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! / / Indicates speaking in a different language.

Serpent in Paradise

Part 11

Nathan Devlin sat back, cocky as ever and confident in his position. He smiled like a crocodile then reached for the drink he had sat on the table earlier.

"You really are dumb Mr. Wayne," Devlin said, then leaned on the table, swirling his drink. "I didn't think you'd fall for the special family vacation deal that I set up. Of course you were the only one who received that brochure."

"You designed this as a trap for me?" Bruce really didn't need to act dumb. He had been fooled and he wanted to know why.

"It was the only way to get you to come to me," Devlin stated. "I hoped, you'd come sooner. Say, six months ago . . . . No matter, you're hear now and you do have something I want. And I'll be able to take it any time without you stopping me."

Bruce's eyes narrowed. He'd give him a growl, but that could give him away. "No one is going to threaten me."

"Careful Wayne, you would not want something to happen to any of your sons now, would you. With just a phone call, I could arrange it where you don't see any of your sons again. You really are in no position to bargain. I happen to know you are friends with Gotham's Dark Knight. He's in Gotham and you're here. And there is nothing he can do to stop me."

"What is it that you want Devlin? You haven't answered my question."

"Now Mr. Wayne, I don't have to answer that. What good would it do if you knew? You wouldn't be able to use the information. And you certainly won't be able to stop me since I do own this whole island. There's really no one to help you. For now, I suggest you enjoy your meal. My men are getting nervous. See you later, Mr. Wayne."

Red Robin waited until Bruce's dinner companion left. He couldn't hear their conversation. It didn't look good. From this height, he didn't recognize the man. The angle was wrong to get a good look at his face. He waited ten minutes before the guy got up and went to the wet bar to get a drink. That's when Red Robin dropped the note. He made sure one of his throwing birds was inside to give it the right amount of weight so it would drop right into Bruce's lap. He then dropped back to find out what Red Hood and Scarlet found.

Red Hood was on the beach, searching the area when he came upon the tracks. 'You must be fucking kidding me. Ugh,' he growled. 'They walked right by me and I didn't even hear them. There weren't any drag marks so they had to have carried Damian. He had to be unconscious because he wouldn't have let them take him so easily.'

Red Robin ran into Scarlet first. "What did you find out?"

"It doesn't look like anyone came through any other exists. Someone would have seen three armed masked men carrying a child if they did."

"That leaves the beach. I dropped Bruce a note. He should be joining us soon. I told him to meet us in my room. Let's go talk to Jason."

Red Hood entered Tim's room by using the balcony.

Since this particular walkway only had the four hut-like structures, it was unlikely that they would be discovered. Other structures weren't as close. Scarlet and Red Robin headed to Tim's room. Red Hood was waiting there. "What did you find?"

"They went towards the water fall," explained Red Hood.

"Do you think they might be holding Damian there?" Scarlet asked.

"They could be. There weren't any tracks leading away from the waterfall. Plus there were only the three sets of footprints."

"Why did they take Damian? You two know something I don't," Red Robin said. 'I know it goes back to my dream, but I had to hear it from them.'

Bruce entered at that moment to see Tim, Jason, and Sasha in their crime fighting gear. He was immediately put on alert when he read Red Robin's note and when he saw the condition of the door in Tim's room. "I got your message, what's wrong and what happened here?"

"Damian's been kidnapped," Red Robin stated.

"What? How!?" Bruce demanded. He kept to himself about Devlin and the veiled threats, though he suspected somehow, Devlin was involved.

Red Hood felt responsible. 'If Sasha and I hadn't found that waterfall . . .'

"We have to tell him," Scarlet told Red Hood as she placed a hand on his arm.

Red Hood nodded his agreement. Better to let Bruce know than have him find out later.

"Do you want me to tell him?"

"If you feel comfortable," said Red Hood.

"Red Hood and I wanted to do some exploring. We went north of the resort."

Red Robin smirked letting them know he probably knew what they were up to. Red Hood gave Red Robin a warning glance. Scarlet then explained about finding the cave, hearing the voices, finding the box and trying to hide.

"How did they discover you and Red Hood were there?"

Scarlet was embarrassed to say. "I . . . Um . . . I lost my bikini top."

Red Hood looked away from them to keep his smile and a blush from showing. He wasn't wearing his helmet at the time.

'How could they be so careless?' Bruce screamed in his own mind. He wanted to yell at them for their stupidity for not checking things out ahead of time. Instead they nearly got themselves kidnapped or killed, but it would do little good to chastise them now. Still their recklessness caused them to have Damian kidnapped by a bunch of drug runners. "It can't be helped. We need to get Damian back as soon as possible."

'He's too calm,' Red Hood observed. 'We're in trouble once this is over.'

"Are you going to need back-up," Bruce asked Red Hood and Scarlet.

"I think between the three of us we should take care of it, but we can call . . ." Red Robin started to say.

"Red Robin, you are not ready for something like this," Bruce argued.

"Dick isn't in any shape to help either with his broken leg," Red Robin argued. "We're just going to do some investigating. I promise I'll let Red Hood and Scarlet handle the situation."

"You better," Bruce growled, sounding like Batman.

'We need to find Damian . . . and fast,' Red Hood thought. 'Bruce is not happy.'

"Come on we better head to that cave. You two lead the way," Red Robin stated. He followed Red Hood and Scarlet out to the beach and they made their way north. "Red Hood, Scarlet slow down . . ." They were moving just a little faster than Red Robin could follow. Luckily his night vision kept them in his sights.

Scarlet and Red Hood made sure to move quickly. They didn't want to take the chance that the men who had Damian might relocate. That's when Red Hood heard Tim ask to slow down. "Sorry little Red...didn't mean to move so quickly."

"We don't want to alert them to our presence either. Is there another route to the waterfall?"

"There must be," Red Hood thought for a moment. "But Scarlet and I came along the beach."

"Maybe a parallel path where we can come from above."

"The cave had a dead end," Scarlet said. "The only entrance was through the waterfall."

"How are we going to sneak up on them if there is only one way in or out?" Red Robin asked, looking at Red Hood.

"Wait . . . I think one of them cut another walk way through . . . They could be using that way to come and go."

"Okay, you and Scarlet know this area . . . At least you have been here once. What do you want to do? I'll let you lead at this point."

The three of them started to hear the waterfall as they drew closer. Unless they were being silent, the waterfall masked any voices.

As they got closer to the waterfall Red Hood could see a bunch of guys standing outside of the small cave. He needed to figure out what language they were speaking. He waved Red Robin over. "Little Red, do you think you could figure out what language they're speaking by lip reading?"

Red Robin moved a little closer to where he could see what they were saying. He listened for a few minutes as well as watched their lips. He caught a few words that he recognized. He hadn't heard the language for three years, but it was coming back to him. Tim's parents had him study the language just in case he went with them to a dig or on a charity trip. "It's Creole."

"Creole . . . Can you speak creole?" Red Hood was impressed. He had not heard of anyone learning to speak such an esoteric language.

"My Dad had me study it for three months when they were planning their trip to Haiti . . . Turned out I couldn't go because they changed the date. I had school," Red Robin explained. 'And soon after my parents were kidnapped . . . 'and my mother . . .'

Red Hood didn't pursue the rest of his inquiry. He could tell Red Robin was feeling uncomfortable talking about the subject.

Red Robin shook off the memory. It was long before Jason's return and during his training as Robin. It would be the last time he saw his mother alive. An anger rose in him that he didn't expect. "Do you want to know what they are saying?"

"Yes, we need to know if Damian is in there or not."

Red Robin started reading the lips. It was slow at first, but he quickly picked it back up. The translation sent chills down his spine.

/You should not have fired your weapon, Netoo. We needed him alive as well./ The first one stated.

/Meester Devlin does not know everything./ Netto stated. /He was a threat. Besides, the little bastard spoiled my aim. I should have killed him./

/The Master knows what he is doing. We can collect the other one later tonight. Meester Devlin wants him and he will keep meester Wayne busy . . . You can kill the one who saw and this little one. He will know we are serious,/ the second concluded.

/Go check the prisoner. Make certain he is secure. He bit me before. I had to teach him a lesson./

Red Robin turned back to Red Hood and Scarlet. "They have Damian. They want you Jason. They were supposed to take me, too," Red Robin said. "I don't know why. Because I attacked them, one of them screwed up." Red Robin did not tell them that the men were planning on killing him and Damian.

"They are coming back tonight for you? Batman should be able to catch them if they do."

"Do you think I should go back and we lay a trap?" Red Robin asked Red Hood.

"That does sound like a good idea. Scarlet and I will stay here. If we all attack they could kill Damian."

"I'll let Bruce know." Red Robin headed back to the resort. He found Bruce with Alfred waiting in his room. He told him about finding Damian and who was involved. "They're coming back for me. They want Jason because of what he might have seen and if you don't comply they'll kill Damian to show they're serious. We need to set a trap."

Bruce nodded. "So, Nathan Devin is involved . . . Well, Batman will have something to say about it. Get your uniform off. We'll be ready for them."

Red Robin changed back to Tim. He had to pretend to be scared and upset at his brother's kidnapping. He pretended to cower on the bed. He waited for the men to strike. He hoped Scarlet and Red Hood were having luck with retrieving Damian.

RRBRRBRR

While at the cave, Red Hood watched as the men left their post leaving two guys to guard Damian. One of them had a gun on them.

"Should I do my thing?" asked Scarlet.

"Don't let them touch you," Red Hood warned.

"Don't worry . . . I won't," Scarlet cooed. "You're the only one I allow that." Scarlet moved to the edge of the pool where there was a patch of moonlight. She dipped her foot provocatively into the pool, pretending like she didn't see the two men. Then she started to strip. Through her mask she spied the men. 'That's it come a little closer.'

Red Hood watched as the two men got an eye full of Scarlet. He didn't like the way they were watching her. He got ready to strike.

The man with the gun stayed at his post the other couldn't wait to get to Scarlet. When he came close enough, Scarlet wrapped her skirt around his neck and started to squeeze. That's when Red Hood made his move.

TBTBTB

Back at the resort Tim pretended to cry and cringe when two men with guns entered his room. This time they cocked their guns and pointed them at him. "Don't hurt me . . ." Tim pleaded, raising his hands. "My dad gets pretty angry if you try to hurt me . . ." As one of the men tried to grab him, Tim grabbed onto his wrist and twisted it hard, pulling him in to bring a knee up to the man's face. Batman dropped down and grabbed the other man when two more came in behind. They must have anticipated that it could be a trap. "Batman, look out!"

SHRSHRSHE

As Scarlet was taking care of the first one Red Hood went ahead and went against the guy with the gun. The man fired twice, Red Hood was able to dodge them, kicking the man's feet from under him. He knocked the gun from out of the thug's hand and knocked him out. Pulling out zip ties Red Hood tied the kidnapper's hands.

"This one's taken care of," Scarlet said. "He's not going to wake any time soon. She was not above killing if it meant to protect the life of a child. 'I just wish I could have protected mine better.'

Entering the cave again, Red Hood could see that Damian was tied to a chair. The kidnappers had placed a couple of torches around for light. Red Hood could see there was blood running down the side of Damian's face and his eyes were blackened. He went over to untie him.

"Are you okay?" Red Hood asked Damian, and brushed a gloved hand along Damian's face to clear away the blood.

"No . . . I can't . . . my head is hurting really bad . . . one of those idiots slammed me against the wall."

TBTBTB

The two men that came in behind Batman struck him hard on the back of his neck. He went down like a stone. They must have posted lookouts. That meant they had been watching all along, waiting to make their move. /Leave, take the boy/ Tim heard one of the men say, /Take him to Meester Devlin./

/He should die so he does not follow us. The man cocked his gun./

"No!" Tim pleaded. One of the men was about to shoot Batman in the back of the head. Tim placed himself between Batman and the gunman. "I'll go with you . . . Just don't shoot him." Tim knew they wouldn't be taking him to the cave. They were taking him to Nathan Devlin.

Continues with Part 11

A/N i'll be posting one more part via IPad until my computer is back up and running. I moved into a house and we have A LOT of unpacking to do. The story is not over folks.