"There were bats! Actual bats, flapping around and crapping everywhere!" Doctor Sally Adedayo waved her arms at Jim in agitation. "What kind of place is that to raise children?"

Jim had often wondered that himself - what sort of man he was, that he had allowed children to live such a life, allowed it for over a decade. "How was the boy?" he asked, hoping to distract her from her anger.

"Sick. Very sick, whatever he inhaled caused severe damage to his lungs, The medication I administered will ease his breathing and his pain, but without the facility for a full transplant it's only a matter of time. Months maybe, if he's lucky."

"Or unlucky." Jim couldn't help but add. He had seen slow, lingering deaths before – it was not a pleasant way to go.

Sally nodded her head sadly. They spent a moment looking down at the bustling soup kitchen – or what had been the soup kitchen. Gotham's residents, having once again proved themselves to be shockingly resilient, had turned it into something of a market where people could exchange goods and food in relative safety. As long as there was no overt resistance the Anathema left them alone, too busy fighting the little organized terrorist cells that had sprung up all over the country. It was a losing battle and although Jim wanted nothing more than to fight back, his first priority was to keep as many people alive and healthy as possible.

Beside him Sally sighed. It was a struggle for her to be away from her loved ones – as it was for Jim. Sally had been in America for three days when it fell, having traveled from London for a conference. Typical that her first trip to Gotham had resulted in her being stuck here and ironic that, as far as he knew, his own daughter was in London on vacation with her friend. They had heard nothing on the state of Europe after the fall and had no communication with her people. He knew Barbara was a strong and capable woman, and was probably safe and worrying herself silly over him, but he couldn't prevent his anxiety leaking into his thoughts at odd times in the day.

Sally was first to shake off the quiet. "Are they brothers, those boys?" She asked. "They don't look too alike, but I can't imagine two sets off parents allowing their children out on the street fighting crime." She snorted. "Ten year olds fighting crime! Ridiculous!" Jim felt that one was directed partly at him, but he deserved it – never mind his own anger and concern after seeing the first Robin in action. Arguing with Batman was like smacking your head against a large, angry brick wall. Although he had known the man shared his own worries - after he had insisted Batman take the boy off the streets, Batman had just turned away, as he often did when confronted with something he was unable or unwilling to answer, but Jim had heard the almost inaudible whisper of, 'How would I stop him?' and he had a flash of insight. Better to have the boy under his own guidance than alone.

Maybe letting it continue had been the wrong choice, but done was done. "Without those boys and girls on the streets over the years I would be dead ten times over by now. I don't like it, kids deserve a childhood," he sighed and shook his head, "but it would be hypocritical of me to argue the point."

Sally looked at him long and hard, but there was no real censure in her expression.

"And to answer your question, I don't know if they are related by blood, but I would consider them brothers." Jim said into the silence.

Sally gave a bark of laughter. "Was the little one raised by wolves? I've never met such an obnoxious child!" She sounded more amused than horrified though and Jim was sure Robin had left a lasting impression – as he did on everyone he met.

"Wolves are much better behaved," he said, smiling. "There have been some interesting characters in the family, some with more manners than others."

"You've known them a long time haven't you? And the Batman?"

Jim sighed feeling a weight settle on his shoulders. What he wouldn't give to have his old friend here. Strange to consider him a friend - they had often been at odds over things, but in the end Jim knew the man wanted what was best for he city's people. Wanted to help the innocent. "I have"

"And you have no idea who they really are?"

Jim shrugged, he had his suspicions, but no proof - and he didn't want any. "I've seen some of those children grow up out there. I've known Red Robin since he was just a kid."

Sally ran a hand across her short curls. "He still is a kid, he can't be more than 16 surely."

Jim shrugged again. "I wish things were different, but wishing won't get things done."

"I tried to persuade them to come here, so I can treat the boy properly, and Robin won't have deal with his death alone."

"Bet that went down well."

"Robin told me I could go to hell, the little miscreant, but under all that arrogance and bluster there is a scared child who has lost too much, I wish there was something more we could do," she said.

"Me too Sally, me too."