Am I too old for this?

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

Alfred could be found in the parlor again finishing up his dusting. He always cleaned when he had a lot on his mind and one would not be surprised to find that Wayne Manor was sparkling.

A heavy sigh as he dusted the piano again for the third time.

Comments

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

In the livingroom Brenda is frowning with intense concentration, her entire focus bent on one hand as it slowly moves across the sheet. She pauses to rest, giving a small hiss of triumph which turns into a coughing fit.

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

He hears her and turns placing the duster on the piano and walks quickly into the living.

He stops at her bedside and helps her to sit up to breath. "Easy now. Slow breathes. That's a girl." he whispers rubbing her back.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

She leans against him helplessly, breathing as instructed as her eyes slowly fill with despair. "Am I going to beat it this time, Alfred? Have I gone too far even for God to bring me back?"

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

"No, my dear." he says shaking his head. "No one is beyond God's help." He holds her gently and starts to rock her slowly. "You will beat this. It will take time, but you will beat it."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

She blinks, tears spilling from eyes that havn't wept in years. "Gotham hasn't got time." The words are a whisper of pain and sadness.

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

"It will survive." he says simply. "You must worry on yourself before your city, my dear. You can not be anyone's hero before your own."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"What use if I come back to a city who's killed herself while I was down?" She squeezes her eyes shut. "Such an idiot."

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

"Stop this. You are only making yourself worse. I think you have had enough pity parties, Brenda Wayne. It is high time you start acting like your father's daughter."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

"Idiot," she insists. "I can't do anything."

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head. "Not with that outlook." he states. "You keep this up and the Devil has already won."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Her face creases with the battle she's fighting inside, then clenches as she breaks down and truly weeps for the first time since she was a little girl.

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

Alfred wraps both of his arms around her and holds close to him as she cries, making reasurring noises and rubbing her back in comfort.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

The sobs seem to tear out of her, wrenching her frail body. But the hand she'd been moving comes up to lay on his arm, the fingers curving weakly and without strength, but curving nontheless.

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

A soft smile. "See there now." he says softly. "You are regaining your strenght, my dear."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

She opens her eyes, then blinks and starts to cry again, though more from simply being overwrought and thankful now.

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

He smiles and continues to caress her back. "Time heals all wounds, love."

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Brenda sighes and falls still, her eyes falling closed as her exhausted mind reaches for sleep. "God heals...."

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

"He does to." he says laying her back down on the bed gently.

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Her hand clenches spasmodically, but then relaxes as her eyes close once more.

"Thank you." It's barely a breath.

[batwmnsbatman.livejournal.com]

He caresses her hair. "You're welcome, my dear." he whispers. He will watch over her until she is asleep

[anotherbwayne.livejournal.com]

Which doesn't take long. His familiar presence on the side of her bed stands guard against her inner fears, and she trusts and sleeps.