Disclaimer: Batman does not belong to me. It belongs to DC Comics.

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Chapter Twelve (The Past At Rest):

Shadow landed hard on the ground. He lost his footing and rolled downhill. Of course he'd been seen, his being in the Batcave wasn't exactly part of the plan. He slowly got up and took a breath shakily. He was being hunted, he'd need to move soon.

Shadow examined the cave as he ran. The first thing he needed to do to take the advantage was to set up the battlefield. He'd need something that worked to his favor. Finally, he spotted it. He leaped off and landed softly on the cave floor. He turned into a narrow passage. By setting up the fight here, he could get rid of the advantage they had. Two on one may have been a bad situation for Shadow, after all, both Nightwing and Batman had been a formidable team. No doubt they had prepared for the fight sufficiently.

His labored breath slowed as his camouflaged body seemed to blend into the black walls of the cave. He sensed everything from vibrations to the sound of bats blinking, which was very much less than a whisper. His sense of smell could sense blood. He was bleeding and his body ached, but he dared not move a muscle. Another smell caught his attention, but his composure lay undisturbed as he crouched, ready and unmoving.

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Nightwing landed on the floor of the cave making sounds that were slightly louder than a whisper. Batman followed him closely, making no noise except for the billowing of his large cape.

Nightwing looked around. They had come upon a narrow passage. He could've sworn he heard Shadow move this way. As he was about to turn back, he was launched bodily into the wall. Things broke. Not the walls.

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Batman jerked back, unbelieving what he'd seen. Shadow had stood next to them all along! He readied himself into an Aikido fighting stance. This time, he was ready.

Shadow struck with a kick to the side. Batman grabbed the foot and threw Shadow away. But Shadow, more confident now, landed silently like a panther as he hit, feet first into the wall. He recoiled and leaped off, shoulder tackling Batman into another wall.

Batman grimaced as he struggled to get up, but Shadow put a foot on his chest. "Not this time, Bruce." He declared.

"I understand. But know this," Batman said. A flicker of a smile appeared on his lips, "My cave, my rules."

Just then, the wall next to them exploded into a red and blue blur. It spun quickly and marvelously with the greatest finesse. The blur stopped revealing a muscular figure with a red cape. On his chest was an "S". "Super--" Jason started, but he was immediately pinned into a solid wall.

He awoke groggily with a tight bandage around his chest. Alfred was wiping his forehead with a damp cloth. "Ah, Master Jason!" He greeted, "So glad you've finally regained consciousness. Master Bruce would like a word."

"No, don't tell him I'm awake. I was just leaving." Jason made to grab his clothes hung on the chair.

"Jason." Bruce Wayne walked into the room, followed closely by Superman.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me, super hearing, right?" The glint in Superman's eye was proof enough. "Man, I've got to get me one of those."

"We need to talk." Bruce interrupted.

"No, I don't think we do." Jason answered. "I was just leaving."

Bruce put a hand on Jason's shoulder stopping him. "Your emotions are clouding you still, Jason. Not even the training you did could help you master what I tried to teach you. Whatever you're angry at me for shouldn't affect your judgment. Besides, the matter at hand is bigger than you or me."

"Fine, Bruce, you wanna talk? Let's talk!" Jason grabbed the chair and sat on it. "One minute, Bruce, that's all I'm giving you."

"Tim's gone." Bruce said matter-of-factly.

Jason laughed. "So the new Robin's smartened up a bit and realized what a real prick you are. Big fucking deal."

"It's nothing like that, Jason." Bruce reasoned, now a little annoyed. "He disappeared while he was on patrol." When Jason didn't answer, Bruce continued, "Please, Jason. I'm not doing this for me or anything. This is for Tim. You know how it's like being the Robin."

"Yeah, I do." Jason could only answer.

"Now I know I've made a lot of mistakes with you and Dick, but you've got to understand, I'm trying to correct it all. Make amends for Tim. The only strings that were left untied are with you." Bruce could see the color building up in Jason's face. "But that's my fault. I know what I did back when you were Robin was wrong. I just thought that it was for the best, for all of us. You would've figured out the answers to your questions eventually. Look, I'm sorry, Jason. I made a mistake, cut you deeply with a scar that can't heal. But understand that the family you had at Gotham needs you now, more than ever. Help, if not for me, then for Tim!"

Jason wasn't sure how to respond. The anger that seemed to have been accessed easily before was gone. Did he forgive Batman? No, what they did was unforgivable, but... he couldn't help but think that there was more truth in what Bruce said than what he had meant it to be. More truth than Bruce ever admitted. Maybe he had changed. He slipped on his costume and prepared to leap off the Manor. "I'll think about it." Within a second, he was gone.