Homeward Bound

Summary: When Dick’s ex returns to Gotham, it opens up a whole can of worms, including revelations about brainwashing
Warning(s): Spoilers for Titans; AU; spanking; explicit sexual content; torture; brainwashing; aliens; hallucinations; original characters; canon-typical violence
Pairing: Dick Grayson/original female character; original female character/original female character

###

It was cold.

Callie shifted slightly as she stood in the morgue, staring at the decapitated bodies. She'd sneaked in to take a look at them. It could so easily have been her on one of those slabs, head blown to pieces. Nothing left of her.

Maybe it should have been her.

It was the middle of the night and she'd come back. Returned to Gotham, after fleeing her past. What had happened felt so fresh in her mind, as if it was only yesterday that she'd come back from the nightmare of blood and death. Come back with the bloodied knife in her hand.

She'd returned because of the news reports. Because others had been brainwashed in a similar way to her. And she couldn't help the ones who currently lay on the cold slabs in the morgue...but she was certain there were others. Certain that other victims existed.

Callie touched her fingers to her lips in a silent salute to the ones who hadn't made it. Then, still keeping to the shadows, she sneaked out of the morgue. She walked out onto the darkened streets and then paused, taking out her phone and scanning the message.

It wasn't a lot to go on, but she had a lead.

###

The darkness of Gotham was both a blessing and a curse to Robin. In the shadows, there was darkness. The darkness in the hearts of many a criminal in the city, be it a chaotic clown, a supercharged psycho, or even an ordinary thug. There was also a beauty in the night that even Dick Grayson could appreciate. It was a pity that he'd only seen the darkness that twisted even the most kind-hearted of people.

It was that element that brought out Robin. The cruel, power hungry and sadistic that forced Dick out every night. Maybe he was a stickler for punishment. Had his intense craving for vengeance been the turning point in his life to be Robin? It sure hadn't helped Zucco, but the bastard had deserved to die. He deserved what he got and maybe one day, Dick would too. It wasn't a secret to many that he'd lost more innocence than he cared to admit. Now he wouldn't let such pathetic emotions stop him from carrying out justice. He learned that the hard way.

Crouching down on a rooftop, his dark eyes watched movement below and he stiffened. It couldn't be, but even he knew the dangers of hope, nor taking one's heart into account. The bodies in the morgue and splashed over the front page of the papers told him the story. Someone was killing these people and that someone had to be her!

Grabbing his grappling hook, Robin flew from the building, landing behind her. "Out for an evening stroll?"

She stiffened, slightly, at the familiar voice behind her. Really, she should have expected it. Probably even hoped for it, if she was honest. Gotham wasn't exactly big and Dick Grayson, aka Robin, wasn't likely to miss what was going on.

She turned, slowly, pushing her phone into her pocket and looking at him. She rocked slightly on the balls of her feet; not moving to attack, but body held tense and ready for anything. The months she'd been gone, she'd spent training. So that no one could ever turn her into a tool again. So that she could never be a victim again. Yes, her mind had broken; but she was working on recovering her sanity, even if she wasn’t quite there yet.

"There's no such thing." Her voice was soft; barely above a whisper. "Not just an evening stroll. Not anymore." She hesitated, but even if he didn't believe her, she had to say it. "I broke free." Her voice caught; half a laugh and half a sob. Broke free. Such simple words to describe overcoming the cracking of her mind. The disappearance of her own self, under the weight of another's will.

"Come to admire your handiwork? " Dick inquired and stood at the ready to defeat her. If it came to it; he would kill her. "We can do this two ways, Callie. Either you surrender for trial, or I can kill you. Either way, this fucking stops NOW!"

"You think I killed them." She spoke in a calm tone. She wasn't surprised by the words. Slowly, so that he would know she wasn't reaching for a weapon, she took her phone out. Placed it on the ground and stepped back, hands raised to show she wasn't a threat. "I've been out of Gotham for months now. I only came back tonight because I received photos of the people in the morgue." She hesitated before continuing, "I wasn't the only one, Dick. I've spent a long time figuring out what was real and what wasn't, but I know there were others."

"You expect me to believe you? Of all the people you think you could fool, I'm the least likely to fall for it."

"I don't expect you to just believe me without proof," she replied. "But I know the resources you have available to you. You can see I haven't been in Gotham since I...." Her voice broke. Just for a moment. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Whoever's been killing these people, they're victims as much as the ones they've been sent after. I'm here to bring them back. I know they can break through. I want to stop these murders just like you do." She nodded to the phone. "0403." It was the day and month they'd first met. "You can see the email. See the timestamp on it."

Dick watched Callie and crouched down to pick up the phone. His eyes regarded her with intense scrutiny and anguish. A part of him just wanted to wash his hands of all this. He looked at the phone as if it would bite him. "I can't...I just can't deal with this shit."

Dick handed the phone back to her, his hands shaking and his jaw clenched tight. "I have to check on some shit, but if I find out you're lying, then I won't hesitate to take you down. You can explain yourself to the doctors in Arkham when I do."

She took the phone from him and put it away, back in her pocket. "I'm not lying," she replied. "I know I don't have the right to ask for your help, but I don't want any more innocent people to die. And I want to help the people going through what I did. I'm going to be at the library tomorrow. If you'd be willing to meet me...."

Dick looked back towards Callie, extended his arm and shot a line back to the building. "We'll see,” he huffed and left her alone on the streets, grabbing the lines once he was back in the shadows, heading back to the cave. Things were getting complicated and Robin didn't know what possessed him not to just take her in, let the courts deal with her, but no. This was personal. So much for not letting his emotions get the best of him.

###

She took a deep breath as she watched him leave, then headed back to the hotel she was staying at. She took a sleeping pill and went to bed...but the nightmares still woke her up. The only good thing was that she didn't scream out loud. Only in her dreams.

By mid-morning, Callie had managed a couple of hours sleep at a time. When she left the hotel to head to the library, she stopped by a coffee shop and bought a black coffee, along with a bagel. By the time she entered the library and set up at one of the computers, the coffee was more than three quarters gone.

###

Dick had spent the night having to deal with the turmoil within his very soul. He couldn't understand why he was letting Callie get to him and it also infuriated him that he was letting his emotions take over.

After having arrived back to the cave, Robin got out of his outfit, leaving behind an almost naked Dick Grayson, sweaty and emotionally naked. Stalking towards the training room, Dick started to take out his fury on the large swinging bag. His knuckles were bruised and bleeding by the time he was done, his eyes wet from his tears, his heart laid bare. Leaning down against the wall, sinking down to sit on the floor, Dick hit the wall next to his back in frustration. Dammit! Why did he have to face her again?! Why would he have to bring her in and arrest her if she were lying? What was to stop him from doing so either way?

Dick barely slept afterwards, but the next day would be research and a shit load of coffee.

###

In the past, Callie had hated research. Sitting down and looking things up had been almost torture to someone who enjoyed being active and spending time outdoors.

Things had changed, though. And right now, research afforded her a small bit of peace.

Callie had gone to see the bodies of the victims the night before, but she wasn't looking for information on the murdered. No. She was looking for the missing. Those like her. Her notebook had sketches of what she remembered. Pictures of the people she knew had been held with her. Now, she was trying to cross-reference the missing with those people who were inside her head.

"I don't know why you're bothering. Your mind's so broken, can you really tell the difference between what's real and what's inside your head?"

And the hallucinations had started up again.

Callie didn't bother looking over her shoulder. She didn't bother responding to the voice only she could hear. Instead, she took the bottle of pills out of her pocket and tapped one into her palm. Then, she looked at it. Taking the pill would ensure a day free of hallucinations, but would also slow her reflexes. Would make her drop into a hazy world when she needed to keep her wits sharp.

"You won't be able to save anyone," the voice of the murdered girl whispered to her.

A crimson dot appeared, showing stark against the white of the pill, and Callie cursed as she felt a trickle of blood drip from her nose. Covering it and tilting her head forward, she grabbed a tissue and held it in place.

After carefully wiping her nose, Callie tucked the pill into the bloodied tissue to dispose of later. She then resumed scanning the news articles.

There.

Callie's eyes were drawn to the news article about a particular missing young woman. Rita Ortega. In the photo, she was smiling. Clean. Happy. In stark contrast, the hallucination was thin and dirty, with ragged clothing and bloodied hands and face.

But there was no mistaking that the hallucination of the murdered woman she was seeing was Rita Ortega.

Callie picked up her phone and stared at it, not sure she wanted to track down Rita Ortega’s parents.

###

Dick had to admit that, when he had got home, he wanted to just check out her story. He had let himself deal with the intense emotions, crying himself to sleep after exhausting himself. His knuckles were bruised and sore by the time he had woken up.

The next morning, Dick had spent a great deal of time in front of the computer in the cave, drinking copious amounts of caffeine. So far, she didn't seem to be deceiving him, but that could easily change.

After he had got the answers he could from the files, Dick grabbed his coat and left the manor. He had to get what he needed. He needed to know more and why she'd betrayed him and where she had been all this time. Was he getting in too deep on this one and could he take her down if he had to? Gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white from tension, Dick drove to the library. He had just entered when he saw Callie there, white as a sheet. "Huh, I figured you'd be expecting me, but you look like you've just seen a ghost."

"A ghost," Callie repeated blankly. Her eyes shifted towards the image on the screen. Her hand was so tight around the phone, it was in danger of cracking. Her eyes shifted towards Rita, towards the hallucination, before tearing away from her. "Th...I have to see someone. Two people," she corrected herself.

"You're going to show up at my parents' house and tell them you're hallucinating their dead daughter?" Rita asked. "How well is that going to go for you?"

"Uh huh and you're what? Talking to ghosts. Callie, what the hell is going on?” Dick crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. Had she gone crazy while she was missing, or was she trying to pull a fast one on him? Either way, it seemed too damn convincing.

"No," Callie replied. "I'm hallucinating." She might as well tell him the truth. It wasn't as if he could think any worse of her than he did already.

Rita walked over to Dick and peered at him before addressing Callie. "Did he get into a fight with a brick wall or something? His knuckles are all busted up."

Callie frowned and followed the line of the hallucination's gaze. "You're hurt?"

"Hallucinating? You're seeing what, ghosts?" Dick then frowned with his eyes wide at Callie asking him if he was hurt. He wasn't showing his hands, but if anyone looked at the proper angle, they could maybe tell. "What do you mean by that?" He knew he was testing a theory, but doubted it would pan out.

"You got into a fight with a brick wall? Or a punching bag? Or both?" Callie frowned, taking a step forward, so she could actually see his hands.

"Both. I went home and trained a bit and then abused the wall a few times, I guess. It's nothing and I've had worse. I mean, in my line of work...Well, you would know, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, I guess," she said quietly, tucking her phone in her pocket and closing her fingers around the pill bottle.

Rita frowned and focused on her, speaking in a low, intense voice. "Don't." The word echoed through the room.

"So, so far, your story checks, but make no mistake. If you double cross me, I will take you down, Callie. I've been bitten by you before." Dick hadn't heard anything and watched her closely. Her body was growing tense and he frowned. "Are you seriously seeing ghost shit right now?"

Callie slowly let go of the bottle, eyes shifting away from both Rita and Dick, though for vastly different reasons. "My therapist said it was normal." Her voice came out a whisper and she cleared her throat, forcing herself to sound more certain. "My mind can't just...you know. Bounce back. There's damage. Missing time. Memories." She looked at the computer screen; at the missing poster. "I've been seeing her. Since I fled Gotham. I thought she was my imagination, but...." Her voice trailed off.

"I'm real," Rita stated.

"Callie. You really need to see someone if you're seeing this shit. I mean, I haven't gone your road, been in your path and seen someone. This can't be good. I mean, why can't I see it, then and is it still talking to you? How do you know this isn't just your mind playing tricks on you?" Dick asked.

"I am seeing a therapist," Callie replied. "And I know it's only in my head. It's why I have these pills. If I take them, she disappears." She frowned. "But then everything gets hazy and the days run together and...I know my mind is broken, but the pills make it worse." She breathed in deep. "I'm seeing her for a reason. Maybe if I figure out what happened to her...." She reached down and picked up her backpack.

"You know, there's an easy way to tell if I'm really here or not," Rita said thoughtfully.

Callie frowned at her. "I don't need to know if you're really here or not. You're a sign that my brain's damaged. Maybe even a sign of my guilt. You're not real."

"Okay, dude. Talking to yourself is a sure way to make folks think you're crazy." Dick gripped her arm and whispered harshly, "Do you want them to report you and put your ass into Arkham?"

Callie tensed up when Dick grabbed her arm, but didn't pull away. Instead, she put her hand in her pocket and took out the bottle of pills. She tapped one into her hand.

"I told you I think you should stop taking those pills," Rita said.

Callie didn't respond, other than clenching her jaw.

"You said you get all fogged up with those, right?” Dick asked. “Maybe you should lay off them and when did you take the last dose? If I'm to help you, I need you; not a zombie."

"I took the last one before I came back here," Callie replied. She didn't say that was the reason why she was seeing Rita again; it's not like that wouldn't be obvious from what she'd said.

"Does he have access to a lab?" Rita asked. "I always thought it was weird those pills left you all hazy when they're meant to be about removing me."

Callie just shook her head, not bothering to respond with words. She put the pill back in the bottle, though.

"What's it saying and how are these pills doing shit for you? You look like crap and you keep taking those, you'll be a zombie for what? Days?" Dick sighed and shook his head. Clearly he was getting worried about his former friend. "This is all sorts of crazy and I know crazy."

"Lab," Rita insisted. "Ask him if he can get those pills tested to see what's in them. Look, even if I am just a hallucination, it's only good sense to know what's going on in your body. Right?"

Callie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She pulled out the bottle of pills and looked at Dick. "Do you have access to anywhere that can run tests on these?"

"Tests on what?" Dick asked and looked her calmly. So far, Callie wasn't taking the damn pills, but what if it were really guilt that drove her see this ghost?

"The pills," Callie replied. She held the bottle out to him. "I figured I could trust a therapist, but...." Her voice trailed off. Her eyes darted towards where Rita's insubstantial form stood and then away again. "It makes sense to know what I'm putting inside my body."

"Yeah. I guess I could ask and I know where to test it, but if I told you where, I'd have to kill you," Dick joked a bit and took the pills. He also took note of the doctor's name. "Huh...I could also check the doc out too."

"Yes," Rita said. "Checking out the doctor sounds like a very good idea."

"Rita's the only lead I have," Callie said. "I need to visit her parents." She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Since I'm not taking the pills, I guess I'll have to rely on you to tell me if I'm talking to someone who's not really there."

"Uh yeah. You're asking me to let you know if you're crazy or not?” Dick responded. “Dude...I'm not seeing this person..."

"No. I'm asking you to let me know if I start talking to someone else you can't see," Callie replied. She took another look at the computer screen, then reached out to close down the website, taking note of the address. "No time like now, I guess."

"Okay, so we are going to visit the parents, then? What the hell are you going to say to them? Hi, I've been seeing your kid and I'm haunted, or am I crazy? Yeah, that'll be a one way ticket to the loony bin," Dick said.

"Give me some credit," Callie replied. "My mind might be broken, but I know how to ask questions."

"This doesn't sound like a good idea, you know...” Dick said. “You're a stranger and then you're going to just show up and say what?"

Callie stood up straighter and held out a hand to Dick as if to shake it. "Good morning. My name is Callie Masefield. I'm looking into some missing persons' cases here in Gotham and I wondered if I might ask you some questions about your daughter." Lowering her hand, she added, "I still have my press credentials."

Dick snorted in amusement and nodded. "Okay, touché and what's my cover exactly, or do you need a wardrobe change?"

"My partner." Callie smiled at him before asking, "Do you have a ride? I've just been taking cabs. Safer that way."

"Nah, I flew here," Dick joked and took the car keys from his jacket pocket. "Of course I do and they might know me, since my adoptive dad isn't exactly low profile. So we getting out of crazy town, or did you want to stand here and chat?"

"I mean, standing here and chatting is all very well and good, but the answers aren't going to find themselves," Callie replied. "Of course, we're not actually getting out of the crazy. It'll be coming with us." She headed towards the door of the library and out onto the street.

Rita tailed after her. "I call shotgun."

"Hallucinations can't call shotgun," Callie muttered under her breath.

"Huh, what?" Dick had started to head to the front door of the library, only to halt when he heard Callie. "Seriously? Am I going to have this all day?"

"Nope." Callie took her press badge out of her backpack and clipped it onto her blouse.

"Ok. Off to Wonderland we go," the crime fighter remarked and led Callie and her spiritual Jiminy Cricket to his car. He pushed the unlock button and sighed, sinking into the driver's seat. "Okay, where to, Alice?"

Callie told him the address and then pulled her seatbelt on. She didn't need to glance over her shoulder to see that Rita had settled into the backseat.

Dick took the address and put it into his GPS before he put on his Bluetooth, having hooked up his cell phone. Starting up the car, Dick dialled a number as they left the library lot. "Hey, it's me. I'm onto something, but need to get something checked out...Yeah. It has to do with the files on the computer...I'll be around in a bit, but checking something out first with a source." Dick hung up then and turned onto the main streets, driving like he was born to brave the terrors of rush hour.

Callie glanced out of the window, thankful that Rita was keeping quiet in the back. Despite acting confident about how she was going to start the conversation with her hallucination's parents, she couldn't deny that she was nervous. And it was harder not to feel on edge, knowing that she'd handed over one of the only links to her sanity.

Dick glanced at her and sighed. "Look. If these things are messing you up, we'll get them analyzed but I can't promise anything. Maybe you're seeing this ghost out of guilt or something? Do you have anything to be guilty of, besides the obvious?"

"It's like I said," Callie replied. "I'm missing time. I've lost memories. I know there are things I should know and be aware of. But everything's such a blur from before. The only thing that I really remember is breaking through the brainwashing and then running and never looking back."

Dick blinked and frowned. "Brainwashing? Damn, I think we need more help than this, man."

Callie frowned and glanced sideways at him. "That's why I went after you. I don't know how I got to that point. I just remember waking up from a nightmare with the bloody knife in my hand." Her voice faltered. "I don't know who else I hurt. I was too scared to look." Her eyes met Rita's in the mirror.

"You didn't kill me," Rita said firmly.

Dick gulped and pulled the car over rapidly at the mention of the bloody knife. He turned off the car, hard eyes looking at Callie. "Are you telling me that you fucking killed those girls? Fuck, Callie...How am I supposed to react to this? I should haul your ass in," Dick growled.

"I'm telling you that I don't know," Callie replied. "But those bodies I saw in the morgue? I recognised the MO. And I wasn't back in Gotham at that time. I think...there are others who were brainwashed."

"Callie." Rita leaned forward slightly. "He thinks you're talking about a literal knife in your hand. 

"Oh." Callie blinked and focused on Dick. "I didn't mean I woke up with a literal bloody knife in my hand. Just I woke up and realised...what I did...." Her voice trailed off and then she added, much quieter, "To you."

"So, you never killed those girls and the knife is just the proverbial stab in the back one. Well, nice to know you have a metaphor for it," Dick replied dryly and got back onto the street, heading to their destination. "I prefer to call it twisting the dagger until I am left a bleeding mess, but who's comparing betrayals here?"

"I'm sorry," Callie said quietly. "I know it doesn't mean anything. I know you have no reason to trust me. I don't know what happened to push me to that point, but...I should have broken free earlier."

"Everyone has different breaking points," Rita murmured from the back.

Callie flinched, hands clenching tightly for a moment. Those words...they struck something inside her. "Everyone has different breaking points," she whispered to herself. "I heard that somewhere else."

"Yeah, well. Right now, I just can't, okay? If you ever wanted to hurt me, then grats on that. You broke me, so let's get this over with so you can go your own way later on. I'm just not ready to forgive and forget right now, but that doesn't mean I won't help you with this shit." Dick parked in front of the house and sighed. "Guess this is the place."

Callie nodded and took a deep breath. Undoing her seatbelt, she got out of the car and stood staring up at the house. She didn't have to look to know that Rita was standing next to her. It was a sad fact that the only friend she had now had been conjured up by her own broken, damaged mind.

Walking up to the front door, Callie pressed the doorbell.

A tired-looking woman, with more grey hair than dark, opened the door. Before Callie could say anything, she stepped forward and hugged her. "Callie. I thought you'd gone missing too."

Callie's eyes widened and she stiffened in the woman's embrace, stepping back as soon as she was let go. "You know me."

"Of course I do." The woman frowned. "You were investigating Rita's disappearance. The room you were staying in is still locked, just as you left it."

Dick had decided to find out what was going on and trudged behind. His eyes widened, hearing that, and frowned. So the plot thickened and boy was this getting more complicated.

Callie recovered quickly. The absence of the pills might have made Rita more real and vivid, but they also allowed her mind to sharpen as it had in the past. Before everything had gone to hell. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long. There was a family emergency that I just couldn't get out of. But I'm back to pick up where I left off." She smiled and asked, "Can I see my room, please?"

"Of course." The woman glanced past Callie and frowned, looking towards Dick.

"Oh." Callie glanced towards him as well. "This is Dick. He's helping me on this."

Dick extended his hand to the woman and noticed that the girl's mother was worn down. The woman had clearly been through a lot and he frowned. "How long has your daughter been missing?"

"It's been eight months," the woman replied, shaking his hand. "Five months ago, Callie came and said she was investigating Rita's disappearance and other girls of the same age." She ran a trembling hand through her hair. "We offered her a room here. To make it easier."

"Mama." Rita moved closer to the woman, like she would have tried to hug her.

Callie bit her lip and averted her eyes, not wanting to tell the woman what she was seeing.

"And was there anything different in Rita's behavior? Anything unusual? New friends she was hanging with?” Dick asked. “Anything could be a clue."

"No, there was nothing unusual in her behaviour." Rita's mother frowned. "But shortly before Rita disappeared, her best friend had as well. Kirby Granger."

"Kirby...Granger." Callie's eyes widened fractionally. She lifted a hand to her shoulder and swallowed visibly.

"Do you know her mother's address as well? I would like to hand this over to the proper folks that could turn this upside down...Get justice and find the girls, be it in any capacity," Dick said.

The woman's mouth twisted in bitterness. "I can give you her address, but it won't do any good. The police won't do anything. We tried. Until Callie...we'd given up hope." She glanced towards Callie and frowned, noticing that she was twitching slightly.

Rita moved to Callie's side, putting her hands out. For perhaps the first time, she was able to shove Callie. Hard. "Pull it together! This is why you're seeing me! We get in. You figure out what happened to you. It might lead you to me."

Callie's eyes widened as she stumbled from the force of the push, but quickly straightened up, blinking several times before smiling at the woman. "I'm sorry. I just thought of something." She hesitated and then asked, "Can I see the rooms? Rita and the one I had?"

Dick smiled and looked at the girl's mother. "Not to worry. I do know some folks that won't give up and would do whatever it takes to solve this case, Ma'am."

The woman glanced uncertainly at Dick before she nodded and then addressed Callie. "Your room is still locked, so you'll need to have the key. But you can look in Rita's room." She stood back from the door so that they could enter the house.

Taking a deep breath and still feeling shaken, Callie walked into the house, relieved when Rita's mother led the way upstairs. At least she didn't have to pretend she knew where she was going.

Dick followed them and knew that he and Batman would be investigating this case, along with the others. If the police couldn't do it, Batman and Robin could. Hell, they'd taken down some pretty bad asses in Gotham, so this would just be one more, or a few, to take down. He watched Callie for a moment and took note of everything. The hallways had photos of Rita and her family. This would be a good visual in order to start the search. "Ma'am, could you take me through the events leading up to her disappearance to pass on to the right men?"

The woman nodded and began explaining the events leading to the disappearance. After Kirby had vanished, Rita's parents had been worried about her. Insisting that she check in with them on her way home and making sure she wasn't out too late. But she'd left for university one morning and never come home.

While Rita's mother talked Dick through what had happened, Callie's feet drew her to the room at the end of the hallway. The door was open slightly and she pushed on it, finding herself inside what had to be Rita's bedroom. The room was fairly tidy, but the bed wasn't made. The pillows were askew. It was as if Rita had only just left that day.

Walking towards the dressing table, Callie found her gaze turning towards photos of Rita with her friends. One of them looked familiar. She picked up the photo, zeroing in on the red-head with her arm wrapped around Rita's shoulder, grinning toothily.

Walking into a dark room. A woman kneeling on the floor, her back to Callie. A flash of light glinting off a knife and then a sharp, burning sensation in her shoulder. Screams and loud, manic laughter drawing her down...down into the darkness of unconsciousness.

The photo dropped from Callie's fingers.

"Are you seeing something that helps the investigation?" Dick’s voice broke into the images.

Callie flinched at the words, recoiling back like a frightened animal before reason seemed to return. She slowly reached down and picked up the photo, starting to put it back into place.

There was a card on Rita's dresser; a card with Callie's name and contact number on it. She picked it up and turned it over slowly, looking at the writing on the back. Her eyes widened, briefly, before she finally answered Dick's question. "I think I know where we need to go."

"Then we should get moving and take that with us,” Dick said. “I also have to inform someone so that he can start the investigation. If this is as big as I expect it to be, time is of the essence."

Callie nodded quickly and then looked at Rita's mother. "I won't disappear again," she promised. "I'll get the answers. I'll tell you what happened to your daughter." She quickly headed down the stairs and out to the car.

"You saw something." Rita stood next to Callie.

Staring at the car, Callie said softly, "Kirby stabbed me. I found her and she stabbed me in the shoulder."

"Is this another metaphor, or is this is the other kind?" Dick inquired, while they got into the car. He then sighed and raised a brow. "So can Rita keep this on the down-low? I have to send in the info to the big man."

"I have the scar," Callie whispered, turning the card over in her hand, looking at the writing on the back. "I knew," she said to herself. "I knew that I might not come back."

"Huh. Well, I'll send the info but seriously can we trust her to keep it quiet?" he whispered to Callie, grabbing the metal crime lab kit to send the info out to Batman.

Surprised, Callie looked up at Dick. "Who her? My hallucination?" she whispered back.

"Well, she did give you the info, right?” Dick replied. “What if she really is a ghost? I mean, what's her name?"

Callie glanced back over her shoulder at Rita before she focused on Dick. "If she's a ghost, that means I'm going to have a very difficult conversation with her parents." She bit her lip. "I had a flashback in there. The house. Whatever we find...it might break my mind even more." She looked down at the card and turned it over. "I left this as a clue. But I don't know if it was for me or for you. Maybe that doesn't matter."

"Good point." He grabbed the case and looked at the retinal lock and then put his thumb print on the lock. The case opened and the computer turned on. The screen turned on and the voice said, "Hello, Master Robin." He then began to type into the information and spoke into the interface. "Batman. I'm sending you the information needed on the case I'm working on." He then hit send, scanning the information that he'd got from Rita's mother and the library. "I'm heading to speak with a source and will check in later." He then closed the case, looking a bit sheepish, knowing that even if Callie hadn't known, the secret was out.

"We need to go to the first place I saw you," Callie said abruptly. "On the roof."

"Why did Kirby stab you?" Rita asked. "She wouldn't have hurt anyone."

"Everyone has a breaking point." Callie moved her hand to her shoulder again.

"Okay. Which time? The first time we met, or last night?" Dick put his computer back away and smirked. "I'm guessing the first time you saw me on patrol?"

"First time I saw you on patrol," Callie confirmed.

"Okay, Gotham Tower it is, then." Dick started the car and turned, merging into traffic, heading to downtown Gotham. "Why there?"

"The words on the card say, 'Look as high as the robin flies,'" Callie answered. "Hiding something on top of a building feels like something I would do. That I did do. And picking a spot that would be familiar to either one of us." She shrugged.

"Fair enough,” Dick said. “Probably would be something I'd do too, to be honest. You thought I flew?"

Callie shook her head. "I guess I figured that most people wouldn't make the connection. They wouldn't know I was talking about Robin."

"Yeah. So I guess we need to get up there and either we do it the easy way or the fun way?" Dick asked.

"Haven't really had much fun in the last several months, so...fun way?" Callie responded.

Rita leaned forward slightly. "Now I'm curious. How'd you even meet Robin?" she asked Callie.

"Short answer? I looked up." Callie shrugged.

"Short answer for what?" Dick asked, completely confused, but then frowned. "Are you two still having that inner monologue?"

"Rita wanted to know how I met Robin," Callie answered.

"If you're accepting that I'm here, you should really translate what I'm saying so that I can join in the conversation too," Rita said.

"Yeah, you're right." Callie told Dick what Rita had just said.

"Oh, well...I guess. Callie was out at night and I was on patrol. We were hunting down the Joker...Again and she saw me. She followed me a bit and I ended up meeting her. She was trying to get photos of me and an interview. She tailed me but I caught her before I ever got home. Still not sure how she found out who I was..." Dick admitted.

"Because I'm a damned good reporter." Callie spoke with a note of pride in her voice before saying, "Of course, it led me into this whole mess. If I'd done things differently...." Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. "It's too late for that now. Just...maybe I can stop someone else from ruining their life too."

"Then you wouldn't have tracked me down nor ended up meeting me,” Dick said. “Probably would have saved me from the pain, but then also, this case probably wouldn't have been picked up by us."

"If you're accepting me as real, does that mean you think I'm a ghost?" Rita asked quietly.

Wincing at the question, Callie repeated it to Dick before answering. "I don't know. I figured I was seeing you because my mind was broken. Figured it made sense that the only friend I had left would be something my own mind made up." She sighed. "I don't know. But going along this path, I might find answers that neither of us like."

"Well if you are, then you have my condolences, but we'll find your body and what happened to you,” Dick promised. “Either way, there are kids missing and I know I'd want to know what happened to my kid if this happened."

"I guess it's better to know than to not know," Rita whispered. She sat in silence for a few more moments before saying, "Hey, Callie. That therapist who gave you the pills? She had you convinced I was just a hallucination, but she never tried to find out if I'd been a real person. She convinced you that I was just created by your fractured mind."

Callie blinked and looked behind her at Rita. "You think the therapist was...what? Keeping me docile and drugged...." Her voice trailed off and she bit her lip hard. "She was, wasn't she?" she whispered finally.

"Hey, hey. No conclusions yet until I get them tested, okay?" Dick interrupted. Soon, they found themselves in downtown Gotham and parked in a good location, secluded enough to change. He then looked at Callie. "Uh, a bit of privacy while I uhh change?"

Callie nodded and turned to give him some privacy. She turned the card over and over in her hands, staring at it.

"Why didn't you ask him to come with you?" Rita asked.

Callie shrugged, not needing to ask when she was referring to. "Probably out of a misguided attempt at protection. I obviously didn't know people were being brainwashed...." She took a deep breath. "At least they don't know he's Robin," she murmured. "I must have kept that to myself."

Dick had quickly changed and knew that no one had seen, or they were really good at hiding their presence. "Okay. Let's go; and stay close." He grabbed his grappling hook and raised his arm, firing the line from his gloved wrist.

"You know, being a ghost definitely has its perks." Rita eyed the grappling hook. "Not sure I'd want to trust something like that."

"It's easier than it looks," Callie said.

"Well, only if you're trained in this. When I first learned, I thought so too, but it's not." Dick smirked at Callie and wrapped his arm around her waist while holding onto the line. "Hold on tight."

In response, Callie wrapped her own arms around his waist, holding on tight. She took a deep breath, letting herself lean into him. It was only to get on top of the tower and wouldn't last for long, but it felt good to be held.

Dick didn't let the fact that she was pressed against his body, or that he could feel her curves, affect him, but he was still surprised by the current turn of events. Had he been wrong about her? That would have to be figured our later. Holding onto her, Dick pushed the button slowly, propelling them up slowly. With a soft leap, they landed on the roof with the grace of wind. He unhooked the tether and put it away. "So now what?"

Taking a deep breath, Callie made herself step away from him. It wasn't like she could lean on him like she had before. It was strange, though, that she felt cold. Bereft. She looked slowly around the rooftop.

"Here. There's something here." Rita was waving at her from the other side.

Callie took another deep breath and walked over, crouching down as she saw the metal box, hidden where it wouldn't be seen by a casual observer. The lock was a thumb print scanner and she reached out to press her own thumb against it...but nothing happened.

Rita took a step back to watch. "You said you didn't think you were coming back. Maybe you didn't set it up for yourself." She looked towards Dick.

Callie looked in that direction as well and stood up slowly. Her skin was crawling, like ants were covering her. Her mouth was dry and her stomach was knotted. Fear? What more could she learn? The worst thing to happen to her had already occurred. "I think I left this for you to find," she said to him.

"Why would you leave this to me? What's so dangerous in there that you wouldn't risk anyone but me finding it?" Dick looked confused, but then crouched before the metal case, pulling off his gloves with his teeth. He pressed his thumb to the lock scanner, hoping that this didn't come back to bite him in the ass.

"I don't know." Callie stepped back, biting her lip. "I'm not stupid. I don't have a death wish. The only thing I can think is that I wasn't expecting to come back."

The box opened, revealing files, photos, newspaper cuttings....

Callie moved forward as she saw a familiar name and photo on one of the files. Rita Ortega.

"Tell me."

"I can't tell you what I don't know." There was the taste of blood in her mouth. Her vision was blurry. Her head ached and her shoulder throbbed.

Irritation flashed across the man's face and he nodded to the brute that held her, who slammed a rock-hard fist into her stomach. She doubled over, gasping from the pain. "I swear I don't know!"

"You ran a story on him. You had pictures of him." The man dressed in the white coat shook his head. "You must know his identity."

"She won't tell you anything," a woman's voice said. "You can hurt her as much as you like. She'll stay loyal."

"Then we'll try a different tactic." The scientist moved out of view. When he returned, he was dragging a young, blindfolded teenager with him. Rita. Pulling out a gun, he held it to her head. "Who is he?"

"I swear I don't know!" She struggled in the iron-hard grip that kept her arms pinned by her sides. "I don't know who he is."

The gunshot sounded abnormally loud.

"Oh, God," Callie whispered, staring at the spot where Rita stood. "It was my fault."

Dick looked at Callie and frowned. "What was your fault?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rita asked.

Callie swallowed hard, her eyes filling with tears. She hadn't cried while she'd been held, captured, brainwashed. She hadn't let her captors see her tears. Now, though, they ran abashed down her face. "I know why I'm seeing you," she whispered. "Why you're bound to me. They shot you because I wouldn't tell them."

Rita flinched back. "Wouldn't tell them what?" she whispered uncertainly.

Dick frowned a bit and looked through the papers. "I doubt it is your fault. Even if you told them what they wanted, it sounds like they would have harmed anyone." He continued to read the articles. "What could have they been so desperate to know?"

Rita was staring at Callie. When she spoke, it was in a really quiet voice. "They wanted you to tell them who Robin was. Didn't they?"

Callie frowned, speaking to Rita instead of answering Dick's question. "That can't be the only reason behind this. Behind taking you and Kirby. Neither of you knew him. You didn't know him until I came back here."

"What?” Robin asked. “They wanted me? What did they want me for?"

Callie blinked and focused on Dick. "They wanted Robin." She hesitated. "It was too big an operation to just be focused on one person, so...." She paused.

"They captured you when you went to investigate because they figured the reporter who ran the story on Robin would know who he was." Rita was frowning. "Callie, you need to look at the files. I...I'm remembering stuff. I know why I didn't like your therapist."

"My therapist?" Callie repeated, sounding numb. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks and stepped over to the box.

"Do you think they will come after me? If it comes to your safety, let them come after me instead of you," Dick said.

Callie blinked and focused on Dick, shaking her head. "Gotham needs you. If they come after me, it would be a necessary sacrifice." She bit her lip. "I should have been stronger the first time round. This time, I will be. I'll die before I let myself betray you again." She glanced at the files in Dick's hands and took a step back, turning pale.

"No. You will not and if you had betrayed my identity, they would have already captured me,” Dick replied. “I am not letting you die for me."

"This is bigger than just Gotham, Dick." Callie pointed to the file that had caused her reaction. "That's the therapist I've been seeing. The one who told me that Rita never existed and was just evidence of my fractured mind."

"So what are the pills she's been giving you?" Rita asked.

Dick frowned and glanced at the information. "Something tells me that we need to get these somewhere safe and analyze those pills."

Rita was nodding vigorously. "Yes. That's a good idea."

"Rita agrees with you," Callie said.

Dick grabbed the case and packed up the papers, locking them up. "Then we take the fight to them, but first we need to go, because we are sitting ducks up here and...gah!" Dick felt the sharp pain in his leg and pulled out a dart, putting it into his belt. He felt himself getting weak, but managed to get them both to the waiting car. Once on the ground, he threw the keys to Callie. "Quick, get us to the cave." He managed to get into car, close to passing out. "Need Batman..."

Callie didn't hesitate, using the keys to turn the engine. It stalled briefly, but on the second try, the car lurched forward and she didn't hesitate to step on the gas.

"I'll go and see how many of them there are," Rita said.

"Rita, don't." Callie's voice hitched with fear...grief...guilt. "They know I'm seeing you. They might know that you're a ghost, not a hallucination."

Dick was struggling to remain conscious. "Wayne Manor...." he gasped out and passed out in the car, losing the fight.

"Stay, Rita." Callie drove as fast as she safely could, heading towards Wayne Manor. As soon as she reached it, she parked the car and threw herself out, heading round to the other side to open the door so she could half-pull, half-drag Dick out.

Dick was completely limp and would have grumbled about being dragged out of the car, but just as they got to the door, Alfred appeared to help bring him in. "Master Dick, wake up. What happened and may I also inquire as who you are?"

"He was hit by a dart," Callie said quickly. "I don't know what was in it, but he didn't lose consciousness straight away. He needs Bruce."

Rita glanced at Callie and she glanced at Dick. Then, she turned and went from Wayne Manor. Maybe the therapist had convinced Callie that Rita wasn't real, but surely they didn't realise she was a ghost. Maybe she could find out how many there were....

"Bring him inside quickly and I will retrieve Master Bruce. How do you know who he is?" Alfred quickly brought Robin into his room, placing him onto the bed. It wasn't long before he had called Bruce from a meeting. "Master Bruce will here shortly, as he is able. In the meantime, I need to analyze this dart and counter its effects."

Callie stuck close to Dick's side, watching him anxiously. She hadn't even noticed Rita leaving, so used to pretending she didn't see the spirit. And she couldn't talk to Rita with anyone else there in any case. "I'm his ex. My name's Callie." Her voice was hitched with worry and fear.

"His ex? The one that broke his heart months back?" Alfred inquired, but didn't say anything more before he went down to the cave to check on the dart. It wasn't poison and would wear off. Returning to the room, the salty old butler regarded Callie a moment. "He should recover, but it will take time. How did you find out exactly? Even if Master Dick was dating, he only told a few that he felt close enough to safeguard his identity."

"I...." Callie frowned, glancing around, noticing that there was no sign of Rita. Where had the younger woman gone? She wavered, torn between staying at Dick's side and leaving him to find the ghost. "I'm a reporter. I wanted to run a story about Robin, so I followed him and got an interview and pictures. I figured out his identity after...."

"After you were already dating, I presume? Those pills Master Robin asked me to analyze are in the bat cave being checked out. I ask that if you do consider your relationship with Master Dick to not hurt him again. He hasn't been able to get over the one that took his heart. Tread carefully, young lady. Now what is going on?"

"There have been quite a few young people going missing in Gotham," Callie replied. "A lot of the authorities didn't do anything about it, considering them to be runaways or drug addicts." She frowned. "I put evidence together before of a...I don't know if they're doctors or scientists, but they've been brainwashing the people they've taken. I didn't remember until I came back here and started getting flashbacks."

"So this is the case that Master Robin is working on, then? We should wait for Master Bruce to return..." Alfred started to add something, but then heard the front door open and went out to the hallway. "Up here, Sir."

Bruce had been in a board meeting when he had got the call about Dick being in trouble. He feared the worst and had rushed home. Taking the steps as quickly as possible without tripping, he entered the bedroom. "How is he?" He then turned towards Callie. "And who are you?"

"Callie. Dick's ex." She bit her lip. "I need to find someone else who's supposed to be here. You said he'll recover and wake up, right?" She looked towards Alfred as she asked the question.

"In time, yes. It was a sedative, but a rather powerful one," the older man replied and looked at Bruce. "Perhaps we should discuss the situation, Master Bruce, and work up a plan? Clearly, they are after Master Dick." Both men nodded and Alfred brought the bat up to date on the case thus far, while Robin rested.

Despite her worry about Rita, Callie didn't leave Dick's side. She listened to the discussion, interjecting when she needed to correct or add something in. Partway through, her hand crept into Dick's. Holding on gave her a small measure of comfort, even though she knew he wouldn't welcome the touch when he was awake. She kept glancing at the door, hoping to see Rita reappear.

Dick had subconsciously grasped the hand, but remained unconscious for the time being. The other two men went down to the cave to analyze the pills. Bruce came back up and his voice was sharp but also direct. "You are telling me that this therapist gave you these pills, correct?"

Callie nodded. "After I left Gotham, I knew I needed help. I thought I'd vetted the therapist thoroughly, but...." She didn't see the need to continue. It was obvious that those who'd captured her had continued their torment even after she thought she'd escaped.

"These pills act like a strong sedative for the mind. They block certain receptors that tend to leave the patient unable to comprehend any outside stimuli. You need to stop taking these, or you could fall victim to any outside influences. Who gave these to you?" Bruce inquired and looked furious. "They prescribe these to patients at Arkham. How did you get these? You clearly have none of the qualities of a super crazed villain."

"The therapist I was seeing." Callie reached for the box that had the files in and opened it. "When I was captured, I was...they broke me. I fought my way back, but too late to stop from betraying the one I love. So I ran. I left Gotham. And I looked for help. But I didn't remember enough...." Her voice trailed off. "The therapist I reached out to. She's part of the group." She dug out the file so that Bruce could see it. "I thought the pills were helping me. I haven't had any since coming back to Gotham, though."

"Don't take it and I will be sure that these people are taken down," Bruce promised and he sighed, helping Alfred get Dick a bit more comfortable while he slept. The blanket warranted some privacy while they inspected the dart wound. "He will be fine, but this is concerning. Are you sure that you weren't followed?"

"I don't think so," Callie replied. "At least not from where the attack happened." She hesitated, but knew she couldn't really talk about Rita to Bruce or Alfred. Not without Dick to back her up that she hadn't just conjured up the teenager from her own fractured mind.

"Just the same, Alfred, put the manor and cave on high alert,” Bruce directed. “We don't want any surprises or unwelcome guests." 

Alfred nodded and went to the security panel to put the manor on full lock down. "We are fully armed, Sir."

Callie nodded, unable to help the worried look on her face. She was still holding onto Dick's hand, though it was more unconscious now.

"Sir, perhaps if we are expecting an attack, you may wish to suit up," Alfred told his master.

Bruce nodded and went downstairs into the cave to suit up. It was best to be prepared for anything.

Alfred continued to watch his young charge while the master got ready and the bat cave booted up, with the exterior cameras recording on the monitors.

"Alfred, we may have some unexpected visitors.” Bruce’s voice came from the communicator. “Be on the alert. There is activity on the south lawn, by the woods just outside the gates."

Callie jerked as Rita suddenly walked through the door, only just managing to avoid swearing.

Rita looked pale and shaken. "There's a whole army of them."

Callie raised her eyebrows, gaze slanting towards Alfred, and didn't verbally respond.

Rita rolled her eyes. "They've been busy while you were hiding. There're a lot of brainwashed soldiers coming." She hesitated. "Kirby's with them."

Callie took in a deep breath and asked, slowly, "Do you know any of the others?"

Rita nodded and began listing off the names that she knew.

Callie listed off the names as she was given them, finishing with, "These are people who have been brainwashed. Not the real enemy." She bit her lower lip.

"Could you tell me how you broke free?" Rita asked her.

"We have to get to the cave now. It is the safest location, even with the house on lockdown." Alfred grabbed Dick and put his uniform back on him. They then headed towards the entrance to the cave, while the attack on the gates began. The cannons on the property started to fire tranquilizer guns.

Callie followed a little more slowly, glancing at Rita. "They're being used as cannon fodder."

Rita's voice was filled with frustration. "If only there was a way of breaking through to them...!"

Callie rubbed at her forehead. It was beginning to ache. "I broke free because I saw what I did. I can't guarantee any of them would do the same."

"Are you wishing to come with us, or are you planning to remain here to be attacked? Move it now!" Alfred barked from the cave entrance, needing to lock it down. "Hurry up now, girl!"

Callie quickly ran through the cave entrance, Rita running alongside her.

"You have to tell them to save as many as they can...!" Rita panted to Callie.

Grimacing, Callie turned to Alfred. "None of the ones outside are the scientists. They're all brainwashed. They don't know what they're doing."

"They are just tranq guns and we don't kill here,” Bruce said. “We may have to knock some down if we must defend ourselves."

Callie took a deep breath and looked at Rita, arching her eyebrows.

"Okay, so we've just gotta figure out who would bring each of them back from the brainwashing." Rita nodded. "Simple."

The laugh that bubbled up out of Callie's throat was empty and flat, devoid of any humour. "That's not simple. Just look at me."

"Yes, but your mind isn't as broken as you thought, since I'm actually real," Rita stated.

Bruce raised a brow, looking at Callie, and frowned. "Are you having a discussion with yourself, child?"

"She has been doing that the whole time since she brought Master Robin home," Alfred said.

"No, not myself." Callie sighed. "Those pills? The therapist gave them to me because I...I kept seeing someone. A teenage girl. No one else could see her. The therapist told me she didn't exist. I figured my mind was entirely fractured, you know? Then I came back to Gotham and...." She gestured towards the box she'd brought with her. "Her name's Rita Ortega. There are things she's told me that it's not possible for me to know myself." She shrugged. "I'm probably still crazy, but...Dick thinks that she's real too."

"I am real," Rita insisted.

"Well, then we should get information from her while you are able to,” Bruce replied. “These files have that name and she could help with this investigation."

"I'm a ghost and only recently remembered the circumstances of my death," Rita said. "But I'm willing to help in any way I can. If you promise that you'll help Kirby and the others. It's not their fault. It wasn't Callie's, either," she added.

Callie repeated, word for word, what Rita had said...except for the part about herself.

Bruce swore when he heard the bangs, having to bring out the big artillery even when the attackers went down. With a sigh, he knew that the manor was going to have one hell of a war. "They are coming too fast to get them...The first ones are down, but which ones are we allowed to kill?"

Rita zipped out of the cave and whizzed around the battlefield, before returning and reporting, "They've been given orders, but I don't see any of the scientists in sight. Only the ones who have been brainwashed." She looked at Callie.

After repeating what Rita had said, Callie stood up straighter. "Maybe I can get through to some of them. At least the ones you know, Rita. Like Kirby. Even if it only slows them down for a moment."

"What do they want with Robin?” Bruce asked. “They won't get him without a fight, but why attack the manor? This many is over kill and I may have to involve the police."

Rita looked pleadingly at Callie. "If the police get involved, how many of them will die? You can't let it happen, Callie! You're the only one who can see and hear me. Please, you have to help."

Callie closed her eyes and gave a sharp nod, then ran towards the exit of the cave. "Let me out. I'll do what I can to...I don't know," she muttered to herself. "Break the brainwashing? Disrupt the controllers? Both?" She shrugged. "I'm expendable either way."

"Alfred, call Commissioner Gordon and inform him of the attack on the manor,” Bruce directed. “Tell him that this is a nonlethal arrest scenario. And no, child, you are not going out there. I will keep you in here if I have to. We won't kill them, but the men will take them down that work with me. I'm going out there to take them down and you will stay here and keep an eye on Dick."

Callie's eyes darted towards Rita and back to Bruce. She swallowed hard, looking like she wanted to protest, but her shoulders drooped and she stepped away from the entrance.

Rita let out a sob. "You have to help me!"

"But I can't do it alone," Callie whispered.

"Because you might die?!" Rita demanded. "You're so selfish!"

Bruce saw the protest and sighed. "You are in MY manor and will do as I say, or I'll be forced to discipline you for risking your life."

"She's dead because of me," Callie said. "Rita. I'm the only one who can see and hear her." She took several steps closer to the teenager and hugged her. "I'm sorry, but he's right. I tried to do it alone once already and I ruined my life."

Rita shoved her, hard. "I don't care."

Bruce gave Callie is a hard glance before he replaced his cowl and left the cave to deal with the fight, along with Commissioner Gordan's team that would use non-lethal force to take down any that they could.

Rita glared at Callie and headed out of the cave entrance, trying desperately to talk to and get through to one of them...any of them.

Callie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her eyes stinging. Well. She'd known she was going to end up entirely alone and friendless once this was over. Still. It was hard to feel just how completely alone she was.

###

Dick felt the pain in his leg that woke him up, finding himself lying in the bat cave. He opened his eyes with a groan and looked around. "What happened?" He slowly sat up, only to feel dizzy, having to lie back down, panting hard. "Fuck..."

Batman had managed to subdue the attackers with the police and they took them away to be treated the best they could, but none were dead. Bruce had a secret spot that was secure at Wayne Enterprises where they could begin treatment and help them. None were responsible for their actions and he didn't want to just lock them up.

Bruce returned and looked at them both. "They're going to the labs to be treated. I won't lock up innocent people and we can help them in a secure location."

Callie had sunk down on the floor of the cave, huddled into a tiny ball. Her body was shaking. Her head was throbbing. Rita was standing a few feet away, not saying anything, but was still obviously angry...at least to Callie's eyes.

Callie glanced up at Bruce's words, but didn't say anything. This...this was the first time she'd felt truly alone.

"What's your problem?" Dick asked and looked at Callie acting like a scolded child, struggling to sit up but couldn't. "Oh, fuck...Dammit, Callie...Stop feeling sorry for yourself and tell me what's going on."

"Whole army of brainwashed teenagers out there," Callie said distantly.

"Who you wouldn't do anything about!" Rita snapped.

"What did you expect me to do, Rita? I'm one person." Callie looked at her. "I don't have the same sort of training as any of those here. Just because I broke free doesn't mean I have any idea how to help them."

"Okay, slow down!” Dick said. “Seriously...An army of teenagers and why are you obviously two fighting?"

Rita was still scowling at Callie. "I asked you to help free them from the brainwashing! The same way you fought your way back!"

Callie shook her head. "No, Rita. If you care about any of them, you don't want to wish my situation on them. This isn't a damn fairytale where the prince kisses the princess and she wakes up and they live happily ever after. This is the nightmare where everything's burned to ashes. Friendships, lives, relationships. Everything. I'm the broken mess you don't want them to turn into." She stood up slowly. "I can't make things right for myself. I can't put what I broke back together. I just hope I can save your friends from the same fate."

Dick sighed and finally managed to sit up and looked at Callie. "We will all do whatever it takes to help them, no matter what and Callie is right. She may have broken free, but she was later tormented. She didn't have the help that we can give the others and also to help Callie. There will be no guilt tripping and we have to work as a team, okay? We all want the same damn thing."

Callie expelled her breath in a long sigh. "Yeah. And once it's finished, you won't have to see me anymore."

Rita faltered a little. "You're going to leave?"

"There's nothing left for me here." Callie shrugged. "I wrecked it all. I just need to see this through to the end."

Dick stood up and his face turned red from anger, but then it flashed to hurt. "You're going to fucking do it again? Leave me again...Yeah, it figures...Run off like a fucking coward just like before. Why do I even bother to hope that you'd stick around when you didn't the last time?!" He then left the room, punching the swinging bag once, needing to be alone. She had hurt him before and she was just about to do it again. Why did he think this time might be any different?

Callie's wide eyes followed Dick as he left and then she looked at Rita, her voice soft and very confused sounding. "But...he told me to. When I tried...after what I did...Why would he even want me to stick around?"

"Maybe cause he still has feelings for you like you do for him," Rita suggested.

Callie slowly shook her head. "After what I did...I figure how I feel doesn't come into it anymore."

###

Dick left the cave and changed back into his own clothes before he was sitting on the roof of the manor. He let the cool breeze blow over his face, wet from the anguish. Why did he bother to think she'd stick around when she didn't the last time? Why was he such a fucking fool? He wanted to just scream at the top of his lungs and rid himself of this deep ache in his chest. Callie had been his first and it still hurt.

###

Callie drew in a deep, shuddering breath and slowly lowered herself to the floor again. "I don't know...how to make this right," she whispered. "I don't want to leave...."

"Then don't." Rita sat down next to her. "And if he tells you to leave again? Tell him too bad. You're not running away from your feelings anymore. And you'll wait as long as it takes for him to forgive you."

Closing her eyes, Callie took another deep breath and then nodded. "You're right. I made things worse by running away, by leaving, the last time. I won't anymore...."

###

Dick just remained up there until he heard the chopper above. He looked up, only to stand up. He looked ready to bolt back inside, but a few people in dark clothes propelled down and wrapped a net around him, darting him again. He fell to the roof with a loud thump before they grabbed him. They left a note pinned to the roof, demanding the others be released and Callie come to them, or Robin would face a fate worse than death.

The chopper left the manor with their prize.

###

Rita was the one who ended up heading to the roof, finding the note. She didn't waste any time going back down to the hideout, quickly gasping out, "They took Dick!"

Callie immediately jerked to her feet. "What? Who took him?"

"The scientists," Rita said quickly. "They want the prisoners released and you to go to them. Or he'll face a fate worse than death."

Eyes widening, Callie turned to run from the cave. There was no other thought in her mind. She couldn't leave him to the wolves.

Bruce tried to stop her and grasped her arm. "No, you can't give into them...That is just what they want and they'll still hurt Robin."

"I can't." Callie pulled to yank her arm free. "I've hurt him enough times already. I can't let them do it again."

"I'll go with you," Rita said resolutely. "They don't know that I'm real."

"Yes, they will hurt him,” Bruce said. “That's a given, Callie, but he has been trained to handle most pains and tortures. We will be no help to him if you give in. We need to make a plan of attack and if you give in, all this is for nothing. Let us come up with something first and then we can take them all down."

"I can't just stand by and not try to do something!" Callie said desperately, struggling in Bruce's grip. "I can't lose him!" Tears spilled out of her eyes and down her cheeks. "Even if he hates me...at least he'd be alive to do that!"

"They won't kill him, at least not yet,” Bruce replied. “He is the bait and we both know that and they are using him as your weakness. I'm not letting him be used like that. Don't you think I want to rush to his safety as well?! I raised that kid and he's my partner! We have to use your wits about us now more than ever...What do you think he'd want more? Letting you back into that hornet's nest, or taking them all down?"

Callie was still struggling, but it was easing off. She was listening. "They tried to use me to get to him. Now they're using him to get to me," she whispered.

Rita stepped forward. "Use me," she said insistently. "I can get in there. Get back out. Tell you what you'll be facing."

"Rita, what if they know?" Callie asked.

###

Dick was taken from the sterile room, his body aching, his mind reeling, but it seemed that the scientists were getting frustrated with him. For hours, they had tried to gain any knowledge, or whatever they were trying to gain. Dick gave them nothing and despite it all, Robin was strong willed, brave and sure as hell able to handle their worst so far.

The cell was small and cold and Dick was forced to curl up on the small cot, shivering and struggling to remain conscious, but he knew Batman would come for him. The one thought that kept him positive was that the whole operation would be taken down and Callie would be safe, those killed avenged.

It didn't take long before the cell door was pulled open and several people came in to drag Dick out of the cell, pulling him along the corridor to another room, past a medical area which had an unconscious body hooked up to life support machines, outside of which stood two people: one of the scientists and the therapist who had been manipulating Callie after she'd gone.

The woman's eyes slid over Dick, like he was nothing more than an interesting specimen, and spoke to the scientist. "I told you he wouldn't break."

"We had to try." The scientist's lip curled in distaste. "The thing's getting harder to control.”

Dick grunted when he was manhandled into a new, frightening icy room. The ice in the woman's blue gaze was enough to send a shiver down his spine. He hardened his expression towards them, glancing at the medical bed. "You will find breaking me will be next to impossible and when your end comes, it will be swift. Justice will come on dark wings. Consider my words marked, bitch." He directed his words to the scientists, even with his hands cuffed behind his back.

They didn't respond to his words, instead ordering the guards to drag Dick through to another room.

Inside the room was a small pool. A creature was floating in the pool. It looked somewhat like an octopus, with long tentacles and shiny skin. Its eyes were just above the surface level of the water, liquid green. A low, scared-sounding whine came from it.

At a gesture, the guards forced Dick to his knees and the scientist walked over to the pool.

The creature's tentacles drifted, almost uncertainly, through the water and it clearly cowered away.

Annoyance flashing on his face, the scientist took a taser from his belt and switched it on, pushing it into the water.

Electricity crackled and the creature screamed in pain.

Dick was forced down and grunted a bit. His eyes widened, seeing the strange creature in the large tank before him. The tentacles were huge and he hoped they weren't planning something fucked up. This had better not be some weird tentacle porn, but he could do nothing at the moment.

The scream of the creature forced Dick's stomach to twist in dread. The creature was also a prisoner and Dick felt a surge of pity for it. "Stop it! Can't you do anything without hurt innocent people or creatures? You all sicken me!"

The electricity crackled through the water and liquid pooled out of the creature's eyes, like it was crying. Slowly, the tentacles left the water and crept nearer to Dick, inching tentatively closer. The taser wasn't removed until two tentacles were placed against Dick's head, the creature's eyes staring into his.

The room seemed to fall away and then it was as if Dick's vision changed, looking through the creature's eyes. Not at him, though. Instead, it was as if the creature was showing him an image. A picture of Callie, body bruised and broken, on her knees in exactly the same position as Dick himself. Then, the image changed, to when Callie had acted to betray Dick. When she'd faltered. A myriad of images swirled through the creature's mind, through Dick's mind; too many to count, but they were all of Dick and Callie. Together.

Dick struggled with the horrible visions flashing through his mind seeing Callie hurt, bleeding. The images were too much causing him to suddenly scream in agony. He felt like his head was on fire, slumping down face first to the floor with a loud bang. Callie hadn't truly betrayed him, but it was too much, too quickly for Robin to process safely.

The creature slowed down the images, apparently seeing that it was too much for Dick to take. The images wiped away, forming a peaceful mindscape of a small clearing inside a forest. An intense longing and desire could be felt. Even though Dick was unconscious, his spirit had been pulled inside the mindscape, almost like he was dreaming, though he'd know what had happened.

The creature was floating in the middle of the clearing, its tentacles gently drifting in the cool wind. "I am sorry. I did not know my own strength." The first part of the sentence was uttered in Callie's voice; the second in Rita's. As if the creature was using words it had heard others speak in order to communicate.

"Where are we and what are you?" Dick looked around, finding himself standing inside some strange dream bubble. The creature was using Callie's voice and another he was unfamiliar with.

"An empath, able to share feelings and emotions with other living things," the creature replied, using Callie's voice once more. "You are in my mind, but still a prisoner."

"You're a prisoner as well, aren't you? I saw what they did to you. What is their endgame here?"

"The perfect army. The perfect soldiers." This time, the creature used the voice of one of the scientists to speak. "If they hurt it enough, it'll do what we want. It's a last resort, for those who can't be broken through pain alone."

Dick frowned and looked at the creature. "So they used you to try and break me? To break Callie? Why do they want me anyway? She said that they tried to find out about Robin...Why?"

The surroundings changed, so that it appeared they were in a room with the scientist and the fake therapist. "Can you imagine if we were able to add Robin to the army?" the scientist asked. "With his training, he would be formidable if we added him to the ranks."

"That reporter who ran the story on him sneaked in," the therapist answered. "She was captured, of course. Stabbed in the shoulder and some of our men roughed her up. Break her and you'll have Robin's identity."

Dick's eyes widened and he gulped. "That's what they want with me? I'm not here to get Callie back, am I? I am their endgame."

The surroundings changed again, this time to the Batcave. To Rita returning with the news of Dick's capture; Callie running and then being stopped by Bruce. And Rita could be both seen and heard.

Dick shook his head at the scene change. "No, no. She can't come here! Please don't let her, or they'll have her again. They have me, but keep her safe...Wait. That girl. I've seen her here."

"Rita." The creature spoke in Callie's voice.

"That's the girl that is haunting Callie."

"She's in a coma." The words the creature spoke were in the therapist's voice. "Callie keeps talking about seeing Rita, but that brat's as good as dead."

Dick frowned and looked at the memories. "So it's not Callie's fault. She didn't kill her and what's going to happen now? If they can't break me?"

"Acting." The creature spoke in Callie's voice. "Play for time."

"How do I act like them?"

"Do what you're told. Stay quiet. Don't cause waves."

Dick sighed and knew he would have to play the bad boy for all their sakes. "What if they want me to hurt someone? What about Callie?"

The surroundings changed again, to an unfamiliar apartment. Callie was sitting on the couch, hands covering her face, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "I'll take anything if I can go home to him again," she whispered. There was no one else visible in the room.

"Ohh...No, no, Callie....Don't do it. Not for me," Dick protested wishing he could have stopped her from having gone through all of this.

The surroundings changed one final time...to the bat cave, Callie and Rita sitting down, Callie putting voice to not wanting to leave again...and agreeing with the younger girl about telling Dick she was through running from her feelings. Then, it faded back to the clearing.

"She...She isn't going to leave me again? Please tell me...Does she still love me and you're not messing with me?"

"When you love someone, heart and soul, you never stop," the creature said in Callie's voice. And then, "I don't ever want to leave him."

"I can't lose her again. It will kill me this time."

The surroundings shifted, showing Dick unconscious from the dart wound; Callie at his side, holding his hand, only letting go when Alfred took him to the bat cave. And even then, she never took her eyes off Dick.

The scenes kept changing around him and for once, Dick wasn’t certain of his opinions any longer. Callie kept startling him at every turn as he saw the tableaus surrounding his subconscious mind. "I..."

Once again, the surroundings changed to the clearing in the forest. "I want to go home," the creature said in Callie's voice.

"Where is home and what do I call you?"

The scene changed once more, showing them a planet not unlike earth, though it was made primarily of forests and water; no buildings to be seen. Along the surface of the planet, other creatures like the one with Dick floated, drifted, played. Many were a lot bigger than the one who was a prisoner, indicating that perhaps the one the scientists had captured was a young one.

"We have no names," the creature said, voice that of an unfamiliar woman.

Dick looked around in awe at the beauty of this world. "Your home is.... breath-taking....I am not sure how to get you there, but we can try. Why are you showing me all of this?"

"Help," the creature said softly, again in an unknown voice, before speaking in Callie's voice. "If I can get this to Dick, he'll help us. I know it."

"Callie. Even after all this time, she still has such faith in me." His eyes glistened and he suddenly looked ashamed. "After she hurt me, my faith in her was shattered."

The creature hesitantly reached out with a tentacle, brushing it against Dick's arm, like it was trying to offer him comfort.

The scene shifted to a therapist's office. The woman who was involved in the brainwashing was sitting there, Callie on the couch opposite, hands covering her face. "I want to go home," Callie whispered. "Back to Gotham. Back to Dick."

"And what good would that do?" The therapist's tone was gentle, soothing, almost kind...though her next words were anything but. "Some things can't be forgiven."

"No! Don't listen to her, Callie. She's lying to you!" Dick wanted to jump into the memories and make her listen to him, desperately trying to save her this agony.

Once again, the surroundings turned back to the forest. The creature's own liquid eyes were glistening with moisture. "Home. Help. Please? Don't want to hurt...." Each word was spoken in a different voice.

"I will do what I can. Even if I can't get you home yet, I will find a way."

The creature moved closer towards Dick, pressing against him in what might have been an attempt at a hug. The gratitude was obvious in its eyes. "Have to let go now."

Dick nodded and whispered, "Thank you and I will get you out of here."

The mindscape around them faded and Dick was back on the cold floor of the room, the tentacles withdrawing from his head back into the pool.

At a gesture from the scientist, Dick was pulled to his feet.

Dick was still completely unconscious, but they held him up, his head hanging down. He looked defeated and broken.

"Take him back to his cell," the scientist ordered the guards, who did as commanded.

The guards had taken Dick back to his cell, laying him on the bed to await until he woke up.

###

In the meantime, Batman, Callie and Rita were working on a plan of attack before it was too late. None of them knew if they would get to Dick in time, or if he was lost forever.

Rita had offered to make her way to their enemies' base, knowing that they wouldn't be able to anticipate a ghost and that she could at least report back on Dick's condition. She wandered the base for a while before finally slipping into Dick's cell, widening her eyes when he saw how bad he looked. "Oh, crap," she whispered. "You look like hell. If I bring this back to Callie, she's gonna take off running here."

Dick was still completely out, or he would have seen Rita. Oh, how he wanted to tell them that Rita wasn't really dead with her body here.

Rita left the cell, but she didn't immediately leave the base. After all, the more information she could pass onto the others, the easier it would be for Dick to be rescued. And since no one could see or hear her, she could follow scientists and guards, listen to their conversations and read over their shoulders on the computer screens.

After returning to the Batcave, telling them what she'd found out, Rita returned to the base. Her goal was to map out the base. To give them an idea of numbers, of shift changes. And of what the end goal was. She returned to the base several times, ultimately ending up spending several hours as an invisible spy.

###

Dick woke up in a world of pain, finding himself back in the cell. His head was throbbing, forcing Dick to close his eyes. "Ohhh...F...Fuck..." he whispered, rolling to his side, hissing at the burning agony throughout his entire body.

When Rita came into the cell again, it was to hear the pain-filled words. She quickly walked over and crouched down next to the cot, swiftly scanning Dick's body so that she could report on his wounds.

Dick just hissed and nearly jumped on the bed. "Oohh, shit. Found your body...You’re alive..."

Rita's eyes widened and she stumbled back a little before recovering. "I'm alive? Wait. You can see me?"

"Clearly...ohhh, shit. They pull no punches here and yeah, you're on life support but here. I think just a coma..."

"You look like hell," Rita said. "I can only give information through Callie. How much do you want me to tell Bruce?"

"Geez, thanks for ohhhh compliment. Tell him what you need to. He needs to know everything to make plans."

Rita nodded. "Okay." She bit her lip. "Do you and him have some kind of code that I can use to tell him that he might need to tie or lock up someone?"

Dick frowned and looked at Rita. "Um, it depends on the situation. I suppose one I use is the Robin flies at midnight. It usually means we get to business and he'll know that it came from me. You could also just say so?"

"No. I can't just say so," Rita replied. "Callie isn't going to tell Bruce to tie her up or lock her up. She's already tried to run here once. I tell her anything about your injuries and she'll lose her mind and think coming here and giving herself up will make any difference."

"Then tell Bruce this, Robin said to do what needs to be done. Secure loose ends and patrol. He'll get it on that and figure it out. He's smart."

"Okay," Rita replied. "Anything else I need to pass on?"

Dick nodded. "Tell him to use the bracelets. That would be code for the cuffs."

"What about anything you've seen here?" Rita asked.

"He needs to know anything you can relate to him."

"I've gone where I can here, but there are some places I'm blocked from," Rita said. "I haven't seen my body, for instance."

Dick frowned and looked at Rita. "I can't tell you where it is. Some kind of lab? I only saw it before they brought out the big guns. I can't tell you how to get in there."

"Did they take you anywhere else?" Rita asked. "That could be important too. You're not acting like you've been brainwashed."

"They tried and some room with a tank and met a friend." Dick didn't want to elaborate at the moment.

"So someone else needs rescuing?" Rita asked. "You can lead us to them, right?"

"I am not sure, but we need a tank and could use a pool before we take him home. He is not from around here, but I will try and remember the location."

"Okay, so water tank for transportation and pool for your new friend." Rita straightened up. "Any messages you want me to pass on?"

"Not sure yet, but just be careful. This place is more than it seems. I was the target."

Rita frowned. "I guess in a brainwashed army, someone trained like you would be exactly what they want. This has got long arms, though. I've been looking at the computer screens and at official documents. There are brainwashed people on missions around the world."

"Shit. How do we stop all of this and save them all?"

Biting her lip, Rita said, "Get Callie to remember how she fought her way back and figure out how to...I dunno...mass hypnotise them all?"

"They must have a way to control them. We just have to reverse it and go, someone is coming." Dick lay back down, to make it look like he was sleeping.

"I'll talk to the others and come back," Rita promised, slipping out of the cell and heading to the bat cave.

Callie looked up as Rita appeared. "Did you see him?"

"I have to give Bruce a message," Rita said.

###

Batman was patrolling up in the shadows of Gotham City. It seemed to be getting darker within the seedy underbelly of the city. The crime rate was increasing, with the criminal elements having got bolder. Batman swooped down to take down the criminals that were trying to get away from him. Landing on the hood of the swerving car, his cape cast a frightening shadow against the windshield. The car crashed and he got out, pulling them from the car.

It was a mess of dollar bills on the street. Gathering up in the evidence, Batman watched the police take them in, but something nagged at him. He felt watched and didn't like it. He disappeared into the night and watched more going on. Something wasn’t right in Gotham and he knew it. This was more than just a few missing teens and Robin's capture.

###

Callie frowned. "What kind of message?" She eyed Rita uncertainly. "And how did you even get a message to give to Bruce anyway?"

"Dick can see me now," Rita replied. "Not sure why, but it makes things a lot easier.” 

Batman had finally returned back to the cave and noticed that Callie was talking to her invisible friend. "What have you found out?"

"Okay, first things first," Rita said. "Robin said to do what needs to be done. Secure loose ends and patrol. And use the bracelets," she added.

Looking confused, Callie repeated what Rita had said.

"I see. What else?" Batman inquired and knew that this clearly would be bad if those words were used. He had to brace himself for this.

"He's not in good shape." Rita saw Callie's eyes widen and she quickly hurried on, "They did hurt him. But they didn't break him and he talked to me."

"He wouldn't be hurt if I'd just done what they said!" Callie scrambled to her feet.

Batman knew what do and grabbed the cuffs using them to keep Callie there. "You are not going off the rails on me and he will be fine. Now SIT down and let her speak."

Callie looked at Rita, her face completely betrayed, but didn't say anything.

Rita didn't waste any time, quickly explaining what Dick had told her, along with all of the other things she'd learned.

Callie repeated the words in a wooden tone, but at the comments about the tank, she frowned. Something like a spark of recognition came into her eyes.

Batman nodded and sighed. "It seems Dick has the feeling you may try and rescue him, but he wants you safe. We will need to figure a way to configure the bat computer to jam their signal."

"You need passwords?" Rita asked. "I can probably watch over someone's shoulder."

Callie put voice to the offer and then said, thoughtfully, "Rita, when you go back to Dick...tell him that if things go south, an increase in oxytocin will break it."

Rita frowned. "Isn't that the love hormone?"

Callie nodded. "Yeah. Tell him that. Forewarned is forearmed."

"We probably could find a way to dart some with that, but the dose would need to be calculated correctly," Bruce said.

"Maybe...." Callie frowned. "I might have an idea, but I don't know if it will work. Find out if Dick can get to see his friend in the tank again."

Rita blinked. "You know who's in the tank?"

Callie nodded. "A lot of things were blacked out, but I'm getting flashes. Dick needs to ask his friend if it's possible to form an empathic bond with all of them."

"Yes, we should try and make sure that Dick is fully informed,” Bruce said. “We should also face the reality that Robin may eventually succumb to their brainwashing. He is strong, but we don't know what else they will plan."

Callie flinched at the words and looked down at the cuffs, like maybe she was seriously thinking of making a run for it once she was no longer restrained.

"Okay, I'll go back now. Anything else you want me to pass on?" Rita asked, the question interpreted by Callie.

"Just to stay strong and we'll get him out," Bruce answered.

"Got it." Rita headed back to the base, following a few of the workers there when they were on their computer. She watched the keyboards as they were typed on, making mental notes of every password that was used. Hopefully, one of them would be accurate. Then, she walked into Dick's cell.

Dick had been taken away from his cell but had just returned picking at his dinner. He sat down and waited for the guards to leave him alone. "So?"

"Bruce mentioned figuring out a way of configuring the computer in the Batcave to jam the signals here," Rita said. "And Callie flashed on something when I mentioned the friend you made. She said that if things go south, increasing oxytocin will help."

"How am I supposed to get that stuff? And I don't know where he is. The memories on getting brought there are really hazy."

Rita blinked. "Oxytocin is the love hormone. In your brain. So...I don't know...use memories of your loved ones? Callie only said that increasing the hormone helps. She didn't say how it happened."

"Okay. So I just keep thinking about her, huh? Well, so far, I am immune, but for how long until they realize that I am not under their spell?"

Rita cocked her head to one side. "Well, I know Bruce is going to do all he can to get you out. Thanks for the code, by the way. She reacted exactly how I predicted when I mentioned you were hurt."

Dick sighed and slowly ate his dinner and nodded. "I figured as much and hope she stays out of this."

"She's really worried and scared for you. I think hoping she stays out of this will last exactly as long as she keeps those cuffs on." Rita shrugged. "She looked like she was thinking about how to break out of them when I left."

"Wouldn't put it past her, to be honest. She's smart as a tack and she probably can get out of them if she puts her mind to it."

"Okay. So that means watching her." Rita sighed. "Those pills really did a number on her. She was like a zombie. That therapist lady was a bitch. Thought that even before we found out she's involved here. What kind of ass tells someone they can't be forgiven by the person they love?"

"Someone with something to hide and it's manipulation 101."

Rita watched him curiously. "Was she wrong?"

"About what?"

"About forgiving Callie. Cause she's my friend and she's been hurting a long time." Rita shrugged. "She lit up when she saw you. First time I ever saw her looking happy about something."

Dick sighed and looked at Rita. "At first? No, but that was until I saw things from your friend that showed me the fucking truth. That she never betrayed me, besides a broken heart, but also why she did it. Now? Yeah the bitch of a doctor is wrong."

"So you love her too?" Rita asked. "Because when I thought I was dead, I was worried about leaving her alone. And even though I'm not and maybe I'll wake up...I still can't be with her in the same way. Mom and Dad won't let me out of their sight. Callie needs someone else in her corner too."

"Yeah, she was my first love and it may take some time. The trust will need to be rebuilt. I can't be solid yet if we can have what we had yet, but maybe."

"Okay." Rita smiled. "Oh...Callie asked, if you can see your friend again, can you ask him if he can create an empathic bond between all of them?"

"If I see him again, then I can try."

"Good," Rita said. "Bruce says to stay strong and that we'll get you out."

"Okay. Thanks. Keep an eye on them for me and keep my updated, but if I ever seen off, don't tell me anything."

"I won't," Rita promised. "Bruce said we should be prepared for their brainwashing to work. I'll keep checking back on you."

"Good plan, but get going. They will be back, you know."

Rita nodded. "I'll be back soon." She quickly left the cell, heading back to the Batcave so she could give the list of passwords she'd found out to Bruce.

###

Bruce had been upstairs to call a few friends he trusted on the police force and had grabbed Callie some food. He then walked down to the cave, finding the open cuffs hanging on the chair. "Oh, for fuck's sake. That girl is just as bad as Dick is. CALLIE!"

###

Callie had managed to twist herself free of the cuffs, leaving a small amount of blood staining the metal. She headed out of Wayne Manor, coming face to face with Rita. "Oh...crap."

Rita stared at her. "Well. Dick said you'd get out of the cuffs. Didn't think it would be this fast, though."

"I'm not staying here any longer while Dick is getting hurt. This is my fault and I'm putting an end to it."

Rita folded her arms. "I know I can't physically stop you, but I'll be dogging you all the way. And Dick is gonna be pissed."

"That's his normal state of being around me." Callie shrugged. "What else is new?"

###

The scientist was growing irritated. Robin wasn't broken. He seemed like he was, but it was clearly an act. So he sent the guards to Robin's cell, to drag him back towards the alien in the tank.

The alien felt it and fear and pain stabbed through it. It was only young; still learning its powers and abilities. Scared of being forced to hurt anyone else, the alien reached out telepathically.

###

Callie's eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed to the ground.

###

Dick had fought when he realized that they were onto him. He was soon dragged again into the room with the alien, feeling a pang of guilt. The poor thing was being hurt because of him, even secured. He was thrown before the tank again. "Ophhh…Aghhh!" Dick screamed when he was suddenly shocked in the back.

Tears ran down from the alien's liquid eyes as it was shocked. It resisted, but several shocks later and its tentacles reached out, attached to Dick's head and drew his soul into the mindscape once more.

Callie was crouched down next to the alien's form in the mindscape, arms wrapped around it. The tentacles were shivering and the alien was speaking in scared, lost tones of multiple people. "Help. Don't want it. Help."

Dick screamed in agony when he was taken down, panting in pain once he found himself back there. "Ohh, fuck..."

The alien's tentacles vibrated as more tears ran down. "Sorry."

Callie gently rubbed its head. "It isn't your fault." She moved over to Dick, eyes anxiously scanning his form, still holding onto the alien who was whimpering and shaking.

Dick looked at the alien. "You're not to blame. They are and I guess even my act never fooled them. I planned to be brought back here. Subtle hints and I needed to see you again. I need to ask if you can connect to those affected all over. Free them."

The tentacles quivered. "How?"

"Oxytocin overload," Callie said quietly. "You connected to me. I figure I can break it the same way I broke free."

Dick nodded. "It could work. Can you do it?"

"Has to be strong," the alien said. "More than just...pictures." The voices it used were unfamiliar. Its tentacles wrapped a bit more firmly around Callie; almost hugging her in return.

"All I have is pictures, images, memory," Callie said quietly.

"Will those work?" Dick asked.

"Action would be better," the alien said. Slipping into Rita's voice, it said, "It takes two to tango."

"What do you mean by that?" Dick asked.

"It won't work." Callie smiled sadly at the alien. "Like you said. It takes two people. It doesn't work if it's only one-sided. I'll do my best with what I have." She gently grasped one of the tentacles. "Make the link. It'll be enough. It has to be enough."

Dick looked at them both and frowned. "Can you both get them all?"

The alien's eyes moved towards Dick and one tentacle reached out to wrap around his arm, gently tugging him towards Callie.

"Whoa, how am I supposed to help in this? I don't have her memories," Dick said.

"It won't work," Callie said to the alien. "The brainwashing being broken needs oxytocin. And he doesn't love me." She frowned, then focused on Dick. "But you love Bruce, right? Maybe that'll help."

Dick gulped and looked at Callie nervously. "I love you. I just don't trust you yet to get into a relationship. That takes time to know my heart is in safe hands. I get it and saw enough, but it still hurts."

"You told me you were only helping me to get rid of me again. That you couldn't forgive me." Callie's voice was slightly shaky, but firmed when she said, "If you can't ever forgive me, then we can't go anywhere. I don't know how to prove myself worthy to you." She gently stroked her fingers along the alien's tentacle. "Make the bond."

The alien closed its liquid eyes and soft violet light surrounded both itself and Callie, extending also to Dick. The light shot out in all directions, forming a link between all of them.

"That is something you have to earn back, Callie," Dick replied.

Callie's body stiffened, her feet rising off the ground, as if the alien was all that was supporting her. White light formed along the violet, the two twining together, as Callie's eyes fluttered closed and her body stiffened with tension.

Dick cringed when he knew that, through this, Callie would sense everything. She would know the truth but if it helped, then let it happen.

Callie's body grew even more tense, her skin getting pale. The light was sparking, like it might be going out, and her hands curled into fists as a whimper escaped her lips.

The alien hesitantly plucked at Dick's shirt with another tentacle.

Dick allowed the connection and he held onto them, gasping at the intensity. "Oh, fuck..."

The alien pushed Dick towards Callie. "Touch," it said. "Love. Help."

Dick grunted and held onto Callie, stumbling into her. If she needed to know how he felt…he gently listed her face towards him, placing a few fingers under her chin, and kissed her, letting her know love never really died.

Callie's eyes opened wide at the pressure of lips against hers. The white light suddenly solidified and intensified, zooming along the violet bonds that held the alien bound to those it had been forced to turn.

All at once, with the brainwashing cut, every single one still under the scientists' control collapsed, unconscious, no matter where they were. No matter what they were doing.

Callie's own body slowly slumped to the ground, falling to her knees and then toppling to one side.

Dick held her the best he could and continued to kiss her, the sparks driving him to further push his emotions into the bond.

Almost like she was driven by her subconscious, Callie's arms rose and wrapped around Dick. She whimpered softly against his lips, her own parting as if in invitation as she clung to him.

Dick furthered the kiss and pushed his tongue inside her mouth, exploring their passion. "Mmm..." He groaned and quivered, getting his cock to perk up. Well, even in their minds, sex was possible.

Callie's body shivered and she pressed closer to him, following her own passion and love for him. The bond still wound around them, letting Dick feel her love for him. Her desperate need to be with him.

###

Batman had known that it was time to get into the base with the police taking out the scientists. They were making arrests and gathering evidence, while Dick was down with Callie in the dream scape.

###

Dick couldn’t take it anymore and he ripped off his shirt, lifting her and kissing her throat down to her breasts. He began to suck and nip at the hard, pink pebbles. He was close to tossing her to the cool green grass to fuck her. His cock was throbbing painfully.

Callie gasped, head falling back with a low groan. She moved her hands towards Dick's pants, gently pulling them off, freeing his cock.

"Callie...I want to fuck you."

In answer, she kissed him, closing her eyes, pouring her heart and soul into him. Her hands moved gently to his hips, so that she could guide him into her.

Dick gently laid her down into the grass, pulling down her pants and underwear. Tossing those to the side, Dick lifted her legs up and over his shoulders. It was a delicious feast and Robin was starving. With a wicked grin, his mouth dove right in.

Callie's gasp was long and drawn out. Her hands moved to his arms, gently gripping, as she encouraged him with moans and whimpers, responding to everything he did to her.

Dick flicked his tongue along the wet slit before he was tongue fucking her like she was his last meal, moaning loudly. Hie dick was already leaking to get inside.

Her whole body vibrated with pleasure, but it was more than that. What he was doing felt good, so good. After so long being without any affection or touch, no friend but a ghost she'd been convinced was a hallucination, being touched in this way was almost too much to bear. Her fingers tightened on him, tears shimmering in her eyes.

"Am I hurting you?"

"No," Callie whispered. "It feels good. So good." Her body shifted, like she was trying to draw him in deeper. "I love you."

Dick soon moved down between her legs, before slowly pushed up inside her wet folds. They hadn't had sex yet, but it was something they both had craved so some time. "OHHHH YOU ARE SO TIGHT..."

Callie gasped, a moment of pain overcoming the pleasure, and she panted a little. Her grip on his arms tightened a fraction, but she didn't ask him to stop.

Dick was soon kissing her virginal tears away and slowly began to move. It was torture on how good this felt, how hot and tight. "Are you ok?"

Callie nodded and raised a hand to cup his cheek. "I think...it's normal for it to hurt a bit the first time." Her voice was breathy. "I...need you." The bond carried her feelings of need towards him. She needed him to love her. Needed him to forgive her. Needed his touch....

Dick was soon gently fucking her, doing the best that he could to give her pleasure, kissing and rocking deep in her wet folds. "Uhhhh....Ooohhh...Callie..." He picked up the pace and his balls were spanking her bare ass.

Her whole body arched, tiny cries and groans and whimpers escaping her lips. The faster he moved, the closer she felt to the edge. Her arms wrapped around him, once more clinging on.

Dick grunted and rolled harder inside her sweet core. "Come on, baby. Cum for me..."

As her orgasm ripped through her, Callie couldn't help crying out, fingers clenching on him as waves of pleasure rolled over her. Her body shuddered from the force.

Dick followed his lower in cumming hard, spurting his seed up into her pussy. "Uuhhhhhhh!"

As the waves of her orgasm passed, Callie's body relaxed under his, though she held onto him still, needing the contact.

Dick looked at her with concern. "Are you okay?"

Callie took a deep breath and nodded. "That was...intense," she whispered, blinking back the tears that still threatened to fall. She hadn't realised just how starved for touch, for his touch, she'd been until now.

Dick gently pulled back and was a panting mess. "Did I hurt you?"

"No," Callie whispered. "It was...only momentary. I've never been with anyone. Never wanted to be with anyone else. Only you...."

Dick gasped with wide eyes. "You mean I just...We just...Wow and I thought I was a virgin. Was it any good?"

"It was good," Callie whispered. "More than good. I'm not going anywhere now, Dick. You're right. I was being a coward. But I'm through running from my feelings, from that guilt, now. And I'll wait for however long it takes for you to forgive me."

Dick didn't reply right away, but he knew he couldn't let her go now. They were each other's firsts. "I couldn't let you go now even if you tried."

"I won't," she whispered. "I won't hurt you again."

"You better not. I just gave you my fucking virginity."

Callie leaned up to rest her forehead against his. "I gave you mine too. You're my first and you're my only," she vowed. "I'm not going to screw it up again."

Dick sighed and rested in her arms. "I hope you don't...I can’t go through that again."

"Forgive me?" she asked uncertainly, holding onto him. "Please? I'll do anything...."

"I will in time and I don’t know how to have you make amends."

"If you come up with any ideas, let me know," she said. "It's enough to be in your arms now." She hesitated. "Which...I actually don't want to leave you, but we're still in this mindscape. We should probably get out and see just what happened outside."

Dick sighed and looked at her. "Yeah, you may be right. We have a job to do and a friend to rescue."

Callie looked towards the alien, who had moved away enough to give them privacy. "Can you send us back? I broke the brainwashing...it should have made a big enough wave to draw Batman and the police here."

The alien waved its tentacles uncertainly. "Be careful," it said finally, before Dick was returned to his body in the base...Callie was back at Wayne Manor.

Dick grunted and winced from his body screaming in agony. His hands were still cuffed behind him and he could feel the head splitting headache. "Ohhh, fuck.."

The guards had gone from the room, to respond to Batman and the police. Dick was alone, apart from the alien in its tank.

The alien slowly pulled itself free of the water, bobbing gently towards Dick and allowing a tentacle to move over him. Where the alien's tentacle touched, it took the pain away, finishing with his head.

Dick gently held onto his little friend and cradled him. "Let's get you to safety, buddy and we have a tank for you at home until we can get you back to your planet. Okay?" Dick gently brought the alien with him, protecting him as they made their way back to safety.

The alien huddled against Dick's shirt, tentacles gently holding onto him, sheltering in Dick's arms.

Dick went through the facility and protected him before he made sure that Rita was also taken to safety. They had a secured medical bay in manor.

###

The scientists were all arrested, the victims saved and before he knew it, Dick was back with his little friend in a nice big tank so that he had company. He would be there until they figured out how get him home.

Rita was moved to the medical bay at the manor on equipment and the police were having a field day collecting the evidence. Well, what Batman allowed them to have.

Callie was worried. More than that, she was scared. Because Rita's body was in the medical bay in the manor...but there was no sign of the spirit. She'd researched the phenomenon, but that was no help. So now, she was sitting next to Rita's hospital bed, talking to the teenager in the hopes that it might reach her. Wherever she was.

While Callie was talking, Rita's fingers twitched.

Dick had been keeping his little friend company before he entered the infirmary. "How's she doing?"

Callie looked at him, clearly worried. "I can't see her spirit anymore. I don't know if that means she might wake up." She swallowed. "Or if she isn't going to wake up," she finished in a whisper. "How is our alien friend?" she asked, hoping for some good news.

"He's in the tank and hopefully, we can find a way to get him home. He really did help us out and get closer."

Callie nodded. "Maybe we could figure out a way to send a message to his home planet."

Rita shifted slightly, fingers flexing like she was trying to respond.

Callie immediately turned her attention to the younger girl. "Rita?"

Dick noticed the movement. "I think she's waking up. Rita, can you hear us?"

Rita's fingers curled up a little and she whimpered softly. It took her a few tries, but she managed to get out, her voice a hoarse whisper, "I feel so heavy."

Callie's shoulders sagged in relief and she reached over to the water cooler, filling a small cup and helping Rita to drink, before carefully removing the patches over the teenager's eyes. "You've been incorporeal for months now. It's bound to feel strange at first."

"Yeah, you need to take it nice and easy,” Dick said. “Bed rest and maybe some therapy to help get your strength back."

Rita finished the water and slumped back against the pillows, looking between them both. "What happened? I felt kind of pulled into this...I don't know how to explain it. Like a bond with so many people? You were at the centre of it, Callie."

"The idea I had worked," Callie said quietly. "I increased the love hormone and was able to send it through the link to all of the brainwashed people." Shifting slightly, she added, "I had help."

"What was it like?" Rita asked.

Dick squirmed a little and blushed, avoiding eye contact. "Uhhh…."

"The bond?" Callie looked a bit distant, remembering. "It was...I've never felt anything like it before. I could feel everyone. It was like I could do anything."

"So what did you do?" Rita asked.

"Well...Dick was kissing me," Callie admitted, going a little pink.

Rita's eyes widened. "You two had sex? About time."

"Uhhhh, yeah, had sex..." Dick admitted.

"That's awesome." Frowning, Rita added, "I mean, as long as you two are actually working on things. Actually in a relationship. Cause it's not healthy to just sleep together and not, you know, actually be boyfriend and girlfriend when you both so clearly are still in love."

Callie shook her head, giving a tiny smile. "I never had a sister, you know. If I did...I think she'd be telling me something similar."

Rita reached out and closed her fingers around Callie's. "You've got one now."

Dick blushed, sitting down. "So you two are going to be gossiping about the whole sex life, huh?"

Rita wrinkled her nose. "No, I don't need to hear my big sister talking about that. Just so long as you don't end up separating." She looked at Callie. "What are you going to do?"

"See if I can get my former job back," Callie replied. "I pretty much just...well, I lost more than just Dick by being stupid and a coward."

"I guess you could at Wayne Enterprises," Dick said.

Callie nodded. "Maybe I can offer an expose on brainwashing. I have first hand experience now." She paused and then said, "As for the rest...I'm going to be working on earning back trust and forgiveness."

"We have to be very careful right now on that,” Dick commented. “In time, but we will just be smart about it."

Rita frowned, looking at both of them. "Why don't you do what Bruce would have if Callie went outside while you were drugged?" she asked Dick.

Callie looked at her younger 'sister' in confusion. "I assumed he meant cuffing me to stop me from going outside."

Dick frowned and looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Bruce said he'd discipline Callie if she went outside while we were under attack," Rita said.

Callie frowned. "That was when you were trying to push me into going outside."

Rita shifted slightly. "Well, yeah...Okay. But my point still stands."

"Discipline you?” Dick said. “Seriously, are suggesting that I what? Lock her up or something?"

"I dunno." Rita shrugged. "Spank her?"

Callie frowned at that. "I'm not sure any kind of discipline is going to fix what I did."

Dick just looked at them both, utterly stunned, and looked like a dish out of water. "Uh, um...I....Spank her? I ahhh...I guess for the forgiveness..." Dick could feel his face heating up from that and squirmed.

Callie focused on Dick. "Will it work? I said I'd do anything for you to forgive me...."

"I don't know,” Dick answered. “I've never spanked anyone before, but uhhh...Helps with Bruce when I fuck up."

Rita cleared her throat. "Well, you can't deny that Callie did fuck up."

"I never was spanked," Callie said honestly. "Foster parents used to yell at me. Or ignore me."

"Well, it does hurt, but helps somewhat," Dick said.

Callie shrugged. "If you think it'll help you to forgive me, I'll submit."

Rita gently gripped Callie's hands. "You didn't have a family growing up?"

"I didn't have anyone until I decided to follow Robin," Callie admitted.

Dick looked at Callie and gulped. "I, uh. It's going to really hurt and you'll cry with a sore ass, but it may help. One thing to consider is this. I won't stop until I feel you've learned the lesson and won't be a one-time thing."

"Will it help you to forgive me?" Callie asked directly. "Because if it will, if it'll help to repair things between us, then I trust you to do what you feel is right."

"I would need to think on this first,” Dick said. “Spanking shouldn't be taken lightly and on what I would use. My hand won't be enough."

Callie nodded and turned back to Rita, taking her phone out and passing it to the younger girl. "Here. You'll want to call your parents. Let them know you're safe now and where you are."

"Thanks." Rita took the phone and began to dial. She put the phone to her ear as it rang, looking at Dick. "You should also think that she was manipulated and controlled and hurt. Take that into consideration too." She began talking to her parents when they answered.

"Rita, don't tell them where you are just yet," Dick directed.

Rita just nodded to show Dick she'd heard and told her parents she was recovering and that she was receiving medical treatment, but that she couldn't receive visitors just yet. It was obvious her parents weren't happy with that, but Rita promised she'd call them every day and let them know when she could see them.

Dick waited until Rita had hung up. "They may not like it now, but it keeps them safe if anyone asks about you. Also keeps my suspicions from taking root."

Rita nodded, though she looked a bit pensive. "Good thing I'm legally an adult, otherwise they'd be getting the police involved. But they did sound happy that I was safe."

"They're good parents," Callie said, a bit wistfully.

Dick nodded and paced the room. "Still better to keep this quiet for now. You're both witnesses and a liability to those we can't catch in other countries. Not to say we won't get them. Batman and Robin have no jurisdiction."

"What about Kirby?" Rita asked hopefully. "She was one of them captured in the raid here. Can I see her, at least? Please?"

Callie was frowning, looking deep in thought. She began to quickly look over things on her phone.

Dick wondered what she was looking at and then gasped. "Oh, um, since we did that in dream scape, does that mean we are still um virgins? What's so interesting on the phone?"

Callie blinked, glancing up at the question. "I don't know." She paused thoughtfully. "Best way to find out is to have sex again. And I was looking up other missing persons," she added. "I was linked to all of them while we were in the dreamscape. All of the ones who had been brainwashed. I think I can compile the evidence to point at where the rest of the bad guys are located, with the information Rita gave."

"That sounds like a really good reason for you two to have sex again." Rita nodded.

Dick was beet red and gulped. "Ahhh...Ohhh umm yeah, we could...Oh, wow, that's embarrassing. Sex talk and wow..."

Rita gave Dick an innocent look. "If you're too embarrassed to talk about it, doesn't that mean you shouldn't be doing it?"

"Well, if you're talking with friends about sex, I guess that can go either way,” Dick replied. “Guys can talk about sex, but my brain won't function."

"Well, if you want, you can leave us alone and I can talk to Callie about how it was," Rita offered, with a grin that suggested she might not actually be teasing.

"Rita, stop making Dick feel uncomfortable," Callie murmured, without looking up from her phone.

Dick squirmed and he groaned. "Now that's not fair. You just want to see if I am any good. I see how this is. Girl talk about embarrassing things, right? How to rope me around her finger."

Rita steepled her fingers together and gave him an innocent smile. "Hey, I can't be with my girlfriend, unless you're nice enough to send her here to talk to me. Gotta get my girl talk somewhere."

"Kirby's your girlfriend?" Callie looked up at her little sister.

Rita nodded. "Things are still a bit hazy, but that's probably how I got nabbed."

"Wow. These bastards are cold,” Dick said. “Go after those dating and use each other to reel you in. They used you, Callie, to get to me and vice versa with you and Kirby."

"Yeah," Callie said quietly, almost listlessly.

Rita looked at Callie and then at Dick. "You know, you said you needed to think about the whole spanking thing. You can let us talk while you go do that."

Dick raised a brow. "You are that determined to talk about sex without me, aren't you?"

"No," Rita replied. "But I need you to give us some privacy." Her eyes were fixed on Callie, who was beginning to tremble.

"It's all right," Callie whispered. "I can hold it in."

Rita frowned. "Yeah? That didn't go so well last time, did it?" She moved as much as the machines would allow her to and held her arms out to Callie. "Come here."

Callie closed her eyes, but then leaned forward and hugged Rita. She was crying, but it was as quiet as she could make it.

Dick felt horrible that she was crying and nodded. "Um, I will let you two have your time, but Callie, never feel bad, or that you have to hold anything in with me. You two need time, but don't expect me not to hold you later." Dick gently kissed the top of her head. "Yell if you must. Let it out and no more holding it in."

Callie's sobs increased a little, enough to be audible, though she clearly couldn't get the energy up to talk. She did let go of Rita with one hand to blindly reach out for his, though.

Rita hugged Callie close, whispering, "Don't feel bad. I told you that before, but I couldn't hug you then and I felt awful. Now I can hug you. You're not alone...."

Dick didn't go anywhere if she wanted him to remain. He gave Rita a determined look and nodded. Callie would need more than one spanking, at this rate, for the guilt. He held her the best he could. "This will be more than one."

Rita shifted, just enough to allow Dick to also hold onto Callie, but she was still holding onto her friend. "You make up your mind, then?" she asked.

Callie didn't reply with words, just huddled in close to both of them.

Dick nodded solemnly and had a determined look on his face. "Mmhm. All I need is to see how she is handling this shit to know what I have to do."

"Great," Rita said. "If she's with you, I don't have to worry about her so much."

Slowly, Callie's tears slowed and died down. She sniffled a little and wiped at her eyes.

"When you get well enough, Rita, you will deal with this as well," Dick said.

Rita frowned, focusing on him. "Huh?"

Almost wearily now, Callie snuggled close. It was obvious she'd been without touch or affection for a long time, with how reluctant she was to move away from it now.

Dick crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow. "Well, you have no ideas on what I mean?"

"Uh, no," Rita replied. "I was a ghost. And you were only able to hear me for a short time. I didn't do anything."

"Well, I am thinking you may need a good butt blistering, but also have Callie submit to one from you as well," Dick stated.

Rita frowned in confusion. "I don't agree with either of those. Why should Callie have to get spanked by me? I don't have anything to forgive her for. I don't feel betrayed or hurt by her. I saw what she went through. I'm not adding to it. And I don't know why you think I deserve a spanking. You didn't know anything about me until Callie came back to Gotham."

Callie was quiet. Not protesting. Not arguing. Almost like she was waiting for her sentence to be passed.

"Rita can you honestly expect me to believe that?” Dick responded. “Callie believes she's at fault for you having been in that coma and you don't feel anything from your time there? You don't need to let go? Not even for the few you did hurt?"

Rita frowned. "Maybe you can't understand how I feel. You weren't there. You didn't see how destroyed she was. You didn't have to watch her cry and not even be able to touch her because...incorporeal. Or have to watch a bitch manipulate her and tell her not to call you or go back to you or reach out in any way because Callie was left a broken, bleeding mess and she was taken advantage of!" She took a deep breath. "I had to watch her spiral downwards into depression, so no. I'm not adding to what you're planning to do. I don't need to. Because I saw what she went through first-hand."

"Yes, I do know some of it, Rita,” Dick said. “Two words, dream scape. I didn’t see the breaking down, but I saw enough and I won't force that, but it is also up to Callie. She said it was her fault and it's not. None of it is, but does she feel the guilt for it still? I am not saying you must, but I only want to help her with this. However, it could help you both."

Rita frowned and hugged Callie closer, almost protectively. "If you saw that, then you know she's already suffering enough. Besides. You're going to spank her more than once. I don't know how many times you're planning, but even once should be enough."

Callie took a deep breath and squeezed Rita's hand. "Why don't we just see how both of us feel when you're fully recovered?" she asked. "No decisions yet."

"This isn't about suffering,” Dick said. “This is about forgiveness for oneself, even when we forgive or there is nothing to forgive. This is for her to get past it all, but yes, Callie is right. We can have this discussion later."

Rita was frowning, but she subsided a little, then yawned. Her venting had tired her out.

Callie moved carefully, so that Rita could lay down. "You need to rest."

"Yeah, we all do and I am tired myself," Dick admitted.

Rita nodded. "Okay." She closed her eyes, before opening them again to focus on Callie. "Where are you sleeping?"

Dick looked around and noticed a few empty beds. "We can stay here, or sleep at the manor."

"I was going to stay here," Callie replied calmly. "I don't want to leave my little sister alone."

"Kind of figured,” Dick replied. “I had a few beds moved here in case you wanted to. When she is better, she’ll be moved to the manor."

Callie nodded and moved over to one of the beds that was closest to Rita's. She stretched out on it, shifting so that she could keep watch over Rita.

Dick decided to try and rest on one of the large beds. His mind was reeling with all that he had learned about the circumstances of Callie leaving him, the most heart wrenching break up in his young life and the outcome of it all. They were now safe for the time being, but it still sent him into a fitful slumber, his face wet from anguish. His body and heart ached from it all. So many had suffered and he wasn't able to take that pain from them all.

###

Several hours into sleeping, Callie began tossing and turning before she finally sat bolt upright, holding her hand over her mouth to keep in the cries that threatened to escape.

Rita stirred, a little.

Dick stirred as well, hearing the muffled cries, turning on the bed to look around. "C…Callie? Are you alright?"

"Just a bad dream," she whispered hoarsely, trying not to show how close to tears she truly was.

"About what had happened?" Dick inquired and went towards her bed to gather her into his arms. "It's okay. I'm right here."

Callie let her breath out slowly and leaned into his embrace, hesitantly wrapping her own arms around him. "I had nightmares before, but...I didn't realise. I didn't have all of my memories. Now I do and they're worse," she whispered.

"And now you don't have to go at this alone anymore."

"...I hurt you...." Callie whispered, tears pooling in her eyes. "Over and over again. I made horrible...bad choices...."

"And we will deal with that soon and then all will be forgiven, Callie. I'm not going anywhere this time."

She clung to him, unable to keep from crying. "Sleep with me?" she whispered. "Not for sex, just to...be held...." She finished the request in a whisper, unsure of his reaction but knowing that she felt better in his arms.

Dick nodded and shifted her over to lay down with her. Holding Callie, they both laid down so that they could rest, but mostly to give Callie the comfort she needed. "I'm right here and you never need to ask."

Callie cuddled into his arms, her head laying on his shoulder. "It's hard," she whispered.

"I know it is."

She closed her eyes, gently nuzzling into his neck. "Thank you...for still being here with me, despite how much I messed up," she murmured. "I love you."

"Love you too, Callie. Now get some rest and then we can discuss things later."

Callie nodded and closed her eyes, cuddling in tightly to him as she finally fell into a more peaceful sleep.

###

Rita was the first one to wake up, sitting up carefully and looking towards the other two, grinning as she noticed their position together. She didn't say anything to wake them up and instead reached for the cup of water left next to her hospital bed.

Dick was still cuddling to Callie while he slept with her into his warm arms, his body moulded to her own form.

Rita settled back on her bed with her water, watching her big sister (and big brother, too, if they were together again). She wouldn't have disturbed them, if her stomach hadn't chosen just that moment to growl. Loudly.

"Mmm...." Callie stirred a little, instinctively cuddling into the warm arms that were wrapped around her. Without fully opening her eyes, she leaned up to kiss Dick's jaw, the pressure feather-light.

Dick groaned a bit, even in his repose, and shivered. "Mmm…"

Callie let her eyes open and looked over Dick's shoulder at Rita. "You hungry?" she murmured.

"Yeah." Rita shook her head, answering just as quietly. "They put me on a drip for nutrients and the like, but...I really miss bagels and cream cheese. Coffee with milk and cream. Chocolate cake...chips....." Her voice trailed off.

Dick grunted and his eyes remained closed, but he heard that. "Mmm, there are snacks in the cabinet...Think Alfred left some for us, or Bruce did..."

"I'll get some." Callie let go of Dick, clearly reluctantly, and headed over to the cabinet so she could get some food out.

Rita perked up as Callie brought some food over to her and began eating like a…well, like a girl who'd been a ghost for several months. "Sorry I disturbed you," she said between mouthfuls. "You two are really cute together."

"Uhhh...It's fine...I'm just going to nap still here...You guys eat and I'll..." Dick soon was sleeping again, with his body exhausted still from the torment.

Callie glanced worriedly towards him, sitting on the edge of the bed as she ate.

Rita sighed. "I know that look. Not everything was your fault, you know?"

Callie looked at her. "I think a lot of things were my fault," she said pensively, putting the food down. "If I'd remembered sooner...if I'd come back sooner...."

"Callie. Big sister." Rita placed a hand on her arm. "You were depressed. Suffering from PTSD. I can't count the amount of times I had to talk you out of the shower, or threaten you so that you would eat."

"Yeah, I'm really not sure how tying me up and force-feeding me like a baby would have worked, since you couldn't actually touch me," Callie whispered.

"Not your fault..." Dick grumbled and looked at them both, hissing a little. "Ohhh...Callie. Listen to me. I don't blame you at all."

"See? Big brother knows what he's talking about." Rita pointed her half-eaten chocolate bar at him. "And if you have a bad day, or hour, or five minutes, or whatever, at least now, there's someone who can physically pull you back." She took another bite of her chocolate bar before adding, "And he's gonna spank you so that you don't need to carry this guilt around with you."

"But...." Callie began.

Rita shook her head. "No buts. You were a victim too, Callie."

"Only butt that will be spoken about if yours, when I'm able," Dick promised.

Rita nodded. "Uh-uh. So eat...or you can go back to cuddle with him, if you want," she added.

"Mmm...Eat something, Callie, or I'll spank you for neglecting your health, able or not..." Dick grumbled, while still trying to rest.

Rita looked pointedly at Callie. "See, he can carry out his threats."

Callie sighed and reached out to begin eating.

"I can and will do it, despite the fact that I need to sleep, but I can always grab a paddle from Bruce's office." Dick then turned bright red and chewed his lower lip, not wanting to admit that he had indeed been to that office, bent over for a spanking, before.

"No need," Rita said. "She's eating. You just get some sleep, big brother. Worry about grabbing that paddle later."

"Mmm, kay...I'll just..." Dick was soon sound asleep again, his body relaxing until he was once again calm while he let the other two eat. He would need to eat, but his body desired rest first.

Rita and Callie talked quietly, eating and making sure they saved enough for Dick as well. Callie moved from the bed as a doctor came in to examine her younger sister, then turned towards Dick with a guilt-filled expression as the doctor went to examine his wounds.

Dick hissed and woke up during the exam with a loud yelp when he was poked, with a few bruised ribs and banged up pretty badly. "Ohhh, shit...Easy there, Doc..." He then looked at both girls. "Not your faults, so stop with the guilt ridden looks. I blame the others, not you."

Callie looked slightly panicked and more and more guilty the more pain it was obvious Dick was in. "You were captured because you were out on the roof. And you were out on the roof because I hurt you. Again."

"No. I was captured because they wanted me,” Dick stated. “Either way, they would have got to me and this is not on you."

Callie closed her eyes and sank down onto Rita's bed. She didn't argue, but it was clear she didn't agree.

Dick took that as a small victory while the doctor checked him over, started an IV and gave him some pain medication.

"You'd better not be going into one of your fugue states again," Rita muttered. "Cause I will rip this out of my arm and tie you down if I have to."

Callie looked at Rita. "You wouldn't be able to. Blood would get everywhere. It's not like it is in the movies."

"And I will call Bruce and get the fucking paddle,” Dick threatened. “I am not kidding here, so both of you get some rest. We will need it for later."

Callie sighed and moved so that she could claim one of the spare beds. Forget struggling with her instincts not to reach out to anyone; both Rita and Dick had IVs in their arms.

###

Dick and the others rested for quite a long while until they were deemed ready to be moved to Wayne Manor for their safety. Bruce had been busy working on the evidence and a way to get their friend back home to his planet. The Justice League was the best bet, with Wonder Woman and Superman who could have some intel on how to achieve that goal.

Dick was still banged up but was recovered enough to be able to sleep in his own bedroom.

The courts were taking the criminals to task on their actions.

Callie had ended up rooming with her younger sister, who was more worried about Callie's mental health and figured she'd be better placed to act than Dick, considering he was still in a lot of pain. They were talking quietly together in the morning.

"You know, my parents want to adopt you," Rita said. "If you don't stay here, they'll be expecting you to come home with me."

Callie looked uncertain. "I don't know if I'll be staying here or not," she said, in a quiet, insecure tone.

###

Eventually, the Justice League had managed to figure out a way of returning the alien back to his planet. With Dick and Rita healed up, the three of them had the chance to say goodbye to the little creature.

Callie moved forward and let the tentacles wrap around her in a hug. "Thank you for helping us," she said. "I'm sorry you were so badly mistreated by other humans. I hope you know that not all of us are like that." With a small smile, she added, "And if your planet ever accepts visitors...I would love to come and meet the rest of your family."

Dick smiled and also hugged his new friend and did the same as Callie. "Thanks and yeah, you need anything, you know who to call for it. Be safe and be well, lil guy, and no hard feelings ever."

Rita moved forward and held a hand out to gently grasp one of the tentacles. "I haven't really known you like they have, but I'm glad you're free and going home too." She stepped back to watch as the alien was able to depart.

Dick almost felt the tears, saying goodbye to a new friend, but he also knew that this was for the best. During their time healing, he had got to know the little guy better.

They watched as the ship departed and waved goodbye, Dick wiping his eyes for a moment. "Gonna miss the little guy."

"Hopefully, they have a way to get in contact with us when he's back on his planet," Callie said quietly. "And it would be amazing to see for real."

"He should be able to,” Dick said. “I gave him a communicator that will connect to the cave if he needs us."

Rita walked over and stood next to Callie. "So. Did we figure out yet whether big sister's gonna be living here, or coming home with me? Cause if you want her here, you've got some competition, big brother. My parents want to adopt her."

"Oh? Why would they adopt her as an adult?” Dick asked. “It would do her some good to have a family, though. She does need a family and I would love her to stay here, but she also needs family too...I guess we could share her, of course."

Rita grinned at that and draped her arms over Callie's shoulders and rested her head on her sister's shoulder. "Sharing sounds good!" She nodded vigorously. "So you get her half of the week and I get her the other half?"

"Wait, you're acting like a parent discussing custody of their child." Callie laughed, then immediately put her hand over her mouth to stop the sound.

"No,” Dick replied. “I am discussing time with my girlfriend while her sister is discussing time with her as well."

Rita's grin widened and she looked at Dick. "So? Half of the week each? Alternate weekends?" She poked Callie in the back. "What do you want?"

"I want...to be wherever I'm wanted," Callie said softly.

"Well, you're wanted in both," Dick said.

"That's my way of saying I don't mind," Callie said honestly. "No one ever wanted me growing up. And now, you both want me. And I want to be with both of you. But since that's not necessarily possible all the time, I'll settle for sharing."

"Yep, we get to share our Callie and I get dibs on night time with you and get to take you out on dates," Dick said.

Rita nodded. "Yeah, especially since I've got my own girl to take on dates, now that everything's over. Speaking of which, me and Kirby are going out today. I'm going to meet her at one of the coffee shops. I can finally have all of that unhealthy, processed food."

"Ahh...The good stuff for the soul, huh?” Dick responded. “Well, don't eat too much and have fun. I think Callie and I will be having a discussion on a few things tonight."

Rita nodded and kissed Callie's cheek. "I'll probably see you tomorrow, then." She hugged Dick quickly, then left.

Callie looked at Dick. "Now?" she asked softly.

"Well, it won't get any easier if we wait, so yes. Now."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Well, for starters. Go to my room and stand in the corner, hands on your head and lose the pants, Missy. I have learned that spanking bare is the best for chastisement."

"Underwear too?" she asked, wanting to be sure she followed all instructions exactly.

"Yep. Underwear as well. Bare means it all, Callie."

Callie nodded and did as she was told. She headed to Dick's room and removed her pants and underwear, folding them neatly. Then, she stood in the corner, hands on head.

Dick had decided to let her remain in the corner to contemplate her coming spanking for a good ten minutes while he went to gather the dreaded paddle. After all, it had been used on his bare ass a few times and would serve to take her guilt away. Entering the room, Dick closed and locked the door, but kept her in the corner for a few more minutes, sitting down on his bed. Placing the paddle to the side, the crime fighter sighed. "Callie, come here."

Callie walked towards him, slowly but without any real hesitation. It was more like she wasn't sure he'd give her any further instructions.

Dick waited for Callie to come closer before he grabbed her wrist, pulling her over his lap. Once she was settled, Dick raised his hand and brought it down with a sharp smack. Not enough to make it burn outright, but enough to sting.

Callie didn't fight the positioning. Her breath hitched with the first smack, but other than that, she didn't react.

The spanking continued with Dick working on her bare buttocks, turning them from pale to pink. He heated his hand and her bottom, working the first circuit, going up from the top of her prone, jiggling cheeks down to her upper thighs. Once he had heated her bottom, he began to continue the pattern while soothing his lover. "This wasn't your fault, but we will be working on your guilt. You ever risk your life, including your health, by not eating, sleeping, nor doing what is best for you, I will spank you."

Callie was already crying even before the first circuit had finished. Through her tears, she managed to get out, "I left and I hurt you. I don't know if I'll ever stop feeling guilty for that." The words were broken up by her tears.

Dick forced himself to continue to heat her bare bottom until he had given her a deep hue of pink. Pausing, Dick picked up the paddle and brought it down with a loud thwack, the sound echoing off the painted walls of his bedroom. His own tears spilt while he spanked her, working on the tender lower cheeks.

Callie couldn't help crying out at the first stroke from the paddle. So that she wouldn't risk reaching back, she clung to his ankle as her sobs ripped out of her.

Dick continued to spank her, bringing the smooth wood down to bounce off her burning cheeks. He wasn't going to stop until he deemed he was done. If he stopped before she was crying like he wanted her to, the lesson would be moot.

Callie's body slumped over his lap. She hadn't been resisting, but now she just lay limp, only shuddering a little as she cried without pausing; too hard even for the broken apologies she wanted to put voice to.

Dick finally stopped the spanking once Callie had completely surrendered. Placing the paddle onto the bed, he gathered his sobbing girlfriend into his warm arms and held her. He didn't care if she cried all over him, he just knew she had needed this and now needed him more than ever. "Shhh, it's okay...It's over, Callie."

Callie gripped him tightly, sobbing into his chest, pressing as close and tight as it was possible to. He was warm and comforting and she'd missed him so much....

Dick continued to comfort her and had hated to cause her the pain he did. If he had stopped the spanking, it would have ended before even the paddle had struck down. His own tears mixed with hers and Robin held her for dear life. He would never let her go again. "I can't lose you again...I love you too much."

She held onto him, tight and fierce, speaking through her tears. "I'm never going to hurt you again. I came so close to ruining things between us. I love you too...so much."

"You didn't, Callie. You came back and faced your punishment. That's a good step in the right direction, you know."

She nodded wearily and rested her head against his shoulder, sniffling a little. "As long as you can forgive me," she whispered.

"Callie, that's what spankings are for. Yes, they hurt, but afterwards, it's done and all is forgiven, kitten."

She leaned up so she could kiss him, gently and almost hesitantly. "Thank you."

"Mmm, for what, Kitten?" Dick asked, while he felt the soft pressing of her lips. He wanted to take her, but that could always wait until they were really ready. "I want to take you apart and take you, but not yet."

"For...forgiving me. Taking me back. Caring enough to punish me when I screw up. And," she turned a little pink, "letting me hide and shelter in your arms."

"Mmm, winged shelter in a storm, huh? How about as plain old me too?"

She kissed him again, a little less chastely. "I love you as Robin and as Dick," she said honestly. "I've never felt safer than when I'm with you."

"Love you too, Kitten, but you ever risk yourself again, I am padding your ass again," Dick teased, but was indeed serious on her staying safe.

"Not intending to," she promised. "You're trained. I'm not. I didn't even leave the cave when Rita was telling me to go out and try to break the brainwashing on that whole army."

"Well, good. You made up your own mind and listened to your instincts. Well, this time. I am not saying don't listen to your instincts all the time, but there are times that are different. Meaning listen to my guidance."

Callie nodded. "I trust you," she said honestly. "And I'll listen to you. I'd like to say I won't argue with you when it comes to my safety, but it's impossible to make promises like that. So I promise I will try."

Dick looked at her, kissing his love, and smirked. "And I can't promise I won't spank you if you get your ass hurt needlessly."

"Well, I figured that would be a given. I trust you," she said honestly. "I trust you enough to give you that power over me. I mean, we saw how bad things went when I did it alone."

"True, but if I get you mad and do something stupid, you could in turn."

Callie blinked and pulled back enough to look into his eyes. "What, spank you?"

"Wouldn't be the first time I've gotten spanked before, Callie, and why not?"

"I guess it makes sense," Callie said slowly. "I don't know how I'd feel about it unless it actually happens, though."

"Well, you know how much it sucks getting spanked."

"Yeah, I do now," Callie said. "And can understand how it's effective."

"It is, but it still sucks, but hear me on this. Callie, I want you to spank me should it merit it."

Callie nodded slowly. "If it's necessary, I will. But I hope it won't be, because I don't think I'd enjoy it."

"No one enjoys a spanking, although sometimes it can be very satisfying for the spanker. I don't like making you cry, though. That nearly made me stop, but then what good would it have done you?"

"I've cried a lot since I woke up and realised exactly what I'd done," Callie said seriously. "But...crying this time? I think it was more healing than anything else. Because it was you doing it. And it wasn't about vengeance or hurting me the way I hurt you." She snuggled against him, pressing feather-light kisses along his jawline.

"Hmm. No, I did that because I love you, but you keep this up, sore ass or not, I will fuck you."

"Well, we haven't had sex since we were in the dream scape," Callie said. "I'm up for it if you are."

Dick shook his head and looked at Callie seriously. "Not yet. Not until your ass heals and we are both able to enjoy it better."

"All right." Callie didn't argue. She wasn't even disappointed, not really. She gently kissed his neck and murmured, "When you kissed me...when I was in that bond and it was starting to die cause the levels weren't strong enough...it was the first time I felt any kind of hope since I'd run."

"Soon and as much as I really want to and boy do I fucking ever, I want you to enjoy it as well without a sore ass in the way."

"Hey, I'll wait. I waited a long time for us to be together fully anyway. Plus, I followed Robin until you caught me. I can be patient." Callie smiled.

"Well, you weren't very sneaky, huh?"

"You're assuming I didn't want you to catch me."

Dick grinned and winked. "I don't know...Did you?"

"Well...." She leaned in and gently kissed him. "Firstly, I wanted to interview you. Of course. Secondly," another kiss, "I thought you were really hot. In and out of the Robin costume."

"You saw me outside my Robin outfit before, did you? Before you got the chance to catch me?"

"Uh, yeah. Dick Grayson doesn't exactly keep a low profile, you know? I was crushing hard on you." She smiled, laughing softly. "Actually, it was a relief to work out you were Robin. Otherwise I would have had a very difficult choice on my hands."

Dick laughed at that and had to wipe tears of mirth from his dark eyes. "Oh, yeah. I believe Bruce has had that issue once or twice himself."

"Well, you know, the whole secret identity thing. It makes sense now why I was attracted to both Dick and Robin."

"Besides I'm such a bad boy?" Dick teased and laid down on the bed, watching her with his eyes darkening with unbidden desire.

"Mmm...." Callie moved a bit closer to him, still snuggling. She tucked her head under his chin, nuzzling just like a kitten. "I'm glad you caught me."

"You caught me first, Kitten, and I should have known you'd figure it out eventually. The kitten caught the bird, didn't she?"

Callie smiled, her lips brushing against his neck. "I told you. I'm a damned good reporter."

"Yep, you are and let's just say one thing. I'm fucking glad you're on my side. So do you want me to rub your cute ass, or watch Netflix?"

"Any reason we can't do both?" she asked.

"Nope." Dick grinned and went over to the night table and soon had his girlfriend on her front while he was soon rubbing her sore bottom, smoothing his hands over the pink mounds. "Mmm, such a lovely ass."

Callie let out a quiet, contented sigh and relaxed, arching up into his hands just like she was a cat.

"You like this, baby?" Dick was sliding his thumbs to message between the luscious mounds and grinned, bending down to kiss them playfully.

"Mmm...." Callie squirmed a little. "I like it when you touch me. In any way," she admitted.

"Mmm. You love my fingers playing with your pretty little ass? Would you ever go for sex there as well one day?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I'm willing to try, though. If you want."

"Well, here's the deal. You can play with my ass all you like and see if either of us like it."

"Deal," she said, nearly purring in contentment as he continued to touch her.

Dick gently played with her ass, making sure that it felt good, but not doing anything penetrative yet. That could come later. This was about her and he gently started to play with her folds, grinning when he felt fluid on his fingers. "You like this, don't you?"

Callie moaned softly, pressing into his fingers. "It feels good when you touch me. Anywhere, but especially there."

Dick gently being to tease and gently pushed a finger inside her lovely folds and purred. "Mmm, you are even hotter in real when I touch you down there. Dreams have nothing on reality."

She writhed a little as he pushed his finger inside, like she was encouraging him to go deeper. "It feels even better when you touch me out here."

Dick was soon squishing his fingers inside of her, groaning at how hot she felt clenching around his fingers. The wet sounds were driving him insane with his dick already throbbing in his pants.

Callie let out low gasps and moans, pushing against his fingers wantonly. "Please," she begged, nearly mindlessly.

"Please what, darling?"

"Please take me," she begged. "I want you inside me, Dick. I need you inside me."

"Are you sure? I thought we were supposed to wait until after your ass healed."

"You're the one who started teasing me."

"Nuh uh, you little tease with those kisses and nibbles, Kitten."

"I didn't unzip your pants and take your cock out." Callie paused before adding, "But if it'll get you in me any faster, I will."

"Maybe you should if you really want it, but we need protection."

"Do we?" she asked. "We've not been with anyone else. Only each other. And it's not like a baby would be such a bad thing if it happened. Would it?"

"No, but I hardly think we're ready for any little ones just yet."

"Maybe you're right." She looked over her shoulder at him. "So does that mean we need to go out and buy some condoms?"

"We can later on, but I really don't want to wait...Do you?"

"Me neither, but unless you've got some other ideas, we might have to." She shifted around to undo his pants. "Of course, there are other things we can do."

"I want to fuck you so bad...Fuck waiting." Dick growled and helped Callie get him out of his pants. His cock sprung free and Dick was soon unclothing his lover, clothes tossed all over the room, kissing her passionately.

Callie kissed him hard and deep in return, pulling his shirt free and clambering into his lap. She was wet and ready already and it was easy to slide onto his cock and begin rocking gently.

Dick had expected to take her slowly, but then Callie was already impaling herself onto his cock, her tight head causing the crime fighter to grit his teeth. He didn't want to cum too soon and this was making it increasingly difficult. "Ohhh...Shit, you're tight."

Callie leaned forward and kissed him passionately. "I want you so bad," she whispered.

"Uhhh. Take me, baby!" Dick thrust up into her wet folds, fucking her the best that he could while his was nipping at her throat, holding her to keep Callie from falling off his cock.

She kissed his neck and pressed in closer to him, rocking a bit more firmly, tiny moans escaping her.

Dick grasped her hips and fucked her harder, rising her up and down onto his dribbling cock, he was so close. "So close, baby! Gonna cum soon!"

Callie gasped out as her orgasm rippled through her, his words and actions sending her over the edge with a loud cry.

Dick followed Callie when her wet, tight hole clenched around his throbbing cock. He held her down flush against his thighs to make sure they rode out, twitching while he shot his cum up inside her. "Ahhhh...Uhhhh! Yes. Ohhhh, Callie!"

She slumped forward against him as her orgasm faded and pressed a kiss to his neck. "I belong to you," she whispered.

"Mmm...I belong to you too, Callie...Mine."

"I love you so much." She nuzzled against his skin. "You're mine." Her voice was very possessive.

"I love you too, Callie...My kitten."

She closed her eyes, resting against him. "You're so warm. You feel like home," she whispered.

"Mmm, you too...We should get some rest soon, Cals."

"Can I sleep like this? In your arms?"

"Yeah, I like this idea."

She smiled and gently pulled him down onto the bed with her, wrapping her arms around him and cuddling in tight.

Dick held her while he was soon sound asleep, feeling better about his relationship than ever before. Sure, they weren't supposed to have sex yet, but with the sex and spanking, they were able to fully forgive each other. He smirked a bit in his sleep. It seemed like the crime fighter and the reporter were going to be alright, if fate had anything to tell them thus far.

The End