Run ins
The little machine sounds the room as the doctor places it on my belly. Dr Lewis smiles as she listens to it, assuring me everything is fine. She writes something down and removes the wand. "You're looking great Rachel." She beams, "you've gained about 4 pounds which is a great start. You need to keep up your eating."
"Okay I will." I smile as she outreaches her hand helping me up.
"And in 4 weeks we will do an anatomy scan and we should be able to tell the gender." Dr. Lewis writes on her chart, "so make sure Dick comes for that one."
"Oh yeah, I'm hoping his schedule gets a little less hectic." I smile.
"Did you have any questions for me?" She asks.
"Uh no, I'm good" I smile stepping off of the bed.
"Okay, great." She gleams. "I'll see you in 4 weeks"
Following her out of the small exam room I walk out the back exit to avoid anyone noticing me. Dick isn't with me so it makes the whole experience different. Nobody is staring at me. I had a few receptionist watching the door to see if Dick would follow me though. I'm sure it's in my chart who I am and who my child's father is.
Getting out to the car I run my hand on the corvette, still smiling at the fact I took it out. Deciding to continue my day I head over to a small strip mall with a good reviewed nail salon. Pampering myself to a pedicure and new nails, I look better. Matching them my nails and toes are now the color of Dick's corvette. I'm sure when he comes home it'll make a great story. Leaving the salon I walk out to the corvette to see a guy sitting on the hood. His jeans are baggy with a pair of white Nike's on. The white shirt is loose with the blue flat bill turned back wards. His shades are mirrored and large on his face.
"Excuse me" I walk fast prepared to yell. The guy turns at me and I immediately calm. The white hair pokes slowly out of his cap. "Jason?" I look him up and down.
"Hey mama." He smiles, "I was thinking someone took a joy ride." He gets off of the hood.
"Yeah me." I huff walking around to the drivers side.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"Oh I don't know." I walk towards him angry, "where the hell have you been?"
"Working?" He holds up his hands in defense.
"Dick working with you?" I cross my arms.
"No." He scoffs, "golden boy wouldn't help me with crime."
"Do you know where he is?" I purse my lips.
"I'd assume work?" He slips his shades off, "why what's up?"
"He went missing a week ago." My anger eases as I sense his honesty, "he called me to say he had to go for a bit would be back."
"Then he's fine." Jason points out.
"Everyone keeps saying that." I roll my eyes.
"Because it's true." He sighs
"So was he the brat messing shit up?" I scoff.
"No. Damian was fucking around in crime alley. Prick" he looks annoyed.
"So you really haven't heard from Dick?" I sigh.
"No I haven't Rachel." He slips his hands into his pockets looking at me.
"Don't leave me alone for that long." I sigh.
"What?" He looks shocked.
"Well with Dick gone and then you going too, I've been alone for a freaking week." I sigh. "I enjoy your company."
"Freak, nobody does." He laughs.
"Well I do. No offense to Barbra who is trying hard to be my friend. It's just odd when I've seen her and Dick have sex." I lean on the car.
"So we're friends?" He raises a brow.
"Well I thought so, but now I'm unsure." I immediately feel embarrassed.
"Yeah. That sounds great" he has a timid smile. "Wanna go to lunch?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure" I smile. "I could eat."
"Cool I know this good place" he smiles going to the passenger door.
"What no bike?" I smile.
"I stashed it away thinking I was going to have to take Dick's baby home." He hops in.
Shaking my head I slide into the drivers seat.
"Go to 21st and Glennan St." he orders.
"Ohh". I huff. "The ghetto?" I laugh.
"I'm a big fan of it." He smiles. "So why are you out joy riding in the Vette?"
"I had a doctors appointment." I roar the engine to life.
"Howd that go?" He clicks his seatbelt holding onto the door.
"I'm not a bad driver." I add.
"We'll see about that" he scoffs.
I roll my eyes pulling out of the parking lot. Skidding around corners, Jason gasps holding onto the door. I giggle at his panicked expression. Now I realize just how much fun Dick did have. Pulling onto 21st Jason points to a corner to park.
"You sure Dick's car is safe?" I ask.
"Yup." He smiles. He pulls a magnet out of his pocket and waves it. It's just a square magnet that is painted dark red. Hoping out of the car he sticks it to the hood of the car.
"And what does that do?" I scoff
"It means it's Red Hoods property." He's smug, "touch it and die"
"Well if it works" I climb out, locking the car.
"Change your hair color, don't want people seeing a strange man with Dicks girl" he orders. I change my color quickly from black to a blonde with red highlights. He nods in approval.
We walk two stores down to a Mexican restaurant where we order to go food. I order steak quesadilla and a side of chips and cheese. My mouth waters as The food in the restaurant smells so good. Jason buys and winks at me as we take out to go order. We walk back to the car and he smiles stepping back to the wall. He sits on the sidewalk right up against the brick wall. He pays for me to sit next to him. We sit in front of a large window. I smile as he hands me my drink and sits up our food on the sidewalk.
"Odd place to have lunch" I take a bite of my quesadilla.
"It's the entertainment" he smirks. Reaching into his pocket he pulls out a pair of AirPods handing me one. I take it putting it into my ear. Suddenly I hear a group of men talking. Jason smiles to me. "They're in this underground night club" he points to the window.
Looking in I see men and women dancing, grinding on each other. Their bodies intertwined as one. The sea of people is shocking at 11:30am on a Friday. The music isn't clear with The brick walls being sound proofed, but the glass shakes with the beat. It looks fun and inviting. The beat booms and I feel it run through my veins. I smile looking at Jason. We listen to the conversation as we eat our lunch.
"Listen I don't care what you want, it's what he wants" man #1 with his gruff voice talks
"Black mask has turned into a freaking mad man with red hood ruining his business!" The second man says with a squeaky voice. I'm guessing he's younger, maybe not even 20.
"Kid, if you wanna make it in this game. Learn to shut up and follow directions. Now look at the damn plans." Man #1 barks his order.
The line goes quiet as the men study the plans. Jason gets aggravated, "I'll have to wait until I get home to watch the cameras." He sighs. "They must have a feeling they're being listened to."
"And they're petrified of red hood" I bite into a chip.
"As they should be" he scoffs. "What's your plans for the rest of the day?"
"Oh you know." I smile, "going shopping for maternity clothes"
"Yeah, you're really starting to show" he laughs.
"You can't tell can you?" I look down.
"Yeah, you can." He sighs, "and it makes me worried about the wrong people seeing it. Making you an easy target."
"So you know Slade was after them" I inject.
"Was." He looks to me, "Slade is dead"
"What?" Shock registers and I feel like my heart is in my stomach.
"Yeah." He looks away.
"Did you?" I stammer out.
"No." He almost whispers.
"Did Dick?" I ask. His nod is slight in response. "Oh" i look away.
"I'm sorry Rach. I was supposed to do it." He sighs.
"I'm ready to go home" I gather my food standing to my feet.
"Want me to drive?" He stands
"No. Need a ride back to your bike?" I throw my stuff in a nearby trash.
"You're not okay." He looks at me with worried eyes.
"No I'm not." I sigh, "Dick thinks he sold his soul to the Devil for me" tears start forming. My vision blurs with the out poor of tears.
"Hey." Jason grabs my waist and pulls me into him. He leans his muscular body into my small one. His arms wrap around me and his embrace is warm. Jason Todd is hugging me. He smells of warm mahogany cologne. His face is next to mine and I feel his stubble on the side of my face. "Dick will be home when you need him" he sighs, "he's just going to have to process this. You know he's not like me." I nod into his shoulder, bringing my arms up into a hug.
"I know." I cry. "I just hate what he has to do to protect us"
"It's what family does." He breaks the hug. "Dick loves you very much. He freaking gushes over you" he rolls his eyes.
"So I've been told" I smile feeling a bit better.
"Come on, let's go shopping." He walks around to the drivers door opening it for me.
"You want to go maternity clothes shopping with me?" I raise a brow.
"As long as you don't put on another blue dress." He laughs.
"Hey, it was a one time thing." I laugh sliding into the drivers seat.
"Good. Dick was about to start foaming from the mouth", he closes my door. Grabbing the magnet off of the top of the car he hops into the passenger seat. I never thought I'd have to go maternity clothes shopping. Let alone with Jason Todd.