I don't own Nightwing or Batman or the Titans. That's all DC and I'd really like if they let me just play with the brilliant characters they have. So, thank you in advance.

And to the readers, THANK YOU a million times for reading. I love you all.

-------nw-------

SIX YEARS AGO.

"We're not discussing this." Bruce's tone was icy, final.

"Fine." The word was sharp.

He listened to the dial tone after Dick hung up.

Dick slammed the phone down. His fists and jaw were clenched in barely controlled anger. He grabbed his keys and left the room. He nearly ran into Roy in the hall.

That was the problem of being in Titan's Tower, he thought, there's always someone around.

"Dick, you okay?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "Just going out for a bit."

Roy held his gaze and analyzed his friend. "You sure?"

"I'll be back later." He pushed past his friend.

"Maybe if you go back to the Manner for a bit."

Dick slammed his fist into the wall. "I left, Roy! Moved out. I'm fine."

That was the first Roy had heard about it. He knew Dick had been tense, but he didn't know why.

Dick felt into the cooling evening. He drove just to drive, drove to clear his head. He was surprised when eh found himself in front of Ryan's apartment building.

Since Ryan's coincidental meeting with Robin, things had been better for him and his siblings. They had been able to move to a safer and nicer apartment and Ryan got a new job at an office downtown. He started taking classes at the university, he had always wanted to be a doctor. Ryan had never taken charity a day in his life, he said he'd pay Dick back when eh could. Ryan intended to do that, he would do that.

Dick parked and walked up the stairs. He pressed the intercom.

"Yeah?" Jake's voice came through.

"It's Dick, is Ryan there?"

"Uh huh. You wanna come up?"

"Please."

The lock clicked and Dick went inside.

Ryan let him in, took one look at him and grabbed a couple of sodas from the refrigerator. Dick followed him out onto the fire escape.

"What's going on?" Ryan glanced over.

"Nothing."

"You look like you have the world on your back."

Dick didn't like to talk to anyone about his own problems, a side effect of living with Bruce perhaps. Everyone had some problem though, Dick could deal with his own shit, nobody needed to worry about him.

"Dick, what's going on? I'd buy you a drink if we were old enough, cause you look like you could use it." He paused. "Everything okay with Bruce?"

It wasn't the first time Dick marveled at Ryan's perceptiveness. "Why?" He played it off.

"You want the abridged version or the full list?" He smirked.

Dick rolled his eyes. "It's nothing you need to worry about."

"You haven't told anyone, have you?" He sighed. "Listen, if you can't talk to you friends, then what the hell am I here for?"

"I don't want to-"

"Burdon me? You won't. I sure as hell don't have the corner market on the 'my life is shit' angle. Besides, I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything."

"Spill."

Dick tensed, took a drink of his soda and glanced away. "I kinda moved out."

"Out out?"

"Yeah. There was a fight, it was best if I left."

"Did he kick you out?"

Dick didn't answer, he didn't have to.

"I'm sorry, man."

He managed a bitter smile. "Actually, it is better like this."

"Where are you staying?"

"With friends, I'm all right." His phone vibrated. "Shit, I got to go."

Ryan stood, helped Dick up. "See ya. We got a couch if you need it."

He smiled. "Thanks." He left and went back to Titans Tower to answer the call.

NOW.

Dick was transported down to the waiting helicopter on the lawn of Wayne manner. Bruce never left his side. Eh was taken to a private room at Gotham General and then taken for an MRI and CAT scan. Bruce was left standing alone in the room.

He was returned to the room a few hours later. Bruce stood when doctor Stevens came in.

"He's doing well, Mr. Wayne, considering it all."

"What do the results say?"

Doctor Stevens smiled a little. "There is a small bleed in his brain. It has increased sicne he was first injured. I'd like to place a temporary shunt to relieve some of the pressure inside of his skull."

"Will he wake up then?"

"It will increase his chances." He paused. "Mr. Wayne, there is some risk with this procedure."

Bruce looked over at Dick. Some of the bruises had started to fade, but he hadn't woken up in five days. "Do it."

Dick was taken away again. Bruce sunk wearily into a chair.

SIX DAYS AGO.

Bruce stayed in the shadows, his cape caught a faint breeze in the hot night and fluttered around his ankles. He'd had too many calls that night, one after the other and getting worse as we went along. It was always worse when it was hot.

One of his phone lines rang, the one that only a small handful of people knew. "Batman."

"Bruce, it's Barbara." Her voice sounded a little shaky. "Get to Bludhaven."

"Why?" Something cold dropped into his stomach.

"It's Dick. He's hurt."

Bruce locked in her coordinates. "Are you with him?"

"Yes."

"Did you call an ambulance?"

She paused. "They have a thirty minute delay."

"I'll be there in ten minutes." He almost didn't want to ask. "How bad is it?"

"Bad."

The line went silent and Bruce took off at a run. He flew across the rooftops. His only thought was please, please don't' let him be dead. Not him. Please, not him. His heart pounded in his ears and sweat slicked his hair down. He didn't stop. He drove the streets, a black blur, as fast as he could.

He called Barbara. "How is he?"

"Where are you?"

"Five minutes."

"Make it faster, if you can." She was calm, somber. "I've done all I can, and it's not enough."

"What happened, Barbara?" His tone softened.

"He hasn't slept in a few days I think, it's been so busy, but nobody could have known what he walked into." She paused. "He called me for back up."

"Are you hurt?"

"It's not so bad."

Bruce could read between the lines, she was hurt too. For something to take down Dick and Barbara, well, it must have been as close to hell as any of them might ever get.

"I'm seconds away." He looked in the dark for them.

"Ally after the pool hall." She took a slow breath. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him." Her voice broke. "He was protecting me."

"I know you did everything."

It was then he saw Barbara, knelt over a still figure curled on the ground. His breath caught when he realized it was Dick.

NOW.

"Mr. Wayne?"

Bruce looked up at doctor Stevens. "How is he?"

"Doing well. If you'd like to step into the hall for a few minutes, while we get him settled?"

"Of course." He stood in the hall as Dick was wheeled by.

The door to his room was mostly closed. Bruce heard footsteps and saw Barbara come down the hall. Her left arm was in a cast, the bruises had faded some.

"I went to see how he is, Alfred said they moved him." Her voice was quiet. "Is he all right?"

"About the same, doctor Stevens just wanted some tests. How are you?" He nodded towards her cast. "That's new."

She glanced down. "From that night."

"I didn't know it was broken."

She didn't answer.

The door to Dick's room opened and a nurse stepped out with a smile. Bruce and Barbara slipped into the quiet. Other than the white of a bandage and a small tube at the back of his head, nothing had changed.

"You said he was the same." Barbara's voice was quiet.

"Essentially, he is. He'll be okay."

Her fingers gently brushed the back of Dick's hand. "He's never this still. I wish he'd wake up."

"He will."

She nodded and believed it because she needed to. They both did. Bruce and Barbara stayed at his side and watched for any sign that he was coming back to them.