Pre-Game

By PaBurke

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. I own neither of the universes nor the characters. I'm just playing because my beta is a cruel person who likes to throw ideas at me just to see what story splashes out and . . . okay so this was my idea and she begged and begged, but she can't manipulate like House.

That's my job.

Distribution: The Nook

Spoilers: All of JLU and Batman, and Batman and Robin are up for grabs. We'll say, before the end of Season 3 for House

Rating: If you can't watch House MD, go away!

Word Count: 500

"Dick, it's Barbara." The worried voice on the phone made Dick Grayson wake from a sound sleep and sit up in bed.

"What's wrong?"

"We need you to call off work for an undetermined amount of time."

The 'we' meant Bruce, the same person who hated being questioned. "Why?" Perhaps that's why he left.

"It's Tim. The Joker released something. Tim managed to explode all other samples before anyone else got infected. He's a little singed but nothing worrisome. The symptoms are too nebulous for us to identify and according to Joker, it's fatal. It's not showing up on any of the diagnostic equipment. We need a real doctor, a very good one, to look at Tim, diagnose him and come up with a treatment before time runs out. We're hunting down Joker on our end. Hoping to get some answers or even clues, but I'm not sure He can drag them out of that maniac. The Joker knows what Tim's death would do. He's in hiding and he's taunting…"

"What does He need?"

"You to take Tim –under an alias- to the Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. You should shortly be transferred to the care of Dr. Gregory House and his diagnostic team. If not, you need to make it happen. You and Tim will be brothers. All the paperwork is completed." She paused. "Will you do it, or do we need to come up with a different plan?"

Dick snorted. "The appearance of alternatives does not mean that there are true alternatives. I really don't have a choice. Don't try to manipulate me, Babs. I know what's at stake."

"I wasn't. Really." She did sound genuinely contrite. "I mean, I'm sorry. I can leave Gotham to Him and take Tim myself. I have the paperwork that'll pass muster, but you do look a bit like Tim."

Dick shrugged. "You can't help but become a manipulator after hanging out with Him for so long. If you leave Gotham to Him when He's in a mood… Well, it won't be pretty."

"Speaking of manipulating," Barbara said with a smile in her voice. "House is a master manipulator himself. You're going to have to out-manipulate him to get a diagnosis and keep all identities intact."

"Babs, you worry too much. No one even comes close to Him. We'll be fine." Dick was dressed and running a comb through his hair. "How long until you get here?"

Barbara didn't answer immediately.

Dick sighed. "You're outside my door?"

"Ten minutes away. In my defense, Bludhaven is on the way to New Jersey."

"Babs, you have to get away from Him. You'll only become a better manipulator the longer you're with him."

"Better?" Barbara teased.

Dick growled. "I'm hanging up so that I can call in to work."

"See you s…"

Dick hit the 'end' button and sighed. Once again, he was in Bruce's game and playing by His rules. No one could even come close to Bruce in the manipulation department.

*