SHADOWS & SURPRISES: PART 8:
Oracle sat at her computers frantically typing at the keyboards. Batman needed her to research a corporation he thought was a front for one of the Penguin's operations. Dinah needed her to hack into a security system for a Colombian drug lord. She was so busy that she almost didn't hear the footsteps behind her.
"Hi Tim," she called, never looking back.
"How'd you know it was me?"
"Easy, your footsteps aren't as heavy as theirs."
"Oh. Hey, I was swinging by and thought I'd drop in and see if you needed anything," he said with a wide smile.
Turning to face him, she smiled back. "That's so sweet. But I'm good for now. Or should I say we're good," she added as she rubbed her ever enlarging middle. "Oh, wow."
"What?" he asked excitedly.
"Your little niece is practicing roundhouse kicks."
"Cool! Can I feel?"
"Sure, come on," taking his hand, she led him to the exact spot so he could feel the movement of the baby.
He smiled. He had felt this before, when Stephanie was pregnant, yet it still did not cease to amaze him.
"Has Bruce felt this?"
"No."
"He needs to. He really needs to. This is just ..."
"Amazing. I know."
"Hey, Boy! What are you doing with my woman?" Nightwing yelled in mock jealousy as he sat perched in her window.
"Stealing her away from you. Got a problem with that?"
"Hmm, let me think ..."
"Dick!" Babs exclaimed as she threw her Nightwing beanie baby at him.
"I'm just joking," he said with a laugh. Entering the apartment, he walked over to Babs, knelt and kissed her on the mouth. His hand gently rested with hers on her swollen abdomen. Feeling the baby's movements brought a smile to his face.
"Slow night in Bludhaven?" she asked turning back to her computers.
"Yeah, here?"
"Do we ever have slow nights in Gotham?" Tim asked.
Dick cut his eyes toward Tim.
"Well, uh, some nights ARE slower than others," Tim replied, backing a few feet away from Dick.
"And tonight?" Dick asked seriously.
"Actually, pretty slow. Cassie and I took out a few muggers. Nothing major. Batman's working on a smuggling case, thinks Penguin's involved. No major psychos running loose though. Pretty routine."
"Good, I can take the rest of the night off."
"Dick you are getting so lazy," Barbara stated.
"I am not!" he replied clutching at his heart. "Mi'lady, you wound me."
"Uh-huh," she replied with a wink as she kept working on the computer.
"IF it's such a slow night, what are you working on?" Dick asked as he peered over Babs' shoulder.
"Dinah's taking out a drug lord in Columbia. I'm helping her by-pass his security systems. And doing a little research for Batman."
"Sounds fun."
"Why don't you make a few rounds with Robin," Babs said as she kept working.
Dick took the clue. Barbara was busy and didn't want his distractions, at least not right now. "Uh, good idea. Robin, shall we?" he said as he dramatically waved his arm toward the window.
"Yeah, we can find something to keep us busy," Tim said as he headed toward the window.
The two shot out their jump lines into the Gotham night.
***********************************************************************
"The baby's moving around a lot tonight," Robin called out to Nightwing as they swung through the Gotham skyline.
"Yeah, she's really been moving lately," Nightwing responded. "Not much longer now. Two months."
"I know you can't wait. I can't wait. And I especially can't wait to see Batman ..."
"Yeah, me too."
"Hey, Nightwing, there's a mugging," Robin yelled as he pointed out the crime in progress below them. Two women, one elderly and one young, were surrounded by a number of young men wearing gang colors.
"Let's stop some crime, bro," Nightwing responded. Observing the situation as they swung down toward the street, he realized the gang had more than a mugging planned.
Nightwing and Robin landed behind the gang. "Private party?" Nightwing asked.
The gang members turned toward the voice. One of them said "It's the Bat's kids." Pulling out chains and clubs, the gang members attacked.
Nightwing and Robin stood their ground, waiting for the gang's approach. One of the criminals lashed out with the chain. Nightwing grabbed it in mid air, twisting the chain around his left arm. With a powerful yank, he pulled the gang member into his right fist, sending the man spinning to the ground. Robin sparred with the man swinging the club, playing with him before taking him out. As they continued working their way through the gang, Nightwing heard a beep in his ear.
"Oracle to Nightwing. This is an emergency."
"Go ahead Oracle," Nightwing responded as he kicked out with his left leg, connecting to the mugger's chin and sending the man flying into a wall.
"I'm out of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream!"
Spinning around and kicking out again at a fourth gang member, Nightwing responded, "That is NOT an emergency. Robin and I are a little busy here."
He could hear the icy fury in her voice when she responded, "What do you mean it's NOT an emergency? I. Am. Out. Of. Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream! I want some. NOW."
"What am I suppose to do, leave Robin here and run into a store in uniform?" Nightwing asked as he stopped fighting and stood there.
Robin continued to take down the remaining muggers as Nightwing dealt with Oracle. Robin took down the last mugger. The two women approached him and Nightwing. Nightwing's hand was near his ear as he continued speaking.
"... that is not what I .... No! ... We were stopping a mugging ... About six ... Yeah, it's over now .... BUT ... Damn it," he sighed as she cut the connection.
Robin tried to stifle a giggle.
The elderly woman approached Nightwing and placed a caring hand on his arm. "Your first?" she asked.
"Huh?" Nightwing responded as he looked at the older woman.
"Your first baby?"
"Ma'am ..." Nightwing started with a slight stutter.
"You don't have to say anything, I can tell. I've had seven children and twelve grandchildren. I know the signs. You'd better get her whatever it is she wants," the older lady said as she patted him on the arm. "Pregnant women hold grudges." The older lady walked back to the younger woman who was picking up their packages. The two women walked on into the night.
Robin's attempts to stifle his laughter failed as he erupted into loud breath gulping laughter.
"What's so funny?" Nightwing growled in his best Batman imitation.
"Yo...youuuu," Robin said pointing with one hand as he doubled over holding his stomach with the other.
Nightwing glared at Robin.
"Wha ... what does ... she want?" Robin asked, trying to regain control of himself.
"Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream."
"I ... I know a place. I use to stop and pick Steph up ice cream when, you know," Robin said as he shot off his jump line. Nightwing followed after his little brother, shaking his head the whole time. Babs was definitely getting into the hormonal stage of her pregnancy.
***********************************************************************
Dick Grayson stirred in the bed. Something kept hitting him in the back. Rolling over he noticed Babs was sound asleep behind him. Her swollen stomach touching him. He placed his hands on it and felt the movement.
"So, you're kicking your Daddy, are you?" he whispered, "I got you and Mommy the ice cream as soon as I could. You're as impatient as your grandpa."
Looking around Babs, he noticed the clock. Ten minutes to six. Reaching over he turned off the alarm. He was already up. Babs could sleep, she needed rest. Quietly getting up, Dick headed toward the bathroom. Officer Grayson's shift started at seven in Bludhaven. He had little over an hour to get ready and make it to the station. If he was late, Amy would kill him.
Walking toward the bathroom, he heard the quiet chirping of Babs computer. Looking toward the bed, he saw she was still sleeping. He changed directions and walked into Oracle's headquarters. Tapping the keys, he pulled up the visage of the Batman. Still wearing the cape and cowl.
"Dick?" Batman asked as his son's rumpled appearance greeted him. Dick's hair was tossled, he was unshaven. It didn't take the world's greatest detective to see Dick had just awakened.
"Morning," he grumbled.
"Where's Babs?" Batman asked, concerned.
"Asleep. Have you been to bed yet?"
"No time. Working on this smuggling case."
"Robin and I would've helped with that last night if you had asked."
"From what I heard, you had your hands full," Batman said, and then a half smile started on his lips, "Didn't know you had a new job as an ice cream man."
Dick's eyes narrowed, "Very funny. Your sidekick's dead, you know that."
"Um, it's easy to get new ones. Robin's are a dime a dozen," Batman responded flatly.
"HEY! I resent that," Dick said as he started to laugh, "What do you want to be calling at this time of the morning?"
"I have some new companies I want Barbara to do a little research into."
"Just e-mail it over, I'll have her look at it when she wakes up."
"She okay?"
"Yeah, just tired and moody. Pregnant things."
"Maybe you should have asked the old lady a few more things."
Dick laid his head in his hand. He felt a rush of warmth flush to his cheeks, "Tim is soooo dead."
***********************************************************************
"Bludhaven Police Department. Officer Rohrback here...Yes, he's here, who's calling?" Amy asked as she watched her partner walk across the room back toward his desk. There was something about the way he moved. There was a confidence in his every step that shouldn't belong to one so young. She was sure that there was more to Officer Grayson than met the eye. "Hey Rookie! Phone." she said as she held out the receiver.
Taking it from her hands he said, "Grayson. ... Hey! What? ... But last night I bought you ... I did buy enough. You've ate it all? ... Well I'm at work ... call Alfr... he's not there, what about your Dad...in Chicago. What's he doing in ... well call Bruce ... oh. Babs I can't now ... that does not classify as an emergency under the family and medical leave act ... I DO lo... Babs? Babs! Damn it!" he said as he slammed the phone down. She had hung up on him.
"Woman trouble Rookie?" Amy asked without looking up from her papers.
"How did you guess?" he responded sarcastically.
"Easy. So, when are you two expecting?"
"Huh?"
"The baby?"
"How did you guess that?" he said, this time really surprised.
"I'm a woman. We know the signs. So, when's the baby due?"
"Two months," he said with a sigh. "I ... it's just ... sometimes I feel... I don't know ... overwhelmed."
"Yeah, well, it's an adjustment all right. There's going to be this little person who's totally dependent upon you. An extra mouth to feed. Extra expenses. And, since you're not married to the mother, that makes extra problems."
Dick looked at Amy, "We're getting married. Soon."
"When?"
"Soon. We haven't exactly set a date, but soon."
"Uh-huh. And the baby's due soon too. You'd better get a move on Grayson. So, where does your girlfriend live? Here in the Haven?"
"Gotham."
"Ahh. That's why I've not seen you with her. What's her name?"
Amy was asking him questions. She'd never asked him personal questions before. He knew she was trying to help him. Was he that obvious? Yeah, he guessed he was.
"Babs. Barbara. Barbara Gordon."
"Gordon? As in Gotham police commissioner Gordon?"
"Yeah."
"Now I know why you're in the Haven."
He looked up with a smile, "Yeah."
She looked at the clock. "Shift's only got thirty more minutes, Rookie. I can wrap up all the paper work. You head on home. And pick up what she wants."
"Will do, Sarge," he said as he grabbed his hat and headed toward the door.
The desk phone rang again. "Bludhaven Police Department. Officer Rohrback here...ROOKIE!"
Dick spun around and raced back to his desk and took the extended telephone receiver from her hand.
"Hello..."
"Dick!"
"Babs, I'm on my way, I'll pick up the ice cream on my way ..."
"My water just broke!"
"WHAT! It's not time."
"Tell that to the baby! Hurry, please!"
To be continued ...
Oracle sat at her computers frantically typing at the keyboards. Batman needed her to research a corporation he thought was a front for one of the Penguin's operations. Dinah needed her to hack into a security system for a Colombian drug lord. She was so busy that she almost didn't hear the footsteps behind her.
"Hi Tim," she called, never looking back.
"How'd you know it was me?"
"Easy, your footsteps aren't as heavy as theirs."
"Oh. Hey, I was swinging by and thought I'd drop in and see if you needed anything," he said with a wide smile.
Turning to face him, she smiled back. "That's so sweet. But I'm good for now. Or should I say we're good," she added as she rubbed her ever enlarging middle. "Oh, wow."
"What?" he asked excitedly.
"Your little niece is practicing roundhouse kicks."
"Cool! Can I feel?"
"Sure, come on," taking his hand, she led him to the exact spot so he could feel the movement of the baby.
He smiled. He had felt this before, when Stephanie was pregnant, yet it still did not cease to amaze him.
"Has Bruce felt this?"
"No."
"He needs to. He really needs to. This is just ..."
"Amazing. I know."
"Hey, Boy! What are you doing with my woman?" Nightwing yelled in mock jealousy as he sat perched in her window.
"Stealing her away from you. Got a problem with that?"
"Hmm, let me think ..."
"Dick!" Babs exclaimed as she threw her Nightwing beanie baby at him.
"I'm just joking," he said with a laugh. Entering the apartment, he walked over to Babs, knelt and kissed her on the mouth. His hand gently rested with hers on her swollen abdomen. Feeling the baby's movements brought a smile to his face.
"Slow night in Bludhaven?" she asked turning back to her computers.
"Yeah, here?"
"Do we ever have slow nights in Gotham?" Tim asked.
Dick cut his eyes toward Tim.
"Well, uh, some nights ARE slower than others," Tim replied, backing a few feet away from Dick.
"And tonight?" Dick asked seriously.
"Actually, pretty slow. Cassie and I took out a few muggers. Nothing major. Batman's working on a smuggling case, thinks Penguin's involved. No major psychos running loose though. Pretty routine."
"Good, I can take the rest of the night off."
"Dick you are getting so lazy," Barbara stated.
"I am not!" he replied clutching at his heart. "Mi'lady, you wound me."
"Uh-huh," she replied with a wink as she kept working on the computer.
"IF it's such a slow night, what are you working on?" Dick asked as he peered over Babs' shoulder.
"Dinah's taking out a drug lord in Columbia. I'm helping her by-pass his security systems. And doing a little research for Batman."
"Sounds fun."
"Why don't you make a few rounds with Robin," Babs said as she kept working.
Dick took the clue. Barbara was busy and didn't want his distractions, at least not right now. "Uh, good idea. Robin, shall we?" he said as he dramatically waved his arm toward the window.
"Yeah, we can find something to keep us busy," Tim said as he headed toward the window.
The two shot out their jump lines into the Gotham night.
***********************************************************************
"The baby's moving around a lot tonight," Robin called out to Nightwing as they swung through the Gotham skyline.
"Yeah, she's really been moving lately," Nightwing responded. "Not much longer now. Two months."
"I know you can't wait. I can't wait. And I especially can't wait to see Batman ..."
"Yeah, me too."
"Hey, Nightwing, there's a mugging," Robin yelled as he pointed out the crime in progress below them. Two women, one elderly and one young, were surrounded by a number of young men wearing gang colors.
"Let's stop some crime, bro," Nightwing responded. Observing the situation as they swung down toward the street, he realized the gang had more than a mugging planned.
Nightwing and Robin landed behind the gang. "Private party?" Nightwing asked.
The gang members turned toward the voice. One of them said "It's the Bat's kids." Pulling out chains and clubs, the gang members attacked.
Nightwing and Robin stood their ground, waiting for the gang's approach. One of the criminals lashed out with the chain. Nightwing grabbed it in mid air, twisting the chain around his left arm. With a powerful yank, he pulled the gang member into his right fist, sending the man spinning to the ground. Robin sparred with the man swinging the club, playing with him before taking him out. As they continued working their way through the gang, Nightwing heard a beep in his ear.
"Oracle to Nightwing. This is an emergency."
"Go ahead Oracle," Nightwing responded as he kicked out with his left leg, connecting to the mugger's chin and sending the man flying into a wall.
"I'm out of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream!"
Spinning around and kicking out again at a fourth gang member, Nightwing responded, "That is NOT an emergency. Robin and I are a little busy here."
He could hear the icy fury in her voice when she responded, "What do you mean it's NOT an emergency? I. Am. Out. Of. Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream! I want some. NOW."
"What am I suppose to do, leave Robin here and run into a store in uniform?" Nightwing asked as he stopped fighting and stood there.
Robin continued to take down the remaining muggers as Nightwing dealt with Oracle. Robin took down the last mugger. The two women approached him and Nightwing. Nightwing's hand was near his ear as he continued speaking.
"... that is not what I .... No! ... We were stopping a mugging ... About six ... Yeah, it's over now .... BUT ... Damn it," he sighed as she cut the connection.
Robin tried to stifle a giggle.
The elderly woman approached Nightwing and placed a caring hand on his arm. "Your first?" she asked.
"Huh?" Nightwing responded as he looked at the older woman.
"Your first baby?"
"Ma'am ..." Nightwing started with a slight stutter.
"You don't have to say anything, I can tell. I've had seven children and twelve grandchildren. I know the signs. You'd better get her whatever it is she wants," the older lady said as she patted him on the arm. "Pregnant women hold grudges." The older lady walked back to the younger woman who was picking up their packages. The two women walked on into the night.
Robin's attempts to stifle his laughter failed as he erupted into loud breath gulping laughter.
"What's so funny?" Nightwing growled in his best Batman imitation.
"Yo...youuuu," Robin said pointing with one hand as he doubled over holding his stomach with the other.
Nightwing glared at Robin.
"Wha ... what does ... she want?" Robin asked, trying to regain control of himself.
"Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream."
"I ... I know a place. I use to stop and pick Steph up ice cream when, you know," Robin said as he shot off his jump line. Nightwing followed after his little brother, shaking his head the whole time. Babs was definitely getting into the hormonal stage of her pregnancy.
***********************************************************************
Dick Grayson stirred in the bed. Something kept hitting him in the back. Rolling over he noticed Babs was sound asleep behind him. Her swollen stomach touching him. He placed his hands on it and felt the movement.
"So, you're kicking your Daddy, are you?" he whispered, "I got you and Mommy the ice cream as soon as I could. You're as impatient as your grandpa."
Looking around Babs, he noticed the clock. Ten minutes to six. Reaching over he turned off the alarm. He was already up. Babs could sleep, she needed rest. Quietly getting up, Dick headed toward the bathroom. Officer Grayson's shift started at seven in Bludhaven. He had little over an hour to get ready and make it to the station. If he was late, Amy would kill him.
Walking toward the bathroom, he heard the quiet chirping of Babs computer. Looking toward the bed, he saw she was still sleeping. He changed directions and walked into Oracle's headquarters. Tapping the keys, he pulled up the visage of the Batman. Still wearing the cape and cowl.
"Dick?" Batman asked as his son's rumpled appearance greeted him. Dick's hair was tossled, he was unshaven. It didn't take the world's greatest detective to see Dick had just awakened.
"Morning," he grumbled.
"Where's Babs?" Batman asked, concerned.
"Asleep. Have you been to bed yet?"
"No time. Working on this smuggling case."
"Robin and I would've helped with that last night if you had asked."
"From what I heard, you had your hands full," Batman said, and then a half smile started on his lips, "Didn't know you had a new job as an ice cream man."
Dick's eyes narrowed, "Very funny. Your sidekick's dead, you know that."
"Um, it's easy to get new ones. Robin's are a dime a dozen," Batman responded flatly.
"HEY! I resent that," Dick said as he started to laugh, "What do you want to be calling at this time of the morning?"
"I have some new companies I want Barbara to do a little research into."
"Just e-mail it over, I'll have her look at it when she wakes up."
"She okay?"
"Yeah, just tired and moody. Pregnant things."
"Maybe you should have asked the old lady a few more things."
Dick laid his head in his hand. He felt a rush of warmth flush to his cheeks, "Tim is soooo dead."
***********************************************************************
"Bludhaven Police Department. Officer Rohrback here...Yes, he's here, who's calling?" Amy asked as she watched her partner walk across the room back toward his desk. There was something about the way he moved. There was a confidence in his every step that shouldn't belong to one so young. She was sure that there was more to Officer Grayson than met the eye. "Hey Rookie! Phone." she said as she held out the receiver.
Taking it from her hands he said, "Grayson. ... Hey! What? ... But last night I bought you ... I did buy enough. You've ate it all? ... Well I'm at work ... call Alfr... he's not there, what about your Dad...in Chicago. What's he doing in ... well call Bruce ... oh. Babs I can't now ... that does not classify as an emergency under the family and medical leave act ... I DO lo... Babs? Babs! Damn it!" he said as he slammed the phone down. She had hung up on him.
"Woman trouble Rookie?" Amy asked without looking up from her papers.
"How did you guess?" he responded sarcastically.
"Easy. So, when are you two expecting?"
"Huh?"
"The baby?"
"How did you guess that?" he said, this time really surprised.
"I'm a woman. We know the signs. So, when's the baby due?"
"Two months," he said with a sigh. "I ... it's just ... sometimes I feel... I don't know ... overwhelmed."
"Yeah, well, it's an adjustment all right. There's going to be this little person who's totally dependent upon you. An extra mouth to feed. Extra expenses. And, since you're not married to the mother, that makes extra problems."
Dick looked at Amy, "We're getting married. Soon."
"When?"
"Soon. We haven't exactly set a date, but soon."
"Uh-huh. And the baby's due soon too. You'd better get a move on Grayson. So, where does your girlfriend live? Here in the Haven?"
"Gotham."
"Ahh. That's why I've not seen you with her. What's her name?"
Amy was asking him questions. She'd never asked him personal questions before. He knew she was trying to help him. Was he that obvious? Yeah, he guessed he was.
"Babs. Barbara. Barbara Gordon."
"Gordon? As in Gotham police commissioner Gordon?"
"Yeah."
"Now I know why you're in the Haven."
He looked up with a smile, "Yeah."
She looked at the clock. "Shift's only got thirty more minutes, Rookie. I can wrap up all the paper work. You head on home. And pick up what she wants."
"Will do, Sarge," he said as he grabbed his hat and headed toward the door.
The desk phone rang again. "Bludhaven Police Department. Officer Rohrback here...ROOKIE!"
Dick spun around and raced back to his desk and took the extended telephone receiver from her hand.
"Hello..."
"Dick!"
"Babs, I'm on my way, I'll pick up the ice cream on my way ..."
"My water just broke!"
"WHAT! It's not time."
"Tell that to the baby! Hurry, please!"
To be continued ...