Chapter Thirteen

Bruce let out a sigh as he replaced the phone in its crib. He had just gotten off the phone with Oracle. She told him the fruitless result of her investigation of Allen and once again, they were at square one with finding out who he really was. He stroked his chin absent-mindedly and thought. He checked the time and moved away from his work desk. Alfred would come looking for him sooner or later to call him down for lunch. He straightened his shirt and walked out of his office. In the hallway, he found Dick and Tim deep into a heated argument. "What's going on?" he asked in his best Bat voice.

Dick jabbed a finger angrily at his younger brother. "Tim stole my jacket and he won't tell me where he put it!" he said in the most childishly accusing voice Bruce had heard from him in a while. He looked at Tim expectantly, waiting to hear his side of the story.

"I didn't take it, Bruce!" Tim insisted adamantly, Alfred walked up the stairs to find them and happened on the conversation.

"Did you check the Batcave, Master Dick? I remember very clearly it was there when we last visited." Dick blinked at the man and dashed toward the cave.

Tim huffed and turned to Bruce. "Why does he love that jacket so much, anyway?" It was a rhetorical question and Bruce just shrugged his shoulders.

Dick was back in the room almost as soon as he had left it. Even Flash would be surprised at his speed. "He's gone!" he announced, Tim's head whipped around and the boy stared at him. "That thieving... he took my jacket!" Bruce resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Drake pulled up in front of his apartment and left the Redbird running as he dropped it off. It would gain more attention with all the noise and he knew someone would most likely 'pick it up'. That was what he wanted, to lead Batman and his two prodigies on a merry chase. He wasn't stupid, he knew the Redbird most likely had a tracker on it, considering all the hidden gadgets on the thing. It was state-of-the-art machinery. Drake frowned. It was a waste to let it go. He wanted to study it's capabilities. He tugged out his backpack from under the couch and climbed out of his window to the fire escape. He always traveled light and purchased his needs locally, he never unpacked in case he needed a quick getaway. He fingered the cloth of one of Batman's many Batbelts and stuffed it into his backpack. It was bound to hold some useful things, right? He climbed down to the ground and slunk off into the dark labyrinth of alleys behind his apartment, he winced and clutched his side. He would need to find a new apartment.

"Okay, yes. I've found him. He's in Crime Alley." Oracle adjusted her earpiece and continued typing on her computer. "Wow, he's stolen, like, everything that has a tracker on it!" she chuckled. "He's got a Batbelt, a Redbird, and he's even got Dick's jacket!" She instinctively covered her mouth. She could imagine Batman and Robin exchanging dubious glances as Nightwing face-palmed himself. 'Did she...? So that's why he loves that jacket...' Robin would comment, a hint of amusement in his voice, no doubt, teasing his older brother. Batman would just tell them to concentrate on the problem at hand while trying to hide a smirk. The three Bat-boys did just that. She smiled at their predictability, silently congratulating herself. She was a prophet!

"Oh, wait, he's moving! The Batbelt and jacket are moving South-East while the Redbird is going North. He must've left it in the open for someone to steal." Robin blanched at that. Nightwing just smiled at him and reassured him that they would get it back... sometime. Batman motioned for them to move out and left the cave.

It was dark by the time Drake had finally decided to stop and rest, he hunkered down behind a large dumpster and surveyed his surroundings, sending wary glances upward toward roofs, just to be on the safe side. He needed a new name. Allen Smitheson just wouldn't do now, not with Batman with an ear to the proverbial ground, searching for him. He wracked his head for a name that wasn't too obviously fake. Usually, this came easy to him. Maybe it was his disorientation that was getting into the way. He looked across the street. A jewelry shop. He closed his eyes. Diamond. Adamas. Greek; unbreakable. He smiled. It would do for the moment. He needed an unremarkable name. John? Too used, too obvious, as was James. Brian? Brian Adamas. He mulled over the name for a while as he caught his breath.

He thought he saw a shadow on the roof of the jewelry shop and froze. He saw movement again and stopped breathing. Was it Batman? Had he already found him? He slowly stood up and turned to leave only to run straight into a sleek black suit and... a curvy body line! Okay, not Batman. "Arn't you out a bit late, kid?" a sensuous female voice purred, a hint of curiosity was also present. Drake jumped back into a defensive stance, hand brushing over a slight bulge in his, Dick's, jacket pocket and felt the cold security of a gun. He hid a wince when he felt several stitches in his side tear.

"A bit early for the freaks to come out, isn't it?" he retorted through gritted teeth.

Catwoman pshawed at him but smiled as she prowled around him, sizing him up like he was a mouse. "So, who are you? And what are you doing out here at this time of night?" she asked, suddenly nearing him to study his face.

Drake jerked backward and tripped over his own sluggish feet. He fell to the ground less than ceremoniously but caught himself mid-fall as to not further embarrass himself. He hissed quietly but ignored his aching injuries. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at the woman. "I'm sorry that you've caught me at a bad time but I'm not in the mood for conversation." he told her impatiently. Catwoman only raised an eyebrow and said nothing. Drake pulled himself to his feet and staggered toward a side alley, Catwoman followed him slowly from a distance.

"You should get yourself checked out by a doctor."

Drake rolled his eyes. He knew she was only trying to help but he had lost alot of blood and he hurt all over, he couldn't care less. "If I had a place to treat myself, I wouldn't be out here at this time of night, don't you think?" he pointed out heatedly, but he didn't deny the fact that his wounds needed treatment. The edges of his vision began blurring and he shook his head, placing a heavy hand on a wall to steady himself. He squinted and saw a run-down pharmacy and began making his way toward it. Catwoman or no, his injuries were more alarming.

Bypassing the pharmacy's security was child's play to Drake. He entered the store and got out without tripping a single alarm. He could do this in his sleep, a skill he was glad for, he wasn't sure he could stay awake for long. He climbed up onto a nearby fire escape and dropped the stolen items on the ground, sitting cross-legged before them. He unzipped and gingerly pulled off Dick's now dirty and bloodied jacket, revealing the extent of his injuries to Catwoman. The lady couldn't stifle a horrified gasp and gained Drake's attention. "What? You're still here?"

The Custodian was a crude man, Drake couldn't deny that. The man never went to hospitals and always treated injuries at home. Which was why Drake now stared bewilderedly at the surgical staples on his torso. If it was the Custodian that treated him, he would've cauterized the wounds and be done with it. Drake bore many scars because of the man. He decided to treat the wounds he could and disinfect the rest. There was no use trying to treat a wound he had no idea how to treat, it only made things worse, he had learned the hard way.

No sooner had Drake hidden his wounds under Dick's jacket when a shadow crossed the sky. He let out a groan. How had the Bats always found him so quickly! Catwoman noticed his plight. "They're after you?" It was more of a statement than a question. Drake just nodded. "I'll help you."

Drake frowned a little but relented. "I'm not above asking for it."

"What's your name, boy?"

"Adamas, Brian Adamas." Catwoman raised an eyebrow at him. "Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head and led him away. "No, I can live with that."