"You two just let him get away?" Gordon growled, pacing in front of us. "I swear, I turn my back for two seconds..."

Nightwing and I stood before the Commissioner silently, like two misbehaving students being chewed out by the principal.

"Sir, I don't think the Knight is any threat to us now," I explained, hoping to calm his temper. "Not in the state he's in."

Gordon sputtered angrily, looking between the two of us incredulously. "His state? I outta-argh, forget it!" He grumbled, turning away from us and towards an elevator on the lower level. "Scarecrow's on the roof. If we go now, we can nab him before he calls for backup."

"Right," I nodded. I turned and looked at Nightwing worriedly. It was obvious by his frown and unfocused eyes that his mind wasn't in the right place at the moment. I couldn't blame him. He and Jason must have been close, and seeing him again probably reopened some deep wounds.

"Nightwing," I spoke gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Could you take a look at those computers and see what you can find?" I motioned to the mess of screens and satellites scattered around the bunker. "The more we know about Scarecrow's people, the better."

Dick blinked and nodded slowly. "Ah...sure thing, Robin," he replied, rubbing his face. "I won't be long, so don't start the party without me," he chuckled weakly, turning to one of the consoles. He checked to see if Gordon was out of earshot before continuing. "Please be careful up there, Tim. Don't take Scarecrow lightly."

"I won't," I reassured him, smiling a smile that probably didn't reach my eyes. "We'll be fine. Robins are good luck, remember?"

"Yeah," Nightwing replied mirthlessly, flashing a false grin. "Don't we know it."

With that, Dick strode towards a console, remote hacker in hand. I made my way over to Gordon. Hopefully, by keeping him occupied, I'd give him time to cope with this difficult situation.

Gordon was silent as he called the freight elevator. I came up next to him, glancing at him worriedly. I realized then that maybe he knew what happened to Barbara. "Commissioner," I began carefully, "Has your daughter-"

"Don't," he cut me off, keeping his eyes forward. "Let's just get this over with." My heart sank. That didn't sound reassuring.

"I'm sorry," I apologized pathetically. "I should've…" The words died in my mouth as the elevator doors slid open, revealing four armed men and an electrified brute. Before I could act, one of them socked the Commissioner in the jaw, knocking him down.

"Attack him!" the brute shouted, hands sparking dangerously. I jumped back, brandishing my staff as the five of them spread out around me. It looked like I'd have to deal with them quickly. Wasting no time, I charged at the nearest soldier, knocking him out with a solid kick. Another one sprang at me, throwing a punch that I easily countered before striking him with jabs of my own. He crumpled to the ground as I bashed him on the head with my staff.

I spun to face my next opponent only for an electrical shock to fry my body. I cried out and stumbled back, vision blurry. In my haste, the brute had snuck up on and electrocuted me. He chuckled darkly, raising his fists in preparation to beat me down.

"Hey, assholes!" A new voice called, causing the soldiers to start and look around. Nightwing flew in from above, landing on an enemy with a satisfying crunch. Pulling out his electric sticks, he swung at the surprised goons. "Get out of here, Robin! I'll take care of this."

"Right," I nodded, quickly using my staff as leverage to flip over the brute and rush to the elevator. He and his companions made to chase me, but were stopped in their tracks by Nightwing.

"Nuh-uh-uh, boys," he chided them, a smirk in his voice. "You all get to play with me now."

Gordon had already dragged himself into the carriage by the time I ran in. He pressed the button to go to the roof and the gate slid shut behind us. I turned just in time to catch Dick dancing around his enemies' attacks, lashing back at any opportunity. They would be no match for the lifetime of acrobatic and combat skills he held.

"Are you alright, sir?" I asked, looking to the Commissioner.

He nodded, rubbing his now bruised jaw. "Believe me, son, I've had worse."

I let out a sigh of relief, but I knew we couldn't relax yet. There was still a dangerous psychopathic maniac to apprehend.

"This...Jason," Gordon began as the elevator rose higher. "Exactly who was he to you?"

I bit my lip, coming up with an appropriate way to explain without giving away too many details. "I'm not sure if you've realized this, Commissioner," I said, pressured by his scrutinizing gaze. "But I'm not the only one who's ever been given the mantle of Robin. Jason was one of them, before me. I honestly don't know much about him, only that he grew up in the slums. I guess Batman saw potential in him, and trained him to be his partner."

Gordon raised an eyebrow. "And Batman just replaced him once the Joker got his hands on him?"

"No, I'm sure it wasn't…" I trailed off, coming to a horrible realization. It had only been a few months after Jason disappeared that I had deduced Batman's true identity. All the while I'd been working so hard to get him to train me, he'd been worried sick about Jason. I had inadvertently twisted his yearning for Jason into a need for a new Robin to fill the void.

"It was me…" I whispered, looking down at my now bloody and cut-up uniform. Gordon appeared to have decided to drop the conversation as the elevator came to a halt at the unfinished roof. I pushed those disparaging thoughts out of my head. I couldn't let my guard down, even if we had Scarecrow in a corner.

We stepped out of the carriage and through the steel beams criss-crossing above us. Standing out on the edge, taking in the view of the rainy Gotham City, was the abominable man himself. Gordon pulled out his gun, training it on the mad criminal.

"The jig's up, Scarecrow," I called, twirling my staff. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"So you did it," the villain responded, glancing over his shoulder. "I must admit, I had my doubts that you could make this happen. Overlooking the most obvious deviation in my plan, of course."

I tried not to shudder at the sound of his gravelly voice. "Enough talk. On your knees. I won't ask you again."

"And I wasn't talking to you," said Scarecrow, turning to face us. "It is time."

I tensed. Time for what?

I received my answer as the Commissioner turned and aimed his weapon at me. I instinctively squeezed my staff, expanding the bullet shield hidden within.

"Gordon?" I murmured in shock. This couldn't be happening. What on Earth did Scarecrow do to gain his cooperation?

"I'm sorry, son," said Gordon morosely. "It was the only way. Now," he continued, looking to Scarecrow. "Bring me my daughter."

Scarecrow simply nodded and beckoned with his hand. A soldier appeared from behind the construction, pushing a battered young woman in a wheel chair.

"Dad! Tim!" she called out in fright.

My heart nearly leapt from my chest as I gasped in recognition.

"Barbara!"