Writers block sucks….

Anyways, this version has barely been reedited and, yes, is VERY short. Not what I had intended originally, but this is the only way I can post before I leave on vacation. I hope you enjoy, and as always, please review at the bottom… thanks!

ONWARD!

Chapter 11

When the other three stepped away and Jason's grip softened and then released, Bruce found no excuse to continue holding his wayward son. After an added moment, the father stepped away, if only to assess Jason's injuries. The man was bleeding from a wound in the shoulder – he guessed a bullet was the culprit – but that wasn't as severe as the ragged tears in his son's right leg that caused a heavy limp. Something had taken hold and shredded, literally shredded his son's leg. Perhaps a dog. He noted that Jason wore holsters for guns and, while it made him uncomfortable to see those weapons strapped to his son, the sight also provided relief knowing Jason was armed and could defend himself.

All affection aside, Bruce couldn't help the question that bubbled to the surface; "did you kill those men back there…?" He let his words become softer before trailing off at the end.

Jason tensed, but his gaze never wavered. "Yes. And if you look about a mile back," He jabbed his finger over Bruce's shoulder, "You'll find the body of a woman, a helicopter full of tied up men, and three dogs that all tried to kill me." He spat the last syllable. He definitely caught the note of accusation buried in his father's voice. "And just so you know, it's not murder if it's self-defense."

"I know, Jason." And just like that, the two were at a standstill.

Jason was the first to break it. He motioned for the young boy behind him to come forward. "Bruce, I'd like for you to meet someone." Bruce stepped forward and knelt to the ground so he and the boy were eye level before Jason continued, "His name is Damian. He was Talia's son, born a little while after my 'death'." Jason was intimating something… months after his- no. it couldn't be. But the dates matched up too perfectly to be a lie.

"My- my son?"

Jason nodded, "This one's by blood though. He should be a bit more important." The words were bitter on his tongue, but he spat them out regardless. Damian was a good kid, and so far Jason had been a good brother to him. Blood or not, they were all family.

At his words Bruce tensed and looked up at Jason with a solemn expression of pain.

"You and Dick have always been my sons. Whether we have ties of blood or not I've never doubted that or gone out of my way to point it out." He looked back at Damian who looked to be lost for a moment. "Hi, Damian. My name is Bruce Wayne, I'm… I'm your father."

The boy stared blankly at him for a moment, unsure of how to react. Bruce made a move to enclose him in strong arms, but the boy stepped away – back into Jason. "Mother said that blood is the only connection important. She said that I would take over my grandfather's empire. My blood is supposed to be pure and important… But Jason's my family now. I don't want anything to do with you if he doesn't." The little bird put his hand in Jason's.

"I never would have pictured you as the family man," Dick put in, laughter clear in his voice.

Jason glanced at his older brother briefly. "Yeah, who'd a thought." The words were soft, full of reflective vision.

Bruce observed the scenes through the white-visor glare of the cowl. His sons. His family. Pride welled up, thunderous and overwhelming. All of a sudden his house was less broken, less angry, and less likely to fall apart on top of him. The weight that had been on his heart since he had buried his son was lifting. Now, watching his sons together, his mind found solace. Their happiness was… fulfilling.

It was time for the father in him to step forward. "Damian, it's nice to meet you. Jason and you are both my sons, and I'd be glad to have both of you come to America with me. I can introduce you to your other brother, Tim." Jason stiffened at the mention of the other boy, but made no move to hold the youngest back. "I can protect you both, I'll do much better at it this time though." The father's gaze drifted back up to Jason before falling back to Damian.

The boy glared with a fierceness and arrogance that by all means should not be on the face of such a small child. "I've protected myself just fine, thank you," The boy spat indignantly, "And Jason is the only brother I choose to acknowledge." His voice was small, yet full of heated passion. Again, Bruce wondered if this truly was a child speaking; maybe not a normal child, but what could he truly expect from a child of Talia Al Ghul and Bruce Wayne?

"Guys, I hate to break up this beautiful family moment, but we really need to clear out of here." Dick was searching the sky and trees warily; they all felt the shift in the air, the silent change that signaled to the family that they were no longer alone.

It was just a theory until a red beam appeared over Jason's heart. Bruce paled visibly, his blood ran cold, and his throat squeezed shut. He was in motion before the bullet even left the barrel.

…

Blood filled the air just as the resounding boom of a sniper being fired hit the trees. The fear overpowered the pain, the adrenalin pushed him into action. He pushed himself on top of Damian just as Bruce practically collapsed on top of him. Kaiser howled forlornly before taking off, Dick in tow, in the direction of the sniper.

Damian made a weak cry of dissent, but quickly cut off when Jason's fresh bullet wound leaked a few drops on top of him. Jason was a bit surprised. The damn thing had gone through the goddamn Batman and his seemingly immovable wall of muscle and Kevlar, straight into Jason. His father had probably slowed the thing down and shifted it enough that the wound would not be fatal. This would definitely be one of those scars he'd remember. It caused a thin line to form on Jason's neck. It bled profusely, hurt like a bitch, but would not be fatal. The bullet stopped in the tree behind the family and Batman – no, Bruce, stood over him, holding on tightly… just like he should have been all those years before in that damnable warehouse.

His father was smiling, happy to have taken the bullet for his son. Jason intelligent eyes were widened in shock. He could barely breathe and his neck burned, but he was calm, optimistic even, as Bruce placed a hand over the line marring his skin just as Jason placed his hand over the hole in his father.

Damian knelt to the side, looking on in horror. "Damnit, Todd, You will not leave me again," He cried.

The black sheep smiled, "Haven't you been paying attention, Little D? I'm one seriously hard fucker to kill." Damian's tear streaked face lightened a little, but still held the anxiety and fear there. Their family would make it, Jason knew it. The bullet had not hit anything vital in the father nor the son. Damian was unharmed and Dick and Kaiser would apprehend the guru. They'd all go home and for once in Jason Todd's life he'd have a fairytale ending.

Even as he let the hope fill him he heard the gun shots echoing in the forest, he heard grunts of pain, but that wasn't what scared him. It was the little red dot dead center on Damian's head.

For those of you that don't know, the line that will mar Jason's skin is present in the comics. You see, in the Batman: Under the Red Hood comic, Batman leaves that mark with a batarang in order to stop Jason from killing the Joker without killing his son. I decided to leave a little parallel to the series. Let me know of any blaring errors! How? Review…

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