Chapter 53: To Comfort Another Brother
Gotham
Year 2009
April 27th
Jason is 9
Tim is 6
Robin is 12
Batgirl is 13
Batman is 30
Robin pulled on his mask as Batman gathered the last of the information and tools they needed to finish the case they were following. Red Hood groaned loudly. "Can we go yet?"
"Be patient a little longer while I finish running this sample," Batman told him. "Then we can go."
"I just want to start pounding some thugs," Red Hood complained.
"I thought had enough of pounding people at school today," Robin said obnoxiously.
"Shut it Dickface!" Red Hood yelled.
"There was a fight?" Batman asked suddenly turning around.
Red Hood scowled. "Now you pay attention to me. I was going to give you the note from the principal."
"When?" Batman demanded.
"I don't know. How long do you think it will take till I'm not in trouble?" Red Hood asked.
Robin burst into laughter as Batman growled. "Jason what happened?"
"Some people were talking trash about you, me and DIckie here. Had to put them straight."
Batman groaned himself now. "We talked about this."
"Yeah, but—" Jason was interrupted by a loud ringing in the cave. Robin ran over to pull out his phone.
"Probably Wally, or Barbara wondering where we are," he said answering it. "Hello?"
"Dick?"
"Timmy?" Dick asked. "What's up?"
"I need you. Can you come over. I'm scared," a voice quavered over the phone.
"I'll be there soon. Keep talking to me." Then he turned to Batman and Red Hood. "Go on patrol without me. Something is up at the Drake's."
"It'll be a bit before we leave," Bruce said. "Keep us updated."
Dick nodded before running out. He threw on a sweatshirt and sweatpants over his Robin uniform and ran through the manor. He slammed the front door ignoring Alfred's yells as he ran towards the Drake's. "I'm almost there Timmy."
"It's Daddy," Tim whispered. "There were loud noises. He told me to hide and there were some really loud bangs."
Dick moved the phone away from his mouth and cursed. He put a hand to his ear and commed Bruce. "Bruce get here. I think there might be some man inside the Drake's house. From what Timmy is saying it sounds like there might have been shots."
"I'm coming," Bruce said. "Don't go in. Just in case. You're in civies."
"But Tim," Dick protested. Bruce didn't reply. He made his own decision and kept running across the lawn and small wood in between the houses. He reached the Drake's house within five minutes. The lights were all off from what he could see in the windows. He ran to the front door and was about to pull it open. That's when a hand rested on his shoulder. He jumped and turned in a fighting stance.
"I took the car," Bruce said. "Stay behind me."
Dick nodded and in his mind thanked whoever was responsible for Bruce not scolding him. He walked behind Bruce ready to be attacked at any minute. Bruce picked open the door which creaked open. The lights were flicked on.
Dick opened his mouth to call for Tim but Bruce shushed him. He walked forward. Then suddenly he stopped seeing some blood drip past. Dick's eyes widened. "Tim."
Together they rounded the hall. On the floor in front of them was a man in a black mask with a gun in his hand. He had a bullet hole in his forhead. Jack Drake lay nearby with one in his heart. A gun was fallen on the floor beside him. The floor was stained in blood.
Huddled nearby was Tim. He was staring at the bodies in an unmoving fashion. He had his arms around himself. The phone was clattered next to his father's gun. His mouth was open but nothing came out.
"He's in shock," Bruce said raising a phone to his ear. "Hello, I'm reporting a brake in at the Drake's residence in Westside Gotham. We have two deaths and a possibly injured child."
Meanwhile Dick crouched beside Tim. He put his arms around him and started to move him away. Tim suddenly snapped up. "No! Daddy! Daddy!"
"C'mon Timmy. The police will be here soon."
"I need to help him. You have to help him!" Tim yelled as he struggled to reach his dad.
"There's nothing we can do now," Dick told him. "Come here Tim. Let's take some deep breaths. I'm here for you now. Okay?"
Tim nodded slowly as the tears started to fall. Dick pulled Tim closer to him so he was no longer facing the dead bodies. Tim buried his head in Dick's shoulder and the tears stained his shirt. Dick took a breath as he carried Tim into another room. He was just a few years older but a lot stronger. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"There were noises. Dad told me to stay and went downstairs. Then I heard two loud noises. I found Daddy and the other man. Please help them!"
Dick inhaled harshly. "Timmy I need you to listen okay? You're smart and brave and so many other great things. I really wish I could help him but there's nothing I can do. No one can help him now."
"But you're Robin," Tim cried.
"I am," Dick sighed. "But even Robin can't save everyone. I'm sorry Tim. I'm so sorry."
Bruce walked in then on the two crying boys one holding the other protectively in his arms. He knelt with them both. Dick looked at him helplessly. "Why couldn't we help him?"
Bruce looked at him. "I don't know Dick. The police are taking the bodies now. They'll want to talk to Tim. I've already explained that he called you but he needs to give a testimony."
"I'm going with him," Dick said determinedly as he gripped the younger crying boy in his arms.
Bruce sighed. "Go explain to Commissioner Gordon."
Dick nodded. He started to get up with Tim but Bruce reached out and let the boy come into his arms. The six year old was no longer crying. He was silent again. What was with this city? With him? Did he drag all these boys into this, was he the cause of them losing their families, their homes and innocence? Was he a failure for being unable to save Gotham, for being unable to save the Graysons, Catherine Todd and now Jack Drake.
As Dick and Tim rode away with the police Bruce returned home. Alfred and Jason were waiting. Jason looked at him. "No patrol?"
"No. I need to make some calls."
Alfred sighed. "Shall I prepare the room in between yours and Master Dick's?"
Bruce nodded and Alfred disappeared. Jason looked up surprised. "Tim?"
"His father was shot in a break in. He killed the burglar as well. Tim saw the bodies."
"Where's Dick?" Jason asked.
"Went with Tim while he testified. I'm going to have Gordon tell him so that they both come back here."
"So I'm not the youngest anymore? Sweet! I have my own little brother to boss around," Jason said pumping his fist.
Bruce sighed. "Tim just experienced a large trauma. He probably feels similar to you when you saw your mother the night she died. Even worse. You already knew how to take care of yourself and had experienced things before. Tim has never seen anything like this. You'll need to be gentler."
Jason scoffed but nodded going up to his room. When Dick arrived back at close to five in the morning Tim Drake was in tow. The sleeping boy was put in the room they had set up for him as Dick sat to talk to Bruce.
"He's staying for good then?"
"I've already checked. No relatives and the Drake's will was for the housekeeper but she's old herself. She might agree to let us take care of him. For tonight they let him come as we're people he's comfortable with and he'll be safe."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"A few weeks to make it certain," Bruce sighed. "Around the same time it will take to let us help him through this. I'll get you and Jason excused from school tomorrow. I'm not sure how the rest of the week will go but we're going to have to work through this together."
Dick nodded before going upstairs. He stopped in the middle of the staircase. "B?"
Bruce looked up at him with a tired expression. Dick continued. "Don't get worried if Jason and I aren't in our rooms now. Okay?"
With that he ran up the stairs and threw open the door to Jason's room. He tugged the pillow out from under Jason's head. Jason sat up and looked at Dick angrily. "What was that for?"
Dick threw the pillow back at Jason who caught it. "Get your blanket. Sleepover in Tim's room. I'll be there in a second."
"Why do I need to be there?"
"Because you're his brother too now," Dick replied. By the time Bruce made them get out of bed that afternoon Tim had woken up from nightmares twice. The first time Dick had calmed him down. The second woke Jason as well. Bruce had come in to wake them and found three boys curled in one bed. The oldest protectively curled around the younger two as he was meant to be.
