Cypher wants revenge against Batman and his former third Robin. What better way to get revenge than to use the Wayne Family to lure everyone to their doom.

Subliminal Death

By

AJ

Part 2: A New Threat?

Several days later, after the break-in had been forgotten, everything was getting back to normal, well almost normal. Jason had this weird habit of checking the cave before going to nursing school. He went down and saw that the bat-mobile was there. Two figures were inside of it. He went over and noticed Dad and Damian were there. As Jason got closer, he noticed that they were covered in bruises and bleeding. How serious he wasn't sure. Jason was quick to open the door.

"Dad," Jason called out. "Dad, what happened?"

"Looks like we're in for a mess of trouble," Batman stated. Get Alfred or Sammie. Both of us could use a little TLC. Not only that, I believe Robin has come down with the flu."

"I have not," Daman argued, but he was soon racing to the locker room, holding his stomach and his mouth. Both heard retching coming from the locker room soon after that.

Jason didn't want to leave but he headed up the stair for Samantha. She was already awake and preparing breakfast for herself before leaving for the clinic. Jason tugged on her arm and led her down into the cave. "They are really messed up. Looks like Damian's got the flu now, too."

As they got closer to the cave, Samantha could feel that Bruce and Damian were in some type of pain. She also sensed that Damian was ill. She headed over to the bat mobile. "Hey Bats," she said, and placed her hands on him.

"What exactly happened?"

"Ran into Flamingo," Batman explained.

"You mean the sick Bastard who likes to eat people's faces? Isn't he supposed to be in Arkham?"

"Apparently, someone screwed up and he was released, or someone was paid to look the other way."

Jason glared. 'This is not happening. That Bastard harmed Batman and Robin . . . My brother and Father.'

"I know that look.," Batman said. "You're not skipping class. We can't do anything until we know what we're up against. You have a class to get to."

As much as Jason wanted to go against Dad's wishes, he was correct. 'Though this will bother me until I'm done with classes today,' he thought. 'Maybe I can gather a bit of info from some informants when I'm done.'

"With Tim being home with the flu this week as well, I'll see if he's up to doing some research on this Flamingo, find out his history. If he's working for someone, we'll soon know and find out what his game is."

"Okay."

Between Samantha and Jason, they were able to get Damian changed into some pajamas and into his own bed. Bruce's wounds turned out to be superficial. The pair just had bruising, and the blood turned out to be from Flamingon's victims. Batman went over to the bat computer and wrote a quick report regarding what happened, then got showered and changed. 'I'll contact Lucius and let him know I'm staying close to home. I'm sure he won't mind. He did tell me that a lot of people had called in sick, along with three members of the board.'

Damian coughed. "Urgh, good luck on your test today, Jay," Damian said, his throat sore from vomited earlier. 'I thought I couldn't get the flu. So much for Mother's genetics.'

Jason reached over and rubbed Damian's head. "Thanks, little bro. You get some rest." Jason headed down the stairs and into the living room. He started searching around, looking under newspapers that were scattered, plates and bowls left on tables. He knelt down and looked under one of the two couches, the one that Tim was lying on.

Tim opened his eyes to see Jason searching for something. He could sense there was an air of distraction. 'His mind isn't totally on his test. I hope he can get through it and whatever is distracting him he'll put it aside for his exam. I want him to ace it.' Tim must have watched him for ten minutes before he said anything. He spotted what he was searching for. "Hey bro . . . It's under the other couch."

Jason went over and checked under the second couch to find his book. 'And my car keys.' He also found one of his guns he kept attached under there just in case something was to happen. 'Should move it. Don't want the kids getting it.' He slid it from the holder and pulled it out from under the couch with the rest of his items. Jason noticed Tim was staring at him. "Uh . . . Totally forgot about this. Oh, if you are feeling up to it, Dad needs you to look up this guy named Flamingo. We need to figure out what he's up to."

"Sure," Tim yawned. The flu had really wiped out his stamina. Vomiting three nights straight followed by fever for an additional day, then sleeping. Keeping hydrated wasn't easy. "I take it he's not called Flamingo because he likes to sit on lawns with one leg in the air."

Jason smiled at that image. "Thanks, Tim. I'll think about that image while I'm answering word problems. Well, I'm off to ace this test. See yah."

"Let me know how it goes," Tim replied. 'I never thought Jason was the academic type, but he had to be one smart cookie to survive on the streets of Gotham.' Tim closed his eyes and was falling back asleep when Dick surprised him, picking him up from behind the couch.

Dick held Tim close. He could tell Tim had lost a few pounds from having been sick. He needed to take him back upstairs. Dick had to check on his own child and he knew Samantha probably wanted to lay with him to help renew his strength. Dick smiled as Tim snuggled into him.

Tim recalled what happened nearly a week, ago. 'I really must have scared the living day lights out of him, falling the way I did. I just got dizzy,' Tim thought to himself. 'I think that's when the flu hit me.'

Dick came in and saw Samantha had prepared the bed. He laid Tim down on the bed. Samantha covered her husband up with the sheets and blankets. Dick noticed his nephews were there as well. Both tried to crawl up to their father to lay by his side.

'Those two were very upset still. It's been almost a week. I still have the scratches Caleb gave me. I have never seen him flip out like that before. They almost lost their father.'

"Mmmmm . . . Thanks Dad," Tim mumbled as Dick leaned down and kissed Tim on his forehead.

Dick smiled. "Wrong person buddy," Dick said as exited the room.

"You're a dad, even to me," Tim mumbled, even though Dick couldn't hear him. Tim fell into a deeper sleep unaware how things would change for all of them.

As Samantha and Dick left Tim with his sons to sleep, he couldn't help asking Samantha a concerning question. "Aren't you concerned that the twins might catch the flu from Tim?"

"No," Samantha answered.

"Why?"

"They are half Atlantean, Dick," Samantha pointed out. "They are immune to such 'human' diseases."

"They're lucky," Dick said as he closed the bedroom door so his brother and nephews could sleep.

Continues with Part 2: Children's Thoughts