A/N: I apologize for how long this has taken me. I would have had this posted right before New Years but two days after Christmas I got kicked out of my house and that, alone with a myriad of other personal issues, led to the delay of this chapter. I do have a bit of good news. Chapter 12 is right next door to being complete and I should have plenty of time to type it up. Thank you to those who have reviewed during my absence and kept asking about this story. I hope it lives up to the wait, guys. And now, on with the show! Please, as always, tell me what you think!

Chapter 11

1, 2, 3, Surprise!

Dick's eyes widened in worry even as he shouted, "Titans, go!" Kory, Dick, Raven and Victor sprung into action. The former three pulled uniforms on over bathing suits while Victor charged his sonic cannon. Garfield stood frozen as Jacob walked calmly down the hill looking like he did this every day. The animals trailed behind him and the changeling tried not to look at them.

"You're in jail." He said finally as Jacob neared. "You're supposed to be in Africa." Garfield protested as the team made a protective barrier in front of him.

"Have you missed me?" Jacob asked one hand on the neck of a tiger beside him. Garfield flinched back feeling nauseated. He held a collar dangling from two fingers and Garfield shrank back even further started to shake. "Come." He commanded softly. Before he knew he was moving Garfield hit Dick's shoulder.

"Beast Boy!" Dick said sharply. Garfield blinked and backed up behind Victor. "What do you want?" The Titan's leader shot viciously at Jacob.

"Robin." Jacob drawled. "We haven't met before, have we? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm – "

"I know who you are." Dick interrupted in a voice remarkably like Batman's. "What I asked is what you're doing here. You've still got 11 years of your sentence left. What do you want?"

Jacob smiled predatorily. "Go." He said softly and the animals attacked.

"Titans!" Dick called pulling out his bo staff. "Cyborg, use your tranquilizers. Starfire, cover Beast Boy. Raven keep the animals away from everyone. I've got Jacob. Go!"

Everyone moved into action as Garfield tried to pull himself together. It doesn't make sense! His confused brain screamed over and over as he tried to process what was going on. Kory was starbolting any animal who got too close while trying to back them both up towards the car.

"What do you want?" Dick yelled attacking Jacob with his bo staff. "You won't get Beast Boy!" He promised when there was no answer.

"Oh, I don't want the mongrel. Not this time. Not yet." Jacob sad, calmly ducking a blow to the head. "I want her." He pointed to Raven and Dick paused long enough to get punched in the face.

"Titans!" He called spitting blood out of his mouth. Everyone's attention turned to him even as they kept fighting. "Reconfigure. Starfire put Beast Boy in the car and then do the same with Raven. Now!" Kory nodded and scooped Garfield up. "Cyborg, where are you with the tranquilizers?"

"Workin' on it man!" He hit a wolf that went down immediately. "I should have them all out in five mines. Seven max." Dick nodded and turned back to Jacob, but he was gone.

"Fight's over guys! Help Cyborg with the animals and then pack up. We're going back to the Tower."

Minutes later they were all in the car and Raven was desperately trying to get a shocked Garfield to talk. "Garfield, it's okay. We're fine. Talk to us, Gar." Her hands roamed his face trying to get his focus on her. "Come on, we're safe." He turned dark eyes on her.

"We're not safe, Raven." Garfield said flatly.

*

"Home." Dick said 10 minutes later his voice ringing out into the silence. "Everyone to the third conference room. We need to make a plan. Just leave all the beach stuff in the car."

Everyone surrounded Garfield as the walked through the Tower, subconsciously trying to protect him even now. Kory looked worried, Raven expressionless, and both Victor and Dick were angrier looking than anyone could ever remember. Garfield just looked scared and Raven held his hand tightly.

"Okay, guys." Dick pulled his mask off as everybody sat down. "We've got a situation." Victor snorted. Dick ignored him and turned to the room's computer looking up whatever he could find. "According to this Jacob escaped six months ago. He doesn't have any known criminal connections in Jump and doesn't appear to be working with or for anyone." He looked grimly at his team. "That leaves us with the pretty obvious question of why he's after Raven."

"Why would he be after any of us?" Kory asked.

When Garfield kept his head on the table, obviously not about to answer, Dick asked as gently as he could "Do you want me to explain?" Garfield nodded miserably and Dick gave a brief overview of what had happened when the green boy was younger. By the time he was finished Kory couldn't decided if she wanted to hug her friend or kill the man who had done so many terrible things to him.

They talked and talked but no one could think of any reason for Jacob to target the pale empath. It was two hours before Victor voiced what they had all been thinking. "Raven shouldn't go on patrols until we catch him."

"What?" Raven asked dangerously.

"He's hunting you." Victor said somewhere between fear for her and anger at the situation. "I don't want you getting hurt." He said fiercely.

"Bull shit." Raven spat out. "We live dangerous lives. It was one thing when you guys were concerned about my powers but this is completely different. I don't care who is after me, I won't hide like a scared child." She glared around the table where everyone else was thinking over what their teammates had said.

"Raven's right." Dick said after a minute. "We all know she can handle herself in the field. I don't like that she's such a big target, and we'll have to be careful but keeping her behind isn't an option. Not against an opponent this dangerous.

"Garfield." The changeling looked up for the first time. "I need you to tell us everything you can about Jacob." Garfield nodded." And I need to know if you're up to this." The two boys locked eyes nobody moving. After a seemingly endless minute Garfield nodded again.

"Okay guys." Dick said standing up. "Let's go."

*

"Are you sure you still want to do this, Gar?" Victor asked as his best friend dug through a party supply store bag.

"Birthdays don't stop for psychos man." Garfield answered triumphantly holding up a handful of bright yellow streamers.

It had been two weeks since Jacob had appeared on the beach. They'd scoured the city more than once and were paying special attention to who was committing what crime but hadn't found a trace of him. The only thing he had left behind were the animals that seemed to belong to no one at all and were currently living at Jump City Zoo. Thus the Titans were stuck waiting for Jacob to make a move.

"I've been planning this party for months." He went on. "Jacob will not ruin her birthday." He stood up resolutely and started hanging the last of the streamers across the Common Room. "Is her cake done?"

"Yep!" Victor answered finishing one last yellow rose. "When's she coming home?"

"Ten minutes." Dick answered from the doorway. "Kory just called. They're leaving the movies right now. Are you guys ready?"

"Almost." They answered in unison. "Help me with the balloons?" Garfield asked as Victor carefully carried his cake to the table that was already stacked with presents.

"Vic, you should probably watch for them on the security cameras." Dick said as he picked up a yellow balloon.

Eight minutes later Dick and Garfield had just finished hanging a huge banner that read Happy 18th Birthday Raven! When Victor said "They're here!"

There was a burst of activity as they all ducked for hiding spots around the room. "Kill the lights!" Dick whispered urgently and Victor shut off all power to the Common Room.

"Remember the signal." Victor whispered as Kory's voice floated down the hallway. "My sensors will beep three times and then we jump out and yell surprise. Here we go!"

"Oh come friend!" Kory said approaching the door. "We must pop the corn!" Raven mumbled something in response and they all heard the soft snick of the door opening.

"Who pulled the shades down?" Raven asked stepping into the Common Room. "I thought you said everyone was home Kory? So why is it pitch black in here?" Beep! Beep! Beep! "What was that?" Dick had a startling moment's clarity that maybe throwing a surprise party for a super hero was a bad idea before he was yelling –

"Surprise!" The light shot on to show Raven standing defensively, magic gathered around her hands. Looking around the room she let it drop and stood staring blankly at them.

"Happy birthday, Raven!" Garfield said coming to hug her.

"Thanks." She said weakly trying to take in the very yellow Common Room. "How did you guys do all of this?"

"Garfield's been planning this ever since you got back from Nevermore." Victor said grinning at Raven's obvious shock. "We all pitched in but Gar put it all together."

"Oh friend, do you like it?" Kory asked floating a few inches off the ground.

"Yes, I do. Thank you guys. This was really nice." Raven squeezed Garfield's hand.

"Presents!" Garfield yelled pulling Raven over to the sizeable stack sitting next to her cake. Everyone grabbed their present and sat on the couch or floor while Raven was given her gifts.

"Here, friend!" Kory said handing Raven a rather lumpy package. Raven opened it apprehensively bracing herself for the worst. Instead she was pleasantly surprised to find a dark blue scarf that Kory had knitted herself.

"Thank you." She said warmly giving her closet friend a hug. "It'll be warm in winter." It was rather well knit for what Raven was sure had been her first project. Kory beamed.

"Rae." Victor held out his gift. Raven unwrapped it to find a beautiful, black leather journal. Her name was inscribed on the cover in silver cursive.

"Victor, this is wonderful." She said softly running her fingers over the cover.

"Everyone needs a place to rant." He slung an arm around her. "This'll help you sort the stuff that's in your head out on paper."

"Thank you," She said again setting it down next to her.

Dick silently held out a wrapped box. Inside wrapped in tissue paper was a green book so dark it seemed almost black. The writing on the cover was too faint to read, faded with age. Curious Raven looked at the spine and gasped softly. She quickly found the copy write date on one of the inside pages.

"Dick." The expression on her face was somewhere between shock, awe, and reproach. "You shouldn't have – I can't accept – This must have cost a – " Raven stopped abruptly as Dick held up a hand.

"Don't." He said firmly. "You are one of my best friends, Raven. Take the gift. Besides there are advantages to being the adoptive son of a billionaire." Rave tittered uncertain. "Please. I want you to have it." With that she smiled and blushed a second later when Dick put a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Happy birthday."

"Me next!" Garfield yelled presenting her with a rather small box. "I saved the best for last." Raven opened the box and found a long silver chain with a blue dragonfly pendant hanging off of it. "It's sapphire." Garfield explained. "It used to belong to Rita."

"Gar," She kissed him firmly on the lips. "Thank you." She lifted her hair and Garfield secured the clasp. "It's beautiful. I'll take good care of it."

"I knew you would." He smiled lovingly. "Now it's time for cake! C'mon." Garfield pulled her back towards the cake. "You've got to make a wish!"

Raven grinned in spite of herself staring down at the shockingly yellow cake. "Make a wish!" Everyone urged. I wish things would stay like this for a while. She thought blowing out her candles.

She couldn't have known this would be one of the Titan's last truly good days for months.

*

"They still don't know?" Jacob questioned the dark haired man who was eyeing a nearby tiger nervously.

"No. They've been trying but to no avail. No one will talk to them. We all know better." He barely suppressed a shudder as the bear growled hungrily.

"Good. We wouldn't want anyone hurt, would we, Patrick?" Trembling the man shook his head no. "Dismissed, I'll send you a message with the time and location of our next rendezvous." Without another word the man fled.

Jacob smiled wolfishly and congratulated himself on how well his plans had worked. It had been just over two weeks and not only were the Titans in a state of near panic, he was well hidden. His multiple spies and personal cameras had told him all he needed to know about the Titans fruitless searching. He was quite literally underground.

In fact less than a week ago they had searched the very warehouse under which he currently hid. Thanks to some rather advanced anti-detection device, as well as being two stories underground, the tin man had been unable to detect his presence hidden safely below.

Now to set his trap.

*

It was Wednesday again. Originally this week would have ended the chats Garfield and Victor had been having after his suicide attempt had come to light, but since Jacob's reappearance Dick had requested they continue. Garfield couldn't say he would have done differently.

"Hey man." Garfield said strolling trough Victor's open door. "What's up."

"Just updating some of my scanners, Wednesday already?" He glanced up absently from his computer at the calendar hanging on the wall.

"Yeah." The green teenager perched on a desk; "I can come back later if you're busy though."

"Nah." Victor said pushing away from his computer. His face broke into a warm smile. "I've always got time to talk." Garfield smiled back gratefully. "What's up?"

"I'm worried about Raven." Victor's face grew serious. "I get that she's worried about me but Jacob's after her. She doesn't seem to be paying any mind to the fact that he's hunting her." Garfield felt the Beast stir inside of him. To the Beast it was simple. Jacob was a threat to his pack and his mate. He must be eliminated. Garfield knew it wasn't that simple. "I realize we can't shut her up in the Tower but she could try to be more careful.

"Have you tried talking to her?" Garfield nodded irritably. "I'll try them. But BB, we're all worried about you. Not just about Jacob trying to kidnap you, either. We know this has got to be hard on you emotionally. He represents a pretty shitty period of your life." Victor leaned towards his friend trying to offer comfort. Almost involuntarily it seemed Garfield pressed backwards.

"My nightmares are getting worse." Garfield admitted quietly. "My nightmares are getting worse." He repeated. "But – I don't know what to do." He hunched his shoulders uncomfortably. "There was like, a two week period when they were gone, and now they're back and Jacob is everywhere in them."

"And I'm guessing ya don't want to tell Raven because you don't want to worry her?" Garfield mumbled a reply. "Man," Victor waited for green eyes to meet his. "It's okay to be scared. As long as ya know we're all here for ya. " Mutely Garfield nodded.

Victor pulled his friend into a surprisingly gentle hug. Garfield stiffened for a second before relaxing. "I love ya, BB. Do go makin' yourself sick over this."

Garfield blushed. His habit of getting sick when overly stressed was pretty well known throughout the team. It took a lot to stress the changeling out but when something actually did it was bad. His behavior didn't change; instead his body turned all the stress inwards. Garfield would lose weight, throw up, and even faint on occasion. Looking at his friend's bonier-than-usual face, Victor was worried. Then he remembered yet another side effect of his friend's stress.

"Have you been eating enough?" Victor asked brushing away a voice in his head that was telling him he sounded like his mother. Garfield shrugged. "BB . . ." Victor let it dangle waiting for a response.

"I don't know." He answered. "I guess. I'm eating a least once a day."

Victor took a deep breath resisting the urge to glare at the other boy, "Garfield. You've got to eat regularly, and that means more than one meal a day! You know better than to eat like that when we're training. No wonder you looked so pale in combat practice the other day.

"I'm fine." Garfield said dismissively. "Really." He added when Victor didn't look convinced. He ran a hand over his face looking worn out.

"Alright, Gar." Victor said gently afraid of pushing too far." Just take care of yourself, okay?" Garfield nodded and Victor slung an arm around his shoulders. "Let's get some food."

*

"Raven." The pale teen looked up from her journal, the bay wind pushing gently at her hair.

"Hello, Victor." She said kindly enough but without a smile.

"How's it goin'?" He sat down on the roof next to her. His back was resting comfortably against a wall.

"Fine." Her eyes narrowed a little in suspicion. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." He said easily. "I just wanted to talk to ya."

Raven's eyes narrowed even further. "About?"

"You." She looked surprised. "Raven, you're givin' Gar a heat attack. Ya gotta be careful." Raven tried very hard not to roll her eyes. "I'm serious." He said seeing that she looked a little annoyed.

"Victor." Her voice was tightly controlled. "What do you want me to do? I've stopped patrolling alone and I barely leave the Tower these days let alone by myself. He can't protect me from everything! Never mind that he barely taking care of himself."

"C'mon, Rae. You've gotta be able to tell how worried he is."

"Of course I can." She said sounding a little bitter to Victor's surprised ears. "But," Raven shrugged looking helpless. "He's starting to put up a wall. He doesn't want me to know how upset he is. Garfield needs us now more than ever." Raven took a deep shuddering gasp of a breath and when she looked determinedly away at the bay Victor realized she was crying.

"Hey," He said gently, feeling a little alarmed. Victor moved closer to her wrapping an arm around the now shaking girl. "It's alright." Victor didn't know if it was his arm around her or his words but it was the last straw for Raven and she turned into him sobbing.

"I'm sorry." She sniffed trying to compose herself even as the tears started. Raven went to say something else, but almost against her will she started crying harder than ever and whatever she had meant to say was lost in tears. Victor just held her watching for anything that looked like it might explode.

"I'm sorry." She said again almost 10 minutes later. "I must be tired." Raven pulled herself away from Victor taking slow, deep breaths.

"It's alright, Rae." He said one hand on his shoulder. "I think BB may have a point about you needing to take better care of yourself though." Raven nodded looking embarrassed.

"We're gonna get through this, Raven." He said squeezing a shoulder. "Garfield included. It's gonna be fine." Even as he said it though Victor was worried things would get far worse before getting better.

*

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in, friend!" Kory called and Raven pushed her friend's door open. Kory was sitting on her bed absently coloring in a felt poster. Garfield had bough her almost 100 for Christmas last year after, apparently, finding a sale and she often passed afternoons stationed somewhere in the Tower determinedly coloring them in. Each Titan had several she had given them after her room had become too full.

"What are you coloring?" Raven asked wishing she didn't feel, and sound, like she had a bad head cold.

"Birds and monkeys." Kory answered. "Boyfriend Dick says it is a scene from the rain forest." She sat up looking at Raven in concern. "Is everything alright?"

Raven smiled at her friend's concern and knew that Victor had been right when he said Kory would cheer her up. "I've just been really worried about Garfield lately. It kind of got to me when I was talking to Victor earlier."

"Oh, friend." Kory beckoned to Raven who came to sit with her on the bed. "We are all deeply worried about your safety as well as Garfield's well being. I am sorry this has been so hard on you, friend."

"I'll be okay though. Garfield's having a terrible- this is so hard for him. Jacob was so cruel to him, Kory. How me must have lived." Raven shook her head. "I know there were worse memories of that time than what Gar showed me." Raven looked up and from the distant look on Kory's face she knew her friend was thinking of her time on the slavers ship. "I'm sorry." Raven said quietly.

"It is fine friend." Kory smiled sadly. "Everything in my life has led me here, and my life now is so wondrous." She brightened right before Raven's eyes.

"It is true," Kory said gently. "That this is hard for Garfield. But friend, this is also difficult for you. You are allowed to be scared, Raven. For life right now is proving to be quite scary." Raven shrugged noncommittally.

"Friend," Kory said firmly. "You are being chased by a madman. You cannot tell me this does not at least concern you. Fear does not make you a coward."

"Yes Kory, I'm scared. But I can't let it be my main emotion."

"Of course not. But that does not mean ignoring it either." Raven nodded. "Come, let us do something fun, friend. Would you like to go to the mall of shopping with me?"

"You know what Kory? I really would. Let's go."

*

Hours later when the girls returned home Raven went looking for Garfield, determined to sort things out. "Gar?" Raven called softly knocking on his door. It opened to reveal a worn looking teenager.

"Hey," He said with a brave attempt at a smile. "What's up?"

"Do you wanna go up to the roof with me? I thought we could look at the stars." She reached out a hand.

"Sure, Rae." His smile was a little stronger as he reached for her outstretched hand.

"Were you sleeping?" She asked him as they stepped into the elevator. Garfield hadn't slept normally in weeks.

"No, I was just listening to music." He answered staring somewhat blankly at the closed elevator doors. "It's a nice night." Garfield said when they reached the roof.

"Yeah, it is." They lay down on the roof floor curled around each other. Sometimes, while on the roof, they would compete to see who could find the most constellations. Lately though neither of them had really felt like it.

"I'm worried about you, Gar." Raven said into his neck as they lay in the quiet. He sighed and moved so that they were facing each other.

"Raven," He said firmly. "I'm fine. Stop worrying about me."

"I can't!" Raven said trying to keep her emotions in check. "And don't tell me you're fine. Maybe you can get Victor to leave you alone but I'm not dropping this. Garfield, you're loosing weigh, you're not sleeping, and you're starting to get sick." She scooted closer to him so that they were nose to nose. "How else would I feel?"

"Worried about yourself!" Garfield said earnestly. "Jacob is coming after you! Raven you don't know what he'll do if he catches you." Garfield closed his eyes. "Jacob would hurt you, really hurt you if he got a hold of you."

"But I'm safe." She said gently. "If something happens you have every right to worry yourself sick. But right now, I'm fine." Raven pulled him closer.

"I don't want to lose you." Garfield told her in a trembling voice.

"Then stop pushing us away. You need to lean on us right now and that's okay. No one said you have to get through this alone." Her hand found his. "You are anything but alone right now, Garfield. Let us be here for you. Let us help. Jacob may be out there but he's not here and we are."

"I love you." Garfield whispered clutching at her.

Raven lifted her head from his chest where she had been lying and met his eyes. "I love you too, Gar." She placed a light kiss on his lips. "Regardless of kidnappings or madmen, we're in this together."

What started out as a tender kiss turned into more as Garfield rolled on top of Raven. He looked down at her grinning sharply. His fingers ran down her sides to her hipbones. Raven closed her eyes and smiled when he slipped under the hem of her shirt to graze her hips with first nails then teeth.

They kissed again, slowly this time, letting the feelings build. Her fingers found his hair, then shoulders before hooking into his belt loops. She used them to pull Garfield even closer.

Raven let her teeth graze his jaw line and smiled onto his mouth when his breath caught. She teased him, playfully kissing and biting his neck. She bit and sucked at his collarbone until he moaned in appreciation. Slowly Raven kissed her way back up to his lips. Kissing him deeply one last time she let him pull away.

"My turn." Garfield whispered and that was all the warning that she got. He grabbed Raven's wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand. With his free hand he tilted her chin so she was looking right at him. "I love you, Rae. Now relax." Garfield captured her lips with his and Raven quickly opened her mouth to grant him access.

After a few moments of kidding his free hand had ended up on her stomach. He let go of her wrists and kissed the pale skin that her shirt had ridden up to expose. Garfield kissed his way from the waistband of her jeans to just under her bra pushing the T-shirt up as he went. The Garfield paused letting on finger rest on the ribs still hidden by her shirt.

"Rae?" He asked, his face plainly saying whatever she decided was fine.

Raven looked into his loving eyes and nodded. "Go ahead." She told him sounding a little breathless.

"Should we – do you want to go to your room? Or mine?" The idea of what Dick would say if he found them on the roof did not bear thinking.

Raven nodded muttering under her breath and they phased into her room. Her candles lit and a soft click told him the door was locked. "Cool trick." He said kissing her neck. Her only response was to push him away slowly reaching for the hem of his shirt. Once it was off Garfield touched the hem of her shirt gingerly. Slowly, savoring every second, he pulled Raven's T-shirt off.

Raven lay her head back on the pillows and bit her lip shyly. It only made her more beautiful to Garfield. His eyes traveled to her mostly bare chest. She was wearing a jean colored bra that had dark blue lace around the cups and band. His fingers ran down from her collarbone to the space between her breasts and there was a sharp intake of air from Raven.

Garfield kissed her jaw as one finger traced her bra, his nail grazing the sensitive skin. Careful not to slip under the soft fabric he let his fingers dance across the tops of her breasts.

The he kissed her and as Raven pushed her hips off the bed to meet his he pushed back unconsciously trying to get closer. Raven wrapped her arms around him bringing them as close together as they could be. "I love you, Gar." Her breath was warm against his ear.

He nuzzled into her shoulder. "I love you too, Raven." He pushed himself up to look at her gently touching her face. "Please be careful. Please."

Raven laid her hand over Garfield's. "I will, I promise Gar." He rolled off of her and lay on the bed. Raven pressed against him, his arms automatically encircling her. It was like this they slipped into sleep.

*

The next morning Raven woke up just after 10. Garfield still had his arms wrapped around her but he looked troubled. Raven gently laid her hand on his cheek and his eyes flew open as he instinctively gripped her closed.

"Morning," he mumbled seeing her. Garfield kissed her forehead. "Sorry, I was dreaming."

"Is everything okay?" Raven asked worried.

"Everything's fine. Scouts honor." He smiled and Raven smiled back in spite of herself, "Breakfast?"

"Sure. Uh – " She looked embarrassed. "Where did you throw my shirt last night?" Garfield glanced around the room then sat up and began rooting near the bed.

"Here it is!" He said from the end of the bed throwing something over his shoulder at Raven. "And here's mine!" Triumphant he slipped the shirt back on. "M'lady." Garfield bowed her to the door and Raven grabbed the collar of his shirt pulling him along.

*

"Good morning." Dick said from his seat at the table.

"Oh friends, glorious morning greetings!" Kory greeted them before taking a bite of her breakfast.

"Morning." Raven said heading for the teapot.

"Good morning." Garfield said cheerfully stopping next to the table. "Uh, Kor, are you eating CinnaCrunch cereal in mustard?"

"Yes!" Kory replied brightly. "It is a most delicious combination. Would you like some"

"No thanks," Garfield smiled heading for his own cereal and soymilk. Victor came in a few minutes later and before long everyone was sitting at the table eating.

"Hey, Raven." Dick popped the last of his bacon into his mouth. "I wanted to ask you something." Raven made an inquisitive noise. "How would you feel about wearing a tracking device?"

"Pardon me?" Raven was sure she had misheard him.

"A tracking device." Everyone was staring at Dick but he was only watching Raven. "We all believe that we're going to catch Jacob, and we will. I think we'll do it before he tries anything too, but incase we don't, if something goes wrong, I want to make sure we can find you."

"Couldn't friend Raven just activate the device herself should something happen?" Kory asked looking unsure.

"No," Raven answered. "I may not be able to get to it if I'm kidnapped, this way it'll always be on." She looked at Dick. "You won't use it unless I get kidnapped?" She asked in a fit of paranoia. He nodded quickly. "Okay, then."

Dick smiled and held out a small T shaped pin. "Thanks Raven."

"Gar, could you put this on my necklace clasp" She touched the sapphire pendant. "It'll be harder to find." Raven leaned forward and pulled her hair away from her neck. "Are there any new leads?" She asked looking back up.

"No." Victor said. He had been getting increasingly frustrated lately with their lack of findings. "Dick, we need to go back out there. Today. He's somewhere in the city, we just need to keep looking."

"I know," Dick answered looking worn. "We'll split into two groups." He said looking around the table. "Raven you go with Kory and Victor. Garfield, you'll be with me. You two are the obvious targets so I don't want you in the same group."

"When are we leaving?" Kory asked finishing her cereal. Dick checked his watch. "Two hours. 12:30 sharp." Everyone put their dishes in the sink and went upstairs.

*

Just under two hours later Raven came back downstairs freshly showered and in a clean uniform. The necklace Garfield had given her with the tracking device safely attached was tucked under her leotard out of sight.

"Ready?" Dick asked as Garfield came in. When everyone nodded he pulled a map of Jump City up on the screen. "Each team will take half the city. Search everywhere. Talk to everyone you see. We're looking for answers not bullshit."

He turned to the map drawing a line on the screen with a special marker that would disappear when the screen changed. "Raven, Kory, and Victor, take the north side of town. Root through the bars and clubs. Kory, don't drink anything someone gives you unless Raven or Victor say it's okay," This wasn't Gotham and Dick knew that but he wasn't taking any chances either. Not all of the bars were reputable, and in true Batclan fashion he felt it was better to be safe than sorry.

"There are a few strip clubs down there. Go in them but be quick. Talk to all the employees you can but stay in the back of the house. It should be almost deserted this time of day on a Thursday but the last thing we need is for a reporter to see you.

"Gar, you and I will take the south side and go through the warehouses. I'm counting on that nose of yours.

"Okay guys, let's go. Good luck. Be careful. Try not to get separated and use your communicators if you get in trouble. Come home once you're done."

*

"Friends." Raven and Kory were flying Victor and Kory gripping one another's arms. "What is a 'strip club'?" Raven and Victor exchanged looks and Raven groaned in defeat.

*

"I smell something." Garfield said over three hours into the search resuming his own form. "But," He sniffed the air again. "I don't think it's him. There are traces of him though. Where'd it – wait! There it is." He turned into a bloodhound and whuffed excitedly. Garfield looked up at Dick and whined pointing his head to a group of warehouses nearby.

I'm going to get above street level. I'll follow you." Dick spoke slowly and clearly giving Garfield enough time to translate. When the green animal gave a very undog like nod Dick shot a grappling hook out of sight and was gone.

Dick followed him from rooftop to rooftop feeling the rush of adrenaline in his system. After weeks of being useless and coming up empty handed they may actually have something.

He felt a small pang of disappointment when Garfield's nose led them to an average looking man with sandy hair who was locking a door behind him. It was quickly swept away as he remembered on of Bruce's earliest lessons. Normal people go unnoticed. Jacob would have plenty of people working for him including those people who could blend in easily. Dick grinned and waited for Garfield.

The man nearly jumped out of his skin when Garfield barked cheerfully. He spun around, gun in hand, and visibly relaxed when he saw nothing but a dog. A green dog, but a dog nonetheless. Dick heard a click as he put the safety back in place and the gun retreated into its holster.

"Hey there. What're ya doin' out here boy?" He got down on one knee to scratch Garfield's ears and Dick crept into place. "Kinda weird lookin' for a dog." Garfield licked his face forcing him to back up the final step Dick needed. "Friendly though."

Dick leapt staying completely silent. He slapped a gloved hand over the man's eyes a split second before his feet hit the ground. As he jumped Garfield had abandoned his dog shape returning to normal. Using a pressure point to keep him from fighting Dick maneuvered until the man had his back against the wall.

"What's your name?" Dick snarled. Garfield took the gun from inside the man's coat casually dumping bullets into his hand.

"Jeremy." He was impressed. His voice barely shook. "I don't have any money."

Now Dick laughed and realized he sounded more like Batman than ever. Beneath his grasp Jeremy trembled. "I don't want your money." He breathed into Jeremy's ear. "I want answers."

"I wouldn't push Robin if I were you." Garfield said lightly leaning next to Jeremy on the wall. "He's been known to fly into a rage. But then again," He shrugged his shoulders even though the terrified man couldn't see him. "So have I." Garfield had tucked the bullets into a pocket and was examining the gun lazily.

"Robin?" Jeremy whispered the name like a curse. "So the dog was – you – you're Beast Boy?" Whatever color was left in his face drained. "Oh, fuck." He was shaking like a leaf and Dick was forced to assess if he was having a panic attack. "Fuck, guys, let me go, please."

"I don't think so, Jeremy." Garfield said cheerfully. "You can't imagine how hard we've been looking for you. It's very difficult to track one of you down. I must say, I'm impressed."

Please, ya don't know what Jacob'll do – "

"Actually, we wanted to talk to you about your boss." Dick said before Garfield could make any angry comments about exactly how familiar he was with Jacob's anger. "We have a number of questions for him but," He was slipping between the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder. It surprised him how comfortable it felt. "He's never available and we've been hoping you could answer a few of them."

"I can't!" Jeremy insisted. "Let me go, please!"

"I told you already, no can do." Garfield gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Please." He begged.

"Listen very closely." Dick said drawing on years of roaming Gotham streets when anyone sane was safe in bed behind locked doors. "You know who I am and you know where I'm from. Don't think I haven't learned a few things from my partner in Gotham.

"You will answer my questions. Or I will make you regret every day of your life." He paused before going on in a much more sinister voice. "One, by, one." Even Gar was a little scared.

"I don't know anything!" The man insisted. Dick sighed and removed his hand from the man's eyes. He slowed the other hand just long enough for Jeremy to realize Dick's fist was propelling towards his stomach.

"You know something." He said shortly as the other man wheezed out a shaky breath. "So talk."

"Why is Jacob after Raven?" Garfield growled.

"I don't know." The man sobbed. "And before you asked I don't know where his hide-out is. It changes! We never meet him in the same place twice" He hurried on as Dick grabbed his collar.

"What can you tell us?" Garfield asked in a voice that suggested he had better think of something quick. Dick lifted the man off the ground.

"I can tell you the last place we met." Jeremy choked out. Dick let his tiptoes touch the pavement.

"I'm listening." The Boy Wonder ground out.

"Around here. Under warehouse 54."

"What do you mean 'under'?" Garfield asked. "How do we get there?"

"Behind warehouse 53 is an old toxic waste container. But it's a fake. You drop through it and land in a room with no doors or windows." Garfield and Dick exchanged looks. They had found this room a week ago with Victor, but that was it. "There's a little dot in one of the corners. Shine a laser pointer at it and spell 'mission' in Morse code. It opens to another room below that one and you're in.

"Will any laser pointer work?" Dick asked roughly.

"I – I think so. I've been using this." He pulled out a key chain laser pointer that Garfield took. Dick let Jeremy go and he fell to his knees.

"When was this meeting?" Garfield pressed.

"Tuesday." It was barely a whisper. They exchanged another look, two days ago.

"What were you locking up just now?" Dick asked. He needed to get back to the Tower and think, talk this over with everyone.

"I was hiding some tech Jacob got off Gizmo. He said it might not work but that it was worth a shot. He never said was it was and since I like living I didn't ask."

"Give me the key." Dick said in a deadly voice. Jeremy fished it out of his pocket. "Is this the only copy?" The sandy haired man nodded. "Get out of here. Talk about this and there'll be trouble." Jeremy ran before the words had died from Dick's lips.

"Well aren't you terrifying." Garfield said suppressing a chuckle. Dick gave him a look.

"Let's see what's in here. Hopefully we'll be able to take it with us and get home." He said unlocking the door. Inside was what appeared to be a small ray gun. Other than that the room was completely empty. "Do you have any idea what this is?" He asked Garfield.

"No clue." Gar looked at it. "I'm sure Victor will figure it out." Dick nodded. "Come on," Garfield stretched his arms. "I'll fly us home."

"Thanks." Dick was preoccupied. "We've got a lot to figure out."

*

Jacob snapped a computer monitor off making sure to leave the camera who's footage he had been watching recording. Luckily that piece of technology from Gizmo hadn't been crucial.

There were too few good crooks in Jump City to justify killing Jeremy. However a few months in a hospital bed should get the message across quite clearly. He was not a man to be trifled with.

Maybe he could even upset the Titans in the bargain.

*

"I do not understand why I could not partake in dancing with that man." Kory protested as they left yet another dark bar in favor of the bright sunlight.

"We'll explain later." Victor said staring at a man who had walked out of another bar.

"But friends!" Raven leaned over and whispered into her friend's ear. "Oh, I see." Kory narrowed her eyes briefly.

"Let's move it you guys." Victor yelled taking off. The man he's been watching had seen him and run.

After two and a half-hours of looking around they knew the area well enough to split up and be confident their end place would be the same. "I have him!" Kory called from the left of both Raven and Victor. When they reached her she was holding a struggling dark haired man with apparent ease. He looked strong but not strong enough.

"I've got him." Raven told her surrounding the young man tightly with her magic. Kory flew back to them surreptitiously rubbing her hands on the skirt of her uniform. Closer inspection showed the man was covered in dirt.

"Hello there," Victor said as friendly as could be. "You gotta name?"

"Patrick." The dark haired man spit out. A nod from Raven showed he wasn't lying.

"Nice to meet you Patrick. Or have we met before?" Victor asked kindly. "Do you have any warrants you might not want us too know about?"

"No." Patrick said coolly. Raven nodded again, he was still telling the truth.

"Then why run?" Kory asked wondering if he might truly be innocent.

"Costumes usually mean trouble." He answered distastefully. "Hot stuff." Patrick added raking his eyes over Kory's body. She threw him a disgusted look but refused to cross her arms to cover herself.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you how to talk to a lady?" Victor asked as Raven slammed the man against a wall. "Be polite to Starfire. You'd hate to see what happens otherwise."

"My apologies." He said staring at Raven now. Raven stared back looking supremely unimpressed. "I don't want any trouble."

"Neither do we." Victor said. "Just answer a few questions for us. Know anyone named Jacob?"

"My cousin Jacob works down at the docks." Patrick sneered.

"Don't be an ass." Raven said in a low voice. "Of course you know the Jacob we're talking about. Everyone in this town does."

"I've heard of him." He allowed.

"We're thinking you've more than just heard of him." Victor said getting a little too close for Patrick's comfort. "We're thinking you probably work for him."

Patrick shrugged. "Everyone who's on the wrong side of the law in Jump works for Jacob. I'm afraid I don't know anything else."

Victor glanced at Raven who was starring at Patrick. Every instinct she had screamed he was lying but her powers only detected truthful thoughts. There was nothing else she could do unless she went into his mind and Raven wouldn't use her powers that way.

Beneath her gaze Patrick cocked a grin at Raven as if she was considering sleeping with him, not his innocence. "He's telling the truth." She said reluctantly.

"Looks like it's your lucky day. We'll be keeping an eye out for you though. Just in case we have more questions." A scream broke through Victor's voice. "Duty calls, ladies. Let's go."

*

"It worked?" Jacob questioned figuring the tiger pendant around Patrick's neck.

"For the most part." Patrick answered looking nervously at his boss. Jacob raised a single eyebrow and the darker man hastened to explain. "The Empath seemed unsure if I was lying or not at times, but she let me go in the end."

"So, some fine tuning is needed," Jacob mused. "Well done," He turned his attention back to the man before him.

"I suppose it's true," Patrick said quietly. "Empaths really are protected from each other. If you don't mind me asking, sir, how did you find pieces of the same jewel her Chakra is made of?"

Jacob didn't answer for a moment and Patrick was terrified he had gone too far. "Once the Cult of Brother Blood learned of my plan they were eager to help however they could. The idiots." He sneered.

"You did a much better job than some." He cast a careless glance as the huddled pile of person several feet away. "I need you to make a delivery." Jacob said delicately. "The address won't be hard to find."

*

"What does it do?" Garfield asked eyeing the ray gun that lay on the dining room table they were al seated at.

"Give me a minute!" Victor let the sensors on his bionic arm scan the gun. "Well," He said as a small beep signaled the sensors were done. "It looks like it's used to make force fields. It wouldn't be too hard to box someone in and trap them. But," He looked at the scan's results again. "It looks pretty weak. You probably could have broken through it with a bit of effort, Raven."

"That's what Jeremy meant." Dick said looking at Garfield. "He said it may not work. Jacob knew it wouldn't work. So either he's floundering and can't find anything else or this was a fail safe if everything went to hell."

"It was the back up." Garfield said in a hallow voice. "Jacob has something else up his sleeve. He'd never rely on something Gizmo didn't even trust enough to try on us." Raven took his hand and Garfield smiled weakly.

"I think Jacob may be researching a way to block my telepathy." Raven said hesitantly into the silence. Everyone looked at her. "Today when we caught Patrick, there were times I could have sworn he was lying. But all of his thoughts felt true, they didn't have the sense of effort lies should."

"Maybe he is a most accomplished liar." Kory suggested but Raven shook her head.

"Lies feel different. No matter how good the liar, it takes effort to lie. The only problem is that I don't know of anything that can block my powers."

"I'll look into it," Dick promised. "Maybe Bruce has heard something."

A loud bring! interrupted everyone's thoughts. "Is that the door?" Garfield asked incredulously.

The Titans had a doorbell. But in almost four years of being a team it had only been used twice. Once it was some teenager boys who thought it would be a fun prank (they soon figured out that was a mistake when Dick and Victor caught them.) The second time it had been an incredibly brave 7-year-old Girl Scout who wanted to sell them cookies.

"Oh! Maybe it is the Girl Scouts once more with their delicious cookies!" Kory said excitedly. "I will go see!"

Kory flew down stairs and opened the door already talking. "Hello! I would love to buy some of the minty thin coo- " She stopped. Someone was leaving Titans Island in a boat. "Sir?" She called. A groan at her feet made her look down.

Kory screamed. "Sir!" Lying as her feet was a sandy haired man. He had been badly beaten and though Kory was not one of their medics she was sure at least a few bones were broken and she was positive his head should not be bleeding like that either.

"Can you hear me, sir?" Kory crouched next to him as the man groaned feebly. "I am going to pick you up and bring you to our medical area." She explained looking for a way to move him without causing any more pain.

Kory took out her communicator. "Friends! We have an emergency, meet me in the Med Lab!"

"Are you okay?" Dick's voice crackled urgently.

"Yes friends I am not harmed. Someone else has been though."

"We'll meet you there, Star." Victor assured her.

"Affirmative." Kory put her communicator away. "I am most sorry new friend. I fear this may hurt most grievously. I will try to be careful." As gently as possible Kory gathered the man in her arms cradling him. He cried out in pain and Kory saw a puddle of blood on the ground where he had been laying. "Oh friend." She said sadly flying back inside.

*

"What's wrong?" Victor asked as soon as the door opened. They all stared seeing the man she carried. "Who is that?" He demanded, concerned,

"I do not know. He did not share his name with me. Somebody left him here and then left in a boat." Kory laid their patient on the bed, he groaned softly.

"Sir?" Raven neared the bed. "Can you tell me what happened?" He struggled to speak. "I'm sorry?"

"Jacob." He said in a cracked voice.

Dick peered at the man. "Jeremy?" He asked softly. The main nodded wincing as he moved his head. Dick swallowed convulsively. "Did he do this to you? As punishment for talking to us?" Jeremy nodded again tears of pain springing to his eyes.

"Raven, Cyborg," Dick said letting them all know the need to stay professional. "Take care of him. Starfire, Beast Boy, we need to go – " Dick stopped abruptly. Garfield was starring at Jeremy looking blankly horrified. "Beast Boy?"

Garfield tore his gaze away from the bleeding man to stare at Dick with wide, terrified eyes. He was starting to take deep, gulping breaths like a drowning man. In an instant Raven was at his side her hands cradling his face.

"Breathe." Raven murmured. Garfield's hands crept over hers. "Just breathe, Gar. Nice, calm breaths." She looked over at Dick. "We'll be back in a few minutes. Cyborg," Victor slowly moved his gaze from Garfield to Raven. "He has three broken ribs and a sprained wrist at least. I didn't even look at his head, but I'm sure there's more." Victor nodded turning back to the bed where Jeremy lay.

"Garfield," She said as soon as they got into the hallway. "Just breath. You're okay." Raven pulled him into her arms and he was shaking now. "It's okay, Garfield." He was starting to cry but it seemed the worse was almost over. "I love you." She whispered.

He clung desperately to her for a few minutes and then began to pull away. "I'm sorry." Garfield said quietly.

"This isn't your fault." Raven told him firmly. "All of this is on Jacob." Raven ran a hand through his hair as she looked at the closed door to the Med Lab. "Are you ready to go back in?"

"Let's go." He said taking a deep breath.

"Beast Boy?" Dick questioned as they walked back through the door.

"What did you need me to do Robin?" Garfield asked firmly.

"You, Starfire, and I need to go to Meeting Room 1." Dick motioned to Kory and they headed for the door and the Evidence Level two floors below. "Cyborg, Raven, let us know when you have an update."

"Will do," Cyborg assured them carefully cutting Jeremy's shirt off to check for more damage.

"You okay?" Dick worried once they were on the stairs.

"I'm fine." Garfield assured them both. "We've got to be more careful about questioning people though. I should have known Jacob would be having at least a few of his people watched." They reached the meeting room and went in.

"Friend," Kory put her hands on his shoulders. "Do not put yourself in pain like this. You did not hurt Jeremy. You will not behave as if you have. This is what Jacob wants, Garfield. For us to worry and blame ourselves when it is he who is responsible!"

"Kory's right Gar." Dick told him sitting down. "I feel terrible Jeremy's in so much pain but it isn't our fault." He drummed his finger on the table. "We may have to start taking people who talk to us into protective custody though. Imagine if he had told us something huge . . ."

"He did though," Garfield pointed out. "He told us where one of the meeting places is. Or was. If Jacob knows Jeremy talked to us, he'll know what Jeremy said. How are we supposed to go check out the warehouse now?"

With a groan Dick put his head on the table. "We're going to have to really plan this," He said looking back up. "If Jacob's getting rid of any evidence it'll be happening right now, but we can't afford to just rush in there. I'll have to think about it. Victor should be able to help me find a way to check it out safely."

Dick pealed his mask off and leaned back in his chair running a hand over his face. "I think we can all agree that Jeremy should stay in the Med Lab until he's recovered?" Kory and Garfield nodded. "We'll move him into protective custody after that."

Kory sat next to Dick who reached for her hand. She placed her free hand on his knee and her boyfriend visibly began to relax. "Are you sure you're okay, Gar?"

"Yes." Garfield said firmly. "I haven't had panic attacks in year. I just wasn't prepared. It won't happen again."

"Hey," Dick said trying to be kind yet strong about this. "You're not the only person here who's had panic attacks. We're not judging you, man. Not by a long shot."

"Please, friends, what is a panic attack?" Garfield opened his mouth to answer but stopped as Dick started explaining.

"A panic attack is when your body goes into an involuntary over drive, Kory. At lot of people liken it to having a heart attack. Do you remember when I explained flight or fight to you?" The alien princess nodded slowly.

"This is an extreme version of flight. It," He quieted for a moment. "It feels like you can't breathe and everything is crashing in and your chest is so heavy but it's hallow too as if someone is crushing you and tearing you apart all at once." He shook his head ruefully. "Does that make any sense, Kor?"

"Yes," Kory said slowly. "Tameran fought a great war once. The planet we fought was – terrible. They were truly horrible even to one another and often ate the dead after battles, enemy or not. Many of our bravest warriors had trouble readjusting once they came home.

"Friend Garfield," Kory moved her hand from Dick's leg to Garfield's shoulder. "Is there anything we can do to help with these panic attacks? We would like to help!" She said earnestly.

"Just don't leave me alone, don't walk away, and I'll be fine, Kory." Garfield hugged her and she returned the hug enthusiastically. "Thank you." He said looking over her shoulder at Dick. Garfield communicator beeped as he and Kory separated. He flipped the screen open to see Victor's face.

"Hey guys, Jeremy's stable and sleeping. You wanna come up?"

"We'll be up in a second." Garfield assured him.

*

"Well you guys already know about the broken ribs and his wrist, but Raven was right, there was more. He's also got a mild concussion that's the result of the skull fracture he has. There was also some bruising around his kidneys, probably from being kicked repeatedly but Raven's fixed that. His knee is pretty badly bruised but no broken bones aside from the ribs." He glanced over his shoulder to where Raven was healing a sleeping Jeremy's back. "And, well, it looks like he has whiplashes all over his back. Raven checking for internal damage, but it looks like it may just been skin deep."

"They're from a horse whip." Garfield said quietly not looking at anyone. "Unless something's changed, it's a horse whip." Raven's magic faltered for just a second before she went on silently healing. "It – it hurts like hell but he'll be okay. There won't even be scars." He finally looked at them to see that Victor looked sick to his stomach. Next to him Kory's eyes were glowing with anger. "It's fine you guys." Garfield tried to assure them.

"No," Dick said hoarsely. "It's not. But it will be." He promised looking at Jeremy.