Blackbirds

PART 14

Nigthwing and Black Canary stepped aside as an orderly rolled Lian's gurney from the emergency room to the elevator. Arsenal stayed at his daughter's side. She was groggy from medication but he continued whispering to her and stroking her hair. He glanced up at Nightwing as they passed.

"Smoke inhalation. They're transferrin' her to Peds. Donna?"

"Nothing yet."

"Mia?"

"They brought her in with minor burns." answered Black Canary.

"Make sure GA knows. He'll be goin' nuts."

"Oracle's on top of it."

Arsenal tossed Donna's necklace to Nightwing. "If you hear anything--"

Nightwing nodded as the elevator doors closed. Black Canary nudged his shoulder. She jerked her head towards a makeshift coffee lounge and he followed her inside. The room was surprisingly quiet. And empty.

Dinah fixed herself a cup while watching Nightwing out of the corner of her eye. His thumb rubbed absently across the silver eagle on the necklace. He was brooding. She added an obscenely unhealthy amount of cream and sugar to her coffee as she considered the situation. Well, she had wanted to talk to him. And it would take his mind off of Donna. And, what the hell, Green Arrow had always said her curiousity would be the death of her.

"So--how are you and Ollie making out?"

Nightwing silently thanked all the years of training that allowed him to look Black Canary in the eye and smoothly respond, "Good. We're making real progress on the case."

"I wasn't asking about the case." Dinah's blue eyes sparkled mischievously.

Nightwing leaned casually against the wall, crossed his arms over his chest, did his best to look genuinely puzzled. "Excuse me?"

Black Canary sauntered over to where he stood, casually sipping her coffee, until there was barely a foot between them.

"I know the sex is good--"

Nightwing concentrated on keeping his breathing slow and regular.

"--right?"

"I wouldn't know."

Dinah pressed on. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"Not at all." He would not think about having sex with Ollie. Not. Right. Now.

Black Canary grinned, thoroughly enjoying Nightwing's discomfort. She plopped comfortably into a chair. "You know--" Nightwing watched her warily. "--if a certain someone would learn to do his own laundry--" Dick's cheeks reddened "--instead of bringing it home to a certain butler--"

Nightwing's head dropped to his hand. "The laundry..."

Dinah peered at him over her coffee cup. "The laundry, Boy Blunder."

"Does Alfred--?"

Black Canary snorted. "Alfred is a perfect gentleman."

Nightwing looked up in alarm. "Does Bruce--?"

"Not yet." She smiled wickedly. "Betcha I could sell tickets to that show."

Nightwing sank into the the opposite chair.

"You're okay with this? With us--?"

"Hey, if you can make it work, great."

"But--?"

"Ollie needs a strong person in his life. Someone not so--"

"Young?"

Dinah laughed. "No way I'm commenting on age differences!" She sighed. "Someone not so--nice."

"I'm too nice?"

"Yeah, you are. Ollie's worst enemy is Ollie. He needs someone who can protect him from himself." She shrugged. "Someone who can get him to see the truth whether he wants to or not."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"So--" her voice warmed with the question this time, "--how are you and Ollie making out?"

Nightwing returned her grin. "Good."