Chapter Eight

Dick was determined for Barbara to know exactly how he felt. He didn't care what it would take. The fact that she was kissing him back for however short period of time it was proved, to him, that there was something more that she was keeping from him. He was going to find out about it. No matter how much pain he occurred in the process.

And it was painful. He'd gotten out of the IV's of his arm, thereby disconnecting any medication he'd been receiving for the pain. And he didn't realize how much pain he was in until he'd gotten into Barbara's apartment. He sat on her sofa ready to pass out, but was too determined to talk to allow that.

When she'd finally walked in he felt like giving her a large hug. But she, and his injuries, wouldn't allow for that.

She stared at him for what seemed like hours. She finally decided to speak.

"What are you doing here Grayson?" Her accusing tone and narrowed eyes made him feel smaller than her.

"I wanted to talk with you," he said, not even attempting to hide his hurt.

There was a flicker of emotion on her face that betrayed her. She was hurt herself. Dick didn't even think about that. He didn't think about her. He wasn't thinking about how his actions were affecting his oldest friend, his partner.

"So talk." She sat on a chair across from him on the sofa.

"I wanted to talk about what happened in the infirmary," he said bluntly.

Barbara expected this. She'd seen his face before she ran away. He wanted results, a resolve. She had denied him that, and now he was here to achieve closure.

"Nothing to talk about," she answered just as bluntly. "You were under the influence of the medication at the time. I'll make sure to have them adjust the dosage that you receive."

She stood like that was the end of the conversation. She made a move towards her kitchen but Dick grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the sofa next to him.

"No, you don't. Don't you dare begin that. I'm not going to just drop it like that. You don't get to brush it off as a side effect of the meds. Because it wasn't!" By the end of his protest he was yelling.

Barbara's hands laid flat on her lap. She was a little afraid of this. He was deluding himself into believing that the kiss was more than what it really was. She couldn't let him do it.

"Stop. Just. Stop. You did not do that of your own right mind. Stop deceiving yourself. You don't need to come up with an excuse to rectify your actions. I understand. But don't stoop to this level. You're behaving as a boyfriend who stays with his pregnant girlfriend, even when he wants to leave. Don't do it. You'll regret it."

She finished speaking. Dick looked at her incredulously. Was that all it was to her? Was that all he was to her? He narrowed his eyes. She wouldn't connect with his. She was keeping something from him. He had a
sneaking suspicion that he knew what it was, and there was only one way for him to find out.

He reached over and pulled her face so she was looking at him. There was mixed emotions in her eyes. There was fear that was uncharacteristic of Barbara, but mixed in was a little hope. But mostly fear.

He pulled her face even closer to his and looked from her eyes to her lips back to her eyes before pressing his mouth against hers. Her lips were soft and tasted of tears. She'd been crying. He never wanted her go through that. He never intended it.

Barbara was half expecting Dick to kiss her. Or maybe it was she was half hoping that he would kiss her. But she couldn't deny that her heart sped a little faster when his hand touched her cheek, of his own accord.

As he kissed her, Barbara could feel as the walls surrounding her heart crumble. He was being so gentle. Her eyes closed and before she realized just what exactly she was doing she was leaning into him. Her lips parted and she reveled in how he tasted.

Dick received his answer. Smiling while kissing, he gripped her shoulders and pushed her away from him. He saw as her eyes popped open and she gave a small frown. He smiled even wider.

"Does that prove anything to you?" He asked.

Barbara pursed her lips. She gave a thoughtful expression. "Nah, I don't think so. I think you're still under the influence of the drugs."

He grabbed her and hauled her up pressing her against the nearest wall, ignoring the painful protest in his shoulder. He would pay dearly for this in the morning, but he wasn't thinking about that. He didn't care.

He kissed her even deeper, pushing his body closer to her. Pinning her between him and the wall. A moan escaped from the back of Barbara's throat. He knew it.

Barbara made no protest when Dick practically threw her against the wall and kissed her. No, she enjoyed it. She now knew that there was something more, for the both of them. She moaned as he kissed her and forced her back into the wall. With one hand she gripped his hair and with the other clawed at his back, all while fighting for dominance with her tongue. Her breathing hitched when his mouth moved down to her neck.

They were moving too fast. Much too fast. The rational part of her told her to push away, to slow down. But the other part, the dominating part, was telling her to keep going. She listened without much protest.

Her leg climbed up to his waist. She used her leverage and pulled him even closer against her.

She pulled away from him and stared into his blue eyes. He raised an eyebrow.

"We're not going to make it into my bedroom, are we?" She smirked, bringing him in again.

Ellie was almost finished. Telling Tim what was needed to be said that is. Although her existence physically was still teetering on the edge.

Tim had managed to get her on the bed in his room without anyone noticing. He had carried her bridal style and didn't need to have anyone seeing it. They would assume one of two things and neither one of those things would be good. He laid her on his bed and covered her sweating shaking body with a blanket that sat on the foot of the bed.

"Tim, I'm not sure I'll make it."

Tim's eyebrows knit together. He reached a hand out and touched her shoulder. She shuttered under his touch.

"Don't talk like that. I'm sure that they'll get together eventually. Today's events can't place too much of a hiccup in the future."

Ellie winced and pressed her hands against her stomach. Her period's worst cramps never had anything on this.

"No, you don't understand Tim. I won't exist. My present is fifteen years from now. I'm fourteen. And in time for pregnancy…" She trailed off allowing him to fill in the blanks.

There was a look of recognition that flashed across Tim's face, followed by a look of disgust.

"Ugh, thanks Ellie. I did not even need to remotely know that."

She flickered again. It was followed by a raspy cough that shook her entire body.

"Would," cough, "would you tell my parents that I love them?"

"Ellie."

Ellie closed her eyes. There was nothing that she could do. She was too weak. She could feel as her body began to fade away. But she didn't feel anything. Numbness was enveloping her.

Tim watched helplessly as his friend, his niece, faded before his eyes.

But then she gasped. Her eyes flew opened and she sat up in the bed, flinging off the blanket on her. She screamed loudly and clutched her heart. Her sudden movement startled Tim to say the least, so much so he stood up from his chair. It clattered to the floor.

"Ellie?" No response. "Ellie? Eileen?"

The girl breathed deeply in and out for a few moments before turning to the boy beside her. She touched her hands to her face, her hair, her neck, her torso, her hips. Her eyes widened in joy and a wide smile spread across her face.

"Are you alright Ellie?"

"Never better. I think my existence has just been secured."

There was disgust mixed in with Tim's relief as he realized just what she meant.

A/N: Yay! Ellie's gonna live! As always, please review.

I'm still wondering if I should write a prequel of sorts to this story? Before the kids had to come back and meddle with the past. Would that be something that would be interesting? Tell me your thoughts.