A Light in the Dark

Again a big thank you to my beta Alex Skywalker!

Following and putting the story as a favorite are nice and I appreciate it but I would love some reviews. Why did you follow or favorite the story? What about it did you like? Was there anything I can improve on?

Chapter 2

Jason parked his bike far away from the Wayne Manor Bat-cave entrance and chose to hike on foot the rest of the way to the cave. The time walking gives him time to clear his head from all the possibilities of what in the hell is going on. When he finally reached the cave entrance he entered the security codes for the protocol that Damian had given him. The old door, made to look like part of the mountain, slowly slid open, complete with the groans and creaks straight from some cheap horror movie. Jason made no attempt to hide his entrance knowing full well that he was expected. As Jason rounded the last curve of the entryway he was greeted by the sight of none other than Dick Grayson, currently Nightwing, since he was in costume, sitting at the giant computer. His body was all lax in the giant computer chair and he was leaning to the left, with half of his head propped up in his left hand which rested on the arm of the computer chair. Though Nightwing's back was to Jason, he could see Nightwing's mask resting on the computer desk. Jason could tell the older man was awake by the subtle movements he was making in the chair and, with his training, could obviously hear Jason approaching, so why wasn't he acknowledging Jason's presence? Jason approached Nightwing's left side and saw that Dick was indeed awake.

"Dick?" Jason questioned. He was shocked to see Nightwing suddenly sit straight up in the chair. Jason had surprised him, not an easy thing to do by any means. This only made Jason's head fill with more dreadful thoughts if Nightwing himself could be taken by surprise- in the bat-cave of all places.

"Jason." Dick said. "Damian found you. I'm so glad you came." Dick slowly stood up and walked to Jason. The shadows were playing with Dick's face as he kept it down like he was hiding something. Were those tear tracks on Dick's face?

"Wanna tell me why I'm here? Demon spawn didn't say much."

"Umm….well….I'm..umm…..not quite sure…how to…" Dick stumbled as he kept his head down and played with the blue fingerstripes on his suit. Dick bit his bottom lip, an obvious sign that he was trying to keep himself from crying. Enough was enough. Jason couldn't stand not knowing what was tearing apart one of the strongest men he knew. Jason purposefully walked up to Dick and grabbed the man's shoulders strongly, causing Dick to look at him in shock. There Jason could see it: the dark circles under Dick's eyes. The red face highlighted by several tears that had previously fallen. The sunken in cheeks that said he hadn't been eating properly. The shock in the eyes that knew if he had to say it one more time he would fall apart. But Jason couldn't spare him; he had to know what had happened.

"Dick, what's going on?"

"Bruce is dead." Dick said it suddenly and quickly as if that would help, but it didn't.

Jason let go of Dick's shoulders in shock and Dick's eyes filled up with tears once more. Jason turned away. He wasn't ready for Dick to see the shock and pain on his own face. Jason had run by the possibility of Bruce's death several times on the way here but always tossed it away. It had always seemed that Batman…that Bruce was immortal. But, Jason knew that what Dick said had to be true. The state of Dick's emotions left no room for lies or jokes. Bruce was dead. There would be no more attempts at reconciliation. No more attempts at closure. No more….what was it they had anyways?

"You're sure? Jason asked still turned away from Dick. He had to ask, even though he knew the answer. The how and why of what happened could wait until both men were in better control of their emotions.

"Yes. Superman brought in the body. We buried him. Bruce…however …well…we had to maintain the charade for security reasons. We tried to find you Jason, to tell you. We tried to find you in time for the private funeral." Dick kept his eyes locked on Jason waiting for some sign on how Jason was going to take this. Jason gave him nothing but his back and a raised hand halting Dick's speech. The tears came too fast for Dick to suppress them any longer and a sob broke through.

At the sound of the sob Jason turned to Dick. Jason was unsure of how to talk to Dick about this. Jason's relationship with Bruce was so different than Dick's. Jason never wanted Bruce dead; that was a fact. True, he fought Bruce, but never once did he go for a killing blow. Even with the big confrontation between him, Bruce and Joker, Jason had made it so Bruce would have to kill him and not the other way around. Jason's relationship with Dick, though, was different. Through his ups and downs with the family Jason had fought Tim, even fought Damian, but no matter how many times Jason tried to rattle Dick or tried to get him to fight, Dick would never do it. It was like if he went to Jason's level then he had given up on him. That was something that was always clear to Jason, that Dick would never give up on him. So now Jason knew he had to do the same for Dick and not give up on him….he had to be there for Dick no matter how hard it was for him.

Since Jason's resurrection there had been good times and bad times between him and his family. And though this was quite obviously a bad time that the family was going through, Jason felt that he could turn it into a good time – or at least an okay time. Maybe he could finally have an 'okay' time with hios family. But, something still stirred beneath that. Jealousy, anger- years' worth of both that weren't so easily squashed in a second. However, Jason made every attempt to push those feelings down as he couldn't stand to see Dick cry.

Jason slowly walked to the now sobbing man and rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Though he was determined to help Dick he was still very unsure as to how to go about it.

"How is everyone else taking it?" He asked.

"Well…Damian…..he's a bit wise beyond his years and isn't the greatest with emotions-"

"He's his father's son." Jason said and Dick nodded and chuckled through a sob at that.

"He puts everything concerning all this logically. He said that, given Bruce's lifestyle, that this was bound to be the way that he would go and he had an honorable death fighting for what he believed in. Alfred is Alfred; he hasn't stopped working, but you can tell he's hurting. He is just dealing with it by keeping Bruce's legacy alive- making sure his boys are all ok. And me….. I'm okay." When Dick said that last part Jason glared at him. This was okay for Dick? Jason would have to get a mirror and hold it up to Dick sometime. But, before Jason could comment, Dick continued.

"It's Tim I'm worried about. He's a bit more closed off. Not really talking or saying anything. He thinks I'm not aware of what he is doing but I am."

"And what is he doing?" Jason asked. Was that concern for the replacement Jason felt rising up? The jealousy and hurt feelings of being replaced came right alongside the concern for Tim and Jason had trouble pushing back the right feeling.

"He acts like he is sleeping fine, but he's not. I can hear his nightmares, yet when I go to him he insists he's fine. Stubbing his toe on the bed frame is his most popular excuse. He acts like he's eating fine but I can see him losing weight that he just can't afford to lose. He's already skinny as it is. Damian said he heard him throwing up after dinner once. Tim denied it, which led to World War 3 in the house. Luckily most of the major criminal players in Gotham are currently locked up which gives us some time to figure out patrol and how Batman will live on in Gotham, being as that only we and the League know about his death. But how are you? Ya know…with this?"

"It's a shock. After Damian's visit I knew something was up. I considered that this was a possibility but…I don't know. I don't think it's really sunk in yet."

Dick nodded "I was that way at first too."

"How are you doing?"

"I told you I'm fine."

"Yah right."

"Jason, I'm good."

"Bullshit. You're crying, you look like you could crumble any second. Do you realize how easy it was for me to sneak up on you, in the bat-cave of all places? Are you okay because you have to be? Because there's no other option? I have a feeling that the reason you called me here wasn't just to tell me 'Bruce is dead, go have a nice day'."

"Ok…I need help."

"No shit."

"I mean….well….I don't need help….not with me, I mean…I need help with Tim, with things, with Gotham. Tim has lost so much. His parents, three of his best friends, Stephanie, Bart and Conner. Losing Bruce was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Tim needs more help than just what I can give him. He needs the whole family. He needs to have a family."

Jason nodded his head in agreement, though also knowing Dick needed help too. "I had heard about his friends. I had heard that he and Conner were…in a relationship?"

"I had heard that too, though Tim would never tell me yes or no about it."

"So you need me, of all people, to help the replacement?"

"I need you to help complete the family. I need you here."

Jason drew in a shuddering breath. Losing Bruce and now having the opportunity to be back in the family….. He was actually considering Dick's offer and Bruce wasn't even here to see it…or be a part of it. Jason drew in another shuddering breath as the sting of hot tears met his eyes. He turned his head to the side, clenched his fists, and grimaced, keeping his lips tight together in fear that, should they open, a sob would break forth. He would not lose it. He would not cry in front of Dick.

"Jason…it's ok." Dick was aware of what Jason was doing. "It's a lot to take in. I understand if you can't do it right now."

"I'll stay on one condition."

"Name it." Dick said, shocked Jason was considering staying.

"Admit you aren't dealing well with this either. Admit you are part of what needs help too."

"I'm….fine." Dick said and another silent traitorous tear rolled down his face, branding him as a liar.

Jason walked back to Dick and pulled him into an embrace and just….held him. Dick felt a drop of wetness on the side of his face that Jason was pressed to. Dick had done it. He had gotten Jason back. If only Bruce was here to enjoy it. That thought put Dick back over the edge and he started sobbing again. As his sobs became vocal Jason just held on tighter. Jason wasn't going to let go until he knew he could help Dick get through tonight. Jason tried to convince himself he could do this, even if it was one small step at a time.

First step: Get Dick to admit he needed help too.