Wow, okay that vacation was absolutely amazing and I loved every second of it! The only problem is this chapter is the last one I have typed up and ready to go, meaning the next update may take a little longer ^^" I hope you all like it though! Special thanks to JessM19, Zoe02 , MistbornandMore, TraughtYJ, and Ashlin Night for the lovely reviews, they're always a huge motivator!


Chapter 3

The Watchtower

November 11, 4:11 EST

It had been a little over an hour since Artemis had called Kaldur, asking him to gather the founders of the team as soon as possible.

There must have been something in her voice because he doesn't ask questions, promising instead that he'd meet her soon at the Watchtower.

That was where she was now, pacing anxious circles in the briefing room, trying to keep her gaze from straying to the memorial area. She didn't have the time to be distracted, not with Dick missing.

The computer announces the name of her company and she turned, watching as the group joined her. They all must have sensed her nervous energy, gathering quickly and without wasted greetings.

"Artemis, what's going on? You seem distressed." M'Gann asked, a frown pulling at her face. Artemis took a deep breath to steady herself before pulling out the shuriken, holding it up for everyone to see.

"I went to Dick's apartment, this was the only thing I found there, buried into the mattress." The degrees in the room seems to drop, heroes all tensing in unison. "Deathstroke took him and we don't know who he was taken as." The gravity quickly sunk in, with the question of whether they were searching for Nightwing or Dick Grayson they'd have to tread much more carefully and with fewer heroes to keep his identity safe. Not to mention the added variable of a timeline, they didn't know how long ago exactly he was taken, or for what purpose.

Conner's fists were drawn tight, a scowl drawn on his face.

"We should have been there." He voiced the thought they were all thinking. Kaldur set a hand on his shoulder, expression set and serious.

"Reflecting on that will not help our friend. We need to make a plan and move quickly, the sooner we can identify Deathstroke's intentions and Dick's location the sooner we can rescue him and rectify our mistakes."

M'Gann clapped her hands together, anxious energy channeled into the movement. "Where do we start?"

Artemis exchanges a glance with Kaldur, realizing with a start that in this particular group the she filled the secondary command position.

"First, we need to notify Batman." Artemis bit her lip. Gotham has been out of control since the Reach had come and, while the true Batman was gone, Dick had been stretched to thinly to give the city all the attention she required. From reports it had only just begun to finally return to a semblance of normal. It could undo months of work to pull his attention entirely from the city. "Hopefully he'll be able to spare Robin or Batgirl, this is their expertise."

"We should also contact Zatanna, she may have a spell that could locate him or Deathstroke, similar to when she found the source of magic at Roanoke." Everyone nodded and Artemis's eye caught the grotto, the blue tinged holo of the original Kid Flash stealing her attention. It felt like a vice had gripped her heart, she couldn't lose someone else.

Arms wrapped around her from the side, red hair nestled against her shoulder.

"We're going to find him Artemis." M'Gann reassured, giving her shoulders a light squeeze. "They're never going to-" Her words took a harsh edge, the kind of fearful slant that was the M'Gann that had ruined Kaldur's psyche. She swallowed. "He's going to be okay." The archer took a second longer to look at the hologram, letting out a sigh as she turned into the embrace.

"Yeah, you're right. We'll find him." There wasn't another choice.

Blüdhaven

November 11, 19:21 EST

The call with Batman had been a strained affair, the elder team members familiar enough with the senior league member to read the distress that few others could discern. It was, however, successful, a plan made that lead them to this point. The small group of heroes, plus Barbara, all in civvies made their way back to Dick's apartment to allow the Bat to do her own sweep of the apartment as the rest of them asked around for when the vigilante, and the cop, where last seen.

It took some doing, some bribes, and some long hours, but by the end they had more information than before.

Barbara, with her enhanced training, was able to pick out tiny discrepancies in the paint and slight chips in the drywall, nearly covered up.

The police station had last seen Dick Grayson after he pulled a double on November 5th at the station, and had assumed he had fallen ill afterwards, since he didn't look very well and seemed to be overworking.

The city and her thugs had last seen Nightwing early November 6th and heard nothing from their vigilante since.

It painted a worrying picture, based on what they'd learned it seemed likely Deathstroke had set up an ambush for Nightwing, at his own apartment. It was entirely likely the mercenary knew his secret identity, a prospect that complicated everything.

"What now?" Conner half growled, frustration similar to his earlier years bleeding through. Kaldur rubbed a knuckle to his tired eyes, looking older than his 22 years.

"We will contact Zatanna and tell her of the situation to see if she can offer any assistance, then we will rest. We are of little use to anyone exhausted."

"I'll go talk to her, it'll probably be best to hear it in person." Artemis volunteered, ignoring the deeper pull of the frown on Kaldur's face. She could feel his worry as if she was a telepath. "And then after that I'll get some rest." She added, pointedly. He nodded, conceding.

"Very well, Artemis will inform Zatanna and we will proceed from there." Artemis didn't stay around long after that, stepping into the concealed zeta tube and transporting herself to New York City. It was easy enough to catch a cab in the never sleeping city and she gave it the address, staring out the window at the dazzling lights as they went.

The taxi hit the brakes hard, pulling off the side of the road. Artemis blinked, not realizing she had nearly drifted off, and quickly paid and tipped the driver, climbing out. The car peeled away the moment the door shut and she sighed, looking up at the apartment complex. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation.


If you have the time please let me know what you thought :) Thanks for reading~

~Fate