"Take me to the ER...I want to see Dad…" Batgirl mumbled on the back of Canary's bike.
"But your cowl...your face." Canary warned.
Batgirl ran her hand along Barbara Gordon's soaking hair, a darker shade of orange now. She moved her hand along her face, stopping it as she reached the armored cowl.
"If my dad finds out about me...so be it…" The words hurt as they escaped her lips, but..she had kept this secret from her father for 2 years already, and every night she put this suit on, it exhausted her a little bit more. Especially rooftop meetings beneath the Batsignal, with her father and Harvey Bullock each standing so close to her.
She knew that one night she'd make eye contact with the Commissioner for just a moment too long, and he'd identify Barbara's eyes beneath Batgirl's cowl.
One night...perhaps tonight…
To their credit, the hospital windows of Gotham's leading ICU had locks that were harder to pick than most. That gave Batgirl more faith in Gotham's emergency personnel.
She and Canary slipped their forms through, and Canary closed the curtains, and leaned against the door.
Batgirl checked the clipboard, and the monitors. "Morphine." Batgirl chuckled.
"Beg pardon?" Canary said, eyeing the hallways to keep watch.
"He's been sedated. He probably won't remember anything that happens tonight." Batgirl explained, setting the clipboard aside.
"Yeah...probably." Canary answered.
"Commissioner? Can you wake up?" Batgirl said gently, squeezing Jim's hand.
Jim squeezed back.
"Huhh...whosthere…" Jim grumbled, opening his eyes slowly. "Can y...give me my...glassessss…?" He requested, trying to focus on Batgirl's face.
"Sorry, no. If I do that, you might figure out who I am…" Batgirl smiled, though she wasn't sure if Jim could see it by moonlight alone. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Bat...Batgirl...Barbara!" Jim gasped.
Batgirl and Barbara froze.
Batgirl could see Canary's shadow flinch at the sound of Barbara's name.
Jim was quiet for a moment, then continued. "Barbara...daughter...Batgirl, please...check on Barbara…."
Batgirl sighed, then smirked. She felt conflicted. She'd wanted her father to know the truth, but she much would rather tell him herself.
"Yes Commissioner, I'll make sure she's fine...You're going to be alright…" She whispered.
"Wh...who shot…" Jim grumbled again.
Batgirl thought again of Raph, and the life they'd had together, even if just a little while.
"Don't worry about that right now. Just focus on your recovery, okay?"
"Okay...Batgirl...so tired…"
"Go back to sleep now...and thank you for saving me."
"Any friend of...Batman...friend of...mine…"
And with that, Jim Gordon rolled over and closed his eyes again.
"Come on, kiddo. I want to show you something." Canary smiled.