Oh and many thought this story was over with the last part. Nope, there is still a little romance to happen. I couldn't leave the two of them alone completely sure of their feelings now could I?!

Here is the epilogue to 'Partnership'. I hope you enjoy! Further notes at the end.

~*~

In fact, Batman and Nightwing had both come to find the teens sitting, looking slightly beat, but no worse from wear. As a matter of fact, Tim was the only one who looked at all like he had done any fighting; Cass looked as if she was ready for a night on the town. Dick, of course, pointed this out before even saying hello and received a fierce scowl from the young Robin. Batman however simply looked around the room and then right back at the pair.

Tim rose to his feet hoping to be able to explain things before Bruce gave him The Look. With a deep breath, he began. "There are five guys in the hall unconscious from the Canary Call and further down there's one body in the hall that OD'ed and we weren't able to help him. Up in the rafters are, I think, five more of Two-Face's goons that Cass knocked out and behind us are about twelve Jackals. Two-Face," At this point Tim pointed to the tied up villain, "is right there resting peacefully." The young man stopped speaking and only crossed his arms waiting for either of his elders to say something.

It had stated simply like such incidents happened everyday that Dick, who was moving towards the bodies turned to face the two younger members of the Family. "So, did you happen to actually solve this case too or just kick some bad-guy ass?"

Batman said nothing.

Tim sighed knowing fully well what that silence meant, but went ahead and answered Dick's question. "Two-Face was the supplier for the drugs. He gave the drugs to the main five Jackals, Kyle, Josh, Amber, Nick and Krista, every week. They would pay him twenty-five percent of what they made off of the drugs and Two-Face would then continue to give them the drugs. His plan, that we figured out, was to keep the ring growing larger and larger until he was satisfied and then give the gang a batch of bad drugs." Tim hit the crate he and Batgirl were still sitting on. "This was the batch. We don't know what it's laced with, but the kid who died shoot up with it so you can figure it out from that." The young man paused and looked at Batman. Seeing that Bruce would say nothing, he continued. "Two-Face's plan was to allow all the Jackals and their buyers to use the bad drugs and die. The city would find these kids dead in the next couple of days. A few more days later Two-Face would take credit.

"Uh, you should probably know that what I just told you is all speculation, too. Two-Face never actually told us any of this, I just, uh, kinda put it together." The young man sighed. "If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but, uh, it all made sense."

Batman nodded. "I'll talk to Two-Face." That was all he said, but Tim knew he would find out what was the plan. The psycho would probably be more than willingly to talk once he realized his plan had failed. Or, even if he wasn't, Tim realized it didn't really matter if that was Two-Face's plan or not. The fact was that the Jackals were no over.

They had completed their mission.

Three hours later, Cass and Tim sat in the basement of the Wayne Manor dressed in jeans and t-shirts. Tim no longer wore a cap and Cass no longer had her hair curled in any way and both were much happier because of it.

The duo, well mainly Tim, had spent the last three hours informing Batman of everything that had occurred while undercover. They told him about the first meeting, how they got involved with the Jackals' shipment and why they went to the warehouse.

Tim was more than certain they there would be a majoring chewing out for the fact that they had gone to the warehouse and done just what Bruce hadn't wanted them to do. It was a clear breech of the orders they had been given and they were, in all actuality, lucky to still have their lives. It was only a matter of time, Tim kept telling himself so that he was not too excited or self-satisfied with what he and Cass had done. It was easier to accept that fact that they were in error if he wasn't proud.

Finally assured that the teens had told him everything, Batman leveled his gaze on them.

"You two disobeyed my direct order not to do any heroics," Tim cringed, "And risked not only your lives, but the lives of those other kids." Bruce allowed the rebuke to sink in. "Not only that but you did all this without being certain of Two-Face's actions"

Tim looked at Cass with a pained expression. Here it comes…he thought.

"However, I do have to take into consideration that things worked out and the Jackals are ended." Both teens released a sigh of relief. "But," Bruce warned, "For the next two week you both will have to learn how to follow orders so be at the Cave tomorrow night at nine."

Tim nearly groaned, not wanting to think about what this training exercise would entitle. Cass also looked a bit disgusted and terribly unexcited at the prospect of having to learn anything from Bruce.

Batman turned and walked towards the Batmobile (there were still two hours of patrol left!). Just before he got in, however, he turned back to the two youngest Batfamily members. "You both did do well." And that was all he said before getting into his car and driving away into the night.

The young man felt his mouth go dry as he watched the car speed away. Had Bruce just complemented them?! Tim broke out of his stupor with a well-aimed punch to the arm. He looked over to see the smiling face of Cassandra.

"Told you!" She exclaimed proudly.

Tim rolled his eyes.

"Told you!" She cried again with no less vigor.

The young man stood and began to walk away from her while she followed behind him repeating 'told you, told you' again and again. He finally stopped and faced her.

"Okay, okay. You were right." He conceded and then offered a shy thank you to her.

Tim outstretched his hand. "Uh," he said awkwardly suddenly feeling nervous for some reason, "good job."

Cassandra looked down at his hand and then lunged at him grabbing him in a hug. "We good partners."

"Yeah. I guess we were."

The young girl pulled Tim slightly out of the hug and then placed a kiss to his lips. The kiss was quick, sweet and Tim felt a sigh of contentment rise in his throat before he knew what was happening. He stopped the sound just as the young girl moved out of the contact. He looked at her and she just shrugged.

"Babs tell me about her first kiss with Dick." Cass stepped away from Tim and said, "Repeating history." She smiled brightly to the young man. "Stupid boy." She observed before turning and walking away from him and into the darkness of the Cave. Tim stood there slightly stunned before a smile crossed his face. He ran a hand through his hair and then turned and headed up the stairs to the Manor.

He silently wondered when the next time he'd have a chance to work with Cassandra would be.

He hoped soon.

THE END!

Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this story. I am sorry that the posts took so long to come out and the wait was for months on end at certain times. I do hope you enjoyed this tale for I enjoyed writing and exploring Tim and Cass to no end. They certainly are fun characters to write for! Thank you again and I still would love FB. ^_^

Susie