Thank you for the wonderful response to the last chapter. Sorry for the delay, life got in the way as usual.
Again, because of the length of the chapter, this won't give you as much Dick and Kori time as you are probably looking for, and there will be some Dick and Babs time, maybe not what you'd expect. There is also a author's note at the bottom, a bit more about the psyche of the opiate addict. I have tried to keep Babs within that construct as well as within the Kory/Dick/Babs romantic triangle of the comic book. Still a good read, I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer, reiterated: I do not own DC Comics nor Warner Brothers, the Teen Titans, or the characters this AU (alternate universe) fic is based on. I do, however, own the plot.
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Double Take
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Chapter 72
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Gar stepped out of the room after he heard the knock.
"How's Kori?"
"She's good, Dick, sleeping. Rae's in with her now."
Gar ducked back inside the treatment room in the ER and told Rachael that Dick was there. He also told her that he was taking Dick to the cafeteria.
"Want to get a soda? Maybe they still have veggie burgers out this late. I haven't had enough to eat. I am kinda bored too. Not what I expected to be doing right now, but poor Kori. I can't believe I forgot my PSP and my DS3D..."
Dick listen at Gar being Gar, following his friend to the cafeteria. It was a nice diversion that he needed for the time being. But at the same time, he wished he was comforting Kori.
He could understand the many reasons why it was better than Rae was there instead of him given the current relationship between Kori and him and what it had devolved into; now more than ever he wished it weren't that way.
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Dick couldn't forgive himself. As he sat half listening to Gar prattle on about a career change to veterinary nursing and the deep cuts in pay involved, his mind wandered. At least he had the good judgment to call Rachael or Lord knows what might have happened to Kori.
How could he possibly excuse his behavior and for not thinking clearly that he was holding Kori after so many weeks? It was wonderful yes but given the circumstances and all his experience and training... wouldn't he want the best for her? He wanted to take care of her for the rest of her life, at least that was once the plan and he was seriously thinking about it again. Great job, Dick.
Was he really not going to take her to the ER? She looked terrible. She was so dry, so dehydrated. He justified himself that he was planning on complying with her wishes and he knew she didn't want to appear weak.
She knows as much as I do about these things: but she wasn't thinking clearly because she was so dry, she had just fainted... what was I thinking?
He knew in his heart that at least part of the reasons she was trying to get away from him back in the prayer room was because she was not even ready to appear weak to him.
But he was nervous about bringing her into the ER, the very place where he broke her heart, and caused her to run away from him. Back at the hospital, it was coming back to him.
Dick idly chatted with Gar and finally said, "Kori's been out of it, huh?"
"Pretty much."
"I'm sorry you're the ones here. It's not fair-"
"No problemo. Anything for Kori, Rachael would have flipped if you hadn't called."
"Yeah," Dick mumbled, his guilt worsening. "How were her labs? How was her exam?"
"Dick?"
"What?"
"HIPAA – privacy, dude."
"Come on Gar, we're practically enga-" Dick's shoulder's slumped. Not anymore. "You're right. Sorry. It's not my business unless Kori says it is."
"I'm sorry. It's better that you don't overstep your bounds, don't you think? Plus, we've kept things under wraps here at the ER. But if you guys were to have a fight or something, well..."
"I wouldn't... I couldn't... especially now."
"But you are trying to win her back?"
Dick gave a sad smile. "I think so, it's up to her really."
Gar frowned. "Doesn't sound like you. I thought you'd fight harder-"
"Gar, she's been back for less than twelve hours. I've spent less than forty-five minutes with her. We have so much to discuss. I mean, she left my mother's ring behind, the one I gave her as a Promise Ring without an explanation." Richard's voice got thick.
Gar put his hand on Richard's shoulder. "You two need time, yeah. The ring? I'm sure there's a misunderstanding there. Let's go back to the ER so you can see her and we'll all have to get back to get ready for the reception soon."
Richard paused, mulling it over. "I think I'll just have you tell her I stopped by while she was sleeping if you don't mind. Maybe you're right, I'm overstepping my bounds. I'll see you at the reception. Take care of your lady and mine- and Kori."
"You got it, Doc."
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"Hey, I thought we were meeting back here for lunch," Roy said giving Dick a look that made him know that Roy was trying to figure out what was going on.
"I'm here now aren't I?" Dick said, taking the proffered seat next to Barbara. "Hey."
"You weren't around, and then Rachael and Gar bailed, thought there might be another party we were missing," Xavier added.
"Not that I'm aware of," Dick said lightly.
"If there was, I'd know about it," Roy added, wondering if he was giving Dick an out.
"No, just got distracted with something else. Sorry guys. Let me get another round." Dick signaled the server. "I'd like to order another round, and I'll have a Stoli Ohranj and Soda." He leaned in closer, "actually put everything on my tab plus a 30% gratuity would you? It's Grayson, room 444."
"I know who you are Dr. Grayson," the server, a lithe young woman purred, "and thank you, Doctor. I'll be sure to earn my thirty percent, so if there's anything you want, at all, I'm here until-"
"Just a pleasant afternoon, Miss...?"
"Peterson, but call me Missy"
"Yes, Missy, just please be sure my friends and anyone who come to join this table this afternoon are taken care of."
Missy did her best to only pout a bit. "Of course I will, Dr. Grayson."
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Dick stayed, not wanting to be alone with his thoughts, and Babs was his date after all.
"You okay Dick?" Babs said quietly a bit later, concerned.
"I'm fine, just tired. Rough night."
They shared a look and Dick wasn't sure where this was going. He was hardly up for a fight about Kori or a pass from Babs. He got neither.
"I'm sorry about last night Dick. I was way out of line-" He put a hand on her forearm stopping her.
"Guys, Babs and I will be right back."
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"Wonder what that was about?" Roy asked, although he had more than one idea.
"Kori." Xavier said.
"I don't know," Wally added, "maybe it's something else."
"I didn't get a chance to talk to her much but how come she's that skinny?" Tara asked, realizing that her third drink had loosened her tongue too much.
"Skinny? I thought she looked hot!" Xavier added.
"Hot? Yeah-" He could feel Jade's death glare. "I guess, so not my type. But she lost too much weight really fast. She wasn't gone that long."
"Considering the way they broke up, maybe she just needed a change, a new look," Xavier opined.
Wally gaped at him. "Hey Red, what do you know that we don't? And why?"
"Yeah, Dick was a recluse for weeks before that party. You've seen him a lot?" Roy said incredulously.
"He's my patient."
"Well yeah, but still... and whatever happened to you and Babs anyway?" Roy added.
Xavier fought a smile. A group of Dicks friends most of whom he was friendly with and worked with and he had the details. Alcohol was loosening up things. This was going to be even a more interesting day than he had expected.
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"Thanks for taking me away to talk about this Dick, I shouldn't have brought it up when others could hear. I just felt really bad. I couldn't sleep, either."
Dick took Babs' hand as they walked around the large swimming pool of the hotel. There was an area to walk a circuit around it, covered with awnings, with dozens of large urns on either side of the walkway, overflowing with flower in beautiful bloom in spite of the late summer's heat.
"It's all right Babs. I didn't mean to give you the silent treatment," he gave her hand a squeeze and they turned to each other and they shared a smile, "but I didn't want to fight about things."
"I'm glad we didn't."
"Me too... Babs, is everything okay?" She was so up and down lately.
"Um, sure Dick, it's okay."
"You know whenever you want to talk..."
"It sounds like you want to talk now."
Babs stopped walking and pulled back on Dicks hand pulling him into a hug. He cursed himself when he felt his body react and he gave her a quick kiss on the lips before he gave into the temptation. Will I always be tempted by Babs?
"Are you stalling Dr. Grayson or is it that you don't have anything to say?"
Dick closed his eyes and side. Babs pretty much knew her answer.
"Not that I mind if you want to keep stalling like this..."
Dick chuckled. Babs was more of her old self, at least for the moment he mused, the one he hadn't seen for months if not a year or more.
"Let me help you. You need to talk to me about Kori. Maybe that's why you were late for lunch?"
"Your right, Babs. I wish I knew what to say. I wish I knew how I feel, how to feel. I'm not being fair to you... to either of you."
"Or yourself."
"I don't get a pass on this."
Babs leaned up on her toes and gave him a kiss that showed a lot of emotion and it hit Dick how much he must be hurting her too. The shock of the guilt jolted through him and he took a step back.
"What's wrong?"
"Babs, I can't do this to you. It's not fair. I'm your friend for God's sake."
"I know, but-"
He put her hands on her shoulders and gave her a smile. "Look, we can't do this right now. We are here together today, right? Let's enjoy the day as friends, and we'll talk later."
"Is it just because of Kori."
Yes... no?... Babs was so appealing again...
"Babs, I'm not sure. I am so mixed up right now I can't move on with anyone. Why don't you think I haven't been better to you, that's not how I've ever treated you, is it?"
"Well no, not how you've ever treated me, but with the injury-"
"And we haven't slept together, don't you think that's odd, given it's us?"
"Well yes, Richard, but I know you wanted to be certain about Kori."
"Yeah Babs. And how fair is that to you? And you broke up with Red for me?"
"He isn't ideal-"
"Still Babs," Dick found Babs was being almost two reasonable. Not detached, just placating him maybe. Maybe he should be suspicious, maybe not. Still, it wasn't the time or place. "Look, today is not the day to figure this out. I doubt this month is. Let's go back before these guys run my tab up too high and hang out for a bit, okay?"
"Sounds great, Dick."
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The numbers in the party at the restaurant waxed and waned throughout the afternoon hours. Dick stayed, not wanting to be alone with his mind torturing him, or for Babs for that matter. He tried not to dwell on their conversation, or on his concerns about how Kori must be.
By 4:30 PM, he decided to head up to his room to get set for the Reception at 5:00 PM and he had no choice but for Babs to go with him. She didn't have time to get home before the reception and she had no where else to go.
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Babs and Dick talked briefly about all the weddings they attended together through the years, whether while dating or among the many times they were going as friends. They were both a bit lubricated and Babs brought up a touchy subject.
"Well, tell me Dick, how many times did you take me to a wedding – when we went as friends of course – did you end up hooking up with someone else later?"
"Babs!"
"What?"
"That's none of your business!"
"So it happened?"
"You know it did. And thanks by the way for bringing it up. It's a real good way to make me feel better about myself. But the more important question is," he tickled her sides playfully, "how many times did we go to a wedding together as friends and we ended up hooking up together?"
Babs smiled without a trace of a blush – this was something to take pride in, and it was still on her agenda for that evening. "Never enough."
"Oh, is that how you see it?"
"Don't tell me you disagree."
"Didn't say I don't."
Babs leaned in and gave Dick and sensual kiss and she boldly stroked the front of his tux pants.
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Dick's mind reeled and then he thought about Kori. He gathered his willpower. "Babs," his tone patient and kind, "not tonight."
"Sorry. Well, no. But I understand, and it is what you said." She realized he didn't say no. She went back to concentrate about on the idea about persistence. Persistence pays off.
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The reception started at 5 PM with a traditional cocktail hour. Most of the wedding party was there anyway, since the pictures had already been taken. Vic and Karen weren't down yet of course, and Dick and Babs had headed down immediately before five.
Dick tried to circulate and Babs gave him his space. He tried not to look like he was looking out for Kori, but he was. He was worried about her and he wasn't sure if he felt better or worse that Gar and Rachael weren't there yet either.
Because there was only a limited receiving line after the wedding service was planned between cocktail and dinner at 6 PM, and immediately before the wedding party and Vic and Karen were announced. Gar, Rachael and Kori had arrived and Dick could not believe how relieved how much better he felt once Kori was there and that she looked so much better. She was terribly thin of course, but she looked fairly well, so much better than when Gar and Rachel took her to the hospital.
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Dick was right next to Vic as Best Man again and Kori was on the other end of the line. He was frustrated they hadn't spoken, but he kept reminding himself she was home.
The receiving line was a blur of flirting women, friendly or cordial hellos from colleagues, with the occasion direct question about both his relationship with Kori and his injury which of course surprised him. As to his relationship with Kori was polite and vague, complimentary to her almost vehemently.
The receiving line couldn't end soon enough
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Kori was relieve about how much better she felt after getting fluids in the ER. She felt a bit guilty about timing it so that they would be there just for in time for the receiving line, but she wanted to hide from Richard. If she spent any more time with him, she would confess how much she loved him and missed him, and she wondered how he'd feel about that, and how she felt that herself.
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Dinner was announced and the guests took their seats in the leisurely way that wedding guests tend to, especially given the large number of them.
Kori was having so much difficulty breaking away from people. It amazed her sometimes how forward Americans could be about things. She was one that was pretty open with friends, but acquaintances were asking if she was well, or if it was the publicity or the breakup and she was feeling a bit overwhelmed.
She needed to see Richard and as time ticked on, even a brief connection would suffice. People were crowding her again. She did need Richard. What if I am the clingy? He'd understand; but then again, she didn't want him to see her weak. No, he'd understand if she were-
"Kori, it's me," Xavier said, taking her by both shoulders and looking at her closely. "Too much for you? We can go somewhere quiet. I don't want you to..." he moved in to whisper, "panic or dissociate."
Kori hadn't thought it would get to that point, and she wasn't sure if it was good that Xavier came to her rescue, but he did understand that about her.
"Thank you, Xavier, I will be the fine, however. I best get to my seat at the table of the bridal party."
"I'll walk you." Xavier offered his arm.
"I welcome you."
Xavier slipped up a frowned briefly at the odd expression but then smiled.
She is stranger than I thought, but still really hot...
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Dick was not happy that Xavier walked Kori to her seat but he had no right. He should have tried harder to find her. Well, at least Red couldn't sit with Kori, just as he and Barbara weren't sitting together. The bridal table was a long table facing the room, set up with the Karen and bridesmaids to the left and Vic and the groomsmen to the right.
Karen's father as well as Vic gave welcome speeches and the first courses of the dinner were served. Given that they were at the head table, which was also up on risers, Kori and Dick shared some smiles, but if they were to get up and talk, it would be something that everyone in the room could potentially see.
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Sure it was Vic's wedding, but he knew his best friend was miserable.
"Talk to her man."
"In front of everyone, I'll get up and go over and talk to her. I can do that later, Vic."
"You have to do something. You are going to mess up your Best Man speech."
"What do you suggest I do."
"Write her a note and pass it down."
"What is this, third grade?"
"Um, kinda?"
"Jerk." Dick said with some venom.
"No seriously, tell her something that'll ease your mind so you can relax and enjoy tonight."
Dick sighed and reached into his inside tuxedo jacket pocket for his long slim tux wallet. It had blank Crane stationary and he pulled out his pen and winced at the difficulty with holding the pen in his right hand. He was lucky to be able to use the hand at all he thought briefly.
"Should I write it?" Vic asked. Dick was surprised to see he was serious when he looked up.
"Nah, just hope she understands why it's short and sweet."
"She'll understand."
Dick did the best he could as he painstakingly – in more ways than one – wrote a note to Kori. When he was finished, he let out his breath and handed it to Vic.
"I hope this works." Vic said.
"I hope it just helps." Dick mumbled.
Vic whispered something to Karen and the note was passed down from bridesmaid to bridesmaid until it reached Kori at the end of the table.
Kori knitted her brow when she received it but when Rachael whispered something to her, she looked pensive. After reading it, her face brightened and she leaned back in her chair and so did Dick and they shared a smile.
Feeling much better, Dick took the microphone and asked for everyone's attention. It was time for his Best Man's Speech.
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To be continued...
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Thank you for reading and please review. I do hope to update soon and yes, Kori and Richard will get a chance talk in the next chapter.
Remember that it is canon for Dick to bounce a bit between Babs and Kory although this is and D/K story (oh, and I will never accept Nightwing Annual 1 as canon. Ever.)
Medical Slang/Terms:
Dry – Dehydrated
Fluids - Intravenous fluids (IVF)
HIPAA - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules - The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other important purposes.
Labs - laboratory tests
Author's note: re: Babs' character, opiate addiction:
I pride myself in explaining thing (the parlance: a teachable moment?), but I guess I got lost in it. I received training in addictions nursing, it is not my specialty. However, I have certification in hospice and palliative care, and that is my specialty and I have worked with the pain team and I nearly every patient I have treated have been on opiates* or narcotics (although as a law enforcement term, I prefer to use opiate). I feel very knowledgeable and comfortable around opiates and addicts and the related issues.
Upcoming chapters again are also going to be dealing with Babs and her struggle with opiate abuse. I have shown Babs in what can be interpreted in more of a bashing light than I have meant to because I am seeing her coming from her own reality, the reality of an opiate addict, which is one of lies. More than in other addictions, I believe (in agreement with most exports) that the opiate addiction leads the addict to develop a feeling of superiority, that they have the world figured out, that they don't need to follow the prescribing guidelines for the medications, etc. They will do anything to get them, they are justified, and it spills over into their lives too.
Babs uses this logic else wear – she wants Dick, she feels justified that because she wants him, she can have him; just as she feels better on Percocet, even though she should not be on so much and not have been on it this long, she thinks she knows better, and she will get it somewhere. Now I have her character adding adjuvant medications – a stimulant and an antianxiety med, also not properly prescribed - to make living easier.
In many ways, opiates are safe. Unlike alcohol, you can cold turkey quit opiates. You want to die, are certain you are going to die, in many cases pray for death, but you generally don't die just from stopping. (Alcoholics are the opposite: if you quit and you are an alcoholic, you can easily die or withdrawal symptoms and never realize what is happening to you.)
I guess the take away for the purpose of the story is that Babs isn't herself because of her addiction. Part of the twelve steps in 12 Step programs (including Narcotics Anonymous) is making amends (Step 8 and 9). Not in this chapter necessarily, but Babs is has done the kind of things that she might need to make amends force later.
*To reiterate, for those unfamiliar, opiate drugs, also known as narcotics, although narcotics is a law enforcement term and opiates is a medical term, are ones based on the opium poppy, whether natural or synthesized. They effect the mu or μ receptor of the brain and have both a pain relief and an anxiety reducing effect. They also, for most people, provide euphoria. Examples of this drug class are heroin, oxycodone (which is in Percocet), morphine, fentanyl, codeine.