Batgirl

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Jason,

I'm sorry about doing this in a letter, but with everything that's happened... the smallest thing makes me breakdown and... I want to get this right, no loose ends, no drama. So here it goes...

You're a sweet guy, really, you know me; I wouldn't lie about that, and I really did love you. But, after that night... every part of me changed. I know you would be there in a heartbeat for me to take care of me and do whatever needed to be done, but I just can't do that to you and in my current state it would surely ruin whatever we had.

Let me be clear: there is no other guy, no secret family, no crazy excuse other than I'm severely traumatized and cannot be in a relationship right now, let alone get married. I truly hope you understand.

Attached is the ring, for someone who you deserve to be with and who deserves you.

Barbara

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

He stares down at the envelope in his hand. He wishes he could just leave it in the mailbox or something so he wouldn't have to see him face to face, but she insisted he make sure the message was understood. He could have done this in the suit, but that would have given all of their identities away, or at least Barbara's.

He sighs, running his hand through his hair, a nervous tick he's had since he met the girl who brought so much trouble and life to his own. Now or never... He knocks on the door, envelope in hand. The P.I. is still as cautious as ever, and it was obvious the former GCPD officer had looked through the eyehole.

"What the hell do you want?"

He extends the hand with the letter, "Please, just read this. I'm not here for any other reason."

He watches as the officer scans the letter, seeming to lose color the further he reads. He scoffs, putting it in his pocket, "Sure other than to gloat."

"No, you don't understand-" He tries to negotiate softly, knowing his anger is the last thing that would help right now.

"Oh please, don't think I didn't notice the ring gone from your hand."

"Jason, that is not why I'm here."

As soon as he sees the cane drop, he knows it's coming, but he allows it; he promised. Jason's fist collides with his jaw, making contact and stinging, but he has had much worse.

"Screw you Grayson. You think I don't know? Huh? I'm a P.I. for god's sake! You watch her like a hawk when you're not near her, and when you're with her you annoy the hell out of her and jeopardize her safety by your stupid decisions!"

"That was before..." He trails off, knowing how much he has changed in a year, especially the last week.

"Before what?"

He hesitates as the images that haunt him at night play like a slideshow in his head.

"No, really, I wanna hear this. What makes you so special? Huh? What makes the rich playboy, who is a carbon copy of his adopted father, finally care about someone he's known for all his life-"

Jason is silent. Huh, Jason finally made a deduction Dick didn't expect him to make. Maybe he isn't completely empty headed. Grayson dares to look up at the raging, now ex-boyfriend's eyes, which have completely softened.

"You... you found her, didn't you?"

He nods, images racing through his mind, "Yes... yes I did..."

Jason takes a deep breath, "They've been saying very little... giving Commissioner Gordon some of his sanity back, out of sympathy more than respect... He didn't do anything, did he?"