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All Bruce wanted was to go home and rest, having finally gotten home after being sent through time by Darkseid.
To his surprise he learned that Jason, Stephanie and Cassandra were living at the manor. Damian seemed to be more patience and polite and Tim hadn't been home much because he had been looking for Bruce... And he wasn't on speaking terms with Dick?!
A year ago they were impossible to separate!
Bruce was pacing in front of the couch that held 5 out of 6 batkids and Barbara on the side in her wheelchair, hoping she would give some information because he was pretty sure the others would be tight lipped on some things.
"Alright, what's happened here?" Bruce finally stopped and all but collapsed in the nearest armchair.
Barbara started off by pointing her thumb at Jason. "Sane, as long as Dick is nearby, hasn't been killed for over 6 months, uses taser or rubber bullets to take down the thugs and normal rounds if he's about to destroy something."
Next she pointed at the girls. "Stephanie has become Dick's Batgirl so she's the 3rd Batgirl right now and Cass has become Black Bat."
Then Tim and Damian. "Tim has become Red Robin and Damian is Dick's Robin."
Here Bruce's eyes widened and he flew to a straighter position. "Wait what was that about Stephanie and Damian?!" He shouted.
"Damian - Robin, Stephanie - Batgirl, both Dick's."
"Don't tell me-"
"Yep, Dick has been running around as Batman. And taken care of Wayne Enterprises, this family, been signed as their guardian but has also been running around as Nightwing and Officer Grayson."
Bruce fell back in the chair with a sound that matched a wounded animal. "Where is he?"
Barbara cringed. "Yeeah about that... He collapsed before and... At the hospital it was revealed that he has Cardiomegaly… Enlarged heart."
Damian paled instantly. He had read about such things and he had noticed the symptoms but knew Dick would deny it if Damian pointed it out.
Tim was trying not to cry and the others were gaping in shock, they had no idea about the heart thing.
Bruce fled.
000
-Gotham General Hospital-
"How can I help you?"
"I was wondering if Richard Wayne is allowed visitors." Bruce wasn't sure what name they had checked in Dick as so he just threw a wild guess. The nurse behind the desk checks the register on the computer.
"Richard... We have a Grayson-Wayne, could that be him?"
"Yes." Bruce said, holding his coat tighter. "5th floor, room 653. Ask a nurse if you have trouble finding it."
Bruce headed for the elevator and while alone he leaned his head back against the wall.
Dick had an enlarged heart.
He was 26... No... A year has gone by so he is 27 now.
For how long had he been walking around with those symptoms? The elevator stopped and he started looking at the signs but after 3 minutes he headed for the desk.
"Room 653? Grayson-Wayne?"
"Are you family?"
"I'm his father."
The receptionist looked up and gaped. "Mr. Wayne... Oh shit..."
Was that a good reaction or a bad reaction?
A doctor led him to the room and Bruce almost cried right there.
Dick laid pale in the bed and so thin he looked like a skeleton. He was hooked up to several machines that checked his vitals and his raspy breath was painful to listen to.
"Will he be in surgery soon?"
"He... Uh... He denied it."
Dick what?!
"I think he's awake, drowsy but you might be able to convince him to do the surgery" The doctor left the room and Bruce draped his coat on the back of the chair and sat down, carefully taking Dick's hand in his. It was more fragile than when he was little. Dick moaned a little before his dim eyes fluttered open, his brow creased a little before that bright spark appeared.
"I'm home Dickie..." Bruce rasped, carefully kissing his son's fingers and felt them warp around his hand. Tears fell from Dick's eyes and Bruce wiped them with his thumb.
"I'm here... I'm home and I got terrified when they told me about your enlarged heart... Why did you deny the surgery?"
Dick's eyes fell on the water jug and after a few cups he was able to speak... Sort of.
Although he had so many people around him and taking care of Damian, the pain of losing Bruce had been too much for him. Bruce was crying by the time Dick finished explaining his doubts and that he was an awful Batman, a horrible brother...
And the most terrible son.
"Dickie... You have no idea how proud I am of what you've done... The JLA, the Family, Gotham, W-E and... Everything!... Please do the surgery, don't die when I've just-... Don't leave me Robin."
Robin.
The heart monitor made a long beep for a second and that betrayed Dick's emotions. "Don't leave me... Not now... Not when I've just come back!... I've been gone longer than I could handle and I need my children! I need you Dickie." Bruce rasped as he tried not to cry.
But his little sun-ray was close to death and he couldn't do anything.
"Pay... Surgery..."
...Okay that he could do.
000
Barry and Wally skidded to a stop in front of a group of Doctors in Seattle, holding the frozen heart in an impact absorbing backpack.
"This heart must be delivered within your time limit, after that it's useless."
"Got it! So how old is the kid, er... Patient?" Wally asked.
The Doctor looked at Flash who shrugged apologetically before she turned to Wally again.
"Richard Wayne, age 27. Enlarged heart that is very nearly killing him unless the new heart is delivered."
Snow flew as the two took off, possible out of sheer panic and willpower alone.
Wally was usually slow but now he was faster than Flash. His best friend's life was literally in their hands. If they failed-
The Bats would kill them.
000
Bruce was running his fingers through Dick's hair when his phone rang. Quickly taping the phone he turned on his Bluetooth earpiece. "Bruce Wayne."
‘Hey Bruce, two speedsters heading your way with a new heart. But with the speed they are going I'm surprised there's no fire following them.’
Bruce sighed in relief, thanked Clark before ending the call and then turned back to Dick. "Dickie? Hey, Barry and Wally are running here with a new heart."
"W-Wally?"
"Mmhm." Bruce nodded.
"He's... Going... To kill... Me." Dick rasped and added a slight smile to that. Bruce leaned his forehead so it touched Dick's. They stayed like that for a minute before a nurse knocked and peaked in.
"Mr. Wayne, we have to prepare him for surgery now. Flash and Flash Jr ( Dick pressed his lips together trying not to laugh) have arrived with a new heart. Would you like to wait here or are you going home?"
"How long will it take?" Bruce sat back in the chair.
"If there are no complications, perhaps an hour and half, tops." Bruce nodded as she left. "Dick... Promise you'll be here when I come back. Damian is a nerve wreck... He recognized the symptoms but he knew you would deny it if he told you."
"Thought... You were... Dead... I... I wanted... To join... You..."
Oh god no... Please Dickie! Please don't tell me you- You did didn't you? You tried to take your life because you couldn't survive without...
Without...
No way!
Bruce kissed his son's forehead before letting the nurses do their job.
Don't leave me Dickie... I need you... I need your strength.
000
When Bruce got there in the morning he found a nurse changing the bedding in the room.
Had Dick died on the table?
"Are you looking for Grayson-Wayne? He's been moved to another wing for observation, just ask at the desk and someone will show you the way."
Bruce felt his heart going again as he nodded and left, grabbing his phone to inform the rest of the family about the room change before they jumped to the same conclusions he had.
When he entered Dick looked up and tried to sit up a little higher. "Awake enough for a small interrogation... Why did I deny the surgery?" Dick said when Bruce sat down. He didn't look as pale as he had done before but the dark circles under those blue eyes were still there.
"You said that you thought I was dead and that you wanted to join me..." Bruce felt his heart ache at the very thought if he had come back and Dick had died without knowing Bruce was actually alive.
Dick moved a bit to the side and Bruce took the given spot, embracing his son in his arms.
"Are you angry?"
"You don't remember our conversation before the surgery?"
Dick shook his head. Maybe the medications were clouding his mind before, Bruce placed a kiss on Dick's temple.
"I'm so proud of you I don't know where to start... Maybe you gave so much to others your heart couldn't keep up anymore."
"Or it's because I love a certain little Robin too much, he's so like you it was the only thing keeping me from taking my police gun and shooting myself."
Bruce mouths a 'thank you' at the ceiling. He changed his mind about Damian being too much like him! Dick obviously needs it.
Dick sighed and pressed his ear against Bruce's heart, almost falling asleep hearing the calming sound. "I've missed you so much Dad."
"I've missed you all too... There were times when I thought I wouldn't see you again, it helped me understand how much I love you kids... But you will always be my Robin... That reminds me-"
Dick looked at him confused before Bruce spoke again, sounding thoughtful this time. "If Robin is Batman's sanity... Is Batman... Robin's will to live?"
"Maybe," Dick yawed and soon he was asleep again, safely nestled in his father's arms. "I know I lost mine."