DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters. Nightwing and all of his friends belongs to DC comics. I'd be a happy woman if Dick belonged to me...but no such luck. I have not made any profit out of writing this, so please don't sue me. It would not be worth your while.
Author Comment: This was the third Dick Grayson story I ever wrote. Thank you to my wonderful beta, Jean whose comments force me to examine my writing. There are a number of spelling, grammar and punctuation differences between Australia and the USA... please forgive me for writing with an accent. (g)
PLEASE NOTE: I have no medical knowledge so there are likely to be inaccuracies. I hope you can enjoy my story despite this.
Special Thanks: Thank you to all those people who have left such wonderful feedback. Some of you haven't left your e-mail addresses so I haven't been able to thank you. I just want you to know that your kind words mean so much. I'm in your debt.
Dick? Bruce searched through the sludge that had entered his mind. For the first time in fifteen years, Bruce Wayne suddenly had the overwhelming feeling of being alone. It was a feeling he had lived with constantly until the day he had opened his doors and his heart to a little boy with bright blue eyes. The dull ache in Bruce's chest was familiar for this reason. His broken heart had plagued him for most of his childhood and early adult life until... Dick?
The thugs above continued their assault, something Bruce was completely oblivious to. His suit was absorbing much of the beating, but not all. Dizziness descended, though Bruce was unsure if it was a result of the relentless attack or the strange 'knowing' that was creeping into his consciousness. Dick was leaving him...
VVVVVVVVVV
Dick shared Bruce's strange awareness. "He isn't fighting back," the young man whispered. "I... Bruce..."
The oarsman sighed. "He must find his own path, Dick."
"He can't," Dick realized. Bruce was giving up. Dick couldn't let that happen. "Get him!" he shouted across the water to the dim figure now hidden behind Tim, Alfred, Barbara and Leslie. "Batman, get him!"
VVVVVVVVVV
Get him!
Without warning, an inhuman cry left Batman's being. Like a volcano exploding, The Dark Knight forced his way to his feet, his attackers scattering as they were thrown off him. In seconds, the enraged crimefighter had annihilated the thugs. Re-energised by the silent and unexplained encouragement he sensed from his partner, Batman took control. The side of him that was Bruce Wayne shut down, leaving only one thing in his razer-sharp mind - getting his hands on the person responsible.
"Mr. Smith. Where is he? WHERE IS HE?"
The leader of the broken group of thugs stared at the colossal bat towering over him. "I never met him. We were contacted by a broker a few minutes ago."
Batman's rage ignited. Now there were brokers for this? How far into the pits of hell had has his city slipped? "Where do I find this broker?"
"The bartender. He's the broker!" the thug shouted, wanting nothing more than to get as far away as possible from the enraged beast above him.
Batman spun around, his cape flying out behind him. He found the bartender seated in the gutter waiting for the fight to end. Batman dragged the man to his feet and slammed him into a wall. He said nothing, but the glare that rained down on this pathetic example of the human race said all that was needed.
"Mr. Smith comes into the bar every now and then. He rang me tonight saying you were coming. Asked me to arrange a welcoming committee." The words gushed from the broker in a burst.
"Who... is... he?" Each word was laced with individual venom.
"He's crazy! He'll kill me if I tell you. I..." Batman tightened his grip. "Two-Face!" the broker whimpered. Batman allowed the thug to slide to the ground, his brow furrowing with surprise and abhorrence.
"Two-Face." Two Face was behind all of this? Harvey Dent wanted Bruce Wayne dead?
VVVVVVVVVV
As Dick watched, Bruce's face darkened. "He knows," Dick muttered. "He knows it's Harvey Dent."
"That he does."
For several moments Dick stood staring back toward Bruce. Without warning, he spun around and tried to pick up the oars, but he couldn't shift them.
"It's too late, son, I'm sorry." Dick glared at the oarsman. "Try to forget them and think about where you are headed. Your family is waiting."
"Exactly and I've got to get back to them." Dick glanced at the water.
"No. That is not the path back. The Lake of Lost Souls leads nowhere."
"You sure about that?"
"No one has ever been able to get to either side by attempting to swim it unaccompanied." The oarsman could see that his warnings were falling on deaf ears. "You can't make it alone."
"I won't be alone." The words were said with certainty.
Dick took one last look at his parents. They seemed to understand and nodded their blessing. The Waynes were smiling too. Not the false smiles of earlier, real smiles. Dick's eyes were drawn to Jason. The youth nodded.
Before the oarsman could say anything, Dick Grayson hurled himself into the crystal clear water.
VVVVVVVVVV
Three nurses rushed into Dick's ward. Leslie started calling instructions. She turned to Dick's family and paused briefly. "You need to step outside."
Tim took the back of Barbara's chair and began to wheel her toward the door, both of their eyes still trained on Dick.
Alfred remained steadfast. "What's happening?"
"Alfred, please," Leslie pleaded, trying to usher him toward the door.
"I am not moving from this spot unless you tell me..."
"His blood pressure is dropping dramatically. If I don't stop it, he'll go into cardiac arrest. Now, please."
Alfred swallowed and his eyes grabbed the doctor's. "Don't let him die, Leslie. We'll lose both of them if you do."
Leslie stared at him.. "You think I don't know that?" They stared at each other and immediate apologies were silently broadcast.
Alfred walked across to the bed, ignoring the nurses who were pumping drugs into the tubes attached to Dick. The elderly man leaned down close to his failing grandson's ear. "Easy, Dick, I'm here. You aren't on your own, son. You aren't alone."
VVVVVVVVVV
The icy cold depths swallowed Dick. At first his arms and legs refused to work. Alfred? Bruce! Those thoughts sent Dick surging to the surface. As his head broke the lake he gasped for breath and tried to get his bearings. His parents were only a few feet away. Bruce, Alfred and the others were miles. Dick knew where he belonged and he was prepared to sacrifice everything in his attempt to return to where he should never have left.
VVVVVVVVVV
Leslie finally prised Dick free of Alfred and sent the latter outside. The elderly man sat down, his hands clenched so tightly in his lap that his knuckles were white. Tim walked across, crouched down in front of him and laid his hand over Alfred's.
"You okay?"
Alfred nodded. "Yes."
"Would you like a coffee or something?" Tim asked. Alfred didn't look well. Despite his obvious efforts to maintain a calm exterior, the deep lines of anxiety criss-crossed his face.
"No, thank you, Tim." Alfred glanced across at Barbara who was staring out into space. "Perhaps Miss Barbara would like one?"
"He'll make it, Alfred. I've never met a fighter like Dick. I don't care what Leslie says, he's fighting. I know he is."
Alfred forced a smile. "Of course he is."
At that moment Leslie appeared in the doorway. Alfred, Barbara and Tim's heads snapped towards her.
Leslie's face was void of all emotion. "Get Bruce here," she snapped before turning and racing back into the room. Those three words said more than any explanation of Dick's condition.
Barbara gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Alfred sat frozen, unable to even think.
Tim's rate of breathing began to increase. They all knew what this meant. Dick was dying and Leslie didn't want the young man to pass away before Bruce had a chance to say goodbye.
"His communicator's off," Alfred cried, breaking free of the horror and leaping to his feet. "I can't contact him. I..."
"I'll contact him," Tim assured. "I'll get through to him, Alfred. I give you my word, I'll get him here!"Tim raced toward the elevator. The doors opened to reveal Commissioner Gordon.
"Daddy!" Barbara cried.
Jim Gordon ran to his distressed daughter. "He... He's..." She began to cry, burying her face into her father's chest as he knelt down and put his arms around her.
"Shhh. Baby." Jim looked up at Alfred. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize his condition was so serious." Jim returned his attention to his sobbing daughter. "Shhhh."
"Oh, daddy. He... I... Oh, God. I love him, dad. I'm... in... love... him."
Jim smiled at his little girl. "I know that. I've know that for some time."
"But I've never told him! He doesn't know," Barbara wept.
"Of course he does. I've seen the way he looks at you. Why do you think I always carry my revolver when he's around trying to poach my little girl?"
Barbara stared up at her father through the tears. "What am I going to do?"
Jim's smile disappeared and he pulled his daughter into his arms. "We just have to hope.. and pray."
VVVVVVVVVV
Tim found an empty ward, raced inside and closed the door behind him. He dialled Bruce's number but received the automated message stating that Batman's communicator was switched off. The youth slung his backpack to the ground and withdrew his Robin belt. In the very centre was the newly installed emergency button. He was only allowed to use it in the most dire emergency. This qualified. Tim depressed the button and held it down, the essential signal sent.
VVVVVVVVVV
The minutes dragged by as Dick pulled himself back toward his friends and family. Every stroke was harder than the last. Where were they? He couldn't see any of them except Leslie. Leslie was still standing at the water's edge, both arms now outstretched.
"Dick, you can't, son," the oarsman cried. "Your friends are no longer there, lad. They have other things that they must do. Life goes on."
"Shut up!"
"They are no longer there waiting for you. They've given up."
"No they haven't. They're still there. I know they are. I have to get back to help them."
"Lad, you are a good man. One of the best I have ever met. I am not supposed to help you, but please, take my hand and I will pull you back into the boat and take you to your parents." The oarsman leaned over the edge of the small craft.
"No! I have got to get back to them. I can't leave them."
The oarsman shook his head sadly. "You do not deserve this fate. Are they really worthy of your loyalty?"
"Yes," Dick stated with absolute certainty.
"You are making a hell of a sacrifice. This battle you have selected for yourself has never been won before. You could be condemning yourself to an endless eternity of nothingness for them."
"They would do the same for me." Again the words echoed his unshakable faith in his companions.
"Then I wish you luck." With that, the oarsman and the boat faded away.
Dick found himself alone in the middle of an expansive lake, halfway between one world and the next.
VVVVVVVVVV
Batman kicked in the door of the penthouse apartment. Two-Face spun around, the side of his face that was still capable of showing emotions, reflecting his surprise.
"Batman!"
"We need to talk, Harvey!" Batman ground out. The Dark Knight strode into the room. Dent's three bodyguards attacked, but Batman brushed them aside without losing his stride. He was on a mission tonight and nothing and no one would stop him from putting Two-Face behind bars.
"This has nothing to do with you, Batman. This is between me and that pretty boy, Bruce Wayne."
"Wrong," Batman growled. Two-Face began to back away. He'd come across Batman many times, but he'd never seen the Dark Knight like this. There was revenge written across his face. Two-Face recognised the emotion... it was the one he saw in the mirror every morning.
Abruptly, Batman froze. He glanced down at his belt. A small red light was flashing. Immediately, he pressed it. "Robin?"
"Batman... you've got to come now. And I mean now."
Batman frowned. "That button is for emergencies only," he snapped.
For several moments there was silence.
Two-Face stared at Batman, watching in fascination as the crimefighter appeared to speak to himself. The mini receiver hidden in the Dark Knight's cowl audible to Batman alone.
"I know that. Batman, it's Nightwing. Leslie says you better come now."
"Now?" Batman murmured. His emotions began to bubble. Unable to keep the other half of himself at bay, he allowed it to surface and the pain returned. Torn, he stared at Two-Face. Get him. That had been his partner's request. Getting his revenge for Nightwing was more important than anything... wasn't it?
"Once I have dealt with Two-Face, I'll..."
"Dammit, Bruce. Isn't Dick more important?!" Tim shouted.
Batman blinked. Dick? An image of the young man filled Bruce's mind. "What's happened?"
"He's... I don't know if he's going to make it." Tim's voice was horribly distorted as he fought the tears back. "You've got to come, Bruce. Please."
Batman spun around without giving Two-Face a second look. He raced to the Batmobile and leapt into it cursing. He should have listened to his gut earlier - hours ago when he had first had that twinge. Dick was in trouble. He'd known that. Sensed it... but he'd tried to ignore it. For what purpose? Dammit, Bruce. Isn't Dick more important?! Bruce's chest constricted. "Yes," he answered aloud.
Bruce swallowed and gripped the steering wheel with trembling hands.
Don't die on me, Dick!
© June 2004 Aussie Nightwriter. : This relates only to the creative property in this story. The distinctive way the story unfolds, the specific dialogue and unique situations are mine. I acknowledge that some of the characters and settings belong to DC comics. (g) No infrigement of copyright was intended and no profit has been made from this story... so, please don't sue me. It wouldn't be worth your while.