Bruce watched the red numbers impatiently above the elevator doors countdown to the ground floor. It felt like time had slowed down, and he was trapped inside of a small box. Dick had a sickly white face, and perspiration had gathered on his forehead. Luckily he didn't have a fever yet, but that could change at any moment. He needed to get Dick back to the mansion to make sure that he wasn't actually poisoned with something fatal. Poison Ivy was unpredictable when it came to her plants and toxins.

There was a light ding, and the elevator doors finally slid open. Bruce hastily made his way across the lobby without trying to draw too much attention. Party-goers were still in the lingering in the area. Some were sobbing and babbling to the cops, while others were too drunk to even realize an attack had happened. Officers were still swarming in through the front doors, and a few cast him worried glances as they saw Dick unconscious in his arms.

"Oh Mr. Wayne," someone called to him just as he was about to push through the door. He turned around to tell them off, but saw that it was Ivy who had spoken. She smiled tauntingly at him. "Take care of Richard for me. The poor dear, he'll probably be disoriented for a while."

"No thanks to you." Bruce replied coldly.

"You're the one who left the child alone at a party. I was only trying to care for him, make him see that I would be far more nurturing to him than a man who barely pays attention to him."

"You call this caring? You could have traumatized him! And I don't need to explain myself to a woman who attacks kids. I'm only glad that Batman was able to stop you before Dick was seriously injured." Bruce turned his attention to the police escorts, "Please take her away. She's done enough already."

"Yes Mr. Wayne. Sorry for the trouble." One of the officers said, and prodded Ivy in the back with his rifle. "Get moving."

Ivy twisted away angrily. "Don't you dare touch me!" She moved forward and walked past Bruce. "We'll be seeing each other again." She said in a hushed voice, and was led out the glass doors of the building into the waiting squad cars.

Bruce was furious. After everything that had occurred tonight Poison Ivy still had the nerve to threaten him, in front of the cops no less. Dick moaned and brought him back to reality. He couldn't focus on that right now. He left the lobby, and found Alfred waiting for him by the curb. He had the back door of the car open and waiting for the two. Upon seeing Bruce carrying Dick his expression quickly changed to worry.

"Oh my, what happened to Master Richard?"

"Poison Ivy. She snuck into the gala and targeted Dick. She got him with something, but I'm not sure what." Bruce said while sliding into the backseat. "We need to get back quickly."

"Yes sir," Alfred said and closed the doors and got into the driver's seat. The engine was already running, so he pulled out into traffic and sped back to the manor. Alfred watched in the review mirror as Bruce kept a watchful eye on Dick. He was still holding the boy in his arms, and he wouldn't let go anytime soon.

The ride back to the mansion seemed agonizingly long, but eventually the main gates came into view. They opened as the car drove up to them, and Alfred continued on up the drive to the front of the house. Alfred parked the car and got out quickly to help Bruce.

"What shall I do Master Bruce?" Alfred asked as he opened the main doors of the house.

"Dick needs an emergency chemical shower to get rid of any residual chemicals that could be on him from Ivy." Bruce sighed. He didn't want to put Dick in the cold water of the shower in this condition, but it was for the best. Who knows what he could have been exposed to. "Can you get him a change of clothes and meet me down in the cave?"

"Of course, Master Bruce," Alfred said and disappeared up the stairs to the bedrooms.

Bruce walked into the back study on the far side of the house where the grandfather clock was. He opened the glass case, while carefully balancing Dick in his arms, and pulled on the pendulum. The clock slid to the side along the wall and revealed a stone staircase leading down into the Batcave. The sound of bats wings could be heard echoing off of the walls as Bruce walked down the steps and the lights turned on.

Bruce placed Dick on a hospital bed in the small medical area of the cave. "Dick, come on. Wake up for me." He tapped his uninjured cheek lightly in an attempt to rouse him.

Dick whimpered and his eyes fluttered open. "What's happening?" he asked groggily.

"I have to put you in the shower for a few minutes. Do you understand, Dick?"

"Why?" his eyes were glassy, and his words slurred ever so slightly.

"Because you told me Ivy got some kind of dust on you. We have to wash it off.

Dick hummed a response as his eyes slipped close again. Bruce took off Dick's suit, and set it aside to analyze later for substance residue. He then brought Dick over to the shower. He turned the water on and placed Dick under the spray, holding him up under his arms while his used a washcloth on his face and hair. Dick moaned and woke up once more, trying to get away from the water.

"N-no more," he said.

"Shh, I know it's cold. It's almost over," Bruce said trying to comfort him the best he could.

After a few minutes, he finally turned the shower off. Dick was shivering now, and mumbled something incoherent. Bruce quickly wrapped him in a towel. Alfred stood nearby and handed Bruce a pair of pajamas to put on Dick to keep him warm. After he was dried off he put him back in the hospital bed to rest, and keep an eye on him while Bruce worked.

"Bruce," Dick whispered. "My head hurts."

"I know, but you're safe now. You'll feel better soon."

"I feel really sick. Were we in a fight?"

"Yes, but you'll be okay. Just rest and we can talk in the morning." Bruce told him.

Dick closed his eyes once again. Alfred brought the first aid kit over to the bedside, and grabbed some antiseptic, gauze, and medical tape. The marks on Dick's face were an angry red by this point, and his cheek had swelled up some.

"How did Master Richard get these scratches?" Alfred asked while wiping them carefully with the antiseptic.

"Poison Ivy's nails," Bruce growled. "She tried to take him with her. If I had been only a few seconds later she might have gotten away with him too."

"Dreadful woman." Alfred finished patching up Dick and packed the supplies away.

"She's planning something, and until we figure out what it is, we need to keep an eye on Dick."

"Of course."

Bruce pulled the blankets up to Dick's shoulders. Dick was still extremely pale but his body appeared to be less tense than before. He patted his head and then he grabbed the suit jacket. Bruce brought it over to a table by the computer that had different instruments on it, and set to work.

"Shall I bring you some coffee, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked.

Bruce nodded his response as he quickly became absorbed in examining the clothing for clues. He swabbed the collar of the jacket for the powder and placed it in the computer for analysis. It began to run through the chemical compounds, the computer organized them into different categories, but it was going to take a while to figure everything out. Alfred returned briefly with some coffee, placing it next to Bruce as he worked. He then dismissed himself from the room. Bruce looked over at Dick occasionally to make sure that he was all right and resumed his analysis on the compound. He was going to figure out what Ivy did if it took him all night.


Another chapter. Thanks for the awesome response on the first chapter. It was great, I really appreciate it. I know this chapter probably isn't the most exciting piece yet, but it will get better. Let me know what you think!

P.S.

I was not expecting the time jump in the second season of Young Justice. Its cool to see Nightwing, but I'm gonna miss young Dick Grayson. And where did Wally go? I miss him too.