Thanks to Patty and Tammy for the beta read. You girls rock. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Char -)

COURT MARTIAL: Part 18:

Tim's young laughter echoed as he snorted "I won again"

"It takes a mind like yours to win at Boggle."

"Yeah, better than yours." Tim stuck his tongue out at Dick. "Sore loser."

Dick tossed the dice across the folio version of the game to Tim. The younger boy easily caught the dice before leaning back on his elbows on the bunk. Dick grinned at him. "I'm glad you came. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, bro" Tim replied. He felt a sigh start to slip out, but swallowed it and smiled. "I promise, I'll bring a game you can win tomorrow. I'll just have to dig out my Candy Land game when I get home."

"Ha ha ha" Dick shook his head and chuckled. "You think you're funny, don'tcha kid"

"I know I am. I'm cute too."

Dick rolled his eyes. "Have you been hanging out with Harper? You're starting to sound like him."

Tim rolled over and propped up on one elbow. "I wish the stuff with Cheshire had been more helpful."

Dick shrugged. "It was a thought. And there was a connection." He shrugged again before changing the conversation. It was enjoyable to not discuss his case or situation, if just for an afternoon. "So, you like being Oracle Jr"

"Yeah. It's better than just sitting at home all night being 'normal'" Tim replied using his fingers to make air quotes when he said the word normal. "I'd rather be Robin but, it's doing something."

"Hmm" Dick pretended to muse. "We need a new name for you. Something spiffy." Snapping his fingers, Dick paced back and forth in front of the bunk. "Ooooo, I got it ... CyberBoy ... CompHero ... DigitalDude ... DigitalDork"

Tim stuck his tongue out, made a loud, obnoxious noise as he gave Dick the raspberry. "Why don't you leave the attempts at humor to me? I can actually accomplish it."

"Excuse me? You do realize you are talking to the king of puns"

"Exactly. That's why I said leave the humor to me." Tim smiled proudly.

Dick grinned back. "Okay, fine. Leave the noogies to me." He reached for Tim who tried to jump out of the way. Tim was unsuccessful and Dick grabbed him and started boring his balled fist into the boy's wavy black hair. "Say Dick rules! Say it" he called as the uncommon sound of laughter echoed in the cell.

"Never" Tim yelled before melting into a fit of laughter. "Okay, okay, Dick rules " Dick grined and sat back down taking the dice in his hands. Tim stuck his tongue out at him"- the toilet! Dick rules the toilet"

"I'm having no mercy on you this game" Dick replied.

Their laughter died out as they heard the locking mechanisms release as the heavy promethium reinforced titanium vanadium door started to for slid open with a rush of released air from the hydrolic pumps. Dick continued to juggle the dice in his hand as he waited the door to open all the way. He rolled the dice onto the folio game's small board as Barbara entered the small cell followed by Bruce.

"Tim, we need to speak to Dick for a while" Bruce said. His voice was low but softer than the gravely tone reserved for the times he wore the cowl.

Selina stood in the door of the cell. "Come on Junior, I'll buy you a hot chocolate in the cafeteria. I hate going in their by myself. Everyone looks at me funny ... like they ought to be arresting me or something. Makes a girl feel a little too wanted if you know what I mean."

Tim looked at Bruce, who nodded. Tim shook his head as he packed away the small game. "I'll see you later Dick. And I'll bring Candy Land tomorrow."

"Cute" Dick said as he waved at Tim.

Selina grinned at Tim"So, birdy boy, up for that chocolate"

Tim looked at Bruce and then Selina. The boy rolled his eyes as he brushed past her leaving the cell. "Whatever."

Selina gave Bruce an impish grin"Oh this is going to be loads of fun." She ignored his shrug and followed the boy into the corridor.

"What's this " he started to ask, but stopped when Barbara held up her hand. He watched her as she waited for the door to close before she turned back to face him. "This doesn't look good. What now"

Bruce crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back into the door. Waiting. Barbara's eyes moved from son to father and back again. "I thought it would be easiest, just to lay this out before both of you at one time. The prosecution has offered you a deal."

A quizzical look crossed Dick's face. "What kind of deal"

"They're willing to dismiss the murder charge if you plead guilty to Solicitation of Murder. If Dick Grayson, that is, pleads guilty to Solicitation."

Bruce didn't move from his position. He seemed to not even breathe. His voice was low when he asked for clarification. "If Dick pleads guilty ... as Dick? What are they wanting, exactly"

"They want to protect your secret identities while keeping Dick on planet."

"How can they do both" Dick asked. "They want me to what ... plead guilty and stay here on the WatchTower"

"No. As far as the world would know, Nightwing would have been convicted and sentenced to life off planet. In the course of the JLA's 'investigation' it would be discovered that Dick Grayson" she turned and looked at Bruce"son and heir of Gotham's famous billionaire contacted Nightwing to take out Blockbuster because of the fire at the circus and the explosion of the apartment building. The story would be that Dick had angered Blockbuster while he was still on the force and Blockbuster was attacking him."

"That much is true enough" Dick said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Barbara looked down before continuing. "Since in the cover story, Dick's actions put everything in play, they can justify a solicitation charge. They're willing to say that the JLA made a deal with Dick to testify against Nightwing."

"So outside of the play they've cooked up, what does it mean for me" Dick asked directly.

Barbara looked up at Dick. "Plead guilty in state court to a plea bargain brokered by the JLA to a Class C felony. With no prior record, you'd receive a sentence of forty-four months minimum sixty-two months maximum in whatever prison the state of Gotham decides to place you in. As for the reality of your situation over and above that, you would know that the JLA would be monitoring your placement the entire time to ensure you stay until released." She hesitated.

"Go on" Bruce said darkly.

"And you could never be Nightwing or any hero again."


Tim stalked slightly ahead of Selina as they made their way down the corridor of Level Fourteen heading toward the cafeteria. He didn't know why he hadn't just gone to the transporters and returned to Gotham. He could be doing work or homework or something, instead of having a tea party with a thief. Even if the thief was Batman's girlfriend, he almost stopped mid stalk at the thought of Catwoman being Batman's girlfriend.

"You know Robin, it's okay. Really." He turned and glared at her. She smiled. "Look kid, I know you don't like me. It's okay that you don't like me. But we have been known to work together on occasion. This is one of those times. We're on the same side. Nightwing's side. So, just grin and bear it and have a snack with me. I'm famished."

Tim's glare changed to a stare and then he rolled his eyes again. "I'm not hungry."

"You don't have to be. I'm hungry enough for both of us and I don't like eating when I'm being stared at like I'm a fish in a bowl."

"They'll still stare with me there" he said.

"I know, but I'll be talking to you, or at you, and I can ignore them."

"Whatever" he snarled petulantly.

"I've got Bruce's little blue card that you charge your purchases to up here. So I'm buying."

"Fine." Tim's surly tone dismissed her conversation, but then he turned back to look at her"Did you steal the card"

"No, I didn't steal the card. He gave me the card." She playfully stuck her tongue out at him and laughed when Tim rolled his eyes. "I know how hard it is being a teenager, all that pent up sexual tension ready to burst forth from the seams."

"You don't know anything about me. You don't even know my name."

"Well Robin, that's good enough for now but I can find out if I want to know. Or you could just tell me."

"Yeah ri-ight. Let's just go eat. Okay? Then I can go home" Tim said as they neared the cafeteria entry. He saw Ted Kord coming from the opposite direction carrying an armload of papers.

"Robin" Ted called with a smile.

"You know the creep" Selina whispered in Robin's ear.

Tim cut his eyes toward her. "Yes, and he's not a creep."

"You realize he's the prosecution"

"Yes. But I know he's just doing what he has to." Tim turned to Ted"Hi Beetle."

Ted came close. "I didn't know you were going to be here, but I'm glad." He started sorting through his papers. "Saves me a trip to Gotham to see you." He grinned when he found what he was looking for. He pulled out the tri-folded paper and handed it to the boy. "This is for you."

Tim took the white paper and asked"What's this"

"A subpoena." Ted said. He ignored Selina who had stepped slightly back to watch the exchange.

Befuddled, Tim looked up into Ted's face. "Why are you subpoenaing me? You're the prosecution."

Ted nodded. "I know. We may need you to testify in the trial against Nightwing."

"Me? Testify ... against ... NO! I am not going to do that! Are you crazy? I don't know anything about what happened that night but even if I did I'm not going to testify AGAINST Dick! No way, no how. You can't make me do this"

"I'm sorry, Robin, but we can. That's why it's a subpoena. I know you don't want to testify against Nightwing. None of us like this, but if we have a trial your testimony will be crucial to the prosecution."

"Crucial how" Selina asked, taking a step closer to the duo.

Ted Kord turned to face her. "Not that I'm going to discuss our trial strategy with you, but we need him to testify about the time that Nightwing killed Joker. Shows a pattern of behavior."

Tim stared, a dumbfounded look on his face. His mouth gaped open. "You ... you'd use ... I told you that ... when we were looking after Bludhaven while Dick couldn't. When he was upset about ... what happened. I told you in confidence ... as a friend. Now you want to use me as a weapon to hurt Dick. You can't ... Beetle you can't " Tim couldn't finish his sentence. His face was a mixture of pain and grief when he turned toward the wall and leaned against it.

Selina's green eyes narrowed as a different type of fury enveloped her soul. She moved without thinking striking true to her target. Her hand clasped Ted Kord's neck and she shoved him hard into the wall. "You just went too far" Her nails dug into his skin.

"Let me go" Kord spat.

"How can you do this to him" Selina accused, her free hand pointing at Tim who stood pale behind her. "You better rethink what you're doing because I guarantee that I will be the least of your worries. And that is saying quite a lot. You better be glad it's me in this hall because otherwise you'd be through the wall not just into it. He will not testify against his ... against Nightwing. Do. You. Understand" Her grip tightened.

"Release him"

Selina did not turn at the other woman's voice. "This isn't your business" her curt voice retorted as she continued to glare at Ted. Ted shoved Selina off him.

Tim moved over to her, taking her arm in his. "It's ... it's ok. Barbara will fix this. Let's ... let's just get something to eat."

"No" Wonder Woman said marching over. "The only place she is going is off this station. Catwoman is no longer welcome here."

Selina turned green glowering eyes toward the Amazon. "I don't think so. I'm here because of Batman and I'm not leaving until we all leave together ... Batman, Nightwing, Robin and I."

"You attacked a League member. You leave now." Wonder Woman exuded royal authority as she spoke.

"Make me" Selina shot back.

"Gladly."

Tim stepped between them"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Just ... just chill okay. Just chill. Beetle's not hurt, not really. Right Beetle"

"Ticked off might be a better way to explain it" Ted replied.

"It does not matter. She leaves. Now."

"No. She doesn't" Superman said as he walked up with Flash. "Tensions are high. I'm sure this was just a misunderstanding and Selina apologizes."

"I do" she asked. She thought how similar Superman's glare was to Batman's. Neither worked on her, but she relented slightly for Bruce's sake. She already knew the control lecture would be coming from Bruce. Best to just get this over with. "I do." Not!

"She is a criminal and attacked Blue Beetle, she leaves now" Wonder Woman declared.

Flash shook his head. "She is here as Batman's guest."

"Fine, then confine her to his quarters. She cannot be a guest and then freely go about attacking others. I will not tolerate this type of behavior here."

Selina crossed her arms and leaned over whispering in Robin's ear"Who died and made her queen"

He whispered back. "Technically, her mother."

"Oh" Selina replied matter of factly.

Tim stared at her a moment. He would have to explain how the Amazons modified their form of government from monarchy to democracy. But now wasn't the time for a political currents event lesson. Palming his face, Tim looked up at Superman"She was protecting me."

"I didn't shoot you Robin. I served you with a subpoena. Catwoman overreacted."

"You served a subpoena on a sixteen year old boy on the first day he's gotten to see Nightwing after all of this mess started. You served him to testify against the man who is, for all intents and purposes, his brother. And you serve him to testify about something he told you in confidence" Selina snarled. "Excuse me for being human among this great pantheon of new gods or," Selena nodded in Wonder Woman's direction"old gods or whatever the heck is the current take on this overpowered hero club. It is my human mistake for thinking a little compassion could be shown here. But then again, I'm just a criminal" she countered glaring at Wonder Woman. "I mistakenly thought that you 'good guys' were supposed to be the kind, compassionate ones." She took Tim by the shoulders, turned him and started into the cafeteria. She stopped at the door and turned back. "For the record Wonder Woman, I don't give a damn what you think about me or what you want regarding me. You want me off the Watch Tower, you take it up with Batman. His is the only opinion I give a damn about. C'mon Robin." She draped her arm around the boy's shoulder and moved further into the cafeteria. Looking back over her shoulder one last time, she goaded"By the way Wonder Woman, you should be glad you're here and not in Gotham. This would not have turned out well for you."

"Selina" Superman barked.

"Anytime" Wonder Woman replied, fire in her eyes.

"Diana" Superman reproached.

The four League members stood in the hall staring at each other. Flash massaged his throbbing temples. He looked at Ted and said"I think we all understand how high emotions are around here. I agree she overreacted but I can understand her emotions. And if it had been any of the Titans standing in her place, I guarantee you would've had the same reaction."

"With all due respect, Superman would've reacted the same way and that's the problem. I was doing my job. A job others did not want and one, despite Oracle's and Nightwing's belief, I do not want."

"I know that Ted. We all know that" Superman replied placing his hand on Beetle's shoulder.

Ted shrugged it off. "We're doing the villains work here and I know it. I was doing my job. Period. All I did was give a subpoena to a material witness."

"I'm not faulting you. I understand, I do. It's an ugly situation."

"I don't think you really do get it, Superman. Not this time. Forgive me for wanting to see justice served. I thought that was what the League was for."

"It is Ted" Diana soothed. "You are not in the wrong in this situation. You owe no one an explanation." Her deep blue eyes bored into Clark.

Ted sighed. "I understand that more damage has been done to the League by this mess than any attack by a supervillain. Superman, I understand why you did it ... bringing Nightwing here to us, but I sure as hell wish you hadn't brought him here. Before this is all over, I don't think there will be much of a League left." He turned and walked off away from them.

Clark closed his eyes. For all his powers, he was only too "human". Dejectedly, he murmured"That's what I'm afraid of."

Wally looked down, avoiding eye contact with two of the League's core members. He was still massaging his temple. "I ... need to go tell Oracle ... about ... the subpoena." He was gone before they could respond leaving Superman and Wonder Woman staring at each other.

Wonder Woman shook her head. "No matter the outcome, the lines are becoming clear."

Superman cocked his head, "Excuse me."

Wonder Woman pointed at the cafeteria. Green Lantern was returning Black Canary's glare. "The division in the League. Blue Beetle is right. If we don't resolve this quickly, the League will shatter."


They didn't know how long they sat in silence staring at each other; Dick, Barbara and Bruce; after she had made her revelation. Dick stared at Bruce. He hadn't moved from his spot. Bruce was still leaning against the metal door, his arms crossed across his chest. It surprised him that Bruce was wearing civilian clothes in the Watch Tower, but here he was, in black slacks and a white button down shirt, sleeves rolled up. It made Dick's situation seem almost surreal to him.

Then he looked down at the green scrubs he wore. It was more than surreal, it was phantasmagorical. This had to be a dream. A nightmare. Yet, when he looked up into Barbara's face, the worry and concern creasing her brow, he knew in his heart this was all too real. Blue Beetle and Green Lantern wanted him to plead guilty to a lesser charge rather than stand trial for murder. To go to prison, and worse, to never be Nightwing again.

Dick laughed derisively. He shook his head. "No. No I can't do that. I won't do that. Tell them no."

"Dick" Barbara started.

"What? I'm not gonna give up being Nightwing. I can't give this up. It's more than a name, a job it's" he looked at Bruce. Bruce knew what this life meant to him. It was more than a mission. It was a calling, a need instilled deep inside him to help people. He helped people. He was good at it. They couldn't take that away. "Could I use ... another name"

"I think the idea is not just give up Nightwing but " Barbara looked down.

Dick's eyes never wavered from Bruce. "Then I could never be ... no."

She sighed. "Dick, you have to think about this."

"Why" he bellowed, anger erupting from deep within him.

"You can't just dismiss this out of hand without even considering it. While this isn't a death penalty case, Dick, it might as well be. Your life is at stake! You can't act rashly or hasty. You have to think things through" she pleaded. She turned to Bruce. "Talk to him."

Bruce stoically stared at them. "Are we going to lose, Barbara"

"I'm going to fight my damnedest. I'm going to do everything in my power to win this case" she said, fire in her green eyes. "But we all know there is no sure thing in this life. I'd be lying if I said there was no way we could lose. This thing could go either way." Barbara took off her glasses, pinched her nose, and then looked at both of them. "Look the bottom line here is this. I'm an attorney. I have the degrees and everything but" she exhaled the breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding. "Knowing the law and practicing the law aren't the same thing. I know what I'm supposed to do but ... I've never tried a case before. While Green Lantern and Blue Beetle are really in the same position without benefit of legal knowledge, they do have an advantage."

Bruce and Dick watched her intently as she spoke. They waited for her to continue. Barbara voiced her fear. "Jean Loring. Jean is a trial lawyer. She is a well accomplished and very successful trial lawyer. I … I don't have that experience and that could hurt us in the end. She is just consulting, but that experience should not be dismissed. She'll be in that courtroom every day directing them in every step." Barbara wanted to tell them that it scared her, but she would not vocalize that. "As if that wasn't enough, the case itself " She paused and her green eyes bored into Dick, "It's a difficult case to argue and win." She put back on her glasses. "I will fight as hard as I can."

Dick stared back at her. Reality bearing down upon him like an anvil. "So, I could be convicted"

Taking his hand in hers, Barbara looked up at Dick. "You know that's possible. As much as I wish it wasn't, you know it is. And if you are convicted " She looked down, closing her eyes. She couldn't cry. It wouldn't be professional to cry. Her resolve broke at his hushed tones.

"I'd never see you again."

Barbara's hand went to her mouth as he vocalized her worst fear. "I ... um ... I think I need to leave you ... two ... to talk."

Bruce nodded and turned tapping the liquid crystal porthole on the door with his knuckle. The locking mechanisms unclasped and with a whoosh the door slid open. Bruce stood to the side as Barbara wheeled out. He watched the door slide closed behind her before turning his attention to Dick.

Dick stood at the back wall staring blankly in the direction of the door. As the door locked, he moved to the bunk and sank into it. He dropped his head into his hand and released an audible sigh. His eyes looked tired when he turned to Bruce. "What do I do? I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do."

Bruce's jaw flexed as he debated his next move. Striding across the small cell, he sat beside his son wrapping his arm around his shoulders. "I can't tell you what to do Dick. This is your life, your decision. Only you can make it. What I can tell you is, whatever decision you make, I'll stand by you. One hundred percent. We will get through this ... together. I know you'll make the right decision."

"But I don't know what to do." He ran his hand through his thick black hair, and then he rubbed his neck. He could feel the tension knots. "I'm twenty-four years old. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison. Any prison. I especially don't want to spend the rest of my life on a prison planet in some other galaxy."

"I know" Bruce replied. "That's the last thing I want."

"I don't want to go to prison, but I'm not scared to go. It's just ... if that's what I deserve then ... I can do it. I know what I did. I know it was wrong. That's why I turned myself in. I know I should be punished "

"You didn't kill him, Dick."

"I know. But I know I didn't stop her. I broke my vow. My vow to you."

"You made a mistake. You're human, Dick."

"Yeah, well, all too much sometimes." He sighed. "I walked away and let a man die."

"You walked away true ... after being tortured and abused. You had no choice."

"We always have a choice. You taught us that ... taught me that. I did what Jay did." Dick looked at Bruce. Watched his eyebrow arch, questioning his statement. "With the diplomat. You didn't think I knew about that did you? Jay called me. Afterwards. He didn't push him, but ... he didn't save him. That's what I did. I walked away and I didn't save Blockbuster."

"Son, you had no choice. You couldn't have fought further ... or you would've." Bruce looked down. "Jason made a mistake ... but" he looked up and tilted Dick's face up to look at him. "This is not that. Jason was clearly capable in saving the diplomat. You were not capable of saving Blockbuster."

"Yeah right. Tarantula is so beneath my fighting abilities, she didn't pose a threat to me. Everyone knows that. I should have stopped her. The only thing playing in my head was stop. I don't even know who or what I wanted to stop. Dr Midnight said that I was ... frozen but ... I dunno. Everything did seem to stop, and then ... after she shot him ... nothing would stop."

"Dick ... you're mistaken about something. You need to remember this. Think. When you were trained, you were trained to act without hesitation. Were you not"

"Yes sir" Dick replied. Memories of his training flashed through his head. It was hard work. The hardest he had ever done, but it was fun. He loved it. Bruce and him. Together. Sharing. Everything.

Bruce's voice brought Dick back to the present. "Then why did you stop and think in that stairwell? You stopped ... froze. That is not how you behave. You react and act. That is how Nightwing works. IF you were going to leave him to die ... you would have flown away, without a thought. IF you were capable of saving him, YOU would have done it without thinking."

Dick intently watched the man who raised him. This was the one man, above all others, who should condemn him but he didn't. His words gave him pause to think. Maybe he wasn't guilty, but he knew he wasn't innocent. "I just ... I know I can never make it right. I can't give back a life. But how can I even try to make it right if I can't be Nightwing anymore? If they take that away from me, they take away my only road to redemption. I've got to try and make it right."

Bruce cocked his head"I'm not sure how much redemption is actually necessary on you part." Dick opened his mouth, and Bruce raised his hand forestalling the comment"A discussion we WILL have another time. But for now, are you going to trial" Bruce asked.

Dick stared back at Bruce. His mind whirled. Reaching up, he rubbed his eyes trying to stop the slight thobbing that nagged at him. Pulling his hand back, he stared at it. Blood and brain matter splattered across the calloused skin of his hand. He knew it was his mind's way of reminding him of his sins. It also reminded him that once again he held a life in his hands. This time it was his own. This time he had to make the right decision ... this time he wouldn't take the coward's way out.

TO BE CONTINUED ...