Chapter 2: Family Comes First
Jason's POV
"But that's not fair! Why can't Alfred or Dick do it? I never-"
"That's enough Jason! I have an extremely important business meeting in Metropolis. Alfred is attending a medical convention with Leslie. Dick is with Damian on a school trip to Star City. And that leaves you. Tim can't help the fact that he caught the flu. I need you to stop your whining and watch out for him. He needs you. We all have to make sacrifices." Bruce declared. He turned and started walking up the stairs.
"But-"
Turning and facing me, he said, "I don't want to hear it! Family comes first!" He continued up the stairs towards Tim's room.
The Replacement completely ruined my chances of attending the biggest college party of the year. Sure I was only a junior in high school (Okay so I failed two grades, but it wasn't my fault), but they didn't know that. Now I have to stay home and play doctor to a kid. This sucks. I mean he isn't even that sick. It's only the flu.
Bruce came back down the stairs carrying a brief case. "Make sure Tim takes his medicine and eats something. There's soup on the stove that you can heat up. Make sure he drinks plenty of fluids. Be good, stay out of trouble, and look after your brother. I'll be back tomorrow night." His eyes narrowed and his voice turned icy, "And Jason, do not leave this house unless it's an emergency. Do you understand?"
"Whatever."
"I mean it, Jason." And with that being said, he walked out the door and into the garage.
********Break********
About two hours later, I opened the door to his room. He was sleeping. He looked kinda pale, sweat rolled off his forehead, his breathing was labored. A monkey was clutched in his hands.
"Wake up, Replacement!"
His eyes opened slowly and he started coughing roughly, gasping for breath. "Jay." He whispered weakly.
"Take two of these. You're old enough to take care of yourself." I said coldly, while hurling the bottle of medicine onto his bed.
He weakly said, "But I-"
Cutting him off, I mocked him in a whiney tone, "But I can't, I never learned how; my parents were never at home because they didn't want me. I'm only a baby. I can't take care of myself; I have to have other people do it for me. I can't sleep without my monkey because he's my only friend. I have to have other people fight my battles for me. I'm never going to make it in the real world. Because no one loves me or will ever want me."
He had tears forming in his eyes as I slammed his door shut.
********Break********
About two hours later, I opened the door to his room. He was asleep again.
"Wake up, Replacement!" I received no response.
I moved closer to the bed. I finally noticed how sick he looked. All of the color had completely drained from his face. I laid my palm on his forehead. He was burning up. His fever was higher than it should have been. Hot and sticky sweat covered his entire body. His breathing wasn't labored anymore; in fact he didn't even look like he was breathing. I reached down and checked his pulse. Oh shit! It was really low; barely even a pulse at all.
I pulled the blanket around him a little tighter and scooped his tiny frame up into my arms. Running down the stairs at full force, I almost tripped over Damian's freaking cat. I swear that worthless fur ball has it out for me. I knew I should've shot the freaking cat-
"Focus," I reminded myself. I ran into the garage and opened the door to Bruce's Mercedes. I carefully laid Tim down in the backseat and then climbed into the driver's seat. I then very cautiously proceeded to drive 90mph down the curvy road until I reached the city limits of Gotham. Why can't rich people ever build their mansions closer to town?
Luckily, I didn't have a single cop on my ass. I then proceeded to swerve in front of the ambulance as it was turning into the hospital. My emergency was ten times more important anyways. I parked the car right in front of the emergency entrance also known as parking for ambulances only spot. Ignoring the incredibly pissed off look of the ambulance driver, I snatched up my little brother and burst through the doors of the emergency entrance.
"Somebody, please help him!" I pleaded urgently. Suddenly his body started convulsing.
Immediately a stretcher was brought in, a team of doctors and nurses pried him from my grip and held him down, while running out the double doors. I then proceeded to follow them.
The receptionist stepped in front of my path. "Sir you cannot go back there." She handed me a clipboard filled with papers. "Besides you need to fill theses out." Taking the clipboard from her, I snapped it in two. "Or you could take a seat in the waiting area and just fill those out later." She squeaked while backing away.
********Break********
I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on. I kept pacing back and forth. What happened? Is he okay? Is he… No! He's not going to die. He'll be fine.
Dropping into a seat, I dropped my head into my hands. I felt something rub against my side. Reaching into my jacket I found Tim's stupid monkey. How did that get in there? Why did I have to yell at him? I didn't mean it! God only knows I didn't mean it. Why didn't I notice how sick he was? I could have done something. Babybird I'm so sorry. I-
"Mr. Wayne?" a doctor called.
I stood up so quickly that I practically knocked the chair over. He walked over to me. "I'm afraid the pharmacy somehow mixed up Timothy's medication with someone else. It seems that Timothy had a severe allegoric reaction to the medication he received. His body rejected it and it was in the process of completely shutting down. His throat started to swell and by the time you arrived here it was closed off completely. Had you arrived a minute later, there would have been nothing anyone could have done. The medication also reversed its effects. Instead of destroying the symptoms of the flu, it only increased the symptoms. His temperature was a deadly 105 degrees. We had to pump his stomach and remove the medication; we also had to force oxygen into his lungs and we had to go to extreme measures to bring the fever down."
Speechless, I just stared at him. He almost died. Humans cannot survive body temperatures above 108 degrees, his was 105. Tim could have died thinking that I hated him.
"Mr. Wayne?"
"Can I take him home now?"
********Break********
I opened the door to his hospital room. He was asleep. He looked a lot better though. I brought a chair up to the edge of his bed and squeezed his hand lightly. I soon found myself staring into bright baby blue eyes.
"Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?" he feebly asked.
"Babybird, what are you talking about?"
Tears were now falling out of his eyes, "About what you said earlier. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble. I couldn't help it. I….."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out his monkey and placed it beside him. In a soothing voice, I said, "Hush, it's okay. Don't cry. Listen to me Babybird. I… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean any of the things I said before. I'm not mad you. I was only angry because I couldn't go to a party I shouldn't have even been at in the first place. You didn't do anything wrong. I was the one who screwed up. I'm sorry. I didn't even notice how sick you were and the fact that you could have die- Timmy, you're my baby brother and I love you. Besides, if anything ever happened to you….. Then who would I have to take my side or hang out with? Plus I'd be stuck alone with Golden Boy and Demon Spawn forever. I need my Babybird."
A small smile crept onto his face. "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course I do."
"Jay, can we go home now?"
********Break********
Tim was still a little weak so I carried him to the car. As I slid him into the back and closed the door, I saw that freaking ambulance driver.
"You cut me off! You're supposed to stop for ambulances. Are you that blind that you couldn't see the flashing lights or hear the siren!" he screamed.
"I wouldn't have had to, if you weren't driving so freaking slow!"
"So, you think I drive slowly?"
"Slow as freaking Christmas! I'm surprised Rudolph didn't cut your ass off!" I shouted.
"Oh, that's really funny. I-"
Okay, I admit it. I occasionally lose my temper. One punch sent the guy flying right into the ambulance. Someone turned towards the commotion. Oh shit! Cop!
********Break********
Bruce's POV
I started walking up the stairs towards Tim's room. I paused because something caught my eye. Jason and Tim were asleep on the couch. Jason had fallen asleep sitting up; one arm wrapped protectively around the younger boy. Tim was huddled in blankets; monkey clutched in his hands. His head was resting on a pillow in Jason's lap.
I turned the TV off and walked over to them and pulled the blankets more securely around them. I then noticed something lying on the coffee table.
A release form for the Gotham City General Hospital, a medical bill, a parking ticket, and a paper for a court date assigned to Jason Peter Todd-Wayne! What in the hell did he do this time!
I should have stopped at one.
