Notes: I still don't own anything, never will, nor will I ever earn anything. This is mainly a conversational chapter, notice the irony of Barbara's thoughts and the hard time Dick is having keeping a certain secret. From the next chapter on, it will go in a straight line towards the end. Enjoy the fic.
Chapter XI Good News
Barbara Gordon's hospital room
The red-haired girl watched her savior as he was peacefully asleep on his chair, head on her mattress. Her thoughts drifted on different subjects, but it all came down to Dick Grayson eventually, well him and Robin, but as they were one and the same after all, it didn't really make a difference, did it? Had he really been with her all the time? Well, apart from that little task she gave him. There was a suitcase in the room, where there hadn't been one before so she guessed he successfully accomplished this mission. Good old Dick, she thought, never fails you. It's a good thing she had him, especially now her father had been abducted. She tried not to think too much about what might have happened to him. Never give in to despair, she kept telling herself. There was only one thing that could keep her mind away from her father though, and that was the boy sitting asleep next to her. If it wasn't for him who knows what would have happened to her. She would have been raped and probably killed. Not to mention that he got her to a hospital in time. She owed him big time and here she was asking him for favours. She should be the one offering him favours, even though she was hardly in a state to do so. Maybe one day she could repay him. Maybe one day she could offer him a child. She always wanted children and Dick would be the perfect father. He really had his way with children. Of course this wouldn't be happening any time soon, her body was in no condition to carry children, but maybe in a couple of months when she had fully recuperated, when he had graduated. She snapped herself back to reality. What was she thinking? It's not like they were married or anything. Sure she wanted to start a family with him, but were they actually ready? Their nightlife surely wasn't one that would allow a happy family life. But then again they couldn't be crime fighters forever, could they? She was snapped back to reality once more, not by herself this time but by the awakening Boy Wonder's alter ego. This was the first time she had awaited his awakening. "Sure took you long enough to wake up", Barbara teased him as he rubbed his eyes, "I was starting to wonder who really is the bedbound one in here."
"Are you growing Grayson traits miss Gordon?", Dick asked in response.
"No", she replied in a faked innocent voice, "What would I do that for?"
"Well, it's just that you remind me of this guy Dick Grayson, except that you're way better looking."
"Thanks, not that it's hard to be better looking than that hideous hunchback Grayson."
"Hey?!" She had to pay for that one. Dick Grayson's hands were in a perfect tickling position.
"Uh-uh", she interrupted him, "you can't touch me remember, I'm full of bruises."
"Such an abuse of power!", Dick said as he pulled back his hands against his will.
"It worked, didn't it?"
"I'll get my revenge … eventually."
"I don't think so, Grayson."
"Oh, I will."
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I will and you'd want me to."
"Oh no, I won't!" Dick just glared right in her eyes, until she finally gave up. "OK, there might be a minor chance that I would enjoy your revenge, but I wouldn't bet on it."
"Oh I would, you'd enjoy every second of it." Dick leaned towards the bruised redhead and kissed her softly.
"Well, if that's going to be your revenge I'd like some more."
"It wasn't. It was just a tiny foretaste."
"When will the rest come?"
"Maybe that's the revenge." He smiled at her. She smiled back, she was glad he was here. He probably was the only one that could make her feel happy under these circumstances.
A knocking on the door could be heard. "May I come in?", a man with a British accent asked.
"Sure, why not?", Dick replied.
"Good morning master Dick, Miss Gordon", Alfred Pennyworth greeted them as he entered the room.
"Hey Alfred", Barbara exclaimed as Dick simply nodded.
"I came here to bring you two some breakfast. So how are we feeling today?" the Butler asked.
"Well I have felt better, but I'll get through it … despite my constant bodyguard here", Barbara answered adding the last part in a teasing tone.
"Hey!", Dick protested.
"Just kidding, Dick's been absolutely great! I don't know what I'd do without him." Dick Smiled.
"That's how we know him", Alfred replied.
"You must be very proud of him", the bedbound redhead added. Dick started to grow a blush. Barbara smiled as she noticed.
"Oh we are, both me and master Bruce, even though he doesn't know how to show it. Which reminds me, master Dick, master Bruce requires your assistance on a certain issue, he is in the car waiting for you."
"I'll be right back, Barb", Dick said as he left the room, "Oh, and don't let Alfred seduce you!"
"My word, sir", the Butler replied in an annoyed tone as he was left in the room with Barbara Gordon, who was obviously amused by Dick Grayson's pun.
Dick ran off the stairs and left the building. The black car was parked in front of the entrance. Dick entered it and greeted his guardian. "Hello Bruce … man you look terrible."
Dick hadn't exaggerated. Bruce looked as if he could collapse any minute now. The bags under his eyes were huge. "Hello Dick", he replied, "I wish I could say the same thing about you."
"I was told you needed my help."
"Yes", the older man replied in the Batman voice, "the insomnia keeps me from thinking straight, so I need your help to run over some ideas."
"Who'd have thought the world's greatest detective would need my help."
"I realize pride isn't at its place in a case like this one Dick, which doesn't mean that I want you in the field."
"I wasn't planning to anyway, not now, so what is it you want to talk to me about?"
"I caught Killer Croc not too long ago, in the prostitution area."
"Hmm, I guess reptile men have human needs too. Rough fight?"
"Not really, he always ran off, attacking only when he was cornered."
"As if he was afraid?"
"Yes!"
"Sounds Scarecrow to me."
"That's what I thought too, so I added some antitoxin to the sedative. The problem is Croc doesn't squeal on anybody, not even if they attacked him. I pretty much had to misuse his broken leg to get information on Bane, when he beat him into hospital."
"Well, the Scarecrow and the Joker, including Barbara's dad, have seemingly vanished. Yet Croc, who isn't really a textbook example of intelligence, seems to have found them. My guess is that it would probably be a place where he would hide too, which would be …"
"The sewers, that doesn't help me much though."
"Well you could reduce the area to the prostitution neighbourhood. And don't forget they have already been there for a few days, not to mention the fact they have to hide the commissioner in it. We're not talking about a common sewer pipe here, it has to be some kind of gallery or maybe an abandoned underground control center. Didn't that Sewer King lunatic have quite a lair?"
"I'll look into it."
"That all?"
Bruce nodded. "Thanks Dick", he said in his Bruce Wayne voice, "for everything".
Dick smiled. He always found it odd how Bruce could flip between two completely different personalities, and yet both were one and the same, that he was sure of. "I'm glad to have helped", he said as he left the car and went back to Barbara.
"Well, I guess I'll be off then and let you two enjoy each other's company", Alfred said as Dick entered the room, "Goodbye master Dick, miss Gordon."
"Bye, Alfred", both youngsters said in unison.
"I think I've got some good news for you", Dick said once Alfred had left the building. He noticed his hand move to the prohibited area. He rectified his movement by placing his hand next to Barbara and leaning over her, in order to give her a kiss. That was close, he thought.
"Oh?", she replied.
"We caught track of your father."
"You did!?" She practically squashed Dick Grayson like a banana as he told her the news.
"Easy, Babs", Dick tried to free himself from the killer hug, "we haven't found him yet, though it won't be long now." Wow, if she already reacts like a strangler fig on this news, how would she react when she finds out she's pregnant? If she ever finds out.
"Will he be OK?", she asked as she loosened her grip on him.
"Of course, he will", Dick answered, "This is your father we're talking about."
"I need more than that, Dick, this is the Joker we're talking about."
"Well, I have overheard the Joker's plans. He wanted to hurt him where it hurts the most, that would be through you. He can't do that when he kills him. My guess is: he barely even touched him, it would all be one of his sick mind games and as soon as the commish sees you all of its effects will vanish like snow on a hot plate."
"Thanks Dick. … So tell me is Bruce …?"
"I can't say that, Barb."
"Oh come on, I'm not stupid. You knew about my father after speaking to Bruce."
"Who says I spoke to Bruce, maybe Alfred and I are in this plot together."
"Well, I guess Bruce isn't such a knightly person. Far from it, when I think about it. But they are similarly built. … Oh come on Dick, is he?"
"It's out of my hands, Barbara", he replied as he raised his hands.
Barbara grumbled. "Wait!", she said suddenly, "that means yes, doesn't it?"
"Hmm?"
"You're constantly trying to evade the answer, it has to be him. Even if Alfred would be in the plot with you."
"For someone who claims she is not stupid, it sure took you long enough to realize that."
"Hey!"
"Just playing, don't tell him I told you though. He'll probably tell you himself … one day."
Barbara giggled. "One day, eh? I'll be looking forward to finally know his secret."
"Believe me, you still don't know half of it."
