Chapter 12:

"The Sinister Plot To Kill Dick Grayson Intensifies"

As Dick Grayson lay chemically induced in his medical bed, Barbara Gordon clutched his hand and prayed he'd come back to her.

He was strapped down to his bed with velcro binds and a security guard was now stationed outside his door to prevent any other attempts on his life. A criminal investigation had now begun on the matter whether Barbara wished one or not. She had no choice in the matter anymore and she had been asked questions of Dick's history with any possible ties with the mafia, because hits of this sort were indicators of the mob. But she explained that he was neither a member of a crime organization nor an informant, to a detective who had asked her. And she was very careful not to reveal too much about Dick's history.

Although, she did reveal a crime boss named Tony Zucco had murdered Dick's family when he was a kid, and part of a troupe with Haly's Circus as a member The Flying Grayson's. Dick had gone after him in Chicago later, but in the end, it was a missed opportunity when Zucco suffered a fatal heart attack after an incident. With this, the detective seemed to put some pieces together that it may be simple retaliation for something that happened years prior. And that someone may have wanted revenge.

As long as the truth wasn't revealed, Barbara accepted the detective's theory. And it was left at that.

With that settled, supposedly, she would not leave Dick's side. They had an on and off relationship over the years, and he dated a few other people—even Starfare—but like a loyal puppy dog, if the analogy could be construed, he always came back to her. And he admitted, he still loved her more than any woman in the world.

She had almost lost him when he suffered amnesia, completely forgetting their previous life together, but this new attack was beyond any scope of understanding, and she was almost at her wits end. She couldn't bare to see him like this and tears began to stream from her eyes as she dropped her head and leaned on his hand.

He had an IV drip back in his arm to keep him sedated until the doctor could figure out what was afflicting him. Tests were being performed on the drug that was used to give Dick a severe overdose of something found on the inside palm of the man who touched him in the cafe. It was yet another attempt on Dick's life: first, the fake male nurse orderly and now another patient.

It did have all the hallmarks of mafia hits, but she knew it wasn't that.

Bu then who wanted the love of her life dead so badly?

As Robin and Batgirl, they had formed a bond that went beyond crime fighters, and when they were alone, they stole kisses—and even other things. They thought they were hiding their tryst, but it soon became apparent they couldn't deny the affection they had for the other any longer and started to express it openly, more so, when Dick quit as Robin and began his own career as Nightwing. Then, when she became paralyzed from the waist down after the Joker beat her and crushed her spine, Dick was there for every step of her recovery process. She got her mobility back when she soaked in the Lazarus Pit, her wounds completely healed, but it was a time when Dick showed just how much he really cared for her. And she never wanted it to end.

And in another time and in other place, they learned they had got married. But not here in this universe—the multi-verse was as bizarre to understand as some men—but, there was talk. Though just talk.

Though it all, Dick was with her. And now, in his greatest time of need, she would for there for him.

The doctor said Dick had been subjected to a dangerous drug that acted much like THC, and the man whom Dick had encountered in the cafe was the last person who came in contact with him before he took violently ill, so he was being questioned at the moment—the motive and who he was working for unclear. But the drug was much more intense than an average psychotropic additive. It was something that Scarecrow would concoct. And Barbara was starting to think this entire plot to kill Dick was, for the most part, a result of Dr. Jonathan Crane's directive, because Dick said he had found a vital clue that could stop the Fear Germ in its tracks.

He had told Barbara his theory in private and was gathering more information, when he was struck down.

Scarecrow's Fear Germ was plaguing Gotham City at the moment, evoking fear and illness to those affected. It acted much like a germ that got into the body, then infected the host, but not only did it make the person sick, it also made them do crazy and insane things, like acting against their better judgement, even attacking others—like Dick did. Sedation helped, but Dick still fidgeted, his muscles twitched, as if he was fighting a battle from inside his own mind.

Dick muttered something under his breath, and Barbara immediately put an ear to his mouth. She couldn't quite hear what he was saying, speaking in a dream-like state. What was he dreaming? To whom was he speaking to in his dream?

"…won't let you…"

"Dick, come back to me, my sweet prince…" she said softly, kissing him on the lips. It was known that if you spoke to someone in their dreams, they could hear you, and possibly respond.

So, she asked him what he was dreaming…

At first, he didn't respond. Then: "…love her…don't hurt her…Crane…"

She snapped up. Crane? Dr. Jonathan Crane? Scarecrow? She wanted to immediately think Scarecrow was behind this plot, but since entering the hospital, Dick had also dreamt about three other super-villains, and, as the dark figure in his dream was subjected to scrutiny, a rogue agent from Spyral named Jake Handles. And, whatever they represented, the munchkins from the Wizard of Oz.

The doctor entered Dick's room and his sudden presence startled her. "I'm sorry," he apologized for startling her. "Ms. Gordon, how is Richard doing? Resting peacefully, I hope?"

"As well as can be expected doctor, like this," she sounded a little irate, sitting back down. "I find it upsetting to see Dick like this."

"It would be upsetting to any one, Ms. Gordon, but it's for his own good, at the moment," he said empathically. "We have yet to identify the drug he was attacked with, so we can't formulate an antidote. The chemical compensation is quite radical, and dare I say: revolutionary. However, we did identify class proteins used in the marking of hallucinogens—such as tetrahydrpcannabinol and dimethytheptypran. So, in discussion with my team, we've decided to administer some anti-hallucinogenic medications normally used to treat acute psychedelic psychosis. However, we need you to sign a waiver first."

She tried to feign innocence about the drugs the doctor spoke of, but she knew what they were. She had some medical background knowledge being a member the Batfamily, especially when it came to the types of things the Rogues used.

"Yes, anything," Barbara agreed.

This proved it, she thought. Somehow Scarecrow was involved. Only he could devise such a drug. This must be the new Fear Germ everyone is talking about. Bruce wanted a sample to analyze, but how could she ask for one without be suspicious? She had to contact him as quickly as possible. But why would the Scarecrow target Dick? What about the implants?

And the fake-out assassination attempt? Was there a connection with the Fear Drug?

She was missing something, the pieces were not fitting together yet. First Jake Handles and now Scarecrow—what did they have in common? And were they working together?

"I'll have a nurse bring a waiver," he said, then turned to leave.

"Oh, doctor, before you go…Any word on the identity of the man in the cafe?"

"Other than the name he signed in with, we don't know much, as he's now suffering with the same symptoms as Richard here. The drug acts quickly when it touches the skin, that's as far as we know. We've had to induce sedation and strap him to bed as well. The strange this is, the police officer that was with him has now disappeared. Hospital Security is investigating."

The cop was in on it?

Just as the doctor was leaving, the door opened, and Tim Drake came inside, carrying a shoulder bag. The doctor told the "young man" that this was a restricted area and he had to return to the waiting area. And how did he get past security?

But before Tim got a word out, Barbara spoke up: "He's family, doctor."

Then the doctor remembered him. "I'm sorry, I remember you now. I have a lot on my mind," he apologized. Tim understood. "You may go in." He turned to the pair. "But I would like to restrict visitations from here on out. This is not an airborne pathogen, but I would like to prevent any transference and/or incidents like before."

"We understand," Tim agreed. Tim thanked the doctor, and then entered the room fully.

Barbara told him to shut the door. He did, and she immediately said, "I think Dick is infected with Scarecrow's Fear Germ."

"How do you know?" Tim asked, and went to Dick's bedside. He quickly eyed him up and down, velcro straps and everything. She told him what the doctor had said and it seemed to fit the bill of the symptoms of Scarecrow's latest germicide. Tim theorized that that was a possibility and had come prepared to the hospital. He reached into his shoulder bag and brought out a small medical kit—standard for all the batboys. With a syringe, and drew blood from one of Dick's veins.

"We should get this sample back to Bruce asap," he then said, securing the top on the syringe and putting it back in the kit.

"Do you think Bruce can develop a cure?"

"With Bruce, anything is possible—and I'll also send a sample to a few other people I know in the medical field to analyze," Tim said. "Oh, by the way, apart from Dick's situation, we seem to have another problem. Try not to worry." He took a moment to pause to word it right. "It seems Damian is missing, no one can get in touch with him through any venue." Barbara gasped. "Jason and Jon Kent are heading to a mysterious island in the Devil's Triangle for answers."

"You mean: Treasure Island. Spyral's ultra secret hideout? It's where they kept their most secret technology, experimental devices, etc.; a virtual treasure trove, hence the name."

Tim nodded. "And, though not confirmed, it looks like Jake Handles, an ex-agent of Spyral who went rogue, may still be alive. Those clues you told me about—the clip and marbles are indicators. The clip, from Dick's time with Spyral, and the marbles—Handles' must've known Dick had 'lost his mind' after the shooting incident with his radical personal changes, keeping tabs on him.

"I went through old some old records that Spyral tried to hide—but not from me—and learned that they never retrieved Handles' body from the ruins of the building that collapsed on top of him after he tangled with Dick, Agent 37. And that Spyral's implants were used on their own agents as mind-control. So, Dick's amnesia was purposelessly induced and reinforced with the implants the doctor took out. I would like to take a look at those implants. The technology could help us reform some of Gotham's criminals.

"However, to the point in hand: my theory is that it was revenge by Handles. They say, the richest thing a person has is their memories; take those away, and they're nothing but an empty shell. But as for Scarecrow targeting Dick with his Fear Germ" —he mused for a moment— "they have tangled in the past and Crane hates Nightwing, as he does with the rest of us. But, I'm starting to get the feeling that—"

"Who kidnapped Damian? Was it Handles?" she asked outright. "I knew dressing up as Nightwing would be dangerous. I told him Dick's enemies would seek him out. Bruce even had the same fears. Damian's tough, but he doesn't seem to understand everyone has their weaknesses. And with Nightwing out of action, Nightwing Junior would be assuredly a target."

She had thought about informing Damian of the most recent issues regarding Dick, but had thought against it, because she knew it would only worry him. Damian couldn't do anything anyway, so there were no point. But now to learn that he was missing? She knew how to handle stress, but right now, everything was a little overwhelming.

Tim shrugged. "I don't know, but if Handles does have any connection to Damian's disappearance, Jason and Jon will find out on Treasure Island; military satellite imaginary has indicated some activity on the island. Apart from the implants, he does have connections with other criminals. I'm still narrowing down the list, but it's getting shorter by the day."

"But one name does top the list, doesn't it?"

Tim frowned. "Yes, one name does top the list—and another close behind, both sharpshooters—who have the expertise to pull off the precise skill to target Dick in the manner to made it look like he had been shot in the head through and through. However, I did find the doctor who performed Dick's original surgery, but he won't be about to tell us any answers. He was found with a bullet in the head, ironically, and found on the roof of Gotham East General in a storage closet. We could be looking at an even deeper plot than we originally thought. Other than being Nightwing, what other reason for this elaborate plot against him?"

"Handles has the technology to do this and Dick was getting close to figuring out the Fear Germ and a possible cure, he said he had a theory on the make-up of the germ—before he was taken out," she said. "As for the hired help…"

They both said the same name at the same time.

Barbara nodded. "Thanks, Tim. You've been a big help."

To be continued…