Wally flew the javelin in solemn silence while Barbara and Dick sat behind silently. No one dared to break the silent tension at all. Not even the talkative Wally. Wally did not want to be the one to break the awkward silence. He had a feeling Dick or Barbara would snap if he did.

Finally Metropolis came into view. It was about two in the afternoon.

Aiming the javelin at the Metro, Wally made to land on the roof. Even though he was certified to pilot the javelin, he was technically not certified to land it. The controls began to shake violently. Dick gave him a worried look.

"Sorry," Wally replied sheepishly as he began to fight the vibrating steering manual and land the javelin roughly on the roof.

Wordlessly, Wally unbuckled his seat belt and opened the javelin. Dick and Barbara followed him out.

Flash led them to an entrance on the roof. Pulling out a small remote he aimed it at the entrance and the faintest click was heard.

"This way," he beckoned and led Dick and Barbara down the stairs.

Like the trip along the javelin, the trip down the stairs to the main floor of the Metro was silent. What was up with the Batclan always being quiet and solemn? Wally always found Dick to be usually the talkative one. But not this time. Dick had kept a solemn expression on his face the whole time. He was taking a leaf out of Bruce's book. With Barbara, Wally could tell she was worried sick. With Dick though, it was hard. Wally couldn't tell if he was upset or not.

Finally the awkward trip was over and they were outside the med bay.

"Uh, wait here," Flash said as he entered.

He found Bruce was still hooked up to multiple machines. The doctors had added a feeding tube as well though. Wally felt his heart slow down for a second. They were resorting to a feeding tube? How bad was Batman now?

J'onn meanwhile was sitting down on a stool his eyes closed and muttering.

Flash did not want to interrupt and instead stood quietly to the side, watching the frustrated Martian.

Without warning J'onn jumped in pain and yelped, rubbing his temples furiously.

"What happened?"

"I tried to find another way to enter but Doctor Destiny blocked me again. All I can do is slow him down. I don't think I can stop him indefinitely though," J'onn explained grimly.

"Well Nightwing and Batgirl are here. Why don't you take a break so they can see him?"

J'onn gave Flash a quizzical look.

"You brought them here?"

Flash gulped.

"Well the doctors found that funny phone on his utility belt and we all thought it was an emergency contact number or something. Turns out he had Nightwing on it for some reason. I told Nightwing what happened and he brought Batgirl along as well. They are the only family he has left. I think they have a right to be here."

Wally hoped J'onn did not read his mind. He was telling the half truth. He had to convince Dick to come.

J'onn stared at him for a second but then bowed.

"Yes I suppose, tell them to come in."

Flash walked over and opened the door to find Dick and Barbara looking around unsure.

"You guys can come in…"Wally said. He had no idea what to say to prepare them for what they were about to see.

Slowly, Dick and Barbara walked in. When Barbara caught sight of Bruce's battered lifeless body, she let out a cry.

"Bruce!" she shouted and rushed to his side. She immediately grabbed his one arm that was not wrapped in a sling. Holding his hand with both of hers, fighting back the tears.

Dick just stood there, his expression unreadable. It was a miracle he wasn't puking. The sight of Bruce lying there beaten, broken, and alone sickened him greatly. He never wished this would happen to Bruce.

Silently he made his way to Barbara and bowed his head as he gently placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

For a while Flash and J'onn just stood there watching the two former Batclan members grieve over their mentor's body. Wally was surprised to see a tear was streaming down Dick's face.

"Who did this?" Dick said turning around. "Where's Bane? I want to talk to him!"

Wally put a hand up.

"Green Lantern and Hawkgirl already talked to him. He wasn't the master mind behind this. It was Doctor Destiny," he explained. Dick's eyes darted toward J'onn.

"Is he still in Batman's head?"

"Technically I guess you could say that. He is more attacking Batman's emotional center rather than the rational part right now."

"Can you get him out?"

J'onn paused; he did not want to lie.

"I don't know. Not without killing Batman," J'onn said softly.

Barbara let out another sob and Dick bowed his head. Intense feelings of regret were hitting him like a freight train.

How did he let this happen? How?

It seemed like hours that the two Batclan members were just staring at what was left of their mentor before Wally asked them to leave so J'onn could try to reach Batman again.

The minute the doors closed behind them, Dick spoke.

"You need to take me back to Gotham."

"Dick," Barbara replied, she knew he was grieving and trying to find a way to cope. He could be so much like Bruce sometimes.

"Babs, the Gotham underworld is probably thinking Batman's dead and they'll probably be going crazy tonight. Gotham needs someone to let them know the city isn't theirs again."

Barbara swallowed. He had a point.

"You are not going alone then," she replied.

Dick sighed, "Barbara. Your mother just lost your dad. She doesn't need you to get hurt!"

"That doesn't mean you should be the one to go out and risk your neck!"

"I got no one! You still have people looking after you!"

"GUYS!" Wally shouted. Both Barbara and Dick looked at the speedster with surprise.

"I think we can reach a compromise here. What if we were to bring a few leaguers to help out in Gotham with Dick? That way he is not alone by himself."

"I don't think we should bring metas, you know how Bruce is about that. Even in the current situation I think we should respect that…"

"I am not talking about super power people. The League has a lot of non super power people."

Dick sighed, he was losing this argument.

"Who did you have in mind?"

Wally paused, "Well there's Huntress. I mean she's not in the League anymore but her husband is so she would probably help since she used to live in Gotham. In fact her husband can probably help as well. There's Ollie too!"

"Ollie?"

"Green Arrow. That's what Dinah calls him. Hey, she can help too! I know she has a superpower but she's operated in Gotham before and I am sure Batman would not mind."

Dick sighed, Wally was making a point.

"Fine. Take me back to Bludhaven now though. I want to be ready to go by nightfall. Can you contact them on the javelin?"

Wally nodded. The two looked at Barbara.

"I will stay here. In case something happens. Just be careful Dick," she said softly and kissed him on the cheek. Wally saw Dick blush a little.

"Let's go," Dick muttered embarrassed and led Wally away.

Barbara sighed and leaned against the wall. She knew if Dick got killed trying to patrol Gotham and Bruce woke up, Bruce would probably never forgive himself again.

"Be safe Dick," she whispered to herself.

00000

Lobo was on the phone in his favorite bar haggling with one of his regular clients.

"Naw I'm serious man! I gotcha a real transconsciousmajingy. I'm lookin' at it right now!" he half-lied. He was not actually looking at it at the moment because he had kept it hidden until he could find a suitable buyer.

"Only a thousand? Go frag yourself!" Lobo yelled and ended the call, laughing.

He would have easily accepted a thousand for the transconscious articulator. In the business he was in though, he knew it was never wise to show your hand. Always keep the buyer on edge.

"Get me 'nother one!" the Czarnian burped at the bartender. Life was good for him.

By fencing this machine he could probably afford to take a long vacation. A very long vacation. The only thing was he needed to find a suitable buyer. Maybe have an auction for it soon.