" You're grounded."

" Oh come on! You probably didn't ground the replacement!"

" Stop calling your brother that, he's not your replacement, and there's a difference why Tim isn't grounded."

" I didn't do anything that bad."

" You put a rat down some random kids pants while you were in the science lab and said he was the chef from Ratatouille!"

" I could've done worse!"

Dick facepalmed as the two got to the car and Jason hopped in the back as he saw Tim in the front.

" You're grounded Jay, no objections. No video games for a week and you're not going on the mission Tuesday."

" You can't do that!"

" I'm your guardian, and if I say you're grounded, I mean it! You're lucky I don't ground you from patrol!"

" Screw you!"

Jason opened the car door and slammed it shut, running as fast as he could down the streets.

" JASON!" Dick shouted as he opened his own door and slammed it shut, screaming into his hands a second later.

Tim watched his brother scream into his hands, and as his head popped back up, the younger bat took a minute to take in his appearance.

Dick looked like he was about to collapse at any given moment and Tim hoped every day his brother would take a break, he hadn't stopped moving in four days.

The seventeen-year-old hadn't slept in five days, and Tim couldn't recall if Dick ate anything in that long either. But that wasn't worrying the thirteen-year-old bat.

Sure his brother not eating or sleeping was worrisome, but that was normal. The few things that really made Tim worry were how his brother was falling into the deep end.

What seventeen-year-old boy ran a company, took care of six siblings, a father with cancer, two teams, patrolled two cities, and was a cop all at once?

Apparently, Dick Grayson who was losing weight, reckless and slow out on patrol, and relying on more than a dozen cups of coffee to make it through the day in the process.

The idiot was trying to juggle more than he could clearly handle and Tim had even gone behind his brother's back and called Clark, Barry, and Diana this morning to help pack for Bruce's stay at the hospital tomorrow.

He doubted his guardian remembered their father was officially starting chemo tomorrow afternoon, so he called in some reinforcements to help, thankful Dick wasn't at the top of his game to put the pieces together.

Tim snapped out of his thoughts as the driver door opened and Dick took a deep breath, resting his forehead on the steering wheel, his arms hanging down at his sides.

" Am I a failure?" Dick asked, and Tim's eyes widened.

" No."

" Then why did it take a text from Uncle Clark to remind me our dad starts chemo tomorrow?"

" You're juggling too much shit and don't let anyone help you."

A snort was the response, and Tim rolled his eyes.

" You're not a failure because you forgot about dad Dick, quite the opposite actually. I don't know anyone else who would do what you're doing right now. Raising us? Two jobs? You even got your GED to take care of us, and that means a lot to us. But Dick-"

" I can't sleep Tim,"

Dick's voice was barely a whisper as those words escaped his lips, and Tim had never heard his brother sound so defeated in his life.

" I want to, god I want to so bad Timmy, but every time I do, I wake up screaming, sweating, and the nightmares? They've got to bad, and I'm just terrified to sleep. I ate for the first time in a week and even then, it was only a candy bar from a vending machine after a meeting. I need help, but if dad sees the slightest sign I'm struggling, he'll worry so much and won't take the time he needs to rest."

" Dick-"

" You can't tell anyone this Tim, especially dad. I need you to promise me."

" I promise."

Dick let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead as he lifted his head off the steering wheel before starting up the car.

" There's a soup kitchen down the street if you want something light on your stomach," Tim suggested, " We've got an hour and-"

" Tell me where to go," Dick said with a smile and Tim lit up like a Christmas tree.

Wayne Manor

" Why do you have so many newspapers?" Diana asked as she was helping the bat pack for his month stay at the hospital and picked up one of the said papers from The Gotham Times, Gotham Gazette, Gotham Globe, and Bludhaven News.

" Dick's on most of them," Bruce replied, grabbing his slippers from the closet.

Diana grabbed the top one and smiled as she saw it was about her nephew.

' Dick Grayson Becomes Youngest Bludhaven Training Police Officer .'

The article was labeled October 3rd, 2013, two months before Dick turned seventeen, and Diana noticed the teen signed up only two days after Bruce had been diagnosed with cancer.

How they let a sixteen-year-old train to become a police officer was anyone's guess, and Diana figured it was because Bludhaven was that corrupt and didn't care about age or even that Dick was still in school at that time.

Diana grabbed the next one and noticed it was only from two weeks. April 14th, 2014.

' Dick Grayson Graduates From Bludhaven Police Academy At 17'

" He's too young to be a cop," Diana said

Bruce was about to reply until the door to the manor slammed shut.

Barry jumped at the sound of the door and saw a furious Jason Todd storm his way to the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the house.

" Jason," Bruce called, and the teen sighed before walking to the billionaire's room.

" I'll give you two a minute," Diana said as she stood up " It's good to see you home Jason."

Diana walked out, and Jason leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed against his chest.

" I got suspended for putting a rat down a kids pants at school. Birdbrain grounded me already so you can save the speech." Jason said " The four billion dollar deal with the Freeman's is off after Quinn said some things to Steph and Tim got suspended after punching him in the face. Dick has my backpack in the car and has no idea where I went."

Bruce blinked at his son, and it took him a moment to process everything that was said.

" Let me get this straight, you put a rat down a kids pants, Tim punched a kid in the face, The Freeman deal is off, Dick has no idea where you are, and it's not even noon yet?"

" Correct."

" Your punishment?"

" Suspended two days and three days detention."

" And your punishment from Dick?"

" No video games for a week and I'm off the mission on Tuesday."

" He's still leading the team?" Bruce asked shocked

Dick had said the day he took over Wayne Enterprises was the day he would hand team leader over to someone else, probably to M'Gann, and just train the team once a week. But that turned out to be not the case.

" And the Titans. I thought someone would've told you?"

There was a sympathetic look on Jason's face as he looked at his father and Bruce stopped packing for a moment to think.

Tim kept him updated with the team every day, but he must've left the part of Dick leading everything out on purpose and had a pretty good idea why his eldest asked Tim to lie.

His wayward son was leading two teams, patrolling two cities, working two jobs, and raising six siblings at seventeen. Dick wasn't even an adult yet and already had so much responsibility.

" B, you alright?" Jason asked, " You need anything?"

" I need help packing and since it seems you have nothing else to do-"

" You're lucky I got suspended."

Bruce let a smile appear on his face at his son's words and saw Jason was smiling a little too.

" You watching the house tonight?" Clark asked as he changed a light bulb that was burned out in the kitchen.

" Yeah at nine. Wally's coming at six thirty with Barbra after Dick goes to work in Bludhaven." Barry replied as he put the groceries he bought this morning away.

Barry understood Dick was busy with everything going on, but the speedster was surprised to see how bare the fridge, freezer, and cabinets were.

There was barely a twelve pack of Coke in the fridge, a small carton of milk, turkey lunchmeat, mayo, a few take-out containers, and a bowl of macaroni.

The freezer was a little bit better than the fridge but it still only had three packs of hot pockets, three microwave pizza's, a container of chocolate ice cream, a few uncrustable sandwiches, and a box of popsicles.

And the cabinets were all empty except for one that had bread, peanut butter, three boxes of cereal, six granola bars, and a box of fruit snacks.

" How did you pay for this?" Diana asked

" Dick gave me a credit card last time I was here," Barry replied, and within seconds, the fridge, freezer, and cabinets were stocked to the brim " I'll tell him shopping is handled and sent!"

Dick's reply was instant, and Barry smiled at the response.

" What'd he say," Clark asked as he saw Barry's face.

" I'm the best Uncle ever! In your face!" Barry shouted, and started doing a victory dance, " I'm number one!"

Diana rolled her eyes at speedster and couldn't hide the smile on her face as Clark argued he was the best uncle since he was the bats' godfather.

" Technically you're only Helena's godfather so," Barry said with a shrug and ran as Clark went to slap him.

Gotham Academy

" He's not here! He forgot, or he got hit by a bus!" Steph shouted at the science fair

" The possibility of Grayson getting hit a bus is sixty percent with his current state, so it's highly likely," Damien said, and his siblings only blinked.

" I see him! Dad! Dad over here!" Steph shouted, and Dick froze in place for a moment as Steph called him dad.

" You are our dad Dick," Tim said and gave him a small shove.

" I admit I am pleased to see you did not get hit by a bus Grayson," Damien said

" Thanks?" Dick said with a raised eyebrow " Before you start I told B we'd facetime so he could see what we stayed up till three am for."

Steph was bouncing with excitement, and she let out a squeal as Bruce answered the facetime.

" What was that?" Bruce asked, and Dick laughed

" Someone's very excited to show her science project. Hold on, let me just flip it and ta-da! I present to you Bruce, Stephanie Brown's solar system!"

" It doesn't look like a three am project." Jason said " What a shame."

" You ran all the way home?" Dick asked at the same time Bruce said: " You made that at three am?"

" Focus people!" Steph shouted gaining her family's attention again.

" Go ahead Stpeh."

" So-"

Dick tuned out Steph after the first sentence, and his mind wandered to this morning with Clark and Barry.

Why were the two heroes at the house so early? Didn't they have work? Did something happen with Bruce and nobody told him? Was the house that dirty?

Dick's thoughts were running wild, and Tim nudged his brother to bring him back to reality, worry etched on his face.

Steph was looking at him, waiting for him to say something, and he smiled before saying "You're going to blow the judges mind Steph."

" You think so," Steph said excitedly.

" I know so."

Steph smiled, and her face changed as the judges walked in.

" You'll be great, you're a Wayne, Steph," Dick said with a smile.

" Hey, Bruce! You got a broom in this place!" Barry shouted in the background and Bruce sighed.

" Sounds like you got to go," Cass said sadly.

" I'll see you when you get home, I love you," Bruce said and hung up before Barry would break anything else.

" Alright, Steph knock em dead," Dick said

" Bye Dick." Steph said and gave him a hug " Thanks for staying up with me to finish this."

" Anytime, love you."

" Love you too."

" Well, we got to get back to boring class in twenty minutes," Cass said, " Come on demon boy, we can still start a food fight in the cafeteria if we hurry."

" You start a food fight you're grounded," Dick said, and Damien smirked in response, " I mean it."

" Is that a challenge?"

Dick shook his head as Cass waved him off, and Tim was watching him like a hawk as they walked back to the car for what felt like the hundredth time today.

" Do you want me to drop you off at the zeta tubes and you head to the Mt or drop you off at home?" Dick asked

" If I go home I'm getting shot at by Jason. I'll take the Mt."

" Got it."

The ride to the zeta tubes was quiet, and Dick saw Tim hesitated to get out of the car.

" Hey, I'll be fine today alright?" Dick said, and Tim nodded " I love you, and I'll see you at three thirty."

" Love you too."

Tim got out of the car and headed down the small alley where the zeta tubes were, waving one last time at Dick before he left and entered Mt Justice.

Mount Justice

Recognized Red Robin B20

" Tim! You're here!" Beast Boy shouted and threw himself at the bat

" Hey, Gar," Tim said with a giggle.

" What are you doing here? Don't you have school?"

" I umm got suspended."

" WHAT!?"

" I kind of punched some guy in the face?"

" I expected this from your siblings but you?! I've never seen you angry!"

" Trust me you don't want to,"

" Noted. Want to play video games!"

" I've got nothing else to do, and Dick says I do need to have some fun every once in a while."

" Can't argue with the boss!"

" Guess I can't," Tim replied with a laugh and Wonder Girl joined them fifteen minutes later.

" I don't think I've seen you this carefree in a while, Tim," Wonder Girl said, setting down the controller as she won at Mario Kart.

" It's been tough," Tim admitted, and both heroes couldn't even imagine what the bat was going through " Dick tries to put a brave face on but, I can tell he's dying inside. He's doing too much, and I just wish there was something I could do to help."

" Why don't you take over the Titans?" Beast Boy suggested, " You already half lead it with Dick anyway."

" And they've worked with you on numerous occasions. It'll be perfect!" Wonder Girl said

Tim's friends did have a point. He was only thirteen, but the Titans were made up of teenagers just like Young Justice, and it would take a massive load of his brothers shoulders.

But would Dick let him was the real question? The older bat was quite protective these days so if he did let Tim lead the Titans, it would be a shock.

" What do you say, Tim? You going to ask Dick to lead the Titans?" Beast Boy asked

" I'm going for it."

Beast Boy and Wonder Girl let out shouts of excitement and Tim hadn't felt so determined in a long time.

Wayne Enterprises

" Shit," Dick said as he ran in the elevator right before it closed.

He was late for his meeting. He should've known not to go to the Watchtower when he knew he'd lose track of time.

Dick had gone up to the watchtower to write his report about the teams training progress from last week, and well he ended up getting sidetracked watching the monitors.

The bat had been there longer than he should've and only snapped how much time had passed when his phone lit up after Selina was double checking she was getting Helena from school, the time then two thirty-five.

" Come on come on. Go faster." Dick said to himself and ran out of the elevator the second it opened, barely dodging an employee in his haste.

The teen flung the door to the meeting room open, and all eyes turned in his direction.

" Sorry about the delay, siblings am I right?" Dick joked, and the room was filled with laughter.

" It's quite alright Mr. Grayson. We understand." Delilah, the accountant, said with a smile.

" Shall we start Mr. Grayson?" Lucy, his secretary, said

" Take it away, Lucy," Dick said with a smile and pressed record on his phone

" We all know why were gathered in this room. Wayne Shipping is plummeting and fast. With the absence of Batman, more of our freight is going missing right off the docks and on more than one occasion, has been discovered to be a source of drug trafficking. PAAL is threatening to cut ties with Wayne Enterprises if we don't handle this."

" I hate to say this, but maybe it's best we end Wayne Shipping." Marvin, head of Wayne Shipping, spoke "It costs more than its worth at this point and without Batman-"

" What about Nightwing?" Dick suggested, and all heads turned to him.

" The vigilante from Bludhaven? Sir is that a good idea? If we bring Nightwing into this city every enemy he's got we'll be drawn here". Melody, head of Wayne Security, said with a hint of surprise in her voice.

" Nightwing is the closest thing we've got to Batman and is our best shot at keeping Wayne Shipping from sinking. With Nightwing comes Red Hood, Red Robin, Spoiler, Robin, Black Bat and maybe even Catwomen".

" Where have they been these past six months? Why haven't Batman's protégées shown up?" Marvin asked, and Dick was to blame for that.

His siblings had begged him to help with Wayne Shipping, but Dick had been reluctant after Tim nearly got shot last time. So he told his family to stay away from Wayne Shipping until he thought it was time.

Well now was the time and he was starting to see why Tim was so worried.

" From my understanding, Nightwing's been patrolling both Bludhaven and Gotham along with leading the Justice League in his mentor's absence," Dick said " And Batman's other protégées are a part of Young Justice and the Titans so tell me, Marvin, how do you expect the bat family to save Wayne Shipping schedule when their off saving the rest of world?"

" I-I don't know sir." Marvin stuttered

" Batman's protégées are our best shot at saving Wayne Shipping and if it doesn't work, were sinking anyway."

" I'm in." Melody said, " If it saves us why not risk it?"

Everyone else slowly nodded, and Dick smiled.

" I will ask Commissioner Gordon to set up a meeting with Batman's protégées soon. Well done Mr. Grayson." Lucy said

Dick nodded in response and when everyone left the room, took a deep breath. He had just dug his own grave, and there was no way of coming out.