanted to get up and talk to Bruce, but that was so far out of the question as to not even bother trying. Alfred was in a separate room so he wouldn't hear any of the testimony before he spoke. Tom Weidman was also sequestered, Nancy was behind Dick.

Janice Hunt was, once again, the judge. This time she was wearing her robes when they all rose for her entrance. This was for the whole ball of wax and they all knew it.

The judge addressed the court. "Ladies and gentlemen. This is not a trial, this is a custody hearing to determine if Bruce Wayne is a fit foster parent for Richard Grayson, a minor who has been living under Mr. Wayne's care for the last seven years. There have been allegations that abuse against this young man may have occurred and we shall determine if that's true or not. Mr. Rooney, if you would care to begin?"

"Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Wayne, would you please take the stand?" Bruce did so and was sworn. He would tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Well, a good chunk of it, anyway.

"Mr. Wayne, please tell us how Richard came to be living with you as your ward?"

"I was attending a charity performance of Haley's circus seven years ago. Two aerialists, they were Dick's parent's, their ropes broke, they fell and were killed. I was horrified and when I learned that he had been remanded to Juvenile Detention until foster care could be found, I offered my home. He's been with me since."

"And why did you offer your home to this particular child? That's a large commitment with a child as distraught as Dick was at the time. Did you know him or his family?"

"No, I didn't know the Grayson's. I identified with him, though. My own parents had been murdered when I was about the same age. Also, shortly after the accident I noticed that Dick was sitting alone in the stands, he was crying and I went over to try to comfort him. I felt sorry for him, of course, but I also felt a bond with him which continues to this day." Dick was looking at Bruce, nodding.

"How old was Dick then?"

"Eight."

"You're unmarried, Mr. Wayne, correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Do you see that as a problem in raising a child? Raising him alone, I mean without a mother figure? You are a very busy man with a lot of demands on your time."

"I don't raise him alone. Alfred Pennyworth is there. He's been with my family since before I was born and he raised me after my own parents died. He's more than competent."

"A child, especially a young boy who's been as traumatized as Dick understandably was after his parent's deaths couldn't have been easy to deal with. How large a problem was that?"

"It was difficult, Dick was angry, hurt, mistrustful when he came to us. He suffered from nightmares, he was depressed. He insisted that he wanted to live with his grandfather."

"What did you do?"

"I found the best child psychologists I could, and they helped. In time he began to heal. I also took him to visit his grandfather several times a year."

"Where was that?"

"His grandfather lives in Romania, which is where his father's family is from."

"Dick is considered a member of the culture usually called Gypsy's, isn't he? His father and his grandparents from that side of his family were also, isn't that right?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't he stay with his own, as it were?"

"His grandfather asked me to take him and raise him as he felt I could provide him with more advantages than he would have in a small village, but to promise that he would always be allowed to come back if that was what he wanted. I agreed." A pause for a second. "Dick also calls his grandfather when ever he wants. They are in contact with one another."

"Have you ever missed one of Dick's school events?" Get it out and face it.

"Yes, unfortunately I have. I make as many as I can, but I do miss some. Alfred-Mr. Pennyworth- usually is there if I can't be."

"And he attended a parent/teacher conference in your place?"

"Yes, but I emphasize that Alfred is also raising Dick as well as I am. It's not like I sent a servant to fill my responsibilities for me."

"Have you ever struck Dick?" The big question.

"…Once, yes."

"When and why did you strike him?"

"About six months ago I learned that Dick had cut school and taken one of my cars. When he showed up at my office I was very angry and I slapped him."

"You struck him quite hard, didn't you? Loosened a couple of his teeth."

"Yes." It hurt Bruce to admit it. He was deeply ashamed about it, humiliated. Livvy Clarke put her arm around Dick's shoulders. He shrugged her off, the bitch.

"Did he tell you why he had done it, cut school and taken the car?"

Bruce looked at Dick apologetically. "He told me that he wanted to see his girlfriend. She lives in Gotham."

"Even though he's underage to drive?"

"Yes."

"Had anything like this ever happened before?"

"No, Dick is generally well behaved. He's almost a straight A student. He's almost never in any kind of trouble."

"Why did this happen, did you ask him?"

"I did. He told me that he was worried about her and wanted to make sure that she was alright."

"Why was he worried about her? Had something happened?"

Bruce was uncomfortable. "Your honor, would it be possible to answer this question in private? To protect Dick?"

The Judge considered for a moment, nodded. The two of them, along with Kevin Rooney and Livvy Clarke adjourned to the judge's chambers.

"Yes, Mr. Wayne?"

"He told me that they had seen each other the weekend before and that the condom broke. She was going to take a home pregnancy test and he said that he'd be there for her when she did. Apparently it was negative."

Janice Hunt wasn't surprised, Dick was obviously older than most kids his age, however, "What did you do when you heard that your fifteen year old ward had been doing what he had?"

"I was angry, but only because he had lied to me about where he was going that Sunday. He'd told me that he was going to play softball with some friends."

"So you're alright with a young man his age having relations?"

"No, I'm not. I think he's too young emotionally and I think he's too attached to this young woman and will end up being hurt, but I'm realistic enough to know that he's more mature than most kids his age and is being responsible. I also know he's not just out for a good time. He does care about this girl and he's known her since he was about ten years old."

"But you still hit him, Mr. Wayne."

"Yes and I've never done it before or since. I was wrong and Dick knows how wrong I was as well as I do. I told him that if it ever-ever happened again he should leave. Alfred would take him wherever he wanted to go and he should get out."

"Is Richard still seeing this young lady?"

"As far as I know, yes he is."

"Thank you, let's go back outside, Mr. Wayne."

Back in the courtroom, the questions continued. "Mr. Wayne. You left Dick alone while you were called to Europe, why would you leave a fourteen year old alone?"

Bruce explained everything about every question, clearly, calmly. "Mr. Wayne, how often do you spend quality time with Dick?" Mr. Wayne, could you please tell us how you attempted to locate Dick's maternal family." "Sir could you explain why you decided on private school for Dick?" "Why did you decide to not actually adopt Dick, but to make him your legal ward?" "Are you aware of the rumors Dick had had to endure about your living with him, alone, in a secluded home, a single man and a young boy?" "Could you give us a brief run down of your holdings and responsibilities?" "In your opinion, does Dick have close friends?" "Do you expect him to follow your career path?"

"If you could, please tell us about Dick's gymnastics."

"He's quite talented. He enjoys them and started when he was quite young. His father began his training when he was about three."

"And Dick worked in his family's circus act until the time of his parent's deaths. He was a trapeze artist, isn't that right? His whole family were trapeze artists and they traveled with a circus for a good part of the year?"

"Yes. But he's also a trained gymnast."

"So it wasn't unusual for him to be practicing routines in the gym in your home, was it?"

"No, he often works out and comes up with new moves and combinations. He's very good."

"Do you usually watch him or assist him when he does this, does anyone spot him or does he work alone?"

"Both. Sometimes I help him or spot him, but sometimes he likes to be alone."

"The night he was injured last month, how did he break his ribs?"

"I wasn't there, but I was told that he was working on the high bar and slipped somehow, hitting his ribs."

"Where were you?"

"Upstairs doing some paperwork."

"Why didn't Dick tell you or Mr. Pennyworth that he was hurt?"

"Dick told me that he thought it wasn't serious and didn't want to bother us."

"Four broken and cracked ribs weren't serious?"

"He told me that didn't think it was that bad."

"What would you have done if you'd known?"

"Taken him to a doctor for treatment."

They went on and on for almost three hours and finally Bruce knew they were at the end. "Mr. Wayne, one final question. Do you love Dick?"

"Dick is my son in every sense of the word other than our sharing a gene pool. I love him very much and I want him to come home."

"Thank you Mr. Wayne." Bruce stood up, walked from the witness stand to his chair next to his lawyers, caught Dick's eye and smiled. Nodding, Dick smiled back.

Alfred's testimony was simple. He got up, wrapped in the natural dignity that was as much a part of him as his skin, told the judge that as far as he was concerned, Dick was his grandson and that he couldn't love or be more proud of the lad if his life depended on it. He said that when Dick came to their house it became a home and they needed him as much as he needed them. He was their life.

Alfred was dismissed.

The picture they were left with was of a happy family, with problems, yes, but basically stable.

Maybe, just maybe they had a chance.

Maybe.

They adjourned for lunch, coming back in ninety minutes later. Dick and Livvy had sandwiches brought in from somewhere. They ate alone in a closed room. Dick read a book, tuning the woman out completely.

Coming back to the hearing, Kevin called a number of character witnesses.

Clark Kent got on the stand and told the judge how he'd met and worked with Mr. Wayne on a number of charity and civic events and he was a good man, devoted to his foster son.

Commissioner Gordon said he was the one who had signed the order to release Dick from JDC because he knew Mr. Wayne would provide him with a good home and nothing had changed his opinion of the man.

Leslie Thompkins talked about how Bruce funded the clinic and she had seen him and Dick together countless times, and they were devoted to one another. She was asked to remain in the courthouse, as she would be asked further questions later.

Lucius Fox talked about what a fine young man Dick was, how happy he usually appeared, and how he was growing into a fine adult. Bruce could be proud of him.

After the lunch break the state told their side of the story.

"Your honor, we would like to have Richard Grayson testify."

Dick got up and was sworn. They would go easy on him, he was a kid and he was upset enough, stoic though he was. No one wanted to cause him any more scars if they could help it.

Of course, sometimes you have to cauterize a wound to let it heal.

One of the faceless attorny's Dick had ignored from the state all month asked him questions. Dick hadn't even bothered to learn the man's name, he was a non entity. "Mr. Wayne has told us how you came to be living with him, Richard. Are you happy there?"

"Yes I am. I want to go home."

"Has Mr. Wayne ever hit you, other than the time he spoke about this morning?"

"No, never, in seven years. And he was really upset about that. He was more upset than I was and Alfred really let him have it. It won't ever have it again."

"Richard, it seems that there are quite a few things you do that you don't tell Mr. Wayne about-your being injured, your girlfriend's problem, are you afraid of him?"

"Bruce? No. I, I'm afraid that I might-I mean, I, I don't want to disappoint him, that's all, but I'm not afraid of Bruce."

"Has he ever disappointed you, though? He misses a lot of your school events, the sort of things you'd expect a parent to attend."

"Well, Bruce isn't like other parents but he's doing alright. I know he has a lot going on. I'm OK with that."

Enough with the happy family stuff.

"Richard, you know we have your computer and we managed to pull some of your conversations with your friends off it."

Dick looked concerned about that. Sure he knew that, he'd been pissed enough when they'd taken the thing. What had he said and whom had he said it to? He didn't remember.

"Take a look at this, it's a conversation from three months ago." It was a print out about when he found out Roy had moved up to heroin. "Do you know if Mr. Wayne is aware that some of your friends use drugs?"

"I don't know. I didn't tell him about it. I don't use, so why would he care?" Even Dick knew that was lame as soon as he said it, Bruce would have ranted about Ollie and forbidden Dick to see Roy again if he'd known. Bruce didn't look too happy right now with the news, in fact.

"What did you do about your friend?"

"I helped him go cold turkey then got him into Hazelton for treatment and rehab."

"When you were fifteen?"

"Well, I'm not stupid. It's not hard to make phone calls."

"Did Mr. Wayne know that you're intimate with your girlfriend, despite being what's described here as 'jailbait'?"

Dick blushed and Janice Hunt looked annoyed. The boy wasn't on trial here and that was supposed to stay in chambers..

"I didn't tell him about that, no."

"But you did tell Mr. Pennyworth?"

"No, Alfred found out when he found some, um, some condoms in my pocket, I didn't tell him. After he found out he talked to me and decided that I could handle it so we, you know-we didn't tell Bruce."

"He would have been angry?"

"I doubt he would have been happy-what do you think?" There was some laughter at that but not from Bruce.

"Richard, you're an athletic young man, but how did you get injured so many times? Could you tell us?"

"You just said it. I do gymnastics, I ski, I snowboard, I ride a motorcycle. Sometimes I get hurt."

"…You ride a motor cycle? Isn't the legal age for that in this state seventeen?"

Shit, shit, shit.

"On the estate. That's private property."

"You have speeding tickets from New York City, Gotham and Farmington, all within the last two months. We also know you took one of Mr. Wayne's cars when you cut school a few months ago to see your girlfriend."

Caught, Dick just shrugged and Bruce was mad. He hadn't known about the tickets or that Dick was sneaking the Harley out.

Shit, shit, shit.

"So getting back, how do you get hurt, just doing sports and the like?"

"Yes."

"Your Honor, if you would please look at Richard's medical records you'll see that there are over twenty injuries which were treated by Dr. Thompkins, ranging from broken bones to cuts requiring stitches, concussions and injuries which are listed as being caused by fighting-punching, kicking and the like- in just under seven years of his being under her care."

The judge was looking over the list and asked, "Richard, the truth now, how did all this happen? Was someone doing this to you?"

Joker, Catwoman, the usual suspects. He twisted in his seat to face her. "No, I swear. No one. It was me. I'm just clumsy sometimes."

"Richard, you've been trained as an athlete since you were a toddler, I think that's a stretch. Now, who has been hurting you?"

"No one. Honest."

No one believed him.

"I'd like to speak to you privately, please." Dick and the judge went into her chambers.

"Richard, I've been a family court judge for over twenty years and I know you didn't fall off your skis or trip over a gym mat. If it wasn't Bruce, who was it?"

"No one. Bruce only hit me that once, I swear. I just…"

"Do you get into fights at school or in your neighborhood or someplace?"

"No."

"And you're sure about this?"

"Yes. No one hits me or anything. They don't."

She stared at him, appraising what he was saying and knowing he was lying but also knowing he wouldn't admit anything. "Alright." They went back into the courtroom.

"I'd like to speak with Dr. Thompkins in chambers, please."

Leslie was escorted back.

"Dr. Thompkins, I know as well as you do that this child didn't receive all these injuries falling off his bike. What's going on here?"

Leslie knew that she'd be asked this and she couldn't think of a decent lie. Even if she could, it could mean the clinic's license, but neither could she tell the truth.

"Your honor, to the absolute best of my knowledge, Bruce Wayne has only struck that boy once and after he did it he wanted to cut off his hand. The other injuries are from accidents. The level of gymnastics he works at makes these things more likely than not-the separated shoulders, the sprains and the rest-they're part and parcel of the moves he practices. I know that he's also a black run skier-when he visits his grandfather in Europe they often ski the Alps together."

"Doctor, please…"

"Dick does tend to be a little reckless-he's a teenager and I can't tell you how many times I've talked to him about it, but he simply doesn't listen. He thinks he's indestructible. They all do at his age."

"Twenty separate injuries treated by you in seven years and you believe that they're from his sports activities? I'm not an idiot, Doctor and I'm not new to this. You realize that I can bring you up for license review if I believe you're hiding abuse?"

"Of course I realize that, but I also realize that Bruce loves that boy and Dick loves him back just as much and to separate them would do much more harm than good. When Dick was brought to Bruce after his parent's deaths he was as traumatized as any child I've ever seen and I've dealt with war victims. Bruce and Alfred saved his life."

"Were you aware that Richard is sexually active?"

"He spoke to me about it six months or so ago. I told him to be sure about what he was doing and to use protection. He promised me that he was." Leslie saw the look of disapproval. "Come now, Your Honor, you know as well as I do that it's common enough and I was just happy he felt comfortable enough to talk to me. Dick is a mature young man for his age, he's not flighty. I know he thought about it before he went ahead with it."

That was enough for The Judge right now. "Thank you, Doctor." They returned to the courtroom.

Judge Hunt spoke to Dick. "Richard, do you have anything you'd like to say?"

"I just want to go home. Please. That's all I want. Just let me go home."

"We'll adjourn for thirty minutes while I consider my decision." They all rose, she walked back to her chambers and the people in the courtroom milled around. Dick went straight over to Bruce and they spoke quietly for the first time in a month. Bruce was still in his chair, Dick sitting on the edge of the table.

"God, Bruce, I'm so sorry. I am-this is my fault. If I'd just told you about the ribs or stayed home from school for a couple of days none of this would have happened. I'm so…"

"Dick, it's alright. I told you that we'd get through this and we will. You'll see…"

"But she thinks…"

"It will be fine."

"But Alfred, what he's been through and the press…God, I'm so sorry."

"Dick, it's not your fault, stop that. You can't believe that…"

"But it is, Bruce. I think I may have a way around it, though. I've had an idea if she takes me away. I think it will work."

"…What?"

"You'll see, I think it will."

"Dick…tell me."

"If we have to, if it comes to it, you'll hear about it."

It went on for a while, the two of them talking, trying to assure one another that it would turn out, one way or another, to not be as terrible as the last month had been. Somehow they would pull this off. Somehow.

They were told to rise again, Judge Hunt came back in, they were all seated.

"I've looked at all the evidence that's been presented to me, both here and in background documents and I have tried to come to a fair decision. I believe that Mr. Wayne cares deeply for Richard and it's apparent that Richard cares very much for Mr. Wayne, as well as Mr. Pennyworth. There's no doubt that Richard is well provided for financially and materialistically and he has told me several times that he wishes to remain in Mr. Wayne's care.

"However I'm deeply disturbed by an ongoing pattern of nonchalance regarding Richard's day to day activities. He is apparently able to escape notice when seriously injured. Despite his age he has been left alone for days at a time-even with friends dropping in and calling and the like-he was able to take a car from Mr. Wayne's garage at will, though unlicensed and has accumulated a series of speeding tickets despite being almost two years away from legal driving age. He has also been shown to have friends who are drug abusers and evidently the full nature of his relationship with his girlfriend was kept hidden from Mr. Wayne for several months with Mr. Pennyworth's help. There is also the incident that was witnessed by several people, of Mr. Wayne striking Richard with enough force to loosen teeth.

"Therefore, it is my decision that for his own safety, Richard will be removed from Mr. Wayne's care and his guardianship is hereby revoked and rendered null and void. I further order that no contact be allowed between Richard and Mr. Wayne or any of his employees other than under supervised circumstances.

"Richard will continue to reside with the foster family he has been with for the last month until permanent foster care is found.

"I also extend the gag order in regards to this case. No discussion of these proceedings will be tolerated."

They were asked to rise again.

Janice Hunt stood up and left the room.

Having expected the outcome, Dick was calm and already had his cell phone out. "The decision was just read. File the petition." He looked at Bruce, who had also expected the outcome, but was still stunned by it. How could his have happened? Two months ago everything was fine and now…"Bruce? It'll be fine. Just keep cool with it, OK?"

The papers for his legal emancipation were filed twenty minutes later in another room of the courthouse by Dick's attorney. Under the circumstances, they were sealed and the court would try to fit the hearing into the schedule as soon as possible, within a month at the outside. In the meantime Dick would go back to the Weidman's.

The next couple of weeks alternately crawled and flew by in fast-forward until the court date for the emancipation review was in a few days. Dick no longer spent most of his time in his room, he saw Barbara often and the Weidman's thought she was a lovely and intelligent girl, if too old for him. Amber was intimidated by the older woman and stayed away, knowing that she wasn't ready to play in the big leagues. At least Dick was more polite now, though. He wasn't as tense and he was more pleasant to be around. He still went out at night, usually with Barbara, but would be back by one or so.

She kept him informed about Bruce's doings and the Bat was flying again. Dick was glad to hear it; Alfred must have been going nuts with Bruce hanging around all the time.

Neither Tom nor Nancy questioned him too closely, though he promised them he wasn't doing anything illegal. They did not petition the court for his guardianship. After having discussed it at length, they had decided that Dick was more of a challenge than they were willing to take on.

Dick also stopped going to school for now, with everyone's agreement. The media crush was still out of control and there had been kidnap threats after Dick's net worth was leaked. The police were forced to station a squad car outside the Weidman's until Bruce intervened and hired private security to spare the taxpayers. The police gratefully accepted his help and said they were there if needed.

Dick was basically home schooled with little enthusiasm for now, believing it was only temporary.

He spoke to his lawyer several times a week.

His other friends now felt free to contact him as well and Wally, Donna and Roy stopped by with pizza and Chinese a few times. The Weidman's liked these kids-at least they were his age and he laughed with them. Barbara was never there when the other kids were. There seemed to be some awkwardness between them.

Dick avoided going to the Manor. It would be too painful with the end result still undecided and while he wanted to go home and missed Alfred and Bruce desperately, he knew he was pinning his hopes on one chance that might not pan out. He didn't want to start believing it might work only to get stomped if it didn't. He'd been stomped too often to get his hoped up too high.

The next Tuesday he walked into the courthouse again to hear the answer to his petition.

The judge this time was a middle-aged man who had a rep as a hard nose, and with cause.

"I've read your petition, Mr. Grayson and in my opinion, you have failed to demonstrate to me that you have the maturity or the experience to live on your own. You have never lived alone or shown any proof you are equipped to do so beyond a large bank account. You do not have a driver's license yet you have managed to gather yourself three moving violations. You have not attended school for the last month yet you have not engaged a tutor or come up with a home schoolteacher. Your petition is denied and I suggest that you make peace with the fact that you are a minor and will remain so until your next birthday."

So that was it.

Back at Weidman's he told them the verdict and they immediately told him he could stay with them as long as he wanted-until he found a permanent family.

He had one more idea.

One more call in the privacy of the swing in the park. "Barbara? Look, I know this is going to sound insane, but hear me out…"

Three days later another petition was filed in family court. This one was approved.

Richard John Grayson was remanded into the foster custody of James Gordon. Gotham's Police Commissioner. The papers would be final about the time of Dick's sixteenth birthday.

The End.

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