The pain was what pulled her emerald eyes open. It wasn't the sound of heavy boots thudding past her head. It wasn't the sound of sirens in the distance, signaling her father's squad was racing through the city. It wasn't Robin's voice, laced with desperation as he pleaded for help. It was the pain.

Hands pressed down over her abdomen, holding tight, trying in vain to stop the ongoing flow of coppery blood. Her ears rang; everything sounded so loud. The cars, the chopping water underneath them, her own breathing. Her vision swam, focusing and unfocusing as the white hot burning seared through her stomach.

Her eyes trailed up to her friends face, watching as he slowly lost his composer. One gloved hand was pressed firmly to the comlink on his ear, the other over her wound. His lips were moving, but she heard little of what was being said. He looked angry, determined, fearful. It was an odd mixture of emotions. It didn't suit the 13 year old at all.

"-ease! We need transporta-… -the docks! Call batm-..!... –KF get canary! The bleeding won-"The words she picked up were edging into hysteria; the boy wonder was loosing his calm. Both hands were on the bullet hole now, and Robin was speaking to her. She tried to listen, but her hearing had chosen to be selective, much like her vision.

"-ay with me Babs! You can't- this!.. gonna get help, I promise!."

That word. Loud and clear, buzzed past her ears. She hated that word. Promise. It held no truth in her mind. She trusted Robin, the boy above her that had lost the hardened expression of a hero, and was now Richard Grayson. Her classmate. Her best friend. Her little brother.

She trusted him, not that word.

Her heartbeat thudded in her skull. It was loud, but not in the least bit fast. She listened with a sort of sick wonder as it skipped beats, gradually losing momentum. Her eyelids dropped, the lenses of her cowl following suit. Robin lifted his hand to her cheek, tapping it frantically. She could smell her own blood.

"-abs! Don-… -ake! ..-ease! – 'mon!"

Tears slid out from under the boy's domino mask, locks of raven hair falling over the lenses. He reached up, wiping his pale cheeks with his arm, keeping his bloodied glove away from his face. She wanted to talk to him. Tell him how she was sorry for doing this to him. That she was so happy to be on patrol with him again. That she would be okay. That she would stay awake for him. That he didn't need to worry. That it didn't hurt.

Her voice was lost, replaced by a gurgled cough. Blood sprayed over her lips, spattering over one of Robin's porcelain cheeks.

She wanted to apologize.

Robin paid no mind to it, didn't bother to wipe any of the blood off as a sob ripped through his throat. He had put two and two together. She was internally bleeding. If help didn't come soon…No. Robin had broken his promises to her in the past, but there was no way he was breaking anymore. Help would come, and she would be okay. He just had to keep her awake.

Barbara fought of a wave of dizzying pain; wound throbbing heavily as more and more crimson liquid pored from it. It hurt. It hurt more than ivy's vines, Joker's crowbar, the freeze ray… it was all she could focus on. That never ending, never lessening pain. Robin grabbed one of her hands and squeezed it tightly. She could almost picture what his eyes looked like behind that mask. Those bright blue eyes… always filled with happiness…

This was all her fault. She shouldn't have guilted Robin into patrolling with her. He had a team that he loved… missions all around the world… why should she hold him back in this city?

She needed to let go.

The girl focused hard, ignoring the pain as best as she could to try and get some of her motion back. It took a lot, but slowly, surely, her fingers curled themselves tightly around the boy wonders, squeezing back with all that she could muster.

Then, she let her hand go slack, and allowed the pain to flood her.

With one last, lazily little smile to the panicking boy above her; she slipped her eyes shut, cowl mimicking the action.

And that was it.

xXxX

When you close your eyes, what do you see? Normally… it's just black.

Barbara saw starch white.

She marveled in this, the pretty, flowy color that seemed to coat her body. She felt nothing, no pain, no hands, nothing.

Her ears didn't ring.

Her throat didn't feel like it was coated in the thick coppery blood that she had coughed up.

She couldn't hear her heart beat.

It was…strange.

And then, there were eyes. Looking down at her carefully, filled with an emotion that she couldn't pinpoint. They were beautifully colored, hazel nut brown. But what stood out most was the gold. Vibrant gold, almost shining, tinged through the irises in random little patterns.

"You made a mistake." The voice floated through her ears, the clarity beyond any she had heard before. The words were soft spoken, tone feminine, but held a sort of underlining accusation that made her heart pang.

"I shouldn't have done this. It was quite obvious that you were ready to die."

The eyes disappeared, and Barbara was once again staring at white. She couldn't move.

"You aren't dead, by the way. But if you want to be…" there was a quiet sigh. "I mean, I can't force you to live or anything… no matter how much I think you should."

The red head opened her mouth. Or at least…she though she did. She really didn't have any feeling.

"Oh! Sorry sorry…" a short laugh followed, one that reminded the girl of bells. "I always forget this part." A tap rang out, somewhere to the left, and the white nothing literally oozed away.

Her fingers twitched.

"Here, let me just…there! Better. Better?" she felt arms wrap under her and pull her up until she was sitting, gazing around a small room. She couldn't move anything under her core.

"Okay. So! Moving on!" a girl, around her age, skipped over until they faced each other. She gave a tiny bow, cheeky grin spread across her face.

"Barbara Gordon of Gotham city, a pleasure to meet you!"

The girl was pretty. Her skin was pale, and perfectly smooth. Her hair was a butterscotch color that fell just above her shoulders in loose curls. Her outfit was plain, but it was obvious that she had something to do with the hero business, judging by the gold cape trailing down her back. She looked like a hero…almost like…

Something tugged in Barbara's mind, some sort of recognition, but she pushed it back.

The girl smiled again, her bandage wrapped hands trailing up to her neck and clasping around a shiny chain.

"So.." she bounced on her heels, almost giddy "Do you want to live?"

Want to live? It was a good question, but did she even have to think about it?

What if she said no? What would happen? Well…

No. why was she thinking about it? It wasn't an option.

The green eyed girl finally heard her own voice.

"Yes."

The gold..or hazel eyed girl squealed, irises glowing. The laces of twisting color shone so brightly that Barbara held up a shielding hand, backing away quickly.

Then, she was plunged into black.

xXxX

Thanks! This chapter took me a while to get started on. For some reason, I always have to be in a certain mood to write for this story. Maybe because it is a tad bit darker than what I'm used to writing.

This chapter may be confusing, but fear not! Next week there shall be a chapter that pieces things together a little more.

Reviews:

Keepmovingforward2- thank you! I do hope to continue this one :D hopefully I can keep the motivation.

Guest- aww :D glad I could come up with an idea that you like! I do the same thing all the time haha. But you know what they say, if its not there, write it yourself! ..ok. I don't know if anyone necessarily says that..but.. thanks for the review!

Masqueraded Angel- Thanks! Can't wait to write more :)

Saint Ginger- A chapter is here! Sorry for the wait, I know this took forever. Hopefully the next one won't pose the same problem. Thanks!

FudoTwin17- …sorry. Poor Babs. I felt really bad writing this. Ugg. I'm horrible. But Babs is tough. I guess we'll see what happens. :) thanks for the review!

Lakeshine- … is today ok? :)

Until next time

-Arrow.