CHAPTER 8

ROBIN'S JOURNAL

I don't remember my coma very well. What I remember are the nightmares and trying to get away from Harvey Dent. I was floating in a dark, fractured place filled with bits of dreams and memories.

I remember M'gann singing to me. Hearing her made me realize that the team must be close; I knew they'd save me, so I kept still to listen. I also heard Batman a lot, only he didn't sound like Batman. He didn't even sound like Bruce, much. His voice was softer, less commanding and kept asking me for something, only I didn't know what it was.

I was still floating when M'gann appeared in front of me, her eyes glowing. "M'gann? Hey! M'gann! I'm over here!" I shouted. She came towards me with a big grin on her face.

"Robin? How are you feeling?" She grabbed my hand and put her palm on my forehead.

"I'm okay, I guess," I said. "Where are we? What happened? Is this another one of those training exercises?" I suddenly hoped, really hoped hard that it was. Because of it was just a psychic training exercise, then none of it had really happened. Harvey Dent hadn't beaten me up in front of Batman. I wasn't dead or dying.

Her face fell. "It's not an exercise, Robin. You've been injured and you have a head injury. You've been in a coma for four days. You're at the Hall of Justice in the medical bay. I'm sorry."

Suddenly, I was really scared. "And Two-Face? What happened to him? Is Batman all right? He was gonna kill Batman right after he was through with me..."

She gave me a reassuring smile. "Batman is fine and Two-Face is locked up. The team have been taking shifts sitting with you and we're waiting for you to wake up."

I looked around the swirling darkness. "So, how do I do that?"

"We can help you. All of us. The important thing is that you're still here. But for now, keep trying to hear us talk to you. Try to open your eyes," she said.

"Is Batman there too? I think I hear his voice sometimes." I looked around, as though I could see him. There was nothing but the swirling dark. "I've only ever heard him. And you, of course."

"It's good to know that, Robin. Keep listening and try to respond any way you can, okay?" She grabbed both my hands and stared deep into my eyes, her own glowing brighter and brighter. Then she was gone, leaving me all alone in the dark.

BATMAN'S JOURNAL

Alfred was very helpful in moving Robin's friends into the manor. In the end, Raquel and Zatanna elected to remain at Mount Justice. Raquel felt that she didn't know Dick well enough yet, being new on the team. Zatanna has been training in magic with her 'father', Dr. Fate and didn't feel that she could stop at this point.

Although M'gann had made telepathic contact with Robin, he still wasn't responding to external stimuli. Even with a sternal rub, he only grimaced a bit.

I was worried. While M'gann was sitting with Dick one day, I asked her if it would be possible for me to speak with Robin telepathically, with her help. She nodded. "I was just about to suggest that. He listens for you, knows your footsteps. He's closer to consciousness when you're there, Bruce." She motioned to the chair next to hers. I sat down and she took my hand, laying the other on Dick's forehead. Just as I saw her eyes start to glow, the world dissolved and I was floating in a dark space.

In the distance I saw a glowing form. It was a young boy, dressed in circus garb: Dick's costume as a Flying Grayson. So, this was his true self, the way he visualized himself at the core. He looked sad and lonely. Again, I felt guilty at having put him in such danger. I wished that I could hold this small boy close, as I had when he was a frightened eight year old. The next thing I knew, I was floating next to him.

"Bruce? Is it you? Or are you some kind of dream?" he asked hesitantly.

"It's really me, chum," I replied and put a hand out to rest on his shoulder. Feeling the warmth of my hand, Dick gulped and dove at my chest, hugging me frantically. Awkwardly at first, then with increasing confidence, I held my precious son close. As he's grown older, I've felt less and less comfortable hugging him. But his was my boy, the small child I'd brought home from the circus that day. I felt him tremble and knew that he was crying.

"Hey, now," I said softly. "It'll be all right, Dick. We'll work this through together, like we always do."

"M'gann says I'm in a coma," Dick said, bringing his face reluctantly away from my chest. "She says I have to try to wake up, but I don't know how to do that."

I turned to M'gann, hovering next to me. "What can I do, M'gann?"

She frowned in thought. "I wish we could call my uncle, but he's off planet right now. I've been encouraging Robin to 'listen' for our voices and try to react to physical stimulation, but yours is the voice he hears best."

"Dick, is that true? Can you hear my voice?" I asked him.

"Yeah," Robin said thoughtfully. "I think that yours is the only one I have been hearing. Yours and M'gann's. But I've tried and tried and I still can't wake up."

"Let's try something different, Robin," M'gann said. "Bruce, I'll bring you back up from trance. As soon as you're awake, take Robin's hand and hold it—hard. Talk to him. Draw him to you with your voice and your touch. Robin, try to follow. No matter what it takes, go towards Bruce's voice and the feel of his hand in yours. Okay?"

I took Dick's hand. It felt small but strong in mine. "Okay, chum. You ready to come back now?"

He nodded and we began to move. I woke up, sitting in the chair next to Dick's bed and immediately groped for his hand and held it tightly in a catcher's grip, my fingers clasped around his wrist and forearm. After a moment, his hand weakly grasped mine, then fastened more firmly. M'gann woke next to me. "Bruce, talk to him."

"Dick, it's time to wake up now," I said in my most commanding tone. "You have to wake up. Alfred and I miss you. Dick…"

His eyes fluttered open but didn't focus.

"Dick, can you hear me? Your eyes are open, do you hear my voice? Say something, son!"

"Bruce?" he said in a hoarse voice. "Bruce? I hear you and I feel your hand, but everything's dark. I don't see anything; I think I'm still in the coma…" I looked over at M'gann who gave me a troubled gaze back. I pinched the skin on Dick's upper arm and he started.

"Did you feel that?" I asked.

"Yeah," Dick said. "Is this a dream? I'm not awake am I? I mean, I can't see you…"

Trying to push back a growing feeling of unease, I waved my hand near Dick's eyes. They never moved. "Just a minute, Dick," I said. I got up and found a small flashlight in the study, then returned to Dick's bedside. "Tell me what you see." I said and flashed the light full into first one eye, then the other. "Anything?"

"No," Dick replied. "Nothing at all. I am awake, aren't I?" he said, running a hand over the comforter. "This is the velvet comforter Alfie got for me when I was nine and had that really bad cold." He reached out a hand and I clasped it. "I feel your fingers, Bruce." His eyes teared up. "I'm blind, aren't I?"