"Hold his leash tight, Tim."

Tim nodded and held the dog's leash tighter. It had been a couple of days since the doctor's revelation, and today was the day Dick was going to... attempt... the front stairs of the Manor.

While Dick was initially excited after his doctor's suggestion, James quickly had to advise caution. This wasn't something to rush or be reckless with. Especially considering the steps were made of stone.

And honestly, having a young and energetic dog near this endeavor isn't exactly ideal. However, Dick absolutely insisted on having his dog with him.

Also, Zitka wouldn't stop whining at being made to stay inside and Dick couldn't stand the sad puppy-eyes looking at him from the window. And Bruce actually allowed it, without much objection.

It was peculiar, ever since Bruce was first told of Dick's injury, he's seemed... softer. To the point that he wasn't always a hard ass. To his family anyway. Obviously, the boys were thrilled, and Dick was more than happy to exploit that. Such as now.

Luckily, Zitka was behaving as he was trained to do so. Sitting calmly at Tim's side, patiently wagging his tail against the grass.

Tim was waiting with Barbara at the bottom of the steps while Bruce was waiting at the top with Dick, it had already been decided that he, along with James, would help Dick down the stairs with the utmost caution.

Alfred also was at the base of the stairs, he had pulled one of the cushioned patio chairs over and settled in to wait with Dick's water bottle and pain meds. And... a phone.

You can never be too careful.

Finally, James's car pulled up to the Manor and Dick couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. To be able to conquer steps would be another step in the right direction. And perhaps full mobility.

Well maybe... it was a long shot but it was one that his doctor assured him was at least possible. Which is encouraging considering James once believed he would never walk again in the first place.

Dick took a deep breath then sighed, making himself relax. He was getting too excited again, he understood this was likely going to be a long road. But, he still couldn't wait to try.

But his eyes narrowed, and he shook his head once he felt a strange tingling creep into his neck for a moment.

Hmm, likely one of his headaches coming on. Well, they can at least try once before stopping.

James quickly greeted both Dick and Bruce when he made it the top of the steps, just in time to notice Dick shaking his head.

"Dick? Are you alright?"

A moment passed before Dick finally looked at his doctor.

"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah... just think a headache is coming on."

James frowned a little at this but nodded.

"I see... we will try a few steps and then stop for a while. How's that?"

Dick nodded his agreement. It wasn't like it was a grand staircase or anything.

James carefully helped Dick remove his crutches while Bruce worked to help support Dick on his feet. Once they were finally off and carefully placed on the porch, James firmly grabbed one of Dick's arms while Bruce grabbed the other.

They made it so that, while Dick was mostly going to be in control, they would still be able to offer stability and guidance.

"There we go, one small movement at a time Richard."

Dick's foot slowly lifted up and gently set a step lower, only one foot though. Though patience was not always Dick's strong suit, he did not really have a choice in the matter.

"Very good, now again with the other leg, slowly."

Though a little shaky, Dick did manage a whole step. But while those waiting at the base of the staircase were cheering, Dick himself was silent.

He felt funny, and as... 'pleasant'... as his usual headaches may be this one felt different.

Sickeningly different.

The world seemed to tilt and he felt a nauseating lurch in his stomach and while Bruce and James attempted to get him to try another step, Dick's hazy mind stalled.

Something wasn't right, and something told him trying another step would be a very bad idea. The spinning was worse now, and his mind went blank as the world around him seemed to darken.

"Richard?"

A harsh bark came from below, Tim was struggling to control Zitka, he was straining at his leash. Whining and barking desperately, trying to break free and get to his human.

James adjusted his position slightly in order to look at his patient's face, and his own heart skipped a beat.

Dick had gone horribly pale, and as James started to assess what was going on, he had to quickly yell for Bruce to bring Dick back up the step and onto the porch.

Dick's eyes had rolled back into his skull.

As soon as Dick was on the ground, James flew into emergency doctor mode.

Dick was still for a moment yet growing paler by the second before his breathing suddenly became labored.

James's eyes darkened before he yelled at Tim to bring one of those chair cushions, the boy was confused but quickly did as he was told while James took Dick's pulse.

He had a horrible feeling...

Seconds passed before Tim brought the cushion... just in time to watch Dick's body jolt in a horribly unnatural way.

Tim froze and James had to take the cushion from his hands and quickly set it under Dick's head, he then quickly took a handkerchief from his pocket, balled it up, and shoved it in Dick's mouth. He urged for Bruce to help him gently turn Dick's body onto the side.

Tim backed up a step, his mouth opening and closing but no words managed to tumble out. This wasn't like the seizures he's come to expect once in a while, and that first seizure he witnessed...

This was worse.

"... Tim! Tim!"

'Bart said that... this is...'

He barely startled when Barbara wrapped an arm around his shoulders and practically hauled him into the Manor, her other hand tightly gripping Zitka's now shortened leash.

"I-it's okay Bruce, I got him."

Tim blinked once then quickly turned back around just as Barbara shut the door then quickly pulled the blinds to the windows that faced the front porch.

"Barbara?"

But she merely turned around to face him, her face mirroring the horror on his.

She shook her head, took his hand, and led him to the dining room. There wasn't anything they could do.

-------------------------------------------------------

Bruce had to resist the urge to place a hand on his son's shoulder, instead he focused on James. He had his hand still grasping Dick's wrist, and now he was checking his watch, occasionally looking over at Alfred who was anxiously waiting for the ambulance he had called, often relaying information to the incoming paramedics.

It had been three minutes and Dick had still not stopped seizing, and every second he continued caused greater concern for his doctor.

At the four minute mark he was about to call the hospital himself and demand what in the hell was taking so long until the sound of the sirens came through the otherwise silent morning.

James cursed under his breath as they finally pulled up to the Manor, but his attention was soon diverted once again as Dick's body suddenly went limp. Though James has seen this before it was still unsettling, he was thrashing so violently before and now...

James became cold as he suddenly realized he couldn't feel his pulse anymore by his wrist, he cursed once more and tried desperately to feel it on his neck.

Nothing.

Bruce's hands quickly came to rest on his son's face, his expression turning darker by the second.

Finally, James felt a tiny flutter against his neck and he nearly sobbed in relief.

But he quickly got up and turned to the paramedics, he cleared his throat then quickly started to relay what happened as they worked.

James merely spared a glance at Bruce and Alfred who were now standing in front of the door, talking in hushed tones to each other. They knew to stay out of the way, and after a moment Alfred soon went inside the Manor himself... likely to get a bag ready.

While Bruce and Alfred did not have a medical degree, they've seen enough to have a pretty good idea on what just happened. And judging by the increasingly grim look on both James and the paramedics faces... they had good reason to assume they were right.

What felt like hours was in reality only a few minutes, the paramedics quickly loaded Dick up into the ambulance, quickly giving him oxygen and attaching monitors.

Bruce was about to follow them in but James had to stop him.

"I'm sorry, but you can't go this time. Please, follow behind us but the paramedics need room to work and I need to go with them."

Bruce looked like he was about to argue with him on that but quickly pulled himself together.

He was right, James was Dick's doctor after all.

James took a deep breath before turning and loading the ambulance himself, and it didn't take but a moment to speed away, sirens blaring.

-------------------------------------------------------

James brushed past the other staff in the hall barely glancing at anyone as he made his way into Dick's room. A million thoughts were buzzing around in his brain and he barely resisted the urge to scream.

He harshly opened the door and then silently shut it behind him. The lights in the room were bright, although for once, he assumed that wouldn't bother his patient.

James stared at Dick, connected to machines and oxygen once again, before glancing down at the paper that was now nearly crushed in his fist.

There were so many machines this time... so many.

A few silent tears rolled down the doctor's face, an angry frown forming across his face.

"I... I'm sorry Richard. It's just... one thing after another with you, isn't it?"

No answer.

"For once... I don't know what to do. At this point, I don't know if you can even hear me."

Silence.

"There is one thing... but with you like this..."

He took a small step toward the bed, his eyes glancing over all the readings on the screens.

All of them were abnormally low.

"If I operate... I could kill you. The risk is so high it--"

James's fist shook and he angrily threw the paper ball against the wall, the scrunched up paper was the results of the tests they had run on Dick.

It was a seizure, yes. But...

It was a tonic clonic seizure.

Otherwise known as a grand mal seizure.

"Your family is waiting. But how can I..."

James shook his head and started pacing, his hands running harshly through his hair.

He was a doctor yes, but he was still just a man. Just a human, and all humans had their breaking points.

"Dick... I am so sorry."

Again, there was no answer. But then again, James knew receiving one from Dick was next to impossible. He was... asleep.

A very, very deep sleep.

Yet it seemed deeper than before...

He had slipped into another coma.

Well... hello.

I am... so sorry. Not because of what I wrote but because of just how freaking LONG it's been!

Shit happened and I had to learn that the man I thought I loved apparently only 'loved' my body...

So, ouch. I think I've had enough of "love" for a while.

Anyhoo, apparently people who have focal seizures from certain head injuries, those seizures can transition into tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures.