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“Fuck you.” Dick stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs to the Cave. “And I really mean that.” They were the first words Tim had said to Dick in months, since their last fight, the one that had driven him from Gotham.

Tim stood next to the Batcomputer. Dick could tell right away that something was wrong. Tim was ashen-faced, sweat beading on his forehead, an arm wrapped tightly around his middle. Dick’s first instinct was to reach for him, to let Tim lean on him as he walked him to the infirmary, but he held back. It wouldn’t be a welcome gesture for obvious reasons.

“Tim, what happened?”

Tim looked at him through limp bangs, his hair longer than when Dick had seen him last. His blue eyes were glassy and bright. “It doesn’t matter. It’s none of your business. I just…” He swallowed thickly. “I’m just here to talk to Alfred.”

“Tim…we don’t live here anymore. We work out of the Penthouse now.”

“I—What? You—but—” Tim’s forehead creased. “Oh,” he said weakly. If possible, he seemed to deflate even more. He avoided eye contact, staring listlessly at the floor between them. “I’ll—I guess I can see him another time, then.”

“Tim, whatever is wrong, I’m here, let me—”

“I don’t want your help, Dick,” Tim hissed through his teeth. The sudden venom took Dick aback. He’d never heard that tone in Tim’s voice before. “And I don’t need it. I’m fine.” He squared his hunched shoulders, trying and failing to conceal the effort the action took. “I’m staying upstairs tonight. I’ll be out tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to go. This is your home, you can stay here as long as you want.”

Tim pushed out a sharp sound that could have been a laugh or a pained grunt and shook his head. “I’m not having this conversation right now.” He shifted, moving to make his way toward the stairs, and Dick got a glimpse of the spot beneath his arm. Dick stopped fighting his instincts and jerked forward.

“You’re bleeding—” Tim flinched and lashed out, the heel of his hand cracking hard against Dick’s wrist.

"Mind your own business, Dick. Go home."

Dick grit his teeth. "You are my business. You've been missing for months, Tim, do you have any idea what—"

"Missing?" Tim barked out an incredulous laugh. "I didn't run away like a kid, I wasn't missing. If you'd bothered to help me you would have known exactly where I was and what I was doing. But y-you—" Tim blinked, his glassy eyes losing focus for a second. He squeezed them shut and took a deep breath. "I didn't come here to do this."

"Tim, you need to sit down. I'm not leaving you here like this. Show me your wounds. Please."

Tim shook his head. "It's been taken care of."

"Tim, you're not a doc—"

"Not by me. By actual surgeons."

What. Surgeons?

"What? Tim, are you supposed to be standing right now?" Surgery?

Tim blinked again, as if to clear his vision, and took another deep breath.

"I had to bring Tam home. It wasn't safe for her. Lucius shouldn't have sent her after me."

"Tam? Tam Fox?"

"You didn't know?"

"If I'd known where you were I would have come to you myself, Timmy. We've been so worried." And they'd very obviously been right to be. But Lucius had known?

"Dick, what the hell is taking so long?"

Tim stared blankly at Jason suddenly standing at the Cave entrance.

"Oh," he said dumbly. "So. Okay, that's—this makes sense. You fired me because you think I'm too crazy to work with, but you're teaming up with the psycho who stabbed me and kicked me off a cliff, like, four months ago. Okay." His brow crinkled in confusion. Dick noticed that he didn't seem to be tracking well anymore, and his tone was losing its sarcastic slant the more he spoke. "Why are you—Why is he…"

"Shit," Jason cursed, lunging forward and catching Tim as he listed to the side. His eyes fluttered and he was still blinking like it would help clear things up. "What's wrong with him?" Jason asked gruffly.

"M'just tired."

"I don't think sleepiness makes you bleed," he mocked as he dragged a stumbling Tim toward the medbay.

Xxxx

Tim tried to groggily swat Dick's hands away as he peeled back the bandages on his torso, but Jason tugged his hands away. It didn't take much effort.

"Fuck you," Tim mumbled. "You're both…shitty b…brothers. Jus’…jus’ lemme…" He sniffed. “Jus’ leave me alone."

Tim was appalled to find himself crying, but he was so exhausted, emotionally and physically, that he just couldn't hold it back. His whole torso ached, the still freshly-stitched wound over his ribs pulsing with every heartbeat. It was hot to the touch and he knew that was bad. He wasn't supposed to be up and moving and he'd irritated the wound, but he'd left Ra's the second he could stand on his own. It wasn't safe for Tam and he didn't trust Ra's not to use her against him.

He had to go back now, he knew that. Ra's would come after him if he didn't, and he needed his help anyway. But he had to take care of the blooming infection before it got bad. His newly-weakened immune system wouldn't be able to handle it.

He'd tried to go to Leslie's first, but she wasn't at her clinic and he didn't want to disturb her at home, so. Alfred was his only choice.

It had been a bad idea. Because now he was face to face with Dick and Jason Todd. What the hell was Dick doing with him?

"—me what happened."

Dick's voice made it through his swimming awareness.

"Tim." His tone was becoming more alarmed by the second. "Hey." Dick was stooping down to look Tim in the eyes. "I need you to tell me what the surgery was for."

"I got…um…" His thoughts were slipping around like slick mud. He was so tired. "Stabbed. Sword. Had to—my spleen."

"Your spleen? Did they take it out?"

Tim hummed and nodded. "Unless Ra's was lying." He wouldn't put it past him, as some kind of manipulative game.

"Ra's?" And oh, that was Jason. Tim had forgotten he was here. He flinched, the sharp action pulling a pained groan out of him. "Dick, what the hell was he doing with Ra's al Ghul?" Jason hissed.

"Okay, just lie back, kiddo, we'll take care of you."

Tim snorted a delirious laugh. Sure, now Dick was suddenly here for him, when he didn't even need him. Where had he been when Damian cut his line? Or when Tim was falling apart because no one believed him about Bruce? Oh that's right, he'd been rightthere, he just hadn't cared.

"Guess what I found?" he laughed quietly, words slurring. "Found Bruce. Jus' gotta go get him." He felt the room freeze around him and cracked an eye open. He hadn't realized they'd fallen shut, but now that he noticed it he thought it had probably been quite a while ago. Everything was distant and spinning. Dick was staring down at him in shock. "Told you so," Tim said with a weak sardonic grin.

Then he passed out.