Synopsis: Someone has stolen all the money from the Wayne Foundation Youth Charity Fund. Batman and Red Hood go after the man who did it. While doing research on the thief, Tim is hit by a mysterious beam from an odd weapon sitting on a shelf and is de-aged. Oh boy, what are they going to do with a four-year-old Tim?
Part 8: The News Spreads
Damian was heading down to the cave when he smelled cookies. 'Maybe Alfred decided to make some,' he thought. 'It's late for cookies, though he has provided cookies after patrol.'
Damian walked into the kitchen and found out it wasn't Alfred making cookies, but big brother Richard. Not only was he baking cookies, he held a child in his arms Damian didn't recognize. Damian watched him for a moment as he swung the small boy over his shoulder to take out a batch of cookies from the oven, removing them to a cooling rack, added more dough to the cookie sheet, and placing the sheet into the oven. Damian frowned. He knew none of the children were old enough to be held like that.
"Who's that?" Damian demanded.
"Shhh, Damian he's sleeping," Dick said.
"I can see that, but why are you holding him and who is he?"
"It's Tim."
Damian gave Dick a dubious look, not sure whether he believed Dick. "That kid is Tim?"
"Something happened to him and he changed into a four-year-old physically."
Then Damain remembered that Dick never made cookies with him. 'And he's never held me like he's holding Tim either. Father has carried me, but . .' Damian turned away, swiping a couple cookies at the same time. He didn't want to show what he was feeling . . . Jealous . . . Hurt. He tried to dismiss the feelings. "What ever."
Damian munched on one of the cookies as he left the kitchen and headed to the cave.
"Batman to cave, come in" Batman called out on the com. He'd been trying for twenty minutes. Tim usually answered by now.
"Something wrong?" Red Hood questioned.
"I don't know."
As Damian entered the cavem he heard his father on the com. He went over to the computer and pressed the button. "Cave to Batman," Damian growled out.
"Robin? Where is Red Robin? I have information on Chester Falcone."
"He's . . . indisposed," Robin stated. 'He'll never believe it.'
"As soon as he's not, have him return my call."
"I don't think he's going to be able to do that."
"You are not making any sense, Robin," Batman was getting annoyed. "The information I have concerns Red Robin."
"He was turned into a four-year-old, which Nightwing is babying right now," Damian snapped.
"A WHAT . . . Repeat that Robin . . ."
"Red Robin was turned into a four-year-old, Batman."
Batman looked over at Red Hood. Red Hood was shaking his head. "Are you certain?"
"Well, he's holding a four-year-old and he made cookies."
"Do I detect a little jealousy?" Red Hood commented.
"Shut up Hood."
"Enough," Batman growled. "We'll deal with whatever happened, later. Tell Red Robin that Falcone bolted. We're tracking him. This might take another day or two. He's gone to ground without leaving any clues. We have recovered all the stolen money."
"I'll let him know after his nap time is over," Robin groused sarcastically.
"Roger Batman out."
"AHHHAHHHAHHHAAA!" Red Hood couldn't help laughing.
Batman turned and glared at Red Hood.
"Well, you've got to admit it's a pretty lame excuse. If he wanted to be with his wife, he could have at least given Damian that message."
"Tim would have no reason to make up an excuse, let alone have Damian repeat the excuse."
"You mean he could be telling the truth?"
"He was serious."
"So, you believe Timbo really did get turned into a four-year-old?"
"Yes, and the question is how. We will need to deal with that later, after we track down Chester Falcone."
Continues with Part 9: The Pros and Cons of Being a Kid Again