Chapter 8: My Protector, My Hero, My Brother

Jason's POV

Today was Saturday. In other words, no school! But more importantly it meant Dick was going to spend the entire day with me. Honestly, I was kinda excited. But there was no way I'd ever tell him that. Dick was probably the only one in my entire family that would eat fast food; more importantly chilidogs. Alfred never made them or allowed them. Tim, Damian and Bruce wouldn't even try one. Sometimes he was the only person who I'd get to do regular stuff with. I mean we could go play paintball. We could pick up girls. Plus we could go and see a rated R movie. Or we could go-

"Jay, you ready?" Dick yelled from downstairs.

"Whatever." I answered while trying not to sound excited.

********Break********

We decided to grab dinner before heading home.

"Where do you want to eat?" Dick asked.

"I don't care." Please say chilidogs, please say chilidogs, I silently begged.

"Do you wanna get a chilidog or something?"

"Whatever." He knew me too well.

He was driving to my favorite hotdog stand in Gotham. I hadn't eaten there in forever, mainly because it was in a bad section of town; well it was in Crime Alley. It was only 6:30 so they were busy. We couldn't find a spot, so we had to park two blocks away. We got out of the car and walked towards the Heavenly food. About a couple of minutes later we were pulled into an alley by two guys and our backs were shoved against the wall. Both drew guns from their coat pockets and pointed them directly at us. Great we were about to get mugged.

One of them kept staring at us. He was about 5'9, medium build, bald, wore glasses, and he had shifty eyes. His eyebrow suddenly lifted and he turned and whispered something in his partner's ear. His friend was 6'3, had a ponytail, and looked like a freaking mountain. He was bigger than me. Ponytail then nodded at Baldy.

"You're coming with us!" Baldy threatened.

I gazed at Dick. We could take these guys. But he shook his head slightly at me.

Choosing to ignore his warning, I took a step towards the gun waving bastard. "And if we don't?" I growled.

He cocked his gun. "We only need one of you."

Dick stepped in front of me, "It doesn't need to come to that. Just let him go, you can have me."

Dammit Dick! You completely just ruined my scene by playing hero!

His glare told me to keep my mouth shut.

Baldy said, "That's not possible. He's seen too much. We can't let him go. Now both of you move!"

We were made to walk down the alley towards a black van.

"What? You're not going to offer me free candy?" I mockingly said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, Ponytail whipped his pistol across my face. I could taste blood. My right cheek had a deep gash; I could taste the blood flowing from bleeding gums and lips. I was then thrown roughly to the floor of the van.

Dick's POV

I was enraged. I couldn't do anything to help my younger brother. The smaller one held a gun to my head smiling, while the other dealt with Jason. The larger man reached for a role of duck-tape and began to tape Jason's hands together behind his back, his ankles were then taped together, and finally a large piece was slapped over his bleeding mouth. Jason was then blindfolded.

I had the sudden urge to break every bone in the bastard's body. Two or three times. He was going to pay. They both would pay.

Jason's POV

Shit, that freaking hurt! I felt something fall next to me. Dick. Of course, I mean he probably got kidnapped more than me, Tim, and Damian put together. I heard the doors slam shut and Baldy and Ponytail get in the front.

"Do you know how much these kids are worth!" Baldy shouted excitedly.

Kids? We are adults!

"Bruce freaking Wayne would pay anything to get them back! Anything! Burt, we'll be rolling in money! We could have anything we ever wanted!" Baldy shouted excitedly.

"But Ronnie, they'll be able to identify us."

"Then we get rid of them once Daddy pays."

********Break********

Dick's POV

We had been driving for what felt like hours, when the van jerked to a stop. The door opened and the tape binding my feet together was peeled off. I was yanked to my feet and a gun was pressed into my back.

"Move!" the voice ordered.

I walked a few feet then was ordered to stop. My abductor reached up and knocked on a door. I heard footsteps and the door creaked open.

"Ronnie, what in the hell happened? I thought you two were going to get food."

"Joe, these are two of Bruce Wayne's brats. They're worth more than we've ever stolen. Wayne would pay anything to get them back."

The one named Joe apparently took some time to think it over. "Put them in the basement."

Okay, this place has a basement. I'm guessing we were in a house. But where are we?

Jay and I were forced to walk into the house and down some steps. We were thrown to the floor and the tape was reapplied to our ankles.

I then heard a phone being dialed.

Bruce's POV

"Hello."

"Good evening Mr. Wayne. Tell me something, how much would you be willing to pay for the lives of your sons?"

My heart sank. Dick, Jason. They should have been back hours ago.

My voice was deadly and icy, "If you've hurt them, I'll-"

The voice interrupted, "They're alive. But they won't be for long if my demands aren't met."

"What do you want?" I asked coldly.

"Money. Bring 150 million dollars to the docks. Come alone and no police. You have three hours."

"I want to talk to them!" I shouted into the phone.

The phone disconnected. They had hung up.

Jason's POV

Damn it! Why does shit like this keep happening to us? It's not fair! Tim and Damian never get kidnapped. I mean-

Whoa! Something pressed against my back. I felt two fingers slide into the back pocket of my jeans. Dammit Dick! How in the hell did he know I kept a knife there? Never mind it is Goldenboy I'm talking about. I swear he knows me better than I know myself!

Okay this is creepy. Dick is literally feeling up my ass. Would he get the freaking knife already!

A couple of minutes later, the blindfold was removed from my eyes. Dick was staring at me with concern as he gently pulled the tape from my mouth.

"You okay, Littlewing?" he asked as he began to remove the rest of the tape.

"Don't call me that!" I snapped.

"Let me look at your face."

I smacked his hand away.

"Jay, I'm only trying to help you." He fixed me with one of his 'everything's gonna be okay' looks.

"Stop trying to baby me! I'm not ten anymore! I don't need your help! And I don't need you!" I said harshly.

He looked a little hurt. "I know." He then turned from me.

I know? I know! That was all he was gonna say? What the hell?

"Jay, we need to get out of here."

We were in a dark basement. It was completely empty. No windows. The only door led back upstairs to our kidnappers.

I snorted. "And how are we going to do that?"

********Break********

Dick's POV

We were pressed up against the wall on opposite sides. I heard the door that lead back upstairs being unlocked.

"Alright boys, it's been two hours and Daddy hasn't paid yet. Let's see if we can try to convince him." Ronnie said.

As he descended the stairs, I kicked Ronnie's legs out from underneath him and Jay landed a blow behind his head, hopefully knocking him unconscious. We leapt over him and dashed upstairs and out the front door. We were in some kind of vacant cabin, miles away from Gotham.

This isn't good. No cell phone, no car, miles away from anything. We were screwed.

"What in the hell are we going to do now!" Jason yelled.

As I was about to respond I heard footsteps coming fast.

"Run!" I screamed.

Before we could do anything, Burt came out of nowhere and pinned my arms behind me. Of course he shows up now.

Jason's POV

I turned around to find a new face racing towards us. This must be that asshole Joe. He looked pissed. I turned back to face Dick. Ponytail had come out of nowhere had Dick in his grip. Damn!

Asshole had his gun pointed directly at my heart. "You're worth more trouble than money."

I closed my eyes. I heard the shot; but instead of a bullet hitting me, Dick had tackled me to the ground. Ponytail and Asshole were lying on the ground. They were out cold. How in the hell did Dick do that?

I felt something wet and sticky on torso. Dick. Crimson was freely flowing from his chest onto mine.

"Dickie?" I whispered, while taking off my T-shirt and pressing it into his wound.

He looked pale, yet he gave me his 'everything's gonna be okay' look. "Jay, you're bleeding." He choked out.

"It's from you stupid... Why…. Why did you have to do that?"

"I don't care how old you are, how big you get, or whether you need me or not, you're my little brother, Jay, it's my job to protect you. Because I love you, Littlewing."

Tears were rolling down my face. Dick was 5'11. I was 6'2. I was eighteen years old; I could take care of myself. I was bigger and stronger than he was, but none of that mattered.

He would always see me as his ten year old baby brother; the one who used to follow him around carrying a teddy bear, the one who used to look up to him, and the one who'd always thought he'd need his big brother.

And he was right. I needed him. I needed my big brother. I needed the older boy; the one who would hug me and hold me, the one who would let me sleep in his bed when I was afraid, the one who would help me with my homework, the one who would tell me that he loved me even if I screwed up, the one who would make me watch every single Disney movie, the one who would get me out of trouble. I wanted him to wrap his arms around me and tell me everything was going to be okay. I needed my protector, my hero, my big brother.

"Jay, everything's going to be okay, besides Timmy and Dami need you." He whispered.

"They need you too! I need you too, okay! Stop acting like you're on your freaking deathbed! When we get home, you'd better buy me a new shirt… and a chilidog!" I yelled before he blacked out.

I whispered, "Please, I need you Big Bird! I love you too."

"Isn't that touching?" Baldy mocked while stepping forward. He had his gun drawn.

I glared at him.

A Batarang came out of nowhere and knocked the gun to the ground! It was followed by Batman, who happened to land on top of Baldy, knocking him out.

Bruce's POV

I turned to face a distressed Jason. He had tears streaming down his bloody and bruised face. He was cradling Dick.

"Daddy, they shot him." he cried.

"Jason, he's going to be alright. Let him go and let me look at him."

He reluctantly released his older brother into my care.

"He's going to be alright, Bluejay." I said softly.

********Break********

I opened the door to Dick's room. Dick had his arms wrapped around Damian. Damian was clutching his stuffed cat. Tim was clasping his monkey. Jason had one arm draped around Tim; the other was lying close to Dick. It was as if Jason needed to know that he was there.

In a way, Jason, Tim, and Damian needed Dick. Dick is their protector, their hero, their older brother. They need him just as I do. He is my light, my pride, my son.

Then again, I need all of them. Always.