August 17, 0345h "I wan - I want to - Babs -" Spud's breath came in gasping sobs as he clung to Babs, looking entreatingly into her face. "Spud, sweetheart-" "No! You pr - promised! You said - I -" "Master James," Alfred's voice interrupted, his tone gentle but carrying the force of an order. It wasn't enough. "NO! He's hurt - an - an - and wh - what if-" "Spud!" This time it was Dinah's voice, startlingly stern as she took his hand and urged him upright. Her hands settled on his shoulders as she knelt in front of him. "Stop it. The doctors need to do their job. Right now we'd only be in the way of that, you understand? Spud?" His eyes remained shell-shocked wide, focusing somewhere past Dinah. She gave him a little shake. "Spud!" His mouth moved soundlessly for a moment, and then the tears started again. "I -I just w-want -" Dinah wrapped him in an embrace. "Shh, Spud. I know." She looked past his shoulder at Babs' pinched face. "He needs sleep," she mouthed. She resisted the urge to add, "So do you." Babs stared almost sightlessly at her best friend soothing her son, watching the way Spud trembled in her arms. When had he last slept? Before all this started, day before yesterday. He and Dick had been up early for them - 7? 8? 40 hours ago. Seemed more like 40 years. With a weary nod to Alfred, she acquiesced. She didn't want to sedate Spud, but this round of hysterics was so out of character even under the circumstances... Dinah's eyes flashed reassurance at her as Alfred quickly doctored Spud's hot chocolate. It didn't make her feel any better.