Tim sat dejectedly on his bed. Well, the bed in the room Alfred had told him was his for the time being. Apparently Dana had another room down the hall. Their whole apartment was a crime scene now and there was sure to be a million people crawling all over it. Tim sat up as a thought struck him…his secret compartment! What if…? No. He slumped back again. His dad had only found it because he knew the room had been larger when they moved in. Besides, Tim had cleared most of the incriminating items out when he had quit being Robin, especially the stupid journal which had given Bruce's identity away. They may find the suit, but no one else would be implicated.

He sighed and rolled over on his stomach, burying his face in his arm. This just couldn't be happening. He felt so…so…helpless. It sent a bitter twist through his stomach and he squeezed his eyes shut to ward off the feeling. He hadn't realized how terrifying it was…being helpless. He hadn't been that way since he was thirteen. Not in the worst situations had he felt so lost, adrift.

He propped his chin up on his hand and frowned. Alfred hadn't known where Cassandra had disappeared to…which just served to strengthen his suspicions that she knew something, or…or…well, something. He felt a little bit sick to his stomach as he recalled the way he'd fallen apart…especially up on the roof. But…it was his dad! He felt his chest constrict and shook the thought away. No time for that now. Focus on solving the case…that's it. He let his head drop again. Yeah…like this was just any old case with a nameless victim. Why? Whywhywhywhywhy? The word echoed in his head at superspeed.

"Tim?" He glanced up as Dana poked her head around the door. He grimaced, though he didn't mean to, and dropped his head back down. He didn't want to see her…he didn't want to see anybody. Except Cass…because he just knew she knew something. He knew Batman would have already started working and Nightwing apparently would be helping…or at least he'd try. And, no doubt, they'd both try to protect him…guard him…save him from himself or some other such nonsense. He looked up again, scowling. Dana was still standing in the doorway, kind of fidgeting. He smoothed out his expression, sighing a bit, then gave her a wan smile. He wouldn't blame her if she left again, he supposed he'd been a bit…preoccupied.

"Hey." She looked as if she wasn't sure whether to be relieved or upset that he was talking to her. He shrugged and sat up. She still hadn't said anything, so he cleared his throat and tried again. "Um…can I, uh, do something for you?"

"No. Actually, I was going to…I just…" Her face crumpled, though she quickly regained control…he got the impression she was trying to put on a good face for his sake…and he motioned for her to sit in one of the plush chairs near the window and he moved to the other.

"It…um…it's kindova shock, huh?" Well, that was articulate…and it expressed his feelings on the matter so well. Tim shook his head, wondering where the little sarcastic voice had come from. Was this how Two-Face had started? There was Joker's theory about Really Bad Days to consider. Tim fought the urge to giggle and decided he must be under too much stress. That was such an understatement that he actually did let out a tiny laugh, then glanced at Dana in horror.

"No…it's ok. I've…I think I've been feeling the same way all day." She gave a half-hearted little smile, and he slumped back into his chair, feeling drained again of all energy.

"I…I don't know what to do." It came out as a whisper but managed to convey all the helplessness and despair he was fighting deep inside. Dana looked a little surprised, then frowned at him.

"I don't think anyone knows what to do in a situation like this…but especially…I mean…you're just a kid, Tim. You're not supposed to do anything!" He just looked at her, with a kind of calm, patronizing air that sent chills down her spine. She'd send Robin in action, but never in this…intense, focused…dangerous mode, and she recognized for the first time how serious his job was…and how he'd managed to earn his place as partner to the greatest crime-fighter in the world.

A door closed somewhere in the house, shaking each out of his or her own reflections. Tim glanced at the door, obviously wanting…no, needing…to be elsewhere, doing something, as he had said. Dana sighed. She was still trying to come to grips with losing her husband…she didn't want to lose her son as well. But she knew holding him back would backfire, as it had when Jack had tried it, and she would lose him just as sure as if he had been killed fighting the crime and corruption that permeated the city.

"Listen, I…I'm sorry. I think I keep forgetting how much you've taken upon yourself…how much of an adult you've become. If there's something you can do, then I won't try to stop you. I know how frustrating it is…I…" she broke off again, feeling tears welling up. Tim reached out and patted her arm somewhat awkwardly. She hesitated, then pulled him into a tight hug. He resisted at first, but only for a moment, returning her embrace with a tense fervor. He pulled away first, and she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I…" She shook her head, cutting him off.

"Go on. Do what you need to do." She nodded at the door and he was out of his chair and almost out the door before she had finished her statement. He paused though, and turned back with a small smile.

"Thanks." Then he was gone.


"Will there be anything else, Master Bruce?"

"No, Alfred." There was a slight pause, then, "thank you." Alfred shook his head. It wasn't often that Bruce acknowledged all that he did for him and his "cause" each day, but he knew it was always implied. Unfortunately it usually seemed to be times of crisis that reminded him. Alfred watched him now, dressed in one of his "Bruce Wayne, CEO" suits, trying to affect that half-serious, half-carefree air that was his trademark, and failing miserably. Alfred knew that it was important, at least to Bruce, that he go about his daily activities as if nothing had changed…he thought it would help distance him from Batman in the sight of others.

Personally, Alfred thought it more likely to simply cause more pain for everyone involved. Besides, Bruce Wayne had known Jack Drake…they used to be neighbors after all… and word would have gotten out already that he had taken Dana and Tim into his house and under his protection…at least as far as legal matters were concerned. No one would think to link the case to Batman or Robin or any other nighttime activities. So he could very well just take the day off, be there for Timothy… after all, who better to share one's pain than someone who'd experienced the same? But his arguments had fallen on deaf ears, and he knew he was going to have to deal with the fallout on his own.

Master Richard wasn't doing much better. Alfred snuck a peek at where the younger man, having changed from his Nightwing uniform, sat at the computer, moodily typing in various commands, but not really concentrating on their outcomes. Alfred sighed, supposing they had had words again. He turned towards the costume vault, intending to straighten up when a commotion at the entrance from the Manor caught his attention. Cassandra, looking very much the worse for wear, burst through the secret door, nearly smacking Bruce in the process.

"Oops." She muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath and then the suit, tie, and posture sank in and she deflated. "You're leaving?"With a disgruntled frown Bruce stood back as if to let her pass.

"Yes. I have some important business…"
"But this is important!" Her outburst drew the attention of both Alfred and Dick, and she grimaced and heaved a sigh. "Sorry." She mumbled, more to prolong the coming confrontation than from any real contrition. Bruce studied her for a moment, glanced at Dick, then Alfred, and sighed.

"Look's like I'm outnumbered." She glanced up, but he was more resigned than angry, and she felt a bit of relief that at least she wouldn't be upbraided for this little upset. No, any unpleasantness would be saved for her upcoming confession. She harshly told her inner voice to shut up, but couldn't help a bit of a shiver. Barbara had taken her in, but Batman had given her a purpose…and a family. She wasn't ready to lose all that.
"Alfred, call the office." Bruce's voice broke through her thoughts. "Tell them I won't be in today. I have some….personal business to attend to." Alfred nodded, not quite hiding his pleasure at Bruce's announcement.

"Very good, sir." He made his way towards the manor and Cass felt a momentary pang of loss…feeling that he may have been her only ally in the coming confrontation. She watched him until he disappeared, then turned back to find both Bruce and Dick staring at her intently. She flushed, noting that both men were well aware of her strange behavior and were already suspicious. That wouldn't help her. She pushed the thought away, knowing she didn't deserve any leniency.

"Ummmm…." She glanced around, seeking a way to postpone some more, but the looks she received from Dick and especially Bruce made her abandon that quest very quickly.

"You had something you wanted to share with us?" She flicked a glance at Dick, unsure if she really wanted more of an audience, but from Bruce's tone, she wasn't going to have a choice. She sighed and slumped her shoulders.

"Why don't we all sit down and you can just…" Dick broke off at a glare from Bruce, but he shrugged it off and held out a chair anyway. Cass threw him a grateful glance, and moved past Bruce to take the proffered seat. Bruce stood solid for a moment, as if sitting down would be some kind of surrender, but something seemed to make him reconsider, as he took his place in the large chair in front of the computer. Cass had a wild thought that he looked like some kind of evil ruler on his throne, but squashed it. That kind of thinking would not help her here. She closed her eyes, bringing all her thoughts and words under control. She didn't want to stutter and lose her train of thought.

"Ok. Well…"
"Now this is interesting. Are we having a party? Or just plotting out the plan without me?" The angry voice echoed through the cave, coming from the stairs leading from the Manor. Cass felt her insides turn to ice, while some detached part of her noted that she wasn't the only one reacting with fear to Tim's arrival. Now that was what was really interesting. She caught a glance between Bruce and Dick in which they seemed to have an entire argument without a single word…one which it appeared Dick lost. He cleared his throat.

"Um, hey, Tim." Tim walked down the stairs and into the light, and Cass flinched at the barely concealed rage bubbling just beneath the surface. "We were just…"

"I know what you 'were just'…. I'm not being left out on this one! You can't just…"

"Sit down, Tim." It was Batman's voice, and it effectively silenced the young man's outburst. He glared for a minute, sparing an especially long, hard look at Cassandra, but he sat without further comment. "We weren't leaving you out." Tim stiffened, but remained silent, so Bruce continued. "You were pretty…shaken up last night. You weren't in any condition to do anything." Tim hung his head a bit, acknowledging the fact of this statement.

"I know…but…"
"But nothing. If you are truly able to function up to normal standards now, then you are more than welcome to assist." He glanced at Dick, who shrugged. "I think it's fair to say that we all know, to some extent, what you're feeling, and we won't keep you from helping to extract…justice. But not vengeance, Tim." He leveled a stern, forbidding glare at the young man. "If I feel you're getting too… involved, too emotional, I will pull you off the case, and I will not hesitate to use whatever methods necessary to ensure you do not cross the line." Tim stiffened, an angry retort forming, but a discreet shake of the head from Dick caught his eye and he remained silent. Bruce did have a point…they had all lost parents to vicious criminals…except Cass… and no matter how much it hurt, they hadn't crossed the line. Tim frowned…well, he didn't think they had. No one had ever brought the subject up.

"Fine." His agreement was short, terse, but Bruce apparently took him at his word, as he nodded briefly and turned back to where Cass sat, unnaturally pale. A raised eyebrow from Bruce caused her to take a rather shaky breath.

"Well, I…I know who did it." She kept her eyes turned deliberately away from Tim, but she could hear his swift intake of breath in surprise at her statement. Dick also looked stunned, but Bruce simply nodded at her to continue. "It was…" she paused, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for their reactions. "It was Cain."

She almost closed her eyes, fearing what she may see in their faces, but she controlled herself. To her surprise, they didn't seem overly hostile towards her…instead each was silently pondering her announcement. Bruce caught her gaze and raised a cynical eyebrow and she ducked her head at the silent challenge. He knew what she'd been thinking, that they'd blame her, and she could tell he wasn't too happy with her for the conclusions she'd drawn.

"But…but why?" All eyes turned towards Tim, but he was focusing on Cassandra. She dropped her gaze, fidgeting nervously.

"One might ask how, but I'm assuming we all know he's capable of breaking out of Blackgate… and back in, I suppose?" Cass nodded, grateful for Dick's intervening question. "A rather air-tight alibi," he growled.

"Cassandra?" Bruce didn't have to clarify…he wanted the details…all of them. She sighed.
"I…I'm not completely sure why…but he did say someone is paying a lot for…um…information about, and anything that may bring harm to, Robin." Tim paled, and Cass felt sick to her stomach…he hadn't even thought it could be his fault yet. Maybe he'd felt guilty about not being there…but now… to be the direct cause…she knew how he felt. "He wouldn't say who…I…I don't think he even knows."

"That would explain the shooting."

"And that gang we ran into." Tim nodded numbly, not entirely conscious of the continuing conversation. Bruce shot him a look, but decided against trying to send him away. He turned back to Cass.

"If he's being paid, then he knows who's behind it. Cain's too smart to work uninformed." Cass shook her head miserably.

"He isn't getting paid. He…did it because of me."


To be continued…