Chapter Text
“Master Bruce, with all due respect, may I recommend you finish for the night and get some rest, sir?” Alfred Pennyworth doesn’t even knock as he walks into the Bat cave. Young Master Bruce (not so young anymore with a brood of his own, but some fatherly part of Alfred can’t see him any other way) is still pacing in front of the bat computer, sweat racing down his forehead even though the temperature is quite brisk.
“Alfred, you know I can’t.” Master Bruce says, his tone sounding much more snippy than usual. Must be the stress. “I don’t need you anymore for tonight.” He adds, tongue more in cheek this time. “Get some rest. No use in both of us clucking all night like mother hens.”
“Master Bruce, I must protest. It’s been over twenty-four hours. Master Dick-”
“Names, Alfred.” Master Bruce protests. “We’re in the Batcave.”
Alfred exhales but nods. Wayne Manor, Wayne rules. “Robin, Signal, and the girls are out on patrol, bringing on both Night Wing and Red Hood for assistance. Red Robin’s doing everything he can research-wise, and all the bases have been covered, sir.” Although Master Bruce’s back is turned to him, Alfred grins behind his closed hand. “If I may be so bold, there is no reason for you to not take care of yourself anymore.”
“I should be out there with them.”
“If I can remind you, Master Bruce, I haven’t given you a clean bill of health yet”
“I should be finding more leads.” Master Bruce sat down in his spinning office chair and started twirling towards the Bat-Computer.
“Let Miss Barbara and Master Timothy work on that, it’s part of their strengths. They’ll find something. You’re not going to be any sort of help to any of your children if you are passed out on the floor of the bat Cave, sir.”
“What would they say?”
“I think Master Jason would try and knock you out himself, Master Dick would fight you all the way to your bedroom while throwing you puns, Master Timothy would try some shenanigans neither one of us had thought of yet, and Damian will just yell at you until something happened. Not to mention what any of the others would do-- please, sir, just go to bed.”
“Someone should let the Justice League-”
“You did that earlier, sir.” Alfred was beginning to wonder if he should call in one of the robins in for backup. “Really, Master Bruce, I-”
“Fine. You’re right, Alfred.” Master Bruce smiled wryly as he stood up from the chair, pushing it back into the desk. “I’ll go to sleep.”
“You have a bath drawn in your room, sir. And there are tea and cookies placed on the nightstand if you have a smattering of hunger before sleep.” Alfred smiled in victory.
“Did you lace them with Doxepin or something so I’d fall asleep better?” Bruce chuckled.
“Master Bruce, I am not as low as all that. It’s just lavender and strawberry tea, sir.” Alfred sniffed, feigning hurt.
“Ok, ok, just checking. Can’t be too sure about anything anymore. G’nite Alfie”
“Sleep well, Master Bruce.” Alfred smiled, relishing the sweet taste of victory as he saw the pieces of the black suit get dismantled. Alfred handed Master Bruce, now looking more like Young Master Bruce, his robe and watched as the very tired man stumble towards the stairs.
“Allow me to escort you, sir.” Alfred slipped underneath Master Bruce’s arms before he could fall.
Master Bruce didn’t protest.
After Alfred Pennyworth was satisfied that Bruce Wayne would sleep, he walked down to the bat cave, being careful to avoid the one creaky spot on the front stairwell. By his calculations, none of the children would be back yet, and he had a small window of opportunity.
He was not wrong. Alfred Pennyworth is rarely wrong.
In the darkened edge of the Batcave, a landline phone hung on the rocky wall. Its original function was to connect Wayne Manor with the cave if Alfred needed Master Bruce or Master Dick for something or vice versa. They had since upgraded the technology, but since it was more work than necessary to uninstall the landline, Master Bruce just kept it there, just in case.
Alfred smiled as he picked up the receiver end. He had the phone number he needed etched into his memory for all time. 9-9-9.
One ring goes by, then three. Alfred isn’t worried. The individual on the other end was known to be not the least organized of persons.
By the end of the sixth ring, a sliver of doubt passes through his mind What if- , but then there’s the click of someone else picking up.
“Hullo?” It’s a man’s voice, with a delightfully Scottish accent that Alfred sometimes missed when he felt older than usual
“Hello, this is Alfred Pennyworth of Wayne Manor-” Alfred starts but doesn’t get three seconds in before the other person goes “ALFIE! Oh, Alfie, you old bean, it’s so good to see you.”
Alfred smiles, in spite of himself. “It’s a pleasure to hear your voice again, Doctor. Now, if you would be so kind as to jump the pond and come drop by the manor, I think we have a little problem that would be your cup of tea.”