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!
Sorry about the long hiatus, but we're back with the BatFamily!
Serpent in Paradise
Part 22
Tim went to his room and started packing his bag. He grabbed the blanket that Bruce had wrapped him in, folded it, and placed it inside his suitcase. He grabbed his pajamas he had worn and put them in next. He hadn't worn that many clothes even if he had a weeks worth in his bag. There wasn't much else he wanted to bring back. He was ready to go home. After zipping up his bag, Tim dragged his suitcase behind him and went to Alfred's room and knocked on his door.
"Come in Master Timothy. We are almost packed."
"I'm all packed, too." Tim saw the look on Samantha's face. Everything she owned was either around her neck or on her back. "Come with me, Samantha. Damian you can come, too."
Damian clung onto Samantha. 'She's stronger than she looks. She's able to carry me.'
'I don't have anything. I'm literally starting a new life with nothing, just my parents' jewelry.' Samantha shifted Damian to her hip.
Tim took her by the hand and led her back out to the walkway and to the lobby of the resort. "I learned something while I was copying Devlin's files. You see, Devlin not only owned this resort, he owned the whole Island, and unfortunately the village as well. Since he's going to be in jail soon and all his property seized . . ." Tim approached the gift shop. He entered it and went toward the clothing area. "I don't think he'll quibble over you taking some clothes to wear."
Samantha stood in front of the rack of clothing. With Damian in her arms she started to look around for clothes. He was nodding off while she started fingering a few pieces of clothing that caught her interest.
"I can take him," Tim offered. Samantha handed Damian to Tim. He spotted a stuffed cat and grabbed it. "Damian, here you go. This is for you."
Damian took the cat and pulled it close to him. "Thank you."
Tim decided to play a little with him. It was more like a test. Tim had noticed something about Damian's behavior that he wanted to verify. "Now that cat is very special. See he'll guard your dreams for you so you don't have any more nightmares; at least the really bad ones."
"Really? Will he be with me when I have good ones, too?" Damian questioned Tim.
"Of course, he's yours to keep. He'll need a name." Tim started to get worried. Damian wasn't acting like himself. 'This really must have shattered him. He's Robin . . . I hope . . .' Tim held Damian closer and whispered in his ear. "Don't worry Robin, you'll beat this."
Damian cringed. "How can I be Robin if I'm scared. I don't think I can do it anymore."
"You were brave enough to keep me from being shot. You'll get your confidence back. Just like I'm getting mine back. How about we work together and go on a few patrols. If the crooks can't handle one Robin, just imagine what two will do."
"I don't know," Damian clutched tighter onto the cat.
"Well, I did promise to teach you the bow staff, and I can finally do that." Using that pole brought it back to Tim. "So, when we get home I'll show you some moves." Tim pointed toward Samantha as she came out carrying several outfits. "Looks like Samantha has an armful. Can you help pick out a suitcase for her?" Tim saw Dick coming in his direction. He needed to talk to him.
Damian nodded and slithered out of Tim's grip.
Tim walked over to Dick. "I have to talk to you out of earshot of Samantha. It's about Damian."
"Sure, what's wrong with him?" Dick had also noticed that Damian had been acting odd. They walked out of the gift shop together and found a secluded spot so as not to be overheard.
"His confidence has really been shaken," Tim started out. "He's not acting like himself. He usually doesn't cling to anyone. Well, maybe to Bruce sometimes, but he just told me he doesn't think he can be Robin any more. He's acting like the ten-year-old kid we'd like him to be. He didn't bat an eye when I gave him some cock and bull story about a stuffed cat guarding his dreams. Dick, he's in real emotional trauma here."
Dick could tell the way Damian was clinging to Samantha. He was doing it now. He had a hand clasped to the end of her shirt, more like a toddler than a ten year old. "He must be in some state of shock."
"That's an understatement. He's acting like he's afraid of everything, and you know he's not."
"Any ideas on how to break him out of this?" Dick asked. 'Comfort and reassurance was the only thing I can think of. Damian's mind in a fragile state. Anything else wrong and he might break.'
"I'm going to spend as much time with him as I can, but we both have school," Tim said. "He's not going to want to leave me out of his sight. I can't take him to high school with me. He seems to trust Samantha since I trust her, but she can't take him to school either."
"She seems to have taken a liking to him. Does Samantha have any siblings?" Dick watched as Samantha interacted with Damian in the store. She was talking to his stuffed cat.
"No," Tim said, shaking his head. "She doesn't have any family. Devlin's men killed her parents. In fact they destroyed the whole village. All she has is what she's wearing. That's why I took her to the gift shop. Dick, she's 17, almost a year older than me. She has no one."
"She's coming with us right?" Dick asked. He didn't want to leave her here.
"Yes, to leave her here would be cruel. I'll see about filing immigration papers. Bruce could be her sponsor."
Dick nodded.
"Is Alfred getting your bags," Tim asked when he saw Samantha coming in their direction with a new suitcase and wearing a new dress. Damian was holding her other hand carrying his stuffed cat.
"Yes, he's bringing mine down," Dick answered and observed just how docile Damian looked and mumbled as much to Tim. It was disconcerting.
"See . . ." Tim whispered. "He's usually not like that. I think big brother Jason, and I are going to have to do some necessary teasing to snap Damian out of it. Not that I don't like him this way . . . I'm just not used to it."
"You and Jay must do what you have to. You're right, this isn't like him," Dick whispered back.
"Give us about a week when we get back," Tim said. "We'll have him back to normal. I'll talk to Jason later. Whenever he comes back up for air."
Dick couldn't help but laugh.
"Speak of the devil. he's coming up behind you."
Dick felt a pinch to his right side. "Damn it Jason don't do that!" Dick went to hit Jason back, but saw the look on Damian's face. He looked terrified.
"Jay can I talk to you," Tim asked. "Damian stay with Samantha and Dick. I'll only be a minute."
"What's wrong with Damian?" Jason started to ask. He looked concerned.
Tim pulled Jason aside and went to the media Room. "That's what I want to talk to you about." Tim opened the door and pulled Jason inside and shut the door. He didn't want Damian overhearing. "You and I have our work cut out for us as older brothers."
Jason had a confused look on his face. "What do you mean?"
"Damian's been deeply traumatized from the beating he received and my kidnapping," Tim explained. "He's never been this clingy with me. He's lost his confidence Jay. He even said he didn't know if he could be Robin any more."
Jason didn't want to believe the words coming out of Tim's mouth. Damian was more than confident. "He was the kid that beat the crap out of both of us when we first met him. That's ridiculous."
"No, it's not. We have to prove to him that he's still Robin. Just like you, Dick, and Damian needed to prove to me that I could still be Red Robin."
"You can still be Red Robin," Jason stated. "You just need to retrain."
"This isn't about me this time. Take a look at Damian," Tim stated. "Watch him right now. Tell me what you see."
Jason looked out the door to see Damian clinging onto Samantha. He wasn't quite sure what he was seeing. Is that really Damian? He's acting like . . . Like a lost little kid. "Once we're home, maybe he'll snap out of it," Jason offered.
"And maybe not," Tim countered. "We have to do something. Make him annoyed with us. Something that will bring the old Damian back. Don't get me wrong, seeing him needy I do feel like protecting him more, but Damian, he can usually protect himself."
Jason held up a hand. "I think he's calling for you."
"That arrogant little bastard stole your helmet, remember," Tim stated. "We need some of that back." Tim exited the media room. "I'm coming Damian. I'm here."
"You left me," Damian whined at Tim. "Why did you leave?"
"I had to talk to Jay for a little bit. I promise, if I have to leave I'll be right back. Want me to hold you?" Tim looked over at Jason to get him to see what Dick and he saw.
'Oh you have to be kidding me,' Jason thought. 'This is not the Damian I'm use to. He would never care if Tim left. Usually he'd mumble something like I hope he never comes back.' Jason stared at Tim. "We need to fix this," He mouthed.
Damian walked over to Tim and reached up so he could pick him up.
"Up we come. Why don't we go see how Bruce is doing with the plane. We need to load all this luggage."
"Can we play with my cat later? He likes you," Damian pressed the stuffed cat to Tim's face.
"Sure, if you guide me to the airfield since I was asleep when we first arrived here."
"Can Jason do it, he's just smoochin' his girlfriend. He's not doing anything."
Tim almost laughed at that. "Um . . . Sure . . . That is if Jason doesn't mind."
"Jason, Jason!" Damian called over Tim's shoulder. "Stop kissing your girlfriend and show Tim to the airfield. Sasha, don't let him do that. He has cooties!"
"Cooties!?" Jason questioned.
'Boy it's worse than we thought,' Tim thought. 'Damian has reverted to what might be more like six years old.'
Jason pulled away from Sasha and started to lead the way to the airfield as they all pulled their luggage behind them.
Continues with Part 23