Chapter 13: Confrontation Pt 1

"What are you doing here?" Max asked Friday morning before statistics.

"Studying for our statistics test?" I said, confused.

"No. What are you doing at school? Its all over the news that Spellbinder was caught at Wayne Manor last night. And that you and Terry were his targets." Max explained.

"We're both fine." I lied. My arm still ached and I had gotten almost no sleep because of the repeated nightmares. "Besides, I didn't really want to waste my weekend studying for this test. So here I am." I turned back to my laptop to study.

"You can't expect me to believe that after someone messed with your head that you're completely okay." Max pressed. She was right as usual, but I wasn't going to admit I wasn't okay. I had a hard enough time last night trying to convince Dad that I could make it through Tuesday before going home. Never mind the fact that I had to alter my story from the truth so he wouldn't know I knew about Batman. Yes, I was still angry about that and was still refusing to telling him.

"Well I'm fine. I promise." I hated that I kept lying to her, but I wasn't allowed to tell her the truth. She looked unconvinced.

"I'm just concerned. You've become a good friend, Jamie." She put her hand gently on my bad arm. I yelped in pain, startling Max.

"What was that for?" She asked.

"Sorry. I got a cut on my arm last night." Not a lie.

"How'd you get that?" I really wish she would stop asking questions.

"Oh you know, I thought I was falling to my death with my family and a trapeze wire smacked me, but in reality it was probably a tree because I was arrogant enough to think I could help Batman."

"I fell on some broken glass after the dog tackled me to snap me out of Spellbinder's trance. It isn't bad. Just a little sore." I used the story I told Dad. I ignored the nagging feeling to just tell her the truth. I had no guilt over not telling Anni or my Dad, so why I did I feel so guilty about not telling Max? Our teacher came in then to start class and I had never been more relieved to take a test.

What are you doing here? seemed to be the question of the morning. Several people I didn't even talk to told me I had every reason to stay at home, and by the time Terry asked I was just irritated.

"I'm fine. Why does everyone think I'm not?" I told him, annoyed.

"Unlike everyone else, I was there last night. I watched you fall. I saw your arm. Whatever you saw affected you more than you're letting on. Bruce asked me to keep an eye on you. And you don't look good."

"I'm fine." I repeated. "And what about you? Just because I got a little cut means I should stay home?" I argued.

"That's not what I mean and you know that. I've seen your acrobatics. You never fall. And I heard you scream last night. You screamed for your Dad. Whatever you saw was probably worse than the gash not cut on your arm. Spellbinder affected you worse than anyone else for some reason. I think you should go home and have Bruce look into it."

I sighed, knowing he was right, but I was too annoyed to listen. Plus it was duel day in robotics and I always enjoyed that.

"I'm fine McGinnis. I'm not some delicate little thing that needs to recover every time something happens to me. If you want to know, you can ask Bruce tonight. But I'm staying." I said, stepping into the chem lab, ending our discussion.

I didn't even make it through chemistry though. If I had gotten more sleep, I would've been fine. We were watching the most boring vid in chem and I couldn't help but doze off like half the class. The problem was that I dreamed about falling again. And I talk in my sleep. Or in this case, scream. One second I was falling and the next, Max was shaking me and calling my name with concern.

"Ms. Grayson, I suggest you go home and get some rest from your ordeal last night, or try to stay awake in my class." Mr. Rodriguez told me. Great, even the teacher knew about what happened. Everyone in class was looking at me. A few where snickering, while Max, Dana, and Terry were giving me pointed looks that said go home. I rolled my eyes at the three of them, making it clear that I didn't agree, but I was out numbered and they would protest if I stayed.

"I'll go." I gathered my things and left.

If my arm wasn't in so much pain, I would've wandered around Gotham, but injured arms and motorcycles don't mix well, so I went straight back to the Manor. I headed to the cave, hoping that some tinkering would help me get my mind off of everything. I walked in without looking to see if Bruce was there, not realizing that he had someone else with him. I took off my jacket and turned towards the computer to see Bruce and his guest and I was frozen to my spot when I realized who the guest was. I locked eyes with my father.

"SHE KNOWS!?" Dad bellowed. I flinched. What was he doing here? He never came to Gotham, except for...oh. I should've known when he gave in so easily to me staying that he was planning on coming. I started to turn for the exit.

"Don't you dare leave young lady." Dad commanded and I obeyed, more out of shock than anything.

"I really shouldn't be surprised. I should've known I couldn't trust you to keep this. I asked you do one thing, Bruce. Just one thing. Keep my daughter out of this. She doesn't need to be dragged into this like all of us were. No one else should have to go through what we did." Dad spoke to Bruce in an eerily calm voice. And Bruce didn't say anything. "I've accepted a lot of crap from you over the years, Bruce, but this is it. I can forgive a lot of things between us, but when you start ignoring my wishes regarding Jamie, I can't forgive that. I won't lose her to your darkness too."

"Stop." I finally found my voice. They both looked at me. "I'm home from school early, and you don't even ask why."

"Are you sick?" Dad asked, looking annoyed at the topic change.

"Spellbinder?" Bruce said. I nodded. Dad looked confused.

"I fell asleep in chem and had a nightmare in class. And thanks for pitting Terry against me." I glared at Bruce.

"I told him watch you because I couldn't. Hows your arm?" Bruce asked. Was he seriously trying to change the subject? I was so sick of everyone in this family avoiding my questions and feelings, like I needed to be protected. I knew damn well that the world sucked and that life wasn't easy.

"It's fine. I'll change the bandage later."

"You said it was a minor cut. Nothing to worry about." Dad said.

"What did she tell you?" Bruce questioned. Way to be on my side Gramps.

"She cut it on some broken glass. Now what actually happened?" Dad turned to me with a stern look. Bruce had the same expression. For two people who didn't get along, they were a lot alike.

"I fell out of a tree and probably ripped my arm open on a branch." I sighed.

"Why were you in a tree?" Dad pushed, getting visibly more annoyed.

"I thought I could help stop Spellbinder. I climbed the tree to get a better vantage point and Spellbinder took me by surprise. I thought I was falling from a trapeze instead of a tree, so I couldn't catch myself." I explained.

"And you thought it was okay to let her chase after this Spellbinder? Without any training?" Dad turned on Bruce.

"HEY! Aren't you the one who trained me since I was a kid? This isn't his fault. I was stupid and arrogant to think I could help Batman. A mistake I won't make again. I'll gladly stay in the cave and help from in here." I argued. I really wished Bruce would support me in this, but he stayed silent.

"That's what you think is going to happen? After awhile, this won't be enough, Jamie. You'll want to be out there, fighting, as some way to get his approval." Dad pointed to Bruce. "This life isn't good for anyone, let alone a child. He drives you to do things you would never do otherwise. Like hiding this from me. You used to trust me before you came here."

"Of course I trusted you before! I didn't know you were keeping secrets from me! And don't you dare even lecture me about it because YOU LIED TO ME FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS!" I shouted. "And not only that, you got the family to lie to me too! Were you ever going to tell me about any of this? That you were Robin, Nightwing, and Batman. Or about Bludhaven, you and Barbara, or the fact that I have another uncle?" I pointed to Jason's memorial. "I am seventeen. I am more than old enough to make my own choices. And I don't care anymore if you agree with them or not." I crossed my arms and glared at Dad.

"You're still my child and live under my rules. If I don't want you to work with Batman, you have to trust that it's in your best interest." He argued.

"Don't pull that bullshit on me! I don't trust anything you say anymore! You're afraid that I'll get sucked in too far and I'll want to stay. That he'll somehow take me away from you. My plans haven't changed. I'm only here until school ends. That was the deal and I'm not changing it. I have no interest in dealing with superheroes or becoming one. I'll help while I'm here but not after."

"Dammit Jamie!" Dad slammed his fist on my work desk. "You don't understand. This pulls you in and you can't ever get out! I want so much better for you than to try and make yourself perfect in his eyes!" I glanced at Bruce who was watching Dad carefully. Dad sighed and walked towards me. I stood my ground, scowling at him. He reached out to me, but I stepped back at the last second.

"Jamie, listen,"

"Why should I?" I interrupted. "Whatever you say isn't going to fix this. I've been complacent about you not telling me anything my whole life but I'm done. If you want to talk to me, start with not keeping anymore secrets. You could start with telling me about my mother or why you two," I looked at Bruce, "Aren't on speaking terms." I turned and left the cave. If only I had known just how many more secrets those two had.

So now Dick knows that Jamie knows about Batman. Is that good or bad?

Hello to anyone still reading this! Sorry its been so long. I got even busier after school ended and hadn't had much of a chance to work on this story. But I'm back now and hopefully will be consistent with updates again.

I want to give a big Thank You to shejams and my friend Zak for giving feedback on every chapter. It really helps and encourages me!

Fun Fact: Gotham doesn't really get too cold until mid-December. Thats why Jamie can still ride her motorcycle.