This chapter is a couple hundered words longer than the others. I hope you guys dont mind. :D

Thank for for all the sweet comments. X3 I really enjoy reading them, and all of you are so kind.

One more chapter after this one. Despite this chapter's length, I hope you enjoy it. :D


Tim stayed with Dick the entire night to keep an eye on him. He knew that if he was not there, that Dick would not go to sleep.

"Was it that bad?" Tim questioned, rubbing his hand down Dick's arm.

Dick sighed and met Tim's gaze, "It was..." he began, and turned his eyes away from Tim. "Yeah...I just don't like it when he's hurt – he never really gets hurt and to see him that way...it just..."

"It scared you?" Tim found the words that Dick could not quite describe.

"Yeah." nodded Dick, "I just didn't know how to react..and I..." he sighed, not being able to finish his sentence, "I have a headache."

Tim stood up from the bed and to the lamp and turned it off, "Go to sleep."

Dick woke up multiple times throughout the night. It was impossible for him to even doze off for more than thirty minutes at a time. Secretly he stole a few glances at Tim. The bright light from his phone illuminated his face and the tiny smile that was still strong enough to show itself even after the recent events. The boy was texting, and the person on the other end was Conner.

Tim mouthed the words, Good night, I love you. As he sent his last message before shutting off his phone and wrapping his arms around one of the pillows on the bed.

I love you.

Had been the last words that Dick had spoken to Jason before he lost consciousness. He wondered if he heard him? Did he say it loud enough? Or did he say it to loud?

The gentle sound of Tim's soft breathing was enough to calm Dick down to the point where he was able to fall asleep for more than a few minutes.


The next morning Dick woke up with an annoying pounding in his head. He was still a bit dazed from all the emotion of the last night. As he sat up, he began to recall the events that took place just a few hours ago. He remembered Jason's hazy eyed stare before he passed out. He remembered the desperate call for his air Jason's lungs demanded. The tight squeeze of the hand before slowly letting go.

Tim was still sleeping, and knowing how light of a sleeper he was, Dick quietly slid off the bed and made his way to the door. As he turned the knob and began to enter the hallway, he was stopped by Damian who was standing directly outside. The young boy's hand was outstretched as if he was preparing to knock on the door.

"Damian?" Dick half whispered, as he shut the door behind him. He did not want to disturb Tim. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." Damian concluded, "My head hurts a little, though."
Dick scooped up Damian so he could get a better look at his bruised face, "Does Bruce know you're out of bed?"

"Like I said before," Damian urged, and rested his head on Dick's shoulder. "I'm fine, I just wanted to see if you were okay."

Dick smiled and gently stroked the back of Damian's head, touching his soft hair but careful not to aggravate his wound, "I'm doing okay too."

"Liar." Damian accused, he could pick up the tension in Dick's voice. "You're worried about Jason."

Dick sighed as he opened the door to Damian's room and set him on the bed, "Do you know if..."

"He's alive." Damian revealed. "Father told me he's going to be out for a few days until he recovers, and he cant breathe on his own yet. But once his lungs gets strong enough, and he starts to wake up, he should be okay."

"Thank you," Dick gave his little brother a quick hug before running down to the infirmary.

Dick rushed into the infirmary and nearly broke down when spotted Jason. He was intubated. Multiple lines attached to his arms giving him the drugs to keep him asleep and the nutrients to keep him alive.

Dragging his feet, Dick made his way to the side of Jason's bed. He stroked the side of the sleeping man's face.

Jason always reminded Dick of a fire, so energetic, and strong. Never really out, and always finding the strength to come back to life. It was surreal to see the that once bright fire now so weak, so weak that he can not even breathe on his own.

A stray tear rolled down the side of Dick's face as he clasped his hands around Jason's cold fingers. He sobbed silently to himself, pressing a small kiss to Jason's hand.

"Dick, you've been here for hours." Bruce carefully approached his oldest son.

"I know..." Dick breathed, his eyes stung from all the crying and his headache continued to roar loudly. "I just...I don't want to leave him..."

"I need to speak to you," Bruce continued, "about Jason."
"Is there something wrong with him?" Dick shifted his gaze up to Bruce.

With a quick glance at the monitors, Bruce figured, "No, but I have something else to ask you." Dick nodded to signal Bruce to continue speaking. "I would like to know what your relationship is with him. There have been moments of affection that I have seen between the two of you. Like holding his hand the other day."

Dick did not know what to say. He thought about what Damian had told him. That his relationship with Jason will never truly flourish unless he told Bruce. They could not keep it a secret.

"I...I ummm..." Dick took in a slightly hitched breath before answering in low voice, "I love him – and not in a brotherly way, Bruce, no. In a romantic way." he admitted.

Bruce was still for a few moments, staring at Dick so hard the younger man had no choice but to turn away. Dick could feel more tears coming, he was to emotional right now. He did not want to talk to Bruce, he wanted Jason to wake up and breathe again.

"Dick." Bruce finally spoke. "I don't approve of this between the two of you. As you know Jason has some psychological problems but..." Bruce stopped again, to think of what to say next. "You must make your own choices in life, and if you are happy with being with him. Then I wont stop you. I just want you to be careful." he cautioned.

"Thank you, Bruce." Dick let go of Jason's hand and embraced Bruce around the shoulders. "Because I really do love him, thank you so much."


Five days.

The only time Dick left Jason's side was for hygienic reasons, and for short patrol sessions. On the fifth day Alfred had removed the drugs that had forced Jason into a sleep. Sometime that day, Jason was supposed to wake up, and that night it happened.

Dick had just returned from a fifteen minute run of the city, still in his Nightwing costume he ran a finger down Jason's arm. Dick gasped as he noticed Jason's eyes flutter open. The drugs were still heavy in his system, but not so thick that he could not force himself awake.

As soon as Jason opened his eyes, he was more than happy to see Dick was there looking after him. He was so pleased, and elated to see his lover that wanted to speak, but there was a stupid tube in his larynx that kept him from being able to form a word. Not only that but the sorrowful look Dick was giving him made him want to punch him, or kiss him until that happiness he was so used to seeing sparkled back into his eyes.

"I'm going to get Alfred." Dick informed, and dashed off to find the butler.

A few moments later, the tube had been removed and Jason was able to breathe on his own. Dick was absolutely overjoyed that Jason was alive and able to sustain himself. The acrobat wrapped his arms around Jason's shoulders.

"Master Richard, try not to excite him, he still very weak." Alfred advised, then turned his attention to Jason. "I will bring you some water and a few crackers." and left.

Dick did not know what to say, all his knowledge of words had abandoned him at that very moment. His blue eyes met with Jason's for a quick second before he dived into a kiss. His worried lips touching Jason's pale chapped ones. Dick could feel a smile form on Jason's lips against his.

Not wanting Alfred to see their makeout session, Dick slowly pulled away only to hear Jason utter, "I love you." in an extremely horse and strained voice.

A tiny laugh escaped Dick's lips as he stroked the side of Jason's face. "You heard me?"

Jason opened his mouth to speak again, only to be stopped by a quick peck on the lips and Dick saying, "Try not to talk to much, your voice sounds like crap."

Rolling his eyes, Jason ignored Dick's request and spoke anyway, "That was the last thing I remember."


Bruce and Damian stepped into the infirmary later that night when they had finished with their patrol. While they were out, the pair had overheard from Alfred that Jason was awake and doing fine. They were surprised to see Dick laying with Jason, playing war with little fish shaped crackers. Bruce smiled at the sight of the two, he had never seen the pair more happier.

"Jason," Bruce called out, he spoke in a tone that was not hostile.

Jason's attention shifted from his game of fishy war to Bruce, knowing that his voice was not quite working, he refrained from speaking.

"It's good to see you are doing well," Bruce continued to speak and pull off his cowl. "I want to thank you for saving my son."
"Um, yeah." Damian added, not looking directly at Jason but letting his gaze drift around the room. "Thank you."

Nudging Robin on the back, the two of them exited the room.

Curious as to why Bruce did not maim either himself or Dick for being so intimately close on the bed, Jason asked, "Did you tell him?"

"Yeah," Dick revealed, kissing Jason on the cheek. "And he's okay with it."