A Twist of Fate

Chapter 43

Batman was the last to sit down in the living room. Slade leaned on the door frame, his eldest son, Grant, next to him. Joey was flopped on the couch seemingly at complete ease. In the med bay Wintergreen and Alfred went to work cleaning and stitching what they could.

"How much blood of a Talon is he?" Batman asked Slade.

Slade shrugged, "Enough to have the traits but they come and go."

"No pattern to them?"

"Mind set from what I've gathered."

Batman frowned, "Then why won't he heal?"

Slade looked away, "Because he gave up on living."

The words caught Canary's attention, "It's happened before?"

"Not in a long time." Grant muttered, "But yeah, it's happened before."

Canary sat up, "Do you know what is going to happen when Dick is healthy enough to move?"

"Whatever Dick wants. I was hoping to take him home. He can do whatever he wants with his life." Slade then looked to glare at Wally, "And if you hurt him in any way, you better run and never stop."

Wally nodded hurriedly leaning away from the scary man. Joey patted Wally's head with a grin that hinted of a devil underneath. Grant smirked at the poor boy's fright. Canary looked amused. Batman was surprised at the warning Slade gave the boy.

"Slade."

Everyone looked to the hallway and the two older gentlemen.

Slade looked to the older man inclining his head, "Wintergreen. How is he?"

Wintergreen shook his head, "Broken bones, infection, and his back is completely shredded."

"He's lucky not to be dead." The other man told him.

Slade nodded, "No other problems."

"Physically he should recover." Wintergreen sighed, "Mentally, I have no idea. Dick could bounce back or..."

"He'll bounce back." Slade sighed, "He always does."

Wintergreen shook his head with a sigh, "One day you'll be wrong Slade. The boy will be up soon, we'll find out then."

It wasn't long before a scream echoed through the cave and down the corridors. Slade was up and running faster than Flash. The team and League rushed after him. They stopped at the sight of a panicked Dick and a weary Slade. The man didn't make any threatening moves as he headed towards Dick's medical bed. When Slade got in reach, he pulled the sobbing boy to his chest in a hug.

The only words that were exchanged were between Slade and Dick.

"Can we go home?" Dick had asked.

"Yes. We can go home."

~ ~ ~

It had been three weeks since Dick had gone home with Slade. He felt better. He felt his sense of safety come back to him. It was also the day he planned on going back to the Cave to hang out with everyone. Wally had called him for a date a few days after he left. Since then Wally and Dick have been on four dates and a few public hangouts with everyone.

Dick didn't feel safe in the Cave anymore. He might never feel safe in it ever again. The team understood. They felt it themselves even after Batman bumped up their security ten times. They also got a new team mate; Robin. Well their second Robin. He was distant and hard at trusting but he was a good kid. On the younger side but more skilled than any of them put together. Dick and Robin had bonded in their outings but he hadn't met him in the Robin uniform at the Cave.

When Dick walked into the Cave he felt some of his panic raise up but quickly took one of his pills to calm his nerves. It worked and he was able to make it all the way into the living room. The team all looked up to him with grins on their faces. Dick grinned back, flopping down next to Wally. With a bit of movement and adjusting, Dick's back was flush with Wally's chest. Wally's arms wrapped around his waist and Dick's head laying on Wally's shoulder.

Heroes and a Villain, friends to the bitter end.

End... or Not.............Bu' Boom