The Bat vigilantes were able to track Deathstroke out and reached his hideout to find it reduced to an ashen debris. The fire had died out but everything spoke of destruction and chaos. They spread out, searching among the debris for Tim and the others.
Red Hood spotted a flash of silver and recognizing the distinct shade of hair, he rushed to her help. Rose had lifted a heavy slab that had fallen on top of her but her movements were frantic as her hands raked through the debris.
"Lucas? Luke..." Her fingers sifted through the dust and ashes and she spun around violently when a hand closed on to her shoulder, arm lifted to strike. But Red Hood stepped back and she lowered her arm, recognizing him.
"Rose, what happened?"
"Help me find him," she spoke up, hands digging through the debris again, "he was right here... He was hurt..."
He helped her lift the debris as the two searched and she finally caught sight of her brother, buried under the mounds of dust and broken concrete.
"Lucas!"
The rest of the vigilantes had come there as well and they helped in taking him out from underneath the debris. Robin and Batman were still scouring the area for any sign of Red X or Deathstroke but to no avail.
"There's no one else here," Robin joined them at last, "I checked everywhere. No sign of Deathstroke, Shadow Walker nor our idiot of a brother."
And though his words were regulated, his fingers were twitching, panic taking hold of him. Damian never showed it but he was just as concerned for Tim as the rest of them.
Rose was shaking Lucas to wake him up, desperation dripping from her features because to her it seemed as if in spite of everything, she had still lost her brother again.
Batman's dark figure towered over them, the faint lights of dawn breaking the darkness as the sun's rays started to spread, "you both are coming with us."
"He's not responding," Rose exclaimed, her hand had closed on to his wrist frantically to check for his pulse, "I am not going anywhere until I am sure he's fine..."
"Rose, we are taking you to the cave. We will make sure Luke gets the treatment he needs," Nightwing tried to assure her, "he will be fine. Come with us."
Reluctantly, she gave in and stood up though she was unsteady on her feet. Nightwing and Robin lifted Luke, Red Hood supported her and the Bat vigilantes left for the cave. All except Batman who had stayed behind, because he had a feeling that there was something they were still missing out on.
Red X and Deathstroke both had to be there, they could not just vanish into thin air. And he was going to get to the bottom of the mystery, no matter what happened.
His son's life was at stake and he could not lose him, no matter what the price he would have to pay for ensuring Tim returned safe and sound to his family.
The boy was stupid in the sense that he always sacrificed himself in order to save others. But he was nothing short of a blessing to Bruce and the rest of the family and they couldn't bear to lose him, not at any cost.
***
Dora was pacing in her room quite troubled, because an unnerving feeling was gnawing at her heart. She had not been able to sleep the entire night, Tim's words were still resonating in her mind and she knew he was in extreme danger.
The thought of losing him was eating her up and though she wanted it to stop, forcing herself to think about something else, still the fear taking hold of her was getting stronger by every passing minute.
Night had faded into morning but the worry in her heart had only increased, a splitting headache breaking out as well due to the medicines she had been taking yet the fact that she was resisting sleep and rest at the same time.
The clock was ticking the hours by, her tired brown eyes focused on it aimlessly, hands clutching her temple to drive out the pain but to no avail. The hour needle crossed eight and the door to her bedroom opened, revealing Alex carrying a tray set with breakfast for her.
However seeing her like that, he got worried, placing the tray down at the table and approaching her, "Dora, you okay?"
"No..."
Tears threatened to roll down her cheeks and Alex's features paled from concern, not knowing what had happened to her but he could see that she was heavily disturbed.
He sat down on her bed across from her, gently taking her hands in his own, "you can tell me what's bothering you, maybe you'll feel better sharing it with me."
Her grip on his hands tightened and a tear streaked down her cheek, "Alex... I am scared."
"What happened?" He asked softly, wiping the tear away, "you're making me very worried for you right now."
Dora couldn't tell him what was bothering him because she could not let Tim's secret out to anyone, not even to her brother. She had promised him to keep the secret about him being Red Robin to herself only and she couldn't dare to break his trust in her.
She was in a conflict because she knew Alex was getting anxious for her but she couldn't confide in him the true reason for her worrisome state.
"Why are you scared? Did you have a nightmare again?"
She nodded and tears welled up in her eyes, because even though she hadn't slept a wink, each wakeful moment of thinking what Tim would be facing right then felt like a dreadful nightmare.
He brought her close in a comforting hug, rubbing her back to soothe her, "it was just a nightmare. It's not going to come true."
She couldn't keep the tears in any longer and as he held her close, she broke down crying. Alex was trying his best to comfort her and deep down it was tearing his heart apart to see his little sister in so much pain.
She wasn't telling him what nightmare she had had, but he had a fair idea that it was probably about her losing someone she cared about most. Dora's worst fear was losing the people she loved, he still remembered the past year when they had to deal with her constant panic attacks induced by the fear toxin Scarecrow had inflicted on her.
There were two people she loved and cared about most and couldn't bear to lose. Alex knew those two people were his own self and Tim. And judging by the fact that she wasn't getting better even though he was right there, the nightmare she had mentioned must have been about Tim.
"Dora, nothing is going to happen to Tim. He couldn't come and see you because he's not in Gotham at the moment," he resumed in a soft tone, "but he'll be back soon. There's nothing to worry about."
Brown looked up in concerned honey shaded irises, "you can't promise that, can you?"
"He will be back and he will be alright," he stressed his words, "I promise."
"You know nothing, Al, nothing..."
Even though the words made him confused, he let it slide thinking that she was unstable due to the nightmare and didn't really mean it, "what I know is that you're getting troubled for no reason at all. And by doing so, you're hurting yourself. Look at you, Dora... You look as if you haven't slept the entire night."
"Because I didn't... My head hurts so bad that it feels like it will explode."
His brow furrowed in concern, "wait here, I will bring an aspirin for you. It will help in making your headache go away and you will be better in no time."
He stood up but her hand didn't let go of his wrist. "Don't go. Please..."
He sighed, sitting down on the bed again, "fine. I am not going anywhere but you have to eat breakfast. You'll only make your state worse by not resting and not eating anything."
She didn't feel like eating even a single morsel for her stomach was churning in fear and dread but seeing that Alex was quite concerned for her and not wanting to make him further anxious, she nodded in reply.
He handed her the cup of coffee and her eyes welled up again because coffee reminded her of Tim. Everything reminded her of Tim; his soft blue eyes, his gentle smile, his sweet kisses and his loving words.
And to think that she was so close to losing it all made her heart churn again. She almost dropped the cup, her hands were trembling so Alex quickly took it from her, honey colored eyes widening in alarm, "Dora?"
"I'm so sorry, Al, but I can't..."
Her features were paler than the night Shadow Walker had sucked an immense amount of blood from her and it terrified Alex to see her as such. He had no idea what had happened to her nor could he think of any way to make her feel better.
He knew she was only going to get better once she saw Tim safe and sound right in front of her. Until then, everything else would be futile. He hoped Tim returned soon otherwise Dora's state could get worse and he couldn't let his sister relapse to the same state she had been when she had been under the effect of the fear toxin.
***