I am THRILLED that Artemis doesn't die and that Kaldur is good :D it was really bothering me about what he said in a previous episode, about his father and Tula. Kaldur would never jump ship because he has bad blood, and Tula? Well hello! She left him for the other guy! Self-explanatory. It didn't make sense. As for Artemis, I just don't think she was in on this plan from the beginning. Don't see it. So this is my reasoning of how she became a part of the Plan and why she and Wally quit the Superhero business.

Disclaimer - I don't own YJ.

I'm thinking about continuing this storyline, of course it all depends on what you think of it. Yay or nay? Leave it in a review or by story alerting it :)

Enjoy!

Artemis was never a part of The Plan. Her name was never mentioned. Not once. It's not like she was special or anything. She wasn't. Nobody else was a part of The Plan either. The Plan only had three players: Dick Grayson, Wally West, and Kaldur. That was it. Not even Batman knew about The Plan, and he's Batman. Under normal circumstances that made him privy to literally everything that went on within the team of protégés. Considering the players in The Plan, this clearly wasn't normal circumstances.

But, Artemis being who she is and her boyfriend being who he is, a change in The Plan was bound to happen. In fact, it was inevitable. Artemis Crock isn't stupid. She was very much aware that her boyfriend, who happened to be Wally West (a member of The Plan), did not play pool. He was a total catastrophe at the game. Not even Artemis herself could teach him to play. Wally West just had too much energy for a calculating game like pool. He just did not play. So, naturally, when Wally West claimed that "the guys" had declared Thursdays as 'Pool Night', Artemis responded with a raised eyebrow and a skeptical repetition of "the guys".

"The guys?" She had said, looking up at him from her arrow. At this time, they were still superheroes and just starting to live together. Paula Crock and Mr. and Mrs. West got fed up with the young couple and their guilty faces, kicking them out as soon as the two had agreed on what college to go to.

"The guys," he had repeated, plastering a goofy grin as he slipped on his coat. "You know, Rob- damn, I mean Nightwing, Conner, Kaldur, I think even the Kid is going to be there."

"Garfield?"
"Yeah, Garfield," he said. He kissed her briefly and left. Artemis noted that he hadn't taken the keys to their car. He was running.

Artemis squished down her suspicions and went right on cleaning. She stayed up that night until he came home. She didn't smell any unfamiliar perfume, didn't see any misplaced make-up, and didn't observe a hair out of place.

Two more Thursdays passed by before the big fight – that horrible meltdown. Suddenly, Kaldur was on the wrong side. Suddenly, they were fighting against him instead of with him. It made no sense. Why should Kaldur respond so horribly after finding out that Black Mantis is his father? Calm, cool, collected was always his demeanor. There were other members with bad blood on the team. Why would Kaldur be the one to have a breakdown? It didn't make sense. But she swallowed it. She knew something wasn't right, but still Artemis swallowed what her eyes had seen. Wally still went to the 'Pool Night' on Thursdays, and it still bothered her. Two months passed and finally she had enough. Wally West was hiding something and Wally West was always awful at hiding things from his girlfriend. When he went to put on his shoes, she slipped a tracker into his pocket, smiled at him, exchanged a kiss, and watched him go out the door. A few hours later she popped up in a warehouse in Bludhaven. She kept to the shadows, her quiver on her back and her bow attached to her belt. She watched while her red head boyfriend let out a soft whistle and the whistle was returned twice. One note higher than the other. She watched while Nightwing slipped from the shadows and she watched while both boys waited for the third whistler to appear.

It was when she saw Kaldur appear from the shadows and greet the boys with a friendly smile that she dropped from her perch, landing in the middle of the circle. Naturally, Artemis Crock was furious and she let them know it. Hands on hips she demanded an explanation. With guilty faces, they gave in. Not right away, of course. They were superheroes after all, but she got it out of them.

It was a plan that they told her. A plan known to some as 'Pool Night'. It basically consisted of three participants – Nightwing, Kaldur, and Kid Flash. The Plan, as they came to call it, was to infiltrate Black Mantis' group. What were they hoping to find out? Well, hell if they should know, they cried. But isn't that the point? They asked her. They don't know what they could find, but there had to be something. Who knows about this? Artemis wondered who else knew about this so-called Plan. Nobody, was what they had responded. It was just their plan. There was something fishy in the air, and no it wasn't Kaldur. Black Mantis is planning something, they insisted to her. We have to find out what. No, they couldn't bring in the other team members. Why? Because the more who knew, the more chance there was that secret information could be leaked and The Plan would be blown to bits.

Artemis listened quietly. She knew they needed more than one person infiltrated into Black Mantis' circle and she decided it would be her. She voiced her thoughts.

"I want in."

Wally, who doesn't have a filter and who loves Artemis Crock with all that he is, cried the first thing that came to his mind. "No!"

Thus ensued the argument. Why shouldn't she? Why should she? She could take care of herself! What role would she play? They needed more than three brains for this Plan! No part for her to play, she could blow the whole operation! Don't push his luck! Stay out of this! She could help! He can't lose her again. He never really lost her.

Nightwing and Kaldur were having their own private conversation while the couple quarreled. Their conversation was with their thoughts. Both knew that what Artemis was saying was true. They could use someone else. One wondered how she could fit into The Plan; the other knew how she could fit in. He didn't have it all planned out into the last detail, but he had a rough idea to how she could fit. Nightwing interrupted the lovers' quarrel with a raised hand and a cough. When he had their attention, he spoke.

"Artemis," he said. "You can be in. But to be in, I need you both out."

Wally and Artemis just looked at him. Kaldur remained silent, thoroughly confused. Wally and Artemis demanded an explanation and Nightwing gave it. Yes, Artemis Crock could be very vital indeed to The Plan and so she needed to be kept safe. Wally would go anywhere she went so the best way to keep her safe was for Wally West and Artemis Crock to get out.

The next day, Nightwing called a Team Meeting. He gave out information on a job they had pulled the previous week, introduced Lagoon Boy, Bumble Bee, and Malcom as official new team members, and then graciously handed the floor over to Wally West and Artemis Crock. The red head had a comforting arm around her shoulders. Artemis had her arms wrapped around herself, trying to keep herself calm. She had to do this.

"Artemis and I," Wally said quietly. He looked at Nightwing. "Artemis and I are out."

His green eyes never broke the eye contact with his best friend. Wally, Artemis, and Nightwing finished the statement in their heads. Out to get in.

So this was the story of how Artemis Crock became a part of The Plan. This is the ending to that story, but it is the beginning to the story of The Game. The Game Wally West latched onto with more enthusiasm than he should have. The Game that would then become reality. His reality.

Remeber to review! Do I keep this one rolling or no?