Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 16

Bruce walked down the hall towards the kitchen, pausing as the house phone began to ring, not a common occurrence. Most people used their various personal phones, not the manor. And they weren't listed anywhere a telemarketer or the like could find the number. "Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne speaking," he answered, hearing a choked intake of breath on the other end.

"B?" the whisper had Bruce slumping against the wall, eyes closed.

"Tim is dead," he stated, fighting to keep his voice calm. How dare they!

"It's me Bruce," the voice sounded like Tim, but exhausted. "I'm sorry I forgot Alfred's birthday, but I've been a bit distracted." The line wasn't the best but it sounded so much like him.

Bruce froze at the code. "Tim?" It couldn't be, could it?

"It's me…they found you," Tim sounded close to tears which was odd but he'd been through a lot, if it really was him. But the code…who else could it be?

"Where are you?" he asked, he had to see for himself.

"Somewhere in Africa," he answered and then called out to someone, the phone quiet, and Bruce held it tightly. "Okay, according to Doctors Without Borders, we're in Namibia."

"We?"

"Danny and me. I woke up in tipi-shaped hut apparently made from mud and dung, which was…interesting. A local nomadic tribe found us on the bank of a river, took us with them. I don't even know how long it's been since…"

"Five months, Tim. It's been five months since Jason lost you both."

"Oh," Tim whispered. "B…I want to come home, please."

"I'll call the Justice League," he promised since he didn't dare say he was going to yell for Clark to carry him to his sons.

"Doctor said the phone has GPS. The tribe brought us here, Danny's okay, but apparently, I've been in and out of consciousness a lot."

"I've got the number," he double checked that yes, it was being displayed, moving to his office to input it into the civilian system, seeing a dot appear in Namibia. "I've got the location. You stay right there."

"We're not going anywhere Bruce, promise," Tim paused for a moment. "I love you dad."

"I love you too son," Bruce whispered, and then there was only dial tone.

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Dick headed for Bruce's office and paused when he saw him on the phone.

"I love you too son," Bruce whispered, confusing him.

Who was B talking to? He put the phone down slowly and turned, Dick tensing as he saw tears in his eyes. "Bruce?" he asked in alarm and then he was being pulled into a hug.

"He gave a code, no one else ever knew that code," Bruce choked out, and Dick tightened his grip.

"Who B?"

"Tim."

Dick stiffened, that…that wasn't possible, was it? "But there was…nothing in the Pit?"

"They're in Namibia, he said a nomadic tribe found them washed up beside a river. They got them to a Doctors Without Borders post, that's how he called. I need to get changed; I said I was calling the Justice League."

"Right…calling the Supers?" Dick asked, and Bruce nodded. Good, if this was a trap, he'd need the back up. "What about Kon?" Could he be trusted to keep a cool head?

"We need the numbers. Clark, Kon-El, meet me in the Batcave," Bruce called, and Dick followed him down, hesitating, but then texting Jason. He'd been there when they died, he deserved to know either they were back or someone had cloned at least Tim or could imitate him or something.

They made it to the cave just as Clark arrived, Kon on his heels. "What is it, Bruce?"

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Kon's heart was racing as they flew towards Africa. Tim…his best friend…if this was a game, he was going to kill someone for daring to sully his memory. But if it was really him and Danny? He couldn't help hoping desperately that somehow, they had survived. He knew how close they had become and knew that if only one had survived it would have hurt the other so badly, knew that was why Danny had dived in after Tim.

Soon they were at the coordinates and then Danny was there, staring at him with wide eyes, no longer dressed as Shade but in clothes that didn't really fit but looked like what most of those around them were wearing. He went to speak but then saw everyone watching and instead motioned for them to follow. Kon's heart was racing so hard he was surprised the humans couldn't hear it as Danny led them into a hut with two cots. And on one of them…was Tim. He was sitting up against the wall, one leg bent at the knee and the other stretched out, wincing as an older man pushed against him.

"Company," Danny called, and Tim looked over at them, relief clear in his eyes, and it was obvious to Kon he'd known they were there but couldn't say anything as a civilian.

"I'll leave you to talk. Should we assume that they will be returning with you, Batman sir?" the doctor asked and Batman nodded. "Very well, good luck boys."

"Thanks Dr Mallard, for everything," Tim called.

"Of course," and with that the man left.

"Tim?" Kon called shakily as soon as he had, and Tim looked at him.

"Hey Kon," Tim smiled, opening his arms, and Kon rushed over, embracing his best friend, his brother. A hand rested on his shoulder and he knew it was Danny.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Kon whispered.

"Hey, no Kon. You have nothing to be sorry for," Tim denied, pulling back enough to look him in the eyes. He looked paler, and his normally black hair was streaked with blond. But Jason had said he'd dyed his hair blond for his latest cover. "It's not your fault I got stabbed while you were off planet, it's not your fault I was bleeding out and that bastard Ra's, no offence Danny,"

Danny snorted, "none taken."

"Threw me into the Lazarus Pit. But I'm here and I'll be okay," Tim finished, reaching up to ruffle his curls like he used to when they first met to annoy him but it had changed to an affectionate move over the years. Something Tim only ever did around the team so something no one would know to copy.

"Tim?" and that was the Bruce voice, not the Batman growl.

Kon glanced back to find Clark keeping watch to ensure no one saw or heard as Bruce pushed back the cowl, staring at Tim but sneaking glances at Danny who'd moved to sit on the edge of Tim's cot, their hands gravitating together, fingers tangled.

"Dad," Tim shifted, and Kon forced himself to get up and move back, opening the space for Bruce.

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Bruce cautiously approached, scanning for any inconstancies. Any hint this was a well-trained clone, shape shifter… but all he saw was his son, the boy he had never done enough to protect. He knelt beside the cot, lifting a hand to cup his cheek, and Tim leant into his touch. Bruce stared into blue eyes and he saw it…the slightest hint of green. He felt sick but he should have expected it, how long had Tim been in the Pit?

"I'm okay B," Tim whispered, a hand pressing Bruce's more firmly to his cheek. "Leg's a bit sore still but it's healed. And I haven't randomly passed out in about forty-eight hours either, plus I'm keeping food and water down just fine. No homicidal urges either, and Danny's been watching me for those."

And with that Bruce gently pulled him forward to hug. He felt Tim's hands bury into his armour in all the right spots, clinging on tight just like he had the first time Bruce had truly hugged him after Tim had nearly died in a building collapse thanks to the Riddler. He even rubbed his cheek against his shoulder just like Tim, Bruce shifting his hand to cradle the back of Tim's head, his hair longer and streaked with blond.

"You're really back," Tim whispered, grief and wonder in his voice as he clung on tight.

"Thanks to you," Bruce reluctantly pulled back enough to look at him again. "My brilliant child," he praised and Tim blushed.

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He hadn't expected to hear Bruce answer the phone, had almost messed up the call but he was right there. Tim knew Bruce had been studying him for any sign he wasn't really himself and he didn't blame him, not after five months. And hadn't that been a shock, it hadn't felt that long to him or Danny. He didn't like playing the invalid but it was necessary to sell their cover. Maybe they could accept what he'd become but he couldn't risk it, he couldn't. He never wanted his family to look at him like he was a monster…the way Bruce had looked at Jason for a while.

Kon had been convinced within seconds, they had kept so many secrets from others that it was easy to confirm. But Bruce…and yet Bruce was accepting it far quicker than he'd thought he would. He was glad, he'd missed him so much, had hated not knowing if they had used his intel yet or not, if they had found him.

He couldn't help blushing at the praise, it was a rare thing from Batman and a common thing from Brucie, but it always felt best from just Bruce.

"I missed you," he admitted, "I couldn't give up, not if there was any chance, but no one would listen…no one but Danny." He looked at his mate, reaching for his hand again. "Danny, this is Batman, Bruce Wayne. B, this is Danny, Danyal al Ghul."

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Danny stared at the man, able to see his own features there, his eyes…heart racing as he waited for him to say something, anything. And then slowly, a large hand reached out to brush his hair back from his face, eyes studying his features carefully. And then the hand moved to cup his cheek like he had with Tim and Danny shivered, unable to help leaning into it. How long had it been since Jack or Maddie had… he bit his lip, able to feel Bruce's awe and pain, longing.

"Dad?" he whispered.

Bruce tugged, offering, and Danny fell forward into him, breathing in the scent of him, recognising it as family immediately. He really was his Dad.

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Bruce stared at the boy they all assumed was his son, reaching out to brush his hair back to see better, the teen not moving. Blue eyes were wide as they watched him, and he could see wary hope in them. He could see his eyes, his skin tone, hair, Talia's more slender build, possibly his height coming in, her nose but his lips…there was no denying the resemblance and his hand slid down to cup his cheek, feeling Danny lean into his touch, something desperate now in his eyes. He could feel the teen trembling slightly even as he bit his lip. This…this was his son, his firstborn.

He seemed so different to Damian, there was no arrogance, so sure of his position. It seemed the opposite, quiet and almost shy as he waited for Bruce's reaction. And the way he had held Tim's hand, had dived into a Pit after him even having been in one before spoke very well of him. Finding out Danny had nearly died when he was only five, that he had lived only because of the Pit…that his eyes flared green but Jason insisted he'd been in control the whole time. He'd killed in the assault on the Cradle, Jason had too, but for once he couldn't bring himself to be angry, to care. They had tried to take his children, he knew what Ra's would have done to Tim, broken him down till he was the person he wanted. Tim was strong but even the strongest eventually broke. And once he realised Danny was alive…

"Dad?" Danny whispered, and Bruce tugged lightly, giving him the choice. Danny immediately fell forward into his arms and he held his son for the first time.

He'd come so close to never getting this, he would do better, for all his children. He'd had a second chance with Jason, now with Tim and Danny, he doubted he'd get a third.

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Damian frowned, something was going on, something they were all keeping from him. He did not like that at all. Father being back was not going how it was meant to at all. He shouldn't be mourning that failure! The clone had lied, he was grandfathers heir! And Father would see soon that he was far better than Drake. Then things would be as they should.

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Clark left the family to their reunion and went to speak with the staff, carefully stealing all the records on Tim and Danny so as to leave no evidence of their presence. Getting three people home with only two flyers was not going to be comfortable but they'd manage. Kon could take Bruce and he would take the boys. If they were still working on Tim's leg then he'd need extra care in flight and it would be easier for him to juggle the two of similar size than for Kon to do it or to mix Bruce with one of them. Though, Kon's TTK would be better if Tim needed the leg kept still, but if that was the case then would they have been exercising it? So, he found the doctor from earlier to enquire, not wanting to hurt Tim on the flight.

When he returned it was to see a soft smile on Tim's face as he watched Bruce hug Danny, the boy limp against him, hands clutching his armour. He could see the similarities between the two easily, though a DNA test should still be run. He looked at Kon to see he looked relieved. He knew that parts of their reunion had been security checks, because Tim was paranoid enough to have that set up, but he had no clue what parts those were, and that was fine. Kon was utterly sure it was really Tim on that cot and he would believe him, he knew Tim better. But Clark was hoping he could change that, hoping that Tim would allow him to apologise for everything, to try and start fresh.

"We should go," he told them after a while longer, and Bruce pulled away from his sons, pulling the cowl up.

"How are we doing this?" Tim asked, moving to sit on the edge of the cot, Danny at his side.

So Bruce's sons were now also his son-in-laws, that was…awkward. If a fuss was raised over that he figured Tim would emancipate himself, he had the financial security and maturity that a judge shouldn't have any problems with it. Plus, he wasn't that far off eighteen now.

"I talked with your doctor; your leg doesn't need to be immobilised for the flight thankfully. He said it's just rebuilding strength now?"

"Yeah, the sword did a lot of damage and the Pit took care of every other scar but…" Tim shifted, pulling his pants down to reveal his thigh and then line right across it. It looked like an old scar so the Lazarus Water had healed it, but to have still left a scar? "I think…the Assassin docs actually managed to stitch it? I vaguely remember Owens telling me not to move, that the stitches wouldn't hold if I did but then…then they told me Danny was dead, don't remember much after that. It was a poisoned blade and it went deep so I'm assuming it did a lot of muscular damage."

Clark grimaced but nodded. "Alright, so I'll take you and Danny while Kon takes Batman."

Kon went to argue and Clark looked at him.

"I know you want to take Tim, Kon. But balancing two people of similar build for a long flight is easier than two of different ones. And it will be a long flight since you can't protect all three with your TTK."

Kon nodded and left the hut, Bruce following him.

"How do you want us?" Danny asked him.

"Usually, for a long flight it's bridal carry," he told him, and Danny blinked before grinning.

"So…all the way here?" he glanced at the door, and Clark nodded.

"It's hardly the first time." It may be embarrassing but it was easiest.

"So, bridal for Tim and I'll just hang on your back."

"I won't be able to support you that way and it's several hours over open water."

"I'll be fine," Danny answered. "Muscle fatigue doesn't really bother me."

Right, he had a healing factor of some sort, had healed a bullet to the heart.

"Alright, but if you feel like you're going to slip you need to tell me."

"Promise."

Clark leant down and Tim wrapped his arms around his neck to make lifting him more comfortable but once in his arms he let go since Danny would be holding on there. Tim curled towards his chest to protect his face from the wind once they were airborne and they left the hut. He bent his knees and felt Danny hop up, arms around his neck and shoulders, legs locked around his waist, and he could feel a surprising amount of strength in the hold. Enhanced strength too?

Kon snickered but then scooped Bruce up and they took off.

After a while he bent his head next to Tim's ear. "Okay?" he asked, and Tim nodded against his chest.

"I'm fine. Danny?"

Clark turned his head towards the other teen. "Alright?" he called to be heard above the wind. He got a thumbs up in response. "He's good." He told Tim. "Kon?"

"We're good."

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Jason paced the cave, unable to settle even when B sent word they were on their way back…with no mention of what had happened. Was it really them? A trap? What?! Why couldn't the man ever communicate?! Okay…maybe that was a bit unfair, he'd been trying a lot harder since he'd been found. Jason's gaze shifted to the memorial, happy that he'd changed the plaque on his suit. The original one had hurt so much. Seeing the two beside it though hurt even more, they were older than he'd been but still far too young.

And then there was noise and he turned to see Kon and Clark landing. B looked a bit ridiculous being carried by the younger Super but in Clark's arms…was Tim. He stared as Clark carefully set Tim on his feet and then Danny was dropping off his back, moving to wrap an arm around Tim's waist.

Tim was looking up at him and Dick, eyes wide, even as he leant on Danny. And then Jason was moving, dropping to his knees in front of his little brother. It had to be Tim; B would never have brought an imposter into the Cave. He reached for Tim, hesitating, was he hurt? But then Tim pulled away from Danny, falling into his arms, and Jason stood, holding him tight.

"Timmy," he whispered.

"I'm here," Tim clung to him desperately. "It's me, I'm here," he promised.

Jason reluctantly set him back on his feet, being careful after seeing Clark being so careful and the way Danny had moved to support him. He looked at the blond streaks in Tim's hair, the paleness of his skin, and he carefully tipped Tim's head up, staring into his eyes. Tim obviously knew what he was looking for and held still. His eyes were blue he was…and then he saw it.

"Tim…"

"I'm okay Jay, Danny got me through it. I don't even remember anything; I've been passing out a lot. It's why the tribe that found us got us to the closest doctors. I don't feel the Pits like how you've explained," Tim explained, shifting closer again, and Jason hugged him tight, relieved. He never wanted any of his brothers to go through what he had.

He looked up and met Danny's eyes, he looked more relaxed now that he was with Tim but was still on edge and it was obvious why. "Hey kid," Jason called, and Danny smiled.

"Hi, sorry for freaking you out by diving after Tim." Danny shrugged awkwardly.

Jason shook his head. "You did what you had to. I'm just glad you're both alive, when you didn't surface and Kon said the Pit was empty…"

"Well, it was," Kon pointed out even as he shoved a chair towards them and Jason gently pushed Tim down onto it.

"You're hurt?" he asked.

"My leg's still not fully healed. The scar looks old but we're still working on the muscles," Tim admitted, and Jason pressed a hand to where he still vividly remembered seeing the blood-soaked bandages, there'd been so much blood it had been all down his leg.

Now, the two were dressed in oversized clothing, well worn, obviously given to them by someone with the doctors since it didn't look like something a nomadic tribe would wear, then again, he didn't know what they'd wear so maybe it was.

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Dick watched, frozen in place as Jason lifted Tim clear off his feet, hugging him tight. It was understandable, Jason had watched him 'die', had been carrying around so much guilt for not being able to save him or stop Danny diving in. Dick's eyes went to the stranger, cataloguing his appearance, seeing Bruce and Talia in his features. He looked very different to Damian but there were enough similarities to mark them as family. Would Damian see that? He was just glad the kid wasn't at the Manor at the moment, Dick had called his therapist and managed to get an extra session in, not that it seemed to be helping. The longer they could hold off the first meeting of the siblings or Damian finding out Tim was back, the better.

He took a deep breath and slowly approached, seeing Tim tense in reaction and it hurt. He knelt down in front of Tim's chair to put them closer to eye level and he saw what had caused Jason's reaction, hints of Lazarus green in Tim's once pure blue eyes. But it was nowhere near as strong as in Jason's.

"Timmy…Tim, I…I'm so sorry," he told him, watching Tim's eyes widen. "Was he really so bad at apologising that him saying sorry shocked Tim?

And then Danny's hand was on Tim's shoulder, offering silent support, and Dick watched Tim melt into his touch. It was just so…natural and Dick was happy that they had found each other. If Tim hadn't left, hadn't been hunted by the League, would they have ever found out B had another son? And so far, this one seemed a lot kinder, and he felt horrible just thinking that.

"Why Dick? Everything he did to me and every time you took his side. Said he was just a kid…but so am I," Tim whispered.

Dick swallowed, it had been so easy to think of Tim as more of an equal, he'd always acted so much older than he was. And he knew now that that had been a mistake.

"I messed up," it was hard to say, but he had to, he couldn't lose Tim and he would. Babs, Jason, even Alfie had beaten it into his head just how badly he had failed Tim. Bruce's stony silence had just added to that once he'd returned. "You've always been a mini-adult and I forgot you're still a kid, one who'd lost so much in a short time. I should have supported you more, should have paid more attention to exactly what Damian was doing."

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Bruce kept an eye on his children even as he headed to the medical bay to get the piece of equipment he needed. Everything in him said this was Tim but he had to be sure. And he needed to check that Danny definitely was his. He hated interrupting but it was best to get it done now. Then they could tease him for being paranoid and they'd check Tim's leg to be sure before going upstairs. Danny would be given a room but Bruce figured he'd sleep in Tim's anyway or they'd alternate or something and he wouldn't say anything about it because it was obvious even to him that they needed each other.

Yes, his sons being together could make their civilian lives a lot more complicated but the boys hadn't known that when they got together. They weren't related or anything so there was nothing illegal in it.

He left the medical bay to find Dick was crying and while not looking happy it seemed Tim had given him hope of them one day being okay. Bruce walked towards them and held the sampler up, Tim grimacing but holding his hand out.

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Danny watched as Bruce took a sample from Tim, hoping Frostbite was right, that a supernatural change of the kind Tim had undergone would not show up in human form. There may be some contamination to his DNA from the Lazarus Pit but that was all that should show up. They all watched as the test ran and then the results appeared, 97% match and yep, that was the Lazarus Water. Everyone relaxed at that but then Bruce approached him and Danny held his hand out, knowing his DNA was going to be a mess.

The machine ran for longer, a different setting being used since they wanted to check his parentage. Several errors flashed up, a contamination warning, but finally Bruce and Talia's pictures appeared. Everyone stared at him, some of the contamination matched Tim's but the rest…

Danny winced, he'd never looked at his own DNA like that, engineering and space were his thing, not biology. "So…my adoptive parents are scientists, which would be great except…well, I'm pretty sure they slept through every safety lecture from kindergarten through to university. They keep samples in the fridge next to food, had me cleaning the lab once I had acclimatised to living with them…and they might have…built a portal in the basement." He absently rubbed his arm.

"Your accident?" Jason asked, and Danny nodded.

"Yeah, thing turned on and I was too close. Woke up on the floor with my friends crying over me cause I was dead for a few minutes. Ended up spending a week in the hospital and my blood results were all over the place, they settled eventually but," he shrugged. "Between that and now two swims in the Pit, not surprising my DNA's a bit of a mess."

"You died?" Bruce asked.

Danny nodded.

"How old were you?" Superman spoke up, reminding Danny he was still there and so was Kon.

"Fourteen."

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Clark had kept back with Kon, allowing the bats their reunion and Bruce his paranoid checks. Both boys were literally altered at a genetic level by the Lazarus Pits, Danny far more than Tim which made sense since he'd had double the exposure. And then…fourteen was far too young to die, even younger than Jason had been. He was very lucky his friends had been there, they must have resuscitated him, impressive given their ages and how panicked they likely were. His DNA…it looked like something had fused into it. Was that how he had healed the bullet wound? How he'd had the strength to hold on for the flight? He wouldn't be the first to gain powers in a lab accident.

Once Danny was settled, maybe he'd like to talk to one of the others like Barry to see how they handled the changes such a thing could cause. But…would Danny stay? He had an adoptive family, though if their negligence caused his death maybe he wouldn't want to go back. Bruce might keep quiet, but it would hurt him if his son left. Though, shared custody? With Bruce Wayne's private jet, it would be easy enough no matter where in the country they lived, of course he would likely simply be keyed into the Zeta's and travel that way to see his family.

And if Danny had been operating in Europe as a vigilante with Tim, would he want to keep on doing that? He was the same age as Tim so he could join the Titans easily enough if he had the skills. If he kept up with Tim then he likely did, beyond whatever abilities the accident gave him. Bruce shouldn't have any issues with that, all his kids were in the business, but would he have issues with a son who had abilities? He knew Bruce didn't hate metas like some said but he was wary of them in Gotham due to Rogues like Scarecrow.

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Jason had said Danny was in an accident a few years ago but he had left out that Danny had died. Had the dunk when he was five helped him come back again? It would explain his eyes flashing green when he'd healed from the gunshot. But at least Danny seemed to lack the rage that usually came with Pit exposure. And so far, so did Tim. Three of his sons had now been exposed and he'd noticed the shift in Jason's DNA but hadn't realised the cause. He should have. And that same marker was in Damian too, was some of his issues due to the Lazarus Water? Until Jason he'd never heard of permanent effects from only one dip, and multiple exposures usually led to gradual madness, not the rage he dealt with.

Danny was basically a meta despite not having the gene. He wanted to meet his adoptive parents, just once, though he wasn't sure if as Bruce Wayne or Batman. But a portal in their basement? And he had noticed Danny didn't say what kind of portal they were trying to make. Had it worked? He was going to have to find out their names and look into it.

Danny was holding Tim's hand now, the two boys clutching, Tim watching him with slightly narrowed eyes… he nodded at his son and then stepped forward to hug Danny, who slumped into him. He wondered how neglectful the parents were if Danny was so eager for parental affection.

"Welcome home," he whispered, and Danny hung on tighter.

TBC…