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?
Chapter 21: Awkward Moments
Tim's small body felt warm all over, but at the same time he was sore from trying to fight the kidnappers. He was still bruised despite Samantha having healed his broken ribs and lungs. His bruises were tender and with Jason holding him they started to hurt every time Tim tried to move. Tim whimpered. The bruising must have reached their worst. It was a little hard to breath.
Jason opened his eyes and heard Tim whimper in pain. "Hey buddy. Are your bruises hurting?"
"Yeah," Tim squeeked out a response.
"Let's go see if Samantha's awake," Jason said. "I'm sure she'll heal you completely, now." Jason got up off the bed with Tim in his arms.
"Uh Huh." Tim had tears in his eyes. He hadn't hurt so much in his life. Though he hadn't been hurt like this when he had been kidnapped when he was a child. He never mentioned that to anyone. It was at the end of his first school year, during a picnic with his class. His parents were out of town and someone stuck him on a shelf on a shear cliff. Not to mention it had rained. Tim remembered that day vividly. He started shaking then he whimpered again.
"It's all right, Buddy."
Jason walked out of Tim's room and into the nursery. He saw Samantha was holding Caleb. She was talking to him in Haitian. He didn't know that Samantha knew any other languages. "Sam, Tim's in pain."
"Oh good!" Samantha said, as Jason entered. She didn't hear Jason's statement at first. "Just the person I wanted to see!" Samantha was encouraging Caleb to look at Tim, again and see, even though he was small, Tim was still his father.
"Samantha, can you heal him first?" Jason questioned. "He's still in pain. He still has a lot of bruising."
Samantha nodded and placed Caleb in the crib. Jason sat Tim on the floor and Tim walked over to her gingerly. Samantha pulled Tim onto her lap and she started to heal him. She wrapped her arms around Tim, missing his older self.
Tim whimpered and sniffed a tear away. Even he was missing being in Samantha's arms. It hurt that he was too small to hold her. It also hurt that his son Caleb didn't recognize him.
Samantha healed Tim in silence even though it hurt hearing him in pain. His ribs were still hurting and so were the bruises. She healed his body and then his ribs, making the soreness go away. Once done, Samantha handed Tim back to Jason and grabbed Caleb. This time Samantha sat. on the floor. "Why don't you sit with us on the floor," Samantha encouraged. "I want to try something."
"Sure." Jason followed Samantha and sat on the floor with Tim sitting in his lap. "Look Caleb, it's Daddy. He's sitting right here with us."
Tim tried to send his aura out to his son, trying to reassure him that he was still Caleb, but Caleb just stared and frowned at him. 'I must not have the energy to reach that far.'
Caleb looked at the person sitting in Uncle Jason's lap. Caleb wanted to cry, but something told me to calm. 'Uncle Jason says he's my Daddy,' Caleb thought to himself. Caleb frowned at first. He could sense something coming off of him. Caleb took the cue. He looked at the person's aura. 'It's like Caine's but the only person that has that aura is . . . Daddy?'
Tim watched as Caleb's face changed from a frown to recognition!? 'He's meeting me half-way, giving me a chance this time,' Tim realized. "Caleb. It's Daddy. I . . I had kind of an accident."
You're so tiny Caleb said in Tim's mind. You'll change back? You'll change back, right?
"I hope so. Your uncles and granddad have to find a way. The device that did this only worked one way." Tim didn't want to lie to his son or give him too much hope where he would be disappointed. He wanted to let him know it was going to take time to find a solution.
Caleb started to whimper.
"Come here," Tim reached out with his arms open.
Samantha put Caleb down and she watched with awed anticipation as Caleb crawled over to his Daddy. Samantha placed her hands to her mouth and tears of joy came to her eyes as she saw Caleb try to climb into Uncle Jay's lap with Tim. Jason shifted Tim so he was sitting on one thigh. Caleb hooked his hands into his Daddy's shirt.
Tim tried to lift Caleb, but he was too heavy. "Let me sit on the floor."
Jason placed Tim on the floor and then he sat Caleb on the floor as well. Tim spread his legs apart so Caleb could crawl into them. Tim tried pulling Caleb into his lap and ended up falling backwards onto his back with Caleb on top of him.
Jason and Samantha couldn't help laughing at the comicalness of the situation. Jason had to pull out his phone and take a picture. 'Golden boy would never forgive me if I didn't get a picture of a pint-sized Timmy and his giant baby.'
Caleb laughed when his Daddy fell over with him on top of him.
Tim started laughing, too. He was glad Caleb finally recognized him. He started to explore Tim's face.
Daddy's face chubby. Caleb leaned over and placed his mouth on his Daddy's cheek, giving him a kiss.
That kiss was what broke the damn for Tim. He started to cry. "I missed you, Caleb."
I'm sorry I didn't recognize you.
"That's okay. I wouldn't recognize me either." Tim's stomach gave out a growl. He could feel Caleb's stomach growl. "I guess we're both hungry. Caleb wants food."
"Why don't we all go down to breakfast," Jason said. "I'll go grab my kids."
"We'll meet you in the kitchen." Samantha grabbed Caleb from Tim. At first, Tim didn't want to let go of Caleb. Caine was still asleep so the three of them heaed to the kitchen. Samantha had breakfast earlier, but she was in the mood for some more fruit. When they reached the kitchen, Samantha placed Caleb in the highchair and went to the fridge. "Al, you went and picked more?"
"Those strawberries are courtesy of Master Damian and Miss Jaylyn. They picked them together."
"Jaylyn?" Jason questioned as he came in with Jaxon. "She went and picked strawberries?"
"Master Damian spent part of the morning with Miss Jaylyn. Master Damian is introducing Titus to her.
Jason placed Jaxon in a highchair and then picked up Tim.
"Um . . Jay . . . I don't need to be put in a highchair," Tim said.
"Sorry Tim . . . habit," Jason shrugged shyly. "At least you can reach the island countertop, sort of. Maybe you should be in one." Jason picked up Tim and placed him in one of the highchairs after he placed Jaxon in one. He adjusted it so Tim could sit up against the island counter. "There, I bet that's better."
Tim frowned and crossed his arms.
It was then that Jason looked out the kitchen window to see that Damian had his dog and his daughter playing out in the garden. She looked really happy to be outside with her Uncle.
Samantha can still sense Damian's aura. 'He's still upset, but better than yesterday. I think i can thank Jaylyn for that.' She started cutting up strawberries to add them to some hot cereal. 'So, Caleb, what would you like to try today? Strawberries or pineapple?"
Pineapple.
Tim noticed that Jason seemed to be distracted. He gave Tim a bowl of cut up fruit and children's hot cereal. Then Jason started to try to feed Tim with it just as Dick walked in. " . . . . Jay . . . I'm not Jaxon . . ." Tim pushed the spoon away. Touching his hand, Tim became aware of Jason's thoughts. It's got to be the full moon tonight. He's thinking of Sasha. Tim started blushing. 'That's too much information and somewhat explicit.' Tim pushed the spoon away again. "Jason!"
"Oh, Timmy, I'm sorry." Jason took the bowl and spoon away from Tim and started feeding Jaxon after he started fussing.
"And what are you staring at?" Tim glared at Dick. It was embarrassing enough that he was sitting in a highchair, though he had to admit, he could sit up to the table.
Dick was a little surprised at that. He turned away and grabbed something to eat from the fridge, since he hadn't eaten anything earlier.
"Timmy," Jason said. "That wasn't nice."
"I may look four, but I can feed myself. Alfred, could you please give me some eggs and sausage."
"Not until you finish your fruit, young man."
'Oh brother, now Alfred was getting into the act.' Tim noticed Dick after that. He had a sad wistful look in his face, and he suddenly felt bad for snapping at him. He was going to say something when Dick left the kitchen.
'I'm going to go see my daughter,' Dick thought. 'Maybe she'll want me around.'
Continues with Part 22: Negotiations and a Temper Tantrum