Batman 4 - Batman & Robin (32 page)

Bruce looked at her askance. “Yes, you did,” he agreed. “And you’ll have plenty of time to savor the experience back at school.”

She stared at him. “School? After all we’ve been through together, you’d send me back to that place?”

Dick rolled his eyes. “Give up, Bruce. This is one argument you’re never going to win.” He glanced at Alfred. “You either, Al.”

Barbara clapped Dick on the shoulder. “I knew there was a reason I saved you from certain death.”

Dick turned to her.
“You
saved
me
?”

She nodded. “As I recall, yes.”

He thought about it for a moment. “Maybe you did at that.”

Barbara extended her hand. “Partners?”

Robin clasped her offering. “Partners,” he confirmed. Then the two of them turned to Bruce.

He stood, sighed, and enveloped both their hands in his own.
Why fight the inevitable?
he thought. “Partners.”

Alfred smiled from his place on the couch. “I do believe we’re going to need a bigger cave.”

“You can worry about that later,” said Bruce. “Right now, you need to get some rest.”

Alfred held up his hand. “If it’s all right with you, sir, I’d like to stay right here. I’ve had enough bed rest to last me a lifetime.”

“Hey, look,” said Barbara, facing the windows that looked toward Gotham. She pointed to the sky. “The Bat-Signal.”

Bruce turned and saw it emblazoned on the blanket of clouds. They appeared to have thickened and darkened over the last few minutes, as if gathering for some mighty outburst.

A storm coming, he thought. In Gotham, it seemed, there was
always
a storm coming. But this time, he wouldn’t have to weather it alone.

He took some comfort in that as he headed for the grandfather clock that led down to the Batcave . . . with Dick and Barbara close on his heels.

M
ICHAEL
J
AN
F
RIEDMAN
, a
New York Times
bestselling author, has written twenty-two novels over the course of his career, including fifteen
Star Trek
and
Star Trek: The Next Generation
books. Friedman has also written more than 150 comic books, most of them for DC Comics.

His most prominent work to date is
Reunion,
the first
Star Trek: The Next Generation
hardcover. In 1991
Reunion
was included by the New York City Library system on its recommended reading list. Friedman has been profiled by the
New York Times, Newsday,
CBS radio, and various television stations in the United States as well as by science fiction magazines around the world. He lives on Long Island with his wife and two sons.