Hello everyone.As usual the disclaimer. I own nothing to do with DC and anything that may be real isn't and I do not own that either.

First let me say this chapter is a tad smaller than the previous two. But it adds a lot of plot movement.

And lastly please enjoy.

The vent in the bedroom kicked on, blasting cool air. Dick lay stretched across his bed, tangled in his sheets. The sun was peaking through the bedroom curtains which now swayed around from the vent below. He opened his eyes but didn't move. He stared up at the ceiling, smiling ear to ear. A heavy burden he felt previously was now gone. He turned his head to his left hoping to catch a glimpse of Selina sleeping. To his surprise she was not there. He immediately jolted up and looked around his room. Convinced she was no where in the room Dick brought his attention back to the empty space where Selina previously slept. He noticed a small piece of folded paper. He snatched it up, it was a note from Selina:

Dick,

Had to get an early start at work.

Thanks so much for last night.

It was truly a night to remember.

Selina

PS Call me this weekend if

you want to go out. 555-4327

Dick let the note drop back onto his bed and like wise he dropped back into the bed and again stared up at the ceiling and he was smiling ear to ear. He took a huge sigh of relief, now enjoying the peace and tranquillity he had not been able to find in a long time. Minutes later however that peace was interrupted by a knock on his door. Dick popped up from his bed and threw on a pair of shorts and opened the door. "Oh, hey Al, what's up?" A feeling of guilt now washed over him.

"Sorry to interrupt but I thought you may want an early wake up call since you have final exams this morning." If Alfred knew what he did last night, he showed no sign of it. He expected to be scolded or given some type of lecture. But none came.

"Oh shit...I mean crap! I completely forgot about my Biology and Trig exams today. Thanks Al" Dick turned and headed for his bathroom to get ready but could sense that Alfred was still standing at this door. He turned back. He thought it wastoo good to be true, not to be lectured about last night. Now looking at Alfred waiting for whatever it was he was going he was going to say.

"Master Dick it is truly none of my concern with whom you decide to have over, but I feel a small reminder is in order." Here is came, Dick knew he was going to say to stay away from Selina. To scold him because she was once Bruce's girlfriend. But he all ready decided that he didn't care what he was about to hear. He cared for her too much to let anyone's advice convince him otherwise. "Ms. Kyle was once very involved with Master Bruce and I find from past experience that mixing love and friendship never works. All too often all parties involved end up getting hurt."

Dick still resolute on his feeling's for Selina just gave Alfred a nod."Thanks Al, I'll remember that." Alfred gave him a stern look and went about his daily business. Dick headed back to the bathroom where he thought now would be a good time for the three S's(thats shit, shower & shave).

The classroom was filling up quick. It occurred to Dick that this was the first time he was in class for a couple of days. He stood in the doorway at the top of the class. He glanced over the many seats in the hall, his gaze landed him at his usual seat. He was extremely relieved to see she was not in class yet. He casually made his way down to the first row of seats and slouched down into a desk. The minutes seemed liked like an hour. Though Dick had previously convinced himself he didn't want to see Barbara, he found himself looking back at the door whenever he heard people entering. He looked back again for about the fifth time, it was just Professor Jacob's. He slouched even further into his desk. "All right class the exam will begin is about two minutes. I hope you all brought the small blue essay books. They are mandatory for this exam." Dick sat there wondering if she was going to show up. Wondering why she wasn't here. Then he heard Professor Jacob's again. "Ah, just in time Ms. Gordon, ten more seconds and would not have been permitted to let you take this exam." Dick turned his head to the back of the class. There she was. He noticed just how bad she looked. He was not expecting this.

"Sorry Professor Jacob's." Barbara very sadly replied.

Dick continued to look back at her, he still couldn't believe how bad she was looking. Her normally vibrant red hair was now dull and clearly looked like she had not touched it in days. Around her eyes she was red and very puffy. She looked even more exhausted then he felt. The idea that she was out on the town, living it up with Cole was screeping into his mind. He thought to himself that perhaps Cole realized how much of a slut she is and dumped her. That's why she is upset. But deep down inside he knew that wasn't it. He couldn't help but feel guilty for how pathetic she looked. If Cole didn't break up with her than he was surely comforting her.

The exam was over, all of the students were discussing the exam as they exited the class. Dick followed suit and compared some of his answers with some of his classmates. He nearly made it to the exit but then his eyes caught a glimpse of her. Barbara was still sitting at her desk. Dick considered just walking out the door and leaving her to dwell in her own sorrow, but he knew he shouldn't just leave her like this. After all he felt responsible for her state of mind. He made his way into her row. "Hey...Er..um..The exam wasn't that bad eh?" Dick asked trying to start a conversation and bring a little levity to the moment. His attempt failed, she managed a slight nod of her head, which was all ready staring down into her lap. Dick took a seat next to her and plopped his back pack inbetween his legs. "So seriously what's going on?" He had a good idea of what was wrong but really couldn't think of anything else to say. This time she turned her head and stared at him. But the stare quickly ended, she placed her head back into her lap. Her sobs now very audible, Dick could see the tears falling from one of her cheeks onto her hand. He felt conflicted. He wasn't sure if he should embrace her with a hug or just continue to sit there. The anger he once felt was far removed. A new emotion was making a home for itself. He now felt distant from her. He looked at her and no longer saw the Babs he deep downinside knew he once loved but nowshe was now different to him. Dick didn't have to react because Barbara grasped on his shirt and plunged her head into his shoulder and continued her crying. Now feeling awkward Dick pulled away slowly but she grasped even tighter and cried harder.

"I'm sorry Richard. I don't know why I did it. It was stupid. I never wanted to hurt you."

Confused on whether he should lash out and confront her even further about Cole or just comfort her, Dick decided to take the middle road and just continued to sit there and say nothing. She was a different person to him now. He didn't know how to react.

"God Damit Richard aren't you going to say something?" She was not angry but more frightened

Again Dick sat there looking into her teary wet eyes. He did believe her, but he couldn't move past the thought of her and Cole together. " I know you didn't." He was being sincere. A flood of relief flowed over Barbara as she placed her head back into his chest. Trying to hold back anymore tears, you could occasionally hear her snuffle. Dick just sat there. She lifted her head and brought her face inches from his. She began to kiss him. Though it didn't take many kisses for her to realize that they were not being returned. She drew her face back, she looked into his eyes. They seemed different. They didn't feel safe anymore. They were very cold. She could feel this was the beginning of the end.

"So this is it?" She asked knowing the answer but not wanting to hear any of it. Dick stood up from the desk, tossed his back pack on his shoulder.

"I am sorry Babs, I wish things could be different but everything has changed. When I look at you..." He paused at that moment, realizing what he was about to say would end the two of thembut he continued. "When I look at you, I see a different person.I know longer see the girl I once loved." Without waiting for any reaction he turned and headed out of the class, never looking back. Barbara sat there staring at him as he left. The tearswere now flooding down her face, she could not believe it took them breaking up for him to admit loving her. Well once loving her.

X X X X

Robin left the police station very disappointed. Over two hours of interrogation and Harley didn't break. He even tried the silent treatment again, nothing worked. The night was young, Robin cruised the streets of Gotham in the vehicle that Batman usually drove. He now realized why Batman always insisted on driving. It was the most fun he had ever had while on patrol. Continuing his patrol of Gotham he managed to stop an assortment of minor crimes and rescue a few people from a burning building. He was feeling very good about this evening and himself.

The night was coming to a close and day break would be coming soon. Robin put the pedal to the medal and was speeding directly at a cliff face. His speed increased, the dirt turned to dust behind him. The night was brisk and the car was fast. Just when you thought there would be a terrible crash the cliff face opened up and swallowed the darting black blur. The vehicle actually got some airbefore it landed hard on the surface inside the cliff. It was dark and damp, though Robin was showing no sign of slowing down. The dark tunnel turned into a vast wide opening. About one hundred feet ahead lay the edge of a cliff, it was the end of the road. Robin switched his right foot from the gas pedal to the break. If one were standing outside the vehicle they could smell the rubber burning and certainly hear the tires squeal as they slowed down the black blur. The Batmobile stopped a few feet away from the edge of the cliff. The door lifted and slid back, Robin jumped out and dropped to his knees. He clenched his fists and let out a loud very abrasive scream. It was so loud infact that the sleeping bats above now stirred and made screeching noises of their own.

Dick stepped out of the locker room that was in the Batcave. He was using a towel to dry his hair. Now wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt Robin was comfortable. He sat down infront of the giant screen of the bat computer. He was feeling great. Never before had he known a sense of accomplishment so intense. With a few strokes of the keyboard Dick logged in to check his email. He glanced over the subjects, he saw a few letting him now he could get a low rate on a mortgage, others saying for a good time click here. He knew he should have installed that spam blocker. He finally came to some real mail. With a double click it opened up:

Subject: Breaking News - GCN.

Gotham City - Eleven children were found dead inside
their homes late this evening. All were separate incidents.
At this time the cause is unknown, but given the randomness
of it, police at this time are not suspecting foul play.
The Gotham Virus/Decease Control Unit was brought
in to further investigate.
For other news click here:www.GothamCityNews.gotham.

Dick's great feeling of accomplishment quickly diminished. He sat there in silence for a few minutes. Thinking of how horrible that must be for the families involved. He only hoped they found the cause soon before more children died. The silence however was suddenly broken by a loud noise coming from the entrance of the cave, more specifically the stairs. Dick ran over to investigate. Hoping that it was not Alfred that just fell down, he stood at the bottom of the stairs looking around to see what fell, but he couldn't find anything. Just barely out of the corner of his eye he saw something twitch. He turned his full attention to the side of the stairson his right. "What the hell is that?" Dick ran over to arm that periodically twitched. He immediately realized who's arm this was. "Bruce!" He shouted and thinking the worse he attempted to pick up the arm. Not expecting to have it attached to anything Dick was very shocked when Bruce let out a groan. Dick knelt by the body and felt his way up the arm and could now feel a shoulder. He followed the shoulder up to his head. His thoughts were confirmed when he felt the pointy bat ears on the Bat mask. Ignoring the fact that Bruce should not have been moved, Dick picked up the visible arm and swung what he knew was Bruce's body onto his shoulder and made his climb up the stairs.

He was now climbing another set of stairs that led to Bruce's bedroom. Alfred stood at the top of the stairs. His look was one of confusion. He could see Dick struggling up the stairs and that he had broken a sweat but he could not figure out why. His confusion was quickly cleared up. "Alfred, its Bruce. He fell down the stairs of the Batcave." Alfred turned and dashed for the bedroom and prepared the bed. Moments later Dick was there and he layed his mentor down. Alfred looked at Dick and was about to ask if Bruce was alive but Dick saw his expression. "Yes, Alfred he's alive, though I think barely. I heard him groaning from the fall. Come on let's get his mask off." The very worried pair took each of their hands and felt around until they could feel his shoulders and they slowly removed the mask.

"I'll call Dr. Thompkins." Alfred said trying to calm himself. Dr. Thompkinsknew of Bruce's secret and could be trusted.

"Good idea." Dick grabbed a chair from a table in the room and pulled next to Bruce's bed. "Alfred what's happening to him? A fall down the stairs shouldn't hurt him this bad."

"I am not sure Master Dick. But I am sure the doctor will know. It appears all we can do now is wait." Dick looked over at Alfred and they both knew that even though their friend was back, there was much to worry about.

Thanks to digi-gal-rox () for the name of the Doctor! Also sorry about the small cliffy. And I hope none of you Dick/Barbara fans don't hate me too much!