□Bruce□

I'm sitting here now - we all are. Me, Damian, Dick, Tim, and Alfred. We didn't dare take her to the hospital. She's an open target there, she's an open target even in the Manor. And so I've decided that we're just going to have to have Mara live in the Cave.

And that's it.

Until she's ready, until we're ready, she's staying down here. Until we're ready to face the man who's got his eye on my daughter.

She's laying on a cot in the medical center, sleeping off what was in the needle that hit her. I had Alfred and Dick study the needle and what was left of its injection, and they found out what it is, what it does, and the antidote.

Vertigo, hallucinations, and Lian Yu herbs.

Hey, I've got frenemies in other cities. One of which dresses in green and uses a bow and arrow, and owed me a favor.

"Should we do a sweep or a stakeout tonight?" Dick asks, bringing me to face him.

"Half and half. Dick, Tim, you two go first. Be back before one thirty. Damian stay here and wait with Mara, then when they come back we switch. Understand?" I reply, and everyone nods.

We all disperse, and I look back to Mara, trying to stay in touch with my more human side. The one that doesn't kill criminals on the streets. It's getting considerably hard to do so, and I don't think I'll be able to keep myself together much longer.

"Father," Damian's voice is gruff. I turn to him. "I am sorry I failed you. I am sorry I failed Mara."

"Damian, you didn't fail Mara or me. Not at all. You saved her, and I need you to know that," I respomd quickly, making sure he knows the truth. Damian shakes his head.

"No father, I didn't. She's laying in that cot-"

"Alive because of you. She's recovering because you got her here in time. I need you to repeat that back to me, right now." My tone remains serious and slightly exasperated at Damian's rejection for acceptance. He gives me a look, and I keep my gaze firm to his eyes.

He knows he won't win this, he just does, I can see it. I can also see that my statements have been getting to him - lately anyways.

Suddenly, he sighs deeply and slowly, and regretfully looks down at his feet.

"I...Damian Wayne al Ghul, blood relative of the almighty Ra's al Ghul," he takes a long breath in, and I can see this is extremely difficult for him. Not just to say, but to process. He's never truly been able to forgive himself for his actions. To him, remorse is unforgivable. "The...the almighty Ra's al Ghul...I, er...I - cannot."

"Damian," I tell him, trying to keep my voice firm, but not enough for him to perceive it as an order. Well, an order from Batman anyways.

"Father no! Mara is - she just - I--!"

"Guys?" A voice says, startling both me and Damian. We turn and see a pale looking Mara standing behind us. For a second I stand and take in how much shit Mara's been through, and how it could be affecting her.

"Are you okay?" I ask immediately, as it's the first thing that pops in my head. Damian takes steps in a direction, which I believe is backwards.

Mara frowns, abruptly sighing. I hear the annoyance in it.

"Yes I'm fine, why - you know what just stop asking that question. Yeah, everyone, just as a heads up, I'm fine," I can tell she ended up talking to herself there, but doesn't mind it.

"Where's Tim and Dick? Hey Alfred," she waves to Alfred, who now makes his way next to me.

"Master Dick and Master Tim are out at the moment. Dear, please go back to the cot, this much movement right now is not good for you. The Vertigo may still be slightly in your system, and could still affect you." Alfred states, and Mara blinks quickly, and surprisingly goes back to the medical area.

Well, that went somewhat well. I'm glad Damian stayed quiet - he would've lost it if she said anything to him. He's just got so much guilt that he can't process it correctly.

Now, yes, I can teach him the ways I cope, but he won't listen to me anyways.

I turn to talk to Damian, and see he's walking away, towards the suit cases.

That little - ! - he never listens. Goddamnit.

I take a breath and jog around and up the metal pathways to meet him. He's going to stay here, with his sister. He won't have to talk if he doesn't want to, but he will be staying here. Until Dick and Tim get back anyways.

"Damian, you need to stay here. Mara needs you, and I don't care if your angry that she got hurt. It's not your fault that someone's after her at all," Damian looks at me, fury in his eyes.

"Father I - !" My son starts.

"Master Damian!" Alfred shouts, now nearing us with a quick pace. His frown deepens as he becomes a few feet away from the us. "You will stay here until Masters Dick and Timothy get back. Then you may go out and do as you wish. But right now, your sister meeds you more! You now will go sit right next to her for your incredulous behavior! Now!"

It's slightly frightening, even to me , to hear Alfred become so hostile like that in a matter of seconds. But then again, it's Alfred. Anyone who messes with him - none of which I know of - doesn't make it once he's finished.

I mean, it's in the phrase. I have no idea of anyone who's ever crossed Alfred because they're already taken care of by Alfred.

It's...it could be resourceful, but I hope to never have to have Alfred do such a thing. I would much rather him be comfortable here as our butler than a spotless murderer.

But in the rare case that we do, it'll work. I know this because Damian actually listens, for once in his life. We watch him trudge solemnly to the medical center stairs, lift his head up higher, let his shoulders temse up, and dissappear down the stairwell.

□Damian□

I sit down on the chair next to the cot my sister is lying on. She's got her back to me, pretending to sleep. I don't mind it, I just pretend I don't see it.

I think if there's one thing I'm the best at in this family, it is pretending. I'm the best at pretending. Grayson is the best at . Timothy is the best at hiding. Jason is --

No.

Bruce is the best at yelling.

Alfred is the best at cleaning up messes. Mostly situations when we are out in the battlegrounds - or 'the field', as my siblings like to call it. This includes Mara now, since she knows about our family's "after school specials", as Dick once called them.

Speaking of Mara, she is the best at resisting.

She is also the best at being stubborn.

And it never helps her -- it always harms her in some way.

And now it's my fault. I was given a mission to protect and stop whomever is after her, and I failed.

The Vertigo given to her was my fault. I should've been faster, stronger, and used my intelligence to make the decision to get her off the stairs faster rather than debate about it with my emotions.

And because I used my emotions, she got hurt.

I will not let that happen ever again. Not now, not ever.

I will take my last dying breath to save, protect, and defend Mara. I will live up to this promise on the blood of Ra's al Ghul himself.

And if there's a bloodbond that needs to be done for me to do so - to protect Mara in all ways possible - then it shall be done. No matter the damage, I will always live up to my mission.

Protect my little sister.

...

I may rest n -

"You know you kinda have a staring problem right?"