It took two months until she stumbled upon his file in the watchtower. That alone said something about Wing's computer skills. Well, apparently it was just one month. The file had a date stamp from a month ago. It was a video.
With trembling hands she klicked on it, scared of what the contents may be. Her breathing hitched as she saw his face. He looked tired, so tired. It practically hurt not to watch it that second but Babs knew the rest of the team and the league had a right to watch this with her.
She called them over her communicator, her voice shaky: „Everyone come to the main hall of the watchtower within the next ten minutes. There's something you ought to see."
Everyone who walked in stopped dead in their tracks the moment the saw the holographic screen with Dick's face. The first week of his absence they had mostly left him alone. Called a few times but not actively searched for him. They had still been a bit pissed. When he hadn't answered after two they had started to get worried. Searched the safe houses. Scanned the whole earth. Looked for his signature in databanks. But they couldn't find him.
They had stopped looking so hard after four weeks of that. It was too tiring. He was just another loss. And he didn't want to be found.
After 600 seconds she pressed play. Tim had just entered. She would probably have gone over and hugged him hadn't she been so emotional herself. Dick probably would have done it anyway. He had always remained strong when his little brothers needed him. God, she already talked about him in past tense.
„Hey, guys", his voice was rough. He probably hadn't spoken in weeks. „I'm not really sure why I'm even doing this. It probably won't be found for a while. I'm hiding it deep in the system so I guess it'll take a while. So, how much time has gone by? 6 months? 4? Maybe only 2 if there's a case eating Babs up." A sad smile flashed across his face.
„I know I said I'd just take a break but I changed my decision. I'm not coming back. Gosh... why am I even telling you this? You probably don't care either way. It'd probably be better if you never found this. I don't even know what I'm gonna do these next months. And I'm moving after this." He took a deep breath and when he talked his voice was shaking: „I messed up. Maybe if I had..." Another breath was slowly taken.
„Goodbye." With that the figure in the video leaned forward and turned off the camera. Babs was about to close the screen, her hands shaking, when Tim's voice stopped her: „Wait. There's more." He klicked the file that was hidden with this one and the screen flickered to life again. Dick leaned back from the camera. He looked worse: unshaved, tired, his hair too long.
„It's been two months since I left. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry." A bit oft he background could be seen as he leaned to the right. He was in his appartment in Bludhaven. „And I guess I wanted to say: Goodbye. I'm not coming back from this one. La revedere, Tati. Te iubesc. (Goodbye, dad. I love you.)." A tear slipped down his face ashe leaned forward again. You could see him shaking.
It took 45 seconds for her to move. Then she started sprinting to the zeta tube followed by Bruce and Tim. The others were still frozen in their places. They arrived in an alley right next to Dick's appartment and sprinted up the fire escape. She was a few meters ahead of the others and broke down his window, not caring about the glass that broke her skin.
He was lying on his bed. His eyes were half closed but definitely conscious. A pill bottle lay on the floor, two pills still left. A smile flashed, when Dick spotted Babs. It was tired, but honest. She moved to his side, tears already slipping down her face. She took off her mask, sat down and hugged him. They cried.
Tim slipped down the wall next to the window, shaking like an excited speedster. Bruce called an ambulance his voice breaking with the knowledge that they would only be able to declare his death.
Babs could practically feel the life leaving her best friend with every breath he took. But somehow he seemed happy. When his eyes closed one final time, there was a smile hovering on his face.
It had taken a while for Cassie to understand what was happening. She knew what they all were waiting for. A message that everything was alright. That the Bats had found the troll laughing at his newest prank. That their fearless leader had won against his inner demons. That the bats had reached their family member in time.
But what came after fifteen endless minutes was nothing like that. The zeta tube announced them. The first one was Batman. He looked as though he had been shot: pale and in so much pain. Then there were Robin and Batgirl. The oldest protege oft he bat had messy hair. Her cowl was hanging from her belt and she looked like a scared 5-year-old. The boy wonder was clawing at her uniform as if to make sure that if she went away, she would have to take him with her.