I must apologize to you for the delay. Two months ago, I was awoken over spring break by my grandmother's nurse. She had passed away and since my parents were on a business trip, I had to arrange for the funeral, get the rabbi and stand vigil over the body. I also had to care for my grandfather, who was devastated by the loss of his wife. I also had to tell the family, making endless phone calls. The funeral was no easier, as was the seven days of mourning. When I finally emerged from this, I had no wish to write. I couldn't pick up my pen without crying and besides, I had nearly two weeks of school and work to catch up on and that had to come first. I was broken hearted inside and creativity seemed too painful.

Then came the PMs, the reviews telling me you wanted to know more, and I was able to remember how much I loved writing. So this chapter is for you, those who wrote to me. Thank you, I plan to return to updating every other week again! I have some big plans, especially concerning Aqualad, Barry, Wally's father and Artemis. Not at the same time, of course.

In this chapter, Wally finds out where his body is, and realizes how bad things have gotten without him.

Move

When life won't play along
And right keeps going wrong
And I can't seem to find my way
I know where I am found
So I won't let it drag me down
Oh, I'll keep dancing anyway

-MercyMe

Finding his body had been annoyingly hard, someone had moved it. Had Wally not been more concerned with finding his meat suit, he would have been concerned about who had moved it. "I am really well connected, Nabby. My uncle is the Flash and my godfather is Batman. If anything happens to me, you'll be melted down for scrap metal," he threatened angrily as he floated through oblivion. Without a connection to his body, he had to rely on the disembodied spirit for guidance and he wasn't enjoying it very much.

Young sorcerer, I am aware of everything you know. I assure you, I have no intention of harming you. Nabu was starting to sound irritated too. Served him right. If you die, I die.

'So, basically, you're a parasite," Wally sniped, feeling a bit vindicated to be as pigheaded as possible, given that he was still technically a hostage of a supreme Magical being. A few weeks before, he hadn't even believed magic existed. Now he had it.

You didn't call me a parasite when you were flying. Did he have to be right all of the time? That was getting annoying. There you are…your body wasn't moved far.

Wally attempted a sharp retort, but relaxed back when he felt the familiar tug and slipped back into reality. "Maybe it was Miss Martian. I bet she can't help herself, couldn't keep her hands off my hot body," he said, not even convincing himself. "Useless piece of space junk!"

So, your anger is not directed against me. Are you still angry about your father? I can read your mind, you know.

"I don't want to talk about that," Wally snapped. "Keep out of my brain if you want to stay in one piece. I have no problem melting you down for scrap."

Your own best friend thinks you got that scar on your back from a bike accident. If I see correctly…

"I know how I got it," Wally hissed. "Not another word or I will give up magic. Read my mind, you know I'm not lying." He would not discuss this with anyone besides his foster parents. He would not let this destroy his life.

A falling sensation distracted him as he began feeling human sensations again. He lay back into the familiar world of touch and smell and mortality, the world of men. I hope you enjoyed yourself, young sorcerer. You should rest for a bit, recover your strength. Yeah, he was tired. A few minutes rest wouldn't hurt too much. I will keep your secrets. And you will keep mine.

"His heart rate is returning to normal!" a voice cried out. "Uncle Barry, he's breathing normally!"

There were voices. He was too tired to move, and some idiots were talking in his bedroom. "It's too early to wake up, Uncle B," he complained, wanting to return to sweet sweet sleep. He was exhausted. Spirit mastery was hard. "Another hour!"

"Wally?" a voice said. It was a very familiar voice, the voice of his best friend. Only this time, it was choked up with tears. Never a good sign and one that would have to be remedied, even at the price of slumber. Wally opened his eyes slowly and saw the shaded eyes of his best friend staring down at him. "You're awake?" Dick asked, sounding like a miracle had happened. "Flash, he's awake!"

A second later, Wally was enveloped in a gentle hug. "Talk to me, kid. What's your name, birthday and favorite food?" he heard his uncle say, a thickness in his voice that boded poorly and said the fastest man alive had been crying as well.

Wally tried to sit up, but found himself attached to a lot of scary machines. "Wallace Rudolph West, January 26th and anything," he said worriedly. "What's the big hullabaloo?" He liked being center of attention, but this was a bit strange. All right, his life was always strange but this was a level even he was unused to.

"You nearly died," Dick said, his eyes narrowed. "Don't you remember getting sick?" Wally shook his head. "Your heart rate went below twenty." Now he had a mother Robin hen on his trail. He was going to kill Nabu, if that was even possible. His best friend was relentless in finding the truth; he'd truly have to watch his step now.

"Really? I was sure I'd remember that," Wally mumbled, not sure what else to say. His lies were getting very annoying to keep track of, especially since he now had the attention of a lot of caring people who desperately wanted to solve a problem that didn't exist.

Now he understood why his body had been moved. Dick must have found the body and checked for a pulse. He was torn between being touched at the concern and annoyed at the invasion of privacy.

"You were unconscious, kiddo," Uncle Barry said, brushing back Wally's hair with a shaking hand. With a sinking feeling, Wally realized how much he had hurt the people around him. He wished he had the words to grovel an apology out, without them whacking him upside the head repeatedly and grounding him. "Anything you care to share?"

Wally could have ended the adventure by coming clean right there. He would have been yelled at and punished, but then they would have forgiven him and everything would be all right. All it would cost him was the magical powers that were close to making him a God. "I don't feel any different," he whispered, closing his eyes and hating himself.

"Robin mentioned you showed an incredible feat of strength," Uncle Barry said, not leaving the point to rest in the lies where it belonged. "What happened? How did you manage to knock Superboy into a wall?" he asked.

"I…was practicing my speed force technique and added it to the punch. I felt really tired…" Wally explained. "I guess I went too far?" It sounded lame duck, even to his own ears. He was crippled by his own stupidity. He was carrying this metaphor way too much.

"You must have pushed yourself beyond endurance. We almost lost you there, kid. You have to be more careful," Uncle Barry said, looking shaken. "Neither of us knows the limits of our powers, but we know they are dangerous."

"Sorry," Wally said, as he tried to unplug a machine which beeped insolently and refused to budge. "Can I have something to eat now? I almost died and I didn't get a last meal." Maybe a joke or two would loosen everyone up.

"This isn't funny. Next time you pull a stunt like this, you're off hero duty for a month," Uncle Barry said, doing an uncanny impersonation of the Bat glare. Uncle B was never that strict, this really must have thrown him for a loop.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," Wally said genuinely. "But I'm fine now, really." He really would have to be more careful about spirit quests in the future. His uncle was a laid back kind of guy but was also an expert forensic scientist, one of the best in his field. He would pick up on any clues possible.

Dick hadn't spoken; he was just staring at him through those shades as if trying to see through him, an ability he hopefully didn't have. "I'll tell Batman you're up," he said, and the suspicion was naked in his voice. "We'll be running lots of tests." He wouldn't stop till he had solved the mystery. "Painful, extensive tests."

"Joy," Wally mumbled, before hugging his uncle again. "I really am sorry," he whispered, trying not to hate himself even more. "Seeing him…it made me so angry. And I lost control."

Uncle Barry's jaw clenched. "I never realized how badly you still take this," he said softly, putting his arm around his nephew protectively. "I shouldn't have made you see him. I'm sorry, kid. Never again, I promise."

Wally looked away. "I could have killed him," he whispered, afraid to even admit it. "I wanted to do it. I still remember hiding under the bed, hoping he'd go away." He remembered a lot worse than that. He still woke up in cold sweats, hearing his dad's shouts and threats in his mind.

"Wally, be angry at me. I'm the one who let him back in, but don't blame yourself," Uncle Barry said with another hug. "Are you going to be okay?"

Wally nodded. "You promised me he would never hurt me again," he said, with a sad smile. It had been the first day of his new, happy life. "I believe you." He believed in his uncle's love for him and knew that he would protect him. He also knew that he could defend himself very well, and could make his father pay dearly. He only needed the provocation and then no one would blame him for the revenge he would take.

"I meant it, every word. I'm going to talk to Batman. Do not move from this bed," Uncle Barry said, ruffling his hair. He stood up and steadied himself, clearly trying to become the jovial hero instead of the terrified uncle. "I'll be back in a moment."

"You're all right," Miss Martian squealed, as she floated happily into the room a second after Uncle Barry sped out. "I'm so happy. Hello Megan, I should have made you get well cookies." That was an excellent idea which he would happily take her up upon.

Artemis bounded in after her and looked genuinely pleased for a moment, before setting her face back to smug arrogance. "I knew you'd make it. You aren't that much of a loser," she said, sitting down at his bedside. "You scared everyone else though. Robin practically needed tranquilizers."

Wally nodded, trying not to feel guiltier. "I'm fine. A sponge bath might help me be more fine," he tried. "And remember, if you hit me, you might literally kill me." Okay, jokes were a good sign.

Artemis smiled. "Don't tempt me," she said, leaving to his imagination if the sponge bath or the homicide was the allure. "I just might." He hoped it was the bath. He would definitely enjoy that.

"Where's Supey and Fish Boy?" Wally asked, leaning back as he enjoyed his little harem of pretty girls to nurse him back to health. He could get used to this, once those stupid machines stopped beeping angrily if he attempted to move.

"Poor Aqualad, he's really broken up over this. I just told him you're okay, he's in Atlantis for the night," Miss Martian said with a sad look. "You need to tell Kaldur it wasn't his fault. He is so sad. He wanted to help you. Superboy went with him. "

Wally's eyes widened. "Okay, what happened?" he asked, not liking what he heard. "Why would he think it was his fault?" Nabu had nothing to do with him. He had been fine, and he had no way to tell them so.

"Because it is," Dick said, walking inside. "He's the leader and he let one of us fall. He has to pay." He had fully suited up and was looking very formal. "Actually, he stepped down. Or rather walked down."

"You mean, you pushed him down," Artemis mumbled angrily. "You practically accused him of killing Wally and demanded he be sent to the chopping block."

Wally winced. "What did you do?" he asked, wondering if he could use magic to fix this situation. He knew Robin had a temper but he didn't think one night of stress would have him go mental on Aqualad. "Rob…we talked about this. Snark management, twelve step program?" he urged.

Dick shrugged and for a second, Wally saw it. Behind the Robin mask was Dick Grayson, a guy who had seen his parents die before his horrified eyes, and had seen his foster father's spine nearly broken in half. He did not deal with the loss of loved ones well and for some reason, Wally was included. He could only imagine how nasty his best friend could get. "How are you feeling?" he said, side stepping the question. Great, he was out for a few hours and the team was falling apart. "Because if you're up to it, Batman wants to draw more blood."

"I'm starting to think of you as vampire bats," Wally muttered, wondering if the magic would show up in his blood. "I'm fine. Let's focus on our missions; I used the speed force wrong. I don't need the full invalid treatment here. We have bigger problems, like you throwing our leader under the batmobile."

"I'll tell him to come home," Miss Martian supplied helpfully, and Wally was too worried to even notice her fine curves.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Artemis asked, as Uncle Barry appeared back at their side. "We could use you in Bialya, even as ground support."

"Well, if you're going to beg me, of course. I'm not one to refuse a pretty face," he said, and didn't flinch when Artemis stopped her punch inches from his nose. "Or a fellow hero."

"Only if your bloodwork is good," Dick said, but a smile had lit the corners of his face. He was starting to believe him. "Don't want to have to carry your sorry ass back after another fail." In Robin speak, he was worried about him.

Wally knew better than to argue. He had a feeling nothing he would say would matter, besides telling the truth and with his team there, he was trapped.

Are you planning to tell your friends the truth? I would be careful. No, he had no intention of sharing his secret, even to the two people who knew nearly everything about him. They had their secrets and he had his.

"We can still plan for our trip to Bialya. Tell us what you know," Wally said, changing the topic. He was actually excited to take his powers out into the field. If he could avoid Dick's gaze, he might even have some fun. "We still have bad guys to slay."

"Once you're back to normal," Uncle Barry reminded and Wally lied once more, nodding his head. He was getting really good at this. "There are some dangerous things out there."

"Tell me more," Wally said, folding his arms. "After all, I didn't nearly lose myself to the speed force just to let bad guys get a free pass."

Five hours later, the blood work came back, Wally was cleared for duty and the team was reuinited and going on mission. Wally ignored the looks of concern. He had the spell for flight, super strength, and energy blasts all ready. He was more useful to the team, he was right to hide this from them. With his powers, he would save their lives when they inevitably got in over their heads. Once that happened, he would confess all and the gratitude would mitigate the butt kicking for lying. All the ladies would throw themselves at him. He had it all planned out.

Are you prepared for your first day as my sorcerer supreme? Now, you will taste true power.

Bring it on. He was ready.

AN-I sorta feel bad for Wally. He so wants to be sorcerer supreme and he so wants to be honest with his friends. Tough choice.

Next chapter-The Sorcerer Supreme is unleashed and Wally finds out a terrible secret, something that makes he debate crossing the line.