A/N:Tanner comes to live with the Wayne Family, but who is Tanner?

Who Is Tanner?

By Alisa Joaquin

Part 5: Family Ties

Tanner let out a full throated exaltation that would have lifted the roof off the walls. He couldn't believe his good fortune. He felt like a kid again. That feeling had been absent from his life for a very long time. He couldn't even remember ever feeling this elated, even when he and Samantha Clark had met as children. He didn't even remember how he got to the island. That portion of his life was a total blank. All he could remember was his first name, Virgil, and a vague feeling that he has been ripped from someone's arms at a very young age. His mother's? He couldn't be sure. The images were shrouded in darkness, like a veil had been placed between his mind's eye and his memories.

It was frustrating when Tanner tried to remember. He would get close and the veil would close like a steel door slamming shut on a vault. The few things he did learn about himself was that he was good with knives. Then he discovered quite by accident that he could pass through walls, or dissolve the wall so he could pass through and repair it as if it had never been touched . . . as if by magic. Before Tanner had an opportunity to explore that ability, he was taken from the island, from a home he was just establishing as his own, despite the fact he had no family. It was somewhere out there in that wider world, and just perhaps that family was also looking for him. Tanner also discovered he had a talent for making pastries, pies, and cakes. That came about when Victoria Devlin would entertain guests and needed some elaborate dessert. In truth, there wasn't much else Tanner knew about himself. He was as much a mystery to himself as others who met him knew.

Tanner pulled out the small medallion that he has worn around his neck as far back as he could remember. It was always with him. Etched within its surface was a crest.

'Perhaps Tim can do some research on the crest, let me know where it comes from.'

Tanner continued to examine the medallion. It bore a shield with a tower and two unusual looking keys. The name on the bottom was scratched. All he could see was an A and maybe a Z. Why would someone obscure the name? Once again he would have to ask Tim on discovering the name on the medallion.

On the back of the medallion appeared to be words, words in an ancient script that was no longer spoken. Tanner returned the medallion back inside his shirt. He had a pretty little mystery on his hands, now that he could sit and think more freely. He did recall Victoria Devlin's reaction at seeing the medallion. She thought it was a piece of junk, not worth bothering about. The black medallion had no value that she could exploit. She allowed Tanner to keep it, which was fortunate for him. It was the only link to his past.

"Master Virgil . . . "

"Ahhh!" Tanner was startled from his thoughts, and he suddenly whipped out two throwing knives that came out of nowhere and sent them behind him. He turned to see an elderly gentleman in his sixties or possibly seventies, the two knives pinned against the wall near the elderly man's head. What impressed Tanner the most was how the old man didn't even flinch.

"How did you . . . "

"My apologies, young sir," Alfred said. "Alfred Pennyworth at your service. I only wanted to inform you that dinner will be served. The kitchen in the carriage house has yet to be restocked and I thought you might wish to take advantage of the larder in the Manor, and also enjoy a meal with your new friends as well as your old one."

Tanner was a bit surprised at how Alfred knew that he and Samantha were friends. He hadn't spoken with the butler. "Sure."

"Then I shall add another place at the dining room table."

Tanner watched as Alfred left, impressed with the speed the butler moved at his age. He followed the old man back to the Manor, entered through the back door that led to a hallway, and into the huge kitchen.

"The dining room is right through that door," Alfred pointed out.

What Tanner didn't expect was to walk into an argument between Tim and Samantha.

Continues with Part 6

A/N: Watch for these future stories – Talon D, Subliminal Death, and Tiny Tim Adventures.