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:
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)
WARNING: I have nooooo medical knowledge. There are likely to be inaccuracies in this story. I hope you can enjoy it 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 want to thank Bessie 1, flame guardian(), WhiteTigeress326, stephanieff()and Missy May,
who I haven't been able to send personal thanks to because I don't have their e-mail addresses. You comments and support and very much appreciated.
Leahblueeyes and Aniki my message to you keep bouncing. I'm not sure why.
Another long tired sigh echoed out of the young man in the bed and he unconsciously reached for his ribs.
Bruce squeezed his shoulder. "You aren't up to this."
"You need to rest," Alfred added.
Dick scanned the faces of the those around him. All wore expressions reflecting deep concern. "I'm okay. Really. Just feel whacked." Dick collected his thoughts. "I don't know how I got to the bank, but I did." He remembered thinking that Bruce had probably dived in after him and that he had to get ashore so he could help his friends rescue Batman. "I think I was awake for a while, but... I can't really remember. When I woke up, there was someone learning over me."
"One of the Templer Monks?" Bruce guessed.
Dick glanced at the older man and grinned wearily. "I hate it when you do that."
"Nice to see you getting some of your own back," Roy chuckled. "Now you know how I feel when you do it to me."
Dick winked at his friend and then turned back to Bruce. "How did you know?"
"It was the cloak you were wearing. It's of the type worn by the Templer Monks."
"Templer Monks?" Roy asked.
"They have a monastery about 100 miles out of Gotham. They've been completely cut off since the earthquakes." In the wake of the devastation, the decision was made to clear the city of debris as quickly as possible. The area west of Gotham had been pastoral. Farmers hadn't been happy about the decision to reclaim their land as a huge dump site but the area was unstable after the earthquakes anyway, wide fissures opened in the land. More than two hundred hectares were evacuated so that truckload after truckload of rubble could be deposited in the unstable area. Despite repeated attempts to remove them, the monks had refused to leave their monastery. They were completely self-sufficient and thus had no need to abandon their spiritual home. They didn't like being disturbed and so the huge man-made wasteland created around them was welcomed. No one had entered the area since the departure of the last truck some twelve months earlier.
"I know the river goes out past the old monastery, but you couldn't possibly have been carried that far," Tim pointed out. "I mean, the river was enormous."
Dick nodded. "Tell me about it."
"Considering the speed the water was running, it is very possible that he could have been carried that far quite quickly," Bruce muttered. Of course, the amazing thing was the fact that somehow Dick had remained afloat.
"That's where all of your injuries occurred?" Roy asked, indicating Dick's bandaged chest. Bruises also covered Grayson's arms and legs. Roy shook his head. "God, Dick."
"I... I don't remember a lot." He glanced at Bruce. "Cassie got the little girl," he confirmed.
Wayne nodded. His brow furrowed. Dick had avoided answering Roy's question.
"Thank, God. As soon as I dived in after the toddler I realized I had left her behind."
"What do you remember?" Bruce pressed.
"Not a lot. I remember clinging to something and being tossed about in the river" His mind drifted as memories surfaced. He had been pummelled in the water by everything from trees to cars. It was all a blur beyond the pain and his determination to keep his head above water. "I remember someone hovering above me. I guess I must have been washed up on the bank somewhere in the wasteland near the monastery. The monks must have found me. I was aware of them but... it's all a blur really. When I started thinking straight, I tried to make them understand that I had to call you, but they just didn't seem to get it."
"The monks take a vow of silence," Alfred explained. "And one of poverty. They don't have electricity or phones so contacting anyone would have been impossible."
"Yeah, I realized that after a while. As soon as I was strong enough, I got them to understand that I needed to go. They gave me some clothes and some food and I left. Walked day and night. Didn't stop until... " Grayson swallowed. He'd lost his train of thought. He was starting to find it difficult to concentrate again. His need to close his eyes was becoming more insistent. His body was reverberating with a dull ache, while painkillers and fatigue amalgamated to cloud his mind.
"Three days, Dick. God, how did you do it?" Tim murmured.
"Don't remember a lot of it, Kid Just knew I had to get back because you probably all thought I... " The young man's sentence faded out.
Bruce nodded. "We thought you'd drowned."
"Sorry." The message was for all, but Dick was staring into the face of the man who had raised him.
"None of it matters," Wayne stated simply. You're back.
Grayson frowned. "You look like you've been ill."
"He got hypothermia after spending all night looking for..." Roy jabbed Tim in the ribs.
Dick's eyes narrowed. "I see. And if I'd done that, you'd have kicked my ass."
Alfred flicked his eyes to Bruce. "He knows you well."
Wayne shook his head with very real amusement.
Grayson turned to Roy. "What are you doing in Gotham?"
"Tim summoned me with a gold pen call." Roy winked at his friend.
Grayson blinked as he searched his memory for some form of understanding. Unfortunately he was fighting a losing battle against his need to sleep. Finally, recollection settled in the fog. "I hope you don't mind. I wanted Tim to have someone to go to if he if ever couldn't contact Bruce or me"
"No worries. I was pleased to help out. Hey, I wonder what the hell ever happened to that pen?" Roy laughed.
"Are you hungry?" Bruce asked.
"Don't know." Dick blinked slowly and his eyelids became heavier. "I guess so. Haven't... eaten for... a while." The words slurred together as exhaustion tugged at him.
Wayne grabbed Roy and Tim's attention and lowered his voice. "Can one of you go and get Leslie? She's in the library."
"I'll go," Tim offered. He rose quickly and headed for the door.
"I'll come with you," Roy offered. It was clear his friend wasn't up to visitors yet.
Wayne nodded his thanks.
"Boys, I know you want to let everyone know he's alive but I think it would be best to keep Dick's return to ourselves until he's ready to..." Bruce glanced down at the topic of conversation. Dick's eyes were closed again and deep breathy breathing was echoing out of him. "...until he's strong enough to take the attention."
"Hell, he must have been sick," Roy muttered.
"He walked three days," Tim pointed out.
"Pure guts and determination," Harper stated. "Once Dick has something in his mind, no one can change it."
"You're not telling me anything I don't know," Bruce murmured. "He just needs to rest. The last thing he needs is a whole lot of people coming out here to wish him well."
"I agree," Roy supported.
"At least until Leslie clears him for visitors," Alfred added.
Tim flicked his eyes from one to the other of his companions realizing that the conversation was for his benefit. Finally he allowed his attention to fall on Dick. "Yeah, but we can't keep this to ourselves for long. There are a lot of people who care and deserve to know he's alive."
"Help me get him back down," Bruce requested. Roy eased his hands under Dick's left shoulder, Bruce his right. Together the two men slid Dick back down into the bed. Grayson awoke startled, struggling against the caring hands holding him.
"Easy. It's okay. Go to sleep," Wayne ordered.
"Sorry, didn't mean to drop off. Can't keep... my eyes... open."
"You've got a lot of sleep to catch up on. You take as long as you need."
Thanks, Bruce.
Wayne smiled, picked up Dick's hand and squeezed it. The action held as much affection as any hug. Roy and Tim exchanged happy smiles and quietly left the room. Alfred's face reflected not only his happiness but his pride. He definitely had both of his boys back.
Outside, Roy slapped Tim on the back as they headed for the stairs. "Well, what do you know. Bats is human after all. If this keeps up, I'll be insisting on DNA testing to prove it's him," Roy whispered.
Tim grinned. "He loves Dick, Roy. He just isn't someone who shows his emotions a lot."
"Let's be honest and say that basically he's a mongrel but a mongrel who's slowly growing on me." Of course, if Bruce didn't live up to his pledge, Roy was just the man to remind him of it.
Tim rolled his eyes but like Roy, he was riding a wave of pure joy and relief. Having been able to speak to Dick, had allowed both men confirm that their battered friend was indeed okay. "Can I ask you something, Roy?" Tim asked, stopping at the top of the stairs.
"Go for it, Kid."
"What the hell is a gold pen call?"
Arsenal grinned and leaned back against the railing. "Long story, Tim." Roy sent his mind back. "When I was about fourteen, the President presented Ollie with a gold pen for his philanthropy work. Ollie was soooo proud of it. He kept it in the wall safe at home."
"You didn't?" Tim chuckled.
"Red flag to a bull, Kid. I snuck it out and took it to a JLA meeting to show it off. In those days Robbie, Twinkle Toes and I used have to wait in the common room while the adults had their meeting. I showed the pen to Dick and Wally and then... I don't know how it happened, but I lost it."
"What did Ollie do?"
Roy smiled. "Telling him was not my first response. Dick was incredible. He was so calm. First he rang Alfred and asked for permission to use his credit card. Then he went on-line and found a pen that looked exactly the same as the one I'd lost. He arranged for a courier to deliver it directly into my hand within forty minutes. We swore each other to secrecy and to this day, Ollie doesn't know it's a different pen."
Tim shook his head, smiling broadly.
"A few years later, Wally got himself into some trouble. He wouldn't tell us what it was and before I knew it, he and I were arguing like hell. Dick didn't bat an eyelid. He just asked Wally if he remembered the day we had replaced the gold pen and said that it looked to him like this was another gold pen type of situation. Help needed - total secrecy - no questions asked."
"And did you help him?"
"Yeah, he told us what the problem was and we fixed it."
"Which was?" Tim asked curiously.
Roy shook his head. "I can't betray his trust, Tim. We did what we had to. It wasn't a high point in Wally's life. I guess I was the first to make a gold pen call," he added, changing the subject. "When I was trying to find my daughter I realized I needed help, but I couldn't explain a lot. I was sort of in over my head and not exactly on the right side of the law."
"Help needed - total secrecy - no questions asked," Tim murmured.
"Exactly. I rang Dick and told him it was a gold pen call. He flew half way across the world and helped me, no questions asked. I owe him so much. He's the one person I've always been able to depend on even when I've strayed from the straight and narrow. That's why if anything happens to me, custody of Lian goes to Dick."
Tim's eyes widened.
"You thought Donna?" Roy guessed.
"Well, I... yeah."
"Donna would play a huge role in raising Lian, Dick knows that, but Lian's mother is a dangerous woman and I want my daughter in the safest hands possible. There is no question in my mind whose hands those are. Dick would be able to protect her from Cheshire and from anyone and anything else." Complete confidence resounded in each and every syllable. That, Tim could understand. He felt exactly the same way about the man he thought of as an older brother.
VVVVVVVVVV
Bruce watched Roy and Tim go and then returned his attention to Dick. Grayson felt pressure applied to his hand and he sighed deeply. He felt tired, but safe and incredibly relieved.
Bruce swallowed. He'd been given the time he'd asked for. Now he had the opportunity to say all that he should have over the years. "Dick, I...."
"I'll check and see where Leslie has got to," Alfred interrupted, exiting the room. His boys deserved some time alone.
Bruce licked his lips as he searched for some way to put what he felt into words. "When you went under...when you slipped through my fingers I..."
Dick blinked, struggling to focus on what Bruce was saying. He was aware of the strain on his former guardian's face. "Bruce..."
"No, let me speak." Wayne rose to his feet, releasing Dick's fist. The billionaire ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he tried to explain all he felt. "When I woke up in hospital and Alfred told me that you were gone..." He couldn't finish the statement as the grief, shock and anger he had felt at the time rose up once again. He turned away from Dick and chose a spot on the wall to focus on, hoping it would be easier than facing his son. "It isn't possible, Dick. One person can't do it. I couldn't stop any of it from happening. I couldn't save them all... I couldn't even save you. I've finally realized... I mean... I lost you. I was right there and I couldn't stop..." His voice choked up and broke. "Dick, it's a war out there. It always has been and it always will be. The war goes on, but... I can't." The admission was hushed. "I've realized that none of it means anything without y..." Bruce paused as he became aware of the deep breathing coming from the injured man. He stared down at his boy whose heavily bandaged chest rose and fell evenly in the throngs of sleep. Wayne swallowed and squeezed his eyes shut. For several seconds he stood, drowning in frustration and emotion.
Finally, Bruce opened his eyes, stepped up to the bed and tucked the blankets around his boy. There would be time later. Leslie appeared in the doorway.
"He's asleep again. We got him to drink some water," Wayne informed her, regaining his composure.
"Was he in any pain?" the doctor asked, reaching for Dick's brow.
"A little, I think. He's still exhausted."
"Next time he wakes I want to take him down to the cave to x-ray his chest and skull. Now, it is about time you got some rest. I'll sit with him for a while."
Wayne shook his head. "No, I'll stay. He keeps waking unsettled."
Leslie's heart lifted. It had been a long time since she had seen this side of Bruce. "I'll bring you some coffee."
"Tim and Roy?" Bruce inquired.
"Left a few minutes ago." While it warmed Leslie's heart to see Bruce placing Dick first, it also concerned her in light of both Alfred's and Tim's comments. Both had expressed alarm at the fact that Bruce had shown no indication that he intended pulling the cape back on. That said a great deal about Bruce's state of mind.
"Tim said it was important to try and gain some control in Gotham. Things are quite bad." The doctor waited for a reaction from Bruce, but there was none. She had never seen Wayne disinterested in what was happening in his city. All her life she had worried over his obsession, the unrealistic objective he had set himself as a young man and the pressure he placed on himself every night he donned the cowl. There had been times when she had begged him to take some time off. As she stared into the face of the man she had played a part in raising, she saw something far more worrying - indifference. This was what Tim and Alfred had told her earlier and she hadn't been prepared to believe them. "I hate to admit it, but Batman is badly needed," Leslie urged in a hushed voice.
"Batman has done all he can and it wasn't enough. It could never be enough, Leslie," Bruce replied, his voice void of any emotion.
Thompkins frowned. "What are you saying?"
Bruce turned from her and let his eyes fall on Dick. "I'm finally seeing things clearly."
"But what does that mean, Bruce? That you're retiring?"
© August 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.