Bruce pressed play on the video again. The first time he watched it he was shocked by the drastic change in Tim. Especially the way he called out for him. Normally, in kidnapping attempts, Tim was the one not to over-dramatize. He sounded like he was genuinely in fear.

Bruce had received the video about twelve minutes ago. He had rewatched it at least nine times during that window, analyzing the footage while his tech analyzed the whereabouts. The video had been sent to the GCPD and he had downloaded it from their mainframe. They hadn't even contacted Bruce Wayne yet about his kidnapped-for-ransom ward, so right now he was figuring it out for himself.

It was clear that the GCPD didn't know where the video originated, but Bruce knew he could track it down quickly. He could already tell it was a warehouse. Either by the docs or near some of the factories on the other end of the city. He couldn't send anyone off just yet. It also appeared that the video was filmed over five hours ago, which was concerning and dangerous.

Normally kidnappers would send the ransom in as soon as they film the video instead of waiting, to get their money as soon as possible. Maybe they were just trying to prove a point by making Bruce scared over his missing child. Bruce knew that Tim and all of his kids knew how to take care of themselves in a situation like this.

But there was another problem, the fact that it wasn't Tim who was kidnapped. It was clear that it was still Tim's body, but his eyes were glowing green. The same green that the ghost who had possessed him in the cave had.

That left one explanation: The ghost had gotten kidnapped while possessing Tim's body. He probably didn't know how much of a target the son of one of the most wealthy people on the planet was. Also, given the fact that Tim's parents beforehand were also millionaires added to the frequency of his attempted kidnappings.

The video had played through again. Bruce glanced up at the progress bar at the top of the screen; still a few more minutes of analyzing. He pressed play again. "Hello, Mr. Wayne." The ghost's eyes shot open with surprise. He most likely didn't know that Tim was related to Bruce Wayne in any way. So that meant he didn't recognize the manor when he left. And. this also meant that it was highly likely that he now knew the identity of Batman and the rest of his family.

"As you can see, we have your second youngest." The man continued. Gesturing back at Tim who was tied up in a chair next to two armed guards holding their weapons at the ready. All faces covered. "If you want him back alive and in one piece I suggest you have five million transferred to us within the next twelve hours." He turned to Tim, "Anything to say to daddy, boy?"

The ghost, in the meantime, had been twitching his eyebrows slightly like he was thinking very hard -or speaking in his head. Simultaneously, he was glaring at the man's condescending tone. He thought for a moment and Bruce saw one of the men next to him clench his fist, before the kid spoke up, most likely unknowingly saving himself from an aggression.

"I'm so sorry Dad, just please get me out of here." Tim never called Bruce Dad. He would call him B, Bruce, or Batman. Something he picked up from Dick. The only one of his kids that ever called Bruce Dad was Jason, back when he was still robin. But not after he became Red Hood and started drifting away to become a crime lord.

Damian also only referred to him as father. But the kidnappers likely would never notice something like that. Especially as they didn't even seem to notice the fact that Tim's eyes were a totally different colour and even glowing in some light.

Another deep breath. "I don't know what to do. Don't let them cut off my fingers or something, I-… I-" One of the men lifted his rifle and smacked the ghost in the back of the head signaling the boy to stop talking so that the man from before could continue. He looked directly into the face of the camera, taking up the entire view and hiding Tim behind him. "Like I said you have twelve hours." And the camera shuts off.

Bruce looks up at the progress bar again. One more minute. He glances over to the tracker in Red Robin's suit. Still back at the manor in his room. Abandoned by the ghost and replaced with the street clothes and hoodie that Tim was wearing in the ransom video.

He played the video again. The ghost sounded one part like he was acting and playing up the situation to make it believable to them. And the other part like he was genuinely scared. Though it did seem that he did not want to be asking Bruce for help, likely knowing that if Batman were to get him out of there he would be interrogated again. He was playing it up likely so they didn't get in trouble.

It had only been five hours into their timeline. Surely Bruce would have enough time to break in there to find him as Batman before their twelve-hour timer is up. He just needed to find him before the GCPD came knocking on his door in order to contact him about the ransom. Still nothing yet.

A light ping sounded from the scanner. The docs. Perfect. He immediately put his hand up to his com contacting Nightwing and Robin who were already out there searching. "I have found a lead. You two are the closest. Meet me at this warehouse."

There was a short pause. "Copy that, me and Robin are on our way," Nightwing responded.

)-(

Dick hadn't moved that fast in a long time. He and Damian made it to the instructed warehouse in record time. It didn't seem too out of the ordinary, it was a warehouse that was commonly used by kidnappers and traffickers. Most of the abandoned ones on the docs were, but this one looked to be unoccupied. No vehicles outside and no sign of movement inside.

Nightwing lept off of the adjacent roof and onto the roof of the warehouse, finding it relatively easy to get up there. The roof of the building was in shambles. The next time it rained wasn't gonna be pretty. Robin was crouched down next to him looking through a relatively large hole. Dick gave him a side glance before leaping down inside.

He landed silently and glanced around, Robin following soon after. The first thing Dick's eyes were drawn to was the chair bolted to the floor in the middle of the warehouse. Sliced rope lay on the ground next to it, cleanly cut by a blade sharpened often or an expensive knife.

Reflecting light on the floor were pools of splattered blood. Dick felt his heart clench, but he couldn't freak out now. He had no way to know it was Tim's until they got it tested. He walked away from the chair while Robin crouched down next to the pool of dripped blood to take a sample.

Dick walked over to a table on the far side of the room. There were no weapons left on the table besides a simple knife, but the blade didn't look like the one that had cut the rope. It was more likely to have been used by the kidnappers to cut off someone's fingers or threaten to stab them, if they had gotten that far. There were also a few stray bullet casings scattered about, as if someone had been unable to grab all of them in time. Whoever was here left in a hurry.

But there was something he recognized on the table. He reached out and grabbed it, holding It up to the weak light the moon was providing through the tattered roof. It was the belt that they had confiscated from the ghost. The one that the ghost had grabbed and wrapped around him when he stole Tim's body and escaped the cave.

Dick didn't get a very good look at it when they first took it. That was going to be Tim's job. But it seemed to still have all the same stuff that it had before. The ghost must have left it here.

"The blood isn't Drake's," Damian called out, causing Dick to turn around quickly. "Multiple different people were here. In the far corner there are drag marks in the blood. Someone was either dead or unconscious from blood loss and removed in a hurry to remove evidence." Damian pointed in the corner and traced a path towards the door.

Dick glanced back at the table he had been examining and then threw the belt over his shoulder and wrapped it around himself like some kind of sash. "The weapons over here were removed as well," Dick spoke. "Also in a rush." He glanced up at the crates stacked around them and clearly noticed all of them seemed to have bullet holes shot through.

Damian followed his gaze and they both walked over to the crate that seemed to have the most damage from the bullets. Behind the crate were droplets of blood. Robin hefted himself over the box rather than walking around it and crouched down next to the blood immediately pulling out a test strip.

The DNA blood test strips in their gauntlets could tell the DNA of a known ally or bat, as well as some select supervillains from the rogues gallery. But they couldn't have a full criminal database in there so it was useless when it came to most cases involving petty crimes.

Robin stared at the blue progress bar as it loaded up the results. Eventually, there was a ping and Robin looked up at Dick. "Drakes blood." Dick swallowed. There wasn't a lot of blood, probably just a small injury. He would be fine, right? "He likely got in the middle of a shoot out with these the assailants here and hid behind this crate when he was shot.

He stood up and pointed at the door. "Most of the bullets originate from over there. Some are being returned. But not many. Probably one or two people." Damian was getting good at the detective part of this job. Or at least the weapons part. "There are signs of explosive devices used in that direction, either as a distraction or lethal force."

Damian looked up at his brother. "It is unclear as to why Drake was here or if he is still being possessed by the specter at the time being." Dick reached up and pulled at his hair. They still were getting nowhere with this case. And nowhere near closer to finding Tim!

"Tim and the ghost possessing him were kidnapped and brought here to be held for ransom. They filmed the video right here." Dick turned to look over at Batman as he walked into the room. His cowl made a shadow loom around him even through the darkness that already shrouded him. Neither boy flinched at the man's sudden appearance. They were used to it at this point.

Damian stepped forward. "And Drake was still possessed at the time the video was sent?"

"Clearly yes, but not as obvious to those who kidnapped him, it seems. Our biggest indicator at the moment is the glowing green eyes."


Authors notes

Beta read by: gamma_radio, thanks again!

Here we get to see what is happening on the bat's side! a little more detective work and analysis from them. But they aren't there yet. Sorry, my writing was a bit off this time around. I don't know what it was. I rewrote those scenes four times. I might add them when I post the alternate scenarios fic! A little spoiler for that anyway XD. I hope it was okay and that people liked it!

And thank you all so much for those who have made fanart for this fic! it means so much to me really! It is so amazing to see when people care enough about your work to create literal works of art about it! love you all!