Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League/ JLU.

Psychotic

Home

Stop screaming and look around you!

Jay gasped in relieved shock as the voice reverberated through her mind, her eyes snapping open to a view of the warehouse rooftop and the inky black night sky above her.

"Where did you go? Where were you? I screamed and screamed for you!" Jay babbled, unable to keep herself under control, and trying to make sense out of what had just happened. Not three feet from her, John Dee was lying stunned, his eyes staring unseeingly up at the stars, a string of drool forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Calm down. Just blank your mind, and get a hold of yourself. I'm here now." Jay answered herself, her entire demeanor changing from panicked to calm and collected in a heartbeat.

Why didn't you answer me?

The voice rang through Jay's mind, her other self still too frightened to gain enough control to retake the body.

"I couldn't let you know I was still here. Not if we didn't want him to find me out." Jay replied, making her voice as soothing as possible. She concentrated on slowing the heart beating in their body, and getting the breathing under control as the adrenaline rush finally began to recede. Gaining control was crucial. With the panic had come a mild jolt, and she was doing her level best to tamp it down. That meant reassuring herself. "You were fine."

I can't do that. I can't be alone. Promise you'll never leave me alone.

"I'll always be here. I've got nowhere else to go." Jay soothed. "Even if you can't hear me, even if I can't answer you, I'll always be right here."

You'll always be with me.

It wasn't a question; it was a statement of fact. Jay felt her other self finally regain her control, calming herself down and repeating the sentence to herself. Another two breaths and Jay relinquished her hold on the body, freeing herself back into the expanse of their mind.

Jay collapsed as she regained control of the body, but didn't have the energy to keep herself upright. Kneeling, leaning her upper body on her arms, Jay concentrated on just breathing and reassuring herself that she'd never been alone. Her other self had got their breathing and heart rate back to normal, although the residual fear in Jay brought it back up a bit when she took over again. Her other self continued murmuring reassurances in the back of her mind, reasserting her continued presence over and over again. In another minute, Jay had herself back under control.

In a streak of red and gold, Flash appeared beside her, leaning over her to check that she was ok.

"Looks like he did a number on you." Flash commented, as he studied her with concern. Jay barely suppressed her impulse to jerk away from Flash. She managed a weak, insincere smile, and pushed herself up on to her feet. Satisfied that Jay was alright, Flash turned his attention to the catatonic Dee. A wicked grin spread across his face. "Not as big a number as you did on him! Well done!"

"He never even saw it coming. It didn't occur to him that there'd be another me." Jay said softly, but with a core of malice in her voice. Flash grinned at her, and Jay felt her face flush slightly, to her consternation.

Wow. His smile is even nicer in real life.

No. Shut up. You did NOT just have that thought.

"Let's get him back to prison." Batman stalked out of the shadows, taking in the situation and striding over to John Dee. After checking that Dee was still alive, Batman picked him up and stalked off towards the sound of the police sirens screeching their way to the warehouse. Batman didn't as much as glance at Jay.

Flash sauntered up and nudged Jay. "He thinks you did good too."

Jay quirked an eyebrow at Flash, stepping away slightly.

"Sure, it's not obvious, but that's just Bats." Flash added, smirking and shrugging. "Come on, let's go home."

---

Home. That's such a nice word. I've never really had a home, but I guess after being there for a few months, the Watchtower has kind of become my home. I feel safe there. I don't feel like something's going to happen to make them not want me any more. Like the lights falling when I get angry, or the water boiling in the pipes. The little things that used to happen when I used to lose control… in one of my foster homes they thought I had a ghost trailing me, and refused to keep me after four months. Or the time I twisted my ankle and a light bulb burst every time I put any weight on it. Those people shifted me faster than I could apologise.

In the JLU, it's a useful power. Not something to be scared of.

Unless you're Dr. Destiny!

And they're ok with my being… different.

Clinically insane is the preferred term, I think.

I have a home.