Brothers, Portraits, and Messages.

By

AJ

Part 11

Tim and Damian looked at the sketch of the child staring back at them. The eyes were unmistakable, the face very familiar. A date on the drawing that Martha Wayne had drawn certainly showed that it was before this child had been born.

"Was she a psychic? Damian asked.

"That's a good question." Tim flipped back and read the caption. "It says Dream Child. Damian, go get one of Alfred's photo albums. I think you know which one." Tim waited for Damian to return. He remembered that Bruce's parents were killed when he was eight. The date on the drawing indicated that the image was painted the year before they were killed.

"Why do you need the photo album?' Damian asked when he returned with the retrieved album. "Isn't that another painting of Father?"

"No," Tim said. "Somehow she's painted a picture of Dick before he was even born." Tim flipped the album so Damian could see. The sketch was the same as the one in the photo album. "I need you to go find this painting."

"Where would it be? It has to be where she would spend most of her time. Do you know?"

"It could be in her art studio," Tim explained. "That's the one place in the Manor that I haven't found. And I explored this place when I would stay here when my parents would leave and the housekeeper couldn't take care of me. Unfortunately I'm not supposed to get out of bed. I can't look around. The room would have to have light coming in from the north and very large windows besides a large enough space for painting."

"I don't think I've ever explored the entire Manor before," Damian stated, a feeling of excitement coming over him. "Maybe Alfred knows."

"I know there's a third floor to this pace, but I haven't been able to find how to access it. It's as if that part of the house has been cut off. I think the studio might be up there somewhere. You can clearly see the third floor from the outside."

"Where did you check, the last time you looked around?"

"Let me think," Tim said. "It wasn't above the music room. It must have been somewhere in the west wing. I haven't been over there for a couple of years . . . Too busy . . . If you know what I mean. There are rooms I haven't visited in a long time . . . Even a family chapel."

"Is it there in the study?"

"It isn't in Bruce's study we know that. We've all been in there. We would have seen it . . . And we've been in Alfred's quarters too, not often, but enough . . . .I think you're going to have to go over to the west wing and find out. Maybe there's a set of stairs I overlooked or was hidden somewhere. Get a couple of com-links and we can stay in touch."

"All right I need to head to the cave," Damian said.

'This is turning into a real mystery,' Tim thought. 'Why wasn't this particular painting visible where it could be found and viewed? Unless . . . The painting was unfinished. The drawing is dated a year before Bruce's parents died. That means Martha had to be working on the painting in between those times. I just hope my hunch is right.'

Damian scurried down to the cave and ran into Jason on the way back.

"What are you up to?" Jason asked. "Alfred said you were running around all day."

"No time," Damian said in a rush. "Follow if you're interested."

" . . . *YAWN* . . ." Tim was getting tired, but this mystery also got his curiosity up. He was using his head instead of just moping around. He took both images and placed them side-by-side. They were clearly the same person, but different setting. Pinpointing where was the challenge.

Tim waited for Damian to return despite the fact that he was feeling tired. He couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. As he fell asleep both books slipped from his hands and onto the floor. Tim started tossing and turning in his sleep. " . . . .How did . . . He find out? No . . . Black Mask . . ." Tim was sweating profusely. " . . . No . . .don't shoot . . ."

Jason ended up following Damian back up to Tim's room. When they entered Tim was asleep and he was mumbling.

"Tim . . .Timmy," Damian shook Tim's good shoulder.

"You're going to have to do more than that, mini bat." Jason moved Damian out the way slightly. 'He's dreaming, sounds like about Black Mask.' Jason placed his hand on Tim's cheek, pulled it back slightly and gave a small tap.

". . . Hugh . . ." Tim moaned slightly and opened his eyes. "I guess I fell asleep." Tim rubbed his eyes. He was dreaming about Black Mask but didn't want to talk about it. "Did you get the com links?"

"Yeah," Damian handed one to Tim. "Jay would you like to help?"

"Sure," It sounded like his baby brothers were doing some interesting work, even though he didn't know the full story behind it. "What are you doing?

"Show Jason what we found so far," Tim said.

Damian picked up the book Tim dropped and showed Jason Martha's drawings and the corresponding images. "Jason, who do you think this is?" Damian asked, pointing to one of the unfinished sketch.

Jason looked the drawing over. "Is that Dick?"

"Look at the date. Now look at the photo," Tim said.

"What? This is like . . . way before he was even thought of," Jason exclaimed. "Where did you find this?"

"It's one of Martha Wayne's drawings.," Tim responded. "We've been searching for her paintings throughout the manor. That is, Damian's been searching, I've been confirming."

"You mean Grandma did this?" Jason asked, surprised. It was weird calling Martha grandma . . . but it's true. "But . . . how . . . wait . . . was she a psychic?"

"Read the caption," Tim said, smiling. Damian had asked that same question. 'Dick is going to flip . . . Literally.'

"Dream child?" Jason could not help but smile. That was Dick all over. Sometimes his mind was up in the clouds.

"I've been sending Damian around the manor to find the paintings that match the drawings . . . But we haven't found that one." Tim explained.

"Hmmm. Well I think I know where it might be . . . I just need to remember."

"We were thinking about finding her studio. It might be on the third floor. But I couldn't find any place where you can access it unless it's in the West wing."

"I've been in the west wing before," Jason stated "There's more paintings all over the place there. Damian and I can go check it out."

"Would you take some pictures?" Tim insisted. "Keep me posted too."

"Why were you in the West wing?" Damian asked. "When were you in there?"

"I know the ball room is over on that side as well as the Wayne chapel . . . I didn't get to explore much over there," Tim stated.

"I was in the chapel and found a panel that lead to stairs . . . but that was by accident," Jason said. "Maybe that's where her Studio is?"

"A secret stair . . . It may be worth a look. Do you think you can find it again?"

Jason sighed heavily. "I can try. I found it when I first came to the manor. I was angry at something and pounded on the wall."

"Todd, I demand you find that panel again!"

"Easy Damian . . . What area of the chapel were you in? Maybe we can pinpoint the location."

"Tim, that was long ago. I need to head over there."

"Well, take a look, maybe something will jog your memory."

"Okay, come on Damian."

Tim waited about five to ten minutes before contacting Damian and Jason on the com-link. "Jason, Damian, tell me your location."

"We are about to enter the chapel," Damian's voice came over the com-link, loud and clear.

"If you find any paintings by Grandma, could you take a picture of them so I can see them."

"We are way ahead of you RR," Jason's voice came over.

'RR . . . I know Jason is only trying to make me feel better, but I can't help thinking that I might not be RR ever again . . . I haven't really decided. I've lost so much confidence in myself,' Tim thought. "Let me know when you get there. " Tim stated. 'Just don't keep me in the dark like Dick did.'

"We are in the chapel now. Jason has hit the . . . DONT BREAK THAT!"

Tim could hear a loud crash come over the com-link. "What's going on? Damian, Jason, answer me." But there was only silence. 'Damn I wish I can get out of bed.' Then I heard Damian yelling at Jason over the com-link.

"You stupid idiot! Don't go throwing things that could be valuable!"

"It can't be that valuable," Jason's voice replied. "I remember breaking this vase . . . let me do what I need to do." Jason pushed the cheap vase over. "See . . . it's chipped just like last time . . . so the panel has to be over here."

Tim heard the two arguing over the com-link. 'Sounds like old times.' Then a tear fell down his cheek. 'Keep it together Drake . . . You wanted to do this.'

Jason banged around a little before he pressing onto the wall a few inches away from the vase. That's when the secret door opened. 'No wonder Bruce is so amazing at hiding secret entrances.'

"Come on, Todd. We need to finish getting the photos and finding that Dream child." Damian pushed passed him and went up the creaking stairs. It was odd how there were cobwebs all over the place. Once they got up to the top they couldn't help but feel amazed. The room was large, filled with light, and there were stacks of paintings and canvases of all sizes.

"Whoa, there are so many paintings in here." Jason turned in a circle. The place was beautiful. Even though it hadn't been touched in years it was like brand new. He had to keep from going and touching things. "Damian, will you be taking this over?" He is the artist in the family. Plus it would go to good use. Damian needed a studio of his own.

Damian took a picture and shrugged. He held back on his excitement. "That's if Father would let me have it." Damian made sure he took photos of every single one. Then that's when he found it, the Dream child. It was right above Martha Wayne's desk, framed in what seemed like a circus themed frame. It was black with elephants, a circus tent and clowns around it. "Todd . . . it's right here."

Jason walked over to where Damian stood. "Should we take it? I mean everyone has the right to see it, plus I think Tim should see this one with his own eyes."

"You're right," Damian agreed. "Can you reach it? I'm too short."

"No problem," Jason moved the chair out of the way and reached up, lifting the painting by the bottom and lifting it straight off the wall. He held it so the painting faced his chest so the painting itself was protected.

"Todd look. There's something written on the back."

Dream child,

Though I won't be able to meet you, keep my Bruce in high spirits. He needs you more than ever, all of you.

"All of you? She knew about all of us?"

"Maybe she was thinking about drawing all of us, but . . ." Jason looked down feeling a sudden pang of sadness for the loss.

Damian sighed. "Come on . . . Let's go get this to Tim."

Continues with Part 12