Dick and Jason were waiting on the sidewalk for Thomas. The police and paramedics were already there, checking on all the kids and making sure they got to their families.

"Have you two been checked out?" A Paramedic came up to them and asked.

"Yes sir," Dick smiled.

"Yep," Jason replied pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

"Have your parents been contacted?"

"You get a hold of my mom the world would stop spinning," Jason snarked.

"My dad…is on his way." It still felt weird to Dick to call Thomas his father, even if had been several months since the adoption was finalized.

"You shouldn't smoke, it's not good for you," Dick said as Jason lit his cigarette now that the paramedic had turned back to check with the others.

Jason shrugged as he puffed out smoke, making sure it was away from Dick, "So, you lied,"

"Yeah, but…free candy…"

"You know Thomas could buy you anything you want. And besides isn't that why Bruce is sick?"

Dick looked down, his lie was falling apart.

"Don't be stupid kid, you're too smart for that," Jason said he ruffled the boy's hair. He didn't even know why he way staying with the boy or why he had become fond of the sons of the richest man in Gotham.

"Are you being wise or speaking from experience?" Dick smirked.

"Sir, you cannot go back there it's a crime scene!" A police offer said.

"My son is back there!" A familiar voice came.

"We need to be sure they have all given their statements before they are released."

"He's a minor, I want to be there when he speaks with the police."

"Thomas!" The boy called wheeling over to the barricade as fast as he could, they both had to play up the scene.

"Dick, I'm right here, I can't cross the barricade yet."

"Batman was here!" Dick spoke excitedly as the police officer checked over the list of children and people who have given their statements.

"He's free to go," the officer said.

"What about Jason Todd," Thomas asked.

"Me?" Jason was shocked Thomas asked about him.

"He's free to go as well."

"I'll take them both."

"Sign here," the officer pointed to two places for him to sign.

"What happened? I thought you were at Tim's." Thomas looked down at Dick as they went to the Town car because Jason was with him they wanted to play up the lie.

"I—I…" he stuttered, he wasn't sure what to say exactly.

"It's my fault," Jason interjected, "I won candy from here and told him…and he came with me so I wouldn't be alone."

"Jason that was very reckless, but I am glad you didn't go alone. Can we get you a ride anywhere?" He asked once they got the vehicle.

"Nah I'm good. Sorry to get the little one involved." Jason walked off.

Thomas and Dick got into the car.

"He covered for me…" Dick smiled a little.

"He's a good kid," Thomas said.

"Can we visit Bruce?"

"Of course."

Two days had passed since Dick went in undercover and discovered that Danny Mac and was an anagram for Candy Man and he was the one responsible for the brainwashing and manipulation of the children of Gotham who consumed the candy.

Dick and Thomas spent the entire day Gotham Memorial trying to figure out exactly how many people were affected so that they could adequately prepare enough antidote for them. Before that could happen they needed to test the first dose.

Thomas looked at Bruce laying in the bed, he knew the risk he was putting his son in by giving him an untested antidote.

"What if it doesn't work?" Dick asked Thomas as the doctor filled the syringe.

"Then we try again," Thomas said, even though he knew what Dick meant by the comment. He injected Bruce with the antidote while Dick watched.

It took what seemed like forever, but the antidote appeared to start working, as Bruce's eyes started to move, even though they were closed. His heart rate started to rise.

"Bruce?" Dick touched the older boy's hand.

Bruce's eyes slowly opened and his eyes attempted to focus on the two figures next to him.

"Dad…Dick…" his voice was weak.

Dick leaped forward and tackled Bruce. "You're alive!"

"Yeah…but what happed…"

"I saved the day!" Dick smiled

"Tell me everything." Bruce smiled.

Dick smiled and happily told him.

"Sounds like you did a great job little buddy," Bruce ruffled his hair.

"It was fun being out there…but I wish you could have been there."

"If I was you wouldn't have had to do that…."

"I know…."

"Bruce, you need to rest," Thomas said.

"I have been," he closed his eyes trying to fight the sleep that was threatening to take him.

"Yeah, you have to rest up because when you're better I'm going to kick your butt."

"I'm holding you to that."

—One Week Later—

"Dad," Bruce said, "I've been thinking about something…"

"That can be dangerous," Thomas smiled, he was happy his son was getting back to normal.

"You said that Dick did great in the field—"

"He's a liability, he could get hurt badly because he can't run away if he situation were to get worse. This was a controlled situation."

"What if he could walk? Dick has not only proven when he's helping us with the coms but—"

"You know just as well as I do that he had too much damage to nerves in his spine. I'm not giving him false hope with a surgery that has only a five percent chance of working."

"Wait, so surgery could help?"

Thomas looked at his son. "What were you thinking?"

"Not until you tell me about the surgery,"

"Bruce," Thomas said in a warning tone.

"Exoskeleton."

"That would be noticed." The oldest Wayne thought about the idea his son presented him. He did have his reservations. There was one major one.

"It would only be as Nightwing…"

There it was, that was a major one, "I don't know if that's a good idea.

"He wants to walk this would be a way for him to walk!"

"Yes he wants to walk, but not this way. He wants to use his own two feet, he's an acrobat."

"We have all this tech we have to be able to help him." Bruce wanted to help Dick now more than ever after hearing about how much he helped Batman cure to only himself, but the other that were affected by the tainted candy.

"How would it look if both Nightwing and Dick Grayson both wore the same exoskeleton?" Thomas wanted Bruce to think this over.

"Can we work on it and let him decide? We don't even know if it will work right? Maybe we shouldn't get his hopes up..."

"Your right, you cannot get his hopes up."

"Then we work on it without him knowing!"

"He's always down here and helping us," Thomas looked at his son.

"I'll find a way! Helped me…"

"You don't owe him anything, if you want to help him then keep being a brother to him. Help him to get used to not walking, everything that you are already doing."

They heard the elevator whir and Dick came down. "Bruce? Thomas?" He called. "I don't see why I have to keep doing this physical therapy stuff…it doesn't help…"

"We are right here Dickie, and you how it helps," Thomas said gently. The past week was hard on Dick because the got a taste of being in the field made him want to help more and miss walking even more.

"I hate atrophy," Dick crossed his arms and pouted.

"I know."

"I've looked things up…there's a chance with surgery…"

"Very low chances," Thomas said.

"It's still better than nothing! I'm going crazy in this chair!"

"You know that it has a low chance of working then."

"I do."

"You know you might not a candidate for the surgery and that will have to talk to a surgeon who specializes in this?"

"I do."

"Okay, I'll talk to some colleagues."

Thomas was in his office at work looking over Dick's files and x-rays. It had been a little over a year since the accident that paralyzed the boy.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Thomas called.

"I know what you're looking at," a middle-aged doctor stood at the door, he has a little overweight and had dirty blonde hair and light brown eyes. "And you can't help him."

"I know…but I promised I would look…again."

"He's lucky he's even alive after a fall like that."

"I know Liam. I'm not giving him hope." Thomas sighed.

"Not intentionally. You told him you would look. That's hope." Liam leaned against the door.

"Dick understands."

"He's nine, I don't think he understands, he following your lead."

Thomas looked at him, "He's my son, I am going to help him I am not going to give him hope, but I will keep looking to see if I can find a way to help him."

Once Liam left the doorway Thomas brought up research for alternative ways to aid Dick in walking.

A/N: Hello all! I know it's been a while. I had a bit (understatement I know) of writer's block, but I've got a bit of a muse going. I did a little Halloween fic, and there is a new chapter of For Nightwing in the wings. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this new chapter of my crazy little AU

Thanks for sticking with me, and to everyone who had faved, commented, and reviewed. I would love it if you keep it up! You guys rock.