Big Surprise Chapter 6

Artemis went to play with Carson and Damian while Dick went to Bruce. "What's wrong?" Dick asked.

Bruce stood up and said "You're on leave Dick, Tim, Barbara and I can handle this. Take Artemis and Carson home".

"Tell me what's wrong first Bruce" Dick demanded.

Bruce put his hand on his oldest son's shoulder and said "It's scarecrow, he's broken out of prison, it's nothing we can't handle Dick. Go home".

Dick was about to argue back but Artemis took his hand and said "Come on Dick, it's getting late, and Carson needs to be put to bed".

Dick stared at her looking like he was having an internal battle; Barbara stood next to Bruce and said "I'll call you once everything is done okay Dick?"

Dick sighed and said "Fine but I expect a phone call the minute you have him in custody".

Barbara nodded her head and said "Okay". She hugged Dick and Artemis good bye and kissed Carson on the head and headed towards the batcave with Tim following her. Bruce nodded his head and hugged his son and gave a soft smile at his granddaughter before he headed towards the batcave.

Dick took a deep breath and closed his eyes, Artemis stepped in front of him and gripped his face "Everything is going to be fine Dick" she said softly.

Dick opened his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers "You don't know that. That's my family out there; I don't like not going with them".

"I know Dick, but their the bat family they can handle anything. Including the dumbass Scarecrow".

Dick smiled and gently kissed her, they were quickly broken apart by Carson pulling on Artemis' pant leg and slightly starting to whimper. Artemis smiled and bent over to pick her up kissing her check and saying "What's wrong sweetie? Are you tired? I think it's getting pretty close to your bedtime".

Dick smiled and put his hand on Carson's back and kissing her head "Let's get going, so we can get this little girl to bed". Artemis put Carson in her car seat while Dick said goodbye to Damian and Alfred. Damian was upset that Dick was leaving him alone with Alfred and the fact that he was slightly upset Carson was leaving the little boy had already grown attached to the little girl. Once inside Dicks car and on their way back to Gotham, everything was silent besides the soft sound of the radio, and Carson's soft snores from the backseat. Artemis sat with her head leaned back and eyes closed holding Dick's hand. She was exhausted, dealing with a new nine month old baby and having to introduce her to the entire family and starting a new relationship was a lot more exhausting than she thought possible. Once back at the apartment Dick carried Carson in her car seat upstairs and they both gently put her to bed, before they retired downstairs on the couch watching some crappy TV show. Dick had his arm wrapped around her shoulders with her head lying on his chest. They didn't talk they just held each other, Artemis knew that talking wouldn't help him the thing he needed was to either train or just hold at least one person he cared about close to him. Artemis didn't know when but at some point they had fallen asleep together on the couch, but were woken up by Barbara who was still dressed at Batgirl shaking them.

She was pale in the face and limping pretty bad on her left leg and there was white bandages wrapped around the entire lower part of her leg, and what looked like blood was starting to seep through. Immediately Dick stood up 4and gently sat Barbara on the couch while Artemis ran to the bathroom and got the first aid kit "What happened Babs?" Dick asked gently.

"Scarecrow, worse we've ever seen him. It was a huge ambush; he had way more henchmen than usual. We tracked him to a warehouse down on the piers. The three of us separated and went into the warehouse, taking down henchmen as we went. By the time I got to the middle of the warehouse Bruce and Tim were already there, I joined the fight, we had been fighting for a while when everything went to hell. One of the henchmen snuck up behind me and cut my leg with a knife. I went to the ground; Tim tried covering me but was quickly taken over by the amount of henchmen. Bruce was able to get to me and protect me but they started coming out in stronger numbers, Tim told us to go, but Bruce refused, when a henchmen was able to attack me from behind again Bruce shot his grappling hook and got us out of there leaving Tim behind. When he went back for him they had already taken him and ran" Barbara said with tears running down her cheeks.

"They…. They have Tim" Dick asked pale.

Barbara didn't say anything except nod her head. Dick stood up and marched towards the training room. Artemis quickly finished wrapping Barbara's leg before she ran after him. When she entered the large room Dick was already dressed in his Nightwing costume, he was getting ready to put on his mask when Artemis spoke "Dick what are you doing?"

Dick turned to face her, his face was set in a determined look and said "I'm going to help Bruce find Tim".

Artemis sighed she knew he was going to say that but his words didn't help how scared she suddenly felt. She walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist "I'm not going to try and stop you, I know that's impossible. But I need you to be careful, for me, and for Carson. I just got you back Dick, I don't want to lose you again Dick".

Dick wrapped his arms around her and said "I'm not going anywhere 'Mis. I'll be fine you should be more worried about the scarecrow once I'm done with him, no one takes my brother and gets away with it".

Artemis gave a tiny smile and said "I'll always be more worried about you Dick, I always have been".

Dick pulled her closer into his chest and kissed her, it was a sweet comforting kiss that made Artemis hungry for more. When he pulled away he spoke "Give a kiss to Carson for me, I don't want to wake her. I'll be back as soon as I can, keep Barbara here she's not fit to fight right now. I… keep safe 'Mis".

Artemis nodded her head "Be safe Dick". Dick kissed her again before he grabbed her hand and lead her to the front room where Barbara was sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. When she heard them enter the room she immediately tried to stand up but ended up falling back onto the couch when she put weight on her leg.

"I'm going to help Bruce. You stay here and rest Babs, that leg wound is pretty bad, you're not fit to fight right now. I'll be back as soon as I can".

Barbara sighed and said "Fine, just get Tim back and keep safe alright Dick".

Dick nodded his head and looked at Artemis "I'll be back soon I promise" he briefly kissed her again before he stepped into the open elevator and closed the doors and started on his way to find his brother.

When Artemis turned around Barbara was smiling at her "So when did that happen?"

Artemis smiled and sat down on the couch "After dinner. Although it should have happened a long time ago".

Barbara smiled and hugged her "It's about time you two got together; you guys are perfect for each other".

Artemis smiled "Thanks".

"It's going to be alright Artemis. It's Dick, he might get a couple of scratches here and there but nothing to major. Everything will be fine" Barbara said putting her hand on Artemis' shoulder.

"Thanks Babs, I'm going to try and get some more sleep. Carson will probably wake up in a couple of hours. You can sleep in your old guest room; your clothes are still in the dresser".

"Where are you going to sleep?" Barbara asked.

Artemis shrugged "Either in Carson's room or in Dick's room I don't know if I'll even be able to sleep. Good night Babs" Artemis said walking up the stairs.

After barely sleeping for another two hours in Carson's room on the floor Carson woke up ready to be changed and feed. Artemis decided to let Barbara sleep in so she quietly went downstairs and put Carson in her high chair while she made her breakfast. Forty minutes later Artemis was on the floor playing with Carson when Barbara came down the stairs, freshly showered.

"Morning Arty. Can you help me with my leg?" Barbara said sitting on the couch.

"Morning Babs. Ya I can help you, I'll get the first aid kit" Artemis said standing up and getting the first aid kit from the bathroom.

Artemis sat on the coffee table and put Barbara's leg in her lap while she wrapped it. Carson continued rolling all over the floor, which meant Artemis was continuously getting up and putting her back on her blanket. Carson sure was an active baby, she liked rolling on the floor and she was starting to become a very fast crawler. Soon she and Dick would have to start baby proofing the apartment. Artemis and Barbara played with Carson all day trying to get her to talk and goofy things like that without hearing any news from Dick or Bruce. Artemis was starting to get really worried when it started getting closer to dinner time. It was getting close to twenty four hours with no news. Artemis, Barbara and Carson had just sat down for dinner when the doorbell rang. Only people who didn't know the passcodes for their suite used the actual door. Artemis stood up and went to the door, when she opened she stood face to face with a solemn looking Oliver in his Green Arrow costume.

"What are you doing here?" Artemis asked.

"Batman and Nightwing found Robin" Ollie said.

"Well that's great, but where's Nightwing. Tell me what's going on?" Artemis demanded when she saw Ollie's face.

"It's Nightwing, he's hurt, bad, I don't know all the details. I was at the Hall of Justice when Batman brought both an injured Robin and a badly injured Nightwing in. I came here straight away to get you" Ollie said.

Artemis blinked, Dick was hurt, he wasn't supposed to get hurt, he was the invincible one even as a human. "Take me to him, now" Artemis demanded.

"What about Carson, I don't think it'll be good to have her there" Ollie said putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Hold on, I have a friend here who can watch her" Artemis ran back into the dining room and said "Barbara it's Dick, he's hurt I don't know how badly. I know this a lot but can you watch Carson please, I need to see him and I can't take her with me".

"Of course Artemis, go to Dick, tell Bruce to call me when you get there. I'll take of Carson you have nothing to worry about" Barbara said.

Artemis smiled and hugged Barbara "Thank you so much I'll call when I find anything out".

Artemis grabbed her stuff and went back to Ollie "Let's go".

Ollie nodded and started towards the Hall of Justice. Once there Artemis ran straight towards the medical ward where Batman was standing there with his arms crossed looking through the window. Artemis stood next to him and immediately tears sprang to her eyes, Dick was lying on the surgery table were doctors were operating on him. Artemis was just getting ready to ask Batman what happened when Dick's heart stopped, and that horrible beeping sound filled Artemis' ears.