AN:

Hi! This is my entry for the Disease and Illness challenge in the YJ forum! My illness is bird flu, so, I picked Robin to be my culprit. I love torturing that poor boy. I looked up the symptoms/causes of bird flu as best as I could, but still, if you notice something that is incorrect, please tell me!

I whipped this up pretty quick, so it's not gonna be all that good -_- Chapter 2 is in progress.

I am so so SO sorry for the long wait for Sacrifice: I shouldn't have said that I'll have it up by Monday :P But I promise, it will be up soon. I didn't realize how busy my vaction is. Chapter 4 is almost done. Again, sorry, guys.

Can't wait for season 2 of YJ! No hiatus! I'm so happpyyyy :D

Most of this will be third person limited POV. For those who have no idea what that is, it's where the story is told by a narrator that only knows one character's thoughts. In this case, the character is Wally. And this is before Zatanna joined the team.

Here are some quick facts about bird flu, so it's easier for you guys to understand:

Humans can catch it by coming in contact with infected birds or infected birds' droppings :p

The symptoms start after about two days of coming in contact with the virus

Symptoms include: flu-related symptoms, muscle aches, coughing, nausea and vomiting, fever, and in severe cases, pneumonia or bronchitis

Humans cannot spread the virus to other humans unless they have a direct contact (salivary, blood, etc. Not touching)

There is a developed vaccine for bird flu. But the infected person needs to receive it within a few days of becoming sick or else- they die! XP

Review, please! And sorry for the essay of an author's note :p

~Zara

Warnings: none, and like all my other stories, this is not meant to be slash. At all. Just bromance.

It started off as another covert mission, as always.

The team was in the northern part of India. They were being sent to protect the mayor of Ahmadabad, one of India's largest districts. Apparently, the mayor, Vora, was being targeted by an assassination group by the name of "The Abilene." It was a supposedly small group, but deadly nonetheless. Vora was a wealthy man who was planning on running for mayor again. The reason he was being targeted was unknown even to Batman: Vora appeared to be a fair mayor. He was liked by the majority of his people. He was a financial supporter of the Justice League, the main reason why Batman had opted to send the team for help.

The team was split into groups, which were to be stationed around the mayor's home. Kid Flash was in a group Robin and Aqualad. Miss Martian, Superboy, and Artemis were a separate group.

Vora's home, or rather, mansion, was an absolutely gigantic estate and sat in the middle of a jungle-ish area. The climate was hot and humid and many exotic animals could be seen all around. The house stood away from the busy part of the city. Upon first look, it was the only building around in the jungle.

Now, Kid Flash moaned as a drop of sweat rolled down his face. It was around nine o'clock in the evening. The temperature had only dropped a few degrees even with the sun down. He and Robin were perched on a tall oak tree, sitting on one of its sturdy braches, about fifty feet up. Wally and the others were all in stealth uniforms. He had his legs dangling over the edge of the branch while Robin crouched on it, holding a pair of binoculars up to his masked eyes. Aqualad was hidden in the many bushes below them. He too looked uncomfortable in the heat.

This was their third day on their stakeout. There had been no activity from the assassins yet, but with the day for election drawing nearer, they were bound to strike soon. The rest of the team was on the opposite side of the house.

"Dude, how are you not tired of sitting like that?" Wally moaned, looking over at Robin. The Boy Wonder had been crouching on the branch for the past two hours, barely moving.

"Used to it," Robin replied. "And keep your voice down!"

Wally moaned for the third time, swatting at the flies swarming around his head. "This is so boring…" he said, looking down at Aqualad.

The Atlantian managed to hear Wally's voice from above him. "I am aware," he said, speaking into his com unit. They had neglected the use of their telepathic link, what with the close proximity they were in of each other. "But please, remain patient and keep a sharp eye out."

Wally pouted and folded his arms. He hated staying still. That was, of course, understandable, with him being a speedster and all. But his abnormally warm body temperature was getting to him. He loved being hotter than usual in the winter, but at the moment, in the tropic-like climate of India, he loathed it.

He sighed, glancing over at his best friend. "See anything?"

Robin waited a moment before replying. "No," he said, wincing.

Wally frowned. "Something wrong?" he asked.

Robin finally shifted from his position, moving to one akin to Wally's. "Nah, just sore from staying like that. Just because I'm used to it doesn't mean I like it."

Wally nodded, sighing again. He leaned his head against the trunk of the tree, looking downwards. There was still no sign of anything unusual happening. "Hey, Supey. Anything happening on your guys' side?" he asked, pressing his com unit.

"Don't you think we would have called you if there was?" Superboy deadpanned.

"Okay, okay, geesh," Wally grumbled, settling back against the trunk of the tree and folding his legs in front of him at the knees.

A few moments passed in silence. Said silence was broken when Robin started to cough.

Wally jerked from his position and Kaldur glanced upward.

"Rob, dude, seriously. Are you okay?" Wally asked, looking at the little bird. Robin had his back to Wally, coughing into his arm.

Robin cleared his throat, turning to face the speedster. "Yeah, fine. Sorry about that," he said in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Is everything alright?" Kaldur called.

Wally still looked concerned but Robin waved him away. "Fine, Aqualad."

Wally frowned again as Robin shot him a glare. "Rob, seriously. If you're sick-"

He was cut off by a sudden noise. Robin made shushing motions as they heard the sound of twigs snapping. And something else-

Voices.

"Miss M, Arty, Superboy!" Robin said into his com unit. "We've got activity on-"

The sound of a machine gun suddenly filled the ears of the three boys. Wally cursed and swiftly climbed down the tree, landing next to Aqualad, who had his water-bearers at the ready.

Robin climbed down a bit slower. He swayed when his feet touched the ground and he saw Wally glance at him worriedly.

The three of them ran towards the sound of the gun as Artemis' voice sounded in each of their ears. "Same here, there's about four people on our side."

Robin, Aqualad, and Wally arrived at where they thought they had heard the gunshots. Robin looked around slowly, his trained eyes seeking out the shape of a body in the darkness, the only source of light being the full moon shining overhead.

"There!" he said, pointing. The Atlantian and speedster looked at where Robin was pointing to see a man running away from them, holding on to another person.

"He's got Vora!" Kid Flash shouted.

"Go, Wally! We will be behind you!" Aqualad said. Wally nodded and zoomed off.

He followed the dark haired man deeper into the jungle, tripping over the occasional tree root. He felt irritated at himself as he stumbled and fell forward. Chasing someone and not catching them was unusual for Kid Flash.

Finally, the man stopped running, stopping in a clearing.

Wally skidded to a halt as he got a good look at the assassin. He heard Kaldur and Robin arrive too, stopping on either side of him.

The man's face was revealed in the moonlight. He had sharp cheekbones and brown hair, his eyes glinting cruelly as he held a gun to his shorter companion's head.

"That- that's not-" Wally stammered, looking at the "hostage."

"No, I am not Vora, you idiots," the shorter man said, grinning and stepping away from the man with the gun. "But now that you have left him unprotected, we can finally finish our job."

"And get rid of you all while we're at it," the brown-haired man said. Both men's voices held a hard to place accent. He suddenly let out a long, shrill whistle.

Out of the darkness, six more men appeared, holding multiple weapons and wearing all black clothing. They stood side by side behind the two men the heroes had been pursuing.

Aqualad and Kid Flash quickly sank into fighting stances.

And then Robin dropped to his knees, coughing.

The men laughed as Wally gasped.

"Rob! What's-" he broke off as he kneeled next to Robin, who was breathing heavily.

"One of you is already ill? Easier for us," the shorter man said, motioning for the six new men to approach the teens.

"Kid, get Robin away from here, now!" Kaldur shouted as the men fired their guns.

Wally grabbed Robin bridal-style, dodging an array of bullets. "What about y-"

"I shall follow. Go, now!" Aqualad yelled, forming a shield and using it to block the numerous bullets being fired at him.

Wally gulped and nodded, holding Robin tighter. He ran off as Aqualad threw a well aimed punch at the man closest to him.

Wally ran for a few minutes, worry for his best friend filling him. Robin had not said a single word and his breath was coming in pants.

He looked around frantically for some sort of shelter, and, upon seeing none, gave a growl of frustration.

Robin raised a slightly shaking arm and pulled up a holograph, showing the geography of the area they were in.

"T-there," he said, showing Kid Flash something on the map. "T-there's a cave a m-mile west of where we-" Robin's words were interrupted by another fit of coughing.

"Don't talk," Wally said, already starting towards the location of the map.

What the heck is a cave doing in the middle of a jungle in India? he thought vaguely. He heard the sound of footsteps again and stopped to look over his shoulder fearfully. There were two men pursuing them, but they were too far away to shoot at them.

He started running again, not being as swift as usual because he was carrying Robin. Not that he was heavy or anything. But the heat was still getting to Wally and he was starting to feel hungry. He had a few protein bars on him, though. He would eat one once they arrived at the cave.

"Aqualad. You there?" Kid Flash said into his com.

"Yes. Where are you? More men have arrived, and the others are protecting Vora!" Kaldur yelled over the noise of the guns.

"Robin's found a cave, a few miles from Vora's place. I'm taking him there. There are two men following us. Sending you coordinates of the cave now," Wally replied, taking a moment to do so.

"Received. I shall join you once I am done here. Aqualad out."

Wally shifted his hold on Robin and started running again. Within a few minutes, they arrived at the cave.

Wally pushed aside the branches of a few shorter trees that stood around the whole outside of the cave. He peered inside.

It looked much like the place Kobra had disappeared to on one of their earlier missions, the one in Santa Prisca*. It was a fairly large cave. It was, obviously, dark, and it smelled oddly of spices.

Wally rushed inside and gently set Robin down on the hard ground, looking around. There were wooden crates lining the walls of the cave. Squinting, Wally saw that they were crates of spices: paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmic powder, and others that Wally did not bother to read.

Wally wiped his forehead as he sat down next to Robin.

The Boy Wonder was still panting and sweat glistened on his forehead, matting his ebony hair slightly. He winced every time he moved.

"What's wrong, Dick?" Wally whispered, moving Robin so that they were both leaning against the wall of the cave.

"Dunno…feels…like…the flu, or something," Robin replied in a weak voice, too out of it to even berate Wally for using his real name. "Was fine…yesterday…"

The two sat in silence for several minutes until Robin started to cough again.

Wally frowned with concern as they heard someone approach the cave from outside. Wally jumped to his feet immediately, taking a protective stance in front of his sick friend.

He relaxed when he saw that it was Aqualad, panting and sporting a small cut on his cheek that was leaking blood.

"The others are taking care of the other men now. I informed them that Robin is ill and of our location. Is he alright?" their leader asked, kneeling next to the little bird.

"I don't know. He said it feels like the flu but it looks worse, don't you think?" Wally asked, kneeling on Robin's other side.

"Check his temperature. I am going to make sure that I was not followed," Kaldur said, wiping at his cheek as he stood. He strode to the entrance of the cave.

Wally sat down next to his best friend again. He pulled off both of his gloves. He took the back of his hand and laid it gently against Robin's forehead. It was hot. Not warm, hot. Wally swallowed, pulling his hand away.

"Jeez, Rob. You're- you're burning up!" he said, frightened.

Robin merely hummed in response, resting his head against Wally's shoulder. Wally shifted and put his arms around the boy he considered a little brother.

Robin was shivering, despite the fact that his face was blazing. His breath was raspy and he coughed uncontrollably every other moment.

"What else doesn't feel right?" Wally asked worriedly.

"Muscles…hurt bad...like I…I got hit by a truck or…somethin'-" Robin paused to cough. "Kinda…hurts to…to breathe. And it's…c-cold…"

Wally gulped at the end of Robin's words. He hugged Robin tighter, rubbing his arms, attempting to heat the already warm skin.

Kaldur reentered the cave. "There are no signs of anything unusual. How is Robin?" he asked again, sitting down on Robin's right.

"He's got a pretty high fever, but he said he's cold. His muscles hurt badly. And he's having trouble breathing," Wally informed him, and concern filled Kaldur's face.

Kaldur'ahm felt Robin's forehead himself, flinching at the heat radiating off of Robin's skin. Robin was on the verge of passing out, his head still resting on Wally's shoulder.

"We should not move him. It might worsen his condition," Aqualad decided. "I shall tell the team to bring the bio-ship to us."

"Too bad you won't get a chance to do such a thing," a voice called out.

Yeah, a cliffy. Sorry!

* You know when Kobra said, "Another time, then" in episode 4, Drop Zone? After he said that, he backed up into the trees and when Robin went to look behind the leaves, there was like a tunnel/cave thingy. That's what I was picturing in my head. Sorry for the unrealisticness, if thats even a word: I know that it's really dumb for me to put a cave in the middle of India :O

Hopefully, this is something to keep you guys happy until I get chapter 4 of Sacrifice up. Chapter 2 for this, again, is in progress. I think it'll be a three-shot at most, not sure.

Please review and tell me stuff you guys wanna see: I'll try to incorporate it it!

I proof-read this quickly, so there's bound to be mistakes: as always, please point 'em out!

~Zara

PS. Some of you might notice that I'm not ranting about Performance. ;) That's cuz I made that a part of Sacrifice's AN :D