Note: I do not own any of the characters included.
I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for slacking off and not updating nearly as much. I've been getting into my other fan fiction, but I've made sure to make this chapter longer to make up for the slow updating.
I felt so happy to be back. The only problem with my return was how my dad wouldn't leave me alone. I was ashamed of how bad I had scared him. Sometimes I would even catch him spying on me through the security cameras. Normally I'd be furious at him for stalking on me. But now I know he doesn't mean any harm.
"Um… What are you doing?" I asked him as he looked up at me. Throwing his arms around me, Dad seemed overjoyed to see me.
"You're okay!" He exclaimed as if there was an actual reason I wouldn't be, "The camera didn't show you, and I couldn't tell what had happened! I thought someone had snatched you!' I sat down next to him, confused.
"What camera?" I asked, "I simply left my room."
"I just…" He began, "The camera didn't show it."
"What camera?!" I asked again, now getting frustrated. He put an arm around me in an effort to calm me down.
"I was just using the security cameras to make sure no one tried to hurt you." Dad explained, "I'm sorry. I forgot to warn you." I bit my tongue, trying to think of a good way to respond. I was both angry and concerned. He needed to calm down, and as much as I was livid that he would spy on me, he was just trying to keep me safe. But before I could answer, Dick, also known as 'the favorite' came in. He smiled at me.
"I'm glad you're okay now, um, Jason, was it?" He commented, sitting down on the other side of Dad.
"Yeah," I mumbled, glaring at him hastily, "Dad, can we look into Barbara now?"
"I'll help, too." Dick joined in, "She was my friend too, you know." I crossed my arms, certain that I knew her way better.
We all went down into the batcave, and I turned on the batcomputer. Sitting down front of it, we all started brainstorming what it could be.
"What if she is being manipulated?" I blurted out, "This could have started around the time she first moved to Blüd Haven."
"I don't know, Jaybird," Dad replied, "You'd think we would have noticed when she visited. Someone would have."
"Um... I'm out of ideas." I admitted. I slouched in my seat.
"Don't worry," Dad put a hand on my shoulder, "We'll figure it out."
"Does anyone else have ideas?" I asked. Dick stepped forward.
"Maybe... um... she's being mind controlled?" He suggested.
"Where would Deathstroke get the ability to do that?" Dad pointed out, "I don't think it's very likely." We all looked down in despair. But as if to awake us from our trance, was the crime alert. We all jumped up and ran over to put on our costumes.
When we got there, it turned out to be batgirl. Dad put an arm around me protectively. He nudged me back.
"Batgirl?" The scared words escaped my mouth. I could somehow tell she looked embarrassed, even in the darkness of the night. She didn't want to do it... But what if she was forced? Blackmailed, even. The idea made a lot of sense. All I needed to know now was what she was being blackmailed with.
"I think I know why she's on his side!" I whispered into my Dad's ear excitedly, "Can't we just let her get away with this crime so we can look into this? She's only stealing."
"Fine," He gave in, "Let's go back."
We disappeared into the darkness and made our way back to the cave. Batman and Dick stood in front of me, awaiting my reply.
"She's being blackmailed!" I declared, "Doesn't it make sense?!"
"I guess it does..." Dad admitted, "But there isn't anything to blackmail her with..."
"What if she was blackmailed with someone's life?" Dick suggested, "I mean, there are a lot of ways he could do that..."
"It would have to be something that makes him really have the power to easily kill us..." Dad commented, "Like with the push of a button..."
"Wait, is there something that would make him literally have a button that kills us?" I asked excitedly, "Some kind of tech that could kill us automatically if set off?" I looked to my dad hopefully.
"Nanoscopic probes..." He suggested, "If put into our bodies, they probably have that power." I ran over to the batcomputer.
"How do we check?!" I exclaimed, "How do we check?!"
"I think I have a device that could work." Dad showed us to a device made up of wires and other things that could be attached to a person's body. It didn't look at all that comfortable, but I was still anticipating putting it on.
"I'll go first!" I volunteered. He began putting it on me, and I waited patiently as it started showing the result. My heart skipped a beat as I read it. Positive. Normally, I'd be disgusted by the thought of having little pieces of tech inside me. But right now, it meant we could save Batgirl. That was all I wanted.
Dad got them out of us. We set off to help Batgirl get away from Deathstroke. He was a good fighter, so we weren't about to leave her with him when now that she wasn't his apprentice, he could do anything he wanted to her. At the same time, he was so great that even all of us together might have trouble. But I was almost certain that I could defeat him alone if it was for Batgirl. I was sure we wouldn't have a problem.
Please R & R!