WARNING!!!: This chapter includes the death of two of Dick's classmates. If you don't want to read it, don't – please don't. Once more, I didn't write into detail, but it happens. If you want the basic details so you won't have to read it, please, just email and skip this chapter. I can send you an outline. I'd much rather have that.

Disclaimer: None of these are mine, not a single one. Even if I made them up, they're all there because of Batman. DC, WB, and Bob Kane own these babies.

And thanks be to ye Trunksblue, the plot-hole catcher, who totally pointed out a plot-hole and who I totally was like: "Man, I should edit that plot hole." Then, I never did. So yeah, just know, she pointed out the plot hole. I'll fix it in later chapters. I wrote myself a note.

"Sparkling angel, I couldn't see your dark intentions, your feelings for me. Fallen angel, tell me why? What is the reason, the thorn in your eye? I see the angels; I'll lead them to your door. There's no escape now, no mercy no more. No remorse cause I still remember. This world may have failed you, but it doesn't give you reason why. You could have chosen a different path in life. You smiled when you tore me apart."

Within Temptation Angeles

Maybe Today

By: The BatThing

Chapter Four: Two Down, Three More

"Mister Wayne?" Sarah didn't bother to knock this time. She opened the door without a second thought and took a troubled step into the office. "Mister Wayne? It's Mr. Pennyworth on the phone, there's a problem with Dick."

'Problem' could imply a variety of things, but the billionaire didn't have to fumble around as to what she meant. He could see it visibly in her face. Dick was in trouble. Dick needed help.

Picking up the phone, Bruce pressed the flashing button, and cleared his throat. "Alfred? What's the matter?"

The horrifying explanation didn't take long.

"What's happening?" Felix cried softly, the first to speak in what seemed to be an everlasting silence. He was shaking from fear, there was no control there. His hazel eyes were wide, showing the reflection of Mr. Ganthers' holding his gun at them. Pointed at Haden. "We need to go."

Dick wanted to tell him something … anything. Perhaps a word of comfort, perhaps a joke – but his attention was solely on the gun directed towards Haden. Dick didn't like it there. He didn't like it there at all. Closing his eyes and turning slowly, he forced his focus on the teacher. The gun wasn't the trouble; it was the man holding it. "Mr. G-Ganthers?"

"Not here, Dickie." Ganthers answered. "Gone away for the time being, but don't worry – he doesn't mind. He doesn't mind because he wants this to happen. Especially to you." He turned now, the gun still directed at Haden, but his concentration exclusively on Dick.

It was an unwanted look being given to the eleven-year-old, and he couldn't help taking a step away, as if the short amount of distance would actually be of any use to him. All it did was make him realize that he was locked in a room with a psycho teacher, and there wasn't any other way out. Dick didn't say anything more, and his eyes flashed downward, to the carpet, not wanting to see Mr. Ganthers looking at him like that.

"You, and maybe Darcy, we aren't picky, you're both … just fine. As for the others, well, we shall see what we shall see. Perhaps you'll be of no use, but maybe – just maybe, if you're good, and Darcy and Dick are good, you'll get a chance to prove your worth." He started to walk around the desk, coming in front of it and ending the gap between him and the others.

The five moved away in unison, falling back, but only for the sake of doing so. There was nothing truly to be gained.

"I don't like you, though. I don't like you at all. Haden. I've heard what you've said about me, in and out of class. There were times you said it when I was right there, and you didn't even care. Well, I hope you enjoyed yourself and your fun while you had the chance. Because, to show just how serious I am, I think I'll use you. What do you say?"

Haden had tears running down his face. The school smart-alec, the big-shot who always got in the last word, was crying now. He backed away from the teacher, shaking his head. "Puh-please don't hurt me!"

Dick felt his insides go utterly still, numbing at the sight.

"Don't hurt you?"

"M-my mom wants me to be h-h-home tonight." Haden pleaded, drawing quivering hands together and shaking his head all the more. The tears were dripping to the floor, making no dent whatsoever on the teacher. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ganthers!"

"I told you, Mr. Gathers' isn't here!" A click and a bang.

Dick lurched himself towards Haden, knocking the boy down to the ground, and gasping as his right arm cracked against a desk. He felt himself atop of his classmate, and slowly opened his eyes, despite wanting to keep them sealed – afraid to peak.

Haden was looking at him, almost confused. "D-Dick? Am I?"

There was the feeling of something wet soaking into Dick's shirt, making contact with his skin, and sending off a frightful warning. Somebody was bleeding, and Dick had the sinking feeling it wasn't him. "You're ok, Haden." Dick lied, not moving, not wanting Haden to see.

"Oh good." Haden started to sob now. "Good, good, good. 'Cause I hafta' go home tonight."

"Yeah, you'll go home."

"G-good."

A shadow etched across of the two and Dick lifted his head, eyes enlarging at Mr. Ganthers' face staring down at the two.

"I got him." It was a casual remark, with a tone of glee mixed into it. The teacher's sullen expression slowly twitched, hinting at a smile. He looked at Dick, and nodded. "Get away from him."

"No."

Ganthers was quiet for a few moments, a second or two, and then reached down, grasping Dick's upper arm and pulling him away from Haden, breaking the contact, and forcing the gypsy boy to see the pool of blood around his friend.

"Haden!" Dick shrieked and jerked away. His movement invoked a sudden eruption of strength from Gathers, and the teacher sent the boy flying backwards, into a row of desks. His right arm gave another smack against a seat, and Dick couldn't hold in the yelp of pain.

Greg, Felix, and Darcy were all unmoving, staring at Haden who lay on the floor, eyes squeezed shut at the sight of Mr. Ganthers looking down at him.

"You're not going home, Haden, in fact, you're not going anywhere. You're dying, and there's no saving you. Even if I had a change of heart, and wanted to – you're too far gone. Don't you see? Look, Haden, look – you've never seen your blood like this before. It's all over."

Haden let out a heartbreaking sob, which was ending by another gun blast.

"NO!" Dick screamed, flopping forward and tripping back the ground. He felt his face come in contact with the carpeted floor, and decided that it might just be best to stay there.

Someone else was sobbing now, and Dick didn't even want to know.

"What's wrong?!" Greg was saying. "Mr. Gathers – what's wrong! That was HADEN! HADEN!"

"Shut up, Greg, or the same thing will happen to you. You fat crybaby, got that?" The man snapped. His tone was darker then before. "Get up, Grayson, or I'll kill one of your other friends. You don't want that, now do you? None of you do. So if you don't do as I say, I'll kill you."

"…Did you kill the others?" Dick questioned, sitting up, and forcing his eyelids apart. "Did you kill everyone who was in the school?"

"Not all of them. It only took a few, and then … and then the rest got the idea to get out of the building pronto. My, my, Grayson – you're quite the big boy, aren't you? Brave little kid."

Dick wasn't brave, even if he sounded it, he wasn't anywhere near brave. In all honesty, he felt much like the others around him. And more than anything, he'd love to stand there and do and say nothing. But he couldn't … he couldn't.

He was Robin.

Robin.

I'm Robin. "Why … why didn't we hear the gun then?"

"Because I had a silencer on then. Stop asking idiotic questions. I don't have time for them, I'm more than sure that Gotham's finest cops are on their way over to try and save the day. They won't though. Now, how about you answer me a question, Dickie? Are the rumors true?"

Dick felt color fade away at the simple and unexplained question. There wasn't any need to expand on what was meant, Dick knew. He'd been victim to the rumors his first year at the school, and even though they had faded away, there was still the occasional mention of it.

"Because, I think that they are – and if they are, you and Henry Ganthers are just alike. Aren't you? On different levels sure, but I know all about it. When he was seven, his father's good friend attacked him. And you know what? His father, when Henry finally worked up the gut to tell him … he didn't believe Henry. How do you like that? He didn't even bother to stop inviting his friend over. And so, it kept happening. Again, and again, and again. And as the years went on, Henry started to fade away, and I started to come to life. I learned that it wasn't so bad. In fact, with time I learned to love him. Love Alexander." Gathers walked towards Dick, his gun lowered towards the ground. "Henry Ganthers is much too … too ashamed to ever admit that he loved Alexander. So, it was up to me to make the connection."

"And he died."

Ganthers went still at the words. "Yes. Alexander died."

"I'm sorry – it must be hard … but … but you can't do this. You can't just kill us. Everybody looses somebody close at some point in time."

A wry smile. "Trying to console me? Is that what this is, Dickie? You fail to see the point; I didn't want to kill anyone. It's just obvious that things wouldn't go very smoothly if I didn't kill them. You wouldn't take me very seriously if I hadn't killed Haden, would you have? So answer me, are the rumors true?"

Dick glared at his teacher, hating the man with all that was in him. "No. And don't call me that." People who called him Dickie loved him – this man polluted the nick-name, made it sound wrong.

A chilling and unpleasant silence fell between the five in the room. And then Mr. Ganthers gave a repulsive look that slowly faded into a smile. "You want to know the best part of this, Dickie?"

Greg was starting to sob now, and Darcy was making similar sounds.

"The best part is they can't condemn me for any of this. I'm insane."

Dick felt his chin buckle, and he bit down on his tongue to stop himself from making anymore signs of fear. He stared directly at his teacher and wished like anything he could think of something clever to say. The truth was … he was right. Gotham would claim Henry Ganthers insane, and move him to be rehabilitated. Just like the Joker, just like Two Face, just like all the others.

It wasn't fair.

"I'll make you pay." Dick weakly answered, and he felt his three friends looking at him, waiting for him to do something. They were waiting for him to save them from this place, from this man, and from falling into a fate like Haden's – or worse. "You'll pay."

"Mr. Henry Ganthers!" The loud voice boomed across the area, catching everyone's attention and drawing it to a man standing outside the school. He had a loud speaker and looked a bit tired, as if having come from a long day of work to this. "We just want to talk. If you'd answer a phone, it would make things better for everyone, including yourself."

Dick drew in a trembling breath at the break in silence, and glanced nervously towards the window. He saw Felix, Darcy, and Greg all turn their attention in the same direction. It was the sound of help – that's what it was! Help was on the way, people were doing what they could to save them!

Felix lifted a hand to his chest and glanced insecurely at his friends, though never at the teacher. He continued to scan the room, perhaps looking for a phone - because, well, none of them had heard a phone ring.

"Idiots." Their teacher sneered, and pointed to Greg, causing the twelve-year-old to jump about a foot. "Close the shades, now."

Giving a weak nod, Greg did as he was told, quickly drawing the shades and locking them all away from the divine sight below. Once the last one was drawn he returned to standing next to Darcy and bowed his head.

"Well, looks like things are going to get interesting now, aren't they?" Ganthers hissed taking another step towards Dick and looking at him with an endless, unjustified, hate. "We can thank Gotham City Police for that, can't we? They're quick to save the children of the rich, quick to save the city's reputation. Of course, of course."

Dick saw a phone sitting on the teacher's desk and knew that calls probably weren't directed to it. The main phones were in the office – and there was no chance that Henry Ganthers would move to go answer one.

If only he would.

Can't let anyone else die here. Dick squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists, thinking of Haden – realizing that his friend was dead, lying just a few feet away. If Dick needed motivation, all he had to do was look over and see. And if that didn't do it, then look at Greg, Darcy, and Felix – and know that it could happen to them too. "Y-you aren't going to talk to them?" Oh, he didn't want to talk with the teacher. He didn't want any attention on him right now.

"Why should I? They'll want to discuss my options, sweet talk me into giving you all up, and giving myself up. That's all. Why should I?" As if to answer his question, the loud voice etched its way through the room again, prying past the walls and into the building.

"Henry, all I want to do is talk. I understand you've had a lot of shit happen the past few days. I understand you're under a lot of stress …"

"Damn." The teacher began to pace the room, putting his hands to his ears. "Damn, damn, damn!"

"You just lost someone you love, and things aren't going good for you. But Henry, they're going to get worse. You're in over your head, and the only way to get out is to talk to me. I want to help you."

Ganthers suddenly drew a blank in his pacing and dropped his hands down, letting them rest at his sides. Turning ever so slowly, he looked at Greg and then Felix. "Let's take a vote. Shall we? Who do I like best?"

Dick felt his mouth go dry. "Jus-just talk with them, sir! Just for a bit, see what they, see what they … s-see what they want." He was trying to talk as loud as he could, but it sounded completely helpless. He was begging. "Please."

"Greg … open up a window for me, and make sure they all see you. I want to tell them something."

Greg nodded and hurried for the window. He pulled open the shade and then unlatched the locks, pushing the thick glass panel up. A cool breeze rushed into the room, and it offered some comfort to the boys, reminding them of the World outside the class.

Mr. Ganthers moved, standing at the wall beside Greg, beside the window – but making sure he couldn't be seen. He motioned for Greg not to move and then cleared his throat, lifting his gun and pointing it at the boy. "WHOEVER THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING, SHUT THE FUCK UP! I CAN'T THINK WITH YOU SCREAMING AT ME! SO HERE'S THE DEAL. YOU TALK A SHIT BIT MORE AND THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN!" He pulled the trigger of the gun.

Dick flinched, jumping at the surprise at hearing the sound echo through the room like it had before. He didn't say a word as he watched yet another victim, Greg, fall with ease. His body collapsed to the side, and suddenly the sound of screaming began outside.

"SHUT UP!" Ganthers bellowed.

The cries died down with his words, and in an instant there was the silence he had desired.

Begrudgingly given.

"Mr. Harding!"

Felix fell backwards in terror, falling on his backside and whimpering a bit. Though, once he realized he was still breathing, he looked over at the teacher.

"Close the fucking window and shade."

To be continued …

Pookie Power 2005: Ghosts was a forced chapter, lol, it's not good at all. I had to sit there and be like: Cassie, write it! Yeah, I'm just glad I was finally a bit more inspired to write more in our fanfiction, I'm glad chapter six is complete and seven is being to take shape! We rock, or well, you rock - I just write, lol. You give me stuff, and I write it, haha. Thanks so much for the review, I'm so happy you like this fanfiction, so happy.

Panamint: I often wonder about pennames - whats up with yours? LOL, I was thinking Star Wars, but I don't know why. Haha. I totally read your fanfiction and flipped out when you ended with that, gah! EVIL. Just so you know, I'm waiting. You should update now, lol. Hows that sound?

Kanny: I wish there were more Bruce/Dick moments in this chappie, but sadly - none. I do like writing those, I can go on and on with them with so much ease. Everything else I struggle at. Ten pages of conversation between Dick and Bruce and one of a plot, lol. I'm awful like that, haha - or good, depends how you view it. Thanks for the review! I love reveiws, I'm big for my britches, or something.

Trunksblue: GAH! Cell phones are such a pain in the ass, I swear. I'm totally going to not have them use them, maybe chapter five? Plot hole alert! Plot Hole 101, a class I failed to attend. LOLIRL. You'll die when you read the next chapter, seriously. It's like, plot hole haven, sort of - really. Just stab me. You'll understand when I post, let's just say - Superman. AHH! I did it! I did it! I took the easy way out!! Wow, and now I gave away chapter five.

Jester Joker: I won't lie, your review made me cringe, lolirl. I laughed after reading it though, I was like: Interesting perspective. Then my friend read it and she laughed. It was totally a cool review, it goes in the cool review archives or something. I'll never forget it, that's for sure.

Kokomocalifornia: Yeah, now it's up to chapter nine, I'm slowing down though. I should write more before updating chapter five. I'll get behind if I don't. Thanks for the review! Hope this chapter is ok.

Johanna: I actually have a friend who has the logic that it's ok to throw CD's out the window because then people will find them and discover good music. I was like: You're insane. So I wrote that part about Dick after her, lol. He would do something like that though, he's way too nice. Nicer than me at least! Thanks for the support, I totally owe you.

JLAfan: Haha, you return with your many reviews. I was thinking about you while taking the bus to campus the other day. I was like: She reviews each chapter, crazy kid. It's way nice of you, I totally tried to copy you with it, and reviewed every chapter of someone' fanfiction and totally flopped. I was writing: awesome for each chapter. I feel guilty for not giving good reviews now! Gah! I need to review every chapter if I find a good fanfiction that's complete! Thanks so much, really.

loopylouise123: I almost found Dick too optimisitc, I almost edited a line or two, but ended up keeping them. I just hope he's not so happy he's annoying, you know? Nobody said anything, but I'm pretty sure everyone was thinking it, lolirl. They were like: "So damn happy, must stop! Writer is an idiot." Haha, oh well, it was fun nevertheless. Thanks for the support!