A gentle knocking on his front door woke Dick up.

He blinked slowly, letting his eyes adjust to the small rays of light that now poured through his windows.

He turned his head to the small wall clock on the opposite wall.

It was 7:00am...

He only got three hours of sleep.

Well... that's better than none.

Another knock came from the door, reminding Dick why he was up in the first place.

He pulled himself off his couch and walked to answer the door, stumbling slightly.

He opened the door to meet a young man, in his late twenties. He was scruffy, obviously homeless, and he had a deep frown on his face that Dick has now seen to be constant.

"Hey Dick..."

"Hey Mikey, come on in."

Mikey, full name is Michael Anderson, slowly let himself into the apartment.

They met at a construction site, Michael was a worker and he was on his break and Dick was just taking a walk.

Michael was joking with some of his co-workers when a gust of wind pushed his hard hat off of the small platform they were sitting on.

He quickly went to retrieve it from where it had fallen, right in Dick's path, nearly tripping the distracted man.

The construction man apologized and Dick just laughed and jokingly 'scolded' the wind.

They then learned they lived just down the street from each other and agreed to get breakfast on the weekend.

Great. Dick found a friend in this crazy city.

But things soon turned bad for Michael. He was a single father with a young daughter, about four years old, whose 'cold' soon turned into a rare illness.

He didn't have insurance but his well-paying construction job helped him pay the start of the bills.

But then he got laid off.

He sold everything he owned, including their house and became willingly homeless, so that he could give his daughter a fighting chance.

But now due to his ragged looks, the jerks of Blüdhaven barely bat an eye in his direction when he asks for a job.

He became unable to even afford food for himself.

And that's where Dick came in. He offered to feed Michael whenever he needed it even though he had little money himself.

Michael clambered to the kitchen and sat heavily in one of the dining chairs.

Dick quickly brewed a pot of coffee and poured his downtrodden friend a cup which he graciously, however timid, accepted.

Letting the heat of the cup warm his fingers before taking a tentative sip.

Dick poured himself a cup and sat down opposite his friend.

"How's Eva doing?"

Michael shook his head sadly.

"She was admitted into the ICU."

Dick's eyes widened and he set his cup down on the table.

"They won't even let me see her anymore. Said she needed to be quarantined..."

"Vå rog Dumnezeu, vindeca a ei..." "Please God, heal her."

Michael gave a small, warm smile. He didn't really know what was said but everytime he's given any news on his daughter, Dick always said something back in a different language. He didn't know what... but he figured it was something good. Like a prayer.

Dick got up, poured Michael another cup of coffee, and started heating up some pre-cooked sausage and frozen pancakes.

Michael remained silent, staring at his cup, hands slightly shaking.

No doubt he was trying to hold in tears.

Dick glanced at him over his shoulder while watching the food.

He cleared his throat in a pointed manner, making Michael look up.

"My offer still stands. You can stay here for awhile--"

"No Dick. I... don't want to be a burden. It's bad enough I have to ask you for food."

"It's not a burden to me Mikey. It's--"

His words were cut off from his phone ringing from the coffee table.

Dick sighed and quickly made Michael a hefty plate of food and briskly walked over to his phone.

It was the Manor's home phone.

Huh. That's new.

He grabbed the phone and, shaking his head slightly in disbelief, answered the phone.

"What?!"

"I say Master Dick, is that really any way to answer the phone?"

The look of annoyance on his face completely melted and a, genuine, happy smile was plastered on his face.

"Oh hey Alfred! I thought you were--"

"I think I have a very good idea on who you are talking about. And that is the reason I called you. Neither Master Bruce or Tim will be home for the rest of the day. I believe it would be a good time for you to come home for the day."

"What if Bruce finds out?"

"Then I shall remind him who changed his diapers when his parents were away!"

Okay then.

"Okay..."

He glanced back at his guest, who had finished his food but was nearly falling asleep at the table.

"I'll be there in a about an hour."

He hung up after saying goodbye and walked back over to Michael.

He gently shook his shoulder, getting him to look at him. His eyes were tired and misty.

"I'm going to be gone for the rest of the day. I want you to take a shower, there are spare pajamas in my closet, and then go to sleep in my bed."

"But--"

"Nope. Not up for debate anymore. There are some snacks in the cabinet. By all means, please help yourself. And..."

He grabbed his coat from a hook by the door.

He grabbed a key and stuffed it in his pocket.

He grabbed another one, the spare key, and tossed it in Michael's direction. It landed directly in his lap.

"Please keep the entry door locked. Don't let anyone in unless they say 'aster'. Got it?"

Michael gave him a questioning look before sighing in resignation and nodding.

"Good. Now please, rest up."

He nodded once more and quickly walked out of the apartment.
_______________________________________

As Dick drove he couldn't help but feel apprehension build in his stomach.

It seemed the closer he got to Gotham, the worse it got.

This feeling was actually a constant. But now he couldn't help but think of everything he's done this past year.

He's honestly tried not to think about it but... as more time went on he just kept feeling worse.

He was able to keep himself busy by taking care of typical idiots on the streets but he was running himself ragged.

Sometimes it almost felt like it was making him physically sick...

He saw the Manor driveway come into view and shook his head, trying to rid it of those thoughts.

He slowed the car to a stop and took a minute to look at the Manor.

When he first came here it used to feel so intimidating.

Then it started to feel welcoming.

But things change. Now it just felt like he was a stranger at his own home.

He got out as he noticed Alfred waiting for him at the porch, a warm smile as always.

The elderly butler greeted him with a warm, tight hug and ushered him into the Manor.

The fireplace was lit, which is not often done, and a piece of his favorite chocolate cake was sitting on a side table beside the couch.

He immediately sat down, hoping it would bring comfort, and for a moment it did.

But then he noticed pictures on the mantle that he left behind.

They were civilian pictures of him and Wally. Him, Bruce, and Tim.

One of the whole (original) team in civvies.

One of him and Jason...

Once again the pressure of guilt in his stomach came once again but this time it kept building.

Alfred said something about getting drinks from the kitchen and was soon out of sight.

Now usually he could calm himself down enough. But nothing he did was working.

He tried shifting his mind to something else.

Nothing.

He tried concentrating on breathing but couldn't control it anymore and the pressure began building and rising into his chest.

The pressure quickly turned into outright pain and immediately spread throughout his back, neck, and down his arms.

He brought a hand to his chest, clutching it with his fist, vainly trying to somehow alleviate the pain.

He vaguely heard Alfred come into the room and drop whatever he was holding.

He started spluttering, attempting to talk, but he was soon losing the ability to see.

He barely felt Alfred's hands on his neck and chest, carefully making him lay down.

He knew he was talking in a frenzy but he couldn't understand what was being said.

And as quickly as the pain came, it was gone.

Causing Dick to go into a deep sleep.