DISCLAIMER: I do not own Titans or any related material. Here's the next chapter, folks! Enjoy and please review!

What felt like many hours was only a few minutes in Dick's world, at the moment. He and his attackers were engaged in a deadly tete-a-tete, the loser spending the rest of their life with the grim reaper unfortunately. He had to win, he had to beat them. The other two assassins, this whacked up family's "kids," we're still out there wanting to hurt his friends. Gar. Kory. Rachel. Dick had to protect them.

With newfound strength, he pushed back against the ensuing onslaught from the 'Mother' and 'Father' of the psychotic family. Finally gaining some ground, he incapacitated the pair and darted towards the door to warn his friends. He could feel Mom and Dad hot on his trail, but he barged into Rachel's room shouting, "Rachel! Gar! Quick! We have to get out of-"

Dick stopped mid sentence, he could not believe what lay before him. His friends, Kory, Gar and Rachel, were tied up and gagged. They all looked at him with frantic eyes, pulling at their binds. Dick was frozen in shock for not even half of a second, but that's all the time it took for 'Son' to rip from the shadows. Dick reacted instantly, his instincts honed from his time spent as Robin. Grappling with the boy, Dick was unaware of the second kid, 'Daughter,' stealthily make her way from behind. Dick saw her at the last second, only to be met with a nice knock from the butt end of a hammer to his skull.

All Dick could comprehend as his limp body collided with the floor was the sound of Rachel screaming his name.

…

Gar could not fathom the events unfolding before him. Dick, his friend, although they hadn't known each other for long, was a heap on the floor as blood from his newfound head wound slowly trickled onto the shag carpet. The evil, killer kids who stood over Dick with glee, were soon joined by their sadistic parents. Rachel screamed Dick's name in warning as the teenage pair advanced towards, but too little too late as Daughter knocked him out with a calculated blow to the head.

Gar was experienced in fighting techniques and mechanics from his time spent in war before he contracted the rare sickness that marked the next, shapeshifting chapter in his life. Daughter hit Dick hard enough to hurt, even subdue, but not enough to cause any serious, life-threatening injuries. Which only meant one thing, they wanted to make their deaths slow and painful.

He tensed against his restraints, but it was no use. This family of killers was smarter than they intended as they had administered some sort of powerful drug that left Rachel, Kory and Gar powerless. Numbness replaced the electricity of his powers that Gar was usually accustomed to. All three of them were useless to help Dick as he looked a bit scathed with cuts and bruises from what was most likely a previous altercation with their captors.

Kory, Gar and Rachel had no abilities at their aid and were forced to watch their friend's body slowly crumple to the floor in his unconscious state.

…

White hot pain encompassed Dick as he forced his heavy eyelids to open a sliver. His surroundings were blurry, his memory foggy. Where was he? What happened? Last thing Dick could remember was an ice bucket and the disappointed expression of the motel owner when he said good night.

Then it all came flooding back to him. Two assassins. Running to the room next door. Rachel, Kory and Gar tied up. Then blackness.

His brain rebelled and a stabbing headache caused Dick to groan as he recollected upon the fact he had been smacked in the head with a very painful object. He could feel dried blood caking the side of his head, but his wound still throbbed incessantly in a whirlwind of pain.

He tried reaching for his head, but his hands were not compliant. He tried a bit harder, concentrating more, but his hands would not budge. Dick felt something cold cut into his wrists. Handcuffs, he deduced.

"Well, well, well" a cold voice broke into his daze like an icy dagger, "Sleeping beauty finally arises."

Dick struggled to open his eyes halfway to see Mother smiling evil at him.

"Aww," she cooed, unfeeling, "Are you feeling okay, sweetie?"

Something was quickly jabbed into Dick's side which called him to cry out. His mind was moving slowly, like it was sludge, but Dick realized it was a long rod that Son had struck him with.

"Kiddo, let's not be hasty now," Father chastised his fake son in an eerie cheerfulness, then turned back to Dick, "Where are my manners. Let's get you acquainted, shall we?"

Dick didn't respond, he couldn't. He was weak, tied up and in a massive amount of discomfort. He wouldn't be surprised if the area that Son jabbed him in would be bruising in a bit. His head was reeling, but all he could do was worry about his friends. He had not seen them yet, but then again much of his world was dark and cloudy at the moment.

All Dick could make out from his surroundings was that they were in a pretty large, quiet space that had limited lighting. This meant they were isolated; smart if one wanted to be left alone, away from the public's eye.

"Let's introduce you to the rest of the guests," Mother walked to Dick's left.

Dick could hear some shuffling and muffled noises before Kory, Gar and Rachel swam into his view. He relaxed in relief that they all looked relatively unhurt and unscathed, but still tied up as he was.

"Dick!" he heard Rachel cry upon seeing him. All of his friends were in a state of shock when they laid their eyes on the heap that was their friend Dick.

He lifted his head and squinted in her direction, his vision swaying. He must have a nasty concussion by the severe symptoms he was experiencing.

"You animals!" Kory tugged at her binds, spitting towards the family of killers,"Stop hurting him!"

Gar looked ready to pounce, growling at Son and Daughter.

Father replied, "That's where you are mistaken, Kory Anders. The hurting has only just begun."

Father's head snapped in Dick's direction, a malicious glint painted in his eyes.