Author's note: this takes place during Detective comics issue 826 "Slayride, a great story if you want to check it out. I will be including the details of the plot in this story, so just as set up I will say that in this comic, Tim is adopted and living with Bruce, Dick is in New York, and the rest of the batkids aren't really in the picture. I really wanted to start posting no later than Christmas since that is when the story takes place. Merry Christmas and enjoy!

" Possible Joker sighting. "

Alfred dropped the present he was wrappingas soon as the police dispatch crackled over the Cave's alert system. He was back in his chair in an instant, scanning the monitors for any information he could give when the calls came in from the field.

Not surprisingly, the first came from the Master.

"Batman to cave, Status on the Joker."

"Just one moment, sir. I am patching into a dialogue between officers as we speak" He paused to listen. "A passing motorist claims to have seen the Joker driving an SUV onto exit 5W. It will take you 15 minutes to arrive there from your current location."

"On my way." Batman's tone was clipped. "Where's Robin?"

Alfred looked at his screen with a rising sense of dread. "He is on a planned mission to apprehend gun dealers his cycle is less than a mile from the reported sighting."

Alfred could practically hear Batman gritting his teeth. "Don't interrupt his mission with the Joker tip. I don't want to distract the Joker on his own is out of the question. When you hear from him again, tell him to come home."

"Understood, sir. And if Night wing arrives, what should I tell him?" Dick was on a plane back to New York for a holiday visit; Alfred was expecting a call from him any time now for an airport pickup.

"Don't send him out, let him enjoy his rest. It may be a false alarm. Batman out."

Alfred took a slow, deep breath, trying to maintain his calm. Truth be told, there had many false Joker sightings lately. Odd's were tonight's was nothing. Dread of disaster was keener during the holidays, as much a part of the spirit of the season as giving gifts or singing carols. No one ever wants to lose someone at Christmas.

It was an iron-clad rule of the Cave that all Joker sightings were to be taken seriousy and investigated thoroughly. After settled himself down for a long night where every minute of silence seemed to be hours.

After ten such agonizing minutes, Batman's voice broke the silence. He was now at the 5W exit according to the computer. Heaven knows how fast he had been going to make that time.

"No sign of the Joker. Where is Robin? I'll finish up his patrol with him."

And make sure he comes home as quickly as possible, Alfred mentally added. The Master's protective instincts would be in high gear right now.

"He is in the alley on your right, sir." Alfred did not feel the need to caution him to be careful not to blow Tim's cover; Bruce would know how to intervene without spoiling a bust, though Alfred did consider warning him not to steal his adopted son's thunder. But time was precious with a he threat of the Joker looming and it was more important to have Tim home promptly. The butler watched as the signal for the batmobile creapt closer to the symbol for Robin's cycle until they were almost on top of each other.

A police warning came across his computer and he immediately called Batman. "Sir, there is another sighting of the Joker driving an SUV, this time with a possible hostage in the-"

"Alfred" Batman's voice was a low growl. " Robin is gone. His cycle is in the middle of the road with his belt. He's been taken."