They talked about it. Debated about it. Hell, even yelled about it before coming up with a plan.
They talked about calling in Tim or Babs for help. If anyone could hack the Bat-computer and find the missing footage, it would be one of them. But Roy hesitates. He's still not comfortable having pulled Jason into this. Because Roy has no proof but a gut feeling and a delayed realization that something doesn't add up. If he's wrong it's one thing, but to send Babs or worse Tim and they actually find something is another.
Roy knows Dick. Knows him the same way he knows Garth, Wally, and Donna. The same way they know him. If there is the slightest chance something went down, Dick would NEVER want the rest of his family to see it. Jason eventually agrees to at least table the idea, though remains reluctant.
They discuss hacking the system themselves. Dangerous for a number of reasons. Neither man was the best at hacking, they didn't have the skill or the technology to take on the security of the Bat computer. If they were caught, assuming there was something to find, Bruce might move it or delete it.
They consider other camera's, not from the cave surveillance system, but maybe the bat-mobile or one of the cowl cams. They are always recording and maybe the footage was missed by Bruce. Jason is more reluctant on this one, he doubts Bruce would be so careless, but admits it isn't impossible. It would be easier than trying to find the missing footage.
Later, it's Jason who floats the idea to just ask Dick. He doesn't sound particularly convinced of it working.
Neither is Roy to be honest. "No," he said after the idea sits between them for a few long moments. The memory of Wally waving a hand through the air, "says it's his fault." flashed through his mind.
"Donna," Roy announced, "We need to talk to Donna."
Jason frowned, "What? Why?"
"If anyone knows, if Dick would tell anyone it would be her." Roy was confident in this plan, Donna might not betray Dick's trust, but she should be able to at least point them in the right direction.
"Since when?" Jason demanded.
Roy cocked his head to the side, "Always, Wonder Twins those two."
"I thought he and Wally were best friends."
"They are." Roy explained, standing he went to pick up the few plates and take out containers they had left on his coffee table "But Dick and Donna are like twins. We didn't call them the Wonder Twins just because they both had wonder in their names." Roy paused for a second on his way to his kitchen to dump the dishes in the sink, "We didn't continue because they had wonder int their names. Hell, I think B even did a DNA test when we were kids to see if they were actually related."
"Do you think she'll help?" Jason called after his retreating back.
Roy appeared in the doorway again, leaning heavily against the frame. "Honestly? No. But she won't turn down an invite to call me an idoit and hopefully she can verify were not barking up the wrong tree."
"Before we drag anyone else into this," Jason muttered.
"If we have to drag anyone else into this." Roy corrected. He pushed himself off the door frame, shuffling past Jason. "Take the couch," he said, placing a hand on Jason's shoulder and giving It a quick squeeze before retreating again. "I'll text Donna."
Jason hummed, eyes far away.
"Try to get some sleep, Jay"
"Yeah man, you too."
Jason woke up to someone shoving a pastry in his mouth. He coughed, turning on his side to spit it into his hand. By the time he could breathe and was able to compose himself enough to find his attacker, Donna was across the room sipping form a comically large cup of take away coffee. An open box of mixed pastry goods sat in front of her on the table.
"The hell Troy?" Jason growled, from the corner of his eye, he could see Roy enter, then startle when he saw the woman at his table. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Donna leaned back in her chair; she was illuminated by the morning sun streaming in through the window. "Only if I have to." She shrugged. "Doughnut? Croissant?" She nudged the box closer to them. "I would have brough you a coffee, but I don't know how you still take it."
"Don-" Roy whispered, pained.
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I started a pot of coffee in your kitchen." As if on cue a familiar beep came from the other room. "Grab a cup," she instructed. Jason found himself on his feet to comply, following after Roy. Donna glanced down at her phone. "Then we can talk. But hurry up, I don't have all day."
The men moved, standing shoulder to shoulder in Roy's tiny kitchen, passing cream and sugar. They came back to Donna frowning at her phone. She signaled for them to give her a moment, then went to typing. Roy grabbed the pastry box, helping himself to a croissant. Jason, after sending a dark look at the crumbs and left-over croissant that almost killed him just that morning, went for a cherry strudel.
"Okay," Donna said after a few moments. She placed the phone down and wrapped her fingers around her drink again. "What can I do for you boys?"
They shared a look, for all their planning the night before, they hadn't actually planned what to say when talking to Donna. The few messages Roy exchanged with her came from a place of sleep deprived desperation. He wasn't actually expecting her to show up that morning.
When neither spoke, Donna sighed, "Is this about the other night?" She asked, throwing a cautious look to Jason.
"Yes, and I already told him," Roy admitted, "At least what I know."
"The text or your conversation with Wally?" she asked, a single eyebrow raising in question.
"Both."
Donna made a small ah noise, "And what do you need from me?" she asked cautiously.
"Is he okay?" Jason found himself asking.
Donna studied him for a moment and Jason tried not to squirm under her gaze. "he will recover," she said eventually. "I will be taking him on a little trip so he can rest without concern of a threat."
Both men startled, concern and panic flashed across their faces. "Someone is still after him?" Jason asked, at the same time Roy asked, "Who is it?"
"I don't see how either of those things are your concern at this time." Donna sniffed at them.
Jason's face flushed in rage, "To hell, it is." He started to stand from his seat, ready for a fight.
Roy waved a hand between them, trying to break it up. He knew both their tempers far too well. "Donna, If you think we don't need to know, I trust your judgement." Roy placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. The younger man huffed, letting Roy push him back into his chair. "You'll protect him?"
"With my life." Donna promised. And Roy didn't doubt it.
"If you need help, let us know." Roy said. Donna only nodded. She didn't agree, but he knew it was the best they could get at the moment. "We actually wanted to ask about when Dick faked his death," Roy began.
Donna crushed the paper coffee cup in her hands, sending her jerking back form the table in surprise. She hissed as hot coffee hit her hands and sloshed down her front. Thankfully, the damage was minimum, as the drink was mostly empty. Roy ran for the kitchen for paper towels.
They cleaned up in a tense silence. Donna's hands shook in rage. "If you remember nothing else from this conversation, remember this," she said, once the spill was gone from the table and floor and she had their full attention. "Dick Grayson did NOT fake his death. Regardless of whatever else you think did or did not happen, that part was very real."
"How do you know?" Jason asked.
"How could you not?"
Anger surged through Roy, "Donna," he growled, "Not everyone can read him like you."
"You can, if you cared enough to try." She spat back. The room fell into an echoing silence. Donna took a long breath, centering herself again. "But it's more than that, isn't it," She mused. "You weren't asking about his death. No," she studied them both. "You wanted to know about after."
Both men perked up.
"I don't have anything for you on that one. And if I did, I would never betray his trust." She stood, "Keep those." She nodded to the partially empty box.
Roy stopped her with a loose hand around her wrist, "Donna, please." He whispered, practically begged.
She sighed, her back turned to them, but let Roy keep his hold. "It's – " she swallowed, "It's not a lie. I really don't know. He'll talk a little about after joining Spyral. He's even talk about his death on rare occasions, but never about what happened in between."
"You have a theory." Roy stated, voice soft. He ran his thumb in small circles on her pulse point.
Donna nodded. She freed herself from his grasp and took a few steps out of range, finally turning to look at them. "Do you remember after that Titan space mission, the one that lasted almost three months?" She asked Roy.
"You mean…" Roy trailed off, shooting a pointed look to Jason and then back at Donna. Jason frowned in confusion between the two, but kept his mouth shut.
The woman nodded again, "He went to see Bruce after and came back with…" she pointed at her own face instead of finishing.
Jason had no idea what they were talking about but based on Roy's soft, "Oh god," he was the only one lost. The older man buried his face in his hands. "Code B?" he asked, voice muffled and broken.
"Code B," Donna repeated, voice just as pained. The phone in her hand buzzed, cutting the moment and pulling her attention. "I have to go," she whispered. She left for the door again, this time no one stopping her. She paused before opening it. "It's the eyes," she said over her shoulder. "The light in his eyes – it's gone. Sometimes I think I can see a small flicker, but I don't know if it's real or if I'm trying to give myself some hope." She fled out the door before either man was able to form a response.