A/N: Second...I'm even thinking of cranking out a third...maybe...
They retired to the dining room and Alfred cooked one of Cassandra's favorites. The Family prattled on noisily like they always did. Cass smiled sometimes, while the Family laughed all the time.
Babs spoke when there was a break in the converstation.
"We should address the elephant in the room," she said, matter-of-factly. "Is Cass going on patrol tonight?"
All eyes, even Selina's, turned to Bruce.
"No I'm not," said Cass, everyone looked at her. "Not tonight at least."
Cass had dared to hope for a second they were simply a family drawned together by fate, not by evil circumstances. That they were- well, normal, if there was such a thing. Patrol and death didn't exist, all they had was togetherness.
But they all had to leave for patrol around 11, and Cassandra was alone.
Well, except for Barbara.
"Hiya Cass, you're still here?"
Cass leaned on the railing of a raised platform in the Bat Cave, Babs looked up at her. Cass nodded, she steeled her reserve. She couldn't ask, no, it was too desperate, too needy.
"Babs, where's Jason?"
Babs sighed quietly. "Like, his location on the planet or why he didn't come to dinner?"
"Was he even invited?" asked Cass.
"Dick invited him, but he declined."
"There's another girl isn't there." It wasn't really a question.
"You know how Jason is, there's always something. If it's not another girl it's a criminal he's obsessed over. And if it's not either of those he sits around and broods about his bloodthirsty vigilante justice and the injustice for children."
Cass was silent. Babs was right.
"How did you two break up anyways?" asked Babs. "He's totally mum."
Cass stayed mute for a second, choosing her words carefully. "I did something stupid, and we fought. Literally."
"What did you do?"
Cass breathed. "I let some thug member rape a girl while Jason and I were staked outside Penguin's club."
Babs was taken aback. "That doesn't sound like you."
Cass shook her head. "We had been staking out the club every other night, all night for two weeks. And on the days we hadn't been, something always went wrong and we failed."
"So that night was a weak moment for you?"
"I didn't realize that it was a rape until Jason went down and killed the man. I thought it was just a mugging."
"I take it Jason didn't believe you when you told him you were tired."
"I don't think so, and he was right. I should've stopped it."
"You're not Superman, Cass."
Cass nodded. "But I'm not Lois Lane either."
Babs nodded. "Neither am I." She turned back to the computer and clacked a few keys. "Jason's latest safe house is at this address." She wrote it down and held it up so Cass could take it. A few awkward seconds passed as Cass crossed the room to take it.
"He's with Dick and Tim right now, he probably won't be back there until maybe 5."
Cass nodded.
"You'll have enough time to get a nap in and put on something nice."
Cass shook her head and smiled.
"My offer of staying the night still stands."
"I got an apartment already," said Cas.
"But is it furnished? Does it have food? Does it have a companion to come home to?"
Cass looked down. Babs was right about the food part at least.
Knowing she'd won, Babs pulled out her apartment keys and held them out for Cass.
xXx
Cass awoke having arms wrapped around her. She was in Bab's apartment, sleeping in the bed. She and Babs had done this before, several times. Dick had never wrapped his arms around Cass and started sucking on her neck before.
She started to move away and Dick muttered how it had been a long night, and how she shouldn't play coy. Cass felt her blood run cold when she felt something buldge against her ass. Her only thoughts were: "Abort! Danger! Fallback!"
She tried to jump out of the bed, but her body was still wrapped in the sheet. The result was her falling out of bed like a log. Her forehead barely missed the nightstand and her legs were trapped in fabric.
"What the f-" breathed Dick.
The door flew open, pulling Cass's hair as she tried to wriggle out of her clothe bonds.
"Oh my god! What happened?" asked Babs. "All I heard was a bang. Dick! Why are you here?"
Cass stood. "He thought I was you, Babs."
Dick's face was red, he seemed at a loss for words at the embarassing situation. "It's been a long night honey."
Babs sighed. "Well, we can't all sleep in the bed."
Cass began pulling on her clothes. "I'll go to my new apartment."
Both Dick and Babs protested.
"Don't leave on my account-" said Dick.
"-Dick can sleep on the couch-" said Babs.
"-You just got home-"
"-He has his own apartment if he wants a nice bed-"
They went on, Cass shook her head. "I have something I've gotta do."
"So you're really gonna?" Babs asked. "You sure?"
"It's a small town, I can't avoid him forever."
"Who?" asked Dick.
"I'll tell you when you're older," said Babs.
"Thanks Babs, your bed's really comfy. I had a few yogurts, sorry," said Cass as she grabbed her backpack, having left the rest of her bags at her apartment.
"No, please, take anything you want. Whatever you don't eat I'm sure Dick will."
"Great, thanks," said Cass and she stole out of the room and the apartment.
xXx
Tonight had not been a good night for Jason. An entire orphanage had been abducted, and some of them had already been killed. Tim and Bruce were working non-stop to find them, and who did it. Dick and Jason were just there to be the muscle.
He stripped down to his wife-beater and underwear, and climbed into bed. He was just falling asleep, just getting comfy when he heard a small noise. A footstep. Jason bolten upright with the pistol he had under his pillow. He shot three rounds through the door and waited. Nothing.
He climbed out of bed and pushed the door open. Nothing, darkness. He descended down a few stairs, and waited again.
"If you're gonna kill me, can you do it in a few hours? I'd like to be well rested for my second date with Death," he announced to the darkness, and climbed the stairs back into his room.
The black shape on his bed made him aim his gun and fire in surprise. The hammer clicked, but nothing else happened. He forgot to reload before he went to bed, he was slipping, that's for sure.
"Jesus! I almost popped one in your head," he said.
"Hello Jason," said Cass. Her legs were crossed and she was sitting on his bed. Jason couldn't help but think of another time where it excited him to see her sittng as she did now.
"What are you doing here?" asked Jason as he sat at the table across from her to clean and load his gun.
"I came to see you."
"Good to see you, bye." So that's why Dick was so adamant he come to the Manor for dinner: to welcome the lost daughter home.
Cass didn't seem to care. "I was in Hong Kong," she said.
"Oh? That's fantastic, never been. It's been great catching up, but I'd like to go to bed, see ya."
Cass stood and crossed over to him. He looked her dead in the eyes. His blue mixed with her brown.
"You're still mad at me," she said.
"I'm abso-fucking-lutely fine with you," said Jason.
"I said I was sorry, Jason."
"I accept your apology, now get out."
Cass just stared at him in silence. Jason stood, towering over her.
"Look Cass, I don't know what you expected when you came over here. Me crying about how I've missed you for the past three years-"
"Two and a half."
"What-the-fuck-ever! It was a long time ago, I'm different, you're different. It's good to see you, glad to know you're home. Hope you drop by again when I'm not ready to blast you're fucking brains out. Now get the fuck out."
Cass stared for a few more minutes, but Jason couldn't take anymore of it. He crossed to the bed and got in, ready to sleep.
"I'm at Green Meadow Towers if you want to visit," said Cass.
"Greatthanksbye," said Jason, keeping his eyes closed.
"Bye Jason." Cass flicked off the light when she left.
Jason tossed and turned for an hour or two, but his thoughts were swimming to frantically. He could tell he wasn't going to be able to fall asleep sober.
xXx
Cass stood in line at the market not far from where she lived. Only the essentials for today: cereal, milk, bread, eggs, lunch meats, condiments, a few frozen dinners, etc. The apartment had come fully furnished, but she didn't trust the sketchy carpet and furniture. She had decided to go shopping for those this after noon, but food came first and foremost in her book.
Jason was right, what had she been expecting when she went to his safe house? Cass decided she didn't really know, she just felt like it was the right thing to do. Meeting Jason just made sense to her.
She tried to clear the air, tried is the key word. She could tell he wasn't happy to see her, nor was he happy to have her in his house when he was supposed to be asleep.
She couldn't tell if he was still mad at her about what had happened.
She didn't know if she'd ever know.
A/N: thanks to bumblebebe, romanov16, and Red17 for reviewing my other Jay/Cass fic "He Guessed" and Romanov16 for reviewing this one.
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