Despite a concerning drop during the operation, Dick's vitals have now returned to their pre-operation levels. They are still lower than they should be, but stable, nonetheless.

James gingerly pulled the thin blanket down from his torso to listen to his breathing and heartbeat, keeping an eye on Dick's pale face. He wondered how his family might react to his current appearance, there was nothing particularly upsetting, but it would likely be a jarring sight regardless.

As of right now, Dick's breathing was stable enough to where he only required a nasal cannula tube instead of the oxygen mask, however, his skin was still quite pale. There were monitors and an IV attached to his arm again yet the most shocking will likely be his head.

His head had to be shaved before the surgery, and now there were two little scars on either side of his head from the incision sites. Those would be covered up eventually when his hair grew back, and they were not even visible at the moment anyway due to the thick bandages covering his entire head, forehead, neck, and a portion of his chin area, leaving just his face uncovered. However, two cords were sticking out from under the gauze, they were both connected to another machine besides the heart monitor, one he has not before been subjected to.

At least... not this long. In the past it was just for tests but now he would likely be wearing it during the duration of his stay at the ICU. It was a brain wave monitor, or an EEG.

James sighed a little before pulling his stethoscope back and covering his patient back up in the blanket, this time pulling it up to just under his chin and making sure it snugly covered his shoulders.

Dick had responded to the cold of the stethoscope, but just barely that James almost missed it. A short, little twitch. James frowned but he figured it was better than nothing. Though Dick had spent two hours in recovery before being transferred to his new room in the ICU, he still had yet to regain any awareness. Not that he had much before his surgery...

But it was a comforting sign that he had stabilized. Besides, the amount of time to wake up after this new type of procedure varied between patients as well as their initial conditions that prompted such an operation in the first place.

Some woke in as little as a few hours while some took days. And considering Dick's condition and inability to wake up before his surgery, he would likely take a couple of days. However, as long as his vitals didn't drop, that should not be such a concern.

But besides Dick himself, there was a new concern. In the ICU, there were strict rules on visitations. For one, there were the rules of the scrubs and masks that are to be worn at all times, and the other is the limitation of guests.

The rules typically varied by hospital, but at James's hospital it depended on the severity or fragileness of the patient.

The ICU patients who seemed to be better off than the others, or who seemed to be improving, were allowed two visitors at one time.

The others who were in a more fragile state, were permitted just one visitor at a time.

Dick was only being allowed one for now, at least until the initial twenty-four hours were up. Of course, no one was happy about that, but they all understood, it was for Dick's own comfort and healing, he will need peace and quiet even while unconscious.

There was a gentle knock at the door before Bruce came in, completely decked out in scrubs, gloves, and a surgical mask like James.

He greeted the doctor with a small nod before quickly coming to his son's side, his eyes first scanning the monitors before roaming over his son's body, taking in his condition. He raised a hand to touch his son's cheek before he hesitated and glanced back at James, who was at Dick's other side.

"It's alright, you can touch him. In fact, it might comfort him. Just... don't touch his head of course."

After that, Bruce didn't hesitate. His hand gently cupped Dick's right cheek, his thumb gently stroking right beneath his eye.

In return, Dick let out a heavy sigh, causing Bruce's hand to stall for a second.

"Good."

Bruce's head jerked up, his gaze meeting James, who now had a small smile playing at his lips.

"Though it may have been a reflex, it is also likely he was responding to your touch. If that's the case, then please keep in mind that him responding to your touch does not necessarily mean he is waking up just yet."

Bruce merely nodded again and went to continue what he was doing before a flash of light outside the window caught his eye.

He straightened up, his gaze hardening, prompting James to turn around and see what caught his attention.

Oh...

It was the bat signal, at one hell of a bad time. It hasn't lit up in two days but now it does?

James tore his gaze away from the signal and turned back toward his patient and Bruce.

"His surgery and recovery did finish late..."

His eyes glanced at the wall clock above Dick's bed.

"ICU visiting hours are nearly over and unfortunately, we cannot allow overnight visitors in the ICU, regardless of circumstances... hospital rules."

Bruce merely grunted, his hand withdrawing from his son's face, yet he made no move to leave the room.

"Bruce... he's safe here. I will be checking on him myself through the night, if something happens you will be the first to know."

Bruce looked back up at him and turned to the dresser adjacent to Dick's bed. He pulled something out of his pocket and set it down, turning it to face Dick.

It was not as small as the ones he used before, he did not need it to be a secret. If anyone questioned it they would assume Mr. Wayne is just a bit over protective.

He quietly thanked James and turned to leave the room, calling Alfred on the way. James watched him go before glancing at the small security camera he left behind. To be honest, James actually felt better himself knowing that it was there.

He checked the time on his watch before following Bruce out and shutting the door behind him.

Once the door had shut, a figure appeared from behind a billboard on the roof next door. He'd been waiting there for a while, occasionally looking into the room with binoculars.

He waited a bit longer, about an hour until the doctor came back in to check on his patient and waited while the doctor performed routine checks.

A few minutes after the doctor finally left, the hooded figure made his move.

————————————————————————

He jammed his climbing claws into the side of the wall, using his other hand to lift the window open, silently sliding into the room.

As soon as his feet touched the floor, his attention went to the camera on the dresser. He turned it around and pressed the lens to the wall.

They deserved some privacy after all.

As he turned back towards the bed his right hand reached towards his holster and grabbed one of his guns.

He could do it. It would be so easy to get him while he's down. Maybe not necessarily kill, maybe go for the legs...

He came forward until he was right at the foot of the hospital bed, the occupant still unconscious.

He raised the gun and just... nudged Dick's leg with it. Then the other leg. And back again.

"Huh... you're really out of it, aren't you?"

He glanced back at his gun then sighed heavily, shoving it back in his holster.

He didn't really want to kill him. Not even hurt him.

The others? Yeah, maybe hurt. He's been getting conflicting thoughts, no doubt thanks to the Pit's influence.

But... not him.

Maybe that little Replacement, maybe just to 'test' him... yeah, that'll work.

But not Dick. He remembered too much of him. Maybe under different circumstances he'd let the Pit win, but now? Here? No.

So why did he come? He has no idea.

He noticed the chart near the foot of the bed, grabbed it, and brought it toward the gentle glow of the lamp near Dick's beside, the only light currently on.

"Let's see how fucked up you are... more than usual anyway..."

The top papers were detailing the current situation. Why he was brought in, the surgery, all that good stuff.

Hood let out a long whistle before reaching the others, summing up the last year. Right from when he first came in after the fire.

When he reached the end, he quietly set the files back.

"You're a fucking idiot. I don't know if it's nice or annoying to see you haven't changed."

No answer. But honestly, after reading that dumpster fire, he didn't really expect too much.

Still...

Hood leaned over him and poked him in the cheek. Then the nose.

He didn't quite know what he was expecting. But it wasn't quite what happened next.

He flicked Dick's nose, and apparently that did the trick. Dick's eyes flew open, causing Hood to jump back.

"Fuck!"

Dick's eyes closed again in a tight wince, a pained hiss escaping his lips.

Hood stayed quiet until Dick finally opened his eyes again, looking at him but not with much emotion.

No recognition but no fear either.

He was just slowly blinking at him.

"Uh... are you actually awake or...?"

No answer, just slow blinks. Dick's brows furrowed before his eyes clenched tight again before relaxing. Sure, he was awake but that didn't mean he was all there yet.

"Right, sure, just pretend I'm not here then."

Jason sighed as he looked at the monitors, it looked like he was starting to actually fall asleep.

The change would summon medical staff...

He looked at the clock. He's already been here ten minutes. He needs to leave, it won't be long until the obscure camera footage is noticed.

He headed toward the window before he suddenly thought of something, and turned back to the camera.

He switched it back to the way it was, but not before waving at the camera and then flipping it off.

He glanced back at Dick before climbing back out the window.

"I'll be back."

Altogether, he spent ten minutes visiting Dick until he left.

And Batman showed up at the eleventh minute.