A/N: Just a few days after Tim has been returned to the family, Samantha is having nightmares about Jason and Tim. It was only days before that Samantha had learned the Wayne Secret and the meaning of Night Work. Can she reconcile this in her own heart?

Scarlet Fever

Part 13: Recrimination and Regrets

"Bruce . . . Bruce, wake up Samantha . . . Sasha's going to lose the babies!" Jason screamed in a full blown panic, through the com link. 'God I hope he answers.'

Batman went over to the computer after Dr. Leslie finished with Tim's leg. He could hear the panic in Jason's voice coming over the loudspeaker. He checked Jason's location and frowned. He traced the signal back toward it's source and realized where Jason had traveled from. He had gone back into Gotham? He had not seen Jason leave since he had been assisting Dr. Leslie with Tim's second broken leg.

"Red Hood, why are you in Gotham with Scarlet?"

"I'll tell you later, please, just wake up Sammie. We are almost to the cave."

"She went upstairs to rest. What's wrong?"

"Just get her, please!"

Sasha could feel that the cramping was getting worse. She had to clamp down to hold on. ' . . . No . . . Please no . . . We lost one child, we can't lose two."

'I can't lose my kids. I just can't!" Tears streamed down Jason's face underneath his helmet.

JSBJSBJSB

"You're going to need to heal Tim's leg," Dick tried to console Samantha.

"I don't know if I can," Samantha stated. "I don't want to feel that disorientation, again."

"We'll deal with it. We'll find out what's causing it."

"Master Richard," Alfred came rushing into the kitchen. "Master Jason is going to need Miss Samantha."

"What is it Al?"

"Something about not losing her babies."

SDASDASDA

Jason skidded to a stop in the cave. He picked up Scarlet and quickly took her to the only other gurney in the medical bay. Jason spotted Samantha coming down the steps. "Please, Sammie, you've got to help her."

Samantha noticed one thing as she re-entered the cave. The smell of blood wasn't so strong. It was mingled more with disinfectant and bleach. Alfred must have been cleaning up. She saw Dr, Leslie Tompkins rush over to where Red Hood and Scarlet were after she had finished putting Tim's other leg into an identical cast.

"I don't know if I can save them," Dr. Leslie Tompkins stated. "It may require surgery to keep them inside."

"No, it won't," Samantha said calmly as she approached the medical bay. She knew she could do this. She could sense the struggle from Sasha's babies. She hurried over and went to see Scarlet. "Move, let me work."

"What are you going to do? You're not a doctor," the doctor demanded.

Samantha ignored her question and placed a hand on Scarlet's belly. The babies were in deep distress. She looked at Jason. His aura was torn again. Part of him was black. It would require someone more powerful than her to fuse his two halves together. Right now, it was Sasha and her children that needed attention.

"Please, help me. Please save my babies," Sasha pleaded behind her Scarlet mask.

"I will. Just relax." Samantha closed her eyes and focused her healing energy. Within that touch she learned what had happened. The twins were terrified. Father? Scared of father? What happened? They proceeded to tell Samantha. Why they were losing hope. ^Oh babies . . . Your father was just trying to protect what is his.^ Samantha tried to reassure the twins. "Jason . . . Come here, Jason."

Samantha reached out for his hand. Jason walked over to Samantha. She placed his hand on Sasha's belly. "Talk to them. They are scared. They think you don't want them any more. Use your mind."

"Oh, Jason . . . I'm sorry," Sasha cried. "This is my fault. I'm not worthy of you."

^Babies, I'm not mad at you. I love you so much. You . . . You're like my little lights. I need you to be strong. Please . . . Please don't go. Don't let your mother and I lose you, two.^

Samantha could feel the babies start to feel hope, again. Their auras started to shine brighter. ^That's it little ones, come back. Your parents need the both of you.^ Samantha repaired the placenta and reattached it to the wall of her womb. The tear in the womb slowly closed. Samantha took her time to make sure it wouldn't happen, again. "Sasha, how do you feel?"

"Better," Sasha switched to private speech. ^My soul is hurting. I hurt Jason's aura. I caused him to kill. I'm not worthy to be his wife. When they are born, I cannot stay.^ Sasha rubbed her belly absentmindedly.

^Do not think that Sasha. Don't you dare do that to them. Don't walk away from them. Jason's aura can heal. He was just worried for you and the babies. He snapped, but he can heal.^

Sasha started crying, again. She just did not feel worthy of being with Jason or his family. 'If only they know the things I've done, they would not be welcoming. I'm the cause of this. I should have stayed home.'

"Jason," Samantha called Jason over. "Her body has been healed, but she's going to need you in order to heal more. Help her. She feels responsible," Samantha whispered in Jason's ear.

"Thanks," Jason whispered back. Jason leaned over Sasha's weeping form and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "You can't leave me. Don't leave me." Jason wrapped his arms around Sasha.

"This is my fault. IF I hadn't gone after the Joker . . . I didn't understand . . . . You . . . You killed because of me . . . And now your aura . . ."

"That doesn't matter," Jason mumbled to her. "We just . . . Didn't have an understanding on the matter. I killed loads of times, remember. Just, I scared our babies. I feel bad that I almost caused you to miscarry. I love you and our babies. Please, don't leave me. Don't get up and leave." Jason clutched onto Sasha as tight as he could. Jason placed a hand on her belly. He could feel his babies shift under his hand. "Our babies are fine now. Please, don't be upset any more. They love you. I know they do."

"You still love me?"

"Of course I still love you, Sasha. You thought I didn't ;one you any more?"

"You were filled with so much hate . . . You didn't care any more."

"I was scared that you left and went after him, like you didn't care about my words. I was so mad at you. You put our babies and yourself in danger. The Joker doesn't care that you're pregnant. He would have stabbed you just to make you suffer, kill our children, then you. Do you know who that would've destroyed me if you died? If you and our babies died?"

Sasha felt deeply ashamed and she cried harder, sobbing out her guilt. It felt like she couldn't apologize enough. That was why she felt unworthy. She had jeopardized her life and heir children's lives.

Jason pressed his lips to hers, again. "Please don't feel ashamed any more. Our babies can feel that."

"Jason, take her upstairs," Bruce stated. "I think she needs more than your words to show that you still love her. We need to move Tim to his room."

Jason nodded and picked up Sasha. He carried her up the steps and back into the Manor. He didn't let go of her and continued up the stairs and into their room. He laid her on the bed and started to kiss her.

Sasha kissed Jason back, but she wasn't as enthusiastic. She wanted him, but the men who raped her made her more tentative. She didn't want to be hurt, again. Her tears were still spilling. She felt like she didn't deserve Jason. She wanted Jason to make love to her, but at the same time Sasha was scared of her own feelings and fear of what those men did to her.

"Love, are you okay?" Jason pulled back when he realized Sasha was hesitating, even pulling back a little. He cupped her face.

"No . . .," Sasha cried, her tears dripping down. "They raped me. I'm scared. I want to, but they hurt me."

"Sweetie, we don't have to do it if you don't want to," Jason stated. 'I wish I could have tortured those guys more," Jason thought, keeping his thoughts private. "I won't force you."

"Just hold me. I'm not ready." The rape had reminded Sasha of when she was a prisoner of Professor Pyg. It was horrible. She was raped almost every night and to a point where she didn't care. He face had been badly scarred. She still had a small scar left, right behind her right ear. Batman and Robin stopped Pyg, but it was Jason who took her away from that life and gave her a purpose, again.

Jason rested his back agains the headboard and brought Sasha close. 'My best friend, my partner, my lover, my everything is hurting,' he thought. "I'm here."

Sasha cuddled into Jason's arms, feeling his warmth. She needed him to take the hurt away. She didn't want to go back to that life, feeling that anger, that hate, that indifference to the world.

Jason rocked her gently in his arms, humming a bit. He didn't want her to feel torn, used, ever again. 'That's not my Sasha. She's confident and head strong. Very loving and caring at the same time.'

"How is Tim doing?" Sasha suddenly asked.

"He's weak right now, but with Samantha's help, he'll feel better in the morning."

"That's good." Sasha was feeling tired. With Jason holding her, she started to relax and was soon falling asleep.

Jason held onto her for a little longer, still rocking back and forth. Once Sasha fell asleep, Jason started to cry. His aura was back at stage one. He didn't hold any animosity towards Bruce or Tim. He was just angry.

JSBJSBJSB

After Bruce had changed out of his uniform, Tim was taken care of and taken to his room. He helped Alfred, get Tim comfortable. He thought that Dick would be up here helping. And he could not help noticing that Samantha had rushed back upstairs as soon as she was done with Sasha. Maybe he would find out later from Dick or talk to Samantha later as to what was going on. Right now there was another young lady he needed to check on. Bruce headed to Jason's room. He knocked on the door and entered. "I came to see how Sasha was doing and I find you're not doing well yourself."

Jason shoot his head no. He brough Sasha close to him when she slipped a bit. "Bruce I was so mad, so angry that she went off. I was so afraid that something bad would happen, and it did."

"What happened?"

"She . . . She was raped by two of the Joker's men."

"I am sorry, Jason," Bruce could see Jason loved Sasha very deeply. He was hurting just as much, "What happened to the men that raped her?"

Jason didn't want to say anything. He pressed his face into Sasha's red hair.

"Son, tell me."

"I . . . I killed them. Shot one between the eyes and stabbed one in the chest," Jason whispered.

Bruce wanted to be disappointed in Jason's actions, but with children at stake, he couldn't. "Did you catch them in the act?"

"No, but I caught them coming out fixing their pants," Jason sobbed. "And one of them said she liked it."

"I'm sure she didn't. I'm sure she tried to fight them."

"But I wasn't there to help her. I should have tried to stop her from going."

"Sasha is a strong headed woman," Bruce stated. "You would not have fallen in love with her if she wasn't. And you did what was necessary."

"It's not what you would have done," Jason stated.

Bruce sighed. "It may not have been, but you did one thing for more important than just following the rules. You saved lives, the lives of your wife and children. When it comes down to the lives of unborn children, I might have done the same thing."

"Really?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure what I would have done. I probably would have beaten them senseless to where they were still alive and could stand trial for rape, but that might mean that Sasha's secret identity would be compromised, and even yours."

"I don't care about that," Jason scoffed.

"I know, but you know the repercussions if it happens."

"I know."

"Let's get off this topic. You need rest. And in a few hours, I'm going to have to ask Samantha to heal Tim's legs. Dr. Leslie was impressed with Samantha's skills, though, I think she might also be a bit jealous."

"Sure," Jason said. He lighted his grip around Sasha and placed his chin on her head. Once he was comfortable, he let himself drift off to sleep.

Bruce gave Jason a quick peck on the top of his head. He brushed his hands along his son's head then left his son and wife to their rest. Once, out in the hallway, Bruce's face became a hardened mask. It was time that he and the Joker had a serious talk, with his fists.

Continues with Part 14