A/N: I don't own these characters they are the property of DC Nation. I've been getting some questions about time line so I've decided just to answer here, I'm aware that based on the comics Tim wouldn't be around in 2013 and Dick would be much younger but I'm not going by that because of my previous story. I never intended to write a sequel so I didn't plan a time line well and decided it was more important to keep this story monogamous with its prequel. Hopefully you guys understand and don't mind too much. Thanks for reading and reviewing I love hearing what you have to say ;)


Chapter 11:

Monday, 5 September 2013

7:02 PM

Tim's POV:

There is a moment once you get surprised on a case, a moment that determines the rest of the mission. You are stunned. How fast you snap out of that upset though is what makes or breaks it. It's all about reaction time. How long it takes you to get your head back in the training and thinking clearly. Tim opens his eyes and squints up at the white ceiling of the mall, up above all the lighting fixtures have doubled and there is an orange glow emanating from his right side. He blinks up at the roof eliminating the extra images, sounds beginning to come in clearer, there is screaming lots of screaming and a loud whooshing sounds. Mall… bomb… right… where did those guys go? Tim sits up quickly ignoring a pain in his elbow. Around him people run for the exit as a large wall of flickering flame creeps closer to the doors. Crap, mall means people… got to get them… His gaze travels over the coffee shop where he had been talking to Cassie before all hell broke loose, an entire wall is caved in from the shock of the explosion. Oh my God! Cassie! He is on his feet quickly and spinning around looking for her but she is not in his line of vision. "Cassie! Cassie Grayson!" She had shoved him down and away, she had to be right next to him when the thing went off. Don't be dead! Please don't be dead… Tim searches around him looking for any sign of her knowing he can't look forever, there are people to save and unidentified suspects to apprehend. Cassie comes out from behind a fallen pillar, dust coating her clothing, a bleeding cut above her elbow where her blazer is ripped, backpack still over her shoulder, and a crying child just as dusty though apparently uninjured gripping her hand. Tim breathes a sigh of relief and jogs up to meet them conscious of the little time they have to do something.

"You okay?" He inspects her quickly finding only a few scratches on the side of her face and some rips in her clothes, if she's injured it isn't visible. He then looks at the child, a young boy probably no older than six, his blonde hair and face paler with dust from the destroyed concrete and granite structures, blue shirt dirty, chocolate colored eyes obscured by tears, and his arm is bent at an awkward angle, he needs a doctor.

"Fine, you?" Her eyes search him quickly finding little to raise major concern. "There are people back there trapped behind debris and that fire is spreading, I have to get them out." She looks down at the crying child starring around him in horror. "It's going to be okay honey." Cassie reaches down and picks him up rubbing his back soothingly. "You've got your bag right?" Tim looks behind him at the spot he had been blown to his backpack peeking out from beneath what looks like a piece of the fountain and nods. "Do what you have to, I'll get everyone out." She starts to turn back trying to calm the child more fervently because now he is crying and screaming for his mom.

"You sure you've got it covered?" The civilians are the priority and if they have to make the choice between saving the people and catching the culprits the people win.

"You're wasting time! Go!" With that Cassie vanishes again behind the pillar and a wall of slow moving flames and Tim snatches his bag. He runs into the nearest empty store, severs the security camera wires, and changes into his uniform as fast as possible, which for him is nearly ten seconds, then ditches his backpack outside in case someone should find it. In uniform and putting his faith in Cassie's ability to get the people to safety before everything burns to the ground he runs in the opposite direction down the hall in pursuit of his targets.

It isn't hard to locate them, the closest jewelry store is ablaze in red flashing light, sirens screaming at their presence. He stops just outside the window to the store not yet wanting to be seen. Inside are the first two men Cassie had pointed out to him, both look to be about mid-thirties, probably experienced, the one in the gray shirt holds a knife which he uses to break the glass cases and scoop the precious materials into a burlap sack and the one in black stands over the cash register, apparently unarmed though he could be hiding a weapon somewhere on his person. With seven more criminals somewhere on the grounds Robin decides it would be best to get this done quickly. Minimal fight and no banter; just capture them and move on. He steps quickly in front of the door way and shoots a bird-a-rang at the one at the register, better to have the unknown threat out of the way and then deal with the one with the knife. Cord wraps around him and he stumbles backwards losing his balance and falling to the ground with a yelp. The gray shirted one recovers quickly from the surprise and charges with the knife but Robin is ready and pushes his knife away with a well-placed block using the assailant's momentum against him, spinning him around and slamming his head into a glass case with enough force to shatter the top. He is knocked out cold and Robin handcuffs him before allowing him to slump to the ground. With a final check to make sure the one tied up isn't going anywhere Robin leaves and hightails it to another hallway assuming that the other criminals will be pulling similar heists in the other jewelry stores. There is a beeping in his ear, someone calling on his communicator, he reaches up to his ear gently pushing the button expecting it to be Cassie telling him that all of the people are out.

"Situation?" Somehow he isn't surprised to hear Batman's deep tone on the other end of the line.

"Bomb went off in the courtyard at the East End Mall. Casualties and injuries unknown. Suspected jewelry heist, looks like they are attacking all of the major jewelry stores here, the bomb was just a distraction, a good distraction, but a distraction. Sparrow is getting the people clear of the building, and I'm pursuing the targets. Two are contained, seven more are suspected to be at large." Robin spots the next jewelry store, lights flashing and alarms blaring,

"On my way."

"Take the South and East corridor, I'm about to take care of the West." The line disconnects and Robin, lacking anywhere to take inventory outside, charges into the store. Inside he finds only one thief, blonde haired and beefy, but not very hard to beat.