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"That's it…breathe for me Timmy…" Leslie coaxed. The boy on the bed complied, then began coughing violently. The doctor shook her head and stuck her fingers down his throat, extracting buildup.

"Ew! Not Tim lunch…" Cass said, holding her nose.

"No…I'm afraid not, Cassandra." The doctor said, clearing the goo off her finger. "It's much worse than what we gave him for lunch. Poor Tim…that fever is eating him alive."

The girl hung her head "Is what they told about Dick."

Batman sighed. "Are we losing Tim, too?"

Leslie chuckled, wiping the older boy's head where sweat had gathered.

"Actually, there is no 'too' in regards to that statement. Dick is becoming healthier by the hour. You boys make me question my ability to diagnose anything, and predict any kind of recovery. I always am proven wrong."

"Then he's..."

"I don't know how he did it, and right now I'm so relieved that I don't care. Batman, your boy ejected another third of the disease early this morning. As of right now, Dick is out of danger. Well…." She shrugged "As long as he keeps fighting it as hard as he has been."

"No doubts?" Batman challenged, fearing there was more.

"Just one. This last phase could kill him if he isn't careful."

"How so?"

"I can't explain it Bruce. Something just doesn't seem right is all. I hope he holds out. Tim on the other hand…Tim is suffering worse than Dick now. I don't know…he is in the fire, while Dick is out of the frying pan."

"Could he have caught the disease from Dick?"

"No, Bruce. You don't understand. Tim is sick. Deadly ill. It may be the Clench again, but it isn't what Dick has, it's too tame."

"Dead is dead, Leslie." came the answering growl "I prefer my boys alive at all costs."

Cass had tuned out the adults. She was now stroking Tim's hair again, her fingers playing with his ebony locks, as she struggled to swallow an emotion she hated.

Worry.

Fear. She was frightened for Tim. Afraid that he was never going to open his eyes again. Afraid that he would slip away from her.

Afraid that he was going to die and leave her alone.

"You live, Robin. You live."

Will Tim survive?

Will Dick defeat the disease?

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