A/N: Sorry for the wait guys! I know it's been a little slow-going so far on the updates but work is kicking my butt right now! 26 hours of overtime in one week doesn't leave much time for writing unfortunately! You'll have to forgive me if this chapter is a little rough around the edges, my current beta is not in town and I'm not sure when she will be back. I didn't want to leave ya'll waiting any longer than you already have! Also, THANK YOU for all of the reviews and favorites on the first chapter! I really, really appreciate it!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Young Justice or any of its wonderful characters unfortunately.

Barbara doesn't know what to say. For the first time in her life she can't think of a single word to say. She just watches. Watches as Richard Grayson, her best friend, is taken away. Watches as his wrists are bound and he's carried off to God knows where. She can't find anything to say. What do you say in this kind of situation? What can she say? One wrong word, one misstep and all of their identities will be compromised. There's too many witnesses, too many innocent bystanders who have no idea Richard Grayson is the kid who jumps across rooftops and saves them every night. They're clueless. And she can't find anything to say.

"Miss Gordon, we have to go. We must go tell Master Bruce what has happened if he doesn't already know. We have to warn everyone," Alfred knows what to say.

She turns her gaze to him, hoping he'll have answers to all the questions she can't think to ask right now, "He's gone."

Alfred sighs and she can see the age in his face right then. She can see the worry and the frustration and the anger but she can also see the years. So many, many years. How can he manage to think of what to do right now? She can't even remember how to speak. He kneels in front of her, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently, "I know you're scared and I know it seems hopeless but I promise you we will get Master Richard back. But first we need to tell Master Bruce. He will have a plan, he always does."

She nods. Right, Bruce is the World's Greatest Detective, he always knows what to do. Always. She picks herself up, reminds herself she isn't just Barbara Gordon, she's also Batgirl. Batgirl would not cower she would fight, she would stand and she would fight. She moves toward the Royce waiting at the curb. Alfred opens the door and she climbs in. Barbara Gordon has no place here right now. Batgirl is the only person allowed in this car. Batgirl can help save Robin when Barbara can't.

Bruce isn't home when they arrive at the manor but they both know it won't be long now. The moment they click on the television in the den the news is showing Gotham Academy and Richard being taken. Alfred is on the phone and she's pretty sure he's talking to Bruce. The voice on the other end of the line is elevated and almost panicky. Definitely Bruce. Not Batman. Not yet. Batgirl knows the moment he steps foot in this house Bruce will disappear and Batman will take his place. That's how it always is when one of them is in danger. He panics to Alfred, lets out all of his fear, and then he puts his cowl on and hides it all. It's how they operate. All of them.

Alfred walks back into the room and sighs deeply, "Master Bruce will be here in a few minutes. Someone informed him of the current situation when the news started showing everything. He was not very pleased."

Batgirl snorts, "I didn't think he would be. His kid was literally just taken from his school in broad daylight. Those kinds of things aren't supposed to happen. Plus, they knew our identities. All of our identities."

Alfred nods and slowly sits on the couch across from her, "I want to know how they were able to break into the Watchtower files in the first place. I'm assuming that's why they took Master Richard. They know he designed the Watchtower security and he is the only one who can rebuild it correctly which means they aren't done looking through all of the files yet."

"And Dick is the only one who would be able to really tell what all they managed to get into as well. Without him we don't know a whole lot."

"We know more than you think," Bruce's voice is low and Batgirl can detect a hint of anger underneath the forced calm.

Batgirl is off the couch in a second, ready to do something, anything to bring Dick back, "What did you find out?"

Bruce doesn't say anything just moves through the den and heads for the study where the cave entrance is. Batgirl is right behind him and Alfred isn't far behind her. Both are eager to start working on getting Dick away from Joker and Harley and the other man neither of them recognized.

Bruce waits until they are in the cave and the door is shut firmly behind them before saying anything, "Dick managed to send a message to me through his wrist computer back at the school. I'm not sure if it was before or after Joker and his new friend grabbed him but it's still useful. He gave instructions on how to reset the security mainframe and figure out the extent of the damage. He must have known something was going to happen and wanted to make sure there was some way to fix the worst of the damage without him."

Batgirl smirks, leave it to Dick to think on his feet, "That's good news."

Bruce nods, "It is and it isn't. I'm assuming they took Dick because he can rebuild the security systems but if we do that without them he becomes all but useless to them. They won't hesitate to kill him."

"Unless they have him for other reasons too. Besides, if we do rebuild it what's to stop them from making him tear it all down again? He could probably do it even easier than they did and get more information."

Bruce thinks about that for a moment before nodding, "That's true. So we rebuild the security as best we can and figure out where to go from there. I don't like not going after him right now but the safety of the League has to be our top priority. If we're quick enough we can reset the security system and track him down before they make him tear it away again."

Batgirl nods, sounds like a good plan to her and at least now they have a plan which is more than they had a few minutes ago, "Then let's get to work."

Bruce moves to the Batcomputer, "We need to get in contact with the League and the Team. They can search for Dick while we work."

Batgirl likes the sound of that but she has a few concerns, "They don't know who Robin is though. How are we supposed to make them understand searching for Dick is just as important as fixing the security system and protecting their identities without telling them?"

At this, Bruce sighs and Batgirl has a feeling he's about to say something she never though she would hear, "We have to tell them."

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Dick must have passed out at some point between climbing into the helicopter and reaching their destination because the next thing he knows he is waking up in a dark, dank room by himself. He isn't tied to a chair which is an improvement to his usual condition when he wakes up after being kidnapped. He hates waking up bound to a chair. It is depressing and reminds him he screwed up. Of course, the dark and cold room around him doesn't really let him forget but at least he can move around.

Dick sits up slowly, his whole body feeling like lead. That would explain why he passed out. He was drugged. But when? His shoulder twinges painfully and he suddenly remembers how hard it was to move his body after being shot, how disoriented he felt. They must have laced the bullet with something. They probably assumed he would start fighting them at some point. They were right of course. If he was awake during the helicopter ride or even right after he definitely would have fought. Barbara and Alfred were no longer in danger at that point so he could act as he pleased. Damn it. He hates when the bad guys think ahead.

He is just beginning to really gain his bearings and preparing to stand when a door opens up behind him. He turns and that is the first time he feels the soft tug on his ankle. He looks down and sees a thick manacle clasped over his ankle with a rather short chain hooked into the ground. He curses and turns back to the door, watching as light spills into the room and a tall figure steps inside. The light catches on the strange white hair and the pale eyes. This was the person behind it all, the one who broke into the Watchtower's mainframe and snooped through all the information there. Dick already hates him for putting the people he cares about in danger.

"Good, you're awake. I was beginning to think maybe we overdid it with the drug. But you appear whole which will be useful for what we have planned," his voice is just as chilling as it was back at the school.

He snorts, "I'm sure you were so worried about giving me too many drugs because the bad guys always worry about making sure I remain whole and unhurt."

The man smirks and in the blink of an eye he is in front of Dick, his pale eyes seeming to see straight into Dick's soul. A hand shoots out, wrapping around his throat squeezing just enough for his eyes to water and his lungs to burn, "Oh, dear boy, I am not like any other 'bad guy' you've ever dealt with. I do not care if you are hurt but I do care if you are still useful. You can be hurt many ways before you become no good to me."

Dick is trying hard to stay conscious, stars dancing in front of his eyes as he tries to pull oxygen into his lungs. The air won't come though, no matter how hard he tries. Just when he thinks he is going to pass out the hand is removed from his throat. He coughs on the air as it enters his lungs, trying desperately to replenish what he lost in those few moments, "What are you planning?"

He wishes the words were stronger but his throat feels raw. The man smiles, "I don't think I should be telling you that. You could find some way to let your little friends know. We can't have them crashing the party too early now can we?"

Dick glares at him, "You could at least tell me who you are."

The man nods and stands, "Fair enough. After all, I already know who you are. You can call me The Keeper."

"The Keeper? What is it with bad guys and their ridiculous names?"

The Keeper chuckles but makes no move toward Dick, "I will thoroughly enjoy watching your spirit break boy."

"You aren't going to break my spirit. Trust me, plenty of people have tried and failed."

"They weren't me. I know how to break people. And you, dear child, will break. And then you will do exactly as I ask of you because there will be nothing left in you that wants to protest."

Dick rolls his eyes, "We'll see."

Dick is terrified inside but he knows he can't let it show. Something about this "Keeper" put him on edge. He is different than the usual villains in Gotham and Dick worries maybe he can be broken. He always believed watching your parents die and staying whole meant nothing could ever really destroy you but now he wonders how true that really is.

"Yes, we will," the Keeper turns and heads for the door, looking over his shoulder one more time before leaving, "The Joker has requested a little time with you. I happily obliged."

He suddenly feels sick. Joker is the only Gotham villain who ever came close to breaking him. Joker has ways of getting to just about anyone and unfortunately for Dick he made it one of his life goals to break Robin. He blames Robin for making Batman ignore him and end fights faster than before because he was worried for his younger partner. Dick knows the Joker hates him with every fiber of his being and he is surprised the mad man doesn't just outright kill him.

The door creaks back open and Dick shivers as a cackle echoes through the room. He gulps. Joker terrifies him, even if he will never tell him that. Admitting your fear to Joker is equal to signing your death wish. Once you're afraid of Joker and he knows it, he grows bored and then keeping you alive to play with you is no fun anymore. So Dick taunts and pretends the Joker doesn't faze him.

"Oh Robbie-Poo I've missed you so much! We haven't played in such a long time! Have you missed your Uncle Jay?" Joker's voice always sounds manic but for some reason he sounds even crazier tonight.

"Missed isn't the word I would use, Joker," Dick's voice comes out just as strong and sarcastic as he wants. Unlike the Keeper, Dick has experience with Joker. He knows how to hide his fear without even trying now.

"You're breaking my heart kid, I guess I'll just have to break a few of your bones to make myself feel better. Sound like a fun idea to you?"

"I think you need to buy a dictionary. The words you're using don't mean what you think," Dick snorts.

"Oh, always so snippy at first! But I know what it sounds like when the little birdy sings and I can't wait to hear the song you give me tonight!"

Dick doesn't respond to that, just watches as Joker moves around the room. He drops a black duffel bag on the ground and Dick hears the distinct clank of a crowbar as it hits the hard floor. The crowbar is his least favorite instrument. Unfortunately, it's Joker's favorite.

Joker stops moving around Dick and slowly approaches him. Dick isn't about to let the crazed man near him without some form of resistance and immediately starts backing away. Unfortunately, in that brief moment of panic, he forgets about the chain around his ankle. He makes it about two steps before the chain grows taut and he falls in a heap to the floor. He winces, the hard ground definitely leaving a bruise on his tailbone.

Joker starts laughing and he doesn't stop, even when he is bent double and gasping for air, "Bird Brain you kill me!"

Dick glares at the man and attempts to sit up without looking foolish which at this point is pretty much useless. He hates the clown more than he hates pretty much anyone else. He's fairly certain he hates him almost as much as Tony Zucco and that's saying something.

Once he's finally done laughing and wiping away the tears Joker resumes his approach. Dick hates being chained to this spot, forced to sit there as a mad man approaches him. The one good thing in this entire messed up situation is Joker knows he's Robin. He can act as he pleases and use the tricks Batman taught him. No point protecting a secret identity if it's no longer a secret.

The moment Joker is within striking range, Dick acts. While his movements are severely limited he knows he can put up a decent fight. He swipes his leg in a wide arc over the ground quickly and Joker is sent sprawling to the ground in an uncoordinated heap. Dick wastes no time and immediately hops up and positions himself over Joker, slamming his fist into the clown's face over and over again. Blood begins to pour from his nose and mouth and Dick's knuckles began to hurt but he can't stop. Joker starts laughing at some point which only fuels his rage.

He is so distracted by his anger he doesn't notice Joker's hand moving toward the chain by his ankle. He knows Bruce would be furious if he saw how lost in his emotions he is but Dick can't find it in himself to care. A moment later, when the chain is being yanked and he's losing his balance, he realizes his mistake. One more sharp tug at the right angle and he falls backward, his head smacking the hard ground painfully. He winces and is dazed for a moment, blinking rapidly to regain his bearings,

Unfortunately, the Joker is fast and before Dick can gather himself he is being pinned to the ground and fists are flying at his face. One after another makes connection and he can feel blood running from his nose and pooling in his mouth. He feels himself starting to choke on the blood and he knows if the punches don't let up soon he will lose consciousness. At this point, he won't mind passing out if it means getting away from this whole mess he woke up in.

After a few more blows the Joker stands and admires his handy work, "You should be nicer to me, Bird Brain. I have so many wonderful games planned for us but if you're mean we won't get to play them! Wouldn't that be sad?"

Dick rolls onto his side and spits blood from his mouth, "So sad."

Joker sighs and tsks at Dick, "Dear boy, you must learn to be gracious! I came up with all these games just for you and you seem so disrespectful! That won't do!"

Dick rolls his eyes and sits cross-legged, swaying slightly, "I told you already, buy a dictionary because the words 'fun' and 'game' don't mean what you seem to think."

Joker shakes his head and walks back to his bag, rummaging around inside before pulling out a knife easily as long as Dick's forearm. He sighs, things always go the same way with Joker. First he'll cut and slash and stab then he'll beat and bash and bruise. They never usually got passed the beating part before Batman showed up or he managed to find a way to escape. He has a feeling this time he won't be getting away before then and he isn't sure what will happen when Joker tires of his crowbar.

Joker is approaching him again now, the blade gleaming in the light as he twirls it around, "I've always wanted to carve this bird."

Robin has to resist the urge to sigh. Every time they found themselves in this situation he used the same line and every time Dick rolled his eyes. He's used to this routine and while he hates it, at least he knows what to expect for a little while.

Joker crouches down in front of Dick, eyeing him critically before slowly lowering the blade and pressing it against Dick's arm. Dick doesn't flinch or let his fear show on his face. While he wants nothing more than to get up and run from the crazed clown he knows he won't get far before he's out of room. Better just to take it and hope Joker grows bored before too long.

The blade is pushed deeper into his skin, drawing blood now, and Joker grins, "Such a pretty color."

Dick clenches his teeth as the blade is pushed in even deeper and he resists the urge to let out a pained hiss. He refuses to give Joker the satisfaction. Besides, if he shows his pain too soon Joker will grow bored in a bad way and try harder to really hurt him. He knows how the man's mind works more than he would care to admit.

Joker frowns and makes a sharp downward jerk with the blade, slicing a deep wound into his arm. Blood flows freely from the injury and he can tell it's deep from the amount of it pouring down his arm. He knows it's only the first of many but it is unusual for the Joker to inflict such a serious wound so early. It makes Dick wonder if perhaps this Keeper person is making Joker do things a little differently. Dick doesn't understand why though. Why keep him? Why decide not to kill him? Yes, he could easily rebuild the security system without even trying but they could kill him and never worry about him rebuilding it anyway. Someone else could probably figure it out but not before all of their secrets were uncovered. He left Bruce an outline of how to at least restore some semblance of protection but it wouldn't hold long without a full rebuild and strengthening of the foundation system.

"You're boring me, bird boy. You know I love to hear you sing!" Joker's face is twisted in a small pout, his lower lip sticking out and quivering slightly.

Dick fights the urge to roll his eyes, "Sorry Joker, not really in a singing kind of mood."

Joker shrugs, "I'm sure I can convince you otherwise."

The knife is placed to his other arm now and this time Joker stabs it into the skin a little bit more before dragging it slowly across Dick's skin. Dick can't hold back the hiss of pain this time and he hates himself for it. While Joker loves nothing more than making Dick suffer and hearing the pain he can cause, he also grows bored easily. Too much screaming or crying out and he won't care how much damage he inflicts anymore because it all sounds the same.

"You know, if I had my way we would take this slower. But the Keeper, he is very demanding. Normally, I wouldn't follow anyone's rules but this guy, he knows his stuff. He figured out the big bad bat's identity after all! I couldn't even do that!"

Dick glowers at Joker, "So you're his little minion now?"

Joker frowns, "That's not a very nice way to put it. I like to think of it more like we're colleagues. After all, he doesn't know how to make you sing. That's what I'm here for."

Dick doesn't say anything, just waits as Joker once again makes his way over to his duffle. He drops the blood-covered knife to the ground and reaches into the bag. He knows what Joker is going to pull out without even looking. The crowbar always follows the knife.