Joan's parents had left in part to make sure the cellar could be used as a safehouse room for any Young Justice members and in part to sleep after the day. Because it late, Joan's parents had decided to let Nightwing stay in Joan's room along with Tim and Henry. Joan would get Henry's room. Joan sighed with the idea as her brothers bed was squishier that hers, but she wouldn't complain. For now, her parents had ignored the fact that she had lied to them for the day. She chuckled to herself. She could remember before the Reach that she lied to her parents all the time. Small lies, but regardless, since the Reach came something had settled over the family that improved the overall integrity. Truth was now sacred and obedience was treasured.

Joan looked out the window her brother had. It was smaller than hers and on the other side of the house so she could see no moon unless she craned her neck against the glass. Now she saw the fields outside her house which she used to ride her horse in. Now there were tomatoes everywhere. On the other side of the farm were the chicken coops which contained thousands and thousands of chickens. Joan was happy they had not gotten the chicken houses. She overheard from the others that the smell was awful.

Joan remembered the horse she had. It had been a roan mare that had been with her since she had been ten. It had been a surprise birthday present that had made Joan squealed. She had never been much for squealing, but the reaction had pleased her parents all the more.

"I really should do something for them. Something nice..." Joan whispered to herself.

Suddenly, a tapping from the door disrupted Joan from her thoughts. She stood up quickly, startled. She opened the door to see Nightwing there, leaning heavily on the doorway. Her eyes widened. He had difficulty sitting up a few hours ago, now he was standing. She had to hand to him. Nightwing was determined, if nothing else.

"I don't mean to disturb you if you were sleeping..." He wore a slightly guilty expression upon his face.

"It's fine. I have always been a bit of a night owl." Joan rarely slept in fact. Six hours was more than enough for her which had been a huge advantage to her in high school. Her peers would come to school sleep deprived and she was chattering like a squirrel by eight in the morning. Back when there had been school... Joan hoped the few friends she had were okay.

"I've been meaning to ask you something since this morning. I was wondering how to say it or bring it up but I haven't been sure how. So I think I'm just going to say it."

Joan smiled slightly with sympathy on his face. She could practically feel the awkwardness of the words that he wanted to say. Joan gestured over to the bed where she sat down. Nightwing sat down at the foot of the bed next to her.

"I wanted to know how interested you might be in joining Young Justice."

Joan stared at the man on the bed. She had wanted to join the team since she first heard the rumors from the workers at the farm. She looked out the window, trying to think, deciding, looking anywhere but Nightwing's eyes. "What about my family?"

"Your parents are setting up the safehouse so if you are ever sent on a mission in the area, then you could them and Henry. Your brother has also agreed to be a spy on the Reach giving us information about how they work. Don't worry," he calmed her seeing her eyes widen. "He won't be in any real danger."

Joan sat back, leaning against the headboard of Henry's bed. She spent a moment remembering the past. Before, her brother had several posters of members of the Justice League. He would dream about being one of them, standing with them. For Joan, she wanted to run. It was what she loved and she had the potential. She figured that if she went to college, she would get a business degree simply to have a degree to fall back upon if running never worked. Now, though, at least since the Reach came, she wanted to do nothing but have them gone. She would have done anything to get them out if she had had a reasonable chance. Now here was one, something that she would excel at.

But then again...

"The Reach would notice my absence before the night ended. Then my family would be questioned, none too nicely. If I was on my own, no one else knew about this, then I would go in a heartbeat. The Reach would know they knew nothing. But they do. They would be sent away, and no one knows what happens when someone is sent away..."

Nightwing nodded, understanding her dilemma. "We could create a cover if you want. It would keep your parents out of it and involve only you."

Joan cocked her head. "What's the idea?"

"How much do you know about being sent away?"

Joan stared at Nightwing in shock. She expected something along the lines of disappearing, but this was unexpected. Away was a hellish place that no one would go. Only those who were truly at death's door would come back from away. She wondered how she would be sent away. There were a number of ways, faking illness, attacking a Reach official,. However, the latter could result in immediate execution.

Joan responded slowly and hesitantly, trying to articulate her caution. "I have no idea where away is, only that few return from there. Those are the workers that are truly sick. They never talk about it, and few even think they have remember being sent away."

"Alright. Tomorrow, then, can you,Tim, and your family try to find out about away? I understand there will be risks, but it might be the only way to make sure that everything will turn out and I won't have failed my mission."

"What do you mean, save your failed mission?" Joan saw the pain in Nightwing's eyes.

It was Nightwing's turn to sound hesitant and unwillingly to speak. "When I came to your house, I had barely escaped the Reach. I was investigating a facility where we had intel that some of our own was being held, specifically my best friend, Kid Flash. Hopefully, one day, you'll get the chance to meet him."

Joan smiled. She could see Nightwing's eyes light up at the mention of his friend's name. She understood the countless memories that lay inside his mind, something she had never truly had though she longed for them. "I hope I do to. He sounds amazing."

"His fiance thinks so too. She would have come herself if everyone hadn't managed to convince her otherwise."

"He's engaged?"

"For about five months now. He was going to ask her a couple years ago, but the Reach took over. After that, we've been running so many missions, he never got the chance to ask. Now, they're just waiting for a lull in life to have the chance to go through the ceremony." Nightwing laughed. "It's not easy to get married when you're fighting the Reach at every turn."

Joan grinned. "If they love each other enough, then they will find a way." Nightwing sighed. Joan noticed right away. It wasn't a sigh of contentment."What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Nightwing," Joan looked behind his mask. Slowly, she removed it so she could gaze into his blue eyes. She smiled gently, hoping he could tell her what she knew was bothering him. "I can tell it's not nothing... You can trust me."

Nightwing paused, then took back his mask. "You never answered my question. Do you think your family could ask around. I'm afraid I will still have to stay here. I barely made it across the hall."

Joan sighed, feeling slight hurt at Nightwing's inability of trusting her. She knew is was eating at him, but she also knew he would never show it. That was who he was. Someone who would give everything up for what he believes in, regardless of what it puts him through. "I think we can. It will be hard to start a conversation, let alone steering the direction towards to the Reach, however I think it will be possible."

Nightwing stood up slowly, wincing at his injuries. His body had grown stiff sitting there. He began to make his way to the door. Joan stood up to help him, but he shrugged her off. "Tomorrow then. We'll gather information tomorrow and set up your going away. Good luck and good night, Joan."

Joan felt her heart sank a little bit as he left and she whispered with only her hearing it, "Good night, Nightwing."