Chapter 2: too close

We only fell a few feet before nightwing had managed to grab the bridge again, but this didn't stop me from screaming. I hate to admit it my I was panicking. I was crying and gasping for air for no matter how much I tried I couldn't get enough. Nightwing wasn't doing much better his heart rate had elevated higher then I thought possible.

"Robin, Robin you need to calm down, you need to take deep breaths." I looked at him and did what I was told.

"sorry." batman had not us not to panic even when things get rough. If he was here now I know we would be disappointed, then again if he was here we would be on the bridge not hanging from it. I start breathing normally again and I stop crying.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, i'm scared too?"

I look at him, "what are you scared about the most."

He gives my question some thought, "i'm scared about leaving dad behind, losing one son is hard enough but losing two at once would be too much for him."

I looked down and thought about the idea i had before we fell. I had forgotten to think about batman, and Dick is right losing two sons would be too much. I know what i need to do. I need to die in order to make sure nightwing lives. He needs to make sure batman doesn't blame himself for doing something wrong, and batman needs to make sure nightwing doesn't beat himself over letting go.

I look up at nightwing with tears in my eyes, "nightwing," Iholler.

"What," he looks at me puzzled to see me crying again.

"Dad's not going to be losing two sons."

"What do you mean he's not going to lose two..." he cuts off realizing what I mean. "Hell no i'm not letting go of you, there is no way in hell i'm letting go so forget about it."

"Nightwing you have too, there is no reason why we both need to die." I look up expecting to see him agreeing but instead he's crying.

"I can't let go, i can't lose another brother."

"and batman can't lose two sons." he looks at me and starts to cry harder.

"Don't you think i know that. Don't you think I know that he wouldn't be able to live without us, that his world will slowly crumble to pieces."

"Then why won't you let go."

"Because I won't be able to live without you," he pause's for a second, "Tim you're my baby bird, my best friend, and most importantly my brother. How would i ever let my brother die."

"Dick," I look straight at him, "why would i let my brother die when I know he can live?"

"Tim, I... I got to try to save us both, if I let go that means i'm wasn't strong enough to hang on. Dad would never be able to look at me again knowing I was too weak to save you."

"Dick dad will never think you are weak."

"yes he will i'll be weak for not holding on."

"Dick remember what Herman Hesse once wrote: some of us think holding on makes us strong,but sometimes it is,"

"Letting go." Nightwing finishes my sentence. He can no longer look at me.

"Dick it's time to let go, and when you get home you are going to tell dad that you did everything you could and that this was my decision. I know you will be sad but that's ok because you won't be alone. Wally helped you get through Jason dying and he will help you again. In turn you have to help beast boy, la'gaan, and blue. They haven't been through a team member loss before and they are going to need help. most of all you need to help batman and Alfred. You need to make sure they don't stand in my door way for hours at a time like they did with Jayson. You three need to get out and hang with friends. You need to talk to each other and make sure you don't leave any feeling bottled-up. Got it."

"..."

"Nightwing you need to promise me you will do this, please."

"Ok, I promise, and I promise that i will never forget you, my baby bird."

"And i will never forget you." we smile at each other for the last time. "on the count of three you let go, ok."

"Ok."

"One."

"Two."

I get a good look at him making sure the last thing I see is the person that I love the most. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and say "Three."

Dick does as he was told and lets go. The last thing I hear is him yelling, "TIM".

Then darkness.

Fear not my friends there is one more chapter left of this story