Chapter 11: Proceed With Caution
Tim's POV
I walked over to Dick's room. I could hear him on the phone talking to Barbara.
"Really? The new line came out today? Well, you know how much I love Victoria's Secret, especially when you're-"
"Dick?" I asked as I opened the door.
He quickly stopped his conversation.
"Just send me a picture for now. I'll be over later. Tim just walked in. Bye Babs."
"What!" He asked in an irritated tone.
"Will you drive me to the bookstore?"
He sighed. "Can Alfred, Jason, or Bruce take you?"
I shook my head. "Alfred took Titus and Damian to the vet. Apparently Titushas to got some shots or something. Jason said he was going over to a friend's house to 'study.' And Bruce had to meet with Fox about a business deal."
"Can't you just buy the book on your kindle?"
"I kinda broke it. I sorta dropped it in the pool."
"How did you do that?"
"Damian's stupid mutt pushed me!"
"Can you borrow Damian's kindle?"
I gave him a look. "Can I use yours?"
"Barbara has it. Can you use Jason's kindle?"
"Seriously? Jason doesn't even own one. Besides I'm not sure if he can even read."
He sighed again.
I gave him the best wounded puppy dog look I possibly could. "Please?"
He rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll drive you."
Dick's POV
We walked into the garage and climbed into my Aston Martin. Tim slid into the passenger seat.
This couldn't have waited until later? Barbara is wearing brand new lingerie. Lingerie from Victoria's Secret! And Tim wants to read! Come on! All I want right now is-
"Thanks for taking me." Tim said while smiling happily at me.
I nodded in response while gazing up at the green traffic light.
"Um, Dick? Are… are you mad at me?" He asked timidly.
I sighed and looked down at him. "No Timmy, I'm not mad at you. This just isn't a good time right now. It's just that I-"
A sudden alarm caught my attention. A Dodge Ram Truck was heading straight for Tim's side of the car! The horn was blaring and the tires skidded along the pavement! It couldn't stop! I couldn't either!
Tim's POV
"Um, Dick? Are… are you mad at me?" I asked nervously while looking up at him.
He sighed and looked down at me. "No Timmy, I'm not mad at you. This just isn't a good time right now. It's just that I-"
I returned my attention to look at the sudden commotion a car horn was making. Blinding lights, a screeching sound, and a blaring horn were coming straight for me!
********Break********
Bruce's POV
I sat in the board meeting room at Wayne Enterprises. Lucius Fox was sitting across from me. Documents were spread before us.
"Bruce, you really ought to consider expanding-"
My cell phone rang interrupting our conversation.
"Excuse me for a minute, I'm sure this won't take long."
I looked down at the caller id. The Gotham City General Hospital?
"Bruce Wayne speaking."
"Mr. Wayne, I'm afraid two of your children have been involved in a traffic accident."
Jason's POV
"Master Jason, will you please stop pacing and sit down." Alfred suggested firmly.
Reluctantly I took a seat beside Damian. Damian only stared at the flooring. He was like a breathing corpse. He was breathing right? I nudged him.
"Todd, if you touch me again, I'll tear out your tongue and feed it to my cat!" he threatened.
Yep, he's breathing. Damian returned to his floor watching. Alfred merely sat with his hands folded in his lap. A calm expression was present on his face. Damn, what is wrong with these people?
I stood up once again. "I need some air."
I walked out of the hospital and leaned against the wall. I couldn't stand being in that waiting room for another minute. Striking a match, I lit the cigarette held in my mouth and breathed deeply.
"We didn't come here to remove your lung disease Todd!"
I turned to find Damian glaring up at me.
I returned his glare. "I'll smoke if I want to!"
"Very well. Shall I inform Pennyworth and Father of your negligence of providing proper care for your health?"
Snitch! I removed the precious cigarette from my mouth and dropped it onto the sidewalk. Crossing my arms, I looked across the street.
"Todd."
I returned my attention to the Demon Blabbermouth. I grunted in response.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" he asked quietly while staring at my smoldering cigarette.
I sighed and bent down to Damian's level. "Yeah, Mini Bat. They'll be okay."
His gaze met mine. "What if they aren't?"
"Damian, there's no way in hell Dick would leave me alone with you. Apparently I'm not 'responsible' enough to be the oldest. And Tim wouldn't leave me all alone in the 'I Hate Your Freaking Cat Club.' They'll be fine."
********Break********
Dick's POV
"Thanks for taking me." Tim said while smiling happily at me.
I nodded in response while gazing up at the green traffic light.
"Um, Dick? Are… are you mad at me?" He asked timidly.
I sighed and looked down at him. "No Timmy, I'm not mad at you. This just isn't a good time right now. It's just that I-"
A sudden alarm caught my attention. A Dodge Ram Truck was heading straight for Tim's side of the car! The horn was blaring and the tires skidded along the pavement! It couldn't stop! I couldn't either!
My eyes flew open and I screamed Tim's name. Immediately a pair of strong hands pushed me back down.
"Dick calm down. You're okay. Everything's going to be alright." A voice gently called.
I refused to lie back down. I needed to know if Tim was okay. I struggled against the Herculean man.
"Richard! That's enough!"
I stopped struggling and looked up. Bruce.
"Where's Timmy!" I screamed at him.
"Dick calm down. Do you remember what happened?"
"Where's Timmy?" I whispered through the tears rolling down my face.
Bruce looked at me sadly. "You ran a red light. A truck rammed into the passenger side of the car. The force of the collision caused you to hit your head against the wheel. You were knocked unconscious. It was a miracle that you sustained no major injuries. Tim-" He broke off suddenly.
"Is he okay?" I asked.
Bruce looked back over at me. "I don't know. He was taken into surgery. They think he might be in a comma. Dick, they… they don't know if he'll make it."
Dick's POV
"Dick, they… they don't know if he'll make it."
I think my heart stopped beating. No, not Timmy. He has to be okay. I… I don't know what I'd do if he-
Bruce suddenly enclosed my hand in his. I turned to face him.
"Daddy, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I…I-"
"Hush. Everything's going to be alright."
For once in my life, I didn't believe him.
Tim's POV
I returned my attention to look at the sudden commotion a car horn was making. Blinding lights, a screeching sound, and a blaring horn was coming straight for me!
Dick! My eyes burst open and I shot up. My vision was blurry. I couldn't see. Someone or something immediately shoved me back down. There was something in my throat. It was suffocating me. I want it out! Now!
Everything came into focus. Two uniformed surgical suits pressed me into a bed. They wore masks. "Timothy, can you hear me?"
I nodded slowly.
"Do you want the oxygen tube taken out?" the faceless doctor asked.
I nodded slowly.
The horrible pipe was removed. I could breathe again.
"I want Bruce." I whispered, before fading back into darkness.
********Break********
I woke up in a different room. Bruce was sitting beside me, holding my hand. Dick was leaning against him, asleep.
"Daddy? Big Bird?" I whispered.
His eyes opened and he smiled. Bruce leaned forward slightly.
Dick opened his eyes slowly. He looked over at me and he sprang from the chair landing on the bed, knocking Bruce's chair over in the process.
"Timmy! You're okay!"
I was suddenly pulled into a bone crushing hug.
"I love you so much! Timmy you scared me! I'm so sorry! I never meant to run that light! I swear I didn't! I love you so much, baby brother! I-"
"Dick, let go of him! You're strangling him with your death grip!" I heard Jason shout.
Dick reluctantly slackened his grip and sat beside me. Bruce reached over and took my hand again. I could see Alfred smiling at me. Jason was leaning against the wall, trying to control himself from running over to me. Damian stood beside Jason, trying to hide a smile. Dick reached over and pulled me onto his lap.
Alfred smiled and handed me my monkey, Banana and moved to stand beside Bruce. Jason settled onto the foot of the bed. He pulled Damian up beside him.
Damian spoke up, breaking the silence. "Drake, from this moment onward you are forbidden from dying."
I smiled and settled against Dick's chest. I think I'll just borrow Damian's kindle next time.