Part 25

Yes, beloved ones at home we remember,
And how can the soldier forget?
All the vows that were said when we parted
Are sacred and dear to him yet.
-- George F. Root, 1864

Bruce stared at the large, institutional-model clock on the wall and tried to will it to move faster. Perhaps it had been a mistake to arrive so early. Alfred certainly seemed to think so. Of course, Alfred thought he shouldn't be here in Terre Haute at all, but Bruce felt it was something he should see through for Dick.

10:25 p.m. Only thirty-five more minutes. Soon they would lead Luthor through that door and strap him down to that table. At 11:00, Luthor would be given a lethal injection -- the first American to be executed for treason since the Rosenbergs. Bruce actually wasn't sure which had been the worse blow to Luthor -- the guilty verdict or the loss of control of his company, LexCorp. The guilty verdict had been handed down a week after the LexCorp stockholder meeting that kicked him out.

Thirty minutes left, now. Bruce allowed himself a tiny smirk. Barbara Grayson was now CEO of LexCorp. In January, she had snuck under everyone's radar to pull off an incredible corporate raiding coup that still had analysts shaking their heads. When she took over, she set up a tap on LexCorp's boardroom's security cameras so Bruce and the rest of the family could watch. Using the powered chair that Leslie had insisted on during her seventh month of pregnancy, Barbara rolled into the room, somehow managing to give the impression of a queen on her throne about to review her subjects. It was such a powerful impression that the men seated around the table actually stood to acknowledge her arrival.

Bruce shook his own head in bemusement. Barbara had hidden herself behind masks so long -- both as Batgirl and now as Oracle -- that it was easy to dismiss Barbara Grayson as a quiet, behind-the-scenes-type of person. Her former occupation as librarian certainly fostered that idea as well. It was easy to forget that she was also Jim Gordon's daughter, and the woman who had enough strength of will first to force herself into Batman's all-boys' club, and then to make a new life for herself as Oracle. Barbara Grayson was not a woman to trifle with, and she made the LexCorp board members take her seriously.

Twenty-five minutes. Bruce could see some movement through one of the door windows. He thought back to the trial and the sentencing. Both the appellate and Supreme Courts had declined to review the case, and Bruce and Clark had been worried what Luthor might do even without the resources of LexCorp behind him. So, they paid Luthor a secret little visit in his cell in Indiana. Not surprisingly, Superman played "good cop" while Batman was the "bad cop." It really wasn't that much of an act.

"Come to gloat, alien?" asked Luthor bitterly when they appeared in his six-foot by eight-foot cell.

"Not really," Superman said sadly, but calmly. "We just want to be sure you aren't planning to do anything foolish."

Luthor quirked an eyebrow. "Not that I'd tell you one way or another, but why shouldn't I? It's not like I have anything to lose."

"Sure you do, Luthor," growled Batman, coming out of the shadows slightly to stand next to Superman. "You can die quietly, with whatever you use that passes for dignity, or you can die in pain, ripped limb from limb."

Luthor snorted. "Get real, Bats. You and the boy scout don't do things that way."

"I didn't say I would, Luthor. But I'm sure we can all predict with some level of certainty what would happen if I were to drop you off in, say, Guadalajara or Monterrey, or near the crater that used to be Mexico City. There are many people there who would be very happy to see you."

"You can't be serious!" Luthor's face paled. There had already been one attempt on Luthor's life from a Hispanic inmate whose family had lived in Mexico City.

"As Superman said, it's up to you. If, by some small chance, you do escape from this prison, I will find you. And I will take you to Mexico and leave you there. Penniless."

Luthor bowed his head in a defeat that was unfeigned. That had been almost two weeks ago, and Luthor had kept to himself and been a model prisoner.

Eighteen minutes. Bruce felt a vibration against his waist as his cell phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw that it was Alfred calling him. That was certainly odd. He found a corner away from the other witnesses and flipped it open.

"Alfred?"

"Master Bruce!" Alfred exclaimed excitedly. "It's Miss Barbara! She's gone into labor!"

"Now?!?" Bruce's normal bass voice almost squeaked. He saw several heads turn to look at him in surprise. "But ... but ... she wasn't scheduled until next week!"

"I'm afraid the young miss has her father's lack of patience," Alfred replied, his usual calm returning to his voice. "Master Timothy is driving her to the hospital. I took the liberty of telling your pilot to prepare for an immediate takeoff. Do you wish to leave now or wait until after ... the procedure?"

Bruce smiled. It wasn't that Alfred was necessarily against Luthor's execution; he just didn't think it was good for Bruce to be a witness to it. Bruce looked at the clock. Sixteen minutes. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass observation window. That smiling man didn't belong at an execution.

"I'll be right down, Alfred."

~~~~~~~~~~

By the time Bruce and Alfred got back to Gotham, Barbara had been whisked into surgery. The two men joined Tim, Dinah, and Jim Gordon as they waited for news. Tim told the late arrivals that Leslie had been very upbeat about everything, pointing out that Barbara had been scheduled for a Caesarian next week anyway -- they had just forgotten to tell the baby.

As Bruce waited, a little voice in his head kept pointing out that since he was waiting anyway, he could've stayed in Indiana and watched Luthor take his last breaths. A louder little voice finally shushed the other one with the question of where would Dick want him to be? That was easy -- with Barbara.

Finally, Leslie walked through the door. Everyone stood silently. She smiled.

"It's a beautiful, healthy baby girl! Mother and child are quite well."

Bruce clamped a hand over Tim's mouth before the expected yell could awaken everyone in the hospital. It was almost 2:00 in the morning, after all. Tim glared up at him slightly, but his expression soon changed to one of surprise. Bruce felt something wet on his face and realized he was crying. He let go of Tim and wiped at his eyes and laughed softly at himself. He managed to reach Leslie before she left the room and wrapped her in a hug which she returned fiercely.

Thirty minutes later, they were allowed to visit Barbara and the baby. The baby girl's head was already covered with fine black hair, and everyone in the room was immediately captivated when she opened her blue-green eyes and stared at them.

Tim asked, "So what are you going to name her? Did you and Dick ever decide anything before he ... left?"

"Yes," replied Barbara softly, her joy in her new daughter dimmed just slightly by the reminder of the lack of news about her husband since his message at Christmas. "We finally decided on Teresa Michelle. Dick wants to call her Terri, for short."

Bruce admired the way the newly-named Teresa Michelle tried to grasp his large finger. He was startled by a loud snort from Tim's direction. He looked up to see his partner almost doubled over in laughter. Tim finally brought himself under control enough to explain.

"Just when I thought Dick was through with puns, he decides to name his daughter with one." When everyone looked at him in amazement, he continued. "Think about it. When Alfred talks to her, what's he going to call her? Miss Terri -- mystery!"

Everyone joined him in laughter until Babs groaned. "Ooooh! Don't make me laugh, guys! My stitches don't like that!"

Leslie soon came back in and herded everyone out so that mother and child could rest. Tim decided to drive back to the clocktower, and Bruce surprised himself by asking Dinah if she would care to join him for a late-night snack in celebration. She surprised him further by agreeing.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Dick! Oh my God! Where are you?" Tim yelled.

"We just passed Jupiter's orbit, and we're on our way insystem. We'll have to stop at Heinlein Station, first, though. Um ... how's Babs?"

Tim's eyes started shifting back and forth. "Well, you see, it's like this ..."

"Tim?!?" asked Dick, beginning to panic.

Suddenly, a huge smile broke out on Tim's face. "Gotcha! Babs is fine. So's Miss Teresa Michelle Grayson."

Dick let out a whoop of his own. "Oh my God!! When? And Babs is really okay?" He twitched in his seat, suddenly longing for a rooftop to swing from.

"About two hours ago and just fine," Tim said. "In fact, hang on a sec ..." He looked off at another screen and muttered to himself. A few moments later, Tim's face was replaced with a two pictures -- one of Barbara holding the baby, the other of the baby herself. Tim's voice continued, "Dr. Leslie said Miss Terri -- and Babs is gonna get you for that, by the way -- is 21 inches long and 8 pounds exactly."

Dick saved the image and replied huskily, "I've got it, Tim. She's beautiful. Both of them are beautiful."

Tim's face reappeared. "Yep. They certainly are."

Dick cleared his throat. "Listen, bro, I need you to do me a favor. I want you to send Babs some flowers from me, uh, say eleven red roses and one pink rose."

"Flowers? Roses?!" the younger man squeaked, "Dick, it's Valentine's Day! How the heck am I supposed to get flowers, especially roses, delivered on Valentine's Day?"

"Look, explain the situation to the florist shop, and I bet they'll find some way to work it out; although you may have to deliver them yourself. Worst case scenario, beg some from Alfred."

"All right. But you are so going to owe me for this."

"I know. Listen, I gotta go. Like I said, we have to report to Heinlein first, but I'll call as soon as I can. Tell Babs I'm fine, and I can't wait to see her and our daughter."

Tim nodded, and Dick ended the call. He then recalled the image of Babs and Terri. "Okay, you guys can come in now," he called out.

The others, presumably drawn by his yell earlier, crowded into the control room behind him.

"Guy, meet Miss Teresa Michelle Grayson!" he said proudly. Roy echoed Dick's earlier whoop, and the Titans carried him off to the briefing room to celebrate.

~~~~~~~~~~

The debriefing on Heinlein Station went much the same as the meeting on Midway -- disbelief, followed by indignation, followed by acceptance. The admirals agreed to the cease-fire pending the review of the treaty by the U.N.'s Security Council and the U.S. Senate. Nobody really wanted to think about what might happen should one body ratify the treaty but not the other, but Dick figured that wasn't too likely to happen.

Finally, though, he was able to board a shuttle for Norfolk for a much-anticipated 72-hour liberty. He placed a collect call to the manor, keeping his fingers crossed that Alfred was at home. He was in luck, as the bored operator's voice was replaced by cultured British tones sounding as excited as Dick had ever heard them.

"Master Dick! It is wonderful to hear your voice, young man!"

"Hi, Alfred! I'm sorry about the collect call, ..."

Alfred immediately interrupted him. "Nonsense, sir. I'm just glad I was at home. Where are you, if I may ask?"

"I'm at Norfolk, but I'm planning on heading home as soon as I can. I'm still in the middle of convincing the Navy I'm alive, so my money situation is a little ... odd right now. Could you ...?"

"I'll arrange a flight immediately, sir. Can you get to the Norfolk airport?"

"Yeah, there's a van that makes the trip pretty regularly. I've got some money, just not enough to buy a plane ticket."

"May I call you back at this number when I have the arrangements?"

"That'd be great! Um, is everyone all right?"

"I'm afraid everyone is quite smitten with your daughter, sir -- myself included. Other than that, we are all in excellent health."

"Great! I'll wait for your call, then." Dick hung up and waited. He had originally thought to hitch a ride home with the Titans, but realizing that clearing up his status with the Navy would take a while, he told them to go on without him. As it turned out, Lt. Shannon Foraker, the liaison Admiral Harkness had assigned him, had been a wonder at expediting the process. She had convinced BuPers to outfit him with some uniforms, a new ID card, and even some back pay. Once she had all the information she knew they would need, he was able to leave everything in her hands. Shannon was confident that by the time he returned to the station, Lt. Commander Richard J. Grayson would exist and officially be a part of the Navy once more. The phone rang.

"Commander Grayson," he said as he answered.

"Master Dick, I've arranged an ... alternative sort of transportation for you."

"Huh?"

"Based on the flights available, the soonest you would be able to arrive here by commercial flight would be over six hours from now. I made some rough calculations, and then called Mr. Perkins. He agreed that he could fly down and bring you back much quicker."

"I should say so! Bruce was telling me that that new Citation of his goes at almost Mach 2! So Terry's coming down to pick me up?"

"If that is acceptable?"

"You bet! I'll head over to the civilian airport. Tell Terry I'll be in the main terminal."

"I certainly will. Good-bye, Master Dick."

Dick managed to restrain the wild whoop of joy that threatened to break forth. This would be so cool! Terry Perkins, Bruce's (and Wayne Enterprises') chief pilot was an old friend. It would be great to see him again. Plus, a private plane meant he didn't have to worry about making conversation with strange seatmates or dealing with the crowds at Gotham's main airport. And he got to ride in a cool, fast jet instead of a pokey sardine can disguised as a commercial jet.

Sure enough, after a wait of less than two hours, Dick saw his old friend approach. Terry was still somewhat stocky; although the sandy hair was a bit more silver than it had been. Only someone who had known him as long as Dick had would even notice the slight limp caused by the knee injury that had forced him to stop flying F-14s for the Navy.

"Dick! Man, it's good to see you! I thought for sure you were a goner this time!" The older man embraced Dick in a fierce hug which Dick returned.

"I'm the proverbial bad penny, Ter. It's good to see you too!"

Dick grabbed his meager luggage and followed Terry out to where the private jet was parked. He walked around the plane while Terry completed his preflight checks. After a few minutes, Dick rejoined him. Dick whistled admiringly.

"She's a beautiful bird, Ter."

"You bet she is!" Terry studied Dick for a moment. "Want to drive on the way home?"

Dick's eyebrows rose in astonishment. "You mean it?!?"

"Well," Terry drawled, "I reckon as the Navy has entrusted you with its multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art spaceships, I guess I could let you fly this one time. With me as co-pilot, to keep you out of trouble."

The two men grinned at each other in understanding. Terry finished his checks and then familiarized Dick with the plane's controls. They received clearance from the tower, and Dick taxiied the plane down the runway and took off.

Once the flight was well under way, Terry turned to Dick with a grin. "So I hear you named your daughter after me. Thanks, man!"

"I didn't know your name was Teresa," kidded Dick in return.

The two men laughed, and Terry asked Dick about flying Barracudas off spaceships. And Dick was able to share the pain of losing fellow pilots with someone who could truly sympathize with him.

A couple of hours later, the familiar sights of Gotham City came into view, and Terry requested landing instructions from the Municipal Airport. Fifteen minutes later, Dick brought the plane to a stop in front of the Wayne hanger. He saw the familiar Bentley limousine and three very familiar figures standing beside it. He quickly shook Terry's hand and bounded out of the cockpit, out the plane's opened door, and onto the tarmac. In the excitement of the moment, even Bruce was caught up in the group hug that ensued. Soon though, they all piled back in the car, and Alfred began driving them to the hospital for Dick to see Babs and Terri.

Tim and Bruce filled Dick on everything that had happened with Luthor and Barbara. Dick, in turn, explained about how he had ended up taking part in a sort of coup de'tat of Ch'ton.

"... and that led Admiral Harkness to decide that as long as Tonreth's with us, I'm to be his naval liaison. Once the Navy believes I'm alive again, that is," Dick finished. "So for the time being, I'm assigned to Admiral Harkness' office, and I'll be quartered up on Heinlein Station."

"So what's next for Tonreth?" Bruce asked.

"I think we'll be meeting with President Ross when I get back from liberty. After that, I have no idea."

"How were you able to explain your translator?" wondered Tim.

Dick smiled almost grimly. "Chalk another one up for my old relationship with Kory. I told the admiral, when he asked, that once we started talking about getting married, Kory wanted me to be able to talk to her people in their language, so I had the translator implanted." He laughed, some genuine humor returning to his expression. "I just never thought that a relationship that ended so badly could turn out to be so useful."

Bruce's mouth lifted in a half-smile of amused agreement.

The limousine drew to a stop as they arrived at the hospital. Dick held up his hand when the others started to get out of the car.

"If you don't mind guys, I'd like to go by myself. You did say she doesn't know I'm coming, right?" he asked Alfred.

Alfred nodded, smiling.

"Great. If I'm not back down in thirty minutes, just go on home, and I'll call a cab when I'm ready to go. Thanks, guys!" He waved to them and walked into the building.

Alfred had told him her room number, so a few minutes later he found himself in front of the door to her room. He suddenly felt as nervous as he had when he proposed! Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door. The sight that greeted him stopped his breath. Babs was holding their daughter in her arms and nursing her.

She looked up when she heard the door open and gasped when she saw who her visitor was. "Dick?" she said wonderingly.

"Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?" he asked in a husky voice that kept skittering in and out. He walked toward the bed.

"It's a rather exclusive club, I'm afraid," she whispered.

"How about this for an entrance fee?" he asked, bending down to kiss her. He had meant to kiss her gently. But as soon as their lips met, he instinctively gathered her close in his arms, and she raised her arm around his neck to hold him close. A complaining wail from Terri caused them to break apart in surprise. Apparently, she didn't care for being squished between the two of them.

Their laughter was mixed with tears as Babs introduced Dick to his daughter. In amazement, he gently ran his finger along the baby's soft cheek as she went back to the more important work of nursing.

"If you can scoot over a bit, I'd like to join you up there," he said, wanting to hold his two ladies close.

Barbara smiled and managed to wiggle over without dislodging Terri. Dick took off his shoes and got up on the bed next to Barbara. She leaned into his shoulder, and he put his arms around them.

He sighed contentedly. "Now I'm home."

** End Part 25 **