Title: Governor's Ball

Author: Charlene Edwards (edwardslaw1@earthlink.net)

Disclaimer: All characters are owned by DC, not me. I'm just
having fun with them.

Rating: PG

Story Synopsis: Dick and Barbara go to a party, but there are
gate crashers as well.

Thanks to: Noel and Smitty for betaing. You guys are great.

***

Governor's Ball
By Charlene Edwards

***

Dick Grayson covered his head with his pillow in a futile attempt to
drown out the sound of the ringing phone. It was futile because the
phone kept ringing. With a moan, Dick turned over and grabbed the
receiver.

"What?" he mumbled.

"Good morning to you too," Bruce said flatly on the other end.

"Well ...?"

"Well what?"

"What do you want? It's only 11:20. This is too early." Dick
grumbled as he started rubbing his eyes.

"I do need you to do something tonight."

"Tonight? I think I have to work the late shift."

"You have the night off; I checked the BPD computers."

Dick moaned as he pulled the pillow back toward his face.

"You're going to the governor's ball."

"WHAT?" Dick yelled as he sat up, tossing his pillow across the
room. "I'm doing what? Bruce you know I hate those society things, why
can't you go?"

"Because I'm working on a case. Two Face is out of Arkham. I can't
go."

"What about Lucius?"

"It's the governor's second inaugural ball. This time, it's got to
be a member of the family."

"What about Alfred?"

"Dick! The ball starts at nine tonight. Gotham Civic and Convention
Center. You can take a date." Bruce replied as he hung up without giving
Dick an opportunity to try and wiggle out of this 'assignment'.

"Damn, I hate when he does this to me." Dick started to roll over in
the bed and go back to sleep. Then his eyes widened as he thought of
Bruce's last statement. "Date! Hmm, this could be fun." He sat up on the
bed and dialed Babs' number.

"Hello."

"Hey there gorgeous! Are you busy tonight?"

"Just working, Batman's looking for Two Face."

"I've heard," Dick growled. "Take the night off. He can do his own
detective work. Go with me to the governor's ball."

"Go where? You're going to the inaugural ball? How did Bruce rope
you into this?"

"Unpleasant story. But he said I could bring a date, sooooo ... "

"Do I get dinner?"

"Anywhere you want."

"What time?"

"Pick you up at seven?"

"Sounds great. I'll make the reservations. I do love seeing you in a
tux."

"Just wear something sexy, wear something green."

"Bye Short Pants."

***

Her doorbell rang. She knew it was Dick, but she checked the
monitors before opening the door anyway. His smile was infectious. He
wore a black Armani tuxedo. His bow tie was a little lopsided. Giggling
softly, she reached up to straighten it.

"Living with Alfred, one would think you would have learned how to
tie these things by now."

"Never wanted to be a good student," he said leaning down and
kissing her on the cheek. "I brought you something."

"Dick, you didn't have to."

"Yes I did, I'm making you go to this society thing, that's torture
enough."

"Oh Dick." she replied shaking her head. He handed her a slender
box. It was wrapped in green -- to match her dress she was sure --
Carefully she unwrapped the package and opened the black jewelry case.
Her eyes grew large as she studied the emerald and diamond necklace.

"Thought it would look good with the dress," he said as he took the
necklace and fastened it around her neck.

"You've never seen this dress."

"But I know you. I knew it would look good. You have great taste."

"Flattery. What do you want?"

"I'll let you know after the ball. Where are we going to eat?"

"Top of the Tower."

"Pricey," he said with a wide grin. "Cool. I'll put it on Bruce's
tab. That'll teach him for dragging me into this."

"Kicking and screaming I'm sure," Babs said with a smile as she
picked up her wrap. "Are you ready?"

"For dinner with you, yes. For being thrown to the lions in the
Coliseum, no; but I'll do it."

***

The Civic and Convention Center was the heart of Gotham's high
society this night. Glittery gowns and sparkling jewelry lit up the
shadowy rooms. Music from live bands filtered from the different
ballrooms. Dick and Barbara mingled with the crowds; stopping for the
obligatory idle chatter amongst the elite of Gotham.

"Dick Grayson!" he heard from behind him. Barbara started to giggle,

trying to go unnoticed.

"Oh God, no." He groaned at the shrill voice calling his name.
Turning around and putting on his best smile, he greeted the overly
hectic woman known as "Gotham Gertie" the gossip columnist for the
Gotham Gazette.

"Why, I haven't seen you in years! Where is Brucie?"

"Away on business. So I'm representing the family tonight."

"Is Brucie WITH anyone on this business trip?"

"Uh ... "

"And where have you been keeping yourself?"

"Bludhaven, mostly."

"And here with Barbara Gordon I see. "

Barbara looked up, choking back the laughter that she had been
desperately trying to suppress. "Hi."

Dick looked around the room. He was Nightwing after all, he should
be able to escape from this situation. A few gas pellets here ...

"Dick, there's the Governor." Barbara said.

"Governor, where's the governor? Oh I must go see him! Excuse me
please," Gertie said as she made a beeline toward the newly reelected
governor.

Dick pulled a chair up and sat next to Barbara.

"Thank you. I owe you for that one."

"Hey I didn't want to see a headline saying I'm Bruce Jr's latest
bimbo."

"Very funny. You want something to drink?"

"No, I'm good. Let's just sit and people watch a while."

"Sounds fun."

Soon the band started playing 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. Dick
watched Barbara's face as the first few strings of the song started. She

had always loved that song. He got a twinkle in his eyes as he watched
her. Leaning in close to her he whispered in her ear,

"May I have this dance?"

"What?" she said as she looked at him, surprise in her voice and
eyes.

"Trust me." he said as he scooped her out of her chair, his hands
around her waist. Barbara placed her arms around his neck and he gently
moved her to the center of the dance floor. Barbara caught a glimpse of
the two of them in the long mirrors lining one of the ballroom's walls
-- her long green dress flowing as they 'danced'. It appeared that she
was really dancing. No, more than appeared -- she was dancing. Dick was
the only person in the world who could give her back the things she
thought she had lost forever. It felt so wonderful being in his strong
arms. They were oblivious to the world. Oblivious until ...

Gun shots fired in the air.

Dick and Barbara turned toward the entrance. There stood Harvey
Dent, Two-Face. His goons, about twenty or so, were moving throughout
the ballroom. It was an obvious robbery.  Why here? Why Two-Face? Why
now?

Dick turned toward Barbara's wheelchair. Five of Two Face's men
stood between them and the chair. Nightwing needed to make an
appearance, but Dick had to protect Barbara first. As he wondered what
to do, Dent caught sight of the young couple and walked toward them, his
men following him.

"Wayne's son," Two Face stated causing Dick and Barbara to turn
their attention back in his direction "You've grown since I was last
invited to Bruce's home. And you're Barbara Gordon. What luck I'm having
today."

"What do you mean?" Dick growled out as he held Barbara protectively
to him.

"Two for the price of one," Two Face responded as he took Barbara's
hand and held it to his grotesque mouth in a continental kiss. Then,
without warning, he pulled her by the arm pulling her away from Dick's
grasp causing her to fall.

"Babs!" Dick shouted as he lunged for her, only to be stopped by
four of Two Face's men.

"You two are invited to a private post ball party," Two Face stated.

Dick felt the gun hit him from behind, not once but twice. Barbara's
cry was the last sound he heard as everything went black.

***

Batman silently landed on the roof of Gotham's Police Headquarters.
The Bat Signal lighting the sky. Commissioner James Gordon stood
overlooking the skyline of the city.

"Two-Face?"

"Yes. The Governor's inaugural ball. The Governor's second term. We
should have known. He took hostages this time."

"Hostages? Who?"

"He took my daughter, Barbara."

Batman's eyes grew wide as Gordon stated this. Where was Dick? How
had Two Face taken Barbara from Dick?

"He also took Bruce Wayne's son Dick Grayson. I haven't been able to

get word to Wayne yet."

Batman felt his stomach cramp at Gordon's words.

"What does he want?"

"The message he left was twenty-two million dollars in two hours or
he'd send the kids home in pieces."

"I'm on it."

Commissioner Gordon turned to face Batman, only to find he stood
alone on the roof.

***

Dick started to stir as he regained consciousness. He felt a soft
hand gently rubbing his head. His head. Oh God, it hurt. Now that he had
wakened, he really wished he hadn't.

"Ugh, Babs ... "

"I'm here," she said softly.

He realized he was on the floor, his head in her lap. Where were
they ... ?

"What ... what happened?"

"Two Face."

Dick remembered. Remembered the governor's ball and Two Face's
appearance. He sat up. A wave of nausea hit him -- hard. But he shrugged
it off, leaning against the wall. He looked at Babs. She sat on the cold
concrete floor, her flowing ball gown puddling around her. He smiled.

"What are you smiling at former Boy Wonder?"

"You. You're beautiful, you know that?"

"We're in a pickle and you're flirting. You're hopeless, you know."

"Incorrigible's a better description," he said as he surveyed the
room. No furniture, no windows, one door. Concrete walls, concrete
floors, and concrete ceiling. Not exactly escape friendly. "Where's your
chair?"

"Two Face didn't exactly feel I needed mobility. One less escaping
hostage to worry about."

Dick forced himself to stand. He knew he had a concussion, but he
had been trained to ignore his injuries and do his job. Right now his
job was protecting Babs. That was a task he did not intend to fail. Dick

staggered slightly as he started to walk around the room. His left hand
reached out to the wall, steadying himself  as he started searching for
ways to escape.

"You're probably going to need stitches for that cut. You were still
bleeding after we were thrown in here. You really need to work on your
dating skills."

Dick turned to face her. "Cute. Do you know what Two Face wants?"

"Twenty-two million dollars."

"Is that all?"

"In two hours."

"Oh."

"Or he'll send us home in pieces."

"Ouch."

***

"Any word on a possible location, Sir?"

"Nothing Alfred. Not a thing," Batman said as he busily worked
through computer programs, desperately trying to get a lead -- any lead
-- on Dick and Barbara's locations. "I've got Robin, Batgirl, and Azrael
scouring the city and still nothing. There's only an hour left before
his deadline. Robin contacted the Huntress. Even she's helping."

"Mr. Fox called to report that the banks are assembling the money."

"Lucius still thinks I'm in California?"

"Yes Sir. Dinner with Bunny."

"Um."

The bat computer beeped to life with an incoming message.

"Batman here."

"Where is Oracle?" Black Canary demanded as she appeared on the
screen.

"Unavailable."

"Ok Bats, let me put this another way. Where is Barbara?"

Batman looked at Dinah Lance, the Black Canary. So she knew Barbara
was Oracle. So much for the proposition that he was the all knowing Bat.

His own 'family' was so good at keeping him in the dark about things.
Perhaps, they didn't tell him because they assumed he already knew.

"She's been kidnapped, along with date."

"Kidnapped? By who?" Dinah said solemnly.

"Two Face."

"With her date? How did they manage to kidnap Dick?"

"You know Dick Grayson?"

"And I know he's Nightwing! Two Face has them and you're just
sitting on your kiester in the Batcave! Why aren't you out looking for
them?"

"I have operatives in the field."

"I have operatives in the field," Dinah parroted back. "You didn't
call me! Why didn't you call me? Don't you think I'm good enough for you
to bother spending a dime and letting me in on this."

"If you want to help find them, I'd suggest contacting Robin and
coordinating your efforts rather than this pointless chatter," Batman
said coldly as he cut the connection.

"I'm afraid that she is not be pleased with you, Sir," Alfred said
as he moved closer to the man he had raised like his own son.

"Right now, I don't care. All I care about is finding Dick," Batman
said as he continued working.

Alfred placed a comforting hand on Batman's shoulder.

***

Dick sat back down beside of Barbara. Without his Nightwing costume
and equipment, the room seemed escape proof. He let out an audible sigh,
his frustration clearly showing. Barbara reached out and took his hand.
He turned and looked at her. Her beautiful green eyes shone at him as
she managed a slight smile.

"Some hero I am, I can't even get us out of this room."

"You're not Harry Houdini."

"I know. I was trained by someone better."

"Dick! Don't start that."

"If I wasn't so dizzy," he said as he rubbed his eyes trying to rub
away the blur in his vision.

"Don't worry, our dads will find us," she said as she leaned her
head over on his shoulder.

Dick placed his arm around Barbara, pulling her closer to him. He
had to protect her. Despite the concussion, despite the fact that he
couldn't find a way out of the room. He would protect Barbara.

***

Robin's information had come through. He and Black Canary had
'enticed' a couple of street hustlers into revealing where they had last
seen Two Face and his men.

"Batman to all operatives. Convene on the corner of Second and Duel
streets. Twin Theaters."

"Master Bruce..."

"I know where he's at. I'm going to get my boy back Alfred."

***

Barbara looked around the room, eyeing the metal door directly
across from her. She wondered about an escape plan. It seemed hopeless.
Taking his hand, she pulled Dick's arm around her tighter. The glitter
of her emerald and diamond necklace reflected off Dick's watch.

"Diamonds ... "

"What Babs?"

"Dick, do you have your pocket knife?"

"Yeah, I think I do, why?"

"Cut off about a foot long section of my dress,." she said as she
started fidgeting with the clasp of her necklace.

"What?"

"Just do it," Barbara ordered.

"Okay," he responded as he complied with her orders.

"And give me your watch."

"Are we pack ratting?"

"No, we're getting out of here. You feel up to taking out the
guards?"

He saw the gleam in her eyes as he handed her his watch. "Yeah," he
responded with a grin.

"Help me to the door. Here," she said as she handed him the watch.
"Use your knife and open up the back of the watch. We can use the
materials to make a miniature bomb."

Dick watched, obviously impressed, as Barbara stuffed the cut
portion of her dress into the lock. Using the watch and the diamonds in
the necklace, she had a fuse and spark was all she needed.

"Why didn't I think of this?"

"You've got a concussion, remember," she said as she looked up at
him with a smile. "Did I tell you what a fun date you are Short Pants?"

"Yeah, you did that already. Don't know if I want you to do that
again," he said with a chuckle.

"Okay, fuse, spark, we just need a big enough bang to jar the
tumblers. Here goes ... " she said as she finished her make- shift bomb.

Dick grabbed her as the spark was made, quickly moving her away from the
door to the other side of the small room. Then he moved into position
waiting for the guards.

Alerted by the sound of the lock blowing, two burly guards burst in.

They grabbed Dick by his arms. As they held his arms outstretched, he
flipped over their backs pulling them with his weight. As the guards
released him,  Dick swung out with a roundhouse kick, connecting with
the first guard's chin. As quickly as the guard fell, Dick grabbed the
second guard by the arm, twisting it as he smashed the guard into the
concrete wall. Both guards were out. Dick turned, running to Barbara and
gently picking her up.

"Ready to change clubs?"

"Yeah, this party's been kind of boring."

"Boring! You've been with me," Dick said feigning a hurt tone.

"Exactly," Babs said with a wink.

"Want me to leave you here?"

"Sure, if you want to explain it to our dads," she said with a
wicked grin.

***

Black Canary turned toward Robin as the last of Two Face's men hit
the floor.

"I still say we were suppose to WAIT for Batman," Robin said
nervously.

"You wait for big bad Bats, I'm finding Oracle," Dinah said as she
turned around into the chest of Batman.

"..."

"Bats! Well, you finally decided to join the party."

"Canary."

"I'm going to find Oracle, if you want to help, come on," she said
as she started to move toward the center of the abandoned theater.

"Where's Two Face?" Batman asked.

"What?" she responded. "Oh him, yeah haven't seen him yet. We'll
deal with him when we find him."

"Oh God," Robin whispered to Batgirl. "Here it comes."

"I already have." Batman continued.

"Have what?" Dinah asked.

"Dealt with Two Face. He was about to set off  two explosions in
here. A little more planning on your part wouldn't hurt."

"And a little more action on yours would help," she replied
unscathed by his attempted lecture. "Try your spook techniques on your
school kids, it doesn't work with me. I'm going to find Oracle -- with
or without you OR your approval."

"I like her," Huntress whispered to Robin, who only rolled his eyes
in reply.

Dick stood at the theater door holding Babs. The two of them
listened to the conversation between Batman and   Black Canary.

"Well ..." began Barbara.

"Well what?"

"I didn't know Dinah liked Bruce," she said.

"Huh? They're arguing."

"Yeah, but in that way ... "

"You're nuts."

"Mark my words Boy Wonder, mark my words ... " Barbara replied with
a laugh.

Her laugh brought the couple the attention of their rescuers.

"Looking for us?" Dick asked nonchalantly. "Well, don't let us get
in your way."

"You okay?" Batman asked.

"We're fine." Dick replied. "Thanks for the rescue."

"Looks like you didn't need it."

"Might have. Besides, it's nice to know you'll still come after me."

"Always."

"Well, You kids have fun cleaning up this mess. We're going  get a
cab and head over to the Clock Tower. We've got a date to finish," he
stated with a wide grin.


THE END