Dick was waiting restlessly in the hospital. He had never felt so helpless and torn apart in his life. Every time he closed his eyes, it all came back to him.

He was back in Gotham coming all the way from Bludhaven to see Bruce, Alfred, and of course Barbara. The night Dick arrived, Bruce was getting ready for a mandatory company dinner party to keep up appearances. Because of Bruce's plans, Dick saw this as an opportunity to volunteer for patrol and get some alone time with Barbara. The night had been quiet and Dick and Barbara didn't really talk to each other much which was unusual. It wasn't until about 2 o' clock a.m. that the two noticed activity. Both Dick and Barbara hopped over the edge of the building they were staked out on to handle what seemed like just another intimidation visit.

Reaching the ground, the two scared off a group of thugs that were assaulting an elderly man. With the thugs long gone and an elderly man in need of help, Dick and Barbara moved in to assist the man. Once Dick turned the man around and saw him, he knew that he and Barbara were in danger and had to get out of the area now.

The man was dead but the part that really worried Dick was that the man wore a permanent smile and his eyes stuck open. Before Dick could call Bruce, gas sprayed from somewhere in the man's jacket which almost immediately knocked the two out.

Dick was still staring at the ground until he heard loud running. This caused him to look up which caused only more dread. Commissioner Gordon was here and was coming right at Dick. Dick stood up to meet the Commissioner.

"How is she? What happened?" asked Commissioner Gordon frantically.

Dick could barely look the Commissioner in the eyes. "I'm...I'm... I'm so sorry. She's in surgery but the doctors aren't very optimistic."

Commissioner Gordon fell to his knees. His daughter, his baby girl, was dying. And the worst thing was that he couldn't do anything about it. Gordon stood up and simply asked "What happened?"

Dick woke up in a solitary room in what looked like an asylum. He checked his surroundings but stopped as he heard a voice that turned his bones to ice. Turning around, Dick saw the one and only Joker outside of the glass.

"Well well. If it isn't Bats' little sidekick. Gotta say, not very impressed with the costume."

Dick banged against the glass to no avail.

"You know, I was expecting the infamous Batman to be my prize, but I guess you and little Miss Bat will have to do."

Dick's eyes widened with horror which the Joker noticed immediately.

"Oh yeah, I knew I was forgetting something. Harley get your ass out here and bring the prize."

As ordered, Harley Quinn appeared out of a hallway and entered dragging Barbara who was bleeding through her mask along with a deep cut to her leg and her side.

"Now, first, let's examine the prize" said the Joker as Harley held up Barbara.

Dick continued to strike at the glass mercilessly with tears beginning to form. "Don't you touch her. If you're going to hurt someone, hurt me. Take me. TAKE ME" screamed Dick.

The Joker responded by giving a large, disgusting, smile. "Well, I would, but you didn't say please so...". A gunshot went off and Barbara fell to the floor. Harley be a dear and let bird brains here out after a bit will you." After what seemed like an eternity of attacking glass, the door finally opened.

Dick ran to Barbara who was laying in a pool of her own blood. He found where the bullet was and realized that all he could do was to get her to the hospital.

After explaining how everything happened, the doctor eventually came out and approached Dick and the Commissioner. Commissioner Gordon practically attacked the doctor to find out his daughter's condition.

"How is she. Doctor please tell me."

The Doctor looked sadly at the Commissioner to describe the situation. "The patient has lost an immense amount of blood. It's actually a miracle that she's still alive. I believe that she is going to survive, but... the bullet hit her spine and has left her paralyzed from the waist down. As for the other injuries she obtained, it will take time, but they should heal in time. You may go in to see her if you wish." The doctor left leaving Dick and the Commissioner to rush in to see Barbara.

Bruised, beaten, and broken, Barbara lay in her hospital bed. "I'll kill him. I'm going to find the Joker and I'm gonna kill him" said the Commissioner darkly.

"It's impossible to do so now" responded Dick.

Commissioner Gordon turned to Dick. "What did you do?"