The chapters are going to be longer now, I am sorry that they were so short before. We were publishing this story on a different website as we wrote them which was not very fast and I was just publishing them like I had been on there.

All of the Bat-family was gathered in the batcave. They were all staring at Tim's empty chair in the corner. Finally, Dick spoke up, "So, you had something to tell us." he looked at Damian who suddenly looked ten times smaller. "Yes, I know why my grandfather is doing this," he paused looking across the room before Dick nodded at him. Damian went on deflating, "My grandfather approached me three weeks ago. He said he wanted me to come back to the League of Assassins."

Bruce visibly flinched. Bruce asked Damian, "Why didn't you tell me?" Damian looked like he was trying to become a part of the chair. "I told him no, that I wouldn't go back. This is my home." Damian's voice cracked as he told his family the last sentence.

Damian looked like he was going to cry as he continued his story, getting sympathetic looks, "Then he attacked me. He told me I was not worthy to be his grandson or his heir. As we fought I was in position to strike him and instead I scraped his cheek. He frowned at me and told me that he would get me back. Then he disappeared but not before telling me to enjoy my new family… while I had you," He started to cry so hard that no one could hear him saying over and over again, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He was soon surrounded by five hugs.

Warning Torture Scene (I'm sorry, I really am)

Tim cowered before the Joker. The Joker raised his crowbar and slammed it down, hitting Tim in the stomach. Tim opened his mouth to scream, but it just came out as a barely audible groan. Tim felt as if his ribs were broken, which they probably were. The Joker hit him again and again. Tim spit blood onto the stone. He tried to crawl away, but the Joker grabbed his leg and dragged him back. It was getting hard for him to breath now. The Joker hit him again. This time Tim managed to shriek in pain. The Joker laughed. The Joker was about to hit him again when Ra's al Ghul grabbed his arm gently, forcing him to lower the crowbar. Tim couldn't move. The pain was too much for him. He felt as if his lungs were on fire, and his ribs were shattered to pieces. He groaned, blood streaming from his nose, "We need him alive, Joker," Ra's al Ghul said, "I told you, you will have your fun, but not yet. Not now." Ra's al Ghul turned away. The Joker glanced at Tim sprawled across the cave's floor, "You're lucky little bird, see you soon," and quickly followed behind Ra's al Ghul throwing the crowbar beside Tim's head.

Tim heard Ra's al Ghul and the Joker talking, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. After a while, Ra's al Ghul walked over to him. He reached down to Tim and lifted him up. Tim's body ached, he winced in pain as Ra's al Ghul placed him across his shoulder. He brought Tim back to the chair and tied him back up, using more ropes and securing them tighter, "Don't try that again," Ra's al Ghul said through gritted teeth.

As Ra's left the room Tim hung his head, his sobs echoing through the cave. He cried until he fell asleep sitting in the chair. His dreams were full of home and his family. He missed Bruce and the others. He slept until the next day when the real pain would come.

When he woke he saw Ra's al Ghul sitting in front of him with a with a wicked smile, "Time for some answers," his voice dripped with evil intentions.

Stephanie Brown, aka The Spoiler, dismounted her bike as she arrived at Wayne Manor. She hadn't heard from Tim in four days and she was starting to get concerned. She knocked on the front door and Alfred answered it but, as she looked at him she could tell he had been crying.

"What's wrong?" she asked, panicking.

Alfred frowned and asked, frustrated, "Has no one told you?" Stephanie shook her head. Alfred sighed, "Come in. We'll catch you up," Alfred let Stephanie inside and led her to the living room. The Bat-family was sitting on the couches and chairs, fresh tears covering their faces. Stephanie stopped in her tracks, anger boiling inside her.

"Why are you all just sitting here!" She yelled, " We should be looking for Tim! He's still out there you know!"

Bruce glared at her and stood up, "We tried! It's almost impossible for us to track him. Ra's al Ghul and the Joker covered their tracks," His eyes started to get watery again and he sat down, holding his head in his hands.

"I might be able to," Damian spoke up. Everyone in the room looked at him.

"What do you mean?" Bruce asked. Damian stared at the ground.

"I- I might be able to set up a meeting with my grandfather. I can tell him I have reconsidered his offer about joining the League of Shadows," Damian explained.

"How would that help us find Tim?" Stephanie asked, her hands on her hips. She stared at Damian, waiting for him to answer, but it took him a while.

"I tell him that I'll join the League of Shadows… In return… He releases Tim," Damian held back tears, still looking at his feet. He couldn't bare to look at his family.

"No! Absolutely not!" Bruce exclaimed. He then softened his voice, "I- I can't lose another son. I've lost too many," He glanced at Jason, who had taken off his mask.

"Bruce, this may be the only way. If Damian's willing to…" Jason started.

"I've already said no Jason. I will not put Damian danger," Bruce interrupted him.

"What about me, huh? You didn't seem to care as much when I was in danger!" Jason raised his voice.

"That was different!" Bruce said.

"Hey, hey. Calm down," Dick said. Bruce and Jason stared at him, "We can send Damian to meet with Ra's al Ghul, but we only make him believe that Damian's joining him. Damian will make the deal for Tim and once Ra's al Ghul brings him out, and only if he does. We can attack him and get both Damian and Tim out of there," Dick explained. The whole room was silent, thinking about his words.

"Okay, we'll do it, but only if Damian agrees," Bruce said, looking at Damian. Damian said nothing, only nodding his head in agreement.

"It's agreed then," Dick said, "Damian, find a way to contact Ra's al Ghul, and fast. We're doing this tonight."