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?

Serpent in Paradise

Part 28

Over the next several days found Tim and Samantha preparing for each of their various tests, Tim for testing out of high school, and Samantha to learn whether she was going to need to go back to high school. It would be a grueling task. Tim's first test date was the week before Easter. It was in a subject he knew all too well, math and geometry. The test would take three hours, and touch on every possible math problem that Tim had ever studied, including calculus. When he came out of the testing center, Dick was waiting for him.

"So, how did it go?" Dick asked curious. "You look like you've been through the ringer."

"I'm glad that's over with," Tim stated. "Some of those problems were really tough."

"You don't think you passed?"

"I didn't say that," Tim said. "I'm pretty sure I got at least 90% right, but there were a few that I hadn't seen before."

"Ninety percent?" Dick questioned. "You do know you only have to get 80% to pass."

"You know me," Tim shrugged. "I can't help it. I like Math."

"What is your next subject you'll be testing on?"

"Science subjects, anything from biology, to chemistry, to physics."

"You'll do well in that," Dick stated. "You're pretty good in the science subjects as well."

"Next one after that is History and Government," Tim stated. "I'm not so good with those."

"What was your best grade?"

"A minus," Tim answered.

"A minus, are you kidding?"

'Like I said, it's not my best subject," Tim replied.

"Now I know you're joking."

Tim gave Dick a sideways smirk. "To be honest, I'm better with ancient history than I am with American history. It's all those archeological digs my Dad went on. He would send me stuff and I'd try to . . . you know learn all about the places he would visit." Tim finally noticed that Dick hadn't moved the car. "Um, why are we sitting here?"

"Because your girlfriend is getting tested today as well. She came here two hours after you. She needs to find out what high school level she's at."

"Those kinds of tests usually take a couple of hours," stated Tim.

"So, I thought I'd take you to lunch and we'd pick her up afterward. You two have barely seen each other since we had dinner together and when she announced that Sasha was pregnant. I still don't know how she did that either."

"She's a healer," Tim tried to explain.

"I know, but," Dick was a bit taken aback by it all. "Oh, Jason and Sasha set a date as well. They're getting married next month."

"That's great! So, where are we going for lunch?"

"I thought I would take you to that new burger joint not far from here. They're cheese burgers are said to be the best."

"You know Alfred frowns on that stuff," Tim stated.

"Are you going to tell him?" Dick questioned.

"Who me?" Tim feigned offense.

Dick gave his younger brother a playful punch to the arm. "If you do tell, I'll glue your laptop lid shut."

"You wouldn't dare," Tim said outraged, playing along.

"No, I wouldn't," replied Dick. "But I might scramble your password."

"I promise, I won't say anything," Tim said. "But you know Alfred. He's like a bloodhound. He seems to know when you've not eaten the right foods. I don't know how he does it."

"Don't try to figure it out," Dick advised. "You'll give yourself a headache."

"Then Sammie can heal me if I do," Tim said, jovially.

"You really like that girl, don't you."

"Yeah," Tim said. "There's just something about her. I can't explain it. It's like I don't know, she gets me."

"I thought you'd be put off from dating after what happened with that, you know, that Succubus."

"Don't remind me," Tim said. "I still have nightmares from that."

"Not as many apparently," Dick stated. "It seems your dreams might be occupied by someone else?"

"How do you know?"

"Well, I can't help but notice the way you and Samantha look at each other when you've passed each other in the hall at the Manor."

"Um, yeah, I guess," Tim blushed.

Dick had to smirk at the way Tim turned red when he mentioned the girl from the islands. They arrived at the restaurant and went inside. They were shown to a table and given menus. Dick ordered a large cheeseburger with bacon and onion rings. Tim ordered a club sandwich with a side salad.

"Come on Tim, you should try the burgers."

"Nah, I'm good," Tim replied.

When their meal came, they ate in silence until someone bumped Tim on the back of his head causing Tim to nearly spill his drink.

"Hey Timmy, is that your boyfriend?"

Tim's eyes narrowed at the remark when he realized whom it was that bumped him on purpose. He was about to shoot out his own remark when Dick grabbed him by the arm.

"Ignore him, Tim," Dick said. "He's just trying to get a rise out of you."

"Yeah, Timmy, listen to your old lady."

"Grimes you better shut it before I shut it for you. You're talking about my brother."

"Your brother. Got a little incest going on?" Grimes stated.

Tim shifted his glass of water just a hair closer to the edge of the table, then swept his hand in such a way that it appeared to accidently splash the water onto the front of Grime's pants.

'Oh, I'm really sorry about that," Tim said with a bit of sarcasm. "Looks like when you go see your buddies they might assume you can't hold it."

"I'll knock your block off, Drake! These pants were brand new! They were Armani!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but you were ripped off," Tim stated, as he finished up his lunch. "Ready to go Dick, we need to pick up Sammie."

Dick finished his onion rings then took the check up to the counter to pay for their meals.

"How would you know these aren't Armani, Drake?" Grimes followed and questioned Tim.

"Because mine are Armani. And yours don't have the signature stitching on the pockets."

"I'll kill that street vender!" Grimes complained as Dick and Tim left the restaurant and got in Dick's car and headed back to the testing center.

"Boy you handed that well," Dick stated. "I thought for sure you were going to drag that guy outside and give him a pounding with what he was saying."

"I've been through it before. Besides, Red Robin will probably run into him later tonight and teach him some manners. I recognized him as one of Tony Martinez's small time pushers. He used to be in my high school until he dropped out. The thing is, no one can touch Martinez. He's a Mexican National. All we can do is arrest the pushers for possession."

"You've got to be careful Tim, that guy could hurt you," Dick stated.

"Dick, you know I can take care of myself," Tim stated.

"I know, I just don't think you should take chances."

"I think he's more upset that his suit isn't an Armani than he is with me spilling a glass of water on him. Besides, I have my big brother to protect me."

"Well come on little brother, let's go get your girlfriend."

Continues with Part 29

A/N: . . . . Just to let everyone know. I'm going to be gone for about 3 weeks. And there are still a few more chapters to go. I'll post more when I return.