At first there was only pain and an unbearable ringing in his ears. All was darkness until he opened his eyes and looked around him and noticed everything was still dark. Maybe he hadn't opened his eyes after all. He couldn't tell all was darkness around him. What had happened? And where was he? Then he remembered. Being in the cave, fighting Ra's, a bright light, lots of noise and then-nothing. The cave had exploded! Ra's had set bombs everywhere. He remembered telling the others to run but it had been too late. Oh my God the others! Where were they? What had happened to them? He decided that since he couldn't see them or anything really, he would call out to them. So he began calling each of their names one by one and cycling around again and again. After he called each of their names and gotten nothing back he began to get worried. What if? What if they were dead? No you can't think that way he said. If I could survive then so could they. Suddenly he heard a moan coming from the right of him. I can't help them unless I can see. That's when he remembered the miniature flash light he always kept on him. Please God let it still be there. He thought. Thankfully it was.

He turned it on and scanned the area. No obvious signs of anyone. But then he heard the moan again. He followed it to its source and saw a hand stretching out from underneath a pile of rubble. Holding the flashlight in his mouths he dug through the pile of rubble and was relieved when he saw…Dick! He was alive.

"Dick?" Bruce called. "Dick can you hear me?"

"Unnngghh" was the only response he got.

He quickly checked his vital signs and seeing that they were close to normal began to run his hands over his body for physical ailments. He found 3 broken ribs and a broken bone on his right arm. He also probably has a concussion and maybe some internal bleeding.

"Dick? Dick can you hear me?" Bruce asked again. He decided to shine the light in Dick's eyes to check out his condition further but was alarmed when he saw that Dick's pupils were not as responsive as they should be. Definitely a concussion he thought, maybe worse.

"Unnnnngh stop shining that light in my eyes."

"Dick? Are you awake can you hear me?"

"Yes yes I can hear and I could hear you the last three times you asked me. Now would you turn that light off?"

"Sorry I just needed to check on your pupils you have at least a concussion and at worst internal bleeding"

"What makes you say that?"

"Your pupils are not as responsive as they should be."

"Since when are you a doctor?"

"I took classes in human anatomy."

"Doesn't make you a doctor."

"Just shut up ok?

"I am going to try and help you sit up but you need to do it slowly ok? In addition to the concussion your right arm is broken and you have 3 broken ribs."

"What about you?"

"I'm fine. Just some ribs and bruises that's all."

"How come you don't have a concussion?"

Bruce shook his head. "Is it possible for you to like shut up for one minute?"

Dick mumbled something under his breath but didn't say anymore.

Bruce helped him sit up and Dick instantly cried out in pain as he did so.

"I'm sorry"

"It's alright" he said through gritted teeth.

"I need you to stay here alright? Don't move I need to find the others."

"What do you mean find the others where are they?"

"I don't know. There was an explosion remember? Ra's blew up the cave and so now I have no idea where we are or where they are. Don't' worry I won't go far and I won't be long just stay here ok and don't move."

"Ok" Dick said. He wanted to protest but his head and body hurt too damn much.

Bruce began scanning the area with the flashlight while calling out for Alfred and Tim. About 10 feet from where he had found Dick he found Alfred also laying in a pile of rubble. He was unconscious but was coming around.

"Alfred? Alfred can you hear me?"

"Oh my, ow, Master Bruce?"

"Yes Alfred it's me I am here can you move?"

"Yes sir I believe so." He said. Bruce helped him sit up and then examined him for injuries. He had the same injuries as Dick: broken ribs and concussion. Also his left shoulder was dislocated. There was of course always the possibility of internal bleeding but Bruce wouldn't know that without an MRI or a CAT scan.

"Alright Alfred I want you to stay here while I look for Tim and don't move alright? After I find Tim I am going to set your shoulder and then we will find some way out of here alright?"

"Very good sir"

Bruce found Tim only about two feet from where Alfred was. He was in much worse shape. He was unconscious and had a big gash on the back of his head which was bleeding badly. Also he had burns and several broken bones. Damnit! He thought. How had he let this happen? They weren't even supposed to be here!

Bruce brought Tim back to where Alfred was and laid him on the ground. He took of his cape and used part of it to form a bandage around Tim's head to stop the bleeding. He then took another part of it to use as a splint for Alfred.

"Alright Alfred ready?"

Alfred nodded.

With one swift movement Bruce popped Alfred's shoulder back into place. Alfred screamed and grit his teeth as Bruce eased the makeshift sling onto his shoulder.

"Alright?" Bruce said looking at Alfred.

"Yes sir"

"I told you you should have been somewhere safe; all of you should have stayed put."

"And leave you to die alone sir? I do not think so."

Bruce sighed. He was never going to win this battle and there was no point in yelling about it now.

"Alright I found Dick and left him over there we have to get back to him. Can you stand?"

"I believe so sir"

"Alright I will help you"

Alfred leaned on Bruce's shoulder as he helped him to stand up. At first the room spun and Alfred thought he might pass out but he managed to steady himself by leaning against the wall before he attempted to walk and move forward.

"Are you going to be alright? I have to carry Tim but you can lean on me."

"No sir I will be fine."

What felt like forever later, Dick saw Bruce and Alfred returning and his heart leapt for joy. Then he noticed Bruce was carrying someone was that Tim? No no no it couldn't be could it?

"Hey I told you I'd be back."

Dick smiled it was so good to see Alfred he had feared the worst.

"Alfred are you-?"

"A little the worse for wear sir but overall fine and you?"

"Same"

"Bruce is that-?"

Bruce nodded and laid Tim on the ground next to Dick.

"Is he-?"

"No but he's in bad shape. We need to get out of here and get him some medical attention ASAP."

"Which brings up the question where are we?"

"Somewhere under the cave; I am not sure exactly."

"You mean we are just in a deep section of the cave?"

"Yes"

"So how do we get out?"

"We need to find a way to get back to the surface"

"Ok well how do we do that?"

Bruce rolled his eyes.

"We walk until we find something that looks like it might grant us access to a higher level and then we just keep going until we eventually hit the surface."

"That could take forever!"

"Then we had better get moving don't you think? Can you two walk on your own? Or support each other?"

"Yes" they both said in unison.

Alright he said and helped Dick up. Dick's head spun for a minute and so he leaned on Alfred for support but then he was able to stand up and walk on his own.

They had walked for what seemed like forever when they decided to take a rest.

"Bruce how are ever going to get out of here? The cave is like a maze! And we have no idea how far down we are."

"Yes I know but we just have to keep walking and we will eventually find a way out."

Dick rolled his eyes in a "I don't' believe you but whatever" kind of way.

Bruce wasn't even sure he believed what he was telling them. Dick was totally right. They had no real way of getting out. However going forward was the only thing he could think of right now so that is what they are going to do. It was the only thing they could do at the moment. Just keep walking. Get Tim to safety and then everything would be ok. After all things couldn't get much worse right?