Chapter 6:

Alfred returned to Wayne Manor, discouraged and upset. The fight had been violent, a conclusion he had reached while staring at the dried blood around the entire area. Both of his charges were gone but maybe the Bat-tracker was still intact. It was his only hope.

The butler took the service elevator down to the Batcave and walked over to the Bat-tracking device receiver. The little circle of red, although blinking erratically, was stationary again. Maybe he could somehow find Batman who could then lead him to Robin, if the man wasn't still under the influence of that felonious feline's drug.

He stared at the blinking dot – it was in a quiet neighborhood on the eastern edge of downtown Gotham City. Closing his eyes, Alfred ran his perfectly groomed right hand across his forehead and down the right side of his face. How to rescue them? He obviously had to use a disguise. Or…maybe not.

An idea presented itself in his mind. If there was a house for sale or rent somewhere in that area, he could go as himself. Any suspicious neighbors would be taken care of if he said he was looking for a home for a friend who was moving from England. It was a lie, and Alfred hated to lie, but he could make an exception if it meant saving his charges' lives. Maybe the neighborhood wouldn't even have nosy busybodies and he wouldn't have to lie.

The Bat-computer was on the next table and the butler was there in three steps. He erased the housing search he and Robin had started then pulled up a list of houses for sale near that area.

"Thank heavens!" he exclaimed exuberantly when the Bat-computer spit out a card. There was, in fact, one right on the same street as Batman's blinking tracer.

Hang on, I'm coming.

Fighting, Batman was doing his best to fight the darkness consuming his mind. The boy in front of him needed help but the hero couldn't understand why he felt that way. Gradually he moved toward the kid with a single, albeit confusing, thought pulsing through his brain with every step.

Robin. Robin. Robin.

"What is wrong with you?" Catwoman shouted, not at all pleased with Batman's deliberately slow walk. "He is poisoning your mind! He has been holding you back! Don't you see? Get it over with quickly! The less he talks, the better it is for us, for YOU!" she screamed.

Robin was still struggling valiantly but was losing his battle with consciousness. Determined to save his partner, the Boy Wonder tried one more time.

"Batman, go, leave me, get away from her and her toxic drug. Forget about me, just leave! Go, please!"

The last word was both commanding and full of distress. Robin couldn't combat the darkness anymore and he faded away.

Batman paused as the boy closed his eyes and slumped in the chair. The clouds, although dark, were racing away. The Caped Crusader shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Why was the kid so familiar and why was that word pounding itself in his mind over and over?

Robin. Robin? Robin! I'm coming, Robin, I'm trying! Don't leave me, help me get to you. I need you! Wake up, Robin!

Catwoman, realizing that she should have given Batman a larger dose, spoke to her henchman. "Take him down, take them both down. Do it, now!" she commanded. But she was too late.

Somehow, Robin had wrestled his mind, and with it his body, awake. He noticed that Batman had stopped and looked confused. Using the last of his strength, Robin stood up, still tied to the chair and stated, "I trust you, Batman."

The Caped Crusader was shaking his head again so the Boy Wonder gave up trying to reason with the man. Jumping as high as he could, Robin flung himself in the general direction of his partner.

"I TRUST YOU BATMAN!" he yelled as he braced himself for a collision with the hard floor.

Everyone watched in disbelief and time itself seemed to slow down. Catwoman cackled, the boy was going to exacerbate his wounds and hopefully it would be enough to kill him. Her henchman dropped his Taser in astonishment. And a faint image presented itself in Batman's recovering mind: the body of his young partner, falling through a skylight, flying toward the unforgiving floor of a clothing factory and Batman wasn't going to make it in time to save him.

"No!" he exclaimed, racing the rest of the way across the room.

He wasn't going to make it, just like he hadn't in the memory. A last-chance idea shot through the clouds and Batman jumped, twisted his body in the air and landed on his back. His momentum carried him just far enough that he was able to slide under his young partner mere seconds before the boy's head hit the ground.

The wind was knocked out of him and he could hear Robin gasping for air, also. He waited until his breathing had steadied then attempted to sit up. But the teenager was still secured to the chair and the position was awkward. Batman carefully pushed the chair off his stomach and sat up.

"I'm so sorry," Batman whispered as he began examining the boy's injuries.

The Boy Wonder's eyes were closed and his gasps had turned into wheezes. His face was pale and fresh blood was seeping from his various wounds. Grabbing his Bat-knife out of his utility belt, the Caped Crusader sawed at the tight rope around his partner's chest. It soon tore apart and Robin dropped limply to the floor.

Holy broken bones.

Batman remembered the phrase as images of their fight dashed through his mind. And Robin had been correct – his left forearm was definitely broken. The large bruise under the boy's jaw and the little red slices scattered around the his body made Batman want to physically beat himself up. All of these injuries were because of him!

Catwoman stared at the scene in shock. Batman had fought the drug and won. He really was too attached to that blundering little bird.

I should have given him a bigger dose.

Turning toward the kitchen, she ran through the house and out the back door. She fled through the neighborhood as a dark car pulled up to the house she had 'borrowed' for her little scheme.

In that car, Alfred's eyes widened in both surprise and pride. He had found them! Well, one of them at least. And Catwoman was leaving! The butler quickly exited the car and walked up to the house as fast as possible. The front door was unlocked and Alfred moved swiftly through the house. It didn't take him long to find them.

"Master Batman! Master Robin!" Alfred exclaimed as he entered the den.

His joy was short-lived when he saw the younger of the two heroes lying motionless on the floor.

"Alfred?" Batman cried incredulously, glancing up at the sound of the man's voice. "How did you find us?"

"It's a long and very involved story, sir," Alfred replied. "There is one important thing you should know now, though. Robin is much stronger than he looks and you must learn to accept that. He is not as fragile as you think he is, with all due respect, sir."

Batman looked down at his young ward. "I know, Alfred. I'm lucky to have him as a partner, a friend. Let's go, he needs your expert care."

The Caped Crusader stood and carefully picked up the Boy Wonder. Robin didn't move but a quiet groan floated from his mouth. The men walked through the house and out to the car. Alfred opened the back door and waited for his older charge to climb inside.

As Batman gently shifted Robin around in order to get himself into the car while still holding him, he heard Robin mumble, "Not good enough, strong enough, resourceful enough, I'm sorry, didn't save you, not good enough…."

"Robin, don't you ever say anything like that again," Batman demanded softly.

The Boy Wonder opened his eyes when he heard the commanding tone of the Caped Crusader. Everything was blurry and he was a little confused but the next words that Batman said pushed themselves into his mind with authority.

"You did save me. You were strong and resourceful and I'm sure I don't even know a quarter of what you have done over the course of this ordeal. You are good enough, and you always will be. Now, go to sleep, you need to rest. You are safe, I am safe and everything is fine."

Robin smiled and began drifting off as Alfred started the car. Turning the vehicle around, the butler headed for the Batcave.

Alfred smiled, too. His little family was going home, safe and sound. Well, they did need medical attention so they weren't quite sound, but their wounds would heal and they would continue to be the Dynamic Duo, striking fear into the hearts of criminals everywhere.

Batman also smiled, pride evident in his eyes. Robin had saved them. He desperately wanted to know the whole story but there was plenty of time for that. They were going home, together, and everything really would be fine.

"Batman?" Robin said softly.

"What it is, old chum?" he replied.

"I don't think you should call Catwoman a 'gorgeous goddess' anymore. It's kind of sappy and cheesy."

Then he went to sleep. In the front seat, Alfred chuckled quietly as the man in the back realized the meaning of the murmured words.

"WHAT?!"

THE END

A/N: And there it is! Updated version of my sister's very first Batman story! :) The original story, now replaced by this one, has been deleted. Thanks for reading!