Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 7

Tim could feel Bernard watching him as he pulled on his suit, knowing he was worried. He couldn't blame him, he'd basically slept all day after all, barely able to be roused. But he felt a lot better now and he had to find Cass. He walked over to where Bernard was sitting on the bed and took his hands. "Hey," he murmured.

"Tim…" the concern was very obvious and Tim leant down to kiss him softly.

"I'll be careful," he promised. "I don't feel tired anymore, I promise."

"Just come back in one piece. And maybe…call for help? You're running yourself ragged Tim."

"If I don't find something in the next two nights, I'll call for backup," he promised. He hesitated but then dug through his gear, offering the earpiece to Bernard. "I'll check in every hour with this."

Bernard took it and then looked at him. "You're sure?" he asked in surprise, and Tim nodded. He then set it in Ber's ear, showing him how to use it. "Be safe," Bernard told him, kissing him one last time and Tim left the hotel room.

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Bernard was relieved to hear from Tim every hour on the hour, he was concerned about how long it had taken him to recover from the potion or had the spell work helped knock him out too? And then he missed a check in and Bernard began to pace. Should he call Tim? He could distract him… what had happened…

"BF, pack everything up, jet's being prepped," Tim's voice was tight with anger and fear over the comm and Bernard was packing before he could even think about it.

"Need the med kit?" he asked, fighting to hide his own fear.

"Confirmed, not for me," Tim added, and Bernard felt a flash of relief.

Being called BF was weird but there was a no names on comms rule, so Tim had been calling him BF, short for boyfriend. Silly but it wasn't like he'd ever thought he'd need a name for bat comms.

"Understood."

He packed everything except the kit as quickly as possible, turning as he sensed movement outside. Bernard quickly pulled the door open, letting Tim inside with a limp figure in his arms…Black Bat. She hadn't been seen in Gotham for months, had she been here the whole time?

Tim carefully lay her on the bed and Bernard got ready to hand over anything he might need to get her stable enough for the flight home.

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Tim landed carefully, alert and ready for anything. He'd finally spotted a sign of her presence and was following it. Anyone or thing that could take Cass down… he kept his bō in hand, hesitating, but then tapped his comm, going dark. Bernard was going to worry but he couldn't afford any distractions. Finding a pool of blood was not good but there was no guarantee it was hers.

He wriggled through a window too small for him, dropping soundlessly to the floor. He'd hated his time with the LoA…but they had improved his stealth levels beyond even what Bruce and Shiva had taught him. Sadly, there were no exposed rafters for him to explore from and it made him feel exposed as he began making his way through the building. With what he'd found so far, if he didn't find Cass tonight then he'd be calling B.

And then he saw her, Black Bat, Cassandra Cain…very securely restrained and seemingly unconscious. It had to be a trap or something, right? And yet there was no sign…there…he snuck closer, taking in the bag and sleeping bag…child size. He grimaced, getting a bad feeling about who had taken Cass down. Tim flipped through the settings on his cowl, no heat signatures, cameras…nothing. He moved towards Cass, relieved she was still warm, alive. Getting her down wasn't easy and every second he expected to have her attacker return.

But thankfully, he was soon rushing away, Cass over his shoulders. He turned his comm back on as he moved. "BF, pack everything up, jet's being prepped," Tim called over the comm, not sure what else to call Bernard since no names on comms was a rule for a reason. If this happened again, he'd need to see what kind of call-sign Ber would like.

"Need the med kit?" Bernard answered immediately, voice tense with worry.

"Confirmed, not for me," Tim quickly assured him.

"Understood," Bernard answered.

Tim forced himself to not just rush back to the hotel, just in case he was being tailed. But soon enough he was landing on the balcony, Bernard immediately opening the door for him. Their bags were packed and ready to go, the med kit set up beside the bed that had towels on it. Tim carefully laid Cass down and Bernard stepped up, ready to help him.

"We need to get the suit off her first, just be careful, if she comes too, she'll come up swinging," he warned.

"Okay," Bernard agreed even as he handed over the heavy-duty shears designed to cut through their armour if needed. He then picked up a second pair and they went to work cutting Cass from her suit. "I think her ribs are at least cracked on this side, there's some bad bruising."

"Head wound too," Tim murmured, worried. But they couldn't take her on the jet dressed as Black Bat or with untreated injuries. Tim grabbed his phone and hit the auto dial.

"Master Tim?"

"Get Doctor T on standby, I found her," Tim answered. "It's bad but we can't stay here."

"Understood. Should we send the plane?"

"No, the jet's on standby, it'll be quicker than having to wait and then come back. If something goes wrong, I'll yell for a super to get her off the plane," he offered.

"Very well, be careful."

"We will." He hung up even as Cass stirred slightly. "It's okay sis, you're safe," he murmured. "It's just me and Bernard here, we're taking you home."

She settled again and he looked up to see Bernard gently wrapping her wrist. He glanced up as well, their eyes meeting. Bernard was worried but not scared at seeing Cass' condition. Then again, he'd seen Tim's scars and accepted them so he had to know how dangerous their work was.

"How are we getting her to the plane without anyone asking questions?" Bernard asked as they finished working on what injuries they could.

"A car's coming from a WE subsidiary, I'll drive us to the airport and clear everyone out, then we'll move her onboard. I'll be the pilot."

"You can fly?!" Bernard's eyes were wide, and Tim couldn't help smiling at his expression.

"Learnt on the Batplane years ago," Tim explained quickly as he dressed her in some of his own clothing, hiding both their suits in his gear bag, not caring about stripping in front of Bernard. "Ready?" he asked, and Bernard nodded, grabbing the bags as Tim carefully lifted Cass from the bed.

"I guess we're stealing the towels?"

"No evidence," Tim shrugged slightly as Bernard bundled them up and shoved them in a bag.

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Alfred stood waiting as the Wayne jet landed expertly, Master Tim obviously at the controls. He moved the car closer once the jet had taxied, relieved the sun had set. He opened the car as the jet shut down and then the stairs lowered and young Master Bernard emerged, looking exhausted, and Alfred moved to relieve him of the bags.

"Tim has her," Bernard yawned, "sorry."

"You have nothing to apologise for," he assured the young man. "Into the front seat please."

Bernard nodded and got in, slumping down.

Master Tim appeared on the stairs, Miss Cassandra limp in his arms, and Alfred moved closer to help him. "She's alive Alfie," he promised, looking as tired as his young man.

"Let's get you home."

He got them into the back and then began to drive towards the Manor. Master Bernard was aware of Tim and likely now Cassandra's identity so there was no danger in taking him along. Not to the Caver perhaps, but he could at least get some rest in Tim's old room while they got her settled with Leslie.

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Bruce met them in the garage, seeing the tired Bernard in the seat beside Alfred so he moved to the back, opening the door to see an equally tired Tim, with Cass cradled to his chest. He carefully reached in and Tim shifted her towards him, letting him take his daughter. He rushed for the Cave with his daughter, relieved to feel her breathing.

He entered the medical bay and gently lay her down, Leslie immediately moving to check her over.

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As much as Tim wanted to be with Cass, he was exhausted and so was Bernard, so he guided his boyfriend upstairs and to his old bedroom. When was the last time he'd used it? At least the bed was a queen size so there was room for them both without being squished, if it was a single… he opened the door and dropped his bags to flop down on the bed, hearing Ber laugh softly.

"Come on, get changed," he murmured around a yawn, and Tim grumbled but began wriggling out of his clothing.

And then Bernard's hands were there, gently tugging his shirt off and his pants down, a hand gently running down his back and Tim sighed. Seconds later he was being manhandled under the covers, naked, and then Bernard was curling around him. Tim knew that he should say something…but his eyelids were too heavy to lift, brain mushy… a soft kiss being pressed to his head was the last thing he was aware of.

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Jason checked the message, relieved to see it said that Tim was back with Cass. He'd found her. He hoped they were uninjured but there was nothing on that yet. Should he go to the Cave? He hated it but to check on those two…

At least the case was over, hopefully. Looked like Cobblepot really had been crazy enough to steal from Luthor. The Iceberg Lounge needed a lot of repairs now but it wouldn't keep the Penguin down for a long time. Hopefully, the damage done by the Bats to Luthor's men would keep the man well away from Gotham for the next few months.

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Bernard woke slowly, able to smell and hear Tim sleeping in his arms but nothing else felt familiar and his eyes opened to slits. It took a few moments for him to realise where they were, Wanye Manor. Okay, that was right, they were back in Gotham after finding Tim's sister, the most reclusive of the Wayne brood. And from the angle of the sun through the curtains…they'd slept a good portion of the day away.

He kissed Tim softly and his boyfriend began to stir. Sleepy blue eyes fluttered open, Tim blinking at him. Then Tim smiled at him, leaning in for a proper kiss, Bernard tugging him closer, fingers running over the bare skin of Tim's hip. Tim shivered, arms wrapping around his shoulders.

"You okay?" he asked, stroking Tim's back gently.

"Hmmm, how long did we sleep?" Tim asked.

Bernard stretched over to grab his phone and check. "It's 2pm," he answered, surprised he'd slept so long. Stress he guessed since he didn't actually need as much sleep as a full human.

Tim's eyes were wide in shock at how long they'd slept, about twelve hours! "Cass!" he scrambled up and Bernard shifted to sit up as well, unable to help watching Tim.

His boyfriend was incredibly hot and currently naked after all. Tim glanced at him, catching him watching, face flushing slightly. Somehow, Tim was so humble about his looks, it was like he just couldn't see how gorgeous he was, couldn't see past the scars the life of a vigilante had given him. Sadly, Tim pulled on pants and then a shirt and Bernard got up to do the same. They held hands as they headed downstairs, Bernard assuming they wouldn't be leaving until they had word on Cass.

"Hey Alfie," Tim greeted as they entered the kitchen.

"Good afternoon, Master Tim, Master Bernard. I trust you slept well?"

"Like the dead," Tim answered, sitting at the counter and Bernard sat beside him. "How is she?" he asked as they were given plates of food.

"Sleeping soundly, her wounds tended. Master Bruce would like to speak with you about what happened."

Tim nodded.

"Should I head home?" Bernard asked, not wanting to get in the way. "I can call a taxi."

"I am quite sure there is plenty in the house for you to entertain yourself with while Master Tim is busy. There is a rather large movie and game collection as well as a library after all."

"Tim?" he looked at his boyfriend who nodded.

"Please stay," Tim murmured.

"Okay."

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Bruce looked up at the sound of footsteps, seeing Tim looking a lot better than he had when they had arrived. He smiled at his son who moved to his side. "Welcome home," he greeted him, tugging Tim into his side and Tim tensed before relaxing. "Are you hurt at all?"

Tim shook his head. "Didn't get in any fights…just wore myself out so much I slept an entire day. Bernard practically had to carry me back to bed. I just…I had to find her."

"Do you know what happened?" Bruce asked gently, not getting into his worry over Tim being that tired. Then again, he trusted Bernard so him moving Tim might not wake him. How many times had Bruce or Dick carried Tim up from the Cave because he fell asleep at the Batcomputer without him waking?

"Not for sure, she didn't wake up so I couldn't ask. But there was evidence…I think it was Cricket."

"Cricket?"

"An assassin, I tried to help Cass with him not long after I got back from the search for you. He's ten and he left me with a broken arm, dislocated shoulder, three cracked ribs and a dislocated jaw. He told Cass he'd be back and fight her 'for real'."

Bruce frowned, not liking that at all. "What makes you think it was Cricket?"

"The child sized sleeping bag where she was being held and her injuries."

"Leslie said she'll make a full recovery; she just needs rest. I assume you have a file on Cricket?"

"There's not much in it though, just what we both observed. Neither of us could see anything familiar enough in his fighting style to say who trained him, he doesn't fight like the League at least." Tim kept glancing towards the medical bay and Bruce ushered him over to it, knowing he needed to see that Cass was healing and sleeping safely.

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Bernard was curled up on the couch, half watching the tv and half listening to the noises in the Manor. Alfred was in the kitchen, cooking, but he couldn't hear anyone else. So, wherever the mythical Batcave was, likely under them, it was very well soundproofed. He didn't like knowing Tim was nearby and being unable…there. He could hear and smell him again, that was good. And a minute later Tim was in the doorway, looking more relaxed.

"Everything okay?" he asked, and Tim nodded, joining him on the couch. Bernard leant in for a kiss and they settled in to just cuddle. "We staying?"

"I want to, for Cass, but…"

"Not the others," Bernard finished for him. "Whatever you want to do, I'm here," he promised, and Tim nodded.

And then Bernard smelt someone new approaching but didn't react, he couldn't react before Tim after all.

"Timbit?" a voice called, and Tim tensed before relaxing.

"In here Jay," Tim called out, sitting up properly.

"Tim?" Bernard asked in concern as he sat up as well. And then a young man, almost as large as Bruce, was in the doorway.

"Jason," Tim stood and approached his…brother? Jason…Jason Todd?!

There was something in his scent that had Bernard's hackles up, something…supernatural but nothing he'd been exposed to before. Which made sense since Jason Todd had died years ago, there was no way he could be strictly human now, so what was he? So long as he wasn't endangering Tim or Bernard then it was none of his business and if he had picked up on Bernard then he was giving no indication.

Jason ruffled Tim's hair and Tim rolled his eyes before being pulled into a one-armed hug. "Okay kid?" Jason spoke quietly enough Bernard shouldn't be able to sleep.

"Slept almost twelve hours," Tim answered. "Wasn't hurt though. Bernard knows about me and he saw Cass in her gear since he was with me on the trip."

Jason looked over at him and Bernard offered a smile.

"Hi, I'm Bernard," he introduced himself.

"Jason," he returned, walking over to shake hands. "Nice to finally meet you."

"I uh…thought you were dead," Bernard admitted, and Jason laughed.

"Yeah, couldn't be bothered with the paperwork to bring me back and it comes in handy. Who'd link the Red Hood to a dead boy?"

Okay, good point. The Red Hood… he'd heard a lot about him, he'd started out on the opposite side to the bats but now worked with them at times.

"Scared?" the man smirked at him.

"No," Bernard answered, and he wasn't. Even if he was fully human. "You're Tim's brother and obviously welcome here."

"Smart guy you've got there Timbit," Jason teased. "Welcome to the madhouse Bernard."

"Have you seen Cass yet?" Tim asked, and Jason nodded. Tim sat back with Bernard and Jason joined them in watching mindless TV but the two of them left before Damian Wayne got home from school, Bernard seeing the understanding look on Jason's face.

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Tim collapsed on his bed, closing his eyes, it felt good to be home. He felt bad about leaving before Cass woke up, but she'd understand why he couldn't stay. Ber hadn't questioned their leaving either, Tim had said enough about his issues with his siblings for him to have the basics down at least. He'd never mentioned the murder attempts or what happened with Dick when B was gone…because they hadn't really talked about him being Red Robin.

He wasn't going out tonight, B had insisted he stay in and rest, despite sleeping all day. Jason had backed him up as well. Bernard was downstairs in his own apartment and Tim wished he would move in, but he wouldn't push.

But just because he wasn't going out didn't mean he couldn't get some work done. So, he hauled himself up and headed down into his Nest. He paused as he entered, something felt…off. He reached for the panel and removed the hidden weapons within, arming himself. It was probably just paranoia, there would be alarms if the Nest was breached but…

He made his way towards the computers and then choked as am arm wrapped around his throat, but immediately extended his bō back into his attacker. There was a slight loosening of the grip but then it tightened again and a hand wrapped around his wrist, tight enough he could feel his bones grind together. He slammed his head back but there was no reaction.

Tim cried out in pain as he felt the bone in his wrist snap, the bō dropping from numb fingers. He struggled, trying to get free, and then cold fingers dug cruelly into his face, yanking his head round to stare at a man.

"Well, I suppose he's pretty enough," the man sneered, or…not a man? Sharp fangs were obvious as he spoke and as blood slipped down his face, he realised the fingernails were too sharp.

"Mmmg," the grip on his face kept him from speaking.

"It's not personal, you're just the message." He smirked and Tim glared but then everything started feeling strange…he had to…had… "That's it, just relax. You can't speak or fight back."

He vaguely felt the arms holding him let go and he crumpled to the floor, unable to catch himself. Voices faded in and out but he couldn't focus, his vision hazy. What…was…happening…

TBC….