Chapter 4: Connection

"You've been in here for hours Dick. I'm sure The Light can wait. Get some sleep, you look exhausted."

"You're right Zee. I need to wait for all this data to process anyway." Dick smiled as he leaned his cheek onto the hand that Zatanna had placed on his shoulder. Zatanna leaned in and pecked him on the cheek, "I'll be in my quarters if you need me." she flirted. Dick let out a chuckle.

As Zatanna left the Monitor Room she let out a startled yelp as a Barbara stood before her. "Oh! Barbara, how are you? How are you feeling?" Zatanna asked sincerely. The redhead pressed her lips together and smiled, "Better. I'm not 100% yet but I'll get there Zee". The black haired sorceress hugged her redheaded friend and gave her an understanding smile, she then walked down the hall towards her quarters. The door remained open and Barbara stepped in to see Dick staring at the large screen before him watching a percentage slowly climb.

"You'd think this would take quicker considering we work with the Justice League." Dick sighed. Barbara now stood beside him, "I'm sure Batman would have let you use the Batcave." she advised.

"Yeah, I know." He replied

"So why didn't you?" Barbara questioned.

"I'm became Nightwing for a reason Babs. To distance myself from Bruce." he answered.

Barbara furrowed her brow and turned to dick, "And here you are acting just like him. You're even still doing what he tells you." She commented. The first Robin turned to his friend and glared at her, "This is about Garth isn't it?" he huffed.

"Yeah,it is." the red head retaliated

"Why does nobody understand why I'm doing this?" he growled.

"Nobody understands because they don't agree with what you're trying to do. You can't control who has their memories, that isn't your call." she retorted.

Nightwing stood from his chair and walked over to the wall. He slammed the bottom of his fist against the wall and then leaned against it.

"Barbara, Look what happened to you! None of that would have happened if he didn't come back here. It wouldn't have happened if he never joined us!" he barked.

Barbara was taken aback, she scowled at her friend and stepped forward. Moving to him as she shouted, "I would have died if he didn't join us... Or did you choose to forget that?!"

Dick turned from the wall with a grimace on his face, "Fine. What about Artemis then? Look what he did to her! He ruined two years of her life... Two years Barbara! You don't get that kind of time back! Look at her now! She's a mess all because you couldn't keep your legs shut!" he roared.

The two young heroes stood there for a moment. Dick saw Barbaras eyes well up and her bottom lip began to quiver. The black haired teenager looked to the ground, "Babs... I... I didn't mean that." he muttered.

The redhead looked at him and walked up towards him. She opened her palm and struck him across the face as hard as she could.

"How can you say that? You of all people?!" she sobbed. She continued to look at him, waiting for his answer. Waiting for him to look at her again, to see what those words had done to her.

"Babs... Barbara. It's just, I want you to be happy. I don't trust Garth... Not after everything he's done." he replied, still looking at the ground.

Barbara turned and walked to the exit of the room, "There you are again trying to control people. 'I don't want to be like Batman'. Maybe you should listen to yourself when you had some sense if you won't listen to your friends." she seethed.

The door closed behind the redhead. Dick remained stood still, going over the conversation in his head. He then slowly walked to his chair and slumped into it.


With a clank the kettle knocked against the cup, boiling water spilled over his hand and across the counter. Garth breathed in through his teeth and wrapped his hand in a small kitchen towel. A knock came to the front door. The Nonelectric man quickly ran his hand under cold water and then grasping his hands over his crutches he hobbled over to the front door.

Another knock appeared on the other side of the door. "I'm coming!" Garth beckoned.

He leaned a crutch against the wall while he used his hands to open the door. A smile appeared on his face as a stunning blonde stood in front of him.

"Hi Garth." The blonde greeted.

"Hey." he replied. Garth gripped the crutch against the wall and then leaned onto it with his weight, "Do you wanna come in? The kettle has just boiled." he offered.

Artemis returned the smile and accepted his offer, "There is actually something I need to talk to you about Garth." she hesitantly informed.

"Well take a seat, I'll be a minute." he coached.

Artemis thought for a moment that even though he lost some of his memories he still seemed like the same man he has always been. Has it really affected him at all, Losing his memories? She slowly placed herself onto the old couch and looked around his living room. It was a bit messy but it wasn't like he was able to clean it. She then noticed a pitcure on a shelf above the television, it was a picture of Garth and his father. She gave a sad smile, he looked nothing like his "father" but that didn't stop Mr Daniels from caring about the boy even after everything he and his wife went through.

A few moments later Garth slowly came in with a hot cup of tea and then repeated the trip to grab his own cup. The two sat opposite each other and an awkward feel fiiled the air, Artemis was getting nervous. Finally Garth spoke up.

"It's nice to finally meet you." he smiled and then continued, "Well, we've met before but... And I'm not meeting you for the first time... This is confusing." he claimed.

Artemis snorted, he was usually good with words. "It's fine Garth. Honestly. I'm sorry for running out of your hospital room... That must have been a pretty weird thing to wake up to." she sighed.

Garth reached over to the cup of tea and took a sip of the hot drink, after realising it was still too hot he placed it back onto the coffee table. "Why did you run out anyway? I'm pretty sure my face didn't get burnt. I was told it was just my arms and some of my upper body." he chuckled.

Artemis looked worried, she was so upset that she isolated herself from everyone. She didn't know about all of the burns, except from the ones on his forearms due to the bandages she could see. "How bad is it? Tha scarring and burns I mean?" she questioned.

Garth hesitated for a moment. He then slowly and painfully rolled up the long sleeves from his jumper. Artemis saw that his body had somewhat healed quickly but you could still see where the lightning had ran through his arms. It wasn't disgusting to her, it was fascinating. She could see the crackles of electricity and what route they had taken towards his hands. As her eyes rand down his arms she got to his hands, she noticed that he was wearing gloves and since it wasn't cold in his apartment she could only assume they had taken a beating too.

"At least it has healed somewhat quickly." she encouraged.

Garth nodded as he rolled down his sleeves again. "That's what everyone keeps telling me..." he paused for a moment and smiled again. "This is weird." he announced.

Artemis raised an eyebrow, "What is?" she answered.

"To me, this is my first time speaking to you. And here I am trusting you enough to show you my burns and scars. It feels like... Ah nevermind." he blushed. Artemis grew curious, "It feels like what?" she questioned.

He then let out his smile that Artemis loved so much, only now it gave her a hint of pain with the happiness, "It feels like we have a connection, you know?"

A solemn look covered Artemis' face. If only he knew about everything he had done to her, both good and bad. He might understand. Artemis came here to tell him that she was done with him, she no longer wanted to be strung along by him. She didn't what her relationship with Garth to define her anymore. She was going to ask him why he did what he did but she knew it would be pointless, what would be the point in arguing with someone who doesn't remember? She was going to wait until he did and when he does remember he can come to her and tell her his side of the story.

"I know what you mean. You might even remember something if you follow that feeling" She answered. She then stood up and looked at him with a smile, "Sorry but I have to go, Sorry for not drinking that Tea." she apologized. She began to move towards the front door.

"Artemis wait, what do you mean? What were you to me?" he asked with intent.

Artemis looked at the floor with her back facing him, "Not what you wanted." she croaked. She quickly left his apartment and began to walk down to her car, the cold wind enveloped her face. Biting at the marks left behind by the tears.


The dark night breeze ran through Garth's dark shaggy hair. The nights had been growing colder as summer was beginning to end and everyone was beginning to notice. People were adding more layers to their clothing, even if it was just a scarf. Garth however was used to the cold, black nights so as he sat with his legs hanging over the edge of the building he did not shiver.

He didn't know what drove him to this particular spot but he had an inkling as to what it was. It was the view. The Gotham lights covered the distance, it was like the city was trying to mirror the stars. He had been sitting there for a while now, he had no idea for how long but he still had no desire to leave just yet, he felt peaceful.

The door he had used to access the roof creaked open, he turned to look behind him and there stood a beautiful sight. A woman dressed in a long black padded coat with a purple beanie covering her fiery red hair which flowed underneath the woolen cover and blew with the wind. Her hands were tucked behind her torso and her legs pressed together as they shivered.

"Hey." She smiled.

"Hey." Garth returned.

The redhead moved forward towards the ledge where Garth sat. Her body sat in the opposite direction to Garth's her legs remained on solid ground while her back faced the open Gotham.

"You hungry?" she asked.

Garth let out a chuckle, "A little."

Barbara reached into a brown paper bag which had a burger with the Batman logo printed in front of it. She reached out a wrapped up burger and a few napkins, "I got you your favourite." she laughed. Garth happily took the food from her hands and replied with a chuckle, "You know my order?". He never thought someone knowing what he orders would make him happy.

"Yeah, We used to hangout on this ledge quite a lot and eat this junk." she answered as she bit into her burger with hunger.

"We did?" he questioned as hit chomped into the greasy meat. Barbara replied with a yes while her mouth was full.

"It seems I'm not scared of heights anymore, I've been looking at this sight for quite a while. I guess I have you to thank for that." the dark haired boy smiled.

"A lot of people helped with that fear." she praised.

The two then sat there for the next five to ten mintues quietly eating their food and slurping on their drinks. Once they finished Barbara turned to face the same direction as Garth, towards the Gotham lights.

"So why are you out here Garth? And how did you get up here?" she half-jokingly questioned.

"I asked the landlord if I could sit up here, according to him I do it a lot so he doesn't really care. News to me I guess." he laughed. He then looked down towards the ants walking along the streets below him. "Artemis came to visit me today." he continued.

Barbara was pretty shocked, she didn't expect Artemis to calm down so quickly. "Did she say anything?" she asked.

"Barely anything that helps with my memories. She came in saying that she had something to talk to me about but she never got round to it. I probably offended her by showing her my arms or something." he concluded.

A crease formed between the redhead's eyebrows, "Is that all?" she asked. She was hoping that Artemis had at least tried to help him get his memories back.

"Well, I said that I felt there was some kind of connection with her since I trusted her enough to show her my arms." He described. "She then got up to leave and I asked her what I was to her. Her answer felt cold. She said 'Not what you wanted.', I don't really know what to make of it though." he added.

Barbara looked over to the bright lights and took all the infomation in. From what Barbara could tell, Artemis was angry still about the whole situation and seems to be attempting to move on from Garth. Barbara didn't know whether she was supposed to be happy about it or sad, she was conflicted.

"That connection." Barbara started. She turned to face the man beside her.

"Do you feel it with me?" she pleaded. Garth turned his head in her direction and looked into her eyes. They looked determined yet nervous. The city lights sparked from her blue eyes making the colour stand out as if he was comparing the bright blue sky against the white clouds that inhabit it.

"I do." He answered as he moved his face closer to hers.

She did the same.

The distance between the two slowly shortened until her soft lips met with his. Barbara wrapped a hand across the back of his head and ran her fingers through his messy hair, pulling him in closer. Garth placed a hand around her padded coat, pressing his hand against her back towards him. He was sure that he could feel the cut on her lower lip and that she had winced for a brief second when their lips met. Their shadows behind them combined and blocked the yellow light that illuminated their front, the two shadows became one object.

Their lips then slowly edged away from each other, neither one of them wanted to break the lock.

"Wow." Barbara blushed.

Garth rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled, "I never thought I'd kiss Barbara Gordon."

The redhead turned her face away from Garth and looked away in embarrasment. "You've done a lot more than that." She thought to herself.

She then swung her legs back over to the roof and stood up behind him. Garth then turned his body to her. "It's getting late and I have to get back to my apartment to do some... Um... Laundry." she lied.

"Oh, are you sure you can't stay just a while longer?" he pleaded. Barbara saw the cute look on his face and a bit of her melted.

"I'd love to Garth but I really have to go. I don't want to take advantage." She sadly replied.

Garth's face sunk for a brief moment but then he stood and slowly walked towards her without his crutches. His arms wrapped around her tightly and he placed his cheeks against the top of her head.

"It's all blurry and I can't figure it out but I remember things." He confessed. He had been having these blurry visions for most of the day, since Artemis had left his apartment. Blotches of color speaking to him in muffled voices.

"Really?! What do you remember?" She quickly blurted.

"It's all just colored blurs." he frowned. He looked angry and annoyed but that soon passed into a smile, "I'm remembering things Babs! Finally!" he beamed as he hugged her even tighter, hurting his arms. Barbara smiled into his chest and then pulled away a little.

"If you remember anything properly. Anything to do with me or you, let me know as soon as possible." She gleamed. She then pecked him on one of his cheeks and smiled.

"I will Babs." he answered seriously.

Garth released the hug and Barbara smirked towards the man she loves, "Well then, if you're planning on staying here for a while longer I guess I'll see you soon." she winked. She turned towards the door she had used to access the roof and walked towards it with glee in her step. As she turned the corridor she gave a quick and happy wave to Garth who, in return, raised is hand and waved a little. He then turned back to the ledge he was sitting on and returned to his spot.

That's when one of his blurry memories came into focus. It was a gravestone.

"Here lies Mick Daniels

Beloved Husband. Beloved Father. Good man to all.

"My family are my life."

1972-2015"