Chapter 14

Piper woke up back in her room at Wayne Manor. She lifted her throbbing head and looked down at her body. Her arms were in clean bandages and her right leg was propped up and in a splint. She looked over in the corner and saw Dick, Tim, and Bruce standing in a triangle, talking amongst themselves.

"Morning, boys," Piper croaked.

All three of them slightly jumped at the sound of her voice. Dick walked over to her first and kissed her forehead.

"You scared me. Don't do that again."

Piper smiled. "I'll try not to. Does everything I do scare you?"

"Almost everything."

She turned to Bruce. "Did you find Joker?"

Bruce shook his head. "Dick and I looked everywhere. Joker just disappeared. And until we find him, for your protection, you are suspended from field work."

"What?!" Piper sat straight up, ignoring the pain that told her to lie back down. "You can't do that Bruce!"

Bruce sat on the edge of her bed. "Piper, the Joker set that trap for you."

Piper looked at Dick confused. Joker set up the trap for Dick, not her. She was the bait. Piper was about to tell Bruce, but Dick shook his head. She closed her mouth and looked back at Bruce.

"I don't want you anymore hurt than you are," Bruce continued.

Piper lowered her head. "I'm sorry Bruce. I wasn't paying attention. If I wasn't thinking so hard, I would've seen that wire in time."

"What were you thinking about?"

Piper looked back at Dick and Tim. Could she tell Bruce she was worried about her brothers? She wanted to, but she didn't want Bruce to think they were in trouble too and suspend them too. They'd never forgive her.

"It was just…well, I was back in east Gotham and…well you know."

Bruce nodded. "I know." He slapped his hands on his thighs and stood. "You should rest some more. Alfred will bring you dinner."

"Bruce," Piper said. She paused for a minute and looked at him in the eye. "He mentioned Jason."

A look of sadness and guilt spread across Bruce's face. Dick looked at Bruce, expecting him to say something. Instead, he walked to the door and left. Tim and Dick looked at Piper.

"Why did you tell him that?" Dick asked. "You know how sore that subject is."

"Of course I do. Bruce wasn't the only one upset by Jason's death. I stayed in my room crying for a week remember? Besides, he had a right to know."

"Jason? Joker mentioned Jason? Why?" Tim asked.

"Joker was the one who killed him," Dick said. "That's Bruce's biggest regret; not getting there in time. It took us a week to get the full story out of him. I wasn't as close to Jason as Piper or Bruce, but he was still like my little brother."

"Is that why you're so protective of us? Because you couldn't protect Jason?"

"One of the reasons. Some of Bruce's regret rubbed off on me and so now it's my goal not to have a repeat."

"Ok, enough with Jason. You guys are going to make me cry. So Dick, why can't we tell Bruce who the Joker is really set that trap for?" Piper asked. "We both know the Joker is after you. Are you just afraid he'll suspend you too?"

"Wait, wait, wait, rewind," Tim said. "Joker's after Dick? That makes no sense. Why would Joker go after him?"

Dick shrugged. "There could be many reasons. During my time as Robin, I helped Bruce many times against the Joker. I could've done something to make him mad."

"But how do you know?" Tim asked Piper.

"Joker told me himself," Piper said. "He said wondered if Dick would choose my life over his." Piper paused. "There was something familiar about Joker though. When he would attack me, it reminded me of-" Her eyes drifted to the window.

Worry passed over Dick's face. "Reminded you of who?" he asked.

"He reminded me of my dad." Piper thought about that for a moment. "But that couldn't be possible. My dad's in jail, or he's dead. Not that I care. After what he did to mom and Jason."

A silence filled the room. Tim gently put his hand on hers. "Pip, you should sleep."

They heard the door open and Alfred popped his head into the room. "Excuse me but there's a call from Commissioner Gordon. He's in need of the help of Batman, Robin, and Nightwing."

"Not Athena?" Piper asked.

"I'm afraid not Miss. Master Bruce told him what happened."

"Great, now everyone knows."

Dick sighed. "Pip, just take it easy. Don't do anything stupid while we're gone ok?"

Piper laughed. "I'll try not to."

Dick and Tim ran out of the room. Piper swung her legs over the side of the bed.

"You're foot is not broken Miss Piper," Alfred said. "It was a sprain. Your worse injuries were on your arms." He paused. "I heard he talked about Master Jason."

Piper nodded. Now, two years later, Jason's death still haunted her. She should've gone with him. His death plagued her dreams. She could see him struggling to stay alive. She saw the building explode around him. She shook the thoughts out of her mind and changed the subject. "I've been suspended Alfred. I don't want to be stuck here. I want to help."

"And you can. Has Master Bruce shown you yet?"

"Shown me what?"

Alfred picked up crutches and brought them over to Piper. "If you would be so kind as to try and follow me."

Piper grinned. "With pleasure."