Last chapter of this story...I'm going to miss it *cries*

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or anything else you recognize.


Chapter 9 - What next?

Jason tries to sit back and be patient as the paramedic tries to examine him. He sits on the edge of the ambulance and looks over to see Batman, Robin, and Nightwing talking to the Commissioner. He wonders briefly what they've been talking about for the past twenty minutes since the police arrived.

He sees Tim in another ambulance, the paramedic looking pitifully at him. He can see that his little brother is scared, it's plain as day on the thirteen year old's face. The way his eyes dart around every couple seconds, the way he has his arms wrapped around himself, the way he's shaking, the sporadic tears that make their way down his cheeks and when they become less sporadic when they carry Black Mask out of the warehouse, who is now conscious and glaring at Tim.

At that point Jason just stands up, ignoring the paramedic trying to get him to sit back down, and runs over to Tim. He wraps his arms around him and tries to shield the boy's view of the black faced man as he walks past them, the police doing their best to keep him as far away from the two teens as possible.

"Shh, it's okay. He can't hurt you anymore." Tim grabs onto Jason's shirt and looks fearfully over at the police when Jason sits down next to him.

He doesn't want Jason to be taken away. He already lost his parents, not that they were the nicest parents but they were still his parents, he can't lose his big brother too.

Jason notices how Tim keeps looking back over to the police standing not even ten feet away and moves himself so that the boy can't see them anymore. He doesn't want to leave either but he committed a crime and now it's time to pay for it.

When the commissioner walks over to them he notices that the three bats have disappeared. Figures.

"Boys."

"Commissioner." he says as Tim wipes the tears from his eyes.

It's an awkward silence for a minute but just as the commissioner looks like he's about to say something else, Tim speaks up, "Please don't take him away!" he wraps his arms around Jason's waist and holds on as tight as he can while burying his face into his brother's chest and sobbing.

"Jason Todd is dangerous. Every GCPD cop is required to bring him in if they find him." is all Gordon says, but he looks like he wants to do the exact opposite.

"Please, Commissioner," Jason starts, "You can't take me away. You can't split us up. Tim needs me. He'll never make it on his own, he needs his big brother."

"Since when are the two of you related?"

"You don't need blood to be a family."

"It's true." a new voice says. They both look to see Bruce Wayne walking up to them, "Dick is in no way related to me and yet there's no doubt that he's my son. Just like there's no doubt in my mind that those two are brothers."

"But they're not-"

"They were both involved in a traumatic experience. They bonded with each other and relied on each other to stay alive and to stay safe. Call them brothers in arms if you want, but they are brothers. That can be seen just by looking at them."

Jason allows a small smile to the man and even Tim looks up at him, gratefully.

"That doesn't change the fact that Jason is a wanted man. He's murdered people. We can't just let that go because he bonded with a kid he was imprisoned with. We can't just have them running around Gotham. I'd lose my job if I let that happen. So unless you want two more kids then I'm afraid they'll have to be split up."

"No! You can't!" Tim now has tears streaming down his face as Jason holds onto him, neither of them wanting to ever let go of the other.

Bruce sighs, his eyes narrowing as he makes his decision, "Jason? Could I talk to you privately, please?" Jason and Tim look at each other before Tim nods and reluctantly releases his older brother.

"What is it?" Jason asks once they walk far enough away that Tim and Gordon can't hear them.

"Would you two boys like to come live with me?"

"What? You seriously want us to come live with you? I've killed people and yet you want me in your house?"

"I don't believe you would do it again. Seeing you now," he looks over at Tim, "You've changed. I know how it is on the Gotham streets; you do what you have to to stay alive."

Jason looks over at his brother who is talking to Commissioner Gordon "I-...I don't think that your life is quite right for us, but...I don't want to have to leave Tim."

Bruce nods, "I can respect that." he puts his hands on Jason's shoulders, making the teen look him in the eye, "And I promise you, the two of you will not be split up."

"And how exactly are you going to do that, huh? I've killed fourteen people, I don't think they're just gonna let that go."

"I'll handle it. For now, just stay with Tim because you're right about one thing. He does need you. Just as much as you need him."

Jason nods, smiling, before walking back over to Tim. He sits down beside his brother who immediately hugs him again. Jason wraps his arms around his little brother and kisses the top of his head.

"We're gonna be okay, right?" his voice is shakey, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

"We're gonna be just fine, Babybird."

"Promise?"

"Promise."


Prisoners is officially completed! :D

And, guess what? There will be a sequel! :D

I'll have the first chapter posted soon, so keep an eye out for it :)

Review! :)