Thanks go out to Patty, Beth O'K and Tammy for their beta work without which this chapter would have sucked. Special thanks to Patty for going above and beyond the call of duty and helping me to find the point of this chapter and increasing the evil factor on it :-) Many, many thanks. I hope you all enjoy this one. Char :-)

Court Martial: Part 22:

Captain Atom and Booster Gold flanked Nightwing as they escorted him back to the secure area. The Tribunal had adjourned for the day after Batman's testimony. Booster kept opening his mouth to try and lighten the mood, but he kept closing it again when he could not think of anything to say. Instead, they traveled the corridors in silence.

Nightwing looked down at the blue-gray metal that made up the floor of the halls. His eyes fell upon the chains that marked him prisoner. The soft metallic click kept in rhythm with his shuffling step. His stomach kept churning. Dick felt like he was going to be sick. He remembered Bruce, Barbara and Wally asking to walk him back to his cell. He remembered their concern. He remembered their voices hiding their fear and other emotions. He also remembered how he told them all no. He told them that he wanted to be alone, but the truth was he needed to be alone. He needed time to regroup. Wally would be trying to cheer him up. Barbara would be all work preparing for tomorrow's trial action, and Bruce would be feeling guilty about his testimony. Right now, Dick neither wanted to be cheered up, worked with, nor apologized to.

He really wished the secure area had a gym or exercise room. Dick really could use a physical workout right now. Nothing cleared his head of the cobwebs than a good exercise routine. His small cell did not afford him the room her needed to fly and he really wanted -- no needed -- to fly at the moment.

"So what gourmet delicacy may I bring you from the renown eating establishment know as the cafeteria?" Booster asked cordially.

Nightwing shrugged, "I'm not hungry."

"Oh come on, you gotta eat. And it's not like you can just run to the cafeteria when you do get hungry you know," Booster persisted.

"I'm well aware of that," Nightwing retorted more angrily than he meant. His tension and anger at captivity, the trial and everything in general were starting to boil over. He took a deep breath, willing the frustration growing in his muscles and his mind to relax. He felt bad about snapping at Booster. Focusing on his shoulders, he relaxed the muscles and then shrugged them again. "Look, whatever you want to bring me is fine."

Captain Atom unlocked the door leading into the common room of the secure area. "Nightwing," he said cooly as he gestured for the prisoner to go inside. As the three men entered, their attention was drawn to the other side of the room where Firestorm was letting Mateo Flores and Catalina's attorney out of her cell. As they exited her cell, Tarantula appeared in the door wearing the mottled green prison scrubs. She was pale and restless. Wisps of black hair escaped her ponytail framing her face as she hugged her brother. She opened her eyes again and then she saw Booster Gold, Captain Atom and Nightwing walking into the secured area.

When Catalina's eyes fell upon Nightwing, rage encompassed her. "BASTARD!" she screamed as she ran out of her cell. In a matter of seconds, she had thrown her lawyer aside, crashing into her brother. They tumbled into a startled Firestorm and they all went down in tangle of curses, arms and legs. Firestorm tried to free himself from the other men to restrain his prisoner, but Tarantula was across the room. Springing up on a metal stool of one of the common room's tables, she vaulted the table, and flipped in the air. She drove her feet into Booster Gold's chest, sending him flying into Captain Atom. She bounced off of Booster and landed hard in front Nightwing. She sprung upwards driving a fist into Nightwing's chest. "You Bastard!" Her hands pummeling his chest, face and shoulders, driving the restrained Nightwing into the wall with a solid smack. "I'm going to prison because of you. Because of you!" she screeched.

Nightwing hissed in pain as he connected with the wall. The wound inflicted by Green Lantern smashed against the metal surface and immediately radiated pain. Shackled and manacled, Nightwing fell victim to her attack… momentarily. Using his head as a weapon, he drove the crown of his head into her face with a satisfying crunch. He crouched causing slack in the chain, and then threw his body causing the chain to whip across Catalina's body driving her back. He bounced up, keeping his legs together and body slightly curled, and drove his shoulder into her chest. Her hands, which had been holding her bleeding nose, swung wildly trying to fend off the attack and maintain her balance. Nightwing pounced on her and toppled them both to the ground. His momentum caused them to slide on the metal floor a short distance. His body still curled, but this time tight allow enough slack to pin her under the chain as he straddled her. Cataline's hand clawed out and Dick swirled the chain between his hands around her wrists entangling her. He brought them down hard into her chest. She grunted in pain and gasped as he knocked the wind out of her. His face was now inches from hers as his rage boiled over and he screamed at her, "Because of me! This is all because of you! ALL OF IT! I may have made a mistake, but YOU did this! You plotted with Desmond to do it! You're the murderer Tarantula and I hope you burn in hell!"

Captain Atom tossed Booster aside and flew to the raging Nightwing. He struggled to maintain control of Nightwing as he grabbed him by both arms, pulling him up and off Tarantula. Atom struggled to keep the chained and manacled Nightwing in his arms, more than once on the short distance to the cell he felt Nightwing's body shift and start to slip as the chained hero looked for purchase to launch another series of attacks on Tarantula. Finally, they reached the cell and Captain Atom pushed him in. As the chains appeared to melt away Nightwing bounded back, "Put her in here." Atom pressed the button causing the heavy door to close. Mentally, he shuddered as he heard the force of Nightwing's body pound into the strong cell door.

Captain Atom turned as Booster pulled a groaning Catalina up from the ground. Subdued, she held one hand to her nose to staunch the flow of blood and another to her chest as she gasped air in. Mateo Flores and her lawyer were running to her side. Firestorm moved quickly ahead of them and formed chains on her ankles and wrists out of transmuted air. The air still sparked around her limbs where the chains formed, when Booster grabbed a towel and pressed it to her face as she wailed in a weak voice about her nose. "He brode by node!"

The lawyer pointed at Firestorm. "You're a witness, my client was ruthlessly attacked by … by HIM" He pointed toward Nightwing's cell. "I demand-"

Booster shook his head, "Well, I think she threw the first punch."

The lawyer glared at Booster, "Well you failed to protect her-"

Captain Atom had reached the lawyer and spun him around. "If you want to talk about this, I'll find Superman. However, you and this other gentleman kept Firestorm occupied while your sister escaped. Think how that sounds." The lawyer closed his mouth. "Firestorm take our prisoner down to medical in chains at all time. Booster, take these two "gentlemen" down to medical as well. Then get them the hell off the station. I'll check on Nightwing."

As Captain Atom turned back toward Nightwing's cell, he heard the loud dull thud as Nightwing threw himself against the door. The noise echoed in the small security area. Booster cocked his head, "He sounds pretty okay to me. Pretty pissed too. Good luck on that checking thing." Captain Atom glared at the blue and gold clad hero who smirked, and then pulling the two men out with him, followed Firestorm levitating Catalina ahead of the group in chains.

Dick's eyes narrowed as he saw Tarantula moved out of the area. He glared after her as her words echoed in his head, swarming around his brain. "Because of me," Dick snarled, "No, because of you. You caused all of this Tarantula. You." He punched the door and watched out the porthole as the loud thud stopped Captain Atom in his tracks. "I know what you caused, what you did ... to Desmond ... and to me. But you're not doing it to me ... EVER again."


Wally carried the file folders and books into Barbara's suite in the guest quarters on level seventeen of the Watch Tower. Entering the room that resembled a hotel suite, he sat his cargo down on the table. He waited until he heard the squish of the sofa seat before he turned to face Barbara Gordon. He had purposefully kept his back turned to her while she maneuvered herself onto the comfortable sofa. It went against his grain not to help her, but he knew this woman well enough to know that she did not take kindly to being helped. She was like Dick, like Batman. He shook his head; it must be in the Gotham Water supply. "This was a grueling day," he sighed.

"Yeah," she replied as she removed her glasses from her face to massage the bridge of her nose. "I knew it would be. We all did."

"Yeah, but still. You were right though," he said as he crossed the distance to her. He was walking at what was normal speed for the rest of the world. To him, it felt like passing through a quagmire of molasses.

"About?" she asked without opening her eyes.

"The recording. As much as I know Dick and Bruce hated it being shown, I understand now why you said you didn't really want to fight it coming in. I think you're right. I think it helped us."

Barbara opened her eyes and looked up at the gangly red-head. "I think so. I had hoped so. I think John and Ted made many mistakes today. Mistakes we can turn to our advantage."

Wally sat in the wingback chair to her left. "I sense a 'but' there."

She shrugged her shoulders, pushed her long hair behind them, and looked at him. "Not really. It's just ... this isn't over. They haven't won, but we haven't either. This could still go either way."

"Are we going to have Dick testify?"

She sighed and turned her attention to the large framed print that hung on the wall. Perhaps it was by design or some cosmic fate that the quarters she was assigned held a large picture of the Greek goddess Themis, the visage of blind justice that symbolized the legal profession. In the print she stood, eyes blinded by the cloth tied around them, her arm outstretched holding the scales of justice in their symbolic even keel. Barbara wondered if those scales had tipped, ever so slightly, in Dick's favor today, or if things were still stacked against him. Certainly, it did not seem as bleak as it once had been. Still, she knew well enough that anything could happen. "I don't know," she finally answered Wally.

"When will you know?" Wally inquired.

"When I know."

He nodded. Short terse responses, something definitely was in the Gotham water. However, he did understand. They really couldn't be sure of anything until it happened. Wally stood stretching his long arms over his head. "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," she playfully replied.

"I think they need to, you know, give us candy in court." He smiled happy with his thought to improve the days of testimony that lay ahead.

Barbara could not help herself. She laughed. "I'll inform the justice system to add candy as a necessity for the trial process along with witnesses, evidence and oaths," she grinned at him.

"Yeah," he smiled, "the sugar rush would help. Especially in the boring parts." He smiled now. He was pleased with himself for getting her to laugh, even if just a little. "Wanna go get something in the cafeteria?"

Barbara shook her head. "Don't think I want to be among the crowds."

He nodded as he walked toward the door. "Tell you what, I'm going to go get outta this suit and into something comfy, then I'll swing by the cafeteria and bring something back. We can think of ways to thwart John and Ted over pasta."

Laughing, Barbara nodded. "Sounds good." He was gone before she could blink. She picked up her laptop from the end table, moved it into her lap, and checked her inbox. One email caught her eye and her face took on a quizzical expression as she read and reread the address. "awallertfx.us.gov". "So, the new president hired you back." Intrigued, Barbara clicked open the file and read:

O, Heard your boy's in BIG trouble. If Jr wants out of his predicament, I've got a deal for you. If he's convicted, the Big Boss will give him a full pardon -- IF he'll become the squad's new field commander for at least a year. It's better than the alternative. Let me know. Remember to use the encyption codes ... I'm sure you can hack in and get the new ones. A

Barbara pursed her lips, stuck her tongue in her cheek, and thought. It was an interesting offer at least. She knew that Batman would erupt with anger at the very thought of his son leading the Suicide Squad on perilous missions. More so than Dick had engaged in with the Titans, Outsiders or Justice League because he would have a team who felt he was more than expendable. He'd be alone, a solitary eagle in a nest of vultures. They needed a new field leader, probably because the last one had been killed. It was the way they operated. Someone dies, replace them. The entire squad was expendable. That's what they were there for. Nightwing ... no Dick ... he was not expendable. The very idea made Barbara's blood boil.

But ... Waller was right about one thing. It was better than the alternative.


The aroma of freshly baked bread floated through the corridor as Batman approached his quarters. It reminded him of being at home. He longed to be back in Gotham, in his city. When this travesty of a trial was over, he would return to Gotham. He and Nightwing.

The smell increased the closer he drew to his suite. Beneath the cowl, his eyebrow lifted quizzically. He knew who was there before he saw them. He was the world's greatest detective and when Selina cooked, it didn't smell anything like that. "Alfred, what are you doing here?" He asked as he entered through the sliding doors.

"Good evening, Master Bruce," Alfred greeted. "I've taken the liberty of preparing dinner for you and Miss Selina. I am also going to take a plate to Master Dick. I thought I would dine with him." Alfred turned and moved back into the suite's kitchen.

Bruce followed him, dropping the cape and cowl across the black leather sofa. "He said he wanted to be alone."

"Pish posh, Master Bruce. The boy must eat and my cooking is something he has never refused. Many times have I said that it was a lucky thing you were a billionaire. I dare say, had you not been, Master Dick would have eaten us out of house and home."

Bruce's mouth twitched slightly as he leaned against the small counter. "I'm glad you came."

"Where else would I be today, Master Bruce? I go where I am needed," Alfred said as he pulled the freshly baked croissants from the oven and scooped them into the bread bowl. "By the way, Master Bruce, I believe that that is not where your nighttime attire goes." He nodded toward a closet and pulled a steaming pan from the oven. "Please put them away, and wash for dinner."

Bruce's lips twitched into a half smile. "Yes, Alfred."


"I can't believe you did that," Ted Kord said shaking his head as he watched the defiant Green Lantern rolling his eyes at him. "I'm serious."

"I know you are," Lantern replied. He sighed before moving to the sofa that sat with its back against the wall of his quarters. He sank into the soft seat resting his throbbing head against the back of the sofa. Tendrils of green energy shot out from his ring taking the form of a hand. It snaked through the air into the kitchenette and returned with two cold cans of Zesti. The green hand stopped in front of Ted Kord who looked at the cans a moment before snatching one up. The hand retreated back into the ring as John Stewart took his can and ran it across his forehead, savoring the feel of the cold aluminum on his skin. Cold would not help the throbbing in his head, but he was going to pretend that it did.

Kord popped the top of the can and sat in the recliner across from Stewart. "I still can't believe you laughed. What were you thinking?"

"Well I didn't mean to laugh," he defended. "I just couldn't help myself. They can't really be thinking that story is going to fly. Do they expect us to believe that she ... what ... raped Nightwing? It's ridiculous."

"I don't know about that. I don't know what happened on that roof. I just know that whatever it was, however it happened, it was wrong." Ted leaned back in the chair, his mind drifting to a certain redhead who was on the opposite side of this level of the Watchtower. He wondered what Barbara was thinking of right now.

"It was wrong. Everything those two did that night was wrong," John stated with absolute certainty.

"I just ...," Ted started then stopped with a sigh.

Stewart looked up at him. "Don't tell me you're buying into that claptrap."

Ted shook his head. "No, it's just ... I thought that recording was it, you know. The slamdunk confession on tape. But after Batman's take on it ... Jean's right, it did not go well for us."

"I think you're wrong. They didn't like his weak whining. Nightwing is not sorry that Blockbuster is dead. He's just sorry that he got caught."

Ted looked at John incredulously. "You have got to be kidding yourself." He sat up on the edge of the chair. "He wasn't caught. He turned himself in -- "

"Yes, he did. Because he knew he was going to get caught and he thought by turning himself in that he could get everyone to buy into his 'I'm sorry' routine. Bats don't break."

Their attention turned to the door as the doorbell pinged announcing they had a visitor. Ted stood from his chair and crossed the room to answered the door. He was somewhat shocked to find himself staring into the silvery visage of Captain Atom. He couldn't help himself from grinning when his best friend, Booster Gold, peeped around Captain Atom's shoulders holding his hand in the "V" position. Ted gestured for them to enter the quarters. "Good evening, Captain, Michael. Come in. What can we do for you?"

John looked up from his papers as the silvery man entered the room. He stood ramrod straight, an example of his military training. Stewart shared that with Captain Atom and admired him for it.

"Just wanted to apprise you of the situation in the secure area," Atom began.

"What situation?" John asked standing up and moving over to the man.

Standing as if at attention, Captain Atom gave his report. "Tarantula attacked Nightwing in the secure area of the station earlier." He methodically ticked off exactly how the altercation occurred.

"Oh great," Ted sighed palming his face. "Was he hurt? You know Batman and Superman are going to have a conniption."

"I think they're going to have kittens," Booster said as he slouched against the wall.

When Ted removed his hand from his face he saw Green Lantern and Captain Atom glaring at his best friend and himself. "Well, they are?"

Stewart scowled at them. Booster shrugged. "What? You know they are."

Captain Atom sighed and continued. "They will understandably be upset at the failure of security. She should never have been allowed out of her cell much less to attack Nightwing. He did not appear to have been injured though. In fact, although chained --"

Booster interjected, "Yeah we're gonna need a bigger set of chains." He grinned. Everyone else stared. "What? You know it's like in that classic movie with the shark that eats everyone and they're on a boat and they see the shark and the guy says-" He stopped and looked around. "Never mind. Forget it. If you have to explain it, the joke is lost." He mumbled as he flopped on the couch. "No one gets pop culture references in the hero clique."

Stewart nodded at Atom and he continued his report, "In fact, he managed to deliver an impressive response to her attack. Her nose maybe broke and at the very least, she has bruised, if not broken ribs. I could barely restrain him."

"What?" Stewart stood.

Captain Atom nodded, "He was very difficult to get back in his cell. It was clear his intention was to do her greater bodily harm."

Stewart nodded and paced. "I think we can use this. It shows Nightwing isn't weak at all. He's faking it all."

Captain Atom shook his head, "With all due respect, this was a definite change. I've seen this in soldiers before. I think that he's being back into a corner, and he's positioning himself to fight."

Stewart shook his head. "No, he's that good an actor. He's a bat, they don't break. He was faking and when pushed to defend himself, he did so. If he did it there, he could do it on the roof, or in the stairwell." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Ted looked at him, before speaking slowly, "Well, I suppose we could point out, that it shows that he has no fear of authority with the escape and now this. He doesn't fear reprisals and that attitude extends to his certainty that his actions wouldn't be questioned with Blockbuster."

Stewart smiled, "It does more than that, it shows that the man who was in court and couldn't face a recording is quite capable, while in chains of escaping his guards and assaulting another prisoner. A potential witness against him."

Captain Atom frowned, "She did attack first."

Stewart ignored Atom and continued, "It ties into a pattern of violent behavior. We'll bring in Robin's testimony for that. They're treating this like an isolated incident, but it isn't. His true nature is showing."

Booster shook his head and raised his hand like a child in the classroom. "Do I have to work security tonight? I really don't wanna 'cause you know Bats is liable to come in and be all mad and take someone apart and I really, really, really would prefer that someone to, you know, not be me. How about we pull Guy Gardner in for this tonight?"

Stewart turned from ignoring Booster to Captain Atom. "Is there anything else?"

Captain Atom nodded and handed a piece of paper to Green Lantern. "Tarantula's attorney wanted you to have a copy of her plea transcript. She's agreed to testify against him if you want her to."


"Dinner was divine," Selina said looking across the small table at Bruce and stretched up, arching her back like a cat. She entwined her arms and stretched further, her back bowed and her chest pushed forward in a very suggestive position. She smiled and He grunted without really looking at her. She slouched back down and then smiled, trying to distract him again she wet her lips as he took a big swallow of water from his glass. "That was so nice of Alfred to come here to cook for you tonight."

Bruce's blue eyes stared across the table at her before he stabbed his lamb chop with his fork.

She cocked her eyebrow as she watched him. The energy that raged pent up in his body rippled around him. "Conversation is a bit lackluster tonight."

He stared, the fork slightly shaking in his grip. "I've talked enough today."

Shrugging her shoulders, Selina sipped her wine. "I'm sure you only helped Dick. I mean think about it, Green Lantern going up against you. The master strategist. He didn't stand a chance."

Bruce shoved his plate toward the table's center and he pushed back. "I don't know. He was just so condescending. His derisive laugh."

Selina sat her silverware down. "He laughed ... at what?"

"My testimony," Bruce said standing from the table. He walked to the large window that looked down at the earth below them. "About Dick and ... that ... woman. About the ... sex. He did not consent to it."

Moving over, she rested her hand gently on his shoulder. "He told you that? You hadn't --"

"He didn't have to tell me. I knew from what he didn't say and the way he moved. The way he flinched at the mention of the sex in court. I could disembowel Stewart."

"That's an intriguing picture. So he doesn't want to believe what happened because it hurts his case?"

"I want to hurt his case. I want to hurt him," Bruce growled. He felt her hand leave his shoulder and heard her pad across the room. He did not turn to follow her, instead he chose to continue to stare down at the planet below them. On this cold, metal, man-made Olympus, he found himself not caring about his city or his mission. All he could care about was his son. It enveloped him completely.

His mind, unbidden, went to happier times. He remembered carrying his boy on his shoulders throughout the Manor, allowing Dick to slide down the banisters despite Alfred's protestations, video taping Christmas pageants at school. Dick was his son, his child. It seemed like only yesterday that Dick had come into his life, yet he could not really remember life without the smiling laughing daredevil. Bruce could not imagine life without Dick, yet here they both were on the Justice League headquarters he built for his teammates to decide if he had to spend the rest of his life without his son.

"I know what you need," Selina said in low husky voice as she returned to him. "You need to work off some of that….energy. I know the perfect way." She trailed a finger down his arm, the nail tracing the bulge of his tense muscles and teasing the hairs of his arm with her light touch.

Bruce's jaw flexed as he continued to gaze down. He needed to take his son and leave. That's what he needed to do. He shook his head. "Selina, not tonight I have a-"

She hit him with a pair of boxing gloves across his shoulders and smiled. He looked stunned at them for a moment and then back up at her. She laughed. "I got you good. See I do know what you need and maybe a little of the other is for later. But right now – I met up with Ted Grant in the gym. Wildcat and I both figured it would be good for you to work off some steam after today's testimony. You up for going a few rounds with the Champ?"

"Hitting someone would most definitely help." He closed a fist around the leather of the boxing gloves and enjoyed the feeling of the leather giving slightly under his vise grip.

When he looked up again, Selina was inches from his face. "Later, we'll work on that headache." She nipped lightly at his lips, smiled and then turned, gliding across the floor. Her sheer dressing gown clinging to her figure as the light from the room beyond highlighted every curve and nuisance of her strolling walk. She looked back over her shoulder. "You go get beaten up by Wildcat and I'll nurse you back to health later."


Firestorm opened the door to the secure area allowing Oracle entrance. "Heard about the trouble we had earlier, huh?"

Barbara looked up into Ronnie Raymond's facemask that contained the fire that he was. "What ... trouble?" she asked looking around the area.

"You don't know? Oh ... um ... well ... um ... Tarantula sort of ... attacked ... Nightwing." He wished he had the Atom's powers and could shrink to nothingness at her stare.

"WHAT?" she growled.

Firestorm marveled at how Bat-like her growl was. "Nightwing was coming in from court just as her visitors were leaving and she just lunged at him."

"She lunged at Nightwing," the red-head repeated. She watched as Firestorm nodded his head. "Did she reached Nightwing?" Ronnie nodded yet again. "Did she hurt him?"

"No. I don't think so. Not really."

"Not ... really. May I see him, please. Now," Barbara icily requested.

"Yes ma'am," Firestorm answered as he quickly punched the combination code into the keypad. He stepped aside as the heavy metal door slid open.

Barbara moved as quickly as she could into the small cell. Her eyes examined him quickly as he sat on the bunk in his green scrubs reading a book. "Are you okay?"

Dick looked up from the book he was reading and stared at her a few seconds as the door closed behind her. Then he answered, "Other than being pissed, yeah I'm fine. Peachy. How's your night coming?"

"Did she hurt you?"

"Not this time. Not anymore," he said with a quiet resolve sitting the book beside him on the bunk. "I'm tired Barb. I'm tired of being in a cell. I'm tired of being chained. I'm tired of everyone treating me like I'm the bad guy." He stood, walked past her to the door, and pointed out the porthole. I made a mistake and I deserve something for that. However, the killer's across the common area. Tarantula is the criminal and I'm tired of taking the blame for her actions. She's not some innocent. She's a psychopath."

Barbara smiled. "Well hallelujah."

Dick tried to glare at her, but her smile was too infectious. "I've been that bad, huh?"

She nodded. "Understandably so. I've been there Dick. I do understand. I've seen you getting better throughout the last few weeks, but this ... resolve ... I like."

Dick moved the few paces back to her, bent down, and scooped her up into his arms. He moved to the bunk and sat down, holding her in his arms. "I like this."

She rested her head against his broad chest. It had been too long since they had enjoyed a quiet moment like this. The surroundings could have been better, but the company was perfect. "It smells good in here."

"Alfred brought dinner ... lamb chops. He also brought dessert ... that homemade little layer chocolate cake he makes."

She laughed softly and shook her head, "And I let Wally talk me into eating with him ... from the cafeteria."

"Never, but never let Wally talk you into eating with him," Dick laughed. "How bad did it go today?" he finally asked, his voice low and raspy.

"Not bad, in my opinion. I think it helped us more than them. That being said, I did want to talk to you about our case. Today helped, but we're still a long way from winning."

"Can I do anything?" Dick asked.

A wide smile crossed Barbara's face. It was the first time Dick had really wanted to help his case, rather than just be a passive participant. "You can testify. I think they need to hear from you. More than they did today."

Dick sighed. "Okay. What else?"

"You know Lantern is going to come at you hard on cross if you testify ... about ... everything," she hesitated slightly as she looked up into his face.

"Don't worry Babs. He can be at the top of his game, I'm not going to waver. He wants a fight with me, fine. I'll happily give him one."

"Just with words, honey," Barbara said.

"Depends on him."

"Dick," she reprimanded, glaring up at him. She shifted in his lap to get a more direct look into his face. "Punching the prosecutor in court isn't a smart move. Look, Dick, there is something I might need to do, but," Barbara hesitated, "it could be risky. But if it works, I think we will seal up a win."

"How risky?" he asked. Dick watched her face. He could see a slight flicker of worry cross her eyes and she sighed. "That risky huh?"

Barbara nodded. "If it doesn't work, we lose. Period."

Dick thought about it for a moment. His whole life had been about taking risks ... as an aerialist who was part of the Flying Grayson's act; as Robin, first squire to the Batman and leader of the Titans; and as Nightwing. Risk was something he was used to. Dick Grayson did not back away from risk. He never had and he wasn't about to start now. "Go for it."

"I haven't even told you what it is yet," Barbara replied in a tone of mock exasperation.

"Go for it Babs. No matter the cost."

TO BE CONTINUED ...