Tim Drake breathed in short pained breaths. The fall down the steps made his small body ache, especially his arm which, now was dangling at his side at an odd angle. It didn't take a genius to know it was broken. Unfortunately, for the nine year his parents were gone a trip, the housekeeper had to leave because her mother had a stroke.
A thought struck him. Batman! Of course he helped people maybe, well maybe he would help him. It was early morning he hoped he would be awake. Internally he battled with himself. Bruce Wayne was a busy man even when he wasn't Batman he had to take care of Jason Todd and Dick Grayson. Then again he was his neighbor perhaps he could just drop him off at the hospital and leave. Tim couldn't think of anyone else and the storm knocked out the phone. Which caused the power to be out, which caused him to miss the step, which made him break his arm.
"I'm going to walk over to the manor and ask for help. I can do this. Not cry. Yes, he wouldn't cry because Robin had been hurt plenty he never cried." Tim thought to himself. He got up and fumbling a little through the dark house. The long walk down the Drakes driveway then the half mile to Wayne Manor. He felt small in front of the large oak door. His arm had pain snaking through it, he knocked on the door.
"Hello." A balding tall man said when he answered the door. "Oh, dear what happen to your arm?"
"I am sorry to bother you Sir, but with the storm and everything the phone is out and my parents are out of town. I accidently broke my arm falling down the stairs. I need help." The elderly gentleman ushered him into the house.
"Were are your parents? How can I get a hold of them?"
"My name is Tim Drake I live up on the hill, my parents are in Ghana, no phone number." Alfred looked at him "I will take care of you Master Timothy, the roads are too bad to drive so I'll have tend to it for now." He left for a minute, returning with bandages and pain reliever. He made Tim take the pain reliever then started to correct the arm and wrap it.
"It will need to be checked by a doctor. The storm will delay it some, but I was in Her Majesty's Army I picked up on first aid." Tim nodded his head. He believed Alfred knew all about injuries he lived with Batman and Robin.
Alfred was dismayed at how the small boy didn't seem like he was hurting him he'd set enough bones to know that they hurt the pain reliever he'd given him hadn't had a chance to set in.
"How old are you Master Timothy?" Alfred asked.
"Mr. Pennyworth, I am nine and a half." Tim seemed like he wanted to say more, but held back. Alfred picked up on it.
"Do you like school?" Alfred asked trying to get him to open up.
The little boy's eyes lit up, "I love school, I am a grade ahead, I'm good math and science, English is hard, but I can figure it out." He was excited and started telling Alfred all about his school and teachers, after he was done he looked crestfallen.
"I am sorry for talking so much, Mr. Pennyworth I just got carried away." Alfred finish wrapping up his broke arm. He looked at the small boy and said, "I enjoyed the conversion. Master Timothy and you may call me Alfred. Do you want some cookies?"
Tim smiled and shyly said "If you're sure that it's not a problem, Alfred."
"Come, Master Timothy." He led the way to the kitchen. Alfred sat out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.
"Wow, these cookies are great! Where did you buy them?" Tim asked excitedly.
"Thank you for the compliment, I made them."
Tim ate another them said, "I tried making cookies before, but I made a huge mess it took me forever to clean it. After that Mother and Father told me not to do anything like that. So if I've been good sometimes they bring me cookies from Bruncuts Bakery after they come home from a dig."
"Do you want to stay with us, just for tonight that way I can keep an eye on your arm?" Alfred wanted to make sure that it didn't get infected, but the other reason was Alfred didn't want him to be alone in that big, old, and empty house. He was just nine he didn't have anyone to look after him. Jason and Bruce would understand. They wanted to protect the innocent Tim was innocent.
Bruce did understand and Jason was reminded that Tim was a guest.
Alfred was surprised at how Tim acted when Bruce and Jason came in the room it was like they were his hero's, which couldn't be possible no one know Batman and Robins IDs.
Alfred drove Tim to Leslie Thomkins clinic to get his arm in a cast the next day. Alfred puzzled over the boy's independence even with his arm he thought that he would make his own breakfast argued he wouldn't be a good guest if Alfred make him an egg. Alfred wondered about his parents who would raise their child that frying an egg would be a problem. Right now he was sitting with him in the waiting room of Leslie's clinic Tim sat up straight and was quiet, unlike Dick and Jason ever were. When they were called back Leslie had a X ray made of his arm, his back and chest had many bruises from, what she hoped was falling down the stairs.
The X ray showed that his arm was broken in two places. Leslie looked at the small nine year old with ebony hair and angel blue eyes.
"Tim, it looks like your arm is broken in two places unfortunately, how it's broken it will need surgery. Are your parents where they could come so you won't be alone? After the surgery is over someone will need to stay with you for a few days."
Tim had hoped a simple cast and then he could go home, surgery and someone to stay with him? He was nine years old he could stay by himself usually, the housekeeper wasn't coming back anytime soon.
"No, Doctor Thomkins my parents are gone for another two months at least, and the housekeeper's mother had a stroke. I am sure I can take care of myself though."
Alfred's heart broke a little. "He can stay at Wayne Mannor." Tim looked at the butler as if he expected him to say something like "just joking". No one willing wanted him with them. It was strange Tim wanted to ask why, but he didn't want Alfred to take it back.
Leslie took Tim into surgery it lasted for hours, afterwards Tim was out of it and slept on the way to the manor. Alfred carried him in and tucked him in a spare bedroom to sleep off the anesthesia.
Alfred called Jason, "Master Jason I need you to watch Master Timothy, he is still sleepy from the amnestic, be there when he wakes so he knows where he is."
"Sure, I'll do it, but can I have extra cookies?" Jason asked.
"After dinner you may." Jason walked in his room to get a book then sat with the sleeping boy.
Alfred prepared a supper while Bruce was done in the cave working a case. Alfred had a case for him called "We Didn't Even Notice Child Neglect in Our Neighbors" it made the English man's blood boil.
Tim woke up shortly before dinner. Looking around at the room and then Jason he asked, "Where am I?"
"It's O.K. kid you're at Wayne manor remember you had to have surgery on your arm?" Jason told him quickly.
Tim looked surprised and happy. His arm was numb and if it wasn't he was positive it would be unbearable he was safe, so he fell back asleep.
In two weeks his parents came back unexpectedly.
"Mr. Wayne, thank you so much for taking care of our Timmy." Janet cooed. Tim hated being called "Timmy". His father, Jack shook Mr. Waynes hand they talked for a few minutes then left. Tim knew what was coming.
When they got to Drake manor as soon as they walked through the door Jack grabbed him by his shoulders and yelled, "Of all people you begged for help from Bruce freaking Wayne. Do you even realize how you made your mother and I look." He shook Tim and continued, "If only we could have had a good child not one that makes us always look bad in public. Just go to your room and don't come down for supper. Timothy, try to be good for once."
In his room Tim tried to read, but all he could think of was how Mr. Wayne treated Jason as Jason, not Robin. Putting his hand on his shoulder. Smiling at him well, Jason earned his love perhaps he needed to try harder then he too would be loved. He had seen Jason mess up and instead of yelling Bruce let it go, it had shocked him, but Tim was always being surprised when he had stayed with at Wayne Manor. Alfred made delicious meals he didn't have to, Bruce laughed when Jason did silly things instead of reprimanding him, and he never laid a finger on him even when he broke a whole quart of milk. Alfred listened to him when he talked he didn't brush him off or change the topic, and he and Jason played chess no one played chess with him he had read so many books without ever playing the game.
His parents left in a week a new site he was left all alone again. He had happy memories and soon he would be better so he could take pictures of Batman and Robin soon.
Leslie had set up an appointment for him in a month, in a day he would have to get there. His parents made it clear that asking for help was wrong so when it was time he called a cab. At the clinic he signed in and waited to be called back.
Leslie was taken back when the tiny boy showed up alone it wasn't right. She checked his arm then left the room. "I'll be right back Tim." She promised.
In the break room Leslie called Bruce. "Hey, Bruce, Tim the boy Alfred brought in a month ago, where are his parents? I have him at the clinic by himself."
Bruce was taken back. "His parents came and got him two weeks ago. I thought that they took him on the trip they went on."
"Bruce he shouldn't be alone. He's just a kid." Leslie sighed. If the Drakes where here she would give them a piece of her mind.
"I'll send Alfred to pick him up he'll stay with us." Bruce promptly hung up.
Leslie knew the drive from the manor to the clinic would be twenty minutes. She went back in the room where she left Tim.
"Honey, are you alone? Is someone living with you?" she asked gently.
His eyes went big and said, "I am alone, but I take care of myself just fine. My parents know this they trust me. I don't bother anyone."
Leslie restrained from sighing. "Tim, your only nine, you have a broken arm you need someone to look out for you. I called Bruce Wayne he's sent Alfred to pick you up. No arguing."
The drive to the manor seemed to take forever to Tim he kept thinking about what his father had said, he hated when he pushed and tossed him against the wall. He was always in the way, Mr. Wayne would get tired of him.
Alfred noticed how quiet he was. When they went to pick up some of Tim's clothes in Drake manor. Tim was quiet and showed Alfred his room. Tim pulled out a little bag and tried to fold the clothes. Alfred shook his head, "I will fold them I don't have a broken arm." Reluctantly, Tim sat on the bed and watched Alfred fold his clothes.
"Do you need to take anything else?" Tim carefully took out his camera out from under his bed and took the strap and placed around his neck.
"I'm ready." Alfred would have liked it better if he didn't say it like a man ready for the gallows.
"Master Bruce called your parents they know that you are going to stay with us. Jason is quite excited to have someone his own age to play with."
Tim decided that maybe, maybe it would be fine for him to stay there. Just for awhile he wouldn't get attached
AN
I don't know if this is going to be one shot or not. What do you all want? I love little Tim. WriterofGotham