"NO WAY IN F***ING HELL!"

Bruce rubbed his eyes "Damian…"

The youngest Wayne paced around his room in fury "No, No, NO!" he shouted "I will not go on a simple patrol while you dine with the man who is holding my brother, your SON, hostage!"

Bruce flinched slightly in surprise.

Damian sat on his bed and put his head in his hands, looking frighteningly like his mentor. "You can't do this" he hissed, mostly to himself, as the stress and frustration of the past week graded on him.

Bruce took a seat next to the pre-teen "I didn't realize you saw him that way" he said carefully

"What way?" Damian snapped.

"Family" Bruce answered "Not just a comrade"

Damian crossed his arms "I don't know what you mean" he denied unconvincingly.

"Your Brother? My Son?" Bruce looked at him calmly "Damian…"

"Shut up" the boy growled as he shot to his feet.

Bruce watched his son walk to the window, crossing his arms and looking through the glass. Now he looked so much like himself, like his father before him. "Attachment is not a weakness, Damian" he said gently "Love is not a weakness"

"I know" Damian said quietly, he sighed as Bruce placed a hand on his shoulder. "It makes me stronger, but…"

"It makes you more predicable" Bruce said in understanding "I know, probably better than most" he looked at the clock "My plane leaves soon"

Damian didn't answer him, he just stood at the window. Bruce gave the boy's shoulder and affectionate squeeze before turning and leaving the room.

As he climbed into the limo, Alfred looked at him "trouble with Master Damian, sir?"

Bruce gave a sigh "No" he answered shortly

"He has made leaps and bounds in his interpersonal relations" Alfred commented

Bruce nodded "yes" he sighed "I just hope that nothing is going to change that"

Alfred looked in the rearview mirror "Master Bruce?" he inquired already knowing the answer, but wanting Bruce to admit it to himself.

Bruce swallowed "We are losing him, Alfred" he whispered "My son is dying just out of my reach"

Dick opened his eyes slowly and looked around confused. This had been the first day he had not been roughly awakened by someone or something hitting him. He leaned his head back against the rough wooden wall that made up part his prison. In front of him was a hastily put up chain-link fence that had been electrified using a portable generator. Nowhere near as secure as Luthor's mansion, or even his own apartment; unfortunately he was still unable to escape due to his steadily worsening condition. He coughed harshly, tasting blood coat the inside of his mouth.

"Oh good, he's awake" Trent turned from guarding the enclosure to look at the captive.

Dick coughed and looked at him "Glad I could make you happy" he said sarcastically

Trent narrowed his eyes "You're lucky Luthor said not to touch you until he gets here" he snapped his eyes running over the wounded man "I really want to know what your blood looks like when it stains a wood floor"

Dick leveled him with his best imitation of Bruce's glare "Go for it" he dared quietly

Trent grit his teeth "Oh, don't tempt me" he said switching off the electricity and putting his hands on the door.

"Trent, our orders are to leave him alone" Jason's sharp voice echoed though the barn

Trent looked at him "Yeah, yeah, yeah" he answered begrudgingly "Boss's orders" he grumbled as he stepped aside. Why are we even bothering to feed him?" he growled as Jason stepped into the cell.

"Boss's orders" he snapped placing down the food and pulling out a key.

Trent sniffed as Jason unlocked the cuffs and place his hand on his sidearm.

Dick looked at him "Jas…"he groaned as his was backhanded

"Shut up and eat or I'm taking it away" Jason growled.

Dick coughed harshly as he pushed himself into a seated position. With a confused and betrayed look in his eyes, he reached for the small amount of food resting on the paper plate. When he had finished, Jason replaced the cuffs and walked from the cell.

Trent looked at Dick "Come on Jay" he growled "The boss doesn't need to know"

Jason looked at him do you really want to test that theory?' he hissed

Trent backed down slightly "What I want is to stop the bastard's heart" he snapped "tell the boss he died in his sleep"

Jason shook his head "boss wants him alive. He'll be here tomorrow" And with that he walked away "Maybe you'll get your chance then"

Trent kicked the fence before turning back on the generator "One more day, 'hero'" he hissed "One more day before I cut your heart from your chest"

Dick coughed harshly, the taste of blood getting stronger and sharper "Come on, Bruce" he coughed again, feeling the red substance threaten to escape through his lips. His eyes started drifting shut again and his gaze shifted to the door where his younger brother had retreated "Is this how you felt Jase? Waiting for help and to die all at once?"

"I'm not too sure about this Bruce"

Bruce looked at the speaker "Me either Diana" he admitted carefully "I'm not sure of anything anymore"

The Amazon looked over the billionaire. Bruce was exhausted; though he hid it very well "How is the rest of the family?"

"Tim's angry" Bruce answered watching the lights of Washington zip by "He running himself into the ground"

"Unlike you" Diana commented

Bruce nodded "Touché" he answered "Damian is withdrawing again" he rubbed his eyes "Damn it Diana if we lose him everything we've done with the kid could come undone. He's still so unstable, even after two years. And Jason, God only knows where he is"

Diana nodded "And how are you?" she looked at him pointedly

Bruce sighed "Diana…"

"I'm serious Bruce, you look like hell"

Bruce shook his head "Only you can tell"

"Me, and Clark, and Oliver, and…"

"People close to me" Bruce cut her off "I can keep my cool around Luthor"

"Bruce…"

Alfred pulled the car up in front of an elaborate hotel "Sir we are here"

"A two hour flight and forty minute drive later" Bruce muttered to himself "Thank you Alfred" he said as the elderly man opened the car door for him; he offered his arm to Diana and together they walked into the party.

Diana felt Bruce tense beside her "Bruce? What is it?"

The billionaire's eyes were fixed in a figure in the center of the room "The man who made the mistake of attacking my family"

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