Author's Note: I decided to add a second chapter as a sort of insight to the other characters, including Bruce, Dick & Alfred.

1:30 AM | Wayne Mansion | Dick & Alfred POV

It's the middle of the night during a rainstorm. A cab pulls up just outside of the gates to the entrance of Wayne Mansion to drop someone off. The car comes to a screeching halt as the passenger pays the driver then exits the vehicle. Alfred watches through the window in the sitting room. Dry lightning flashes across the sky, outlining a male figure heading through the gates and up the path to the entrance. To the butler's knowledge, Bruce isn't expecting any company at this hour. He would double-check by asking to make sure, but Bruce had already gone out for the evening.

As a precautionary measure, Alfred arms himself. He grabs the fire poker from the fireplace but puts it back, deciding to go with the shovel instead to defend himself against the potential intruder. Alfred paces himself while reaching for the doorknob, his heart racing all the while. He slowly opens the door while raising the shovel with his other hand, ready to render the intruder unconscious. Swinging with all of his might, Alfred attempts to hit the intruder.

The intruder narrowly misses being hit by jumping out of the way in the knick of time. "WHOA! Hey, Alfred, it's me, Dick!"

"Master Grayson?!" Alfred feels relieved that it isn't an intruder. He drops the shovel it falls with a loud metal clanking sound on the hard marble floor. "You gave me quite a fright. I thought you were an intruder. You're soaked to the bone, please, come inside before you catch your death."

Dick's t-shirt and jeans were drenched through and through, sticking to him. He slicks back his wet hair before coming inside. He looks around, noting that nothing had changed in his long absence. Bruce wasn't a man you said "No" to, so when he summoned Dick back to Gotham City, he didn't refuse. Dick goes into the sitting room, stands in front of the fireplace, and rubs his hands together for warmth. Alfred picks up the shovel placing it back where it belongs then joins him. The butler clears his throat to make his presence known, expressing his displeasure that Dick has tracked mud onto the carpet.

Dick looks behind Alfred, noticing the muddy footprints. "Sorry."

"Apology accepted."

"So you were going to defend yourself with a shovel?" asked Dick, raising an eyebrow.

"You should consider yourself lucky."

"How so?"

"I originally went with the fire poker but thought that would be too barbaric."

Dick slips off his shoes, handing them to Alfred, who places them by the front door. Sometime later, the butler rejoins him offering Dick some tea; he politely declines while snuggling under a blanket that was draped across the back of the couch.

"Don't you want to get out of those soaking wet clothes?" asks Alfred.

"Sure I do, but I don't have anything else here."

"Oh balderdash," replies the butler, "I'm sure Master Bruce has something that will fit you."

"Where is he?"

"Out."

"Out? What has Bruce Wayne got a hot date?"

"No, he's patrolling."

"Aren't you going to ask me why I'm here?"

"On the contrary, I'm sure if you're here, it's not without good reason."

The clock above the fireplace strikes two. Dick lets out a yawn while stretching. "You know what? I'm pretty tired; I think I'll just turn in for the night."

7:30 AM | Wayne Mansion | Dick, Bruce & Alfred POV

The next morning, Dick had forgotten where he was; his eyes had not yet adjusted from sleep. He rolled over from his stomach to his back then sat up in bed to take in his surroundings. An armchair that sat in one of the corners caught Dick's eye. He saw a pile of clean clothes that occupied the chair, knowing it was the butler's doing.

Thanks, Alfred.

Aware he still wanted to wash up, Alfred left Dick a towel in the bathroom too. Dick showered, watching as all of the dirt and grime rinsed down the drain in a grey swirl. He shut off the water wrapped the towel around himself then heard an alarm go off. Dick presses his ear against the bathroom door to listen just to be sure.

Bruce didn't tell me that Barbara was staying here leave it to him to keep things to himself.

Dick races to cover his tracks, so she won't know he's here. He trades the wet bathmat for a dry one, takes his towel with him, and darts back across the hallway, narrowly escaping an awkward run-in with Barbara.

Bruce makes his way upstairs to the second floor, lost in his own train of thought. I wonder if Dick made it in last night or not. Despite his training and discipline of only needing a few hours of sleep each night, a small yawn still escapes from him. I would never have bothered inquiring about his help if I didn't think I could handle this particular case alone. He rounds the corner of the stairwell continuing on his way. I hope my hunch on this new lead in the case is wrong, but I have a bad feeling that I'm right...

"OOOF!"

Bruce was so lost in thought that he didn't even realize he bumped into someone in the hallway. That is until the other person apologized to him. It's Barbara standing practically naked in front of Bruce, who averts his eyes until he realizes she has a towel wrapped around herself.

He notices that she dropped something after colliding with him, so Bruce bends over to pick it up. "Here this is... what is this?"

He smiles at Barbara, watching her fumble over her words of how to explain something so simple. God, she's so cute when she gets flustered. I shouldn't have even asked. Bruce knew what it was; he just wanted an excuse to chat with her a while longer. Poor girl, she can never tell when I'm teasing her. Once Barbara finished her explanation Bruce continued on his way down the hall. He doesn't bother turning back around to take a second glance at her. Bruce peeks his head into Dick's room, but he's not there. Hmmm, he must be downstairs already. Bruce heads back downstairs.

Alfred finishes turning down the bed in Dick's room, so he heads to Barbara's room. Just as he's done making her bed, he hears the door close; it's Barbara. Her towel dropped, exposing her everything. His eyes grow wide with shock about to pop out of his head. In the process, the butler runs into an end table.

Ever the gentleman Alfred covers his eyes with both hands. "Good heavens, Miss Gordon!"

"Alfred?!"

"Miss, I'm terribly sorry I was just on my way out." he fumbles around the room with his eyes still covered, feeling for the doorknob. The butler nearly trips over Barbra's towel, trying to get out of the room. He feels mortified, but it's not like he can go back in there to apologize. He hears her lock the door. I'm sorry. He turns to leave, hoping to put the incident behind him.

Dick is outside of the mansion in the garden, talking to himself. He isn't crazy; he's just rehearsing a speech he wants to give to Barbara. To him, fresh air has always helped him relax more.

"Barbara. No. Too formal," Dick begins again, "Babs. No. Too personal." He lets out an outward sigh, "Listen, we've known each other for a long time..."

He spots Barbara's bedroom window open with her climbing out of it. Hoping he hasn't been spotted, Dick ducks behind the hedges. A grin forms on his face as he watches in amusement at her not-so-graceful efforts at going down the trellis. However, his expression quickly fades from amusement to concern once he realizes that Barbara has lost her footing. She is nearly halfway down when her pant leg, along with her left foot, gets tangled in the vines.

Dick races over, knowing she's going to fall. Thankfully he was there to catch her in the knick of time. "You should leave the acrobatics to me," he comments, smiling while holding Barbara.

Her eyes lock with Dick's, as she lays in his arms, unable to speak. "You can, uh, put me down," says Barbara.

"Yes," Dick nervously clears his throat, "of course."

He turns to walk away, but Barbara calls after him. "Wait, I wanted to thank you."

He walks back towards her. Dick has an amused look on his face as he crosses his arms in front of his chest. "What were you doing sneaking out of the window anyway, Babs?"

Whoops. I've been practicing my speech too long. I wasn't supposed to call her that. Then again, look at the way she lights up when I call her that. She still has the hots for me.

"That's a fair question," replies Barbara. "I, uh, I..." Barbara steps forward towards Dick. She puts weight on her left ankle, which hurts like hell, causing her to grimace in pain. "OW!"

This snaps Dick out of his loving daydream as he watches her expression turn from love to pain. "Easy? Are you alright?" He offers himself for balance, assisting Barbara to a nearby bench. She sits down while he kneels with her foot propped up on his knee to examine her ankle. "May I ascertain your foot to see if you're injured?"

Barbara nods her head as Dick unties her shoe torturously slow then gently removes it from her foot. He then pushes up the pant leg of her blue jeans around her calf to get a better look at her ankle. Dick gets the idea to try something sensual, massaging Barbara's foot. He can tell it feels great from the expression she has on her face until his hands travel to the injured area sending a shooting pain through her.

"Careful! That hurts!" says Barbara.

"I know it looks like a sprain; we'd better get you inside."

"No! I mean no."

Dick gives her a puzzled look. I know she can be stubborn, but of all of the times to argue, she chooses now. "Why not? If we don't get some ice for your ankle, it will swell even worse."

Barbara is in no position to argue with him. He helps her off of the bench, hobbles across the yard, and into the mansion. They make it past the threshold to the entryway and head straight for the dining room. Dick pulls up two chairs from the dining table. One for her to sit on and a second for her to prop her leg on.

"Wait here, Babs," Dick heads out of the dining room. Crap, I need to quit calling her that she's going to think something is up. "I'll be right back; I have to get something."

Barbara calls after him. "Wait, where are you going? What do you have to get? Hey, don't leave me here!"

Dick heads into the kitchen to grab an ice pack from the icebox. He wraps it up in a hand towel, so it doesn't freeze his hand.

Alfred decides to head to the kitchen to prepare dinner. He has a feather duster in hand from just having finished dusting the bookshelf in the library. He spots Barbara in the dining room, but rather than panic, he remains calm. The butler acts nonchalantly while pretending to dust a bowl of wax fruit.

Bruce sits at the computer banks doing research, following up on a lead. Suddenly his stomach makes an audible grumble noise echoing throughout the walls of the Bat Cave. No thanks to his embarrassing encounter with Barbara, he skipped out on breakfast. He takes off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose where they pinched. Getting up from his chair, he heads upstairs to the kitchen in hopes that Alfred will whip him up a snack to tide him over before dinner. Bruce makes it to the dining room, where he practically turns on his heels at the sight of Barbara until he notices that she's injured.

Dick returns with the icepack. "Babs," Shoot, I've got to stop calling her that. "I've got the... icepack. His face falls at the realization that it's no longer just the two of them. He was hoping to get a moment alone with Barbara to tell her something in confidence.

"What happened?" asks Bruce with genuine concern in his voice.

"I literally caught her from climbing down the trellis," replies Dick.

Bruce and Dick observe as Barbara's cheeks begin to burn with embarrassment as she starts to blush. Alfred has stopped pretending to dust the fruit bowl, joining the huddle of guys Barbara is now surrounded by. Dick applies the pack of ice to Barbara's ankle soothing the pain.

Bruce rubs his chin. "What were you doing climbing out of the window?"

"She won't answer," says Dick. "I asked her the same thing earlier. What makes you think she'll tell you?"

Before Barbara can answer for herself, Alfred speaks up. "Master Bruce, I require some assistance in the kitchen. Won't you please join me?"

Bruce wonders, "Since when do you need help in the kitchen, Alfred?"

The butler begins to usher Bruce out of the dining room and into the kitchen, where they exchange tales of their awkward morning encounters with Barbara.

"Sir, I believe I know why Miss Gordon is acting out of sorts," begins Alfred, who is interrupted by Bruce.

"Is she pregnant?" asks Bruce.

Alfred's eyes grow wide at his assumption. "Good heavens, I should think not, but no... I don't think she is; that's beside the point."

Meanwhile, Barbara is left alone with Dick in the dining room who is still drilling her for an answer of his own. Luckily, Alfred and Bruce return from their chat, putting a stop to any questions Dick might have by simply telling him that it doesn't concern him. They take Barbara to the doctor to be on the safe side, who confirms her injury is in fact just a sprained ankle, and she is to treat it by wrapping, icing, and elevating her ankle for the next two weeks.

They were the longest two weeks of Barbara's life. She hated not being able to fight crime, let alone go out on patrol. Being cooped up in bed was no fun, but little did she know it would pale in comparison to the events that had yet to happen. In three months' time, she'd be wishing a sprained ankles all she had. Soon she would lose the use of her legs completely.

By the time Barbara was done serving her recovery sentence was, unfortunately, the same time Dick had to return to Bludhaven. As it turns out, Bruce was right about the lead in the case he was following. In the process, Dick sustained an injury of his own coincidentally to his leg. He figured karma is funny that way. Bruce sent him packing dismissing him from the case.

2:15 AM | Wayne Mansion | 2-Weeks Later | Alfred & Dick POV

"Good night Master Grayson," said Alfred headed for the front door.

"You're leaving?"

"I've been relieved of my duties."

Dick glances up at the clock above the fireplace. "Oh, I didn't realize it was that late."

"Yes, well, Miss Gordon is sleeping upstairs. I left her crutches near the doorway. I'm going home to get some sleep while I still can."

It was late in the evening; Bruce was away on patrol watching over the city while Alfred was dismissed for the evening. Dick was the only one there to take care of Barbara, but he'd passed out in an armchair he pulled up by her bedside. She sat up, leaning over to try to reach the crutches so she could go to the bathroom but ended up knocking them over and out of reach altogether. The sound startled Dick awake.

"Sorry," said Barbara. "I didn't mean to wake you; I just have to go to the bathroom."

Dick gets up from the armchair approaching Barbara's side of the bed. Up until that point, she is under the impression he is going to retrieve the crutches for her to use. Instead, Dick steps over the crutches, scooping her up in his arms carrying her to the bathroom. He sets her down on the toilet, leaving the room, shutting the door behind him, allowing Barbara her privacy.

Listening through the door, Dick hears the toilet flush as Barbara finishes doing her business. "Are you decent? Can I come in?" he asks, one hand on the doorknob.

"Yes."

Dick enters the bathroom attempting to lift Barbara with the intention of carrying her back to bed, but she protests his actions.

"Y'know, you don't have to carry me," Barbara says with her hands on her hips.

"I know," replies Dick looking down at her feet, "but you should keep your weight off of that ankle."

This time Barbara doesn't argue with him, allowing Dick to carry her back to bed. It's only a short journey back to her bedroom, so he decides he wants to tell her what he's been meaning to for the past few weeks. As Dick lays Barbara on the bed, she releases her arms from around his neck. She pulls him down to her, so his lips meet hers for a kiss. Barbara's eyes close as she cherishes the moment.

Babs. I want to pull away, but this feels so safe, so familiar, and so right. God, I missed kissing you.

The kiss is firm yet gentle and open-mouthed but no tongue. Just then, Barbara feels Dick reach for her face to deepen the kiss. Her eyes open long enough to see his close, and she shuts her eyes too. It lasts for fifteen seconds ending as Dick inhales, then exhales, and pulls away to look at her. There's an unspoken bond at that moment between them as everything is conveyed in that one look after their shared kiss. As sure as that look in Dick's eyes is, it quickly fades, turning to one Barbara has seen before, a look of uncertainty, the one he used every time before they officially broke up.

"I'm sorry, Babs, I..." is all Dick's able to say.

Barbara is left lying there feeling like a moron expecting him to walk out of the room altogether, but instead, he just stands there as she looks up at him. That same look on his face. Dick rubs the back of his neck out of nervous habit.

He begins beating himself up mentally for leading Barbara on. Man, why did you kiss her back? You're with someone. You were supposed to tell her weeks ago, but now you went and complicated things by kissing her. You're only going to end up hurting and confusing her some more.

Just as Barbara is about to apologize for her actions, Dick explains himself. "I... I'm with someone I didn't know how to tell you."

Barbara's face crumples. Her heart breaks a little hearing the news.

Dick continues. "Her man is Starfire. Technically it's Koriand'r, but she goes by Kori for short. She's a superhero too. I met her when I was with the Teen Titans. I actually think you'd like her." Dick studies Barbara's face trying to gauge her reaction.

Barbara musters a little smile before replying, "I'm happy for you."

Dick watches her roll over onto her side. "Babs, please don't shut me out." He can tell she is furious with him from her tone.

"Don't "Babs" me. You don't get to "Babs" me after telling me that!"

Dick can't take the sight of seeing one of his oldest friends in such pain, emotional and physical. What he does next is completely unexpected, which is crawl in bed next to Barbara. He holds her.

"No one and nothing can replace what we have," says Dick draping an arm around her. He lovingly kisses her temple. "There will always be a special place for you in my heart."

Dick and Barbara lay like that for quite some time. He feels her relax from falling asleep in his arms. Once he's sure she's asleep, he carefully slides his arm out from under her so as not to wake her. He stands in the doorway and whispers, "Goodbye, Babs," then leaves.

7:45 PM | Wayne Mansion | 1-Month Later | Alfred & Bruce POV

It's now a month after Barbara's accident, and she's bound to a wheelchair at the mercy of around-the-clock care provided by Alfred and Bruce. She waits until dinner that night to break the news that she no longer wants to live with them at the mansion.

Alfred comes to take Barbara's plate. "Thank you, Alfred. Dinner was delicious," compliments Barbara.

"You're welcome," replies the butler smiling at her.

"I'm so stuffed, I don't think I could eat another bite," says Bruce patting his full stomach.

"Oh, well, I guess that doesn't mean you saved any room for dessert?" asks Alfred.

"I don't want to live here anymore," blurts Barbara. Bruce and Alfred turn to look at her simultaneously. "I feel like I'm too much of a burden. It's too much of a hassle for the both of you to taking care of me all of the time..."

Bruce, who argues, cuts her off. "Nonsense, you're not a burden. We don't mind taking care of you. End of discussion."

"Sir," chimes Alfred.

Barbara interrupts him with a compelling argument. "The mansion simply isn't handicap accessible," she points out. "The bedrooms mine included are all on the second floor."

Bruce has been carrying Barbara like a small child for the past few weeks up to and down the stairs. She's always fantasized about being carried in his arms. She just never pictured herself having to lose the use of her legs for it to have to come true. Bruce doesn't try to argue any further with Barbara. Once Alfred is done clearing the table from dinner Barbara asks him to draw her a bath.

The butler heads upstairs to the guest bathroom to draw Barbara a bath. It's the only bathroom door large enough for her wheelchair to pass through. Alfred heads back downstairs to have some dessert. He slaved over a hot stove figuring the least he could do is enjoy the taste of his own creation. He baked a pie enjoying every bite of it. Barbara is at a loss of words as Bruce carries her up the stairs to the guest bathroom. He tests the bathwater to make sure it's not too hot. He insists on sitting in the bathroom with Barbara to ensure her safety.

Barbara turns to look at him. "I may not have the use of my legs but that doesn't mean I can't use them to kick your butt."

"Fine," asserts Bruce. "I'll be right outside the door if you need me."

Bruce steps out of the bathroom, pulling up a chair right outside of the door. He sits cross-legged, arms folded in front of his chest. His eyes are serious as Bruce focuses on the bathroom door with a stare he's practiced in the mirror to intimidate bad guys. He knows that won't get Barbara to open the door, but it makes him feel that he has some control of the situation.

After thirty minutes go by, he grows concerned, knocking twice on the door. "Barbara? Are you okay?"

He presses his ear against the door but is unable to hear anything. Bruce calls out to her a second time, but she doesn't respond. He throws his weight against the door. It doesn't budge. He rubs his shoulder knowing a bruise would form there later but given the circumstances Bruce didn't care. He knocks the door down with one swift kick.

He notices that she is completely submerged underwater. "BARBARA!"

Bruce quickly gets over his own embarrassment from Barbara's nudity once he realizes she is drowning in the bathtub. He is but a blur to her as she forces her eyes open to watch through the water. He stands over the tub, pulling Barbara up and out, carrying her soaking wet paraplegic body over to the bed.

"ALFRED! Call an ambulance," demands Bruce.

The butler dials 9-1-1 and is patched through to an operator. "9-1-1, this is Laurie. What emergency services do you require?"

Bruce spots the pill bottle on the sink. "No."

The label reads ZOLPIDEM, prescribed to BRUCE WAYNE by doctor LESLIE THOMPKINS. The date they were prescribed is a little after the Jason Todd tragedy. That was a difficult time for Bruce. He really did have trouble sleeping after that. Meanwhile, Barbara lay there soaking wet, nude, shivering, drifting in and out of consciousness, and struggling with whether or not she wanted to be saved.

Bruce comes back into the room, standing over her. "Barbara, can you hear me? It's Bruce. How many pills did you take?"

He sits down next to her on the bed, grabbing her by the shoulders, expecting an answer. When she doesn't respond, Bruce does something completely out of character. He cradles Barbara's head to his chest while crying. The ambulance arrives as paramedics rush to aid Barbara. They load her onto a gurney, cover her with a blanket, and wheel her away.

Bruce insists on going with them, but Alfred stops him. "Sir, let them do their job."

"LET ME GO!" screams Bruce.

The paramedics drive off.

10:00 AM | Wayne Mansion | Bruce & Alfred POV

Barbara is discharged from the hospital. A police escort is waiting for her. Only it's not the police; it's her father, Commissioner Gordon. She wonders why he doesn't bother lecturing her. She figures it's because she's been through enough in the last 24-hours. The drive home between them is silent. The route he takes doesn't lead back to their place but to Wayne Mansion. A sinking feeling hits Barbara as a pit forms in the bottom of her stomach. The Commissioner wheels his daughter through the mansion.

They make it to the dining room, where Bruce is seated at the head of the table, awaiting her arrival. "Thank you, Jim; I'll take it from here."

The Commissioner wheels Barbara up to the table, leaving her alone to talk with Bruce. Barbara sat at one end of the table while Bruce sat clear at the other end. Rather than get up, Bruce purposefully stays seated that far apart for dramatic effect. He takes the pill bottle rolling it clear across the length of the table without it falling off. It stops in front of Barbara.

She knows a lecture would follow, so she tries to stop it by speaking first. "Listen," she begins, "I know what I did was wrong..."

Bruce furiously slams his hands on the table, causing her to jump. "No, you knew." His voice rises with each syllable echoing through the walls causing Barbara to feel smaller. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You knew it was wrong, and yet you went through with it anyway. I thought you knew better? I thought that you knew of all of the decisions and choices we're forced to make that suicide is NOT one of them!"

Alfred stood in the kitchen listening to Bruce and Barbara's "private" conversation. He couldn't help it; Bruce's commanding voice boomed through the mansion. The butler didn't mean to eavesdrop; he stood frozen, listening in.

Bruce got up from his seat. He made his way over to sit in a chair closer to Barbara's. "I want to know why," he said in a calmer tone of voice.

Barbara swallowed hard before answering. "Why I did what I did?"

"No," he corrects her. "Why you didn't tell me how truly depressed you felt? Why you didn't feel like you could tell me and why you felt you had to hide it from me."

Barbara gets defensive. "Look who's talking Mister-stuff-all-my-emotions-deep-down to the point they've started to rot! "I don't want to feel my feelings; it's scary!" With however long you've been playing superhero it's no wonder you aren't afraid of the villains. No, you're afraid of your own feelings!"

That can't honestly be what she thinks of me? Bruce shoots Barbara an unamused look before taking his turn to speak again. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. It is scary feeling something for the people that you love." He scoots out of his chair to leave the sound of it scraping on the floor hurts Barbara's ears.

Alfred waits until Bruce is gone to make his presence known. "Don't take it so personally, Miss Gordon." He pulls up the chair Bruce was sitting in next to Barbara's.

"Why not?" Isn't that his intention to make those around him feel smaller and less significant than himself."

Alfred frowns. "Master Bruce has experienced more pain and trauma in a lifetime than anyone should."

Barbara averts her eyes from the butler's unable to look at him. She simply stares down at her lap. "Not that I would wish it on anyone, but until he loses the use of his legs, I seriously doubt that."

"I assure you, Miss Gordon, he may not know what it's like to lose the use or feeling in his limbs, but he has experienced the pain of loss."

"He doesn't strike me as the kind of person who's afraid of losing anything or anyone."

"On the contrary, my dear, he was afraid of losing you."

This catches Barbara's attention. She directs her eyes on Alfred and can see the sincerity and genuineness of what he is saying to her. "Really?"

"He might not know how to show it, but he does care," says Alfred.

Bruce is in the Bat Cave, standing in front of the display case of superhero costumes, including the Batman, the Robin, and the Batgirl suit. Just then, he hears the lift being operated behind him. He sees Alfred and Barbara descending on it. The lift comes to a complete stop before she unlocks the safety brake. Barbara wheels herself off, making her way to Bruce, who looks away from her. But he can still see her in the reflection of the display cases.

"Oh, now you're going to ignore me?" asks Barbara adding, "When did you, uh, install that?"

Back still turned to her, Bruce responds after a long pause. "While you were in the hospital." Another moment of silence is shared between the two before he speaks again. "Do you know why I became Batman?" he asks, placing a hand on the glass of the Batman suit.

"Because you lost your parents," replies Barbara.

"No."

"Why then?" inquires Barbara listening intently, hanging on to his every word.

"I lost myself," explains Bruce turning to look at her. "Everyone thinks that two people died that night in that alley, but three people were killed. The person who shot my parents made me wish I were dead too. For the longest time, I was; dead, inside. It was only by becoming Batman that I was able to live to feel alive again."