A/N: This Part is a bit shorter, but it seemed to want to break with Bruce's thoughts at the end.

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Forever Robin

By

AJ

Part 7

"Well, it's about time," Barbara Gordon said. "I had to see for myself. Oh, I am so glad that Alfred was wrong. Bruce, how are your feeling?"

"Better, thanks to this guy here," Bruce placed his hand on Dick's shoulder giving it a squeeze, who then modestly lowered his head.

"You would have done the same for me," Dick said, looking back at Bruce, giving him a knowing smile, and both of them knew they meant it.

"This is your investigation, Dick," Bruce said, nodding his head. 'You've done more work on it than I have."

"So, what have you got?" Dick asked, noticing the folder that Commissioner Barbara Gordon was carrying.

"You were right. The victims were buried alive, except for the third one. He didn't regain consciousness."

Dick looked over the names of the victims. "One of these victims may very well have been a ruse to throw us off the track. Bruce, I think you know the other two." Dick handed him the folder.

"No," Bruce's face paled. "It's the round robin murders all over again. There were four of us."

"What's the round robin murders?" Barbara asked.

Dick asked his own question diverting the topic. "Barbara, have you had your house rewired?"

"No. I live in an apartment, remember."

"Has your father?" Dick changed his line of questioning.

"My father said he was going to have the house rewired tomorrow, make it more up to date. That house is over two hundred years old. He said he got a really great deal."

"From Dr. Electric?"

"Yeah, that's the name. How did you know?" Barbara asked. "Dick, what's going on?"

"He found another way to get to the four of you," Dick said to Bruce without answering Barbara's question.

"What time is the electrician supposed to be there?" Bruce asked.

"They're supposed to arrive at 10:00 a.m. They said they would need several days to finish the job. It was going to require tearing up the house. They promised to do the repairs as well. Father's going to stay with me during that time."

"Whatever you do, don't alarm your father."

"Bruce, what is going on?"

"We still have time," Dick replied. "We need to find what was done here and deactivate whatever device they used. We don't want to the same thing happening again to someone else."

"Alfred, check the breakers. If you have to turn everything off, do it. Then do a systematic search. You'll find what you need . . ."

"I'm on it, Sir."

"Barbara, thanks for coming, but Dick and I can handle it from here."

"Now wait just a minute. I can help."

"You haven't been in the field for years," Bruce pointed out. "Your father is going to need you."

"All right," Barbara reluctantly agreed. "But you better fill me in when this is over."

"Deal," Dick replied.

Bruce gave his son a sideways glance.

"She does have a right to know," Dick said. "She is the commissioner."

Bruce gave a chuckle.

After Barbara Gordon left, Bruce reviewed the names one more time. 'John Koeber the night watchman, Fred Tinney the sports writer turned sports caster, both gone. I was almost gone too, if it hadn't been for Dick. And Jim Gordon, he's the last target.'

Bruce thought about his actions on that day, the day that he 'died.' He had the odd feeling that something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. It was like an itch he couldn't scratch. That's why he wrote the letter to Dick. He had a feeling that he was going to need Dick's help. He just didn't know how and in what capacity. He would be forever grateful, not only for his training the he continued to do, but for his son, Dick Grayson-Wayne for finding him in time. If he had not noticed the clocks or even found the letter, he would have been buried alive. But Dick had noticed and he is alive. And that is why he had another chance, another chance to do it right. And they both had an opportunity to prevent one more death, the death of Jim Gordon.

Continues with Part 8