Chapter Twenty Seven
The awkwardness was severe as we walked into the manor together. Alfred and Stephanie exchanged looks as we walked past them to the clock. Jason turns the dial, opening up the entrance. "I haven't been here since the DNA testing." He shuffles awkwardly. "I don't think I'll ever call this home again."
"I'm sorry." I sigh as we descend in the elevator.
Arriving to the cave I notice Bruce turn in his chair, crossing his legs, examining us. I give a small wave as we make the treck to him. Damian sits in a chair off to the side with files in his hand, studying them. "Come for a visit?" Bruce asks what the hell we want in a nice manor.
"No. Not at all." Jason glares at his memorial case, "you need to take that shit down." He grumbles.
"What are you here for?" He lifts a brow.
"The DNA results." I cross my arms, "they were wrong."
"Impossible." He doesn't even change his position.
"Well Cyborg ran it through your system at the high top circus and it says I'm not it." Jason stands grumpily
"Jason, if it makes you feel better we can rerun it." Bruce sighs.
"Great. More blood." I grumble.
"I still have all of your DNAs in the system. I'll run it through again." He turns to his computer. Typing away at the keyboard he pulls up the DNA analyses and runs the report again. Watching I see it slowly blinking. The results popping up with Jason as the father. What the hell?
"Alright, now run my DNA in your system against mine." Jason isn't convinced. Bruce pulls up that DNA and passes a swab to Jason. I sit in the chair as I notice Damian. A small smile on his face.
The results run and Bruce stands up as the DNA comes back. Not a match. The samples were mixed up. "I'm so sorry, I had the samples perfectly labeled. This shouldn't have happen." Bruce looks wide eyed to Jason.
"I labeled my own, with my name." Jason huffs, "no way they got that mixed up."
"Did you switch them?" I turn to Damian as his smirk falters.
"What?" Jason turns to me.
"Worlds best detectives and she figured out my prank first." He continues to study.
Suddenly without warning Jason slams into Damian and shoves him to the floor. Punching him hard against the face. Damian wears a look of shock but quickly fights back.
"You fucker. You call that a prank!" Jason screams. "Fucking with someone's life and emotions beyond repair." He throws him into the wall.
The beating goes on, back and forth with each landing punches. Bruce stands against the computer watching. Every once in a while he would yell to watch the face. "I learned a long time ago to stop breaking up the fights. They just know no head, or groin hits" Bruce looks to me.
"He has every right to beat his face in" I look sternly, "Jason's heartbroken"
"He always found peace with you." He smiles softly, "when I found out about you two years ago, I realized how happy he had became"
"And now he's filled with rage." I put a hand on my belly.
"Not all the time." He smirks, "not when he is with you. You two may just be friends now, but you bring out the good in him."
"I'm not good." I look away, "if I were good, him and Dick wouldn't be hurt."
"Love is painful no matter what. All three of you haven't had it easy." He watches as Jason kicks Damian off of on top of him.
"I need to stop, before I fucking kill him." Jason lunges Damian across the room sulking away. He looks to me as his face is red and he's sweating. He doesn't even seem out of breath. His knuckles are covered in blood, while his shirt is torn to shreds. Storming past me he goes towards the elevator but stops in front of his case. Before I can even blink, the glass is shattered as Jason looks down at the plaque. It reads, "a good soldier", smirking he goes to the elevator and shoots up.
"He knew I was kicking his ass." Damian sulks to Bruce as his nose has blood spewed all out of it.
"Go pack a bag." Bruce takes a sip of his coffee.
"For what?" He looks offended.
"You're going to titans tower. Dick thinks you need to learn to work with others. I now see it also." He crosses his arm. "You'll be working with them and figuring out boundaries. And you'll be telling Dick what you have done"
"Screw him." Damian crossed his arms.
"Damian, I don't even know what to do with you anymore." Bruce looks down upon his son.
"Maybe the Titans can help you. Because I don't know how to anymore." Bruce looks to his computer. "I'll call Dick and let him know you will be there tomorrow."
"Screw you." He storms out of the bat cave.
"Rachel, I can't even tell you how sorry I am." Bruce turns to me, "this should have never happened."
"I don't blame you." I stand awkwardly.
"Something is going on with Dick." He looks away, "I think the reasoning he broke up with you is a lie."
"Whether it is or not, I'm broken." I stare at my feet, "and he doesn't get to come back because the baby is his."
"I understand." He sighs.
"I'm going to get out of town for a few weeks." I almost ponder, "I need to clear my head and emotions from everything."
"Haven't you learned running away isn't the answer." He sighs.
"I'm not running away." I smile softly. "I'll tell Jason where I'm going, and if Dick wants to find me. He can."
"Where are you going?" Bruce picks up his coffee.
"Uh. Maybe an island by myself. I think some secluded time watching the water could do me good." I smile making it up as I go.
"I'll arrange it. Alfred will pick you up in the morning and take you to the jet." He looks away, "but if Dick asks where you are this time, I'm not lying."
"I wouldn't expect you to." I sigh. "It broke him enough last time. Thanks Bruce."
"Anything for you and my grandkid." He smiles light.
"It's a girl." I lightly touch my belly.
"A girl." His smile beams. Suddenly I realized Bruce has a soft spot and this little girl is going to be spoiled.
"Hey, if she asks for a pony you say no, got it?" I warn him.
"Ah, what are billionaire grandpas for." He shrugs. I roll my eyes.
"I'm going to go find Jason." I sigh.
"Good idea." He agrees.
Heading up the elevator I watch as Bruce runs his hand through his hair staring at the screen. I feel his guilt inside. He is usually shut off and as an empath I feel nothing. But today I feel his guilt. It's immense. Finding my way upstairs I look for Jason. Walking the halls I see no sign of him, until I find his room.
He stands staring at the bed. Sheets unmade from where we made love all those years ago. His room frozen in time. I stand next to him, but he remains still.
"You okay?" I ask.
"No." His walls are up and he is fighting to keep them up. "I don't want to hurt you with my emotions Rach." He admits
"I'm going on a trip for a few weeks." I sigh. "To focus on some stuff."
"I was just thinking of disappearing for a minute." He smiles lightly. "So I can get far enough away to not hurt you."
"Bruce is arranging it. Come see me when you're feeling better." I smile softly.
"I might." He looks at me he's hesitating. "Rachel I-"
Suddenly Jason turns grabbing my face with one hand, his other on my hip. Pulling me to him, I feel his lips press onto mine. Like electricity to me, I feel the love he has. The sweet taste of his lips as he kissed me deep sends shivers up my spine. I respond instantly kissing him back. It lasts for a few seconds and then he pulls away, stiffening. "I'm sorry, I-"
"Still love me." I look to him.
"Always." He chuckles lightly.
"I know. I still love you." I sigh, "but we can't go back."
"Why not?" He asks with those green eyes beaming at me.
"Because I'm in love with Dick. I've been in love with him since I was sixteen. I don't know when or how I will ever get over him."
"You think we could have ever had a shot?" He whispers looking at the bed.
"You died. I played the what if game for years. I'm done playing it." I sigh, "it would be too easy to run back into your arms Jason. But reality is, I need to focus on her. Not you. Not Dick. This thing inside of me deserves that love you and I never got as children."
"First time you're actually sounding like a mom." He smiles shaking his head.
"I guess that ultrasound was kind of a wake up call." I laugh.
"You needed it." He sighs turning, "ready to go home?" I nod as I follow him out of the room. "You know he's going to come home soon right?"
"Yeah." I sigh, "Bruce is making Damian tell him."
"20 says Dick breaks a bone." Jason bets.
"Dick already owes me 20 from the bet we made about you breaking the memorial care." I laugh.
"Shit, I would have broken it the first time I came if I'd known it was on the line." He laughs
My anger had lifted for now. My mind wasn't running the same loop on why Dick left. I wasn't thinking of my loneliness from his leaving. Hell, I didn't even have to process Jason kissing me. Deep down, I know I will always hold feelings for him. But we're better as friends. Friends is all I could give him.
Replacing them was the thought of the little girl I was carrying. How I needed to step up and start thinking of the future. Thinking of her and how I can be the best mom for her. I didn't need Jason or Dick to make me a mom. I had to do it myself.