Later that night / early morning hours.

Slowly but surely, Robin began to climb his way out of the deep slumber that he had been in since surgery.

As his sluggish mind began to sift through the drowsy fog that clouded it, he began to feel the soreness of his body. His left arm from the top of his shoulder to his wrist was felt like he was being punctured by pins and needles. His chest was incredibly sore each time he drew breath, his right hip had a deep ache, and his head was pounding. On top of everything, someone had turned his eyelids to lead and he was having and incredibly difficult time trying to open them.

When he finally was able to crack them open just a tiny bit, he realized where he was and events began to rush back to him. Instinctively, he reached up to touch his mask, but he was so weak and tired that before he could reach it, a large callused hand gently caught his own and lowered it back down to his side.

"Easy partner," said a deep, familiar voice. "No mask. You've had a rough day."

Robin looked up into the face of his de-cowled adoptive father. Despite the immense pain he was in, he was immediately comforted by the familiar brown eyes, dark hair and darker stubble.

"Nnn- Bruce?" it pained Robin even to speak softly and he found that his throat was dry and scratchy.

At once, a glass of water was placed to his lips and tilted slightly so that he could slowly sip the contents in the cup.

"Slowly, son. Like I said, you've had a rough day." Bruce waited patiently for Robin to have his fill and set the glass of water back onto the table. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Thanks," said Robin enjoying the feeling of the cool water in his parched mouth and throat. He concentrated. "I remember you sending us to Star City… there was –nnn- there was a doomsday project, Bruce. Did the League get the word?"

"We did," affirmed Bruce. "Go on."

"Ok good. I managed to stop the DNA reincarnation, and then… there was a –nnn- a massive bomb activated when I tampered with the project. I stopped that too… but Amazo… it was Amazo. He –nnn- was able to attack me while I hacking."

"All true," confirmed Bruce. "I'm pleased that you remember as much seeing as you sustained a pretty bad concussion. What else do you recall, Richard?"

Robin closed his eyes and let the waves of pain in his chest subside before continuing. "I let Amazo get the drop on me while I was hacking, and then he pretty much dictated the terms of the rest of our fight. I called to the Team for help and … nnn … that's the extent of my memory. What happened? How did I get here?"

"Amazo knocked you out cold, but before he could deal the fatal blow, Kid Flash located you and extracted you from the situation. By then, the Team had rounded up all of the criminals and safely liberated all of the hostages."

"Sweet," said Robin visibly relieved and relaxing into his pillows. "But was anyone else on the Team hurt? Who brought me to the Cave?"

"You have Kid Flash to thank for that as well," added Bruce. "He ran with you on his shoulders from the museum in Star City all the way to the city limits of Happy Harbor."

Robin furrowed his brow, ignoring the pain this caused to the long sutured and swollen wound above his right eye. "Wait.. he did what?!" With a rush of adrenaline, Robin began to worry. "Nnn- Bruce that can't be right. I was pretty occupied in the control room, but from what I could tell, Wally was spent."

Robin's eyes then widened in revelation. "You said Happy Harbor city limits…" He then tried to sit up all the way and cried out in pain as his many injuries protested. "What happened to Wally? Where is he?" By now Robin was panting with concern, pain and the effort to sit up.

"Easy, partner!" said Bruce shocked at the bird's sudden burst of energy. "You're going to hurt yourself even more! Lie down and listen!"

The daddy bats tone in his voice brooked no argument and years and years of training and close quarters with the Caped Crusader taught Richard to obey. Reluctantly he laid back down, sweating from the pain his spontaneous efforts had brought anew.

"Wally gave it everything he had, but he ran out of energy. He lost consciousness when his body finally gave out on him." Robin gasped in worry.

"However," Bruce pointedly continued before Robin could work himself up again, "Clark and Conner found you both and were able to get you to the cave infirmary within minutes of Wally's collapse. He's here with you, son. He's resting and he's going to be just fine."

"Oh God, Wally," said Rob his eyes stinging with tears. "He risked himself majorly for me. I don't know what to say… I feel so guilty."

"There is no need for that, son. You had just risked yourself for him, the rest of the Team and hundreds of civilians. I say it was a fair trade."

Robin stared down into his lap and Bruce reached down and cupped his chin.

"He's going to be fine," Bruce said consoling his young partner. "Thanks to Clark, Conner, and the medical staff here, you both are."

Robin looked up pleadingly into the eyes of his mentor. "Can I see him? Please? I just need to see for myself that he's alright. I mean... Wally and I are… he's my best…"

"I know, partner," said Bruce calmly "I am going to help you get a good look at him but there are conditions. One: After I let you see Wally for yourself, you will lie back down immediately. Two: You clear your head of any guilt that you have about Wally's efforts and injury."

"Ok, got it," began Robin. "Now can I-

- "Three," continued Bruce refusing to be interrupted. "I page Red Tornado before I leave and have him come give you some sedatives and some pain relief. I can tell you're in a lot of pain, Richard. And I need you well-rested and at my side again as soon as possible."

Robin nodded and that's all it took for Bruce to know that it was a solemn promise to obey all of the stipulations.

"Good," said Bruce. "Deep breath now."

Bruce leaned down and wrapped his strong arms gently around Robin's shoulders and torso, taking his weight from the bed and allowing him to look over to the other side of the room where Wally lay sleeping.

Robin failed to hide his groan of agony at the movement, but was intent on getting a good look at Wally.

"Breathe, Richard," comforted Bruce holding him up. "You see? I told you, he's right here with you."

Robin breathed in and out, ignoring the agony and glancing over to the sleeping form of his best friend in the entire world. He took a few moments to see that Wally's chest was rising and falling slowly, deeply and peacefully and that all of the monitors by his bed side had healthy readings.

With great care, Bruce eased his young ward back down onto the bed, and pulled the covers up around him after checking to ensure that none of his bandages had bled through in the process.

"Like I said, Wally is here with you. You can keep each other company until you're both back to 100%"

"Thank you," said Robin trying to relax. "Waking up to you is such a comfort, Bruce. Before you hit that page button, can you help me with my mask?"

Bruce sighed and picked up a fresh Robin mask from the bedside table. "There's something you need to know, Richard. Your mask was damaged beyond function in the fight. Not only did your team see most of you face, but Conner and Clark removed it to assess your condition and were unable to reapply it before bringing you to the cave without further hurting you. You can keep wearing it and your dark glasses, but you need to know, the Team will undoubtedly be able to deduce your identity."

Robin sighed and frowned. This was so bad for Batman. "Bruce... I'm so sorry. Now they'll know your identity too. It's my fault. I don't know what to say."

"Richard there's nothing to be sorry about and what's done is done. My own closest friends and oldest allies know my true identity, and you deserve the choice to share that with your closest friends and allies too. I'm not saying you need to tell the whole world who you are, but you can decide who to trust."

Robin thought about it for a long moment. "I'll leave it off then. I think it's time my closest pals really get to know the real me."

Bruce smiled. "Then I'll just take this home and and put it with your supplies. We don't want that handsome face of yours to scar anyway. Got to keep the family looking dapper."

Jokes, Robin thought astonished. Batman has jokes. He must really be happy that I'm alright.

Robin blushed and scowled. No matter how deadly and skilled he ever became, he would always be a 'pretty boy' in the eyes of Bruce, Alfred and Babs.

"Good man," said Bruce with a grin and affectionately ruffling the short black hair. "Rest up, I'll see you in the morning."

Dick watched his father figure reach down and press the call button on his bedside and then silently take his leave.

Within seconds, Red Tornado entered the room. But Dick knew it was more than enough time for Bruce to already be on his way to Gotham.

Red Tornado was at his side at once, checking his vitals, his bandages and asking in his robotic monotone. "It is good to see awake. How do you feel, Robin?"

"Hey Reddie," answered Robin wincing. "Feeling the –nnn- aster."

"Your facial expression, body language and the fact that you have summoned me indicate otherwise, Robin. My studies in human medicine dictate that I should administer morphine for pain and sedatives for sleeping and subsequent recovery. Do you concur?"

"Whatever you say, Red."

Without another word, Red Tornado administered both drugs to Robin's IV and gave each of his bandages and exam. The android was surprisingly gentle with his ministrations.

"Your shoulder wound requires a clean dressing. You will feel some discomfort from the process."

But Robin was already feeling sleepy and began to drift off as Red gathered his tools and began his work.

"Red," he said sleepily before passing out. "Real name's… Richard. Call me…. Rich…ard." And he was out.

"I will do so, Richard," the android said to deaf ears.