Disclaimer: I don't own Batman or the songs.
Unlike my other stories, this one will be done in a slower process. It's hard to get the story just as I want it. I have to write it over and over until I find it perfect. This chapter took me about a week, but I think the time spent was worth it. What I really wanted to do was show the relationships between father and daughter and between lovers. I reworked the part of Barbara's mother, but that's one of the only changes I made in the Batman history. I did research on several things, like with most stories, to make them somewhat believable and understandable. Now, I was surprised by the number of reviews, or should I say review? I usually get more than just a one. Shoutout to The Soviet! I'm still going to write the story, but it helps to have reviews. If you fav or alert, then that's awsome. I'm trying to make it enjoyable for any true Batman fan, or even just people randomly looking through this catagory. Like always, I'm keeping people in charater and there will be no OCs. All I'm doing is what could happen. That is what an AU is. If you want to learn about what's going on in my stories (A brief overview), check out my profile. I've listed the changes that have occured and it gives a description of all the characters. Thanks everyone.
~Rhadiox
Gotham General Hospital was one of the top hospitals in the nation. It was the same hospital that the late Thomas Wayne founded and ran, and was owned and funded by Wayne Enterprises. Bruce Wayne strove to make every part of his company as perfect as possible, and Gotham General was no exception. It was given top funding to make sure it could handle any situation.
In room 219, Dick Grayson and Commissioner Jim Gordon sat with Barbara Gordon. Dick was seated by Barbara's bed, caressing his girlfriend's hand in his own.
"You know you don't have to be here," Said Barbara.
"I know, but I want to be here," Dick answered lovingly.
"Don't get all mushy on me Grayson. I'll have Daddy shoot you if need be."
Jim Gordon sat in the corner reading the news paper. He simply rolled his eyes at the comment, but did not move otherwise.
The young couple laughed. When the laughter finally died down, Dick turned back around and took a good look at Barbara. "You don't have to do this."
"Dick, we've been over this. If there's a chance I can get out of that damn chair for good, I'll take it."
"I know, but the risk is so high. I don't want to lose you."
"You won't. Everything will be fine. Dr. Kinsolving is the same doctor that worked on Bruce when he broke his back, remember? She's as good as they get."
"I know, but-"
"No 'buts'. You're worse than Daddy." The two young lovers looked back over at her father.
"Now don't go bringing me into this. I've already had my talk with her."
Just then, the door opened and a nurse stepped in the room. "We'll be all set in a couple of minutes."
Barbara acknowledged with a nod of her head and the nurse left. Barbara then turned to look at her boyfriend and saw the nervousness in his eyes. She lifted herself up with her arms and kissed Dick. "Everything will be fine. I promise."
"OK." He gave her a kiss back.
A few moments later, the door opened and a group of nurses, four males, two of them pushing a gurney, and one female nurse, entered the room. Leading them into the room was Dr. Shondra Kinsolving. She was medium height African woman.
"Are we all set to get things underway?" She asked. Her voice had a small accent to it.
Barbara took a deep breath. "As ready as we'll ever be I guess."
"Good," The doctor said and then turned to give the nurses some instructions. The four male nurses went over and adjusted Barbara's bed to get ready to move her to the gurney. After she was set, they moved her to the gurney and locked the safety rails in place. Then they wheeled her out, followed by the rest of the group.
After a short trip through the hospital to the surgery ward, the doctor gave another set of instructions to the nurses. The nurses then moved on ahead to set up for the surgery. Dr. Kinsolving then turned to face Commissioner Gordon and Dick. She smiled at the two before she spoke. "Well everything seems to be going on smoothly. She's a very brave person."
"Doc, are you sure you can do this?" Jim asked. His old tired eyes spoke of concern and worry. "Will my baby girl be able to walk again?"
"That's a difficult question, Commissioner Gordon, but I'm not going to lie. There is a very high risk that this procedure could put Barbara in a vegetative state. This type of surgery has never been performed before. However, the procedure should, in theory, rebuild and heal the damaged tissue of her lower spine. You see, the bullet hit at a point where spinal levels L1 to L3 received severe damage. Those damages resulted in the severing of nerves and slight damage in both level T12 and L4. It's a miracle she is even alive." The two males nodded and Dr. Kinsolving continued. "Now then, the procedure will be done by rebuilding the nerves and damaged tissue with the use of stem and progenitor cells. They will clone and multiply to rebuild the severed nerves. For the parts that are too large for that method, we will be using a new synthetic bone compound that will strengthen and rebuild the spine itself. Then the multiplying cells will connect with the new spinal column and that should enable Miss Gordon to walk again."
"You make it sound so easy." Dick laughed lightly.
Dr. Kinsolving smiled. "That's the wonder of science. You can make anything sound easy if you know what words to use. But, like I said. There is a very high risk that this procedure won't work. There are several factors to take in and complications can arise at any point. But Mr. Wayne sparred no expense and, with this equipment and this team of surgeons, everything should turn out fine."
"You keep say that it 'should' work. This isn't making a old man feel to good about any of this," said the Commissioner.
"I can't promise anything, but I will do everything in my power to make sure she comes back to you safely."
Commissioner Gordon nodded. "Thank you."
The doctor then shook both Gordon and Dick's hands and left to get ready for the surgery. The two men watched as she walk the double doors, turned right down an adjacent, and was then was out of sight.
"Dick, I'm in the mood for something to eat. You want to join me?" The Commissioner asked. Dick looked at the older man and then back at the entrance to the Surgery Ward. "You nervous?"
Dick nodded. Gordon then placed his arm around the younger man. "Me too son, me too. But, I have men posted all around the hospital for extra security. The rest is up to the doc. Com eon, let's go get something to eat; I'm buying."
"I guess I am a little hungry."
"That's the spirit! I know a diner just down the street."
The Commissioner had placed men all around the hospital for extra security and to ensure that Barbara's surgery would go without any outside interference. On each floor, eight officers divided into two teams kept watch over specific areas. Camera's monitored the hallways at all times. Two guards were posted on the roof and at every exit. Each man was armed their standard issue Glock pistol and two members out of each group were armed with a MP5 submachine gun.
On the roof, the two posted officers were near the southeast corner of the building. One officer, slightly older than the his partner, was leaning against the wall beside the stairwell door and the other sitting on an air conditioning unit. The older of the two finally set down his submachine and went to stand next to the younger officer. "Hey, you catch the end of the Wildcats' game?"
The younger officer nodded. "Yeah, Metropolis didn't stand a chance. What was the final score again? 3 to 38?"
"Yeah. I tell ya, there's a good chance that the Wildcats could head to the Super Bowl this year."
"Oh, no question about it."
The older of the two officers reached into his coat pocket and grabbed a pack of cigarettes, tapped one out, and placed it in his mouth. "Hey. You want one?"
The younger man shook his head. "Nah man. Those things will kill ya."
The older man shrugged. "Suit yourself." He produced a lighter and ignited the flame. Suddenly, just as he was about to light up, he gasped and fell to the ground.
"What the..." The younger officer rushed to the fallen man. "Oh, Christ!" He stared in shock. Imbedded into the fallen officer were several throwing knives. Horrified, the officer backed away and pulled out his pistol. He turned sharply, and, before he had time to react, his throat was sliced open by some shadowed figure.
Dick and Commissioner Gordon were seated in a booth at the Gotham Diner; just about a block away from the hospital.
"So...how good is this doc anyways?"
Dick took a sip of his drink. "She's the same doctor that worked on Bruce after his accident. She's one of the top surgeons in the world and the leading expert on cell reconstruction."
"I see." The two men sat in silence for a minute until Gordon spoke again.
"Any more talk of marriage?" Dick nearly spit out his drink. Gordon raised an eyebrow at how much the boy across from him turned red in the face.
"Well...um...no sir. I mean, it comes up occasionally, but..."
The commissioner laughed. "Don't worry about it. I was just teasing." He took another bite of his steak. "She'll come around eventually. I see how much you care about her."
Dick nodded and the commissioner continued. "You know, you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age. Barbara is just like her mother was. Along with sharing the name Barbara, my daughter is just as stubborn as her mother." Gordon took a second to think of his late wife, Barbara Gordon. She died giving birth to their daughter. In honor and love, Jim had given his daughter her mother's name. "It took me forever to convince Barbara to marry me, but she finally relented. Don't worry son; my little girl will come around."
"Thank you, sir."
"Enough with this sir stuff. Being called sir makes me sound old. Besides, you're an adult now, not that little boy I met years ago. Call me Jim."
"Yes sir...I mean Jim."
Jim smiled. "There we go. Now, you going to finish that steak?"
Dick shook his head and passed his plate to Gordon. "You can have it."
"Thanks. Barbara never lets me have steak. Something about it being not healthy. I tell you, doctor makes one little comment on my blood pressure and I'm stuck eating fruits and vegetables for every meal. Steamed beets; no man in his right mind would willingly eat steamed beets." The two men laughed and Gordon payed at the counter. Then they walked out into the cold night air and made their way back towards Gotham General.
Suddenly, there was some beeping noise coming from inside Gordon's jacket. Gordon pulled out a radio. "This is Gordon. What's going on? Over."
"Commissioner...taking...hospital...I repeat. They are taking over the hospital!" Gunshots could be clearly heard
"What? Who is!"
"...don't know. The power's out...can't see anything! We need backup!"
"Hold your positions! I'll radio in and reinforcements will be there in-"
The blood curtailing scream of the officer sent chills down both Dick and Jim's spines.
Tell me what you think. R&R! If you have any questions, drop me a P.M.. I'm very good at getting back to people. And check out my other stories too!