Tim and Jason didn't get to see much of their brother when the ambulance arrived. They'd gotten back into the Batmobile when they heard the police cars get closer since they didn't want to be caught hanging around. It would probably end badly if a police officer spotted them hanging about. That and Bruce had told them to stay in the car. Batman joined them after the ambulance drove off and officers had taken the unconscious Joey into custody. 

"Is he okay?" Tim asked. He didn't miss the wet blood on the older's chest. 

"He'll be in the hospital for a while. He was hurt badly but he'll be okay. From what I can tell, he's going in for surgery and you won't be able to see him straight away."

"What happened in there?" Jason asked, not content with a broad explanation. 

"Joey tortured him. There was a meathook in his shoulder and he was cut up a lot. I think the recovery time is going to be long but he'll be okay."

That night, they visited the hospital and spent most of their time sitting in the waiting room. Bruce nervously bit at his nails whilst Jason distracted Tim with the games in the corner of the room. The toys were for five-year-olds but they found some distraction with messing with them. It felt weird being the one to distract the younger. 

Normally it was Dick's job to do that. He couldn't help but wonder if his time as the protector would be suspended or permanently abandoned. He wouldn't blame him if he wanted to be babied a little. 

Eventually, a nurse came in and called Bruce's name. He seemed uncertain about letting the children join but Bruce was insistent and what Bruce Wayne wanted, he got. He led them to a private room and opened the door for them. Dick was asleep in the bed that seemed much too big for him, his skin almost as pale as the sheets. He was connected to different machines and there was blood-spotted bandages covering most of his visible skin. 

"His surgery went well and he should be awake soon. We'll need to keep him here for a few days to make sure nothing is infected. He may need physio for his shoulder and I suggest getting in touch with a therapist," the nurse explained. 

"Thank you," Bruce replied. He was already making mental notes on who to call, who to pay for, everything. He wanted this recovery to be as good as it can be. 

"I'll leave you guys alone. If you need anything, don't be afraid to call." He nodded and the nurse left them. The boys climbed up on the bed since there was plenty of space and anxiously watched their brother's chest rise and fall. Bruce found a chair and moved it so he could sit beside the bed. He took one of Dick's small hands in his own and rubbed small circles on the back of it with his thumb. Alfred had done it on him when he was a child and he found it comforting so maybe Dick would. Even if he was unconscious. 

"I don't think I've seen him so bad," Jason muttered. He'd seen the older really beaten up before but there was something about how much he needed to be fixed up this time that really got to him. 

"He looks better than the last time I saw him," Bruce commented grimly. 

They all sat in silence until Dick groaned uncomfortably and winced at the world of newfound pain he was in. He cracked his eyes open and glanced around the room that he'd definitely not been in when he was last awake. 

"Hey chum, it's me. You're in the hospital," Bruce told him. He stared at him blankly for a moment before it set in where he was. When it registered that he'd been indeed rescued, he only had two people on his mind.

"Tim?Jay?" he asked frantically. They watched his heart rate spike. 

"We're right here Dick," Tim called, waving his hand to catch his bed-bound brother's attention. He glanced at the bottom of the bed and saw the pair, his heart rate evening out when he saw they were safe and sound. "Look we're completely fine," the younger continued.

"Same can't be said for you," Jason mumbled. He hated everything about this picture. They should've run away together not just left Dick to it. It wasn't fair. "How do you feel?"

"Like shit," the acrobat replied. He tried to smile as best he could but he was simply in too much pain to do more than a ghost of one. That was killing them. He was putting on a brave face just for them. 

"Joey is in police custody and, believe me, you won't need to worry about him again. It'll be an easy conviction," Bruce informed him. "You're very brave for protecting Jason and Tim."

"Old habits die hard," he mumbled in response. The billionaire rolled his eyes at him.

"They're going to need to until you've made a full recovery." He glanced over to the two very guilty looking boys and furrowed his eyebrows. "How about I leave you three alone for a few minutes? I should talk to the doctor about adult stuff."

"Real smooth Bruce," Jason commented as the older walked out the room. 

As soon as the door to the room closed, Jason slapped the older on the leg. 

"Ow!" 

"What the fuck were you thinking? You could've gotten yourself killed!" he scolded. Everything they worked for could've slipped through their fingers had Bruce not been Batman. Joey could've killed him and they might not have even had a body to bury judging from where he was found. They could've been forced to live their entire lives not knowing what happened and praying that for some reason he was kept alive. 

"Better one of us than all of us," Dick replied. He was much too tired to be having this conversation but it looked like he was having it. 

"That's not the fucking point. You don't need to protect us anymore but there you were protecting us," he snapped. "I could've lost your dumb ass." 

"Jay-"

"How am I supposed to look after Tim huh? I don't know jack shit about comforting people, that's your job. What about me? You're my big brother you dick." Dick worked up enough energy to weakly kick him to get his attention. 

"I'm not going anywhere. If it gives you peace of mind then I won't be doing much protecting when I'm like this," he told him. "Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll have other people to protect."

"What do you mean?" Tim asked curiously. Was this a bout of morphine dumbness? He was probably on a lot judging by the number of injuries he had. If he wasn't on a lot then that would be a surprise.

"I may not be as smart as you but I can connect the dots. Bruce is Batman." Dick didn't remember all that much from the night with Joey but he did remember how similar Batman sounded to a certain billionaire he knew. Not only that but from the little interaction he could recall, it had been a lot more than simply an empathetic hero. It would make sense too. 

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Batman can't look after all of Gotham forever and I've still got a conscience to clear after all," he continued cryptically. The younger two grinned, already loving where this idea was going. "Maybe there'll be someone else on the streets."

"Perhaps even three new heroes?" 

"It's not like anything can stop us. Besides your recovery," Jason pointed out. The acrobat smiled genuinely. It was truly surprising to see him so genuinely happy despite his predicament.

"This little thing keep me down? Never."