Chapter 17
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Barbara awoke with a blinding headache. The bright lights in the room where she was being held didn't help the situation either. Barbara took a look around her surroundings. There were two men at a card table playing what looked like poker. There was another man standing in the corner of the room staring intently at her. Barbara did not like the look of lust he had plastered on his face which only encouraged her to try and tear harder the rags that bound her.
"Alright, alright, what is the commotion here?"
Joker strutted in as if there was a party on display. He was making so much noise as if to compensate for others in the room. The ironic thing is that everyone else was silent. Barbara feared that this man was becoming lost within his demon. Joker leaned over Barbara with a smitten look on his face.
"You know, I always had a thing for you. I think your dad knew. He would never have encouraged it. "
Joker stood up putting his hand to his chin, "Especially now since I killed him!"
He began to laugh as if that was the funniest thing he had ever heard. The other men in the room just smirked and nodded going along with the madman.
Barbara remained silent. Asking him what he wanted would only stall the inevitable. She was out of practice to bring out Batgirl's strengths. She closed her eyes and prayed that Bruce would come.
Dick sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. The police had finally left. There was very little left that could be considered a clue, but everyone knew that Joker was responsible anyway. The breeze rustled through curtains near the opened window. Dick looked up.
"Oh, it's you," he muttered.
Batman noticed that Dick didn't even flinch. It was as if he was expecting him.
"Where is she?" Batman asked.
The young man shook his head.
"I don't know. He has her. That freak has her!"
Dick punched his fist to the wall leaving a dent. Batman saw the rage and passion Dick felt for Barbara.
"Where is the baby?" Batman asked suddenly sounding concerned.
Dick, whose head had been down staring at the floor, looked up.
"How did you know we had a baby?"
At the "we" part, Batman flinched.
"I read the newspaper."
Dick nodded not taking his eyes off of Batman as though he really didn't believe him.
"She's fine. I took her to her grandparents." Batman guessed that he meant Dick's adoptive family, but left it at that.
"Why didn't you stop him?" Batman asked.
Dick glared right back, "Why didn't you?"
Batman had no response .He turned to go when Dick spoke in a soft voice.
"When you find her, tell her I'm sorry I couldn't stop him."
Batman turned to face the damning streets before he leapt. I will tell her I am sorry too, Batman thought and took flight.