Cassandra didn't know where she was going. She just needed to get away. What had happened back there? Why had the letters betrayed her like that? She was so tired of being stupid! She ran rather blindly for a few blocks before coming to a stop to gather her bearings. She recognized the little café where she and Babs would have lunch together sometimes. She sighed again. She didn't know what had gotten into her lately. Babs was her friend. And only trying to help. She wandered into the nearby park and plopped down on a shady bench, lost in thought.

She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there but suddenly she found herself being jolted out of her reverie by something small, hard, and round slamming into the side of her head. Shaking off the sting, she glared down at the softball lying innocently in the dirt beside the bench.

"Hey! You ok?" Cass turned and looked blankly at the boy who had suddenly ran up to her. He was wearing a catcher's mitt and an annoyed expression, though why, she couldn't fathom. "I told you to look out, didn't I?" he muttered disgustedly, bending down to retrieve the runaway ball. Cass honestly couldn't answer, as she had been too preoccupied to hear him even if he had shouted. She squashed the inclination to apologize... after all, she was the one who'd been hit in the head... and the boy shook his head and ran back to his game. Cass stood, thinking perhaps Babs would have left by now and she could have some peace and quiet.

"You sure you're ok?" She turned, surprised at the familiar voice. "Oh! Um, hey Cass..." Timothy Drake, the third and current Robin, obviously hadn't recognized the girl who'd gotten conked on the head as his colleague and sometimes partner.

"Tim." Cass nodded in greeting, mentally resigning herself to remaining in the park a while longer. His body language told her that he felt like talking. And Tim was an ok guy...he didn't make her feel stupid and he was a pretty good fighter, two attributes that ranked high on her list. He fidgeted for a moment and she sighed. "Sit." She demonstrated as she spoke, returning to her previous position on the bench.

"Um... sorry about Tyrone, he's ok most of the time, but he takes his sports way too seriously."

"Not your fault." Cass never had understood the tendency to apologize for things one hadn't done.

"Nah, I know. But still...I don't usually hang with them, outside of school that is, but it was a nice day and they needed a pitcher... of course then Jace came and he took over for me, so I was just sitting on the bench..." she tuned him out, revising her earlier favorable impression of him. He talked too much. She supposed, if that was his biggest fault, that she should be more lenient... after all, Tim was a nice guy. Sweet. And he obviously felt bad about the fact that his friends, or at least one of them, were jerks.

In truth, she really didn't care. She knew that other guy's actions weren't Tim's fault, and she wouldn't hold it against him. But if he felt the need to apologize and clear his conscience, she supposed she could let him.

"Cass?" Oops. She had tuned him out too well. What did he want? Had he asked her something? She blinked at him, trying desperately to find something to say. "Are you sure that ball didn't hit you too hard? Rattle your brain around a bit?" His tone was light, teasing, but his body language screamed unease. She smiled to reassure him.

"I'm fine. Just...distracted." She wasn't sure it was the best word, preoccupied would be better, or maybe frustrated, but it was still hard sometimes to make the words she wanted to convey actually come out of her mouth. He seemed to understand, though.

"Anything I can help you with?" She cocked her head in surprise. Not that he had offered... Tim was too nice not to try to help...but because he seemed sincere. The last time the two of them had spoken he had been rather short with her, giving the impression that he didn't like her. Of course, it had been shortly after he had quit being Robin, and right after he discovered that Stephanie, his supposed girlfriend, had stolen the identity for herself. Looking back, Cass supposed it would make sense that he lashed out at her.

Of course, then Stephanie had been killed and it had hit Tim hard. The second death of a friend of his in a short time...everyone in the Bat-family had been concerned. He had thrown himself into his work, pushing himself harder than ever, perhaps in an attempt to punish himself, or perhaps just to numb the pain, no one really knew. Though it had been a few months since Stephanie's death, everyone in Gotham's vigilante community was still adjusting.

"Not really." She answered after a long pause, realizing he was still waiting. Yet he didn't seem appeased by her short answer. His gaze was intent, probing. She pulled a face as she recognized the futility of trying to avoid this conversation.

"You sure? I can be a good listener." She had to bite back a laugh at that. He may be a good listener, she didn't know, by normal standards, but since she had lived nearly her entire life as a mute, she felt that she held the prize for such a title. Besides, she wasn't sure she could put all her worries into words. She opened her mouth to try to explain but Tim suddenly cut her off, standing and pulling her to her feet.

"Come on. We can do this over lunch. It's easier with food!" He threw her a cocky grin and she smiled agreeably in return. Some of her tension left; it was hard not to relax at his easy manner. Her stomach rumbled its assent and she was surprised to realize that she hadn't had anything to eat all day.

"Ok." Besides, perhaps this would give her a chance to figure out what exactly she was going to say to him once he began asking questions again. It wasn't until they reached a small, but popular, fast food restaurant that she had never been to that she felt the first wave of panic. How could she have forgotten?

She fretted silently as Tim scanned the menu, making his selections and stepping up to order. As he turned to her she clenched damp palms into fists to keep them from trembling. Would her defect be shown to all? Perhaps he, too, had some ability to read people, or maybe her face simply betrayed her panic, because his eyes widened and he turned back to the counter with a quick, "she'll have the same."

Neither said anything as they waited for the food, nor as they wove through the sea of tables to an unoccupied booth in a corner far away from other customers. By the time they actually sat down, Cass' nerves were strung so tightly she thought they would snap. Bats seemed to have taken up permanent residence in her stomach, removing any previous inclinations towards hunger. She sat stiffly as Tim passed her her hamburger and began to unwrap his own.

"I can't read." She blurted it out just as Tim moved to take the first bite of his sandwich. He blinked and slowly lowered it to the tray.

"I know. I'm sorry, I just forgot. Otherwise I would have made sure you knew what you wanted before ordering." Oh dear. He thought she was accusing him of something.

"No. I mean...yes, but not..." Well, heck. This wasn't working.

"Cass, what's wrong?" the concern in his voice was almost her undoing, but she took a deep breath, determined to get through this with some dignity.

"That is what's wrong. Why I was in the park today. Why I...I had to leave, see?" He didn't see, and she sighed. "Babs was in the apartment. She wants to... to help." Comprehension lit his eyes but before he could say anything she rushed on. "Babs thinks she can...can teach me... that she can force the words into my head. I want to learn. I've tried. But... but I think my brain... it doesn't work." She tapped her head with her finger to indicate that her brain was broken.

"I'm sure it's not that it doesn't work..." he began carefully, "it's just that learning takes ti..."

"NO!" she leaned forward, stressing the word, frustrated that he didn't understand. That she couldn't get the words out right. "Don't you see? I've tried. I try and try and try. I..." she slowed, taking a deep breath, "I'm just stupid." She finished bitterly.

"Cass!" Tim burst out, surprised at the depth of feelings in the mysterious girl across from him. "You're not stupid! How can you say that?! You are one of the most intelligent people I know! You...You...you can read people. You learned how to speak and understand English in a matter of months after a lifetime without any language at all! I know..." he held up his hand to stop her when she tried to interrupt, "that meta-guy messed with your head. But he only gave you the ability to understand... you spent the effort and the time to learn how to get the words he put in your head out."

"But..."

"No buts! You also have a unique evening job," he looked at her meaningfully, "that requires extreme intelligence, discretion, honor, and self control." He stopped for breath and Cass considered his words. Now that the pressure to read had been taken off she remembered how much progress she had been making. She had been able to read before Babs had showed up and insisted on putting her on the spot. Maybe not well, but she had at least known the letters. She sighed and smiled at him.

"Ok." He raised an eyebrow in question, but smiled back, recognizing that her dark mood had passed.


"You haven't heard anything?" Barbara Gordon sighed, frustrated. She wasn't sure what had gotten into Cassandra lately. She had visited her that morning, looking forward to helping Cass learn to read. As a former librarian with a photographic memory, Babs had found books to hold a special place in her life. As Oracle, the "go-to" girl for the heroes of the world, she knew that books could give crucial information. She just wanted to help Cass so that the younger girl could experience the wonder of reading. She didn't understand why it was taking Cass so long.

"Ok. Yeah, I'm sure she's fine." She switched off the connection and leaned back in her chair. If she were being truthful, she supposed that she also felt a bit guilty. She had pushed Cass away inadvertently, calling her stupid in a fit of panic when the library had been in danger. When she had seen the lessons on her floor she hadn't stopped to think. She had just leapt at the chance to make amends. She thought it could be some quality time together... heaven knows that they hadn't seen as much of each other since Cass moved to the cave, and then the apartment, as they had when Cass had actually lived in the clock tower. But something was bothering the young hero, and Babs intended to find out what.

A soft click snapped her out of her reverie, and she reached instinctively for her escrima sticks. It was Cass. Babs relaxed but remained alert, scanning the other girl quickly for injury or distress. She looked tired, but otherwise all right.

"Cass! Where have you been!?" She realized too late that she sounded like a fussy parent, and winced, waiting for the explosion of righteous indignation sure to erupt. But Cass just shrugged, putting a take-out bag away in the refrigerator.

"Out." Babs rolled her eyes but refrained from demanding a more descriptive answer. Cass hesitated in the kitchen for a moment, unsure of where she stood after running out on her friend. Babs' body language indicated concern, mild annoyance, but not any deep anger. Cass relaxed a bit. She moved to the couch and flipped on the TV. Babs rolled over, her expression becoming more intent.

"Cass, I think we need to talk." Cass shrugged. She had talked enough with Tim today. She didn't want to talk again. But she supposed Babs deserved an apology, if not an explanation.

"Sorry." At Babs' blank look she reiterated, "I'm...sorry. For this morning. Didn't mean to leave like that." As no more explanation seemed forthcoming, Babs decided a little prod wouldn't be amiss.

"Cass, what's wrong? What happened this morning?" her friend glared at her, but, as usual, it went unnoticed.

"Noth..." she reconsidered. Babs would fight it, but maybe if she just told her that she didn't want help learning to read, she would let her do it her own way. "Actually, I..." but how to tell her? She looked out the window at the setting sun. Babs probably wouldn't let her escape as Batgirl until she gave up the whole story. She sighed.

"What?"

"I didn't want...I don't..." she looked over at Babs and took a deep breath. "When you found out I was learning to read you came and took over. Made it harder. I... I can't do it with other people around." She wasn't sure if she was getting her point across, but Babs looked thoughtful.

"I'm sorry, Cassandra. I guess I thought it would be fun; some time for us to spend together. I didn't realize how hard it was for you. You should have said something." Cass relaxed, Babs wasn't a horrible monster after all.

"We could...eat." Cass glanced over at the refrigerator. She had regained her appetite after her chat with Tim and had devoured her hamburger and fries in record time. Tim had helped her with the menu as they sat in the booth and then she had ordered some more food to go. Surprisingly, once she had gotten her fears off her chest, the letters had come back to her and she had been able to recognize some of the words on her own.

"Eat?" Babs' followed her glance and assumed she meant right away.

"No." Cass smiled, reading Babs easily, "to spend...time with each other." Babs frowned a little, then her face eased into a smile as she understood.

"I think we could do that." The two women sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, before Cass stood, intending to suit up. Babs rolled herself towards the door, throwing back over her shoulder, "tomorrow, then?" Cass nodded, smiling. She heard the door close and a few minutes later she watched from her perch on the windowsill as Babs' custom SUV drove off towards the clock tower. Oracle was returning to her post for the evening, just as Batgirl was ready to fly.


Sirens. Flashing lights. All the signs of an emergency needing the assistance of a super hero. Batgirl crouched on a gargoyle, watching the scene unfold beneath her. Flames erupted from the windows of the building across the street. She wasn't sure what the building was, maybe an apartment complex, but only minutes ago Batman had left her on the rooftop with strict instructions not to move unless he contacted her. He had then melted into the shadows, entering the apartment and going after him.

The Joker. Had it really only been a few days ago that she and Babs had agreed to put aside their silly feud about Cass' ability, or lack thereof, to read? She waited impatiently, chafing against Batman's order that she remain out here. She could be down there helping. Another explosion rocked the building and she tensed, preparing to throw discretion to the wind and go rescue her mentor.

"Batgirl." Hearing the warning in his voice she turned. As she thought, he stood behind her, cape singed, but otherwise no worse for the wear. She waited, knowing he would tell her what he wanted her to know. "It was a decoy." The frustration in his tone mirrored her own. She noticed that he clutched something in his hand, a clue, no doubt, but he didn't say any more.

"Guys, I'm picking up a report of armed robbery at the Gotham City Trust and Credit over on 25th." Oracle's voice broke through the silence. There was a tension in her voice that wasn't normally there, and Cass knew it was because the Joker was on the loose. "Four armed men, no costumes..." she clarified that it wasn't related to their current hunt.

"Go." He motioned for Batgirl to take this call... she was being dismissed. She nodded curtly, throwing out a line and swinging off, but silently fumed about being sent to "babysit" a bank. Did Batman not think she could handle the Joker?! As she neared her destination, though, logic interceded. Of course. He would be inclined to send his partners away if at all possible. After Stephaine. After Jason. Not that she felt that she was going to make the same mistakes as the deceased heroes...she could probably take on the Joker by herself! But she knew he had his reasons and she supposed she could respect them.

The Gotham City Trust and Credit was dark. Silent. Batgirl hesitated as she landed on the rooftop of the café across the street. If there was an armed robbery going on, where was everybody?

"Batgirl?" she spun, startled at the soft question. Robin was crouched behind an exhaust vent, binoculars dangling from his fingers.

"Oracle said there was a robbery..." she trailed off. It didn't make sense. The report had to come from somewhere. Yet there were no police cars, no blaring alarms. Nothing.

"Yeah, I heard. I thought I'd check it out since I was in the vicinity."

"Well?" she demanded impatiently.

"Well... I don't know where Babs got her info. There's no one there. I've been here five minutes and there's been no movement, no activity of any kind."

"Decoy?" she thought of the fire a few blocks away and decided that if this was a decoy, it was pretty lame.

"Yeah, maybe." But he sounded uncertain. Cass shrugged.

"Let's check it out." Robin looked down again and frowned.

"I don't know, it could be a trap. Maybe we should call Oracle and see..." he was cut off by an explosion and a scream. Batgirl launched into action with Robin seconds behind her. She flew through the window of the bank, covering her head as she crashed through the unbroken glass. She was up and surveying the scene as Robin landed lightly behind her.

"Look!" he pointed to a pile of bodies. Four men lay sprawled on the floor, either unconscious or dead, as the flames crept closer. It looked as though they had tried to bust open the vault and it had backfired. Literally. The two young heroes sprung into action, pulling the men out of harm's way. As she was pulling the last one through the window a movement caught her eye. She couldn't make out a form, but a shadow was moving through the smoke and the flames.

"Robin..." she didn't get the chance to finish, as something small and hard flew out of the shadows, striking her in the head. She fell to one knee, a hand at her temple, trying to shake off the dizziness caused by the impact.

"Batgirl!" Robin dropped his burden a few feet away from the bank's outer wall and rushed towards her. He had just reached her, placing a hand on her shoulder to help her up, when an eerie laugh floated out of the smoking building. "Joker!" the name came out almost unconsciously, his hand flying to his belt for a weapon. Batgirl looked up as the man emerged, cackling wildly.

"Why, if it isn't the little bird-brain himself! Hee hee heeee!" he did a funny little jig and then stopped as he noticed Batgirl. "What's this? Ooo! It's two-for-one night in the big city tonight!" More shadows began to move, morphing into henchmen, at least twelve. Her head still ringing, Batgirl struggled to stand, prepared to fight. Robin had already taken something out of his utility belt, but as she tensed for combat he lay a restraining hand on her arm.

"No." it was spoken so softly she almost didn't hear, and she certainly didn't understand. But Robin's body language was tense, too tense. He didn't want her to fight. Why? "We need to regroup. He's got a plan... we need backup." She nodded her understanding. She had never met the Joker face to face, but she had seen plenty of pictures and heard enough to know no one underestimated him.

Unfortunately the nodding movement caused her to stumble dizzily for a second. With grim determination Robin tossed whatever it was he had hidden in his hand at both the Joker and his henchmen. Clouds of smoke billowed out, knockout gas erupting to cover them.

"Come on!" she felt strong hands grab her around the waist and then Robin's grapple gun exploded outwards, sending out a tether to pull them to safety.

"No! Come back! You idiots! You let them escape!" Batgirl didn't hear the rest of the Joker's ranting. She felt a strange sense of vertigo and momentarily noted Robin's shocked face as the darkness closed in around her. Before she completely succumbed, though, she heard Robin's voice, both in person and over the comm, calling for help.


To be continued...