The Day After
"Okay", began Babs, "What did happen? How can it be so bad?"
"In my opinion, it wasn't", Kory started, "but you know how Dick feels if he loses any kind of self control. Roy didn't even tell him what had happened. He just said the Joker had escaped and you were hurt bad. Alfred was the one who told him".
The past
"Master Dick, are you still there?"
"I'm here Alfred. Why wasn't I contacted sooner?"
"You were out of the country, sir, and Master Bruce would not allow me to call you".
"Alfred", began Dick as his anger began to mount, "Do not even try to tell me that you obeyed that order! How could you do this to me? She could have died and I would not have been able to say…"
After a small, uncomfortable silence, "Master Dick, I know you believe Mater Bruce to be of a cold hearted nature but …"
"NO! Don't you DARE take his side! How could you even begin to explain that! Where is she, Alfred?"
"Sir, I really must …"
"WHERE?"
"… At Gotham Memorial. She is resting in room …"
But Dick had already shut off communications. He didn't know that is was Alfred who contacted Roy and told him of the situation. For some reason he couldn't call over seas, Bruce probably blocked the lines some how. I still feel for Alfred. Here were his two boys not even able to speak to each other. One was so unforgiving the one for firing him he couldn't see how it was done out of love. The other so wrapped up in protecting anyone, especially his son, that he accomplished his goals at any cost. Even though he was distancing himself from his first son. I understand that Alfred did leave eventually for a while and I hope it did him some good. He needed a break protecting those two. Anyway, after Dick turned off his radio he headed straight for the hospital. He changed and went inside and saw Harvey Bullock eating a doughnut of all things.
"Mr. Bullock, how is Barbara?"
"She's resting"
"I have to go see her", and made his way to the nurse's desk but was cut off by Harvey.
"I'm sorry, kid, but she's allowed no visitors. Especially you"
I'm sure Dick felt like he was knocked off his feet at this moment.
"Bullock, right now I don't give a damn about your badge. It might be all shiny and polished to you but to me it's just a piece of medal. Now either you release me or you will be eating more than doughnuts for dinner!"
"I'll take care of this, Harvey"
And there he was, Bruce Wayne. The last time they had laid eyes on each other was when Bruce forced him to give him the Robin suit back. Two years and they haven't even spoken. And there he stood. Dick immediately put two and two together and realized it wasn't you who had said no visitation but it was him.
"Who the hell do you think you are! Bruce, I am going up there and there is nothing you can do about it!"
"Try me", was his only response because before Dick could respond Bruce had him outside the hospital and around in the alley. Dick probably could have got away from him at any moment but I believe he wanted to take down Bruce.
"You can fire from being your partner. You can keep me out of the mansion. You also seem to be able to turn Alfred against me. In your sick, twisted mind you probably turned Barbara against me, too. Well this is it, Bruce. I am so sick and tired of this game. I made a vow to follow you to the ends of the earth. Well here and now I'm breaking it. you want me gone, well I'll be out of your way soon enough. But it is not going to be now. It is going to be after I see Barbara".
And then he used the voice, "This is my town. You will do as I say. Barbara is off limits to you. And as of right now, I see no need for another hero in Gotham. Goodnight, Nightwing".
Dick was left there speechless. He had no idea that Bruce would pull this kind of stunt with him. Bruce knew what you meant to Dick. But as usual, Bruce didn't know how to protect anyone with out throwing them out of his life completely. I know that Bruce basically ordered me down here and I could have been an ass and said no. I guess with him calling me telling me what was going on, I knew how much he loved Dick. He'll never show it. It's not Batman's way I guess. So Dick did the only thing he could think of. He changed back into costume and went to your window.
He was beside himself. Your had tubes running out of you. Monitors hooked up left and right. You didn't even look like you were conscience. Dick found out a few years later that Bruce had talked to you right after your surgery but right then at that moment you looked lifeless to him.
"I thought I told you weren't welcome here, Nightwing"
Bruce's questions are always more like statements.
"Where is the Joker?"
"Arkham"
"The ones that helped him do this…"
"Are in a warehouse by the docks. The old Wayne technologies warehouse"
"They are mine. Don't get in my way"
And he was off. Batman didn't follow. If Dick would have been a bit saner he would have thought something strange of it. I mean, he caught the Joker within hours after the shooting but 2 days later he still hadn't caught up with common thugs? Dick should have known better. Actually, Bruce should have known better.
"He's off", said Batman in his radio, "Follow him"
"Yes, sir"
When Dick approached the ware house he calmly walked in the front door. He didn't come through the ceiling or sneak in a window but simply walked in the front door. One guard approached him and with one swift motion he broke the man's jaw. But Dick didn't stop there. He broke his nose, then his collar bone, and then broke his arm in at least three places. Before he even had time to yell, Nightwing had knocked him out.
There was a second guard that tried to sneak up on Dick but was stopped by some one in the shadow's. Dick never would have seen that coming. Now Dick walked straight up to their office and again just opened the door. Ten men sitting around tables or couch's trying to get out of Gotham since the Bat was on their tail.
"Hello fellows. The name is Nightwing. I know I'm not who you were expecting but as he is to you I am also your worst nightmare!"
And the fight was on. Dick said then and he'll say the same thing now, he doesn't remember any of it. one minute he is throwing the first punch and the next he is being held back by green gloved hands.
"Okay, Nightwing, I think they have learned their lesson!"
"Back off of me, kid, I don't have time for recess. Catch me later", and then added to one of the bunch on the floor, "I know you've worked for Joker before so I think you will do".
Nightwing quickly tied up the man and threw him over his shoulder. He quickly exited the room. Though for a brief second he thought there was more men here than he started with.
Night wing carried the man back towards the city and found the highest skyscraper around. Leaving him tied up he threw a line over a gargoyle and sat there holding the line.
"Pppppplease, just let me down!"
"Did you ask the Joker to not shot that innocent girl a couple of days ago", and from somewhere Dick actually said he pulled an apple out and started to eat it.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT! PLEASE LET ME DOWN!"
Dick then let a little of the rope slip causing the goon to yell even louder and then just simply pass out.
"Stop it, Nightwing"
"I told you to get lost, boy blunder"
"Wow, being called boy blunder from the original. Oh, God, how I'm touched".
"Why does he deserve to live look at what they did to Barbara"
"Dick, the two with Joker are still at the warehouse probably just now being picked up by the cops or an ambulance"
"How do you know that"
"Barbara has a photographic memory. You know that. She was awake long enough for Bruce to get a sketch. This guy right here is innocent though"
"Haven't been around long enough have you, Robin, or you would know that none of these guys are innocent. The city will not miss one more of these… "
"He's a cop"
"…"
Jason sighed, "This is detective Morris. He has been in Gotham for 5 or 6 months now. He's actually helped Batman and I on a couple of cases. He's a good man. He has to be for Batman to let him in like this"
Dick slowly pulled the cop in. He can already see how Morris had soiled himself. Dick gave him a black eye, his left arm was dislocated, and he might lose the use of his right arm from the fracture Dick had given him.
"Dick, I don't know you that well at all. Okay, you brought me your old uniform and I appreciate it. I know what it meant to you. Alfred told me who gave you the name Robin. I'm sorry for what happened between you and Bruce. But it is not going to amount to the sorrow and pain you will cause if you kill this man or one of the real creeps who helped Joker"
"And why not, Jason, what's going to keep from doing it?"
"Because Babs would never forgive you", and Jason got his swing line out to leave, "and one more thing you need to remember. It might not mean anything to you today, tomorrow, or even a year from now but Bruce didn't replace you with me. He replaced Robin with me", and he swung off.
Dick immediately went to Gotham Memorial and made sure the Doctors gave Morris their undivided attention. He then slowly crawled back up to your window and said goodbye through the glass and left. I'm sure Bruce was watching him leave from the shadows. His heart breaking that another loved one in his life was hurting and could do nothing about it. it wasn't but a few months later that Jason died and all hell broke out between the two. Dick at that moment only had thoughts for you.
The present
"Barbara, it wasn't long after that Dick proposed. If he hadn't rushed everything, it all might have turned out different. I mean he was just getting over you being hurt that Jason died. If Tim hadn't of come around when he did who knows what might have happened to Bruce. Jason and Dick never got a fair start to know each other. But thankfully Tim and Dick did. He just didn't want you to know how he almost killed an innocent man. He was so wrapped up in everything he didn't even take the time to notice. I found out from Alfred later that there were ten more guys that showed up in the warehouse that Dick didn't notice. If Jason had not of had his back, Dick would have been dead for sure"
"I … Thank you , Kory. Part of me still thinks it was natural for him to do the things he did but then we are talking about Dick, the second greatest detective in the world"
"Yes, your Batman, sucks", and after they had finished laughing, "Well I need to go. Donna wanted to have breakfast with me that has now turned into lunch. I'm going to have to fly back. May I use the phone in your bedroom to call while I change?"
"Of course"
And as Starfire was getting up there was a knock at the door.
When Babs saw who it was she couldn't believe her eyes. She checked behind her to make sure Kory was out of sight and then opened the door.
"Hey"
"Hey yourself, boy wonder"
Walking past her, "Look, this isn't easy for me, Babs. I … I don't know where to start. I…"
"Dick it's okay", as Kory started walking out of the bedroom.
Dick never saw her and continued, "No it's not. I can't believe I'm actually afraid to talk to you about it. It scares me, Babs, and … there is some one behind me isn't there?"
Dick slowly turned around and saw Kory. He then started to shift his eyes between the two of us.
Finally Kory spoke, "Barbara, Donna has invited you to go with us. Would you like to fly to New York with me?"
"It would be my pleasure, Kory"
Kory picked her up and flew out the window.
Dick finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Kory. And I see you in the shadows, so thank you too"
And then he walked out the door as Batman stepped out of the shadows.
End part four