Chapter Ten

Kory Anders looked around the destroyed room, unsure of what the next step was. The Batmobile was down in the street and she assumed Robin wanted them to take him to the Batcave. But would they be able to stop the bleeding from his gunshot wound? Raven could use her powers but Kory wasn't sure if her friend could safely remove the bullet without causing further damage.

Just then, Dr. Tompkins bust into the room. "What's going on? I heard a gunshot!" She stared at Dick Grayson in horror. She was one of the few who knew his identity. "I'll have to remove the bullet."

"There's no time Dr. Tompkins!" Cyborg shouted. "He wants us to take him to the Batcave but we don't know where it is."

"Excuse me, young man," a voice said through Batman's communicator. "I can help you get there."

"Who are you and why should we trust you?" Cyborg asked.

"I'm his butler, young Sir," the man replied. "Is Dr. Tompkins coming as well?"

"He wants to know if you're coming," the robotic Titan looked at the elderly doctor.

"Tell him I'm on my way," she said. "You should get him down to the car." Cyborg picked up Batman's limp body and carried him to the elevators. The rest quickly joined them. Starfire looked at her friends.

"We must hurry," she began walking out.

"Star, do you know why he didn't tell us about this?" Beast Boy asked.

"I do not know, he did not tell me he was the Batman. I did not know until he was poisoned by the Scarecrow."

"Did he use his antidote to the toxin?" Dr. Tompkins asked.

"He did not use much of it, he gave it all to us," Starfire answered.

"We need to get him to the Batcave now! The situation's become much more urgent," Dr. Tompkins explained. "Scarecrow's toxin is a panic inducing poison and if he doesn't receive the antidote soon…he'll die from insanity."

"How do you know?" Cyborg asked.

"It doesn't matter right now, what matters is getting him to safety." Dr. Tompkins pushed the down button on the elevator wall. The four floors down to the parking lot seemed like an eternity for the Titans as they waited for the doors to open. The moment they arrived, they practically ran out of the building.

They skidded to a halt in front of the Batmobile. "Now we have a problem," Cyborg murmured.

"What's that?" Beast Boy asked.

"We need two drivers, and we only have one."

"Can't Dr. Tompkins drive the Batmobile?" Beast Boy asked.

"Me drive that? I wouldn't risk myself on it. Driving at high speeds isn't something I'm good at," Dr. Tompkins replied.

"Push…the button on my utility belt," Dick Grayson whispered.

"What?" Cyborg asked.

"The button…push it, now…" Cyborg did as he was told. Within minutes a girl dressed in a suit similar to his appeared.

"Hey, what's going on? I was in the area and got the signal…" She stared at the body. "N-no way! It can't be him! What's he doing, he's supposed to be in the hospital! Wait! That's not him! That's...!" She forced herself to calm down. "What happened to him?"

"The Joker and Scarecrow attacked him. Joker shot him."

"Why'd he call me?" the girl asked.

"I guess he wants you to drive the Batmobile." Cyborg said. "And who are you anyway?"

"Call me Batgirl," she replied. "I'm his sidekick."

"Do you know how to drive that thing?" Raven asked.

"I think so…But I've never actually driven it before."

"That could be a problem."

"Batgirl, what took you so long?" Dick asked, his voice sounded hoarse.

"I've been busy tonight," she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You just hang in there okay?" He nodded feebly. Shutting his eyes, he slipped into the black oblivion of unconsciousness.

"I'll do the best I can. I hope you guys can keep up. The sooner we get him to the Batcave the better."

She took Robin's body from Cyborg and placed him into the passenger's seat. The Titans rushed to the T Car and strapped their seatbelts on. Engines roared and tires squealed as the two cars floored it through the streets of Gotham. Cyborg followed closely behind Batgirl as she weaved her way through cars and traffic. She used Dick's communicator to keep in touch with the Titans.

"Teen Titans we're heading for the Robert Kane Memorial Bridge." Turning a sharp right, they careened past the buildings and shops. They took a turn through Crime Alley, people dove out of the way of the Batmobile as it sped past them.

They rounded the corner across from the Rodger Yacht Basin when gunshots rang through the air and collided with the Batmobile's armored plating. Both Batgirl and Cyborg turned their heads in their cars to see who was shooting at them.

"The Joker!" Batgirl shouted into the communicator. "He's found us!"

"What are we going to do about him?" Cyborg asked.

"We have to outrun him!"

"What if we can't?"

"Then we'll have to put him out of commission so he can't get us!"

"How are we supposed to do that?"

"You have any weapons in that heap? Blast the car off the road, not to kill him, just inhibit him from following us back to the Batcave!" Batgirl shouted. Cyborg saw the Joker stick his head out of the side window and laugh maniacally. He thought he saw Scarecrow at the wheel of the driver's seat.

"Thought you could get away huh Batsy?" Joker sneered. He raised his gun and prepared to fire. Joker's guns were legendary for containing more than just bullets.

Batgirl winced, prepared to feel hot molten metal rip into her body. She glanced over at him and saw to her relieved surprise that Joker had fired the Bang flag instead of the actual handgun. She slammed her foot down on the pedal and let the rubber fly as she attempted to put distance between them.

Cyborg followed suit. The Joker decided to change his mind and began falling back to attack the Titans. He pulled out a machine gun and began shooting at the wheels of T Car. "Come on, come on!" he screamed at the vehicle. "Faster! Faster!"

Raven was sitting in the front seat and looked at him. "You ready to do this?"

He nodded. "Just like when we chased Gizmo. Everyone buckle up and hang on!"

"Cy, I'm doing that already," Beast Boy said loudly.

"Just hang on then!"

Raven closed her eyes and chanted, "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" and her energy surrounded the car. Cyborg felt he engines roar beneath him at an unbelievable speed as the car lurched forward. He saw the Kane Memorial Bridge fly beneath him as he saw the Joker's car became smaller and smaller in the distance.

"Listen, guys, we can't exactly have the happy man follow us home," Batgirl reminded him.

"Gotcha loud and clear, little lady," Cyborg pushed a button, activating the T Car's Proton Cannon. "The Joker's not gonna follow us home tonight."

"You're not going to kill him are you?" Raven asked.

"Don't worry Rae; he'll just be stopped from pursuing us to the Batcave." The T Car rocked as the missile rocketed away. Cyborg and the others watched as it collided with the Joker's car and sent it twisting and spinning off the road. He saw that no one was moving and floored it as fast as he could.

"Are we safe?" he asked Batgirl.

"For the most part, I think so." She glanced over at Robin who was in the seat next to her. His eyes were glazed and he kept mumbling about Slade or his parents. "We need to get him the antidote. And as soon as possible, he won't last long like this."

They navigated through neighborhoods until they came to a little used alleyway. Cyborg looked as a sewer grate suddenly opened before them. "You guys just follow me, okay?"

"Okay," he replied.

They began following the Batmobile through a series of dark tunnels. Cyborg couldn't help but feel impressed with the Batman's efforts. He was an expert at concealing ways to his hideout, wherever it was. Batgirl's voice suddenly blared over the communicator.

"You better have some Nitro on that Car of yours," she said.

"Why's that?"

"I forgot Bane took out the bridge when he broke Bruce's back."

"Bruce? Like Bruce Wayne the billionaire?"

"Oh no, if he finds out I slipped he'll kill me," Batgirl groaned. "Don't say a word to anyone about that. I forgot you guys weren't part of the Family."

"Our lips are sealed. But if Bruce is in the hospital, then who's that in the car with you? And what do you mean by 'Family?' Y'all related or something?" Cyborg asked.

"I'll let him tell you when I give him the antidote and treat him for that gunshot wound."

Cyborg watched as she hit the Nitro on the Batmobile and flew over a vast canyon concealed by a gigantic waterfall. He followed suit and felt his stomach do a flip flop as the Car flew over the chasm. The two vehicles landed with loud thuds and they followed her until they came to a stop in a wide open cave. She jumped out and pulled the Titans' leader turned Dark Knight out of the passengers' seat.

"Come on, Robin, just hang on here," Batgirl murmured. She tried to drag the semi conscious vigilante into the Batcave. "Wow, he's heavy." She felt a hand touch her shoulder.

"I can carry him," Starfire said quietly. "You must get the cure for his hallucinations. I will take him."

"Thank you…uh, Starfire isn't it?"

"Yes, how do you know who I am?"

"Let's just say, I keep track of Robin. I'd better get that antidote. Are you sure you can handle him?"

"I have everything under control," Starfire said, hoisting Robin over her shoulder as if he were a sack of potatoes. She walked over and set him down on cot that resembled a hospital bed.

Batgirl gaped a little and muttered, "Don't see that every day." She ran over to the various lab tables set up and grabbed a syringe filled with a dark liquid. "Here's the antitoxin. It should kick in immediately."

"Will he…retain his sanity?" Starfire asked.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. You have no idea how many times he's been sprayed with this stuff over the years…I'm sure he'll pull through, as he always does."

The three other Titans walked over. "So how long have you known Robin?" Cyborg asked.

"Since he was nine or ten, I can't remember which," Batgirl replied. She pulled up the sleeve of his uniform and found a vein. She then injected him with the antidote. She watched as he calmed visibly, his body relaxed and his breathing slowed to a normal pace.

"See, it's kicking in already," Batgirl raised her communicator to her lips. "Alfred? Are you there?"

"Alfred?" Starfire asked. She knew who he was! But what was he doing here? Then she remembered the conversation she had had earlier that day with him. They had talked about Robin. Of course! The man was Robin's butler.

"Loyal as always," he replied.

"Has Dr. Tompkins arrived yet? He's lost a lot of blood."

"She just arrived and we're heading down there as we speak," Alfred said. Batgirl looked up as the butler and the doctor arrived. Exiting the elevator, they walked quickly up to the group huddled around Robin.

"How is he?" Dr. Tompkins asked.

"He's in stable condition," Batgirl replied. "He's fine except for the gunshot wound. Teen Titans meet Alfred Pennyworth. he's a crucial ally in the Family and a close friend."

"Good evening, well Dr. Tompkins, how is Master Robin? Ms. Kory Anders, this is a pleasant surprise."

"Alfred! It is wonderful to see you. You call him 'Master Robin'," Starfire said softly. "You are what Earth humans call a 'butler,' yes?" He nodded. She continued, "I did not know you worked for the Batman. So is Robin really the one underneath the Batman's mask?" The elderly man nodded again. Starfire shook her head, whispering, "I thought so." The others looked at them. Had they met before?

"He's been inoculated with the antitoxin, so he's safe from Scarecrow's poison, but he's not out of danger yet. We're going to have to remove the bullet," Dr. Tompkins said.

"Is there anything we can do to help him, Doctor?" Cyborg asked.

"You can hope for a miracle," the elderly woman said gently. Alfred and Dr. Tompkins walked over to Robin and began carefully removing the mask covering his face.

"What are you doing?" Starfire asked.

"Taking off his mask," Dr. Tompkins replied.

"But we've never taken if off him," Raven said. "He's never taken if off in front of us. He's always been private about it…We don't want to invade his privacy."

"It can't be helped, Ms…?"

"Raven," Raven supplied.

"The only way to remove the rest of his uniform," Alfred explained.

"But can't you take it off and leave the mask on?" Beast Boy asked.

"No, the suit is like body armor, it can't be removed unless the mask is."

"But his Robin uniform—" Cyborg began.

"Is a different type of uniform, young Sir," Alfred said. "I was here when the Batman designed his uniform and I was here when Master Robin's uniform was created. I have a very close and personal relationship with him. I'm his butler, Ms. Anders. It's what I do with my life. It is good to see you again as well." The elderly man smiled gently. "If you will excuse us, we have to remove the bullet before it becomes infected. You may want to go rest. We'll be up for awhile."

"We'll stay up as long as it takes until Robin's okay," Cyborg said firmly.

"I was right about his friends," Alfred said, more to himself. "They are undyingly loyal. He turned around to face them. Well, you may stay up if you wish, but I'm sure Robin wouldn't want you to worry about him."

The Titans walked over to a corner of the Batcave. "How do you know this guy, Star?" Beast Boy asked.

"I met him when I was recovering in the Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic," she replied.

"Did you know he worked for Robin?" Cyborg asked.

"No, he said he was a friend of Dr. Tompkins."

"But he's Robin's butler," Raven said. "So that means Robin has money."

"Dude, do we know anyone who has a lot of money?"

"Names escape me at the moment," Raven said. "What we need to worry about is Robin. What if we lose him?"

"We will not lose him," Starfire said adamantly. "He will pull through."

"Hey, what's going on?" Batgirl said, walking over. "I've been keeping an eye on Robin."

"Do you know…who he is under that mask?" Starfire asked.

"Of course I do. He never told you?" she asked in shocked surprise. They looked at her. What was so surprising about that?

"All this time he's worked with you guys and he's never told you his secret identity?" They shook their heads.

"I was right, he does have trust issues," she muttered. "I would think…he would trust you at least, to tell you who he was behind the mask."

"He never talked about it," Raven explained. "We never felt the need to ask him. That's his private life and if he wanted to tell us, he would have."

Batgirl wiped sweat off her forehead. "He's still the same isn't he?" she said half to herself.

"What do you mean?" Starfire asked.

"Oh, he's just so stubborn. You guys are his friends so you know how he gets when he sets his mind on something."

The Titans nodded. They knew this all too well when Robin became obsessed with stopping Slade. He never rested and never stopped until he had put the criminal mastermind away behind bars, Slade had left them last time and they had not seen him since he aided them in saving the world from Trigon. But they knew he would come back one day. They would be prepared for him next time.

They watched as Alfred began removing the Batman's mask from his face. They knew that this was the deepest invasion of Robin's privacy they could ever commit, but Alfred said it was necessary that the mask be removed in order to save him.

The cowl was removed and his teammates pressed forward to catch a glimpse of his face. It was the face they knew so well as their Fearless Leader, the Boy Wonder, but there was something else that shocked them even further. Starfire gasped and finally broke the silence.

"Our Robin is Dick Grayson, the ward of Mr. Bruce Wayne!"

Batgirl had seen his face a thousand times over and smiled quietly. "I've never seen that kind of reaction before."

"Like I said," Cyborg explained. "He never told us what his secret identity was."

"Beast Boy, you may want to eat those words you said about Batman a few nights ago," Raven commented.

"Believe me Raven, I feel like a jerk," Beast Boy said quietly.

"Somehow I knew I was speaking to Robin when Dick Grayson came to see me earlier today."

Batgirl looked at her. "He saw you in the hospital? Are you okay?"

"Yes, Batgirl I am fine," Starfire replied. The rest of the group turned their attention back to the doctor and the butler.

"Dr. Tompkins, will you and Alfred be able to save him?" Cyborg looked at the two physicians.

She asked the Titans to go over to another side of the Batcave so they could immediately begin the operation.

"We will do everything we can," Dr. Tompkins said. "Let's just hope we can perform a miracle."