ISOH-Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

It took the headlines to worry Dick Grayson as he sat in Sanctuary, and Emma to come up with the perfect idea to calm the city of Gotham. It might also work against the Riddler. The problem, though, was going to be convincing Adam, at the same time making sure that Bruce Wayne was okay with it.

Brennan was elected spokesman, while the rest of the group readied the helix for the mission. He headed into Med Lab expecting to find Adam working on yet another blood test. He wasn't expecting to find Bruce Wayne still unconscious, his lips blue and Adam putting oxygen canales up Wayne's nose.

"Adam, oh man, he's worse?" Brennan stopped.

Adam finished his work, patted the unconscious man on the shoulder almost reflexively and looked up.

"His oxygen level is not good," Adam looked grim, "But I have managed to stop the damage to his lung function. It's just going to take time. You have that look. What are you guys planning?"

"I don't know if you're going to like it, but it makes the most sense," Brennan started, watching Adam's motions from the start; this was going to be a tough sell.

"Emma, Shal, Jesse, Dick and I have come up with the plan to go into Riddler's lair, use whatever antidote that you have made and well, we go as Batman and Robin, the girls and Dick acting as backup," Brennan put it on the table.

"What the Riddler is expecting is Batman and Robin, why not give them to him?" Brennan said, "I'm tall enough for Bruce's costume, the Riddler isn't going to have an idea of who really is in the costume, Adam."

"And what, you're going to bring Dick in with you?" Adam let his mind work on this plan, he was against it instantly, and "You know that you're not Batman."

"No, he's not," Bruce Wayne said softly from his place in the Med Lab.

"Sorry, Bruce, you need to sleep," Adam started toward his patient, surprised that he was awake.

"No, I don't at this moment," Bruce's eyes were open but it was obvious that he was in pain, "Brennan Mulwray, that's your name isn't it?"

He looked at the younger man. Brennan looked back, not with a look of fear, but steel determination in his eyes.

"Yes, sir, it is," Brennan said, "How much of this plan did you hear?"

"You and Dick in the Riddler's lair," Bruce's reply was labored, it hurt for him to breathe deeply, "You think that you can go against this madman alone?"

"He wouldn't be alone," Dick interrupted, coming into the room, "Bruce, he's faced guys like we have. They have an elaborate backup system here. I think it will work."

"What you and I think will differ greatly, Dick," Wayne sat up on his own, "What powers do you posses, Brennan, and what about your friends?"

"I can conduct electricity," Brennan began, "Should be useful against the Riddler, he's expecting you and Dick, if Jesse and I went in as the two of you."

"Jesse?" Bruce seemed confused, "Jesse Kilmartin?"

Jesse entered the room at the sound of his name.

"Yes, Mr. Wayne, it's me," he said, walking up to the foot of Bruce's bed, "Good to see you again and it's nice to repay you for all the kindness you gave me as a child."

"You don't owe me any favors," Bruce said, his eyes meeting Jesse's, "But you have powers of your own?"

"He can walk through walls, Bruce, it's pretty cool," Dick's interrupted, "I think we'd have the upper hand if they were in costume."

"But can you handle the backup role, Dick?" Bruce asked, "And are you online with the mansion's computers?"

"Yes and yes," Dick replied, "Alfred knows where you are as well."

Bruce weakly smiled. It was good to see that Dick had fit in well with this team, while all the time making sure that the home team was informed.

"Okay then, I will approve it," Bruce agreed, looking over the relief that covered the faces in the room, "Brennan, the Riddler is to be approached with caution. He's deadly."

"Thank you sir," Brennan shook Bruce's outstretched hand, "I'll make you proud."

"As will I, Mr. Wayne," Jesse added.

The three younger men left the room, leaving Adam to tend to his patient.

"You can never tell Jesse what I really did," Bruce said, his voice growing weak, "If he ever knew what Noah did and that I only found out afterward..."

"I got him out of there, Bruce, he's alive and well, and a very strong young man," Adam's tone was registered, "He knows what Noah did, that's something he's still working out. He's making the world a better place. Like you and Dick do."

"Really?" Bruce lay back down, "That's good to know."

"You and Dick are heroes to my team," Adam leaned over and pulled the discarded blanket back up over his patient, "Let my team be heroes to yours."