A/N: To everyone who's commented so far, you rock. Just a few simple words but they so make my day. Thank you all. :)

Oh, and we're into the home stretch now. Just two chapters left after this.

oOo

"Knock, knock," said Jason quietly, tapping at the door of Dick's room in Wayne Manor.

Alfred looked up from where he was smoothing down the bed covers. "Master Jason, have you only just returned?"

He shrugged. "Time got away from me." He stepped into the room and moved over to the bed. "He's sleeping?"

"They sedated him for the journey. Dr. Thompkins felt it would be more comfortable for him."

Jason nodded. There was no disputing that. It had only been a few days since Dick had regained consciousness and he was still in considerable pain, but Bruce had wanted him moved home as soon as he was strong enough. He was hoping the familiar surroundings would have a positive effect on Dick. The boy was still sleeping a lot but when he was conscious, his mood was very subdued.

"Would you like some breakfast, Sir? I rather fear you had a long night's patrol."

Jason smiled tiredly. "Breakfast would be great, Alfred, thank you."

The older man placed a hand on his arm. "Why don't you sit with Master Dick while I get something ready? The lad should wake soon and I'm sure he would like the company."

"Okay."

"I shan't be long, Sir," Alfred told him, leaving the room.

Quietly, Jason retrieved a chair from the corner and placed it by the bed. Reclining, he studied the sleeping teenager, and frowned.

Dick still looked horribly pale and bloodless. Jason had no frame of reference for something like this, – he had died and been resurrected in the Lazarus pit with his wounds healed – but shouldn't Dick be starting to look a little better now? He wished there was something he could do to ease his suffering; Jason hated that he had such a long road to recovery in front of him.

The need to do something was why he had returned well after dawn from patrol in Gotham. Joker hadn't been apprehended yet and Jason had spent the last few nights combing through the city looking for him. The League were also looking, but the clown was clearly lying low after the brutal assault on Robin and he was the only person in this reality who knew the man well enough to guess at his hiding places. He was determined to find the freak. Not for himself, he wanted to locate him for Dick's sake; Jason had seen the fear in the boy's eyes when Bruce had told him that Joker was still out there somewhere.

Jason wasn't sure yet what he would do when he found the clown.

He glanced at his bruised knuckles. After his emotional melt-down a few nights ago, the rage that had been his constant companion for years seemed to have disappeared, leaving in its place a weird sort of numb calm. He didn't know if seeing the Joker would rekindle that rage or if his discoveries of the last few days would influence his actions. All Jason knew was he had to ensure the Joker disappeared from this reality so that Dick would feel safe again.

There was a slight rustling of sheets and Jason returned his attention to the bed. Dick's eyes were open and he was staring at the ceiling.

He leaned forward in the chair. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"A little creeped out that there's someone watching me every time I wake up."

Jason winced. There was absolutely no humour in that retort. "I just got in. Alfred's making breakfast and asked me to sit with you. I can go if you don't want company?"

"No!" He looked at Jason. "Its...I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

"Nothing to apologise for, Kiddo," Jason replied gently.

Dick looked back at the ceiling. "So, they brought me home."

"Bruce thought you might be more comfortable here."

"Right." Silence. Then, "Where is he?"

"Bruce? No idea."

Come to think of it, Jason was surprised that Bruce wasn't here. He'd hardly left the boy's side over the past few days.

Dick shifted slightly, then winced. "Can you…would you mind helping me sit up?"

"No problem." Jason retrieved extra pillows from the closet and gently eased Dick to a sitting position, before propping the pillows behind him and leaning him against them. "Better?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Jason sat into the chair again. It occurred to him that this was the first time he had been alone with Dick since the boy's ordeal. "So, how are you feeling? Really?"

"Fine."

Even if the voice hadn't quivered, Jason would have known it was a lie. He snorted. "Right, and I'm a prima ballerina."

Dick darted his eyes towards him but remained silent.

Jason sighed. Dick hadn't spoken about what happened with Joker to anyone, and no one had pushed him because they were unwilling to make him relive the ordeal, but Jason knew from experience that burying it would only make things worse.

"Dick," his voice was very gentle, "I know better than anyone how hard this is. Come on, talk to me."

The boy wasn't looking at him now; his eyes were on the bed. Jason could see the fingers of his right hand grasping the sheets.

Finally, "He's still out there."

The words were so softly spoken that Jason almost didn't catch them. His heart wrenched in pity; he knew that was bothering him. "Not for much longer, I promise. We're going to find him and then he'll be gone. You never have to see him again."

"What if he comes back? What if…what if he tries to finish it?"

The fear on Dick's face sparked some of his old rage. "I'll kill him first."

Dick blinked, startled. Jason had never shown him that side of himself before.

He softened his voice. "Dick, I promise, Joker will never touch you again."

Dick swallowed, his fingers now twisting the sheets. "I know it's stupid to be scared–"

"It's not stupid!"

"Yes it is! I'm safe. I know there's nothing to be scared of, but…" his voice trailed off. When he spoke again, his voice was no more than a whisper. "Jason, I can still hear him in my head. I can hear him laughing...saying things to me."

Jason didn't know what to say to that. He still heard the Joker laughing in his head from time to time too, but he wasn't sure if admitting that to Dick would make him feel better or worse. He moved over and sat on the bed. Gently, he placed an arm around Dick's shoulders. "Dick, Joker has that effect on a lot of people. He's a sick, twisted freak that enjoys hurting others. Being scared of him is smart, not stupid."

"I feel like such a baby!" Dick's expression was a mixture of anger and frustration. "Sitting here like a scared little kid…I wasn't even able to fight back! I've been Batman's partner for four years but when it came down to it, I couldn't even defend myself against one man! It's pathetic!"

"I was seventeen when he murdered me," Jason pointed out quietly. "I was older than you, bigger than you, stronger than you, and I had more experience…but I still couldn't defend myself against him. Joker is far from average, Dick. He's a psychopath who's been doing this for a long time."

"And I didn't listen when you tried to warn me," said Dick miserably. "I should have listened! This is my own stupid fault."

"This is NOT your fault!" snapped Jason fiercely. "The only person at fault here is that freak! And maybe myself and Bruce for not having the sense to realize that you would follow us into Gotham anyway – hell, that's what I'd have done at your age! If we'd just let you come with us then none of this would have happened."

"Jason, this wasn't your fault, or Bruce's. I'm the one who acted like a stupid little kid."

"Hey, Dick, guess what…you are a kid! I know you don't like to hear that but you are. And that means you're not always going to look before you leap. Kids do stupid stuff and it's up to their guardians to make sure they're safe. That was mine and Bruce's job and we failed at that."

"Jason, I'm old enough to know the difference between right and wrong!"

"It's not about right and wrong! It's about kids doing dumbass stuff because they don't always think. You can't help it; it's part of the wiring in your brain." He gave Dick a grin and was delighted to see a small smile on the teenager's face.

"You do know you just gave me carte blanche to act like a dumbass?"

Jason groaned as he realised Dick was right. "Don't tell Bruce! And watch your language."

"You said it!"

"I'm an adult."

Dick didn't have the chance to respond because at that moment, Alfred entered the room bearing a tray. Jason saw his eyes go straight to Dick and a smile crossed his lips.

"Master Dick, it is most turbing to see you looking a little brighter," he said, placing the tray on the dresser.

"Yeah, I– wait!" Dick's head twisted and he stared at the Butler. "Alfred, what did you just say?!"

"I said I am glad to see you looking a little brighter."

"That's not what you said!" A gleeful smile was spreading across Dick's face. "You dropped a prefix!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Sir."

Jason stared between Dick's delighted expression and Alfred's mysterious smile, not quite sure what was going on. He raised an eyebrow in the Butler's general direction.

But the man didn't elaborate. "Sir, Master Bruce is having breakfast in the dinning room and has requested that you join him. I have set a place for you." His expression was gentler as he turned to Dick. "Master Dick, I have your breakfast and medication here. Master Bruce will be up to you afterwards."

Dick's face fell slightly. "Okay, Alfred."

Jason gave his shoulder the gentlest of squeezes before removing his arm. "Hey, I'll be up afterwards too, okay?"

"Okay."

He stood up and exchanged a look with Alfred. They both knew what was bothering the boy.

With both arms out of commission, he was almost helpless and required someone to do most things for him…including feed him. For an independent teenager like Dick, it was beyond humiliating. Jason knew he hated it and had been eating less in an effort to endure it as little as possible. They would have to work on that because aside from needing the calories to convalesce, Dick was already skinny enough.

He ruffled the boy's hair and left the room. As the door closed, he could hear Dick starting to tease Alfred about prefixes. He didn't know what that was about – it was obviously some private joke between them – but it lifted his heart to see Dick smile. This morning was the first time he had done so since he had regained consciousness.

When he reached the dinning room, Bruce was sitting in his usual seat, an untouched plate of bacon and eggs in front of him. He looked tired and was frowning into space.

"Morning," Jason greeted him and he looked up.

"How's Dick?"

"Better. We actually got a smile out of him this morning."

Several emotions raced across the older man's face too fast for Jason to identify them.

"What about you?" he asked, sliding into the seat beside Bruce and lifting the stainless-steel cover that Alfred had placed on the plate to keep his breakfast hot. "Where were you? I'm surprised you weren't there when he woke up."

"I was here last night when they brought him home," said Bruce shortly. "There was something very important I had to do afterwards."

"Hey, I wasn't judging. Just making sure you're okay."

Bruce gave him a sharp look but didn't comment.

Jason started to eat his breakfast. "So, what were you doing?"

"Finishing the diagnostics to send Joker back to his reality."

"But we haven't got him yet."

"Actually, the League located him three nights ago."

"Are you freaking kidding me?!" Jason exploded, his fork falling to the plate with a clatter. "They've had him all this time and you didn't tell me?!" He narrowed his eyes. "You didn't tell Dick! Bruce, the kid is scared because he thinks Joker is still out there! How could you not tell him?"

"Because I want to be able to tell him that we've not only captured Joker, but sent him back." Bruce fixed him with a penetrating look. "And I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure how you would react."

"How I would react?! What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you don't think clearly when it comes to this Joker and I wasn't letting you put yourself in a position where you might do something drastic."

"Something drastic. You mean kill him."

"Yes."

"For chrissakes! After what he did to Dick how can you even care what happens to that freak?"

"I don't. I just don't want you doing something that there's no coming back from."

Jason blinked. "What?"

Bruce's expression was darker and more dangerous than Jason had ever seen it. "There's a reason the League have Joker imprisoned somewhere I don't know about. There's a reason I needed to finish the diagnostics so we can send him back as quickly as possible. While he's around, I don't trust myself. Make no mistake, Jason, I want that clown dead! But I know that if I give into that instinct then there's no coming back. I would be of no use to Gotham and, more importantly, no use to Dick. And I'm not letting you go down that road either; I said I wanted to help you and I meant it. This is my way of doing that."

"So…you didn't tell me because you were trying to…what? Protect me?"

Bruce nodded.

Jason was stunned. "Why?"

The older man looked sad at the question. "Why not? Jason, when was the last time you had someone look out for you?"

He didn't answer.

"The truth is, Jason, you've been on your own for too long, fighting and pretending like you don't care about anything. But we both know that's not true."

His eyes narrowed. Bruce knew about his breakdown. Goddamn Flash, he told!

Flash had comforted him during his melt-down, but he hadn't mentioned it since and Jason had hoped that meant he wouldn't say anything to anyone. He should have known the other man wouldn't stay quiet; they were all too damn touchy-feely in this reality!

Bruce seemed to guess what was bothering him. "He only told me. He was concerned about you."

"Well, there's no need to be, I'm fine!" He glared at Bruce. The older man had his elbows on the table and his hands clasped together in front of his mouth. His gaze was searching. Jason sighed. "There's a reason you're saying all this, isn't there?"

Bruce studied him over the tips of his fingers, as though assessing how to phrase his next words.

"Come on, Bruce, out with it."

"Jason, do you want to go home?"

Okay, he wasn't expecting that. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you had the choice between staying here and returning to your own world, what would you choose?"

Jason stared at him. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Because you and I have never discussed the realities of transdimensional travel."

"What are you talking about?"

"The veil between worlds is thinner than you know, fragile. It doesn't take much to tear down that barrier. One of the things that can disrupt the barrier between realities is transdimensional travel."

Jason's heart started to beat a little faster. "What do you mean?"

"The barrier between worlds is pure energy and energy can disrupt it. Our bodies don't just operate on kinetic energy, we also give out energy fields unique to each individual. Two people with the same energy field warps the barrier between realities; the longer two counterpoints remain in the same reality, the more unstable it becomes."

"Counterpoints?"

"Your alternative self."

Jason's heart was beating wildly now. Just by being here he was screwing up this world. No way could he stay now. He scowled angrily at Bruce. "Why the hell would you even ask me if I wanted to stay when you know I can't?"

"I never said you can't."

Jason wanted to punch him. "You just said that I'm making this world unstable by being here! How in the hell can I stay?"

"I believe what I said was the longer two counterpoints remain in the same reality, the more unstable it becomes."

"Same fucking thing!"

"Actually it's not. And the reason I haven't asked you whether or not you wanted to stay until now is because I didn't think you could."

Jason froze. "What?"

"People without a counterpoint in this reality can remain." Bruce reached for a small brown folder on the table beside him and handed it to him.

Jason took the proffered folder and opened it, revealing a certificate of death for one Jason Todd. The page behind it was a newspaper print-out; a picture of a boy who looked eerily similar to his younger self grinned up at him.

"Your counterpoint overdosed on drugs that he accidently ingested at age five," Bruce told him gently. "You don't have an alternative self in this world."

His heart continued to beat wildly. "You're telling me I can stay."

"Yes."

Jason was exasperated now. "And you couldn't just have said that instead of the big physics lecture?"

"If I had, I wouldn't have seen just how much you want to stay," said Bruce gently.

Jason stared at the image of his alternative self, feeling a little sad that even in this reality, his mother had picked drugs over her own son. He wondered if any of his counterpoints in other realities had ever had a chance.

The thought occurred to him that by staying in this reality, he would have the chance to start over. "Do you think I should stay?"

"It's not for me to say, that decision is yours alone. Should you decide to go home, I can make that happen. If you decide to stay, I will aid you in every way that I can."

Jason was torn. He wanted to stay, had wanted it almost since the beginning. But if he stayed, then he would never make things right with his own mentor. And what about Dick? Would Dick want him to stay or would he just be a horrible reminder of the tortures he had endured at the hands of the Joker? "Does Dick know about this?"

"No. He still thinks that you have to return to your reality at some point. I wanted to speak to you first."

Jason closed the folder. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.

"You don't have to decide now. This is a big decision and you should think about it."

"How long do I have to decide?"

"As long as you need."

"But what about Joker? If I decide to go back, won't you be sending us together?"

"Absolutely not!" declared Bruce firmly. "Superman is going to deliver him to the hands of the authorities in your reality. I am not sending you through together."

"Don't trust me, huh?"

Bruce scowled darkly. "I don't even trust myself with him after…" his voice trailed off and his jaw clenched. "Besides, we're sending him back as quickly as possible because his presence here is seriously disrupting the veil between realities. It would appear that even his energy is pure poison."

Something in Jason's mind clicked. Bruce had been up all night working on this. "Exactly when are you sending him back?"

"Today."

"What!" Jason got to his feet. "When?"

Bruce didn't answer.

Jason knew what that meant. "They're doing it soon, aren't they?" He was furious. He wanted to see the clown before he left, look him in the eye to prove he hadn't won. "Goddamn it, Bruce!" He rushed for the door.

"Jason, wait!"

The younger man ignored him.

oOo

Jason's hands were shaking and he clutched the handlebars harder as the bike roared up the hill. He knew exactly where the Justice League would be.

The ruins of the Gotham Planetarium came into view and Jason let the bike screech to a halt. He climbed off, eyes narrowing as they landed on a small group of people gathered in front of what used to be the Planetarium. He moved in that direction and two of them came forward to meet him; Flash and some guy in black and green spandex that Jason hadn't met before.

He rolled his eyes. Just what was it with this reality and spandex anyway?

"Should you be here?" asked Flash cautiously as they drew level.

"Probably not. Where is he?"

"Uh, I really don't think you should–"

"Where is he?"

The two men exchanged a look, then Flash gestured back towards the group.

Jason pushed past them and strode over to where three other Justice League members were gathered; Superman, Red Tornado and a dark-haired woman in underwear the colour of the American flag. If he had been less on edge, Jason would have whole heartedly approved of that costume.

As it was, his attention was captured by the man kneeling on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back and a strange collar around his neck. He leered as he caught sight of Jason.

"Hoodie! You look good. Didn't lose any limbs in the explosion then? I'm impressed; you really are getting good at the Houdini thing."

Jason didn't answer. His fists clenched as he stared down at the Joker. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Superman draw closer to him.

"What's the matter, Pumpkin? Bat got your tongue?" The clown hooted and cackled with laughter. "How is Batsy? Haven't seen him around these last few days, I'm a little hurt that he doesn't want to see me."

Jason still didn't speak and Joker pouted.

"Aw, Hoodie, you really are getting to be such a big boy now! All cross and silent like Batsy and the other grown ups; it's just not fun you know." A sly smile crossed his face. "Not like the little birdie…now he was a lot of fun."

Jason smashed a fist into the clown's jaw but before he could hit him again, Superman was behind him, one strong arm around his waist dragging him backwards while the other grabbed his swinging fist in an iron grip.

"Let me at him!" Jason snarled, struggling.

"No!" Superman whispered in his ear. "He's baiting you; don't give him what he wants."

Jason stopped struggling and looked at the clown. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth as he cackled wildly. Superman was right; he was goading him to get a reaction. Jason could have smacked himself. All his supposed lessons of the last few days and he was still letting this freak push his buttons.

He exhaled. "Okay, fine." Superman didn't release his hold. "You can let me go," Jason told him in a low voice. "I won't react again."

This time, Superman did release him but Jason could sense the reluctance with which he let go.

"Is that why Batsy's not here?" Joker called. "Mourning his little bird is he?"

What?

Jason was glad his mask hid his surprise and he glanced at the members of the Justice League. They were watching Joker with arms crossed and impassive faces. Every one of them were silent. It suddenly struck Jason that they had told Joker nothing about Batman or Robin; the clown still thought he had killed Robin! Jason gave a bitter smile behind the mask. He was going to enjoy this.

"I guess no one told you – probably didn't think you were worth telling – but…Robin's alive. He's going to be just fine."

Jason wasn't sure about the 'just fine' part but there was no need for Joker to know that.

The smile on the clown's face dropped slightly. "That's not a very funny joke, Hoodie."

"Oh it's not a joke. You know better than that, Freak." His voice dropped. "I wouldn't lie about this."

Joker was silent as he scowled up at Jason. He felt a grim satisfaction that he had provoked a reaction other than laughter from the clown.

It didn't last long. A malicious grin unfurled. "Guess that means I get a second play date with the little birdie."

Jason jerked, but caught himself in time. "No, you won't." He adopted the tone of one talking to a small child. "You see these nice people here? They're going to take you home, back to Arkham. No more play dates for you."

"What's the matter, Hoodie? Don't they trust you to do it?"

"Oh they trust me…I just have better things to do."

The clown was still smiling but Jason could see the anger in his eyes. "I can come back. If you think I made the little bird scream before it'll be nothing compared to what I do next time."

But Jason was wise to the clown now; he wasn't going to indulge him by reacting. "Nah. You haven't got the smarts to come back and you were stupid enough to kill the scientist who opened the portal. Once you go home, you're staying there."

"What about you?" Joker tried again to antagonize him. "Staying with the Bats you don't want to kill?"

"Haven't decided. But a world without you in it? That's very tempting."

"Awwww, so you do still think about me?"

"Not really." Jason dropped to his haunches in front of the Joker. "You see, I've realized something about you; you're not nearly as crazy as you'd like everyone to believe, or even as crazy as you'd like to believe. It's more fun for you to think you do the things you do because you're completely crazy, otherwise you're just another sadistic psychopath…and what's so special about that?"

All pretence at smiling was gone now and Joker looked enraged. Jason realized that he had really gotten under the clown's skin and felt a surge of victory. He'd been waiting a long time to wipe that grin off the clown's face.

He stood up. "Face it, Joker, I've decided that you're just not worth it anymore."

Jason turned and started to walk away. He could hear the clown yelling after him.

"When I come back, Hoodie, I'll show you what crazy is! Ask the little birdie about the last game we were going to play…ask him!"

Jason never looked back.