Just a head's up, I know not everyone believes in heaven and hell. So if you don't believe in it, that's totally okay. I'm not pressing my beliefs onto you. I believe in heaven and hell, but if you don't, that's totally okay. Do you. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy yet another tear jerking and angry chapter.
"How is this possible?" Bruce asked, standing right outside Jason's bedroom and staring at Dr. Leslie. Right Jason had woken up and started breathing again, Clark had gotten Dr. Leslie and taken Jason to his old bedroom. Dr. Leslie had laid him down and gave him some food and checked out some of his still healing injuries (bones). Right after that, Bruce pulled Dr. Leslie outside his room to get some answers. "I have no idea." Leslie said, pulling off her glasses and putting them in her pocket. "This seems so... impossible. There's no full explanation for this."
"Jason died Leslie. He's heart stopped and he stopped breathing. For a whole week Leslie. 7 days. 168 hours."
"Then all I can say to you is... this is a miracle Bruce." Leslie placed her hand on his shoulder. "You should go in there. He needs to see you. I'll go check on Tim and Dick."
Bruce nodded and walked Leslie walk down the hall to go alert his other son's. Bruce sighed and slowly walked into Jason's bedroom. Jason was laying in the bed, just staring at the full moon out the window. Bruce walked inside and took a seat in a chair right near Jason's bed. "Jason?" Jason turned around to face his adopted father. Bruce smiled at him. "I... I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything." Jason said, moving forward and embracing Bruce. Bruce didn't know what to do. He's never really been hugged by Jason before. Bruce slowly raised his hand and hugged Jason's back. "I'm so sorry Dad.."
Bruce and Jason let go and then held his son's cheek. "Don't be sorry Jason... I'm the one that should be saying sorry. That I let you die... but... how? You were dead for a whole week."
"I know." Jason started. "I just... saw the light I guess. Then the next thing I know... I'm in a coffin, with you."
"Well I'm glad that you're back." Bruce smiled. "I'm so sorry Jason that I let this happen. I'm so sorry. But... I'm going to make things right. I'm going to make sure that everything gets better... o-okay? I love you son."
"I know." Jason said, pulling Bruce in for another hug. "I love you too."
The door then opened and then Dick, Alfred and Tim walked inside. Bruce and Jason let go of each other and started at the new visitors. "Jay..." Dick breathed, running over to the other side of his brother's bed and he pulled him into a hug. Dick began to cry into his brother's shoulder.
"Why are you crying Dick? It's not like I was actually going to leave you." Jason joked, hugging him back. "I was always going to be a part of you... even in death."
"Oh Jay." Dick laughed, coming up to look at his face.
"I missed you. So, so much."
"Y-You did?"
Jason smiled and nodded. "Of course I did. I missed you all. You're my brother and I love you Dick."
Dick smiled and pulled Jason into another hug. Tim then walked over to Jason. Jason let Dick go and looked at his replacement. "Look... I know that you probably don't like me. But-"
Jason held his hand up and cut Tim off. "Let me stop you right there. Just come here and hug me."
Tim smiled, then walked to Jason and hugged him. They didn't know each other long... but they were brothers. And they were willing and excited to get to know each other. Dick joined their hug and the brothers got together. The two brothers let Jason go and stepped over to the side. Alfred then walked over to Jason and puled him close. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"
"I'm sorry Al. I never meant to scare you." Jason cried, hugging him back and letting Alfred's tears drip onto his chest. Alfred looked up at his grandson and held his cheek, smiling widely.
"Y-You're injuries are still healing... so you'll be feeling a bit of pain for the next few weeks." Bruce said.
"It's okay Bruce. Pain is something I'm pretty used to." Jason meant for it to be a joke, but Bruce hated hearing Jason speak about himself that way. Bruce gave his best fake smile and stood up from his chair.
"I'll let you get some rest." he said, motioning with his head for everyone else to leave. "If you need something... I'll get it for you myself."
"Okay." Jason said, leaning back into his pillows. It took him a few moments but he passed out. Alfred led Tim and Dick out of the room along with Bruce. Alfred closed the door for him and walked off to attend to something else. "It's going to take some time..." Bruce started. "But we need to let Jason know that we're going to be here for him. No matter what."
"Like I was ever going to leave Jason by himself after everything that's happened." Tim said, winking. "Don't worry Bruce. We'll keep him comfortable."
"And safe." Dick added, with just a bit of an attitude.
Dick and Tim the started to leave, starting to walk down the stairs. Bruce caught up with them and called out to one of his son's. "Dick." Dick turned around and faced his father. Bruce walked down the stairs so that they could be face to face. "Dick... I know how hard it is. Having Jason back."
"No." Dick cut him off. "You have no idea how hard this is for me, do you?"
Bruce gave a sad and confused look. "Dick... I don't understand."
"Of course you don't." Dick rolled his eyes. "Bruce... from the moment I met Jason, I treated like he was complete and utter shit. Like he was beneath me. Jason thinks that I hated him."
"But he forgives you."
"No he doesn't Bruce! After everything I've said to him five years ago... he will never ever forgive me. I know Jay. When he says one thing... he means the other. I know it from the look on his face. He doesn't forgive me. He doesn't forgive you and he sure as hell is mad that you couldn't avenge him by killing The Joker!"
"I don't kill." Bruce said, trying not to let his emotions get the better of him.
"Of course you don't." Dick said, turning around. "Not for this city. Not for yourself... not for Jay." Dick then slowly started ascend down the stairs, not even looking back to face Bruce. He stopped at the final step. "You might think I've lost my damn mind... but that's not the Jay that I know."
"Dick... wait." Bruce called, but Dick had already walked off. Bruce rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration and anger. Bruce walked down the stairs to find Alfred helping the guests get ready to leave in the living room. Ra's gave Bruce a look and smiled, approaching him. "I have to say... this certainly is a miracle. You have your son back."
"Do I really?" Bruce said, grabbing a glass from one of the many coffee tables and pouring himself some whiskey.
"What do you mean?" Ra's asked.
"Father." another voice called. Thalia appeared, dressed in her large overly elegant fur coat. "The car is waiting. It's time for us to leave."
"Go wait for me in car dear. I'm having a conversation." Ra's said, waving his hand at her. Thalia sighed and nodded, leaving the two rich moguls alone. "Now, I know from experience that when someone comes back from something traumatic... they tend to change. Mentally, physically or both. Have you maybe thought... that this was The Joker's plan all along?"
Bruce threw his glass to the floor and pushed the Al Ghul roughly against the wall, holding his elbow to his throat. "What the hell are you talking about?!" Bruce yelled.
Bruce's loud voice had gotten the attention of Clark, who came to the room running. "Bruce! Enough!" he yelled, pulling his friend off of Ra's Clark held Bruce back the shoulder while Ra's took the time to get air back into his lungs. "No, no Mr. Kent." Ra's said. "It's quite alright. Mr. Wayne has been through a lot. I'll let this little outburst slide."
"Tell me about The Joker!" Bruce growled, pushing his shoulder free from the kryptonian.
Ra's crossed his arms and started to talk. "We both know who crazy The Joker can be. But we often ignore how smart he can be. Be honest with me Bruce... they were times when The Joker outsmarted you as The Batman, outsmarted Nightwing and even outsmarted Mr. Kent over there."
Clark and Bruce gave each other a look. "You're right." Clark said. "But what does that have to do with Jason?"
"From what you've told me Mr. Wayne... you said that Jason outsmarted The Joker and captured him?"
"Yes. That's what happened." Bruce said.
"Well... I know that you wouldn't kill The Joker after what he's done to his son. And I know that The Joker knows that."
"What are you getting at Ra's?"
Ra's licked his lips. "I'm saying that what if it The Joker's plan to have Jason capture him. It could have been his plan for you not to kill him and send him right back to Arkham where he can start the next phase of his plan."
Clark and Bruce both gave each other a surprised look. Ra's had a pretty strong point. The Joker was pretty smart. What if this actually his plan? "Jason..." Bruce breathed. He started to rush to the Bat cave as fast as he could, Clark following behind. Ra's just smiled and left the Manor. Bruce ran inside, starting Dick who was dressed in his Nightwing uniform. "What's the rush Bruce?" Dick asked, being sarcastic and genuinely worried,
"Where's the knife that Jason stabbed himself with?" Bruce asked, frantic.
Dick walked away from him for a moment and returned with the same blade Jason tried to commit suicide with. Dried blood was still on it. Bruce took it and walked over to the computer, placing it on the scanner. "Who's blood is this?" Bruce asked the computer.
"This blood belongs to Jason Peter Todd."
Bruce turned over to Clark. "Bring Jason down here."
Clark nodded and flew off, coming back in only a few small seconds with a very frantic and confused Jason. "What the hell is going on?!" he yelled. Bruce grabbed a clean needle of the table behind him and shoved it in Jason's forearm. Jason screamed in pain, trying to jerk away from Clark's tight grip. Crimson blood filled the syringe and Bruce brought it back to the scanner. "Computer." Bruce said, looking at Jason angrily. "Who's blood is this?"
"This blood belongs to Lucas Love III."
Dick and Clark both looked at Lucas. That wasn't Jason. It was an imposter. Bruce threw the needle full of his blood aside and punched him hard in the face. Lucas fell back into the alien, blood spewing from his nose. Dick approached the man and grabbed his face. Sure enough, he was wearing a high tech mask. Dick tore it off the face of the imposter was revealed. And of course, he looked nothing like Jason. "Who are you?!" Bruce yelled, grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him hard. "WHO ARE YOU?!"
"You don't scare me Mr. Wayne." Mr. Love said very cocky. "I know who you are."
Bruce punched him hard again. You could hear the sound of breaking bone. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
"Okay, okay! I was hired by The Joker!"
"Joker's in prison." Dick added, wanting to punch the man himself.
"Got a call from one of his outside sources. They gave me this mask and helped me sneak in here. They gave me a chemical to make me seem dead and then took the body in the coffin."
"Where'd they take him?!" Bruce yelled, punching him so hard that Lucas plummeted to the ground. Bruce shoved him down by pressing his knee onto his chest. "Where's my son?!"
"I don't know! And even if I did, what you're about to do to me... Joker's gonna do to your son." He said, laughing. Bruce screamed in rage and punched him hard again, this time knocking him unconsious. Bruce stood up and looked over at Clark and Dick, who were just as angry as he was. "I knew it." Dick growled, grabbing his domino mask and walking away. Bruce slowly followed. "Don't follow me Bruce!"
"I'm coming with you." Bruce called to him as he mounted his motorcycle. "I'm getting Jason back."
"You got him back... then he got kidnapped. AGAIN!" Dick yelled. "This is all your fault from the moment you didn't avenge Jason. Now I'm going to avenge him and save him. And if you don't want to get hurt, I highly suggest that you stay the hell out of my way."
Dick then drove out, almost pushing Bruce out of the way. Bruce just stared at the empty spot as his emotions started to flood him. "Bruce?" Clark said, slowly coming up behind him. Bruce turned to face his friend, his eyes welling with tears. "Go get Tim. We're getting my son back."
"CLEAR!"
Jason felt a huge jolt in his chest as he opened his eyes and took a deep breath. Jason thought he had died. He had remembered dying. He remembered letting go. Jason's eyesight was still a bit blurry, but he took a look at his surroundings. The room he was in was most definitely not Wayne Manor or the Bat cave. It was dark and very dimly lit, like a... oh no. Jason started to sit up, but his wrists, legs and chest was restrained by black leather straps. Jason started to pull with all his might. There were Joker's goons all around him, one of them putting away a defibrillator. "Hey. HEY!" Jason yelled, getting the attention of one. "Where am I?!"
"Oh Jay-Jay! I thought you'd recgonize this place." said a very familar and menacing voice. Jason looked to his right and his eyes widened in fear. The Joker walked inside, strolling like a walk in park. "Welcome to Arkham Asylum! Get ready for the ride of a life time!"
Hoped you enjoyed and I certainly hope that all of you are mad as hell. I was just thinking about what to do next. Also, I'm thinking about making another playlist for this story, so if you have any song suggestions, please PM me or leave them in the reviews. See you all soon!