Disclaimer – You recognise it, I don't own it.

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Bruce waited until Dick had closed the door behind him, before he moved. He retreated to his office, careful not to bump into anyone else. Sitting behind his desk, he picked up the phone and quickly dialled a number from memory.

There was a moment of ringing, then the phone was answered.

"Bruce?" Clark's voice shook slightly, "I take it there's news?"

"He's alive." Bruce ran a weary hand over his face, "He's alive…"

"Be right there!"

Bruce barely had time to register the dial tone, before Clark was in the room. He quickly covered the space to where Bruce sat.

Clark removed the phone and replaced it on the charger, before wrapping an arm around Bruce's shoulders.

"Okay, I know something is wrong." Clark spoke clearly, "How can I help? What do you need?"

"I need information. I need to know how to convince Tim that I love him. That we love him. That he is an important and vital part of this family. Not just the business. Not just the Job…"

"That he's your son. And you have wanted to call him that since the day you met him?"

"Not quite the day." Bruce confessed, "It took a few months. I… I wasn't in a good place after Jason. I tried to keep my distance. Let Alfred and Dick take the lead. I didn't want to kill another child… Kill another man's son… I didn't realize that he was more mine than he ever was theirs."

"What changed your mind?"

"When he decided that my life was more important that wearing the Suit. That I was more important than becoming Robin. And I'd fought with him over it, not that long before. He was full of fire and fury at me. Because I denied him. He was everything that Jason was. But then… Then…"

"Then he wasn't."

"He didn't even put on the Suit to rescue me. He didn't want to 'Disgrace' it. He held Robin up on some sort of pedestal. An ideal. He saw Robin as a Symbol. That's when I finally realized what sort of person he was… The sort of person he still is."

"Which is?"

"He's not me. He's not Dick. He's not Jason. He's not Babs. He's not Alfred. He's… He's Tim. A thinker. A planner. A Chess Master. But someone with the right kind of heart. He was willing to give up Robin to save my life. For the chance to save my life. Then he didn't even try to talk me out of the decision. He accepted it. He plots and plans… But always with the betterment of others as his goal… Except for once…"

"Once?"

"He almost manipulated Captain Boomerang to his death."

"Can't really blame him for that… He didn't try to kill him directly?"

"No."

"Then, it's understandable… You didn't even try manipulation when you went to kill the Joker."

"Tim will do anything for a friend… Or family." Bruce ignored Clark, "He gives. He gives everything he has… And everything he is. And he asks for nothing in return… Unfortunately, he has often received it. And I am to blame for that."

"We all bear some of the blame… I didn't take Conner's fears seriously."

"You are not his father!" Bruce snapped, "I am. And I haven't let him known that he is loved. That he is wanted. That he is precious to me."

"Then go tell him."

"I can't. Words don't mean anything to Tim. He's heard them all before. Actions are what Tim needs."

"Then go show him."

"I need intel first. I need to know how bad it is."

"You mean you don't already? Thought you would have the police file… I presume there is one?"

"Oh, Tim's gone to the police. But he didn't tell them everything. He didn't tell Conner or Bart everything. He won't tell anyone everything. I need to know more. So that I know how to help."

"And you Bats can't just talk it out." Clark sighed, "Why me? Why do you need me? I'm no good at intel gathering… Your words, not mine."

"In this situation, you have an advantage. You can gain access where I cannot."

"Where?"

"Tim is in Smallville. To be precise, he is on a farm in Smallville."

"Conner took him home." Clark breathed, tension leaving his body, "He's safe there, Bruce. You know that."

"But I need to know more. Go home for lunch. A Sunday meal. That won't be too suspicious. You can get me an up-to-date view of his health."

"Ma would tell you anything you need to know. Anything you want to know. She loves you, like another son. You know that."

"She can only tell what she knows. Tim will hide things from her. You will be able to see exactly how much damage he has sustained. At least physically."

"You'd need J'onzz for mental."

"Unlikely to be productive. Tim has a very strong mind. He has natural mental barriers. And my training only enhanced them."

"Sucks when your lessons are used against you, doesn't it?"

"It simply means that I need to utilize different tactics. Now pay attention, these are small audio/visual devices…"

"I am not bugging my parent's house!"

"I am not asking you to bug their bedroom."

"Can't you Bats just talk?! I mean this is a little extreme Bruce. Talking is an acceptable communication method, you know."

"Tim doesn't want to talk to us. He doesn't feel that he is part of the family. I gave him too much space."

"What?"

"When Dick was growing up, how many times did you all joke about me coddling him? All the DaddyBats jokes? Yes, I heard them… I held onto Dick so tight that he became desperate to be free. He finally ended up storming out. We didn't talk for months. Despite Alfred's attempts. And Dick's anger at me was partially taken out on Jason. Who didn't deserve any of that. Even if things got better, the rocky start was all my fault. This time, I didn't want that. When Tim came along, I gave him more space. I thought it was better that way. That I had learned from the past. But I gave him too much space. He doesn't believe we care. He thinks it's guilt that is causing us to reach out. I could have stopped that… By keeping him close. I went too far the other way."

"No. You're a great dad. You always have been."

"I screwed up. This is all on me. So, I have to fix it. He's my son. I love him. I need him to know that. Actions are more important than words to Tim. So, I have to use the right actions. I need to know how to fix this. To do that, I need information. I need to know, Clark. And I have no other way to get the information. How far would you go for Kara?"

"You're going to guilt me into this, aren't you? Come on, Bruce! I can't do it. I can't bug my parent's house. Can't you get Barbara to hack into his computer and use the camera to check up on him?"

"And somehow in your mind that's better?" Bruce stared.

"Well, it's not worse. And I'm not involved."

"No, it's worse. That also allows us access to Tim's personal files. Things that he keeps secret for a reason. Anything bugs pick up could be seen or heard by a person. Rummaging through his files? No."

"You've already tried."

"Babs has. Tim keeps his internet security very tight."

"Understandable. But I'm still not bugging my parent's house. I'll give you a report on what I see and hear. But I won't bug it. Not even for you. And that's my last word on it."

"Fine. Then I want you to visit at least weekly during Tim's convalescence and give me full reports on his health. And I mean everything."

"Okay. I'll do that. I'll see if Lois can come as well this Sunday. She usually gets away with more intrusive questions than I do. I'll report back to you soon, Bruce… It's going to be okay. You'll succeed. I know you will. Tim cares too much for all of you to stay apart for long."

Clark flew away.

Bruce leaned back in his chair, a smile on his lips.

A knock at the door caught his attention.

"Yes?"

"You done being sneaky and evil now?" Dick put his head around the door, "Only Alfred has food and wants us all to eat."

"I'm done, for now. Clark is still as easy to play as ever."

"Horse trader?" Dick cocked an eyebrow.

"Horse trader."

"What did he end up agreeing to?"

"Weekly visits and full reports at the very least."

"One day, he's going to catch on to what you do."

"Doubtful. He hasn't spotted it yet."

"True. But I wouldn't count him completely out. If nothing else, I'd expect Lois to catch on at some point."

"Depends on whether she'd tell him. I'm half convinced she uses the same tactic occasionally."

"Now that I wouldn't put past her. She is a very smart, very capable, very sneaky woman… Just your type. Why haven't you dated her yet?"

"I did, once. A very long time ago. We weren't going to work out. That was clear very early on. So we made an amicable split. She spun it into a good news report actually."

"Sounds like her."

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Please Review.

I write stories because I can't draw. I have all these images in my head that I cannot reproduce. So I try and describe them with words. If anyone else would like to try to translate what I have written into what they think I saw in my head, they have my permission. I only ask that I be notified of it, so that I may look and go "OOoooh!".

Many thanks to my reviewers:

Loftcat27 – Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying this.

Red-Hot Habanero – He came pretty close to doing both.

Rehabilitated Sith – Thanks. You've given me a few ideas to ponder over.