Element of Surprise
Part 5: Sudden Change
"Tim! Are you okay?" Samantha exclaimed. She sat Caine down on the floor next to Tim.
"I . . . I don't know," Tim sounded confused.
"How are you feeling right now?"
"Weak." Tim felt along his legs. They were tender to the touch. He raised one of his pant legs and his eyes went wide. Bruises started to appear where there wasn't any earlier.
"I'm sorry, I didn't heal you earlier," Samantha said. "It could be because you were trying to fight your way out." Samantha placed her hands on Tim's legs. "There are tiny broken blood vessels all throughout your legs. Nothing serious, but enough to cause the bruising. No wonder your legs became weak."
"Delayed reaction, I guess," Tim said. "Could you get Dick? I hate to disturb him. I don't think I can move right now. My hands are sore, too. I wanted to talk to Jason, but he's at school. I guess Dad went to the office."
Samantha nodded. I touched the ground and found Dick in one of the guest rooms in the west wing. I headed over there and went into the room. Dick was snoring heavily. He must be very tired. I placed my hands on him and started to wake him. "Dick...Dick...wake up."
Dick groaned. "What is it, Samantha?"
"Can you come move Tim? He can't move right now. Delayed reaction on exhaustion."
Dick flung the blankets off and marched out of the room. 'Boy he sure is moody when he does not get enough sleep.'
Tim's legs were shaking as well as his hands. 'I think I should have stayed in bed.'
Dick found Tim sitting on the kitchen floor with Caine by his side. He gently picked him up. "Where are you going, back to Samantha's room?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry to wake you."
"It's fine" Dick walked up to Samantha's room and laid Tim down on the bed. He leaned down and kissed Tim's forehead. "Rest . . . Sleep," Dick yawned deeply. "Sleep," he said once again, his words coming out sleepily. He was starting to fall asleep on his feet.
"OOWWW . . . Ow. . . Ow. . . Ow."
Dick woke up, startled when he heard Tim cry out. "Are you okay?" There was deep concern in his voice.
Tim slowly removed his pants, exposing his legs. They were covered in bruises.
"Holy black and blue," Dick said under his breath. "You should get some ice on those. Or Samantha could–"
"Ice," Tim said immediately. "I don't want to wipe her out. Someone else with worse injuries may need her."
"I'll grab some ice. Dick tiredly walked out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen. Alfred kept ice packs in the freezer.
Tim took off his shirt revealing bruising along his forearms. 'That's where I must have pounded my arms on that box I was trapped in, buried alive.' Tim shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself recalling the memory.
Dick grabbed the ice packs and brought them up the stairs. Before he went into the room, he grabbed a towel or two and went back into the room. He saw the bruises littering Tim's body. Even though he felt cranky and tired, he didn't like what he saw. Cypher caused this. 'He almost killed my brother,' Dick thought to himself. "Lie down," Dick instructed.
Tim did as Dick said. "I . . . Really panicked," Tim said, tearing up. "In that box."
Dick placed the ice packs on the worse of the bruising. "I know, Tim." Dick was feeling guilty for leaving.
"I . . . Think it's . . . going to take me . . . a while to get over that."
Dick nodded but didn't say anything more.
Tim was freaking out from the memory. He started shaking, covering his face with his hands.
Dick climbed into bed and snuggled close. He didn't like to see his brother in this state.
"Oh god . . . Oh god . . . Oh god . . . I don't know why I'm freaking out right now."
"You need to calm down, you're safe."
"I don't know if I can."
Dick placed a hand on Tim's shoulder. "Calm down, breathe. You're not in that box, you're home."
Tim did his best to listen to Dick, his voice soothing his fears. He took in several deep breaths and his heart rate began to slow down, calming his mind.
Dick wrapped Tim up in blankets despite the bruising to Tim's body. He needed to feel safe. He could see it was making a difference. Dick held Tim against him, just as he had when Tim was a baby. It felt so familiar that it calmed even him, calmed the anger that had raised up. The image was so strong, that Dick had no idea that he had projected that image into Tim's mind. The image must have made a difference. Dick could feel Tim's body grow heavier in his arms, and knew Tim was falling into sleep. Dick settled him back down in the bed then nestled down beside him, relaxed enough where even he fell asleep.
Continues with Part 6