As always, apologies for any errors. Posting from the app messes with sentence structure and re editing chapters makes entire paragraphs disappear.

Three years ago

The young teen stumbled into the cold, dark batcave clutching his abdomen. Blood cascadedthrough his fingers as he pressed his side like he was ineffectually going tokeepthe blood from spilling out. His weakened body faltered with each
agonizing step.

The boy screamed violently, "Alfred!?" He paused listening for footfalls from the butler.

As he staggered closer towards the staircase leading to Wayne Manor, his breathing became even more labored. Gasping for breath as a sharp pain struck him stiff.

He padded along the cold, stone floor with bare feet covered in driedblood and filth from Gotham. Tears escaped his eyes as he winced in pain;bearing his teeth while releasing a guttural groan.

He continued to cry out for a savior to ease his suffering, "Alfred!" His feet grew heavier, scraping his toes with each step like anvils were attached to his legs.

His voice cracked in his final act of desperation. "Alfred, please?"His suffering trailed off into simple words no one could here, "...help..."

The boy was startled by the soft voice he heard from behind him in the shadows.

"Tim?"

Dick Grayson, clad as Nightwing without the domino mask, unveiled himself from the shadowy cave depths with a look of worry hanging onhis face.

The young teenager slowly stumbled to face the eldest son, revealing the bloody mess he clutched in his hands, desperately trying to control the bleeding.

"Oh god!" Dick froze as he staredat the mangled kid before him. A flash of fear crossed his face and his eyes widened in shock when he noticed the crimson blood rushing over the boy's hands.

Tim hunched over from the sheer pain and tripped over his twisted feet, causing him to lose his balance backwards.
Ever so fluid in motion, Dick skated across the cave to Tim's falling body. Sandwiching the kid between his hands, he placed one on his back to support the weight while the other pressed on his chest to stabilize the teen's weary frame.

Tim regained his footing with the aid of his brother's help. With Dick still kneeling next to him, both maleswere practically face to face as Tim contorted his body in agony.

"Let me see, Timmy," The older male breathed out heavily.

Dickgrabbed Tim's small hands gently and slowly plucked them from the wound. He noted the icy cold hands against his warm flesh as he softly squeezed them in a caring gesture. He moved to holding both of his brother's hands with one of his so he
could easily lift the blood soaked shirt covering the injury.

Dick could only see blood sputtering from the small hole in Tim's stomach. A dark bruise had already formed around the wound. Dick couldn't tell how much blood had been lost, but he judged from the amount soaked into the jeans, and his kid brother's blue
lips, he had lost too much already.

Tim whimpered as he tried to catch his aching breath, forcing Dick to snap out of his trancelikedaze. He snatched the kid from where he stood and pulled him in close to his chest. As Dick wrapped his arms around the beatened child's small
frame, he could feel his brother weighing heavier in his arms.

Tim gasped for air between his blue lips, as his eyes rolled back into his head.

"Timmy, no!" Dick shouted as he repositioned the semi conscious boy onto his knee and tapped his cheek to wake him from his stupor.

Dick leaned down and pressed his ear to Tim's chestto listen for a heartbeat. Very faint.

Cradling the teen in his arms, Dick placed his hand under Tim's chin and tilted his head back to clear his airway.

Tim's eyes flittedopen a bit as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Staggered gasps gargled out of his throat as he clutched his brother's wrist.

"ALFRED!" Dick's voice echoed a boom through the cave as panic filled his body.

"Tim's been shot!"