"Excellent Richard!"

Doctor Aguilar praised his progress from the other side of the walking bars, an encouraging smile on her face.

He was halfway across, with Bruce on his right keeping a feather-light hold on his arm. Barbara was to his left, she wasn't touching him though, she was just there walking with him to keep him comfortable.

Tim was in charge of Zitka this time while Alfred was busy in the kitchen making lunch.

He had the pup on the usual leash and he was sitting down on the floor, allowing the oversized puppy to curl up in his lap.

Well, the pup tried anyway. It seems he's not entirely aware of how big he is now.

Tim gave Zitka an affectionate scratch on the head before turning his attention back to his brother.

His steps were still slow and small. But his gait has improved, it's not so harsh anymore.

He's not shaking or jolting as much, it's much more fluid.

Which helps his pain. And that has also helped his overall disposition.

Much to the relief of everyone else. Slowly but surely, he was starting to act more like his old self.

But something is missing, something unattainable as of yet.

As Dick takes his last steps toward his doctor, a relaxed sigh escapes his lips.

It's been a week since his last seizure and this is only the second appointment since then. The second attempt at walking this week.

You see, when he has attacks, they try not to have him strain his body too much in the following week.

For his own good. Usually takes him a day and a half to completely recuperate anyway.

Dick was nearing the end and this would be the final trial for today, followed by a day of rest tomorrow.

Tim jolted his head up and sprang to his feet when he heard a rough grunt from Dick followed by a muffled curse from Bruce.

"Barbara! Get the wheelchair!"

Zitka started whining and straining at the leash causing Tim to pull him close to his side, he couldn't be underfoot right now if Dick was going to fall--

But he wasn't crashing to the ground. Tim's heart started to race as Dr. Aguilar carefully turned Dick around to set him in the chair while Bruce ran around to help. Barbara kneeled down in front of him, whispering softly.

It wasn't his legs... it was a seizure.

He was facing Tim yet his stare seemed to go beyond him, his mouth was opening and closing as if he was talking yet the only sounds were low groans coming from his throat.

Tim obviously knew of the seizures... he was just lucky enough to not witness one first-hand. Until now.

Tim tore his stare away from his brother and glanced at Bruce, who was watching his watch intently and counting silently.

He stopped suddenly and returned his gaze to his eldest son, an expectant look on his face.

'Must have been two minutes...' thought Tim, numbly.

Two minutes is the longest amount of time they have gone on since he came home from the hospital.

But something was wrong. When Tim glanced back at Dick he was not sleepy as usual. He was still staring straight ahead. The movements and vocalizations have stopped but it was if he was entranced by something.

Dimly, in the back of his mind, Tim remembered something he had read when studying seizures shortly before confronting Bart all those weeks ago.

A seizure may have outwardly stopped, but if the person continues to be non-responsive then it is likely the brain is still seizing.

Dr. Aguilar said a few words to Bruce and they carefully worked to get him out of the chair and down onto his side, using a towel as a pillow. The doctor grimaced then turned to give Barbara a set of her own instructions. She nodded and shakily pulled out her phone from her pocket and quickly dialed a short number.

Bruce's head now swiveled to Tim, his face softening just a bit.

"Tim, you need to put Zitka outside in her pen and bring Alfred down here!"

Tim merely nodded before hurrying to do what he was told.

He quickly ran past Alfred in the kitchen, Zitka running right at his heel, and temporarily ignored Alfred's hurried questions as he worked to let Zitka out into his run, only pausing to give the confused pup a pat on the head.

When he ran back inside, Alfred was gone from the kitchen and the sound of the front door opening was Tim's clue to where he was.

He ran into the foyer only to nearly run into Alfred as said man quickly backed up to get out of the way of the stretcher and team of paramedics that rushed in.

Despite being shocked for a moment, Alfred quickly led the team down the hall to where the gym was, not needing to be a mind-reader to know who and what they're here for.

Tim, however, had to sit down in the nearest armchair, he sat frozen for a second before covering his face in his hands.

He was Robin. He knew danger and he knew stress, he's been tortured, he's almost been killed a few times! But this...

This was one of the few times he felt afraid. The others being the horrible deaths of his parents and then learning that Dick  had first entered a coma.

Tim lifted his head and choked on air when he saw them wheeling his brother out on a stretcher, air being given through a mask and Bruce tight on the paramedics' heels. Of course, there was no way they were leaving without Bruce.

He jumped to his feet, tears starting to build in his eyes, and made to follow Bruce before a gentle hand grabbed his shoulder, holding him back.

"Easy now Master Tim, it is just a pre-caution. Lasted just a bit too long."

Tim jerked his head to see Alfred's weary face, his other arm wrapped around Barbara's shoulders. Barbara wasn't even bothering to fight her tears.

So finally Tim didn't either. He spun around the whole way and wrapped his arms around Alfred's torso, his own body shaking.

"Al... he looked so... wrong. It looked so painful--"

Alfred's hands squeezed both his charges tighter.

"Yes, I know. But he didn't feel a thing, you know that. He won't remember it either."

Alfred sighed gently and closed his eyes for a brief moment.

His family had the stubborn habit of concealing any and all emotion. But here at home with just themselves, there was no need.

"Alright now, we can go see him in the emergency room once they get him settled and give us a call... but in the meantime let's calm ourselves down, yes? I believe some hot chocolate will do nicely."

Both bats merely nodded before heading into the living room. It was just a few minutes before Alfred came back with a tray of mugs... and a young dog bounding after him.

Zitka didn't think twice twice before jumping up onto the sofa in-between them. However, one glance at Alfred's face sent him back down to the floor again.

Stressful situation or not, he knew better. He was only supposed to get on his own couch.

"Hmm, I thought so Zitka."

Alfred quickly shared out the hot chocolate, all the while keeping an ear open for the ringing of a phone.

----------------------------------------------------

When Dick first came around it was not to a sight he was expecting to see.

Once his vision finally came into focus a random woman shined a bright light into his eyes before he felt the now familiar sensation of an oxygen mask.

'Oh crap, what happened now?'

A moment passed before his mind and vision finally cleared enough for him to realize where he was.

An ambulance.

As soon as this realization hit him, so did the expected headache.

A soft groan came from his mouth and his fingers started twitching anxiously before he finally saw a familiar face come into view.

Bruce.

"Easy son, you had a rough seizure. Just taking you to get checked out."

Dick slowly blinked up at him.

'And... we needed an ambulance for that?'

His vision started to fade out again as the call of sleep dragged him under.

-------------------------------------------------------

This time when he awoke, he was startled awake.

By the beeping of his own heart monitor.

His eyes quickly scanned the room... just an ER room. Not an in-patient room.

Alright. Well, that was better than last time.

He stirred a bit, and flexed his limbs to the best of his ability.

Well, nothing was damaged. Even more that is.

Call him paranoid but he half-expected to wake up in the hospital with another injury.

The door to the small room opened and to his surprise... James walked in.

Dick tilted his head slightly, a slight slur forming  in his words.

"This... isn't your floor."

James merely gave a soft smile.

"No but your father was... rather insistent I be the one to look at you."

As if on cue, Bruce quickly walked into the room and sat by Dick's bedside.

"So... what's wrong with me now?"

James let out a soft sigh but didn't look particularly concerned.

"Well, nothing new, luckily. However... I did run a few tests while you were asleep. But, before I get into that I want to examine you closer now that you're awake."

Dick merely nodded and allowed his doctor to shine a light in both his eyes, listen to his heart and breathing, and most importantly his blood pressure.

Once he withdrew his stethoscope he pulled up a stool and sat down beside his patient's bed.

"Everything from this end looks good Richard. Now... about the test. The seizure that you had was more severe than the others you have experienced so far. But only slightly. I'm changing your medication and dosage so we shall see if that has the desired effect. I'm not too concerned at the moment, because that may very well be all that's needed. However... this is the part that you are not going to like."

Dick glanced at Bruce before returning his gaze to the doctor.

"First of all, we need to postpone any walking or strenuous activities for two weeks while we see how your body responds to this new medication. Second of all... we're going to have to keep you in observation for the night and quite possibly into the next day to see how you're doing."

Dick let his head fall back into the pillow and covered his face with a hand.

"Mmph."

This time Bruce leaned forward.

"And you caused Tim and Barbara quite a fright, don't think they're going to let you out of their sight when you get home."

Beneath his hand, Dick couldn't help the smile that spread.

Well, he didn't mind that part. Not anymore.