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Batman Before	By : Jessy8 Category: DC Verse Cartoons > Batman Beyond Views: 8886 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Beyond, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Batman Before
- 2-ch 2
- 3-chapter 3
- 4-ch 4
- 5-chapter 5
- 6-chapter 6
- 7-chapter 7
- 8-ch 8
- 9-ch9
- 10-ch 10
- 11-ch 11
- 12-Chapter 12
- 13-Chapter 13
- 14-Chapter 14
- 15-Final
- 14
- 15
Batman Before
Chapter 15
By Wildfire
    Dick sat there.
    It was dark, a cool breeze moved it giving the man goose bumps, but still he just sat there. Bats fluttered above him, people talked around him. But he just sat there. He was still in his uniform, he needed to shower, he had injuries, his stomach growled, he needed to use the restroom, and yet all he could think to do was, sit there. And so he sat. His eyes staring forward and yet not really seeing much of anything. His mind replaying the events that had happened just the night before. He wanted to blame Bruce, he wanted to blame Tim or Barbara or even Alfred. But in the end he really couldn’t put blame anywhere but at himself. He had been too callous, too mean, he should have stepped up, he should have stopped Terry before he took off. He should have done something, anything.
    Bruce was trying to talk to him again, he didn’t care, he didn’t want to hear him. His words didn’t matter, nothing really mattered, well except-
    “Dick, setting there is not going to help. If we want to save our time line we need to contact his time.”
    His time, could he not even say his name? Dicks eyes move to the torn suit, wires poking in every direction, all red… blood. Dick turned his head away.
    “Dick” the voice was soft, Bruce kneeled down beside the boy he considered a son. “Dick, Jason’s on his way over, he’s going to help us, if there’s any hope it’s if we can straighten this whole mess up. But I need you to try and pull yourself together. OK? I know how you’re feeling right now, I know how nothing seems to matter but we may be able to fix this mess. But I need that brain of yours to be working full speed.”
    It made since and yet he still just wanted to sit. How could it be so hard to stop sitting. To stop thinking? But he was suppose to think, think on how to fix this. How could this be fixed though? Nothing could fix this.
    He nodded.
    Bruce smiled softly patting Dick’s knee. “Alright” He stood up moving back to the suit. Barbara was also working on it, Tim was doing something on the computer, probably trying to pull up history on Terry’s conversations, not that they could. Everyone had tried. More likely Bruce had given him the task to keep him occupied and his mind off-
    He turned his head. He had to focus, he had to think. He stood up moving to the suit, looking down at it he found he hated it. He wanted to rip it to shreds. It was suppose to protect it’s wearer. He sighed yet again pulling the suit from Barbra’s grasp, his fingers moved over it. He forced his mind to stay focused, this wasn’t about Terry, this was about electronics’, this was about wiring. The fact that Terry had worn it made no difference. His fingers started tracing wires he started separating them, there was a pattern, not by color like normal, but by how they cris-crossed. Bruce was always into patterns apparently the future Bruce was the same. He grabbed a knife slicing the fabric carefully on the leg. He needed to see the wires down there where it was still intact to understand the pattern. Of course it wasn’t some simple pattern, like an over, under, around back, through, over… Oh no, every wire had a reason with it’s own rules. The ones that connected to a side slot would go around 2 under once and over the last two to it’s slot. Leave it to Bruce to make things way to complicated, it was a suit for crying out loud, who cared how the wires were connected! After he had torn apart the suit, examining all the wires he could he moved back to the fried part.
    Jason had long since arrived, there conversation dwindling but Dick kept working he didn’t want to hear what the man had to say. He just want to fix this danm thing so he could sit back down, he brought the banged up suit to the computer pushing Tim out of the way, he didn’t even really register what Tim said to him. It didn’t matter all that mattered was fixing the suit. He had done a patch job only on it but it should send a current which was all he needed. Now he just needed to know where that bastard connected it at.
    “Jason, the time line can we save it?” Bruce asked, his voice soft yet his eyes were still hard, determined.
    “As I told the boy, if everything that had strong contact with him were to leave this line it would naturally absorb back to it’s proper place. But if there’s something here that changes their life because Terry was here than it’ll eventually fall.”
    “You say things, but what you mean is someone. Right?”
    Jason nodded.
    “So… Dick has to die?” Bruce couldn’t accept that, it was wrong! It couldn’t be accepted, there had to be another way!
    “That is one solution, but there is another. Think about the rules I told you about each line, why this one falling could make the other fall.”
    Bruce sat back. Jason was unnerving, he could just tell him the answer but no… No he made Bruce figure it out. It made since, if you figured it out you understand how it works if your told you can misunderstand. “This time line won’t grow so when beings are added to it, it adds to much to the right time line which makes it all unstable. To eliminate the problem we need to eliminate this line. Meaning all that were not meant to be must be eliminated. Or more simply all who were greatly affected by Terry. So, Dick.”
    “Bruce do not tell me you are so naïve to truly think the boy only affected Dick.”
    “So.. We all must die?” Somehow that made him feel better, like he wasn’t abandoning Dick so much, they’d do it together, like always.
    “Bruce you are not listening to your own words. Killing more of you is not the solution to your problem any more than just killing Dick. Think.” He stood up. “I need to get going. I do hope you come to your conclusion before you do something hasty. Good day Bruce”
    Bruce stood as well shaking Jason’s hand firmly. “I hope you are right.” God he hoped he was right. His eyes move to Dicks back with a regretful sigh, he didn’t want to loose him. Not him. “Let me walk you out Jason”
    “No need, You just think about this problem of yours. The problem is not as hard as your making it out to be.” With that Jason headed up the stairs.
    Barbara moved over to the young man peering over his shoulder “Any luck?”
    “Does it look like I’m having luck?” Dick snapped glaring at the blank computer screen. “I find the danm cord I plug it in… NOTHING! I have no idea on how to activate the danm thing! There’s no buttons or switches, nothing!”
    “Why don’t we get something to eat, get your mind off it for a bit, help you relax get some energy too-”
    “NO! We are running out of time! I either figure this all out now or the world ends. No happy ending, no miraculous save. It’ll just be done. Do you understand that?! And the key to possibly saving EVERYTHING won’t turn on!” He grabbed the suit throwing it to the ground before stomping on it.
    “Ohh I’m sure that helps..”
    “It couldn’t-”
    “Terry?”
    A fuzzy old man was on the screen his eyes sickenly familiar.
    “You bastard!” Dick wanted nothing more than to strangle the old man. “Why another kid!? Do you just get your shits and giggles from it?! DO you wake up wondering how you can ruin someone else’s life?! Do you walk around looking for kids who think the super hero business is ALL THAT! Than tell them no, KNOWING they’ll keep trying!? Yet you don’t change the locks to the bat cave or move the materials away where they can’t get them! You LIKE making more like you! Makes you think your not so flippin messed up!”
    The old man smiled slightly. “Hello Dick. Where’s my charge?”
    “SCREW YOU! I HATE YOU. I HATE-”
    “Dick that’s enough” Bruce put a hand on Dicks shoulder gently moving him aside. “The time lines are going to fall if we can not eliminate all the things Terry affected.”
    “We have it all ready. Give me Terry’s exact Longitude and Latitude and this mess will be over with.”
    Bruce let out a sigh “It’s not that easy. Any life Terry drastically altered will continue on here if not removed.”
    Wayne’s eyes studied his younger self. “Where is Terry?”. It was a blunt question, and was demanding a blunt answer.
    “He fell-”
    “I did not ask what happened to him I want to know where he is!”
    Bruce nodded. “He’s set up down here, he’s slipped into a coma. His chances are weak at best, even if he does wake he’ll be paralyzed for life.”
    Wayne nods excepting the answer “Nonsense people are not paralyzed quiet so easy now a days. But we need to get him here quickly.”
    “Wayne, what if the journey is rough?” An older lady stepped into the picture, her arms crossed. “There’s not much point to all this if he dies on the way back”
    Barbara’s eyes widen at the old lady, she secretly hoped that that wasn’t her but she doubted she’d be that lucky. What other woman would be down in the bat cave.
    A strong voice could be heard from the other side but no face accompanied it. “Whether he dies or not it doesn’t really matter any more, He must be removed from that time.”
    Wayne resumed his eye lock with his younger self. “How many has he effected?”
    “He was home schooled while here and primarily stayed with Dick. Probably just the house hold.”
    “There’s a case going on with Corry Spangle, if he gets locked up wouldn’t that alter his life too?”
    “Doubtful, I sent him to prison not much later” a voice answered over the computer. Sounding a lot like Dicks yet with something else mixed into it as well.
    Dick swallowed a little hard, that was his future self that just answered, only now he would no longer become that person, hence why they were going to have to kill him. He didn’t much like the idea of dieing but if Terry was safe than it didn’t much matter. He sighs looking backwards at where Terry laid. Another child… hurt from Batman. His eyes return to the old man. “I should kill you” He stood up moving back to Terry’s still form.
    Dick knew they were still talking, trying to figure out how to solve this mess. The ground gave a slight tremble making everyone pause. After the moment of silence though everyone started talking much faster and louder. Dick ran a hand through Terry’s dark locks. The old man thought he could save him. Thought he could fix this, that alone was enough to try. But what if Terry got injured worse going through? What if it just spewed him out. He sighs. “Bruce?”
    The conversation continued
    “BRUCE!”
    Silence
    “I want to take Terry through. I can die on that side just as easy as dieing on this side. Least over there I’ll know Terry made it safe.” His eyes never left Terry’s form.
    “Is that possible?” the question was not directed at him so he ignored it. He could hear their chatter getting louder they were obviously on to something, didn’t matter what. He could also hear Barbara was upset, something about her parents. Dick moved so he was sitting on the small cot that held Terry. He didn’t look peaceful or asleep, he looked like he was injured and in a coma. There was nothing peaceful about it. He carefully laid down beside the boy putting an arm over his stomach. It’d be alright, somehow it’d be alright. It had to be… His eyes closed listening to the sound of argument and the sound of Terry’s forced breathing. It was all wrong.
    He jerked as someone pulled him to his feet, it took him a minute to realize he was standing now. He had fallen asleep. What time was it? What were they doing to Terry?
    Alfred and Bruce were making quick work of disconnecting all of Terry’s wires. His eyes darted about, Barbara was there her eyes red and checks tear stained. She clung tightly to Tim’s hand. Tim looked oddly excited. He wasn’t sure… well actually he wasn’t sure of anything at the moment. Specially why they were disconnecting Terry. Bruce lifted the boy into his arms, moving over to where Barbara and Tim were standing. It took a moment for him to realize they were standing in some circle. He jumped slightly as Alfred took his forearm leading him to the circle as well. Something big was happening. He paused, Alfred looked at him pulling again but Dick yanked free running upstairs. He heard Bruce yell after him and a second later he knew he was being followed. He moved swiftly to the living room. Grabbing Terry’s backpack, a small box of his… his eyes darted about. Where was it? Bruce grabbed him suddenly yanking him backwards. THERE! Dick bolted forward grabbing the dark cat. It was Terry’s cat, he wasn’t going to leave it. It was at that moment as he was being hauled rather quickly back downstairs that he realized he was in fact leaving. They were all leaving.
    He could hear Alfred shouting something as Bruce rushed them both into the circle. Alfred and Barbara were holding Terry between the two of them. Dick put the box into Terry’s back pack before adjusting his hold on T-shadow. He didn’t want to drop the cat. He looked around the room.. Noise. It was getting louder but he had no idea on where it was coming from. T-Shadow was struggling to get free, obviously it didn’t like the noise either. He grabbed his musk trying to keep a good grip on him. It was so loud though, he-
**BB**
    His head pounded he was lying on something… something soft. A bed? A very soft bed. His arm was bandaged he slowly sat up looking around. This was his room, in Bruces house. Only this one was.. Different. What’d they do to it?
    “Master Dick good to see your awake” Alfred moving into the room smiling. “You’ve been out for a few days now. Smacked your head pretty good coming in I heard.”
    “Coming in where? Where are we?”
    “Master Bruce’s home of course. Not our Master Bruce though.” The old man huffed slightly. “I raised him better than this..” he shook his head. “How is your head?”
    “Are we in the future?” Ok maybe it was a dumb question but he needed to know.
    “No Master Dick, we are in the present. Our world was in the past, it is gone now. This line is safe and the only one again. We are now part of this line.”
    “How, didn’t we have to die?”
    “No we needed to be away from the other line so it wouldn’t try to support us. After this line dumped ours it had no trouble holding five more people. Master Bruce thinks it may have actually strengthen this line. Which I suppose is a good thing.”
    “And Terry”
    “Is quiet well, though we do seem to have a dilemma on how to bring him back from the dead and make reasons why suddenly there’s two of you four. We’re just going to recreate me.”
    Dick nodded struggling to sit up, Alfred said he fell coming in but what happened to his hand?
    “The cat” Alfred smiles standing up, “want to try and stand?”
    The younger man nods carefully scooting so his legs were hanging from the bed. His feet almost hit the floor of the high bed. Alfred moved so he was beside Dick in case he fell. Dick stood slowly. He was surprised when the world not only did not tilt spin or move in any fashion but his legs held him just fine as well.
    Alfred smiles “I think my job of patching you boys up has just gotten a lot easier.” he chuckles. “However Master Wayne did say you may have a side effect of eating like a horse afterwards.”
    On the mention of food Dick did realize how hungry he was. He nods moving forward to the door, jumping about a foot into the air when it opened for him.
    “Yes automatic doors are everywhere now. They can be programmed to open for everyone or just one person or just a few people.” Alfred smiles “They’re rather fun”
    Dick nods stepping out into the hallway. It was how he remembered it, and yet it seemed so different still. He got to the stairs pausing.
    “What’s the matter Master Dick?”
    “If I step on them do they start moving on their own?”
    Alfred chuckles “No, they are quiet normal.” Alfred heads down them.
    Dick paused before heading down as well. The lights seemed somehow brighter the place cleaner.
    “Than it’s settled Barbara you’ll come stay with me, and be my daughter the papers will be easy enough to forged, Bruce you’ll remain here as Bruce’s son and Tim and Dick will…” the older woman’s voice paused
    “Be my peppy company’s?” Bruce drawled.
    “Why do we have to be related?” Tim asked rubbing some large dogs stomach.
    “Duh we look to much alike” Barbara snapped. “I don’t want new parents! I liked my old ones!” She whipped at her eyes again.
    Dick paused. That’s right, if they were in the future than everyone they did know was left behind. Dick felt a pang of regret but he knew what he was feeling was nothing compared to Barbara who had just essentially became an orphan. He did know that feeling.
    “Master Dick” Dick turned to look at Alfred. “The kitchen is this way” Dick followed him in and stood rock still as his eyes landed on the kitchen. Everything about it was different.
    Alfred chuckles “yes it’s a wonder Terry even tried to cook for us. But everything is just where it use to be. Just fancier now.” He moved to a cupboard the door sliding open revealing glass’s.
    Dick nods “where is Terry?”
    “Upstairs with a friend of his. They’ve been chatting all day long.”
    “Which room?”
    “His room of course, but master Dick I really must ask you to please eat something first-”
    Dick was already gone and heading back upstairs. He barged into the room his eyes landing on a young girl with short hair. Before moving to Terry’s smiling face. Terry however did not seem to be ok, he was in this chair contraption that completely covered waist to legs.
    “Dick, you up” Terry smiles
    God how he’d missed that smiles “I was told you were fine” he moved over to him the chair bleeping every few seconds.
    “I am, or will be. Nerve damage takes a while to repair. It’s repairing it.” He smiles again. “Dick this is my best friend Max, Max Dick.
    Max smiles “Wow now I get the Nightwing craze. You free tomorrow?”
    “Max!” Terry hissed his face going red.
    “What? Come on, can you blame me for trying the boy’s hot. Plus if he’s anything like you he’ll be dieing to get out of this house every once in a while.”
    “What makes you think he’s single?” Terry was practically glaring.
    “Ohh I dono maybe that he just came from the past meaning anyone he could have been dating is like 60 now.”
    “Not everyone”
    “You already said Barbara had the hotts for Bruce. Never for Dick.”
    Dick raises an eyebrow sitting down on the bed. “Terry?”
    Terry turned to look at him “What?”
    “I believe the question was directed at me, not you”
    Terry huffs crossing his arms.
    Dick could help but smile, the boy was sulking! “Max was it? Normally I would love to go out with someone as beautiful as you. But under current situations I’m afraid I can’t as I’ve been trying quite hard to get a hold of a certain bat for a while now and I think I may finally be able to catch him.”
    “You have a thing for Bruce too?” She makes a face “Even knowing what he grows up to be?” she giggles as Terry throws a pillow at her. “Alright, alright.” she stood up. “You hurt him Dick and I’ll make sure you get yours. Superhero or not you won’t like the outcome” she left the room.
    Dick smiles at Terry. “She’s charming.”
    Terry laughs “Wait tell you met Dana” He sighs “Hand me my bag?”
    Dick looks around spotting it and bringing it over. “Who’s Dana?”
    “My X.” He smiled as Dick frowns. “We broke up before I took my journey backwards.” He pulls out two small boxes opening one and tossing it to Dick “That was your real Christmas gift.”
    Dick blinks before opening it his eyes widening and the ring. He took it out looking it over. It had Batman on the side of it he looked questionably at Terry.
    Terry shrugs taking his out “Mine’s Nightwing. Whether your Bruce wants to admit it or not I am the current Batman of this time. He’ll have to accept it at some point. But maybe now I can have a day off.”
    Dick slipped the ring onto his finger. “So is this time period going to blow my mind?”
    Terry smiles “It better, I need payback somehow.” He put his own ring on.
    “I got you something else for Christmas too, but you’ll have to wait to see it” he winks.
    Terry laughs “something’s telling me I won’t like it”
    “You’ll love it” Dick leaned over gently brushing his lips to Terry’s. “So what are we going to do first?”
    “Once out of this I’m being brought back to life and going to get my mom and brother. They’ll love you. Than I plain on finishing high school and choosing a college so I can advance my knowledge. Further more after that-”
    Dick kissed him again “I meant with me” he growled slightly.
    “The world doesn’t revolve around you Dick. But I expect I’ll enjoy watching you discover all the things you missed. Like splicing.”
    “What?”
    Terry just smiles there were many things yet to do, many things left to figure out. But for the moment he was content. He was home, he had Dick. And he was alive. What could possibly be better?
End
**BB**
AN: I know there’s a lot still lingering. Wait a while there will be a sequel just as soon as I find time to get it done. The sequel will probably be more about Terry and Dick so if that’s the part you didn’t like in this story I’d recommend skipping it. The sequel will answer the questions still lingering on this one though, like the Christmas gift from Dick, bringing the everyone legally in, bringing Terry back from the dead. The family reunion. All those fun things.
- 14
- 15
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Batman Before