digi-gal-rox: here's the nxt chappy!

Chapter 6 - Promises

He sat quietly at the edge of the building. He could hear the police cars down below, chasing after one of Gotham's villians, known as the Mad Hatter. He smirked. It was the perfect time to make his move, with Gotham's finest busy, his attack would be easy. He jumpped down, and landed sofly on the balcony below. This was where one of them lived, right? He wondered.
"Night dad," she called out.
"Night, sweetheart," he hugged his daughter, before leaving. He smiled. The right place.
"Hey, where should I put this?" someone asked. He frooze. She wasn't alone.
"In the fridge," she responded, "Cassie, you've got school in the morning, go to-"
"Yeah, yeah," the teenager muttered. "Night, Tim. Night Dick."
"Night kiddo," the man, Tim exclaimed.

"Too bad Bruce couldn't make it," Barbara sighed, as she began collecting the dishes.
"Less dishes to clear," Dick pointed out. Tim snorted.
"You got something to say, Tim?" Barbara asked, glancing at him.
"No, no." he quickly shook his head, "Just thinking."
"About what?" Dick asked suspiciously.
"The other night, when you both had a mud fight."
"You should've joined us than," Barbara smiled, "You could've helpped me out."
"I think you handled the situation quite well," Tim smiled, "Especially tackling Dick face first into the mud."
"Now that's a moment I won't forget," Barbara grinned. Dick looked out the window, distractedly. "Dick?"
"Someone's out there," he murmured.

Shit! he thought, as he quickly jumpped up on the roof again.
"It was proberly was a cat!" Barbara exclaimed, as he opened the balcony door. "It's cold! Shut the door!" he the man, Dick scanned the area, before going back in.
"Someone was here, Barbara." he said seriously. He narrowed his eyes, he would have to try again next time.

"Anyway why are you so worked up? Tim's spending the night here." Barbara frowned.
"Change of plans actually," Tim said, "Dick will be. I have an early class tomorrow."
"What?" Dick asked, sharply, looking at his younger brother.
"What!" he exclaimed.
"You could've mentioned this earlier, Timothy." Dick frowned.
"I did. You didn't listen. You were too busy yelling at your friends for making a mess in the kitchen."
"You should've told me again."
"While you boys settle this out, I'm going to watch the late news." Barbara announced, switching the T.V on.
"I didn't have time to tell you, Richard," Tim mumbled.
"Why is that?"
"I had classes."
"Shh!" Barbara scowled. Both men turned to face her.
"With yet another escape from Mad Hatter, the Gotham Police still remain unsure what their plans are..." Summer Gleason reported.
"Maybe you boys should've gone out, despite Bruce's orders." Barbara murmured.
"I don't think so." Tim sighed, sitting next to Barbara, "You're stuck with me, Barb, no matter how much you hate it, you're stuck with me." Dick laughed. "What?"
"If she's stuck with you Tim, why do you have to leave?" Tim frowned.
"No fair!"
"Guys! Cassie's asleep!" Barbara exclaimed, as the two boys began to hit it off.

He paced up and down. Someone was definately here. Frustrated, he spread his arms on the balcony fencing. Whoever it was, he vowed to himself that this person would not lay a finger and Barbara or Cassandra.
"Dick?" Barbara murmured softly at the door. "It's freezing out here."
"I'm fine," he muttered. He looked down at the floor, there was something there.
"Dick?" he crouched down and picked up the item. "Dick, what is it?" this time she behind him, pearing over his shoulder.
"Slade," he murmured, narrowing his eyes. He stroded indoors, dragging Barbara behind him, "We're heading back."
"What? Dick!" she exclaimed, as he locked the balcony door.
"This is a serious matter, Barbara," he said, staring at her, "Cassie's never delt with Slade, and for her sake, I hope she doesn't."
"Dick..."
"He's still here," he said seriously, "We have to go. Now." he quickly left her side to wake up the teenager. Barbara stood dumb founded, as he came out, carrying the sleeping girl. "Come on!" he urged her, grabbing her arm with his free hand.

"O.K, so everyone knows where they're going?" Nightwing asked. The Titans nodded, before splitting. Remaining where he was, where Slade was first spotted, Nightwing scanned the area. Apart from the small disk, there was no trace of Slade anywhere. He narrowed his eyes. Where ever he was, both Barbara and Cassandra were in trouble, and if he
didn't stop Slade, he didn't know what he'd do next.

Barbara leaned against the door, watching the teenager mumble to herself. She smiled. Cassandra was unlike any other teenager she met. She had picked up so many habits from Tim, much to Bruce's dismay. The teenager had her own kind of character which Barbara found really interesting. Closing the door behind her she headed towards the library. Tim
was already asleep, and so was Alfred, it was as if she was the only one in the large manor. However, when she entered the dimly light room, someone else was there.
"Hello, Oracle." the figure said.
"Slade," she murmured. Quickly reacting, Slade jumpped in front of her, before she could attack.
"Now, that's better," he whispered in her ear, "Now where is he?"
"Do you think I'll tell you?" she spat. With his free hand, he tightly wrapped his hand around her neck.
"I have my ways." he sniggered.
"Go to hell," she growled, kicking him as hard as she could. Forcing herself away from the Jump City villian, she quickly made her escape, before he could get her again.
"Don't think you can wake your friends!" he laughed after her, "It'll be a while before they can wake up!"

"Come on, come on! Pick up!" she muttered, hiding in one of Wayne Manor's many secret passages.
"Hey, I'm not here right now. Leave a message after the tone, and I'll get back to you asap." Dick's voice message came again. Groaning, Barbara shut her cell phone again. From her recollection, she only ever faced Slade once, though he was nothing compared to the Joker, Slade knew how to get to people, something he learnt after meeting up
with Batman and her, Batgirl.
"You can't hide from me forever," Slade's sneering voice echoed, "Nightwing tried, but look where it got me? He even tried protecting you lot from me. A lot of good that did." Barbara bit her lip, nervously hearing Slade's foot steps disappear again. Where was Nightwing? And where was Batman?

"Any luck?" Nightwing's voice came over the communicator.
"None yet," Cyborg responded, "Hate to break it to ya, Nightwing, but I think he's out for the night."
"No. He's out there somewhere. It's up to us to find him." Nightwing growled.
"Has it occured to you that he followed you guys to the manor?" Raven suddenly asked. Nightwing didn't respond. Raven already knew her answer.
"We've got to head back." he finally said.

He threw her body across the room.
"You're not a talker, huh?" he asked, as she forced herself up, "You seem so lively earlier tonight." Barbara narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want?" she asked, as she dodged his attack.
"You know very well what I want," he smirked, "It's the same every time."
"Too bad. He's not here."
"He will be." he smirked, "And by than, I'll be done with you."

"Barbara!" he yelled, slamming through the door. "Barbara!"
"Becareful Nightwing," Slade's voice echoed in the room, as he came from the shadows.
"Where is she, Slade!" he demanded. Slade tilted his head back, as his robotic soldier came foward with Barbara's body.
"She sure put up a good fight," Slade smirked. Barbara glared at the masked villian.
"Go to hell!" she spat, gaining control of her strength, she managed to throw a soldier at him.
"And stubborn as well." he added, with a smile.
"Get out of here, Barbara." Nightwing said calmly.
"As-"
"Now!" he ordered. Barbara narrowed her eyes, throwing a punch at the other soldier that tighten it's grip around her wrist.
"Not going to happen, Nightwing," Slade sniggered, grabbing hold of the woman.
"Let her go." he growled, watching Barbara trying to wriggle free. Before Slade could respond, he found himself surrounded by the Titans.
"How pleasent." Slade mused, tilting Barbara's head up, "What do you think?"
"Let's get one thing straight, Slade," she growled, "No one, and I mean no one messes with the Oracle." swinging herself over the villian, Nightwing threw a powerful punch at the villian, who quickly jumpped out the window close by before anyone could get him.
"Barbara!" he exclaimed, running to her aid, "You alright?"
"I'll live. But he did something to the others."
"Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, Star, check on them." he order. The team nodded and took off, "Barbara, what did he want with you?"
"The same thing he wanted the first time I met him. You." she mumbled, as he helped her up, "This time he's getting you through us."

"What did he do to them?" Dick asked, when Raven returned.
"Harmless sleeping drug," Raven sighed, "Liquid form." Dick remained still at the window Slade had made his escape.
"What are you giong to do?" Cyborg asked.
"I'm not sure. But I have a feeling Barbara's going to have another visit from Slade again."
"How's she doing?" Starfire asked.
"Leslie's taking care of her wounds. Knowing her, she's going to get her revenge."
"She doesn't seem like the type." Beast Boy pointed out.
"Trust me, she will." Dick muttered, closing the window. "Right now, the League's keeping an eye on the manor. We should get some rest. We'll start our search in the morning."

"You're lucky to survive, Barbara."
"The only reason I'm lucky, was that he wanted Dick." Barbara muttered.
"Even so," Leslie said quietly, "You're lucky."
"They're just bruises," the red-headed woman mumbled, "There's no reason to get so worked up."
"He was worried," Leslies sighed.
"I know," Barbara said quietly, "I know."

"Thank Leslie." Dick said, shaking the elderly woman's hand.
"Don't strain the other's, there will be side effects." Leslie added before leaving. "And take care of her." Dick looked at the woman in surprised. "I know you still care for her, Richard. Otherwise you wouldn't 've let me check on her wounds, which were just bruises." Dick smiled.
"Take care, Leslie." she smiled, and left. Dick quietly closed the door behind her, and headed towards the library where Barbara sat, waiting.
"Barbara?"
"He knew I was Oracle." she said. "No one know's, but the League."
"Wait... how's that possible?" he asked surprised, "Not unless he's able to hack into the League's data base, but you're the only person I know who's capable of hacking into anything!"
"Maybe Luthor helped him. As I recall, Luthor was able to hack to the League's data base and send an attack to the buildings below."
"Luthor's always hated the League. It's capable for him, but he's in jail right now. Has been for some time."
"Looks like another case on our hands." she said quietly, "Not only have we got Ivy, Mad Hatter and Crane to take care of, but now also Slade."
"I shouldn't 've left you behind." Dick muttered, "It should've occured to me he'd follow us here."
"It's not your fault!" she exclaimed, as Dick began pacing up and down.
"It is." he said, "The thing was, I was always there for you! But this time... this time I-"
"Dick!" she stood up, grabbing his hand, looking at him hard in the eye. "It's not your fault. None of us knew this could happen. Not even Batman."
"He would've gotten here sooner," he mumbled.
"Dick..."
"I thought I lost you..." he whispered, gently strocking her cheek with his thumb, "I'm not going to make that mistake again." Closing his eyes, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, protectively, not letting go. And as if under a spell, she slowly drew her arms around his neck, drawing him closer to her. "I love you," he whispered, when the two broke apart, "I always have."

digi-gal-rox: R&R! and i won't be updating for a while, mid years nxt week. have to study. but i'll definately update after mid-year exams. so don't fret!