"Most of his physical injuries are gone, aside from his arm and the scars."

Leslie and Bruce walked beside each other towards the front door after Dick's check up.

"Continue to wean him off the medications. Also he is still underweight so keep constantly feeding him small meals throughout the day. Maybe try giving some of his favorite foods. It will encourage him to eat more, and it could possibly get him to react emotionally."

Bruce let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We'll give it try, but nothing seems to be working. It's as if he is stuck."

"Don't lose hope Bruce. I am sure that things will turn around, just give it time."

"Thank you again Leslie, for everything." Pulling open the door to let the woman out.

"I'm just a phone call away if you need anything, ANYTHING."

"I know. Thanks again."

With that Bruce closed the door and return to his study. He didn't even make it half way there before he ran into one of his sons.

"Thompkins didn't produce any solutions did she?" Damian had pushed for the check up, hoping for some answers to Dick's problems.

Bruce hadn't shared what he found at the mental hospital. His son's had enough on their plates as it was, and he didn't want to plague their dreams with additional nightmares.

"She said to keep trying and to not lose hope, and I except just that." Bruce placed a gentle hand on the child's shoulder. "You have been amazingly patient. Don't put all your hard work to waste."

Damian's head dropped to hide his face, ashamed to show such emotion in front of his father. "I just want my brother back."

Bruce filled Damian's head up and pulled him into a firm hug, "I want him back too Damian."

"Hey Jason wait up!" Tim raced across the front porch of the Manor to catch up with Jason getting into his car.

Jason had decided to visit the manor earlier that day for a quick visit. Not more than an hour later Tim invited Jason to stay for lunch. An hour after that Bruce insisted Jason joined them for dinner. By the end of the meal Alfred had convinced Jason to stay at the Manor for the remainder of the week.

How he managed that, I'll never know.

Thus Jason decided to make a quick trip back to his apartment to get a few of his things, but his journey was brought to a halt.

"What do you want Tim?"

Tim stopped just short of the beat up vehicle. "I was hoping to come with you"

Jason was about to brush him off in favor of a quite ride alone, but the expression on Tim's face convinced him otherwise.

"Sure, why not?"

A faint grin appeared on the fifth teen year olds face before he jumped into the front seat.

The beginning of the ride was quite with nothing but the radio filling the silence. Jason could see the bags under the teen's eyes. Well aware that they were a product of nightmares. Some due to Dick waking up the Manor screaming bloody murder, and from the kid's own. This was starting to take its toll on all members of the family.

"What's up Tim? Normally you hate driving with me."

"In my defense most of the time when I drive with you your angry cause of some villain or Bruce, resulting in some terrifying road rage." Tim didn't even skip a beat with his remark.

"You're avoiding the question."

The teen gave a small sigh. "I'll give you three guesses."

"Okay, I'll guess Dick, Dick and Dick."

"How'd you know?" Tim turned his head to fully face Jason.

"I may not be the brains of the family but I can tell that you are struggling."

"It's been over two months and nothing has changed. Besides the growing doom in the Manor is suffocating, I needed some air."

Jason avoided the mention of the "doom", he felt its presence too. "That's not true. He started talking again, sure it's all crazy talk but still."

Tim shrugged in response.

"And remember Damian swore that Dick had heard him."

"I never fully trust what Damian says."

"Probably wise." Tim still didn't look reassured so Jason continued, "Alfred says he is flinching less to physical contact."

"I guess" Tim turned back to face the window.

"The improvements are small but they are there." Tim gave no reply. "That's not the only thing that is bugging you, is it?"

"He seems to be ignoring me the most."

"Huh?"

Tim rubbed this temples, a habit he had picked up recently. "I don't know how to explain it. He won't even face me. Whenever I come into the room he stiffens up and turns away from me. I'm just not use to Dick treating me like that….. It's hard."

"Tim you're making things– " Jason was cut off by "don't pull that bullshit on me" look from Tim.

"I know it's hard, but he is our brother and we can't give up on him."

Tim's look instantly hardened, "I don't plan to."

All the Bat brothers sat in the living room together listening to Tim read out loud "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

As usual Dick was looking out the window attempting to ignore the activities around him. A younger version of Alfred was cleaning around the room. While his proper aged brothers were lounging around the room listening to the extremely annoying Timothy read a book.

Why can't he just read to himself?

Dick has always been a patience person but he was close to his limit. The reading was constant, non-stop. It was seriously irritating when his imaginary family wouldn't go away. He needed to get better and he couldn't do it with all these distractions.

"The dragon did not seem to have noticed anything: it was already…"

Shut up Timothy!

Dick had even made an attempt to hide the book when he was rarely felt alone, but they always managed to find it.

"…Hermione emerged, spluttering and gasping from the depths of the lake,…."

I can't take much more of this!

He even "accidently" spilt his soup on the book once, but a day later it was replaced with a new once.

"… seem to be deep: soon it was more a question…"

Dick was shaking with frustration.

"…Harry could have happily laid down and slept, he staggered…"

Shut up Timothy. Shut up. Shut up, SHUT UP!

" …protective spells around them. When he had finished, he joined the others."

SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP. "SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT! UP!"

The room was completely silent. All eyes were on Dick.

"STOP TALKING! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

All three of his brothers were still as statues, eyes bulging out of their heads, mouth agape.

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Dick pulled at what little hair he had. Trying to get back to reality.

"Dick..?"

Dick snapped his head up to look at who spoke. Jason was slowly standing up from his chair.

"Dick can you hear us?"

"Of course I can hear you! YOU'RE INSIDE MY HEAD!"

"No we're not, this is really life." Jason cautiously moved closer. The other two still didn't move an inch. The young Alfred continued to clean the room as if nothing had happened.

"Ooooh no you don't. You can't play tricks on me! I know for a fact you are not real!" Dick viciously pointed at Jason.

"Dick you were taken from us, tortured to believe this wasn't real. But you were rescued and you're safe know."

"You came back from the dead! How is that possible? It's not! You're lying."

"It's crazy but true – "

"NO IT'S NOT!"

Dick started to pound his fist against his head. This encouraged Tim to snap out of his trance and run up to his big brother, grabbing his hands.

"Dick look at me." Dick only struggled against his brother. "Richard!"

Dick looked up to his brother, with tears in his eyes. Dick whispered, "It's not real… He said… it's impossible."

"If I'm not real then everything I do comes from your head right?"

Dick gave Tim a weak nod.

"Everything I say comes from your brain, right?"

Dick gave Tim another nod.

Tim forcefully held Dick's gaze. "If this isn't real then how am I reading all these books to you?"

A look of confusion appeared on Dick's face.

"Think about it Dick, there is no way in hell that you are able to memorize every single word to all the Harry Potter series that I read to you." Silence filled the room. "Come on Dick you're smart, but you're not that smart."

Dick held Tim's stare. No one dare move a muscle for several minutes. All tense to what Dick's reactions would be.

Steady streams of tears fell down the acrobats face.

"Timmy!" Dick grabbed Tim into a bone-crushing hug.

A smile sprung onto Damian's face as he raced towards his big brother.

"Dami!" Dick unlatched one arm from Tim and encircled it around Damian.

Jason walked forward and placed a strong hand on Dicks back, giving him a side hug. Dick leaned into the embrace.

"Welcome back DickieBird."

Hey guys! I finally got to Dicks awakening. I've had this idea for so long it's good to finally get it out!
But don't you worry the story isn't quite over yet.

Thanks to all the reviews and followers (over 100, I'm ecstatic!)

I am going on vacation soon, with no access to a computer (sadly). But while you wait check out some of my favourite stories. There are a lot of talented writers out there, so give them a look.

Until next time!

J.K. Rowling (2007). Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. London: Bloomsbury. 441.