Hey guys! Thanks to everyone who read this story; I hope you'll like this new (and most likely last) chapter! :)

Yay, first story to actually have a cover image! ;)

Also, by the way: I don't own Young Justice...

Chapter 2

Because nothing had happened in the past hour, both Nightwing and Batgirl decided to call it a night (plus, it was already half past three in the morning; even crime-fighters need to take a break once in a while). Also, Barbara was not going to miss her chance to find out why Dick was being more difficult than usual after fighting with Wally. So she offered that the both of them could go to her apartment to talk (it was closer than the Manor and Dick's place, anyway) and the former Boy Wonder actually agreed (gasp!). After they had silently slipped into Barbara's apartment, the redhead gestured the acrobat to make himself comfortable, while she let herself fall onto her soft sofa. Dick slumped down on the armchair next to the couch, looking exhausted.

It was really weird how she had never noticed that before, but on the other hand, Dick had never been someone to show when he was worn out, being Batman's good soldier and all that... Gee, even Superman needs to take a break from time to time, but try to tell that the Batboys... it's like talking to a wall...

After he she had pulled off her cowl, Barbara couldn't take the silence any longer; Dick didn't look like he was going to initiate the talk, staring at his gloved fingers, so it seemed that she was the one who had to start talking. Great.

"Dick." The redhead called out her friend's name to get his attention. He looked up hesitantly, her blue eyes meeting the white blends of his mask.

"What happened? I mean, you and Wally always had some... disagreements once in a while and I know that between you and him things have been more tense, but you've never been that down... or at least never that close-mouthed about it..."

She could see the dark-haired acrobat chew his lip in indecisiveness, trying to come up with right words that would make this 'interrogation' come to an end soon... as if that would work with her, pfft...

"And would you please take off your mask? You know how much I hate having heart-to-heart talks without seeing my dialog partner's eyes..." It was true. Barbara couldn't stand it to have personal conversations and not being able to see the emotions inside her conversational partner's eyes; the young woman whole-heartedly agreed with the saying that eyes were the window to the soul.

Grudgingly, Dick peeled off his mask to reveal his dark blue orbs, which were filled with insecurity and hurt. Uh-oh, it really must have been bad; the last time Barbara had seen that look on his face, Bruce had fired him as his Robin and Dick hadn't known what to do – until he had made the decision to don the black-and-blue costume of Nightwing.

"So?" The red-haired heroine raised an eyebrow expectantly, noting the torn look on her friend's face.

A long silence followed, the male crime-fighter obviously struggling with himself whether to say something or not; in the end, he gave in:

"It's just... maybe Wally is right..."

"Right about what?"

"That I'm not thinking it through, at least not as thoroughly as I should; that I focus too much on the mission, that I don't regard the others' safety enough; that I..."

The acrobat's rambling got more and more incoherent and hysteric as he went on and the agony that was written all over his face nearly broke Barbara's heart.

"Dick, just... stop! What the hell are you talking about?!" The redhead interrupted, trying to calm her friend down.

"I' M TALKING ABOUT WHAT A HORRIBLE TEAM LEADER I AM!" Dick exploded, leaping to his feet.

Barbara flinched involuntarily, mouth and eyes wide open; she had never seen the dark-haired crime-fighter losing it like that.

As sudden as it had built up, Dick's rage vanished. He sank down on the armchair again, head in his hands: "I'm sorry, Babs. It's just... I don't know whether I'm coming or going. All this responsibility... I don't know how long I will be able to take it anymore... but I have to... so much is at stake..." Becoming aware of his rambling, the former Boy Wonder stopped, only adding another "I'm sorry," as he got up from the armchair again, making a move to leave.

But Barbara would have none of that and grabbed him by his shoulder: "Oh no. You can not throw a tantrum like this and then expect me to let you go – you should know me better than to attempt this, Birdboy!"

Noting the determination in her voice, Dick turned around and said calmly with an unreadable expression on his face: "Babs, listen: I'm sorry I freaked out like this. And I know you're just trying to help me but I really can't tell you. It's too dangerous. Believe me, it's for the best-"

"The best?! The BEST?!" Now it was Barbara who was getting angry, "You think it's for the best when I see my best friend suffer? You think it's for the best when instead of letting me help him, easing whatever burden he has to bear, said best friend tells me to let it be and just watch him being plagued by self-doubt? You are wrong! It's anything but good!" Tears of fury and hurt started forming in the redhead's eyes.

"Babs, please -"

Before he could say anything further, Dick was cut off by Barbara again: "Listen! I understand that you can't give me all of the details or tell me anything at all if this... this mission is just remotely as delicate as you make it sound; but why can't you ask me for help? I'm sure there must something I could help you with even without the intel... I am perfectly capable of executing actions without exactly knowing why – you are not the only one who has worked together with Batman!"

The ebony-haired acrobat dropped his eyes and whispered barely audible: "I can't ask you to do such a thing; I'm not even sure if I approve of my plan myself..."

Barbara's anger dissipated immediately: "Dick... Even if I do not approve of your... plan, whatever that may be; I will never, ever approve of you torturing yourself, do you understand me?"

Reluctantly, Dick teared his eyes away from the floor, taking a careful glance at Barbara instead.

Realizing that she had finally gotten through that stubborn head of his, the redhead continued more softly: "You are not alone, you have friends; and friends help one another – just ask for it before they are about to punch you in the face, okay?"

A small smile made its way onto Dick's face: "That doesn't sound too bad."

Sooo... reviews, please? ;) Constructive criticism is appreciated as well :)