Disclaimer - I hereby disclaim.
Richie was pretty much hating life right now. Except for the Virgil part. His arm was hurt and bleeding from the spot where his IV had been removed. His chest and side felt like they were on fire and it hurt to take deep breaths. But the worst was that he was naked. Well, almost naked.
"Stupid hospital gowns. Why do they even bother giving you anything? It doesn't go all the way around, it's got stupid little bears on it, it's too short, it's too, too…"
"See-through?"
Richie blushed furiously and grabbed the blanket from the bed. Virgil, now in his Static uniform, laughed as he helped wrap up his embarrassed friend. As he tucked and fluffed, J'onn was busy fending off the nurses who had come in response to the change in Richie's heart monitor. He convinced them that their patient was fine but that he would have to be moved to another room. They agreed to return when the new arrangements had been made.
Static put the finishing touches on his blond bundle. Richie sat quietly, allowing Static to fuss over him.
"Rich? How you doing?"
"I think my heart is about to beat a hole in my chest," said Richie. "Static? Did you hear what Hotstreak said? Is it possible?"
J'onn, upon hearing the boys' conversation, replied, "It is entirely possible. Brainiac has plagued civilizations across the galaxy for centuries. He has managed to survive battle after battle with Superman and the rest of the Justice League. We were perhaps foolish to believe we had finally seen the end of him."
"OK, so let's assume that Brainiac is back. How did the Gruesome Twosome get mixed up with him? And why are they after me?"
Static had been wondering that himself, and he had some ideas. "They must have run into Brainiac at the docks. That's where we took him down, and that's where they released the second Big Bang. Brainiac somehow convinced them to nab you for him."
The door opened. J'onn and Static both took up defensive positions in front of the blond. While Richie appreciated the gesture, it kind of pissed him off, too. What was he, helpless? Richie started to stand but his legs, still quivering from exhaustion and the recent burst of adrenaline, failed to support him. Guess that answered that question. He plopped back down on the bed and peeked around his defenders.
"Batman!" exclaimed Static. "You just missed it. Hotstreak and Ebon showed up and tried to kidnap Richie."
Batman looked at the smaller superhero and remarked, "Since Richie's still here, can I assume you took care of them?"
Static's enthusiasm dampened. "Actually, J'onn did. You see…uh, it's like this…"
J'onn took pity on the teenager and told Batman what had happened, including the possibility of Brainiac having returned. Batman took in the sight of Richie's face - bruised, pale, tired -but with a stubborn tilt to his chin. Good. The boy was obviously afraid, but he wasn't going to be cowed. He'd need that spirit to face what lie ahead.
"J'onn, let the rest of the League know we may need them on short notice. In the meantime, we should relocate to a more secure location. When he is released, Richie can finish recuperating at the Watchtower."
Richie and Static's faces lit with joy and they turned to one another and knocked fists.
"Sweet! Hawk Girl can't make me sit in the corner now!"
"Pizza party in Flash's room!"
An alarm sounded shrilly in the room and throughout the hospital.
"Fire! Fire alarm!" They heard the shouts of other patients, visitors, and the hospital staff. The doctors, nurses, and orderlies began carrying out the building's evacuation plan.
Batman and J'onn look at one another. J'onn knew they shared the same thought. Diversion.
"Static, you're with me. J'onn, stay with Richie." J'onn nodded and stepped closer to the boy on the bed. Before Static could leave, Richie called for him.
"Yeah, Rich?"
"Be careful out there."
"You too."
"Hey! Got any trap or zap caps on you? Without my gear…kinda naked here."
Static smiled evilly, which made Richie blush again. He handed over the lone trap cap in his possession and kissed his love firmly on the lips.
"Later, partner."
"Later."
Batman and Static threaded their way through the controlled bedlam of people and equipment. Over the alarm and the excited babble of humanity, they both heard the sound of gunfire.
"Batman, my dad and sister are down there! So are Richie's parents!"
"Find and take care of your family. I'll take care of the Foley's." The superheroes split up, each taking a section of the bottom floor. While the other levels were evacuating in an orderly manner, the trauma center was chaos. Small fires had broken out, and Static could hear the shouts of the officers who had been on the scene. They were calling for backup and something about a…hostage situation?
Detective Aryah flagged down the electric hero. "Static! You deal with Bang Babies all the time. Maybe you can talk sense into him!"
"What's the sitch?"
"Hotstreak. He broke into the lounge and grabbed a suspect. He also took two civilians from the waiting room to use as hostages. We can't get close enough to find out what his demands are. He keeps shooting fireballs at us."
Static knew in his heart who the hostages were. Hotstreak was aware that Richie was close to Virgil's family. Francis had even been a Center kid once, so he had met both Sharon and Mr. Hawkins. If Hotstreak wanted Richie, he had chosen the perfect hostages. He guessed that the suspect Detective Aryah was talking about was Mr. Foley. Not such a great hostage, but Richie was loyal. Richie was a superhero. He would readily exchange himself for the man who hurt him. Static had to find another way.
J'onn stood by Richie's side, prepared to assist him if the boy's stubborn pride failed to keep him upright. He admired this young human. Horror upon horror had been visited upon him, first by those who raised him, and then by an alien entity bent on annihilation. And yet, he was at the center a bright, happy child who engendered protective instincts from those who had no reason to feel that way - Batman was one, and a certain displaced Martian was another. It was…interesting.
As he and Richie made slow progress towards the exit, they heard the crackle and whine of the intercom as the feed was opened.
"Riiiiichiiee. Richie Fooooooleeeeeeey. Come plaaaay with meeeee!" Hotstreak's singsong voice echoed through the swiftly emptying halls.
J'onn could feel what was coming. He had to get Richie out before the boy heard the rest of the fiery Bang Baby's words. He swept Richie into his arms, ignoring the angry and pain-filled protest. 'Hurry, J'onn. Static and Batman are counting on you to keep this one safe. Hurry.' He almost made it.
"Foley! You get your ass down to the ER right now, or I barbecue these nice people. Say something, nice people!" There were muffled sounds of struggle, then a brief scream.
"Leave her alone, Francis!"
"Settle down, there Mr. H. I'd rather use your son, but since good ole Virg is hiding like a coward from the Big Bad Bang Baby, I gotta make do. You hearing this, Foley? You got two minutes, then Miss Sharon is gonna find herself the guest of honor at a roast!" With that, the intercom was shut off.
Richie gasped. Sharon! And Mr. Hawkins! He had to go. He struggled in the Martian Manhunter's grip, but to no avail. The alien was just too strong.
"J'onn, please, let me down. I have to go to them!"
"I am sorry, Richie. Batman and Static will rescue your friends. You are not ready to face them." He felt badly for the teen, but he could not let him sacrifice himself. There was more going on here, he was sure of it. Brainiac wanted Richie; therefore, Brainiac could not be allowed to have Richie.
Richie continued to struggle. Before they reached the exit, the boy suddenly cried out in pain. J'onn quickly lay the young man on the floor. 'His injuries must have been exacerbated by all this movement,' thought J'onn.
Later, he would excuse his lack of vigilance as concern for Richie's physical well-being and his own attempts to block out the emotions of those around him.
"Hold still. I'll check…" Jonn's words were cut short as the reinforced metal arms of Richie's trap cap ensnared him.
Richie fought free of the blankets covering him and made it to his feet. "Sorry. But I can't let anything happen to Virgil's family."
Richie hobbled back down the corridor and ignored the Martian's pleas to stop. He moved into the stairwell; he would much rather have used the elevator, but he knew it was blocked during fire emergencies. He made it half-way down when he had to rest. As he leaned against the wall, the shadows around him coalesced into Ebon. The dark man held out his hand.
"C'mon, kid. The Tin Man's waiting."
He had no real choice. Shaking so hard his teeth chattered, Richie took Ebon's outstretched hand, and the two phased away.
Batman heard Hotstreak's announcement, but he knew J'onn would keep Richie out of harm's way. He would help Static in a moment. First, he had to make certain the rest of the patients were evacuated. He passed Officer Duran, who was escorting her suspect outside. Batman caught a glimpse of Richie's mother.
Seventeen years separated the woman he saw from the girl he knew, but those years had been kind. She was as lovely as the day he met her at that lecture on criminal psychology. Her glorious fall of ginger hair held no gray, and her eyes were clear and bright. Of course, she didn't recognize him as Bruce Wayne. Batman had not yet made his debut, and he had not seen her since that weekend.
What had J'onn said? 'The forest for the trees.' That was it. He brought up a picture of Richie in his mind. Richie looked like Maggie, but Bruce could be found in the shape of the boy's eyes. He was more evident in Richie's stubbornness and self-sufficiency. The boy would have had to be fiercely independent to have survived his childhood if Sean Foley could be believed. How many times had he stared into that young face and failed to see the face of a woman he had once known?
Could the Maggie he knew actually have done those things to her child? Bruce really hadn't given another thought to the pretty coed he had bedded that night. He had been in a dark place and had been unable to offer another human being more than a few hours of his care and attention. A dark place. A dark time.
But out of that darkness, a son.
His son. He had a son. Dick, Jason, Tim, they were all children of his heart, but Richie. Richie was his flesh and blood.
Richie. Richard. Thomas Richard Wayne. Richie had been named after his grandfather. Damn, he was getting slow in his old age.
He had to see Richie. Now.
The cat's out of the bag! I don't know Bruce's dad's middle name, so Richard seemed a good choice.
Noreen - As you can see, cliffies are my life!
Mo - You are a clever girly-whirly! I, too, look for any excuse to put off homework.
Doppleganger - I see the entire Hawkins family as being entirely accepting of others so long as they aren't hurting themselves or others. They've been through a lot with their family crises and with what they see at the Center. Thanks for the review.
AJ McKay - Thank you for the review. While there are many stories out there that are less than readable, I love the fact that people try. It takes a lot of courage to post even if it is under a pen name. Thanks as well for your comments on Richie. You were right and he was getting a little wimpy. It's hard, because I love Virgil-To-The-Rescue stories. But I took your words to heart and tried to give Richie a bit more sass. Hope you enjoy!
EyesLikeSilk and Estel Baggins - More J'onn for your viewing pleasure. J'onn angst! Eek!
KaliAnn - One kidnapping, as ordered.
Thanks to everyone else for reviewing the last chapter - Mystery Squeezit, KateMaxwell, Phoenix87, pita, Nikana, and Shi Rurouni of the Aphrodesiac.
Review?