(Dc Jason Todd) Wrong Number

I'm sorry, it's late.

 The scene is so familiar as Lucas and I stride out of the prison. Smoke trailing us. Reinforcements going inside to treat affected victims. Going in to neutralize any other threats. But the threats are gone, and Lucas and I feel the blood on us. As soon as Hood had left we'd been swarmed. The other person in the room lost their mask and had become affected by the gas. Lashing out against us, trying to kill Lucas with a pencil. Luke had to beat him off with his fists, not wanting to shoot the man. In the meantime I had to hold the door. Fighting off anyone trying to get in, trying to shoot me, trying to get me.

But now, as Lucas and I walked to the ambulances we took deep breaths of the cool Gotham air. It hurt me. It made me want to scream and cry out in pain. Bu that's the price I paid for an immunity I suppose. By body feeling like it was burning. Slight paranoia, heart rate increased yet steady, pupils reacting to light so much differently than they should. Making me more alert to everything I saw. My hearing so sensitive that just the sound of my own breathing was deafening. The next twenty four hours would be hell.

Six hours of paperwork, debriefing, being asked the same questions over and over and over until I felt like I never existed before sitting in the room. It's twelve hours of observation at a hospital and treatment for the gas. For me, the treatment was worse than the gas. It sucked all of my energy from my body. Made me slow, and it only made me feel like I was in more danger then I was when I was affected by the gas.

Lucas, who doesn't need observation, stays with me, and drives me home after.

"They let you keep the uniform." He hums and I hum back to tired to form words.

This is where I see my ghosts. When sleep has hold of me, and is creeping it's way to darken my mind. To make me malleable and weak. Lucas gets me into my apartment and I tell him to go home. But he doesn't. He knows me and takes me to my couch. He sits down with me and turns on the T.V.

It's so familiar. It's been so long but our decompression routine is the same. Watching T.V., just existing with another person who was real, and falling asleep. Lucas wakes up first and he makes breakfast. When I pull myself out of a hellish dream and sluggishly make my way to the kitchen.

"Contract's up- you still going to work for the force?" he asks.

"If they give me a deal I might... I offered last time to be a consultant or a single cell force." I breath as he slides me a coffee.

"Being a batman of the law huh?" He jokes and I scoff.

"It's just a license to kill pretty much."

"Think I can join as a consultant." He asks and I humm.

"It's not below the law enforcement agency to hire people like us."

"People like us- you mean others." He smile.

"Others, I like that. Speaking of Others, I can't believe Red Hood showed up." I breath and he nods to me.

"Definitely a surprise- You seemed to work well with the guy."

"I'm just glad he wasn't shooting at me. I'm more surprised Robin was there with him."

"You think Hood's getting along with them again?" Lucas asks and I sigh.

"I hope to god." I drink my coffee and Lucas nods.

We eat our breakfast. Talk about how Lucas' club and bar is doing. Tells me then the next fight date is. I agree to medic.