Title: Brothers Author: Charlene Edwards Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: DC owns the Bat family -- why I don't know but they do. I'm playing with them anyway. :-) Synopsis: The Batboys go on Vacation -- we all know that's NEVER good :-) Thanks to Brooke for beta reading for me. I hope you all enjoy. Char :-)

BROTHERS:

He grabbed the ringing phone by his bed. "Hello."

"Hey Bro," the cheerful voice on the other end said.

"Dick! Hey! What's up?" the teenager began happily.

"Alfred told me you had a week off from school. Got any plans?"

"Other than HIS training simulations, no."

"Well how about a ski trip?" Dick asked with a laugh.

"A ski trip! I'd love to. Do you think he'll --"

"I'll talk to him. Batman can do without Robin for a week. Let me give the old man a call. I'll talk to you later. Bye Bro."

"Bye Dick," the younger boy replied with a wide grin as he hung up the phone. He moved to his closet and pulled out his suitcase. If Dick was determined, he knew he'd be going.

_______________________________________________________________________

Dick drove his cherry red jeep in front of Wayne Manor and jumped out. Quickly he ran up the familiar stairs and moved through the large entryway doors into the foyer of the Manor. "Yo! I'm home! Anyone care?"

"Dick!" Jason yelled as he ran down the stairs and into his brother's wide open arms. "You're early. For once."

Dick laughed and tussled the younger boy's hair. As he looked around, he saw Alfred coming from the kitchen and ... "Tim? Timmy, I didn't know you were here," he said as he ran over and lifted the eleven year old into the air.

Tim laughed and almost dropped his bowl of pudding in the floor. Alfred deftly snatched it from his hand and sat it on the counter as he watched the three he considered "his boys". Tim was still laughing when he answered Dick's question, "I was just spending some time here with Jay. I want to go on the trip too."

Dick and Jason's eyes met. They shared a wicked sparkle. "How about next time?" Dick asked. "Or have you decided that girls aren't gross yet?"

"Girls! Eww, who wants to go on a trip looking for girls?" Tim asked as his young face grimaced.

"Hormonal teenagers," Bruce replied as he walked into the entryway from the study.

The smile fell from Dick's face. He sat Tim on the floor, ruffling the child's hair, and turned. "Hello Bruce," he said without emotion.

Bruce's jaw flinched. He was ... happy ... to see Dick. He always was. He wasn't happy to see Dick's mood. The distance between them ... hurt. Yet, he couldn't change the past. If Richard didn't want to accept Bruce's decisions, that was his choice. Nothing had changed except Dick's perception of things. "Dick."

Dick stared at Bruce for an awkward moment before turning and hugging Alfred. "It's good to see you."

The elderly man hugged him back tightly, "As it is to see you Young Sir. It is good to have you home. You have been missed ... by us all."

Turning back to Bruce, Dick tentatively moved closer. "Thanks ... for letting Jay go on this trip."

Bruce looked at his oldest standing in front of him. "It will be good for the two of you." With trepidation, Bruce reached out and placed his hand on Dick's shoulder. He and Dick had enjoyed a good conversation -- a healing conversation -- at Donna Troy's wedding. Dick had been calling Jason more and the two boys were beginning to grow close. Bruce hoped that their relationship could be mended as well. Hoped that Dick would understand.

Dick smiled as Bruce placed his hand on his shoulder. Seeing the bowl of pudding that Alfred had rescued from Tim earlier, he asked, "Is there any more of that?"

Bruce shook his head as a half-smile formed on his face. Some things would never change.

_______________________________________________________________________

Four hours after leaving Wayne Manor, Dick pulled the jeep in front of the Holly Glen Resort. As the two got out of the jeep, Dick headed in to the check-in desk, as Jason looked around the beautiful Vermont landscape. The were definitely NOT in Gotham City anymore, and that was so cool! Not that Jason didn't love Gotham City and spending time with Bruce, but this was different. This was something he had wanted since he first moved in -- not the ski trip -- the relationship. Jay smiled. He had a brother.

When he had first moved into the Manor, he hadn't been sure of his place. Bruce gave him the Robin costume but Jason knew it wasn't really his. It belonged to someone else -- Dick Grayson -- someone who wasn't there anymore. Jason had wondered about that mystery for a while, before Alfred enlightened him. When he first met Dick he had felt awkward ... like a replacement ... but he wanted to feel differently. He had wanted to belong.

Then he got a call from Donna Troy -- she needed the Titans -- she needed Robin to save Dick Grayson. Jason jumped at the chance. He left to save the man he desperately wanted to be his brother. He did too, well he helped, but what he found out was he didn't have to WANT Dick to be his brother -- Dick WAS his brother. He even told him how to keep Bruce from getting TOO upset about his little disappearing act.

Since then, they had grown closer. Dick had even come home for Christmas, although he knew Alfred played a large part in that. Dick and Bruce were growing close again too. He could see it. Bruce said they had "talked" at Donna's wedding. Things weren't perfect, but he could hope that soon they might be. Well, at least as perfect as their lives could be.

His life seemed pretty perfect right now. He and Dick on vacation, chilling out, having fun and making memories. No Bat stuff, no Arkham escapees, just two brothers having fun. Dick's hand slapping him on the back brought him out of his musings. "Are we checked in?"

"Uh huh. Let's unload the jeep."

"Do we need a baggage cart?" Jason asked as he pulled his camera out of his jacket pocket and started taking pictures of the ski slopes. Knowing them, was there any surprise that they had chosen to ski at a place called the Suicide Six Slopes.

"No, we can get it," Dick said as he tossed a duffel bag at Jay. Noticing the camera in his hand, Dick got an idea. He dropped his bag back in the jeep and turned around, grabbing the camera from the boy's hand. Stepping up on the curb he asked the parking valet if he could take a photograph of them with the mountains behind them. Throwing his arm around his brother's shoulder they smiled as the valet took their picture. "Thanks," Dick said as he took the camera back and grabbed his bag out of the jeep. "Let's hit the room."

"Then the slopes," Jason added as he ran in the resort. Dick tossed the jeep keys to the parking valet and followed his brother inside. _______________________________________________________________________

Dick pointed to a table near the door as they entered the resort's all ages club. "If we were old enough we could get a wrist band for alcohol. But we're not old enough."

Jay smiled at his older brother, "Why'd you feel the need to inform me of that?"

"I remember one time when Bruce reminded me," he called above the noise of the blaring music. The club's lights were dim, vibrant colors of strobing lights bounced from the walls. People of all ages mingled through the area. They walked past the video arcade games and closer to the dance floor in their search for a table.

"Bro, this is so cool," Jason said excitedly. "Bruce never let's me go to places like this!"

Dick chuckled, "Yeah I know. He corners the market on overprotective."

"And stifling, suffocating, overbearing, anal -- "

Dick slapped Jason hard on the shoulder. "I know already. There's a table," he said as he pointed to a table near the bar. Moving over they took their seats. A young brunette came over and waited on them. As they waited for their food and drinks, they used their keen observation to intently 'people watch' the crowd. Dick also watched the younger boy's smile as he did so. "Having fun?"

"Yeah. If I haven't told you, thanks."

"For what?" Dick asked confused.

"For the trip. For bringing me with you. For wanting me with you."

"Hey, there's no one else I'd rather have here. I know how lonely that big old manor can be. The cave's even lonelier. I know I haven't been around a lot ... not as much as I wanted, but I'm going to change that. We're brothers Jason and it's time I started acting like that."

The younger boy smiled a wide grin across the table. "Cool! You can tell me all about how you screwed up so I can learn from your mistakes. And you can run interference for me with the old guy."

"The best thing to learn about the old guy is to keep Alfred on your good side. He handles Bruce better than anyone."

"I thought he was the ONLY one who could really 'handle' Bruce." Jay said smartly as the pretty waitress placed their food before them. He winked at her as Dick laughed. "What? I told you I'm looking for a babe."

"Why don't you look for one more your own age?" Dick asked as he grabbed a french fry and surveyed the room again. His eyes fell upon a group of teens near the dance floor. "Like them."

Jason looked in the direction Dick had pointed. His eye fell on the pretty young blond in the center of the group. "Yeah, she's more like it."

A wicked smile formed across Dick Grayson's handsome face as a raven's black lock of hair fell over his forehead. Leaning across the table, he asked, "Well, what're you gonna do about it?"

Jason turned to face him. The look on his face was like a deer caught in a car's headlight. "What? What!"

Standing, Dick moved to the younger boy and pulled him from his chair. Playfully, he pushed the young man in the direction of the group of teens. "Go on, ask her to dance." He laughed as he watched Jay make his way across the room. Several times he turned back and looked at Dick only to get the 'go on' wave of Dick's hand. Dick watched as Jason started talking to the group. It only took a few minutes before Jason and the pretty young blond were on the dance floor. A smug smile formed on Dick's face as he sipped on his Zesti, quite proud of himself.

Jason and the girl, whom Dick soon discovered was named Amy Miller, continued to enjoy themselves in the club. Occasionally, they'd sit with Dick, when he wasn't availing himself on the dance floor. It was nice, it was fun, it was normal. For two young men who rarely did normal, they were liking it a lot.

Amy was laughing at Jason's jokes as they sat around the table. Dick shook his head, "And people say I make bad jokes." Jason squinted at him and threw a cold french fry in his direction.

A lot of people had filtered out of the club, but it was still quite crowded. Dick noticed the clock behind the bar read quarter to one. "Yo bro, I think we need to head back. What about you Amy?"

The young girl looked around. None of her friends seemed to still be in the club. "I guess I'd better go back to my room. It's later than I realized."

Nervously, Amy continued to look around, "I ... I guess so. Looks like everyone left me here."

Dick smiled, "That's ok, we'll walk with you. I don't know why your friends didn't join us."

She smiled sweetly at them. "Okay." The three young people rose from their seats and headed toward the door. Amy stopped for a moment, staring off to her left. Shaking her head, she continued walking, catching up to Jason and Dick. "So, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

Jason smiled at her, "Skiing and snow boarding. You want to go with us?" he asked hopefully.

"Well, I know my group's suppose to go skiing tomorrow on the South Slopes. I guess we could ski together, if you're there."

"I'll be there," Jason said with a wide grin. Then he looked at Dick, "Won't we?"

Laughing Dick nodded his head as he closed his jacket around him. "Yes, I guess we can." The cold outside air hit them bitterly as they exited the building. Dick rubbed his hands together and blew on them. He watched his breath covering his hands. He chided himself silently for forgetting his gloves.

Quickly, they began to traverse the near empty parking lot on their way back to the resort. When they were about half-way in the lot, Amy stopped. "I ... I need to go back."

Jason and Dick looked at each other and then to her. "Why?" Jason asked.

"I ... I left something. You go on, I'll be okay."

Dick's eyes narrowed as he looked down at the teen. "That's okay, we'll go back with you. We don't mind."

She shook her head vigorously, "No, that's okay. You guys go on. I'll see you tomorrow." Amy was backing away as she spoke. Then she turned and ran back toward the club.

"But -- " Jason started as they watched her heading back.

Dick placed his hand on Jay's arm. "Let her go bro," he said as he turned Jason back around. "It's cold and she obviously wants to go back without us."

"Huh?" Jason asked as he looked up at Dick. "I thought she liked me."

Dick smiled as he placed his arm around the younger boy's shoulder. "Oh she does. She does."

"Then I don't understand -- "

"You never will baby bro, you never will. Let me explain that to you in the room."

_______________________________________________________________________

Jason sat on the foot of his bed, TV remote in hand, watching cartoons on the room's large TV. His attention kept going to Dick who was wandering between the room and the bathroom. "You take more time getting ready to take a shower than a girl."

Dick stopped before entering the bathroom and glared at his younger brother. "That only goes to show you've never lived with a girl."

"ROOM SERVICE!" Jason yelled as he jumped off the bed at the sound of the knock and headed toward the door. "Dibs! And I hope it's the same girl who brought us lunch yesterday," he said crossing the room to open the door.

Opening the bathroom door a crack, Dick said "Well don't forget to leave her a tip!"

"Duh! I got a tip and a number for her."

Dick laughed as he threw one of the small hand towels over his shoulder and shut the door again.

"I was just- oh, can I help you?" Jason asked when he noticed the three men standing at the door. They all seemed to be a bit older than Bruce. He noticed that two of them wore suits and looked like ... cops, while the other wore more casual clothes. He also seemed more agitated than the men in the suits.

The man in front pulled a badge out of his pocket and showed it to Jason. "I'm Detective Jordon. This is Detective Lester and Mr. Miller. May we come in? We have some questions for you."

Jason sighed. He was right, they were cops. Why were they here?

Dick heard the detective and stepped out of the bathroom, towel still in hand. "Can I help you?"

The detective looked past Jason to Dick. "May we come in?"

Jason looked from the men at the door to Dick and back again. "Uhmm. Yeah ... sure. Dick?"

Dick nodded. "Yeah, what's this about?"

The three men entered the room. Dick couldn't help but notice the way the two detectives were carefully scanning the room. Detective Jordan held a photograph up. "Have either of you seen this girl?"

Jason's mouth dropped. "That's Amy."

To be continued ...

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Dick, Jason and Tim ALL at the Manor you might ask? I'd recommend reading what's been dubbed the "Wittle Timmy verse" with stories by me, Patty and Rea. Which beginn with Rea's "Simba Roared" about Bruce and a 5 year old Timmy at Halloween. A slight change from established canon, but we like it. Char ;-)