Summary: Batman and Nightwing try to find clues to lead them to Barbara with Thalia's help. But, Dick isn't so sure they can trust Thalia to help them . . . Can they? Will they be able to find Barbara in time, or will she be forced to become part of Ra's master plan?

Chapter 7: Green with Envy

Batman's eyes narrowed as he looked at the seeds that littered the floor of the rooftop where Barbara was last seen. He picked one up and placed into a small plastic bag. He turned around and handed it to Dick, who observed it closely before handing it back. Batman took the plastic bag from Dick and put it into one of the compartments in his utility belt. He motioned for Dick to follow him and he inspected the rest of the rooftop. Thalia watched as the two men walked around slowly.

"What is it that you are looking for?" she asked.

Batman touched the ground with his hand before answering, "Clues".

Dick nudged him, "There", he pointed.

Batman nodded and looked at the signs of struggle between Barbara and Ubu. Then they simply vanished. It was impossible for someone to just disappear into thin air without leaving some trace as to what direction they took. Both Batman and Dick knew that there were unusual circumstances involved. There would be no clues to come from this. They would have to hope the seeds could give them some clue to follow.

"Let's get back to the cave and analyze this", Batman said.

Dick pointed at Thalia, "What about her?"

"She comes with us. She's already been to the cave before", was the reply.

Dick though it best not to ask any questions about the matter. There would be plenty of time for that once this was over.

- - - - - -

The Batcave

Dick placed the seed they had found under the Batcomputer's microscope. This baby could analyze even the most tampered and damaged evidence. They would have to wait a few minutes while the computer did its work. Batman had gone to change, leaving Dick with Thalia.

"She loves you", said Thalia suddenly.

Dick's head snapped in her direction, "How would you know?"

Thalia stared at him hard for a moment. She didn't think it would do much good to tell him this, but he deserved to know.

"She asked me not to hurt you. I gave her one request and that was it"

Dick swallowed hard, "She did?"

Thalia nodded solemnly.

"And you kept your word", Dick said slowly.

"Contrary to what you may believe, I am a women of my word", said Thalia.

Dick scoffed, "Forgive me if I find it a little hard to believe coming from the woman who planned Barbara's capture".

Thalia sighed, "I know it may be hard to understand, but I only want to do what is right".

"How is helping your father doing what is right?" said Dick angrily.

Thalia's eyes blazed, "I'm helping him so that I can stop him when the time comes! If I don't help him, he will become suspicious and shut me out. And then no one will be able to stop him!"

Dick opened his mouth again, but Bruce cut him off, "ENOUGH!"

Both of them turned to look at him. Bruce had a towel around his shoulders and was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. And he had THE LOOK on his face.

"This isn't going to help find Barbara. Let's keep this civil so we can work together to get her back".

Dick nodded.

Bruce turned to Thalia, who also nodded.

They were all interrupted by a loud beeping from the Batcomputer. Dick turned around and began pressing buttons and typing commands into the keyboard. Lines of information came up on the screen. Bruce came up beside him and read over the information. He eyes narrowed as he brought up another file. He read over the information in that file, which was identical.

He turned to Dick, "There's only one person in Gotham those seeds could have come from".

Dick looked at both files, "Poison Ivy", then shaking his head, "But, she's in Arkham. It couldn't have been her".

"Just because she's on the inside doesn't mean someone couldn't have gotten to her", said Bruce.

Dick ran a hand through his hair, "But who? And how?"

"I don't know", replied Bruce.

- - - - - -

Arkham Asylum

Poison Ivy stood in front of the sink in her cell, filling a glass with water. She steadily carried it over to the window, where a small flower pot sat. She had been granted the one request to be able to keep a plant in her cell with her. But sadly, they doctors at Arkham had supplied her with forget-me-nots. She had been furious at first, to be caught in such a cliché, but she had given in, knowing that they were better than nothing. At least she had something to take care of, something to look forward to everyday. That was more than she could say about most of the other inmates here.

Apparently the doctors at Arkham found some sick pleasure in torturing the inmates. She had been given Harley Quinn and the Joker as neighbors, so she had to endure their endless bickering day after day. Not to mention getting caught up in it as well after her little joyride with Harley last time they were out on the town. The Joker wasn't too happy about Ivy trying to corrupt Harley and trying to convince her that she was better off without him.

She groaned as she heard Harley tap on the bullet-proof glass separating them. She was in the adjacent cell to Ivy's right. She turned around and gave her an acknowledging glance before heading over to the sink again.

"Hi Red", said Harley cheerfully.

"Hello Harley", said Ivy.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Watering my flowers again"

Harley grinned, "That's nice. Did you know that my puddin' is getting out tomorrow?"

"No"

Harley laughed, the shouted, "ISN'T THAT RIGHT PUDDIN'?"

Ivy sighed. Here we go again.

The Joker stood up from his bed in the adjacent cell to Ivy's left. He pressed his nose against the glass and gave a wide grin.

"Yes Harl, that is correct".

Harley jumped up and down, "See, I told you so!"

Ivy rolled her eyes, "Sorry if I don't join in your enthusiasm".

Harley ignored her, "Puddin', make sure you give the babies my love. Tell them I miss them SO much!"

"You mean those monstrous animals you keep as pets?" asked Ivy.

The Joker cut in, "Of course I will Harl. They always loved a good kick in the ribs!"

Harley gasped and pouted in the corner. The Joker never had been fond of the pet hyenas Harley had gotten him last Christmas. They did come in handy when pesky Bats were poking around their hideouts though.

Harley was about to open her mouth to protest, when a couple a guards came down the hall. All three inmates stared at them as they stopped in front of Ivy's cell. They opened it up and entered to cuff Ivy's hands before escorting her out.

"Guess I'll be checking out first, kids", she said with a wink.

Harley frowned, "How come you didn't tell me you were getting out, Red? I thought we were friends!"

Harley continued whining in the corner.

"Guess someone decided to backstab her friends Harl", growled the Joker.

Ivy swung her hips as she was walked out the hallway.

- - - - - -

Arkham Interrogation Room

The guards roughly pushed Ivy into a chair and handcuffed her to it. Ivy struggled, but was forced to sit, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Hey, I thought I was getting out!"

"You're not", said an all too familiar voice.

Ivy froze, and the guards nodded and left the room. Ivy was cowering in her chair now, her eyes on the shadow now approaching her.

Batman stood beside her and placed the plastic bag with the seed on the table in the middle of the room. Ivy eyed the seed like if it was going to eat her alive.

"Where did you get that?" Ivy asked in a small voice.

"Someone used your seeds to kidnap Batgirl. I want a name Ivy".

Poison Ivy looked up at Batman determinedly, "I don't know".

Batman frowned, "Don't make me ask again, Pamela".

Ivy flinched at the use of her real name. She hated that name, the name of her former, weaker self. But, she held her ground.

Her lips curved, "I told you I don't know".

Behind Batman came another figure, whose eyes were angrily fixed on Ivy. He walked up to her and grabbed her roughly, forcing her to her feet. Ivy tripped and fell to the floor, while the figure loomed over her. He picked her up and pushed her against the wall forcibly.

"Who did you give the seeds to Ivy? WHERE IS BATGIRL!" yelled Nightwing.

Ivy gasped when her back hit the concrete wall. But, she wouldn't be broken so easily. She wasn't Miss Pamela Isley anymore. She was Poison Ivy, goddess among men.

She smiled, "I'll tell you a secret little boy. Batgirl won't be coming home anytime soon".

Nightwing growled and grabbed Ivy's throat, pulling her up off her feet. Ivy began to gag as her air was cut off. Batman marched over and grabbed Nightwing's arms.

"Stop this at once! This is NOT going to get her back!"

Nightwing dropped Ivy, who kneeled on the floor, gasping for air. He turned around, his shoulders slumped. Batman placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know it's hard. You have to be strong . . . for her".

"I just . . . I wish I had told her I loved her", said Nightwing in a trembling voice.

"Go and wait outside. I'll take care of this", said Batman.

Nightwing nodded and left the room. Batman turned around to face Poison Ivy, who was still rubbing her neck where Nightwing's hand had choked her. She looked up at Batman, a frightened look finally gracing her features. Batman knew she was ready to talk.

- - - - - -

Wayne Manor

Dick Grayson washed his face with cold water. He grabbed a towel and dried his face before looking at himself in the mirror. He had bags under his eyes, probably since he hadn't slept the past 48 hours. He was trying to keep himself together, but it was so hard, knowing that she was out there somewhere all alone. He only hoped that Bruce has been able to get information from the source Poison Ivy had given him. Apparently, at the prospect of her "babies" being confiscated for research and testing, Ivy had given her seeds to the last person Batman had expected. Harley Quinn.

Just before their latest capture, Harley and Ivy had teamed up with Livewire, a new criminal with the extraordinary ability to control electricity. Batgirl and Supergirl had joined forces to take them down, but Ivy had been captured before Harley, and she had used this window to give her seeds to Harley for safe-keeping. Although they were hardly safe with the like of Harley Quinn, something which quite baffled Batman as to why Ivy would ever give her seeds to Harley. Of course, she had sold the seeds the first chance she got to some drug dealer in exchange for a safe place to lay low until things blew over. The name of the dealer had been a one Jean Manaudou, a Frenchman who had found fortune in Gotham by selling popular European drugs.

Dick walked out of the bathroom and into the sitting room. Alfred soon appeared, carrying a warm cup of coffee.

"Here you are Master Richard, this should help a bit", he said.

Dick gladly accepted the coffee and began sipping it.

"Master Bruce shall be arriving shortly. He radioed in that he was on his was home", announced Alfred.

Dick nodded, "Do you know if he got any information on this Manaudou guy?"

"I'm afraid that Master Bruce did not mention anything about a Monsieur Manaudou, young sir", replied Alfred.

"I'm going to go down and meet him in the cave Alfred".

"As you wish Master Richard".

Dick walked down the stairs into the cave, sipping the cup of coffee the whole way. He needed the caffeine. It was going to be a rough couple of days, and he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep much until they had found Barbara. Once downstairs, he walked over to the computer and sat down, waiting for Bruce to arrive.

A few minutes later, the Batmobile sped into the cave, stopping abruptly in it's parking spot. Batman jumped out of the car as the top opened and walked swiftly over to Dick. Dick looked at him, questioning him with merely a glance.

"I ended up at the docks questioning some of Manaudou's men. Apparently his operation is being run by someone else right now. He had to leave town".

Dick stood up, "Where did he go?"

Batman looked him straight in the eye, "Back home for a family emergency".

Despite the situation, Dick smiled, "So he's going to collect his pay from Ra's".

Batman walked over to the computer. He pulled his mask off on the way and grabbed a towel to run across his face. He turned on the intercom to the Manor.

"Yes Master Bruce?"

"Alfred, make arrangements, Dick and I are going to travel".

"Of course Master Bruce. And where would you be traveling to?" inquired Alfred.

Bruce looked at Dick before saying, " Paris".

"Consider it done, Sir"

"Thank you Alfred".

" Paris?" asked Dick.

Bruce nodded, " Paris".

- - - - - -

Well I finally decided to revive this story since college is finally out for the summer and let's just say I've had lots of free time on my hands. I made a couple changes to the previous chapters in order to follow the new direction of the story. Hopefully I have not let any of you down, but I think I have a better feel for where I want to go with this. It just started out as a 1 chapter this, but it blossomed into something much better! PLEASE read and review!

- Lady Artemis -