Title: Short Walk

Rating: I'm going to go ahead and make this PG-13 now, so I don't have to go and change it later.

Disclaimer: All Batman-related characters belong to DC, the lucky dogs.

Explanation: I'm really an old friend of yours. I'm just writing under a new name now.

Esther-Channah: Astute of you... maybe. As I said, it was just to tie in the two stories, even though one is now gone from here. Hope you like this story better than that one.

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Chapter 1: In the Beginning...

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"A... a JOB?! ME?!"

Tim Drake fell back onto the couch, while his father glared at him.

"But... but why?!"

"Because I don't want you getting into any more trouble with that... that child-endangering MANIAC," Jack Drake replied.

"Bruce?! Aw, cummon, Dad! What the #! do you think I am?! I actually KEEP my promises... unlike some people I could mention but aren't going to!"

"Me?! ME?! You're the one that snuck around behind my back all this time! You're lucky I didn't have that NUT-JOB arrested! You're getting a job, and that's FINAL!" Jack stormed out of the room, and Tim just sat on the couch.

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"So... where are you working?" Steph Brown asked Tim several weeks later. Like Tim, she was a vigilante in training, although her mother had adopted a don't ask, don't tell attitude about what her daughter chose to do. She was also his girlfriend.

"I've got a job at a construction yard, hauling timber," Tim replied.

"No way!" Steph exclaimed. "I have to work at some dinky little convenience store! I wish I could work construction!"

"Yeah," Time laughed. "You wish you could. Face it, Steph, they're not going to hire a, no offense, girl."

"Why, you..." Steph growled playfully, and punched him in the arm.

"Ow!" Tim laughed.

"Before we're both indentured," Steph said slyly, "why don't we go out for one last little crime-bust?"

"Steph..." Tim said warningly.

"Aw, cummon," she continued quickly. "Just one last harmless little ride before you hang up the tights forever."

"Well..." Tim said.

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Tim knew he would probably regret not going out one last time, but intellectually, he also knew he had made the right choice.

Besides, this way, he had a chance of convincing his dad he could be trusted, and maybe talk him into letting Tim pick up the cape and cowl once more.

And Steph had understood his reasoning. That was the best part. Instead of going out to fight crime, they had engaged in an equally interesting pastime. For quite a while.

Fianlly, Steph had said goodnight, and left.

Tim waited up for his father.

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When Jack Drake got home from his party that night, he found Tim stretched out on the couch. His mouth was slightly open, and a small string of saliva moved up and down in the corner as he gently snored, peaefully oblivious to the world.

Jack smiled. Tim was a good kid, when it came right down to it. Maybe he wasn't so untrustworthy after all.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

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From the Author: Well, what do you think of the new, different version so far?