Author's Note: This chapter refers to Barbara's nightmare in the episode "Over the Edge", in which she is gassed by the Scarecrow and experiences her fears about her secret about Batgirl being revealed.

Summary: Barbara's thoughts and experiences in her captive state. Can she figure out where she is and why? Should she hope for the best and think that Bruce and Dick will come to her rescue, or will she have to get herself out of this one? Perhaps it will be too late for her . . .

Chapter 8: Falling into the Dark

Batgirl ran up the stairs. There were so many stairs. But she kept on running; she couldn't let him get away. Once she reaches the rooftop, she searches around for him. She sees him standing at the ledge, his coat blowing in the wind. The time had come to stop him, and she lunges, tackling him from behind. She gasps as she finds herself on top of an empty coat and hat, which had been sitting on an antenna. She curses, where did he go? She realizes it is a trap too late. The Scarecrow came up from behind her and smacked her with his cane. And then she was falling . . . falling forever. Falling into the darkness.

I screamed as I woke up; sweat dripping down my face and neck. I was gasping for air as I clutched at my chest. The memories of the dream were still fresh in my head. Tim and Bruce running away from the police . . . Dick begin arrested . . . the funeral . . . my Dad fighting Bruce . . . then Bane . . . oh god. Why wouldn't it stop? I had already gone through this, already had this dream before. Now I had that same dream every night. Either this dream or my old nightmare . . . the one about that night, except it only ended with . . . death. Why was I having these dreams? Where my mistakes coming back to haunt me now? Then as the scenes faded from my mind I knew why this was happening. I was captive; the demon's prisoner.

I had never thought I would have this dream again. That time the Scarecrow had gassed me, it had been so real. The consequences of the life I had chosen had been shown to me and they had been so . . . devastating. The thought that something like that would actually happen; that all the people I cared about could be hurt in that way. I could only shiver at the thought. I had to second guess all the decisions I had ever made about being Batgirl after that. But I knew that if I had never become Batgirl . . . that would have been even more devastating. Dad would probably be dead, Dick and Bruce would have been at each other's throats, Bruce would be alone, Tim would have a very different life, and I would have never known love, never known what it was to be a part of something bigger and special.

I looked around and saw I was still in my stony prison. I tried to get up, but the chains around my feet didn't let me go far and I fell to my knees. I couldn't understand it . . . what did he want with me? How could I possibly be of any importance to his plan for world domination? I don't think I could endure anymore of this torture. The Scarecrow's fear gas was becoming more than I could bear. If I had to see anymore death . . . I don't know how much longer I could handle it.

Ra's watched the video camera as the person known as Batgirl cowered in a corner of her cell, hugging her knees. She was turning out to be more of a challenge than expected. He had thought they would have broken her within a few days. But she was strong, much stronger than anticipated. But it was just as well, he needed someone strong for what he was planning. He hoped that the fear gas would do its job soon. He needed to break her spirit before he could continue on with his plans.

Ubu approached him, "My lord, there is a gentleman here to see you".

"Ah yes, I expected Manaudou would be arriving soon. Show him in, Ubu", replied Ra's.

Ubu bowed, "As you wish my lord".

Jean Manaudou walked in briskly. He was a tall man, as well as lean and athletic. His dark curly hair messily covered his head. He wore a gray pinstriped suit with a black collarless shirt underneath. He was carrying a metallic briefcase. He walked up to Ra's and gave a small bow.

"I hope ze items you requested were to your liking, Monsieur Ghul", the Frenchman said.

Ra's nodded, "Indeed, Ubu tells me the seeds were of great use in the capture of the young lady. And this fear gas has also been most useful. It was most generous on your part to add it to the package".

"I am glad zat you are pleased with ze results", replied Manaudou.

Ra's walked over to his desk, "Indeed, I am most pleased with the results. And you shall be rewarded for your efforts".

Manaudou smiled, he walked up to the desk and placed the briefcase on it, opening it and turning it. Ra's opened a drawer in his desk, revealing bills of American dollars in stacks. He placed about a dozen of the stacks into the briefcase before shutting it and turning it back to face its owner. Manaudou gave another small bow before grabbing the suitcase and walking out of the room. Ubu walked up to Ra's.

"Do you wish me to dispose of him?" asked Ubu.

Ra's shook his head, "No, Manaudou may still be of use to us. Let him enjoy what little time he has left".

- - - - - -

Wayne Manor

"But I want to go!" said a distressed Tim.

Bruce frowned, "Tim, you can't go. It's too dangerous and I need you here to take care of Gotham".

Tim raised his arms, "How am I supposed to take care of Gotham all by myself?"

Bruce was about to answer when Dick walked into the room.

"Are we all set?" asked Dick.

Bruce nodded, "I was just explaining to Tim how I need him to stay here and watch over things".

"And I was just explaining to Bruce that there's no way in hell I can do that all alone", grumbled Tim.

Dick chuckled, "Oh Kid, when are you going to learn? Bruce always has a plan".

Tim gave him a questioning look.

"He brought back up", said Dick, patting Tim on the head.

"Back up?" asked Tim.

Bruce nodded, "Back up".

Tim looked from Bruce to Dick, "What back up?"

Before anyone could answer there was a knock at the front door. Alfred appeared to answer it.

Dick smirked, "There's our back up".

Alfred returned shortly and announced, "A Mister Kent here to see you sir".

"Bring him in Alfred", said Bruce.

In walked Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily News. He was very tall and well built . . . nothing like a reporter. At least that's what Tim thought. Tim eyed him suspiciously.

"This is my back up? Some lousy reporter? Are you kidding?" Tim protested.

Bruce gave the smallest of smirks, "He thinks you're just some lousy reporter Clark".

Clark smiled at Tim, "Well I suppose if we're going to work together, he might as well know my little secret".

Tim stared at him, "What secret?"

Dick laughed, "Maybe you should show him, right Sups?"

Clark sighed, "How many times have I told you not to call me that Richard?"

"How many times have I told you not to call me Richard", retorted Dick.

Clark chuckled, "Fair enough".

"Can somebody tell me what's going on here?" asked a clueless Tim.

Everyone turned to look at Tim. Clark unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the Superman 'S' logo underneath. Tim's jaw dropped open as he stared for a minute before he snapped it shut.

"You're kidding, right?" Tim gasped.

"I'm afraid not, Tim", said Bruce.

"Superman is going to be my back up?" asked Tim incredulously.

Bruce placed a hand on his shoulder, "Not exactly. Clark is going to be posing as Batman until Dick and I return".

"WHAT!" shouted Tim and Dick in unison.

"I'm going to be taking on the mantel of the Bat temporarily", explained Clark.

"But how?" asked Tim.

Clark gave a small grin, "My name is Bruce Wayne", he said in Bruce's voice.

Tim's jaw dropped for the second time.

"He's a man of many talents", quipped Dick.

- - - - - -

I was so tired. I was all alone with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. Each day went by slowly, minute by minute, hour by hour. It was getting harder and harder to keep my wits about me. I dreaded nightfall. It was then when Ubu would come into my cell and administer more of the fear gas. Then the nightmares would consume me and I would be shivering and sweating the rest of the night. It had been days since I had slept for more than an hour at a time. I was exhausted.

I was at my breaking point. Which was what Ra's wanted. Why else would he expose me to the Scarecrow's fear gas night after night if not to break me down for whatever dark purpose he had in mind? I had fought against its effects for days now, but it was getting harder and harder. Soon, I would be engulfed by my fears, and become no more than part of my own nightmare.

I sat in the corner of the cell, watching the sun go down and wishing I were somewhere else . . . anywhere. Soon Ubu would come and I would be forced to relive my nightmares, all my insecurities, all my fears. Tonight would be the last night, I could feel it. Tonight would be the night that Ra's would get his wish. My determination was gone . . . all I wanted was for it to be over. I wanted the images to go away.

I cowered when I heard the door down the hallway creak open. Heavy footsteps sounded through the hall as they came closer towards my cell. I began shaking uncontrollably as the sound of a key being pushed in the lock echoed all around me. The click of the lock being opened pounded in my ears and I watched as the heavy door was pushed open. Ubu's figure loomed in the doorway and he placed a small sphere by the door. He gave me an evil grin before pulling the door back closed. His footsteps died away as he exited the area. Then, the gas began leaking from the sphere. It was time. I covered my ears with my hands to stop the screaming . . . except it was me who was screaming.

- - - - - -

Paris, France

Dick crouched silently as he saw a man exited the building he was watching. The man looked over his shoulder several times before turning the corner. Once the man was out of sight, Dick gave Bruce the 'all clear' sign. Bruce moved quickly into the alley next to the building and disappeared into the darkness. Dick followed a few seconds later. Bruce was quietly picking the lock to one of the building's windows. The latch clicked open and Bruce gave Dick a sign to move in.

"So we're sure this Manaudou guy is in here", whispered Dick.

"My contact is reliable".

"How can you be sure?"

Bruce stared at him, "Because I made sure to persuade him that it was in his best interest to tell me the exact location of his employer".

Dick grinned to himself. Even as Bruce Wayne, he was the Bat.

Dick pulled himself in through the window and dropped to the floor. He looked around before giving Bruce a soft whistle to signal that it was all clear. Moments later Bruce was standing next to him.

"I still don't understand why we couldn't use our suits", grumbled Dick.

"We couldn't have Batman spotted in Paris while he was still running around Gotham, now could we?"

"Except its NOT Batman running around Gotham", hissed Dick.

Bruce glared at him, "Nobody knows that. And that's the way it's going to stay".

Dick sighed. He was still just as stubborn as always. "Let's just get this over with".

Bruce moved forward. Dick had always wondered how he could just flow over the ground without a sound, without leaving a trace. And the answer was simple. He was Batman. Dick followed him as they made their way to the upper levels. Their contact had given them the precise location of Manaudou's office in the building. It was amazing what a little Bat talk could do to a person. Soon, they were inside Manaudou's office. Dick started going through the filing cabinets, while Bruce searched the room. Dick finally came across some files marked 'Gotham City'. He flipped through the pages, skimming each one with his trained eyes.

"I got something", muttered Dick, handing Bruce a piece of paper.

Bruce took it and looked it over, "This is Manaudou's log of all shipments coming in and out of Gotham. All the shipments are accounted for except these two that came in within a week of each other. Manaudou probably sent Ivy's seeds out here under the cover of his own operation so he could get them to Ra's without having to give away their destination".

"Then we don't have a lead to where they went then", said Dick.

"Not necessarily. Those shipments had to come through here first. That means they were stored here for some time before going to Ra's. Manaudou was probably counting on a lot of money from this deal, so he had to have some insurance against Ra's", deduced Bruce.

Dick nodded, "So he probably kept some of the goods himself to make sure Ra's came through with the payment".

"Exactly"

Dick grinned; he had forgotten how well they worked together. They knew what the other was thinking, therefore they could deduce where the other was going with a clue or idea. Bruce had trained him well, Dick couldn't deny that. For the most part, Bruce had contributed a large part to who we was today. They had their differences, but at least now Dick had the hope that they could work them out and try to have some sort of relationship. Even if he knew he would never return to neither the Manor to live, nor the Batcave to join the team again.

"That means he kept them stored right here", added Bruce.

Dick started to the door, "Let's get downstairs into that storage room".

Bruce followed him as they made their way down into the storage area of the building. They began searching the area, which was full of boxes and wooden crates. There were also shelves of items that were labeled and numbered. Dick stared at the label, trying to connect the number with it. Then, he got an idea.

"Let me see the shipment log again", said Dick.

Bruce handed it to him. Dick studied the paper carefully. The last item on the log was a shipment of chemicals and hardware tools dated March 11; only a few days ago. He began moving around the shelves until he got to the 0311 numbers. 0311 stood for March 11, which was the date the shipment had arrived in France. Now, he just had to figure out the second set of numbers in the code. He looked at the log again. There was the date of arrival, the weight of the shipment, the amount of items in the shipment, and the date it had left for France . . . there were so many possibilities. The shipment had come all the way from California apparently. Why would Manaudou send for hardware tools all the way from California, when he could get them from the east coast? It was then that Dick noticed the weight of the shipment . . . twenty pounds. Surely a shipment of chemicals and hardware tools would weigh much more than that . . . now to he just had to figure out the damn code. If the first set of numbers was the date it had arrived, maybe the second was the date it had left for France, which was March 4. Dick looked at the shelf for a 0311-0304. BINGO! There it was on the fourth shelf.

"Bruce, over here . . . I think I found it"

The two of them reached up for the box and set if down on the ground. Bruce took out a pocket knife to slit open the box. Dick ripped the box wide open so they could see what was in it. Inside was a small plastic bag containing about 20 or more seeds . . . Poison Ivy's seeds. There was no doubt they were Ivy's, they had analyzed the seeds they had found on the rooftop thoroughly and there was no mistaking that these seeds were the same. Along with the plastic bag was a large metal container, which had to weigh at least ten to fifteen pounds. Dick reached for it and opened the latch which held it shut. When the container opened, smoke came out of it. It was a temperature control container, usually used to transport items that need to be kept at cooler temperatures. Inside were several vials of a clear liquid.

Bruce stared at the vials with narrowed eyes, "We need to leave now".

"What!" asked a confused Dick. He turned to Bruce, "What is it?"

"Those vials, don't you know what that is?"

Dick gave him a questioning look, "What do you mean, do I know what it is? Bruce, what's wrong?"

Bruce looked at Dick sadly, "Those are vials filled with the Scarecrow's fear gas".

Dick gasped, "What would Ra's want with that? I mean he couldn't have enough fear gas to take a whole city, much less to take over the world".

"He doesn't want to gas a whole city or the world Dick. He's going to use it on Barbara", said Bruce gravely.

"What!" yelled Dick.

Bruce placed a hand on his shoulder, "One time a while back, Barbara was infected with the fear gas. What she saw, it was horrible. It took a while for her to get back to herself. If Ra's has the same amount of gas that there is in this container . . . if he gives her one vial per day. He could drive her mad in a few weeks".

Dick shook his head, "What do you mean drive her mad? Why would he want to do that?"

"The good news is . . . "

Dick cut him off, "Good news? There's no good news about this Bruce . . . you're telling me he wants to drive Babs crazy and there is GOOD NEWS!"

Bruce grabbed both of Dick's shoulder and shook him gently, "Dick, calm down. I'm trying to tell you that I know Ra's. He doesn't want to drive Barbara mad. That would be beneath him. He merely wants to break her down, make her manageable".

"Manageable for what", spat Dick.

"He wants to take her to the Lazarus Pit".

Dick pushed Bruce away, "What? Take her to the Lazarus Pit? You mean he wants to make her . . . he wants her to be", Dick felt sick to his stomach.

"He wants an heir Dick, and Barbara can either be that heir for him, or she can produce an heir for him. Either way, he has to break her down before he can do that", replied Bruce.

Dick fell to his knees, "Why Barbara, why would he pick her out of all the people in the world?"

"Because Dick, she has every quality he could ever want in an heir. She is highly trained, smart, beautiful, and she's Batgirl. What better way to be sure that you and I would be involved? He's playing with us . . . he's playing with me".

Dick looked up at Bruce, "She's not going to be the same is she? He's going to destroy her spirit".

Bruce kneeled next to Dick, "It is very possible that when we find her, Barbara will be a very different person. But that doesn't mean we can't get her back. You just have to remind her who she is and what is real. She is going to be living in an alternate reality that Ra's will create for her once he has broken down her defenses with the fear gas. Dick, you have to guide her back to reality. She has to remember who she is".

"How am I supposed to do that?"

Bruce patted his shoulder, "We'll find a way Dick".

Dick nodded and got up to his feet, "So where is this Lazarus Pit?"

"It's a long story".

- - - - - -

TBC . . .

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- Lady Artemis –