Chapter 12: A Sitch in Time pt 3: A Step Beyond

"What were those things?" Black Canary asked from the cramped rear seat of the Batmobile where she sat with Robin, Batgirl, and Huntress.

"Titans," the younger Batman growled as the flying car soared over the futuristic city. "They used a type of a super steroid derived from Venom, turned them into those things."

"What's Venom?" Batgirl asked.

"You'll find out in a few years," Batman replied.

"Why should we trust you?" Robin asked with narrowed eyes behind his domino mask.

"Do you really have a choice, Grayson?" Batman smirked, and Robin sulked at the use of his true name. "I'm shocked you're not pissed at their name, Richard."

"Why would I be?" Robin blinked.

"You'll see," was all Batman said.

The rest of the flight was made in silence before a smile graced Batgirl's face. "Well, I guess some things haven't changed," She said as she recognized the caverns into which they were flying.

The flying vehicle came to a stop on the pad that the Tumbler had once used, and the hatch hissed open. "Changed a little bit," Huntress said as the group climbed from the vehicle. The girls looked around as Robin approached a line of cases holding suits for display.

He recognized Kim and Ron's old mission gear, Kim's original battle suit, and Ron's bat suit at the front of the line. Next to it was the same suit he now wore, and next to it was a similar one with red and black coloring. "Do I get a new suit?" He asked before glancing to the next one. It was a black bodysuit with a single, blue V-strap crossing the chest and shoulders. "And whose is this?"

"Do you want to just destroy the time stream?" Batman growled before Robin continued up the line, seeing Batgirl's, Huntress's, and Black Canary's.

Finally, he saw another female suit similar to the one the current Batman wore. It was mostly black, with a red cape and symbol, and the mask was open at the mouth as well as an opening at the back for hair. "I dig Babs' future suit."

"Not Barbara's," a deep, gravelly voice spoke from the stairway.

Batgirl glanced up and felt her heart flutter at the sight. She knew him the second she saw him, but the shape he was in tore at her soul. "Daddy…" She breathed, seeing the aged man slowly making his way down the stairs. What was left of his golden blond hair was farther back on his scalp and a silvery white. His skin was pale and drawn, covered in wrinkles and age spots. His back was hunched, and it seemed the only thing keeping him upright was the cane upon which he put his weight.

"I've been expecting you," Ronald Stoppable stated as he approached them. "I know why you're here. I've already started researching Clock King, so you can stop him and get back to your own time."

"Yeah, no way this isn't the real Ron," Robin said, removing his mask, "No one else could be that direct. So, where's Kim?"

"She's dead," he replied coldly.

Barbara and Dick felt the wind knocked out of them as they stared in shock. "Mama…" Barbara whimpered, gasping for breath.

"What… happened?" Dick forced out.

"Something that couldn't be helped. Now, get to work, so I can get you people out of my life. If you need anything, ask Terry." He said, motioning to Batman before hobbling back up the stairs.

Barbara rushed after him and touched his arm. "Daddy… wait."

He jerked his arm away and glared at her. "I am not your father."

Barbara watched in shock as Ronald hobbled up the stairs.

"You ok?" Black Canary asked, placing an arm around Batgirl. The redhead glanced up to see Helena embracing Dick. "Babs?"

"No… I'm not…" She whispered with a faint growl in her voice.

"What happened?" Dick asked from Helena's arms. "To Mom…Kim, I mean… what happened to her?"

Batman looked indecisive for a moment before removing his mask, revealing his dark hair and sharp features. It seemed to the visiting vigilantes that he was almost a spitting image of the Ron they had left behind in the past.

"Alright, but this is all I'm telling you about the future, got it?" Terry sighed, "It was long before I came around, so what I know came from Oracle."

"Oracle?" Barbara asked curiously.

"A friend… a good friend," Terry said secretively. "Anyway… you know how the Old Man and Kim used to do hero stuff as a kid? Traveling the world and all that frak?" he asked and the group nodded. "Well… it seemed some time or another, Kim… caught something.

"We're not sure exactly when it happened, if Oracle or Ron knew, Oracle hadn't told me, and Ron… just doesn't talk about it," Terry sighed, "I forget exactly what Oracle called it… but it was a slow disease, and when Kim got shot, her recovery camouflaged the symptoms… by the time anyone knew she was actually sick… it was too late. Even if they knew, there wasn't a cure for it yet… heck, she was one of the first cases discovered…

"What sucks the most is a few months after she died, a cure was discovered, could reverse the effects even in the final stages…" Terry shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry.

"C'mon, you guys probably need some rest. Your old rooms are probably just like you left them…" Terry said, moving toward the steps to the Manor.

The four teens followed Terry up the familiar steps to the Manor, but after walking through the hidden passage behind the grandfather clock, the difference was plain. It was like a tomb. All the furniture was covered in dust-covered sheets. "This is…" Barbara couldn't find the words for it.

"No place like home, huh?" Terry said, leading them on the only vaguely familiar path. As he stopped at the bedrooms, the next generation Dark Knight turned to the four. "Just so you know… don't be so hard on the Old Man… all that about him not being your father… that wasn't his choice."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Barbara asked hotly, her green eyes blazing.

"It means he didn't leave you," Terry replied defensively. "You left him."

"I don't know what you think you know… but he'll always be my Daddy," Barbara replied, shoving him out of the way and storming into her old room with Dinah in tow, "Always."

"One thing I've learned here…" Terry looked away from the others, speaking more to himself than anyone. "There's never an always."

Helena pulled on Dick's arm, "C'mon, Dickhead, let's get some sleep…" she said, tugging him toward his old room.

Terry watched them close the door before shaking his head, "How did they not get killed?"

"You were greener when you stole the Old Man's suit, Kid," a synthetic voice spoke from behind him.

Terry looked back to a fully armored figure step out of the shadows. The black-and-blue battle armor didn't reflect a bit of light except for the visor over the faceplate. "Does the Old Man know you're here, Nightwing?"

"You know we don't talk, Kid," Nightwing replied.

"You four look really close…" Terry replied, "and Barbara doesn't seem really happy with Helena close to the weird you."

"Just because we can't be in a room together now doesn't mean we were always pissed at each other," Nightwing then chuckled lightly. "Weird me?"

"Yeah, he smiled a little," Terry smirked. "Your face would break now, I think."

"He'll be smiling a lot more in a little bit," Nightwing said, looking longingly at the door.

"You know he'll be ticked if he catches you here; why'd ya pop up?" Terry asked his friend.

"Oracle and I agreed on something for once, something the Old Man would be beyond pissed at us about…" he said, stepping toward Barbara's door. "It's crazy and risky, but what have we really got to lose anyway?" Nightwing then looked at his door. "And it's not every day an old man can go back to the night he lost his virginity."

"I thought they hated each other…" Barbara pouted as Dinah rubbed her shoulders.

"It's always been a love/hate relationship," Dinah replied, "They've just happened to slide closer to the farmer than the ladder…" The blond then took a moment to think. "I have always wondered about that saying… what does farming and climbing have to do with anything when someone says that?"

"It's supposed to be…" Barbara started to correct her but thought better of it at the last second. "Never mind…"

The girls looked up as someone knocked on the door. "Yes?" Barbara asked curiously.

Both narrowed their eyes when the armored figure walked in. "Hey there," the synthetic voice of the man spoke.

"Who are you?" Barbara asked, taking a fighting stance while Dinah took in a breath for her Canary Cry.

"I'm not here to fight. I'm here to help," he said, "As for who I am… I'm a … I was a friend, I guess now I'm an… acquaintance… or will be."

"Robin?" Dinah relaxed, "Cool suit!"

"Look, Batman --- the new Batman --- he told you what happened to your mother?" Nightwing asked, stepping toward Barbara and ignoring the bubbly blond. When she nodded, he continued, "Did he tell you that there was a cure now? A fairly common one at that…"

Again a nod, "We don't get along anymore, but I remember… the Babs I know would do anything to save her mother and father… you would, wouldn't you?" he placed a injection gun in Barbara's hand. "Take this back with you… it contains a single dose of the vaccine… give it to Mom. She's probably the only one who can save our family." He closed her hand around the gun and nodded to her. "You have to save her, Babs. Don't let us down."

He then turned and made his way out of the room. As he was starting to leave, she finally spoke up. "Dick… Why Helena?"

"One's path in life will cross many others on its way to where it's going…" Nightwing replied, "Kory once told me that… Goodbye, Babs."

Barbara frowned as she looked down at the vaccine gun in her hands. After several awkward moments, Dinah spoke up. "Who's Kory?" Barbara's eyes narrowed and glanced around as her mind searched.

In the next room, Helena sat on the bed while Robin paced back and forth. "Ron's always been cold, but… this is insane… why are WE here? Why did we let him and the house go down like this? Why did I let him fall like this?"

"Who knows?" Helena shrugged, "Maybe we're on some Caribbean beach somewhere..." She added flirtily.

"And Mom…" Dick stopped and looked out the window, staring at the changed cityscape. "Without her… no wonder it all went to hell."

"Maybe that's why he told us," Helena said, walking up behind him, circling her arms around his waist and resting her cheek against his caped shoulder. "Even in our time, Ron's hard to deal with… maybe… maybe he's asking us for help."

"Maybe… Helena…" He said as the girl disengaged from him and stepped away. "About what happened at Arkham…"

"Don't worry about it; look, Dickhead, we were in a bad sitch, and you gave up, which scared me a bit because you never give up, and I-" Dick cut her off by pressing his lips to hers.

Dick pulled back and smiled at her. "What the hell, Dickhead?" She scowled up at him.

"Wha?" Dick blinked in confusion.

"You call that a kiss?" She asked with a grin.

"You think you can do better, Hellspawn?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Watch me," She said before kissing him soundly.

Moments later, pieces of their uniforms began falling to the floor.

(-V-)

In the Master Bedroom, Ronald sat down on the edge of the bed. With a shaking hand, he took his pills and downed them with a glass of water. He glanced to the empty side of the king-sized bed, "KP…" He breathed before turning to the nightstand and opening a drawer. His shaking, aged hand reached in and pulled out a dusty picture frame.

He stared at the four smiling faces looking back at him: a blond-headed man, a redheaded woman, a young girl who looked exactly like the woman, and a young boy with dark hair, all four wrapped up in a hug.

Around Terry, outside his sanctuary, he had to remain cold and hard. Terry had to learn what it meant to wear that suit. But here, he could give in, just for a moment.

"Oh, God…" He whispered as his shoulders began to tremble and his eyes filled with tears.

"KP…" He whispered, his voice breaking, "Forgive me…"

"O, how the mighty have fallen!"

His eyes snapped open, and he looked up at his balcony window.

"Who's there?" Ronald asked, stumbling to his feet with his cane. "This is private property."

"Hard to believe the legendary Dark Knight has fallen so," Clock King said as he entered Ronald's chambers.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ronald narrowed his eyes. "Get out."

"Oh, don't be cute," Clock King said, holding up the Simia statue. "You can't keep secrets from Time."

"So, you mastered the Time Monkey?" Ron said, placing both hands on his cane and staring hard at the villain. "The question is why."

"Why?" Clock King tilted his head to the side, "As your wife's ex-husband once said… why not?"

"You're twisted, but you're not sociopathic," Ronald growled, "Joker didn't need a reason to do things. People like you do."

"You're the legendary detective, Stoppable," Clock King smirked, "you tell me."

"I've gotten on in years, but I don't need to be at my peak to figure you out," Ronald replied. "Your obsessive compulsive disorder has focused on time; you have to be on time. Missing your deadline five years ago drove you over the edge. Now, you can't stand for anyone to be late. You can't stand for anyone to miss the mark. You plan to use that hunk of MMP-enhanced rock to manipulate time to fix everything for the 'better'."

"Impressive," Clock King smirked. "And it will be better."

"Maybe, maybe not," Ronald narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth. "But what will rewriting time do to free will?"

"Oh, come on, what has free will done for you, Ron?" Clock King asked, holding out the Time Monkey. "It was by free will that your parents were killed. It was by free will that Kim ignored the symptoms of her disease until it was too late. It was free will that let you let your own step-daughter get-" Clock King's eyes widened as he ducked as the cane swiped at his head, then gasped for breath as a knee slammed into his stomach.

"And it'll be free will that lets this old man kick your ass," Ron growled, taking a fighting stance and holding his cane like a sword.

"I'm no Riddler," Clock King said standing back up, brushing off his coat. "But I'll give you one. What is the one thing even you can't fight?"

Ronald didn't answer but instead dashed toward the villain. "Answer is… time," He said holding up the Time Monkey, which clanged its cymbals, sending a wave of mystical energy at the old man. The impact sent him flying backwards, on through the bedroom door into the hallway.

"DADDY!" Ronald looked up to see the Birds and Robin exiting their rooms, putting on their costumes as they went.

"Stay back," Ronald climbed to his feet, holding one hand out toward the teenagers, the other clutching his chest. "Go get Terry. NOW!"

"Daddy?" Batgirl pressed.

"I SAID GO, NOW, BARBARA!" Ronald yelled and then almost doubled over in pain.

"You look a little pale, Ronald," Clock King said approaching the old man.

Before the villain could get close, sharpened batarangs struck the floor. "You ok, Old Man?" The Tomorrow Knight asked, helping Ronald to his feet.

"Don't worry about me," Ronald growled as the Birds and Robin gathered around them. "We have to get that monkey away from him."

"We need a distraction," Robin growled, glancing to the birds.

"On it," Black Canary replied, taking a deep breath before releasing her Canary Cry on the unsuspecting Clock King.

Huntress and Robin rushed their attacker, only to be knocked back with a wave of mystic energy.

"Terry, let's go!" Batgirl replied firing off her grapple to the ceiling as the Tomorrow Knight took flight.

"DON'T YOU FOOLS GET IT?" He said as he froze Batman in mid flight, only for Barbara to kick him in the back. The attack broke his concentration, and Terry finished his punch, slamming his fist into the Clock King's jaw.

Robin and Huntress rushed next, giving a hard kick each to the criminal's stomach.

Canary was the last to attack, flipping toward Clock King, landing in a split in front of him and punching him between the legs. Clock King groaned and fell.

"You pathetic fools…" Clock King groaned, his voice a higher pitch. "A bunch of brats and an old man can't beat the King of Time!"

"Not an old man," Ronald growled as he gripped the monkey still held in Clock King's hands. "I am and always will be the Batman," he said, gripping the Clock King's cane before headbutting him.

Ronald stumbled back, holding himself up with Clock King's cane.

"Is that all you've got?" Clock King asked, shaking his eyes and jerking off his broken glasses.

"All… that was needed…" Ronald replied, breathing heavily.

"Huh?" Clock King looked down at the monkey in his hand, which was now glowing bright blue. "What did you do?"

"It let YOU see things…" Ronald breathed, "But… only someone with the monkey power can control it."

"What? NO!" He exclaimed before he a portal opened around the Time Monkey. "NOOO!" Clock King screamed as he was sucked in and the portal closed.

"What happened?" Terry asked, pulling off his mask.

"Sent him to where he can't compromise your secret…" Ron gasped, "I doubt the dinosaurs will care who Batman is…" a sad smile crossed his face. "I got to call myself that one more time, too…" he said before he stumbled forward.

"Ron!" Terry gasped as he and Barbara rushed forward to catch him.

"Daddy! Daddy, are you ok?" Barbara asked as the group helped him to the floor.

"This… will help you get back to when you belong…" Ron said, handing Clock King's cane to Robin. "After you get back, destroy the damned thing…"

"We're not worried about going back yet," Robin said, laying the cane to the side to grip his hand. "We're getting you to a hospital."

"No… sick of going to the hospital…" Ron closed his eyes for a moment. "I want to be with KP…"

"Old Man, don't talk like that… I need you… My training isn't finished… I'm not ready…" Terry shook his head.

"You're ready…" Ronald breathed, smiling at Terry. "I'm proud of you, son…"

Ron then turned his weak eyes to Batgirl. "Barbie-doll… take your mask off for me… please…" He asked, and she tore it off as quickly as she could.

"Daddy… no…" She whispered as tears raced down her cheeks.

"You ARE like your mother…" Ron breathed, touching Barbara's cheek. "Same strong eyes… same fiery hair… same beautiful smile…"

"Daddy… please… let us get you some help…" Barbara whimpered, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly. "Please…"

"I'm ok… I just need to rest a while…" His breathing began to slow. "I… I probably won't even get to go where KP went… not after everything I've done… everything I've done to you, my sweet Barbie… and Dick… I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry… I'm so… I can't… You shouldn't…" Tears sprang to his eyes. "After everything I've done…"

Ronald's weak eyes focused on the large window, and he smiled when he saw the blue and black clad warrior looking in. "Dick…" His smile faded when the man turned his back and disappeared into the night. "Dick… no…"

"Dad, I'm here," Robin said, shaking his head.

"Please…" Ronald wheezed, turning his teary eyes on his former partner. "Don't… hate… me… only tried to do… what's best… what I thought… was best…" He whispered, "So… proud of you… don't… forget… so… proud of you… both…" He breathed as his voice grew to a whisper, and he breathed his last.

"No…no, no, no…" Barbara shook her head, "Daddy, no! NO!!! DADDY!! DADDY!!!!!" She screamed as the others just stood in shock.

Helena and Dinah quickly encircled the girl in their arms as she screamed. "I've got this…" Terry said, handing the cane to Dick. "I've got this… get her home."

Robin nodded, helping them up while dialing a date into the handle of the cane. And with a flash, Terry was alone with his mentor.

Outside the old mansion, an armored helmet smashed into the concrete drive, and an old man looked to the sky with tears streaming down his face. Richard Grayson had trained hard to let him face almost anything. This night, he found the exception. "I'm sorry… I couldn't save Mom… and I couldn't save you… I won't let Terry down… I promise..."

(-V-)

Barbara glanced around, rubbing her eyes and noticing Terry and Ronald were gone. All the dust was gone as well, and the furniture uncovered.

"Are we home?" Dinah asked, looking around the Manor hall.

"Daddy?" Barbara stood up, "Daddy?" She looked around frantically before running toward the old grandfather clock.

Her hand trembled as she set the time on the hands and rushed past before it was even fully open. "DADDY?!" She screamed as she ran down the stairs with the others close behind.

Tears sprang anew in her eyes when she saw Batman --- their Batman --- and Kim at the computer. "DADDY!!!" She screamed as she threw herself into the Dark Knight's arms.

"There you are, Barbie-Doll," Ron pulled back his mask before he wrapped her in his arms and cape. "We were worried…"

"Daddy…" Barbara whimpered, relishing in the familiar arms, strong, comforting, and invincible.

Sparks flew when Dick snapped the cane in half over his knee before tossing it into the deep caverns under the cave. "Now that's taken care of…" He turned to the surprised Kim and gave her a tight hug that made her squeak.

Helena and Dinah smiled at each other before the blond pumped her fists into the air. "WE'RE HOME!!!"

(-V-)

Barbara sighed as she finished writing in her diary. 'Hardest entry… since ever…' she thought to herself before someone knocked on her door.

"Unlocked," Barbara yelled, and Kim smiled as she walked in.

"You lied to me, young lady," Kim smiled lovingly.

"Huh?" Barbara blinked in confusion at her mother.

"You told me Ron was your father," She said as she sat down beside her on the bed.

"No, I didn't," Barbara said, "I said Ron is my Daddy. He'll always be my Daddy."

"So… about the note I left you…" Barbara asked awkwardly, knowing that the subject, if Kim remembered, was one on which she never talked.

"I almost didn't go," Kim said glancing away, "But I thought the battle suit would have been enough to stop whatever it was you were warning me of…

"It's who I am, Barbara," Kim said, placing a hand on her daughter's knee. "I can't NOT help. It's how I was raised… it's how I raised you. It's who we are. We help… no matter the cost…"

"I don't like thinking about that night," Barbara said, biting her lip. "I've spent most of my life pretending it didn't happen… I had hoped… I could have made it not happen…"

"I'm glad it happened," Kim stated, and Barbara looked up at her in shock.

"It was a horrible experience. It almost destroyed me… Losing Ron… then… the attack… but… it was part of what made me who I am today…" She put her arms around her daughter, "And… if it didn't happen… I might not have met your father… and if I hadn't met him… I might have lost the most important part of my life."

"I love you, Mom," Barbara whispered, hugging Kim tightly.

"I love you too, Babs," Kim said, returning the hug, "And I always will."

Kim pulled back and glanced out the window. "They're calling your Daddy," She said, looking out the window to see the Bat Signal burning in the sky over Triton. "He might need some back up…"

"But it's a school night…" Barbara frowned.

"Just this once," Kim smiled, pulling her up and pushing her toward the door. "Go kick some butt!" She said, giving a playful slap to her backside.

Barbara started to run out the door, but stopped. "Wait… Mom, do you trust me?" She asked.

"You know I do," Kim nodded, then watched in confusion as Barbara ran to her desk. "What's that?"

"I can't save you from… your attack, Mom," Barbara said, handing her the injector. "But I can save you from something that hasn't happened yet."

"Where'd you get this, Babs?" Kim asked, looking it over.

"A friend who wants to help you," Barbara nodded. "Please… just trust me on this…"

Kim frowned for a moment, looking from daughter to injector gun. "If I get some kind of deadly disease, Barbara Anne…"

"That's what I'm trying to prevent," She said firmly.

"OK…" Kim placed the injector to her arm and hissed as she pulled the trigger. "Happy?"

"Very," Barbara hugged her mother again. "I really didn't want to lose you."

"Ok, better go before your father and Dick leave you behind," Kim smiled, and Barbara ran from the room.

"Hm…" Kim took a couple deep breaths, "the rattle in my chest is gone…"

Kim shrugged and stood up and left her daughter's room. She felt good, and it felt like some of the awkwardness between her and her daughter was past. "Now if I can just get Dick and Babs together… and Ron to finally set a date… maybe another couple days and everything will be A-OK."

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter: Pretty Poison

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