Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Beyond it belongs to its writers, producers, and so forth. This is simply for fun and not for profit.

Summary: Terry just wanted to get home to his Gotham, not some past one, not some weird alternate dimension one, just home. Who knew time travel and the journey home could be so...troublesome.

A/N: I think after this one I am going to just drop Terry in the middle of actual episodes and stuff like that because these little one-shots feel like I'm just giving exposition to the possible alternative Terry's that could have been written up. Though, if someone wants to take the character ideas and run with them, go ahead.

Chapter 3: More in Common than Thought Possible

Terry rolled his head from side to side as he ducked into an alley and began to change into the clothes Nightwing-Terry gave him. It was a bit snug on him since the guy was a little smaller than him, but it worked well enough.

He could have jetted off to Wayne's, but he figured if he walked around in his civies, he might see if another Batman went flying around to investigate the power surge. Then that way he could gauge how he should proceed. He stuffed his suit in the backpack Nightwing-Terry gave him, which had the same hidden compartment his backpack had for hiding the suit. Once all set, Terry went out onto the street and began the long trek to the manor; surely he'd see another Bat flying overhead him if he walked toward it.

He was entering a busier sector of town and suddenly spotted Dana. Although he told himself this might not be his world, he still found himself yelling her name and running toward her. The girl heard him and began to turn around. She looked exactly the same and wore her usual blue dress and combat boots.

Terry's bright smile and greeting feel when she raised an eyebrow at him. "Do I know you?" she asked a bit alarmed.

Terry backed off and held up his hands as he gave a sheepish laugh. "Sorry, you looked like someone I knew." He rubbed the back of his head, but damn it hurt that she didn't recognize him. So he was a redhead here too? Maybe he hadn't actually gone back, or maybe…maybe he didn't exist at all here?!

Dana looked at him incredulously, "How did you know my name?"

"Ah, what?" he looked over at her in surprise now, but he was glad she had pulled him out of his thoughts.

She looked less than pleased, "How did you know my name?"

"Lucky guess," Terry laughed as he rubbed the back of his head. Dana's eyes narrowed further, and she began to reach into her bag, which he knew held mace. Terry held his hands out in front of him, "My girlfriend's name is Dana and you looked like her," he told the truth as he backed away. "I'll leave you be now."

"She looks like me?" Dana asked almost incredulously, and Terry nodded his head again.

"Just thought you were her, sorry; I'll be going now," he laughed uneasily again before backing into someone.

Turning around, he saw a guy about his age and build with a shaved head. The guy had his hands shoved in dark jacket and he wore a grey shirt. However, Terry didn't recognize him from school, though that was presumptuous of him to think the guy went to Hamilton High.

"Dana, is he bothering you?" the guy asked.

Dana sighed, "He was just leaving, Terrance," her expression then hardened as she glared at the guy and began to march up to him, "and about time you showed up! I thought I was going to be stood up again!" she poked him in the chest and Terry flinched with the guy; he had been ther—wait, was that guy supposed to be him!?

"Whoa, Terrance? My name's Terrance!" Terry stepped back in surprise as he gestured to himself and looked the other guy up and down. He also couldn't stop himself from wondering: Am I really black in this dimension? Did that mean this Terrance was really this dimension's him? They couldn't have had the same parents.

Dana whirled on Terry with an incredulous look on her face, "Your name is seriously Terrance and you're dating a girl named Dana who looks like me." Dana held up her hands and shook her head. "This is getting a bit pathetic."

Terry laughed sheepishly, but kept looking over at Terrance who was shifting a bit uncomfortably. Was this him in this dimension, was he Batman too? Terry shook his head and offered out his hand, "Terry McGlennis," he barely managed to change his name by adding an "l," and Terrance's eyes widened I surprise.

"Whoa, my last names McGinnis." Terry widened his own eyes in surprise and they stared at each other before Terry snapped his fingers as if he remembered something.

"Warren McGinnis…?" he threw the name out and Terrance straightened up further a little alarmed.

"That's my dad, you know him?" Terrance asked and Terry was taken aback by the fact his dad was still alive, so perhaps Terrance wasn't Batman—well, that or Terrance wasn't using past-tense yet because the death was still too fresh.

"Yeah…uh…he works at Wayne-Powers', right?" he asked cautiously and Terrance nodded slightly though his jaw clenched slightly in anger.

"Did until he pressed the issue of my mom and their friend's deaths because of some bullshit chemical exposure," Terrance's arms were shaking and Terry's eyes widened in horror. "Then some Jokerz," and Terry knew Terrance was barely keeping himself from shouting the true attackers, "wrecked the place and sent him into a coma."

Terry covered his mouth. The nerve gas…Terrance's mother in this dimension was one of the scientists in the lab when it was leaked. On top of that, his dad was alive but… Oh god, was Mattie there?! Was there even a Matt in this world! "Oh my god, that son of a…." Tell me you got Powers, he tapped out against his cheek in the unique Bat Morse code Bruce taught him.

Terrance's eyes widened slightly and for a moment he was drawn out of his anger at the sight, which was a relief to Terry. Dana however had wrapped her arm around Terrance's middle and she shot a glare at Terry.

He had to get Terrance to believe he was a Bat too. "M-my father was killed by some Jokerz after he got a disc from a coworker who died in…" he looked away, "in a gas leak." He wrapped his arms around him and tapped out: Batman from different dimension.

Terrance's eyes widened further before narrowing in suspicion. He wrapped one arm around Dana's side too, while his other tapped against his leg: Need proof of claim.

Terry sighed as he shook his head, "Damn man, we have a scary lot in common." He shook his head again, "We should maybe meet up some time?"

Terrance nodded his head with a serious set to his face, "Yeah, definitely."

"Um…There's this park up near fifth, or I know this path but it leads to this cave full of bats." Terry shoved his hands into his pockets casually.

"A few bats never bothered me," Terrance replied with a smile that Terry mimicked because they both knew what was really being said here.

"Terrance…" Dana's tone was full of worry as she looked at Terry cautiously and with distrust.

Terrance flashed her a smile that said not to worry before he looked back at Terry. "You know, I think I know which one you're talking about." Dana huffed at being dismissed like that, but they had to get this sorted out.

"Cool, so…I'll leave you two to your date," Terry said a little awkwardly before backing away. Terrance had a lot to make up for with Dana, especially after brushing her worry to the side—Dana hated when he did that.

Terrance nodded his head while Dana mumbled something that Terry knew was not in either of their favors, so Terry mouthed, "Good luck," while Dana was looking away from them moodily.

Slag…poor Terrance. Nightwing-Terry and Terry had only lost their dads, but Terrance had lost both parents, granted their dad was only in a coma, but…still. Terry really could not stop thinking about whether or not there was a Matt in this world, and what must have happened to him during the "Jokerz attack."

So Terry walked toward the manor before he ducked into the forest around the base of the yard, and changed into his suit. He then sat up on a tree limb and waited while looking up at the stars.

…

Terry woke up at the sound of very familiar jets. He immediately took off and found the exact same bat suit flying close to the cave's hidden entrance. "Hello, Batman!" he greeted a bit cheekily, Terrance looked at him unimpressed.

Terry ignored the guy and cut the jets in his boots as he glided down to where the other Bat was. As he was descending, Terry grinned broader and pressed the middle button on his belt and the entrance opened. "After you," he gestured with his head.

They then flew into the run way and continued to jet along the way. It was well after midnight, probably two or so in the morning, but undoubtedly their appearance would wake up the old Bat. Terrance was still shaking his head in disbelief when they both cut their jets and glided until they touched the ground. Terry deduced Terrance was only Batman because Bruce was still alive in this dimension and Drake was…well…not Batman or associated with Bats.

"I can't believe I'm white in another dimension," Terrance murmured, and Terry couldn't stop from laughing as they made their way into the main part of the cave.

"Hey, we were a redhead in the last one I was in, and Nightwing." They both shuddered for a moment before Terrance furrowed his brow.

"Wait, how were we Nightwing? Wayne wasn't…" Terrance trailed off and Terry shook his head vehemently with wide eyes.

"No…No, he wasn't still Batman. It was one of the former Robins." They were now near the super computer and stopped walking.

"There was more than one?!" Terrance was genuinely surprised as he slipped off the cowl, and Terry did the same. It felt like he was talking to a mirror with the full suit on, but this felt better.

Terry was about to explain that there were three before he froze and furrowed his brow. Maybe they weren't on the same time-line? That had never really come up when he was with Drake and Nightwing-Terry, but that was probably because their lives were so different with there being an active Batman ten years earlier.

"What have you done as Batman?" Terry asked as he began to take off the gloves.

Terrance frowned slightly and looked at Terry for a brief moment unsure. "Most recently...?" he began and Terry nodded his head, "Well, Inque broke out because of some guy who was obsessed with her."

Terry winced, he remembered that one, so it was just before he'd learn about Bat history from Commissioner Gordon. "Yeah, our time-lines are off; you'll learn soon."

Terrance nodded his head in understanding and they continued to get out of their suits and into their civies. "Man, this is still too weird," he muttered.

"Trust me, I know," Terry agreed, and they both stowed their suits into their backpacks.

"So where were you waiting?" Terrance asked as he led the way toward the stairs.

"In the woods where Spellbinder nearly sent us over the edge of a cliff." Terrance nodded his head in understanding, but Terry added more, "I mean, it's not like I could just wait out in the open."

"So what got you dimension hopping," Terrance asked as they left the grandfather clock.

Terry groaned and tipped his head backwards as they walked through the dark to the kitchen—they both had the place memorized like the backs of their hands. Terrance laughed slightly, "Not listening to the old bat?" he guessed as they reached the kitchen and he flicked on the lights. They both winced slightly at the brightness, but they pushed past it.

Terry grabbed the kettle and began to fill it before he set it on the stove and turned the burner on, "Yep, and time-travel." He sighed as he turned around to see Terrance pulling out two mugs.

"Coffee or tea?" Terry asked as he moved toward the cupboard that undoubtedly held the necessary ingredients.

"He's really a creature of habit isn't he if it's the same set up in your dimension too," Terrance commented and Terry began to laugh as he nodded his head.

"For a paranoid old bat, yeah, he definitely is." They both continued laughing at that before Terrance murmured tea would be a better choice. With everything set and just waiting for the water to boil, the two teens sat down around the kitchen table.

"So your mom…" Terry murmured after a moment while shaking his head.

"Yeah, Powers…" Terrance shook his head and looked away.

"I have a little brother, but he was living with our mom…they got separated when I went to juvie," Terry whispered. He had only meant to ask a question, but his history came tumbling out with it.

Terrance, however, caught onto his implied question and nodded his head. "I was sent to juvie too," there was a touch of resentment in Terrance's voice and Terry briefly wondered why, but the teen hurried on, "but my parents were still together when…" he swallowed thickly and stared down at his hands resting on the table.

"So when Powers' men attacked, he was alone?"

Terrance winced and shook his head. "My little sister, Asiah, was in her room hiding, but she had the police on the line. She hadn't heard anything though and they hadn't gotten to her room in time."

"Did they have time to plant evidence?" It didn't need to be clarified who they was.

"Enough while they were trashing the place," Terrance sighed before shaking his head. "Asiah could have…" he gritted his teeth together in anger.

Terry nodded his head and they sat there for a moment in silence before the kettle began to whistle. Terry got up with Terrance and they began to make the tea.

"You know," Terry began a little awkwardly, "I half expected your sister to be named Matt too," he joked.

Terrance laughed slightly and shook his head. "My mom was part of that wave of retro naming, but little sis was saved from that." They both chuckled at that as they moved back to the table. There were a few unfortunate classmates of theirs who had really archaic names because of that baby naming fad.

Once they were sitting down again, and staring at their steeping tea, Terry had another question nagging him, "Are you two in foster care then or…" He trailed when he realized what he had asked and how insensitive it was.

"Nah, we've been staying at our cousin's."

"Cousin?" Don't tell him it was Max, he thought. Because their dad's did not have any siblings.

"Jared," Terrance clarified. "My aunt had married Mr. Tate when Spellbinder attacked," he added as if to help Terry remember who that could be.

Oh. Terry nodded his head, "And Mr. Tate's cool with you two living with him?" Mr. Tate would become Armory when his company goes bankrupt, and Terry worried what economic strains the Tate family might already be going through.

"Yeah, I mean, things had been tight before he began to help, but we're saving all that we can and all pitching in. Wayne's been a big help too with the allowance." Terry nodded his head slowly as he looked down at his cup of tea. That really put things in perspective.

Terrance sighed and leaned back in his chair, "Besides, when I turn eighteen I'm going to see if I can take care of Asiah on my own, so we won't burden Mr. Tate and Aunt Loraine."

Terry grimaced, "Trust me, you are going to get a lot busier; you might not be home that much."

"That's what I keep trying to tell him," The two McGinnis boys turned to look at the old man in the doorway with an alarm.

"Wayne!" "Bruce!" Terry felt so relieved for some reason; even if this wasn't his old man, it was still almost good to see him.

Bruce was in his sleep clothes and a robe, with Ace growling at his side at Terry. He missed his mutt who liked him. The old man moved to stand next to the table and both of them got up to get him a mug too.

"So the power surge was you?" he questioned almost tiredly, and Terry sighed.

"Yeah, Terrance McGinnis from another dimension, but I go by Terry," He introduced himself. "I'm trying to get home to my Gotham," Terry stated over his shoulder as he poured tea into the mug after Terrance had placed the leaves into. Terrance then brought the mug over to the old man while Terry sat down.

"And why are you trying to get home?" this Bruce asked as he let the tea steep.

Terry flinched and looked anywhere but at Bruce, this just made the old man make a noise that said he knew what happened too, but before he could begin lecturing, Terry spoke to Terrance. "So how's your dad? Do they think he'll recover?"

Terrance grimaced and looked to the side, which made Terry look down at his tea awkwardly. Bruce made a noise again but just shook his head and let the lecture drop. "He had been getting better and was going to come out of the coma but his liver started to fail suddenly. The nurses didn't know why, but when they did a blood scan there were signs of poison…"

"Powers," Terry practically growled out, and Terrance nodded his head.

"He needed a donor, but…but somehow I wasn't a match and neither was Asiah." What?!

"Fortunately for Warren McGinnis, I pulled what strings I could and a band of Jokerz killed a close enough match."

Terry was speechless. "Slag, that was close," he murmured, but he kept wondering how Terrance couldn't be a match for his dad. At the back of his mind he thought back to what Nightwing-Terry had said but he shut the thought down before it could fully form. There were probably other reasons why Terrance wasn't a match, or maybe his liver wasn't healthy enough? But then what about Asiah…? Nope, that door was closing because he did not what to think about it.

"Powers will get what's coming to him soon, Terrance," Terry promised in an attempt to focus on something else. The other him was thankful for the change in topic and nodded his head.

"Yeah; I hope he does."

Bruce coughed slightly and immediately got their attention. "As touching as this moment is, we have a lot to do if Terry wishes to get home." He grabbed his mug and began to head down into the cave.

Terrance, who already looked bone tired began to grimace and Terry waved him off. "I'll help the old man tonight, you're the one who has to go to school tomorrow."

Terrance laughed slightly, and the old man made a noise at the back of his throat in annoyance. "I'm still lecturing you tomorrow Terrance, about trusting dimension hoppers so readily."

Terry and Terrance looked at each other with empathizing looks before looking back at the old man and sighing. "You're really going to need your rest," Terry told the other him. Terrance just nodded and sighed.

TBC

A/N: Let's really hope Terrance and Asiah get out of the Tate home before Hush, otherwise...poor Terrance. Next one is dark...pretty dark... yeah... though it was a story idea and pairing I've had floating around in my head for a while (I mean, Dana's brother makes such an awesome villain).