Chapter 1

Chapter I

Awkward, questions

Tim sat quietly in the dark cave, far from the computer and lights, he was in his own place. Water dripped from the ceiling echoing around the small chamber. His knees were pulled up to his chest his arms wrapped around them. His black hair hung in his eyes; on one side of his jaw was a bandage square, for one of the many wounds he received on his night job. He sighed quietly his shoulders sagged. "What's wrong Tim?" came a voice from behind. Tim turned around slightly to see Bruce. He shrugged his answer. "Oh common Tim there's obviously something bothering you," Bruce said, sitting down beside him. "You mean besides the fact that you're a delusion and the real Bruce Wayne is lying on a gurney on his way to the Meta ward?" Bruce removed his mask and smiled "yep" he said cheerfully. "Don't do that!" Tim growled at him. "Don't do what?" Bruce asked stunned. "Don't smile like that" Tim snapped. "Why not?" Bruce asked. "Because it's not you" Tim replied. "Oh, right" Bruce said forcing his smile down. "So what's bothering you?" he asked again.

"You are"

"That's not very nice!"

"That's not what I mean"

"So what do you mean?"

"I mean it bothers me that you needed help and I wasn't there to watch your six"

"Oh Tim, don't beat yourself up"

"Why not!" Tim snapped, "Your lying half dead somewhere and I'm not there with you!"

"TIM! Listen, my being where I am has nothing to do with you, I could have called you asked for your help"

"Then why didn't you?!"

"ask him that your self" Bruce replied beginning to fade. "Wait!" Tim hollered. "Why" Bruce asked. "What if I need you again?" Tim said. "there's always the real deal" Bruce said his voice coming as an echo.

MONTH LATER

Robin stood in front of the hospital with the bat-mobile batman taking the steps well considering what happened. Robin opened the hatch and helped batman in. Robin got in on the drivers side and started the car. He drove away from the hospital entrance and headed for the cave.

The silence in the car was intense Bruce kept opening his mouth to say something then closed it again when he ether saw Robins scowl or when Tim's eye darted toward him then back to the road. Bruce sighed and sat back relaxing a little. They reached the cave, not a word had been said. Tim hopped out as soon as the hatch was open he went to the other side and helped Bruce stumble out. He lead Bruce to the computer chair and sat him down, again not a word was spoken between them. Bruce sat back and relaxed pulling the cowl off. Tim left the cave.

Tim removed his mask and undid his cape. His shoulders sagged and his arms went limp dragging the cape on the floor of the main hall. Alfred passed by him with a bowl of soup; it smelled like chicken noodle. Tim sagged into a chair in his room, his cape and mask left on the floor. He dropped his head in his hands, and sighed.

Alfred came down the stairs caring a bowl on a try he sat it next to Bruce and he turned to leave. "Alfred he didn't talk to me," Bruce said opening his eyes. "Excuse me sir?" Alfred said turning around. "He hasn't said a word to me," Bruce said sitting forward, "I think he angry at me." "No, master Bruce it's not you, he's angry at him self." Alfred said quietly. on a spur Alfred stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Bruce's shoulder. Bruce looked up at him and gave his usual half smile. Alfred nodded his head and left to go and prepare something for the young master.

Tim sat bobbing his head to the song blaring on his speakers, there was a light nock on his door. "yeah" he said over the music. The door opened and Alfred stepped in carrying another bowl of chicken noodle. Tim smiled at him as Alfred scowled at the clash title on his ipod display. "you are going to have to talk to him at some point master Tim." Alfred said sitting his bowl down on the desk. "I know Alfred, I know, I just don't know what to say to him," tim said putting his head in his hands again. Alfred reached over and put his hand on Tim's head, "when the time comes you will sir, you will." Alfred said letting his hand slip down to the boys face Tim looked up Alfred scowled and turned Tim's head examining his jaw line. He put a finger to a spot on the jaw line and watched as Tim jerked. Alfred sighed "finish your soup sir then come see me in the infirmary." Tim nodded and looked at his soup "ugh"

Tim sat on the metal table Alfred looking at an x-ray of his jaw, Bruce walked in. "what's wrong?" Alfred looked up and held out the x-ray. Bruce took it and held up to the light. "That isn't good" Bruce muttered. "What isn't?" Tim asked him. "You have a fracture in the bone of you jaw, it'll very painful if you get hit there." Bruce answered still examining the x-ray. The cell phone in Tim's pocket rang Tim took it out and answered it "yes?" there was a slight pause then he hung up "I've got to go!" jumping down from the table. "I'll go with you!" Bruce said. "You can't, not the way you are now, you need to rest Gothem doesn't need a batman that's not a hundred percent and right now your not" Tim said looking at him in the eye. Bruce sighed and slumped against the table.

Tim stopped at the door and turned around he came up to Bruce. Bruce stood up strait and was met in the face by a flying fist. He staggered back rubbing his jaw. Then was nearly knocked off his feet as the seventeen-year-old boy hugged him, his head just barely above Bruce's chest. Bruce awkwardly patted his head, "it's good to have you back," Tim said and Bruce was sure the boy was crying. Tim let go and darted out of the cave grabbing a spare mask and cape on the way.

Fin

Chapter I

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