Chapter 2

"Oh good Aqualad's voice in my head, I've soo missed that" was the first thought Wally projected from where he stood next to Robin.

"Hey, Kaldur! KF and I were attacked by giant vultures. Course since were moles you probably think we attacked ourselves." Or I attacked him and he decided to cover for me. But I'm not a mole so I wouldn't do that.

"If he did, he wouldn't tell you." Artemis projected. That was another thing; Robin thought making sure his thought stayed private. If he HAD shared the information with the team maybe I would have been more prepared. Ras mentioning my parents shocked me. So it's Kaldur's fault I even considered it for that second. I could have been prepared.

"Superboy, are you online or just... pouting?" M'gann asked.

"Busy call back later" Superboy answered sharply.

"What gets me is how non-chalant he is about not telling us" Wally thought.

"He should be chalant. Way chalant! Extremely chalant!" Robin thought accidently projecting. Have to make sure I don't do that. Robin noted to himself.

"How can we be a team if he doesn't trust us with his secrets?"Artemis.

"And Conner doesn't trust us to take care of ourselves." M'gann.

"And does he really think you or I" Wally thought gesturing, "Could have been the mole. We've known each other for years!" Yeah, right, Wally. Go with that one.

"Trust is a two way street! And you know they'd hate it if we kept secrets from them!" Megan.

"Not that we do that. Never." Artemis.

Please stop, Robin thought but didn't project. This is exactly what Ras said would happen.

Kaldur, of all people, came to his rescue. "Enough. Captain Marvel has been captured and we must act as a TEAM to rescue him."

"Under YOUR leadership? I don't think so." Wally. Great here we go again.

"This is not up for debate! You all chose me to lead. If when the mission is over, you wish to select a new leader I will HAPPILY step down" Wally looked at Robin. Robin immediately looked down. Don't look at me, KF. I'm no leader. I already hold to much information. And already I've almost succumbed to the light. That's not a leader. "Until that time" Kaldur continued, "I am in command here"

Finally the team pulled together and began the mission. There you go guys. Show Ras how wrong he is.

It wasn't until the mission was done and over with that Robin brought it up, Stopping Kaldur from entering the Bio-ship. "Look, I have to know. Why did you keep the mole thing a secret?"

Kaldur sighed. "The source of the tip was Sportsmaster." Oh, goodie! Ras is bad enough but now he has Sportsmaster working for him.

"What?" Artemis yelled. "You can't trust him!"

"Yes, I know. It was possible; likely even that he was simply trying to break the team apart"

"And by what happened on this mission he almost succeeded." Robin said bitterly. "But as leader you had to consider it was true"

"And if it was, without tipping him or her off."

"I hate to say it but it makes sense" This is it. This is my opportunity. It's so simple. Just a 'This was a test. Ras wanted us to break apart; wanted me to see us break apart'. He could explain everything right here. But he didn't. After all, he could handle himself.

It was in the Bio-ship on the way back that M'gann cornered him. "Robin" she called, setting up a private link between the two of them.

"Yeah, M'gann?"

"This entire mission I have felt many emotions from you but the main one was... fear." Robin's mind went blank at the sound of the question. "Why?"

"I... don't like the idea of traitors. I've dealt with too many; lost too many good people from backstabbers. I don't like the idea that there's one here." Robin made up quickly. "But there isn't I'm sure of it. Keep traught. It was just bat paranoia setting it."

"I know. None of us would betray the team. We're a family." Robin couldn't stop the thought that came to him. This team is no family of mine. Family has your back. You guys turn on each other as soon as you have little doubt. Luckily that thought wasn't projected but other thoughts plagued Robin the rest of the ride back.

The most prominent: When did I start not including myself in the team? And when did I begin thinking like that?