Before you, my dear readers get started on chapter 2; I would like to clarify certain things. First as the name of this fanfic might imply, and to those who understand this implication, this will be a semi-crossover with vertigo's Sandman. I say semi because it will have at its center ideas that where mentioned (but not stressed upon) in the comic. Some of the characters are also secondary characters from the comic.

Thank you.

Disclaimer: Batman and all other Heroes belong to DC and Vertigo. I owe nothing thus you get nothing for suing me.

Gotham: the Dreaming

Chapter 2

"It's not a telepath."

That statement, said in a tone of utter certainty, nearly drove Batgirl to murder. Not literal murder mind you, but more on the lines of mental murder; the art of imagining killing Batman in a multitude of painful ways (with a verbal narrative to go with because Barbara insists on it).

It has been a very frustrating three hours for Cassandra Cain; after the telepath, because she was sure it was a telepath, had escaped her. She returning to the Bat cave (named as such because it's a cave full of bats); she gave a full summary of her encounter with her conclusions. She was rather proud that she had needed Robin to help her find the right words only twice. Of course it wasn't the best summary because there where a lot of it that had to do with her own unique skill; it is rather hard to explain color to a man born blind.

Batman had listen without questions, then sat for half hour thinking; brooding as Tim said, then gave that statement with out explanation.

"Yes it was!" she answered with as much certainty, she had already had dealings with a telepath; and not even the Batman was going to rain on her parade. "I no stupid… I am NOT stupid. I had de… deal… dealing with telepath before. I know signs." She continued before he could interrupt her with an "I'm-right-your-wrong" grunt. Cassandra knew she that she was sounding a bit childish, but so did he by simply dismissing her claim out of hand. If it was Robin who had said it was a telepath Batman wouldn't dismiss it that fast.

Until that very moment Cassandra didn't know how much it meant to her to be right. Every since the incident with Coldcase (Please refer to "Justice League Elite"), her confidence in herself, and the confidence in her by the rest of the Bat crew, has been shaken. She didn't know if she was in love with him, or if it was a crush like the one she had on Super boy and the rebel. But she was wrong. And it had left her unsure of a lot of things.

She was surprised to feel her eyes stinging, and she didn't have her mask on to hide that. Her father Cain would be disappointed in her; crying because some one disagreed. But it was so hard not to, all of the Bat clan has had a very turbulent year; some more then others, all of them had lost something or someone. She needed to more then just the muscle, she needed to be more then just the weapon, and she needed to be more, period; if for no other reason then her own self-esteem.

The sight from Batman got her out of the depressing spiral that she was going into. "Cassandra… listen to me. Go up stairs, get something to eat, shower and then come back." Batgirl completely missed the gentle tone that Batman had used or the fact that he had pulled of his cowl when he said it. All she heard was that she was dismissed and for once she was going to stand her ground and argue until he saw reason.

"Please."

That one word nearly floored her; it did Robin, who was lounging in one of the computer chairs. To hear Batman, well more Bruce, say that had to be one of the rarest things in the world. Poor Cassandra didn't know what to do, how can you argue with someone who isn't acting like a big jerk? "Please." To hear it again was more then she could fathom.

"Come Cass, Alfred has some soup ready, and I think he made some cookies if my nose didn't trick me." Tim said, nudging her towards the stairs. "Cookies! What kind?" Cass answered in a small hopeful voice. "Chocolate Chip!" Tim responded with a wide grin. Dick, a.k.a Nightwing, a.k.a original Robin, a.k.a former Boy Wonder, a.k.a "Oh my god did you get a look at that ass", or "Mr. Ass" (but only to the opposite sex); had once deducted that Alfred's cookies was the only thing that kept the Bat clan sane, saner. To prove his theory he had snuck one of these cookies into the laboratory, and put it through every test known to man; the tests were inconclusive. Tim, never to be out done by his older bro, had then theorized that instead of putting the criminals in Arhkam, they should instead tie them up and force feed them the cookies; in an attempt to reform them. That theory, unfortunately, has never been put to the test. Yet (might write a fanfic about just that who knows).

"I think you're right!" Tim's statement would, of course, had more of an impact had his mouth not been full of cookies at the time, but the thought remained valid. Batgirl looked at him with some reservation; it might simply him trying to make her feel better after all. "Empress, this girl that was a teammate of mine during Young Justice, she was a telepath and she use to be able to predict my moves like what happened to you." He continued, more talking to himself then her. Cassandra could tell that he believed what he was saying and not just saying it out of pity; which would have resulted in him have some broken bones. "And I've read about telepaths who are strong enough to make you think and feel things that aren't there." "That's what happened to you right?" Cassandra only nodded.

"But Cass, you know Batman. He wouldn't shoot an idea down unless he had proof that it wasn't valid." He continued, trying to make her see the other side of this little debate. It hurt Tim to see the mighty Cassandra Cain look so close to tears. He wasn't sure what happened with the whole Elite undercover thing; but from what he could dig up, Cass had gotten involved with one of the members and he turned out to be a murder. He had no idea, why she was so sensitive to the word stupid, but he figured it had something to do with Oracle. Barbara had a temper, and she might have said something that she probably regrets.

"Not if hy… hy… hypo…" "hypothesis" she gave him a glare. "Hypothesis came from you. From me he think it wrong… think it stupid… probably think I stupid too… maybe right." The last bit was mumbled but not low enough for Tim to have missed it. "Hey! Ok so you screwed up a few times big deal. All of us have screwed up once or twice. Hell in Dick's caser it's in the two dozen times. That doesn't mean you're stupid and it sure as hell doesn't mean that we think that either." Tim said with force as he leaned towards Batgirl and held her hand; the one without the cookie. "For what it's worth, I think you're right. And I'm sure that Bruce thinks your idea has merit. He probably is gonna explain why he thinks it's wrong when you go back down." He said gently, too gently.

"Wow her hand is soft… is she shaking? Oh God! What are you doing Drake? Say something; don't just stare at her like that. Oh God! Is she leaning forward or is that me? ohgodohgodohgodohgod" his thoughts were going into overdrive, his body on the other hand had decided to go into lockdown. Cassandra's thoughts were going down similar pathways, without the visualization of the words since her visualization abilities were being used for other things at the moment; with a chorus of "Ohshitwhatdowhatdowhatdo" going in the background.

"Oh my word!"

Those three syllables had the power to cut the overdrive protocols and return manual control to the young teens. Of course they also had the affect of catapulting them to opposite sides of the kitchen. "I hope you left some cookies for Master Dick when he comes from patrol." Even though they had control of there motor functions, it seemed as if verbal communication was still out of reach. That is until Batgirl managed to get a "Batman waiting gotta go" out and made a hasty retreat. The current Boy Wonder on the other hand had no such excuse and thus had the full weight of Alfred's silent stare dropped on him. The last thing that Cassandra heard was Alfred's patented fess up voice asking Tim: "Is there something you wish to talk about Master Timothy?" And Tim's articled response of "huh".