Title : In Re Robin Doe Prologue

Author : Xenith

Disclaimer : All characters belong to DC Comics, except for any original characters created by me. No copyright infringement is intended and if you want me to take it down, just let me know.

Rating: i.e.: R for violence

Story Synopsis: After the extent of Robin's injuries caused by Harvey Dent comes out, Child Protective Services decides to save Robin from a vigilante lifestyle. Follow up to Robin, Year One.

Thanks: Many thanks to Char, PJ, Chrysexanthe and Beden for reference help and beta.

Feedback: I love it and encourage it, either to this list or to my own e-mail () address. I write FASTER for feedback!

IN RE ROBIN Doe

Prologue

The batmobile screeched into the cave and pulled to a halt inches from Alfred, who had been busy dusting. The door slammed open and the Batman hauled himself out of the driver's seat with a torn and bloody Robin cradled in his arms.

"Sir?" Demanded the frightened butler, looking from the boy to Batman and back again.

"Alfred," Batman's low voice shook. "He's dying."

Ten minutes later, they were in a black van driving hell-bent for Gotham City.

"How's he doing, Alfred?" Bruce Wayne at the wheel asked. He was without his cowl, a gray coat thrown over his batsuit.

Alfred, in the back of the van, crouched over the boy strapped into a gurney. "The lad's bleeding has slowed…thank heavens. But his throat was closing off from the swelling. I had to intubate him." The old man gently pressed down on yet another bandage, this one on Master Dick's arm. "And I fear he may have internal injuries beyond my meager abilities to treat." Alfred anxiously looked up at Wayne. "How long do you estimate until we reach the hospital, Master Bruce?"

"We're not going to the hospital," Bruce replied and gunned the van even more. "We're going to Leslie's."

Dr. Leslie Thompkins met them at the doorway of the Gotham Free Clinic while they were lifting the gurney up the steps and followed them down the hall to the examination room. Batman and Alfred stood anxiously to one side while she began her exam.

"Your triage work is first rate…as usual," she said. "But this boy needs an emergency room, not a ghetto clinic."

"I share your diagnosis, Dr. Thompkins, though our mutual benefactor thinks otherwise," Alfred replied, with a side glance at Master Bruce. "After all, we have our secrets to preserve, do we not?"

Dr. Thompkins frowned, looking closer at the boy. "I'm already regretting my complicity in these 'secrets'…..Sweet Lord…." She turned toward Wayne. "Bruce, what in God's name happened to this boy? He looks like he's been through a thresher!" Wayne wouldn't meet her eyes, his gaze was fixed away from the boy on the table.

"Just take care of him, Leslie. Alfred will explain everything," he said softly and he began to move away.

"You're not leaving?" She grabbed his arm with a furious look.

"I'm sorry, I have to go…" Eyes still averted from Robin, Bruce inched toward the door. "I need to make sure the person who did this is made accountable."

"You have a responsibility to the lad," Alfred stated, standing directly in his path.

"I'm taking care of it," Bruce said flatly with a burning glance at the butler. He reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a small camera, handing it to Alfred.

"Sir, you can't mean…" Alfred said, taken aback.

"Evidence has to be presented at trial, Alfred," Bruce said in the same flat tone. "You know that. I'll be back later; you saw Gordon's signal," he said over his shoulder, then disappeared out the clinic door.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER

Dick Grayson sat at the desk in his room, working on his homework. He paused, stretching his right arm over his head. He'd had full use of it again for a while, but it still twinged from time to time. He'd been out patrolling with Batman for the past four nights and, while Leslie said he was fit, he had to get back into the routine again. He leaned back in his chair and stifled a yawn. He also had to get used to the late nights again, too. Not that he minded.

He turned his head to look out the picture window at the park outside. His world had shattered into tiny pieces when Bruce took Robin away from him after Harvey Dent…No, that was all over now. Robin had finally brought Two Face down a week ago. Dent was in jail, where he couldn't hurt anybody. And Robin was back at Batman's side. After all, he thought to himself with a smile, somebody has to help him. It might as well be me.

Alfred quietly came in through the doorway, smiling fondly at the young master. "Master Dick, you are wanted in the Cave."

Dick's face lit up in a smile. "He's back?" He jumped out of the chair, slamming the textbook closed.

"Gently, young sir," Alfred called to the boy running past him. "Gentlemen do not rush.."

"Okay, Alfie," Dick called over his shoulder, then put on a burst of speed.

Robin found Batman seated in front of the computer station, looking thoughtfully at the screen.

"How did it go?" Robin demanded, running up to Batman's chair, dancing impatiently in place.

Batman gave his partner a half smile. "The preliminary hearing went just fine, as we expected. They've set a trial date for Harvey Dent, a month from now. We're one step closer to seeing him locked up for a very long time."

Robin let out a long, relieved breath. "I know you said he couldn't be released with all the evidence against him, but I was still worried."

Batman sat silently while Robin's enthusiastic voice ran down.

"What is it, Batman? What went wrong?" Robin asked.

"Do you remember how we discussed what the trial might be like?" Batman said gently, leaning forward in the chair. "How you might have to testify if you were needed?"

Robin stilled. "Yeah, but you said that if there was enough physical evidence they might not need me…."

Batman looked away from his young partner's eyes. "As it turns out, there were no fingerprints on the gallows handle that Harvey pulled to murder the judge. His accomplices have all taken the Fifth and refuse to testify; they're more afraid of Dent than of long prison terms. And Robin, I didn't see the murder. My face was covered at the time," Batman met his gaze with a concerned look. "Dent is also being charged with attempting to murder you, so you'll be needed to testify about that, too. I'm sorry, but it looks like it's up to you, partner."

Robin began to back away. "No, you said…I can't…"

Batman sighed and went to the boy, down on one knee in front of him, putting both hands on Robin's shoulders. "You brought him down, Robin. You, and nobody else. You faced him when it counted and you can do it again. You've testified in court before. This isn't new for you."

"I've testified in court before," Robin said unsteadily. "But not with him there."

Batman suddenly realized that he often forgot that Robin wasn't an adult. This was the boy's own personal nightmare, come to life again. He reached forward and folded the boy into a hug, wrapping his cape around him. Robin held himself in a little ball against Batman's Kevlar-clad chest and asked in a small voice, "When will it be?"

The Batman rested his chin on top of the boy's head, holding him tight. "Four weeks. You won't be alone. I'll be there and you'll be safe. I promise. Then it'll be over," Batman said reassuringly. "Dent will be in prison and he won't be out again for a long, long time, if ever."

The intervening weeks were difficult for the entire Wayne household. The old nightmares that had plagued the boy after Harvey Dent's attack came nightly and Bruce began to question the wisdom of letting the boy testify. For Alfred, there was no question at all.

"Sir, you can't let him go to court," the butler said as he poured Bruce Wayne his morning coffee. Dick wasn't up yet. He was sleeping late after a series of nightmares had left the boy wide awake and trembling in his bed. Alfred should know, he'd sat with him, plying him with cups of hot milk and cocoa.

Bruce looked up, tiredness and worry dragging down his face. "Do you think I don't know that? But there's no alternative. Dick is the only one who actually witnessed the murder. If he isn't there, Two-Face will walk. What safety is there for Robin then?"

"But surely, since Dent has already confessed, his presence isn't necessary?" Alfred replied, setting the coffee pot down on the trivet.

Bruce shook his head. "Not enough. His attorney is already disputing the confession, saying the Miranda warnings weren't given correctly. Even if it does get in, without physical evidence to back it up, a jury could still be persuaded to find him not guilty." He wrapped his big hands around the china coffee cup with a sigh. "We're backed into a corner. I don't know this Deputy Attorney General very well, but she's adamant that Dick has to testify." He took a sip. "It's bad enough that Dick witnessed the murder, but she'll also be taking him through the details of the attack to establish the attempted murder charge." His eyes hardened. "I can testify to what I saw, and save Dick most of it, but not all. And they want Leslie there, too."

Alfred sat down abruptly at the table. "But sir, your identity.."

Bruce shook his head. "I've already spoken to Leslie. The records were kept with Dick's name simply as 'Robin'. They can go in as-is. Officially, we went to Leslie's clinic because it's quiet and out of the way," Bruce's smile was a grimace. "She's also the best damned doctor I've ever met. Oh, and one more thing," Bruce glanced up at Alfred's face. "They're asking for DNA."

"Whose?" Alfred queried, beyond all surprise by now.

"Robin's. Can you take him to the Gotham Crime Lab today? Ask for Cindy Garcia, she's the criminalist in charge of the case. They already have the photos and Robin's uniform," Bruce finished the coffee and pushed aside his uneaten breakfast. "I'd better get going. I've got a meeting. Dick can miss school today if he's not well."

Alfred shook his head. "No sir, after the..er… DNA test, I'll take him to school. He needs as much distraction as possible just now." He picked up Bruce's plate and held it up to his employer. "And it would do you good to have something to eat this morning, sir."

Bruce half smiled and picked up a piece of toast, taking a bite. "You take good care of us both, Alfred. I'll call later and see how things went." He picked up his suit-jacket and left the room, munching on his piece of toast.

Alfred watched him go, then set his shoulders to wake the Young Master.