digi-gal-rox: one chapter up an one more to go! i had originally hoped for this story to go on for longer, but my ideas always seemed to clash. so here it is! remember to review!

Chapter 5

"Dick?" she called out softly, stepping into the dark room. There was no response. Awkwardly, the younger boy stood behind her, wrapping his cape around himself. The room was cold. "Dick? Are you there?" still there was no response.
"You don't think he actually went to them, do you?" the younger one asked.
"Don't, Robin." Batgirl warned. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to his base. There was no sign of anyone being there recently. Hanging her head slightly, she faced the younger hero and shook her head.
"Where could he have gone?" he wondered aloud.
"He's gone out there alone." she realized. Robin looked at her eyes wide.
"What?!"

"Damn it," Batman swore, narrowing his eyes. "What was he thinking?!"
"That's the thing, he wasn't thinking." Batgirl responded, as Batman typed furiously into the computer. Behind them, the remaining Titans and Justice League members glanced nervously at each other.
"Still, how do we get them out?"
"I've found an isolated planet for them," Batman responded, "Similar environment to their own home planet."
"Will Starfire be O.K with it?" Beast Boy asked. Batman's eyes fell.
"If we can't move them, we have to fight them. And do what ever it takes to protect the people."
"Why would he go to them?" Cyborg wondered, sitting down.
"To protect you... us." the Flash mumured, looking up. Bagirl looked at him and gave a small smile.
"I wonder if he knows about this other planet," she commented. Batman looked at her, before shaking his head.
"In most cases, the acts before he thinks." he paused, "We have to save him."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" she asked looking at him. He didn't respond right away. He glarred at the two guards that held onto him tightly.
"Take them off, and I'll answer your question." he responded. She narrowed her eyes but nodded. The guards backed away and stood at the door.
"Now answer my question. Why do you have the sudden change of heart?"
"I have a home I want to protect. And there are people out there I care about." he responded. "You've changed. You were once a caring person. Now you don't care about hurting the people around you."
"That is what happens when people hurt my people."
"They did nothing," he said loudly. "You're the ones that hurt them. All they did was defend themselves. That's what we humans do. Do what ever it takes to defend ourselves."

"We need a strategy to get in."
"Just go in and destroy everything in our path!" Cyborg exclaimed, a wide grin on his face.
"No," the Bat shook his head. "We need a distraction."
"It's better if everyone enters the building from different areas," Superman added.
"We'll go from the top," Robin spoke up. Batgirl nodded in agreement.
"If that's the case we'll from below." Raven spoke up. Cyborg and Beast Boy reluctantly agreed.
"And the rest of us-" Diana started.
"There are still many scattered around the city," J'onn announced from the computer, "I've already alerted the active heroes to round them up with extra hands."
"We'll deal with the scattered." Superman concluded.
"No," Batman shook his head. "There's an army inside as well. We all go. From below. You two-" he faced Batgirl and Robin, "You go from the top."

"So is it a deal?" he asked. She stared at him, still considering.
"How do I know, you're not lieing?"
"They would all be here, for one thing." he pointed out. "Another, why don't you just ask them? By now they may know that I'm here." she continued staring at him, before a smile crept on her face.
"It's a deal."

"Are they still in the tower?" Beast Boy asked, as the remaining team, the founding members of the Justice League, the Titans and Batman, Batgirl and Robin prepared for the invasion. Cyborg paused, staring at the green creature before shaking his head slightly, muttering something. "What?!"
"Just get in the car, man." Cyborg shoved his friend in the car.
"O.K," Batman's voice came through the communicator, "Let's make this as quiet as possible. We don't want them to know that we're going in." Batgirl revved up her bike.
"Let's do this."

"They're leaving!" J'onn exclaimed from the communicator. Looking up at the sky, the team watched as ships took of from the Titans Tower. The mother ship in the lead.
"What do we do now?" Robin asked, as each vehicle and hero pulled to a stop. Everyone faced Batman who had his eyes narrowed. "Batman?"
"There's nothing we can do." Superman sighed. "Nightwing must've done something." Batgirl looked up to the departing ships again before sighing loudly.
"He made a deal with them." she supplied. Her eyes fell. "Starfire was after him. And he went to her..."
"To save us?" Raven looked at her, before hanging her head.
"So... what do we do now?" Cyborg asked.
"There's nothing else we can do." Batman said quietly. "I hate to say it," he added quickly.
"He's a brave man." Flash said quietly. Everyone nodded in agreement and headed back to Gotham.

"-with the reconstruction of the Justice League Tower, founding member Superman had this to say-" watching the screen, the members of the Justice League smiled, as they all stopped their work.
"Sacrifises were made." he stated, "Many lives were lost. Friends, family... the people we love... heroes... we all watched. The many heroes that you had looked up to-" Batgirl placed an arm around her friend Supergirl, the two looked at each other and smiled. "-the ones that were worshiped... even the ones that had family... we owe our lives to them. That is why the we, The Justice League now make a promise to all of you." Diana, John, J'onn and the Flash exchanged smiled, standing in the back of the room, "We promise that we will always stand by, protecting you. The sacrifice of these heroes won't go to waste. You have my word on that. Their names will always live on. Not in statues or monuments. But in your hearts. Our hearts."

"So will you be joining us?" Diana asked, facing the red-head. She shook her head.
"My place is Gotham." she murmured. Nodding slightly, the raven haired woman lead her to the now active teleporter, "If you need any extra hands in computers, don't be afraid to call." with a blink of an eye, Batgirl was gone. Robin sighed heavily before gathering his things, a small smile on his face.
"She has a point. I thought that maybe things would work out up here. But like she said Gotham is my home. And right now, Gotham needs people like us." he walked up to the machine. Diana smiled at the young boy. "Call us if you need any help." he added, before vanishing into thin air. She turned around, watching as the tower continued with it's repairs. Picking up an object she joined in the crowd.

The streets were silent. Buildings were partly destroyed as citizens slowly came out. A single laughter was heard by a child. Before the whole city erupted with cheers and laughter from all age groups alike. Barbara stood by her father, a proud smile on her face. Beside her Robin stood a big grin on his face.
"They did it," James breathed. Barbara's smile faded as did Robin. "You all did it." he added facing Robin, who forced a smile.
"Yeah." he nodded. He looked up at the sky, all ships were gone from sight. The only thing left was the familiar crimson sky. Barbara hugged herself tightly.
"This definately changes the peoples view of the League." she commented. James nodded. "I hope everything will be O.K," she murmured.
"It will be." James responded.
"Things are going to be different from now on," Robin stated. James' looked at him surprised.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Robin didn't answer right away, but the Commissioner knew the answer. "I guess it will." he nodded sadly. He watched as the Justice League survivors carried out bodies of the deceased, both heres and civillians alike, with the help from the fire-men and police alike. "I guess it will."

A few days later

"I'll miss him," she said quietly. Bruce nodded, closing the room door behind them.
"He did it to save all of us," Tim murmured. "There still could've been another way."
"He did what he thought was right," Alfred greeted them. "He won't be forgotten." Barbara smiled at him.
"No he won't." the joined the group in the living room, where a small party was held, with heroes in the civillian clothing and the police force.
"So what's going to happen now?"
"The city is still under repairs," Barbara murmured, "I'm going to stay and help."
"I might head to Jump City," Tim smiled, "Dick was helping train new heroes. So I thought that maybe I would take his place there."
"I'm sure you'll do a good job." Barbara smiled, hugging the younger boy. When they turned around they had found that Bruce had vanished.
"I wonder where he'll go this time." Tim murmured, as they were joined by Wally and the rest of th Justice League Members.
"Who?" Clark asked. "Where'd Bruce go?" Barbara's fetures softened, as she looked out the window, a knowing smile on her face.
"Barbara?" Tim looked at her worriedly.
"He'll be back." she said. "When he's good and ready."

A Few Months Later

"Do you think he'll come back?" Dinah asked. Huntress starred at the younger blonde before shaking her head slightly.
"You still have a lot to learn, Canary."
"So do you," Batgirl folded her arms.
"Puh-lease, it's not like you've been in this business longer than I have." Helena rolled her eyes.
"About the same," Batgirl corrected, "But I've been trained by the best." she looked up to the sky, where the bat-signal glowed in the sky.
"So, we a team or not?" Huntress asked roughly, folding her arms crossly, before a smile grew on her face.
"Definately," Batgirl nodded.
"Count me in." Dinah paused, "So what shall we call ourselves?" Huntress and Batgirl exchanged smiles.
"Birds of Prey."

"Welcome to the team," Cyborg greeted the young hero. "We could really use someone like you around. Especially in training."
"Well, Im glad to be of service." Robin smiled.
"Just don't be like Dick. He went over the top." Robin chuckled.
"We all are." Robin smiled. "I'll drop it a notch or two though." he paused, "So where's my room?" he asked. Shaking his head slightly, Cyborg laughed.
"You're an eager one, aren't you?"
"I just need a place to drop my things. Than the training begins."
"Already?" Cyborg laughed, "If you say so!"

"The biggest question to ask is where is he?" Huntress folded her arms, her eyes slightly narrowed as Batgirl turned up the volume. "While the big question still remains, Batgirl has vowed to continue to protect our city, till his triumphant return. By her side, heroes include: Huntress, and Black Canary..." Huntress hastily turned the screen off.
"What do we have planned for tonight?" Dinah asked.
"There's some shipments down at the docks. Penguin is behind it." with a smile, the women headed towards the window, breathing in the Gotham air.
"Let's get to work girls," Huntress announced, as the three jumpped down the the streets below.

digi-gal-rox: for those who aren't happy with this ending, don't worry it's not the end! i have an epilogue on the way!