So...the last chapter was lame at the end so I spruced it up a bit more. Nothing major, just a little detail here and there that shouldn't affect much except you might go 'huh?' in later chapters if you don't go back and reread the ending. So yeah, sorry about the original lameness.

Disclaimer: Seriously?

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A Time Again

Chapter Eight: Nightmare

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Richard checked his watch. It was 5:30, and figuring that Raven would probably still be at work, he decided to pay her a visit.

He was unnaturally cheerful today, and everyone seemed to notice. Shannon had even been so bold as to ask slyly how things were going with him and Raven. He, of course, ignored her just as Raven had, and only furthered Shannon's suspicions of her two friends. But despite a rightly nosy Shannon, his day was going quite well. Nothing worth mentioning in the business world; his head wasn't even close to being down to earth and he had hardly paid attention all day. But the day was pleasantly cool with a crisp breeze coming from the South and bringing along a tingle of the spring to come.

In fact, he was in such a good mood that he didn't think anything in the world could bring him down.

X

When he arrived at the shop, one of the workers, David, said that she had left about two hours ago. Richard thanked him and left, dialing Raven's cell phone number while he went. She didn't answer and he just figured it must be off. No worries.

As he left the shop Richard dialed for her apartment and only received the cold answer of her answering machine. No worries.

Frowning, Richard dialed Shannon's cell phone hoping she had heard from her.

"Sorry Richard, but I haven't heard from her." Shannon replied to his question. "I did call her around four-ish and no one answered then." Richard thanked her and hung up, pressing down on the gas pedal a little harder.

There was nothing to be worried about. He was being paranoid. Of course, now that Slade was back there definitely was a reason to be paranoid, but what would he want with her? Richard was pretty sure that Slade didn't know Raven was still around these parts, and only wanted him.

But what if he did know? What if he had somehow taken Raven right from under his nose?

Richard shook his head as if to clear out those terrible thoughts. He could play the 'what if' game for hours on end, and it would get him nowhere. He would just go up to her apartment and find her there asleep or something and everything would be alright.

But would it?

Richard pulled up to the apartment complex and walked inside and up the stairs. He knocked loudly on the door and his heart dropped when it opened with a sickening creak.

He knew then that no one would be there.

Pushing the door all the way open, Richard stepped inside and met with a heart wrenching sight. The table nearest to the door lay on its side, the plate that must have been on it shattered and its contents littering the sparkling aquamarine glass. A few feet past that in the kitchen a brown shopping bag lay on the floor, its contents strewn about. Vibrant oranges had rolled about and he glimpsed more than one box of tea in the knocked over bag.

That's when he noticed the television.

The channel was switched to the news, where yet another bomb had been located in a warehouse. The news reporter said that it had just been discovered, and the bomb squad was still figuring a way in to disable the explosive. As of now, no new leads had been uncovered as to regarding who had placed these bombs and why.

But this time it wasn't a warning, or a beacon screaming an ill return.

It was a message.

And now it said I've got her, and now I'm coming for you.

Richard swore loudly. He should have seen this coming. Of course Slade would know about him and Raven, however small the connection had been. He always knew what wasn't meant to be known, and twisted it to his bastardly advantage. He should have known he would go for her, and not for him. She was his weakness, his only flaw that could strip him down bare into a bumbling coward. And Slade knew this. Slade had always seemed to know his secret weakness that was never exposed to anyone. And he exploited it every single time.

He punched the wall violently, denting it in slightly. This was his entire fault. He—

The buzzer went off. Someone was downstairs wanting to get in. Cautious and a little puzzled, Richard went over to the door and asked who it was through the intercom.

"Richard, is that you?" Richard was taken aback. It was Shannon. He let her in, unsure of what to do or say.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she came in the door. Richard ceased his pacing and ran a slightly shaking hand through his hair.

"I came looking for Raven." He responded quietly. He shouldn't tell her what had happened; he didn't want any more people hurt.

"What happened here?" Shannon walked towards him, surveying the knocked over table and strewn groceries. "Richard? Where's Raven?"

Damn.

She was smarter than he gave her credit for. No point in hiding it now.

"She...she was taken." He said finally, regretting it almost the moment the words left his mouth. Her eyes widened and Richard cringed.

"Taken? What do you mean taken?" She asked, her voice rising. "Like kidnapped?" Richard only nodded. A lump, cold with fury and fear, had taken root in his throat and he couldn't say anything. Not just yet.

"Who the hell would take her? She hasn't done anything wrong and she doesn't have any enemies!" Shannon carried on, distress clearly visible on her face.

She has friends with enemies. Dangerous enemies.

Shannon began searching through her purse and pulled out her cell phone.

"The police wouldn't help." Richard said quietly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Shannon looked up at him, her eyes on fire. "Yes they would. They are trained to handle crap like this and they're the best chance of getting her back."

Richard sighed. Were all women this difficult?

He took the phone and stuffed it back into her purse.

"Listen to me," he said, grabbing her gently by the shoulders, "The police can't help because they'd only get in the way. They don't know where she is, or who has taken her. And they wouldn't know where to look. I do. So please, go home and I will get her back." He pushed her towards the door.

"But what-"

"Go. And tell no one she's gone. No one." And he closed the door.

Richard sat down on the couch and ran his hands through his hair out of nervous habit. This was not good. Albeit, he had known that already, but he could think of no reason why Slade would want Raven besides to get to him. And he had no clue why Slade would want to get to him again.

Richard looked down and sitting next to the coffee table was one of the ripe, vibrant oranges. He bent to pick it up and a dark splotch on the blue rug caught his attention. He ran his fingers over it lightly and when he drew away the tips of them were red.

She was hurt.

Even though there was no way of knowing it was her blood, he knew it was. She wasn't bleeding a lot, but that didn't mean she had continued to.

Standing up, Richard dropped the orange on the couch and nearly ran for the door.

If Slade wanted him, Slade would get him.

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Yay, I got this done before Spring Break. Hoo-rah. Sorry about the lack of length, but I'll save some Nightwing / Slade action until the next chapter. Which you won't get until about three weeks, give or take one. Sorry, but I'm going to be away from a computer for about 10 days and that really puts and damper on my writing. But anyhoo, adios!