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 19: Heart to Heart

"AAAAHHHH! AAAHHHHHH! AAAAHHHHH!" Tim sat up screaming, the images of the kidnapper striking him with that pipe were fresh in his mind. The images were mixed with the dream of when the Grayson's fell. The helplessness that he felt came back. Tim had not felt like that since he saw Dick Grayson's parents fall. He wanted so much to help them, but couldnt. It felt like seeing his own parents falling, but in truth, they were. He was a Flying Grayson, and at that time, Tim had no idea that's what he was seeing, and yet maybe within his own subconscious he knew.

Jason jumped up from his sleep. Tim was screaming in his sleep!? At first, Jason started to panic. He didn't know what to do, until he realized Tim wasn't just having a nightare, he was having a night-terror, the type of nightmare that was hard to awaken from. Jason gathered himself, hugged Tim close to him, and started to rub on his back. "Timmy, come on little bro. It's just a bad dream. Wake up." It was all Jason could think to do. Dick had left a couple of hours ago. That left Jason in charge. 'You'd think Bruce would be here, too,' Jason thought. 'My kids haven't had nightmares, and I'd rather keep it that way.'

Jason could see that Tim's fingers were gripping the covers so tight that it woud be difficult to release his grip. He could see that Tim was breathing heavily and he was shaking. Finally, Tim responded.

"I . . . I haven't had . . . Night-terrors . . . . Like that . . . " Tim covered his face with his hands.

Jason held onto Tim and comforted him. He didn't know what to say. 'I had night-terrors, but I usually had to take care of them on my own. I didn't have any one to comfort me," Jason thought. "It's okay. Whatever you dreamed about they can't harm you."

"Was dreaming about the kidnapper beating me. And then it changed to when I saw Dick's parents fall. It felt like my own parents falling. I didn't know at that time that Mary Grayson was my actual mother. I don't want to feel that helpless ever again."

Jason sat up and pulled Tim with him. He rested his back against the arm of the couch. "You were beaten?" Jason wanted to check his body over, make sure he was okay.

"Sammie healed me on the inside, my ribs and my lungs. I think there's still some bruising."

Jason pulled Tim's shirt up and looked. There were still bruises on him, a deep black and blue. Jason frowned, his anger rising. "Golden boy better had done something about this."

"I think he went after them."

"He better have! Look at what they did to you! You are not a connect the fucking dot page! They shouldn't have harmed you. What were they thinking!?" Jason wished he could've gone after the bastards himself. "Maybe when you change back your body would be fully healed."

"Are my scars gone?" Tim questioned. "That would be like starting over. I'm not complaining or anything. I guess I just got used to them. I bet I have my tonsils and my appendix back, too."

"Maybe this is what you needed, a do over. Your body needed one," Jason stated. 'He has been getting roughed up.'

"Kind of a strange way to go about it. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be like this."

"I don't want you like this anymore," Jason had to admit. "I mean you look adorable, and I just want to hold you close and take care of you like the little thing you are, but I miss the bigger you. I can't make fun or push you around." Jason was surprised at that. He didn't expect to be pouring out emtions, especially to Tim.

Tim was flabbergasted. He never expected to hear something like that come out of Jason. "Hey even if I am smaller, maybe you can still teach me some things. I tried to tackle the kidnapper. Obviously, that didn't work. I was trying to fight him like my 17-year-old self. I need to fight the way a kid would fight, if I have to end up protecting myself, again."

"I . . . I guess . . . I could teach you something."

"Well, we could go down to the cave. I know it's early. Is it even daylight yet?"

"I don't think so," Jason replied. "My body is killing me though. That Falcone guy didn't give up with out a fight."

"What did he do to you? Did he hurt you?"

"Nah, just got hit with a chair a couple of times, and a table came flying at me, thanks to his hench men. Just a few bruises. Nothing big."

"Okay." Tim still yawned despite his alertness, even though he tried to stifle it.

"Maybe we should sleep some more," Jason suggested, though in truth he meant Tim should sleep more.

"I guess I'm . . .*yaaawnn* . . . Still tired . . . . Maybe I am . . . I don't think I want to sleep on the couch." Tim's eyes were starting to droop, again.

"Want to go lay in you and Sammie's bed?"

"Yeah," Tim answered, butI leaned up against Jason instead. He was comfortable.

Jason couldn't help smiling. He held Tim close as he rose from the couch and went up the stairs. He entered Tim's room and laid down on the bed with Tim. The sheets smelled strongly of Samantha, tropical scents she preferred, hibiscus, cistrus, and coconut.

Tim snuggled into Jason. He didn't want him to go. He felt right. Like a big brother should. " . . . I love you . . . My big brother," Tim mumbled.

That warmed Jason's heart. He was surprised Tim would even say that. "I love you, too, lil bro," Jason said, quietly as he and Tim fell back to sleep.

Nightwing entered the cave's hangar, his hands were a bit shaky, and they were swollen. He got out of the jet and went to get out of this uniform. He took a quick shower and got into a pair of sweats and socks. He noticed Bruce come out of the showers. His hair was wet and he was dressed in regular clothes. He must have finished the report and was was heading back up to the manor.

"So, did you take care of those guys?" Bruce asked him.

"Yeah, I did," Nightwing answered. He went over to the medical bay to grab something for the pain in my hands.

"I don't think I've seen your hands that swollen in a while".

Nightwing removed his mask, but kept his eyes shielded. He grabbed the bottle of painkiller and swallowed one dry. "Yeah, Uncle Clark had to pull me away before I killed the bastard."

"Dick, can I ask you a question. Please, don't take offence with this, but I need to know if you would react the same way with Jason or even Damian if something like this happened to them."

"Of course, they are my brothers," Dick gave Bruce an odd look.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Lately, you have been somewhat over-zealous when it comes to Tim. I know it's only been a week since we got you back from the Court, and even the Talon in you is very protective . . . But, when was the last time you actually spent time with your other brothers."

Dick thought back to what Samantha was saying. 'Damian's pissed off at me. I . . . I guess I have been ignoring him...I didn't mean to,' Dick sighed. 'My actual baby brother probably hates me right now.'

Bruce could see the look on Dick's face, and he knew what he just told his oldest, that it sunk in without having to voice any words. "Just pay a little more attention to what Damian's doing. You need to find something you and Damian can share."

"I should hang out with him today. I don't want him to think I don't care about him, but I also need to concentrate on finding a way to turn Tim back to normal."

"We won't worry about that right now. Get some sleep. You may want to let Tim know the kidnappers are taken care of. Have Jason take care of those knucles. He needs to feel useful as well. Last I checked, Tim and Jason were asleep in the library. If they aren't there, check Tim and Sammie's room."

"I will," Dick headed up the stairs to the library. He opened up the door and didn't see Jay and Tim in there. The blankets were still there. He headed to Sammie and Tim's room. They were laying on the bed. Dick didn't want to disturb them, so he headed to his room and went to lay down. The weight of the day took its toll, his muscles aching a bit. Dick flopped on the bed and was asleep in moments.

Continues with Part 20: The Shoe's on the Other Foot