Family Ties Chapter 21 Making Preparations

Dick paced restlessly through the cave, phone pressed to his ear. He cursed. "Bruce still not answering," he growled. "Any luck on his comm?"

"Not yet," Babs called back from her seat at the Bat-computer, tracking down satellites and security cameras that had been pointing in the right direction.

Dick sighed, running fingers through his hair, then pulled up a less-used number. It picked up on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Cassie? It's Dick Grayson."

"Nightwing? What's up? If you're looking for Tim, I haven't heard from him since he texted to say he was okay after the Arkham breakout last week. Or were you after Donna?"

Dick winced slightly at the current Wonder Girl's choice of phrasing. "That's…not it, no. Actually, I wanted to ask a favour."

"Uh, okay. What do you need?"

"You're the unofficial deputy leader of the Titans, right?"

"Kinda. Me and Tim sort of share."

"Fine. Can you call a meeting of the Titan tonight, today, whatever the time is where you are, and find some way to leak to the media that Red Robin was injured, sometime since two o'clock this morning eastern time, and is recuperating at the Tower for an indeterminate period of time?"

A momentary pause. "Can you give me that a bit slower?"

Dick repeated himself, hearing Cassie write it all down. "You got that?"

"Yeah, but why do you want this?"

Dick hesitated, hating to bear bad news. "Tim's been kidnapped."

"He has? Is he okay? Is that why he's injured?"

"It's not that simple. Tim Drake-Wayne's been kidnapped, not Red Robin. We don't have him back yet. That's why I want Red Robin to supposedly be somewhere else."

"Is there anything we can do?" she asked in a small voice.

"Just the cover story," Dick answered. "I was planning on telling Conner and Bart, but would you prefer to tell them yourself?"

"Yeah, that would be best." A slight sniff betrayed her distress. "Thanks for telling me."

"If it was me, I'd want my old team to know."

"I guess. Will you keep us informed?"

"I'll try. Bye, Cassie."

"Bye. Good luck."

The phone went dead, and Dick punched in a new number. "Clark, sorry to interrupt you at work," he started.

"Not at all. What's the problem?"

"Bruce has gone incommunicado, following that case you gave us. If he contacts the Watchtower, can you please tell him to call home straight away? Because Tim's been kidnapped."

"Ah-" Clark stuttered for a bit. "Okay, if he calls in, I'll tell him. Do you want me to drop by this evening?"

"Thanks, but you know Bruce's feelings about metas. And...this one's pretty complicated. I'll let you know if there's anything else."

As Dick terminated the call, Alfred approached. "Master Dick, is your intrigue with Miss Sandmark really necessary?"

"It's more of a safety net. Tim proved years ago there's enough circumstantial evidence to confirm anyone's suspicions. Why make it easy?"

"I see, Master Dick. Do you also have a plan to cover Master Bruce's absence?"

"Yup. Jason!"

Jason looked over from a large Perspex map of Gotham, where he, Steph and Damian were trying to find a pattern between Cain's past hideouts. "What?"

"Can you go out as Nightwing tonight?"

"Why?"

"Less suspicious if Red Hood's not around."

"What are you going out in?"

Jason followed as Dick swerved into one of the specialized suit stores, pushing past a rack of newer creations following the most recent designs for Red Hood, Batgirl and Spoiler, and pulled out…a bulked up Batsuit.

"What the hell's that?" Jason asked, staring.

"Modified suit." Dick scooped up extra-thick soled boots, padded belt, gloves, cape and cowl and headed back to the main cave.

"What's with the padding? Insecure in your physique?"

Dick gave him a dirty look, and stopped at the cabinet for current, everyday suits. "Look." He held up the suit. "Bruce is taller and chunkier. This makes up the difference somewhat."

"How long you had that?" Jason asked, comparing the suits.

"Couple of years. We only use it when I need to impersonate Bruce."

"Do we have a suit for everything?"

"No, we don't have one for you to impersonate me, so go put this on and we'll see what needs tweaking." He shoved a Nightwing suit at Jason and pushed him towards the changing room. "Steph, give Selina a call. If she's agreeable, I want you two to spend the night going through her contacts. But wait for my call before setting off. Damian, you'll be with me. Gordon'll most likely light the signal at sundown. Then we'll go to the crime scene." The two younger Bats, listening from by the computer, nodded.

"What about me, Gold Bird?" Jason asked, re-emerging in the suit.

"The League of Shadows sometimes use cargo containers as temporary bases. I want you and Babs to start checking them out. Tomorrow, check Red Hood's contacts." Dick surveyed his brother and sighed. "Probably have to remove most of the armour," he muttered.

"Allow me, Master Dick, Master Jason," Alfred offered.

"Thanks, Alf. Jason, black the white streak, please?"

As Jason grumbled, removing the suit's top and looking for short-term dye, Damian sidled up to Dick. "Still concerned about Vale?"

"I just don't want to give away our numbers and whereabouts, Dami," Dick replied, massaging his brow to try to fight off an imminent headache. "Still only four o'clock." He stretched. "We need to prepare a statement for the press. Want to help?"

"If you wish, Grayson."

"Thanks, Babybird. Where's the number for Wayne Enterprise's PR department?"

AN: Here we go, everything set out for a little assassin hunting. Tune in next week? Well, maybe not. I'm thinking...blast from the past. Flashback coming up.

As always, please review, feel free to ask questions, etc. Love hearing from you all.

Back in...two weeks, I think. See ya.

Katara