digi-gal-rox: another chapter! it's been a while since i last updated this story...try three months... so, here it is! hopes u lyke it! it's kinda short, but more will be revealed in later chapters!

CHAPTER 4

He stared at the sleeping man, his thought only on one thing. The mission. He wondered how his son was doing, if he had learnt anything. Closing his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again. Still the man was sleeping. Was there anything they could do? Anything to make the old man comfortable? Sighing, he took a seat, staring out the dark window. He heard a soft groan. Turning around slightly, he saw him open his eyes. A familiar look on his face. He was awake.

"John?" Kelly murmured softly, turning around slightly as he quickly ran through some papers, "What is it exactly you're looking for?"
"Information." he stated. "There's something about these people..."
"These people? By these you mean them?"
"Who else?" Kelly frowned slightly.
"They seem normal to me."
"Too normal."

"What is it we're after exactly?" Jason asked, leaning back on the chair.
"Information, kid." Terry responded. Leaning towards the bat-computer, the young man typed something in.
"I may not be as good as Barb, but I think I just found our lead, Bats."
"And?" Terry asked, ignoring the nickname Jason had given him.
"You are not going to believe me one bit."
"Try me."
"Our new lady friend."
"Kelly Peters?"
"The one and only." Jason paused, "But this so called Nightwing might get to you before you get to her."
"Too late for that." Batman muutered.

"If you're looking for Batgirl, I already said she retired."
"This time I'm not looking for here."
"Oh really?"
"I hear that she became Oracle."
"You've been mistaken." Batman snorted, "She walked out of this life because of you."
"Me?" Nightwing's eyes widened in surprise.
"Or maybe it was your boss." Batman smirked, "Than again, my old man was also to blame." Nightwing frowned.
"I came here for answers. And I want them now."
"Busy," Batman responded, "I have a job here to do. And where is your lady friend by the way? This... Ms. Kelly Peters, was it?"
"What about her?" Nightwing asked, cautiously. Batman smirked.
"Why don't you ask her?" with a quick press of the button on his belt, Batman had disappeared, leaving behind a dazed Nightwing.

"Mr. Grayson." Barbara said pleasently, entering the room, "We spoke on the phone earlier, "Detective Wilson."
"You seem... young to be a detective." Thomas said slowly, allowing the young woman into the room.
"It's due to my impressive skills," Barbara shrugged, "Though most people believe that it was due to my family's history... but enough of that, how is Mr. Grayson?"
"He woke up last night..." Thomas said slowly. "Dad, this is Detective Wilson, remember I told you about her last night? Dad?" Dick Grayson stared at the woman, almost surprised. He slowly rose from his bed, gesturing for the young woman to come closer.
"You look so much like her." he murmured.
"Dad?" Thomas said uncertainly. "She said she was here about some award."
"There's no such award." Dick muttered, "It was an excuse to come here, wasn't it?"
"I'd like to ask you a few questions, Mr. Grayson." Barbara said, ignoring the question.
"Let me ask you one first." Dick said abrutly. Barbara hesitated before nodding. "Are you, by any chance, related to Barbara Gordon?" there was a long pause.
"No. No I'm not."
"You're lying." he exclaimed.
"Dad! She already said-"
"If there's anyone I know, it's her decendents." Dick snapped, "It was the same thing with her father. Whenever they lied, they had the habit of drumming all their fingers, like she is now!" he pointed to the drumming.
"I have no right to answer you with the truth, Mr. Grayson." Barbara said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "If you want to know why, my family has been through a lot for a very long time, none of which concerns you."
"Dad, please! Just co-operate for once!" Thomas cried out. Dick paused before nodding.
"What is your history with the Bat-family, Mr. Grayson?" Barbara asked, "Or should I say, Nightwing?"

"Forget it Bruce, I quit!" she cried out, throwing the suit on the ground. "Don't think I'll stick around here any more! You've lost!" she waited for a responce. "Say something!"
"You still have a mission to complete."
"No I don't." she narrowed her, "You've lost Bruce. You've lost Dick, than Tim. Now you've lost me." she turned around and never looked back. She had sworn that she would never go back to that life, or even allow herself to let him roam the streets again.

"He's hiding her?" Barbara asked, surprised.
"We can't even locate her."
"I thought they were staying with Jason."
"They still are, but not at the moment." Barbara frowned thoughtfully.
"Have you tried the station?"
"I did, and you already know that they trust Batman."
"I'm not saying they don't, Terry." Barbara sighed, "Just double checking..." she paused.
"Barb?"
"Try the old loft."
"I did."
"There's a secret passage, there should be a file in the computer. I'll hack it from here and show you."

"Ms. Wilson... Detective... what exactly happened to your family?" Thomas asked, asking the question Dick had been wanting to ask. She glared at the old man.
"You can ask him about that."
"I wouldn't know, I moved here long ago, I cut ties with them." Barbara looked away, clenching her fist.
"I can't answer your question." she responded, "If your grandson is there for a reason, he has to find out on his own."
"John is there?" Dick looked at his son, angrily. "Why did you send him there?!"
"Dad, I-"
"I understand why you did it now." Barbara said slowly, "There are many secrets in the family, that you both kept from him. Those many secrets I know." she paused, "But the only reason you sent him there, is to also find out more details yourself. Like, for example why there's a new Batman, and why the clan was never re-created. And the question you've all be dreading to know. What really happened to Barbara Gordon." she rose from her seat, "These questions will always remained unanswered, Mr. Grayson... Mr. Grayson. If she's ready to let you know, the answers she left will come out. Not before, not after. Only when it's time." without another word she left.

digi-gal-rox: that's it for now! remember to review!