I don't know where I got this from. Ummm... Here. I published it seperate from my usual story. Ummm... Take it as you will. It's AU. Don't flip out on me. I'm trying my luck writing different styles of stories. Oh. I do I have a good one that I'm still writing.

Laughter and cries of joy echoed throughout the tent. He was up top, watching his parents again. They were graceful flyers and astonishing to watch.

"Nightwing!"

A voice called out. He turned to try and find the source. It sounded close by. The snap. He heard it snap again. His parents falling. His family. He heard the thumping of his heart.

"Wake up!" The voice called out again.

"Nightwing!" A slap to his face tore him away from his joyous nightmare.

"Oh my goodness. You're awake. You're okay." He didn't feel okay.

Slowly his senses returned to him. The smell of dust mixed with blood. Sharp pain in his side. The sight of her face, marred with worry and fright.

"Artemis." He croaked.

"Take it easy, Nightwing. You've…been hurt. Just lie still."

"My side…" He started, still attempting to sit up.

"You idiot. I'm trying to stop the bleeding." She scolded, applying more pressure to his wound.

"Ow. I guess I shouldn't…antagonize…my nurse."

"Ha-ha."

"Stabbed?"

"Yes bird boy. But, you'll…be fine." Her voice cracked a bit, a clear sign of her stress and worry.

"You shouldn't have taken it for me."

That sparked his memory. The mission. A knife. Separated from the group. A knife. Someone... a lackey. An unknown goon.

"It would have killed you." He said, suddenly finding it harder to breathe.

"Nightwing… " She started.

"You never think about yourself."

"I couldn't…see you die…for the third time." He attempted to laugh instead creating a coughing fit, complete with blood.

"Nightwing… It's okay. I'll get the bleeding to stop."

"I have internal…bleeding…and maybe…ahh…defiantly a punctured lung." He muttered. Artemis bit her lip.

"It'll be okay. Wally will find us. The others. They'll save us."

Nightwing remembered some more of the mission. Radio silence. She was captured. He freed her. The knife again. That horrible face, unknown. He groaned.

"I'm sure they know something happened to us. We'll get help."

"I don't have that…long, Artemis. It's getting hard to breathe. My lungs might…collapse. The bleeding might kill me…"

"Don't talk like that. There's enough time!" She yelled.

"Listen, Artemis. I…just listen… I'm sorry."

"Don't you dare talk like you're giving up. You're going to be okay, Nightwing."

"My head… my mind can't focus that well…" He saw his parents again, beckoning with open arms.

"They're waiting for me Artemis." He stumbled through his words, coughing up more blood.

"Who are?"

"My parents… They're so happy to see me… I could be happy… We could be…"

"Don't Nightwing. Stay here. Stay with me… With your friends."

"Nightwing… Nightwing… That's not my name… I'm dying…and you don't know…my name."

"You're not dying. I won't let you!" Her voice cracked again.

"Someday, soon, you'll tell me your real name. When you get better. Just hang on."

"I'm trying. But I don't know… Just…" He coughed.

"In case…I can't tell you this again… We'll laugh about this…someday."

A spark of recognition rang through her head as he closed his eyes. A first day of school, a long time ago and a snarky freshman that became her friend.

"Dick?"

So... There. Here. Whatever.

Detectiveram