Chapter 25: Responsibility
Jason's POV
Bruce took my hand as we climbed out of the car. He doesn't trust me to walk alongside him. Apparently, I get into trouble and like to wander. It's not my fault I get bored. I mean Dick gets to walk by himself. It's not fair! As we reached the new restaurant, I noticed an ice-cream shop across the street.
"Can we get ice-cream after dinner?" I pleaded.
"We'll see." Bruce replied.
I sighed and pouted as we entered the restaurant. We'll see always means no.
I slid into the booth and Dick slid in beside me. Bruce sat across from us. I picked up the menu and immediately a bunch of gibberish hit me.
"Um, this menu isn't written in English." I said.
"It's French, Jay. Do you need any help ordering?" Dick replied.
I rolled my eyes at his comment. Of course, Dick knew what it was. He could speak like a million languages before I was even born. "No." I stubbornly replied as our waiter approached us.
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Dick's POV
"What is that?" Jay asked in disgust as a bowl full of shelled snails was placed in front of him.
"Escargot. Those are snails. It's what you ordered." I replied while removing a snail from his plate and slurping the snail right out of the shell. "It's really good. Try it."
He stared at me in horror before sliding the plate over to me. "I need to be excused." He replied softly.
"Dick, go with him." Bruce ordered as I moved to let Jay out of the booth.
"But, the food just got here. And Jason's old enough to take himself." I whined.
"Richard, do as you're told." Bruce warned.
Narrowing my eyes, I herded Jay over to the bathroom.
"Dick, Jason, hey!" Barbara Gordon yelled at us.
We turned to find her sitting in a booth with her dad. I told Jay to go ahead and walked over to talk to the Gordons. Barbara looks really pretty today.
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Jason's POV
Turning off the water, I reached for a towel to dry my hands. I can't believe Dick left me to talk to Barbara. Bruce is going to be really mad, when I tell him. I tossed the towel into the basket and turned to leave the bathroom, accidently bumping into a waiter on the way out.
"Excuse me." I apologized, expecting him to move out of the way of the door.
He looked me over before smiling. "You're excused, Garett." He replied before yanking me towards him and clamping his hand over my mouth.
I screamed beneath his hand and struggled to free myself from his grip.
"Hush, son. It's okay. Daddy's going to take you home now."
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Dick's POV
"Enjoy your dinner and have a good night." I said as a waiter brought out the Gordon's food.
I needed to find Jay so we could finish eating. I walked over to the bathroom, only to find it empty. I glanced towards our table. Bruce was eating. Alone. Panic started to sink in, when I couldn't find him. Bruce suddenly looked up and turned towards me. His eyes met mine. He got up from the table and stood directly before me.
"Where's Jason?" he asked.
Dropping my gaze to the floor, I quietly answered, "I don't know."
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I bit my lip and sat quietly while twisting my hands in my lap. Bruce was talking to the commissioner. An investigation was being conducted, because of me. This is my fault. He's my responsibility and I left Jason alone. Oh God! I didn't mean to. I'll never leave him alone again. I swear.
"Are you okay?" Barbara asked, taking a seat beside me.
I started to nod, but ended up shaking my head. She suddenly took my hand into hers.
"Everything is going to be okay. If anyone can find Jason, it'll be my dad or Batman. They'll get him back." She promised as I looked over at Bruce and the commissioner.
"Dick? Look, I know we don't really talk to each other, but we are in the same class and… I want to help you." She said, while writing a phone number on my hand. "Everything's going to be okay."
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Jason's POV
Darkness surrounds me. I can't scream for help. I can't fight. I'm alone. I'm scared. I've never been kidnapped by myself before. Dick has always been with me.
But, now I'm alone. I'm lying bound and gagged in the trunk of someone's car. I can feel the car stopping. The fear grows larger as the car shuts off and I hear a key enter the lock of the trunk. I make myself stop crying. I'm alone. I can't show fear or weakness. For once, I have to protect myself.
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Dick's POV
I rock back and forth on my heels, waiting for Bruce to get off of the phone. He's talking to Commissioner Gordon.
"Have they found Jason?" I ask as soon as the phone hits the receiver.
"No." Bruce replied, heading towards his suit.
"Where are we going to look first?" I ask while following him.
Bruce stops shortly and turns to face me. "We are not going anywhere. You are going to stay here. I don't want to worry about both of you tonight."
"No! I have to go!" I shout.
"I said no, Richard!" he yells.
"But we can split up! We could find him faster!" I plead.
"No! I am not letting you go alone!"
"I'm thirteen! I should be allowed to patrol by myself! I'm not a child anymore!" I scream.
"You're my child! And I am not going to let anything happen to you!" he roars.
My eyes advert to the floor and my shoulders slump in defeat as a tear rolls down my cheek. "But, this is my fault." I whisper.
Bruce sighs and lays one hand on my shoulder and lifts my chin with his other hand, so our eyes meet. "Dickie, this is not your fault. And you're right. You're not a little boy anymore; you are ready to go alone. But, I just don't know what I'd do if something happened to you if I wasn't there. But right now, I have to find Jason and I can't do that if I'm worrying about you. I need you to stay here tonight. Promise me." he says gently.
I wrap my arms around him. "I love you too, Dad. Robin won't leave the cave tonight. I promise."
"Master Bruce, Commissioner Gordon is here to see you." Alfred shouted from the steps of the cave.
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Jason's POV
The trunk slowly opens and the waiter roughly pulls me out and slings me over his shoulder. He quickly carries me into the tiny kitchen of a shabby apartment. The door is shut and bolted by a woman who squeals with delight when she notices me.
"He's perfect! Oh Dalton, you brought our baby home again!" She squeals before kissing her husband as he sets me on my feet.
"Well, I went through a lot of trouble to get him for you, Ann." The man replied.
"He's perfect. Dalton, take that duct tape off of him. I'm sure Garret is ready to give momma a big kiss." She ordered while reaching for the tape over my mouth.
"If you scream or try to run, you won't live to regret it. I'll kill you slowly and painfully… And I'll kill your brother next." he growled into my ear as my eyes grew wide, only to narrow a few seconds later. No one threatens my brother. No one.
"Isn't that better, Garett?" the woman asks as the tape is removed. "Now, come give momma a kiss." The woman asks while holding her arms out to me.
"You are not my mother and my name is not Garett." I reply coldly while standing still, only to be roughly backhanded by the man. I can taste the blood from my open lips.
"How dare you disrespect your mother and father like that!" the man roared and took a step towards me, roughly shoving me against the kitchen counter, where a knife container is conveniently located.
"You are not my dad! And she isn't my mom!" I scream at the top of my lungs, while snarling at them.
"That was the wrong answer." The man growled and stepped forward.
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Dick's POV
"Did you find him!" I shout as I see the commissioner on the couch.
"Well, not exactly." He replies and looks up at Bruce. "Do you want the boy to be a part of this conversation?"
Bruce nods and takes a seat across from him. I take a seat beside Bruce.
"We have narrowed it down to two suspects." The commissioner replied, while laying two photos onto the coffee table. One was a woman, the other was a man. "The woman is Sandra Waldron. She left the restaurant suddenly without paying her bill. The man is Dalton Throsby. He is currently employed at the restaurant. He left before his shift was over and he didn't pick up his payment."
"Why haven't you interrogated them yet!" I shouted and shot off of the couch, only to be pulled back down by Bruce.
"Son, we're doing the best we can." The commissioner replied.
"That's not good enough! What if it were Barbara!" I shouted.
"That's enough Richard! Go to your room! And you had better stay there!" Bruce threatened before making me apologize for my behavior.
Flopping down on my bed and reaching for the phone, I dial Barbara's number.
"Hello?" her beautiful voice calls into the phone.
"Do you happen to have the address of Sandra Waldron or Dalton Throsby?"
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Jason's POV
I cried out in pain as my arm was popped out of its socket, only to have a strip of duct tape slapped over my mouth. Tears flooded my vision as my arms were pinned behind me, before I was rolled onto my back. I had just made things worse.
I looked up at the woman bandaging her husband's side from where my knife had entered his hip. The man glared down at me. He is going to kill me.
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Dick's POV
I climbed into the passenger side of the car as Barbara got behind the wheel. She agreed to help me find Jason. This would have been really romantic if I wasn't worried about Jay. I've had a crush on her since we met, when I was like seven. But, she's never noticed me before. Then again, she's two years older than me.
"Dick, you okay?" she asked, glancing over at me.
I nodded. "How much longer?"
We pulled over to the curb in a not so great section of town; at least it wasn't Crime Alley.
"We walk from here. It's a block away. We don't want to pull into their driveway, it would draw unwanted attention."
We jogged over to the house; I was really surprised at how well she kept up with me.
We silently approached the house. "You take the basement and I'll go in through the front." She directed.
"What! No way! You could hurt." I hissed.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I can take care of myself. It's you we should be worried about. I'm trained for this stuff, you aren't." she confidently replied.
"But-"
"Do you want your little brother back or not?" she interrupted as I agreed to her stupid plan.
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Jason's POV
I whimpered as the man flung me down on the hard concrete flooring of the basement. I wanna go home. I want my Daddy!
"You have dishonored your parents, Garett. And you know the consequences. You are a bad child. I am going to send you back to the Hell you came from." He threatened, while brandishing the same knife that I had used on him earlier. "Now, I'll be right back. Don't move, son." He growls before walking back into the house.
Dick's POV
Squeezing myself through the basement window, I see my baby brother curled up and crying on the concrete. I can see the bruises and black eye and puffy face and… oh Jay.
"Jason… oh my God. What did they do to you?" I whisper before kneeling at his side and gently peeling the tape from his mouth and hands. I grimace when I notice his dislocated shoulder. He gives a cry of pain as I have to pop it back into place.
His fists clench at my shirt as he cries into the crook of neck. My arms are wrapped around him, wanting to protect him forever. "Shhh, Little Wing. It's okay. I'm here now. They can't hurt you anymore… I'm so sorry for leaving you all alone, Jay. I'll never leave you again. I love you."
"Love you too… I wanna go home, Dickie." he cries.
My attention is drawn away from my little brother when Barbara appears at the stairs leading back into the house. Dalton Throsby is right behind her. He shoves her roughly down the steps and over to us. That's when I notice the gun in his hand.
"Garrett, come here!" he orders as Jason's grip on me tightens.
"Leave him alone!" Barbara yells at the man, while wrapping her arms partially around me and around Jason.
"Don't. Touch. My. Brother." I growl as he takes a step forward.
We watch as he backs away slowly and retreats back into the house. Barbara and I look at each other puzzled. Why did he leave? He could have just killed us.
"Are you okay?" I ask Barbara.
"I'm fine. He caught me tying up his wife."
"Oh." I reply before staring at her. What!
"Stop staring at me. I told you I could take care of myself. I've been taking gymnastics and ballet forever… is he okay?"
Gymnastics? Ballet? What? I glance down at Jason and tighten my grip around him. "Yeah, he'll be okay… Barbara… I just wanted to say-"
"Dick, do you smell gasoline?" she interrupts me.
We glance at the stairs leading up to the house. A thick trail of liquid is flowing down the steps. Our eyes pop open in horror.
"We have to get out of here!" I yell, jumping up and pulling Jason up with me before we quickly run over to the tiny basement window.
"Get on my back!" I demand as she obeys and starts prying at the window.
"Dick! It won't open!" she screams.
We turn around as Dalton Throsby enters carrying a can of gasoline.
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Bruce's POV
Sandra Waldron had turned out to be a dead end. Dalton Throsby was the last suspect on the list. I prayed that I would find my baby unharmed and okay. I prayed harder as Gordon drove towards the rougher section of town.
Gordon suddenly slammed on brakes. "Oh my God! That's my car!" he exclaimed.
What? Why would his own car be parked at… Oh my God! Dick!
"All units please respond to 3124 Cracknel Street." Gordon radioed in.
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Jason's POV
I was tightly squished between Dick and Barbara as tears flowed freely from my eyes. The woman had a gun trained on us. I could see the man coming closer as we sat huddled in the corner. He pulled out a lighter as I sniffled into Dick's shirt. I want my Daddy.
Dick's POV
The man smiled darkly at us. I squeezed Jason and Barbara tighter before I decided I needed to do something. I'm Robin and I have to protect them. I was about to pass Jason off to Barbara before the door to the basement was thrown open by Bruce and Commissioner Gordon heading straight for the Throsbys.
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Jason's arms were enfolded around Bruce's neck as he carried Jason out of the building. Bruce's other arm was wrapped around my shoulders as he led me away from the building. We could see the Throsbys being read their rights.
The man looked over at Jason and snarled. "A few more minutes with that ungrateful little brat and I would have-"
The man never got to finish his sentence after Bruce's fist impacted with his face, knocking the monster out cold. Then the woman started screaming about how Bruce had just assaulted her husband.
"The only thing I saw was a father taking his children home." Commissioner Gordon replied as she was pushed into a cop car.
"Dick, wait!"
I turned to find Barbara jogging over to me. "Is Jason okay?"
I glanced at Bruce who was still holding Jay, waiting for me. "I think he's going to be okay… thank you."
She smiled and replied, "You're welcome… maybe we could work together on a project for school or something later?"
"Yeah!" I replied, a little too enthusiastically.
"But, we might have to wait awhile. I have a feeling I'm going to be grounded for a long time." She replied, glancing at her dad.
"I don't think you're going to be the only one." I replied before looking at my dad.
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Bruce's POV
I watched as Dick and Jason pressed their faces against the glass. They couldn't decide on a flavor of ice-cream. However, they ended up choosing their normal choices. Dick likes chocolate and pistachio mixed together and Jason likes napoleon.
It felt good to see that things had returned to normal. Dick's punishment was finally over. And Jason wasn't suffering anymore from the nightmares those bastards inflicted upon my baby. It's too bad that Batman couldn't have caught them. Then again, they got what they deserved. Both "committed suicide" in prison. Even prisoners have a strict code about child abuse.
About ten years ago, the Throsbys lost their only child. Problem is, no one knows what happened to the boy. Since the "accident," the bastards have taken twelve children. My baby was going to be their thirteenth; their thirteenth murder.
Once my boys finished, I noticed that Dick was more than happy to escort Jason to the bathroom. After all, he is positive that Jason is his responsibility.