Present Day

It wasn't a long drive to San Francisco, really, but I'd apparently fallen asleep at one point. And I know this because the thing that woke me up was a sudden slapping at my arm.

I opened my eyes and turned to complain at Jason only to find that the vine piece I kept so handy had grown out and was wrapped tight around his neck. "What the fuck?" was all I managed to blurt out before it receded quickly, leaving him gasping for air and clutching at his throat.

"I could say the same thing," he said hoarsely. "I know you just died and everything but a poke to wake you up is not worth me dying, okay? I don't have that resurrection option."

"I swear I had nothing to do with that and I have no idea why they keep attacking you in my sleep."

"Yeah, well maybe have Dick look into that when he gets a chance. We're here," he replied bitterly, rubbing lightly at the redness that was his neck. He pointed to the building across the street from us but barely looked at it himself. "That's the place; it has a motion sensor activated camera so all you have to do is stand in front of it and it'll alert them upstairs. If it isn't Dick who answers, just tell them you're a friend of his or mine, in trouble, and they should let you up."

I stared at him in silence until he turned to look at me and shrugged. "What?"

"Those words sound a lot like instructions from a person who has no intention of going with me," I said, angling myself towards him.

"I'm not," Jason said simply and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hey, you're the one who needs the help, not me. I don't want to be anywhere near this place right now."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I laughed sarcastically. "Apparently, somehow, I gave you the impression that I did. Let me clear that up for you; I don't want to be here. Possibly even less than you do. And maybe I do need to be here, where as you don't. Doesn't change the fact that if you leave me here on my own, I will leave. And then you'll have left your motorcycle in another city for no reason at all."

"Doesn't bother me any, I'll just have Alfred send for it or something."

"Yeah? And maybe I'll let Hurricane and his backers know that I'm alive and well and let them think I'm still home. Bet money they would go to further lengths to ensure I'm dead and stay that way this time; the kind of lengths that decimate whole buildings and anything in its surrounding area. Including parking lots and all that's left in them."

"Are you fucking serious right now?" Jason laughed incredulously. "You're trying to blackmail me with the demise of my bike? Just because you're trying to avoid Dick for some reason?"

"Well, there's that and also this unshakeable need to keep you around to entertain me," I smiled.
"Honestly, I've never met anyone so prone to being a victim of plant abuse. Which says a lot when you consider how we met." Jason didn't respond, just quietly stared across the street almost haunted. "Jason, did something happen to you here?"

"Not physically in this building, no," he answered quietly. "But definitely as an affect of it. Of me being apart of it."

"I know this won't do anything for you in anyway, but I have my own demons with this place too," I offered up, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears. I saw his head turn slightly to look at me out of the corner of his eye, but I didn't acknowledge it. "I don't just mean Dick, either. A few years ago, I used to live here too, with Dick and Donna. My room was just down the hall from hers and I spent a lot of time just bothering her. I was like her annoying younger sister; if Donna did it, then I wanted to too."

I smiled at the memory, momentarily drifting off into the past.

Tricking her into racing around the floor, knowing I was going to lose everytime. Pranking Dick when we got really bored or if he annoyed one of us. Just talking about random things or telling me about Themyscira.

I don't think there was a corner in that place that I could turn, without flooding myself with those memories. Each one of them a sharp stab to my chest, knowing now that she was gone.

"You lived here? So, wait, you were a Titan?"

I snorted. "No, not at all. While I was here, the Titans weren't a thing yet. I mean, it could've been a thought in the League's collective mind for all I know, but it wasn't started. I did stay here a few times after the Titans were formed, but I never was one myself. My tactics didn't really fall in line with anyone else's."

"You mean, Dick's," Jason said with a roll of his eyes as if he understood. It didn't surprise me to say that he didn't really. "Yeah, I've had some issues there myself but they kept me on the team anyway. Must be because I'm awesome."

I couldn't help but let out a laugh at that that earned me a mixture of attitude and amusement from the boy.

"Actually, I was talking about Bruce. For awhile there, Dick and I were on the same page." Which was the problem that gave birth to our mutual separation and it's resulting agreement.

"Anyway," I continued, not wanting to keep getting off schedule. I wouldn't admit it out loud, but I was growing antsy just sitting in the car out front.

If Daniel and his friends went back to my apartment and found no body to prove I was dead, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that they wouldn't go looking for me. As much as I hated it, at least if I were inside the Titans base there were security measures to keep me covered while I figured things out.

"My point is, there's a lot more to why I don't want to be here than you think. So, in a way, I get how you feel. I'm just asking that you stay here with me for a little while. Partially because you're the only person who really saw anything about my supposed resurrection. But mostly because I like to think we've become, or are on the road to becoming, friends. I don't have very many of those and it would suck to lose another one."

Jason stared at me in silence for a minute, whether assessing me and my words or thinking of a sarcastic remark, I didn't know. I was almost one hundred percent sure my words weren't going to make a difference either way, but I did mean them.

Luckily for me, that seemed to show; even if it meant Jason was going to be a stubborn ass in accepting it.

"Fine, I'll stay, but only for a few days. Then I'm gone." He took the key from the ignition a little aggressively and opened the car door mumbling "stupid girls always manipulating me..."

I was curious of the words, but bit down on my lip to keep from questioning. Instead I opened my door and followed after him.

*****

The elevator ride up felt claustrophobic despite it only being me, Jason and our meager belongings.

The air seemed to grow thinner the higher up we rode until finally I realized that I was the problem.

It was like my body could tell we were getting closer to Dick, my nerves buzzing within me and making it hard for me to breathe normally. Once that was clear, I focused on calming myself, reminding me of why I was really here. If I could focus on only that, then maybe I could ignore everything else.

I mean, I doubted it but a girl could hope.

I took a deep breath as the elevator stopped, it's doors opening to reveal the familiar entrance hall. For a reason I can't explain, walking down it with Jason felt something akin to walking death row.

Though I found it hard to imagine an execution at the hands of two teenagers; a thin Asian boy with green hair and a bright smile standing next to a surprisingly buff blue eyed boy whose smile rivaled the sun. I didn't recognize either of them, but their energy was so contagiously happy that I found myself doing the same. My nerves even seemed to calm a bit in their presence.

"Jason, man, it's good to see you," the green haired boy said excitedly, almost looking ready to jump Jason with a hug. I tried to imagine Jason's response to that sort of thing, but instead I saw the image of him being choked by a plant again. I winced internally, refocusing on the scene before me. "It's been weird without you here the last few weeks, you know? With you gone and Rachel in Themyscira, I've had to spar with Hank and Dawn, mostly. And they kind of kick my ass. A lot."

I felt something nudge me from behind and I looked over to find a white dog sniffing at me curiously. I offered my hand cautiously and he nudged it until my palm ran along the top of his head. I bent my knees slightly to scratch behind his ears when something silver and glinting caught my eyes from his collar.

That familiar 'S' insignia.

"Whoa, is this Superman's dog?" I couldn't help but blurt out. "Is Superman here?"

"No, no, that's Krypto," the blue eyed boy said chirpily. "He doesn't really belong to anyone, I guess. He's apart of our team."

Jason looked at me in disbelief. "Have you never met Superman? How?"

"You do realize that living with Batman doesn't automatically mean meeting everyone in the Justice League, right? Or at least, not for all of us."

"Wait, you used to live with Batman? Are you Batgirl? I've been dying to meet Batgirl," the green haired boy cut in. "I-I'm Gar, a friend of Dick and Jason's. And this is Conner; he's like the genetic love child of Lex Luthor and Superman."

"Does he always talk this fast?" I leaned in towards Jason to ask.

"Pretty much," he nodded.

I laughed once and opened my mouth to prepare to correct Gar's assumptions when another voice broke in. "Gar, Conner, I think I have something for you guys."

I snapped my mouth shut as I watched the all too familiar shape of Dick Grayson approach us. His head was bent over a tablet screen, brown hair falling into his face despite the obvious amount of times he'd run his hand through it. He looked a lot taller and stronger than I remembered him which only made me realize how much time had gone by.

Two years and a lot of baggage could make more difference than all the time in the world, where we were concerned.

"Dick, you won't believe whose back," Gar said with no recognition of the words he'd just spoken. "Jason; and he brought Batgirl."

"Batgirl?" Dick repeated, dark eyes looking up and catching mine.

I watched him jerk to a stop at a distance, his body going rigid with tension. His lips parted and moved slightly as though whispering something to himself. He looked me up and down without ever looking away and I swear I could feel it on my skin.

I fought against myself to not do the same.

"She's not Batgirl," Jason said beside me. I didn't bother addressing it.

"Grayson. Looking as good as ever."

"Madalyn... we had an agreement," Dick responded dryly, dark eyes just barely seeing me now. It was like me speaking had broken a spell over him, making him distant. His eyes drifted back down to the tablet in his hands and I could tell from the circles under them, that something kept him otherwise preoccupied.

I balled my hand into a fist, nails digging into my palm to keep from asking him what that was. "We do," I agreed, forcing my voice to be as neutral as possible. "But I need your help. And you know that's not something I generally like to admit."

He nodded once without looking back at me. "What is it?"

"Someone killed me. Though, clearly it didn't stick."

My words were followed up with silence but if it weren't for what Dick did next, I would've thought he'd gone deaf or hadn't heard me somehow.

The muscles in his jaw tightened while the tablet in his hands fell from his grip. Between one blink and the next, Conner was next to him with the tablet while Dick's hair was made wilder from a gust of wind. His hands were balled into fists at his sides, but his face was more haunted than before.

"You mean someone tried to kill you," Dick said, attempting to make sense of my words.

I didn't blame him, all things considered.

"No," I answered slowly, pulling the neckline of my V- neck shirt over so he could better see the remains of the wounds. "I meant exactly what I said. Someone killed me last night, Dick. I don't know how or why, but I came back."

Dick took a step towards me to get a better look at the scarred skin but then paused and shook his head. "Those are at least a few weeks old—"

"I was there, bro," Jason spoke up. "Those are from last night."

"All the shit we've been through together," I said as openly as I could, hoping to convince him. "When did I ever lie to you about something like this?"

We shared a silent look before Dick nodded again and I let out a sigh of relief. "Gar, you and Conner go suit up," he said, looking over at the two boys in leader mode. "There's a disturbance a few blocks from here. Everything you need to know is on the tablet. If you run into any problems, just reach out and I'll get there soon as I can."

"Yeah, okay," Gar said, semi- reluctantly. He was looking between Jason, Dick and I with a curiosity burning across his face that made it clear he wanted answers. He wanted to know who I was and how what I said could be true.

That made two of us.

"Come on, Conner. Krypto," he said, leading the pair down the hall.

I crossed my arms over my chest and relocated myself to the kitchen. Sitting on a stool, I dropped my bag to the floor beside me and looked back at the Robins still across the room. "Can we get the Q & A part of the day over with?" I sighed. "I'm actually really exhausted and just want to crash on a bed for a few hours."

"About that," Jason said and I knew he was going to try and wiggle his way free even before he finished. "Do I really have to be here for this?"

"Yes," Dick and I said in unison, while Dick joined me in the kitchen too.

Jason rolled his eyes and nodded, mumbling "I thought so" as he slid on to the stool next to me.

Dick stood across from us, leaning against the counter beside the fridge with his arms locked over his chest. I dug my nails into my palms again, trying to distract myself from memories of sparring and being pinned by those same arms.

"Tell me exactly what happened the last few days," he said firmly. "Starting with how you two crossed paths."

So we did.

Jason started our tale, explaining he'd been training and such on his own and overheard one of D'amato's men talking about the job at the gala. I cut in to explain my own presence at the gala, being sure to mention I was there to steal from the thieves with no intention of returning anything. Our agreement may have been broken for the moment, but if I reminded us enough of the reason it existed in the first place hopefully it would help us keep our distance.

Jason picked up the story again with Hurricane's appearance, leading us into our short venture in Bruce's safe house before crashing at my apartment. Our stories split off while Jason explained his encounter outside the building and I explained mine within. I finished with luring Hurricane to leave and Jason continued with my apparent death and burial by plant life.

Hearing it in detail made a shiver run through me.

"Then what?" Dick asked, focused on Jason as though I weren't even there. I could see his fingers curling at his biceps, pulling on the short sleeve with tension.

"Then we woke up," Jason said with a shrug.

"Neither one of us really knows what happened after Jason was knocked out," I sighed. "I don't even remember waking up. All I know is Jason spoke to me and I just sort of snapped into consciousness and realized I was standing out in the sun, drinking in the warmth. From there, Jason suggested we come here."

He scoffed and mumbled "'Suggested.'" I kicked him in the shin and he cursed under his breath, glaring at me before looking back at Dick.

"She said she doesn't know who Hurricane was talking about when he said they thought she died, but I think I do. I think it's CADMUS again."

"CADMUS?" Dick repeated, brows drawn down angrily. "Why would you think that?"

"I don't know, it just kind of made sense to me," Jason answered. "Her origin story isn't all that much different than Conner's. She woke up, no memories of her past but with spliced abilities she didn't know about that are identical to those of other people—"

"Madds isn't a clone," Dick interrupted him, still not looking at me. Considering the flinch I made at the old nickname, it was probably for the best. "Bruce and I did a full work up of tests on her blood when we first took her in. Everything was normal."

"To be fair, Grayson, it was a pretty long time ago," I spoke up. "Maybe there was something you missed or don't remember—"

"Collectively, I spent days, maybe even weeks going over the results," Dick replied, looking at me fiercely. "Believe me when I say there was nothing abnormal in them that would indicate you're anything but a natural born human." I bit down on my tongue, surprised by his intensity on the subject.

He cared as much, if not more than, if we were discussing his own validity.

"Okay, so she's not a clone," Jason said. "That doesn't entirely mean that CADMUS isn't involved somehow."

"It doesn't mean that they are either. But it couldn't hurt to look into," Dick said with a nod. "Now that we know they exist and what it is they're up to, if CADMUS is involved with Madalyn's past we'll get the answers. Whatever it takes."

"I appreciate that," I told him, raising from my stool and leaning over to grab my bag. When I looked back at him it was with the most emotionless expression I could muster for the words about to leave my mouth. "Hopefully it doesn't take another death in the family."

Dick's face paled immediately and I felt a pang of guilt in my chest but fought to ignore it. If we were going to be around each other, it would be easier if he hated me.

"Is my room still available, or does someone else have it now?" I asked before he could speak.

His sad eyes focused on me, like he wanted me to know that he wanted to say so much more. "No, it's still empty if you want to use it—"

"Cool, thanks," I interrupted and made my way towards the hall. From the corner of my eye, I saw his mouth open to say something else but I sped around the corner so he couldn't stop me.

Distantly, I heard Jason say, "Yeah...I told her about Donna."

The last thing I heard before disappearing down another corner was a loud thumping sound followed by Dick's voice saying "Fuck!"

Just wanted to drop a quick THANK YOU for getting me to 8K reads and 330+ votes! I honestly didn't think so many people would be interested in this, so it means a lot.

In other news, what'd you guys think of this chapter? How did you feel about the little reunion between Madalyn and Dick?

Personally, I loved how I managed to give a mini reunion to procrastinate the REAL one coming next chapter. It's going to need to be done in private for all the personal stuff they're about to unleash 0.0