CHAPPPPTTTTEEER TEN! THanks for all who've read, you guys are all awesome!!!

Chapter Ten

"Dad!!!" Bruce jerked up from the couch and wiped away the beads of perspiration forming on his forehead. He hadn't even realized that he had fallen asleep, but the nightmare was enough to keep him awake for a lifetime.

"You OK?" Diana asked as she walked into the living room.

"I'm fine." Bruce replied gruffly.

"Worried?"

"What do you think?"

"Hey, we're all worried. If you need anything…you know the whole league and I have your back, right?" Diana said.

"I know…any leads?"

"Not yet." Diana shook her head.

"I know this city best, I should be out there looking for them."

"You know that's ridiculous, only when we have a lead then you can get out and we'll be able to stall for you. But with the media banging on your door ever half hour, there's no way…"

"I know, I know, but you don't understand the helplessness I feel. My children are dying Diana, I feel it, I know it…and I can't do anything at all to help them." Bruce lifted his tormented eyes at Diana and immediately her heart flew out to him. She had never noticed that his eyes could hold so much emotion, so much pain, and so much love.

"They're going to be fine." Diana said firmly.

"Bring me the video, I need to watch it a few more times." Bruce ordered.

"Bruce…you shouldn't…"

"Yes, it hurts when I watch it. When I watch him slowly kill my little girl, torturing her, beating her. Damn it, Diana, do you think I don't know!? She's eight years old, and she's going to be scarred for life! I think I can handle watching this video if Timmy and her can handle being held captive by the Joker."

"Very well, here." Diana murmured. "I'll go help the league look some more."

"Call me if you find anything." Bruce said and then gazed at her. "I didn't mean to snap at you…I'm just frustrated…"

"I know, Bruce, I know."

Owen pushed the boys' doors open. It was noon and neither of them had stirred from their beds. "Dick? Get up, lunchtime." He received a groan and a pillow in his direction.

"Seriously, get up, Buddy." Owen said.

Dick rolled his eyes and pushed himself out of bed. "Good man." Owen murmured and headed to Jason's room.

He pulled the door open and to his surprise, he found the boy missing. "Dick Grayson Fields! Where is Jason?" Owen demanded.

The older boy shrugged as he padded out of the bathroom. "How should I know?" He murmured with his mouth full of toothpaste. "And will you quit adding the Fields to the name, sheesh! Jason was right, it sounds terrible!"

"Young man, where is your brother?" Owen began losing his patience.

"You have a short temper." Dick muttered. "He probably got hungry, relax."

"You're sure?"

"No, this is Jason you're talking about, he does things randomly." Dick rolled his eyes as if his new guardian was supposed to know that.

"I see, I'll go look for him. Breakfast is on the table for you." Owen said.

Damian stumbled down the stairs and could see his father intently watching a video. "What's that, Dad?"

"What—oh, it's nothing." Bruce turned off the TV. "Breakfast?" He forced a smile at his son.

"Sure, Alfred cooked?"

"Nah, just cereal this morning." Bruce placed a hand on his son's shoulder and led him to the kitchen table.

"What were you watching?"

"…a video…" Bruce paused, "from Joker."

Damian immediately choked on his cereal. "What!?"

"Yah…man, I wish Dick or Jason were here, they'd somewhat recognize the place. I'm pretty sure one of them has been there."

"Hey, I'll watch it, see if I recognize anything." Damian said.

Bruce nodded and the father and son ate their breakfast in silence. Neither of them were in a rush to do anything. Bruce sighed and pushed his chair back. "Well, I'll wait for you in the living room."

"All right…" Damian nodded as he refilled his bowl with corn flakes.

Bruce rubbed his face wearily. He had a midnight shade and bags under his eyes. He hit the play button, but muted the volume. He couldn't stand hearing the sounds of his children's screams and Joker's hysterical, twisted laughter. "So…why the long face, old man?" A familiar teasing voice came from the corner of the room.

Bruce immediately became alert and scanned the room with his eyes. "I'd think you'd find me by now." The voice teased.

The figure moved from the corner of the room. "Jason?" Bruce said incredulously. He grappled his son in a hug. "Jason!"

"Whoa, easy there old man, you're going to break all of my bones."

"What are you doing here?" Bruce demanded.

"Giving you a hand, what do you think? By the looks of it, you need all the help you can get."

"You ran away from home!?"
"No, I came home." Jason said. "What are you watching?"

"Son, no." Bruce tried to stop the boy before he turned around.

"Oh, god!" Jason stumbled backwards. "She's gonna die if we don't find her!"

"I know, chum, any idea where she is?"

"Underground circus?" Jason suggested. "He is a clown."

"Hm, maybe, but you better get back…" Bruce glanced remorsefully at his son. "We already have our hands full, we don't need me being charged of kidnapping too. Anyway, how'd you slip past the media?"

"Hey, Bat training comes in handy, Pop. Haha." Jason grinned. "Nah, I went through the cave. J'onn was there, but he didn't stop me. He thought you'd need some cheering up."

"Yah, you cheered me up all right. I've never felt better this whole week." Bruce admitted. "Now, get back to your…Dad." Bruce cringed.

"Hey, you're my dad, now to forever." Jason smiled. "That fool? Did you know his last name's Fields? My gosh and he keeps calling me one too! I mean nothing against the name or anything, it's just…I ain't a FIELD!!! I'm a Todd…and a Wayne. Down to the heart, baby!"

Bruce couldn't help but smile at his son's attitude. "Get out of here, Jays, I'll try to get you home once I get the little guys back."

"You better."

"I will." Bruce said firmly. "Stay safe and out of trouble.

"Tell Alfred I said hi, I even miss him fussing over my wrinkled shirt!" Jason laughed.

"Tell Dick I said hi too." Bruce said and then pulled his son in another hug.

"Whoa there Papa Bat, when have you been so touchy feely?"

"When I lost my kids." Bruce growled back. "I'll see you later."

"Yah, toodles!" Jason said. "Check underground circuses!"

"I will." Bruce felt another smile grace his lips.

In the background, Damian stared at his father. Bruce had not yet shown that much warmth towards the newest member of the family. Sure, he said good night, patted him on the shoulder and such. He also stuck up for him and accepted him into the family without any hesitation, but the one thing that Damian felt was missing was…love. Yes, Bruce loved him, but Bruce's love for him was less than all of the others and Damian couldn't understand why. He was his father's blood child, after all.

"Tell me, Timothy Drake…how would you like becoming my newest toy?" Joker cackled.

"Well, if you want to know the truth…not so much." Tim spat.

"Harlequin, Sweetheart?" Joker called.

"Yes Smookums?" Harley smiled.

"I found the perfect little boy…how do you feel about…becoming a mother."

"Oh! That would be the best thing in the world!" Harley threw her arms around the Joker. "Will this boy become J Junior?"

"Yes, we could call him…JJ." Joker grinned. "Do you like him?" He threw a crazed look at the struggling boy before him.

"Hm…I think he could use a makeover." Harley said.

"I agree." Joker stepped closer to Tim. "Timmy…I want to say…welcome to the family, son. Or you will be once I'm done with you."

"No, get away from me!" Tim tried to kick the clown before him.

"Nuh uh uh, naughty, naughty." Joker wagged a finger at Tim. "Hey, Brucey! Say good bye to your little boy, because when I'm done with him…let's just say…you won't recognize him anymore…Oh, I'm sorry if you're disappointed about this video. It's a lot less gory. Ta ta!" Joker glanced at Harley and made a wagging motion with his finger.

"Huh?"

"Cut! I said CUT!" Joker shrieked and the video went dead. He then handed the video to one of his clowns. "Drop it off, please. Oh, leave a note saying that this will be the last time he'll ever see his children again."

Owen stormed around his house as he searched for the younger boy. "JASON!" He thundered.

Dick slouched in a chair at the kitchen table as he stirred the oatmeal around. If his brother wasn't going to show up soon then Owen would notify the authorities and Bruce would get into more trouble. Not only that, Dick was sure that Owen would blow a casket if he didn't find Jason. Luckily, the house was pretty large and there were many rooms to search. "Psst, Dick! Where is he?" Jason hissed.

"West wing, say that you were in the laundry room, it's the only one I know that's in the West Wing that he hasn't checked yet." Dick said. "Sit down."

Jason pulled the kitchen chair and sat across his brother. "Joker has them, Bro'." Jason whispered. "He has them both."

Dick stared at his brother with wide eyes. "How do you know?"

"Dad was watching a video…Joker sent him a video of him torturing Jaime…" Jason trailed off. "She didn't look too good. He still doesn't know where he's hiding and with all of the media at his door, there's no way he could…get away and look."

"JASON!" Owen called again.

"In here!" Jason hollered and shared a worried glance with his brother. "Dad's also a big mess, by the way, but he says hi."

Dick nodded and began spooning some oatmeal in his mouth. "How can you eat that!?" Jason demanded, making him sound as disgusted as possible.

"See, lil' bro', you gotta put it on a spoon and put it in your mouth. It's not that hard."

Owen strode up to Jason and jerked him out of his seat. "Ow!" Jason frowned as he stumbled forward.

"Young man, where were you?"

"I was roaming around the house." Jason shrugged as he tried to make himself sound dismissive.

"Why didn't you answer me?"

"Uh, O', if you haven't noticed, your house is really big. I can't hear you if you're in another section of the house." Jason murmured. "But, if you want me to, I'll tell you every time I enter a different portion of the house."

"You better not be lying."

"Chillax, man, I'm not. You need to like…take a breather or something. Did you know that popping pills and stuff really helps you relax? Not that I've done any of that stuff or anything, but like…when I was younger, my parents smoked weed and shit. You could totally do that." Jason made himself sound like a teenage punk. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Dick roll his eyes and smile.

"Listen, Jason, you—" Owen was cut off by the ring of a doorbell.

His front porch was filled with news reporters. "Mr. Fields!"

"Doctor!"

"Excuse me, sir!"
"Whoa…" Jason breathed. "Why are they all here all of a sudden?"

"How do you feel about your missing daughter and son?" A woman asked.

"Well…like all parents. This is a nightmare and I'm praying to god that I can have them back." Owen answered.

"They've been gone for almost a week, do you still think that they're alive?"

"Of course, like every parent, I'm not going to lose hope. They are my children and I will get them back. It kills me everyday not having them by me." Owen answered as Jason snorted.

"But, sir, isn't it true that you just got them in your custody? They went missing before they even set foot in this home."

"Yes, but I'm they're father now and even if I don't know them as well as Wayne, I still feel the pain, surely more than him anyway." Owen said.

The camera swiveled over to Dick and Jason. "How does it feel, to have lost your parents at a young age and then be taken away from the man that took you in and now losing your brother and sister?" A man asked.

The two brothers froze. Bruce would've dismissed the reporter by now. He would've never let it come to this. Dick snapped back first. "Um…it was tragic losing our parents, but Bruce took us in and he's a good man. He's...he's the best father anyone could ask for, even if he's a bit…rough around the edges."

"But Owen is your father now, is he not?"

Dick glanced at the doctor. "Owen is…a good man too, but Bruce is and always will be our father."

Immediately, Owen dismissed the cameras. "That's enough." He shut the doors. "What are you two thinking!?" He demanded.

"Um, you don't seem to have noticed but Bruce is like…our savior and you took us away from him. He never abused us, he only loved us." Jason growled. "I think all you want is fame and that you're jealous of Bruce Wayne because he's the big hot playboy that all the girls want. And he's the big guy on TV, on the media, on everything! And you're not."

"Enough!" Owen roared as he raised his hand to strike Jason across the cheek.

The force of the blow sent the unsuspecting boy flying to the ground. Owen glared down at Jason as he held his burning cheek. "You're a fucking hypocrite. You accuse Bruce of abusing us, but you just…hurt me."

"You were being disrespectful." Owen said coolly. "By the way, I don't appreciate the language. If you'll please, I'll be addressing the media. You boys go run along."

"Fuck you!" Jason shouted as he rose to attack the older man.

Dick grabbed Jason's shoulder. "Jays…"

"He hit me!"

"I know." Dick threw an angry glare at Owen. "But hurting him won't do us any good."
"No, only killing him will." Jason muttered.

Owen bent down and jerked Jason up onto his feet. "You will respect me, Jason Todd Fields…"

Jason spat at the man's face. It was a mistake. Owen was stronger than either of them had expected. His fist slammed into Jason's gut and then he grabbed the boy and threw him into a wall. "This isn't abuse, Jason, this is discipline." Owen said as he lifted the boy off the ground.

Dick grabbed one of Owen's arms, causing Jason to fall to the ground again. "Enough, you're hurting him." Dick said forcefully as Jason lied on the ground moaning.

"Who do you think you are, Richard? Challenging me?"

Dick anticipated the blow beforehand and blocked it. "You're messing with the wrong kid." Dick murmured and threw a kick at Owen's ankle.

"Aggh!" The man immediately grabbed his ankle. As he bent down, Dick smashed his knee into the man's nose. He then hit a pressure point which rendered the man unconscious.

"Oops, we'll be leaving now, excuse us." Dick grabbed Jason's arm and led him out the backdoor. "What's wrong, Jays? Did he hit you hard?"

"That Doc is pounds and pounds of muscle, and I'm not kidding. He's almost as strong as Bruce." Jason groaned. "Took me by surprise too, shit, I think I dislocated my knee."

"It's OK, we're going home now…" Dick said.

So...hope that didn't disappoint after the wait. :) WEEKEND'S here, thank god!!!!! lol