Jason had just collapsed on the couch after a rather rough patrol night when his phone started ringing. Slightly annoyed, he picked it up but seeing the contact name flashing on the screen, his irritation turned into surprise

"Long time no see, love," he remarked in his smooth drawl right as he answered the call.

"I need your help."

"Wait, don't tell me another of your stupid dates ditched and you need a rebound," he muttered, "I busted a whole gang tonight. I'm tired to say the least."

"Jason, I do not need you for a fucking rebound, you idiot! Get your ass to the Iceberg Lounge right now or I will fucking kill you."

He sat up shocked, "calm down Helena, Oracle will kick you out of the team if you killed me."

"Shut it."

"Alright, alright... So judging by your mood, you probably have to hide a corpse," though he had stood up from the couch and picked his car keys, pushing his feet back into his boots despite the fact that his toes were aching from fatigue.

"It's more like I have to deliver someone who nearly escaped being turned into a corpse," her voice was slightly worried though which was a rather new thing for Jason.

He had known Helena or rather the Huntress since his Outlaw days and the two had even dated for some time before separating ways as they had come to the decision that they were both not the one for each other.

But that had not put a strain on their acquaintanceship as the two often called one another in times of need, much more like a default backup plan when everything else failed.

"Deliver someone?"

"Our new bartender got beaten to a pulp."

Hearing that, all the amusement from Jay's demeanor evaporated, "wait what?"

"Yeah, boy was stupid to listen in on a conversation and if I hadn't been there we would be delivering a corpse at the moment."

"Are you talking about Alexander?"

She was slightly surprised, "you know him?"

"I'm coming straight away. But don't cut the call," he had started the engine and backed his car off from the garage, "tell me would we have to take him to a hospital first?"

"I threatened Oswald into arranging a medic so he'll be fine. But he would need a lot of rest."

"Right, I forgot my helmet in the hurry so you will have to bring him out on your own, I'm not stepping in that hellhole as Jason dead Todd."

"Fine, where are you?"

"Just a couple minutes... There. Bring him out, I'm parked at the back gate."

The call got disconnected and Jason's eyes flickered towards the back door from where Helena was supposed to bring out a rather beat up Alexander. His features were slightly twisted in worry as well because he knew all that had happened was due to the fact that Red Robin had tried to use Alex as an insider informant.

While waiting for the two to come out, he took out his phone and texted Tim: congratulations on nearly getting Alex killed. Just wait till I get my hands on you, you're so in for a beating.

***

Dora woke up to the sounds of muffled noises and sat up immediately, rubbing her eyes as she looked around. Her room was dark and it was two after midnight so there was no way Alex could have come back by then. Thinking it was probably Red Robin outside or some other intruder, she got alert, coming out of the room cautiously.

The lights to Al's room were flickered on and two different voices could be heard, one of which belonged to a woman. Not certain of the situation, she grabbed the floor mop and her cell phone, ready to call Selina just in case.

Someone stepped out of the room but the flash of black leather jacket indicated clearly that he wasn't Alexander and seeing her standing in the corridor holding the floor mop at him, the person burst out laughing.

"Aw come on Dora, do you really think a floor mop is going to scare me?"

She recognized the voice then, "Jason?"

"Yup," he replied, switching on the lights so that she could clearly see him.

"Don't underestimate me, I have broken ribs with this," she remarked, "but what are you doing here?"

"Well... We brought Alex back home so..."

"We? Is there someone else here too?" Her brow furrowed in surprise and as she stepped inside the room she saw Helena as well. But her surprise turned into shock upon seeing her brother and the floor mop dropped with a clatter to the ground, "what the hell has happened to him?"

"Another bar fight," Helena remarked, "your brother was unfortunately the center of it this time."

Her eyes flickered in concern as she sat down beside Alex taking in his bruised features, "I told him not to work there... I'm not going to let him go there ever again."

"Sadly he has a contract so you can't pull him off before that."

Her brown eyes locked with Helena's grey irises, "and who are you?"

"Let's just say I am a friend of your brother's," she replied cautiously.

"Soon to be girlfriend," Jason quipped but Helena threw a pillow at him to shut him up, hoping Dora hadn't heard it.

But Dora was too busy in checking Alexander over for injuries, her wide eyes welling up with tears, "Al, I warned you not to apply for such a risky job, didn't I? Now look what you've gotten yourself into."

Alex gently clasped her hand in his own and squeezed it as if to assure her that he would be fine.

"He needs rest," Helena spoke up, "I will see to it that Oswald gives him off for a few days. But I can't do anything about the contract. There's still a month or two left."

She looked up at her, "but you'll see to it that he gets an off, right? Because he can't go back like this."

"Sure."

"Thank you," she nodded then turning to look at Alex, she remarked, "and Al you are not leaving this bed anytime soon. I will see to it that you get a lot of rest and recover quickly."

"But the shop and my shifts..."

She silenced him, "I'll manage."

Jason spoke up, "don't worry Alex, I'll send Tim and Steph for help too. And you, Dora, don't hesitate to make Tim work his ass off at the shop. He totally deserves it."

She hadn't gotten the meaning behind his sentence but nodded nevertheless.

Helena smiled politely at them and handed a note to Isadora before stepping out, "Bye Dora, take care of Alexander and if you need any help whatsoever, just call."

After she had left, Dora asked Jason, "what were you saying about her earlier?"

"What? I didn't say anything," he replied, noticing the warning look Alex had given him.

She seemed to have observed the silent exchange between the two as she stood up, "Alex, I'll be right back. And Jason, don't you have to leave now? I also have to lock the door after you go so hurry up."

He smiled though his eyes glinted in mischief as he stepped out with Dora following close behind.

"Who was she?"

"Helena. Your brother's sole friend at the Iceberg Lounge."

"Just friend?"

Jason nodded as if impressed, "you are way too observant. But I'll let you know this; she's just a friend for now but could be more if only your brother picked up the guts to ask her out."

"So he's being a Tim to her?"

He burst out laughing, "that's a strange way of putting it but kinda."

"Is she trouble?"

"A little, yes. But if I am ever to play Cupid I would totally set the two together," he stepped out of the door at last, touching his head slightly in a farewell gesture, "but right now you have other things to worry about such as persuading Alex to rest so best of luck for that. As for Helena and Al, we'll see what we can do later on."

"Right. And thanks for bringing him back."

"No problem."

***