The Familiar Darkness Chapter III

By: Corbin

Disclaimer: Don't own any of it, it was only for fun ;)

*Thanks to everyone whose reviewed, I appreciate the feedback very much! *

"Steven, what did you do to him?" Doc cried as he rushed over to feel the boy's pulse. Steven pulled the boy's limp body away from the doctor and headed for the examination table in the center of the room. The orderly lay the boy carefully down on the table as though he was dealing with someone he actually cared about.

"Relax, Doc. He'll be fine. I was real gentle," Steven answered in a cool tone as he and the other orderly secured the boy to the table.

"Oh, I'm sure you were," Doc nearly snorted as he stormed over and checked the boy's pulse in spite of what the orderly had said. Robin's pulse was steady and strong. He did not appear to be in any distress. Doc felt a little wave of relief flood through him. If anything happened to this boy, it was all on Doc's head.

"See, he's just fine, isn't he?" Steven smiled confidently and lazily leaned against a counter full of medical supplies.

"Luckily for all of us he's got a strong pulse," Doc grumbled as he jotted down some information on a chart for the boy. "You might have killed him you know."

"Look Doc, I told you I was careful. Ask Danny-Boy, he was there with me. Heck, check the security tapes. What I did was take the easiest way to get him here without hurting anybody. The boy included. You act like I don't know what I'm doing."

Doc glared at both of his orderlies. Steven didn't seem to care, Daniel pretended to be busy adjusting Robin's restraints. Neither of his orderlies understood the importance of the boy in their charge. Doc hadn't told them that all of their lives depended upon their success with this boy.

* * *

The Batmobile thundered into the Batcave causing a few of the wild bats that called the cave home to flutter and squeal in protest of the rude awakening. The canopy slid open and Batman leaped out of the vehicle. He glanced around the cave looking for Robin's motorcycle. As he feared, it was gone. Batman caught sight of Alfred.

"Alfred, have you seen Robin? Has he been by here?" There was a fair amount of concern in Batman's tone. Alfred had sensed something was off the moment the Bat had jumped from the cockpit of the Batmobile.

"No, Master Bruce. I'm sorry. I've not seen the young master since he went out to meet you last night."

"Well, I haven't been able to find any trace of him yet. I've checked most of his usual haunts and turned up empty handed," as he spoke Batman pulled his cowl from over his face and went to his computer to see if he could find anything useful there.

"It's not like him to make plans and not follow through with them. I should hope that he would have at least contacted you by now. I hope something hasn't happened to him."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Batman stated glaring at his computer screen.

TBC . . .