(AN) To the first reviewers for posting, thank you. The first chapter was sort of a 'pilot' episode, if you will. I was satisfied with the fact that I had at least interested one of you. Keep up the reading and reviewing while I defenately keep up with what I hope to be a wonderfull epic. - Loren "Larry Luv" Castillo.
I do not own any characters affiliated with DC comics
Chapter 2 Wheels of Injustice
Barbara Gordon has had better days. With the holidays finally over, she could finally relax and enjoy a peacefull night by her fire listening to some Jazz and Blues music on her stereo. However she would have to settle for letting her MP3's shuffle on her hardrive and sit in front of several monitors.
Its been over two weeks and Bruce was still unconscious. Dr. Thompkins had been at Bruce's side for most of his "coma", while Nightwing and J'onn J'onz had been keeping up with the patrol of Gotham.
Barbara had agreed with Dick about sending Tim and Cassandra to stay at the Watchtower with the Justice League. She also felt that when Bruce would wake up that he would definately not be very pleasant. Alfred is, obviously, the only person not dreadfully concerned about what Bruce might be like when he's back up and moving. However, he is concerned for Bruce's overall well being. When Alfred was a secret agent with Great Britain, he had crossed paths with Ras Al Ghoul. Alfred knew full well by his own personal accounts, along with Batman's, that Ras was capable of any evil..
One of the secure channels over the communication system was ringing while Barbara was investigating some of Ras Al Ghoul's files.
"Oracle here", Barbara said.
"Hey O," NIghtwing said. "J'onn and I are done for the night, any chance of you running a system check on a couple of names we picked up?"
Oracle sighed. "Yeah, sure. Whaddya got?"
"Micheal Polley, James Jaskowski, and Thomas Boersma", Nightwing said. "We busted them dealing Oasis out of an abandoned wharehouse".
"Oasis?", Oracle thought outloud. "That's produced in Spain. What are a small time dealers doing pushing that on the streets?"
"Thats why I asked you", Nightwing said. "J'onn did a memory scan on all three."
"And?", Oracle asked.
"Nothing", J'onn said coming over the system. "There is no sign of memory prior to tonight. It is possible that a memory wipe could have been intetionally done."
"But it makes no sense", Nightwing continued. "If their supplier had purposely done that, he'd be out of whatever tonight's take was."
"They could have been set up for us to find them", J'onn said.
"I'll see what I can find on these names", Oracle said. "I'll have any information and similarties ready for you when I find them. Oracle out".
Barbara had entered the names into the computer to find any connections she could. While she was waiting she noticed the milk she had with her cookies was wanting to make an exit.
"Shit", she thought. This was not Barbara's favorite thing to do.She set the computer to auto-run the data while she made her way away from the comptuer.
It had been almost three years, but she still never got used to it. Three years, and she still hates it. She knew she had it better than the majority of the world, she knew she could preservere.
But she didn't care.
She had learned to hate that chair, the one that tells the world what HER imperfection is. The majority of the people she knew had perfect ways of hiding what makes them human. She was stuck in what she calls "Hell's reserve seat". But Dick had always managed to make her feel somewhat better. He loved her no different now then he did then. She loved him no different either, but she didn't love herself the same way anymore. That is the feeling that has made her hesistant to fully except his love for her.
Barbara had made it to the bathroom and successfully transported herself from one chair to the other. After her business was taken care of, she decided that she was too old to be staying up at four in the morning. She got herself ready in her practiced routine for bed. After she got herself in her bed, she began to dread that same nightmare. The one that had been haunting her sleep for the past three years. Its probably why she dreads going to bed at night. She joked to herself that maybe now she has a alibi to stay on as Oracle.
After she realized how lame that joke was she failed to notice that she had fallen asleep.
"Robin, come in", Batgirl had said.
"Robin here, Whats up?"
"My patrol is done, meet me at the deli on Robinson St, and I'll get Big Steve to make us something nice and warm before we go back", Batgirl said. "I love alfred to death, but I want a nice greasy roast beef sandwich."
"Gotcha B-girl, Robin out", Robin switched off his radio. "Girls".
Batgirl new she had to get some food in her system. She cooked her dad's favorite earlier that day, or day before to be technical. The police commish loved his perogies, but his scarlett haired daughter wasn't one for polish food. Batgirl swinged for the rooftop where she was meeting Robin. She figured Tim was always up for food. Thats why he's been her favorite dinner date of late.
Batgirl really wasn't even supposed to be out on patrol. Her and Batman had been at Arkham all night interogating a look-alike of the Joker that helped him escape. It had been discovered that the imposter clown had been in Arkham for almost six months.
For some reason, Batman felt at the last second that Barbara should assist Tim with patrol.
Batgirl landed on the roof, but Robin wasn't in site. She heard a scuffle in the ally behind the deli. She looked down in time to see what looked like Harley Quinn slamming the full weight of a giant sledge hammer across Tim's back. She looked around for more goons, but just saw two already taken care of. A familiar voice brought her attention back in the area of where Robin and Harley were. "Heh heh, a bird in the hand..."
Batgirl had jumped off of the rooftop, making the sillouette of a bat appear on the ground below. She saw her comrade knocked out on the ground, vulnerable to any sick plan Joker could come up with. She didn't have time to think about what the Joker was up to, or why. She was too busy.
She was pissed.
Batgirl landed in front of both Robin and Harley. Joker stood at the back enterence of the deli. Batgirl lunged for Harley, easily dissarming her of that damn hammer. Harley was a formidable fighter, but Batgirl had caught her off guard enough to easily take her out with a straight kick to the left side of her jaw.
"W...WHAT!!!!", Joker cried out. "That imbecile had told me that Ratman and Ratgirl were at Arkham!"
Batgirl was about to go for Joker when the two goons originally thought to be taken out were starting to come at her from the back. She turned around and fought both goons, whom had obviously been unpreparred for a fight. After she knocked out the last with a jumping knee to the back of his head, she turned around in time to see the Joker standing two feen in front of her, with his .44 Magnum already cocked.
"Oh well", Joker sighed. "Back to the ole' drawin' board".
Then he shot her.
Robin had been awoken by what sounded like Dick popping a brown paper bag in his ear. He moaned and shifted around on the ground. He started to realize that something wasn't right. Then he remembered that girl he saved. Or did he? He sat up, slowly, and scanned the area his eyes could cover at the moment. He smelled what was obivously gun powder residue in the air. His body couldn't move well, though. Whatever hit him must have been easily one hundred pounds of condensed material. How he came to that conclusion, he had no clue. What started to register was that his eyes were clearing up.
Then he saw her on the ground.
Robin forgot the fact he was jackhammered to the ground. He jumped up like it was christmas morning and ran to Barbara. He first noticed the pool of blood that was starting to form. around her. He couldn't help but to puke. He had seen this before, but not someone he cared for.
"Barbara", he silently cried. He realized she had been shot in her midsecion. The blood on the ground suggested an exit wound. He had been trained for this. He new how to get the bullet out of her. His standard first aid kit had the proper tools. He just couldn't. Not with her. He couldn't bare the idea of his screw up costing her life.
"Dammit", he thought. "This is my fault."
After he calmed himself down a bit, he called and notifed Batman of the situation. He was told to see if the bullet had lodged itself into any vital organs. Robin didn't even want to look. He just told batman that it was lodged in a spot that was hard to see. Batman had told him to stay with her and he was two minutes away with the emergency surgical kit.
"T..Tim..?", Batgirl said starting to stir.
"Barbara!", Robin said. "Oh god, its all my fault. If I had...."
He was suprised by Barbara's left hand and her surprising strength when she pulled him down and kissed lightly on the lips. Tim just looked at her really confused, but a bit more settled.
"H..Had to calm..you down some..how", she managed to joke.
Tim managed to slighty feel really dumb when she caught him with the 'calm down kiss' again. His fear subsided when she was able to do this though. It meant that she was conscious and aware.
Batman arrived on the scene with the medical kit. Details of what happened would have to wait for now. Barbara saw Batman over her, working calmly on her wound like he was just making a sandwich or something. She looked over to see Robin sitting down on the cold street. He saw her looking at him and just smiled lightly. She used whatever sedated strength she had and stuck her tongue out at him.
Barbara was woken up by her computer. By the sound of the ring tone, she could tell that it was the Justice League frequency. She laid in bed for a minute, still reeling from the same dream again. She finally managed to get out of bed and into her chair. She made it to the computer and switched on her mic.
"Oracle here", she said business like.
"Oracle, its Robin."
"Wait a sec. I'm switching to a secure frequency", Oracle said.
Barbara was feeling a little better now. She switched over to the line she reserved for Robin. She had a line for each member of the Batclan and the League. The secure lines come in handy once in a while.
"Hey Tim!", Barbara said
"Hey Babs", Tim said. "Wonder Woman has me getting up around four in the morning now. She said that just because I was Batman's pupil doesn't mean she will stick to his class schedule or whatever that means."
Barbara laughed at that. "Well, so much for ruling the night. How about some chess?"
"Sounds good, but don't feel like thinking, how about a card game or checkers?"
"Mmmm...ok", Barbara said. She uploaded an online version of checkers for her and Tim to play."How are things going up there?"
"Truthfully", Tim began. "Surprising. I thought I would love the chance to see how I compared to the rest of the League, but its kinda funny. They are not as commited as WE are."
"Now you see why Batman feels the way he does. Don't you?", Barbara asked.
"Yeah, but its not their fault, I guess. I mean, if I could move mountains, or make things with the light of my ring, or put the moves on Hawkgirl and be fast enough to avoid her mase, I wouldn't take things as seroiusly either."
"So you're saying they don't care as much? Hey, no double jumps!"
"We never said that before we started. Its not like they're not passionate about it, but it does seem that whenever they get done taking care of the bad guys, they do their little interviews with the media then come back to the tower. I'm so used to studying the crime scene and interrogating the criminal before we even think 'case closed'. I guess to me, they're a little sloppy.
"Now those are Batman's exact words, Tim. King me."
"But I am glad we did come up here. I know Bruce wouldn't care for it too much, but I think its helping me focus on my goals alot better. The other day, Green Lantern and I were actually playing some chess. He noticed my patience and stradegy. He went as far as telling me that I was a damn good stradegist. I guess when I beat him in an hour it made sense for him to sat that. Hawkgir and I have had sparring matches too. She is a pretty hard person, but she's shown some of her compassionate side a couple of times. I think her coming in and flirting witn GL made him lose focus enough for me to beat him at chess. Damn, you got me cornered."
"Too bad your not as good at checkers", Barbara said.
"Yeah", Tim began more serious. "I'm really glad Cass went home. I saw how she really enjoyed being able to fully communicate with J'onn. I think for the first time in a long time, she's genuinely happy."
"She is", Barbara said. "Uh oh, your last one is on the run.'
"This is how I like it, odds against me", Robin said. "What's the word on Bruce?"
"Nothing new", Barbara said. J'onn has done a mind sweep but his unconcius state makes it to difficult for J'onn to make anything out. Plus J'onn had freely sworn to Bruce before that he would never look into his mind. Sometimes the goodness of the green guy could be his downfall."
"Yeah", Tim agreed. "Wonder Woman has been asking me alot about us."
"Us?", Barbara said.
"Yeah. You, me, Dick, Cassie. I didn't give away any incrimnating details or things i shouldn't, she just wants to understand Bruce a little better. Oh, and get this."
"What". Barbara asked.
"Being the junior detective that I am, I think our Amazonian Princess is taken with the Dark Knight of Gotham. Appearently, she and Bruce met in paris. But Bruce was dressed as Bruce."
"What?", Barbara said surprised. "He said he would never approach a meta while dressed as Bruce Wayne."
"She thinks that maybe he wanted to really get his point across about her getting out of his way. But she just flirted back.
"Diana? Really?"
"Yeah. Spooky, ain't it?"
"You've been talking to her alot, huh?"
"Yeah, mostly sparring, though. She's getting more irritated that she can't land any good strikes before I have a chance to dodge or counter. She's good, but I've fought better", Tim said with a 'Nightwing like' tone.
"Well, at least she knows how to take defeat", Barbara said.
"Defeat? She beats me every time. She may miss a few, but it only takes one shot from her to put me out!"
"Just like at home", Barbara teased. "Gotcha! The day is mine!"
"Oh well", Robin said. "I better get a move on before Diana finds me..how did she put it..."Wasting time with those pointless video games".
"Pointless?", Barbara said, insulted. "They build charactor."
"Yeah, but she doesn't notice me peaking in on her and Flash playing games once in a while. She's getting good at Football."
"Ok then. I think I need to get some sleep now Tim."
"Ok, Babs. And hey."
"What?"
"Thanks for being up. I really missed wasting time like this with you. Dick sucks at video games and Bruce better not try to kiss me to calm me down"
Barbara nearly fell out of her chair hearing that one.
"Well, I've gotta go. Bye Babs."
"Bye, little birdy."
With that Barbara cut the link. She stayed at the computer for a few minutes replaying the dream in her head again. She did wonder how Tim would be down the road after what happened. She was happy to realize that he became even closer to her and she appreciated the way he carried on like she wasn't the damn cripple she constantly calls herself. She said it out loud a few times, only to see how much that hurt Tim.
It made him feel like he failed her.
So, for his sake, she started to get a little better with herself. Over time, she began to live life a bit like she used to. Her spirit wasn't as bitter anymore. She was still not happy, but she realized that maybe she can be again. So in reality, Tim Drake is not responsible for her near death.
Tim Drake is responisble for her being alive.
I do not own any characters affiliated with DC comics
Chapter 2 Wheels of Injustice
Barbara Gordon has had better days. With the holidays finally over, she could finally relax and enjoy a peacefull night by her fire listening to some Jazz and Blues music on her stereo. However she would have to settle for letting her MP3's shuffle on her hardrive and sit in front of several monitors.
Its been over two weeks and Bruce was still unconscious. Dr. Thompkins had been at Bruce's side for most of his "coma", while Nightwing and J'onn J'onz had been keeping up with the patrol of Gotham.
Barbara had agreed with Dick about sending Tim and Cassandra to stay at the Watchtower with the Justice League. She also felt that when Bruce would wake up that he would definately not be very pleasant. Alfred is, obviously, the only person not dreadfully concerned about what Bruce might be like when he's back up and moving. However, he is concerned for Bruce's overall well being. When Alfred was a secret agent with Great Britain, he had crossed paths with Ras Al Ghoul. Alfred knew full well by his own personal accounts, along with Batman's, that Ras was capable of any evil..
One of the secure channels over the communication system was ringing while Barbara was investigating some of Ras Al Ghoul's files.
"Oracle here", Barbara said.
"Hey O," NIghtwing said. "J'onn and I are done for the night, any chance of you running a system check on a couple of names we picked up?"
Oracle sighed. "Yeah, sure. Whaddya got?"
"Micheal Polley, James Jaskowski, and Thomas Boersma", Nightwing said. "We busted them dealing Oasis out of an abandoned wharehouse".
"Oasis?", Oracle thought outloud. "That's produced in Spain. What are a small time dealers doing pushing that on the streets?"
"Thats why I asked you", Nightwing said. "J'onn did a memory scan on all three."
"And?", Oracle asked.
"Nothing", J'onn said coming over the system. "There is no sign of memory prior to tonight. It is possible that a memory wipe could have been intetionally done."
"But it makes no sense", Nightwing continued. "If their supplier had purposely done that, he'd be out of whatever tonight's take was."
"They could have been set up for us to find them", J'onn said.
"I'll see what I can find on these names", Oracle said. "I'll have any information and similarties ready for you when I find them. Oracle out".
Barbara had entered the names into the computer to find any connections she could. While she was waiting she noticed the milk she had with her cookies was wanting to make an exit.
"Shit", she thought. This was not Barbara's favorite thing to do.She set the computer to auto-run the data while she made her way away from the comptuer.
It had been almost three years, but she still never got used to it. Three years, and she still hates it. She knew she had it better than the majority of the world, she knew she could preservere.
But she didn't care.
She had learned to hate that chair, the one that tells the world what HER imperfection is. The majority of the people she knew had perfect ways of hiding what makes them human. She was stuck in what she calls "Hell's reserve seat". But Dick had always managed to make her feel somewhat better. He loved her no different now then he did then. She loved him no different either, but she didn't love herself the same way anymore. That is the feeling that has made her hesistant to fully except his love for her.
Barbara had made it to the bathroom and successfully transported herself from one chair to the other. After her business was taken care of, she decided that she was too old to be staying up at four in the morning. She got herself ready in her practiced routine for bed. After she got herself in her bed, she began to dread that same nightmare. The one that had been haunting her sleep for the past three years. Its probably why she dreads going to bed at night. She joked to herself that maybe now she has a alibi to stay on as Oracle.
After she realized how lame that joke was she failed to notice that she had fallen asleep.
"Robin, come in", Batgirl had said.
"Robin here, Whats up?"
"My patrol is done, meet me at the deli on Robinson St, and I'll get Big Steve to make us something nice and warm before we go back", Batgirl said. "I love alfred to death, but I want a nice greasy roast beef sandwich."
"Gotcha B-girl, Robin out", Robin switched off his radio. "Girls".
Batgirl new she had to get some food in her system. She cooked her dad's favorite earlier that day, or day before to be technical. The police commish loved his perogies, but his scarlett haired daughter wasn't one for polish food. Batgirl swinged for the rooftop where she was meeting Robin. She figured Tim was always up for food. Thats why he's been her favorite dinner date of late.
Batgirl really wasn't even supposed to be out on patrol. Her and Batman had been at Arkham all night interogating a look-alike of the Joker that helped him escape. It had been discovered that the imposter clown had been in Arkham for almost six months.
For some reason, Batman felt at the last second that Barbara should assist Tim with patrol.
Batgirl landed on the roof, but Robin wasn't in site. She heard a scuffle in the ally behind the deli. She looked down in time to see what looked like Harley Quinn slamming the full weight of a giant sledge hammer across Tim's back. She looked around for more goons, but just saw two already taken care of. A familiar voice brought her attention back in the area of where Robin and Harley were. "Heh heh, a bird in the hand..."
Batgirl had jumped off of the rooftop, making the sillouette of a bat appear on the ground below. She saw her comrade knocked out on the ground, vulnerable to any sick plan Joker could come up with. She didn't have time to think about what the Joker was up to, or why. She was too busy.
She was pissed.
Batgirl landed in front of both Robin and Harley. Joker stood at the back enterence of the deli. Batgirl lunged for Harley, easily dissarming her of that damn hammer. Harley was a formidable fighter, but Batgirl had caught her off guard enough to easily take her out with a straight kick to the left side of her jaw.
"W...WHAT!!!!", Joker cried out. "That imbecile had told me that Ratman and Ratgirl were at Arkham!"
Batgirl was about to go for Joker when the two goons originally thought to be taken out were starting to come at her from the back. She turned around and fought both goons, whom had obviously been unpreparred for a fight. After she knocked out the last with a jumping knee to the back of his head, she turned around in time to see the Joker standing two feen in front of her, with his .44 Magnum already cocked.
"Oh well", Joker sighed. "Back to the ole' drawin' board".
Then he shot her.
Robin had been awoken by what sounded like Dick popping a brown paper bag in his ear. He moaned and shifted around on the ground. He started to realize that something wasn't right. Then he remembered that girl he saved. Or did he? He sat up, slowly, and scanned the area his eyes could cover at the moment. He smelled what was obivously gun powder residue in the air. His body couldn't move well, though. Whatever hit him must have been easily one hundred pounds of condensed material. How he came to that conclusion, he had no clue. What started to register was that his eyes were clearing up.
Then he saw her on the ground.
Robin forgot the fact he was jackhammered to the ground. He jumped up like it was christmas morning and ran to Barbara. He first noticed the pool of blood that was starting to form. around her. He couldn't help but to puke. He had seen this before, but not someone he cared for.
"Barbara", he silently cried. He realized she had been shot in her midsecion. The blood on the ground suggested an exit wound. He had been trained for this. He new how to get the bullet out of her. His standard first aid kit had the proper tools. He just couldn't. Not with her. He couldn't bare the idea of his screw up costing her life.
"Dammit", he thought. "This is my fault."
After he calmed himself down a bit, he called and notifed Batman of the situation. He was told to see if the bullet had lodged itself into any vital organs. Robin didn't even want to look. He just told batman that it was lodged in a spot that was hard to see. Batman had told him to stay with her and he was two minutes away with the emergency surgical kit.
"T..Tim..?", Batgirl said starting to stir.
"Barbara!", Robin said. "Oh god, its all my fault. If I had...."
He was suprised by Barbara's left hand and her surprising strength when she pulled him down and kissed lightly on the lips. Tim just looked at her really confused, but a bit more settled.
"H..Had to calm..you down some..how", she managed to joke.
Tim managed to slighty feel really dumb when she caught him with the 'calm down kiss' again. His fear subsided when she was able to do this though. It meant that she was conscious and aware.
Batman arrived on the scene with the medical kit. Details of what happened would have to wait for now. Barbara saw Batman over her, working calmly on her wound like he was just making a sandwich or something. She looked over to see Robin sitting down on the cold street. He saw her looking at him and just smiled lightly. She used whatever sedated strength she had and stuck her tongue out at him.
Barbara was woken up by her computer. By the sound of the ring tone, she could tell that it was the Justice League frequency. She laid in bed for a minute, still reeling from the same dream again. She finally managed to get out of bed and into her chair. She made it to the computer and switched on her mic.
"Oracle here", she said business like.
"Oracle, its Robin."
"Wait a sec. I'm switching to a secure frequency", Oracle said.
Barbara was feeling a little better now. She switched over to the line she reserved for Robin. She had a line for each member of the Batclan and the League. The secure lines come in handy once in a while.
"Hey Tim!", Barbara said
"Hey Babs", Tim said. "Wonder Woman has me getting up around four in the morning now. She said that just because I was Batman's pupil doesn't mean she will stick to his class schedule or whatever that means."
Barbara laughed at that. "Well, so much for ruling the night. How about some chess?"
"Sounds good, but don't feel like thinking, how about a card game or checkers?"
"Mmmm...ok", Barbara said. She uploaded an online version of checkers for her and Tim to play."How are things going up there?"
"Truthfully", Tim began. "Surprising. I thought I would love the chance to see how I compared to the rest of the League, but its kinda funny. They are not as commited as WE are."
"Now you see why Batman feels the way he does. Don't you?", Barbara asked.
"Yeah, but its not their fault, I guess. I mean, if I could move mountains, or make things with the light of my ring, or put the moves on Hawkgirl and be fast enough to avoid her mase, I wouldn't take things as seroiusly either."
"So you're saying they don't care as much? Hey, no double jumps!"
"We never said that before we started. Its not like they're not passionate about it, but it does seem that whenever they get done taking care of the bad guys, they do their little interviews with the media then come back to the tower. I'm so used to studying the crime scene and interrogating the criminal before we even think 'case closed'. I guess to me, they're a little sloppy.
"Now those are Batman's exact words, Tim. King me."
"But I am glad we did come up here. I know Bruce wouldn't care for it too much, but I think its helping me focus on my goals alot better. The other day, Green Lantern and I were actually playing some chess. He noticed my patience and stradegy. He went as far as telling me that I was a damn good stradegist. I guess when I beat him in an hour it made sense for him to sat that. Hawkgir and I have had sparring matches too. She is a pretty hard person, but she's shown some of her compassionate side a couple of times. I think her coming in and flirting witn GL made him lose focus enough for me to beat him at chess. Damn, you got me cornered."
"Too bad your not as good at checkers", Barbara said.
"Yeah", Tim began more serious. "I'm really glad Cass went home. I saw how she really enjoyed being able to fully communicate with J'onn. I think for the first time in a long time, she's genuinely happy."
"She is", Barbara said. "Uh oh, your last one is on the run.'
"This is how I like it, odds against me", Robin said. "What's the word on Bruce?"
"Nothing new", Barbara said. J'onn has done a mind sweep but his unconcius state makes it to difficult for J'onn to make anything out. Plus J'onn had freely sworn to Bruce before that he would never look into his mind. Sometimes the goodness of the green guy could be his downfall."
"Yeah", Tim agreed. "Wonder Woman has been asking me alot about us."
"Us?", Barbara said.
"Yeah. You, me, Dick, Cassie. I didn't give away any incrimnating details or things i shouldn't, she just wants to understand Bruce a little better. Oh, and get this."
"What". Barbara asked.
"Being the junior detective that I am, I think our Amazonian Princess is taken with the Dark Knight of Gotham. Appearently, she and Bruce met in paris. But Bruce was dressed as Bruce."
"What?", Barbara said surprised. "He said he would never approach a meta while dressed as Bruce Wayne."
"She thinks that maybe he wanted to really get his point across about her getting out of his way. But she just flirted back.
"Diana? Really?"
"Yeah. Spooky, ain't it?"
"You've been talking to her alot, huh?"
"Yeah, mostly sparring, though. She's getting more irritated that she can't land any good strikes before I have a chance to dodge or counter. She's good, but I've fought better", Tim said with a 'Nightwing like' tone.
"Well, at least she knows how to take defeat", Barbara said.
"Defeat? She beats me every time. She may miss a few, but it only takes one shot from her to put me out!"
"Just like at home", Barbara teased. "Gotcha! The day is mine!"
"Oh well", Robin said. "I better get a move on before Diana finds me..how did she put it..."Wasting time with those pointless video games".
"Pointless?", Barbara said, insulted. "They build charactor."
"Yeah, but she doesn't notice me peaking in on her and Flash playing games once in a while. She's getting good at Football."
"Ok then. I think I need to get some sleep now Tim."
"Ok, Babs. And hey."
"What?"
"Thanks for being up. I really missed wasting time like this with you. Dick sucks at video games and Bruce better not try to kiss me to calm me down"
Barbara nearly fell out of her chair hearing that one.
"Well, I've gotta go. Bye Babs."
"Bye, little birdy."
With that Barbara cut the link. She stayed at the computer for a few minutes replaying the dream in her head again. She did wonder how Tim would be down the road after what happened. She was happy to realize that he became even closer to her and she appreciated the way he carried on like she wasn't the damn cripple she constantly calls herself. She said it out loud a few times, only to see how much that hurt Tim.
It made him feel like he failed her.
So, for his sake, she started to get a little better with herself. Over time, she began to live life a bit like she used to. Her spirit wasn't as bitter anymore. She was still not happy, but she realized that maybe she can be again. So in reality, Tim Drake is not responsible for her near death.
Tim Drake is responisble for her being alive.