Silence

Chapter 38

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Dick's POV

He hadn't left her side since they'd made it to the Bio-Ship.

It had nearly killed him to watch her struggle against something he couldn't fight. He'd held her, not caring what the Team thought as he tried to calm her. She didn't stop fighting until M'gann entered her mind and brought her back to reality. When Willow looked into his eyes, and he saw the recognition in them, he shook with relief. He knew deep down she was going to be okay, but now he wondered if her mind would be.

She fell unconscious, and they brought her to the Bio-Ship. The Joker and his men had been arrested, and Sanchez was admitted to the hospital for minor injuries. The Team was grateful there hadn't been any casualties.

M'gann hadn't told them what she saw in Willow's mind, what had terrified Willow so thoroughly that she wasn't willing to emerge from her nightmare. M'gann said nothing as she held an unconscious Willow while Nightwing dealt with the remaining goons. She only stared at her friend with sorrowful eyes. Even after they'd flown away from the abandoned lab in Blüdhaven where the Joker had been hiding, M'gann hadn't said a word. When Superboy asked her what happened, she'd burst into tears. Superboy had to take over flying after that.

All the while, Dick hadn't taken his sight off Willow. The mask remained on her face, her wig loosened to reveal the red hair beneath. Her lips were cracked and scabbed. Her cheeks were covered in grime and tear stains. The sight of her was almost too much for him to bear, but he refused to leave her. Even when they arrived at Mount Justice, Dick had carried her into the medical bay. He only left when M'gann and Black Canary had to finish cleaning her in private.

The hour or so spent waiting to go back in were the longest in his life. He went to his own room to change and clean himself. After everything that had happened, he could care less about the bile staining his suit. If that was the price to pay to see Willow alive and safe, he was willing to pay it a hundred more times. Yet, Dick knew that would not be the only price.

Dick sat in the med bay now, watching as Willow slept. She seemed so peaceful, almost unaware of the horror she'd seen these past three days. Three days. He'd been exposed to Scarecrow's fear gas before, but never for three days. Batman had said the liquid toxin would have been far more potent than the gas. If she was still sane after today, it would be a miracle.

If his thoughts weren't on what Willow had just been through, they were on what would happen when she woke up. He was desperate for her to wake up, but also dreaded the thought. When she woke up, it would mean having to explain to her exactly how they were able to find her. He promised himself he would be prepared for whatever came next, but he wasn't sure he could keep that promise.

He'd already broken his promise to Willow.

He felt dizzy from the war raging in his mind. He had been forced to make a choice between keeping his promise to her or keeping his promise to himself. He'd chosen to protect her over anything else, and he reminded himself of that every time he saw her sleeping in the hospital bed.

Dick's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a groan. His gaze snapped to the bed where Willow was beginning to stir. He alerted Batman and M'gann, but no one else just yet. He didn't want her to be overcrowded with people and questions.

M'gann didn't even bother opening the door and phased through the floor. Batman wasn't far behind her.

"I don't want to startle her," Dick said. "I saw what the fear toxin did to her. She needs time to adjust."

M'gann nodded, and Batman, though he didn't respond, didn't argue either. Dick approached the edge of the bed as Willow's eyes began to open. Dick wasn't sure he was breathing when she met his gaze. For several moments, they simply stared at each other. Dick smiled when he noticed a single gold fleck in her eye.