A/N: After weeks of interruptions, illnesses, and other crises, plus having to handle a succubus determined to take Tim's life force, the Bat Family finally gets a vacation, to the Bahamas, but is it the trip of their dreams? Warning some chapters contain explicit mature themes!
Serpent in Paradise
Part 3
Bruce found Dick holding a sleeping Tim. He was gently rocking him. "I take it he's been having bad dreams."
"Yeah, every time I leave his side he starts to have them."
"Sounds very familiar," Bruce said. "When you were eight and you first came here, you had nightmares every night. Only when you stayed by my side, did the nightmares subside. It took weeks, even after you began your training. How deep asleep is he in?"
"Deep enough," Dick replied then he looked down at his shirt. Tim had a hold of it like a frightened child. "Maybe not."
"We'll wait a little longer. I'll send Alfred in as soon as he's sufficiently asleep. I've arranged for the JLA to protect Gotham for the next two weeks. Plus, I've informed his instructors when we return that Tim will be studying to take the exams in April. A couple weren't happy about it, but I'm sure Tim will be happy to not have to worry about school."
"I think it would be great for him to get out. Maybe he would relax more, not having to worry about school until he goes to college."
"Mmmmmmm . . . Bruce?" Tim yawned.
"I better leave and you better get him more settled."
Dick nodded to his father then turned his attention to Tim. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"
" . . . Can't . . . Talking . . ." Tim said sleepily.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to be quiet for you. Try to get some more shut eye, please."
"When is Jason and Sasha coming home?"
"Soon. They should be home once you wake up again."
"Okay . . . Wanted to tell . . . Feel bad about the baby . . . Feel somewhat responsible."
Dick saddened a bit. Why would Tim blame himself? He had no control over that. It was that succubus. 'I think she tried to win us all over by controlling us.'
"Sasha a threat. Tried to get to Jason . . . Somehow knew . . . Couldn't stop her."
"So that's how it happened. She was doing her best to protect Jason."
"Damian knew," Tim added. "Afraid of her . . . Tried pleading . . . Help . . . Sleepy . . ." Tim rubbed his eyes.
"Baby bird . . . I can't understand you right now. You're about to fall asleep talking."
" . . . . Mmmmmm."
"Sleep. You're tired," Dick coaxed, as he continued to rock Tim.
Tim started to drift. He felt safe. More safe than he had in a long time.
Bruce popped his head in. "Is it safe to come back in?"
Dick shook his head and mouthed the word, no.
"Fighting sleep?" whispered Bruce.
Dick nodded his head and mouthed, "Big time."
"Can't be helped. I informed Jason and Sasha. They are on their way to the airport to meet us. Leslie released her into Jason's care. I'll send Alfred in to pack a bag. You get Tim wrapped up in a couple of blankets and I'll carry him to the car. Damian is already waiting downstairs."
Dick nodded and lifted Tim onto the bed and wrapped him in a couple of blankets.
Tim was barely aware of what was going on. The warmth from the blankets lulled him deeper into sleep. Then he started dreaming . . . A very strange dream . . . He dreamed that Bruce was carrying him. He placed Tim down and then he carried him again. After that Tim just slept. He really needed it. Tim must have slept for hours. Next thing Tim was aware of was someone gently shaking his shoulder to wake him up. "Five more minutes, Mom. I promise I'll get up."
'Mom?' Dick almost snickered, but gave a smile. "Hey, come on Tim you have to get up please."
"Why . . . I'm comfortable . . ." Why was Dick trying to wake me up?
"I know you're comfortable but you need to get up now," Dick said and started to shake Tim a little. "Come on Baby bird, wake up."
"Is there some kind of emergency?" Tim was a little more alert.
"No, but there will be if you don't get up and get moving."
"Um . . . Wait . . . Why are we on a plane?" Tim asked.
"It's a surprise."
That got Tim curious. He got up, feeling better, still a bit shaky, but not as much as yesterday. Tim looked out the window. He saw they were coming to a landing at a small airport. There were palm trees and a lot of sand. "Holy Toto, we're not in Gotham any more . . . Sorry, that's your line. Where . . . .are we?"
Dick chuckled. "The Bahamas."
Tim looked back at Dick, his eyes wide. "You're kidding me." Tim could see Dick was smiling. "We haven't been kidnapped? We really are in the Bahamas?'
"I'm not joking. Everyone is here, too."
Dick was right. Everyone was on the plane. "How did this . . . I mean . . . I wasn't even . . . wow . . ."
"Figured we could do something nice for you. You need to relax, badly."
'I really must have slept solidly,' Tim thought. 'I didn't hear anything.'
"It was fun carrying through the airport," Dick teased. "Didn't make a sound."
"Gee . . . I really must have been out. I dreamed Bruce was carrying me . . . But no bad dreams."
"He carried you most of the time," Dick explained. "I did a little, but he didn't want me straining my leg. So, are you excited?"
"Wow, are you kidding? This is great!"
Dick was glad to see Tim was happy for once. There was a smile on his face and he seemed to brighten up. "Great! I want to go to the beach. Can't swim because of my leg, but I still would like to go."
"Oh yeah!" Tim tried to stifle a huge yawn.
"Uh oh...did you tire yourself out already?" Dick asked. 'He may need a tad bit more sleep.'
"I'm okay . . . Well . . . Um how long are we going to be here?" Tim was still wrapped in blankets, but he didn't want to admit he still felt tired.
"Two weeks?" Dick shrugged. "I forget."
"Two weeks? What about school?"
"We'll discuss that later."
Tim was overwhelmed. "Wait did you just tell me this was done for me?"
"Yes," Dick replied with a straight face.
Tim was speechless. No one's ever done something like that for him. Tears of joy filled his eyes. His slightly opened mouth turned into a deep long yawn. " . . . I guess I was still tired."
Dick could see that Tim was about to cry until he yawned. "You can sleep again if you want."
"Aren't we supposed to . . . *YAAAWWWNN* . . . Go to a hotel, or something," Tim's eyes were starting to droop again but he rubbed them to try to keep awake.
"Yeah, we need to head over once we land," Dick said.
"I can see someone is awake." Bruce came into the back cabin to check on Tim.
Tim was trying to watch the plane land but could not stop yawning, his eyes drooping more.
"But not for long," Bruce said.
"Yeah he's going to fall asleep soon." Dick concurred.
Dick's prediction was right. Tim couldn't keep his eyes open. He was swiftly falling asleep again. When Tim wakes up again, he'll be in a beachside room with ocean breezes.
"Let him sleep for a little while longer. We're set with the resort. I'll carry him to a car," Bruce said.
"Okay."
"He's already looking less pale and drawn. We've forgotten just how long Tim has been sick and how long he's suffered through loss and injuries. This should do him a world of good." Bruce picked up a sleeping Tim and looked around at Jason, Sasha, and Damian. "This should do all of us a world of good."
"It should. I want to relax, get off this leg for a while and I'm pretty sure Jason's shoulder is killing him."
"Not to mention Sasha losing that baby must have devastated them both. We're a pretty sorry crew right now. I don't think I could even defend Gotham with my mind distracted with my family's problems."
'Bruce was right...we are so broken right now,' Dick took a glance at his brother and his fiancé then back at Tim and Bruce. 'We look like hell.'
Bruce noticed the plane was taxing toward the airport and a car was waiting on the Tarmac. 'Hopefully, this vacation will allow us time to heal.'
This time Tim was aware of Bruce carrying him off the plane, but he was determined to stay awake in the car. "Where we going?" he asked sleepily.
"The resort. We'll be there in about ten minutes, right Bruce?" Dick stated.
Bruce nodded.
Ten minutes later as the car drove along a beachside road, Tim looked out the car window to see cabanas, palm trees, grass covered huts, and what looked like private rooms on stilts with walkways in between. Some of them stretched out into the water. "Whoa what is the place?" He could imagine himself jumping into the water from his room. It was cool!
"I'm curious to see what our rooms will look like," Damian stated.
"Want to race?" Tim asked. For a moment Tim's energy returned. The anticipation of that was making him excited.
"If you're up to it," Damian teased. He liked a good challenge.
"Oh no you don't," Bruce stated. "Tim, you're not up to racing not now. Wait a few days. You need more rest than you think. And Damian, you should know better than to race your brother when he's exhausted."
"But father," Damian complained. He just wanted to have fun with Tim. He seemed so down earlier.
Tim stuck his tongue out at Bruce when he wasn't looking. Next time Tim signed then sighed.
Okay Damian signed back smiling.
Bruce pretended he had not to noticed, but he was pleased that his sons were keeping up their sign language practice.
"I for one am looking forward to soaking up some rays," Sasha said. "My skin looks so pale."
"You look fine to me, hun," Jason said.
"It would be nice to go to one of their private grottos and just soak in a pool," Sasha said, winking at Jason. She wanted him to hold her in more ways than one. 'I know the Doctor said we should wait, but I'm an impatient woman and I need my man.'
Jason could read into her. He can tell she was becoming impatient. "Okay, that sounds nice."
Bruce saw the look on those two faces and knew they weren't going to be resting for very long. "Okay, let me get us checked in when we arrive at the resort. Alfred will see to the bags."
Dick nodded at the plans that were starting to be bantered around. He wondered what he was going to do. He knew Damian and Tim were going to hang out. 'I think I'll relax at the beach.'
Tim didn't know how long his energy was going to hold out. Damian, do you want to play a game in my room? I'm not tired right now Tim said, practicing signing. He also wanted to ask Damian some questions without interference, meaning Dick trying to get him to sleep.
Sure, anything to get away Damian replied.
"Jason, why don't you carry Tim while I get us checked in," Bruce stated as they arrived at the resort. He saw Damian and Tim signing. He had other plans for Tim.
"Bruce, I can walk," Tim protested, but the blanket was hindering him as he tried to climb out of the car.
"No arguments."
Jason went over to pick up Tim but he wiggled away. "Hey . . . no arguments, remember."
"I can walk on my own," Tim said, trying to wrap the blanket around and almost falling over in the process.
Jason caught Tim before he fell. "I know you want to do this yourself but you need more rest. I'm not going to hound you like Dick is, just get a few more hours of sleep, okay."
Tim couldn't argue any more. He didn't realize how weak he still was. He slipped and almost fell out of Jason's arms. Jason gripped him tighter. Tim wouldn't have been able to break Jason's grip if he could. Tim couldn't help notice how tight Jason was gripping him. 'Jason may be carrying me, but he's not quite as gentle as Dick. He's squeezing me tight. Almost expecting me to try to get away from him. What's he afraid of?'
Jason couldn't help but hold Tim tight against him. 'He was almost taken away from us. Dick and I need to step up our game at being older brothers.' Jason also couldn't help notice Tim's physical condition. 'He's still a little bit light, too. At least he's going to eat well now and gain a bit more exercise.'
"It's embarrassing being carried wrapped in pajamas and a blanket. They could have at least put some clothes on me before we left," Tim complained to Jason.
"Well, I thought Dick would've changed you before we left the Manor," Jason replied. "But Bruce just had you bundled in blankets. I guess he was in a hurry to leave before something else happened."
"We didn't want the risk waking you up to be able to surprise you so enjoy it," Bruce added.
"Still embarrassing," Tim griped.
"No it's not," Jason countered. "I would enjoy it . . . the being carried part."
Bruce went up to the reception area. "The Wayne Family."
Sasha and Jason followed behind Bruce, Dick, and Damian. Alfred brought up the rear.
"We've been expecting you," The receptionist stated. "Your rooms are ready," handing out keycards. "Your rooms are along that walkway. The water view."
"Thank you," Bruce replied.
"Are we all set?" asked Dick.
Bruce moved along the boardwalk toward the water. Their rooms were actually the structures on stilts along the water's edge. They were designed to look like grass huts. The electrical and plumbing was so well hidden that he couldn't determine where those items might be. When they reached their designated rooms, Bruce handed keycards to everyone. "Jason and Sasha, you have a space together. Damian, you're with Dick, Alfred is with me. Tim, you get a room by yourself so you can rest. Jason, here are Tim's keycards."
"Okay, I'll take him inside." Jason opened the door to Tim's room. The room was immaculate, thick pillows on a mattress covered with protective netting. The windows were open to the air and there was a ceiling fan. A breeze was coming off the water. "Oh WOW!" Tim exclaimed.
Jason placed Tim down on his feet making sure he was steady.
The bed looked so inviting. Tim walked over to it, dropping the blankets that were wrapped around him and climbed in. It was heaven and he soon found his eyelids drooping.
Jason went and placed one of Tim's keycards on the side table. He leaned over Tim and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I'll see you later. Get some shuteye. I'll hang onto this second key and pass it along to everyone else."
The breeze coming off the water was pleasant. Jason adjusted the netting so it covered Tim before he left the room. "Leave the door open so Damian or Dick can come in," Tim yawned.
"Okay." Jason exited the room, leaving the door cracked as Tim requested.
" . . . Thanks . . ." Tim replied sleepily. Jason had already left seeking his own room.
Continues With Part 4