Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to DC Comics. I am using them without permission and make no money from this.

Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my sister, whose birthday is December 14, the same day this story started.

An Unexpected Gift
Part 4
by Corina "Mako" Borsuk

Dec. 19

The glow of the computer screen was the only illumination in Barbara Gordon's room, but it was all she needed. At least, it was all the light she needed. What she could use was a lot of luck right about now. With Christmas only seven days away—actually, only six days away since it was well past midnight—she had to find what she was looking for, and fast. Thanks to her skill with the Internet, she'd managed to track down quite a few likely vendors. The problem was contacting them and finding a way to ship the gift, ASAP. Not all of these people actually had webpages. In fact, most of her information was second-hand, but the sources were reliable.

Actually, she felt pretty lucky. She'd found the poster after only a day of searching. Well, what she found was a scan on a page dedicated to famous circus acts. Unfortunately, it was only a JPEG that someone had taken from another page. After a lot of emails, she managed to track the file back to its source and the person who originally scanned it in. He or she, Barbara wasn't really sure, didn't actually have the poster, but told her who did. Now, all she had to do was make some very long distance calls much later this morning, and hope for the best.

Shutting the computer down for the night, Barbara stretched her stiff muscles. As she turned down the bed covers, she mentally congratulated herself for having such a great idea. As she did that, she remembered the conversation that had been her inspiration.

After she and Dick had finished with their little run-in a few nights back, Dick had given her a ride home, as promised. On the way, they'd shared stories of Christmases past. For some reason she couldn't explain, but was extremely glad of, Dick had shared his favorite Christmas memory with her.

It was the last Christmas he'd spent with the circus and with his parents. He'd explained how every year the circus performers would choose names out of a hat for a gift exchange. No one in his extended family could be considered wealthy, so they couldn't afford to get gifts for everyone. This was the way they made sure everyone got a gift without anyone having to break the bank. Up until that year, Dick had been too young to participate. His parents always got him something, but he never got to draw a name.

That year, he drew a name for the first time. It turned out to be his mother's name. His father gave him a few dollars for the gift, not knowing who it was for. He spent the money on a simple, silver-colored hair clip. Barbara remembered the sparkle in Dick's eyes as he told her about spending the next several days scouring the circus grounds for bits of ribbon, cloth flowers and plastic beads. He glued them all on the barrette by hand for his mother.

That year was also the only year the circus had held a special Christmas Eve performance. Dick was so excited about the gift he'd made, he gave it to his mother just before the "Flying Graysons" went on. Even though it was probably the gaudiest thing she'd ever seen, Dick confessed, his mother had worn it that night. In fact, she'd worn it to every performance after that, until the day she died.

Barbara had nearly cried while Dick told her the story, but she kept the tears back. Something told her he didn't want sympathy, he just wanted to share. She was just honored that he'd chosen to share that special moment with her. She decided then and there to do something special for Dick, and that something was going to be finding a copy of the poster advertising that Christmas Eve performance.

At first, she hadn't been sure there even would be a special poster just for that night, but her instincts had proven right. Besides, she thought, who would hold a Christmas Eve big top event and not advertise. All she had to do was keep her fingers crossed until tomorrow, or this morning, or whatever, and hope her luck held.

xxxxxxxxx

Dec. 20

Ring, ring, ring . . .

"Hello, Wayne residence. May I ask who is calling?" There was a short pause during which Alfred raised his eyebrow in a slightly confused manner. "Yes, of course, Miss Gordon. If you would be so kind as to wait just a moment, I'll alert him to your call."

"That's okay, Alfred. I'll pick it up in my room," Dick answered, without even waiting for Alfred to speak.

"That will not be necessary. Miss Gordon wishes to speak to Master Bruce."

"Bruce? But, why?"

"I don't know. You shall have to ask him yourself, after he has taken the call." With that, Alfred walked into the next room. He walked back out a moment later and hung up the phone, leaving behind a very confused Dick Grayson.

His curiosity getting the better of him, Dick quietly moved to just outside the door so he could eavesdrop on Bruce's half of the conversation.

"Yes, I remember you, Barbara. Although, I can't imagine why you're calling me." There was a rather long pause while Barbara answered. Then Bruce replied, "Of course. That shouldn't be a problem."

What shouldn't be a problem, Dick wondered. His thoughts were interrupted when Bruce said, "No, I think it would be better if I came to your place. I know where it is. I should be there in about 30 minutes. Goodbye."

Why is he going to Barbara's? Dick asked himself. Once again his thoughts were interrupted by Bruce, but this time it was because the older man was speaking directly to him. "It isn't polite to listen in on other people's conversations."

Not bothering to respond to Bruce's comment, Dick asked, "Why are you going over to Barbara's? Is something wrong with Gordon?"

"No, Jim is fine. I shouldn't be long." With that, Bruce took his coat from the closet and his keys from the table, then walked out the front door. Even though he couldn't see it, he could almost feel Dick's eyes boring into his back. Well, he thought, at least now I know what secret Alfred's been keeping these last few days.

to be continued