You guys I am so very very sorry! I got double booked yesterday and I didn't get home until four today. I'm going to post two chapters tomorrow, if I don't get the second one done tonight! Again, really really sorry! That won't ever happen again! Also, sorry this is shorter. I wanted to get something out for you guys and apologize. Next chapter will be significantly longer.

Tim was scared. Batman was every bit as frightening as Dick had described; he was nothing like the Bruce he knew. He knew Batman valued keeping his identity a secret, probably more than Dick. He glanced back at Kon, silently pleading for him to go and distract who he assumed was Young Justice. He'd love to meet them, but now was not the time. Kon didn't seem to understand the message.

"Look, I know who you are—who you really are." Tim wasn't sure which emotion Batman was displaying at the moment. He couldn't read him. "Can we talk more in depth later? Two days ago after a rescue mission Robin told us he'd meet us back at the cave. We haven't seen him since and there's dangerous guys out there looking for him."

"Who?"

"Uh, I only recognized a couple of them. There's Two Face, Riddler, Joker—"

Batman didn't bother to hear anymore. If the Joker was after Dick, it was about to get a lot more violent than he'd intended this to be. Turning back to Young Justice, he started to bark out orders.

"In case you hadn't figured out, we're in Gotham. This is my turf, my rules. You are to search for Robin and bring him back safely to me. If you run across a clown you are to contact me. You are to stick together and you are not, under any circumstances, to split up. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir." Kaldur answered before Wally or Roy could.

"You fail to obey any of these orders and I will end you. Go!"

Tim and Kon stared with wide eyes as the Caped Crusader. Somehow, without even seeing what he could do, they believed every word that came out of his mouth. There was a dark and horrible way to die somewhere hidden in the wrath of Batman, and they didn't want to even glimpse it.

Young Justice quickly departed, taking on the South Side of town. Batman narrowed his eyes at the two remaining teens. Kon felt his mouth go dry and he felt as if he had to say something, but couldn't find any words.

"You are to give me your names. Now."

"Tim Drake."

"Kon-El—err—Conner Kent."

"Superboy and Red Robin, sir." Tim added.

"You know me how? Through Robin?"

"Sir, in this world I'm your adopted son." Tim explained softly. "Dick hasn't contacted us at all. We've done a sweep of the city already and haven't caught sight of him. Thugs are running around like mad through the chaos."

"Young Justice will take care of those. Our main mission is to find Robin." Batman stalked forward down the street, the darkness only accenting the terror Batman instilled upon his marks. "We take to the North. Robin knows this city better than anyone. If he's on the run, he'll head for the North."

Mary knocked on the door, alarmed when it swung open with a high pitched squeak. John narrowed his eyes, taking a step into the manor. The furniture had been tossed around, bullet holes dented the walls, and part of the staircase was broken.

"Oh no," Mary breathed, trying to remain calm, "something's happened, John!"

"Bruce? Alfred?" John called, entering slowly further into the manor. "Stay close, Mary."

She stared mournfully at a tray of tea dented and left of the ground. Two teacups lay shattered on the once white carpet. Alfred would never willingly allow such a mess to remain.

"Martha! Thomas!" John called, hoping if anyone was remaining in the house they would hear a friendly voice.

Slowly, the entire manor was searched. There was no sign of any of the boys, their son, anyone. Whatever had happened had been violent. Mary began to panic; where was Dick? What happened and where was everyone? Who had attacked the Wayne Manor?

"Mary, there's only one more place we can check. Let's pray they're in there." John pulled his wife close in an embrace and held her for a moment, trying to calm her down. "C'mon, let's go check."

"John, what if—"

"No what if's, Mary. We promised Dick we wouldn't." John reminded, leading her by the hand out into the back yard and to the grave marked Robin.

Entering the code Dick had given them two months ago, they were all but jumped on by Bruce, Martha, and Thomas. Once seeing their faces, the Wayne's pulled them inside of the cave and relocked the entrance.

"Thank heavens you're safe!" Mary cried, launching herself into Martha. "We saw the house and—and we'd thought you were all…"

"We're fine, for the most part." Martha comforted, rubbing small circles into the woman's back. "The boys are roughed up."

"Where's Dick?" John asked, eyes sweeping over the occupants of the cave. "Where's my son?"

"He's been missing." Bruce closed his eyes and looked away. He didn't need to see the strong emotions that would undoubtedly play on the Grayson's faces. "Tim took Superboy and they've gone to find him."

John immediately turned and ran back to the entrance of the Batcave. What were they all doing sitting around? He'd find Dick himself! There were murderous people out there! Gotham was a wreck, buildings were blowing up and catching on fire, and the police were doing their best to try and take down the smaller criminals.

"Stop!" There were hands on his shoulders and around his waist, pulling him back and onto the ground.

"Mr. Grayson, stop!" Jason ordered, using a homemade crutch to limp over and step on his chest. "Dick's got enough on his plate to worry about. You aren't trained to go out there, and the last thing he needs is to find his father dead!"

"My son could already be dead!" John roared, still struggling against Alfred and Bruce's arms. The two were really quite strong. "I won't just sit around!"

"You have to!" Jason barked back. "He knows what he's doing and he's coming back! He doesn't have time to go save your ass just because you don't have faith he can survive!"

The words sunk in and John quit struggling. He was torn into two; either get out there and find his son, no matter what, or stay and hope he was coming back home. Option number one seemed so much better. What kind of a father sat idly by? Yet Jason brought up a very good point.

If Dick was fighting for his life, distractions could get him killed. Just like he'd instructed Dick in their act, back when his son was still alive and they were still a functioning family, getting distracted by the audience caused slip ups that wouldn't be so merciful.

"Please, stay here." Alfred pleaded. "We've already let two boys slip through our fingers."

John reluctantly nodded and Mary was now the one comforting him, holding his hand and pulling his head to her chest, running long slender fingers through his hair.

"He's coming back." Jason assured. "We just have to wait."