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 5

Despite the comfortable bed and the ocean breezes, Tim was dreaming again, this time of Damian pleading for his life. "NO! DON'T . . . HE"S JUST A KID! NO!" He was thrashing around, caught in the netting of the bed. "NOOOO!"

Damian stepped out of his room that he shared with Dick. He saw that Tim's door was ajar when heard him cry out. He walked in to see Tim thrashing about. "Tim!" Damian went and tried to shake Tim awake. "Tim wake up!"

"DAMIAN! NOOO!" Tim was crying, tears streaming down.

'Why would he be screaming out for me?' Damian thought. "Tim . . . TIM! Drake, wake up. I'm right here! I'm right here!"

Tim snapped awake and saw Damian sitting on the bed next to him. He grabbed Damian and hugged him tightly. "She didn't get you . . . You're all right"

"What are you talking about Tim? No one is coming for me," Damian said as he hugged Tim back. 'For being so exhausted he sure is strong.'

"It was so . . . Real‚" Tim‚'s breath caught in his throat. "She came back . . . She went after you . . . Because you knew what she was."

"Tim, that bitch is dead," Damian swore. "Pardon my language. She can't come back. Father ripped out her heart. Holy water was thrown on her. She can't get me." Damian got up off the bed and head toward the door. "I'm hungry. I want some breakfast."

"Stay . . . Please . . .‚" Tim was shaking. The dream had spooked him badly. Rationally Tim knew the dream wasn't real, but emotionally, he wasn't so sure. 'I've fought monsters like Trigon, but this . . .'

Damian nodded and settled next to his brother. He was surprised when Tim instantly curled himself around him. 'I can tell that dream really spooked him. He's never held me like this.'

Tim suddenly became very protective of Damian. It was people like him, the kids, why Tim recreated the Titans, to protect the kids of the world from harm. 'But how can I even protect the kids of the world if I haven't been doing a very good job of protecting myself.'

Damian felt as if Tim was trying to protect him from something with the way he had wrapped himself around him. 'What was he trying to protect me from? The world? The people in it? That's absurd. I can protect myself. Drake knows that,' Damian frowned. And yet, he could not help leaning into Tim. 'This is very different from when we first started. I was always trying to harm him‚ on several altercations.' Damian felt bad about that now. Drake had earned his respect this past year. 'Maybe I should help him get stronger. He needs to be. I have never seen him so worn down before. This Tim, trying to protect me despite the fact that he is weak, is not the Tim I'm used to. He's better than this. I know he can get better. I will help in any way I can.'

Tim suddenly knew just how Dick must feel, trying to protect him from the world. 'But if I learn to protect myself better, I could protect Damian,' Tim thought. 'I need something to fight for again . . . And I think I just found it.' As Tim fell asleep he made a vow, mumbling it to Damian. 'I promise to protect you . . . I promise to protect you . . . With my life.'

'Protect...protect me?' Damian was shocked at his words. 'Tim never told me that before.' Damian smiled. "You better . . . Or I'll kick your butt." Despite Damian being hungry, he nodded off to sleep feeling safe in his brother's arms.

Continues with Part 6