A/N: Tim is six years old and he just finished 1st Grade. While out on a school picnic Tim is taken by an unknown kidnapper. Can Batman and Robin find him before it's too late? This story can be considered part of the Earth 14 Universe.

Red Robin Rising

by

AJ

Part 1: Little Boy Missing

The Gotham Elementary Academy had their annual picnic. Several children and parents attended. While most children had at least one parent in attendance, six-year-old Timothy Drake had none. His housekeeper Mrs. MacKinzey had taken him instead. Once again his parents were off on a trip, either to an archeological dig or to some refugee camp to help other children.

'I wish they would stay and help me,' Tim said to himself gloomily. 'It's as if I'm not good enough to be seen.'

"Timothy . . . Timothy . . . " Mrs. Mac called.

"Huh?"

"My goodness child. I've called yeah at least three times," her Scottish brogue coming in thick. "Your sandwich is sitting in front of you. Eat something lad. You'll fade away if'en you don't."

Tim grabbed the sandwich and took a bite, even though he really wasn't hungry. He wanted his parents, more specifically his dad, at the picnic, but they chose to go on another trip. Why didn't his parents want to be with him? Was he a bad kid? Did they just didn't like him? He had worked hard all year to gain the praise of his teachers. In fact they were so impressed with his abilities and intelligence they were thinking of moving him up a grade. His kindergarten teacher had also been so impressed that they moved him up to first grade in the beginning of the year. It was almost summer vacation, and they were talking about Tim skipping the second grade and going right into the third grade. Tim went back to reading his book while Mrs. Mac went to get Tim something to drink.

"What book are you reading?" An unknown voice said behind him.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows."

"Isn't that book a little advanced for you?"

"It's really too easy," Tim started to explain when rough hands grabbed him covering his nose and mouth with a cloth that smelled bad. He dropped his book on the ground as darkness claimed him.

"Here we go, Timmy. Your juice," Mrs. Mac dropped the juice box when all she saw sitting by the tree where Timmy was supposed to be, were the remains of Tim's sandwich and his book. "Timmy! Timmy!"

Stuck to the tree was an envelope addressed to Mr. Drake and inside a ransom note.

Bring $1,000,000,000 dollars to the old paper mill on Granite Road in the waterfront district of Gotham City by midnight or you will never see your boy alive again.

Mrs. Mac read the ransom note several times, her body shaking and finally breaking down in tears. There was no way Mr. Drake would be able to fulfill that demand. For Mr. Drake wasn't home. Mr. Drake wasn't even in the city. Mr. Drake and his wife weren't even in the country. They knew nothing of their son's plight and by the time they would learn, it would be too late.

Continues with Part 2