The Meeting
By
AJ
Part 25
Before Dick sat down at the computer to do some research, he turned toward Tim once more.
"You know, you shouldn't sell yourself short," Dick said. "You've done some incredible things as Robin, including getting the antidote to save my life. You may even end up being a better Robin than I was at times. At least you and Bruce don't argue the way we do sometimes."
"I'm just a friend and it's my job to be his partner. Though he adopted me, I don't think I'll ever really see him as my father. I'm getting too old for that. Don't get me wrong. I do appreciate what Bruce has done. He gave me a home that I probably would have never had as good a home as here. My parents were on the same social plane as Bruce as you know, and if anyone else had adopted me, they probably would have taken advantage of that. Bruce hasn't. In fact, he's kept everything that was in my father's name separate and put my name on everything. I own it out right."
"Well, I wouldn't know anything about that," Dick said. "My parents never really had much money, even when the circus was doing well. They managed to save enough to buy a small house in Florida, which I do own, but that's about it. When I lost my parents everything that I owned I could fit in one suitcase and I did. All the other stuff came from Bruce. I never did apologize for what I said when you first came here."
"Oh don't worry about it," Tim said. "You were right. I didn't know everything back then, and I still don't but I am learning. So, what are you researching?"
Dick turned back to the computer and started typing in the parameters he knew and speculated on others that he wasn't sure on.
"One question, did you manage to get any DNA evidence from the Red Hood while you were fighting?"
"No," Tim replied. "He was well covered up. I didn't even get a chance to get a recording of his voice print."
"That means he was fast and well trained. He acted quickly without hesitating," Dick pointed out. "We've been trained to do the same. Do you remember anything else? Any physical characteristics?"
"Well, I'd say he was about your height, about 5' 10." I'm 5' 8," He really wasn't that far off of my height, yet he nearly got the best of me."
"He only got the best of you because he cheated. He used a knife," Dick pointed out.
"But why didn't he just kill me?" Tim asked.
"I think because it was the only way he could actually stop you, plus he was interrupted. He might have heard Damian approach. He could only do one thing and that was stab you so you wouldn't follow him. There may be another opportunity."
"Oh great, just what I need my own arch enemy."
"Any other characteristics," Dick asked.
"Yeah, he had reddish blond hair and what looked like a white streak running through it. He also didn't look any older than me. He was well built. And in the light I could see he had several small scars all over his arms, like he had been in some kind of battle."
"Well, without you seeing his face, that's not much to go on," Dick said. "I'll run this through the computer. You better get some sleep. Bruce and Damian should be coming back soon."
"I suggest both of you get some sleep," Alfred said behind Dick. "You may be free of the oleander poison Master Richard, but you still need to get as much rest as you can. You are also due to see Dr. Leslie tomorrow. Master Bruce will want to drive you."
"I can drive myself," Dick said.
"You know Master Bruce would not approve. He wants to hear the report himself, not read it from a sheet of paper."
"Okay, I'll let him take me to see Leslie. No matter how much I've tried to tell him I'm no longer a child, he still treats me like one."
"You know he does that because he cares for you, Master Richard."
"I just wish he'd see the man, not the kid that I once was."
Tim clapped Dick on the back. "You know Bruce is always going to see you as that kid. I know for a fact that he's proud of you. He tells me every time he hears what you've been doing as Nightwing."
Dick couldn't help feel humbled, but at the same time he could not help but recall Jason as well. 'If I'm Bruce's greatest triumph, Jason is Bruce's worst failure. I wasn't happy at first when Tim came to us, now I can't help but feel grateful. He's proven himself as Robin, but Bruce is still stuck in that dark place sometimes.'
"Master Timothy," Alfred started. "You must return to the medical bay. You are not strong enough to be up and about like this."
"I'm getting sick and tired of being down here. Can't I at least go up to my room? I promise to stay in bed at least for a few days. It will give me a chance to get caught up on my reading."
Alfred placed a hand on Tim's forehead to check for fever. He did feel warm, but not as much as before. "All right Master Timothy. You may go up to your room. I shall bring both of you something to eat."
"I can't go up right now, Alfred," Dick said. "I'm trying to do some research on this Red Hood business. Bruce doesn't know I'm doing it, but I'm sure he can use all the help he can get."
"Dick, wait a minute, I remember something else. Before the Red Hood left me for dead, he said there would be another time for us . . . He . . . called me replacement."
"Replacement, that's a curious thing to say."
"Master Timothy . . ." Alfred stated.
"I better get upstairs," Tim said. "I am feeling kind of light headed again."
"Well then you better go before Alfred has to carry you upstairs. Thanks."
Dick sat at the computer staring at the screen and not getting anywhere fast. Tim's statement was stuck in his head. Why would the man call Tim Replacement? Dick wrote everything down so he could see what he was dealing with more clearly. Then something dawned on him that he wasn't ready to believe. A hypothesis was forming in his mind, but it would require a drastic measure that Bruce would certainly not approve, certainly not without his consent. It was a violation that would have reaching consequences, but if he was right, it would be the ultimate in plot twists that neither of them would have dreamed. And Bruce most of all, with his view on the issue would be totally appalled and yet elated. No, not yet. He must not deal in speculation. He had to get evidence. And in order to do that, he had to think about whom he was dealing with. Making up his mind, he knew that what he was about to do would land him in hot water, both with Bruce and Alfred, but he needed to know for certain.
Dick Grayson moved to the uniform vault and grabbed his Nightwing gear. He looked at the clock and realized that Bruce and Damian had been gone all day and it would soon be night. He couldn't wait for the cover of darkness. He had to leave while he still could. Dick put on his Nightwing uniform, grabbed his eskrima sticks and placed them on his back, then walked over to his motorcycle and put on his helmet. He checked his equipment pockets for the miniature camera that he carried, then mounted his motorcycle and sped down the tunnel leading out of the bat cave and out to the road leading to Gotham City. He knew where he needed to go. He recalled the story about the batmobile and how Batman found that someone had expertly removed the tires, and that's where he needed to start from in order to prove his hypothesis. He needed to go back to the place where it began. He needed to go to Crime Alley.
Continues with Part 26