Batgirl

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I take a deep breath as I slide off my headset and place it by the keyboard of the Batcomputer. There's nothing more I can do... He's on his own, and I feel completely helpless putting his life into the hands of his enemy's ex-wife and son. I swivel the chair around only to be confronted by a dark shadow.

"What are you still doing down here?" He grumbles groggily.

"Dick needed my help..."

"Since when do you go behind my back and do things without my permission?!"

"Hate to break it to you, Bruce, but that's kind of what brought me here in the first place."

"You are on MY team!"

"Yeah and so was he... for ten years. Does that mean nothing to you?"

"You can't let your feelings for him cloud your judgment!"

"Oh puh-LEASE! The Teen Titans were captured, and I kept him from racing back to New York blindly into Deathstroke's trap. I know things are iffy between you two still, but gahh... Did it even cross your mind to ask if he was okay? Hmm? Or that I'm okay?"

"Barbara, I-"

"You see it's rhetorical question because the answer is I don't know. I don't KNOW if I'm okay! I can't see him. I can't track him. He's on a submarine full of H.I.V.E. members, Slade Wilson, all his team has been captured, and I can't do anything about it. He's his own Bruce, and I'm afraid for my life because it's nothing without him."

The shock on Bruce's face mirrors my own. Did I really just say that? No, the real question is if it's true.... Yes... it is... oh my god it is! I look back up at Bruce who stares at me with grief in his eyes as I curl into a ball on the chair. I finally realize how I feel about Dick, okay... more reassured because I'm a 100% certain now, and I have to face the real possibility that I won't see him again. Great timing Barb...

"Look, uh... maybe you should take some time off from all this," Bruce mumbles, "Clear your head, and I will have Alfred monitor the surveillance systems for any sign of Dick. If... when he resurfaces, you'll be the first to know."

I smile a little, knowing that having a tiny bit of hope was better than mourning a love that might be lost.

*********************************

Three months later...

It's been fairly quiet in Gotham. Most, if not all, criminals have been locked up with the exception of a few gutsy muggers and the occasional bank robber. Either way, he gets them... I guess "they" would be a better word to use. Bruce's trainee, Jason, has aided in many captures and I think is officially Robin now that his hair is dyed black, like the one who wore the R first.

Thinking of him causes my heart to throb. I've become a recluse, or as my dad likes to tease: a hermit. I leave occasionally to work at the library, but most of it I can do from home so... I don't really leave. The hope I once had that things would return back to normal or that Dick would resurface faded after the first month, right after Bruce's adoptive son went from blonde to brunette.

Jason Bard, the cop I had been seeing for awhile calls every once in a while, checking how I am. I told him a good friend of mine had been diagnosed with some illness... I don't even remember what I said, but it made my hermitness make sense to him.

True to Bruce's statement, I have not patrolled since that day. It has been hard since that brought me so much joy but part of that was because my best friend was there with me. The Justice League has been working overtime to help fill the void of the Titans, especially Batman since Gotham has been so quiet.

So that leaves me here, spinning in the chair of the Batcomputer, making sure Jason does as he's told.

"Okay, I'm coming up to the edge of the bank now," The overly excited teen smiles, "Are you watching the cameras? This is gonna be sick!!"

"Yeah, yeah I'm watching." I groan. A baby sitter.

I hear him hoot and hollar as he laughs into his earpiece, "How cool was that?!"

I yawn, a little to loudly.

"... you didn't watch."

"I'm tired, kid. I don't do this stuff anymore."

"Then why the heck are you even here?"

"To make sure you don't trip and fall off a skyscraper."

"Pfft, please, my coordination is too good for that."

"You never know."

"Right, and you do?"

"Always vigilant."

Jason starts shouting at me, and I tune it out as the computer screen lights up around southern Gotham.

"What the-"

"AND to be honest-"

"JASON! Shut up! Something is happening!"

"Yeah... like I'm gonna buy that one. You're just-"

"Just shut up for one minute so I can think! PLEASE!" He goes silent as I scan the coastline and see a large red dot on Blackgate Isle. "Oh crap.."

"What? What is it?"

"I don't know but it looks bad, Jason. I have to call him."

"I can handle it."

Suddenly, a booming voice echoes over the system, "Jason, go home, now. I will take care of this. Barbara, make sure he stays there."

"Yes, sir!" I nod, hearing Jason moan in protest. Before I can spin the chair around once more, a familiar set of steps echoes behind me.

"Good evening, Barbara."

"Hey, Al. Something is happening at Blackgate... it looks like some sort of explosion, but definitely a break out of some sort. Bruce just sent Jason back, so he should be here shortly."

"That's all well and good, but I have some news that may interest you."

He holds out a newspaper with the headline: "Titans Return." I quickly grab the paper out of his hands, scanning the picture for the familiar face. I feel a burden lifted off my shoulders as I sigh with relief, staring at the blue and black figure. He's alive. I look back up at Alfred without words, who simply smiles from ear to ear in return.

"I'll take care of things here."

"Thank you, Alfred!"

I giddily skip out of the room and race home to tidy up and pack my backpack. I catch the earliest bus out of Gotham to New York City, catching a cab to his condo. I can smell eggs through the door as I knock, quickly tossing my backpack to the side of the door.

I take a deep breath as I hear him coming to the door. I open my mouth, ready to yell "surprise!" when I realize that it was not Dick who opened the door. A tall, red-headed, green-eyed supermodel is standing before me with only one of his dress shirts on: Starfire a.k.a. Kory. Instantly, I am crushed.

"Can I help you?" She asks.

"No uh... sorry." Is all I can get out as I get my backpack and run back down the hall.

I slam my fists into a trash can outside, instantly gripping them with pain. As I make my way home, my mind is in a fog. How could I be so blind? He doesn't even call me himself? I have to find out from a paper? So much for a "Thank you for helping me out, Barb."

I should have just moved on, maybe even stuck with Jason Bard... but he isn't Dick Grayson. No one could compare to him. As I lean my head against the window of the bus, my phone buzzes: Jason Bard. Accept or Decline? Settle or Wallow in Self-pity? I wait until the last second and desperately press the green button.