Hey, guys! Here's Chapter 12!

Disclaimer: I own Camden Academy and its inhabitants, but nothing else. (sigh)

Chapter 12

"How are you feeling?" Robin heard as he opened his eyes. He looked and spotted Mike in a chair next to his bed.

"Like a herd of wildebeests stampeded over me. What happened?"

"Uh, the nurse says you were sleepwalking last night, and you fell down the steps. I was there. Don't you remember anything?"

Robin shook his head. "Not a thing. Did I really sleepwalk?"

"Yep, and it was really creepy. Do you always do that?"

"Not that I've ever heard," Robin said as he sat up.

"The doctor said that the worse injury you've got is some bruises and bumps. They'll ache a while, but you'll be okay."

"Did he say anything else?" Robin asked, suddenly tense.

"Like what?"

"Well, is he going to tell Slade?"

Mike looked at him as if doubting his sanity. "What, your father? They're required by law to tell him, and the nurse said that the only thing she'll tell him is that you fell down the steps. That way, he can think whatever he likes, most likely that you fell down them on your way to class. She says that she didn't like your dad when she saw him on your first day."

"Oh. Listen, Mike, could you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well, today is one of the village days. Could you go into town and pick up a watch battery for me?"

"What, watch stopped working?" Mike joked. "Sure, I'll go right now. See you soon."

With that, Mike got up, left the infirmary, and headed off to the village, wondering what the real reason that Robin wanted a watch battery.

"You know, I like your silent partner," Beast Boy said as he settled back into the seat of the limo. "He's got an appreciation of the finer things in life."

Batman only smiled. "He believes in doing things in comfort."

"Yeah, but this is way comfortable!" Cyborg said, checking out the small minibar that had been stocked with soda, spring water, and iced tea.

"So where are we headed?" Raven asked, turning to Batman.

"Towards Oxford. We'll stay there a few days and continue searching, hopefully finding something that will lead us to Robin."

"Why Oxford?" Raven wanted to know.

"I have a friend there who can possibly help us, and he has every reason in the world to hate Slade," Batman told her.

"Sounds like our kind of guy," Cyborg said, grinning.

Robin was allowed to leave the infirmary after two days. During that time, the nurse talked with him, and she accepted that Robin couldn't tell her anything, and that there was no need to call in the police. The only thought that kept Robin going was that he could get away from Slade if he stayed for the rest of the semester, and that he now had a way to power his communicator should Slade go back on his word.

Robin and Mike wandered outside, talking about everything that Robin had missed while he'd been under the nurse's care. It wasn't until a pungent odor assailed his nose that Robin asked where they were going.

"To the barn," Mike replied, grinning at the stupefied look on Robin's face. "I'm friends with the riding master, and he's arranged for us to take a ride today. You ever ride before?"

"Sometimes," Robin said, hesitantly.

"Well, don't worry. All of these horses are perfect sweethearts. You give 'em a lump of sugar and they'll do whatever you want."

They reached the barn and Mike walked right in, calling for Jerry. A man came out of the tackroom with two helmets in his hands.

"There you are, ya little rascal," Jerry said, grinning as he walked up. "Put these on, you know the rules, you nut."

"Am I a rascal or a nut?" Mike asked, but he did as he was told anyway. Robin did the same, finding himself instinctively liking Jerry.

"So, this is your friend, is it?" Jerry asked, surveying Robin. "Well, I dare say a ride will do you good; you look a little peaked. You need some fresh air to get in you, and the best way to do that is on horseback."

"Who'd you pick out for us?" Mike asked.

"Scarborough Fair and Lavender's Blue," Jerry said, waving his hand toward two stalls. "Both are tacked up and ready to go."

"Thanks, Jerry," Mike said, and Robin shyly voiced his thanks. Together they led the horses out of the barn, mounted up, and set the horses at an easy walk. Once they were away from the school they trotted, cantered, and then walked again.

"Jerry's a good one," Mike said as soon as they had walked a little longer. "He plays a surrogate dad to me a lot of the time. He lost his parents when he was a kid, did you know that?"

Robin looked at him, wondering where that had come from.

"That Slade idiot isn't your dad," Mike said. "I don't know who he is or why you're stuck with him, but if you're in trouble, Jerry will help you out."

"I can't talk about it," Robin said, gritting his teeth to keep from saying anything more.

"I thought not," Mike said. "But if you need help, Jerry will help you. Just thought you should know."

Robin nodded, and they continued riding.