Nightwing's Nightingale

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters just the plot

Pairing: Richard Dick Grayson/Nightwing Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn

Chapter 3

She couldnt believe it. How had he found her?! She didn't even know where she was, come to think of it. But even so, here he was in the room. The Joker. She still couldnt move; she hadnt recovered yet. Where was Dick? Was there anyone else here that could save her from this monster. She was hyperventilating, sweating, and frantically shaking her head. No! No! NO! She felt her plea for mercy escape from her chest. The Joker raised his gun aiming for her head and let out a weezing cackle...Then...he pulled the trigger.

Harley sat up screaming. The first thing she realized was that someone's hands were on her. She tried to fight back as they grabbed a hold of her wrist. There was a couple other shadows in the room...siloheutes. She couldnt hear anything, but the sound of her frightened heart.

xxx(no scene change. point of view changed)

"Harley, calm down. It's ok," Richard soothed her. Bruce and Alfred were behind him. Bruce stayed behind Alfred to hide his true identity from her. Richard didnt care. He held her close. She started gasping and clutching his shirt.

"He's here. He's here!" Harley started screaming into his chest sobbing loudly.

"No no, he isnt here. It was just a nightmare. Shhhh...everything is ok. I'm here now. I wont let him get you." He stroked her hair and patted her back.

"He wants to kill me, Dick, I don't wanna die! Keep him away from me, I don't wanna die!"

"It's alright, Harley. I'll keep him away," he gently began to rock her. She closed her eyes whispering "save me" over and over again until she finally drifted back into a light sleep.

"She needs a doctor," Bruce whispered.

"I'm not taking her somewhere the Joker can break in. That's not happening, Bruce. She stays here in my care," Dick said sternly.

"He has a point, sir. This is normal for what happened to her. All she needs is someone to be there for her. However, it would be unwise to put her in a public place expecting the Joker to stay away,"Alfred admitted, nodding knowingly.

"What other choice do we have? Do you really want to take her somewhere and have the Joker finish her off? Do you want that on your conscience?" Dick said as he laid her down.

"You could watch her from far off," Bruce said. "She doesn't need to be here."

"You know what? Just let me deal with this, Bruce." Bruce shook his head. "Bruce, look. She has been beaten and raped. She's practically broken and scared. Give her a chance, please."

Bruce frowned and walked out of the room without saying a word. Alfred stepped forward.

"He will come around eventually, I'm sure of it." Alfred stated before turning and following after Bruce. Dick laid Harley down and wrapped her in the covers again. As he was about to stand and sit in the chair across the room, Harley grabbed his hand.

"Please...stay with me tonight," she whispered eyes filled with sorrow and fear. "Just don't leave me...please stay. I won't tell your secret, I promise."

"I believe you, Harleen. I'm right here," He pulled the chair up to her bedside and sat there holding her hand. "Get some sleep."

She nodded and laid back down, trying to calm herself. She squeezed his hand slightly, as if she were making sure he wouldn't leave.

"Relax. Everything's going to be okay. I'm not leaving; he can't hurt you here."

Harley turned over and looked up at Richard. It was too dark to see his face. She grabbed his hand with both of hers to keep them from shaking.

"It's like I'm rebeling against myself, and it hurts. I've never permanently left him before; he'll be expecting me to come back to him, but I just can't. He went to far. Now he's going to kill me; he wants me dead! I can't relax! He'll find me!" Harley voice raised with every sentence she spoke. Richard hushed her and placed his other hand on top of hers.

"I want you to breathe; in through your nose and out through your mouth," he said in a calm and gentle voice. Harley hesitated at first, but did as she was told. "Now do it again, but with your eyes closed." Again she did as told. "Now continuing breathing this way, with your eyes closed, and think about you perfect sanctuary. Your beautiful peace. Do so until I tell you to stop. Okay?"

"Okay," Harley said. Eventually, she was lost in a meadow; it was filled with flowers and butterflies. She was running through the tall grass, free. She rolled down a hill, falling into a group of flowers and laughed as she watched the petals whisping around her and blowing in the wind.

Richard watched as her lips curled into a smile. There was even a faint giggle as she slept before him. He looked down her hands, which were now relaxed. His mother used to do this with him when he had nightmares; he smiled at the memory. He never got why he never heard her tell him to stop when he was younger. As he grew older he began to understand; he wasn't supposed to hear her. He released her hands and sat back into the chair, watching over Harley and thinking about his parents.

AN: I hoped you liked it! Please comment. I love to read your feedback. Love always!