Chapter Seven: Close

"Batman." The way the commissioner said his name, made Batman uncomfortable. It was painfully obvious that something was wrong.

"What is it, commissioner?" He asked. "What happened?"

Commissioner Gordon removed his hat, and looked at Batman with a sad and sympathetic expression. This was going to be bad. "There's been a-a….. Death in the family." He said.

Batman was pretty sure the commissioner wasn't talking about his own family, and that just worried Batman even more.

"Who's family?" He questioned. Gordon hesitated.

"Y-your family." Batman's heart skipped a beat. He made a mental checklist of everyone in his family. Alfred and Tim were safely at home, Barbra was helping with set design for a play at the Children's Hospital, and Jason was….well, he highly doubted that Jason was in any danger.

But that only left one member of the Bat Family. Oh God. No.

"I'm sorry." Commissioner Gordon said. "I-I can't imagine losing my daughter. I'm so, sorry." As he spoke, four police officers emerged from the darkness.

They carried a stretcher, covered with a silver emergency blanket between them.

"We caught the guy who did it." Gordon promised. "He won't be seeing daylight for a long time. I promise."

The solemn faced officers set the stretcher down gently in front of Batman.

"I'm sorry, for your loss." One said. "The whole city lost a great young man today." Batman nodded to her.

His gloved hand hovered over the silver foil.

He hated himself for hesitating.

This was his son's body lying before him. His son's dead body. Batman bit his lip until he tasted blood. Carefully, and slowly, he pulled back the blanket, to reveal Nightwing's face. The white slits of his mask were closed, which gave the idea that his eyes were closed as well.

"None of us took the mask off." The female officer promised.

Batman stared down at Dick's face. He looked almost peaceful. A soft breeze ruffled Dick's jagged black bangs. A smile flashed through Bruce's mind. Dick's smile. When he had performed with his parents at the circus, when he had become Robin, when the Young Justice Team had been formed.

It killed Bruce that he would never see that smile again.

Dick would never come sliding down the railing on the staircase at Wayne Manor again.

He would never help Tim with his homework.

He would never keep Jason from making fun of Tim.

He would never help Alfred wash dishes.

He would never beat Wally in their sparing sessions.

He would never help to fix any of their problems anymore.

He would never even see the sun.

Bruce gathered Dick up in his arms, and held him close to his chest, wrapping him in his cloak just like how Dick had used to hide from the members of the Justice League when he was little.

Tears slid down Bruce's cheeks. He rocked Dick's still body back and forth. His tears mingled with the blood on Dick's face.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you. I promised I would always protect you."

It was the saddest and most broken moment that Gotham City would never see.

The police officers bowed their heads, respectfully keeping their distance from the grieving father. Commissioner Gordon wondered how this could have happened.

How could things like this happen in Gotham?

Nightwing couldn't have been older than eighteen years old. Had he even graduated yet?

How could this city let such terrible things happen to such young people?

Commissioner Gordon had never imagined seeing The Batman like this. There was no way to deny that Batman really was crying, and who could blame him?

They had never really known what Batman's connection to Batgirl, Robin, and Nightwing was, but they all treated each other in the respectful, caring, and yet joking manner, that showed that they knew, and loved each other.

"Please," Batman whispered, so only Dick would be able to hear, if he were still alive. "Open your eyes Dick. Please. Please, don't die."

There was a soft sound, like a cough. Batman's eyes flew open he stared down at Dick. Had he been imagining it? Then it happened again. There was that coughing sound. No, not a sound, it really was a cough.

A cough from Dick.

"D-"Batman caught himself. "Nightwing?"

Lone behold, Nightwing's eyelids fluttered, and then opened. Batman only stared. "D-don't bury me yet." Nightwing murmured, smiling weakly. Every police officer and Commissioner Gordon looked up in shock.

Batman was stunned but he tore away the rest of the blanket to reveal Nightwing's chest, where two bullet wounds could clearly be seen. Blood was still fresh on them. "Alien st-stunner." Dick choked. "I think they were hoping you would bury me alive."

Batman pulled Nightwing close to him, burying his face in Dick's soft black hair. "Don't you dare ever scare me like that again." Bruce ordered. Dick smiled tiredly. "O-okay."

"B-but his pulse was gone!" An officer exclaimed. "He was dead!" Batman shot him a look and he shut up. Fast.

"Alien technology can do that to humans." Batman said. "All it needed was a little time to wear off."

Batman helped Nightwing to his feet, who instantly stumbled, but Bruce was there to catch him. He draped his cloak around Dick, and guided him to the alleyway where he had the batmobile parked. "What about the bullets?" Gordon asked, snapping out of his shock. Dick smiled back at him. "Kevlar." He said. "They didn't go in deep. I'll be okay, thanks commissioner."

"It's good to see you alive." Gordon said. "Take care of your kids." He said to Dick at first, and then to Batman.

"Thanks you." Batman said. And with that, they were gone. Vanishing into the darkness, just as Bats do.

There was nothing in this world that could split their family up more than it already had. You couldn't keep any of them down for long. Whether you have legs of your own or not, there will always be someone, or something there for you to lean on. A reason to keep going, and keep living.

A/N: Sorry for the wait guys. Hope you liked it! I would love to have some ideas for the next few chapters! Please review!