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Primary Location: Bludhaven
Secondary Location: Titan's Tower

Nightwing 2

Chapter One The New Beginning

Unabridged  2000 By Kat Richard

kat@bludhaven.net

Nightwing saw the shadow pass above. He scanned the narrow line of buildings and the dark Gotham sky. There. He watched the silhouette swing down Canal street. He thought the timing couldn't be better. He needed to speak to Batman, or Robin for that matter. Either one might have heard from Barbara.

He had lost contact with her a week ago. Her year long vacation to Cairo was purely recreational, but as everyone he knew personally, she had a tendency to attract danger. Because of his intimate feelings for her he was desperate to find her. If neither of his friend nor his mentor had heard from her, his bags were already packed. He was going to Egypt.

His back straightened as he raised his arm above his head. A cable shot out and then his boots left the roof top of the bank building.

He swung blindly for a few moments before catching site of the figure again, swinging in and out of the shadows. As he closed in he watched the figure extend an arm and a second line was shot to the ledge of a distant building. He realized then that it wasn't either of his partners. It was definitely the form of a woman. Batgirl?

He continued to watch as she let go of the shortening line and transferred her weight to the new longer one. While doing so she struck a swinging pose Nightwing knew well, had memorized and dreamed of many nights. His gut tightened and his breath accelerated. He quickly turned his body to make a speeding decent to intercept her.

He shot another line out and gauged the distance. It was going to be close, but if he was quick enough he could make it. He swooped down and making a wide swing came up behind her.

He reached out and gripped her cable just above her hand then released his own. He quickly slipped his free arm around her waist. She turned startled, but when she realized who it was that had hold of her she relaxed. Wrapping her arms around his neck she held on tightly letting him take her weight and control of the swing. 'What are you doing?' she asked with a pleased smile.

Her face was masked with a cowl but there was no denying the clear blue eyes and sultry voice. It was her.

His eyes narrowed as he raised his lower body at the waist against the centrifugal force and changed their intended direction. 'Holding on to something I thought I'd lost.'

Their swing ended on a building he knew well, Wayne Corp's tallest skyscraper. He flexed his knees and landed stable. Releasing the line his hand met the other at the small of her back and his lips came down on hers forcefully knowing she would resist.

She whimpered slightly and tried to pull away, but all to soon she gave in causing his passionate assault to gentle. He held her off the ground with one arm while his other hand came up to the back of her head. As he deepened the kiss he pulled the black mask from her face.

Auburn curls tumbled over her shoulders releasing a familiar flowered scent that caused him to groan deeply. His hand returned to her waist and pulled her tighter against him. The kiss was adjusted as her participation came to equal his.

Finally, he pulled back for them to breathe and buried his face in her thick hair whispering her name.

When he raised his head Barbara Gordon was amazed at the color of his blue eyes sparkling behind the black mask. She had only been away a year, but it felt like a lifetime since she had looked up into those deep eyes. They were so vibrant. She regained the breath he had taken from her and smiled.

Then she realized he was still holding onto her tightly keeping her feet clear from the roof's top. She gave him a look of expectation. 'Will you put me down now?'

He looked at her cautiously then slowly let her boots touch the ground. When she flexed her legs and took on her own weight his shock was evident. It had not even occurred to him before as he watched her swing though the city that what he was seeing was technically impossible. His relief at finding her well and alive and being able to hold her and completely taken this rationalization from him.

'You're ...Barbara, you're standing. You can... walk.'

She laughed softly. 'Yes, master detective. I can walk.'

His face brightened and his laughter rose as he grabbed her at the waist and raised her above his head. He spun her around like a child. 'You can walk. My God, Barbara. That's wonderful!' She began to catch the infectious laughter and soon each had to catch their lost breath once again.

He lowered her slowly as their smiles faded away. She was being held tightly against him when he asked. 'How? When?'

She laid her hand on the emblem on his chest. Then looked up into his eyes. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I was scared the surgery might not work.' She looked back down where her hand lay on the black and blue kevlar. 'I didn't want anyone to know unless I could really walk again. I just got back to town. This is only my second night out. I haven't done anything strenuous.'

His eyes widened in amusement. 'Nothing strenuous? You're joking right? I just caught you swing through the city on a cable.'

She chuckled and gave him a mischievous smile. 'Well, maybe a little strenuous.'

She watched as his face went from proudly elated to severely serious. 'You had surgery and didn't tell me?'

She could hear the slight edge in his voice and for the first time regretted her choice of secrecy.

'I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up incase it didn't work. I couldn't take more of the pitying looks that I got before, Dick. Please understand. I couldn't go through that again.'

His body relaxed and he smiled. 'I understand.' His face came closer to hers. 'But you had to be scared. I should have been there.' His eyes seemed not to be able to settle on one part of her face. They scanned continually as he tried to reassure himself it was really her standing before him. 'To comfort you and take care of you.'

His intimate whisper made her stomach spin. 'I know. But I made it. And now I can say I did it completely on my own.' She backed out of his hold and spun around with her arms extended proudly showing off her accomplishment. 'Look at what I did.' She laughed loudly. 'I can walk.' Her arms wrapped around herself and she stood perfectly still grinning as she looked out over the hazy city night. 'I did it, Dick. I can walk again.'

He laughed as he came to join her on the roof's edge and hug her back to him, his arms covering hers. 'I knew you could. I always did, Babs.'

She turned into his hold and slipped her arms around his waist. 'I know. You had so much faith in me. I don't know how I will ever be able to thank you.' After giving his waist a tight squeeze she looked up into his face. 'You gave it back to me.'

His face came close. 'What do you mean?' The back of his gloved fingers stroked her cheek.

'It was that day at the circus. The day you made me remember what it was like to fly. Made me open up to what I could do instead of what I couldn't.' She laughed. 'Even though I fought it and was as stubborn as ever you made me think.'

'I'm glad.' He smiled. 'And I know how you can begin to repay me.'

'How?' She asked cautiously.

'Take me to dinner and tell me all about it.'

__________

The cave was quiet.

Nightwing dropped down ten feet from the wide black car that was parked on the stone island. A hint of a smile touched his lips as the light caught the shinny hood. As a boy he had always loved the cars. Loved riding through Gotham's streets in the middle of the night at his mentor's side, taking out bad guys.

Whoever thought his life would turn out this way. He walked up and rested both hands on the warm hood and stared at his reflection in the pristine mirror of paint. He took a deep breath.

'How have you been?' Came from the dark shadows. Dick immediately knew by the tone of voice they were alone.

'Busy. And you?'

Dick looked up as the Dark Knight materialized from the far wall. He straightened and took the necessary steps across the walkway to meet his mentor in the center of the cave.

'The same. I was beginning to think you didn't consider this home any more. You have been gone a while.' Nightwing removed his mask and gave a halfhearted grin. 'I have no other home. You know that as well as I do. Bludhaven has just been keeping me overloaded. As for why I am here, I needed your help.'

'Needed?'

They moved to the large computer imbedded in the stone wall. Batman removed his cape and cowl and each took a seat at a round iron table near a sheer drop that showed only darkness and no end.

'Barbara was missing.' Bruce's brow came down. 'She was on vacation.'

'Yes, but I lost track of her a few weeks ago. I figured you might know where she was or what she was doing.'

Bruce sensed something he couldn't read in Dick's tone. 'I'm guessing you found her. Is she alright?'

'Alright?' Dick laughed sarcastically. 'She's walking. Flying to be exact.'

Bruce's jaw tightened as his memories flashed though his mind of how Barbara had been put in a wheelchair in the first place. To hear now that she was walking was a private victory that he knew she deserved and what he felt at that moment was indescribable and as usual would not be disclosed to anyone but himself

As he watched as his son stare out into the darkness of the cave he could tell something was not right. 'She's back then.'

Dick nodded. His eyes homed in on the empty darkness that lay before them. Bruce was again slightly puzzled at his reaction.

'I figured you would be pleased with her return.'

'I am.' He sighed and turned back to Bruce. 'But now... it's going to be back to her being in danger and risking her life. I know her too well. Once she is ready, she'll dawn a mask and cape again.'

'She is one of the best. She can handle it if she trains right.' Dick slammed his fists down on the table in anger. 'I know that.' He got up and moved to stand at the edge of the endless emptiness below. He stood silently, looking out over the railing as two bats screeched and dove over head.

'I know how you feel.' Bruce watched him carefully and could almost feel Dick's frustration. 'You care too much.'

Dick's head fell forward in forfeit. 'Yea.'

'Then you'll have to let her find her way. That's what I did for you.'

'I know. But if I lose her I couldn't stand it. She's inside me now.'

Bruce stood and moved beside him. Shoulder to shoulder they stared out into the darkness of the caverns across the way. The screeching of bats echoed far off in the distance of the cave.

The two men fought so desperately to hide their feelings for each other, but each knew Bruce was the only one who could understand exactly what Dick was going though at this moment.

'Would you deny her?' Was put forth solemnly.

'Never.'

'Then that's the new beginning.'

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