Dick showed himself out while Alfred busied himself. It constantly amazed Dick that Alfred constantly had something to do. He suspected that Alfred intentionally left small, unnoticeable, but vital jobs around the house undone so that he would always have a reason to be where he felt the need to go.
As it was, Alfred was setting a small clock, then disabling the alarm. With remarkable foresight and a screwdriver, he also disabled the button that would have enabled the alarm. When that was done, he returned his attention to Master Bruce, who clearly needed more help than protection from his own lack of knowledge of his limitations. "When one has built a family, as you have, Master Bruce, one learns that it is very possible to damage the bonds you have created. However, it is much more difficult to destroy these bonds. Loathe as you may be to admit failure, I must admit that I believe Miss Carrie and Miss Cassandra will come around."
On the way back from the Cave with a small assortment of medication, Dick stopped and sat on the staircase. It was the only area in the foyer that his voice wouldn't carry. Then he took a deep breath and dialed Carrie's number. After a few rings, a sleepy voice answered. "Hey."
From her tone, Dick figured that she probably knew why he was calling, but he felt compelled to say it anyway. "Bruce is awake."
"Is he all right?" she asked. It was clear that she was going out of her way not to sound concerned.
Dick hesitated slightly. "Yes. He's... older. Maybe more than sixty."
"Is he m--" Carrie caught herself, but Dick could guess what she had been saying. "Is he the same Bruce that left?"
"I think so." Dick decided not to address her very near slip of the tongue. "I'm going to try to find out more."
"Fine. Call me when you're coming home." She hung up without saying goodbye, but more as if she had done it absently than angrily.