Chapter Six

The first thing Barbara was aware of when she awoke was that a small body was curled up next to her. The second was that there was an extremely close face breathing heavily down upon her. Without thinking her hand flew into the air connecting with a person's nose.

"Oh god, girl! I was only trying to wake you up! You don't need to break my nose for that, do you?" Karen said rather loudly.

"Shh," Barbara hissed. She looked down at Jamie in her arms. "Unless you would like to wake my guest. Besides I didn't break your nose. Trust me, you would know if your nose was broken."

Karen mumbled a few choice words.

"Karen!" She hissed again. "What do you want?"

Karen dabbed her nose a few more times to ensure there was no blood. "Well, you wanted me to tell you when Nightwing's surgery was over. It's over and here I am, receiving a blow to the face for waking you up!"

Barbara's mind raced a few hundred miles faster. Dick's surgery was over. He was going to be okay. She was sleeping with his son next to her.

"Thank you Karen. Would it be alright for him to receive visitors?" Barbara asked, propping herself up on her elbow.

"Sure, but he may be asleep, so don't expect much conversation out of him," Karen muttered on her way out of the room.

"Thanks. Oh, and Karen? I would get that nose looked at if I were you," Barbara added.

Karen gave a half smirk, half smile and exited the room.

Barbara gave a small smirk and watched as the door clicked shut behind her friend. She waited a few moments before gently shaking Jamie's shoulder.

"Jamie, let's wake up. C'mon Jamie, up and at'em."

The boy slumbered on.

Barbara held back a smile. This boy was his father's son; both of them slept like the dead. Barbara's hidden smile faltered. Wrong analogy to use.

Barbara got an idea. She used to do this when she and Dick were young kids and he needed to wake up from his nap. Slowly she inched his shirt up. He didn't move. She tucked her bright red hair behind her ear and leaned down. Her eyes flashed towards his face for a moment before she acted. She quickly presses her mouth against his bare stomach and blew out air.

Jamie awoke with a giggle. He was back home, and the whole thing had been a nightmare. He didn't go back in time and he didn't see Daddy get shot, and he was only imagining Momma-

His eyes looked around the room. No, not a dream. Real life.

Barbara saw the sad look in Jamie's eyes. She gathered him into her arms.

"It's alright Jamie. Daddy's going to be okay. He's out of surgery now. Would you like to see Daddy?"

Jamie smiled widely. He didn't know that Barbara needed to see Dick as badly as he did.

Barbara crawled out of bed and held a hand out for Jamie. He waited a moment before leaping off the bed and grabbing it. He'd dreamed of this, and this was a dream come true, even if it wasn't the way he'd dreamed it be.

Together they walked into the infirmary. They were silent as they approached Nightwing's sleeping form. Jamie reached for his father before pulling back.

"You can touch him Jamie. He's asleep."

Jamie still didn't move.

"Jamie, you won't hurt him. He's under some strong medication. Touching him won't cause worlds to collapse," she urged.

Jamie looked at the red-head. She smiled encouragingly. Jamie reached out and touched the sleeping ebony on the arm. After he got no response from the touch he flung his arms around the hero as best he could. He leaned his face towards the masked one.

"Thank you D-… Sir. I'm sorry you got shot."

Tears formed in his eyes and he pulled back from his embrace. There still was no response from the slumbering hero. He leapt from the bed and ran from the room. Barbara didn't follow. She'd lost herself in thought.

Jamie leaned against the wall. He hit his little head against it as his mother did. He winced and rubbed the back of his head glaring at the offending wall.

"I'm sorry Daddy. This is all my fault. If I hadn't pulled that plug, we wouldn't of had to come here. And you wouldn't have gotten shot protecting Momma," he murmured. "Sorry Daddy."

He disappeared into the mountain.

Barbara stared down at her partner. The last time she had to look down at him was the last few days of sophomore year. That summer she spent with her second cousins on their ranch in Montana. Puberty had come for him and he shot up like a reed. And he looked good. Barbara wouldn't admit it, but he was handsome. He'd been cute when he was young, but he'd grown up.

And now he was lying on a hospital bed unconscious.

"You really screwed up this time Pixie Boots," she said sitting down next to him. She grabbed his hand and examined his fingers.

One hand gripped his thumb, the other his four other digits. His gloves were still on and slowly Barbara peeled it away from his skin. Once the dark glove was removed it was tossed aside. She ran her thumb across his. It was calloused yet smooth.

"I know you think you need to save me all the time Wing-nut, but you don't need to. You can't. I'm a big girl, not some damsel in distress that constantly needs to be rescued. You'll end up killing yourself, I mean look at where you are now."

She opened his palm and flattened her hand against it.

"Pixie Boots you don't realize how mad I am at you right now. I could've dodged that bullet on my own, you didn't need to take it." Her tone was harsh, but softened.

Barbara brought his hand to her face and placed it on her cheek.

"But I must thank you, so, thank you."

Nightwing had awoken halfway through her rant. He continued to breathe deeply as if he was still sleeping. Barbara needed to vent and she wouldn't do that if she knew he was awake. He fought blushing when she held his hand and fought for steady breathing when she placed his hand on her cheek. He had almost made it through, but Barbara said thank you.

Barbara Gordon said thank you.

God, she must really feel horrible. He couldn't stand it anymore, he gave a fake yawn and stretched as well as he could with his arm in a sling and one rested upon Barbara's cheek. She saw his movement and quickly his hand was down from her face.

"Look at sleeping beauty," she said with a smirk.

"What no kiss?" He answered.

"Not tonight, Wing-nut."

Nightwing gave his best pouty face and pulled his hand back. Barbara repressed the urge to take it back and keep it in her hands.

"So."

The word hung in the air. Both parties were unsure where to take the conversation from there. Both had secrets they couldn't tell another, and feared that the moment they opened their mouths, they would spill out.

Nightwing cleared his throat.

"So, has anything exciting happen while I was out?"

"Not really. The baddie got away, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing him again."

Nightwing nodded.

He's looking at me oddly, Barbara thought.

In actuality, Nightwing was looking at her the same, as a partner and an equal. Dick Grayson was the one looking differently. Dick looked on with a hunger and a passion and a longing that couldn't be contained by the lenses of his mask, producing an odd look.

"Barbara where are your glasses?"

Barbara blushed. She'd forgotten about them.

There were conflicting emotions inside of the bedridden hero. The Nightwing bit was disappointed at his oldest friend for allowing her identity slip so easily. Dick thought that it would be easier to ask what he wanted – needed – to ask her. And he found that blush adorable.

"I forgot. I was a bit, preoccupied, worrying about you."

Nightwing choked.

Barbara reached over and patted his back gently, careful to avoid his freshly stitched wound. Her face was quite close to his.

After his coughing ended, Nightwing found himself looking deep into Barbara's blue-green eyes. She stared back. He was overwhelmed with sudden desire.

Using his good hand, he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her to him. He pressed his lips to hers, none to gently, and kissed her. He'd wanted to do that for the longest time.

Barbara was shocked. This wasn't supposed to happen. And the worst part, she was enjoying it.

Her eyes closed and she could feel as her body began to respond. She leaned forward and for a moment she kissed him back.

No. Nonononono. No. I can't do this. He's under the drugs and will regret this, and someday have his own family, Barbara screamed inside.

She placed her hands on his chest, his very muscular chest, and pushed herself away.

"I can't."

Dick was confused. There was a moment, but only a moment, where it seemed as if Barbara was not only kissing back, but leaning in. Then she pushed herself away.

She covered her mouth horrified. Her eyes widened at what she'd done. She was sure her face was as red as her hair. She was speechless for a moment.

"I'm sorry," she choked out. "I can't."

She got up and fled from the room.

It felt like someone punched her in the gut. She almost vomited, but somehow held it back. At the next beat of her heart, she felt as if someone punched her again. Already doubled over, she dropped to her knees and emptied her stomach on the floor. Her companion dropped to his knees and placed a hand on her back and at her elbow.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She gazed into her companion's eyes. Her image flickered in and out of existence once.

His hands pulled away.

"She made the wrong choice Tim," Ellie said, flickering once more. "She made the wrong choice."

A/N: Oh, no! I wanted to have Ellie have some sort of physical reaction to what her parents choices were. Because I don't think having your existence being threatened would be painless.

As always, review. :D