Nightwing felt pressure on both his stomach and chest, but didn't have the strength to react. He heard murmurs, familiar voices talking, although he couldn't figure out the words. The hero couldn't breathe, and the pain was so intense that he didn't want to even try. His heart, however, refused to give up. It was beating, just barely, but not enough for anyone to feel or hear.

A word made it into his mind – gone. A choking sound from somewhere, and the pressure on his torso increased. Nightwing wanted to say goodbye, wanted to ask whoever was there to let him go and leave, but his body wouldn't allow him to do it.

Suddenly, the pressure was gone and Nightwing could breathe again. It hurt to do it, but he automatically drew in a gasping wheeze. Loud voices assaulted his hearing, and another word made it through – stay.

But Nightwing didn't want to stay. He wanted to go, leave the pain behind and free himself from the loud voices. The hero tried to say no, but wasn't strong enough to do anything, including trying to speak.

His body was moving, and he didn't know why. He went from a surface that was hard to one that was a little softer. The movement caused his heart to speed up. Something hit his neck, and the voices became even louder.


Batman finally removed his blood-soaked hands from Nightwing's torso. He didn't want to believe it, but the evidence was right in front of him. Ra's was going to regret this; he had just brought the wrath of the entire Bat-family upon his head. A quiet sound, almost like a wheeze, caused him to look at his son's face. It was still slack and pale, but the lips were parted and another soft gasp exited the boy's mouth.

"Nightwing, come back!" Red Robin suddenly yelled. "Stay with us, please!"

"I've got a pulse!" Red Hood shouted, his finger pressed against Nightwing's neck again.

Batman ripped off his cape and laid it on the hard ground. Carefully, he and Red Hood picked up the limp body and moved it gently onto the cape.

"Stay with us, son," the man whispered.

"We can't stay here," Red Hood stated. "Ra's is still around somewhere and his team of assassins won't be down for much longer."

"We can't move him, he'll bleed out!" Red Robin exclaimed.

"He already bled out and we took care of it! We gotta go!" Red Hood shouted.

"Enough!" Batman commanded. "Red Hood is right, we have to leave. I packed the wound tightly and we'll wrap it just as tightly. Go!"

The command caused them to jump into action. Red Hood snatched the still-folded Bat-wrap off the top of Nightwing's body. Batman carefully lifted the young man's torso, and the boys began wrapping. It took less than two minutes. The Caped Crusader lowered Nightwing's torso and then wrapped his cape around his son's motionless form.

"Red Hood, the Bat-jet is at the bottom of the mountain. You're the fastest, go get it," Batman demanded as he gently picked up Nightwing.

Normally, Red Hood would have argued that Batman couldn't order him around anymore. This, however, was about saving Nightwing, and he wasn't going to take any chances with Nightwing's life. He took off down the mountain, Red Robin and Batman following but going much more slowly.

"Only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive."

Batman glanced sideways at Red Robin and asked, "Are you actually quoting 'The Princess Bride' right now?"

"We're not doing anything except walking and I need to think about something other than what I just saw," the boy replied.

The Bat-jet suddenly rose in front of them. Red Hood lowered the stretcher that was kept in the back for emergencies. Batman gently placed Nightwing on it and sent Red Robin up the rope ladder that Red Hood had also lowered. The Caped Crusader hesitated, one hand on the ladder. He wanted to go after Ra's al Ghul.

"Batman, Nightwing needs you more!" Red Robin wisely yelled down, already knowing what the man was thinking about doing. "We'll take care of Ra's later!"

With a short nod, Batman followed the advice of his third Robin. Ra's could wait, Nightwing could not.

"You should be worried, Ra's," he whispered to the wind as he began his ascent. "Very worried."

THE END


A/N: Did you actually think I would kill Dick Grayson?! ;-)