A/N: Thanks Batman Dude and Blas; I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Chapter 13:
Conall peered through the trees in the darkness; the shadow he was staring at vaguely resembled a plane. Should he chance leaving the safety of the forest for a closer look? Maybe they were already in there and he would easily be caught and sent back to that horrible place known as Arkham. He didn't really have any other choices, though. If he waited he might lose his chance at Robin. There was no way he could follow an airplane while on foot.
He was so silent, and moving so slowly, that at first Conall didn't see him. A figure emerged from the shadows of the old laboratory; a tall figure carrying something in his arms. Conall shook his head in frustration; he had missed his chance because he had been cautious.
Batman made it to the top of the ladder, his partner wobbling around on his shoulders the entire time. Robin couldn't pull himself up; he couldn't even hang on to Batman's head! Batman had one hand on the ladder and the other hand on Robin's back, ensuring that his partner wouldn't plummet back down to the tunnel. As a result, Batman's right arm was exhausted and his left shoulder was aching from the position of his arm, which was wrapped backwards around Robin's waist. He had left the top door ajar and was grateful that he didn't have to try to open it. He slowly went down to his knees and helped Robin, who was almost asleep again, get off his shoulders and sit on the ground. Robin immediately toppled over and Batman wasn't quick enough to catch him.
"Sorry about the new headache," Batman murmured as he rolled his partner onto his back to check his eyes. They were open and clear.
"Did we, I mean you, make it up?" Robin asked softly.
Batman took a moment to catch his breath then answered, "Yes, we made it and now we have to drop from a ceiling, go through broken glass and climb into the Bat-jet. I need you to hold on a little longer because I have more Bat-bottles in there and, after you take those, you can go to sleep."
"You sound a little tired yourself," Robin was now using full sentences every time he spoke and Batman sighed in relief – his partner was back.
"I'm tired, yes, but the sooner we get to the Bat-jet, the sooner we can return to the Batcave. Do you think you can help me; do you think you can walk?" Batman was leaning against the wall next to the door with his eyes closed. He put his right hand on his left shoulder and massaged the aching joint then rolled it around a few times.
"What about Joker?" Robin asked.
Batman released a quiet groan. "We'll get you to the Bat-jet and then I'll come back for him. At least he'll be able to climb," Batman realized what he had said, "I didn't mean…"
"Don't apologize; it's true," Robin shook his head. "Sorry I didn't help," he mumbled.
"Robin, if you had been able to climb that ladder then I would have been amazed at your super-human recovering abilities," Batman stated. "Four Bat-bottles do not even come close to helping a person who has had absolutely nothing for seven days. I think you're doing pretty well."
Robin pushed himself to sit up and said, "Well, let's do this then before I fall asleep again."
Batman nodded his head and opened his eyes. He pushed off the wall and lifted Robin to standing, waiting for his partner's tired legs to find their muscles. They slowly walked over to the hole in the ceiling, Batman's arm around Robin's waist the entire time.
"I think I'll go down first and then you can just drop into my arms," Batman whispered tiredly. "Just sit here on the edge while I climb down, okay?"
"Sure," Robin replied, and Batman helped him sit down with his legs dangling over the edge of the hole. Robin was a little worried about just letting himself fall but he trusted Batman completely. He watched Batman start to descend and began to feel dizzy. His body swayed and suddenly he tipped forward, falling past Batman and landing on the cubicle that had hit the wall. It was relatively soft but he rolled down the incline and hit his head on the ground.
Batman - who was watching the floor as he climbed down - felt a rush of air beside him and, before he could look up to identify it, his partner was on the ground and not moving.
"Robin," he called, "get up. Now is not the time to be lazy." He slid most of the rest of the way down and crouched beside Robin. His eyes were closed again and, when Batman pulled the lids open to check, they were cloudy.
"Great, I had to have him sit on the edge," he grumbled, upset with himself for allowing this to happen. "At least we are on the main floor," he shook his head as he scooped his partner up and starting walking through the lab toward the entrance and the Bat-jet.
Conall wondered if Robin was dead. What had Joker done in there? He heard a quiet groan as Batman, because that's obviously who it was, started to walk up the ramp. The boy wasn't dead but extremely injured. Conall frowned in annoyance; the kid was unable to defend himself and they were already on the plane. He was surprised when the ramp stayed open and he heard Batman's voice. He couldn't understand the words but, when he heard Batman pause and then speak again, he was pretty sure Robin was awake and being tended to before they left. Should he just run up and try to find a place to hide? No, that was a stupid idea. He would just have to wait until Robin could come out and fight crime again. He growled quietly - how long would it be this time?
His eyes widened as he watched Batman walk down the ramp and back toward the entrance of the lab. He was leaving his sidekick alone and vulnerable? Conall smiled as Batman disappeared into the shadows. Now was his chance and he didn't waste time. He sprinted over to the Bat-jet and peered carefully around the doorway. Robin was lying on a table, his eyes closed and an IV in his right arm. He glanced back at the lab to make sure Batman was gone then dashed silently up the ramp, his smile widening as he stepped inside and grabbed a small metal tool off a nearby table.
Robin heard a soft noise and opened his eyes slightly, expecting Batman but seeing a Bat-wrench instead. Not again! and his world went black.