A/N: I know it took a while for this to get done… I hit a bump in the road with the words "WRITER'S BLOCK" written all over it, and had some real-life issues to take care of. This actually turned out a little different than what I planned… But we finally got to the reference to the picture that prompted this entire story.
Also: O.o All the alerts and such messages! I love you guys. You make me feel good about myself!
Reviewer Responses:
Dextra2: Oooh, thanks for your continued support!
Tyra Kinami: I'm really glad you find my feels-tastic story wonderful (in it's sad way)! Here, have some more! Hahahaha
Chupo: Well… Your comment prompted me to rethink something. Thanks! It won't be in this chapter, but look forward to it in the story. ;)
Cunningham0208487: Hahaha, you weren't that far behind in finding it! I've just had a devil on my shoulder lighting a fire under my butt for this story… And that devil's name is BlueMoss… I continued it! Is it early enough to get that cookie!
A starter note that will make sense as the story is read: Damian sees Dick as he expects him to appear. On patrol, or preparing to leave the 'Cave, he expects Dick to be in full Caped Crusader garb. If in the Manor, he expects civvies, etc. And no, he doesn't REALLY feel physical contact from him; his mind is just filling in the blanks.
"Italics in quotes would be Dick talking."
Chapter 3b:
Damian was smiling.
Dick could tell, even though it wouldn't look like a smile if it was on someone else. But being up on the roof of a building, taking in the cool air and scattered beams of moonlight mixed with the harsh traffic lights below... It was enough to make even the most stoic Bat show some measure of joy.
"So, you're following me around, but I'm on my own."
"Yep, that's right."
"That makes no sense, Grayson."
"I told you, it's a test. I'm gonna evaluate you while you do the patrol." Damian studied the second Bat for a moment, then gave a nod.
On an unseen signal, the two began the normal patrol routes. Dick just hoped there was no reason for the Commissioner to flip the switch on the Bat-Signal.
Jason sunk a little further into the shadows of the alley-way, frowning underneath his helmet. The baby bird had been acting strangely during a confrontation with a couple run-of-the-mill thugs just a few moments before. He had been sniping off insults at their mutual predecessor, but with the comments... It seemed like the Golden Boy had been there, instead of just keeping contact through a comm. The vigilante had thought Dick was still out of town, since he hadn't been seen in Gotham lately.
An unseen smirk crossed his face; he had an easy way to find out what was going on. All it took was finding his replacement, and a little violence to get the kid's blood pumping.
It didn't take Jason long to find Red Robin, although finding him stationed on top of a certain clinic was a bit unexpected. In fact, the third to wear the Robin uniform seemed to be guarding the building, cowled head scanning the area frequently. Carefully, the Red Hood loosened his knife in its sheath before jumping to the over passing tracks. He knew the kid would notice him - was counting on it, truth be told. Sure enough, Tim soon joined him on the rails, and the outlaw would bet money that there was an imitation BatGlare behind the white lenses.
"What are you doing here, Jason?"
"Can't I run around Gotham and decide to chat when I see a familiar cowl, Timmy? There a reason you're staking out the Clinic?" Jason gestured towards the building lazily.
"It's none of your business."
"Oh, so it's a big Bat secret, huh? Can't tell the black sheep?"
"I don't want to fight, Jason..."
"Ooh, and you wanna help me or somethin'? Geez... Good thing Mr. Golden Child isn't here. I'd probably puke."
Jason could practically see veins pop under the concealing cowl. "Shut up! You've no idea what we have all been through lately!" That's what he was looking for... Another push, and he'd be throwing caution to the wind.
"Did I hit a nerve? What's bothering the poor little replacement? Oh... but you got replaced too, didn't you?" That ought to do it.
Sure enough, Tim was launching an attack: his bo was flying towards the left side of Jason's head, and he barely had enough time to drop into a crouch to avoid it. A firm foot to Tim's side sent him back a short distance, and as he began to swing another blow, the older vigilante darted closer to quickly disarm him. Red Robin didn't the loss of his weapon bother him, choosing instead to pull a knee up towards Jason's gut. A muffled grunt rewarded his efforts, and the Red Hood took a step back, already recovering his breath - he had been prepared for the retaliation. The two glared at each other through their respective masks and they were about to jump back into their fight, a familiar voice called out disapprovingly.
"Excuse me, but I believe you owe Dr. Thompkins an apology, Master Timothy. Master Jason. A staff just happened to break one of the clinic's windows."
Everyone in the Bat Family knows when Alfred implies that you need to stop, you stop…
A short time later found Jason and Tim finishing up with putting boards over the broken window to hold it over until the glass could be replaced the next day. Alfred and Leslie watched them, tea cups in hand. When the last nail was in place, Jason turned to face the butler and doctor, hands stuffed unceremoniously in his pockets and feeling a bit exposed without his helmet.
"So, what's going on here that requires Timmy to keep watch, but not talk about it?"
Grudgingly, the teenager next to him muttered, "Bruce thinks that Talia might send some people here." Now that was interesting.
"Talia? As in, mother of the little demon, Talia al-Ghul? What would she want with a clinic?"
A moment of silence passed, during which Tim decided that the best course of action would be to return to his post on the roof. Actually, with Talia potentially plotting something, it probably was a grand idea. Jason looked at the other two in the room, hands coming to rest on his hips casually as he waited.
"There was an... incident, with Master Richard," Alfred supplied.
"Oh? Did the Dickie-bird get himself killed or something?" Loathe as Jason was to admit it, the idea of the first Robin dying left a horrible taste in his mouth. Frankly, it was terrifying. But... the fact that he was here instead of the Cave disproved that theory.
"No. He's just not waking up from a nasty bump on the head."
A coma. Well, that could explain why Talia was sticking her nose in. She WAS the one who threw a catatonic, recently-returned-from-dead boy in a Lazarus Pit to fix him up. Without another word to Alfred and Leslie, Jason walked towards where he was sure he'd find his estranged older brother.
When Jason found the bed with an unnaturally still Dick Grayson, he hesitated before walking into the room, barely registering the sound of footsteps coming to a halt just outside the door. One hand reached up to carefully peel his red domino mask away, as though the Star-lite lenses might have changed things - but no, Dick was still laying there.
"Damn, Dickie-bird. I never thought I'd see you actually quiet without a gag..." Jason moved a little closer, looking carefully at the newer Batman. He felt a surprising amount of anger rush through him, ineffective as it was, but it made him decide on a new goal. His free hand snagged the medical information, looking at the details that laid the acrobat low and memorizing anything that seemed important. He was going to find who did this, starting when he leaves the clinic.
"Don't you worry, Dick. Whoever did this is gonna pay." He slipped the file back in its place, hesitating again. Something else needed to be said before he could leave. "It's just wrong to let you stay like this. You're supposed to be flying, and you sure as hell can't do that on life support. It'd be kinder to just pull the plug on you if you can't wake up. And if the others can't, I will. I'm already a murderer, after all."
Outside the door, Alfred felt a small amount of pride for the prodigal son of the Bat Family.
"Grayson, when are you going to tell me how I did?" Damian demanded the night after his "patrol test."
Dick laughed a bit at his partner, understanding his dwindling patience. "I'd say that you passed, Little D! You really showed that all the work you've put into becoming Robin has paid off."
"-Tt- Like there was any doubt." The Boy Wonder turned his nose up, hiding the swell of pride he felt at his insufferable older brother's praise as he continued pulling on his gear for the night.
Heavier steps announced the approach of the original Batman, attracting the attention of both Dick and Damian when he looked into the changing area.
"Damian, you're patrolling with me tonight. Are you ready to go?" Bruce asked the young boy.
Damian stood up and put his mask in place with a nod. "Yes, Father," he stated, accepting the hand that was extended to him after a moment's hesitation. He refused to look back at Dick, knowing that the acrobat probably had the most ridiculous grin on his face. That didn't, however, stop the hand that immediately went to ruffle his hair.
"Now, promise me you're going to be a good boy as well when I'm not around, okay?" Dick asked, smiling to keep from showing his reluctance to let the kid out of his sight. Well, the boy had just proven that he would behave according to the oaths that all of the predecessors of the Robin uniform had taken. And Bruce was showing his acceptance of his son now... Damian wasn't alone now, so Dick was not really needed.
"-Tt- Grayson! Unhand me, you, " Damian swiped at the offending hand, turning to level a glare but continued instead with confusion, "... idiot.."
Bruce turned to look at his son, who was staring behind them. Damian looked confused, like he was searching for something that wasn't there anymore. "Damian...?"
"Where'd he go?"
"Dick? He's at the clinic. You didn't know that?"
Damian knew Red Robin had been protecting the clinic, but he didn't know why. Naturally, he assumed that Grayson had gone to relieve Drake. "Hmph. Left rather suddenly, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did..." Batman said as he strode to the Batmobile. Robin followed and the two rode to Gotham in silence.
A/N: Whew. That took long enough. I've been persuaded (conned) into adding a chapter I never planned for, so this will be a LITTLE longer than I previously expected. As an added bonus, I'll be writing three – yes, that's right, THREE - alternate endings. Two are because I can't decide which I like better, and one that was requested. Not gonna tell what they are, though~~
Actual word count of chapter: 1597