Disclaimer: Do I really need to keep doing this?

A/N: So I decided to be nice and upload another chapter. This chapter is a big thank you for all of you who reviewed, got me to 100, and beyond it. You have no idea how excited that made me. This is the first fic I've written that's gotten that many reviews. :D

This is a kinda filler chapter, but it has some important stuff in it that has to continue the story along. It also supports my personal vendetta against Dana Tan so if you are a Terry/Dana shipper to bad. Those two just ain't right for each other. So without further ado or story spoilers here's the next chapter.

Chapter Eleven

"You know, Grayson really isn't such a bad guy when he's not threatening to kill me," Terry remarked, then added. "But he's got that annoying habit of Bruce's where he leads you in circles until you think your head will fall off in confusion."

Max snorted. "It must be an art form heroes take up. And I could have told you Dick was a decent guy."

Terry rolled his eyes. "That's a bit of a biased statement, don't you think?"

"Why? Because I spent over an hour with him on a date and found him utterly attractive and charming?" She looked up from her laptop with a grin.

"You think he's charming!" Terry choked on his drink.

Max scrutinized him suspiciously. "Yeah. Why? Are you jealous?"

Terry snapped back a little too quickly. "No!"

"Uh huh."

"You just seem to have a thing for dark, weird guys who are a bit psycho," Terry said, coolly.

Max looked down at her laptop and muttered something that sounded a lot like, "You mean someone like you?"

Terry gave her a confused look, not quite sure what he heard but hoping it was as good as he thought it sounded. Max glanced up at him and for a moment he saw something change in her eyes. The expression was almost pleading, trying to make him understand something. Could she really be attracted to him? Did she want them to be more than just friends? The idea made his heart beat a little faster. Maybe what he was hoping he saw in her eyes was just some twist of his imagination. She didn't really like a guy like him, did she? Before he could think anymore on the subject a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

"Terry?"

"Huh?" Terry looked up to see Dana and smiled, distractedly.

She didn't return the smile. "I need to talk to you."

Max gave him a sympathetic look.

"Dana, I really-."

"Don't give me any lame excuses about why you can't right now, McGinnis! You're not going anywhere until we get a few things straight," Dana snapped.

Terry swallowed hard. "Alright."

Dana glared over at Max, who started to collect her things. "Well, I know when I'm not wanted."

Dana watched Max with a sharp eye as she walked away, leaving Terry alone with Dana. He didn't think facing even Batman's worst villain was as bad as facing an angry Dana. He would have liked nothing more than to disappear right then.

"I've had enough, Terry! I can't do this anymore!" Dana snapped the moment Max was out of earshot.

"Do what?"

"Don't play dumb with me! You know what I mean. You stood me up again last night, and I am tired of it. I've lost count of how many times you've done that to me!" Her voice had gone low with barely held back anger.

Terry started to stammer out an apology. He had completely forgotten about the date. He felt like a total twip. How could he have done that to Dana? Again!

"I'm sick of you excuses!" she cut him off. "I'm not going to keep waiting around for you to get your priorities in order. Clearly, I'm not your main concern at all. You disappear on me all the time. You never tell me what's going on and you are so damn secretive! I can't be in a relationship where my boyfriend doesn't even trust me enough to tell me anything!-" Terry tried to say something but Dana ignored him. "I'm tired of watching you hang around with Max. And don't even try to tell me it's just because of that project. It isn't! You don't even make any effort to be nice to my friends when I sit with them or spend time with me at school! And it is obvious to everyone here, except maybe you that you are head over heels for Max!"

Terry stared at her in complete surprise, struck dumb by the revelation she had just dumped in his lap. Dana took a deep breath, anger and tears shining in her eyes. Her lovely face was a mask of determination. She was forcing herself not to start crying in the middle of her speech.

"I've had enough. We're through, Terry."

Terry could only gape at her, feeling eerily calm. Somewhere inside of him a part was sighing in great relief. He was tired of trying to hide things from Dana and sick of breaking her heart every time he wasn't there for her. She deserved better. How long had they danced around each other like this, neither coming right out with the truth? Why had they waited so long to do this when it was now plainly inevitable? She was right of course. He did like Max and had for quite some time now. His feelings for Dana, which had once been so strong, had weakened in the months that had passed. It had been gradually and he had hardly noticed, but now it stared him in the face and he was a fool not to have seen it. They no longer understood each other or communicated the way a couple should. This was the right course for them both. No more playing games or running in circles about one another.

"I'm sorry, Dana," Terry whispered.

She nodded and a few tears started to slip down her face. "Don't try to change my mind."

"No, I think you are right. This is for the best," Terry said to her.

"Yeah," she murmured, somewhat taken back by how easily he consented.

"I still want to be your friend, Dana. You do mean a lot to me," He said quietly. "Is that ok?"

She nodded silently and took another deep breath. "Good bye, Terry."

"Good bye, Dana."

He watched her walk away with mixed feelings. He felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but felt guilty for what he had put her through. He admired her for the courage it had taken for her to stand up to him and say all that. She was strong. She would thrive better without him. It had been the right thing to do, for her sake.

B.A.T.M.A.N.

Sam Young stormed through the police precinct offices with only one thing on his mind–yelling at his wife. She had been avoiding him ever since this Nightwing case broke out. Now she wasn't telling him what was going on at all. He had a right to know when she was in danger, dammit! She was his wife!

He stomped into Barbara's office without even bothering to knock first. She looked up in surprise from the paperwork sitting on her desk. At the expression on his face, she sat back in her chair with the look of a woman ready to weather the hurricane.

"Why didn't you tell me you ran into Nightwing again last night–on your own! I've been worried sick about you every since this case came up! You chase after drug runners like you're a young cop again then hold off Nightwing on your own? Are you crazy! What if he had hurt you? That man has nearly killed a dozen people by now–including Batman–and you charge in to handle him alone! What would I have done if he'd hurt you?" Sam ran out of breath in his tirade.

Barbara smiled wearily. "I'm sorry I scared you, Sam–."

"Damn right you scared me!" Sam snapped.

"I'm also sorry I haven't been telling you about everything that's been going on. I admit that this case is a little touchy for reasons I don't want to get into right now. I didn't know Nightwing was going to be there last night or I would not have gone after those drug runners alone," she held up her hand to ward off Sam's words. "I know I shouldn't have anyways. Sometimes I forget I'm not as young as I used to be."

Sam sighed.He was no good at staying angry with her. "Alright, but for my sake please be more careful. I hope you explain later what this whole Nightwing mess is about. In the mean time, it looks like you have a real mess on your hands."

"Yes. I've decided we had better release the information about the fraud Nightwing to the public. He is becoming more of a danger than I anticipated and the people deserve to know." Barbara told him.

"So you know for sure that this guy is a fake?"

Barbara smiled again only this time it had a bitter feel to it. She hated lying to Sam about this but she was not ready to tell him everything. Not yet. Some wounds ran to deep. "Yes. The real Nightwing has been dead a long time."

"Just be careful what you see to those reporters. They're like sharks," Sam started to warn her.

"Sam, I'm not a rookie cop anymore. Stop worrying," she admonished him lightly.

Sam shook his head. "I can't ever stop worrying about you, Barb. I love you to much."

"I love you too," she replied with a softer smile.

He walked over and gaver her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll let you get back to work. See you tonight."

Barbara watched him leave with a guilty conscience. He deserved better than her. She didn't know why he put up with her at all. She wished she could tell him the truth, but some secrets were hard to give up. She would tell him one day. She knew the time would come when she would have to, but not today.

B.A.T.M.A.N

It was a beautiful day for once in Gotham City. The sun was high in the sky, beaming down brightly on the weary citizens of that normally gloomy city. Bug puffs of clouds floated lazy across the light blue sky. Gotham Central Park was alive with families, couples, and friends out to take advantage of the pleasant atmosphere as long as it would last. The soft breeze ruffled tree leaves, grass, skirts, shirts, and hair. The whole scene was incredibly peaceful. It was a glimpse of a care free and happy Gotham that was rarely ever seen. There wasn't anything to dull it or dampen the day. There was no muggers, no super villains, and no gangs. Perhaps they had all decided to take the day off because it was to nice a day to ruin it for anyone.

Dick smiled to himself as he drifted lazily back and forth on an old swing in the playground. He had his head tipped back slightly so he could enjoy the sunlight and the breeze. He felt like a vampire, pale and deprived, seeing sun for the first time in years. The sound of children laughing and shouting carried on around him, not bothering him, but making him feel more at ease instead. He smiled wider as he watched the children playing all about him in the sand boxes, on the play ground sets, and chasing each other in the grass. He felt almost nostalgic as he watched them through half lidded eyes; wishing he could have that time back when he was a child with no worries before his parents were gone.

This was the first time in days he had been able to sit, relax, and breathe deep. He felt like he had been on his toes forever since falling into this mess. It had been one bad thing after another. He needed this brief reprieve. He needed to hear, see, and feel why it was he continued to fight for Gotham. He needed a renewed sense that what he was doing was right–that all the sacrifices, pain, blood, sweat, tears, and fears were worth something. He knew it was all for the smiles on the faces around him. These kids, these people; they deserved to grow up and live happily without fear of walking down a street and being mugged or worse. He wanted these people to have the life he never had. He would fight for that. He would die for that.

It was the only way he could find a sense of fulfilment in his life. It was why he had to find a way to stop this growing evil inside him. He would kill himself before killing anyone. He needed to continue being the protector. He would fall to pieces if he lost the ability to be that person for Gotham. 'Nighwing' was not just a profession. It was his livelihood–his whole world.

And he could feel it crumbling with every hateful word those voices in his head whispered.

He had to stop it.

He had to.

B.A.T.M.A.N.

Terry sat on a bench outside watching the football players practice for the upcoming season. He had been sitting there for quite sometime trying to sort out all that had happened that day. Dana's words kept running through his head.ྭ You are head over heels for Max! He knew it was true. Why had it taken him so long to realize it? She was always there for him. She understood him and knew everything about him down to the deepest secret he had. Dana had never been a part of his life like that. He cared for her, he would go out with her, but more often then not he always went to Max when something went wrong in his life. He felt guilty for all that he had put Dana through. She had given up so much for him and done so much, and yet he had never really repaid her. He had never really been there for her. He had always skipped out on her. He felt terrible that he had been like that to her, and yet he was so relieved that he no longer had to play anymore games. It was not worth causing more hurt. He was glad Dana had the courage to do what was right for them both. Had the whole thing been up to him they would have gone in circles with each other until he finally saw the truth of the matter, which might have been God knows how long.

How strange life was. He had spent more than a year with Dana and it had taken him that long to realize they just were not meant for each other. As he thought about it he began to grasp how many times he felt something other than just brotherly friendship for Max. So many times he had looked at her and thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. So often he had thought she was the smartest woman he had ever met. How many times had he felt the urge to hold her, touch her, or kiss her? He was such an idiot. How could he have not seen it? How could he have denied these feelings so long? It was only of late that he had even begun to notice the increasingly strong attraction he had toward Max. Then Dana had spoken exactly how he felt out loud before he even knew himself. Then the truth had hit him full in the face. Lord, he was such an idiot!

He sighed, watching the players with out really seeing them. What was he supposed to do about this? Should he tell Max how he felt? He wondered if she felt anything other than friendship for him. Sometimes when she looked at him or when she said something to him, he thought he might have seen the same attraction he felt. This afternoon in the cafeteria had been one of those moments. Maybe she did feel something for him and he had been to blind to see it. That would be ironic indeed. Not to able to see that he and Dana were so wrong for each other and then not to notice that his best friend was feeling something other than just a buddy-buddy friendship for him. That would be the ultimate stupidity.

"Terry?"

A soft well-known female voice broke through his tangled web of thoughts. He looked up in surprise to see Max standing beside him.

"Hey," she smiled down at him.

He felt a little shiver race down his spin and found to his surprise it was not unfamiliar. How long had that been happening when she smiled at him? "Hey."

She sat down beside him, glancing out at the field and watched the players for a moment. "What are you doing out here? You hate sports."

"I needed to think," he answered honestly.

"I'm sorry, did I interrupt?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Yes, but it was a wanted interruption."

"Oh."

They were both quiet for a moment, searching for something to say to the other. Each wanted to blurt out what they were wishing they had the nerve to say but could not do it. There was a strange tension between them that had never been there before. It disturbed Terry and he did not know what to do about it.

"I suppose you heard about what happened today with Dana," he finally blurted.

She nodded. "Yes, I did. I'm sorry things ended that way."

He shook his head. "Honestly, Max, I'm relieved. I was stupid to lead her along like that for so long. She didn't deserve it. I just…I never felt I could trust her the way I do with you-." He stopped as he became aware of what he just said.

Max looked over at him, startled.

"It's just—I feel different when I'm with you than I did when I was with Dana. I always felt that there was apart of me I had to hide from her—that she never really knew me. The real me. With you…you know everything about me, Max. I never had to hide anything. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not and you still stuck with me even after learning my darkest secrets. I don't think Dana would have. That's why I never felt I could tell her. That's why I know now that we never could have worked together for very long," he explained, haltingly.

Max stared at him. "Do you know how long I've waited for you to figure this out? It took Dana to break up with you to do it." She chuckled quietly.

"Yeah for being an investigator I am such a prize idiot," he smiled.

Max grinned. "It's no excuse. You're a guy."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he exclaimed in mock indignation.

She shrugged.

Terry let the silence length for a moment, trying to decide if he should come out with the truth.

"Max?"

"Yeah?"

He took a deep breath. "I-."

He was interrupted by a loud shout as someone called for Max to hurry up.

"I have to go Terry," Max said regretfully.

"It's alright. It was nothing important," he lied.

"See yah later, Ter," she leaned over and gave him a warm hug. "Try not to feel to guilty about what happened between you and Dana."

He returned the hug tentatively. "Thanks, Max."

She smiled once more at him before turning and running to meet her sister out in the parking lot. Terry sighed and slumped forward in his seat. In a way he was relieved that he didn't have to explain himself to her just then, but he was also disappointed. He had wanted her to know. He needed to know if she felt anything for him. When would he get the courage to bring this up again? He shook his head and muttered to himself.

"For the City's greatest hero you sure are a coward."

B.A.T.M.A.N.

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Hoped you enjoyed it! I know it was a little slow, but I hope you liked. :D Please review!