Big Surprise Chapter 7

After five minutes of Dick acutally being dead the doctors were finally able to restart his heart and keep it going. After two hours of retrieving the three bullets in his body and keeping his heart going the doctors were finally done. Bruce and Artemis sat in the chairs in the hallway while they waited for the doctor's approval to visit Dick. While they were waiting Bruce told her what had happened.

"We had traced Scarecrow to an underground location in Gotham. When we got there Robin was tied to a chair unconscious with no henchmen or anything around. We knew it could be a trap but we had to get Robin out of there we weren't sure how injured he was. So we both went in when Scarecrow released his poisonous gas that makes you see your greatest fears. I was quicker in getting my mask on then Nightwing, so it affected him more. It killed me to hear him in such agony like that, I never want my children to experience pain like that, I knew his greatest fear had to be about losing you and Carson by the way he was screaming. I was able to get Robin out and took him to the nearest zeta tube and sent him back here knowing someone would notice he was hurt. When I went back for Nightwing the gas had worn off and Nightwing was taking on about twenty of the henchmen, he had already been shot in the shoulder, right when I joined the fight he was shot in the stomach by one henchmen and shot in the leg by another. I knew I couldn't fight them Nightwing was losing to much blood so I threw a smoke bomb and got us out of there and brought him here".

At some point during the story Ollie had come and sat down next to her putting his arm around her shoulder. When Bruce was done telling her what happened Artemis turned and buried her head in Ollie's shoulder not being able to stop the tears. Ollie wrapped his arms around her and rubbed his hand up and down her back whispering comforting words into her hair. Bruce put his arm on her shoulder and said "I'm so sorry Artemis; I didn't want Nightwing to come. I have to go check on Robin" he said before nodding his head at Ollie and walked off down the hall towards Tim's hospital room.

Ollie continued holding Artemis to his chest rubbing his hand up and down her back, while they were sitting there Dinah came up and sat next to them putting her hand on Artemis' shoulder and sitting with them quietly. Twenty minutes later Artemis pulled away from the hug and sat with her head on Ollie's shoulder as she held Dinah's hand. She was extremely grateful for the fact that Ollie and Dinah was there for her. It seemed like forever before the doctors came out, that's when Batman suddenly showed up standing next to Dinah with his arms crossed listening intently to the doctors.

"We were able to successfully remove the bullets, but he lost a lot of blood, we had to do a blood infusion. His heart stopped once and we successfully restarted it, he should make a full recovery, he's going to need a month to recover. His left leg is in a cast since the bullet hit the bone and fractured it, the cast will have to be on for a month. The bullet in his right shoulder didn't cause any damage but he'll have to wear a sling for two weeks, and not use his arm. The bullet in his abdomen just barely missed his liver but it didn't cause any damage, he'll have to be on bed rest for two weeks. He shouldn't go back to any kind of training for a month when the cast on his leg is taken off. Usually I would refer him to a physical therapist but I think he'll be able to do it on his own with help of course" the doctor told them.

"When can I see him?" Artemis asked.

"He's in recovery now so he's still asleep, but you're more than likely to go in and sit with him" The doctor said "But only one person for right now".

Batman nodded his head and said "Thank you". The doctor nodded his head and left down the hallway.

Bruce turned to Artemis and said "You should go in Artemis; he'll want to see you. I'm going to tell Robin that Nightwing is fine and he can rest now".

Artemis stared at Bruce she did not expect him to let her go in there first "Thank you".

She turned to Ollie and gave him a hug "Thank you for being here".

Ollie hugged her back and said "I wouldn't be anywhere else".

Artemis pulled away and looked at Dinah, "Can you go to the apartment and bring Batgirl and Carson here?"

"Of course, I'm sure Carson wants to see her dad" Dinah said.

Artemis smiled "Thank you. I'm going to go in now". Artemis took a deep breath and pushed the door open to reveal the incredibly white room. Dick was laying on the bed in the middle of the room with tons of machines hooked up to him, his leg was in a cast and suspended in the air by a rope from the ceiling. He was still wearing his domino mask so that his identity was hidden; he was extremely pale which was saying something since he was already pale. Tears sprang to her eyes, this wasn't supposed to happen to Dick, he never got hurt like this, even though he was human and had no super powers he was the most skilled and most invincible of all of them. Slowly she walked to the only chair in the room and dragged it closer to his bed; she sat down in the chair on the side that wasn't his injured shoulder. She grabbed his hand in hers and put her head on it letting the tears fall again. She wasn't sure how long she laid there before Ollie peeked in the door and said Batgirl and Carson were there. Artemis didn't say anything except nod her head, once Ollie was gone she laid her head back down on his head. She was laying there close to falling asleep when she felt it. Immediately her eyes flew open and she sat up looking at Dick's face, she could have sworn that Dick squeezed her hand. After staring at him for a couple of minutes and nothing happening, she shook her head and lay back down. She wasn't lying there very long when she felt him squeeze her hand again. She wasn't sure if she was imagining it or not so she just continued lying there. When she felt it again but harder, she lifter her head and looked at Dick to see right into his beautiful blue eyes.

"Dick" Artemis whispered tears coming to her eyes again.

Dick managed a small smile but she could tell it was filled with pain "Hey" he whispered hoarsely.

Gently Artemis reached up and rested her hand on his cheek "You scared me to death".

"Water please" he said hoarsely, Artemis grabbed the cup of water on the bedside table and helped him drink it once he swallowed the water he put his hand on her cheek and said "I'm sorry 'Mis".

Artemis gave a tiny smile and put her hand on top of his "I don't think I've ever cried this much over a guy".

Dick gave a tiny laugh before he winced in pain "Hey be careful. Do you want me to get the doctor so he can help with the pain?"

"Yeah that would be good. Where's Carson at?" Dick said with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face.

"She's outside with Barbara. I'll bring her in once you get some pain meds" Artemis said standing up and kissing his cheek "I'll be right back".

Dick nodded his head as Artemis walked to the door to see Ollie, Dinah who was holding Carson, Bruce, Barbara and Tim who was in a wheelchair all in the hallway.

Immediately Tim asked "How is he?"

"He's awake and in a lot of pain. Can one of you get the doctor for me?" Artemis said looking at Carson who was reaching her arms out to her, Artemis smiled and picked the little girl up.

Ollie stood up and said "I'll go get him".

"Thank you" Artemis said.

Artemis took a deep breath and smiled at her daughter who was currently playing with a strand of her hair. "Is it alright if I go in and see him?" Tim asked.

"Yeah, I told him I'd bring Carson in once he got some pain meds" Artemis said nodding her head. Tim nodded his head and wheeled himself towards the door, Bruce opened it for him and let him go following behind him, Artemis smiled it was kind of sweet to see Bruce so worried about his adopted son.

Barbara stood up and sat next to Artemis "How are you?'

"Extremly relieved that he's awake now" Artemis said hugging Carson closer to her chest.

"I called Wally; I gave him activation to use the zeta tube he should be here soon. I figured Dick would want to see him ya know. I didn't say anything about Carson though" Barbara said.

Artemis took a deep breath and closed her eyes, she really didn't want to explain Carson to Wally right now, but she knew Barbara was right in the fact that the two best friends would want to see each other. Wally always worried when he knew Dick was hurt and wouldn't stop until he saw him for himself. "Can you explain everything about Carson to him Dinah? I really don't want to explain it to him right now".

"Of course Artemis I think he might take it better coming from someone other than you or Dick" Dinah said.

Ollie and the doctor came back so the doctor went inside the room as Ollie sat back down in his chair "I never thought I'd see you holding a baby Artemis" Ollie said smiling at her.

"I never thought I'd be sitting here holding one" Artemis said looking down at Carson, who was now playing with a set of toy keys.

Bruce and Tim came out of the room and said "He wants to see you and Carson now" Bruce said.

Artemis nodded and stood up shifting Carson so that she was sitting on her hip. "Can someone come in and tell me when Wally gets here?"

Barbara nodded and said "Of course".

"Thanks" she said before opening the door and stepping inside. Dick was still lying in the bed but his face looked more relaxed when he heard the door open he looked towards them and instantly smiled seeing his girlfriend and daughter.

"There's my baby girl" Dick said.

Artemis smiled and sat down in the chair "How are you feeling now?"

"A lot better with the pain meds" he said grabbing Carson's little hand in his.

"You really scared me Dick. I haven't been that scared you would die since we took the Reds on when we were kids" Artemis said looking at him.

Dick looked up into her eyes and said "I'm sorry 'Mis, I really am, but I had to help save Tim".

"I know you did, and I understand that, but I really thought I was going to lose you and I almost did. Your heart stopped while you were in surgery Dick" Artemis said not breaking eye contact with him.

Dick looked shocked for a minute before he blinked and said "But I didn't die I'm still here, and I'm not leaving you, or Carson".

"You better keep your word boy wonder" Artemis said setting Carson on the bed next to Dick and gently kissing him.

When they pulled away Dick said "Sit down next to me".

"Are you sure, I don't want to hurt you?" Artemis asked.

"I want to lay down with my girlfriend and my daughter. Just lay down with me Artemis, I'm fine" Dick said.

"Alright" she picked up Carson and gently sat down on the bed laying on her side so that Carson could lay between them, Artemis rested her head against Dicks and watched as he played with her little hands in his big one.