Ch. 8

Bruce immediately dove over Dick, knowing that Jason and Tim would dive over Damian despite the fact that they claimed not to like each other. Right now, even when maintaining their secret identities, Dick was the weak link due to his injuries. Bruce yelled at all his sons to take cover and then turned to the shocked Young Justice team. "What are you doing just standing around? Figure out how to get us out of here. If you figure out how to get us out, I have a safe house to bring us to!" Bruce yelled, startling the team out of their shocked state.

"Kid Flash, check out the rest of the mansion. See how many there are and find the butler. Superboy, keep anyone from entering this room. Miss Martian, call the Bioship and set up a mindlink. Artemis, guard the windows. Mr. Wayne is there any other way out of the manor?"

Bruce started to answer when Dick cut him off. "Actually Dad, there is a tunnel leading from this room to outside the property. I found it when I was fourteen. Used it to sneak out and go on the dates that you said I couldn't go on." Dick gave a sheepish smile.

Bruce gave a huge sigh before saying, "CPS would have my ass if they found out you boys had a way of sneaking out without my permission, but right now, I'm glad you found it."

Kaldur nodded before saying,"Once Kid Flash is back with the butler, please show us the tunnel."

Dick nodded. "Of course. Bruce I'm going to need you to be my crutch."

M'gann turned hurriedly to Superboy. "I hope Alfred isn't hurt."

Dick snorted. Just then, a gunshot rang out. "That would be Alfred."

Kid Flash came running in with a struggling Alfred. Alfred was carrying a rifle and demanding that he be let go so that he could defend the manor.

"Where did you find this guy?" Artemis asked in butler used a rifle like it was second nature, and actually wanted to put his life on the line to protect his employer's house, while said employer escaped to safety.

"My parents found him right after he retired from MI6." Bruce offered offhandedly.

"I have a newfound respect for your butler." Artemis said in awe.

"Let's go." Kaldur said. "We need to get to safety. Dick, if you could?"

Dick walked up to the bookshelf in the corner of the Den and glanced around carefully. Seeing Bruce's raised eyebrows, Dick grabbed and pulled three different books at the same time. Suddenly the middle portion of the bookshelf sank away and a tunnel appeared. Gesturing to the tunnel, Dick said, "Let's go."

The team formed a circle around the Waynes and the butler and went cautiously into the tunnel. Immediately, the tunnel closed and they were surrounded by darkness. Dick clucked his tongue and said, "I knew I was forgetting something. I always had to bring a flashlight!"

"You didn't remember that earlier!" Artemis whispered harshly.

Dick snorted. "Of course not. Now if I want to go on a date, I use the front door. Kaldur, don't your tattoos glow?"

Kaldur sighed before he started using his water bearers, allowing his tattoos to glow. Dick with Bruce's help led the group down a long and twisty path. Every once and awhile, he had to stop and and choose between multiple paths. Eventually, the tunnel started to get lighter and Kaldur told M'gann to make sure the bioship was ready.

Dick brushed aside the long vines that hid the cave entrance, and the group dashed to the awaiting the bioship. From there, Bruce directed M'gann how to fly to his flat in Metropolis. When his boys and Alfred raised an eyebrow at the chosen location. He just raised an eyebrow back accurately sending the message If Bruce Wayne was forced to be on the run, there was no where better to be than where Superman could protect him.

Bruce directed M'gann to the roof of the flat and she landed her bioship. Taking out his keys, Bruce unlocked the roof access door. Ushering everyone inside, Bruce led them to the flat door before unlocking the door and practically shoving them indoors.

Dick looked around the flat appraisingly. The flat seemed to surround the door and he counted roughly six bedrooms. They would be sharing beds that night, and judging from the looks he was receiving from all three of his brother, his father, and Alfred, he was the preferred roommate. Seeming to realize there was competition, everyone but Alfred lunged for him, yelling their claims.

After Alfred managed to separate them, it was decided Bruce and Dick would share the master bedroom, Alfred and Tim would share the bedroom with two twin beds, Artemis and M'gann would share a bed, Conner and Wally would share a bedroom, and Kaldur would have his own room and Jason and Damian would split the pull out couch. When Jason heard that he was sharing with Damian he growled and went to find the punching bag that was guaranteed to be somewhere in the flat.

Dick meanwhile was trying to soothe Damian by cuddling with him on the couch, while Tim flipped through the TV channels. Suddenly, Bruce looked up. "Alfred? Did you call Commissioner Gordon and inform him of the break-in and our temporary change of address?"

"Of course Master Wayne. I assure you I have yet to forgot my duties as your butler." Alfred said looking offended.

"Sorry Alfred. It's just that there was so much chaos and I didn't remember until now." Bruce said looking somewhat abashed by Alfred's accusations. "Alfred, you think you can take one of our bodyguards and go pick up some pizzas? I would send the boys or ask them to deliver but I don't want anyone recognizing us." Thinking for a second, Bruce turned to Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian. "Cough up your cash, I don't want to use credit cards."

Grumbling, Damian tossed a fifty dollar bill onto the table. Tim pulled out three twenties from his pocket. Jason took off his left shoe and pulled out a hundred dollars. Seeing everyone's raised eyebrows he scoffed. "I grew up on the streets. Just because I know how to pickpocket people, doesn't mean I want to see it happen to me."

Smiling, Dick pulled out his wallet. "How much do you need?"

Peeking into Dick's wallet, Bruce gasped. "Why do you have that much cash on you?"

Dick shrugged before saying, "I had a feeling. Went to the bank and withdrew as much cash as they would allow me too without notice."

"When?" Bruce demanded. "We've had people watching our every move for days!"

"The day that Phantom Dark made the announcement I had a bad feeling so I went to the bank and withdrew as much cash as possible. Figured that cash would be better than credit cards because it's not possible to trace it."

Dick blinked owlishly as the team and his family stared at him with slightly open mouths. He looked between them slowly before demanding, "What? I don't get it! Why are you looking at me like that?"

Dick stared at Bruce as they lay in bed together. They had shared a total of twenty pizzas, twelve of which belonged to Wally. Everyone had gone to there respective beds, and now Dick watched as Bruce flipped and grunted all over his side of the bed. Bruce had already warned him to try and stay on his side of the bed and not cuddle with him during the night. Dick had pouted, but agreed to stay away.

Dick sighed as he watched Bruce flip again. "What's wrong Bruce?" Dick asked silently, hoping that a conversation would settle Bruce a little.

Bruce flipped over to face him and quietly responded. "They attacked our home. How's this supposed to end?"

"It ends with us going home and rebuilding the destroyed portions of the house. With you and me working more business deals, and Jason organizing more charity events for the outreach program and Tim working down at R&D, and Damian predicting stock in ways that scare me. It ends with us being happy and that creep that's after us in prison. We'll make it work Dad, we always do, and we always will." Dick said softly staring confidently into Bruce's eyes. "Just remember, no matter what happens, I love you and I always will."

Bruce grunted softly, and Dick recognized that as a sign that his father was trying not to cry. "I love you too Chum, and I always will. Even if I yell, even if I'm angry, even if you think I hate you. And I know we never talk about it, but I thank your parents every single day for bringing my kid into the world for me, even though we met through tragedy."

Bruce fell silent and he heard Dick's soft moan. Like Dick, he recognized the fact that the other man was going to cry. Dick cleared his throat before saying, "I used to stand in front of that portrait of your parents thanking them for giving me you."

Both men fell into comfortable silence. Bruce could hear Dick's breath start to even out. Bruce lay silently thinking of all the things shared that night, and smiled. Somehow, even after all the years living together, they still managed to grow closer every single day. Hearing a shuffling noise, Bruce glanced over to Dick's side of the bed and watched as the man slowly shuffled closer to Bruce in his sleep. Bruce smiled softly. He had known this was coming at some point. Opening his arms, he watched as Dick shuffled until he was practically lying on top of Bruce. Bruce sighed, pulling his son into a more comfortable position and then fell asleep.

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A/N: Please don't kill me I updated so there is no longer that dreadful cliffhanger. Imagine if I had gone on hiatus after that, that would be horrible. Anyways, I wrote some one-shots about Robin and the team, so check it out! Anyways, please review and feel free to PM me if you have questions or suggestions.

~Nickijae