A/N: While Dick is attending to his annual trip to the circus, Tim disobeys and follows him, getting into major trouble on two fronts. Dick later realizes by revealing Tim as his biological brother, he has placed him in grave danger from a source they have dealt with before. Will Dick be the last Flying Grayson, again?

A Circus Boy Returns Home

Part 1: Irrational Fear

"You did what?"

"I sent Tim on a mission to retrieve a witness."

"You could have sent me, or Jason, or Dami.

"Dick, calm down. It was an easy alignment."

"An easy assignment!? You call that easy? If it hadn't been for Tanner, Tim and that witness could have been killed."

"He wasn't and he sent for backup," Bruce pointed out. "And right now, you are being irrational, and unreasonable."

"Unreasonable!? I benched him for a reason, I'm his guardian."

"And I'm his father," Bruce argued.

"Oh, now you want to argue custody," Dick frowned. "The court gave me custody. It was your suggestion that I take custody so Devlin wouldn't take custody because his adoption papers were destroyed. Are you saying you want to take custody back from me?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Dick."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm saying you're being overprotective."

"Like hell," Dick swore.

"Dick, he's not your only family now. You've got Haley, and I needed Tim on that assignment. I wanted you to spend that time with your new daughter, not going after a witness for the prosecution of a very high-powered case. As things stand, you said you were heading to the circus. You don't think Barbara and Haley won't want to join you?"

"You know I do this every year on my own," Dick countered. "Besides, Babs and Haley need the time to bond more."

"Dick, is something going on that you're not telling me?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

Bruce sighed. He couldn't force Dick into talking any more than Dick could force him. He knew Dick needed to work things out for himself, until he was ready to talk about what was bothering him. "All right, but take it easy on Tim. The job he did for me was necessary."

Dick didn't answer Bruce. He couldn't ignore the feeling in his gut that he needed to keep Tim safe. Penalizing Tim may have been excessive, but if it kept him safe, he would do it, again. There would be another time to take Tim to the circus. He could even make a special trip, just not right now. And right now, he couldn't get it out of his head that Babs hated their daughter, that she regretted getting pregnant. Maybe if Haley and Babs spent that time together, Babs might change her mind. He would go for just a week, and then when he came back, just maybe things would be different between them. Dick went up to pack his bag.

"So, you're leaving," Babs said.

"Only for a week," Dick said. "I'll be back."

"Your daughter is going to miss you."

"Our daughter," Dick corrected her. "Why don't you and Haley stay with your father. It will give him a chance to play Grandpa for a change."

"My Dad's too busy for that," Babs said, giving an excuse that didn't hold any water.

"I think you will be surprised."

"You think you know my Dad better than me?" Babs said.

"That's not what I was saying."

Dick packed a few more things, trying to avoid an argument. Dick also had another motive in asking Babs to spend time with her father. She wouldn't be cooped up in that clock tower, which wasn't baby proofed to begin with. And there was also the less likely chance that Haley might be ignored. He didn't want to think that Babs might neglect their little girl, but something was deeply troubling Babs, and maybe if she spent time with her father, Babs might open up to him. And at least Haley would have one family member who will pay her some attention. And Babs and Haley could always return to the Manor.

Dick turned back. "Babs . . . "

"Just go," Barbara commanded. "We'll be fine, but you do know if something does happen . . . "

"I know," Dick shouldered his backpack. "You know where to find me."

Dick left their bedroom and headed downstairs and to the garage. He grabbed a set of keys then stored his backpack in the trunk of his car. He opened the garage door the sped out of the garage and down the road. Dick wasn't even aware that someone was watching him as he left.

Continues with part 2