Joey leant against the railing of the rooftop he and his father were currently stood on. This was the first time they had really been around each other since he had moved in with Dick. The older man was pulling bricks from a wall, one of his many drop off points over the city. He pulled out something wrapped in cloth and stored it in the duffle bag he had brought with him. Joey didn't bother asking what was inside.

Already somewhat bored he looked down at the street and could see there was a commotion from a little way down. He watched as the people on the street parted, allowing three men to run passed. Joey realised one of the men was running from the other two, who happened to be cops. One of the cops was a lot wider than the other and soon started to slow, finally stopping, hands on his knees and bent over catching his breath. The other kept running.

'Get him, Grayson!' The fatter cops shouted.

Joey turned his full attention to the street to watch as Dick chased down the criminal. The crook ran out into the road just as a car passed, it missed him but it stopped, blocking the path. Dick didn't hesitate, he slid over the bonnet with ease and carried on running. Joey watched, mesmerised. He'd never really seen Dick in action. He moved further along the rooftop so that he could keep watching.

The crook ran down an alley, clambering over the metal fence. Dick was seconds behind, and what he did next cause Joey's eyes to widen. Using the walls either side of the narrow alley, Dick jumped against one, then the other to give himself to height before taking hold of the metal links in the fence and propelling himself over, landing in a perfect crouch before continuing his pursuit.

Joey could honestly say he had never been so attracted to the man he shared a bed with.

He grew more concerned when the crook reached the dead end and in desperation pulled out a knife. But Dick didn't seem to share his concern, he tackled the man, quickly disarming him and pinning him to the ground.

'Angus Green, I am arresting you on the suspicion of theft. You have the right to remain silent.' As Dick read the guy his rights, the other cop finally caught up and came around the corner.

'Nice one, Grayson.' He called in back up and they escorted the guy to the patrol car.

'That him?'

Joey almost jumped at the voice behind him. Slade was following his gaze, watching as Dick got into the passenger seat of the car.

'Yeh.' Said Joey.

'I thought you said he was a rookie.'

Joey could hear an impressed tone in his father voice and it made pride fill up in his chest.

'He is.' He couldn't hold back his smile.

'You really like this guy don't you.'

He nodded.

'Finish this job with me. Help me capture Nightwing and we're done. Jericho can retire and you can live your life with your cop.'

Joey stared at his father. Ever since he had paid for his voice corrective surgery, he had pushed upon his son that he owed him. Joey felt he was in his father debt and so would do pretty much anything he asked, even after the incident six years previously. Was he finally letting him go?

'Deal?' Slade asked.

'Deal.'

Slade nodded. 'You better get going, you need to be in Jump by tonight to meet our contact.'

Joey nodded, taking the bag from him. The sooner he got there, the sooner he could get back to Dick.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Nightwing was perched on one of his vantage points. He was taking his time tonight. Since Joey wasn't going to be home for a few days he was taking advantage of not having a time limit to patrol. Tonight he might even get more than three hours sleep. He practically purred at the thought. He liked Joey, there was no denying that and he wouldn't change their situation for the world. But he really did miss getting a full night sleep.

He was already tired. Running after Angus Green earlier had used up the reserves of his energy. He'd had to resort to using some of the skills Batman taught him in order to subdue him quickly. Thankfully, no one had been watching. Well, apart from Angus but the guy was high on crack so no one was going to believe a word he said.

He'd heard from Joey earlier, he'd arrived in Jump and was trying to get the job done as soon as possible. He'd also warned him that his dad knew about their relationship, apparently, his dad had worked it out and Joey wanted to know if he minded.

Dick had replied that of course, he didn't. It wasn't like they were a huge secret. But the conversation had got him thinking. He probably should tell Bruce. The man behind the bat was going to find out eventually and Dick didn't want him to think he was hiding his relationship from him. But was he? The thought of telling Bruce was less than pleasant. Was it because Joey was a guy? Or because they were moving so quickly? Dick couldn't put his finger on it. He just didn't want Bruce's opinion to change how he felt about Joey Wilson.

'You're letting your guard down Nightwing.'

Nightwing shot up from his crouch and got into a defensive stance. He'd been so deep in thought he hadn't heard the mercenary get so close. Shit!

Deathstroke was stood before him, his stance calm and untroubled.

'I know about the bounty.' Said Nightwing, circling away from the edge of the roof to a position of more advantage. Deathstroke's head cocked to the side.

'I thought you might.'

'Who set the bounty?' Nightwing demanded, his fingers twitching, ready to reach for his weapon at a moments notice. He had to keep the man talking so that he could get in a better place to fight. If the man happened to tell him anything, all the better.

'I would have thought you'd have worked that out. Come Nightwing, you're better than that. Think.'

Nightwing shook his head. He wasn't going to play his game. Deathstroke sighed.

'You're becoming more like the Batman every time we meet.' He took a step forward and Dick took two back. 'I set the bounty on your head.'

'Why?'

'To draw you out. To spark your obsessive nature. You forget Nightwing, I know how you tick. When was the last time you slept? How often do you find yourself blinded by anxiety?'

Dick felt sick. His anxiety was his biggest weakness. Deathstroke had been the cause, and now the monster was using it against him. And he'd let him. He'd let his worry tear him in two so that he was either obsessing or distracting himself. And the mercenary was right, he hadn't slept well in weeks. He was restless and troubled until Joey slipped in beside him. But it wasn't enough; he was exhausted.

Distracted by his thoughts, he was shocked when Deathstroke suddenly attacked. Pinning him to the ground.

'What you do you want from me? Why won't you just leave me alone?' Nightwing shouted.

'Potential my dear boy. You've so much of it.' He laughed as Nightwing fought against him. 'You're not quite there yet. But you'll break soon enough. And then we can finish what we started. I'll build you back up to be the perfect apprentice.'

He released his hold on the hero and began to walk away as Nightwing scrambled backwards, always from him. He stayed on guard until he was sure the other man had gone. Then he stood and released his grapple hook, jumping off the roof. He circled through the city for a while until he was sure he wasn't being followed, then he returned home.

His hands shook as he removed his armour, placing it back in its hiding place. The tears began to fall as he removed the lycra, placing it in with the dark washing. His teeth began to chatter as he pulled on his sweatpants. Finally, his knees buckled and the hyperventilation began. The feeling in his chest that had been building for weeks, the tightness he had been trying to keep at bay washed over him. He could feel his entire body either shaking or rocking. He lay on the floor of his room spasming and the tears rolled down his cheeks and a choking sound came from his mouth as his body curled in on itself. No air was going to his lungs, his chest burned from the need for oxygen. He felt like he was dying. He wished he would.

Deathstroke was never going to leave him alone. He was never going to give up on the idea of him becoming the Renegade. Dick knew he would rather die than become loyal to that monster. It was never going to end. He was never going to be safe. Maybe it would be better if he just went to sleep and never woke up.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Commissioner Andrew Decker sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, watching the clock on the opposite end of the office. He watched the second's hand make its rounds over the face, slowly pushing the minute hand over with each rotation.

He was an observant man. He had to be in the godforsaken city, where its cops were more bent than the criminals. You had to know who you could and couldn't trust and even then you had to know how far you could trust the trustworthy ones. Dick Grayson had been a breath of fresh air in this place. He was intelligent, skilled, athletic. He was the most trustworthy cop Decker had known in decades. He was also two hours late.

He'd been keeping an eye on the kid ever since the mugging incident. Something about it had shaken the kid up more than he probably admitted to himself. And even since he'd been more and more distracted. When he returned from leave, the first thing Decker noticed about him was his weight. He'd always been borderline underweight, even Jim Gordon had said so much when he'd spoken to the Gothamite about it. But when he'd returned he seemed more gaunt than slender. As the weeks had progressed, the bags under his eyes were starting to grow and Decker could tell there was something playing on the youngman'ss mind. The only thing that seemed to bring brightness to the rookie's face was the young man who sometimes came to the station to meet Dick for lunch. Joey, if he remembered the lads name correctly.

He watched the clock a while longer as five more minutes ticked by. Something was not right.

'Hale!'

Officer Hale stopped in front of his desk.

'Yeh, Chief?'

'Have you heard from Grayson?'

'Not since yesterday.' Said Hale, glancing over at Dick's empty desk.

Decker nodded, dismissing the officer before unlocking his computer. He opened Dick's file and called the home number the young officer had provided. He left it ring for a while until Dick's answer machine picked up. He left him a message telling the younger man to call him back as soon as he got the message.

He tapped his fingers against the table, watching the clock for another few seconds. Something in his gut told him something was wrong. But he wasn't about to go calling Bruce Wayne with a gut feeling. Dick had once expressly told him, he was only to call the Billionaire if Dick was either dying or already dead. The look in the kids eyes had been serious.

But something wasn't right.

Finally making a decision he picked up the phone again and punched in a fairly regular number.

'Jim, it's Andrew. How you doing?...Great, and Barbra?...They grow up so fast. Listen, Jim the reason I'm calling. You told me to let you know if I ever had any worries about Richard.'

A/N: I'm actually impressed with how often I am updating this story! Please review to keep me writing! Until next time, Karin x