Two

Jason woke groggily and slowly pulled himself upward. He was laying in a comfortable bed with the sun pouring into the room. He squinted at his surroundings as the night he last recalled came flooding back. With a groan he hit the pillow.

Of course I would be rescued by Dick. he thought.

It was as if on cue the door he heard a small knock, he gruffly answered, 'Yeah?'

It opened to reveal the golden boy himself. Dick quietly shut the door behind him and pulled up a chair.

'You're awake finally.'

'What do you mean finally?' Jason ground out.

'About two days now. You had a bullet dug out of your ankle and your head took quite the beating. The arm wound got a tad infected but it should be fine now.' Dick easily supplied.

'Don't expect a thank you.'

Dick sighed and ran a hand through his hair, Jason took a peek at his supposed older brother; his face was strained and his eyes didn't sparkle the same they had, it seemed such turn of recent events had left the once full of life man, now cloud in shadows and shambles.

'Gordon brought your gun and helmet, well what's left of it.' Dick said, 'He grabbed it before anybody else got to the scene.'

'Well great for him, give him a medal why don't you.'

'Listen, I know this isn't what you would have liked for this situation. But you're here now, and you have to rest. Those three weren't your average goons. They seemed to be hired to take the Red Hood out.'

'No shit Sherlock.'

Dick gave a growl of frustration which surprised Jason, 'Just stop being an idiot for once Jason and let us help you. Alfred says you need at least a few weeks to heal.'

'Hell no.' Jason snapped. He actually started to sit up again but stopped when he saw Dick sit straighter, his eyes angry.

'You need help with this case. How many more children will die if you can't properly save them?'

Jason bristled but said nothing. Those words stung more then any bullet or knife could. He sat down and gave a sigh before replying quietly.

'Two weeks. But this is my case.'

Dick snorted, 'Too late. Tim's here as well and is assisting with looking further into Brask. And Damian will be back on patrol by the start of next week. Live with it, because now, it's our case.'

Resigned due to his aches taking over Jason merely grunted and closed his eyes. He hoped his obvious hint for Dick to leave would become apparent.

And it did, the eldest stood, but before leaving laid a hand on Jason's shoulder. The two former Robin's locked eyes.

'You don't have to fight alone.' Dick murmured.

'I always do.' Jason said wearily, 'With or without Bruce here.'

Dick merely took his leave after that. Jason closed his eyes feeling more tired then ever now.

Nothing like crisis to bring family together, and make things more complicated.

'Tt.' Damian stared at the screen until he was sure his eyes were about to bleed. He was getting nowhere with his investigation into the three assassins Todd and Dick had encountered.

'Budge up Demon.' a voice over his head said. He barely registered until the lap top was snagged from his clutches. He felt the person sink into the couch beside him.

'Drake, be glad I didn't take some fingers off.'

Tim merely smirked and began to type furiously. Damian watched, surprised at how admirable it was watching the older boy work. It was without effort as he his one last key and a photo popped up.

'That's her alright.' Dick said leaning over the both of them.

'How's Jason?' Tim asked.

Dick shrugged, 'As good s he can be, and as stubborn as always.'

'I've never heard of this woman.' Damian said still staring at the screen.

'Says here she can go by the name Elisha or Kytestring, whatever that means.' Tim said, 'She has ties apparently to Deathstroke though not as recently.'

'Have you gotten anything on Brask?' Dick asked taking a nearby chair. Tim began to type again at lighting speed, soon he spoke.

'Brask is fairly new, they seem to have a fairly okay repertoire. But that's just the surface.' Tim supplied.

'What seems to be the link are the children, several missing kids in various cities, not a direct pattern but enough alarm if you look close enough. And all those cities have Brask setting up shop conveniently at the same time.'

'Drug experiments on the children it seems.' Damian said, 'What about here?'

'Oddly enough not Gotham. They did buy some warehouses just about two days before Jason fund their hold up. But they have the files marked as "waste disposal sights-TBA" Tim said.

'So, they claim they'll be turning the warehouses into waste disposal units but instead just leaves the bodies.' Dick said.

'And my guess is Jason's brash tactics probably pissed someone off enough to hire these three to get him. Everybody knows the Red Hood cannot stand children and drugs in the same sentence.' Tim finished.

Jason was eager to get his healing over and done with. Not only because he hated sitting around, but in the manor it was ten times worse. After a few days he began to unsteadily stand, Alfred insisted for good measures to use crutches for walking. Jason merely used one to appease the older man.

'They seem to be pretty quiet but Damian and Tim are going to do a small sweep tonight.' Dick told him while watching Jason struggle into the kitchen. He could tell his ankle had limited range of motion still. As if on cue the moment Dick thought that Jason stumbled. Dick easily caught him and caught the small harrumph that expelled from Jason.

Dick chuckled as he helped Jason to a stool.

'Not a word.' Jason growled. Dick merely smirked as Jason snagged a nearby apple. Alfred had a habit of leaving a basket of fruit and a plate of muffins, although those were out of his reach.

'You know it would be a lot easier if you didn't try to rush yourself. You can take as long as you need to.' Dick said pouring them each some coffee.

Jason snorted in disbelief, 'Yeah like how long would that last?'

'Don't act that way.' Dick said, 'You know I'm not him.'

Jason raised and lowered one shoulder. Dick knew his brother's eyes showed his shame and that was enough of an apology for him. Dick easily picked up a muffin and smirked. He tossed it the same moment Jason tossed his apple. Both caught with easy skill.

Dick took a bite, 'You know.' he said after swallowing, 'Those assassins may actually move on. I'm pretty sure they figured you'd be dead from your wounds.'

'If this big ass corporation is paying them big bucks, likely not.' Jason replied casually.

'Well even when you do leave.' Dick said, 'At least lay low for a bit, for me, will you?'

'Worried much?'

Dick smiled, 'With you Jason, always have been and always will be. But it doesn't mean I'll stop helping either.' He took another bite and left Jason to his muffin. Jason merely stared at the uneaten baked good before him in uncertainty.

When the night hits Red Robin and Robin take to the roof tops. Although Damian is ruffled at his choice of partner, he can't help but begrudgingly admire The teenager's awkward grace and surprising agility.

His musing were cut short when a cry happened. Both boys glanced at each other and soon found a woman being mugged in an alley.

Damian knew it was an easy gig. Until as he struck one mugger down as Tim took the other out, and suddenly everything went wrong.

The woman not running as she should have been, his first clue. But he was preoccupied with what he thought was an easy fight. She suddenly laughed. She quickly struck Red Robin with a kick and as he stumbled she whipped out a dagger.

Two can play this game.

Damian's own came out and blades locked. Her eyes widened for a second before she merely stepped back. Damian lunged but she easily dodged him and rolled, right before Tim. He tried to strike but she easily subdued him and as Damian raised himself to attack again, he realized in lighting speed her blade had been replaced with a gun and was against Tim.

'Strike me down birdie, I dare you.' she challenged.

Damian for once was unsure. It was that exact moment she realized so and swung her gun his way, she fired but thankfully Tim kicked her in the lower half. He body flinched and the bullet merely grazed his side and he flung himself. He collapsed as Tim's staff cracked and she hit the ground unconscious.

Tim rushed over, 'You okay?' he asked worriedly.

'Tt. Of course you imbecile.' Was the gruff response. Tim gave a timid laugh and hit his comm.

'Red here, had a run in with an assassin. She's out cold for now.'

There was a muffled response. Damian stood and felt woozy. He glanced down. It seemed that he aim was better then expected.

'Thankfully there's an exit wound.' Tim said before the youngest fell into his arms. Tim sighed.

He pressed for his comm. again, 'Red here, we'll need assistance. Robin's hurt. Not life threatening but still.'

The response was quick, Dick had given just a singular answer of 'Be right there.' but his voice was terse.

He easily beat arriving before the police, and they were gone by the time flashes lights came upon the alley.