His Robin Chapter 1, a batman fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with DC.

So, this is an alternate path that Tim's time with the LoA could have taken in 'My Robin, No More'. The beginning of ch1 is mostly taken from that story to catch you up on where things start to change.

Edited now

Chapter 1

Tim watched Robin vanish with a sinking feeling. He rushed home and began looking into the places that Jason was headed, checking out flights. It was crazy, probably the dumbest thing he'd ever done, but he bought the tickets before he could talk himself out of it.

He moved around his room, packing everything that he might need and could get through customs. He knew that his parents sometimes brought things back from digs that they weren't meant to, had bags to get past the scanners and searches so he found one to use. In it, he packed all the medical supplies that he could find in the house and then he went to the safe in his dad's office, easily opening it and pulling out a locked case. He checked the contents and then put it in the bag too. Batman might not like guns, but Dad had taught him to shoot when he was ten and he was heading into some dangerous places, alone. It was a last resort but he would keep Jason and himself safe.

Once everything was ready, he called a cab. Good thing school didn't start for another month.

"How about a Rum and Coke?" Jason asked, the air hostess smiling at him in response.

"First class or not, you don't look old enough for Rum. How about a straight Coke instead?"

"Sure," he agreed. Besides, alcohol was a dangerous crutch. He'd just kind of been curious if he could get away with ordering it.

He stared out the window, unable to see anything in the darkness. A few more hours and he'd be in Israel, then he'd find out if Sharmin Rosen was his mother or not. Was he crazy for just up and leaving Gotham to hunt down his real mother? Maybe. But he had to know. Why had she given him up? Why had they hidden that Catherine wasn't his mother? He had so many questions.

Tim smiled at the flight attendant and accepted the meal even though he wasn't really hungry. He had to eat, had to keep up his strength. It felt weird to be on a commercial flight, crammed into economy. But he was trying to fly under the radar, it was bad enough that he had to use his own passport but he didn't have a fake, yet. He was working on that, but it took time and money to get a fake good enough to stand up to scrutiny. He was only a couple of hours behind Jason but he knew it would be very easy to miss him once they landed. Tim had more experience with foreign countries than Jason, but Jason would adapt quickly, he was good at that.

He ate the meal then pulled the scratchy blanket up, curling into a ball on the seat to sleep.

"Home base, this is El Zool. Any word on the lost bird yet?"

Alfred was relieved to hear from Master Bruce, he just wished he had better news. "I just completed a computer check on all credit cards issued to our runaway charge. He is listed, yesterday, as a passenger on a late-night flight to Israel," he explained, glad the connection was clear.

"I'll check it out once I'm done in Lebanon. Call you again in twelve hours. Over and out."

Alfred sighed and glanced at the image of Master Jason, unable to help worrying. What was he doing in Israel of all places? It had to have something to do with his parents, but what? He picked up the phone and made a call. "Good morning, Miss Barbara, I was wondering if I could ask for your help with something?"

He was good with a computer but she was worlds beyond all of them. If anyone could work out what Jason was doing, it was Barbara Gordon.

He'd tried to go through channels, to play it straight, honestly, he had. But they had refused to give him any information on Sharmin Rosen at all, let alone her current location. So now he was leaping over a barbed wire fence in the Robin suit, breaking into a military protected installation. If he was seen or worse caught… he slipped through a window, creeping down the halls. He felt bad about what he was doing, but he had to find her, to find out if she was his mother.

He made it to the right room and locked the door behind him to buy time if anyone tried to enter. He went to work on the computer, attaching the device Babs had given him for a case a while back, it was designed to do the hacking for him. He could hack to a degree but he was still learning the harder stuff, not to mention doing it at speed.

The computer beeped and he grinned. She wasn't even in Israel. No, she was in Beirut and the file even listed her hotel. He wiped his presence from the computer and snuck back out.

There were no direct flights but that was fine, he had the funds. He didn't notice the shadow he picked up once he slipped back into the city proper.

Tim bit back a sigh of relief as he spotted Jason, obviously wearing the Robin suit under a hastily thrown on jacket and pants. Well, obvious to him from the way the pants bunched a bit as Jason walked. The Drakes had contacts in Israel thankfully due to their archaeological work, so he'd managed to get more supplies. For cash, no questions had been asked.

He wanted to go to Jason and offer his support but he couldn't. Because Al and Jason didn't know each other, heck, Tim and Jason didn't know each other. Jason would freak if he found out that Tim knew his id, so he had to hang back…after he paid some street kids to bump into Jason and plant a tracker on him. It wasn't Bat grade and Jason might find it, but he needed to be able to find him if he lost him in the crowds.

Bruce approached the hotel he'd been told of, spotting the hunched form in the alley, also watching the hotel. Something…his eyes widened and he slipped into the shadows, coming up behind them. He grabbed their clothing, pulling them into the alley, yanking down the cloth covering their face. "What are you doing here Jason?" he asked. He was meant to be in Isreal!

"BRUCE!" Jason's eyes were wide, and Bruce felt a flash of guilt at scaring his son. He let go and Jason slumped against the wall, eyeing him warily. "I'm…I'm looking for my Mom."

"Your mother?" And now he was very worried. "Jason, your mother is dead," he kept his tone gentle as he reminded him. He would need to get Jason home, call Dinah….

"My stepmother is dead," Jason stated angrily. He took a deep breath and then began explaining about finding his birth certificate and the different name.

Bruce was impressed by the work that Jason had put into tracking down the possible women who might be his real mother.

"I'm tracking Sharmin Rosen right now, she's an Israeli secret agent. The other two options are Shiva Woosan, a suspected mercenary who's also in Beirut, and then Dr Sheila Haywood, who's working on famine relief in Ethiopia. One of them must be my mother," Jason explained.

Shiva Woosan? Oh boy. But Jason looked nothing like her so that was very unlikely. How had Willis Todd known her though?

"Not necessarily," Bruce warned his son, he didn't want him to get his hopes up. Willis might not have put Jason's real mother in his address book after all.

Jason slumped slightly. "I know," he muttered, kicking at a rock. "But I've got this gut feeling. Besides, with you coming to help me, we'll crack the mystery of who my Mom is in no time," Jason grinned, and Bruce hated himself a little that that wasn't why he was there.

Selina frowned as she found the information. Timothy Drake had taken a night flight to Israel…four hours after Jason Todd. She didn't like this at all. What was her kitten thinking? No, she knew, he was going after his friend. But why was Jason going? Something was going on and with the Joker on the loose but not in Gotham, she didn't like it at all.

Tim paced the hotel room; he couldn't follow Jason and Bruce into the desert. Sure, he technically knew how to drive but he'd be too easy to spot. But Jason wasn't alone now, he had Batman! He should head home but something stopped him, some nagging instinct that screamed he had to stay close.

"Nice Lady," Bruce commented as he drove away from where they had dropped her off.

"But not the right one," Jason answered, staring out the window. He'd hoped…

"What now?"

"I've got two more to check out, I'm not going back, not yet."

"Alright," Bruce agreed, surprising Jason. "Think I might stick around, make sure you don't get yourself into trouble."

"Okay," Jason agreed, a grin teasing at his lips. It would be so much easier with Bruce's help. "Shiva Woosan's here somewhere."

"It won't be her," Bruce stated, and Jason stared at him.

"You know her?"

"Of her," B admitted. "You look nothing like her Jay, not even the same nationality. Dr Haywood is a far more likely candidate."

And now they were leaving Beirut again, or at least Jason was. Fast too, so not a commercial jet. The Batplane? It would explain Bruce's presence as Batman. But that meant no flight records for Tim to track down, so he was forced to wait for them to stop before booking a flight to…Ethiopia?! Wonderful. Well, his passport was sure getting a workout and so was his credit card. How was he going to explain this to his parents?

"Think I'll leave you two alone, to get to know each other," Bruce smiled at the sight of Jason reunited with his mother. He was glad that of the three, it was the doctor who turned out to be his mother. "I'll stop back in a couple of hours to find out what your plans are, Jason." He smiled at his son and then left the tent, heading out.

He got in the Jeep and drove away. Would Jason choose to remain in Ethiopia with his mother? Would he lose another partner…his son? His best hope would be that Jason would continue his schooling in Gotham and spend the summer breaks with Shelia. It would be the best for Jason to get a proper education after all, she was a doctor, surely, she would agree.

Tim grimaced as his seat was jostled. There were only two direct flights a week between Beirut and Addis Ababa and of course, neither was when he needed it to be. Which meant they had been in the country for a day before his flight was finally coming in to land. And they were not close to the airport.

Thankfully, getting his hands on transport wasn't too hard and he was soon heading for the…aide camp? Another candidate for his mother? The old bike wasn't as fast as something modern but that was fine, he was used to a bicycle but he had ridden with Jason that time and he did theoretically know how. He just had to avoid crashing, piece of cake, right?

Jason stared in shock as the Joker went into his mom's tent and then the terror had him moving. No, he'd just found her! He crept around the back of the tent, it was an invasion of privacy yes, but it was the Joker!

Tim hid the bike outside of the camp and slipped inside, easily hiding in the shadows of the tents. Sometimes being small for his age really came in handy. He froze as he spotted a familiar figure, also hiding outside a tent…eavesdropping? Where was Bruce?

Harley was concerned, there'd been no sign of Mista J since shortly after his escape. That wasn't good, he had to have something big in the works. But what? She'd been out canvasing contacts with Ivy and they hadn't been able to find anything. Then Selina called and Harley was shocked. A cruise missile?!

Well…at least it was as safe as ever for Al to be out and about. And with the summer holidays in full swing, he had no school. And worryingly…it seemed he had little to no parental observation and that was concerning, despite how much she loved having the kid around. Though…. she hadn't spotted him at all since the Bats vanished, chasing Mista J she assumed. But there was no way Alvin would follow out of the country, right? Sure, he seemed to be a rich kid, but enough to get out of the country without his parents?

Jason followed the convoy to the warehouses where the medical supplies were kept, feeling sick as he listened at the window. He had to save his Mom! But he couldn't do it alone so he rushed back to the camp, hoping B was back.

He almost drove right past the car, stopping the bike in a skid. "Bruce!"

The man had already begun to turn from where he was talking to some people. "Jason? What's going on?"

"Joker trouble."

Tim didn't even hesitate; he stayed right where he was as Bruce left. Jason was in full gear, waiting out of sight for Batman to return. Staying out of sight of them was so much harder outside of a city, but at least Jason hadn't found the tracker yet. That mini-copter was very cool though but it didn't have a passenger seat if they needed a quick getaway.

He grimaced as Jason pulled his clothes on over the suit, heading for the warehouses. Not that he could blame him, he'd be doing the same if it was his Mom down there. He slipped from his hiding place, moving closer, the weight of Jack's gun heavy at his back. Could he actually use it? Pull the trigger when aiming at a person? If he ever could, it'd be against a monster like the Joker. He was glad he'd left those timed messages though. He pressed the timer reset, buying himself another twelve hours before they'd be sent.

"Mom," he called as he approached. He knew that Bruce had said to wait, but he couldn't and she was outside now, he could grab her and run.

"Jason?" She turned to him, cigarette in hand.

"You've got big trouble, Mom. I know all about it…the Joker…everything," he quickly told her.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she denied, putting her cigarette out.

"Come on Mom, play straight with me! I can help you."

"Sure, tell me about it," she scoffed, turning away.

Jason hesitated but then unzipped his jacket. "Mother, there's a lot about me you don't know."

She glanced back and her eyes widened at the red and yellow of the Robin suit. "Huh?" she gasped. "That outfit…you're… come with me!" she turned to the warehouse, and Jason quickly ditched his civilian clothes.

"Wait! The Joker…"

"Is long gone. There's nothing to worry about. But I've something you should see," she explained as she walked inside, and he followed, curious.

"What? What's going on?" he asked.

"Just step over here and you'll understand everything…Robin."

Jason froze as he found himself at gunpoint. "WHAT! But you said…" No…she…she was his Mom… he turned and she was holding a gun on him too.

"I lied," she told him. "You see, I can't afford to have you stirring up trouble. I've been dipping into the medical funds myself. If you blow the whistle on the Joker, the ensuing investigation would certainly uncover my embezzling."

Jason stared at her, not wanting to believe it. She was just saying that for the Joker…wasn't she? His Mom was meant to love him.

Tim watched in horror through the window as Jason was…Jason…his mother was tied up, watching. At least she seemed to be remorseful but it was too late to do any good. He carefully pulled the gun out, he had a full magazine of bullets, but those creeps would be better shots them him by a long way. A shootout would just end with them all dead. If he took a shot, he'd have to make it count. Shaking hands raised the gun, aiming at the Joker. He didn't have to kill the monster, just make him think he was under a bad enough attack to run. He didn't have to break Batman's rule.

He pulled the trigger.

Sheila stared at the Joker's men scattered as they scattered, bullets shattering a window. One of them hitting the Joker in the shoulder, forcing him to drop the crowbar he'd been beating Jason with. She looked at the kid, lying in a puddle of his own blood. What had she done? He was innocent of all this… and she'd handed him over. He'd just wanted his mother…but she'd never been mother material. If only he hadn't followed her.

She flinched at the sound of more shooting but none of it came near her or Jason. And then she swore as Joker snarled, putting down a bomb before vanishing among the shelves…she could hear the ticking. No…please no.

There was no way out, she could feel the blood dripping down her pantleg from where the Joker had slammed the crowbar into her thigh. Even if she could get loose, she couldn't run.

As soon as they disappeared, Tim stopped firing and moved away quickly, they'd be looking for the gunman after all. He checked the magazine, two bullets left. Hopefully he wouldn't need them. He made his way around the building, not at all ashamed when he saw the Joker bleeding. The monster deserved it!

But then he frowned as they padlocked the door. Not good. He could fit through the window he'd shot through, any of them really. Sometimes being small came in handy. But there was no way that he'd get Jason back out through them; he needed that door! And even if he hated the woman, he couldn't leave her behind either.

"Jason!" She stared in shock and horror as the teen dragged himself semi-upright. "You're alive…" How? That kind of beating… "The bomb Jason, you need to deactivate it," she told him, not sure if he could understand or her not given the number of head blows that he'd taken.

"In…" he coughed, blood on his lips which wasn't a good sign. "no…shape…to…" he groaned, dragging himself across the concrete. "Gotta…you…Mom…" he coughed more blood. Then he grabbed the support she was tied to, dragging himself up it. He was such a mess, how was he even moving? She could feel him fumbling at the ropes and then her hands were free. "Run…."

She turned, catching him as he slumped towards the ground, feeling her leg flare with pain.

"Come on," she whispered, getting her shoulder under his arm, and hauling him to his feet, her leg threatening to buckle. "We're both getting out of here."

He was heavy, solidly built with muscle, but she was not going to leave him. It was all her fault…she'd been so stupid. She didn't know him but he was her son, innocent of her mess. That was all that had mattered to him, that she was his mother. He could have dragged himself towards the door but he'd moved to save her instead, even after she had betrayed him.

"You're going home Jason, to Bruce…Batman," she told him, trying to keep him conscious. "We're almost there." She set him down against some boxes near the door as gently as she could, limping to it. "Stay here while I get the door."

"Wha's…wrong…" he slurred as she pulled at the door.

"The door," she sobbed, leaning against it. "It's locked…the Joker locked us in."

"Get back!" A muffled voice called through the door, and she moved back, hearing the sound of a gunshot. The door was kicked in, revealing…a kid? A kid with a gun. Had he been the one to shoot earlier?!

"Help him," she begged, watching blue eyes go wide in horror when the boy saw Jason.

"Robin," he whispered, he was American from the sound of it. What was he doing there?

Then the kid was kneeling beside Jason, pulling at him.

Jason stirred, staring in confusion at the figure leaning over him. "Al…" he coughed.

"Shh, don't talk, I've got you Robin."

He had to be hallucinating. Al couldn't be there. But… "Ge…Mom…o't…"

"Let him help you Jason," she called. "I can manage."

Moving, they were moving, voices…

Tim was glad for his years of climbing and running around Gotham, he had more muscle than anyone would assume just from looking at him. Still, Jason was taller, heavy. But he got them up and moving.

"There's a bomb," the Dr told him, and he nodded.

"Come on!" he called, and then he saw the blood.

She smiled at him. "Get him clear."

"I'll be right back for you." Tim promised.

Jason was out of it but he was at least trying to help move so that was good. He got Jason to what he hoped was a safe distance and then ran back, heart racing. Was the bomb on a timer? How much longer till it blew? But he couldn't just leave Jason's Mom!

She looked up at him and he was glad she'd tied some cloth around the wound to slow the bleeding.

"Come on!" He held his hand out to her and she grabbed it.

He pulled her up…a loud beep…a laugh…and then heat…

Bruce slammed on the breaks, spinning the wheel, the jeep skidding to a stop even as he covered himself with his cape, burning debris slamming into the vehicle. No…please no. As soon as the rain of debris stopped, he was rushing from the Jeep and across the open ground to where the warehouse once stood.

"JASON!" he yelled as he began scrambling over debris. "Where are you son?!" he pushed some burnt supports aside, looking around wildly, unable to stop and consider anything…he just…he had to find his son.

He found himself no longer caring what had happened to Garzonas. Nothing mattered but finding his son. He'd take him home and they'd go to that play that Jason had been wanting to see. He'd sign Jason up for theatre classes too. Anything…just let him be alive.

He froze as he heard something, glancing around…there! It was Dr Haywood, she was alive! He rushed over, carefully rolling her over so she wouldn't be breathing in the debris, seeing the extent of her injuries…he was too late for her.

"Sheila, what happened here?" he asked her.

"Joker…tied…beat him…set a bomb…Jason…he tried…he was…badly beaten, we almost…made it…doors locked," she explained brokenly.

Bruce closed his eyes, horrified at the thought of Joker beating Jason.

"A kid…shot the lock…got him out…shouldn't…shouldn't 've come back…he tried…Such a…good kid…all his problems….and he…still…turned out…good…much better…than I…deserve… Boy tried…help me…" She went limp in his arms, and he knew she was gone.

He gently set her back on the ground. Was she saying Jason had shot the lock? But that made no sense…another person? He stood up and looked around…there! A bit of cloth. He rushed towards it, scrambling over debris. "JASON!" he screamed as he saw black hair. No…please no. He fell to his knees beside the boy, reaching to check for a pulse…nothing… but…the body…

He carefully rolled the boy over, staring into sightless blue eyes, not the right shade but still familiar. He could feel the bones shifting…the blast must have hit him full on, his clothing scorched but his face was still recognisable. Timothy Drake. How? Why? He gently closed Timothy's eyes and then lifted the too small teen, cradling him gently to his chest, despite him being beyond pain now. Then what Sheila had said hit him, she said "got him out". He moved to the Jeep, laying Timothy in the back before going outside of the debris field.

"Jason!" He yelled again, looking around. And then he was running towards a lump on the ground. "Jason? Jaylad, can you hear me?" He called, reaching out to gently stroke his hair from his face but Jason didn't react. "Please," he begged, hearing the faint, ragged breaths…, he pressed shaking fingers to his throat, feeling the beating of his pulse. "That's it, stay with me son." He gathered his son in his arms, his body too limp, limbs broken. But he was still alive.

He carried Jason to the Jeep, laying him across the back seats, using the seatbelts to secure him and then he jumped in. He had to get Jason to the Batcave. Timothy was beyond help but Jason still had a chance to live. He'd face a very long recovery but he could live.

He parked beside the Batplane, moving Jason on board first, hooking him up the medical equipment and then he went back to Timothy.

He stared at the pale, too still face. A piece of shrapnel had carved a long cut down the side but there was no bleeding now. "I'm sorry kiddo…I'm so sorry," he whispered, gently brushing wild black hair back.

Bruce took a deep breath and scooped the body up, carrying him onto the plane to gently lay on the second gurney, covering him with a blanket.

"Batman to Cave," he activated the communications.

"Cave here."

"Prep medbay and call Dr T. Robin is gravely injured and…see what you can find on one Timothy Drake. He…he didn't make it but from the sound of it, he saved Robin.

"Understood." Only someone who knew Alfred well would detect the tremor in his voice

Alfred collapsed into the chair before the computer, closing his eyes in grief. Master Jason… dear boy. But he was still alive and so Alfred called Dr Thompkins, letting her know that her services were required.

He set the computer to run the search on Timothy. He knew that name, the small boy who always stayed close to Janet Drake at galas. He seemed a quite child but there had been a wide-eyed innocence to him when Alfred saw him. Had his parents been there too for a dig? But Master Bruce hadn't mentioned them.

Alfred prepped the medical bay and then regretfully placed two gurneys near the landing zone before ensuring the cold room was ready. Without knowing more, he did not know what Master Bruce planned for the poor child and it would be best to keep his body in good condition until burial.

Bruce landed and powered the plane down, seeing the waiting gurneys. Alfred and Leslie stood nearby so he carefully lifted Jason, carrying him down to lay on the first one, relieved to hear a tiny, pained groan. "It's alright Jaylad, you're home now," he murmured, forcing himself to let them wheel him away.

He had one more job to do before he could fully focus on Jason. He went back on board and lifted Timothy, grimacing at the stiffness to the boys' limbs, rigor mortis was beginning to set in. There was still lingering warmth to his body, the blanket had trapped the remaining heat and it took time for a corpse to cool. He felt sick as he carried Timothy to the gurney, he was so small…young, too young. He'd been so excited to be starting a public high school come September and now… They lived next door, why had he never interacted more with the boy? He was close to Jason's age, maybe they could have been friends. Jason had been so lonely, never really accepted by the kids who made up the richer families of Gotham and attended Gotham Academy.

He pushed the gurney along, relieved to find that Alfred had set things up. He locked the wheels and looked down at Timothy again. "Thank you," he whispered before leaving the cold room, closing the door.

Alfred left the medical bay, feeling every minute of his age. It had been close, but Master Jason was alive. What state he would be in though, they didn't know. He'd taken so many head blows… no, he would not think like that. He saw Master Bruce and Miss Barbara at the computer and cleared his throat.

"Alfred?" Master Bruce was staring at him, face seemingly blank but Alfred knew him better, his boy was terrified.

"He came through the surgery; Dr Thompkins can give details but she's cleaning up."

Master Bruce's face softened with relief. And then Leslie emerged and the man paled as she listed Master Jason's many injuries. Miss Barbara looked rather ill at the recitation, not that he blamed her.

"Alfred said there's a boy?" Leslie asked.

"Tim Drake. You treated him once by the looks of it, a boy brought in by Robin with injuries to his hands and an expensive camera," Master Bruce explained. "He saved Jason's life by getting him out of the blast zone."

"Then how did he die?"

"He went back for Jason's biological mother. She was barely alive when I arrived but Tim was so much smaller…"

Janet sat on the floor of the hotel, her phone lying beside her. She stared out the window without seeing the view…her phone full of photos of it for…for Timothy…Tim…her darling child. And now he would never see them. A sob broke free even as she covered her mouth, trying to muffle them.

Her baby…her little dragon… She'd always known he was fascinated by Bruce's boys; how could he not be after that day at the circus? To have seen Jason being kidnapped, to follow them…and then…it wasn't fair! Tim had an emergency cell phone, why hadn't he called the police and kept his distance?

She forced herself to take a deep breath and then called the airport. Gotham mortuary's would not hold a body for long and she would not miss seeing her baby one last time!

"Janet? What the hell are you doing down…are you crying?" Jack stared at her in surprise.

"He's gone, Jack. Our son…he's dead," she whispered, unsurprised when he turned and walked away.

Alfred gently tended to his grandson. He had yet to wake but that was for the best given his injuries. Bruce had called the Justice League for help in his recovery and Zatanna would be stopping by in the next few days to see what she could do. He stroked black hair gently as he finished wiping him down. "All done lad," he promised.

He checked the various bags and cords, ensuring he was receiving everything he needed. Master Jason would wake in his own time but until then, they would ensure he was well looked after.

"Hey guys, anyone here?"

Alfred froze but then stepped back, straightening his jacket as he walked away. He managed a smile. "Welcome home Master Dick."

"Going somewhere?" Selina smirked at the Joker as she leant against the helicopter. It wasn't going anywhere anytime soon after the work she'd done on it.

He looked at her and then behind him where a large plant pushed through the concrete, depositing Harley and Ivy.

"Hey Puddin," Harley taunted, swinging her bat, a feral grin on her face.

"You killed my Kitten," Selina snarled, her whip unfurling.

"The bird boy?" Joker seemed confused but that wasn't her problem.

"No, Robin is very much alive. You killed an innocent child who looked up to Robin, who called him friend and pulled him to safety. This is for Alvin," Ivy stated, eyes cold, every plant within several blocks growing in reaction to her emotions.

They had agreed that to protect Tim's family and the Bat's identities, they would continue to call him Alvin.

"Now ladies…can't we talk about this?"

"No," they stated in unison.

Clark flew back, the gas safely dealt with, and then he hovered over the building, staring in shock. Oh. That was…well… he really should stop them, but his actions in the building would negate his Diplomatic Immunity. Besides, the women were hardly law-abiding citizens anyway.

And then he glanced to the side. "Should we?" he asked Diana.

"I think they have things well in hand," she smirked slightly. "I came as soon as I saw news of the attack, but I don't think we're needed here Superman."

"They're going to kill him."

"I spoke with Alfred, he more than deserves it and all of the pain that they will give him."

Sometimes, he forgot she was from a warrior culture, one that was not against the death penalty for certain crimes.

But letting them kill even the Joker went against everything that he stood for.

"Come away Kal-El." She put her hand on her lasso, offering him the out of having no choice.

He turned away, following her but then heading for Metropolis, needing Lois and their son.

Dick sat beside Jason's bed, reading to him, but he paused at the small, pained noise. He put the book aside, watching as Jason's brow furrowed, fingers twitching. "Hey Little Wing, it's okay," he murmured. He took Jason's hand in his, squeezing carefully.

Jason hadn't shown signs of waking since that time with Bruce three days ago but it looked like he was trying. But now it seemed like he might actually be waking, trying to shift but with the casts and wires he was pretty immobile.

"Easy Jay, you're safe," he promised. He was scared, Jason had taken so many head blows… but no matter what, he'd be Dick' brother. And then glassy blue eyes opened slowly. "Jason?" he squeezed his hand again.

Ever so slowly, Jason's eyes seemed to focus on him. Jason's lips parted and he coughed, so Dick grabbed a cup and put a little water in it, putting the straw to his mouth. "Little sips," he instructed, relieved when Jason did so.

The door opened and Bruce froze in the doorway. "Jaylad?" he choked out, and Jason's gaze moved his way.

So, he could at least track speech but was he understanding them?

Bruce stared in shock at the sight of Jason with his eyes open. He moved quickly to the bedside but not quickly enough to startle him. "Welcome back," he murmured, reaching for the hand that Dick wasn't holding.

Jason swallowed a few times. "D..d…da…"

"It's alright Jason, don't push. You're in your room in the Manor, you're safe," he promised, not sure how much he remembered about what had happened.

Soon, Jason's eyes closed again, too weak to remain conscious for long. He looked at Dick, seeing the tears of relief in his sons' eyes.

"He recognised you," Dick whispered, and Bruce nodded. "You stay with him; I'll tell Alfred and call Leslie."

Bruce rushed to Drake Manor as quickly as he could, Alfred had heard the police call, had called him immediately. But he'd been in the city on patrol and Dick had finally returned home to Blüdhaven to end his lease and begin moving home. Of all times…

He didn't bother picking the lock, kicking the door down. "Janet!" he yelled but the Manor was silent.

He began to search, closing his eyes as he found her collapsed on Tim's bed, a photo of her and the boy in one hand, empty eyes staring at the ceiling. He reached out and gently closed them, looking around the room to find Jack on the floor, gun in hand. He was too late.

Selina stood, dressed once again in black as a body was laid in the family crypt. She had spoken with Bruce about it, Janet had altered her will in the months since Tim's death, ensuring that Jack would be denied a pace in the Drake crypt given the manner of her death and his. They both believed she would have wished to be buried beside Tim but his grave was close by.

She had liked Janet; it wasn't right the way she'd been killed. But no one had seen it coming.

When the service was over, she went to Tim's grave to lay fresh flowers for him.

Jason slipped his arms into the crutches and then slowly pushed himself to his feet, Dick hovering at his side. He still felt strange, his vision a bit blurry at times, but Leslie said that would get better. Now he just had to get back to being able to walk. He was so sick of the wheelchair and having to be helped to do nearly everything. Al…Tim…he would want him to do his best to get better.

Ever so slowly, he shuffled forward.

Dick stared in shock at the grave and then looked at Harley who looked utterly enraged. How could anyone…Tim's death hadn't been linked to the Joker or any known Rogues. As far as anyone knew, a bunch of people had grabbed Jason to hold for ransom and things had gotten out of hand. Tim had gotten him out but had been caught. The men's shabby repairs to the boiler in the building had failed, the building going up and killing everyone inside. So, there was no reason for anyone to vandalise Tim's grave. Especially six months after his death.

"We'll fix this," he swore, and she nodded sharply.

"How's the birdie?" she asked.

"Healing, slowly," he offered.

Everything was distant, vague. He couldn't think, couldn't remember… pain? And then something was put in his arms, something small, soft, squishy. Protect.

She watched her Father's newest project, seeing the flicker in icy blue eyes when she experimentally placed Damian in his arms. So, something of the boy remained in the shell he'd become. She had managed to get a look at his medical records, he'd been far too close to the bomb and the damage that it had done had been horrific. But they had not brought him back, it had been far too long for the Lazarus Pit to have revived him. Some of their people spotting the boy mindlessly wandering Gotham had honestly been a shock to learn of. What were the odds that one of them had been involved in getting the file and so had recognised who the boy was.

Others would have recognised him from the nights spent in surveillance of her Beloved over the years. He may have been unaware of the child who followed him and his birds, but they had seen the child. And her Father had taken an interest, an untrained child stealthy enough to follow Batman and Robin undetected, to work out their civilian identities…

She pitied the boy for that attention, she knew that soon his fate would lead to the Lazarus Pit and then servitude to the League. No escape would be allowed, not when her Father was so fascinated by his mind and how he could have returned from death. He was no threat to Damian's place though, perhaps he would become an Expeditor one day. For now, though, he could barely follow the most basic of instructions. Being so close to the explosion had not only broken most of his bones and pulverised organs but his brain, the one part her Father wanted him for. Could the Pit fully restore him? He was a different case to most.

Jason knelt at the grave, gently tending the flowers. There'd been no further vandalism since that once eight months ago, thankfully. New, Bat level security ensured they would find the culprits if they did try again. "Miss you," he whispered, pressing a hand to the stone before standing.

He glanced at the Drake family crypt nearby, feeling so guilty. At least he would never have to tell Tim that they'd failed, that B hadn't been fast enough. No one had expected it though, Jack Drake had never been violent towards his wife or son…who could have guessed he'd ever shoot her and then himself? He hoped that Timmy was happy with his Mom, wherever they were.

TBC…