A/N: Just a few days after Tim has been returned to the family, Samantha is having nightmares about Jason and Tim. It was only days before that Samantha had learned the Wayne Family Secret and the meaning of Night Work. Can she reconcile this in her own heart?

Scarlet Fever

Part 10: Disoriented and Distraught

Samantha pulled back away from Tim, allowing Jason to lead her to the other medical bed. Once she was lying down, she started shaking. She hadn't realized how close she had come to harming herself and her children, even harming Tim. Jason was right, she couldn't do anyone any good if she worked herself too much. What was she really getting herself into? Once again, doubts filled her mind. Seeing Tim broken and bleeding was tearing her apart. She had sensed his terror and pain, despite trying to shield it from her own mind and the mind of her children. She could hear Jason and Sasha arguing in the background. She watched as Sasha left and Jason pushed over a table filled with equipment parts.

Who was the Joker? How could he instill such hatred and fear? Couldn't Batman do something about him? Why doesn't he just kill him? Rip his throat out, tear him to shreds. And why was she harboring such blood thirsty thoughts? Lately, she's been craving meat, and not just any meat, raw meat, the bloodier the better. This wasn't from the pregnancy either. When she smelled Tim's blood, something had come over her, a disorientation, almost a bloodlust, of wanting to bite into that flesh and consume it. She had smelled it from the top of the stairs. If it hadn't been for the calming influence of Caine, she would have done just that. He had reminded her that she had a purpose, and that purpose was to heal Tim.

Even so, her need for blood was growing, again. She shouldn't be down here, not now. The smell of blood was causing a change in her that she could not understand. She needed to get away and soak in a tub, anything to stop the craving from taking over. She was thinking about going upstairs to the kitchen when a new voice entered the cave.

"Bruce, you have got to learn to remove that cowl when you call me on the phone."

"This was urgent Doctor," Batman growled.

"What was so urgent that it couldn't wait?" Dr. Leslie Tompkins complained.

"Tim," Batman stated. "He's been beaten by the Joker. Samantha healed a good portion of his injuries . . . "

"Samantha, who is Samantha?"

"She's lying in the bed next to Tim. She's a healer. She's also pregnant with twins."

"Bruce this takes the cake. You brought a pregnant girl into this?" Dr. Tompkins was livid.

"No, I didn't. She's Tim's fiancé," Batman answered with a grin.

Tim gave out a groan at that moment.

"And before you get into it with me about teen pregnancies, Tim needs your help. His leg is badly damaged. Some of the bone is shattered, and part of it is sticking into the flesh of his leg. We can't set it right."

"Do you have any of that bone glue you created?"

"It's on the shelf."

"He'll need to be deeply sedated," Dr. Tompkins stated. "I'll have to put in pins. He's going to be laid up for six months. To keep his muscles from atrophying he will need extensive physical therapy."

"We'll do what's necessary, Doctor. Just get on with it. Your patient is about to come to from the sedative I gave him earlier."

"I will need a medical assistant."

"Alfred can assist, as well as Jason . . . "

"He's gone," Samantha said.

"Gone? Why?" Batman asked.

"He went after Sasha."

"DAMN!" Batman swore under his breath.

"Well, it looks like you're elected as another assistant, Bruce. And get rid of that cowl."

"Dick, can you please, take me upstairs," Samantha stated. She could smell the blood and it was causing her teeth to itch. She needed to get away quickly before the blood drove her into that disorienting state, again. "I think I could rest better up there," she lied.

"Sure, Sammie," Dick had changed into his regular clothes. Even though he would have wanted to stay with his little brother while Dr. Leslie performed surgery on his brother's leg, Dick noticed a sudden change had come over Samantha. He wanted to ask her about it once he got her alone. And even though he had removed bullets and helped stitch up Bruce in the past, the thought of watching someone perform surgery on Tim caused his stomach to be a bit queasy. "We can go tell Alfred that the doctor could use his assistance."

Rather than letting her walk, Dick picked up Samantha and carried her to Alfred's private elevator and took her up to the kitchen.

"Alfred," Dick called out to the butler.

"Yes, Master Richard?" Alfred came out of a door leading to his private quarters. He had spilled some medicine on his shirt while he was taking care of Damian and went to get changed. A butler should always be seen in a clean shirt at all times.

"Dr. Leslie is here and she needs assistance while working on Tim's leg."

"I shall be down in one moment."

Dick then sat Samantha down at the cafe table near the window. "Can you tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know what you mean." Samantha stated.

"You got a hungry look on your face. You were staring at Tim like he was a piece of prime rib."

Samantha's face paled. "I . . . I don't know, and that's what scares me."

"What caused it, do you know?" Dick asked.

Samantha did not answer. She looked up at Dick with dismay. There were tears in her eyes. How could she tell Dick that the smell of Tim's blood was driving her crazy. It had not happened before. Was she becoming some kind of monster? Why was this happening. "I don't know." Samantha broke down in tears.

Continues in Part 11

A/N: Samantha is changing in ways even she doesn't know. We will learn who she really is in an upcoming story.