Darkness. That's all Dick could see. But that was fine, because he felt no pain. In fact, he couldn't feel anything at all.

Huh. Well, was he dead? Considering the living hell he's been through recently... that would be okay. Granted there were still things he wanted to do and take care of but if it was really his time... then that's fine. 

But if he was dead, then shouldn't there be something... more? To be honest, when he died, he wasn't expecting darkness.  He was expecting a gentle light. Hmm, maybe he blew his chance with that. But it doesn't seem like Hell. Purgatory? Possible.

But despite where he ended up, wouldn't he at least get one chance to see his parents again? 

But there was no sign of them. He was alone in the darkness. 

Well, if it were in fact Hell, he highly doubted he would be free of the pain. So it must be Purgatory then. Delightful. 

Hmm. Despite the darkness it was actually quite nice. If this is all he's got for eternity then he can deal with that. At least it's quiet...

*CRASH*

Dick's eyes sprung open, pupils blown wide trying to adjust to his new surroundings, the sudden crash still echoing in his ears.

He started to hyperventilate before he felt a gentle hand on his cheek.

He squinted a bit to focus his vision on the face above him, his breathing instantly starting to relax as Barbara's face came into view.

She smiled down at him, relief over taking her features, as she gently stroked her hand against his cheek.

"Easy Dick, it's alright. Wally was just being an idiot."

Dick slowly blinked up at her as Wally's face suddenly came into his field of vision as well.

He had a sheepish look on his face, hand nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"Uh yeah, sorry about that bud. I uh... wasn't watching where I was going. I kinda just sped in."

Dick had finally calmed down as he gave a weak smile.

"What... what else is new?"

His smile faltered as he felt a weird sensation as he spoke. Something felt weird around his nose...

He raised a shaky hand and grabbed what seemed to be a cord and tried to pull it away, but Wally's hand gently grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"Nah, I don't think so buddy. You gotta keep that on. Your respiration is a little low, so that's just helping you out a little."

Dick's face twisted in confusion before Barbara pulled away and murmured to Wally something about raising him up a bit.

The bed jolted slightly before raising up, allowing Dick to sit up comfortably.

When he was in a comfortable position he glanced over to his side, observing a few machines...

Apparently for his oxygen and what he assumed to be... a heart monitor among other things.

He looked down at his hands, blinking in surprise.

Of course, of course he'd be hooked up to these machines.

And...

He squinted down at an IV attached to his left hand.

Blood? And... something else in his arm.

He glanced up at Wally, receiving only a grimace and small nod.

"You uh... just needed a little blood Dick."

Right, of course...

But what's the other--

Urgh, why was it so hard to think?!

He scowled down at his hands before returning his attention to his friend and girlfriend.

They exchanged glances with each other before nervously looking back at Dick.

Almost expectantly.

"... what?"

He frowned in spite of himself at his hoarse voice.

Barbara gave one more nervous glance towards Wally before coming to sit on the side of his bed, gently taking his hand in his hers.

Wally fidgeted on the spot for a moment before grabbing the chair closest to the bed.

"Dick..."

Barbara stared softly, gaining eye contact with him.

"What do you remember?"

Dick glanced at Wally's nervous face before focusing on Barbara again, feeling his own nerves starting to rise.

"Being in your arms Babs... I blacked out at home."

Barbara nodded slowly.

"Right... you had a pulmonary hemorrhage."

Oh. Alright then, at least it didn't kill me. I guess.

Wally blew out a breath, nervously tapping his foot.

"But Dick... that was two weeks ago."

Dick's blood ran cold.

"You woke up a couple of times before. But you were very confused. Especially the first time."

Wally and Barbara's eyes fell at the memory.
_______________________________________

Dick's eyes slowly blinked open, his vision slowly coming into focus.

He heard something to his left, a shuffle and someone clearing their throat before a man's face came into view.

Dark hair, blue eyes...

Looked so familiar but he couldn't quite grasp...

He was saying something, but all he could make out was a garbled mess as the man laid a soothing hand on Dick's cheek.

What... happened?

That man wasn't his father...

And where was he anyway?

Where was his dad? His mom?

He narrowed his eyes and jerked away from the man's grasp and attempted to look at his surroundings.

Some type of hospital... did something happen at practice? But... dad hasn't let him do the dangerous stuff yet.

Must have been really bad if he's in the hospital... if he's here then where are his parents?!

They wouldn't leave him alone here!

His unfocused gaze returned to the man above him, only now the man wore an expression of concern and confusion.

He reached out a hand towards Dick's head, and that action caused Dick's eyes to dilate in fear.

He jerked his head away again, fists gripping the sheets below him.

His muscles tensed up, a strangled sound coming from his throat as he tried to talk.

He felt hands on his arms as he started to thrash around, and he startled as a door seemed to slam open, only adding to his struggle.

His vision blurred once again as he felt something tear from his hand, a burning sensation flooding his arm, and soon something warm dribbled from his mouth.

He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a groan before he felt a prick in his arm.

His body instantly stilled. He felt his muscles go slack before he drifted into darkness.

Leslie gently rubbed his arm where she injected the sedative before giving a worried look to the people behind her.

Bruce's face was stone, yet the glimmers in his eyes told a different story.

Barbara slowly lowered herself into the closest chair, her whole body was shaking.

Wally turned his gaze away from Dick, he looked like he was going to retch.

She turned back to her patient, shaking her head sadly before quietly mending the torn IV and cleaning up his mouth...

He bit his tongue so hard it started to bleed...

When she was done she turned once more to see Barbara still frozen in her chair, yet Wally and Bruce were talking in hushed voices on the other side of the room.

She could take a guess on what they were discussing. And it's about damn time they made a decision.
_______________________________________

Halfway through the explanation, Dick had turned his gaze away.

He couldn't believe he did that. In his right mind or not.

Wally noticed this and gently tapped Dick's leg, gaining his attention back.

"You don't remember any of that. Do you?"

Dick shook his head, fingers fidgeting in his lap.

"N-no. Um... sorry."

Barbara tightened her grip on his hand.

"Don't be sorry Dick. It's probably best you don't anyway. But because of that, it was hard to stop the bleeding and the thrashing ended up irritating your already weak lungs. That's what the blood and oxygen is for. And the other IV... that's nutrients. You've already lost so much weight, and to be unconscious for two weeks--"

Dick nodded, cutting her off.

She didn't need to say anymore. He didn't think he could take it. And she probably couldn't either.

Wally leaned back in his chair, thinking of how to broach the next subject.

He furrowed his eyebrows, clenched the armrests of the chair before pulling himself back up and placed his hand back on Dick's leg.

Dick glanced at Barbara a moment more before turning his gaze to Wally.

"Look, Dick, while you were out we ran some tests. On me."

Wally cleared his throat while Dick raised an eyebrow at him, urging him to continue.

"Look, I'm a match for you. Okay? But we can't do anything right now. We... need to make sure you're stable. That nothing like that is going to happen again before we attempt any operation. Otherwise, it will just put your life at risk..."

Wally trailed off, and none of them could meet each other's gaze anymore.

Dick's stare returned to his lap, the only sign he understood what Wally had said was a slight nod.

Right. Risk...

But he's running out of time.

The three of them knew that.

But none of them could bring themselves to say that.