I Need You

Artemis Crock was now twenty one years old. She and Wally remained together, they left the Team and went to college together, and they shared an apartment. Everything went downhill after living together for about eight months. Wally had met this girl named Sophia in one of his classes; they were partners on a class project.

It was a Thursday evening; she had just gotten of work at the little coffee shop that was down the street from her and Wally's apartment. She expected Wally to be home, because his last class ended hours ago, she wasn't surprised by the usual toss of his shoes right by the door. But she didn't expect the bright red high heels in the middle of her floor. Or the female clothes that were not hers on the floor mixed with Wally's.

Creeping silently she followed the clothes down the hall, they were obviously leading to the main bedroom. As she got closer she could hear voices and giggling, one was diffidently Wally's, and the other female. The door was slightly opened; when she peeked in she got the biggest shock of her life.

Wally her boyfriend of almost six years was in their bed naked with his project partner Sophia. She stood there opened mouth for who knows how long, to her it felt like hours. Instead of barging into the room and making a big scene, and beating the crap of both Wally and Sophia, she quietly turned around and headed towards the kitchen. Where she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, she quickly and quietly wrote a note to Wally.

Wally

I saw you and your PROJECT PARNTER Sophia, studying together in our bed. I didn't know that the new way to study was to cheat on your girlfriend by having sex with another girl in our bed. I'm through Wally I never want to see you again, I'm leaving, DO NOT call me or come looking for me.

Artemis

She left the note on the kitchen counter, quickly crabbed her coat, keys, and purse. When she left the apartment she made sure to slam the door as hard as she could, and quickly went to her car. Once she was safely in her car, the tears she had been holding back escaped. She sat in her car for five minutes crying when she heard Wally yelling her name, and could see him in her mirror, that's when she quickly started her car and speed off down the road. She didn't know where to go, and she couldn't stop the tears from running down her face.

After an hour of driving she eventually found herself on the familiar drive back to her home town, Gotham. She had two choices, she could go to her mother's house, where her mother would be sweet about everything and let her cry onto her shoulder but she would also ask tons of questions that she didn't want to answer. Artemis didn't want to talk. And that left the only person she knew in Gotham that would be comforting, but wouldn't say anything at all as she cried. And would ask questions when he knew that she was ready to talk. So she started towards Wayne mansion where Dick Grayson lived. Also known as Robin, but now days he goes by the super hero name Nightwing.

It was around 11 o'clock when she finally pulled up to the gates of Wayne mansion. She pushed the button and recognized the voice of Albert the butler. "Hello".

"Hi Albert its Artemis is Dick home?" said Artemis in a slightly constricted voice.

"Oh Artemis, Master Dick is not home yet, but he should back within the hour. Would you like to come in and wait for him?" Said Albert

"Umm yeah that would be fine. Thank you Albert" Said Artemis

"No problem Miss Crock, I will open the gate for you".

It only took a couple of seconds for the huge gates to open, so Artemis drove her car up the long driveway to the mansion. She parked her car and went to the door; right when she was getting ready to knock Albert opened the doors with a smile on his face.

"Miss Crock it is so nice to see you again. Please come in."

Artemis gave a small smile and said "Thanks Albert".

Albert must have noticed her puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks, because all of a sudden Albert's face changed from mild excitement to concern. Albert asked her "Is everything alright Miss Crock?"

Artemis sighed and looked down at the crystal clean floor and said in a low constricted voice "Ya I'm fine".

Albert must not have believed her because his brow furrowed and he asked her" would you like a cup of tea Miss Crock?" Artemis nodded and followed Albert into the huge kitchen. She sat on one of the stools at the island and watched Albert quickly for his older age move around the kitchen making the tea. She was amazed at how quickly and quietly he moved she hoped that she could still move like that at his age, whatever age that might be.

After about five minutes of watching the old butler the tea was done and was placed in front of Artemis along with some cookies. "Would you like to talk about it Miss Crock?"

Artemis looked down at her tea and sighed and said "Wally and I broke up".

"I am sorry to hear that" said Albert.

Artemis gave a small sad smile and said "yeah me to". Artemis started eating her cookies and drinking her tea, when all of a sudden she heard the familiar voice of Dick Grayson.

"Hey Albert, could you make me a couple ice packs". Dick Grayson had diffidently grown up from the scrawny little thirteen year old. He was now at least 6'3 and had broad muscled shoulders, but he still had the beautiful shiny blue eyes. Puberty treated him very well. Dick wasn't wearing his Nightwing costume, he was in a black t-shirt and grey sweat pants. His hair was matted down with sweat and had some dirt in it, and maybe what looked like blood. That made Artemis even more worried wondering how injured he was. He was slightly limping and had a cut on his right check, it wasn't bad but it looked like it was going to be bruised for a couple days.

At first he didn't notice Artemis sitting on the stool at the kitchen island. It wasn't until he looked up that he noticed the blonde archer sitting in his kitchen. "Artemis what are you doing here?" said a slightly confused Dick.

"Well hello to you to Dick" a laughing Artemis said. "I just came to say hello to one of my best friends, but if your too busy limping around and bleeding, I can leave" she said teasingly, the smile on her face didn't quite reach her eyes though, and Dick quickly caught saw it and new something was wrong.

Dick smiled and walked towards her and pulled her into a big loving and caring hug. Without hesitation she wrapped her arms around his waist and put her head onto his chest. It didn't go unnoticed by her when he slightly winced at the movement of her arms squeezing him. Artemis quickly let go and in a demanding voice asked "What's wrong Dick, where are you hurt at?" She was truly concerned for her friend.

Dick sighed and said "Got into a rough battle with the Joker". He pointed to his cheek and said "got cut by a thrown knife, then I landed roughly on my knee when I got tackled by one of the Jokers henchmen, think it might have cracked a couple ribs". When Dick noticed the worry in Artemis's eyes he quickly added "It's nothing to worry about Artemis, you and I both know that I've had a lot worse, I've already wrapped my ribs, and the cut isn't that deep I just need to put some ice on it, and ice my knee".

Artemis sighed "I know you've had a lot worse Dick, I'm just worried about you".

Dick smiled and hugged her again, she was careful not to hurt his rib cage again. Artemis sighed and rested her head on Dick's chest, and he put his chin on her head breathing in the smell of her shampoo. They stood there for a couple of minutes just embracing each other when Albert came back into the room.

"Here are your ice packs Master Dick".

"Thanks Albert, I'll take them up to my room". Dick headed off to hall way motioning for Artemis to follow him.

Artemis looked at Albert and smiled and said "Thanks for the tea Albert". She then grabbed the last cookie and left the kitchen following Dick to the huge marble staircase. She quickly caught up to him since he was still limping; he was already holding one ice pack to his the cheek, the other in his hand. They didn't speak on the way to his room; they walked in a comfortable silence. When they got to Dick's room, he opened the door and stood to the side and let her enter the huge room first. Artemis wasn't used to this kind of gesture; Wally never did that for her. Artemis was a strong and independent women, she could kick any full grown man's ass, and even take on a metahuman and hold her own very well. But sometimes it was nice to be treated like women, and Dick did that.