Chapter Four: Forsaken

Tim turned hard, the heel of his foot flying up, slamming into the dummy that stood before him, causing it to fly back, almost touching the ground, but instead of falling, it flew right back up. The boy brought his knuckles into it, rolling them into the shape and gritting his teeth in anger.

"Timothy."

The boy ignored the voice behind him, remaining focused on the dummy before him.

"Timothy." This time the call was demanding.

"What?!?" He jerked around, eyes aflame. "You want to talk?! I find that hard to believe." He wiped away the sweat that dripped from his chin.

Bruce stood before him, shaking his head. "You might have listened to her."

"I might have, but I would much rather have never seen the poor bi-."

Bruce cleared his throat, shaking his head. "You think this will help?" He nodded towards the badly beaten dummy.

The boy eyed the figure, grinning, nodding vigorously. "Now that you mention it. it sure does. If I look at it from a certain angle it looks a lot like that woman. Nice to pretend that it is-," he leaped into the air, turning his legs out in an acute manner, snapping them at the dummy's neck, sending the head flying off. He landed on his feet and nodded, finishing his sentence, "her."

"Don't do that." The other figure warned. "Don't think it."

Tim shook his head. "You just don't get it, butt out and leave it to me to handle, all right. If I need you, I'll call and tell you that, otherwise stay outta' my business. I do the same for you."

"No, the Juvenile Courts said that they-."

"God Bruce, what does it take? I don't care what they say, what grim they do or don't have on that woman. I don't want to see her ever again. You have that. never. you wouldn't understand who she is, or what she has done." He blinked hard, trying to make sure he didn't get emotional. If there was one person not to get emotional with, Bruce was that person.

Bruce stood without movement, turning, and walking away.

Tim watched him go, and once he was sure the man was out of sight and hearing range, he fell to his knees and bawled. The sobs shook his figure, wishing for the impossible, wishing his dad might still be alive.

***************

"What are you doing here?"

Dick stepped away, not sure how to answer the question. "I came to, er, I mean, I wanted to talk with you Barb." His blue eyes were dark as he thought about what Tim had told him.

"About what?" She didn't mean to sound so harsh, but he deserved it. After all he did to her, after all the broken promises, after all the lost trust. "About what Grayson?"

"Well, um, about a lot of things. urg, can I come in?" He gave a small and faint smile.

"I." She looked over her shoulder at the apartment. "Drew is picking me up soon.I would rather he not get the wrong impression about you, if you follow what I mean." Her jaw was set in a stubborn manner. "I can call you later if this is important."

Dick tried to get something out to tell her what he came to say, but he didn't know how to say it. "I-I. er, well, yeah, I mean no, no. you don't need to call me, that is if you don't want to, because, um, it's not that important." He breathed deeply, trying to think straight.

Barbara raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh.is that a yes or no?"

"Um, no."

She nodded, slowly closing the door, nodding. "Well, maybe some other time when I am not so busy Grayson."

He nodded and turned away, not enjoying how she refereed to him as Grayson. 'Well Tim that went well I suppose.' He ducked into his car and started off, leaving the girl alone, for a date that wasn't ever going to come.

********* I know, I know, it's moving a little slow, but hey, you don't understand MR. Goodwin and High school, the two are killers!

-BatThing