So I just realized that, while doing some minor editing, I accidentally replaced chapter 21 with chapter 22. DOn't know how long that's been like that. I will give the same warning in this chapter as I did previously, the next two chapters will end at the same spot.

Hiding the motorcycle in a nearby alley, Jason found himself a block away from the building in question. Several thoughts came to him as he approached the building. The first being where he found Dick almost two weeks ago. Having passed the alleyway Jason found Dick occupying, an intrigued sense of pride sprouted at the fact that Dick managed to get three blocks down with busted bones and bleeding before collapsing. Not dwelling on it longer, Jason began to observe the building, looking for a good spot to sneak in. He noticed a window left slightly ajar. Whether it be a spur of the moment idea or a sign that this was where Dick snuck in from, Jason took the opportunity he had been given.

Stealthily and silently, Jason started to investigate the halls. Not knowing where Slade could be hiding or what he would find, Jason was hastily observant. After scanning a few vacant rooms, a light from an opened room caught his attention. He quickly made his way over, studying the room.

The lack of Slade was ideal, but the sight of a cuffed Damian only made the scene more stressful. Wanting to help, Jason worked his way over to Damian, who was alarmed by the sight.

"What are you doing here?" Damian quietly hissed.

"What does it look like?" Jason sarcastically replied, clawing at the restraints. "Getting you out. Where's Dick?"

"Slade confined him. Where's father?"

"He'll be here soon enough."

Jason was starting to get annoyed with the restraints, not having the patience to take his time. Damian knew he had to say something.

"Go get Grayson."

"I can't leave you. Look were that got me the last time."

"I well aware of what happened Todd. What did you expect? I am my father's son and I do not like being told what to do, but right now that's not important. You need to get Grayson while Deathstroke's bartering his life."

Jason stopped what he was doing, staring at Damian with confusion.

"What do you mean 'bartering'?"

"The Court of Owls has a bounty on Grayson's head, and Deathstroke accepted it."

"Why?"

"They want their legacy and Deathstroke wants an heir. They want a killer, and they're willing to condemn Grayson to get one."

Taking a step back, Jason glared at Damian. The news that Dick's life had been reduced to an unwilling pawn was appalling. While words like legacy and heir were particularly intriguing. Slade wanting an heir wasn't new, seeing as he hasn't been all that invested in training his children, but why Damian choose the word 'legacy' for the Court of Owls' part was questionable. Especially with his knowledge on the group was pretty basic.

"There are some things that father, Grayson, and I haven't been entirely opened about," Damian admitted, picking up on Jason's curiosity, "for personal reasons. That can be a discussion you can have with Grayson later. Right now, let's not forget, there are more pressing matters that need your attention. Look, I'll be fine, he wants to keep me alive as bait. Go. Get. Grayson."

Knowing that he wasn't getting anywhere, Jason started to back away from Damian.

"Bruce will be here soon." Jason promised, inching towards the doorway.

"I know. I don't know where he took Grayson, but look for a locked door."

Jason nodded at the instruction.

"Wait!" Damian ordered, stopping Jason at the doorway. "You need to know something."

"What?"

"Go easy on him. Grayson is emotionally apprehensive." Damian glared at the now vacant glass cage. "He just killed a person."

Jason was floored by Damian's declaration. Dick killing someone was unheard of. He killed someone. Jason tried to wrap his head around. What prompted this? Leaning on the doorframe, he let it set in.

"I don't know who she was or what she did to him, but Deathstroke pinned Grayson into it. Said he should get justice unless he wanted me dead. I don't doubt that he's abused that opportunity once he's sealed Grayson off. He's probably pretty rattled, so show some compassion."

Snapping out of his thought, Jason understood Damian's suggestion. Being in a state of emotional distress was never a pleasant experience with Dick, but it did need proper handling.

"Got it."

Bolting out of the room, Jason began his new search.

He wasn't sure which hallways he went down or how many doors he had checked, but Jason still had yet to find Dick's prison. After a few minutes, he would soon find himself outside a closed door that would look eerily suspicious. Quietly approaching it, he would lightly tap on the handle. When it didn't budge, Jason could tell he found the right room. Squatting down, he pulled out a few lock picking items from his pocket. Keenly focusing on the lock, he was able to manipulate it to his advantage.

"Dick!" Jason yelled, throwing the door open.

Squeezed near one of the corners on the other side of the room, Dick was horrified by Jason's presence. Jason's observation didn't help alleviate his own anxiety either. New signs of physical damage scattered all over Dick's body. A bruise on one cheek and a bloodied slit on the other were the only visible ones, but what remained hidden, be it internal or beneath clothing, was a concern that Jason knew he didn't have the time to survey.

"You can't be here." Dick anxiously stated, attempting to back himself further. "You should be saving Damian. Not me. Not the traitor."

"Take it easy." Jason calmly stated, not wanting to rattle him. "You're not a traitor."

Not wanting to rile Dick up more, Jason slowly started to approach him. Dick, however, did not like that choice of movement.

"Get away!"

Jason paused for a moment, briefly granting his request, but would immediately resumed his stride. Along the way, he felt something slide underneath his foot. Inspecting the debris, Jason realized that two photos where trying to hide underneath his foot. Both showed the charred remains from what he deduced was a girl's body. He didn't need to be told who it was or the reason behind them.

Guilt and horror plastered itself over Dick's face, realizing that Jason had put the pieces together, while unspoken sympathy came from Jason. The urge to move refused to dissipate, as Jason resumed his plan. As the gap between them continued to shrink, Dick attempted to worm around Jason. Jason on the other hand, wouldn't allow it, as he forced Dick as to the corner of the room. Arms would wrap around Dick's shoulders, startling him.

"Let me go!" Dick screamed, as he tried to push away.

Jason silently refused his demands. He knew that if he let Dick go, there was a good chance he would bolt off and find himself taking another beating from Slade head on. So he let Dick squirm, as he murmured unclear garble. Jason could only wonder what was going through Dick mind as his mind shuffled with what was going on around them. He knew well enough that they couldn't stay for long. Have to go. Jason reminded himself, wishing he could properly handle the situation, as Dick's fighting began to cease. This is not the time to take care of this in its entirety.

"We got to go." Jason stated, lightening his grip on Dick. "Bruce is probably here now, and more than likely has Damian."

"No!" Dick loudly responded, pushing Jason back a little. "I refuse to go back to Bruce, not after what I've done. He would never take me back. He's going to hate me."

Dick's anxiety would spike, not prepared for what was provided to him. A hand would jolt the side of Dick's face. It wasn't enough to cause any harm, but it did startle Dick enough to cause him to freeze up. Hands would then clamp onto his shoulders.

"Now is not the time to have an episode. Do you know how worried we all are? Not only has Damian insisted that I get you out of here, but I just snuck in here to get you knowing that Bruce, who might I add is probably pissed that I did this, is on his way. I'd be more concerned with what he'd want to do with Slade because of what he's done to you."

"But I murdered someone."

"Do you really think he'll care? It's not like you planned for this, and given the circumstances, you were not in the right state of mind." Jason's grip would tighten. "I may not know the situation in its entirety, but from what I can tell, he backed you into a corner and took advantage of it. You can hate yourself for as long as you want, but now is not the time."

Dick was speechless, not prepared to respond, terror still overshadowing reason.

"Let's go home."

Part of Dick wanted to accept Jason's plea, he really did. The thought of an escape was an appreciated one. However, he was petrified by the potential results. The fear of who would die next and the paranoia of when he would be forcefully retrieved plagued his mind.

"But he'll…"

"Don't worry about what he might do, we're not going to let anything happen to you."

Jason's proclamation was comforting, maybe not a definitive guarantee, but comforting all the same. Knowing that he'd have to make a decision, regardless of his insecure assumption, Dick gave a nod for approval. Jason instantly shifted his grip to just one of Dick's arms and quickly pulled him along the way before he had the chance to change his mind.

Jason dragged Dick down several halls, trying to remember which one he came down. The sound of a brawl caught his attention. They both had their suspicions as to who it was, but Jason pulled Dick in the direction of the ruckus anyways, in the hope that he could display his achievement.

Entering a large room, lit up by the screen of a computer. Batman and Deathstroke were duking it out while Tim and Damian watched. Tim was the first to notice his elders, not uttering a word. He only gave an attentive nod in their direction. Damian, on the other hand, would spontaneously go with a vocal stimuli, not thinking about the repercussions.

"Get him out of here!" Damian loudly ordered.

The battle would come to a halt as both Batman and Deathstroke gave the once unnoticed duo attention. Shock and awe would take flow off of Batman, secretly relieved that Jason had gotten Dick, while Deathstroke was infuriated. His expression didn't go unnoticed as Dick froze in fear, which in turn prevented Jason from continuing on. There wouldn't be any time to dwell on it as Deathstroke threw several small explosive in their direction.

"Crap!" Jason cursed, immediately throwing Dick behind him in an attempt to shield him.

The explosive would pop, pelting them with fire and debris. While Jason would take the brunt of the damage, Dick wasn't completely unscathed as they both collapsed. Dick would force himself onto his knees as he inspected the damage done to Jason.

"I'm fine." Jason groaned, slowly working his way into a sitting position.

"And here I thought we were making progress." Deathstroke admitted, slowly approaching them. "You were beginning to accept your predicament, only needing one or two small pushes if necessary."

"Get away from him." Batman ordered.

"But I guess you still need harsher punishments for your disobedience."

"Get out of here." Jason demanded.

Attempting to get on his feet, Dick would only get far. The sound of a gunshot would blast everyone's eardrums.

I do apologize for the repeat. It must have happened when I went to fix something I missed in the following chapter.