digi-gal-rox: yea! mid year exams are over! now just for another lot of exams at the end of year... anyways, here's the nxt chapter!

Chapter 7 - Reasons

"Things happen for a reason right?" Cassandra asked, as Tim pulled up at her high school.
"Why do you ask?"
"Barb seemed in a really, really good mood this morning," she frowned, "I haven't seen her this happy since the day I entered her life. Maybe even happier."
"I didn't notice," Tim shrugged.
"How can you not!" the teenager asked alarmed.
"Because things does happen for a reason, Cassie." Tim sighed, "She's been through a lot during her younger years and our friend Dick has always been there for her. Maybe she let some steam off her chest."
"Maybe..." Cassandra murmured, climbing out of the car, "Maybe."

"You seem to be in a good mood," James Gordon greeted his daughter, in her small office at the end of the station.
"Good morning daddy," she smiled.
"So what brings you here?" he asked, "I thought I-"
"Something new to add, I won't be long."
"Oh?" he asked, suddenly interested.
"Jump City's Slade is here. He paid me a visit." she said casually.
"Oh my god! Are you alright?" James asked alarmed.
"I'm fine, daddy. I'm here aren't I?" she asked, "Anyway the Titans came in the nick of time, so don't worry." James eyed his daughter carefully.
"But that isn't the reason you're in such a good mood." he frowned. Barbara smiled, getting up.
"Can't your daughter just be happy?" she asked, kissing him on the cheek. James smiled, hugging his daughter.
"Just becareful when you're out there, O.K honey?" he said softly "And tell Dick I said hi." he added, "I noticed him on my way up."
"Sure... dad."

"Find anything?" he aked, when she approached him.
"No. Are you sure the Jump City police had files on him?"
"That's what they told me." he frowned, as the two left the building.
"Well, aparently they lied. I couldn't find anything." she muttered. "Looks like you've got to retreive your Titan files."
"They're all in storage, and takes too much time."
"Ah, the Batman museum," she mused.
"Ha, ha." he responded flatly.
"Any word on Bruce?" she asked, cocking her head at him.
"No," he shook his head, "And he's meant to be having a meeting today at Wayne Industries."
"Do you think Slade got to him?" she asked worriedly.
"Batman's a lot smarter than Slade, Babs," he muttered, "If you're worrying about Batman, you should actually be worrying about Slade."
"I think he should be worrying about Nightwing," she said, "After what happened last night..."
"I'd rather not think about it," he smiled, taking her hand, "Right now we have more important things to deal with."
"Oh?" she looked at him curiously. He pulled her towards him, giving her a small peck on the nose.
"You weren't able to celebrate your birthday, so I've got something planned for you."

A smile grew on her face. Behind her she could just hear the moans from a plants.
"Hurry it up already," Mad Hatter exclaimed.
"Patients," Poison Ivy said, "Perfection takes time."
"And we haven't got all day!" he muttered.
"Done!" she exclaimed, revealing a smile face powder box.
"That's it?" Mad Hatter asked annoyed, "That's why we've been here all this time! Just for make-up!"
"Not just any make up, my dear." Poison Ivy smiled, "Pheromones."

"Oh my god!" she laughed, seeing the picnic display that lay on the crisp green grass. "Oh my god! You've gone all high school on me!"
"Hey, if Clark was able to get teenage Lana this way, I thought why not?" he grinned.
"God Dick!" she exclaimed, "You have changed!" he smiled, as she mused over the food prepared by Alfred, earlier in the morning. "I can't believe you did this!" Catching her by surprise, he swept her off her feet.
"Beleive it," he grinned, before pulling her into a long soft kiss.

"Shouldn't he be back by now?" Victor asked, as Alfred entered the room, with a tray of tea.
"Thanks," Raven nodded, as the butler left the room.
"Well?" Victor asked again.
"Didn't he say he was also helping out in another case?" Kory asked.
"Still, this is Dick we're talking about. Obsesive Dick, who'd do anything to stop Slade." Victor frowned.
"Didn't he say that Barbara was a target?" Garfield asked.
"Yeah... but what that got to do with anything?" Victor asked.
"He's being what a typical guy should be," Raven responded, "Protecting those he loves."
"What's that suppose to mean!" Victor demanded, "'being what a typical guy...'" Raven rolled her eyes.
"Grow up." she retorted. Kory remained silent, staring out the window. Cautiously, Garfield joined her.
"Hey, what's the matter?"
"He is still in love with her," she murmured, "He has chosen her."
"Star..."
"It does not matter," she forced a smile.
"It does if he hurt you."
"He didn't hurt me," she shook her head. "All we are destined is to be friends. I have accepted that." Garfield smiled.
"Don't worry, you'll find someone."
"Maybe I will." she nodded, confidently. "I know I will."

"He what?" Tim asked, his mouth hanging open.
"He asked for a picnic basket, amoung other things," Alfred shrugged.
"She what?"
"Now really, Master Timother." Alfred scowled, "Let them be."
"I can't believe it!" Tim exclaimed, "Cassie had every right to be suspicious! Y'know, I had this odd feeling something had happened between those two, I just never expected... wow!"
"Speaking of expectations, aren't you suppose to pick up Ms. Cain?"
"She called saying she was hanging with friends. Don't change the subject Al. What else did he say?"
"Nothing else," Alfred responded.

Batman narrowed his eyes, watching the figure carefully. He had received a call from the League that he had attacked Barbara. Whoever he was after, he had to stop him.
"Oracle said he's after Nightwing, again." Jonz reported, "He's using her to get to him."
"Have-"
"Robin already has some League members watching the manor." Jonz cut in.
"And is he-"
"Already out on patrol. Everyone is."
"Let me know, when you get anything new."
"Will do."

"Ivy's on her way to Gotham Hall," Oracle's voice came, "Mad Hatter and Scarecrow as well."
"I'm on my way," Robin responded.
"Take Batgirl with you."
"Awesome." Batgirl beamed.
"On second thoughts-" Oracle started.
"Doesn't matter." Nightwing cut in. Oracle frowned. "I've just found Batman."
"You're skeptical it's him?"
"No. It's him."
"Such confidence, Nightwing." Raven's voice came.
"Bat stare," he simply responded.
"You gotta love that stare," Robin said sarcatically.
"Hey! I think I just saw your friend Slade." Batgirl suddenly exclaimed, "Oracle can you confirm?"
"Checking, checking..." the red-headed scanned the many cameras that Batman had installed secretly around Gotham City. "My place."
"Yeah, there."
"I'm on my way there." Nightwing growled, before cutting his line.
"What do you see in him!" Robin asked aloud.
"Excuse me?"
"Come of it, Al told me as much as he could." Robin fummed, "What do you-"
"You'd better hurry if you want to get Ivy." Oracle muttered.

He quietly crept around the apartment. Maybe there was something useful here he could use. He narrowed his eyes. The heroin seemed like the tidy one. Books were stacked neatly, bed remained made.
"Going somewhere?" he turned around, to find Nightwing standing behind him.
"Nightwing," he smirked, wetting his lips.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do," he growled.
"And you still got a lot to learn."
"I've learnt enough,' he muttered, throwing a punch at Slade, who easily doudged it. Nightwing narrowed his eyes,
"You messed with the wrong family,"
"I think I mess with the right family." Slade smiled, "And now, for this..."

Batman arrived shortly after, only to find the place empty. Narrowing his eyes, he studied to scene. It was still the same.
"Well?" Oracle's voice came.
"He's gone. No trace what so ever."
"How's that possible!" Cyborg exclaimed.
"Seems like Slade's learnt to clean up after himself." Batman muttered, "Oracle, scan the area."
"Downtown Gotham." she reported, "I can't get a clear reading, but something's happening down there."
"I'm on my way. Batman out."

Batgirl narrowed her eyes, as the Gotham Police tied up Mad Hatter and Scarecrow. Robin stood close by, scanning the area, incase the last of them, Poison Ivy appeared.
"She's long gone," Batgirl frowned.
"Good job," James nodded towards the two.
"No problem, Commish." Robin responded.
"Where's Ivy?" Harvey Bullock asked, annoyed.
"Oracle's already checking," Robin muttered, "We'll let you know if we find anything." shooting out his grapple the
boy wonder took off, Batgirl following in his wake.

"You have definately improved, Nightwing." Slade mused, as he was thrown into the wall. The dark knight narrowed his eyes, grinding his teeth. "And you're still not much of a talker. Something Oracle picked up from you I presumed."
"And you still enjoy taunting your victims," Nightwing retorted, doudging another of Slade's attacks. Before the masked villian could make another move, he had bumpped into Batman. Nightwing smiled. "Let's see you handle the
Bat, Slade." Narrowing his eyes, Slade prepared to attack Gotham's dark knight, who easily doudged it.
"I've heard so much about you," Slade muttered, "You even came to Jump City, a pity I never met you."
"You may enjoy talking, Slade," Nightwing smirked, "But Batman ain't to talker." Batman quickly retrieved Slade's jitso stick, before snapping it in half. "And he sure as hell is a better fighter than me." Widening his eyes, the villian quickly escaped before either dark knights could react.
"Jump City scum." Batman muttered, before retreating to the shadows. Nightwing abrutly followed.

"You're alright!" she exclaimed, when he arrived at the cave. He smiled at her, grateful for her concern. They both watch Batman retreat to the hanger where moments later he came back, dressed in a suit.
"Bruce?" Dick said uncertainly, removing his mask.
"I have dinner plans tonight," before they could ask 'with who', he had already accended up the stairs.
"O.K, I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's with Diana." Barbara said after a moment of silence.
"Hm... let's go find out." he grinned.

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