A two-parter. A fight with the Scarecrow ends with Batman getting a dose of fear toxin. It's a race against the clock as Red Robin gets him back to the Bat cave and gets him the anti-venom. Meanwhile, in his mind, Bruce fights a different battle.
Tropes:
- Heroic Sacrifice: When Batman jumps Scarecrow, the villain starts filling the building with his fear toxin. Batman orders Red Robin to put on his rebreather, but his is broken. Batman willingly gives him his rebreather, getting dosed with the toxin so Red Robin won't be.
- It's All My Fault: Tim feels guilty over having a broken rebreather; if he'd checked his equipment better before the mission, then Bruce wouldn't have had to give up his own. Alfred tells him that it's not his fault; Crane's to blame, as he was the one who flooded the room with fear gas. Once Bruce recovers, he and Tim discuss this, and he makes it clear to Tim that he doesn't blame him for what happened.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: In his mind, Batman is given one by the Scarecrow (or, rather, the gas-induced hallucination of the Scarecrow) about how his vigilantism does little to nothing in the long run; crime still exists and people still get hurt. Bruce gives one right back, retorting that he doesn't fight to simply punish criminals. He fights to protect the good people of Gotham, the ones who fight every day to make sure that others don't suffer the pain they've suffered (saying this while thinking of Alfred and all of his kids).
- The Unmasking: Bruce's cowl gets ripped off during the nightmare sequence.
