Chapter 10: The Comfort of Extended Family

The mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted 16 year old collapsed on the floor next to his master. He just wanted this nightmare to end and he fell into the darkness.

Teams P.O.V:

The team had finally managed to track Robin and Deathstroke to Star City. The abandoned warehouse they found was filled with weapons. A makeshift cot was positioned in a corner. Blood stained the floor, there were shackles on the walls, but Robin and Deathstroke were nowhere to be seen.

Ms. Martian's eyes glowed white, "I don't know where exactly but he's here."

"Aqualad to Black Canary: We believe we've found him."

In the WatchTower

Bruce was in front of the computer searching for a sign, any sign that Dick was okay. He had been missing almost a month before the team sighted him last night. They had called him in but he had been to late.

"Bruce," Clark's hand was on his shoulder, "They think they've found him. In Star."

The Dark Knight seemed like the Flash at the speed he pulled on his cowl and made it to the zeta tube. Almost the entire League was there waiting.

"You're not needed. Get back to work. I can take care of Dick."

"Bruce, we know you can. But Dick is family. Someone hurts him they hurt all of us. Since you first brought that 7year old boy to the Watchtower he's been the heart of the League. "

Clark was right. Dick had brought the whole League together. To his 7-year-old mind being a hero meant you were family. Family took care of each other.

Back in the Warehouse:

The unconscious teenager was found by Flash. His speed made it easy for him to search the warehouse fast. He had seen what looked like a body and for a second he thought it was a training dummy. It didn't look alive. But it was. There was a small rise and fall to the chest.

"Dick.." he breathed in relief, quickly he pressed his comm to let the others know. "I've found him. Rendezvous immediately."

Then for once Barry was frozen. The boy's clothes were ripped to shreds. His eyes were exposed; he had sword cuts all over his body and lots of new scars. The sight of the malnourished, bleeding, and scarred boy was too much. He had never seen Dick this vulnerable. Even during all the nightmares, after all the kidnappings, all the tears, and the times good and bad.

He stayed frozen as Wally appeared beside him and collapsed on to his knees. Dick was the strongest person Wally knew. Seeing him like this always seemed impossible. It was only when Bruce rushed in pushing him aside, Clark and Diana on his tail that Barry snapped back into reality.

"Dickie," Bruce knelt next to his son. He ripped off his cape and wrapped Dick in it covering him up then cradled him in his arms.

Diana spotted Deathstroke who was starting to stir in the corner. With an inhuman sounding snarl she whipped out her lasso. The mercenary was tied up and unconscious again within seconds. Everyone then entered the room, the whole league and team. Artemis hid her tears by burying her face in Wally's shoulder. Connor held M'gann close as she bawled. Tula was in Garth's arms and Aqualad was close to both. Troia had not been allowed on this mission, for she was deemed too young. Zatanna, Rocket and Batgirl all were tearing up as well. The former was the best at hiding it but she seemed in shock. Black Canary was quick to come to her side in a show of support.

"Tati?" Dick's hoarse voice choked. "No, it can't be."

"It's me Dickie Bird. I'm here."

"No, this is another of my Master's tricks. I disobeyed, this is my punishment."

Batman snarled when he heard the words that left Dick's mouth.

"No Dickie. You're here, you're safe. Wilson is going to Jail," Clark said.

"Uncle Clark?"

"All of us Dick. We're all here and safe."

"The team's not dead?"

"No, why would we be?" Artemis asked.

"Slade. Explosive probes. In the air. That night I went with him. You inhaled them. I didn't obey, you died. I didn't obey."

He was pulled back into memories of the extensive torture he had endured. Batman could feel his son shaking with silent sobs against his chest.

"What did he do to my son?" Batman growled at Martian Manhunter.

"I can try and see," replied the somber green alien.

He closed his eyes and began pushing into Dick's mind.

"His defenses are too strong. He's reinforced them since the last time he asked that I check," J'onn told Batman then turned to Dick, "Can you let me in? You're safe now."

"Uncle J'onn?" Dick seemed to consider it but ducked his head back into his arms as if to shield himself.

"Uncle J'onn?" mouthed Ms. Martian at the same time Superboy mouthed "Uncle Clark?"

"Later," Kid Flash mouthed back.

"C'mon Dickie Bird. You need to let us in," Black Canary knelt next to him and stroked his hair gently.

"We've missed you. Where's the Dickie Bird that deflected everything with a joke?" Green Arrow said.

"Uncle Ollie? Auntie Dinah?" Dick seemed to peek up for a minute.

"You have endured more than anyone could have expected of you. No Atlantian soldier is as brave as you," Aquaman said.

"Uncle Arthur?" he said as the salty scent of the Atlantian king wafted over him.

"Yes, it's them. Speak to us little warrior. Let us help you," Hawkgirl coaxed in a soft voice that she saved just for Dick.

"Auntie Shayera?"

"We're all here. C'mon Dick, where's that willpower?" Green Lantern (Hal) asked. He was one of the only ones that new because of his unusually optimistic outlook in this line of work paired with his sheer strength of will Dick had been considered for both a Green and Blue Lantern ring but turned them down. (Personal Headcanon of mine)

"We've all been so worried. Let J'onn in. It'll help ease us. Wally and I have circled the world several times looking for you. Bats has been the mopiest I've seen him for years," Flash teased.

"Uncle Barry?" Dick came a little bit more out of his shell.

"The whole League is here. As I once remember an intelligent 7-year-old saying 'Being part of the League makes you part of my family.' Then there was the movie you forced me to watch when you were 13 to convince me to talk to Connor. "Family means nobody gets forgotten."

"Uncle Clark."

By now you could almost hear the smile returning to his voice.

"Please Dickie," Wonder Woman sat down next to him and Batman. She cupped her hand under his chin lifting his face to her. "Let us help you."

"Auntie Diana," his voice cracked. Batman let go of his son as the teen crawled into Wonder Woman's arms.

"I'm here little bird," she looked to Batman who nodded to J'onn.

"Help my son."

The team stood in shock as all this happened. In all their years together only two of them had seen Dick anywhere close to this vulnerable. (Barbara and Wally)

"Leave," Batman growled as J'onn started to help heal Dick's mind.

Barbara and Wally started to protest but left seeing that Dick was so vulnerable right now. He wouldn't want any of them to see him like this. The League besides Batman, J'onn, Diana and Clark ushered the team out the door.

"Why was Dick calling everyone Uncle and Aunt. He's not related to you," Superboy said.

"Connor, you should know Dick better by now. He considers all of us his family," Wally said, "Kaldur, Roy, you and I are what he considers his brothers. He considers Artemis and M'gann his sisters. From what I've seen the other girls don't really fall into that category."

Barbara chuckled, "You're probably right. You guys have to understand it's the way Dick was raised. He lived in a Circus till he was six with his parents, Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. They were his only blood relatives but everyone was considered family. He's still in touch with them even though he's been living with Batman for more than half his life. None of the way he thought of family changed when he came to live in Gotham. He adopted Bruce and Alfred as Dad and Grandfather respectively. Then he met the League who became his Aunt and Uncles. His whole family is adopted, his brothers, sisters and us. Even some villains consider him family and refuse to hurt him."

"That I didn't know. I thought it was only Selina," Wally asked.

"Nah, Ivy too and in some very rare cases Harley. Back to the point, Dick pretty much stopped calling them Aunt and Uncle when he was 11 or 12. Now it's only in private or at home he uses those terms for the Leaguers. But his family has always been what he needs when he's most vulnerable. It's the best medicine for him."

"We'll be there for him like always. He shouldn't have had to go through so much," Ms. Martian sobbed.

"We'll make sure he won't have to again," Conner vowed. He knew that likely wouldn't be possible with the job they had.

"Dick's the heart of this team," Zatanna said. The other girls all nodded in agreement.

"Dick's the heart of the League. He brought us all together as a team. Slade's gonna get hell from all of us," Barry said.

"Can I get the first punch?" Ollie asked.

"Third. Dick and Diana had a nice go. And that's only if Superman and any of us don't get there first," corrected Hal.

"I think we'll all find ways to make his life hell," Black Canary said. "Not just by beating him up."

"Can we join in?" Artemis asked.

"Of course. Another League Team mission has been way overdue," Barry agreed.

AN: You may have noticed that I added Troia, Tula and Garth to the team. They all joined the team before Jason so it was around the time that Dick was 15 and ending his Robin career.