I remained silent as I steered the Batmobile past empty buildings and loitering thugs. My fingers drummed on the steering wheel incessantly. A lot of things were on my mind; Scarecrow's plan, Gordon's betrayal, Bruce's descent into madness, and the return of Jason Todd, among other things.

"I don't blame you," Oracle spoke over the communicator.

"Hm?" I replied, pulling myself out of my thoughts.

"For what happened with Batman," she explained. "I would've done the same thing in your position."

"Doesn't make me feel any less shitty about it," I chuckled humorlessly.

"Bruce was always so stubborn," Babs muttered dejectedly, "I just wish he'd let us help. We're fighting with him, not for him. We're like family, and we have to stick together."

I could only hum in agreement. Batman didn't have to face this night alone. He had allies, people who would risk their lives to help him. But he always chose to push those people aside when he needed them most.

"Maybe Jason's...um...disappearance has something to do with it," I suggested lamely.

Barbara remained silent at the mention of my predecessor. Knowing that I was treading on thin ice, I shut up, pulling into the deep parking garage of the precinct.

"We'll find your Dad, Babs," I promised her, parking in front of the entrance to the GCPD headquarters. Jumping out of the cockpit, I opened the Batmobile's passenger compartment. I walked around to her, lifting her out of the seat and into my arms.

"Thanks," she said softly, wrapping her arms around my neck for support.

I nodded. "Let's see if they have some sort of infirmary in here."

Some of the officers standing guard came up to us, happy to see that the Commissioner's daughter was safe.

"Don't worry," one of them patted my shoulder with a reassuring smile. "I'll show you to the clinic we set up."

We nodded in thanks. He led us through the door and past a relieved Sergeant Hanrahan into the small room. Noticing a spare wheelchair in the corner, I carefully stepped past some injured men and set Barbara down.

"Finally," she sighed in relief. "Could you get that first aid kit from over there?"

I complied, picking it up from beside a snoozing officer. Kneeling in front of Oracle, I pulled out an alcohol wipe and began cleaning the cuts on her face.

"What did that freak do to you, Babs?" I mumbled, caressing her bruised cheek with my thumb.

"Most of this wasn't from Scarecrow," she explained, placing the first aid kit on her lap and rummaging through it. "When the Arkham Knight took me from the clock tower, he put me in an armored van. I attacked the driver and we crashed in an alley. I was thrown from the car."

"I'm not sure whether to congratulate or scold you for that," I chuckled, shaking my head. "You've still got it, even after all this time."

She smirked as I stuck a band-aid to the bridge of her nose. "They just underestimated me, that's all. I knew I couldn't escape, so I left a lead for Batman."

"So that's what led him to Simon Stagg and the Cloudburst," I reasoned, "I'm glad I was able to destroy that thing." I stuck a second bad-aid to Barbara's jaw before moving to the wounds on her legs.

"When I saw Gotham drowning in that horrible gas," Babs sniffed, stopping me and cupping my face with her hand. "I thought we were done for. I had know idea where any of you were. I thought Scarecrow had won." I reached up and wiped away a tear that fell from behind her glasses. "You wouldn't believe how happy I was when everything cleared up again."

"Yeah," I whispered back, "We have Poison Ivy to thank for that. She used her plants to clean the air. She sacrificed herself for us all."

Barbara blinked in surprise. "I...never realized it was her. Wow," she chuckled weakly, "That's the last thing I'd expect someone like her to do."

"Sometimes you have to dig deep to find someone's good side," I smiled, my heart swelling with sudden affection. "I'm so glad I was able to find you, Barbara." I tilted my head up and kissed her gently, not caring if anyone saw.

A loud snore broke through our little bubble. We both looked over at a heavily bandaged officer who was sleeping with his mouth wide open. Several of the other men were sleepily moaning for someone to shut him up.

I clamped my mouth shut, struggling not to laugh as Barbara hid her giggles behind her hand. She took hold of my injured arm, pulling it towards her. She held up a suturing needle and thread in her other hand.

"It's now or never, Robin," she said with a sly smile.

I gulped. "Do you remember how?"

Oracle deadpanned. "I can't just go forgetting these things," she replied, undoing the bandage around my bicep. "Just keep your eyes on me, OK?"

"Yes, doctor."