"What?" The voice was deep, menacing. Not sounding exactly amenable to interruption at just that moment. Which, of course, suited its owner just fine, as he wasn't amenable to interruption at just that moment.
"Um…" for a second the voice on the other end was unrecognizable…being higher and slightly squeakier than anyone he would normally receive calls from on this line...but then the owner of that voice took a moment to clear his throat and Batman, upon recognizing his caller, succumbed to a brief spurt of strained irritation, manifested only by a slight tightening of the muscles surrounding his mouth. Even as this expression crossed his face he was running through his options, how to react appropriately with the least damage resulting.
"Where are you?"
"…" He hadn't really thought Robin would answer. After all, he'd gone through too much trouble to escape Gotham without Batman or anyone else's knowledge. And in truth it didn't really matter…Batman knew where he and Batgirl were…or at least where they had been quite recently…Oracle wasn't the only person in Gotham with access to programs monitoring the information highway for any trace of the "family." But Robin's actions would have to be dealt with…just…not now.
"Never mind."
"Uh, sure." Robin cleared his throat again and Batman heard a voice in the background…probably Batgirl…though he couldn't make out the words. And then Robin was all business again. "Batman, I need the information you gathered from Star Labs on the artifact Johnny Warren got away with. I remember you said it was a matter of national security…but what was it? Why was it so important, what did it do, etc…?" Batman grunted. He'd anticipated this…after realizing Warren was the likely suspect. He'd pulled up his notes on the artifact, but they hadn't provided much insight. Star Labs had known the artifact was rumored to convey powers on the owner, but no one knew what those powers were. There were a number of theories…but they were so varied as to be pretty much useless.
"I'll transmit my notes to your comm…" they came with the handy option of plugging into any type of computer to print out hard copies of evidence on the road… "but you probably won't get much out of them. Star Labs didn't know what they were dealing with." He tapped in the commands and sent the information to Robin.
"Thanks." Sensing he was about to cut the connection, Batman spoke up.
"Robin, do you and Batgirl need backup?" There was just enough hesitation on the other end for Batman to again get that prickly feeling that they were in over their heads before Robin responded.
"No. We can handle it on our own." There was an edge of defiance in his tone, but, while Batman didn't care for…didn't tolerate…insubordination in most forms, he couldn't help but admire Robin's single-minded determination. And Batgirl was there to make sure Robin didn't do anything too rash… he just hoped they knew what they were getting into.
"Fine."
"Robin out." Batman didn't bother to reply. He cut the connection and sat silently with his thoughts for a few minutes. He had been in the middle of writing his report on Scarecrow's rampage and subsequent re-incarceration in Arkham. Now…he glanced at the clock. He had a board meeting at eight a.m. tomorrow…it was already five-thirty. Best call it a night.
He changed out of his costume and into a robe, shutting down the cave except for the monitoring equipment and standby-protocols. It didn't take him long to travel up the stairs to the clock-library entrance. Later he would have to blame his preoccupation with Tim and Cassandra's welfare for his break in protocol , but at the moment he simply walked through the passage without checking the room for intruders. He made it about three steps into the room before registering that he was not alone. His momentum carried him another two before he was able to turn and face this unknown threat. And then, before he could prepare himself for attack….
Tim cursed. He couldn't help it…the conversation with Batman hadn't gone well. He'd thought himself beyond the point of being scared…no, not scared, his mind argued…perhaps intimidated? Anyway, whatever the proper term, he'd thought he was far far past that point. Yet having, if not in fact, at least in spirit, disobeyed Batman by running off by himself and cutting all communication with any of his agents, Tim found himself reduced to a squeaky-toned quivering mess at the prospect of opening those lines of communications back up again. Because he knew he deserved a set-down, a lecture, perhaps even harsher punishment…hopefully not to the extent of being banned from being Robin, but he wouldn't put it past Him…and he respected Batman far too much to argue with said punishment. Which had left him with the potential of being called back before finishing the mission…one of many reason's he'd hesitated to call.
But he had called, and Batman hadn't called him back. In fact, he hadn't said anything which led Tim to feel it was worse than he thought and Bruce was just waiting to rip into him in person.
"You get it?" Tim glanced back at Cassandra. He hadn't really wanted anyone listening in on his conversation, especially someone who could accurately gauge his reactions. But Cass had insisted and he'd long-since given up on fighting her on the little things. He figured he'd have to save his energy for if something big ever came up.
"Yeah. We need a computer, with a printer…preferably not one with a lot of public access." She nodded, but didn't say anything. What was there to say? She didn't know where to find a secure computer. "Maybe if we…"
"Hey R…uh…Tim!" They turned as Bart zipped into the room. "Conner's on his way, he said he'll stop by and collect Cassie…" he cocked his head and glanced at Cass. "Uh-oh, how are we going to tell them apart!" Tim sighed.
"I'm sure we'll figure something out. For example…I usually call Cass 'Cass' and Cassie goes by 'Cassie' and…am I really having to explain this?" he asked the air in front of him.
"Well sor-ry! It was just a question." Bart made a face at Tim's back, then turned to Cass. "Whst now?" Cass hesitated, glancing at Tim. His odd behavior had led Bart to look to her for leadership on this mission, something she wasn't sure Tim would understand. After all, it was his mission. He did stiffen a bit at Bart's apparent defection, but didn't say anything. Cass looked back at Bart.
"I don't know." Which was partly true. She knew they had to find a computer, but she didn't know what else Tim would want done, and she figured they better reestablish him as leader before the others showed up.
"Oh. Tim?" Bart turned hopeful eyes on him. Tim shot Cass a look that said he knew what she was doing, then a thoughtful light came into his eyes.
"You have a computer at home, Bart?" Bart gave him a disgusted look.
"Of course!"
"Good. Take this…" he handed him a chip out of his comm. "and plug it into your computer and print everything out. It'll have a window pop up to tell you what to do." Bart took the chip and glanced at it. "It plugs into the USB port and…"
"Okgotitberightback!" And he was gone.
"Well, that solves that problem." Cass nodded silently. The silence stretched into minutes as they waited for Bart's return, neither willing to break it. Cass found herself counting the rivets on the wall to pass the time even as Tim let out a few notes in a nervous whistle that he quickly cut off.
"Sorry." He shot he a sheepish grin and she opened her mouth, not entirely sure what she was going to say, only to be interrupted…again…by Bart's sudden entrance. Bart and two others…one with whom she was quite familiar…the other not so much.
"I got it!" Bart held up a thick stack of papers, skidding to a stop. Cass eyed the loose-leaf stack warily.
"You didn't…drop any…did…"
"Hey! Of course not!" His righteous indignation manifested itself in an irritated expression mixed with a touch of kicked-puppy-dog-ishness.
"Of course you didn't." Tim shot Cass a look…not exactly a glare, but a warning. Well how was she to know…he ran so fast, it wasn't out of the question. Her sulk didn't last long … Superboy, Conner…chose that moment, when Tim was busy calming Bart and retrieving his transmitter and data, to greet her.
"Uh…hey." Cass didn't have to have special body-language-reading abilities to recognize the other girl's tentative hostility towards her. So Conner was dating Wonder Girl? Interesting…
"Hey yourself." Her easy answer set him at ease…he was still intimidated by her. She thought she probably should be offended by that but instead only felt amused. He glanced back at Wonder Girl, making a "come here" motion. With one raised eyebrow indicating she was still reserving judgment, she joined him.
"Batgirl, Wonder Girl, Wondy, Batgirl." In typical male fashion he figured this meant his job was done and he left the two of them alone as he went to greet Tim and Bart. Deciding they didn't have time for hostilities, Cass stuck her hand out.
"Cassandra." Wondergirl blinked and looked, if possible, even more suspicious. Oh, duh. Cass grinned. Tim and Bart had mentioned "Cassie" when talking about calling in backup. Having recognized the girl with Conner as "Wonder Girl" she hadn't even made the connection that this was the Cassie they'd meant. "I mean, 'Hi. I'm Cassandra Cain. Nice to meet you. Call me Cass.'" Cassie gingerly took her hand and Cass shook it vigorously.
"Um. Hi. Weird. I mean, sorry. My name's Cassandra too. Cassandra Sandsmark. My friends call me Cassie." Apparently having decided that Cass wasn't an enemy, Cassie grinned.
"Oh, good. Come on, we're having a 'meeting'." Conner grinned at them and took Cassie's hand in an unconscious gesture. Cass allowed herself a brief wistful smile, then followed, thrilled when Tim fell in beside her.
"You ok?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Why?" She gave him a funny look.
"No reason. You just...I wasn't sure if you and Cassie were going to come to blows or something." She laughed.
"No. She was just…not sure about me and Conner." Tim tried to act nonchalant, but she could tell something about that statement was eating at him. "What?"
"Nothing." But he said it too quickly…covering up…Cass grinned.
"You're not sure either." He shot her an irritated glare as she burst out laughing.
"I…" She held up her hand for silence, still grinning. This whole mess had put a definite road block in her and Tim's relationship…one she hadn't been sure they'd get past. It was good to know that in the midst of all of it he was still jealous. She sobered suddenly. Jealous wasn't good. It might make her feel good for a minute, but it made him feel crappy. She reached a hand out and lay it on his shoulder.
"Tim. Sorry. There's…we're just friends. That's all. Cassie gets it, see?" She nodded towards the couple a few yards in front of them. Tim didn't answer, but his body relaxed…just a bit. There were still too many other problems occupying his mind for him to relax completely.
"Ok guys." They didn't have a conference table or enough chairs, but Bart had rounded up some old crates and Tim and Cass had drug the table he had been using to put the robot together into the room. Now they all sat, waiting for Tim to explain why, exactly, they'd been called in on a moment's notice and without the rest of the Titans included. But Tim's courage had failed him when he looked around at the expectant faces. They thought this was just another mission…how the hell was he supposed to tell them otherwise?
"What gives?" Conner sat forward, a frown creasing his brow as he took in Tim's sudden pallor.
"Tim?" Cassie, too, looked perplexed…and even Bart was eyeing him warily. Cass got a determined light in her eye and he felt a sharp pain in his calf. Shooting a glare at her, Tim managed to keep from wincing, but her kick had shaken him out of his stupor.
"Ok. Um… Right." The three team members not in the know exchanged worried glances. They didn't think they'd ever seen Tim this shaken up.
"Tim, really. What's going on? Are you ok? You're not acting like yourself…" this statement had the three of them wondering about imposters and they tensed accordingly. Cass sighed.
"Don't be stupid. It's Tim." They relaxed, but only slightly.
"Thanks, Cass. I think." He shook himself, then straightened…though his eyes didn't quite meet any of theirs. "To answer your question…I guess I'm not acting myself because I haven't exactly been feeling like myself for awhile. Three weeks ago…" he drew in a gulping breath, "…three weeks ago my dad was murdered." He tensed, awaiting the expected onslaught. He wasn't disappointed.
"What!"
"Oh, gods, are you ok?"
"What! When?How?Why?Howcomeyoudidn'ttellme?" Tim rubbed his forehead, waiting for their outbursts to subside. When the room grew silent again he risked a peek. Cassie and Bart were in a hushed conversation, but Conner was giving him a funny look. Tim sighed.
"What?" Conner shook his head.
"Wh…I mean, I can't believe you didn't call or something. I mean…" he broke off. Only Tim and he were currently aware of his own paternal issues. Tim had been there for him…he would have done anything to help Tim through this… "I mean…you shoulda called," he mumbled.
"You're probably right. But at the time I couldn't…I…" he thought for a second, trying to gather his thoughts. "It wasn't the first thing on my mind." His tone was lightly apologetic and Cassie elbowed Conner in the stomach.
"Of course it wasn't. I'm sure what Conner meant was that we would have been there for you if you needed us." Conner shot her an irritated look.
"That's what I said." She just shook her head mutely at him and he cast a pleading look at Tim…who couldn't quite keep his lips from twitching.
"Thanks. Really, I'm…I'm doing ok." Cass refrained from comment…a point she could tell he recognized and was grateful for. "But the reason I called you here today is…I need help catching his killer."
To be continued…
