Levels of Sick: Wally West

Wally was sitting in his apartment living room, flipping through the channels when his thoughts had gone straying off as usual. They strayed to Artemis; her smile, her scowl, her amazement at his latest stupidity. He smiled unconsciously at the memory of her soft voice waking him up in the mornings. He'd been waking up later and later now that she was undercover with Kaldur.

Suddenly, he was finding himself wondering how Kaldur was doing too. He'd been deep undercover for over a year now and as Nightwing had said, he'd made impossible decisions. The Kroloteans were just a bit of the iceberg of horror that he'd been enduring since he'd left. With Tula gone, he was also dealing with the fact that he no longer had the woman he loved on the team let alone in his life. He'd left her behind once only to have her return and then leave on him again in a very permanent way.

Love sucked, he had concluded a long time ago. He was no longer sure when exactly he'd decided that. Maybe about the time Artemis informed him about M'Gann and Connor dating. Maybe it was when it was becoming sadly apparent that he'd known since the whole thing with finding the Helmet of Fate that his 'spit-fire' was never going to be the young Martian anyway.

Fate was a bitch.

Nightwing hadn't called him in weeks. That was the reason he was flipping through channels in his free time. Had to be; he wasn't looking for news reports to see if he could help out or not. He was leaving the life damn it. He wasn't worried about saving the world anymore. No way. Nuh-uh. So sir.

Who was he kidding?

He was looking at the phone every five minutes, the old communicator every two. He'd eye his old uniform every so often when he passed by where he was housing it now. He'd check his e-mail for news bulletins about Black Manta and the Team. He'd check another e-mail he'd set up for the secret club he and his three friends had made for this mission. He wanted an update that he knew wasn't going to come in for a while.

He wanted to hear from his friends but knew he'd have to be patient. He could re-enter the Team but he'd still have to be patient for news to come. Plus, it was a bit easier to pretend he didn't – partially – know what was going on if he wasn't around Nightwing and always asking questions.

"…The banquet is said to be a great deal," the reporter was saying with a serious face that looked like she didn't believe a single word she was saying. The banner running under her face said something about a banquet in Gotham, at the Wayne Manor. "In fact, it is believed that the infamous Justice League may send some of its own to safeguard the precious collection that will be featured at Wayne Manor."

She went on to explain that someone from Japan had a huge collection and that, even without Bruce Wayne present due to business, his foster sons and butler would be carrying on the banquet for the fundraising aspect. Children's hospital fundraisers. Naturally, Wayne would get someone from Japan to show off a collection of antiques and whatnot to help sick kids.

I guess I could always sneak into the banquet and talk to Dick there, he thought absently. Like he'd do that to a friend. Besides, knowing Dick, he'd have a girl on his arm the entire night – if all went well – and would be busy entertaining her as well as guests. Tim…Tim didn't know anything about it so there was no point in talking to him save for saying hello and asking how he was doing.

Tiptoe around the subjects you want to touch, Wally thought bitterly. He'd probably have to wait until the four of them could all get together to talk again and god only knew when that would be. If the Team was going to be there, there was a possibility that Connor and M'Gann would be present. That would mean trouble in and of itself; he wouldn't be able to talk and he wouldn't be able to think of anything other than a chorus of 'lalalalalalala!'

Damn…

His phone buzzed on the table then. He glanced at it in slight aversion but picked it up anyway to at least check the caller ID. Flash. Of all fucking people.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked as casually as he could, surprised he managed to fit a bit of grief in there too. Right. It'd been a few weeks since Artemis was proclaimed dead on a mission. Nightwing wasn't one to lie – not with Connor and M'Gann standing over him to provide themselves as distraught witnesses – so who would doubt his words?

Wally was still in mourning.

"You sound horrible," Barry said; worry filling his voice to the brim. Wally wanted to gag. He'd always hated it when the elder man worried over him for stupid things. Sure, he wasn't as fast as Flash but he wasn't nearly as incapable as some made him feel.

"Let's see how great you sound when you lose a loved one," he snapped.

He sounded angrier than he thought was correct for the statement but he'd go with it. Maybe he was the kind of person who worked through his grief by staying angry for a long time. Maybe he was like Kaldur'ahm in that respect? Maybe he should tone it down a bit…no need to make them all think he was going to lose his mind and go evil right?

There was silence on the other end for a moment. Wally could just see the man shifting uncomfortably as he thought through what to say next.

"…I'm sorry Wally," he said with complete sincerity. If he hadn't had sincerity, Wally may have had to sound angrier and threaten to beat some into him. "I truly am sorry about Artemis…"

"Whatever," Wally growled, scrubbing a hand over his face.

He was acting to an invisible audience. Pretending he felt something he didn't.

How did Nightwing always seem so damned cheerful? He saw horrible things every day in that city of his, had to deal with insane men and women bent on killing him and his new family, and he also had a screwed up past. Yet, he always managed to show a smile to his friends when seriousness wasn't needed. Wally couldn't really remember a time when he was really mad at someone; frustrated sure but never fully pissed off. He didn't think anyone other than Batman, Batgirl, and Robin had seen him like that either.

Then again, he had no idea.

Maybe Nightwing compartmentalized better than most people?

Maybe he was so stunted he just didn't really feel those kinds of emotions anymore?

No…that wasn't it. He felt things. He felt for people too. Zatanna was a prime example of him feeling for others. He'd been the one to comfort her, to organize her moving into the Cave, and to be the one whose shoulder she could always have. Nightwing wasn't unfeeling. He probably did all of Batman's feeling too considering how the two were like polar opposites of each other in the early years.

Was Nightwing becoming like Batman?

Dear god; Wally hoped that wasn't the case.

"Look…some of the Team is going to be at Wayne Manor tonight," Barry was saying. Wally could just see the man scratching the back of his neck nervously. "It's supposed to be a simple mission; no action and all that…"

Yeah…most of the Team's missions are supposed to be like that. Stealth team my ass.

"Would you like a distraction?"

He didn't have to think.

"Yeah…why not?"

Wally was on the floor.

That was all he knew, his gloved hands slowly coming to his sides to help lever him to his knees. He was going slow, his head spinning and throbbing in a certain spot. Concussion. No question about it. It had to be…he'd had plenty before so he knew that throb's tune by heart.

He glanced around, glass digging into his leggings and his gloves. Hissing, he raised to himself to his feet, head swiveling to find if he was the only one up. No…Connor and Impulse were moving. Impulse…that kid…he shook his head. There was no point in saying he disliked being lapped by the kid who was Flash's own flesh and blood. He should have expected it when Nightwing called.

M'Gann was up, a hand to her head and a groan spilling from her lips. He rushed over to her, kneeling down carefully to avoid the glass and asked if she was alright. Her 'brother' limped over to them as a puppy looking thoroughly kicked as she nodded a shaky affirmative. Beast Boy gave a pathetic whine before turning back to his human form, curling into his sister's body for comfort. He had a few nasty gashes on his leg and arms but none of them looked fatal.

Wally moved on.

Jim Gordon was wrapped around his little girl, her vivid red hair comparable to Batgirl's against his dark brown coat. She was shivering and he was reassuring her as Wally helped them sit up. Connor announced he could hear the sirens then, his blue eyes fixed on the completely busted windows of the living room. Wayne was going to be pissed when he came back; if he came back. Wally did a quick once over on the Commissioner and his daughter before speeding off to check on a few other guests.

Impulse would occasionally say he'd already checked someone but Wally ignored him. A second opinion was going to be given either way. The paramedics would feel differently about some of these injuries than they did. Beast Boy would most likely be treated like a dying patient than an injured kid if he wasn't stared at in horror for having green skin.

Seriously, this whole fear of the League and of aliens or other non-normal people – were there such people? – was getting out of hand. That damned reporter…G. Gordon Godfrey was making a rant everyday about how the League and aliens were pretty much the evils of the universe. He couldn't stand it anymore. He'd fought alongside aliens for over five years in multiple instances. Sure, not all of them had been as close and as personal as when he was on the Team but he still viewed fellow heroes as doing what he was doing.

Besides, Godfrey had no real room to speak. All he was doing as complaining about things that weren't as personal to him as they were to those in the League.

"That's a lot of blood isn't it?" a girl was blubbering. Her upper arm was cut, blood flowing happily and freely. The wound was shallow though.

"Sometimes shallow wounds just bleed a lot," he explained as the sirens finally began to reach his ears. Damned long driveway Wayne had, not counting the miles of mountain road that lead up to the very isolated manor. Wayne really knew how to overdo it when it came to his privacy.

"But…i-it's a lot right?" She was getting hysterical.

"No…it's not," he said as he tied a bit of white table cloth around the injury as tightly as he could. She hissed in pain but gave him a weak but winning smile. He had no time for someone to be flirting with him. Plus, there was the fact he hadn't found Dick yet. Impulse seemed really antsy about something too.

"Impulse," Superboy growled as the boy skidded to a halt next him. He was lifting some wood off other guests when the boy had started to open his mouth. Wally rushed to his side, knowing his moral support was probably not needed. "I'm a bit busy right now."

"I can't find the Wayne boys," Impulse yelped.

"I haven't seen them either," Wally admitted quickly.

He should have known that the kid would quickly say what Wally silently feared he would. If Slow as Hell Wally hadn't seen them, no way Flashy Impulse had simply missed them thanks to his speed. Flash missed some people every so often, Wally always coming up after him like a shadow.

"Well…no that's wrong," Impulse was correcting, his voice panicky. "Tim and Alfred are over there with some of the other guests."

He pointed as he spoke to Tim Drake and Alfred Pennyworth who both looked a little worse for wear. They were calming the other guests down, table cloth bits wrapped around Tim's hand and on his leg, Alfred patching people up like he was in a war zone and the only qualified person.

"But I can't find Dick," Impulse cried, sounding horrified at his failure. It sounded odd to hear him like that. When he'd appeared, he'd been happy go lucky. Now…Wally was hearing Nightwing back when he was Robin after admitting he was in Europe trying to help someone from his past, worried he wouldn't be able to help.

"Of course you haven't," Superboy growled a he shoved the column up to his shoulders with a grunt. His knees looked about ready to give as he slipped his bottom lip between his teeth.

He can't hold it up, Wally realized with horrified eyes.

"Miss Martian!" Superboy yelled. There was panic there. Wally heard it. He knew he did.

M'Gann flinched before looking over her shoulders to see what was wrong, Beast Boy still in her arms. Her eyes glowed and suddenly, Superboy was shoving the pillar away.

Wally's heart was in his throat.

Dick Grayson, Nightwing, his friend was lying on his right side, eyes slipping closed as if he were drifting into sleep. His right leg looked like someone had ripped it into it with claws and then snapped the bone like it was a twig. He looked pale.

The sirens were screaming bloody murder outside the doors, paramedics racing in.

"DICK!" Tim's voice. It was ripping through the noise, through the insanity.

Wally's heart was in his mouth, his dinner closing in behind it.

"…Everything was stolen? You're serious?"

That was what he was worried about? The collection? Was he fucking serious? A collection of Japanese antiques that were going to be hard to fence or pawn off were what he was worried about? Not the fact that his leg was busted three ways to Sunday or that his little brother was scared about his wellbeing or that half his home was open to the elements?

"Yeah…" Tim was sighing with a shake of his head. He wounded relieved that his 'brother' was worried about a collection rather than his life. Wally had a hard time swallowing it. The hell was wrong with them?

"Shit…Dad's going to kill me."

Wally tried to not react with more than a roll of his eyes as he turned his gaze back to the hospital hallway. People were milling about somewhat aimlessly. It was oddly soothing to know some people could be that oblivious to the outside world because they had something a little more important to worry about.

He spotted Connor then, in full farm regalia.

His jeans were covered in dried mud and grass stains and god only knew what else. His flannel shirt was open to show off a white undershirt all under a jacket that could make any self-respecting cowboy feel inferior what with all the well-earned wear and tear and patching up it'd received over the years. He had a feeling most of the stuff was Clark's though since it all sagged over his shoulders a bit. He could say hand-me-downs though on everything but the shoes which were the ones he wore with his uniform.

Well…those were well broken in too Wally guessed.

Why the hell is he here in that outfit?

Connor stopped by the desk, asked something and then was pointed in Wally's direction. Blue eyes caught green framed with yellow before the bigger boy moved towards him. He came close to slamming his shoulder against Wally's, his blue eyes blazing a bit as he passed him.

"Damn…" Connor whistled, falling perfectly into his Smallville persona. Hanging out with Clark more had been good for him; his human identity was less awkward. He could pull for human now, his friends being Clark's friends and Clark knew Bruce which meant he 'knew' the boys. "You look like hell Grayson!" He moved into the room as he spoke, relief beginning to fill his voice.

"Hey Connor!" Dick said happily, brightly. He was waving too.

"Hello Connor," Tim sighed. "Ignore the happiness; he's been drugged for the leg pain."

"One would think," Connor scoffed as he edged to stand next to Tim. "You look pretty bad too buddy. Have you been sleeping?"

Tim shook his head. "Not with him in here…surgery too." A shrug and shaking head. "No…I haven't been sleeping much."

"Well you should try to get some."

"That's what I've been saying!" Dick said with a waving hand and scowl pulling at his features. "Seriously Tim, you and Alfred should get some sleep!"

"Says the guy who's going to be doped to high heaven for a few weeks at the very least," Tim sighed with irritation. "Thanks for coming Connor," he added softly as Dick started muttering that he was mean.

Connor gave a shrug and a smile. Then he glanced at Wally.

"There a reason you two have a guard?" he asked like he didn't have a clue.

Wally was beginning to understand why he'd asked not to be put on watch duty. He was going to be visiting as Connor Kent. Tim hadn't really shared his ID – save for Impulse's blurting and Wally's educated guesses – so Connor wasn't likely to know who he was and Nightwing was still known as Nightwing to the original team so that was out. He wasn't going to risk his own identity with people who probably shouldn't have known who he really was.

It didn't make much sense since he'd been there at the banquet. Been the one to pull up the pillar – with and without help. Besides…Tim and Dick would know who he was regardless. Hooray for Batman's paranoia.

"Something about the way the mansion got robbed and basically blown up," Tim said with a shrug. Again, it was like he didn't have a clue or was trying to prove he was a normal citizen. Connor nodded and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Hey…let me get you some decent food," Connor offered. Dick smiled at the two and urged them to go. Tim left a bit reluctantly but they left to eat anyway, Connor's strength winning out as well as an audible growl from Tim's stomach.

"You know…Connor's right that you look like hell," Wally said softly as soon as the two turned the corner.

"Thanks a shit ton," Dick sighed.

Well! So much for the usually cheerful Nightwing! There was no sound of the slight slurring from earlier either now that Wally though about it. He wasn't as drugged as Tim and Connor and the doctors would like to think apparently. Maybe he was really used to morphine and whatnot due to his job?

"I'm just saying," Wally shrugged trying to sound nonchalant.

"Make sure you show up at the Cave in a few weeks…"

"Why?"

Nightwing gave him a leveling look. Cold, sad blue eyes met confused green and suddenly, Wally felt very small compared to his bedridden friend. Someone who couldn't walk for the next few months was making him feel small. Nightwing had never done that to him. Not ever.

"You haven't expressed your feelings about Artemis yet," Nightwing said levelly.

A few weeks passed by. Wally worked up the courage to show up at the Zeta entrance in his town knowing full well that he had to make this believable. He couldn't simply just glare at Nightwing, call him an ass, and tell him to go to hell. He had to make it seem like he was still mad, like he'd hoped he'd see him at the galley or whatever it'd been at Wayne Manor.

He had to show festering feelings that didn't exist. Damn. How the hell was he supposed to do that? He paced a bit, his red and yellow uniform making him stand out in the alley. He couldn't stay for forever. He had to make a game plan.

Think damn it, think, he screamed in his head. He was weaving his fingers into his hair, the temptation to simply beat at his head. He had a hard time getting through the idea that he had to play at being mad at a death that hadn't happened.

He had to sing something in his head…but he had to be mad too. M'Gann would see right through him if he weren't careful. He had to sell this.

"It just gets more dangerous from here on," he whispered to himself.

"The hard part's over."

No…it wasn't. It was just starting. The Zeta tube buzzed through his cells as he stepped through.

The Cave was loud with the assorted teenagers.

Robin and Batgirl were the quietest but they were also the ones keeping the noise lower than it could have been. M'Gann was standing next to her 'brother' as usual, Mal standing next to Bumblebee. Wonder Girl and Superboy were sparing on the platform, no clear winner in sight. The rest of the team was watching, cheering, giving pointers. Batgirl and Robin were keeping the latter to a minimum but were apparently not the ones that have to worry about it since they were sharing their own little tips.

No one heard him be announced; no one but Nightwing who was leaning against a wall heavily. His leg was in a brace. Wally almost faltered right then and there but Nightwing had already put on his mask of unease. He too didn't want to have to do this but it was a little too late.

M'Gann's head tilted to look at him. She smiled sweetly, sympathetically. They'd both lost people on that mission but he had a partial guarantee that his was alive. She had no such thing but she thought his was worse off than hers. He jerked his chin in acknowledgement before carefully moving past the others to Nightwing.

"Didn't see you at Wayne Manor," he said softly, almost casually. There was a slight bitterness there but he wasn't sure where he was pulling it from.

"I had something to do," he said, his voice careful and wary.

"Kind of important?"

"Yes."

"Well…so glad you're so detail oriented," Wally hissed softly. Where was he pulling this from? He was finding himself glad to be able to get this shit off his chest. He didn't even notice Superboy's blue eyes glance over to them.

"What're you saying?" Nightwing asked, sounding unsure, scared.

"All the trouble you go through and you didn't even bother to think what Kaldur'ahm might be willing to do? After the Kroleteans? Did you think he was above killing old teammates because he killed a few aliens?"

His voice was low, soft. M'Gann would never hear him but Superboy would. Hell, if any of the kids standing nearby were bothering to listen, they'd pick up on the hostility itself. Robin had been across the damned room and he'd picked it up, his form slipping towards his big brother. Wally could feel Robin's worry, could sense the suspicion in Superboy's eyes.

The cheering kept going though so he went on with his cues.

Nightwing supplied them perfectly, his tone sounding far too genuine.

"…Wally…I'm sorry," he said, his face filled with grief, anguish, pain. Wally wanted to hug him. He felt a sting in his mind, M'Gann picking up on them or finally starting to step in. "…I did everything…everything I could do to…" His head fell. Robin was moving closer. Superboy called a pause. The cheering turned to groans.

Wally was seeing red. He didn't know why. He just was.

"We're the only ones who know the secret?"

"…Wally…at some point you're going to have to sell the 'unhappy boyfriend left behind' bit; you know that right?"

"What could go wrong?"

"I'm so…so sorry Wally."

He didn't even remember his hand bunching into a fist. He didn't remember pulling it back. He didn't remember the feel of it connecting with Nightwing's jaw. He sure as hell felt Superboy yank him back and pin him to a wall though. He sure as hell heard Robin yelp his brother's uniform name before rushing to his side.

Nightwing was sitting on the floor, his leg not willing to hold him up after the punch, blood trickling from a split lip. Wally felt…satisfied.

"What the hell are you doing KF?" Connor was yelling, bellowing.

Wally saw something flash in his deep blue eyes. Something that screamed for retribution for attacking a friend, a family member. Wally blinked before remembering that in some ways, the Team was Connor's family more than Clark was. Nightwing, Kaldur, and him had taken Connor in. Superman had edged around the whole ordeal, avoiding him like nobody's business.

Kaldur was a traitor now. Artemis was 'dead'. Wally had just hit Nightwing. Connor wasn't going to stand for it.

"Nightwing, you okay?" Robin was asking, helping his brother resituate himself a bit.

Batgirl fluttered over, her cape falling around herself and the boys like a blanket as it came to rest. Wally could see Wonder Girl's look of pure horror and surprise as Bumblebee started letting out angered zaps from her hands. Mal tried to calm her. Beast Boy was huddled next to M'Gann who stared at them like they'd lost their minds.

They probably had.

"Let go of me!" Wally yelled, struggling against Connor futilely. Connor's glare darkened and Wally almost feared for his life. He didn't hear Nightwing grunt as he got up shakily but he did see him place a calm hand on Connor's wrist.

"Let go Connor."

"Are you kidding me?" the clone bellowed. "He just punched you!"

"I had it coming." Not really. "Artemis died on my watch; I promised him I'd look out for her." Not really. They'd planned it all out beforehand. Way beforehand. "I failed, he's pissed, he's venting. Drop him."

"Nightwing," Jaime growled softly. "At least let us rough him up a bit; just a little."

When the hell did he get so violent?

"You're listening to that Scarab aren't you?" Connor said with a sneer. Jaime nodded. "I think I agree with it."

"Drop him!" Nightwing ordered. Unquestionable tone. Robin and Batgirl had flinched. Wally could have sworn Batman had come in to lecture them all. The Bat-glare was on Nightwing's face. The room was silent. Connor let him slip from his fingers.

"Fuckin' nut balls," Wally growled, muttered, mumbled before shooting the hell out of there. What the hell had that been?

Drop. Drip. Drop. Drip.

Wally couldn't believe what he'd just heard on the television. He'd been shaving to Godfrey. A bad choice on any normal day. However, he'd been a surprising mood since the act he'd pulled on Nightwing and the Team. He'd been…twitchy. He was looking over his shoulder all the time, thinking Flash or one of the kids would show up to get at him for hitting a friend.

It'd been Impulse who'd been sent to talk to him though. Well…Red Arrow came along too; toting a baby of all things on his back.

"Who's the kid?" Impulse had asked at near speed. "She's cute!"

"Her name's Lian, she's my daughter, don't even think about it," Roy had replied.

"Think about what exactly?" Bart asked coyly. He gave such an innocent smile too. Wally wanted to strangle them.

"Why're you two here?" he asked as he finished making his larger than the usual large breakfast.

Should he even be acting like nothing was wrong? Should he have been fasting or something? Should he have been doing something else? Come on! He'd just hit his best friend because he'd 'lost' his girlfriend on a mission said friend had asked her come on. Maybe he should be at least showing some sort of grieving process?

What were the five stages again?

Denial…well, that one didn't really count in this but maybe he already gone through that? Anger…he could check that on off; he'd punched a friend. Bargaining…what was there to bargain? Depression…he had nothing to be depressed about really. Acceptance…She was on a mission for god's sake!

"We heard about Nightwing's lip," Roy said as he shifted the baby off his back and into his arms. She giggled a bit, chubby fingers reaching up to him. Wally swore he saw a slight smile on Roy's face.

"He deserved it," Wally muttered.

"If we go by that logic, Kaldur'ahm is in the right," Impulse said a bit unhappy and disappointed. Wally damn near threw something at him. He didn't want to feel any smaller than he already did. Nightwing got to do that; not the relative of Flash who made him feel slow either way.

"Don't compare me to him," Wally had growled. "I'm not Kaldur'ahm."

"No…but you have to notice the similarities," Roy said as he rocked his little girl. "He lost a girl he loved; you lost a girl you loved. They both died on missions with the Team. All you're missing is finding unexpected family ties."

"I'm. Not. Kaldur."

Silence for a moment, the baby breaking it in the most gentle fashion Wally had ever seen.

"Look, Nightwing copped that he deserved it already so why are you bugging me?"

"We're worried," Impulse stated. Yeah right.

"Well, the Team's worried but most of the people who were there want to smack you into a wall rather than ask what the hell was up your butt in the first place to make you go that far," Roy clarified.

"I've wanted to yell at him since he told me," Wally said, almost believing himself. "It's been building but I've vented. Maybe I'm about to go through acceptance."

The two shared looks before turning away and saying they'd check in again later.

Anyway, Godfrey was still going on about his most recent feelings on the League and aliens and so on and so forth when he'd said something that had caught Wally a little off guard. Something on the Communication Satellite. Something about the investigation that had gone into its explosion. Something about a bomb.

His hand had slipped, skin was sliced.

He didn't notice it though.

"That's right everyone," Godfrey was saying. "A bomb was on the satellite that was supposed to be for friendly communication. Apparently, I am not the only one concerned about who my country tries to speak to without telling me anything! Oh! And let's not forget about the timer on the bomb that would set it off once it got to a certain altitude! So much for the Just-Us League's little Team of junior whatevers! If they can't find a bomb, then what are they being taught?"

A bomb? No wonder. Maybe Manta put it there as a test to Kaldur? No…Kaldur would have said something, hinted. Maybe he did? Wally was just too dense to hear?

They had an upcoming meeting. Maybe he could ask?

"So…you're late," Artemis groused at him. She was perched on a stack of crates, Kaldur standing below her, arms crossed over his chest. She was smiling at him though, like she'd expected it.

"Sorry…I'm the last one here…aren't I?"

"Actually…" she began, her face twisting in embarrassment and worry.

"Nightwing has not come yet," Kaldur said his deep voice soft but firm as always. It was good to hear it again. It was nice to know he still sounded normal.

Though…Nightwing should have been the first one here.

"Not yet?" Wally asked horrified. "You're sure?"

The two nodded as Artemis pulled up a police radio. Wally wanted to ask why she had that of all things but she was already going through it, a crackling sound filling the abandoned boat house in the Blüdhaven docks they were situated in. It was more of a storage facility than anything.

"We're going to listen to the scanner until he shows up?" Wally asked, zipping to his girlfriend's side. They wrapped their arms around each other like it was instinctual. Kaldur nodded.

"Oh…we'll be getting some stuff from Gotham too," Artemis warned. Wally nodded in understanding. They were maybe two and a half miles away from a city limit sign?

It took a few minutes before she caught anything.

"…We have a 10-80 in progress," the scanner chirped. "Repeat, all units, we have a 10-80 heading towards Blüdhaven docks."

"10-80?" Kaldur asked.

"A chase in progress," Wally and Artemis chorused. They blushed. The three listened on, hoping the chase would stay where it was.

"We're delayed," a new voice scratched. "Some sort of blockade. Can't get past it easy."

"This is Commissioner Gordon; I'm en route with my lieutenant Bullock," a familiar voice buzzed. "We're on our way."

There was a yell, from another car, the one calling in. "Fuck! Where'd that cycle come from?"

Cycle? Robin? Batgirl? Nightwing? Could be any of the three; could be a random bystander being an idiot on a motorcycle.

"Back off the bike officer," Gordon commanded. "I repeat, back off the bike."

"Commissioner!"

"BACK OFF THE CYCLE NOW OFFICER!"

"I've…never heard him that ticked off before," Wally mused, his eyes wide. Kaldur and Artemis nodded silently in agreement.

"There's a 10-53 on Slate Road," someone called in.

"Ambulance in route to 1043 South Dixon Street," someone announced. "CSI and Detectives will meet on scene. Possible code 30."

Kaldur looked like he'd lost blood for a moment.

"Possible homicide?" Kaldur asked in slight horror.

"Code 37 at 1043 South Dixon," the person reiterated. "Code 37."

"Aggravated assault," Artemis sighed in slight horror.

"Possible homicide turned aggravated assault," Wally sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sounds like a busy night in Gotham."

"Sounds like a bad night in Gotham," Kaldur said as he straightened. "That pursuit; where is it now?"

Be careful what you wish for.

"Commissioner Gordon here," Gordon called through static. "I see the suspect's car. I see the cycle. We're too close to Blüdhaven city limits. Call their department, tell them of the situation. Damn it…He's going to get himself killed doing that!"

"Bat-kids," a graveled voice snarled.

"Bullock! He's the best we've got right now; he doesn't have to worry about city limits like we do!"

Not Batgirl then, Wally thought. Can't believe they have the speaker on still. Who's chasing whom?

"Commissioner," Bullock whined softly.

"Enough!" A pause. "Suspect's crossed to point of no return…I have to stop…Nightwing is in pursuit. Did anyone call Blüdhaven PD?"

They could hear a rev of two engines. One was smoother than the other but the choking one was closer. Soon the choker stopped completely, someone racing out of it on shaking feet. The cycle slowed a bit before another set of boots scrapped on the gravel. There was a whir, feet hitting wood, a release, a thud and a yelp.

"Take that you lousy son of a bitch!" Nightwing's voice bellowed, sounding proud of himself. Only Nightwing.

"Hey Bud!" Wally called after he raced to his friend's side. "Should you even be in the field?"

"With this leg? No." He smiled at Kaldur and Artemis who'd poked their heads out of the boat house to look at the guy he'd caught. He was struggling against the weighted restraints but that was hardly a big deal; all of them did it.

"What's the story?" Artemis asked.

"Aggravated Assault on a girl; damn near killed her," Nightwing called, limping carefully up to them. He was beaming despite the split in his lip.

"What happened to you?" Kaldur asked worriedly.

"Uh…something fell on me," he said pointing to his leg. "And someone here is a better actor than you two." He pointed at the lip while Wally blushed.

"What the hell?" Artemis gaped like an exasperated mother.

"Had to show he was grieving. May as well let everyone else know his mental state's not heading towards the deep end."

"You planned this…didn't you," Kaldur stated. Definitely not a question.

Nightwing smiled impossibly wider. "Yep."

Quick thing: Once the other chapters begin to show up, readers will notice a repeat of scenes in different POVs. This is going to be done on purpose. It's to show chaos as well as how things are all connected. Please be patient with them.