A/N: Hi guys! I'm very sorry for the very late update, but it's been a rough month and I've been having a really hard time. I recently lost a good friend of mine in a car accident and have been so preoccupied with her family and fundraisers to help as well as other things that I just haven't had the time to update until now. I really hope you guys like this chapter as it's one of my favorites I've written.

In this chapter we finally get to meet Jake, the whole reason Elyza agreed to work with Slade. We also see the human side to Red-X, the Elyza side. You start to see the toll being Red-X and doing these things take on her and I hope it seems realistic.

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and please feel free to PM me or leave a comment saying what you think! Constructive criticism is welcome just no flames please!

Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you're loving the story!

Warnings: PTSD, Flashbacks, Mentions of stealing, Heart defect, Health problems of a child/infant, Language.

Chapter Four

Elyza couldn't get her hands to stop shaking.

She first noticed the tremors when she got back from her fight with the Titans. Her hands were shaking so violently that it took her three tries to get the window open and even longer to pull herself through.

She laid on her kitchen floor for the rest of the night, her hands continuing to shake. She'd managed to pull off her mask, but couldn't find the energy to change out of the rest of her costume.

She wasn't Red-X anymore, having completely changed back into her Elyza set of mind. Something that made the trembling of her hands even more prominent. Because now she cared. Well, now she cared more. Because now, she wasn't a hardened thief anymore. Now she was just a nineteen-year-old girl working two jobs and trying to raise her twelve-year-old younger brother right. Not to mention pay for his medical bills and keep a roof over their heads. Now she really understood the gravity of what had happened at the facility. Understood that, if Raven hadn't moved at just the right time, she would have murdered a kid.

That thought alone had Elyza reaching for the waste bucket by the stove. She was not a good person, not by a long shot. But she wasn't a murderer. It was a line she had established when she became Red-X. She was a thief, had been since she was a little girl and she had to steal to provide for her brother and herself. But she was not a murderer.

She was not like her father.

Eight-year-old Elyza walked home from school with her stomach empty and her head full. It'd been almost a year since her mother died giving birth to Jake and her dad fell off the wagon and started drinking again. It didn't help that baby Jake was born with a heart defect, and almost died when he was born just like their mother. Jake had been a sickly baby ever since he was born, but the doctors had told their father that it was very unlikely Jake's heart defect would ever become life threatening as long as it was monitored closely. To make matters worse, Elyza's father had lost his job and was spending all the money he had on alcohol. Luckily her father loved TV so much that he managed to keep the power on, but any extra cash was spent on beer and going out to the bar with his friends. Which left the important things like food, formula, and Jake's medicine to fall on Elyza's shoulders.

Elyza sighed as she heaved her backpack higher up on her shoulders. She didn't know anything about making money, and there was no way she'd be able to get a job. Not until she was at least fifteen, which was seven years away.

Elyza kicked a stone out of her path and watched as it tumbled along until it hit an object in it's path and stopped.

Elyza raised an eyebrow in curiosity as she walked over to the object and picked it up, inspecting it as she turned it over in her hands.

She recognized the object as the thing her dad used to carry his money around in.

A wallet.

Elyza's hands shook as she opened the wallet up to reveal over two hundred dollars as well as some rectangular pieces of plastic.

She didn't know how much money was in the wallet, but she knew it was a lot. More than enough to buy food and formula for her and Jake. She also didn't know what exactly the plastic cards were, but she knew they were important. She had sometimes seen her mother pay for groceries and other things with those cards.

Elyza let out a shaky sigh as she took the money out of the wallet and stuffed it into the back pocket of her jeans. She looked around the vacant street and back down at the now empty wallet. She placed the wallet back down on the ground, deciding to leave the plastic cards.

Elyza started back on her way to her house, the stolen money burning a hole in her pocket and the tiniest bit of shame stirring in her gut.

It was the first time she ever stole anything. Though definitely not the last. She'd used the money to buy groceries and formula and was able to get one of her dad's friends to buy Jake's medicine for her since she was too young to buy it herself. Luckily the friend had been slightly intoxicated at the time and didn't ask too many questions

Elyza cringed when her phone started beeping, but relaxed when she realized it was just her alarm letting her know it was time to get ready to go get Jake.

Elyza sighed as she heaved herself up off the kitchen floor and went to her bedroom. Peeling off her Red-X uniform, she shoved it, her mask, and her utility belt under the same loose floorboard she always did.

Elyza then went over to her dresser to retrieve a pair of worn-out jeans and an old Breakfast Club tee-shirt. A typical outfit for her. Most of her clothes were worn and old, considering she bought all the articles in her wardrobe from consignment and thrift stores. She just didn't have the money to spend on brand new clothes.

Looking in the mirror that hung on her bedroom door, Elyza forced her red hair into a high ponytail, running her fingers through it a few times to break apart any tangles or knots.

Heading back into the small kitchen to grab her bag and car keys, Elyza checked her phone. She'd been avoiding Slade all night and figured she might as well deal with the repercussions sooner rather than later.

Sticking her phone between her ear and shoulder, Elyza slipped on her red sneakers as she waited for Slade to pick up.

"I was beginning to think you were avoiding me Ms. Ryan." Slade's smooth voice came through over the phone. "You haven't been answering my calls."

"Sorry." Elyza deadpanned, grabbing her bag and keys and heading out the door. "Bad signal." Elyza shut her apartment door and locked it before heading towards the stairs.

"I was quite impressed with you're performance last night." Slade said, his words making Elyza grit her teeth. "You're already quite the challenge for the Titans. Soon, you might even be able to defeat them."

Elyza rolled her eyes. "You're unwavering faith in me speaks volumes to my ego." Slade chuckled over the phone.

"Patience Ms. Ryan." Slade said. "You're talents will soon be rewarded." But before Elyza could question Slade's statement, she was greeted by a dial tone sounding in her ear.

"Perfect." Elyza mumbled as she slid out the front doors of her building and stuffed her phone in the back pocket of her jeans.

She didn't miss the fact that her hands were still shaking. Or that they didn't stop the entire drive to pick up Jake. Even though she clutched the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white the entire ride.

Elyza let out a breath of air as she unbuckled her seat belt and jumped out of her car, walking up the steps of the house and knocking on the front door.

Elyza looked around as she waited for someone to answer. The house was normal enough, what with it's blue paint and white shutters. Mint green flower boxes, a small garden, and a freshly mowed lawn made the place look like heaven on earth compared to the roach motel Elyza lived in.

Elyza looked up as the door opened to reveal a somewhat frazzled looking blond woman in her early thirties with a bright smile that immediately got on Elyza's nerves.

Oh hello!" The woman said cheerfully. "How can I help you?" Elyza fought back the urge to roll her eyes and forced a smile.

"Hi." She said a little to shortly. "I'm Elyza. Jake's guardian."

"Oh!" The woman continued to smile and it continued to get on Elyza's nerves. "I'm Nancy. Thomas' mother. It's lovely to meet you." Nancy held her hand out and Elyza gave it a quick shake before stuffing her hands in the pockets of her jeans. Praying the woman hadn't notice her tremors.

If Nancy noticed, she didn't say anything. Rather she turned around and walked inside. "Come on in!" Elyza sighed, but followed her into the house anyway.

"Jake is such a sweetheart!" The older woman gushed as she lead Elyza into the kitchen and had her sit at the table, turning towards a coffee machine on the counter. "Funny though, he told me his sister was picking him up." This time, Elyza couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. Luckily Nancy's back was still turned.

"That's me." Elyza said, trying to keep from being to snappy. The woman turned back to look at Elyza, eyes widening just a little.

"Oh." She said, glancing down in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize..." Elyza smiled sincerely and cut the woman off.

"Happens all the time." She told Nancy, who gave her an apologetic smile as well as a cup of coffee. Elyza took the cup gratefully, having started to feel the effects of getting no sleep.

Elyza hadn't been lying when she told Nancy people got confused all the time. The fact that a nineteen year old was perfectly capable of taking care of her twelve year old brother with a heart defect was a hard concept for most to wrap their head around. Elyza rolled her eyes most of the time and gave a couple of snarky comebacks, but was mostly able to keep from saying something she'd regret later on.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, Elyza looked up from her coffee cup and smiled. Jake entered the kitchen and, upon seeing his older sister smiled from ear to ear.

Elyza stood up and Jake ran over to her, wrapping his arms around his sister. Elyza smiled bigger and returned the hug. Just like that, the shaking stopped.

"Hey Lyz." Jake mumbled into her t-shirt. Elyza laughed, pulling away slightly.

"Hey weirdo." Elyza ruffled his hair. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah. Just let me say grab my bag from Conner's room." Elyza nodded and chuckled as Jake darted up the stairs.

Nancy smiled and took Elyza's cup over to the sink. When she realized Elyza was Jake's legal guardian as well as his older sister, she didn't know what to expect from the younger woman. And while Nancy still didn't really know her, she could tell Elyza definitely had walls she kept up at all times. But she could tell that the redhead was strong. Probably a lot stronger than people gave her credit for.

Elyza thanked Nancy for the coffee, but her phone ringing cut her off.

"Hello?" Elyza answered.

"Elyza?" A male voice asked. "It's Dr. Gordon." Elyza sighed. Dr. Gordon was Jake's heart doctor. He'd been Jake's doctor since Jake was eleven and had been a God send. He walked Elyza through every procedure Jake had ever had or might have to have and help her with Jake's medicine and the dosage he should take of each. Dr. Gordon had also been the main driving force in getting Jake to the top of the heart transplant list.

"What's up Doc?" elyza smirked and she could feel Dr. Gordon rolling his eyes.

"That was funny the first five times you said it."

"And it's still funny now." Elyza chuckled. Dr. Gordon had once told her she was gonna give him an ulcer one day.

"I actually have some amazing news." Elyza's heartbeat sped up.

"What news?"

"The news you've been waiting for for over a year." Elyza's hand shot up to her mouth and tears came to her eyes. She could feel Nancy's hand on her shoulder and the older woman asking if she was ok.

If Dr. Gordon was telling her the truth, than Elyza was so much better than okay.

"Please tell me you're serious."

"I am." Elyza could picture him grinning from ear to ear. "Jake's got a new heart. We can start prepping for the surgery as fast as the day after tomorrow."

"Holy shit." Elyza saw Nancy take a step back and heard Dr. Gordon chuckle. Her brain to mouth filter was definitely on the fritz right now.

"Thank you." Was the only other thing she could manage to get out. She heard the doctor chuckle again.

"Anytime." He said. "He deserves this Elyza. You both do." With that, Dr. Gordon hung up and Elyza was at a loss for words. After over a year and a half, it was finally happening.

Jake was getting a new heart.

Nancy was once again at the younger woman's side, asking if she was okay, but all Elyza could do was nod her head.

"Lyz?" Elyza looked up and saw Jake standing in the entryway to the kitchen, a puzzled look on his face.

Elyza didn't speak as she walked over and enveloped him in a bone crushing hug. Whatever Slade had her do next didn't matter. This was worth it.

Jake was worth it.