Returning the Favor Story String Rerepost

[Batgirl]

Ok, this was started back in the old forum and just started to get good when it was brought to a halt. So I decided to bring it back and figured with all the great writers on the board we could finish it up. Please keep to the so called plot though, don't go too far off the path. Try to keep with where the story is going. Ok, here's what we got so far.. (see below posts)

[Batgirl]

Returning the Favor


Nightwing panicked. He struggled helplessly against his bindings as the sickly green gas filled the room. He couldn't think straight, thoughts of death and misfortune overcoming the few rational thoughts racing through his head. He took the deepest breath he could manage before the gas reached his nostrils and held it. 'Oh dear lord, I'm not going to make it...can't..think straight...come one Dick pull out the key...' he frantically thought, 'I'm not gonna make it...' There was a crash to his left followed by grunting, struggling and fists flying and thudding as they hit their mark. Dick no longer able to hold his breath let it out only to suck in gas and after a few coughing gasps he lost all consciousness.

Batman watched ***** head drop and frowned deeply while punching another of the thugs sending him into blackness. He looked around the last of them though the Joker was gone. He picked up a nearby chair and sent it crashing through the glass window separating the make-shift gas chamber and viewing room. The gas immediately was sucked of the chamber and dissipated in such a un confined room. Batman rushed in and took ***** pulse. His pulse was there but his breathing was labored signaling his imminent respiratory and heart failure. Bruce quickly undid the chains and picked Dick up and shot his grappling hook up through the skylight. He was quickly pulled upwards through it. Bruce laid Dick in the back of the bat plane. 'Hang on Dick,' Batman pleaded in thought as he hopped into the cockpit and headed back to the manor and cave.

~Andy

Dick groaned softly slipping deeper into darkness as Batman hauled it to the cave. Once there Batman slipped off his cowl and carried Nightwing over to a table where Alfred stood waiting. Bruce checked Dick's pulse again, his teeth clenched slightly, 'it's getting weaker', he thought to himself. Alfred set to work...

Oracle^-^

The humidity was unbearable. Like rising steam, Nightwing felt heat flowing up from every nook and cranny of the ground beneath him. He stirred, his eyes twitching beneath his stifling mask...pressed hard to the ground.

The sounds of the jungle cackled around him. The South American sun pounded upon his figure like a judge's gavel gone blind.

And, with each attempt that Nightwing made to move...he yelped out in pain. He felt his leg with his hand, wishing he hadn't..for the stinging sensation was too grand...even with the simplest touch.

No doubt about it, his leg had been broken.....badly.

To die in the jungle was the last that Dick Grayson wanted. It meant the end to Nightwing before it was ever born. All of his training would have been useless...and furthermore, all of his life.

Would he forever be remembered as a shadow of a warmonging master? A bat that paraded stoically across his dreams every night in the steamy jungle?

But Dick had missed the branch from atop...and his gliders failed him. He had sailed hard down to the ground below...and was pinned to the earth like a bird...

A robin with a broken wing...

How surprising indeed it was to him...when he heard her voice.

"Hello there? Are you hurt?"

Nightwing stirred with a grunt. The voice was calming...young...feminine. It contained an evident, Latin accent to it.

To his further surprise, a figure knelt calmly besides him. His head turned, and he graced her face for the first time.

If South America was Eden...Nightwing had just seen his first Eve. She was gorgeous...as his winded lungs could manage to feed his eyes with. Her skin a tan smoothness...and her eyes a liquid brown. She had silked hair held back in a ponytail...and she was attired in the necessary garb for such jungle excursions as she must have been on at that moment.

"Who are you?" Dick asked through his fallen Nightwing form.

"No matter," she breathed. "You're injured...here, let me help you back to my place. I know how to treat broken limbs."

She proceeded to help him to his feet, but he resisted with a jerk, asking, "Why are you doing this for me?"

She blinked back at him, an utterly calm aura of beauty. "Returning a favor..."

*****

Nightwing gasped loudly for air, his lungs echoing a wheeze that permeated the deepest corners of the cavernous batcave.

"He's coming to!" Alfred spoke, monitoring his life supports on the med-table.

"Dick! Dick, say something! Are you in pain?!" Bruce asked, concerned.

But Dick only squirmed in his position, moaning, "...who...who are you...why are you helping me?"

And in the thin line of his consciousness, an angel spoke back...

"Returning a favor..."

-Post Rapture

Barbara knew something was wrong, sensed it somehow. She felt as though she were still connected to Dick, even though...
Well.
She sat up in bed, feeling the rivulets of sweat stream down her face. Breathing heavily, she stared straight into the night, into the black, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the thick dark. They didn't; she merely saw swirls of oily color dancing before her eyes, playing tricks on her sleep addled mind. Barbara swallowed, trying to control her breath and calm herself. She couldn't go back to sleep. Her heart beat audibly in the silence of her room, dull thuds in a crisp silence.
She set her bare feet on the cold wooden panneling and quickly changed into a pair of worn jeans she'd tossed to the floor and a navy t-shirt emblazoned with "Gotham U." She hurriedly pulled her red locks into a pony tail and easily slid open her first floor window. She touched the chain which hung perpetually around her neck, tucking the small skeleton key threaded onto the necklace under her collar.
She couldn't risk waking her father by opening the garage door to get a bicycle or starting the ignition of her car. Sighing, she began to run in the cold night. She'd wanted to get up early, anyhow.
**********
She reached Wayne Manor in about half an hour and used the hidden entrance to the Batcave. She saw Dick on the table, surrounded by Alfred and Batman. Batman's cowl lie on the floor. She could see the worry in Bruce's face, not just in the false, narrow slits of Batman's eyes. Not a good sign.
She ran to Dick, who lie moaning quietly. Bruce saw her and communicated with her through his eyes. Barbara knelt to Dick, cupped his face with her hands. He opened his eyes, a thin film glazing over his pupils. He groaned in pain and shifted, then focused on Barbara a moment.
"Shh...it's okay," she comforted.
"No!" he suddenly cried, pushing her hands away. Barbara looked stricken, hurt.
"No!" Dick repeated. "I don't want you....get away! I want...I want..."
"What, Dick?" asked Bruce.
"I want...her..." He closed his eyes a moment, then sat bolt upright, the film gone from his eyes, his jaw set. Barbara stifled a sob as she saw the determination flit through Dick's face.
Love hurt.

~Andy

"I don't know what could possibly be wrong with him...," Barbara said...wiping a few lasting tears from her eyes. She had quite gained composure by that point in time, yet she was still trying to overcome the shock of not only his condition...but his vulgar response to seeing her. "He never blew up directly AT me like that. What could I have done to make him that mad?"

"Never fret, my dear," Alfred said, walking up to where she was sitting at the bat computer and handing her a hankerchief from his suit pocket. "The poison in his system is likely causing him to hallucinate. He may be assuming that you are someone else entirely."

"Gee, I hope so," Barbara shuddered, making good use of the cloth now given her. "The last person I'd want angry at me for any reason is Dick. And...you know, I care for him. I hate to imagine him undergoing any sort of pain. Can't he similarly regard me with the same care?"

"He would if he could," Alfred said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "But..he's just not quite himself right now."

They both glanced over to where Dick was lying on the table...the med systems around him (being monitored by Bruce) bleeping endlessly in a eerie rhythm.

*****

Dick's eyes opened. The first thought that came to his mind was that he was still in uniform. The second thought was that he was in a private quarters other than his own habitat...and since his mask had been removed, that created a bad mix for the security of his identity.

He attempted to sit up, but nearly screamed out at the pain that shot through his left side. He fell back..into a rough yet comforting bed. It was still humid, and the buzzing of the wildlife outside told him that he was still in the jungle...past noon.

As he finally became aware of the sunlight about him, he realized that he was in a...shack of some sort. It was like an open hut...crafted by thick and firm logs of various woods...forming a rigid, geometric dome overhead. The ceiling consisted only of the wooden beams, and the house underneath it (if you could even call it a house) consisted of little furniture, but instead plenty of rations and jungle-hiking equipment.

It was then that Dick remembered...the fall...the broken leg...the girl who was promising to take care of him at her place.

Her place...that's where he was. And had she taken care of him?

He craned his neck forward and glanced at his leg...seeing (not sensing) that it was raised and placed snugly within a crude splint. Just twitching his toes hurt..but to his surprise, it was nothing quite as bad as his preliminary injury. In a way, things were less painful now.

Suddenly, he was shocked by a clanking sound. Boots against a wooden surface.
He looked over and saw the very same girl (beauty didn't matter to his Nightwing soul that moment) walking up a ramp and into the 'house', shaded well beneath the raised ceiling.

In her grasp was a steamy bowl of some sort of porridge...arousing Dick's undiscovered hunger with its enticing aroma.

"You had better eat," the young woman, his age, said. "You've been starving yourself, I'm sure."

"I beg your pardon, maid?" he aggravatingly responded.

"No person insane enough to jump from tree to tree and break every bone in his leg could possibly find a need in feeding himself," she said. "That's why I'm taking opportunity to feed you for you...forgive my grammar."

"I'll forgive you accent first," he grunted.

She was deadpan, "I'll try not to take that as an insult."

"I guess it's no use in protecting my identity anymore," Dick said.

"What identity?" the girl asked, sitting on the edge of his bed with the soup placed down on a nearby table. She glared at his face with those beautific eyes of hers. "I couldn't recognize you even if I tried."

"That's the first best thing that's happened to me since I was thrown in here," Dick mumbled.

"I wouldn't be so negative," she retorted. "Had I not treated your leg soon enough, you may have lost it for good. Be glad that I'm a certified physician in that field."

"Oh yeah? Well what's a 'certified phsyician' doing out here in the middle of a steamy jungle?" he asked.

She smirked a bit, "Only if you tell me what a clumsy monkey in blue and black tights has to do with this habitat."

Dick was silent to that.

"Come on," she urged again, moving the bowl over onto the bed before him with a spoon. "Eat. It's made out of surprisingly tasty ingredients...amazingly."

He stared at the bowl, then at her. Relenting in silence, he proceeded to eat.

"That's a good boy," she replied and walked off. "Excuse me while I draw more water from the nearby spring. We don't exactly get plumbing over here."

Out of nowhere grumbled a voice, "Dick Grayson..."

She turned around and glanced at him from afar off, "Excuse me?"

"Dick Grayson," he repeated. "That is my name. And yours?"

She smiled weakly and said, "Livia..."

*****

"Livia...," Dick moaned.

Barbara moved to see what was wrong, but Alfred held her hand...reassuring her that everything was all right. She sat back down at the bat computer...more calm, but nonetheless worried....

-Post Rapture

[Batgirl]

Barb chewed her lip in frustration, hurt beyond compare...~who is this girl?....he wants her more then me...~ she thought bitterly, she glanced again at the table where he lay.~ something happened when he left for so long before becoming Nightwing, didn't it?~ she asked herself, her conscience answered back in a harsh tone, ~ you better believe it girl.~

Oracle^-^

"So let me get this straight...," Dick drolled on, sitting in the very same bed in the jungle. It had waned on to night..and sitting before the foot of his place of rest, and bathed in the flickering colors of a glowing fire indoors, was Livia...engaging in some further conversation with him due to his insistance.

"You're saying that you're working out here....on a book?" he asked.

"As a matter of fact, I am," she nodded matter-of-factly. "It's a thesis on the structure of the food chain, and its potential correlation to the economical and cultural patterns of modern, urban society."

"Eh?" was all that Grayson could say in reply.

Livia let out a slight chuckle and continued, "I find it very possible that the rate in which an aphid is eaten by a mantis, which is then eaten by a lizard, which is then eaten by a rat, which is then devoured by a snake, which is then chewed to bits by a bird of prey is nonetheless similar to the big booming corporations that dot the city skylines of North American and East Asia..."

"Instead of learning from the stars," Dick smirked. "You're learning from the starfish?"

"If you're that grand of a visionist," she replied. She walked over and poured herself a metal cup full of water from a stored cantene hanging from a peg on a pillar. "I felt that the rainforest was the best place to study such biology. Life-balances are so intricate here! It'd take an entire lifetime to contemplate..if even that."

"Is this place really the best for concentrating on your writings?" Dick asked.

"Oh, I do occasionally get distracted by falling tights-clad geeks from the sky," she said.

Dick sighed, "You know what, I would have said your attitude gives it away....but already judging from the grand allotment of jungle supplies you've got stored here...I'm guessing you come from a rich family or background."

"Let's just say my university was very generous towards my project," she said.

"Ohhhh."

"And I'm sorry if I do appear honorary," she said, sitting down and leaning her head against her hand, sighing out through her nose. "I've just been out here for so long...so alone...I guess I've sorta grown...you know, mad at society."

"I don't blame you for that," Dick said, leaning his head back against the pillow. "And I'm guessing that a story that looks derogatively down on urban lifestyle isn't the best spirit-builder for you either."

"No, I guess not."

"Then that settles it," Dick yawned. "I forgive you."

Livia looked up, a strange look on her face. "Forgive me?"

He glanced over at her, "Yeah...that's right. For making me feel like one of your little animal subjects that you can clean up and feed!"

She took one glance at the split/cast she made for him, then back at his face. Her eyes said it all.

"Yes, yes, I know...you saved me in a lot of ways," he sighed. "It's just that..."

"You would have rather expected tea and crumpets in bed," she nodded with a frown.

"No no no," he retorted. "That's not it! It's like from the very start that we've ever said 'hi' to each other on this chaotic day, it's been insult after insult! In fact, I don't even remember either of us saying 'hi'!"

"Don't you forget that I wasn't the only one here acting like a portable Mt. Vesuvius," she slurred in response, pointing to herself with her hand. "I've done all I could to help you, and what do you do? You heckle me with all the grime stuffed in that suit of yours!" She gave him a weird look and craned her neck to look down his form, "Just what are you wearing? Are you some sort of human canonball circus act?"

"No cracks about circuses please," he said, a frown on his face. "It's been dirty enough as it has been."

"I'm sorry...I just get riled up easily," she said with a sigh. She glanced off, through the flickering fire, as she spoke, "It comes from my past, I think. My parents weren't rich...they dumped me in the streets for dead when I was a kid. Then this rich pair from Argentina...they adopted me and all...rose me to be a real snob. Gosh, if only they could see me now...see how cold I've become at times. I fear so much that I'll become like them...I think that's why I'm on the run...out here...in the jungle...catching leotard weirdoes from the tree canopy..."

By this time, Dick was silent. In fact, he was stunned. After a period of quietness, he said, "I came here to escape too..."

Livia glanced over at him, "Huh?"

"Cold...it fills your heart at times," he said. "Like mine...like my own mentor's...just as you run to escape it...I'm running twice as fast. At least, you got a whole ceiling above your head and a weirdo book to write. Me...I have my destiny hanging by a thread. And that destiny looks just about as cold as my past. So cold...I could easily have died out there with my broken leg and all. I didn't really care..."

He swallowed a lump down in his throat and glared down at the ground.

Silence.

He looked up, and saw that she had on a different face...the same beautiful face that he had first seen when she knelt by his agonized side on the jungle floor.

The face of compassion.

He took a breath and then said, "Thank you...for caring the cold out of me today..." He took a deeper breath and let out, "I apologize for backfiring on you of all people because of it all."

After a while, she still was staring at him. Finally, a softer voice escaped through the back of her throat, "You know, weirdo...maybe in as messed up as we both are....we have a similarity in this turkish bath of a jungle." Her eyes jumped on to the floor...then bounced back up into his face, "I forgive you...."

He nodded back. But soon found himself locked in the gaze that he thought she had started.

For a minute, the two Vesuviuses were quieted.

Until finally, Livia cleared her throat, "Err...time for bed. I'll turn the fire out...we could use the leftover wood for a breakfast meal tomorrow morning."

He nodded. "Ok," he half-whispered.

"Good night...Mr. Grayson," and she placed out the fire and laid back on her sleeping mat..beneath the darkness.

******

"Good night....Livia...," Dick mumured.

But the only ears that his comment met...was Barbara's...in the batcave. For she was standing right over him.


God bless
-Post Rapture

Barbara was startled, her voice catching in the back of her throat,
"...Livia..."
She said quietly, so it was true, something had happened when he had left, and she had never known. She felt anger rise, feeling hurt that at that moment she was competeting with a memory. She felt the tears well up in her eyes and she turned away and back to the batcomputer. This is ridiculous, she thought bitterly. Obviously it was nothing serious if he came back without her, and he came back to me...it was obviously nothing, she repeated to herself. She looked at Dick's form again, a feeling of contempt consuming her.

Oracle^-^

"Livia?" Barbara murmurred to herself. Alfred walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Child, you must be exhausted. I've made up the guest room at the very end of the hall. Go lie down awhile," Alfred, seeing Barb's rising argument, cut her off, "Master Bruce and I can care for Dick, if there is any change in his condition I will come and get you." Barbara seemingly eased a bit by this started to make her way up the Batcave stairs and into the manor above. She paused on the stairs and cast a last glance at Dick lying on the table, seemingly weak, fragile, vunerable, but she knew the real Dick, the Dick locked away from her by this poisoness sleep. Poisoness not only to Dick's health but also to their already weak and strained relationship, if you could even call it that. The last thought she had before laying down on the warm and comforting bed was, "Who's Livia?"

~Andy

In the padded quiet of the Batcave, Bruce and Alfred struggled to stay awake, keep their vigil over Dick. Pain and exhaustion regestered clearly on their faces. Dick's breathing was shallow and pained but, nonetheless, steady. In an instant, Dick began to turn and moan on the table, crying out. Bruce and Alfred, suddenly wide awake, raced to Dick's side. The young man began to lash out, his eyes still closed tightly, his fists bashing into the metal table, quickly causing small dents, then larger ones. The boy screamed, a primal, horrific scream that echoed through the cave. The purplish veins which laced his handsome face began to pulse and throb just beneath the surface of skin.
Barbara heard the scream and raced down the steps of the Batcave. "God, God...what's happening to him?" she shreiked, her shrill voice adding to the cacophony as Bruce and Alfred attempted to communicate.
"We have to tie him down...he'll hurt himself!" Alfred said over the noise. Bruce ran for the restraints and, trying to avoid Dick's flailing fists, bound his wrists and ankles to the table. The boy jerked about, arched his back. Finally, Bruce raced in with a full syringe and carefully injected the liquid into a bulging vein in Dick's arm. Dick quieted. His labored breathing filled the silence. Barbara sank to her knees and began to sob.
*******************************
Dick awoke in the peaceful silence of the jungle hut. His back ached, and he sensed he'd had a nightmare, though he remembered nothing. Moaning quietly, he pushed back the worn rust-colored blanket and sat up. Rubbing the small of his back, he noticed that Livia was already awake. She smiled when she saw him, though quickly hid her expression. "How do you feel today, young man?" she asked.
"Young man? Well, someone feels superior today. Are your native brat instincts acting up again?" Dick didn't mean to come across quite so cross, but, well...
Livia rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Strong words for a boy in a ballet outfit." She shoved a steaming mug into his calloused hands. She sat on the floor and sipped a cup of similar brew. He gave her a grateful look.
"Why did you come here?" she asked abruptly, her eyes piercing his weary soul.
"I thought we weren't going to get personal."
"I want to get personal." She paused. "Let me guess. A problem."
"That's broad," retorted Dick. "You sure nailed it."
"Let me finish. A man you trusted completely...one you admired and tried to emulate. And then there was a woman...and you trusted her, too. And you loved her."
"Are you sure you're writing a book? Not operating a phone psychic network?" asked Dick, fiddling with the fringe of his blanket.
"Are you saying I'm correct? That I 'nailed it'?"
"I'm saying you're in the general vicinity."
"The woman...you loved her and she...betrayed you?"
"No...I had to go out on my own, stop living in the shadow of someone else. I had to be my own man." Dick looked away.
"And?" asked Livia, a smile playing at her lips. She was digging deeper. "What about the woman?"
"I did love Barbara. At least, I thought I did. Nothing lasts forever." Dick couldn't meet her eyes. She read his body language.
"This Barbara girl, I hear the trauma in your voice when you speak of her." She peered at him, turned his face to her. "She did betray you, did she not?"
Dick sighed, unable to form the words he hated hearing. Finally, when he could no longer stand the heavy silence, he spoke. "Yes. Barbara betrayed me...as did the man I most trusted." He swallowed tears. "Are you often right?"
Livia smiled with pursed lips, obviously satisfied with the discovery. "Well," she replied, "I am rarely wrong."

Alexandra

I can't beleive I'm simply telling her everything about my life, the thought raced through Dick's mind, as if a warning of some sort. But she is beautiful, and if it weren't for her I'd be...He sifted in bed,
" Is your leg bothering you?"
She asked in concern, her dark brown eyes look over his face for signs of pain. He shook his head,
" Nah, don't worry, I was just, thinking about something."
" all right, I'm sorry, but I have to go for some research I need, can you manage?"
She asked as she gathered a few supplies, he nodded, she smiled and slipped out the small hut as Dick settled back down.

~~~~~~~
Barbara began to control her sobs, thanks to Alfred bringing her some hot tea right away.
" Bruce..wha..what just happened?"
She whispered. Bruce sat at the computer, rubbing his hands through his hair, and looking incredibly worn. His eyes were locked on Dick's now still form...

Oracle^-^

[Batgirl]

Dick lifted himself from the couch uneasily, his leg aching in the makeshift cast. He was still cloaked in the Nightwing attire. He shook the cobwebs of sleep from his mind, stretching. He sat in pure silence for several hours, staring into the air, concentrating his energies and thoughts as well as possible. He'd lost far too much time, had partially undone what he'd been trying to achieve. He could feel the power of self-control pumping again through his veins. His eyes flickered with the power. However, before he could completely rejuvinate, the door opened.
Livia had returned.
"Lunchtime?" she asked, a smile playing at her perfect lips.
"I'm not hungry," growled Dick, his concentration lost.
"Sure, you're not," scoffed Livia. "Here, circus boy, I brought you something." She tossed a pile of clothing in his direction.
Truly grateful but unwilling to show it, Dick picked the items up. "Turn away," he said, pulling off his gloves.
"Suddenly shy, are we?" teased Livia, quickly making her way to the kitchen area. Dick changed quickly, happy to feel the cool, clean clothes against his punished skin.
"I thought you were conducting research," he commented, pulling a cotton shirt over his head. "Whose clothes are these?"
"You think I'm the only crazy in this forest?" she asked, emerging from the kitchen with two plates. "I hope you don't have anything against nourishment."
"What?"
"Nothing. Yes, I was doing research, but I must eat eventually. That's the difference between yourself and I..." she realized her grammar was incorrect. "I care about sustaining myself, if only so that I can continue my work." She stared at him with penetrating eyes.
"What?" he asked, relenting and taking a bite of the sandwich.
"I would like to hear the rest of the story, Mr. Grayson," she replied.
"You're the psychic, you tell me."
"There's not much to do here...I've not been enlightened in a good long time. You've piqued my curiosity."
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Finally, he sighed. "Fine."
*********************
Barbara swallowed the tea in gulps, letting the hot liquid burn her throat. Her eyes were red with tears. Bruce walked to her, knelt before her. She looked into his sad eyes.
"Bruce..." she managed, hardly above a whisper.
He touched her smooth hand, folding it into his. Suddenly, she broke free, tearing her hand from his.
"No," she said, shaking her head violently, breathing in gasps. "No...that's what started this, Bruce. That's why...that's why he..." She turned away, the lump in her throat preventing her from finishing.
It hurt to look into Bruce's face...but not as much as it hurt to look into Dick's.
She didn't want to look either in the eyes, but at least with Dick, she didn't have to.

Alex

Barbara turned away from both of the men, rubbing her eyes, her face flushed with tears. Bruce remained quiet and watched her began to walk away. She had to leave, she needed fresh air before she felt sick. She clambered up the stairs where above the ground Wayne Manor was glowing with sunlight penetrating through the windows. She brushed past the living room where the television had been left on...the news was reporting some "just in news" concerning the League of Assassins...Barbara open the door and took a deep breath, barely making it before she felt completely sick. She leaned against the wall, sucking in the cool air of morning, racking her brain of the confusion that had come.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dick sighed, utterly exhausted and he thanked Livia as she handed him a mug of coffee. He wasn't even about half way through with his story and night had already began to fall. But Livia certainly gave no signs of boredom, in fact she ha never taken her eyes off him except to prepare dinner and put away her supplies from that morning. Dick began to feel a closeness with her, he felt secure, she was a complete stranger to him but yet he was pouring out his entire life, his personal thoughts and secrets...something he had never shared with anyone, not Bruce nor Alfred, even in his weakest moments...not even to...her...

Oracle^-^

For the following month, Dick Grayson recuperated under the protective care of Livia. And during that time, a great deal of thoughts were shared.

Livia had a very grand background...having been adopted by a rich Mexican family and then given a regal eductation. Most of her life, she had been fighting for independence...and the chance to make an icon out of herself. Yet, as depressing as her life seemed to be, she had a real fighting spirit. And it impressed Dick immensely. It was the one major personality of Livia that he truly admired.

So admirable was his perception of her, that he soon realized that, without even meaning to...he had given his entire self away! To put it simply, Livia was now endowed with the ultimately secret identity of the elusive Robin...and the growing Nightwing.

Yet, in spite of it all...Dick didn't care of how much she now knew. For some odd reason, he told himself that she was more than capable of keeping his secret. If not for his sake...but for hers.

He was becoming a major part of her life now. The things he said seemed to have effects on her research...and she kept thinking him for things...things that she never explained and Dick couldn't quite get ahold of.

And, in time, Dick's wound began to mend. He would soon be able to face his new companion at eye level....

***

"Ready?" Livia asked.

"Ready," Dick replied..a bit nervous.

"Ally-oop!" Livia cried out, helping Dick up into a standing position.

Dick stumbled a bit, but once he got ahold of the wooden 'crutches' that the girl had fashioned for him, he managed to keep upright.

"Can you handle it?" Livia asked.

"Yes, I can handle myself," Dick said with a slight smirk.

"Don't put pressure on the bad leg."

"Right...I must put my weight on the crutches."

"You seem experienced at using crutches."

"It's not the first time I've broken a limb," Dick explained.

"Ohhh," Livia nodded. "No wonder you handled yourself so well."

"Well, you're my first long-term nurse," Dick replied...hobbling around and getting used to a smaller world.

Livia crossed her arms and glanced at him across the room with a slight smirk, "Is that all I am?"

He turned around and glared back, "Pardon?"

"A long-term nurse...is that I all am to you?"

Dick smirked slightly, "Jeez...I didn't expect an interrogation on my first day of walking."

"If you don't stop your sarcasm, I'll break your other leg," she said.

He chuckled, "That's certainly asserting."

She giggled, "I was sorta hoping we'd be on similar terms...now that we're at the same atmospheric level."

"In time," he said. "Things always shapen out in time."

Livia nodded, "They do....don't they?"

At that, he looked at her. And for a split moment of reality..the two were linked in what they had secretly looked forward to....an equality of eyesight....a singularity of vision.

"I-I'm going to go get some water, ok?" she said, walking out of the building. "See ya in a bit.."

Dick smiled, watching her leave. This was certainly going to an interesting twist to the two....

******

The door to the study opened. Barbara looked over from where she sat by the window.

"Miss Gordon?" Alfred asked, standing in the doorway. "We may need you..."

"Why?" Barbara asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Alfred took a breath and said, "Master Dick is awake...."


God bless
-Post Rapture

Barbara's eyes widened. She rushed past Alfred and flew down the Batcave steps, halting before the table.
"Dick?" she whispered.
His blue eyes were open, but a hollow look was fixed on the dark ceiling.
"Dick?" she repeated, reaching for his clammy hand. She squeezed. And waited.
**********
Dick grinned up at Livia. He'd grown very fond of his mysterious savior. He learned much from her, including survival tactics he was sure he would eventually need. Truthfully, he was beginning to forget his old mission, his old life as an echo of greatness, his old reasons for being, his old problems. He hardly remembered why he'd escaped to the jungle in the first place. She erased it all, though she delved into his psyche nightly, grinning over a mug of coffee as she pried gingerly into his life. He had rehashed the entire ordeal involving Barbara and Bruce several times. Sometimes he wondered why she was so interested. Usually, he was just happy to have such a beautiful companion sit near him, drink tea, and be interested in his thoughts.
Finally, one night, she sat before him, her brown eyes focused on him, her skin glowing radiantly in the reflected light of a full moon, her dark hair falling in waves around her face.
"Do you like it here, Mr. Grayson?" she asked, smiling at her instinctive formality.
"Of course, Livia."
"Do you like me?"
"Very much...of course." Dick smiled endearingly.
"I do wish you would get over her, then." Livia flipped her hair out of her face.
"Who?" asked Dick, knowing perfectly well.
"Barbara...she clouds your mind. You will never be truly open, not to yourself, not to me. You'll never be satisfied. You must stop concentrating on Barbara and Bruce..."
"I never told you his name was Bruce," snapped Dick, suspicion flashing through his eyes. This was getting personal.
Livia appeared taken aback but quickly recovered. She folded her arms in front of her chest. "You said I was a mind reader, remember? It's beside the point."
"And what is the point?" asked Dick pointedly.
"This," said Livia, moving towards him suddenly and planting a quick kiss on his lips. He raised an eyebrow as she drew away, then, relenting, cupped her face and initiated a longer kiss, finally forgetting his lingering worries.
And then...
The world began to spin, swirl, and split, colors meshing into one another, dripping in oily patterns down a black background. Dick felt a screeching pain in his head as the picture faded. This wasn't reality, he thought, unsure of what to believe. It was a reliving...a second time around at the same thing. The same terrible thing. The scene shifted...he was alone at the hut. He suddenly heard the female screams, the resounding, horrified screams. He knew it was Livia. He raced into the jungle, letting the wet leaves slap him as he chased through the thick trees, trying to run too fast to sink into the cold mud below.
"Livia!" he cried, his voice swallowed in the surroundings. "Livia!" he repeated, louder, his voice melding with Livia's anguished screams. He raced through the green, trying to locate the origin of the cries, to no avail. Finally, his leg aching with residual pain, he collapsed to the muddy ground.
Livia's cries finally ceased.
And Dick's eyes snapped open.
*********
"Dick?" asked Barbara again.
He looked back at her. Blinked.
"Are you...okay? God, we were so worried..." Barbara began.
Dick looked paniced. He glanced around, bucked on the table. He tried to get up, straining against the bonds.
"No," said Bruce. "Please, just relax a bit. Calm down...you've been through a lot."
"Release me," said Dick, in a voice not his own.
"Do it," whispered Barb. Bruce shrugged and loosened the bonds. Dick sat up, breathing quickly.
"I must find her."
"Find who?" Barb put a hand on his shoulder. Dick pushed it away, stood up.
"I can't fail her. They took her...no, God, Livia!"
"Dick, please," pleaded Bruce. Dick stared straight ahead, his tunnel vision allowing him to see only what he wanted. He went for the door. Bruce attempted to block the exit.
Calmly, easily, Dick balled a fist and punched Bruce in the jaw. He sprawled backward from the unexpected punch as Dick walked out.
"Dick...no, please," said Barbara, tears streaming. Dick didn't appear to hear her. "I...I love you."
He was already gone.

Alex

[Batgirl]

Dick never found out exactly how he made it back to his loft...but indeed, a full day's stumbling across the realm of Gotham City got him there.

He remembered waking up on his couch...still in his outfit. But strangely, nothing of that sort seemed to matter to him.

Lying cold and ghostly on the couch...his mind only dwealt in one arena....the arena of a sweet sorrowful past....

******

Dick looked down at her...as if waiting...hoping...

Livia was silent in bed. The beautiful features of her face and skin seemed radiant in the pale dullness of the shadowing night.

When he had found her, she had been bitten by a terrible serpent. Nightwing somehow knew it from studying under Wayne's wing as a rare type that Ra's Al Ghul tried to breed.

Of course, Ra's had no part in Livia's circumstances...but from the old files, Dick had memorized the kind and nature of the serpent. It was venemous to the last drop...and it caused a searing, torturous pain to anyone who was merely scratched by its fangs.

Thankfully, Dick had found Livia quite soon after her bite. He did the only thing anyone could to stop a snake bite that fresh from spreading through her system. He ripped oven the area of her skin where the bite was and sucked the venom out himself.

Well, the whole ordeal had put her under for about the last two nights. Now it was the third night...and it was dawning upon Dick through a fear that she might never awake.

It's understandable that he was absolutely joyous when she began to stir.

"Ngh...."

"Livia?"

"Dick....?" she moaned, her eyes still closed. "My leg...it feels so hot..."

"Oh Livia...," Dick knelt down and embraced her. Helpless as she was in her confused state, she hugged him back like a little girl and loosened her tears over his shoulder.

"Dick...what happened to me?"

"You're absolutely fine, Livia," Dick said. "You suffered a terrible snake bite...but I found you in the nick of time. You just need to rest...that's all. You're going to be absolutely fine."

"Why are you doing this for me?" she wept. "I thought you hated me...my attitude..."

"It's what kept me going, Livia," he smiled...tears rolling down his side of the embrace. "I never want to see you suffer. And........and...."

"Dick?" she breathed in curiosity.

He took a breath and whispered in her ear, "....I think I love you..."

In response, Livia was a bit silent. But soon, she shuddered back a reply, "I.....I was hoping you'd say that."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I've loved you for the last month...," she said.

He chuckled a bit and held her closer. "Then I'm returning a favor...."


God bless
-Post Rapture

Alfred coughed in the silence of the Batcave. The noise seemed eerie and out of place. Barbara sniffled, blinking quickly against her salty tears. Bruce rubbed his jaw, still surprised by the blow.
Barbara swallowed. Hard. "I have to find him...he's not well," she said, grabbing her black peacoat from a rung on the wall.
"Nor are you," reminded Alfred quietly.
"Don't worry about me," she commented. She knew it was true; she felt extremely light-headed and dizzy, her throat burned, and she could feel a feverish sweat covering her body. She turned to Bruce, whose jaw was slowly turning an unnatural shade of violet. "And don't you follow me, either," she directed, waggling a shaking finger at him. "You'll only make things worse."
She hid a sneeze as she passed out the door, unsure as to where to go, disoriented and upset. She coughed; her lungs shook. She made it into downtown Gotham before she collapsed onto the pavement.
It wasn't long before the gangs, the vultures of the night, found her. The leader leered. "What do we have here?" he asked aloud. Barbara remained still. The gang gave a collective shrug, unsure of what to think or do. Finally, the puzzled leader picked up Barbara and took the limp girl back to the gang's headquarters.
The members exchanged confused glances, all of which conveyed the same thing: It was never THIS easy.
**********
Dick tossed and turned on his worn couch, reliving the same memories.
"I have to go back eventually, you know," he said quietly one day. He'd been in the jungle for so long...the days ran into one another, one long stream of happiness. He had no idea how much time he'd spent with her, just lolling the days away in her hut or outside under the canopy of thick leaves and interwined branches. Livia turned to him.
"Why? I love you...you love me...we covered this."
"I know...of course I know." Dick sighed.
"Why can't we stay together? Haven't you been happy here with me? What else could you want?" Livia looked pained. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "It's her, isn't it, Dick?"
"What? Who?"
"You know who...that Barbara girl. You want to go back, back to her betraying arms and lying lips." Livia's eyes burned.
"No, it's not her...it's just...I have to fulfill..." Dick struggled to find the words.
"I told you to forget about her," Livia hissed. She came closer and kissed him with open eyes. "Forget about her."
Dick shut his eyes and tried to forget, tried with every fiber of his being to fill his mind with thoughts of only beautiful Livia. When he opened his eyes, he suddenly saw the chains...the heavy locks...
And realized he could not have left if he wanted to.
"Livia?" he whispered, looking down at his wrists, noticing the chains he'd taught himself to ignore.
"Please," she said, backing away slightly. "It's much easier if you play nice." She swallowed and looked away. "Please, understand....I'm merely returning a favor."
Alex

Dick fought hard with the chains...yet he could not get himself loosened from the grip of Livia's imprisonment.

In horror, his eyes shot out at his beloved. "Livia...why are you doing this to me?"

"You could never but out, could you Dick?"

"What??" Dick gasped, his eyes widening in horror. "What are you talking about?"

Livia's eyes glowed in an eerie redness. The jungle about them lost its light...and he was suspended in a metaphysical darkness at her mercy.

"You never trusted Bruce," a voice from within Livia hissed. "Thus, you could never trust me!"

"Livia?" Dick exclaimed, breathless. "How...h-how do you know Bruce?"

"Livia...LIVIA!" the woman shrieked, now a monster. Lightning shot forth from her eyes as she scowled, "Is it always Livia?! Why her?! What's so good about her?! Is she worth throwing me away?!"

Dick's eyes smoothed to helpless ovals, ".....Barbara..."

"That's right!!" The body of Livia morphed into the embodiment of Dick's long lost companion....Barbara. "You can never get me out of your mind. You know why? Because I own you! I shall always be with you and inside you! You're just my satellite!"

"But...Barbara!" Dick suddenly frowned. "You and Bruce! I left you only because you betrayed ME!"

"Shut up! Just shut up!!" spoke the hallucination. "You're a liar! And you shall die one...like you did in my heart!"

"Barbara!" Dick wailed, trying to his torturous futility to break from the mental chains. "Why can't you let me be free?! Free with Livia?!"

"Because you can never free yourself...," Barbara hissed...drew her arms out...and flew fire at Dick's screaming figure.

PHOOOOM!!!

****

"AUGH!" Dick awoke to the sounds of the surrounding jungle with a gasp. He rubbed his hands across his face, wiping away the nervous sweat and perspiration.

He had to let go....he had to let go of Barbara. Livia was in his life now...not her.

Looking up, Dick saw Livia lying on the bed...peaceful and silent in the darkness of the jungle night.

She was so sweet...so childish...so understanding. Dick knew he had made the right choice with her.

Something overcame the young fellow, and he crept over and gave Livia a gentle hug.

"Nnng..," Livia moaned, waking up. "...Dick?" she protested tiredly. "What's up with you...?"

"I...I just want to let you know that you're the one," Dick said, snuggling her close. "And no matter what the past is...or the future...I shall always be here with you...for all times. Cuz' you're the one...I was afraid at first...but I'm sure of that now...."

"I love you to, Dick," Livia yawned back in reply. Upon feeling his continual embrace, he seemed concerned. "Dick? What's wrong?"

"Just a haunt from the past, that's all," Dick said...."But I'm ok now."

*******

In the batcave....

God bless
-Post RApture


Bruce paced back and forth across the Batcave. He couldn't believe he'd just let her go...not in the state she was in. "I have to go after her, Alfred," he said, not asking for another opinion, simply stating a fact.
Alfred knew this but offered his thoughts anyway. "Do you think that's wise, sir? She needs to do some things on her own."
"Sorry, Alfred...not up for debate." Bruce grabbed his coat.
"You do still love her, then?" asked Alfred, his face void of any emotion, any opinion.
Bruce sighed, looking away. He didn't answer.
*******
Livia smiled at Dick. "The past is a big part of you, stranger," she teased.
"Wish I could forget," he commented, not thinking, not realizing how he was echoing his dream.
"Yeah, wish you could, too..." Her perfect lips split to reveal an even white smile. She put his hand into hers and squeezed gently.
And suddenly, it got a whole lot easier.

Alex

Bruce raced up the stairs and for the door and stopped dead in his tracks.
" That name...."
He rested against the door, rubbing his face, searching his memory in earnest.
" That name!"
He cried, he raced back down for the cave entrance, his coat laying in a heap next to the door.
Bruce rubbed his jaw.
" Here Master Bruce, this might do some good, and you better keep it on."
Alfred commented, handing Bruce an ice pack as he came back down. Bruce acknowledged it with half-interest, staring off into the depths of the cave as he paced for a moment.
" May I ask sir, what prays on your mind this moment?"
Alfred prodded, Bruce glanced his way. He sighed and straightened up without an answer and began to click away on the keys of the batcomputer. Alfred glanced up at what the screen was passing through.
L-I-V-I-A
" Livia, sir?"
Bruce nodded,
" This girl that seems to have held Dick mesmorized like this peaks my interest you might say. It's a quite uncommon name, Livia, and recently I have received certain...reports you might say...and this name has caught my eye quite a couple times."
Alfred watched in silence, even if he explained it again, only Master Bruce would have any idea what he himself was doing. The computer was searching through endless files, Bruce's eyebrows raising slightly here and there as he began to dwell deeper into what he was searching for...

~~~~~~

Dick rubbed his temples feeling a heavy migraine approaching. He rose from the couch and went over to the kitchen, truned a kettle on and went upstairs while it heated. Up in his bathroom he went to the sink, running the water to it's coldest. He plugged up the drain, waited awhile and then dunked his head in. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, flinging his head back out of the water and splattering drops of water against the walls and mirror. He rubbed his face, staring at himself in the mirror, feeling his head began to ache again. He clenched his teeth and thrust a balled up fist at his reflection.
" What is going on inside my head?"
He moaned aloud, dunking his fist in the water, shaking it clear of glass and blood. he heard the whistle of the kettle and, sopping hair and all trodded back downstairs.

~~~~~~~~

" The League of....of what sir?"
Alfred said, reading the screen behind Bruce, the keys clicking away as he scrolled down.
" League of Assassins Alfred. It's recent..I've only heard about them within this week...I assumed it was just a bunch of two-bit rookies..."
He banged his hand on the desk.
" And I assumed wrong..."
He growled. He clciked through the pages again, image after image flashing on the screen. He stopped and doubled back, letting one image come into focus...

Oracle^-^

"Here she is...," Bruce said, pointing at the image of the obvious Livia. "Livia Arnele. She's been with the league for the last four years."

"My word," Alfred exlaimed. "How could Master Dick be intertwined with her?"

"I don't know, Alfred...I don't know..."

Just then, the intercom at the bactomputer went off.

Curious, Bruce answered it. "Hello?"

"Bruce...this is Barbara."

"Barbara?" Bruce stood up. "Where'd you run off to?"

"Never mind...I have a big story to tell you..."

******

Two months after the night Dick hugged Livia and confessed his love to her, the two decided to visit the real world. So, they went to the nearest tran depot...and booked a vacation for two at Rio de Janeiro...Brazil.

Riding on the train, the two talked...each day brought new discoveries...and new promises.

Livia honestly couldn't take her eyes..and ears off of Dick. She was so captivated in his lifestyle...his quest for vigilantism. It made her wish she had lived the same way.

And each time she learned of the death of his mom and dad...she wept for him at heart. She promised herself never would she ever hurt him the same way.

But soon, the two made it to Rio de Janeiro...got off the train, and enjoyed the first few moments of fun on the colored streets.

*****

Barbara stood in the Gotham Police Department, speaking on the phone. "Then...after I escaped from the thugs who obviously didn't know my fighting strength....I made my way here. But I didn't leave without learning an important thing."

"What's that?" asked Bruce through the phone.

"....I know where the Joker is..."


God bless
-Post Rapture

[Batgirl]

"Do you know how worried I was?" demanded Bruce in a harsh tone.
"Bruce, don't make this harder," replied Barbara. "I collapsed in the streets, and some gang members brought me back to their hide-out. When I was regaining consciousness, I saw flashes of color...red and green and white in streaks. And I heard his voice...his cackle. I know what he's planning, and I know where he is. We can stop him before he starts."
"Barbara, where on earth are you?" asked Bruce, the phone line crackling with static.
"Pay phone, where Locust Street meets Ash Avenue. Now listen a minute..." Barbara continued. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly, hiding her fear, to face the carved, blood-red grin of the Joker's pale, powdered face. She screamed abruptly.
"Barbara?!?" Bruce's eyes grew wide.
The phone clicked; the dial tone rang in his ears.
*******
Dick and Livia cavorted through the streets, laughing as they weaved through the throngs of people. The streets were alive with vibrant color...bold banners flew overhead, rainbow colored bunting lined the store fronts, and tiny lights illuminated the way. Livia grabbed Dick's hand and led him to a kiosk on the street. She fingered the beautiful fabrics hanging before her. Speaking rapid Spanish, she purchased a colorful piece of material and wrapped it around her bare shoulders. Dick laughed light-heartedly. She flashed him a grin as he parted with her to explore the other side of the little cart.
In an instant, a hand reached out and spun Livia around. Livia gasped as she was pressed against a nearby wall. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth.
"Well, well, Ms. Arnele." A beautiful, slender woman stood before her. Dark, thick hair undulated down her shoulders, framing an olive complexion. The woman wore an off-the shoulder white gauze blouse and a long, flowing skirt. Her lip curled into a sneer.
"Isabel!"
"Very good, Livia. Now, what's not so good...why isn't he dead?" Isabel flipped her hair out of her eyes and smiled. "The League gives you one little assignment." A light accent touched her voice, giving Isabel a foreign, exotic air. "And you can't even follow through? Livia, you used to be our best, our most savage...do you know how much money is resting on this boy?"
"Find yourself another pawn, Isabel. I'm done. I'm out. You won't touch him." Livia shook very slightly.
"Of course." Isabel relaxed and allowed the frightened, surprised Livia to scamper back to the kiosk. Isabel grinned, folding her arms in front of her. "No one leaves the League. An assignment is always carried out. The secrets die with our members," repeated Isabel quietly, closing her eyes and letting the League mantra overcome her. Her eyes opened and she grinned. "They will both die," she whispered.
She walked through the dark alley alone, her skirt billowing in the night wind. "The best solution is always the one right in front of your face," she thought.

-Alexandria Wayne

"Livia? What's wrong?" Dick asked as Livia ran over to him, panting heavily.

"N-N-Nothing," she breathed.

But he easily saw through that. "Livia...if something's wrong...you need to tell me. I'm here for ya."

"Nothing really...I...I just need a drink, that's all. Let's go someplace to eat, shall we? I can have some water there or something," she put on a smile.

"Sure thing!" he smiled and they walked off, hand in hand. "Just take it easy, ok?"

"Ok..." She said. Yet, in between smiles and laughter, she kept a serious eye out behind her. Livia knew that her old gang was after her. And if Isabel had spared her...they would not spare her the second time...not her or her beloved.

******

"You picked the WRONG place to kidnap a girl, Bozo!" Bullock barked, aiming his revolver straight at the Joker's kisser.

The Joker leered back from across the room, holding a hand over Barbara's mouth and pointing a gun to her hair with the other wrist. "Wise words from the elephant," the demented clown said. "But you must realize that I'm only claiming back a lost prize! She should have staid put where she was at my hangout...not played Alice and stumble right off into urban wonderland!"

"I'm warning you clown," Bullock glared....office workers of the GPD hiding behind desks next to him. "Stay out of my building!"

"Hey! It's a free country!" the Joker replied. And then he hauntingly sang, "...the rampants we watched, were so gallantly streaming!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Without warning, the villain shot a shower of bullets into the desk before Bullock...showering him with skin-slicing splinters.

"AUGH!" Bullock cried out, shutting his eyes and shutting back.

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!" the Joker cried out. "Timber goes the big beaver!" And he prepared to aim at Bullock's big forehead when--

CRUNCH!!

"NYAH!!" the Joker cried out, his small black eyes popping wide in shock as Barbara bit hard into his hand.

Suddenly, she elbowed him in the back. WHUMP! And as he bent over in pain, she grabbed his arm, swung him, and let go....so that the Joker flew like a missile out of the nearby window.

CRASH!!!

Glass shattering, the Clown sailed out and into the open air..dropping out of view through the window with a scream.

When Bullock and the others looked up from where they were cowering, they noticed that the Clown was gone.

"Where'd he go?"

Barbara stuttered, "Erm...uh...I dunno! The psycopath just went beserk and ran out the window!"

Bullock immediately ran out to where the villain fell from. Yet he could see no trace of the villain. "Let's go down there and find him!" He cried out...running out of the office as others followed suit.

Barbara breathed lightly. He knew that she had one thing left to do. To return to the Manor.

******

That dinner was one that Dick and Livia would never forget. They had so much to talk about, that it lasted till evening. Seated out in the open storefront, the two watched as the sun set...casting a lovely glow across the Atlantic Coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Much more lovely, to Dick, was the face of Livia...lit by the candlefire on that elegant evening.

She couldn't get enough of his laugh..his smile. For having such a grim past, Dick could indeed be a joyful person.

Eventually, a minstrel strolled by the various seaters...singing in Portuguese. Seeing the invitation in Livia's eyes, Dick stood up with her...and they both danced to the evening lull.

And, in light of it all....it would forever be the most peaceful evening in their lives.

*****

That night, Livia and Dick got a room with twin beds (and yes, they each used a separate bed). But, come morning...Livia was wide awake. In fact, she had hardly slept a wink the whole night. A storm was going on in her emotions...and finally, she had made up her mind on the inevitable.

Getting up silently, so as to not wake Dick, she went over to the desk..pulled out a piece of paper...and wrote down a note.

******

"Dang, I hate these Latin American missions," Isabel said, wiping the sweat off her brow. "It's so hot down here!"

"Just pipe down," growled Arnold...a dark-haired assassin from Germany. The two were sitting inside a run-down garage on the edge of the city. "By noon, if we hear nothing of Livia...we'll know what to do."

"You do the killing," Isabel grumbled, folding her arms and sitting akwardly on a fuel barrel. "I did it last time."

"Suit yourself," Arnold said, yawning. "I may need help on the dude she's with."

Just then, a bright light was cast on them both. They shaded their eyes as the sunlight broke in from the metal double doors of the garage.

"What the--," Arnold grumbled.

"Livia?" Isabel asked. "Is that you?"

"...............yeah, it's me."

"Finally!" Isabel stood up, smiling. "Have you accomplished your mission?"

Silence.

"Well?" the woman stamped her foot down on the ground.

"I'm just about to...," Livia droned.

THWIFT!-THWIFT!

"UGH!" Arnold doubled over and Isabel fell hard to the ground as needles shot into each of their chests from a crossbow.

Livia stepped out into the shadows..her face a sudden demon of evil. She was now the shell she wished she never was. The agent of a demonic league.

"Livia...what are you doing--" Arnold said. But his voice---his life was cut short. Livia had severed his skull in half with a sword.

"WHY?!?!?!" Isabel screamed. "YOU ROTTEN @(@!~!*& YOU'RE SPOILING THE MISSION!!"

"There is no mission," Livia said.

"ARE YOU JOKING? YOU'LL DIE FOR KILLING ME!" Livia said.

"I won't die...cuz you never told the head of the league that I was doing this mission, weren't you?"

Isabel was silent...all except her racing heart and sloshing sweat.

"I know you, Isabel," Livia said...kneeling down besides her. "You're lazy...you keep things off till the last second. The only power you have over me is a threat...they won't kill me...cuz' they don't know I even started this mission. It's about time your sins found you out."

"Don't kill me...please," the girl inside Isabel wept.

"Too late," Livia stood up and gripped hard to the handle of her blade. "When an assassin's mind is on her victim...she is not to pull back, the league says. I've never had my evil eye on Dick. But I've never liked you."

THWACK! Thus ended the peace of Isabel.

Livia dropped the blade and wandered over to the wall. For a minute and a half...she just stood there. Soon, she started shaking...and sobs came out...as she wept over her murders.

She was just as impure as she was before she met Dick....and she knew from the beginning that the two of them would never work out. She would never meet him again...she determined it for herself.

****

"Livia? Livia?"

Nowhere was Livia to be seen. Curious, Dick got out of bed and wandered about...but she was nowhere in the hotel room. Eventually, he made his way to the desk....and then he saw it.

"A note?"

Dick picked it up and read.

'Dick, I shall love you forever and always. You must understand that. But I feel unworthy for being with a person as innocent as you. And if you knew my secret, as eventually you would, you would have hated me no less as you are likely hating me now. But as invincible as our love is...the two of us are not. I must do this for the best of us as I say, goodbye. And don't try to find me.

Love forever, Livia'

Dick froze. He didn't know how to react. He wandered about the hotel...and found himself in the bathroom. There he sat for a solid hour...sitting on the edge of the bathtub.....sobbing....

******

"I think the Joker wants me dead...no, I know it," Barbara said before Alfred and Bruce in the batcave. "I just wish Dick was better...he might know exactly what the Joker is doing."

"And that I do, Barbara."

The three gasped and looked up at the stares.

There stood Dick, in the flesh.

"I'm ready to talk now....."


God bless
-Post Rapture


Barb's face crumpled instantly. She ran to Dick and threw her hands around his neck, squeezed. She wept openly, nestling her head onto his shoulder. Her cries soon subsided to sick puppylike, high pitched whimpers of unleashed fear and lonliness. It was several minutes before she realized that Dick was not reciprocating her affections. He stood there, allowing her to emote, but remaining stone-solid and quiet. Barbara closed her eyes and let the last of her hot tears run down the curve of her pale cheek. She bit the inside of her lip hard enough to taste blood and released her grip. Dick moved aside.
"I was so worried," Barbara managed, trying to control her quickly flooding emotions. Bruce looked away; it was almost exactly what he had told Barbara over the phone just moments before.
"I know," intoned Dick, his body heaving.
"Dick...we've been having some problems. We need your help. Do you feel up to it?" asked Bruce, fiddling with the computer, not meeting Dick's eyes. Dick did not answer.
"Dick, I was almost kidnapped by the Joker...in the middle of the Gotham Police Department. It was like he wasn't afraid to try anything."
"He's crazy," grumbled Dick. "He's never afraid to try anything."
"I'm worried, Dick," tried Barbara, taking a step toward the boy. He backed away. "Please. It was like he wanted me specifically. There were certainly bigger fish to fry in the Police Headquarters. For God's sake, Bullock was eating filled donuts at his desk, my dad was probably asleep in his office, and Montoya was doing paperwork. Their guns were all holstered...he could have taken anyone else, someone more meaningful."
"That's not my problem." Dick turned away. "I have other things on my mind."
"Other things? Or other girls?" asked Bruce. A picture of Livia flashed on the screen of the computer. Dick softened. Livia looked so stunning...she came to life even if she was just a flat picture, a vision lit up by tiny lights on a screen. Bruce abruptly changed the picture to one labeled, "League of Assasins. Considered armed and very dangerous."
Dick's eyes narrowed as he quickly picked Livia's face out of the fuzzy news photo. His mind raced...the pieces of the puzzle began to come together at last.
"Dick..." Barbara went to him. She felt the rush of emotions again, the feelings she experienced only with Dick. She touched the stubble on his angular, handsome face gently, her fingers trembling. Dick removed the hand, his eyes a cold, grey granite.
"Not now, Barbara," he deadpanned. Barbara turned and left the cave. Bruce heard her footsteps tramping up the mansion stairs, up to the top floor. Bruce sighed.
"That probably wasn't a very good idea, Dick," said Bruce, shutting off the computer. The images flickered off.
"I can think of some things you did that probably weren't very good ideas, Bruce," countered Dick.
Bruce knew to what Dick was referring: his "relationship," if one could call it that, with Barbara. He turned slightly red and looked away. "She's awfully fragile, Dick. If you hurt her again..."
Bruce's threat was interrupted by the piercing blare of the mansion's alarm.


-Alexandria Wayne

[Batgirl]

Barbara bolted upstairs and into the main manor at full speed. Alfred was cleaning the dishes and heard soft yet quick steps coming his way. He looked in time to see Barbara dash past the door. He looked into the hall and saw her head for the door.
"Ms. Gordon, where on earth are you going?" Alfred called after her. It was clear that something was wrong.
"I don't know and I don't care" She yelled bitterly. She threw open the door. It slammed into the wall with a loud thwack. "But I can't stay here any longer!"
"Don't forget your coat, it's dreadfully cold!" The faithful butler yelled. Barbara didn't hear him, she was already half way down the drive. She was an excellent runner and could make it to her place in no time flat. Alfred ran into the cave. Bruce and Dick were at it again, and the alarm was wailing loudly.

"It's never been like that!" Bruce yelled angerily. His fists were clenched and he desperately tried to control his raising temper. Before Dick could respond Alfred cut in.
"Master Bruce! Master Dick! The alarm! Barbara!" Alfred didn't know where to begin. Both men spun to face the breathless butler.
"What's wrong Alfred?" Dick asked. Alfred looked at them and started slowly.
"Barbara just left, she didn't even take her coat. It's frightfully cold-" Alfred started. He took a deep breath and continued. "She was quite upset"
"What else is new" Dick muttered under his breath. Bruce glared at him angerly.
"We'll handle her later, what's going on in Gotham?" Bruce asked, turning to the computer. He started typing.
"I'm not certain sir" Alfred said softly. A broadcast came onto the screen. Summer Gleason's face was grim and her tone was both serious and sad.
"We have just been notified that Commissioner James Gordon has been-" Summer choked on a sob, then took a deep breath and went on. "Commissioner Gordon has been shot. He's in critical condtion at Gotham Memorial. Also in critical condtion are Detective Renee Montoya and Detective Harvey Bullock"
Bruce started to tremble and Dick stared at the screen. Summer rattled on about how a henchman walked into the department and opened fire. At the moment the entire PD was in choas. It hit the both of them hard.
"The person behind the shootings is none other then the Joker himself" Gleason continued. Ice was running through Bruce's veins. Dick couldn't feel a thing. "The man is still at large. We ask that you please remain calm and lock your doors"
Dick's mind was whirling. He had just started to piece together his ordeal with Livia, he didn't need more choas. But something inside him wouldn't let him turn away. He dismissed the thought that he could possibly be worried about her. Yet... He decided to think about something else. Where would the Joker strike next? Something chilled his blood and Barbara's words ran through his mind. I think the Joker wants me dead...no, I know it... I was almost kidnapped by the Joker...in the middle of the Gotham Police Department. It was like he wasn't afraid to try anything... It was like he wanted me specifically. There were certainly bigger fish to fry in the Police Headquarters... Bullock was eating filled donuts at his desk, my dad was probably asleep in his office, and Montoya was doing paperwork. Their guns were all holstered... he could have taken anyone else, someone more meaningful... And now the Joker had. He had shot down three of the most important officers in Gotham. But why? Maybe Barbara did have a point. But what would the Joker want with her? And why go to the PD? If he wanted to get Barbara, why not go to...
"Oh my- Bruce, I know where he's headed" Dick replied softly. Bruce turned to find Dick's face dead white. His body was shaking. At first he thought that the gas was still affecting Dick, then realization hit.
"Suit up. There's no time to lose. If we hurry, we can still make it in time" Bruce replied gruffly. Both made a made dash towards the costume area.

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

Barbara walked into her dark house weak and out of breath. She had just gotten back from nearly an hour of running. She had by passed a twenty-four hour diner and had heard the news about her father and friends. The pain from all the events had taken it's toll. She stumbled to the couch and then gave up. She collaspsed to her knees and began to sob. The darkness was comforting yet, something wasn't right...
"Poor little girl, what's the matter? Did Daddy get hurt" A voice sneered crudely. Barbara's blood ran cold. She let out a gasp and looked up in horror. A spotlight flipped on to reveal none other then the Clown Prince of Crime. A scream of terror broke the unnatural silence of the night.

[Batgirl]

"You low life son of a-" Barbara yelped in pain as the butt of a riffle slammed into her stomach. The Clown hadn't wasted anytime in tying up the already drained woman, though because of her recent drain she didn't bother to put up a fight. The Joker eyed her coldly.

"Where is he?"

"I don'y know who you're talking about"

"Of course you do" The butt of the gun went across her face, causing her to cry out again. "The Bat. I want to know his location. NOW!!!"

"She won't talk" A cool feminine voice came from the shadows. It was a unique accent, Latin American... "What kind of fool are you?"

"What do you know?" Joker sneered. "Just be ready to do your job. I want them dead. Both of them"

"It is done" The voice replied quietly, though somewhat hesitant. The figure moved into the light and for the first time Barbara Gordon and Livia Arnele came face to face. Their eyes met. "Who are you?"

"What's it to you?" THAWCK. Barbara cried out in pain and looked at the thug who hit her. "When I get out of this you're going to wish that you were never born"

"You mean if you get out of this" The thug said gleefully. Livia's eyes scanned the room and her eyes locked on a picture. She walked over and picked it up. Her eyes began to glow with anger and she turned to face the captive.

"YOU" She hissed venmously. She turned to the Joker. "Leave. I will handle this one."

"No I-" Joker froze in mid sentence when he was looking down the nose of a revolver prepared to fire at will.

"She'll be alive... barely, but alive enough for them to come"

"Ok... she's all yours. Fellas, move out!" And with that the two woman were left along, Livia with the amo and Barbara tied, still a captive. Livia turned to her, eyes flashing.

"It was you he spoke of... you who caused so much pain... he loved you, he really did... but I worked hard and I took that love from you... you didn't deserve it you- you-" Thack. The gun ran into Barbara's stomach, causing her to fall to her knees, something Livia too great pleasure in.

"What are you talking about?" Barbara moaned weakly.

"You know who! HIM!" Livia thrust the picture in front of her captives face, giving her a nice long look. Barbara's eyes widened. It was an old picture of her and Dick together. It all made sense now. "You hurt my beloved!"

"YOU!!!" Barbara screamed, realizing just who her captive was. Livia smirked, and Barbara felt a sob catch in her throat.

"You're lucky I don't kill you on the spot for what you did... but that doesn't matter now. He's mine" Barbara narrowed her eyes.

"I'll die before I let you have him" Barbara hissed coldly, her voice not quite her own, a new strength building inside. Livia chuckled darkly.

"That may be truer then you think" Livia raised the gun to Barbara's forehead, point blank range. Barbara drew in a breath. Getting shot between the eyes wasn't high on her experience list. Then she lowered the gun. "When the time comes, I will take great pleasure in killing you"

"Not if you die first" Barbara snarled back, her dangerous temper rising. Though it was rare, her temper could reach very high, very dangerous levels. Livia smiled dangerously.

"Enough talk... we will converse later- when my beloved and I met again... then I will dispose of you and we will be together" Livia raised the gun high, ready to move her victum to the scheduled place. Barbara glared at her captor menacingly.

"You will regret this night Livia" Those were the last words Barbara spoke before the entire world went black.

-BG

[Batgirl]

By the time that Nightwing and Batman screeched into the drive way Livia, the Joker and Barbara were long gone. Bruce searched the house frantically, Dick stood in the middle of the family room floor, deep in thought. He had remembered something about this being the big one, Joker bragged he'd never have to deal with the knights again... that and the recent LoA activity could mean several things, but he was almsot 100% sure it meant one thing. Bruce had given him the 411 on the way over. Livia Arnele was one of the top assassians in the League. She must have been sent to do it. Bruce thundered into the room.

"They're not here"

"I know" Now it all made sense. Livia could easily know about his history, and could have. Some physic... "I know where they'll be... Let's go "

"Dick-"

"I can handle it, don't worry"

"You sure?"

"Lemme put it this way- I'm returning the favor"

Joker paced back and forth wildly, anxious about the meeting that was about to take place. If something went wrong, he'd have to amscray outta there faster then fire burns dry grass. He glanced over to the sure shot, who was hounding the captive, who was now gagged. Barbara glared at her tormentor maliously. Livia snickered.

"I will make your death a long... painful one. Then, he will finally be mine" Livia whispered quietly. She glanced at the Joker. "Then he will die, with that man who betrayed him" At that moment, the signal was given, the Knights were with in sight. Livia grinned. "It's time"

-BG

[AndreaBeaumont]

OOC:I'm glad somebody has good taste in literature! lol j/k. I really am pleased to see this story back up and open for adding to.
~Andy

[Batgirl]

The two knights landed on the roof silently and looked around. The area was deserted. Bruce signaled down and Dick nodded. Though the two didn't agree to much at the moment, they did agree to one thing- that was to protect the innocent, and if that meant a cowled damsal out of disguise, so be it. Batman entered through the skylight first, followed by Nightwing. He looked around the endless pit of darkness. A lone light flipped on, revealing the captive, gaged and bound to a chair. Her eyes were shining and she struggled to form words. Batman approached, and Barbara's eyes widened. She shook her head venemently. Nightwing corked an eye brow. His eyes drifted to the shadows, where a gleam of light reflected off metal. He caught his breath...

"Batman-!!!" BAM. The sound of a gun firing ran through the chamber and the Dark Knight fell to the floor. Barbara screamed, though it was muffled by the gag. Dick heard the gun click and knew the second shot was coming. He grabbed a metalic bird and threw it, soon being rewarded with a cry of pain. His eyes narrowed. "LIVIA!"

"Nightwing" Her soft, smooth voice drifted through the air. The lights flickered on around him and the compound came into view. She smiled adoringly at him. He cringed. It was so sweet...

"MURDERER!" Livia spun to face the still bound woman, eyes glowing. The gag was now slumped against her chest, and Barbara was ready to speak her mind. Livia hissed viciously.

"Little witch... well, with that man out of the way- with Bruce out of the way- there is no use for you" She sneered with delight. Nightwing watched the scene, indifferent to the former woman's peril. He heard the hammar cock.

"Livia..." She looked at him, a look full of innocence, guilt and set determination. "Livia don't..."

"She will never haunt you again beloved" Livia whispered. Then she turned and grinned smuggly. "Good bye little witch. I hope that you enjoyed you're life... it's coming to a tragic end"

"Livia" Dick's voice rose. She couldn't do it... The trigger depressed and a second shot rang through the chamber. Barbara cried out in pain and slumped over, the ropes turning a deep crimson. Dick stared in horror, his jaw on the floor. A soft murmur escaped his lips. "No..."

Livia turned on her walkie talkie and turned. "They're dead"

"Good, good. Now I can finaly begin my take over of the city. With the lead authories down, and Bats out of the way, nothing can stop me! Ha ha ha ha ha!" Nightwing walked over to his comrads, void of feeling. He wasn't quite ure what to feel. Joy, that his betrayers were dead? He should. Yet... his father- father figure any way, had tried. And the girl... He cut the ropes and she fell silently to the ground. What did he feel for her? Dick turned her face towards him and stared. She looked as if she were in asleep... He knelt beside her and sighed deeply. He should have done something... Suddenly, a bitter feeling of wrath rose up inside him. Livia was an assassian at heart- that was the reason she left. Now she had taken from him two key figures in his pitiful excuse for a life. She didn't even ask if he had still cared. "Well, now that the job's done, ditch the girl and get up here! I need you!" Joker cut off the link with his blood chilling laugh. "Dead, I can't believe it! Ha ha ha... What luck!"

"Stay low beloved... I will return" Livia whispered after she turned off the walkie talkie. She started out the door. Dick looked up, a look of utter anguish on his face. Livia disappeared into the doorway and from his life once again. Dick looked down at Bruce and Barbara, sighing deeply. Now it was up to him. He would attend to the dead later- now he had some unfinished business to take care of- starting with Livia.

-there ya go! BG

[Batgirl]

Nightwing landed on the roof of a near by compound, his head spinning. In one night his life had once again changed. He had lost the lady he loved to crime, the man that raised him was dead, and the woman who still held him captive was gone forever. What would he tell Tim? He saw Livia approach and slipped into the shadows. She waited patiently, and was soon rewarded. Joker entered through a maintance door.

"The dish is almost ready... Gotham will be mine!" He cackled joyfully. Livia smiled coolly. Nightwing tensed. He wouldn't let another murder take place, even if it was the Joker.

"Yes... I suppose" Livia flivked out a gun and the grin on the Joker's lips disappeared. He eyed her menacingly.

"What's this?"

"Termination of Contract" She slammed the butt of the gun against his cranium and he dropped to the ground. She pulled back the hammer and prepared to fire... That's when a metal bird hit her fist. She cried out and dropped the gun. In a sinlge moment she found herself flying across the roof, Nightwing standing over the fallen clown.

"This has got to end Livia" Dick muttered, while securing the Joker. At least one hassle was out of the way. After gagging the unconscious clown he began his walk towards her.

"Beloved-"

"Don't call me that. That was a long time ago" Dick replied coldly. Livia shot him a look of betrayal.

"That witch is dead, she can not hurt us"

"You didn't have to kill her" Dick replied, his voice calm and even, a sense of foreboding filled the air. "When you're apprehended you'll be taken back to South America where you'll stand trial for two accounts of man slaughter. I suggest you go quietly. Don't make this harder on yourself''

"I came back for you and this is what I get?" Livia's eyes flashed. "Beloved, listen to me. You don't want to end as did your mentor and that witch"

"Try me" Nightwing hissed coldly. Livia grinned and slipped a small pistol from her jacket. Nightwing eyed her indifferently.

"As you wish... Beloved"

"That's enough Livia" A deep voice boomed. A metal Bat slammed into her hand and she yelped in pain. Then a fist plowed into her nose, sending her to the ground again. She looked up, eyes wide in shock and fear. Before her stood Gotham's Dark Knight. "It's over"

He struck her across the head mercilessly, causing her to fall into a forced sleep. He bound her hands and ankles quickly. Nightwing approached cautiously.

"I thought..."

"I figured something like this would happen. But it's not over yet. The dish Joker set up will knock out all communication in Gotham. After the city's cut off, there's an army at it's limits, waiting for the word to strike. There's a long night ahead of us"

"Is Barbara-"

"Leslie is attending to her. She'll be lucky to make it to dawn. Let's go" Bruce started towards the maintainiance door. Nightwing looked on. His world was falling apart.

And then...
-BG

[Panther]

And then Barbara died.



Dr. Leslie swore rapidly, using expressions that would have made a truck driver blush. Most of it she had picked up working as a medic during the Korean War, and all of it would have surprised those who knew her as the quiet, sweet, grandmotherly type. Still swearing,she pumped her palms against the warm, still flesh of Barbara's chest, then bent over her face and delivered a quick, hard rush of air into the open windpipe.

Nothing. Tim, next to her, trembled, the paddles of the portable defribrillator in his hands, waiting for the battery to recharge and a chance to use them.

The defribrillator beeped. Leslie grabbed the paddles almost
savagely, screamed, " Clear!" and laid the flat devices on either
side of Barbara's sternum. The shock literally pulled the young
woman up off her deathbed, then thrust her back down. The EKG
sputtered, flatlining again.

Another flush of curses. Tim's face flooded with sudden tears.

" Dammit, where's Bruce!?" he shouted.

Leslie ignored his outburst. " Give her some Epi!"

Tim, mechanically, prepped a syringe full of clear solution from a
small vial and injected it into Barbara's limp arm, hoping he'd
actually hit the vein. He shook so badly he almost broke the needle off in her skin.

Leslie shocked Barbara again, having set the defribrillator to nearly 50 units more than she should. This was the last time. If she didn't respond, it would be the end. They waited for a tense
milisecond.

The EKG bounced back, becoming a tiny range of spikes and beeps.

Barbara was going to make it; for now, but it was touch and go for now.


It was going to be a long time until morning.



-Many thanks to Daughter of Evil for filling in all the medical langauge!

[Batgirl]

Nightwing looked out towards the horizon, and for the first time realized that there were small firefly specks dotting the city limits. He took a deep breath of amazement.

"Holy shi-"

"Fascinating isn't it?" Bruce asked in an emotionless tone. Dick looked at him in disbelief, not wanting to believe what he saw.

"How many?"

"Two, maybe three hundred thugs. All armed to the teeth and ready to take over at a moent's notice"

"How are we going to stop them?"

"We'll have to pool resources. Superman and Supergirl are flying in, they'll be here around two a.m. I'll locate Robin-"

"Don't you think he's a little young for something this size?" Dick interupted. He didn't like the idea of losing yet another person during the night.

"Do we have a choice?" Silence. "Besides, he'll want to fight. He always does, and whether we like it or not, he's all we got" Dick looked at Bruce a moment. Two things crossing his mind. First, Bruce hardly used the word we when it came to the two of them- well, not for a long time any way. Second, the odd warmth as he said it. Dick half grinned, maybe things were looking up...

"Any one else?"

"Flash will be here around twelve and Green Latern will come with the Superfamily" Bruce watched the dots anxiously.

"Superfamily? That's a new one... what are we? The Bat family?" Dick half joked, hoping to lighten the dismal mood. Bruce looked at him, an actual smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Dick was in shock.

"I guess so"

"What's next?"

"We call Jim. We'll need the best Gotham has to offer. We meet here" Bruce finished solenmly, thoughts of battle coming with the dawn. Dick looked at his one time mentor nervously.

"And until then?"

"We wait" Both stood in silence. This was a battle they might not win and that thought was on both of their minds. For a moment, a chill ran down Nightwing's back and he thought of a young woman laying in a hospital bed, not too far from their current location.

"Maybe Tim's with Barbara" He said absentmindedly. Bruce turned his head towards the clinic, a lump in his throat. In all truthfullness, Leslie had sent him a page. That meant one of two things. Barbara was either dead, or getting substantially worse. Either fact Nightwing need not know of at the moment... Then again, it was alll the lying and hiding that had gotten them to this position. Bruce took a deep breath.

"Dick... I received a page about ten minutes ago" Bruce looked away, he couldn't face his now grown ward. Dick looked at him sharply. He knew his mentor, he always had a system.

"So what's that supposed to mean?" Dick snarled furiously. He knew it wasn't good, it rarely was.

"It means- in all truthfullness- Barbara-" Bruce took a deep breath and Dick paled. "Barbara-"

"No. Don't say it. She's fine... She's been through worse"

"She was shot in a vital place... even if she lives she may never walk again" Bruce's voice was filled with pain. Dick turned and kicked at a stray metal bar.

"Great" Dick stared into the distance and both were silent for some time. Then, "Well, we gotta know sometime. And as long as we're waiting, we might as well check on her"

"This coming from the man who just a few hours ago didn't care that she was alive?" Bruce retorted coldly. Dick shot him a glare.

"Things change. Besides, do we really want to get into that now? I mean, your resources are low, I'm part of the only help you can get. Like it or not you need me"

"You're right" Bruce spat venoumsly. He hated to admit to that. Dick grinned smuggly. Knowing you were right felt good. "But I suppose that you'd want to see her now- I did warn you-"

"Yea, yea let's go" Nightwing snapped, cutting to the chase. "Maybe with any luck we'll find Robin there..." And with that the two knights started towards the clinic.

And then...

[Panther]

Robin sat in the swivel chair the secretary sat in most days in the receptionists office, idly toying with an empty Pepsi can. Dr. Leslie had sent him out of surgery to get something to eat, telling him that at this point there was nothing to do but wait. He hadn’t been that hungry but was grateful to Dr. Leslie for the chance to be alone for a little while. He vainly tried to find solace in sugars and empty carbohydrates at the vending machines. Now he swiveled around in the chair and wiped the last traces of tears from his face that that had come when he had first sat down and briefly sobbed his heart.

He now found himself fascinated by the small statue on one of the desks. Last year at a Christmas party at the clinic Dick had given the statue to Barbara as a joke. It was a copy of a wooden figurine from the fourteenth century of St. Barbara, patron saint of those who die a sudden and violent death. The original had once graced a chapel in medieval France. Dick had gotten it for her from the Gothom Art Museum gift shop.

Tim carefully noted every single detail of it. The wooden statute had been carefully and artfully made to look aged; the wood looked old and the paint looked faded. The girl had blond hair carved into two heavy plaits wound on the sides of her head, similar to princess Leia. On top of her head a pearly crown rested. She held out a large chalice, symbol of the last sacrament, with a look of deep serenity on her wooden face. She was dressed in long flowing robes that wrapped around her, the undergarment tightly clinging to her body, the outer layer hanging loosely on her frame and draping off her right arm, falling in folds as gently as real cloth.

At the party, after the children, and the secretaries and nurses, and of course, Dr. Leslie, had been presented with their gifts, Dick had pulled out a brightly wrapped package and given it to Barbara. Barbara had laughed when Dick had given it to her, and the two rehashed how at the museum a few weeks earlier Dick has remarked it was a spitting image of her. Still laughing, Barbara had handed it over to Leslie, saying that perhaps the faux relic would bring the clinic luck.

Tim now suddenly found his view of the saint obscured as Dick inexplicably blocked his view. As he looked up into Dick’s face he quickly wiped his face again with the back of his already wet sleeve and sniffed. He opened his mouth and meant to say something rational about Barbara’s condition, or a sensible query about the situation, or a level headed remark, or even a joke in an attempt to break the tension and remind them both of the good old days when the four of them had been the perfect team.

Instead, all that came out was:

“Where were you?”

His voice was raw with emotion, and sounded older than usual.

“I was with Bruce,” answered Dick, “we just got here, he’s still with Dr. Leslie, I came to find you-” In all truthfulness he had grabbed the first excuse he had to leave the room before he broke down in tears at the sight of Barbara lying on the hospital bed.

“No!” interrupted Tim. He threw down the empty soda can. It clanged in a corner and rolled way, unnoticed. “Where were you when Barbara needed you?!!??!?!?!?!?!!!???”

His voice was the sound of someone dying and being born at the same time, it was his soul howling out in agony, both misunderstanding and comprehension ripping through his voice.

Before Dick could react Tim leaped out of the chair, marched up to him, and with a look of fierce determination, jumped up slightly to connect his right fist with Dick’s jaw.

Dick staggered backward slightly and tried to steady himself by grabbing onto the edge of a desktop. The motion caused a few folders to fall off along with the statuette.

As if in slow motion Tim and Dick watched her fall. Tumbling through space and time in what Tim would later think of as an almost unhurried manner, she then bounced gently on the carpet and rolled across the floor. She stopped, face up, the look of deep serenity still on her face. Tim and Dick’s eyes met each other

The thought: ‘Now what?’ was written clearly on both their faces.

[Panther]

I should mention that the statuette actaully can be found in the Boston Museum of Fine Art. If you're ever there drop by the Medeivel Wing; there's a small alcove where she's on display in her very own case underneath a stained glass window.

[Batgirl]

Bruce turned to Leslie, a grim, sad look on his face. For ten whole minutes nothing but silence reigned. Then, he spoke.

"How long?"

"If she'd only wake up..." Leslie took a breath. "We'll know within the hour... Only a miracle could save her"

"I'll find the boys"

"Bruce- Let me tell them..." Leslie followed a large black shadow out of the room, casting a final glance at the sleeping girl. Tears filled her eyes and she left the room. The girl she had worked with for several years now was moments away from meeting her maker. The room became still, filled with an eerie silence. Then, from the shadows, a beautiful blonde haired woman slowly advanced from the bed. She bore a strange similarity to the woman who was now in a deep coma. White garments flowed gracefully around her figure, her skin a soft peach. A stunning smile crossed her face, a delicate hand touched that of the dying. A gentle, dove like voice began to sing.

"There can be miracles... when you believe..." The eyes of the dying young woman fluttered open. "Though hope is frail..."

"It's hard to kill" Her voice, weak, joined the beautiful woman before her. The lovely woman in white contined, their voices joining- sounding as heavenly as the angelic choirs.

"Who knows what miracles, you can achieve, when you believe- somehow you will- you will when you believe" Barbara stared at the figure before her in disbelief. Her voice still weak.

"Who... are... you?" The woman in white smiled.

"An answer to prayer Barbara" The young woman's eyes widened. How did she-? "I know you very well... in fact, we share a name"

"But that's impossible" Barbara gasped softly. The woman chuckled softly. Another angelic smile gracing her face.

"Nothing is impossible my dear" A warm sensation in her stomach caused Barbara to look down. She ran her hand across the wound... which had all but disappeared. She looked up in shock, and gratitude, but the woman was gone. Movement was heard outside the door and moments later Leslie burst in. Barbara looked up, in about as much shock as the woman who had just entered. Voices were heard behind her.

"BARBARA!..." Leslie let out a cry of relief and amazement.

"What's wrong?" Unmistakably Tim.

"What happened?" Bruce asked, his baritone eching through the now empty halls of the clinic.

"What is it? Leslie?!" Barbara looked towards the darkness, a stunned look of disbelief on her face. He had come... They were obviously in the waiting room. Barbara half sat up, still extremely weak and fragile.

"It's- she's- it's..." Leslie tried to find the words. Barbara smiled faintly, eyes full of life and exhaustion. She knew what to say.

"There can be miracles... when you believe" She whispered.

AND THEN...

[Panther]

Ohhh!

I laughed and cried at the same time when I read that! And got so ... so... chocked up. >gasp<
Oh Batgirl that was wonderful! Hope is exactly what we need right now and that was the most uplifting thing I've seen since 9am yesterday. Thank you so much for reminding us to believe. I love that song - I have the cd. Thank you thank you thank you, my post was so depressing and you turned it around into something wonderful! I never would have thought of the twist you just threw in! It was wonderful!

As a wise woman once said, "May you walk with angels always."

>wipes away a tear or two< Now would someone else please take the ball and run with it?

[Batgirl]

Tears filled the old veterans eyes and a warm smile crossed her face. Barbara giggled softly, then caught her breath, still weak.

"There can be miracles..." Leslie's voice drifted into the air, then trailled off, the emotion too great to continue. It wasn't long before Tim was at her side. His mouth dropped.

"Barbara! You're ok!" The feeling of relief, joy and excitement seeping into the dark corners, illuminating the room. Bruce appeared next, staring- speechless.

"Dick?" Leslie called softly. Nightwing hung back, the only one who didn't enter the room. He wasn't sure how or what to feel. He prefered at the moment to feel nothing. Instead he looked out the window- his eye catching the batsignal. A happy reunion was taking place between the members of the room. As Tim caught Bruce's attention and Leslie's, Barbara cast her eyes towards the door, wondering when and if Dick would enter.

And then...

[Batgirl]

Dick looked out one of the clinics many windows and saw the Batsignal lighting the sky. He sucked in his breath... The signal... what was the signal?... His mind began to race, desperately trying to recall the final moments before this whole thing began. A soft gust of air escaped his throat.

"NO!"

"Dick, what's wrong?" Bruce was at the door in a heartbeat.

"The signal!" Dick cried out in desperation, his voice oddly reflecting through the halls. "The signal! It's the signal! Don't you get it? It's through! All is for nothing! A vain effort to save a dying city! We're done for! The wrath is now being poured down on this forsaken city! May God have mercy on us all!"

"What on earth-?!" Tim was staring at the man dumbfounded.

"Bruce! He's gone mad" Leslie muttered in horror. Barbara cast her eyes to the sky, understanding what was happening while not quite knowing how.

"Bruce! The Joker!" She cried softly. Bruce sucked in his breath.

"Oh no... Tim suit up... Leslie, watch Barbara and be on stand by... There could be a great loss of life before the night's through..." Bruce walked into the shadows. Dick just stared.

"What's going on?" Leslie grabbed Dick's arm, breaking the trance. He gave her a look of despair.

"The Joker has an army on the outskirts of the city... The attack has begun..." Then Dick pulled back and dissolved into the night... Before leaving he whispered a few final words. "Tell her I'm sorry Leslie... I don't know if I'll return... and whatever you do- keep her safe..."

"Dick?! Tim?! BRUCE?!" Leslie looked into the shadows, but they were all gone. She heard Barbara call her from the other room. Now all she- they could do was wait.

AND THEN...

[Alexandra Wayne]

Wow....I've been absent for maybe a year or so, and I can't believe this sucker is still going! *sniff* Brings back so many memories. I've missed you all so much, even though only the REAL "oldies" will remember me.
Sorry to interrupt the story...I will add sometime soon :)
Alex

[Panther]

Dr. Leslie returned to the room. “Barbara!” she exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing? Get back in bed!” For Barbara was at the window, leaning halfway out.

Ignoring the doctor’s orders, she instead turned and gestured for her to come join her. “Look!” she said excitedly. Dr. Leslie was drawn against her will to the window. Barbara pointed towards the light of the Bat signal shinning against the dark clouds. Two shapes were flying across, like but not alike witches on broomsticks flying across the moon.

Barbara took a deep breath and with a shout that nearly deafened Leslie she screamed out:

“SUPERGIRL!!!!!!!!!”

In an answer to Dr. Leslie’s look Barbara explained, “Super-hearing, remember?”

“Ah,” said Dr. Leslie faintly, feeling as though events were rushing too fast for her comprehension.

In seconds Supergirl flew into the room. “You called?” she asked with hands on hips in classic stance. She was immediately followed by Superman.

“Glad you could make it Kara. I need a ride.”

“Barbara-” Leslie began in a clear lecture tone.

“Please,” Barbara interrupted in pleading voice. “Trust me.” That was it. The two women, one old, one young, locked eyes with each other that to an outsider might have looked like a battle of wills, but was really an exchange, deeper than can be put into words.

Dr. Leslie nodded once, slowly, silently praying her faith wasn’t misplaced as every medical and maternal and human instinct screamed at her to stop the girl before she got herself killed. But something deep inside of her reminded her of the power of miracles, and she believed.

Barbara didn’t waste any time. “Come on,” she directed to Supergirl, “I need to pick up some supplies in the Batcave. And Superman, you just missed Bruce, Tim, …and Dick, they shouldn’t be to hard to find – especially for you.” If she hesitated over Dick’s name for a moment, nobody commented. Abruptly she said, “And if none of us ever get the chance, I’d just like to say thanks right now.”

Supes smiled in that Boy Scoot fashion of his. “I’m just returning the favor,” he said simply.

“No one dies tonight,” said Batgirl almost savagely, “not if I can help it.”

"Barbara," said Dr. Leslie softly, "Dick said to tell you that he's sorry."

Batgirl's face fell and a host of emotions danced across her features, unable to decide on just one. Finally she settled on what could be called a stotic look, disturbing on what was so often a cheery face. "He'll tell me in person." she said in a voice that reminded Leslie strongly of Dick.

And then the three flew off, Barbara being carried by Supergirl. Leslie watched as Superman headed in one direction, Batgirl and Supergirl in another. Then she bustled off to ready the clinic for what was continuing to be a very long night.

[Batgirl]

Continued from above... Was that a reference to that Batgirl comic or just something you added? Either way, very cool! Now, on with the story.

Tim looked around nervously as he followed the two dashing shadows. He still wasn't quite sure was happening, but he decided that he'd know soon enough. Suddenly both shadows stopped, nearly tripping the gallant Robin.

"Here" Bruce pointed to where several thugs were standing guard. There prize- Jim Grodon, Detective Montoya and Mayor Hill. His eyes narrowed. "Captives"

"Shh" Nightwing hissed. "Listen"

"Where'd the fat one go?" A puggy thug asked. A lean, tall mean looking punk answered back.

"Dunno, but I got a bullet in him. He won't get far" The two bagan to laugh. Rene moaned and began to cry. A shrill scream came from the shadows. Mo entered, dragging a struggling red head with him. The two thugs laughed again.

"Well now- if it ain't the pretty Ms. Summer Gleason!"

"Let me go you creeps!" She whined pitifully. The two only laughed harder, Mo joining in. Tim shuddered.

"We gotta find Harvey!" He muttered softly. Bruce nodded. Tim looked at the two knights, the captives and back at the knights. "I'll go"

"Alone? In this situation that's kinda risky, don't ya think? " All three knights jumped and turned to see a grinning Flash. Bruce half smiled.

"Look's like the calvary's here" Bruce said with slight sarcasm.

"And what would calvary be with out back up?"

"Superman!" Robin grinned. Superman nodded. He looked at Nightwing, who was silent. He offered his hand.

"I don't believe we've met" Dick shook the hand, his eyes distant. The smile faded slightly. "You are?"

"Nightwing" His voice was hollow, as if he were a million miles away. Bruce frowned. Something was up... Supes took a guess.

"More back up's on the way. Supergirl and Batgirl will be-"

"Batgirl?!?!" Nightwing snapped into reality.

"Thought that would get your attention... She's fine. They'll be joining us..."

"Is she crazy?" Dick muttered under his breath, inaudible to all but one hero there.

"Not any more then you... But small talk's for later. What's the plan?" All eyes feel on Batman, who was deep in thought. He looked up and took a deep breath. It was time for all or nothing.

AND THEN...

[Batgirl]

Barbara felt the cool cloth of her cowl slip over her face. It was the first time since this horrible situation began that she actually had put on her suit. At first it seemed like it would be ackward, but as soon as she slipped into it, it felt like old times... Old times, something she missed dearly...

"Barbara?"

"Yea?"

"Where will we find them?" Barbara turned to face Supergirl, who was watching the late news. Barbara frowned. Some one was standing in for Summer... not good.

"We interrupt this programming to bring you a special bulletin... Gotham has fallen under seige by the Joker... Several of the city's well known individuals are being held captive at Gotham City Hall... The Commissioner, Mayor and our own Summer Gleason. As the story develops we'll broadcast more. Please stay indoors and lock up... We'll bring more in as it comes"

"That's not good" Supergirl muttered softly.

"Let's go" Barbara turned and started towards the exit.

"Where?"

"Gotham City Hall... That's where they'll be"

And Then...

[Panther]

Meanwhile, across town...


A shriek filled the air. A sound of fury and anger and frustration and rage and spite that would have made Hera, goddess of vainity and jealously, envious.

"Why?!!?!?!?" the woman screamed out to the night sky.

Livia had awoken on the roof, tied up, abandoned and forgeten by all, including...him.

He had attacked her! Thrawted her! She had been doing him a favor, in trying to dispose of that clown. Rage filled Livia, consuming her.

His priorities are totally out of order, Livia reflected, he stopped her, saved the pathatic clown, and mourned the death of a witch! I came back for him! I killed for him! Would have died for him! And he betrayed me! She looked out at the dark night, loathing the city scape, glad that it would soon be ashes, thanks to her. And he will pay. 'It's over', he had told her.

"Beloved, if that is your wish, then that is what you will reiceve." she said out loud coldly. The smile on her face was past sanity.

[Batgirl]

Flying through the air, Barbara felt a shudder run down her back. Something was wrong... but what?

"Supergirl, head for the t.v. station. There's something around there I need to check"

"No prob" The flying girl and winged rodent (Gotta love Selina!) turned and headed towards another section of town. The guys would have to wait...

***

"She's not here!" Batgirl looked around the abandoned area and stared in disbelief. She and Supergirl had covered the entire building top to bottom, and there was no sign of the assassian or clown. Supergirl looked at her, puzzled.

"Who's not here?"

"Livia!"

"Who?"

"Livia Arnell! A very dangerous member of the League of Assassians! And she took the clown with her!"

"Whoa whoa, wait a minute- An assassain and the Joker?" Batgirl nodded. Her eyes falling on a small blood spained area. "Not good... Hey, what happened there?"

"Nothing... but we gotta go... lives depend on it" Barbara turned and started for the roof, eyes as cold as ice. "And there's a favor I'm going to return..."

***
Robin slinked into the shadows, keeping his eyes on the target... A very unaware Lar. He seemed to be looking for something- or someone.

"Missing something?"

"Yea, I'm looking for a fat cop. Have you- uh oh-" THAWCK.

"Next time pay more attention" Robin said with a grin.

"And so should you! HAHAHAHAHA!" THAWCK. The Joker laughed loudly and picked up the unconscious boy.

"And maybe next time you should leave the fat cop alone!" THAWCK. A large nightstick rapped into the skull of the Clown Prince... causing him to slip into darkness again. Boy and clown fell into a heap, the clown on top. Robin moaned and shook his head. Then looked up.

"AAAAHHHH- MPH!"

"Shut up kid! There gonna find us" Robin nodded and signaled towards the shadows. Bullock nodded and released. Then the two ran to the waiting alley. Once they were sure they were safe, they began to talk.

"Where's the Bat?"

"You ok?"

"Yea, now answer-"

"Good! There's not much time... I'll explain on the way" With that Robin turned and began to make his towards the police station, where he had left his mentor. If Joker was back, then so was that woman... Which meant Nightwing was in a lot of trouble. Bullock shrugged and decided to follow. He never really understood the Bat or his team and figured the kid knew what he was doing... At least, that's what he hoped.

And Then...

[Batgirl]

Nightwing slipped behind a statue and took a deep breath. The plan was simple. Free the hostages, then meet up again to to plan how to take back the city. He tried to surpress the butterflies in his stomach. Batman was on the look out for Batgirl and Supergirl, who would be arriving momentarily. He wanted to keep his head clear of all things except his mission. He had been assigned to rescue the Commissioner. How fitting...

"Better now then never" He muttered quietly. He slipped from his hiding place and ran towards the building, ducking inside. Another shadow slipped inside, a cruel smirk on it's face. He had said it was over. A daggar slide against her hip.

"No Beloved... It's only beginning..."


And then...

[Joker Jr]

When is someone going to update this incredible story! Pleeeeeeease!:confused:

[Batgirl]

Supergirl and Batgirl touched down at City Hall. They scanned the outside then broke a window to get in. Batgirl searched through the halls frantically. The two met up again in the mayor's office, Batgirl pale as a ghost and ready to cry.

"They're not here" Supergirl said weakly. Batgirl ran her gloved hand over her forehead to wipe away the sweat.

"Where could they be?" She moaned quietly. Supergirl forced a smile onto her face and patted her friend on the back.

"It's ok, we'll find them... too bad we can call 911" Kara tried to lighten the dismal mood that had set in. Barbara looked up.

"Of course! I'm so stupid! Not the City Hall! The Police Department! Come on Kara, there's not much time!"

The two caped heros took off towards the PD. On the outskirts of the city Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman were fighting alongside Gotham's finest, praying that they'd be able to stop the thugs from entering the city. Meanwhile at the PD, another battle was about to begin. The girls only hoped they could make it on time.

AND THEN...
(Hey Panther, DoE, ANY ONE! Please add on!)

[Panther]

Inside the shadowy lobby of the Gothom Police Department Livia held the wicked looking dagger she’d extracted from her boot. A dark figure paced down the corridor straight in front of her, clearly searching for something or someone. She frowned in concentration, lifted the knife above her head, pulled back her arm, gauged the weight carefully, hesitated for a fraction of a second, then flicked her wrist, and let the weapon fly through the air-

-And he caught it. “In the back, Livia?” Nightwing asked darkly as he turned around to face her, seemingly ignoring whatever pain was caused by the blade causing a trickle of blood to drip from the fist that clenched the dagger.

She stepped from the shadows towards him and laughed. Inwardly he shuddered, for the sound was not something he had heard from the woman he had briefly thought he had loved, but a sound that was all to familiar from his trips to Arkham. His hand throbbed but he would not let his face show he felt anything.

“Oh my love, you are so quick to judge, that is your weakness,” she cooed. “One of many” she added with a cruel smile. “I, unlike others, would never stabbed you in the back.”

She nodded at the dagger still clenched in his grasp. “From you, Beloved, I would expect no less than such a feat as that. Not enough for you to merely dodge it, you would, of course have to catch it. Showing off is another one of your weaknesses.” Her voice was eerily calm, as if they were discussing something of only mild interest to her.

“Did you come back to lecture me or try to kill me?” he snapped impatiently. “I’ve no time for games Livia, we’re in a serious situation, thanks to you-”

“More serious than you know, Beloved. Tell me, oh apprentice of the master detective, why would I throw a dagger at you if I knew you would catch it?” There was wild note of triumph in her question and her eyes seem to glow with the light of madness.

Nightwing dropped the dagger and clenched his wrist with his other hand as his arm started to throb as well. “You demented, crazy, sick b-” he began to shout.

“Beloved!” she interrupted in a mock surprised tone, “is that anyway to speak to someone who holds the power of life,” a quick bit of slight of hand a small white envelope appeared in one hand, “and death,” she nodded pointedly at the dagger on the ground, still fresh with Dick’s blood and the poison she had coated it with, “in her hands?”

“Poison,” smiled Nightwing bitterly, “how very feminine.” He was forced to sit down on a wooden bench in the lobby.

Livia sat down as well on an opposite facing bench, delicately crossing one leg over the other. “I chose one of the slowest acting toxins I knew of,” she explained matter of factly. “You feel the affects immediately, but it’s not until several extremely agonizing hours later that you die, unless you have the antidote, of course. So it appears we have the night together after all Beloved. It is still a long time until morning.”

Nightwing felt a single bead of sweat from on his forehead. He knew he could still attack her, and she knew that he knew, and he knew that she knew that he knew, and ad infinitium. There was no way the envelope contained the antidote. He would be forced to wait until she got around to the point of all this. A sharp pain stabbed him the stomach.

“Did you know, Beloved, that the wife of Augustus Caesar, first crowned emperor of Rome and grandnephew of Julius Caesar, was also named Livia?” she suddenly asked. She didn’t wait for an answer. “Her name was Livia Drusilla. I was named for her; named for a women who wielded power in days when noble women were often consider to be less than the humblest male slave. Augustus may have ruled the world, they said, but Livia ruled Augustus.”

His arm was on fire and the bead on his forehead trickled down the side of his face, soon followed by several others.

Livia continued. “While Augustus turned what was once a chaotic country into one with a strong government and peace between the people Livia was the perfect wife. She kept house, did charity work, helped the parents of large families, provided dowries for poor brides, and maintained orphans at her own expense. She made the people of Rome her main priority, and also helped Augustus in his decision making. She was a very intelligent woman and had good looks, which were two very ideal characteristics of a wife in Ancient Rome. She had a large amount of power in her own right, besides that gained by being the emperor’s wife, and some say she was very capable physically as well. It is rumored that she could wield a sword and for her pleasure would battle in single combat against one of the female gladiators. She was willing to do anything for those she loved. She was a master of the subtle science of poison, and rid herself of all those who were obstacles between her, her husband and son. Specially, those that stood in the way of her son Tiberius gaining the thrown.”

Nightwing silently vowed to himself by God, his father’s grave and his mother soul he was not going to die in the middle of a history lesson.

Almost as if she could hear his thoughts she glared at Dick. “Do you understand? She killed for the men she loved. And what happened?” Her voice rose to a shriek. “Her love betrayed her! The emperor of Rome stripped his own mother of her power once he gained the thrown, a thrown he had obtained only through her work!” She gasped at the end of her tirade and stopped to take in several deep breaths.

“Do you think that Livia forgave the man who ignored the fact she did everything for him?” Livia laughed that same insane laugh, “What is it they say – ‘to err is human, to forgive is divine’? Well, if that is true, than I am your Venus come to earth.”

“Listen, mighty Aphrodite,” said Nightwing in his old sarcastic way, “is there a point to all this? ‘Cause if not I think I’d like to die in peace without someone babbling in the background.”

His tone seemed to reach some saner part of her and temporarily snapped her back to reality. “Then I’ll only say this once. This packet,” she held out the white envelope between two fingers, “holds a powder, that mixed with a certain liquid will become the antidote you need. If you do just one simple task, I will tell you what it is, and where to find it, before the day begins and your life ends.”

[Isis]

:eek: Aargh! don't leave nightwing like that! what am I saying...!? don't leave *us*all hanging like that!!

please keep it up!

Isis

[Batgirl]

"What do you want Livia?" Dick groaned, his entire body now felt as if it were in a flaming furnace. Livia laughed softly.

"Return my favor Beloved..." Livia pressed her lips against his. Nightwing narrowed his eyes, and as she pulled back tried to spit. Unfortunaely his mouth was too dry. "There is a certain person in this city... You know her well. She knows everything about poisons, she has a poison I want- You know where it is"

"The Blue Serpent's..." Nightwing croaked weakly. Livia grinned wickedly and nodded. His eyes widened slightly.

"The snake that bit me while I helped you recover... Don't you know it's not nice to bit the hand that feeds you- not to mention
waits on you hand and feet when you're as dependant as a baby! And this is the thanks I get?!?!"

"Hey, it was your choice, not mine" Dick snapped weakly. Livia laughed cruelly. Dick collaspsed to the ground in pain.

"Oh Beloved, noble to the end..." Livia stopped laughing and turned, rising to her feet. Her laughter, or was it... echoing through the halls. "Is there an echo?"

"Great, now you're hearing things"

"Oh Dick... how rude, perhaps I should kill you now"

A bloody daggar suddenly landed in Livia's back. She screamed in pain and jerked up, a cold laugh ringing through the halls. The envelope fluttered to the ground, and both turned to the shadows... to see the figure of a bat emerge slowly.

"Consider that returning the favor Livia" Kara stared at the woman next to her, her jaw on the floor. Batgirl smiled grimly. Livia's eyes narrowed.

"WITCH!" She flung the daggar, but missed miserably. The grin turned into a smirk... Dick fingers slipped around the envelope.

"What's the matter? Don't like it when the game isn't played fair?" Livia growled and prepared to attack. "Supergirl, get the commissioner... Leave her to me"

"Uh... okay" Kara somehow figured now wasn't the time to disagree. Livia sprang at the intruder.

"FOOL!" Batgirl side stepped, sending the attacker into the wall. Barbara gloated over the woman. Nightwing grunted and rose to his feet, though his efforts to walk were impossible. Batgirl rushed to his side.

"Got the antidote?"

"I think"

"You'll pay for this shebat... I promise you that!"

"Let's go... the sooner we get it in you the better" Barbara kissed his face gingerly, then reeled back, her eyes wide. "Nightwing, you're burning up!"

"I... can't..." Dick collaspsed to the ground, his body shaking uncontrollably. Barbara cried out. A laugher began to peal from behind. Batgirl turned in horror to see Livia standing tall, a needle in her hand, a triumphant grin on her face.

"Always carry an extra" She hissed coldly. Barbara winced. Dick had told her that the first time she had gone out... A daggar was produced from a hidden pocket and Livia slinked towards her latest victum. "So little witch, you want to fight? Let's"

"No problem" Barbara narrowed her eyes. Dick looked up.

"Barbara-" He winced hoarsly. "Don't! There's... no way... to beat her-" He drew in a ragged breath. "She's way... over, gah... your head!"

"Let me decide that" Barbara snapped sharply. "Right now you're not in a possition to agrue" Livia's eyes widened and she studied her oppenent more carefully. "Am I right?"

"It can't be..." Livia muttered, suddenly reconizing who it was. "IT JUST CAN'T BE!!!"

Livia pulled back the daggar and charged. Batgirl went to dodge but found that facing a dying assassian and facing a very alive, very angry assassian were very different. The daggar torn onto her soft flash, leaving a whole in her new suit and a red gash in her side. Barbara pulled back and winced. She studied the daggar. Lucky for her, THIS one wasn't poisoness. Livia sprang off the wall and came again. Barbara feigned right and at the last second pulled sharply to the left. Dick was right. She was nowhere near the level this girl was. Livia spun around, running the blade against the woman's other side, a viscoius grin plastered across her face.

"It's not often I have the pleasure of killing a hated foe twice" Livia hissed cruelly, a small laugh escaping her throat. Batgirl scowled and taking the oppurnity of hand to hand slammed her balled fist straight into the assassian's nose, sending a small stream of blood down it. Barbara grunted softly.

"Yea, but this time I'm not tied up!"

"So I see" WHAM! Livia slammed her fist into the shebat's gut, causing her to double over. Livia grabbed the top of the cowl and tore it back. Barbara looked up, anger written on her lovely featueres. Livia smirked. She had to see her face just once before her opponent died... "Put your mask on... We don't want to scar that pretty face"

"RRRAAHHH!" Barbara swung her leg into the back of Livia's knee, sending her foe to the ground. The two rolled around, exchanging blows, but Livia gaining the upper hand. With a loud cry, Livia thrust Barbara to the floor. Raising the daggar high above her throat.

"WHY WON'T YOU JUST DIE!!!!" Livia screamed in frustration.

"What fun would there be in that?" Barbara asked with a half grin. She slammed her head against Livia's, causing her to lose her balance. She rolled to her feet, running for the dropped daggar. "By the way, thank Dick for that one"

"So much like HIM!" Livia charged after her enemy in hot pursuit. Barbara dropped and rolled, her closing over the deadly handle. As she prepared to jump to her feet, again Barbara was thrown against the ground, Livia used all her weight. Her back throbbing with pain, Barbara moaned. Livia pinned the arm with the deadly daggar, her grin easily passing sanity. Blood pooled around the young woman. A dark laughter filled the room. Livia gloated over her fallen foe. "Blood loss makes you weak... did you really think you were a match for me? Or were you just trying to protect Dick?" Livia smirked coldly, savoring each word as it came out. "He's mine you know... You'll never get him back"

"I'll die before I let you have him!" Barbara pushed forward, bringing her face inches from Livia's, her eyes filled with undying determination. Livia grinned darkly.

"That's what I was counting on..." Livia raised the daggar above her head, aiming at the woman's throat that seemed to pulse with life. Savoring the kill, she paused a moment. "Good bye Barbara... it's been fun"

And with that, the woman sharply brought the daggar down... AND THEN... (Ok Panther [or some one else] your turn!"

[Coran]

(This is my first try at a post so I decided to make it kinda short to see how people liked it. What do you think?)

As the dagger sliced through the air towards Batgirl’s throat a scream suddenly issued from Livia’s lips as her dagger suddenly veered off course, slamming into the ground next to Batgirl’s neck just barely grazing the skin. Livia stood as her hands pawed behind her, trying to grab at the poisoned dagger that had suddenly embedded itself into her back again. She turned at looked at Nightwing with a shocked expression as she collapsed to her knees again, “Beloved! Why?”

Nightwing sat leaned against the wall, breathing with difficulty, his strength almost gone. He watched the eyes dim on the woman he had once thought he loved he murmured softly, “I don’t belong to you… I never did. I might have belonged to the girl in the forest that still had kindness and love but never you.” he tried to say more but was unable to as his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

Batgirl sat up slowly pulling her cowl into place. Words failed her as she looked at the dead assassin, then at the collapsed hero….

AND THEN

[Kal-el]

My first go at some writing here. Hope I don't disappoint...


Barbara tried to fight off the pain from her wounds. Times like this she envied Supergirl's invulnerability. She was conscious, but barely. Looking over at Dick, she wasn't sure if he was dead or alive.

"Dick, are you alright?"

No response.

Her head started to ache and she felt herself getting cold. Her mind started to wander.
She heard movement...it was Dick.

"Bar..*cough*..Barbara..." It was all he could do to get the words out. He hurt all over, almost to the point of not feeling any pain at all. His vision was blurry, but he could still make out Barbara's figure in the darkness.

"I'm here Dick. Try not to move. I have something that may help." Barbara fumble with her utility belt for a second, before producing a what looked like a tiny gun. She placed it on Nightwing's thigh and pulled a small trigger. A small click sounded.
"That should do it. I'm not sure how long it will be until the effects take."

"The Comissioner? The others? Are they...?" Dick strained to talk, but knew it was just a matter of time before the antidote had some kind of effect. He was glad Barbara was here with him.

"Supergirl went to find them. Don't worry." Barbara was trying to be reassuring. Kara was good, but prone to overconfidence.

Seeing Livia's body there was bittersweet for Dick. She seemed so caring before, only to turn out so cold and heartless.

Footsteps were coming from down the hall. Not sure who it was, Barbara braced herself for the worst. She was not doing well, but forced herself to block out the pain. She could put up a fight, using sheer will, but not for long.

Nightwing, now a bit more alert, also heard the footsteps. The fact that he heard them at all told him it couldn't be Batman. There was blood all over the floor and, even though it was dark, he and Batgirl would be discovered easily.
Supergirl emerged from the shadows carrying an unconscious commissioner. Barbara was very relieved.

"Are you two alright?" asked Kara. She was trying to be reassuring in her tone, but she could tell both were injured badly. "We've got to get out of here."

"I can stand, but I'm not sure about Nightwing."
Barbara stood up slowly and looked at Dick.
"Give me your hand, we're getting out of here."

"I'll be ok. I've had much worse than this before." Dick struggled to his feet with Barb's help. He looked at Supergirl. "What about the other hostages?"

"The comissioner is the only one I found. He was tied to a chair and gagged. When I found him he was out cold. I figured Superman and Batman..."

Nightwing cut her off. "We can't assume they found the others." He knew he and Barbara couldn't do much at the moment. "Supergirl, Batgirl and I will take care of the commissioner. The exit isn't far from here so we'll be fine. You're the only one who can get the rest out."

"There's a lower level here, right?", Barbara stated. "My bet is that is where the others are being held."

Nightwing looked at Supergirl once more. "Find the basement. Do it quickly. You'll probably come across some resistance, so be ready."

"I'll be ready" Kara said confidently. "This shouldn't be too hard."

"Don't underestimate these people. If the Joker is involved, you have to be ready for anything." He'd rather do it himself, but at the moment, Supergirl was the best option. Her exuberance annoyed him, and her inexperience worried him.

With that, Supergirl turned and headed back down the hall. "Geez, are all these bat-guys so crabby" she thought to herself.

Nightwing watched her until enveloped by the darkness.

"She'll be ok Dick" Barbara said. "She's a smart girl. She's tough"

"Let's move. We don't need any more company tonight, not in our condition."

He took one last look at Livia and muttered. "Things could have been different." Dick let a frustrated exhale. He shook his head slightly. "It's over now."

Barbara put the comissioner's arm over her shoulder. Nightwing did what he could to help as they made their way towards the exit.

"Thanks Barb" he said, flatly.

Barbara looked at him, not noticing any emotion is his face. He looked straight ahead the whole time. That bothered her, but knew it took a lot for him to say anything. Still, she couldn't help to be a bit jealous of the passion he seemed to have with Livia. "Not the time for that, not now" she thought.

~~~~~~~

Supergirl found the stairs and slowly floated down. She heard the sound of echoing laughter. The farther down she got, the louder the laughter got. "Creepy" she thought. It was unlike any laughter she'd ever heard.

and then...

[witness]

"Ugh........I really need to stop getting hit over the head like that! Those fools just keep leaving me behind. Very stupid. Oh well, it works for me!"

Hahahahahahahahahaha!


"Ok, that's really creepy," said Supergirl as she carefully walked downstairs to the basement. She shuddered at the sound of the laughter.

She had slipped down there unnoticed by any of the thugs. She soon realized who was creating such inhuman laughter. On the other side of the room stood the Joker with Mayor Hill as his captive.

"You know what Hammy? I've truly enjoyed this whole little escapade. This has been my best plan yet! I'm taking over the city, and I get rid of two Bat-goons! All in one night! HA HA HA HA HA!"

"I wouldn't be so cocky, Joker!" said Supergirl as she entered the room.

"Huh? Who......Oh no!"

Joker turned around and saw a girl hovering in midair.

"Wait a minute, you're a girl! Since when did Supes get a kid sister?"

"What's it to you?"

"I'd like to know these things!!!! If you're here, where's Superman?"

"He and a few others are taking care of your thugs. Once that's done, they'll all be coming after you."

"Oh......Great. Well Hammy, this screws up everything! I guess there's only one way out of this," said the Joker, an evil smile covering his face.


::Meanwhile::


Nightwing and Batgirl had made it out of the building. They carried the commissioner and themselves over to the Batmobile. They, however, were too busy to notice a couple of gentlemen watching them.

"Should we go after them master?"

"No, they don't have the person I want. We'll have to go inside."

As the two gentlemen walked inside, an explosion occured down the street.

"We must hurry, there's no telling how long it will be until this part of town is overrun by thugs."

They walked down the hall and came upon a body, twisted and lying in a pool of blood. A dagger was sticking out of her back.

"Damn. This isn't good."

"What should we do with her?"

"We must take her to the lab. There's no telling how long she's been like this."

"Yes, master."

The taller of the two men picked up Livia. He was of middle eastern descent, bald, and very strong. The other man was a distinguished genleman. His face was much younger looking than he actually was. His hair was mainly jet black, except for a thin line of grey near the edge of his hair. He was dressed in his usual attire, his green cape flowing freely around him.

"Oh, Ubu..."

"Yes master?"

"Be careful. She's a valuable asset to me."


and then........

[Kal-el]

....meanwhile, in an upper level


Freddie didn't like this. He had heard noises in the main room of the upper floor for the past several minutes. Now, everything was quiet. He was in the next room trying to figure out his next move. Mikey had gone out to see what was up at least five minutes ago, but Freddie wasn't sure. He'd lost track of time. Mikey hadn't come back.

Freddie checked the magazine in his 9 millimeter. "Full load. Good. I might need all of them." Freddie only had a few experiences dealing with the Bat. He and the other guys had a pool up to 5 large to be the one to take him down. He was feeling lucky tonight.

"That five grand is all mine. I'm gonna take the Bat down once and for all" he muttered to himself.

Freddie heard the creak of the floor boards just outside the door. He knew his prize was close. The room was dark, but he knew his way around. He backed away from the door about ten feet or so...a good distance to unload his clip into the Bat's chest he thought. He aimed the gun at the door and waited.

The door flung open and Freddie let loose. All nine rounds gone as fast as he could pull the trigger of his semi-automatic. Oddly, some of the shots seemed to riccochet and hit the walls, creating a lot of dust.

His magazine exhausted and dust still in the air, Freddie reached for a new clip. As he dropped the old clip out, he felt a presence coming toward him. Looking up, he saw two bright red eyes. Suddenly his weapon became very hot, too hot to hold on to. "What the...! Oh man, Oww!" Freddie dropped the gun.

Before he knew what was going on, he was grabbed by the shirt and lifted into the air like he was nothing.
"Where are the hostages?!" a loud, strong voice demanded.

"I don't know nothin' 'bout no hostages man! Now, howz about you put me down before someone gets hurt!" Freddie drew and knife from a sheath in his belt and stabbed towards his opponents chest. He made solid contact, but no penetration. It actually hurt his hand, like he just tried to stab through a brick wall.

"Now why did you have to go and do that?" the voice asked. Freddie felt himself almost floating through the air before being violently slammed against the wall.

"Tell me what I want to know! Now!!"

Freddie knew what would happen to him if the boss found out he squealed. He also knew that whoever the guy was that was using him as a rag doll at the moment had the upper hand on him. It wasn't Batman, he knew that for sure. But who?
"The basement. They're down in the basement with the boss! Please put me down now."

"As you wish."

Freddie felt himself being thrown across the room, finally coming down on a table top, which broke upon impact, sending him crashing to the floor. Looking up, barely conscious, he saw the figure rise into the air and float quickly out the door. "Him? He's here too? Uh-oh..." Freddie's head then smacked the floor, unconscious.

Superman felt bad about the way he dealt with the thug, but had grown impatient. Time was running out, and different tactics needed to be employed.
He wasn't sure where Batman was. They were seperated while battling a large group of thugs upon entry. He felt safe in guessing Bruce also knew where to go. He quickened his pace and made his way downward, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. This was not a night he wished to be tested.

and THEN...

[Batgirl]

The corpse of the dead assassian was lowered on a metal table into a caudron of green liquid at a warehouse that had once produced glow toys. It now served as the lab for a madman. Moments later Livia broke the surface of the pool, screaming with rage. The older gentleman smiled.

"Hello Livia" The woman leapt down ten feet to the floor, landing perfectly. Ube shyed away from the woman. He had experienced the powers of the green goo before and didn't feel like getting injured. The woman smiled coldly.

"Ra's darling... never thought I'd see you again"

"I heard you where in town... looking for something?"

"The last poison to complete my collection... I wanted to find my Beloved, but he has turned from me" An odd look came over the woman's face. "But how am I here? The daggar..."

"I used the pit that I told you of. Now my dear, is this poison you speak of the Blue Serpent's?" Livia nodded. "Well, you'll have that soon enough... Now I need you to capture the one known as Batman. I need his skills... by the way, had you killed him earlier tonight I would not have been so kind... Do not double cross me again Livia"

"Yes master" She replied softly. He smiled eerily at her.

"But first- I know that you would like to take revenge on the young man. Keep him alive- he may have furthur use...but the girl... Do as you please with her"

"As you wish" Livia replied with a cruel smile. Ube coughed. The two looked at him oddly. "She will-"

"Master, has it ever occured to you the girl could be used?"

"How so Ube?" A dangerous smile flickered on the man's lips.

"You desire an heir, do you not?"

"I do"

"Who better to bear you a son, then she? After all, she is fertile... And she is part of the Detectives family..." Ube said calmly. Ra's grinned, lightning flashing in his dark eyes.

"Of course Ube, why didn't I think of that?" The tall man turned to the assassian, who was scowling. "Bring Richard to Talia. She's waiting at City Hall. She knows the plan. Bring the girl to me"

"As wish... master" Livia sneered bitterly. She would rather kill the girl out right. Ra's chuckled softly.

"Don't worry neice... you'll have your time"

* * *

Barbara shifted uncormfortably in the easy chair, never taking her eyes off her father, who was now draped across Dick's couch. Dick was in the kitchen, making coffe... and probably thinking of Livia. Barbara frowned at the thought. A slight chill ran down her back. She knew Livia was dead... but then why was she so nervous? People didn't just come back to life...

"Better put your cowl on before he wakes up... Your dad's been through enough tonight" Dick placed a coffee mug in front of her with a loud thud. She scowled.

"Since when do you care about my dad?" She sneered bitterly. He glowered at her. "When did you start caring at all?"

"Shut up ok? Just shut up. I don't want to get into it"

"Yea sure" Barbara took a sip of her coffee. She placed the cup on the table and trotted to the window. Half of the city glowed with flame. She frowned. That was never good...

"Are you gonna put on your cowl or not?"

"If and when I feel like it" Barbara retorted bitterly. She spun to face Dick. He was glaring at her over his mug. "What's with your attitude problem lately?"

"I dont'-" The scowl suddenly changed to a look of mixed shock and horror. "Barbara! Get away from the-"

CRASH! Barbara flinched as glass showered all around her. She hit the floor and rolled to her bandaged stomach, in time to see a dark shadow towering over her.

"What the he-"

"UBE!" Dick was on his feet in a millisecond. However, he soon found himself on his back, staring into the eyes of the assassian... "LIVIA?!?!"

"We meet again Beloved... Ube, take the girl... I'll deal with Master Grayson. Leave the old man. He'll do us no harm"

"Got it" The tall man swooped down and effotlessly lifted the girl to his shoulders, kicking and screaming all the way.

"PUT ME DOWN!"

"You had better learn respect... Your new master has quite the temper" He hissed with a half grin. Dick looked at Ube in horror.
The man turned and jumped to the sill. "Remember, once you notify Batman report back... and keep him alive"

"I know that!" Livia snapped. Barbara looked to Dick, her eyes wide and frightened. She didn't like the sound of this one bit. Ube jumped, disappearing from view. Barbara's scream echoed through the night air.

"DICK!!!!!"

"NO!" Dick lunged at the window but was held back by a much stronger Livia. She chuckled darkly.

"Amazing what the pit can do no? Now Beloved... follow me" Dick was literally dragged outside, still in his Nightwing attire, dazed and confused. All hope seemed gone... However, there was one who had overheard and seen everything. On the couch in the now empty room, the commissioner sat up. He had heard and seen it all. Now it was all up to him...

AND THEN...

[Kal-el]

Commissioner Gordan sat on the couch, still a bit dazed. Last he remembered he was being questioned in a dark room. He remembered being tied up. "The bastards drugged me!" he said aloud, merely to hear some kind of voice in the silence. Did he tell them anything important? He couldn't remember.
There was something nagging at him...something that happened before he passed out. A loud noise? A fight maybe? "Damn!" he thought. "Come on Jim, think!"
Replaying everything as best he could, over and over again he thought. It was dark, except for one light. There was confusion. Someone said something about...a girl? "That can't be it." He thought hard. "Batgirl maybe?"
A spark came to him. "A gunshot? Yes, yes, that's it, a gunshot!" The cobwebs were starting to clear from his muddled head. Things were a bit clearer now. "One of them shot...a girl. Yes! He said 'I shot some girl point blank...!'" The comissioner was now pacing, obviously recovered enough to walk. His police instincts were coming back strong. His deductive reasoning fully engaged.
"They shot her and she didn't go down. They'd know Batgirl, I'm sure of it. It must have been...could it have been?" His mind was racing now. If it was her, she probably wouldn't be in Gotham alone, or by accident.
Gordan grabbed for the phone. Dead. His cellphone! "Damn, no signal! I've got to get to HQ! Maybe the signal will be enough!"
Police Commissioner Gordan hurried for the front door. Headquarters was a ways off. He needed transportation. He grabbed a set of keys from a hook near the front door. From the window he could see a motorcycle parked outside. "That will have to do." He hurried outside.
He fumbled with the keys until one fit. The Japanese made bike roared to life. He hadn't ridden a motorcycle in years, and definitely nothing like this one. Looking over the controls, most of them were unfamiliar, but the basic operations were the same as he remembered.
Before taking off, he looked up and noticed for the first time the sad state his beloved city was in. "Damn them! They will not take my city this way. I'll make sure of that!"
With that he squealed off into the night, heading for Police Headquarters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supergirl tried to stay calm. Remembering what Nightwing had said, she was trying her best to be ready for anything.
In front of her stood the Joker, some strange looking guy named Hammy, and 6 other thugs, all with weapons drawn and trained right on her. Mayor Hill was on the opposite side of the room.

The Joker looked at Supergirl. "My, my little lady. You're quite a looker. So, ol' Supes took a hint from Bats and got himself a sidekick? How quaint."

"It's not going to work Joker. I'm here for the Mayor and won't leave without him!"

"Ahhahahaaha! Now aren't we sure of ourselves! Open fire boys!!!"
Upon his order, six thugs opened fire on Supergirl. The Joker began laughing hysterically. "We'll see how the little one likes that!"

Ammo expended, the shooting stopped. From the dust Supergirl emerged.
"Mabye you didn't hear me the first time. I'm SUPERgirl! You know, like Superman, but a girl."

"Oh drats! You super goofs are all the same. Oh well, looks like you got me Superbrat."

In all the commotion, Kara had not x-rayed the room. It had not even occured to her.

The Joker put out his hands "Take me in Supergirl, I've been a bad little Joker." His eyes glared his evil intent.

Kara stepped forward and grabbed the Joker's hands. Before she could really put the clamps down on him, she felt something odd.
She felt weak, and suddenly the Joker turned the tables and grabbed her.

"Shall we dance my sweet! Ahhahahhahahaahhha!"
Kara couldn't fight back. She fell to the ground. Above her was a hanging light. Actually, it was a device that was magnifying the effects of a small piece of Kryptonite.

"Hehehahahah! You know what they say! A piece of kryptonite a day keeps the Superman away, and Supergirl too! Ahahahahaha! Take care of that little green gem kid, it's my last one." The Joker bent down towards Supergirl. "Awwww. What's wrong? You don't look so good. Ahahahahaha!"

"Boy's, we're outta here!" The Joker turned to the side wall and threw a handful of what looked like marbles towards the wall. After a few bouces, they exploded, crating a huge hole in the wall leading to the outside.

"Hope that's not a load-bearing wall Superkiddie! Ahahahahahaaa!" The Joker and his goons took off through the gaping hole.

Kara layed there, straining to move. The explosion had rocked the entire structure and the ceiling was starting to cave in. It all seemed to happen so fast. Nightwing was so right.

Rubble started to fall on top of Kara. The kryptonite also fell. The device smashed to the ground, the kryptonite all but destroyed under the falling pieces of ceiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Superman heard a barrage of gunshots and knew it came from the basement. He estimated he had at least three floors to traverse, but couldn't be sure. The old lead pipes throughout the building made his x-ray vision mostly ineffective. Not 2 minutes had passed when an explosion shook the walls. Again, from the basement.
"What the...?" His pace became a blurr. He arrived in the basement to find a huge pile of rubble, with more coming down. He heard a slight moaning and started digging quickly through the pile.

"Kara!" he exclaimed.

"Uugh...The Joker...kryptonite...has the Mayor..."
She was still weak, but conscious.

"The building is coming down. We're getting out of here!"

Superman picked her up and flew out the huge hole left in the wall. Landing about a hundred yards away, he looked back to see Batman shooting a grappling hook a swinging from a caving in roof.
He landed safely and came over to the others.

"The Joker?" Batman asked sternly.

"Gone" Clark responded.

"Is she alright?" Batman asked.

"She'll be fine. Bruce, we need to talk. There's more going on here than just the Joker and this Livia character." Clark had needed to be sure about what wa going on. One thing he had learned from Bruce was to keep track of criminal activity. Ever since his last encounter with R'as ah Guhl, he knew it couldn't be over with him. The one he knew could help him monitor the kind of mystical abilities he possessed was Fate.
Fate had told him not long ago that something big was about to happen, and R'as would be a major player.

"What are you saying Clark?" Bruce was intrigued. Did Clark know something that he didn't? Had he missed something?

"We need to get everyone together as soon as possible." The urgency in his voice was powerful.
Bruce caught something in the sky that made him take notice. It was the Batsignal, showing like a hopeful beacon through the smoke and destruction in the Gotham sky. Knowing the Commissioner was the only one that would activate it, a slight sense of relief came over him.

"It looks like someone agrees with you. We've got to get to police headquarters."

and then...

[Batgirl]

Robin and Bullock were the first to arrive on the rooftop. The collapse of the building the Joker had been hiding in had shaken the two up, but only steeled their resolve. No on messed the city up this bad and got away with it...

"Commissioner! Man, I thought we'd never see you again!" Robin threw his arms around the man's neck and squezzed. Jim smiled at the boy.

"It's good to see you too Robin, but we need to talk... and fast"

"What's the matter?" Superman, Batman and Supergirl appeared out of no where, but the latter looked a little worse for wear. The commissioner stared.

"What on earth-"

"The Joker... kryptonite... nothing much" Kara replied weakly. Robin grinned at her and patted her arm.

"I finally get to meet the infamous Supergirl"

"Please, I know you're all glad to see each other but-" Jim was nervous and began to shake. Those goons had his daughter and Dick... Bruce looked around.

"Where's Nightwing and Batgirl? They should... Jim?" Bruce's voice crecked as he saw the old man's face turn pale. "Jim, what happened?"

"I don't know for sure. All I know is that a woman by the name of Livia took Nightwing and a man by the name of Ube took...he took Batgirl" The Commissioner sighed and took a breath before going on. Now wasn't the time to tell Batman that he now knew two of his team's identites and had a good guess as to who the other two were. "Ube, he mentioned something about a master... Do you have any idea what it means?"

"Unfortunately, I do... We don't have much time and that Batgirl and Nightwing are both in incredible danger" Batman replied weakly. Superman's brow furrowed.

"Ube? Isn't that-"

"Yes. Robin, take Supergirl back to the cave. Tend to her wounds. When she's ready, have her come here. This is our base now and we need to protect it. Bullock, Superman and you will go to City Hall... I have a feeling that there will be some clures there. Jim... I need you to come with me"

"What about the others?" Robin asked quietly. Batman looked towards the outskirts of the city and frowned.

"They're doing their best. Bullock, if you find Rene, do all you can to free her. We could use more hands then we've got"

"Let's go Supes, you heard the Bat..." Bullock turned for the stairs and Superman handed Supergirl to Robin.

"I know she's safe with you" He muttered softly, a hlaf grin playing about his lips. Robin smiled back.

"Batman? What about me?" The boy turned to his mentor.

"Keep watch with her... and be careful!"

"You got it boss!" Robin replied, then saluted, an impish grin on his face. Batman sighed and shook his head. Leave it to the kid to lighten the mood...

* * *

Talia looked up in shock as her adopted cousin dragged the first son of her Beloved through the dark corridors of City Hall. Half way there Dick had given up. He had to conserve energy and think. Talia smiled.

"We meet again Dick"

"Where did he take her?" He hissedvenomously. Talia feigned innocence and looked at himsympathitically.

"I have no idea what you're talking about"

"Your Father! Don't play dumb with me! I know he's behind this! Where is he?" Talia was silent. Anger flowed through Dick's weary veins. "I asked you a question! WHERE IS HE?!?!?"

"You'll know soon enough" Talia replied sweetly. Dick scowled at her. She began to tye up their new hostage.

"Beloved, you must relax" A sudden transformation took place in the assassian. Instead of the physcopathic killer he had been dealing with all night, there before him, stood the woman who had so gracious cared for him in the forest. "Please do not make this harder"

"Why Livia? Why did you have to do that?"

"It's in her blood" Talia replied coldly. "It's in all of our blood"

"Yea, you and your 'wonderful' father. So what's he planning this time?" Dick sneered. No answer. A chill ran down his back. "Talia? What does your father want with Barbara?"

"It is not of your concern" Talia replied coolly. Dick was forced into a rolling chair. He luckily restrained his anger.

"Like heck is isn't. I mean it. What does he want with her?" His eyes were narrowed slits. She smiled eerily.

"What does my father want most?"

"Other then world domination? How should I know?"

"Think Beloved. Think... you know the answer" Livia cooed softly. Dick stared at his feet, deep in thought. Slowly the realization dawned on him. He looked up, his eyes wide. It was too horrible to even think that-

"My father will finally have a male heir" Talia said triumphantly.

"You're sick, you know that? You and your dad are juat a bunch of sick, wacked out, sons of-" Talia slapped him, her eyes glowing with rage.

"That's enough! Besides, had you protected her, she would not be where she is no?" Dick was silent. A cruel smiled slipped across her lips. "You see? Had it not been for you, your friend Barbara would be safe"

* * *

Barbara wimpered softly as she was forced to enter a large, spacious room. At the far end were two seats. One was occupied. She didn't have to ask who it was- she knew. She really didn't have any experience with him, only several brief encounters. Barbara had a sinking feeling that that was suddenly about to change. The man grinned.

"Good Evening Detective" He said softly. His glowing green eyes sparkled with delight. "How lovely you look"

"What do you want with me?" Barbara cried out. Her outfit had gone from her Knight apparel to a slave type of outfit identical to that which Leia wore in Return of the Jedi. Her body was quaking. His eyes only seemed to get brighter.

"How would you like to stay young forever? To rule the world as it was before the corruptness of man tainted it? To be Queen of a thousand nations and more?" Ra's sttod and stepped down the small staircase. "For one- tiny- favor? what would you say?"

"I'd say you're nuts" Barbara snapped bitterly. The man chuckled darkly and lifted her chin. Her blood ran cold.

"My, you're a fiery one aren't you? Good... Then you won't disappoint me" Barbara gulped visibly. She really didn't like the sound of that. "You see, all great rulers need a male heir. I too have this problem... Do you know how I intend to fix it?"

"No..." Barbara croaked weakly. She had a good guess... He turned to her, his face gleaming with wicked joy.

"Why- with you of course!" His smiled darkened and he returned to his seat. "Bring her forward Ube and hold her tight. I don't want her to get away"

"As you wish master" Ube held the young girl and forced her forward. Barbara ashrank back in horror.

"No! Please, let me go! Please!"

And then... You turn readers... You get to decide her fate

[Coran]

Darkwing lay quietly on the floor. His eyes were filled with pain at the truth in Talia's statement, but deep inside, a fire was beginning to build. Though still weak, his body was fighting hard to bring him back up to peak and it was beginning to pay off. The poison in his system had been destroyed, and due to his wonderful physique, his body was repairing the damage at a rapid, though not superhuman, rate. A smile flickered across his face so quickly that his two female captors failed to notice it... it had taken the worst possible circumstances but he had finally realized his true fealing for Barbara. Soon it would be time to strike... so soon.

Talia glanced over at a clock on the wall and then she looked back at Livia and Darkwing, "It's time for me to be going." then she smiled mockingly at Darkwing, "Besides, I would never dream of keeping two lovers from each other." she then turned and without another word walked from the room.

Liva stood, carefully watching Darkwing. "I'm glad you finally decided to settle down... I wouldn't want you hurting yourself anymore than you already have."

Her eyes showed some anger when he failed to respond, "You know, I'm the only reason your still alive. You should thank me for that!"

Darkwing turned his emotionless eyes on Livia and said softly, "I would rather be dead than have a crazy assasin to thank for my life."

Livia gritted her teeth as she stared at Darkwing. Her hand strayed to the dagger at her side as he growled out, "If they didn't want you alive..."

Darkwing stared at her with no expression and murmured, "You still wouldn't be able to kill me."

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

Talia stood next to Ube on a nearby building. She smiled coldly and motioned to the shadows, "Over their Ube... I'm sure our visitors will be arriving shortly. Make sure the equipment is in readiness. Father would prefer the goods are... undamaged."

Ube nodded and walked into the shadows, leaving Talia as the only visible figure.

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

Darkwing's mind was racing... as Livia stalked up and down the room he noticed a growing wet spot on her back... it was dark and looked like... blood. He smiled and waited for the perfect moment. The moment she pivoted to be facing away from him he lept. Darkwing knew his stamina was limited, but if she was bleading again, he had a chance.

Livia spun around as soon as he lept, a cruel smile prominant on her face. With two swift blows Darkwing was back on the ground. "Beloved... did you really think you could attack me that easily?" she asked in a condescending voice.

Darkwing smiled back at her, as his hand whipping forward. When he had fallen back, he had reached behind his back and pulled out a small bola from his belt. The bola wrapped around Livia's feet, binding them tightly together. She wavered for a moment, and then collapsed to the ground. Swiftly she pulled a dagger and sliced the ropes as she stood again, "I'm not that easy!" she growled out.

Darkwing stood back up and watched her from his defensive position. Livia suddenly went back down to one knee and began murmuring to herself, "What's happening... what..." she reached behind and pulled back a hand that was stained crimson, "No... NO!!!" she screamed in astonishment, pain, and rage, "I was put in the pit! I can't be bleeding!" Livia had no way of knowing that her specially chosen toxin which actually was part virus, had not been destroyed by the pit, but simply altered.

Darkwing suddenly stepped forward, lashing out with his leg. He struck her hand, sending the dagger flying, and then spun, slamming his heel into her face. She collapsed onto the floor unconscious and he glared down at her still form, "If I had time, I'd make sure you stayed down, but I need to find Barbara!" he turned and strode out of the building to begin his personal vendetta.

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

Stepping forward partly out of the shadows in City Hall the female wearing green leggings murmured softly, "It appears that I will need to step in so Ra's plan does not fail..." she moved forward as she reached behind her, revealing the face of...

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

AND THEN

[Kal-el]

Great addition Coran! Only one little thing...Dick Grayson is Nightwing, not Darkwing. To be honest, I kept thinking of Darkwing Duck while reading your addition. That made for a bit of a different picture in my head. Kinda funny.
Just wanted to let you know.
Keep up the great work!!!
Oh, and welcome to the boards! (how rude of me not to welcome you here...very sorry)

[Coran]

Thanks for the welcome Kalel. That was mainly a typing error. I didn't have a whole lot of time, so I was kind of rushing... I knew what I wanted to happen, but I ended up making those stupid mistakes. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Batgirl]

Ra's grabbed the chain the secured the woman and began to pull it towards him, a grin full of malice on his face. Barbara whimpered again and pulled back as hard as she could. She knew that it was useless to fight but she was determined to do all she could. Perhaps if she tried hard enough, she could buy some badly needed time. Ra's laughed.

"Stop toying my pet, I don't want to become angry with you- It would be such a pity to discipline a pretty one like you. It would only mar your beauty"

"Not on your life creep" Barbara hissed back. She tripped up the stairs and landed at his feet, her body shaking. Ra's grinned and grabbed her arm, bringing his head just above hers.

"It's over my dear"

"I think not" WHAM. Barbara brought her head up quickly, causing blood to stream down his nose upon contact. He released. Barbara grabbed her chain and pulled. Ra's growled and kicked her in the stomach. She flew to the ground hard. "You're only making this harder"

"I'm not going to be that easy" Barbara crawled back, still trembling, but filled with resolve. If she had to undergo such a horrible humiliation as he wanted, then he'd have to fight. Ra slowly got to his feet, his eyes glowing with anger.

"If that is how you want it..." He moved down the stairs in a swift motion. Barbara rose to her feet, eyes shining with determination and her fiery spirit, prepared to battle. "I like your fire girl... you will make a suitable wife"

"I'd rather die then be your wife" Barbara hissed coldly. Ra's continued his approach, growling softly. She continued her trek back.

"That can be arranged..." Ra's replied bitterly. Barbara finally stopped. She somehow wasn't afraid of him any more. Ra's grinned darkly but Barbara held her ground. The fight for her life was about to begin...

AND THEN...

[Coran]

Nightwing moved through the night as quickly as he could, and finally found where his motorcycle had been left. Breathing a prayer of thanks that none of the Joker's goons had found it yet, he dug in the pouch and pulled out some ration bars. Bolting them down, he then injected himself with more of the antidote for the poison, just to make sure that he wouldn't have any kind of relapse. Sitting down for a moment, Nightwing thought through all the possibilities... where would Ra's be staying?

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

A female's laughter echoed through the halls of City Hall. Poison Ivy regained control and smiled down at the twitching form of Livia, "Soon you will have someone other than Ra's to thank for your life..." then Poison Ivy turned thoughtful, "But what to do with you then..."

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

Batman landed on the roof next to Talia, his eyes narrow as he quickly snarled, "Where are Dick and Barbara?!"

Talia smiled slightly, "Not even a quick hello or kiss, lover? Your manners are going to pot."

Batman's narrowed a little more, "Talk Talia! I don't have time for games!"

Talia sighed as she turned and slowly walked away, "Well, Detective... I guess it's time for you to see the last of the clues."

From behind Batman, a large net made of thin metal wire suddenly launched itself directly at him. Sensing something he spun, only to be enveloped in the net. A jolt of electricity suddenly rocked his body, leaving him unconscious.

Talia turned and smiled, "Electrifying isn't it. Well done Ube." Ube stepped out of the shadows, unplugging the thin cord that had trailed behind the net, attaching it to the generator. He gave Talia a questioning look as he came closer.

"Keep the detective bound. We will take him back to father." Talia said as an evil smile made her lips curve up, "By now Father should have had his way with the other detective, and that will be a wonderful bargaining chip. Come." Talia then turned and strode off, as Ube followed with Batman over his shoulders.

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

Nightwing slipped out of the shadows and murmured softly, "I'm sorry I couldn't help Bruce... but I need to know where Ra's is hiding!" then his face went grim and he hurried after the dissapearing figures.

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

For the umtenth time Barbara whipped the chain at her oppenent. Ra's growled bitterly and leapt back, his eyes a pair of narrow slits. She smiled bitterly at him.

"It appears I have under estimated you Detective... well done"

"You haven't seen anything yet" Barbara said softly, almost sounding breathy from the workout. He grinned and lunged. Barbara swung the chain high, nailing him across the face. Ra's howled in anger and stepped back. Then he lunged forward again, grabbing the chain.

"Come my pet- you're only avoiding the inevitable" Ra's chuckled and wiped the blood from his lip. Barbara pulled back forcefully, determined not to let him win. It was at that time that Talia and Ube entered, the latter carrying the unconscious Dark Knight. Barbara gasped, giving Ra's enough time to knock out her legs.

"Bruce!" Barbara screamed as she went down. She landed hard on her back and cried out. Ra's took the brief opening to his advantage. He leapt onto his prey, pinning her to the ground. Barbara struggled, but it was useless. She knew that her physical strength was exhausted and she had run out of options. Talia shook her head.

"My, she must a fiery spirit. Too bad it had to end so soon" Talia sneered at the woman, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Barbara looked up into Ra's face. It shown with malice. She whimpered softly.

"Now my pet... You- are- mine"

AND THEN...

[Coran]

Nightwing gritted his teeth but was able to control himself. His first impulse was to rush into the room and hit Ra's so hard all his teeth would fall out, but there were those two little problem called Ube and Talia that had to be dealt with first... and quickly. Nightwing finally pushed down all emotions, allowing his eyes to burn with a cold fire. Reaching in his belt he pulled out two bolas and crouched as he murmured softly, "Hold it... hold it... hold it..."

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

Talia smiled mockingly at Barbara, "I believe we should leave you two love birds alone... your first time should be filled of memories without an audience." Then she turned to Ube, "Why don't you set the Detective down right over there. Since you've already taken his weaponry, and he is tied up, he shouldn't interupt."

Ube nodded and quickly set Batman down, then turned to follow Talia out.

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

Barbara stared up at Ra's, her eyes full of fear... but her strength was expended and she could no longer fight. From her mouth more whimpers issued as Ra's looked at her with that horrible gleam in his eye...

"And now detective... IT IS TIME!" Ra's growled as a hand went to rip at her skimpy clothing, but his action suddenly stopped as he looked up in surprise.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

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

Nightwing lept out, throwing both bolas as his eyes blazed like a furnace. The bolas worked perfectly, taking out both Talia and Ube's legs, causing them to collapse to the ground. Moving faster than he ever had before, Nightwing bowled directly into Ra's, knocking him off Barbara and a clear 10 yards away. Holding Ra's by his lapel he punch him in the face, once... twice... thrice... and with each punch he continued screaming, "You will never have her! She is mine to love!" drawing back his fist one more time he struck... at the moment of impact he let go of Ra's lapel, and Ra's flew back another 10 feet, sliding to the ground, unconscious and bloodied.

Nightwing turned, his eyes still blazing and charged towards Ube. Drawling out the last bola in his belt he flung it at Talia, sending her back to the ground with her arms now held at her sides. Nightwing lept towards Ube, only to be met by a swift punch. Nightwing rolled with it and came back up into a crouch.

A shudder of fear ran down Ube's neck as he looked into Nightwing eyes and heard his quiet, icy voice say, "You're a dead man!" Ube moved forward to try and stop him, but Nightwing suddenly lept towards him. Nightwing howled as he took a punch in the stomach, but was able to cling to Ube's shirt. Drawing back a fist he struck one hard blow directly into Ube's throat. Ube fell back, cruching at his partially crushed windpipe. Moving quickly, Nightwing snapped a pair of handcuffs on both Ube's wrists and his ankles. Then he turned back to Talia.

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

Talia stared at Nightwing in fear... she had never seen him like this before. "I should kill you right now, Talia!" he growled as he slowly moved forward. With a flick of his wrist, climbing claws exteded from his fingertips, "One slash, and you would no longer have a throat... and with noone to help, not even the lazerous pit could bring you back!" Drawing back his hand, he struck forward, but at the last second he balled his hand into a fish, striking Talia directly on the chin. Then he murmured, "You're lucky I don't kill."

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

Spinning, Nightwing ran over to Barbara and dropped next to her as she was trying to sit up. Nightwing gathered her into his arms, kissed her on the lips hard. He gently touched her hair as he said softly, "I was so scared for you!"

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

(*grins* People, ain't adrenaline a wonderful thing?!)
AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Barbara closed her eyes, waiting for the worst... that's when she heard his voice. She opened her eyes in time to see Ra's flying backwards with Nightwing on top of him, punching the cruse out of him. Her spirit rose and she grinned. Watching him take down Ube and Talia she felt an odd sense of satisfaction. But it was nothing compared to how she felt when he kissed her. Barbara threw her arms around his neck and began to sob. She still couldn't believe she was really safe...

"I was so scared" Barbara studdered out. Dick held her close, both of them shaking. Tears slipped down his own face. Safe... she was actually safe.

"So was I Babs... So was I" Dick buried his face in her hair, starting to realize that he really was holding her- that it wasn't just a dream. A low groan caught their attention. Dick looked over to see Ra's supporting himself on one arm, his eyes glowing like the pit he so often used, looking angerier then ever.

"Well Detective, well done. It appears you have learned much" Ra's rose to his feet and started towards the pair. Dick felt his body kick into defense mode, pulling Barbara closer to him. Barbara cowered away from the approaching man.

"Stay away from her Ra's..."

"You don't kill" Ra's sneered back. "I will have my way with her"

"You'll NEVER have her" Dick snarled dangerously. "I'm warning you Ra's. One more step and I will kill you"

"I'd like to see you try" Ra's stepped forward again. Dick lunged forward, slamming into the man hard. The two rolled, exchanging punches. Barbara gasped softly and quickly rose to her feet. She heard a moan and turned to see Bruce just waking up. Barbara scampered over to him, cutting the ropes. She gave him the shortest version of what was going on.

"Where's Dick?" Bruce asked, rubbing his head. Ra's crying out in pain answered him. Dick held a daggar to Ra's throat, his eyes blazing with wrath.

"You're never going to hurt any one again Ra's" The daggar flew towards the man's exposed throat, Ra's closed his eyes and looked away... bearly stopping an inch away. The man's eyes opened. Dick grinned viciously. "Your right... I don't kill... Now get out of my city!"

Dick got up and walked away, pitching the daggar into the wall.
Ra's stood, assessed the situation and decided retreat was probably the best idea. Barbara ran to Dick, wrapping her arms aqround his neck. Bruce put a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you Dick..." A sad smile slipped across Bruce's face. "I mean it. No one could ask for a better son"

"Thanks Bruce" Dick said quietly, smiling back. "Let's go... we still got a city to save and several hours until dawn"

"You up to Barbara- I mean Batgirl?" Bruce asked.

"You bet... just let me get out of these clothes!" She replied with a huge grin. The three laughed, including Bruce.

"Next time Detectives! Next time!" The trio turned to see Ra's fleeing out the door with Talia and Ube. Dick started after them but Bruce grabbed his arm.

"No... let them go. We'll take care of them later... Besides, the Joker's still on the lose, Supergirl's down and the city is burning. Superman will need our help" Bruce said quietly. Dick nodded. "Let's go"

And then...

[Coran]

Nightwing trailed just slightly behind Batman and Batgirl as they rushed outside the building they had been in. As soon as they stepped outside he asked, "So, where are we going to find Superman?"

Batman glanced over, then looked back along the deserted street, "Somewhere in Gotham... but with all that's going on, he could be working anywhere."

Nightwing suddenly glanced down what had appeared to be a deserted alley... listening intently he tried to catch the sound he had heard moment earlier.

"Heeeeeeeeeelp!" trailed quietly along with the wind gust. Nightwing took off swiftly, to the surprised shouts of Batman and Batgirl. Charging around the corner at the other end of the street, Nightwing's eyes widened in shock. Standing before him were about 50 hoodlums, trashing everything. They had lit fire to a building, and were now all watching and laughing as they looked up at a family that was hanging out a window to avoid the smoke.

"Oh, my god..." Batgirl's voice trailed off as she looked at the awful scene.

Nightwing turned quickly, his face grim, "You two go find Superman! I'll get the family out, and follow right behind you!"

"No! There are to many for you to deal with!" Batgirl said stubbornly. Batman stood quietly, knowing Nightwing had a reason.

Nightwing's eyes narrowed slightly, "You two are you no condition to fight right now! You were just shocked by however many volts and are still weak," he said with a quick glance at Batman, and then turned his unrelenting gaze to Batgirl, "and you just finished fighting for you life for however long it took for us to find you!"

"Well you just finished fighting Ra's, Ube, and Talia!" Batgirl answered quickly, "You're tired and you can't do this alone!"

Nightwing stared at Batgirl, then suddenly nodded and looked back at Batman, "We'll take care of this. Find Superman and catch the Joker! That clown must have a way to stop this for when he finally took over the city!"

Batman studied Nightwing then nodded, "I'll see you later."

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

Nightwing turned back to Batgirl and suddenly kisses her hard, then said softly, "No matter what happens, remember... I love you!" then he turned and shot his grappling hook up, to begin his progress upward.

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

Batgirl stood there, her lips tingling, and her brain replaying those last three words over and over... finally recovering from her shock she lept after Nightwing, firing her own grappling hook.

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

Nightwing stood on top of the building next to the flaming building and then lept off, spreading his arms to extend his wings. Gliding swiftly, he grabbed on to a flagpole that was sticking out, and rotated around it several times, just like in his old circus days. He then let go and executed a perfect flip onto the windowsill. Smiling at the family as best he could manage he said, "Time to get out of here folks." Holding out the line from his grappling hook he quickly barked an order, "Tie this around yourself, and the kids." The father quickly followed as Nightwing fired off his grappling hook.

"Need any help?" Batgirl asked as she landed on the windowsill. Nightwing nodded, "Swing over with them, and get them untied right away."

Batgirl looked at Nightwing and said softly, "Don't you dare get yourself killed now!" then turned and went back to the job at hand.

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Meanwhile, back at City Hall...

Bullock unloaded his gun for the fifth time and Superman kept throwing punches. This was getting old real fast. However, they were soon rewarded with an echo of eerie laughter. Bullock scowled and spit.

"I'm getting sick of his games... what's next?"

"I'm not sure, let's see if we can actually get to him..." Superman said softly. The two stole through the shadows and came upon a room, where the Clown Prince of Crime was. He didn't seem too happy.

"What do you mean there's more!!! How many of my men are still fighting?" He growled bitterly. Mo started to count on his fingers and frowned when he reached ten. Joker shook his head.
"Nevermind... Keep me posted"

Bullock looked at Superman, and Superman looked at Bullock. Joker was in the right spot, undefended. It was an opening they sorely needed. Superman hesitated, then nodded. It was time...

* * *
Livia groaned loudly and opened her eyes. She appeared to be in a green house of some kind. Poison Ivy stood above her. The assassain grinned. It seemed her luck had changed.

* * *

Batgirl finished untying the last of the kids and smiled. The parents sighed with relief and the little girl looked at Barbara, grinning back.

"When I grow up I wanna be just like you!"

"Thanks... but I think that a police officer would be better" Batgirl replied with a soft giggle. The mom grabbed her daughter's hand and pulled her towards the door. The little girl waved. Barbara waved back. A cry of pain came from below... Barbara felt a pit in her stomach. It was Dick. She looked over the edge to see...

AND THEN...

[Coran]

Nightwing gritted his teeth against the pain as he was slammed up against the wall. "Stupid, stupid!" he thought, "Slipping off that windowsill to the ground was so stupid!" Another fist landed, and rocked him back on his heels. Shoving off the wall he plowed into the group of people, throwing punches and kicks as fast as he could... he could already tell it was too late. There were just too many for him to be able to block all of the attacks. A fist slammed into his side and he fell off to the side. Nightwing immediately rolled back up onto his feet, glaring at the crowd that was still laughing and enjoying themselves. "What a time to die... I just finish telling Barbara how I really feel, and this happens." he thought. Suddenly the crowd charged towards him, and Nightwing readied himself for one last battle.

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

Barbara was in shock for a moment, then quickly looked around to see what she could do. Seeing Nightwing knocked away from the crowd she knew that she had one shot. Firing off her grappling hook she swung down towards Nightwing... the crowd suddenly surged forward. Would she be able to grab him?

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

Nightwing sensed something, and in one quick movement, lept straight up, as high as he could go. Looking over, he grabbed onto the grappling line as Batgirl swung by, and up towards the other side.

"Thanks for the save." he said quietly.

Batgirl smiled slightly, "Anytime.

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

Indignant shouts sailed after them, and the occasional drunken pistol shot... none of them were even close.

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

The arc of the rope was reaching its highest point when Nightwing fired off his grappling hook so they could continue swinging away. Batgirl let go of her own grappling line, and simply held on to Nightwing as the swung on. Nightwing gritted his teeth at the force around his waist, but wasn't about to complain... her arms around him was like a dream come true.

Nightwing timed his release perfectly. They flew off the rope, and landed gently on the roof of a nearby building. He dropped to one knee, a grimace on his face as he felt his injuries and mentally checked them off... bruises, cuts, scrapes, abrasions... and a broken rib or two.

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

Batman moved towards City Hall as quickly as he could. Though he couldn't explain exactly how he knew, he knew that Superman had to be there. He arrived a few minutes later, and peaked in through one of the windows... there was Joker talking to his three stooges. Batman braced himself as he quickly considered all the possibilities.

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

AND THEN

[witness]

(Hey all! I'm back from a ten day vacation and I will start posting once again on this and my own story, as well as replies of course.
This story has really come a long way! It's like some epic novel or something! hehe...Time to start twisting the plot once more! Muahahahahaha!!! :eek: )


The Flash was running everywhere in the city. While he was helping out Aquaman at the docks, he was also zipping back and forth to Superman and trying to keep up to date with things. He was also trying in earnest to find the Dark Knight and his crew. They had not been seen for a while now.

Flash was zipping past a warehouse when something caught his eye. A tall green figure. It was stumbling around. Flash had slowed his speed down until he could hide in an alleyway. He turned his head around the corner and saw three figures. Two of them were dressed in black, and the green-clad figure was bruised. He was stumbling as he walked. One of the two helped him into a sedan. Then the other two got in as well.

"Hmm....it looks like they're running from trouble. I'm needed elsewhere but, I don't think it would hurt too much just to follow them to see where they're going."

The sedan sped off into the night, with the Flash following behind at a safe distance. Overhead, three shadows flew towards City Hall.

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

Livia had woken up in a groggy state of mind. When she realized where she was, she smiled. She figured that she'd get the Blue Serpent poison after all. She tried to sit up, but the pain in her body was too unbearable. She was now recalling what Ra's had warned her about.


::earlier that night::

Ra's had stood in front of her, welcoming her from the pit with open arms. She started to giggle. As her giggling became more violent, Ra's frowned. He strode up to her and slapped her across the face. Livia suddenly stopped.

"Felling better are we, my dear?"

"Oh uncle! I'm forever in your debt! Thank you for reviving me!"

"You're welcome. I was in town, and I heard there was a great commotion going on in the city. You and the Joker kept the Detective and his allies busy while I was taking care of some personal matters. I was simply returning the favor. But now I am in need of your services."

"Anything for you, uncle."

"Excellent. One more thing. It was unfortunate that we found you so close to death. Your wounds were not healed before we lowered you into the pit. That caused great concern for me. Putting you into the pit was not a wise decision, I'll admit. However, it was the only way to keep you alive. For that, I shall thank the Lazarus Pit all of my days. I give you this warning. If any other side effects occur, harmful or not, you must tell me immediately."

"Yes, uncle. I will do as you ask."


::in the present::


"Any other side effects......I must find Ra's now!"


AND THEN..............

[Panther]

“What?” exclaimed Poison Ivy, amazed to see her patient so animated so quickly.

Livia stood up – shakily – and said, “I must leave immediately!”

“Slow down, it’s never a good idea to run marathons after being an inch from death.”

“It is imperative I get to Ra’s Al Ghul now!”

“Ah yes, dear old Ra’s, one of the few men I might actually consider good for something besides compost,” Ivy murmured. Her eyes shifted to Livia knowingly. “And you’re his pet assassin, aren’t you.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“He values the work I do,” Livia retorted haughtily. “Uncle revived me with the Lazarus Pit. I must return to him and discuss continuing treatment-”

Ivy sniffed impatiently. “You wouldn’t be able to discuss anything if it weren’t for me. You can keep your chemicals, the vegetative world provides everything one could possibly need – including the medications that brought you back to the land of the living.”

“I must also discover what plans Uncle has for the city, the Detective, that witch and ...Beloved.”

“Agh!” groaned Ivy, “Going gaga over some man is exactly why you got stabbed in the back! Look at yourself! Mooning over a man will not only get you nowhere – it will set you back. Drastically. I’ve seen it before; I know what I’m talking about.”

“You do not know Beloved,” Livia snapped.

“I’d love to argue the point,” said Ivy coolly, “but we have more important matters to see to. Let us find your dear old Uncle, shall we? Then I can tell him in person I'm returning the favor.”

[witness]

"Where shall we go master?" asked Ube as he was driving the sedan.

"Gotham Greenery. There's someone we need to get in touch with before we leave town," replied Ra's.

The sedan had driven for miles before stopping at a greenhouse across town. Fortunately, it hadn't seen any violence from the Joker or his men. It stopped and Ube got out. He looked around carefully, making sure that no one was within his sight. Satisfied, he went to the back door, and helped Ra's out of the car. They walked in, Talia following close behind.

A few blocks away, Flash stopped. After seeing them go inside, he sped up to the greenhouse to get a closer look. What he saw put even more of a strain on himself than the night had previously done.

"Oh great. First the Joker, and now this! Batman won't be happy at all."

At once, he sped away to look for the caped crusader.

Meanwhile, inside...

"Let me go, now!"

"Not until Ra's gets here. Maybe he can tell me why you've screwed up his plans."

"I haven't screwed up his plans at all, you sorry excuse for mother nature!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Poison Ivy's laughter tinkled like a wind chime blown by a soft breeze. "I had no idea that assassins were so funny!"

"Well, I had no idea that a weed could be so funny-looking," spat Livia.

Poison Ivy growled. She was going to hurt Livia when her expected company showed up.

"Ladies, please. This isn't kindergarten. Let's try to act civilized here," Ra's said as he was half-walking, half carried in by Ube.

"Uncle! Tell her to let me go!"

"Oh, please. Quit your whining." Poison Ivy walked to where Livia was. With one touch of her hand, the vines wrapped around Livia slacked off enough for her to get off of the table.

"Finally! Ra's, there's something important......AUGH!!!!!"

Livia doubled over in pain. Her body was convulsing as she tried to stay standing. Her skin had begun to turn a bluish color, her face had gotten wrinkly, and her hair was beginning to fall out rapidly.

"My god," said Ube.

"It is just as I feared," sighed Ra's. " The effects of the pit have reversed on her. Instead of staying young, she's aging quicker than normal."

"Can't something be done, father?" asked Talia.

"I'm afraid not. The Lazarus pit was my last hope." He turned to Poison Ivy. "Is there something that you could do?"

"I might be able to come up with some kind of antidote. That plant you brought with you could be of some use yet," repiled Ivy.

"Good, make it so. There isn't much time however. At the rate that she's aging, she could be dead in a couple of hours. Ube, help her out with anything she would require."

Poison Ivy scowled at Ra's.

"Yes, master," replied Ube.

Talia led her father to a corner of the room. A questionable look was upon her face.

"What was she talking about? What plant?"

"This was the main reason for me being here. I needed her assistance in identifying a plant that I had encountered in South America. One of my men fell deathly ill to it. I was hoping that it would yield some fruitable results later on."

"Did she say what the plant was?"

"I believe that she said it was called Curaré."

[Batgirl]

"Ok Supes, on the count of three" Bullock muttered softly. Superman nodded and held his breath. The Joker started laughing. He had no idea hia luck was about to change. Superman locked his eyes on their target.

"One... Two..."

"THREE!" A loud voice thundered from the room. Bullock and Superman slammed through the door, skidding to a stop. The Joker whirled around... just in time to see a pair of black boots slam into his face. Bullock grinned.

"BATS! Man, I never thought I'd be glad to see you!"

"Good to see you too Harvey" Batman replied with a half smile. He slammed his fist across the Joker's face and threw him into the wall. Joker slide down, unconscious. "Let's tye him up this time!" Batman said, panting hard. "That's one less problem to deal with"

"I agree with that" Superman said with a chuckle. Batman tyed up the Joker and hung him from the ceiling in the pinata style that had become a trademark.

"I suppose we'll have to wake up to find out how to stop the invasion huh?" Bullock grunted softly. Batman groaned and nodded. With all the other problems that had been going on he had almost forgotten about the army of thugs.

"Well, at least we have him" Superman said weakly.

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

Barbara and Dick had found their way down to the street level and had begun their long walk towards the PD. Nightwing had been breathing heavily but claimed that he had never felt better. Barbara hide a smile. The two were discussing the recent events. It was almost as if nothing had happened between them...

"So, what's our next move?" Batgirl asked softly.

"I dunno. How 'bout we retire, move to the country, buy a farm and raise a couple kids" Nightwing joked. Barbara burst out laughing. Dick smiled at her.

"Be serious Nightwing!" She stuttered through several giggles. Dick grabbed her arm and they stopped. He pushed her back against the wall gently, leaning close.

"I was" He replied softly, his eyes staring into hers. Batgirl stopped laughing and found her arms around his neck. They two leaned forward...

"I hope I'm not interupting anything" An old man chuckled softly. The two jumped and turned to see the Commissioner grinning at them. Barbara blushed.

"Hi Commish..."

"Oh, come on now... it that any way to greet your father?" He asked in a mild tone, as if chiding her. Barbara's eyes widened and Dick's jaw hit the floor.

"You mean-"

"I started to wake up shortly before you were taken. Bruce and I went to-"

"You know who Batman is?" Dick asked, in complete shock.

"I know who all of you are... Richard" Jim smiled as the youn man's eyes turned to almonds, then went back to normal. "But that's not important right now. I lost Batman several streets back... Do you know where he is?"

"I think City Hall... that's where Bullock and Supes were going to be" Nightwing said, his brow furrowed slightly. The Commissioner frowned.

"Let's go, he may need our help" The trio was ready to start moving when they heard a voice calling for them.

"Hey! Batfolk! Wait up!" Nightwing turned. It was the Flash.
"You guys'll never believe this! There's this old guy and he's got a pretty young woman and a strong man with him" Flash panted. All the running and fighting was finally taking it's toll. "There at Ivy's green house"

"Ivy?! Like Poison Ivy?" Batgirl groaned loudly. "Man, we're never gonna get any sleep tonight!"

"And just when I thought Ra's left town..." Nightwing said.

"And there was this other girl..." Flash recalled all he could.

"Livia!" Dick groaned. He sighed heavily. "Why can't the dead just stay DEAD for once!" Batgirl sighed heavily and shook her head.

"Let's go find Batman" She said flatly. "We still have a big job ahead of us"

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

"I think I got it" Ivy said with a grin. She took a small vile and inserted a needle. "Now hold tight..."

"I want to be young again!" Livia moaned. She felt the prick of the needle and cried out. The substance emptied into her. Ivy stood back.

"We'll know in a couple of moments if it will work. If if does, you are cured completely. If not, you die instantly" Ivy smiled cruelly, Livia whimpered . "Either way it's a win, win situation"

AND THEN...

[Panther]

Livia stared at her once beautiful now withered and wrinkled hands. Her hands started to tremble slightly and her vision was cloudy; cataracts had started to form a few minutes before Poison Ivy had injected her with the “cure”.

Everything, inside and out, hurt with a pain she had never experienced before. The weight of premature age nearly doubled her over. She held her breath and waited, each second turning into a moment of eternity. Would she face death yet again this night? She’d been lucky before.

Hunched over and trembling, she prayed her luck had not yet run out.

All I want, she thought, is to live to see Beloved and that witch one more time. Long enough to kill the witch properly and kiss Beloved.

She looked up from her hands and took a ragged breath as she fix her eyes on Poison Ivy who was watching her analytically, detachedly. Even with her failing vision she could see Ivy’s eyes were devoid of emotion as she survived Livia in the same manner Ivy would examine any other experiment.

Just when the wait became unbearable and death would have been preferable to this agonizing wait Livia felt her strength coming back and her vision clear.

“Its working!” cried out Talia. Whether her tone was shocked or happy or both was hard to tell.

It was true. Livia’s thin white hair thickened and darkened. Her pale and blotched creased skin smoothed and went back to its youthful glow. She straightened and cried triumphantly, “I’m young again!”

“How fortunate,” drawled Ra’s, he turned his gaze on Ivy, “for everyone involved.”

Poison Ivy gazed back at him, unabashed. “Indeed,” she remarked calmly.

“Father, what is our next move?” asked Talia curiously.

“Our presence here is known,” he intoned somberly, “no doubt the Detective and the others will be here soon. Our best course is to avoid confrontation with them until we are ready for them-”

“I am ready for them!” interrupted Livia, blooming with health, energy and confidence – and thirsty for vengeance. “Let me stay, dear Uncle, and finally kill the witch!”

“You had your chance,” said Talia quickly to Livia, “and failed.” She pronounced the last word cruelly. She then turned to Ra’s and declared with calm self-assurance, “Father, I should be the one to stay and confront them.” Her eyes glittered and it was clear who she was thinking of.

Ra’s Al Ghul surveyed both women coldly. “Neither of you shall stay,” he pronounced. Both of them made noises of protests but he cut them off with a gesture of finality. Ube started to say something but Ra's spoke first. "No Ube, I need you for something else." Ube bowed his head in submission. Ra's turned to Poison Ivy who was watching them with a look of disdain. “My dear doctor, I am in your debt. I beg the favor of asking you to further use your prowess with plants to detain any visitors that make their way here.”

She gave him half a smile for the flattery. “Of course, Ra’s. And then I trust you will be returning the favor? What we discussed earlier?” she prompted.

“All you ask for shall be yours if you can deliver the family of the Detective – alive. I want them all alive. Especially the girl.” Livia made a hissing sound but refrained from saying anything. “And,” continued Ra’s, “for extending the services of Livia, there is this.” He tossed a small pouch at Ivy’s green booted feet.

She picked it up and opened it. She allowed herself a rare smile as she examined the contents. “Just what I always wanted,” she yawned with a the-girl-who-has-everything attitude, but her pseudo-bored tone did not hide her excitement. She waved a negligent hand at Ra’s group. “Go. I will handle them. This will be an excellent chance to test a new strand of vines I have been experimenting with. I took the liberty of stealing a name copyrighted by Warner Brother’s.”

“What would that be?” asked Livia, curious despite her dislike of Ivy.

“Devil’s Snare.”

[Batgirl]

Batman sighed loudly and leaned against the wall. Supes was busy interogating the Joker Gotham style (which caused a small grin to form on Bullock's and the Dark Knight's face) and Bullock was intently watching it all. Batman looked out the window.

"I wonder how many other lunatics we'll have to deal with tonight" He groaned loudly.

"A few more at the least" A young man's voice came from behind. Batman turned to see Nightwing, the Commissioner, the Flash, and Batgirl entering. Bullock grinned.

"Finally, some back up" He shot a half grin to Batman.

"And what's back up without the Calvary?"

"Robin!" Batgirl grinned widely as Supergirl entered through the window, followed by the Boy Wonder and a female officer.

"RENE!" Bullock screamed. He threw his arms around her neck and hugged her. She giggled softly and wiped several tears from her eyes.

"Glad to see you too Partner" She said quietly. Jim smiled.

"We decided to pick her up from a few thugs on the way here" Supergirl said with a weak smile. She was obviously better. Flash turned to Batman.

"Ok, now what?"

AND THEN...

[Coran]

(Been a while since anyone added so I thought I might add a little twist :D )

Nightwing stood back beside the door as he watched the different people reuniting. A small smile flickered over his face as he looked over at Batgirl, thinking about how life might be after this night... then his face went grim.

Livia was his fault... his responsibility... if he hadn't been so stupid she never would have come here in the first place. Nightwing moved silently and slipped out the door, then moved downstairs. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his ribs as he moved outside City Hall. He looked up at the moon just as a few rays of moonlight filtered through the clouds illuminating his spot. "At least someone is thinking about me." he murmured softly, then turned and took off down the street his eyes cold. "This time you won't be coming back Livia."

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Batgirl watched Nightwing slip into the shadows and frowned. She nudged Bruce gently and jerked her head in the direction that he had just left. Bruce nodded.

"We head to Ivy's place. And be extra careful. Anything's possible tonight, with the various array of celebraties. Flash, you come with me. Supergirl, you stay with the Commissioner and Decetives Bullock and Montoya. See if you can stop the seige. Once that's over things will be easier to hold up. The rest of you come with me... we got some tresh collecting to do" Bruce turned and headed for the shadows. Robin grinned widely. "And Robin- I need you to help Supergirl"

"AW MAN!" Tim frowned but obediently trotted to her side. Batgirl turned and grinned at him.

"Next time kid" The others soon followed suit.

* * *
Dick dropped to his knees and grabbed his aching sides, wheezing painfully. He groaned and looked up. He knew what he had to do, but wasn't sure he'd be able to in his position. He sighed heavily and struggled to his feet.

"Need a hand?" A sultry voice called from the shadows. He whirled around, with another wince, and saw an attractive figure slip from the shadows. She grinned like a Cheshire Cat. "It's been a while hansome"

"What do you want Selina?" Dick asked with slight aggitation. She slinked up to him and ran her fingers through his hair. He scowled at her. She leaned close.

"I want to help" She leaned closer to his lips.

"You can start by cooling down. First of all, I'm not in the mood. Second, I've already got one lunatic who want me, I don't need another and three, I'm way out of your league" Selina frowned. "I think that your much more suited for Batman"

"Nice save Junior" She cooed softly. She pulled back and looked him over. "So, you wanna tell me what happened?"

"It's too hard to explain, but if you want to help I could sure use it" Nightwing looked back towards the City Hall. "Besides- it might score you some points with the Bat"

"What do you want me to do?" Selina asked eagerly, her green eyes shining like emeralds. Dick laughed.

"I thought that would get your attention..."

* * *
Ivy looked around her green house and grinned. Soon her guests would arrive. She'd have everyone where she wanted them. And she'd be rid of the Bat forever.

AND THEN...

[Coran]

(Ok... time to move things forward.)

Nightwing sat quietly in the shadows, wincing now and then as Selina finished taping his ribs with the medical tape they had grabbed from the vandalized store they had passed. Nightwing winced again, not from pain but from the thought that technically he had stolen something. Ah well... he'd take them money when all of this was over.

"Finished." Selina said with slight smile as she stepped back, resting a hand on her hip which only caused her figure to be enhanced more.

Nightwing rolled his eyes ever so slightly, then stood, trying some practice punches and kicks to test out his chest. He smiled slightly, "I'm not in top form, but I should be good enough for an almost dead assassin. Time to head over to Ivy's. Ready Catwoman?"

Selina smiled as she pulled down her mask, hiding her features and turning her into the Catwoman, "Of course birdy... shall we go?"

The two turned and began moving swiftly through the shadows towards Gotham Greenery.

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

Livia sat totally still... silently seething as Ra's personal jet took off. How dare he tell her she couldn't stay and face down the witch! As though reading her mind Ra's smiled slightly, "You're day will come again Livia... have patience. Because of the lazerous pit you have all the time in the world."

Livia nodded... silently accepting, though very unhappy about it.

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

Poison Ivy waited patiently... the trap was set, and she was sure that the heros knew she was here. They always seemed to find out those things. She smiled as she murmured softly, "They'll be here soon."

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

Nightwing stood next to Catwoman as they gazed down at the Gotham Greenery. "Why is it I always get the willies when I think about going in there?" he murmrued to himself absently.

"Maybe it's because you know you need backup." Batgirl suggest as she walked up behind Nightwing. "Hi Selina." she added after a moment of simply looking at Nightwing.

"Hello Selina... it's been a while." Batman murmured as he materialized behind Catwoman.

"It's been a strange night." she answered.

Nightwing lookd down at Batgirl, then kissed her softly and said, "I'm glad you made it."

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

"Ready?" Batman asked tensly, after he had quickly briefed everyone of their roles. Everyone nodded. Batgirl and Nightwing slipped off to the side and began looking for another entrance. Selina slipped up next to Batman and gave him a sultry grin. He shifted uncomfortably.

"Glad we get to work alone tonight... It's something I've missed" She cooed into his ear softly. Batman gulped.

"Not now Selina"

"Then Later?" She asked, her eyes sparking with mischief. Batman looked at her a moment, half in shock and half in amusement. He grinned back.

"Maybe... that all depends on if you're a good little kitty or not"
He replied, his voice wavering slightly. He wasn't actually used to responding to her. Selina giggled and blushed.

"I'll be a very good little kitty for you" She cooed back. She ran her palm down the side of his face, then looked into the greenhouse. A sudden feeling of shyness came over her and she decided to change the subject. "Time to go"

She slowly opened the door and slipped in. Bruce grinned widely and followed. There was still alot to be done.


* * * * * * * *

Batgirl and Nightwing looked in from the sky light. She glanced around nervously. She hated dropping in on Ivy. There was always one thing you could expect with Ivy- the unexpected. Nightwing nudged her gently.

"You ready?" He asked softly. Barbara nodded. "Let's go"

The two took a deep breath and dove through the glass. The shattered fragments scattered everywhere. They looked scanned the area to find it seemingly abandoned. Batgirl glanced at Nightwing. He took a deep breath.

"I think-" A loud hiss suddenly filled the air and the two spun around. Black, snake-like shadows slinked towards them. "We're in trouble! RUN!"

The two turned and started to sprint but were soon entangled in a web of crimson vines. Nightwing swore under his breath as the vines tightened around his torso. Batgirl cried out as a vine slipped by her face, causing a burning sensation. Dick turned his head, wincing as a vine slid over his own face. A cold laughter filled the dark room.

"Welcome knights... so glad you could make it" A light flipped on, revealing Ivy sitting a top a plant throne. She eyed the two with disdain. "Is that the best he could do? I really expected more... oh well" Ivy brushed a stray lock of hair back, nonchalantly, then she grinned wickedly. "Let the fun begin..."

AND THEN...

[Coran]

Nighting stared at Poison Ivy through narrowed eyes as he quickly assessed the situation. He knew that Batman and Catwoman were out there, but he really didn't want to wait for them while trapped in the vine. As he could see it, his one chance was to use his climbing claws, however, because of the way the vines were holding him that wasn't an option... yet.

"So how did you get hooked up with Ra's? And where are they?" he growled out.

Poison Ivy laughed slightly, "It was a business deal. I provided Ra's with what he wanted, and he provided me with what I wanted. Quite simple. As for where they are, I have no idea. I really don't care either. The two women with him were anything but pleasant."

Batgirl rolled her eyes and murmured under her breath, "You can say that again!"

Poison Ivy stood and slowly walked towards them, swaying her hips and emphasizing her body with each step. She stopped right in front of Batgirl and smiled cruely, "You really got the two ladies riled with you. I can't see why though. You seem pretty helpless to me." Nightwing gritted his teeth as he tried to twist his arm just right...

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

Batman and Catwoman slunk through the greenery like two shadows.

Catwoman suddenly halted as Batman grabbed her and murmured in her ear, "Don't touch any of the plants... it'll alert Ivy."

Catwoman smiled and murmured, "There's only one thing in this place I want to touch... and you can be sure it's not a plant."

Batman smiled every so slightly for a moment, then moved forward, taking the lead. Stopping suddenly, he pointed. Through the veil of vines, trees, and plants, you could just make out Ivy talking to the captured Nightwing and Batgirl.

"Looks like birdy needs our help." Catwoman whispered.

"Get ready to move." Batman said as he readied several batarangs.

Catwoman nodded and pulled out her whip.

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Ivy leaned close to Batgirl, her grin widening. Barbara struggled briefly, hoping to find some sort of catch that would let her free... no luck. Ivy chuckled.

"Oh, don't struggle too hard dearie" Ivy dropped to her knees and gently stroked Batgirl's hair, almost in a motherly fashion. Nightwing raised an eyebrow. "I've got to make sure thatyou're in good shape when you're... delivered"

"Delivered?" She asked bitterly. Ivy nodded. Batgirl shot an uneasy glance at her companion. He nodded. Barbara sucked in a breath slowly. He was planning something... She turned back to their hostess. "So what in the Sam Hill does that mean?"

"Oh, you'll see" Ivy replied. She got up and strode over to Nightwing. He froze, freedom almost within reach. If she held off for only a few more seconds... "As for you, Nightwing," Ivy bent down, close to his lips. Batgirl whimpered softly. She knew what that meant. "I want to have a little fun before you go"

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing" He said with a sly grin. Ivy stopped and looked at him a moment. A black claw suddenly ran across her face, causing her to wheel back with a scream. Nightwing swung and slashed, finally freeing himself. Ivy put a hand to her bleeding wounds and snarled.

"That wasn't very nice!"

"Well, then maybe you should be more hospitable!" A cool, almost feline voice cooed, directly behind her. Ivy spun around, her eyes wide with shock and rage.

"YOU!!!"

"Hi Red, did you miss me?" Selina teased. Batman threw several batarangs at the vines rushing towards them. Nightwing leapt over and cut Batgirl free.

"You alright?" He asked quietly. Barbara nodded and grinned wickedly. Dick tilted his head to the side curiously as she fumbled with her belt. Selina and Ivy were busy prancing around, dodging the blows thrown by the other.

"Just fine" She replied coolly. She slowly rose to her feet, a smug grin on her face. Now it was her turn. "Oh Red" Ivy turned around, promptly receiving a blow to the cheek by Catwoman. A soft flicking sound echoed through the Green house. Ivy's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in horror. "I hate to be so critical, but I think it's time to heat things up a bit? Don't you think?"

"NO!!!"

"Yea, it's a bit chilly" Selina replied, her eyes glittering. Batman nodded and Nightwing backed away.

"Lights out" Batgirl dropped the match. "Or should I say, light's up?"

Batgirl and Nightwing shot up a jumpline and high tailed it to the roof as the vines caught fire and spread. Ivy howled in rage. Selina slammed a fist into the back of her head. Ivy slumped forward. Batman picked her up and the two quickly made their way out of the compound.

AND THEN...

[Coran]

Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Catwoman all stood watching the Gotham Greenery burn to the ground. Poison Ivy lay at their feet, unconscious, which was probably for the best. If she had been watching this, it would have driven her even more crazy than before. Nightwing slipped over to stand beside Batgirl, and put an arm around her while he murmured in her ear, "Think we're finally done with the hero stuff for tonight?"

Just like his name, the Flash suddenly arrived and stood next to Batman. Batman looked at him cooly, "Anything to report?" Flash nodded, "Superman and Supergirl are still working and stopping the mobs. There are so many of them that they're having problems getting them all right now. Green Lantern is working in the slums, and seems to have a handle there, but there are some strange things going on. It seems like more and more thugs keep coming in, and we can't figure out where they're coming from."

Batgirl sighed and whispered to Nightwing, "Looks like we're not done. It better be quick though... you and I need to go spend some quality time with just you and me. I'm deffinately making you give me a massage after tonight!"

Nightwing smile, and gave her a quick squeeze around the waist, then looked back up as Batman spoke again.

"Big problem them. Obviously Joker has some kind of device in the city that keeps sending out signals to bring in more thugs." Batman glanced around for a moment, then focused on Nightwing and Batgirl, "You two are going to work on finding the signal. Flash, Catwoman, and I will all help the others try to control these criminals."

Nightwing murmured softly, "Looks like we get time alone, but I'm not sure we could call it 'quality' time." then he spoke up so everyone could here, "Sounds good. Any idea where we should start?"

Batman shook his head, "No... your best chance is to head back and look on the computer at the cave."

Nightwing and Batgirl nodded, then faded into the shadows.

Catwoman walked over to Batman and put a hand on his arm, "What should we do with vine lady?" she asked quietly.

Batman glanced down at Poison Ivy, "Let her go. We don't have time to deal with her right now, and without the greenery, she's practically powerless. We can fight with her another day."

Flash looked between the two, "I'm gonna go join Green Lantern. See you on the other side." In a blur of speed, Flash was gone.

Batman sighed, "Come on Selina... let's see if we can finish this long night." Selina smiled as she moved behind him and purred in his ear, "Maybe after it's all over, kitty can have her milk..."

Batman smiled slightly and murmured, "Maybe..."

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

Nightwing suddenly grabbed Batgirl's arm, "Wait a second... before we go rushing out of town, we need to call Tim. He was at the cave, and knowing him, he was probably using the computer. Maybe he found something."

Batgirl nodded, "Sounds like a good idea."

Nightwing flicked on his communicator, "Nightwing calling Robin. Come in Robin!"

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Robin gulped softly and slipped back furthur into the shadows. He knew that if Batman had noticed him, he would never let him out of the cave again. Tim frowned. He had done what Bruce had asked. He had helped the Detectives and Supergirl. Bruce had never mentioned what to do after that... And after all, Supergirl had told him to go, that everything was under control... Tim sighed and shook his head. He grinned as he over heard Barbara comment about a massasge. Tim smiled wickedly. At least he had blackmail from this... That alone made it worthwhile. He watched the small crew split up and slowly approached the motionless woman. He frowned slighty, then a devilish grin spread across his face. Maybe they wouldn't have to fight her later on after all... He pulled out a rope and set to work quickly, hoping she'd stay under for a few hours.

* * *

Nightwing frowned, trying to hide his concern. He had been trying to reach Tim for ten minutes, with no response. Batgirl bit her lip. Things obviously weren't about to get any better.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly, slipping beside him.

"I can't reach him" Dick said quietly. Barbara frowned.

"Great, just what we need..."

"I agree"

"Try him one more time" Barbara said flatly. Dick nodded and turned on his comlink.

"Robin... You there?"

* * *

Robin brushed his hands together, a proud and wicked grin oin his face. He was admiring his handiwork, which wasn't half that bad. He turned to go when his comlink beeped. He gulped, praying that it wasn't Bruce.

"Robin here" He replied cheerfully.

"Robin! Where the heck have you been?" Tim cringed. At least it wasn't Bruce...

"Hey Nightwing. Sorry, I got distracted. What do ya need?"

AND THEN...

(Sorry all, it's like one in the moring and I don't feel like adding more... NEXT!)

[Coran]

Nightwing raised an eyebrow, controlling his voice so he wouldn't sound TOO angry, "Distracted? By what? A pretty face?"

Batgirl covered her mouth, stiffling a giggle... simply relieved that Robin wasn't hurt.

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

Robin snorted as he replied, "No I wasn't distracted by a pretty face. I was," he continued as a smirk came over his face, "tying up a few loose ends."

"Yeah well, I need to ask you something. While you were back at the cave with Supergirl did you find anything interesting on the computer?" Nightwing's voice came over the communicator.

Robin thought a second, "Uh... a little more information please."

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

Nightwing thought a second and then responded, "We've come to the deicision that the Joker must have set up some kind of signal that would continue to cause crooks to come to the city. When the signal is deactivated, the siege would end. Any ideas where the signal could be?"

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

Robin thought a second, then suddenly realized something and turned, running so that in a few moments he arrived where Nightwing and Batgirl were standing. As he grinned at their startled faces he said, "Hey you two. The signal has to be at the cemetary! I was looking at the computer and there were exactly three places where there was absolutely no criminal activity. City Hall, Gotham Greenery, and the Cemetary. It's the only place the Joker could put it and not have to worry about it being destroyed!"

Nightwing stared at Robin for a moment, then opened to mouth to ask the question that was on both his and Batgirl's mind. Batgirl suddenly raised a gloved hand and covered his mouth, "We don't want to know Nightwing. Let's just get over to the Cemetary."

Nightwing smiled and turned, kissing Batgirl's gloved hand quickly, "As always, your beauty is only outshone by your wisdom."

Robin rolled his eyes, "Let's go already!"

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

Moments later, there was no evidence the three heros had ever been there.

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Two bikes pulled into the Cemetary and the riders dismounted. Batgirl looked around and shivered slightly. She didn't particularly care for cemetaries...

"BOO!" Barbara let out a loud yelp and spun to see Tim grinning wickedly. She glowered at him and smacked him over the side of the head. Dick chuckled.

"So where do we begin?" Barbara asked quietly. Tim bit his lip and looked over the graves, then slid next to Barbara. He wasn't sure and to tell the truth, he would rather be in a thousand different areas then where they were currently.

"Let's start with the tallest" Dick replied, his eyes landing on a familiar spot. He took a deep breath and started towards it. Barbara and Tim followed his gaze and drew in a gasp. The monument to the Wayne's. Dick stopped at the bottom and looked up. "What do you guys think?"

"It would be the perfect spot..." Tim said, joinning his brother. Barbara tapped a few buttons on her keyboard. A few seconds later it confirmed their suspcions.

"That's it... What now?" She asked warily. The three looked at each other silently. They knew what they had to do, but could they do it?

* * *

NEXT!!!!

[Panther]

Nightwing managed to break into a storage shed and borrowed a few shovels. He handed one to Batgirl and one to Robin. They both tentatively but resolutely took the shovels.

“Start digging,” he ordered unnecessarily. None of them dared make eye contact as the three of them silently began to dig. It wasn’t very hard to do since the area was already soft from being recently re-excavated and refilled, but each shovel full held memories heavier than any rock or bit of earth.

Batgirl sneaked a glance to her left and saw Nightwing’s face was grim. No. Grim, wasn’t the right word. His face was as blank and emotionless as a mask. It was a look of stoicism that Batgirl knew from experience he used when he did not dare give vent to his feelings. When things were really bad. Batgirl dug faster.

It wasn’t long until Nightwing’s shovel made a clunking noise as it hit something metallic. At the bottom of the shallow pit he brushed the dirt of a large black oblong box. Grunting, he used his shovel as a lever and managed to wrench it upwards. Batgirl and Robin grabbed one end and he pushed out the other.

On the grass he jerked the top off to reveal a mass of wires, lights and microchips. Batgirl whistled in appreciation of the technical wizardry that had assembled this electronic Pandora’s box. She knelt down beside it and began to have at it. She muttered to herself in computer jargon, occasionally asking for a device or two from Nightwing or Robin’s utility belt.

“Success!” she said in a triumphant but a bit tired voice several tense minutes later.

“So you stopped the signal?” asked Robin.

“Better,” she answered with the grin of her old self. “I’m changing the message on this signal – tell them change of planes, go back to the original meeting place and, hopefully, we’ll discover where it is and be able to nab all remaining thugs in one fell swoop later on.”

They left the signaler behind the graves and quickly refilled the site and with one last thwack in unison they packed the dirt down.

Batgirl stared at the graves. Why did it have to be these two graves, she thought angrily. What idiot decided Thomas and Martha should have landmarkingly tall tombstones? I’m sure they don’t care. Hasn’t this family been through enough? I hope Bruce doesn’t find out. I certainly won’t tell him. I’m sure Dick and Tim won’t either.

Batgirl heard a sniff and glanced to her side where she saw Robin hastily rubbing at his eyes. He caught her glance. “’Got a bit of dirt in my eyes,” he said, trying and failing at smiling.

She managed to smile kindly at him, “We all get dirt in our eyes sometimes, even Nightwing, I’m sure.” She glanced at Dick, trying to get a response.

The look of stoicism remained. “We have to regroup with the others,” was all he said, but as Robin turned away towards the shed Nightwing stopped her for a moment by catching her hand and squeezing it. She squeezed back, understanding that some things just couldn’t be said.

They returned the shovels and were leaving the graveyard when someone spoke from behind them.

“I’m so glad to find you alive,” said a voice that made Nightwing, Batgirl, and Robin stop in their tracks. They turned around.


AND THEN...

[Batgirl]

Barbara's face turned dead white, Tim let out a loud squeak and ran behind Barbara, Dick snarled heatedly and quickly placed his two companions behind him in a protective manner.

"It's nice to see you to... Richard..."

* * *

Selina let out an angry yowl and slammed her fist into another thugs face. The heroes were badly outnumbered, even with Gotham's finest helping them. Batman was bleeding from countless wounds and his breath was becoming harder. Even the best eventually get tired. Selina moaned softly and slipped up beside him. He acknowledged her presence with a nod.

"It's ok Batman... We're going to win..." She cooed softly. He looked at her despairingly. She slid her hand down his face.

"Are we?" He croaked weakly. As if in response to his question, the thugs suddenly looked at each other in confusion and then began to retreat. A small cheer went up from the exhausted crowd. Batman smiled at Selina, who cuddled close to him. "I guess you're right"

"You know, I could used to working on your side..." She purred in his ear. Suddenly Bruce smiled. An actual, honest smile. He pulled Selina close and kissed her passionately. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned it in full. It had been a long night...

* * *

Superman looked at the Commissioner and smiled warmly. Jim sighed in relief and leaned against his car.

"I think it's over..." He said quietly. "I think it's finally over..."

"We'll stay a while just to make sure" Superman said, his breath also coming out in short gasps. "But I don't think we're needed"

Clark smiled at the old man who fought so hard for his city. He really did deserve some kind of reward for his work... Superman sighed and leaned on the car, causing a loud whining from the metal. He looked down in shock. Then he and Jim looked at each other and began to laugh. It had been a long night.

* * *

"So, who's this?"

"None of your frickin' business" Barbara retorted hotly. The man chuckled softly and moved towards her slightly. Dick hissed viciously. The man stopped.

"I thought you were out of town" Dick growled bitterly. Ra's laughed darkly, his eyes never moving from Batgirl. Tim snuggled close, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"If you want a job done right..."

"Do it yourself" Dick sneered the last part. Ra's nodded. Thankfully he was alone... Ube was probably in the shadows, lurking around in wait for the right moment.

"Precisely. That's why I'm here"

"Who is he?" Tim asked softly. Barbara looked down at him with a sympathettic glance.

"You don't want to know" She muttered back. She stroked Tim's hair gently and he shuddered.

"So, let's get on with it shall we?" Ra's asked with a fake yawn. "It won't be long before the sun comes up... will it?"

Barbara and Tim gave out a loud cry as their bodies were shocked with a mild current of electricity. Dick turned to see them fallen on the ground, unconscious. He took a deep breath to speak but soon found himself wrapped in the current. A mild cry escaped his throat before he too succumbed to the darkness. He fell beside his companions. Ra's smiled.

"It has been a long night... but it isn't over yet!"

* * *

Batman nuzzled Selina genty and then pulled back. He was feeling terribly proud of his companions at the moment. He knew he had trained them well. He turned on his comlink, hoping to reach Dick first.

"Nightwing, this is Batman, do you read me?" No reponse. He waited a few moments, his smile fading. "Nightwing? Do you read me, over?"

"What's the matter?" Selina asked softly, seeing his concern.

"He's not responding"

"Maybe he's with Batgirl?" Selina asked with a weak smile. Batman shook his head. She could see he was worried.

"Get in the car-"

"BATMAN! What kind of girl do you think I am?" She teased, hoping to lighten the mood. He glared at her. "Sorry..."

"We'll follow their last transmission"

* * *

Batman looked around the cemetary and frowned. It was completely deserted. His eyes scanned the familiar scenery again, his eyes suddenly locking on the all too familiar spot of his parents grave. A wave of anger flowed over him as he noticed the freshly packed earth. Pain shot through him... Memories of that horrible night flooding back...

"Batman?"

"Mom... Dad..." Bruce hadn't noticed that he was weeping in front of their grave. Selina gasped softly. It couldn't be...

"Bruce?" She asked weakly. Batman looked up. Then at her. The two simply stared. She saw the transmitter and pointed. Batman- Bruce, nodded. Then rose to his feet.

"They were here. They must have found it..."

"Where are they Bruce?" Selina asked quietly. Bruce's eyes narrowed as he spotted a note followed by two pairs of footprints. He took a deep breath, picked up the note and read it. The paper soon crumpled in his strong hand and Bruce stormed back to the car.

"Let's go. We have to get to the airport... There's not much time" Bruce replied softly, but the hard, coldness in his voice was somewhat diminished. Selina followed him without a word. The two suddenly had an understanding between them. "It's been a long night..."

"Dawn is coming Bruce... Don't give up" Selina said quietly. She slipped in beside her long time friend and foe. She put her hand on his. "We'll find them"

The hatch snapped shut and the Batmobile sped into the night.

AND THEN...

* * *
How about we wrap this up soon? What do you guys say?

[Coran]

Bruce sat silently inside the batmobile as he raced towards the airport. Selina sat next to him, looking at his face quietly... offering her silent support and hope to him.

Off in the distance, the lightening of the horizon signaled that dawn would soon break.

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

Nightwing had regained consciousness first of the three, however he had refused to reveal the fact he was conscious to Ra's. Without opening his eyes he figured out some things... first he was in a moving vehicle of some kind... it felt like a cargo truck, and he was in the back storage area. His two companions lay nearby, and were bumping back and forth in time with the vehicle. In the cab of the truck he could hear the low murmuring of Ra's voice, but he couldn't make out any of the words.

Despair washed over him, followed by a deep anger. Nightwing focused all of himself on the anger, feeding it... building it. He knew anger was not the best thing to use, but at this moment, it was all he had. A deep resolve settled over him... he would NEVER allow Barbara to be taken by Ra's... he would die before he let it happen.

Straining ever so slightly against the ropes that bound him he found his hand was against his communicator. A flicker of hope found it's way into his heart, as he quickly flipped the switch... praying that Batman would be monitoring the communication frequency.

As he waited for an opportunity, he tested every inch of the rope for the possibility of escape... the smallest weakness would allow him the opportunity he wanted... to rip out Ra's throat!

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

Selina suddenly pointed to a flashing light on the board of the Batmobile, "What does that mean?" she asked in a slightly worried voice.

Bruce smiled grimly as he murmured, "It means we can now track them... Nightwing was able to trigger his communicator!", then he spoke to his awesome car, "Map, onscreen. Track signal of Nightwing."

A moment later a screen popped up, showing a layout of the city, and showing where Nightwing's communicator was.

Batman grimaced suddenly, and spun his vehicle in a complete 180. His car launched away with the roar of engines firing, and the smell of rubber burning. "They're going to the marina," he growled through gritted teeth, "not the airport!"

Selina watched the map carefully, and a small smile played over her beautiful face, "We'll make it Bruce... we're catching up faster than they're getting there. We'll make it just as they arrive!"

Batman smiled coldly. "And then the battle will begin." he murmured softly.

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Barbara groaned softly and her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes focused and slowly adjusted to the darkness. She looked around and quickly located Tim, sleeping soundly at her side. A sad smile crossed her face and she tried to move closer. A soft bum caused her to look up. Dick was staring at her, speechless. She rolled onto his stomach, revealing the ropes he had been working on. Batgirl slowly inched towards him and he towards her. She rolled to her side and he turned his back towards her. Batgirl carefully slipped her arms around her legs to the front, then she got to work. Dick took slow deep breaths, soothed by her touch.

The ropes suddenly slacked and Dick was free. He rolled and viciously pulled off the rest of the ropes. Then he went to work on Barbara's ropes, but not before kissing her on the lips. She smiled but remained quiet. Any noise could give them away. When the ropes slacked, Barbara pulled Dick close, kissing him passionately. Dick wrapped his arms around her. A soft grunt was heard and the two turned to the youngest, who had a throughly disgusted look on his face. The two grinned, then quickly went about releasing him too. Then the three huddled in a corner, planning on their escape.

* * *

Bruce and Selina were silent as the car pulled into the Marina. It was deserted. Selina looked at him, then out her window, her eyes falling on a jeep with it's top off. She grinned.

"Bruce, I got an idea..."

* * *

Batgirl slipped towards the door, Robin followed closely. Dick slipped towards the cab. The plan was for Dick to take care of the driver and passenger and when it was safe, Barbara and Tim would bail. Barbara looked at Dick and sucked in her breath. She couldn't help worrying. Dick held his breath and countdown from ten. When he reached one, he sprang. Loud yells filled the truck and it swerved. It regained control and sped up. Barbara grabbed Tim and threw open the doors. The two held on for dear life. In the cab a vigoruos fight was going on.

* * *

Selina spun the jeep around and hit the gas. It sped past the Batmobile towards the main gate. Selina prayed she was right... and was promptly rewarded with a truck appearing down the road. She floored the gas, darting forward. She slammed the brakes as she passed the truck and then turned hard, almost flipping over the jeep. She took a deep breath and hit the gas once again. It was at that moment the doors flew open. Selina saw Batgirl and Robin hanging out the back and slammed into the truck's fender. The the two women locked eyes.

"JUMP!" Selina screamed over the roar of the engines. Robin looked warily at Batgirl, then at the masked woman driving the jeep. He had never really met Catwoman, only heard of her... and her two timing ways. Batgirl grabbed his arm and leaned close to his ear.

"DO WHAT SHE SAYS!" Barbara yelled. Tim looked at her a moment, then nodded. He waited... Barbara quickly muttered something else, then looked up. The moment had come. "NOW!"

Tim gave out a loud cry and sprang into the air. He hit the hood and slid into the windsheild. He moaned loudly but grabbed onto the frame of the window. Selina hit the brakes, breaking away from the truck. Tim screamed as he nearly lost his balance, which would have sent him sailing off the jeep's hood. Slina grabbed his arm and pulled him in to safety. Selina smiled at him.

"Pleased to meet you Boy Wonder" Selina cooed softly. Tim gave her a weak smile, trying to stop shaking.

"Yea..."

"Shall we get your friend?" She asked, trying to be friendly. Tim looked at her with his wide blue eyes.

"She says that she's going to help Nightwing"

"What?!"

"He's trying to take over the cab" Robin explained. Selina cursed under her breath several times angerly.

"What's Dick trying to do? Get himself killed?"

"How did you know his name?" Tim asked in shock. Selina looked at him a moment, trying to stay on the road.

"Bruce- Batman- no Bruce- WHATEVER!" Selina slammed the gas, the jeep surging forward. Tim yelped and held on to the seat, finding his belt and fastening it. "He cried out at his parents graves in the cemetary... it didn't take long to put two and two to get four"

"You mean... Ouch..."

"Yea, well, you did what you had to do. He understands. All he wants is for you all to be safe"

"What next?" Tim asked quietly. Selina bit her lip.

"I'm working on it..." As the light of day slowly began to lite the sky, the gates of the Marina came into view...

* * *

Batman looked up. The sound of a truck quickly approaching filled the air. His eyes narrowed. It was soon joined by the sound of another vehicle. The time to act was at hand.

AND THEN...

[Coran]

Nightwing gritted his teeth as he kept his arms locked around Ube's neck, choking him. Because Ube was driving, he couldn't really try to knock away Nightwing, and was depending on Ra's. Ra's to his part was doign quite well, punching, and lashing out at Nightwing as powerfully as he could.

Nightwing closed his eyes for a moment, against the rain of blows from Ra's, then his eyes suddenly snapped open. Ra's stopped striking for a moment, never having seen eyes like that before... if it were possibly, they would have actually been glowing from the flames of hatred and anger behind them. Nightwing pulled back a foot and kicked with all his strength.

Ra's fell back, slamming into the passenger side window, shattering it. He lay there, unconscious, have outside, half inside the car.

Ube suddenly let go of the wheel with one hand, smashing the other into Nightwing's skull.

Nightwing fell away from the seat, stunned.

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

Batgirl raced up to the cab swiftly, and poked her head in. Ra's was unconscious, and his limp body flopped around as it hung over the passenger side window. Ube was rubbed his throat which was rather bruised, and Dick was lying on the floor, close to unconsciousness.

Batgirl dropped by Dick's side silently, not wanting Ube to know who had just arrived. Several moments passed as he made sure Dick was allright, and then she stood up. The back of Ube's head was right in front of her and she quickly lookd around for some kind of weapon. Suddenly she thought of something, and reached down to her belt, lifting up her grappling gun. A quick push of the button, and the grapppling hook shot out, covering the foot between the gone and Ube's head in under a second.

A loud crack echoed through the cab as Ube slumped over.

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

Batman sat in the batmobile, a harpoon with attached rope at the ready. As soon as he saw the truck racing forward he fired it off... the harpoon speared the truck right through the front, killing the engine. Batman immediately spun to the siding, using his car's power and brakes to bring the truck to a screaching halt.

As soon as the truck came to a halt he lept out, charging it... so far so good.

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

Catwoman grinned slightly when she saw the truck dead ahead and murmured a quick, "Yes!" that almost had the sounds behind it of a prayer of thanks.

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

AND THEN

[Batgirl]

Bruce leapt out and raced towards the back. Barbara was pulling Dick to his feet, his body weak from all the blows it had experienced the past few days. Bruce helped Dick down from the cab, and Barbara landed beside him. A look passed between the two companions who had fought at each other's side long before knowing who they were. Selina pulled the jeep up and Bruce left the two alone. There were several exclamations as the trio reunited. Dick wrapped his arms around her and gingerly removed their masks... so that is was Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon. He smiled at her, his eyes shining.

"Why?" He whispered quietly. Barbara gave him an odd look.

"Why what?"

"Why did you stay? I mean, why are you in my arms right now?" Dick asked softly, running his sore fingers through her hair. "Why did you stand the abuse? Even when I said I didn't care?"

"Because I love you Dick... that's why" Barbara replied with a gentle laugh. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his in a full kiss. Dick pulled back, staring into the depths of her shimmering blue eyes.

"I love you too Babs" He replied. Then he leaned down and kissed her again. Tim's eyebrow went up and he made gagging noises. Selina let her head rest on Bruce's chest. The first rays of a new day were now over the horizon and the sun started to come up. Selina looked at Bruce.

"See? I told you everything would be alright" Bruce chuckled and pressed his lips against Selina's passionately. She quickly pulled herself against him, returning it fully and then some. Tim made another face.

"Aw man, will ya cut out the mushy stuff?"

Barbara and Dick laughed, quickly returning the masks to their places. Tim ran over and hugged the two. Selina pulled back, rubbing her fingers against Batman's chest.

"I suppose since she knows who we are we'll be expanding the team" Tim remarked with a grin. Dick and Barbara looked at Bruce, who smiled.

"You could say that" Bruce replied coyly. Carefull not to give anything away. Barbara smiled at Selina.

"Hey, I was always feeling a little outnumbered... it'll be nice to have another woman on the team"

"Can we go home now?" Tim moaned softly. It was at that moment that the team realized how exhausted they really were. Bruce nodded and the small group crammed into the Batmobile.

* * *

Barbara and Selina leaned back into a comfortable couch at Wayne manor clad in white robes. Both had finished taking a shower and were relaxing. Tim had showered, changed into his pajamas and was dozing on the sofa across from them. Dick and Bruce were currently running out the last of the hot water upstairs. Clark and Kara were asleep in the guest rooms.

"What a night..." Selina remarked. Barbara giggled and nodded.

"You have no idea..."

"Hey Babs..." Dick slipped next to Barbara and she cuddled close. Selina smiled. "Bruce will be down in a couple of minutes... He has to finish with a cold shower"

Dick snickered, also clad in a white robe and Barbara put her head on his chest. The two muttered softly. Selina smiled and glanced at the boy sleeping on the couch. It had been a long night... but well worth the troubles.

* * *

(OK, any body wanna finish it up? One more post should do- and please, close all lose ends up!!!)

[Coran]

(The Next Day)

Joker sat in his cell at Arkham Asylum and stared out... still in shock over what had happened. His eyes blazed, but that was his only reaction that showed his true emotion. Yet another perfect plan down the drain. But there would be another... there were always more ideas. He began to cackle, causing all the guards to look over at his cell fearfully... it was just so darn funny!

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

Ra's sat on his throne like chair in the million dollar yacht... his face was bruised, as was his ego, but he smiled coldly... Barbara Gordan had better watch out. He demanded an heir, and she was the only woman worthy of him!

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

Livia stood staring out the window of the ancient castle... the beauty of england was wasted on her as she thought about her beloved who had been snatched away from her by that /WITCH/! She laughed evily... thanks to the lazarous pit, she would have her revenge someday! What she didn't know, was that for the rest of her life, a battle would rage in her body... a battle between the life the lazarous pit gave her, and the death that the poison would continually be trying to bring to her body.

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

Bruce and Selian stood on the balcony of his bedroom and stared out at the sunset... Bruce smiled... truly smiled and felt deep down the two feelings he had grown accustomed to living without. Happiness, and love.

Selina looked up at Bruce, and kissed his jawline... she had found her soulmate, and nothing would break them apart!

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

Tim slept peacefully... his head filled with the dreams of youth, and of past battles where he had been victorious.

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

Barbara lay stretched out on the bed in Dick's room watching the sunset... she smiled contentedly as she felt Dick's soothing hands working out the final kinks from her neck and shoulders. This was the way it was meant to be.

Dick smiled at the back of the woman he loved as he gently massaged her back... he then leaned down and kissed her neck gently, before returning to the massage. He had never been this happy. Life was finally... perfect.

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

Peacefulness settled over the war ravaged city of Gotham, as it also settled over the heros. This peace would of course, not last, but at this moment, they embraced it. However, when they were called upon, they would again return to battle to prove once again that they truly are...

The World's Finest

[Panther]

Oh..... wow....

>jumps up and appluads and whistles<

I can't believe its over! >sniff< It was wonderful!!!!!!!

This was such a great story and eveyone - you all did a fantastic job! Hat's off to Coran for a fantastic ending, and round of applause to Batgirl for managing the stoy and keeping it going!


Thank you to everyone for Returning the Favor.

[Coran]

I echo Panther's sentiments. Wonderful story! I'd like to thank Batgirl, Panther, and everyone else that helped with this story for doing such a wonderful job. Maybe, if someone has an idea for the beginning of a good story, we could do this again.

[The Game]

Yes! Please someone start a new one! I really want to participate!

[witness]

This was a wonderful story to read and contribute to. I'm very happy with the way things turned out. I would also be interested in doing this again sometime in the future. :)

[The Guitar Slayer]

That kicked major...uh...can't say what I'm thinking :D . Don't wanna be censored. Seriously, that was awesome. I was really impressed by how fluid the story was despite all the different writers. Great job!

Peace and Rock 'n' Roll
The Guitar Slayer :cool:

[Alexandra Wayne]

OOC: Hey there...I remember this story. Isn't it posted somewhere? Just so ya know, some of the stuff in the beginning was written by me...just putting that in there!
Thanks,
Alex