TWO

"Absolutely not." Dick Grayson pulls on a coat and heads for the Wayne Manor exit of the Batcave. Tim Drake follows close behind.

"Why not?" Tim asks whiningly. "Look, I miss Cass as much as you do. We worked together in Bludhaven for a few months before this all started. Why can't I help look for her?"

Dick enters a series of numbers into the security panel at the top of the Batcave stairs. "No one's seen Bruce, Cassandra or either of their alter egos for almost week. Brother Eye is looking for us, in or out of costume. Don't think that just because I'm going out in my civvies that I'm not expecting trouble." He reaches into his inside coat pocket and reveals three explosive batarangs. "I can't risk you getting hurt out there. Just stay here and look after the others."

"But-"

"No buts, Tim," Dick blocks Tim from stepping in front of him. The man also known as Nightwing steps through the secret door. "I'll check in every two hours. Later." He shuts and locks the door behind him. Tim swings around, grumbling under his breath. He takes loud steps back down the stairs back down to the cave floor, currently crowded with reposing costumed heroes.

Helena Bartinelli, still dressed mostly in her Huntress attire, meets Tim at the foot of the stairs. "So, where's Nightwing going?"

"He's going to look for Cassie," growls Tim.

"You're not going?" asks Helena as the two heroes tip-toe around sleeping Question, who is huddled on the ground clutching this week's Weekly World News.

"I wish," says Tim. "It's not fair. I'm a lot closer with Batgirl than Nightwing. We worked together for months. We're friends." Tim sighs.

Helena shrugs. "Why don't you go anyway?"

Tim lets out a bitter chuckle. "Yeah. Try explaining it to Nightwing when he comes back and I'm not here. Still... I worry, you know? Bruce and Dick can take care of themselves. Cassie... well, Cassie's special."

Helena rolls her eyes. "Well, that explains that."

"What?"

"Hey, I respect tradition. The whole Robin and Batgirl thing..."

"Hang on, what?"

Helena chuckles. "Well, there's Dick and Babs, and maybe you and Cass..."

Tim's puzzled look quickly deteriorates into shock. "OH! Oh, no! Do you think...? Oh, no, it's not like that!"

"Whatever, Bird Boy," Helena yawns as she lies down next to Question. "I won't tell. 'Night." Tim shrugs and reflects for a moment on the awkward conversation he just finished. Rubbing the back of his neck, Robin saunters over to the Bat-Computer, where Barbara Gordon, the Oracle and current keeper of the cave, sits working case files.

"Hey, Babs," Tim says quietly in case she's busy. Babs nods back at him. "Is Conner back yet?"

"No," Barbara replies, "but he's not expected for another half-hour."

"Well, transportation back and forth has gotta be a problem," Tim tries to make conversation. "It's not like we can use the JLA transporters."

Tim pauses for a moment, the awkward silence dragging on.

"She'll be fine, you know," Babs says warmly. "They all will."

Tim shakes his head, taking in the humor of the situation. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."