Bruce and Alfred returned to Wayne Manor with a brief stop in the docks to retrieve their cameras and microphones. Bruce also picked up his satchel of surveillance gear from the trash can where he'd camouflaged it. Once back at the house, Bruce dropped off the satchel in the dining room and collected the papers he'd written about his plans to help Gotham. Knowing he wouldn't be carrying a badge, a few items would need adjusting, but the rest were good enough to stay as they were. Bruce intended to put some of them into action right away.

"Alfred," Bruce said. "We're going to need a few things if we're going to take back Gotham. While you're making copies of the evidence for Gordon, I think I'll start collecting them."

"Might I offer a suggestion, Master Bruce?" Alfred requested.

"Certainly," Bruce agreed.

"Fighting crime can be expensive in terms of equipment," Alfred reminded. "The Gotham Police are funded by the city, but if you are intending to go it alone, might I point out the resources of your family's company, Wayne Enterprises, might be useful for providing the monetary funds you require, possibly even some of the equipment as well."

"Fantastic idea, Alfred," Bruce praised happily. His mind spun with the possibilities of turning the multimillion dollar company toward helping Gotham. With such potent research facilities and money making industries in one company, Wayne Enterprises was perfectly suited for being the launching pad for his war against crime and corruption. Bruce had taken extensive business courses during his private education at Wayne Manor, so the nervous tension about entering the unfamiliar waters of the corporate world were lessened greatly.

Bruce stifled a yawn, and it reminded him he had yet to go to bed. The two of them had been working to set up his surveillance taps on the GCPD, eavesdropping on the meeting between Fairbanks and Cunningham, and launching a rescue mission to keep Gordon from getting killed.

"Perhaps," Alfred posed an idea, "your taking command of Wayne Enterprises can wait until you're fully rested. I'll make the copies of the evidence for Gordon and wait for his arrival, Master Bruce. Why don't you get some sleep?"

"Another good idea," Bruce said, getting only the first word out before a second yawn intruded. He needed to retrieve his supplies, but they wouldn't do him any good if he fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed.

                                                                                                 ***

Bruce slept most of the day, his exhaustion being greater than he'd expected. His dreams weren't peaceful, but they were satisfying. His thoughts related to his intentions to bring justice down upon the heads of the criminals preying on the innocents of Gotham. As he slept, his mind fashioned the thoughts into the possible futures awaiting him.

When he finally did awake, Bruce was eager to make his dreams into reality. The citizens of Gotham had lived far too long under the constant fear of the criminals roaming the streets, and he thought it was considerably overdue for the deplorable situation to change. Despite his eagerness to begin, a look out the window showed he would have to wait longer. The sun was hanging low in the west, signaling an end to the day. If he wanted to take command of Wayne Enterprises, it would have to wait until the start of business tomorrow. Still, there were things he could do now so as to not waste time.

Bruce hurried downstairs and found Alfred in the dining room, intensely looking through the papers Bruce had written earlier about his plans for the city. Alfred looked up when Bruce walked in.

"Good evening, Master Bruce," Alfred said in greeting. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I did," Bruce answered. "What do you think of my ideas?"

"They seem to be very well thought out, Master Bruce," Alfred replied. He flipped through the pages and pulled out one in particular, gaining a refresher of its content before talking to Bruce about it. "Establishing a covert base of operations in the cave under Wayne Manor sounds good, but keeping it a secret will prove problematic. The larger and more versatile the base you intend to build, the harder it will be to do all the work ourselves. Bringing in outside contractors or workers will increase efficiency at the cost of revealing the secret to them."

"I understand," Bruce stated. "It doesn't have to be too extensive to start with. We only need our computers, equipment storage areas, a training room or two, and sealed containers for holding recovered evidence."

"I would also suggest a medical room of some sort," Alfred added. "Unfortunately, you don't seem to be immune to harm, and hospitals do ask questions about how people sustain injuries. Trying to explain bullet or knife wounds when you're not an official member of the police force could be difficult."

Bruce nodded his agreement. "Right now, it's just a basic skeleton of an idea. We can fill in the rest later as it will likely take a good while to build. Just getting the supplies and equipment down there will be an interesting challenge."

"I expect it will be, Master Bruce," Alfred acknowledged.

"I would like to start laying the foundation today," Bruce said. "I'll need some better rock climbing gear, a portable generator and lights, masonry tools for drilling into the stone, metal support struts of various sizes to establish the basic structure, and pulleys to help lift the larger pieces into place."

"Might I also recommend the use of some large fans for the purpose of ventilation?" Alfred inquired. "I've heard people have suffered respiratory problems from spending long amounts of time in such caves because of the waste of the bats."

"Right," Bruce agreed. "Since the cave's current residents lack neatness, perhaps we should also consider putting up sheets of smooth metal or plastic above the walkways, computers, evidence lockers, and anywhere else we intend to use so the bats will be unable to perch there and leave droppings on our stuff."

"It would save me time in my cleaning duties," Alfred joked.

Bruce smiled slightly. "The more I think about using the cave for our secret headquarters, the larger an undertaking it seems to be."

"It does appear it will take a considerable amount of work for the two of us to put everything together," Alfred agreed.

"I've decided to hold off on taking command of Wayne Enterprises," Bruce informed Alfred. "Setting up the cave is of primary importance right now, and my free time would be limited once I start running a big corporation. After the cave is finished, we can look to the family company, until then, my work is here."

"As you wish, Master Bruce," Alfred accepted.

"Did Gordon pick up the evidence?" Bruce queried.

"Indeed he did," Alfred confirmed. "Gordon has promised legal action against Harris, Cunningham, Leeson, and Fairbanks. Your efforts have taken down a rather sizable number of criminals."

"Our efforts," Bruce corrected. "I couldn't have done half of this without you, Alfred."

"Shall I start ordering the parts for your cave renovations?" Alfred asked, accepting the compliment humbly by immediately changing the subject rather than letting it dwell.

"Please do," Bruce encouraged. "Due to it being early evening, I suspect most places won't be able to deliver what we need tonight, but let's get things going anyway."

"I know of a store with generators and emergency lighting," Alfred informed him. "They're open late and could have the equipment here before dark."

"Great," Bruce accepted eagerly. "I'll take a quick drive into town and pick up the climbing gear and tools I'll need for construction."

                                                                                              ***

Bruce drove his white van away from Wayne Manor. Being on the outskirts of Gotham, his house was isolated and private, but it also made it a ten minute drive into town. He knew he wouldn't get back before dark, but as long as he reached the stores and purchased what he needed before the businesses closed, he didn't care.

Part of his mind got a small kick out of building a secret base in the cave. Having a hidden fortress was something he'd thought would be fun when he was still a kid, and the plans for making it happen brought back the enjoyable feelings. A sobering idea quelled his pleasurable thoughts when he considered the cave wasn't for fun but for protection. If the criminals of Gotham knew what he was doing, they wouldn't just target him, they'd come gunning for Alfred too. Keeping his investigations secret was essential to protecting lives. A spike of cold dread shot through his heart as his line of thinking turned toward others who might be put in danger.

Bruce slammed on the brakes and pulled the van over. After putting the vehicle in park, he dug out his cell phone and quickly dialed Alfred's number.

"Did you forget something, Master Bruce?" Alfred answered on the phone.

"Yes," Bruce confirmed. "I want you to get on the computers right now and check on Gordon. Do a search for anything recently relating to him. We moved against Fairbanks, and we had Gordon check for anyone in the police Fairbanks might be working with to make the evidence disappear. I didn't think about it until now; Fairbanks might not have his hooks in the GCPD, but what if he's in partnership with someone who does?"

"Oh dear," Alfred said softly. "To cover for their partner, they might take action against Gordon."

"Exactly," Bruce agreed. "Check on him, now!"

"Will do, Master Bruce," Alfred promised, hanging up the phone.

Bruce dropped his phone onto the passenger seat. The heel of his hand struck the rim of the steering wheel in frustration. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid as to overlook the possibility of Fairbanks having a partner. It was a careless error, and it might cost Gordon his life.