Title- Finding the Light

Author- Kim

Summary- What if - Oliver Queen raised Dick Grayson.

DC owns all characters

part 8

"What do you mean you left the boy by himself, when we went on our last mission with the League." Bruce Wayne asked coldly...Bruce..in his Batman costume had removed his cowl and was directing his question to Ollie..who was still in his Green Arrow costume..minus the mask.

Ollie sighed and raised his hand to run his fingers through his hair. "What was I supposed to do?...I didn't have anyone to watch the kid...some of us don't have butlers to help out you know... Beside's. ..he's a good kid..real responsible."

Bruce could see Ollie was agitated..obviously upset about the whole situation..He ignored the butler comment and said.."He's still a child and children need care and attention...What were you thinking of..." he stopped as Ollie cut in.

"Hey..he's always been fine before when I had to work..." this time Ollie was forced to stop talking as Bruce cut in.

Before?...You've left him by himself more than just this once?" Bruce couldn't believe what he was hearing..he'd always known the Archer was brash and at times a little irresponsible..But this...This took the cake.

Ollie sighed a weary sigh..wishing he had some option other then having to deal with the man who stood in front of him.."Yeah...Look I know I stuffed up...I feel like shit already...Are ya gonna help me or not?"

Bruce starred momentarily at Ollie...It would have taken a lot for the Archer to ask for his help..For Ollie to swallow his pride that much the boy obviously meant a lot to him. "We've wasted enough time already...Lets go." he said pulling his cowl up into place.

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Dick moaned softly...He was so cold...his body was numb..His head pounded and his breath came in shallow wheezy gasps...He stirred slightly...feeling pain shoot through him..He lay still again..Trying to gather his confused thoughts...Unable to focus his mind...or even understand were he was...He coughed and cried out as his broken ribs punished him angrily for the action..He coughed again..and again..Then darkness closed in again as he drifted into unconsciousness.

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Hour after hour, Batman and Green Arrow searched the streets and alley ways of Star City..The had separated in order to cover more ground..And although both felt the search was futile..Neither was willing to admit defeat...Green Arrow had once again called every hospital and clinic listed in the phone book...But there was nothing to give him hope of finding Dick.

Eventually both men returned to the rooftop they had started out on...The rooftop from which Green Arrow had watched the homeless people warming themselves by a fire the night before.

"Nothing." Ollie said dejectedly.

"It's a big City...We both knew it would be like finding a needle in a haystack." Batman responded as he stood intently watching the group below who again stood warming themselves around the fire.

"Dammit." Green Arrow spat..his words full of anguish.."He has no one...no family..and I'm not even sure of who his friends are...or even if he has any..I was too far into my own life to even ask...He has no where to go..." Green Arrow broke off and ran a hand through his hair.

Batman instantly noticed the slight tremble...The Archer was exhausted..But whilst Batman felt some sympathy for the man..He also felt it was the man's own doing that had caused the situation. "You need to learn to swallow your pride and accept help." he stated.

Green Arrow turned to glare at the dark caped figure.."What the hell do you think I'm doing now..hey..If calling you in isn't swallowing my pride,I don't know what the hell is." he snapped.

Sensing the distress the Archer felt..Batman softened his voice slightly.."I'm not talking about now..I'm talking about if, and when you get this boy back...You need to ask for help when you have to go anywhere..you can't leave him buy himself...Ask Dinah to take him..Ask me...anyone." he said.

Green Arrow looked shocked.."You?...ask you?...Why would you want to help?." he asked incredulously.

"We're all fighting for the same cause Ollie...we all have the same objective...From what I've heard from Dinah..the boy has tremendous potential...to have that potential wasted on the streets because you didn't want to ask for help would be..." Batman stopped talking as Green Arrow nodded towards the people below.

Both heroes peered over the edge of the building watching as a group of five men arrived...The other people standing around the drum of fire, hurriedly moved away as the men walked up.

Noting the obvious fear displayed in the body language of the homeless people towards the five man...both Green Arrow and Batman moved to climb down from their vantage point.

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As the two heroes approached the drum of fire, the five men looked up. Suddenly a shout went up and the men scattered in different directions.

Green Arrow nocked a bolo arrow and quickly brought one of the men to the ground, he hurriedly tried to free himself from the bolo, as the other men disappeared from sight.

Batman ran to the fallen figure with Green Arrow close by his side.

As the two heroes reached the man he began to babble in a panicked voice.."I didn't do it man...I swear it wasn't me...Nate's the one that did it...Nate shot the kid..I didn't have nothin to do wit..." he stopped as Green Arrow reached down to heave him to his feet by his hair.

Screaming now, the man started to babble hysterically..."I wasn't me ...It was Nate...I told him the kid was with you man...It.."

Red with rage Green Arrow cut off the man's terrified confession,"Where is he?" he yelled shaking the man.

The man began to cry, "I dunno ...I dunno...we just left him there...I swear it wasn't me I swear...I never done nothing to him honest."

Green Arrow pulled his fist back ready to strike the man...Batman swiftly grabbed the arm mid swing.."We need him conscious." he growled.

The Emerald Archer stepped back, throwing the man to the ground...he turned and stormed off a short distance before stopping and holding his head with both hands...Trying to slow his breathing...Trying to calm his racing heart.

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Twenty five minutes later and both heroes arrived at the front of the alley...Batman had managed to gain the address from the terrified thug before handcuffing him and calling the Police.

Green Arrow ran into the alley...Searching as he went...And finding nothing.."Dammit...he's not here." He yelled.

Batman walked cautiously...Torch in hand carefully scanning the area as he went.

"We don't have time...he could be anywhere...he could be dead." the panicked Archer yelled at the Dark Knight.

Batman stopped...then squatted down to inspect a dark patch on the ground...rising he took a few steps towards the warehouse..before shining the torch on the wall.

Green Arrow...realizing Batman had found something of importance quickly moved to stand beside him...The torch settled on another dark patch smeared up the wall near the window.

"Blood." Batman said.

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Dick stirred...Through the darkness, there was light..he tried to force his body to move... His eye's to open..Instead he let out a small moan.

Suddenly a voice broke through the darkness..."Dickie...it's ok son...I've got you...It's gonna be ok...I've got you buddy."

He couldn't open his eye's...But he knew, whose hands gently cradled him..He found the strength to allow a small smile to play on his lips..He would be safe now.

end part 8