A/N: With Samantha now part of the family, and Tim determined to marry her, Jason and Dick have taken it upon themselves to teach Tim how to please a woman without Bruce knowing about it. Something powerful happens and two brothers are in hot water with their father. Dick and Jason decide they had better keep out of Bruce's way for a while by taking a case that leads them out of Gotham. The case, however, has to be interrupted when word reaches them that Tim has a life threatening illness . . . or is it? And has that case actually come to Gotham?

New Life, Death, and Soul Easters

by

AJRedRobin and JasonToddLover

Part 11: Theft of a Soul

'That one. He will figure it out. We must take more of the boy tonight.'

'No. There is something odd about the boy,' the leader stated. 'We should not have tried to take him.'

'The boy has one of the purest souls. You sensed it. You are refusing to feed on him?'

'I tasted something, something dormant within. The boy could be dangerous.'

'I will take the boy then."

'Take him quickly. We must move on.'

The shadow figure moved up the wall and prepared to enter the house. The figure clung to the windowsill of the boy's bedroom on the second floor. The shadowy figure grasped the window with a clawed hand and silently raised the sash. Someone had closed it from last night, but they did not lock it. The figure sent out his scent once more to keep the boy from discovering his presence. Once the boy's soul was taken, the dead husk will disappear into the netherworld where it will be transformed into one of his fellow brethren. Slowly, their numbers will rise and all of mankind would be at their mercy.

"Tim doesn't have leukemia," Dick explained.

"What are you talking about Golden Boy?"

"It's right here in the case file."

Dick was trying to explain when a noise like a whisper came from Timothy's room. It drew the attention of Dick and Jason. Dick was the closest and entered first. He froze at what he saw. Something large and shadowy was blocking the light and bending over his little brother. The spell was broken when Jason came in behind him and exclaimed.

"What the fuck!"

Dick sprung into action and charged the figure. "Get the hell away from my brother!"

The sudden onslaught caused the creature to hesitate, releasing the boy. It hissed then dove out the window, his feeding interrupted. An orb of red energy floated above Tim's body.

"Tim!" Dick screamed Tim's name. He picked up the limp form of his brother and held him close. "NO!"

As the creature fled, Jason rushed to the window and slammed it shut, then locked it in place. He turned to see Dick crying into his brother's limp form. Neither noticed the reddish orb that floated around the stricken man.

'Dick, I'm here,' Tim tried to comfort his older brother, but he didn't know why Dick was so upset.

'Well now we know what was causing those children to disappear, but why hasn't Tim's body faded?' Jason questioned in his mind. 'Maybe because Dick interrupted it?'

'Jason,' Tim called out, but the other young man didn't appear to hear him. 'Jason, I'm here.'

Then the red orb spotted the reason for Dick's distress. 'No, I can't be dead. I'm right here.' The orb tried to re-enter the body but ended up just passing through. 'No, I'm not dead. I can't be dead. Dick, please don't cry.'

But Dick was beyond consoling. He held onto his brother's body and wept. Tim floated beside his brother unnoticed. 'What do I do now?'

Continues with Part 12