Recovery [Continued from Clash]

[Dick Grayson]

Gotham City. It was around two in the morning, and they were in Gotham City. This is where Dick had told his allies to bring him to get medical treatment. More specifically to the office of Leslie Thompkins. She was a kind and dedicated doctor, and knew both the civilian and vigilate identity of most of the Bat-family. Dick was no exception. The bleeding man and the injured girl must have come as quite a shock to the poor doctor, but he didn't have much of a choice. His secret wouldn't be safe at a hospital. Dick opened his eyes to see the time. He groaned upon discovering he had been asleep for almost half a day. He sat up with much pain and anguish, and looked down at the bandages that covered his torso, right arm and right leg. He looked around only to find himself in an empty room, layed out in a hospital bed. He wondered where his friends were, and what had happened...as everything seemed a blur.

"Hello?", he called out in a raspy and broken voice. How his body ached. "Anyone around?", he called out again.

[Jubilee]

"Yeah, I am here, wherever here is. God I feel like Juggernaut hit me in the ribs, and Logan stabbed me in the side." She said with a painful rasp. She had woken up an hour before and had pulled her charts off the foot of her bed. She read that she had 2 broken ribs, 3 cracked ribs, and a nicked lung. She had looked around not really knowing where she was, but it hurt to move, or maybe it was a mental thing, she didn't know. She had looked over at Nightwing and realized she had gotten off easy, it hurt just looking at the broken man.

[Dick Grayson]

Nightwing was in a world of pain when he looked down onto one side of his bed and he saw the young girl standing there. He forced a small smile and nodded silently. "I know what you mean...I feel like the whole Superman clan decided I was a bad guy..", he said in a still cracked voice.

He attempted to sit up a little further, but was quickly bedded back down due to the pain. He would live, thanks to the quick actions of Spider-man and Gwen, but it would be a painful recovery. He rubbed his eyes, as his vision was still slightly blurry and looked back over at the girl.

"You did amazing though, Jubilee. Interested in joining the Titans?", Dick forced the words out. That was very much like him. Always thinking of his duties.

He glanced across the room just in time to see Dr. Thompkins walk in. She gave Dick a sympathetic look and spent a few moments speaking to him before offering him his first dosage of pain pills. he watched her walk off and sighed as he ingested the tiny white capsules.

[Jubilee]

"Thanks, I had a great teacher, though he would never admit it. I really shouldn't have lost my temper, if I don't keep it in check, I could probably level New York City, and that is terrifying. I would love to join the Titans, the X-Men are fractured at the moment and I am not sure they are the best team for me at the moment." She had a feeling that the X-Men weren't too happy for her deciding to leave the US and fight in Africa, with Jean gone, Cyke was now a mess, and Jubes thought if she had been with Jean she might have prevented her death.

The doctor, as she left placed a small cup with pain pills for Jubes, who didn't take them right away. She then asked "So, who is on the Titans, I haven't really heard of many groups besides the bigger ones, Avengers, JLA, JSA, and occasionaly the Outsiders?"

[Oracle]

Oracle had gotten a memo. She had woken up feeling like she had a hangover. Wheeling from her bedroom to her large computer she had found quick note from Dr. Thompkins. Calling one of her friends who worked with the Gothem cab system, this was one of the few times that Bab's really used her wheelchair status to get through crowds quickly.

Bursting through the door, Oracle came to a full stop when she saw Dick and Jubilee talking. Both were reclined in hospital beds and looked absolutly aweful. Both were swathed in bandages and a quick glance at their readouts showed Oracle what she feared.

But they were alive. The redhead's mascera was smeared with badly disguised tears and her face was red and blotchy. In a shaking voice, Oracle wheeled over to Nightwing's bedside.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?" She asked him, fighting to keep her eyes dry. "You could have gotten yourself killed! Next time you do this, I will personally finish the job myself."

Her words didn't quite manage to sound as fierce as she meant them too. She was trying hard to smile through her tears as she looked at the girl in the other bed. Jubilee she thought it might be. An X-Man if she remembered correctly. Pushing a stray hair out of her face - trying to look a little presentable at least - and said softly,

"Hey."

[Dick Grayson]

Dick struggled a little to find a comfortable position. He finally sighed and gave up. His emotional pain might be greater than his physical pain at the time, but he tried his best to brush that aside as he spoke to Jubilee. He smiled over at the young girl.

"Know I was a leader for both the Outsiders and the JLA at one point him time?", he pointed out with a smug grin. He certainly was a bit of a bragger. He shook his head a little and looked back down. "Anyway..there's quite a few members. Raven, Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Ravager, Blue Beetle, Kid Devil, Spoiler, Batgirl, Cyborg, Kid Flash, Supergirl, Wonder Girl, Shockwave, Stargirl....I could go on for a while", he finished with a chuckle.

It was then that he looked over at the doors that had just flew open and watched as a visibly upset Barbara Gordon entered. He flinched a little as she began her verbal assult, but he looked at her bright blue..and watery eye. He frowned and tilted his head. He didn't answer her, only looked down at himself in the bed as she turned her attention to Jubilee. He lifted himself up with a bit of pain, though the pills had begun to kick in. He reached over as best as his broken body would manage and wrapped his arms around his friend.

"I am sorry Barbara. I love you...and you know I hate to put you through this...", he offered th eonly words he could say at the time.

[Shockwave]

Sitting in one of the many chairs scattered about the glowing white hallway of the hospital, Gwen Stratford slouched over her knees, pushing her elbows into her legs so she could rest her head. Her stamina was shot, but she wasn't planning on going home until everyone was checked out and all well. Pulling her long sleeves up to her palms, Gwen raised her head and lightly rubbed her face as she attempted to wake herself up. She took in several deep breaths and continued to shove the thoughts of the past few hours to the back of her mind. Her fingers gently ran themselves through her scarlet hair that was still wet from the rain prior. Gwen had refused to see a doctor; she didn't feel comfortable in hospitals ever since her accident with the power lines. Either way, as Gwen sat, she felt somewhat better than before. It had been about an hour, so the pills she swallowed dry at the receptionists' counter should be working.

But Shockwave jolted from the fake leather seat when a woman in a wheelchair zoomed past, which Gwen quickly identified as Oracle. Her tired grey eyes watched widely as the woman disappeared into Jubilee's and Nightwing's room. Carefully, Gwen pushed herself up to her feet with her arms and she limped through Oracle's path. As she pushed the door open, Gwen leaned up against the door frame and smiled to the two of her friends laying in bed. Her sides began to ache immediately, but as her arm gripped the frame harder, it faded; she was getting better.

"Looking good, guys." Gwen grinned toothily as her shaky voice solidified. Her grip on the frame dropped, allowing her arms cross over her chest. They did look good. A lot less bloody. That whole scene made Gwen worry, and with a small slap on her forehead, the images ceased for the time being.

[Oracle]

Oracle couldn't think of anything to say for a couple seconds. I'm sorry, Barbara. He had said. I love you... and you know I hate to put you through this... Those words that she had missed for such a long time. Enveloped in his arms she lowered her head onto his shoulder. Gently hugging him in return, trying not to antagonize his wounds more, the redhead whispered in his ear.

"I was so afraid, I thought I'd lost you. I - I love you."

There were no other words to say. It was enough just to be there with him and to know that he was alive and was going to be all right. To here him say it, her tears abated and when she looked up her face was calmer and clearer.

Grinning guiltily when she saw the young woman standing in the doorway, Oracle quickly asked.

"Shockwave - right?"

[Jubilee]

Jubilee watched the woman in a wheelchair roll in and smiled as she berated Nightwing. "Hiya." She said as she watched a girl stand in the door, she didn't know if Shockwave was just shy, or hated hospitals 'Hey Shockwave, why don't you come on in and have a seat? She said in as much of a friendly manner as she could. "Wow, sounds like you have a really big team." She said with awe, she knew most of those names, but would have to place faces with names.

[Dick Grayson]

As Dick held onto Barbara he sighed. He was also scared, though he wouldn't admit it. He was scared and in both physical and emotional pain. But he always had to put on a strong face, always had to wear a mask. Her words struck him and he closed his eyes and peered down as she spoke. "I know"

Their moment ended quickly. But it was a very deep one. It meant a lot. The two rarely expressed how much they cared for one another. He looked up to see Gwen standing nervously in the doorway and he tried his best to crack a tiny sardonic smile. "Still think I planned the whole thing?", he asked with a tiny laugh that quickly turned into a cough.

After a few uncomfortable moments he looked over to Jubilee. "Pretty big, and always growing. We may split into two teams some day.."

[Shockwave]

Gwen Stratford grinned and saluted to Oracle as she questioned her alias. "You got it!" She said as happily as she could, though her sides were hurting somewhat and she had just interrupted a loving moment between Nightwing and her. A blush crept to her cheeks and Gwen could only let out a laugh at her rudeness. It was nice to see Nightwing not as tight as he usually was. Maybe with a girl, he'll loosen up. Her grey eyes turned to Jubilee and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm good with this," She replied as she patted the wooden, white door frame.Truthfully, Gwen knew that she would hurt worse if she chose to move. Her stamina wasn't as well off as the others, especially since she refused to be seen. "Thank you for the offer, though." Gwen smiled sincerely and bowed her head gently.

As Dick spoke, Gwen's expression turned into a pout. "Hah hah." A light sarcasm bounced through her words. "I don't think you're in the condition to be so clever." She did feel foolish, though, but the whole situation with Trenton was emotionally frustrating for Gwen, for reasons that no one would really be interested in. Her joking eyes shifted into a truly happy appearance. It was great to see Nightwing was still his old self while healing. Hopefully the man would heal fast-- Shockwave was eager to learn some of his moves to keep himself from dying in combat.

Pushing some of her scarlet locks back, her grey eyes widened when the thought struck her. "You're planning on joining the Teen Titans, Jubilee?" Gwen's shocked expression curved into an excited smile. "Whoa! That's sweet!" Her eyes darted to everyone in the room at least two times before resting them back on Jubilee. It was really great that someone else she knew was joining, so she already had another friend in the group. So far, not many have met Shockwave, seeing as how she was new to everything. With fingers crossed mentally, Gwen hoped that Jubilee and her would become good friends. Nothing beats teamwork when everyone likes one another. Her eyebrow raised to Nightwing when he made the comment about the team splitting. He was joking, right? A joke about the large group? Dick certainly was cracking the jokes at the moment...

[Dick Grayson]

Dick closed his eyes and sank a little further into his hospital bed. He could still hear the voices of the three woman buzzing around him, but he still felt very weak and very much ashamed. He didn't very much like his young proteges seeing him in such a fall from grace.

After some moments in silent reserve he opened his tired blue eyes and smiled weakly. "I think I'm going to be needing a little help around the old base", he said in a slightly shaky voice. It was a horrible thought, to have to depend on others, if even for a few weeks or months. He looked up to Gwen and offered a playful shrug. "You know I can't turn it off"

He looked around the room and sighed before looking back at Barbara. "Don't...don't let Batman know", he said his face turning a bit pale as he considered the shame that would follow him.

[Batgirl]

Just then Batgirl walked into the room. "Oracle told me where you two were. I couldn't let my leader and one of my teammates get hurt without coming to check in with you."[/color]

Her first private thought was "Maybe I should see if Dick's going to need me to step in and help run the Teen Titans until he recovers. I could ask Oracle if the Birds could do without me for awhile."[/color] She then said to Dick "You know I'm always there for you in a pinch. Is there anything you need for me to do right now?"[/color]

[Jubilee]

"Make that three, I am Jubilee, the newest member of the Teen Titans, nice to meet you." She said as she sat up and looked around. She almost felt out of place here, she saw three of the Bat family and another member of the Titans, she decided to make the best of it and meet it with her usual peppy exuberance, as soon as she felt better. She looked up at Shockwave and asked "So, what have you been up to?"

[Oracle]

((Yes!! Am allowed back on the computer!!))

Oracle watched Dick out of the corner of her eye, smiling to herself now that she knew he would be okay. She would get the story of the fight out of somebody before long, but something told her that it was going to be a harsh subject for a long, long time. Still blushing slightly from both the unexpected hug and the sudden enterance of Shockwave, Oracle settled back in her chair.

Cleaning her glasses on her shirt, the two girls' conversation swirled around her, making the room somewhat more cheery place. At Nightwing's words, however, Babs started thinking. She had been getting lonely in her apartment day in day out. There wasn't much for her to do these days. then she decided, she would stay in the bird's nest for a while, at least until Dick was back on his feet. Literally and figuratively.

Don't... don't let Batman know. Nightwing's words snapped Barbara back to the present. Looking down at the man, she saw his face had gone a shade or two paler, something the redhead figured didn't have to do with the pain.

"Not a word." She agreed with a nod, having a pretty good idea what was going through Nightwing's head right then. Nobody wanted to Batman on your back, expecially after almost having died and being stuck immoble for what looked like it would be quite a while. "He's not even in Gothem right now. Last I checked he was in the watchtower, to do with the new JLA no doubt."

Batgirl entered just then and Barbara smiled at her charge. One big happy family She couldn't help but think wryly to herself.