Warning: A Little Language; Some Graphic Images . . .


Training that next day included Superman who dropped by to observe, and Batman who stuck around for similar reasons. Batman didn't completely trust that the Team wouldn't include more unauthorized testing in their sparring exercise.

So far, Robin had been able to heal past and present wounds, but the laser that they had confiscated from the lab wasn't revealing its secrets yet, and they had yet to find any information concerning it. Miss Martian had sworn that none of the lab techs or security present knew anything about a machine that granted the healing factor. Until he discovered all there was to know about this laser and its research, Batman wouldn't feel comfortable allowing Robin to increase the level of his training to include the kind of damage that Superboy could withstand.

"Robin and Aqualad," Black Canary called out. "Superboy and Kid Flash."

The two sets squared off with their opponents and in moments were engaged in battle. Robin laughed as he flipped around the young Atlantian; Aqualad's frustration grew when his attempts to engage the boy were thwarted time and again.

Batman pursed his lips in thought.

"Has he gotten faster?" Clark murmured.

Batman nodded. "They said that his reflexes had improved. It would appear that observation was accurate."

"So the laser improved his reflexes along with his capacity to heal?"

"Robin doesn't believe that is so," he told the Kryptonian. "He said he believed he was always capable of being this quick, if he had only felt this good before."

"Felt this good? What exactly does that mean?" Clark glanced at his friend.

"Muscles aches, joint pain, the usual soreness that comes after a battle or rigorous training disallowed Robin to fully utilize his potential," Batman offered as way of explanation.

Superman blinked. "You sounded just like a computer right then, Bruce."

"No names," Batman glared at him.

Sighing, Superman crossed his arms. "So, Robin has been working himself too hard?"

"He said he hadn't realized he wasn't feeling the aster until now. This super-healing factor has revealed to him that what he believed was his norm was just another level of his body healing slowly."

Superman smirked at the term 'aster'. The boy had been driving everyone up the wall lately with his decimation of the English language. The journalist in him still cringed, however.

Clark glanced at the Bat beside him. "You aren't taking this so well," he observed. "One would think that you would worry about the boy less rather than more since he is now able to heal any hurt."

"We don't know if the effects are permanent or not, Clark," he admitted. "I cannot help but worry that one day he will blithely expose himself needlessly to danger, take a lethal hit, and the ability will have deserted him. We don't even know the extent of his healing ability. I don't want Robin to take this healing factor for granted."

"I thought Kid Flash and Aqualad said he pulled a Lazarus the other night?"

Batman grimaced. "I have my doubts about that. It was more likely that what they assumed was death was just a form of deep coma brought on by his head injury; mimicking death."

"Either way," Superman shrugged. "What they described was still impressive."

Batman grunted. He couldn't bring himself take Robin's injuries so lightly. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Kid Flash was zipping around Superboy, laughing. The young clone was getting angrier by the moment. Superman's presence was ramping the boy's emotions up. It was obvious that Conner wanted his mentor's approval, and Kid Flash's antics were making him look bad at the worst time. Clark needed to take the boy in hand. This occasional dropping by just to ignore the teen was doing more harm than good.

Suddenly Superboy's arm shot out at just the right moment and Kid Flash ran into it at super speed; the clone's limb clotheslining the smaller teen across the chest. The sound of unforgiving steel meeting the give of flesh was loud inside the cave. The corresponding crack indicated multiple breaks along Kid Flash's ribs and sternum, and was followed up with another resounding crack as he slammed into the floor.

Even with the speedster's accelerated metabolism, this was a devastating injury.

Everything stopped as heads swung around in shock. Conner eyes were huge as he gaped down at Wally's supine figure. The younger teen wasn't moving; wasn't even groaning. The pause had only been for a few seconds before reactions abounded. Conner fell to his knees beside his fallen teammate; his expression one of horror. Artemis and M'gann screamed and ran from the sidelines. Robin and Kaldur stumbled over from where they had been sparring.

Black Canary and Superman shoved through the surrounding teens in order to get at the injured boy. Superman stood over him frozen for a moment as he scanned the boy for breaks and internal injuries, but it was obvious for anyone to see by the indention in the boy's chest that he was in serious trouble.

He frowned. "His chest is completely crushed," he whispered. "I'm seeing massive internal bleeding from bone fragments embedded in his heart and lungs. My God," The Kryptonian slowly lowered himself beside Wally. "He's dying!"

"Someone contact the League," Canary ordered. "Tell them Flash was needed here ten minutes ago!"

Batman laid a hand on Clark's shoulder. "We should move him to the medical bay," he murmured. "Are you sure there isn't anything we can do? Emergency surgery . . . Something?"

"He'd never make it that far," Superman said simply.

"I-I didn't mean it!" Conner cried out. "I didn't mean it! I wasn't trying to hit him! I didn't mean for this to happen . . . I was only trying to catch him," he said; his voice fading to a whisper.

Batman swung his gaze from one traumatized boy to another. Wally was Robin's best friend. This wasn't even battle! He was going to lose his friend to naught but a mistake; a tragic accident that happened right here in the relative safety of the mountain. As he watched, one tear and then another seeped out from beneath his son's mask to escape and roll down the boy's face.

"Is there nothing we can do?" Artemis yelled at them. "We can't just sit here and watch him die!"

Considering the amount of antagonism that went on between the archer and the speedster, the depth of her upset might have been surprising, but it appeared that the snide remarks and jokes at the other's expense were merely masking the couple's growing affections. The young blonde turned suddenly into the arms of M'gann, as she collapsed in an emotional breakdown.

"I yelled at him," Artemis said, weeping. "The last thing I did was yell at him . . ."

"Flash. 04"

"What's going on," Flash asked as he zipped over to the huddled group. "Why was I . . . Oh . . . No." He skidded to a halt.

Black Canary stepped out of his way. She put her hand on Conner's shoulder, but the clone shrugged her off. Superman stepped back and allowed Flash to take his spot beside the fallen teen.

"Kid?" Barry's voice cracked as he finally got more than a glimpse of his nephew. "Oh, no! Come on, Wally," he begged. "Don't do this! What happened? Why isn't anyone helping him?"

"I'm sorry, Flash. I'm so sorry. There's nothing we can do," Superman told him. "His injuries are too severe."

"All he needs is a chance to heal . . . He can do this if he's given half a chance!" Flash bowed his head. "What am I going to tell Iris? What am I going to tell his parents?"

"The bones in his chest are crushed, Barry," Superman explained softly. "They're preventing him from being able to heal. He's bleeding out too quickly, even with his metabolism, for him to recover. I'm sorry."

Robin's hand snaked out to take Wally's hand in his. Since standing here Batman had yet to see Wally take a breath. Blood began seeping from the boy's mouth as they watched; the red color contrasting greatly with the blue of his lips.

"No," Robin finally spoke, but it was the whine of a child who had already lost too much too often. "No. Wally, don't go! Please, don't go!"

After a second, Robin gasped; his free hand coming up to clutch at his chest. He coughed, and blood sprayed from his mouth.

"Robin?" Batman was around the group and at his son's side in seconds. He dropped to his knees. "What's happening? Talk to me."

Robin shook his head, unable to speak. He suddenly bent over double; a shaking moan finally escaping his lips.

"What the hell? Kid?" Flash's gasp, drew Batman's head around.

As they watched, the depression in Wally's chest plumped up as the air was filled with crackling sounds. Wally's body abruptly twisted and he gasped for air. He arched his back and turned his head, obviously in pain.

"My God," Superman gasped next. "He's healing! Did he get hit by that laser also?"

"No. No, he didn't," Batman said, swinging back around to his son. "Robin, stop!" Batman ordered. "Robin, he's going to make it! Stop whatever you're doing!"

Everyone's eyes swiveled to where Robin had collapsed into Batman's arms. As he was lowered onto the floor, mouths dropped open as the boy's chest was revealed, as dented as Wally's had just been.

"Kid Flash's injuries! Those are Kid Flash's injuries!" Superman exclaimed. "How is he doing this?"

"Robin, you have to Stop. Right. Now!" Batman commanded.

"Wally?" Flash yelled as he leaned over his nephew. "Wally, can you hear me?"

Robin's hand continued to grip that of his friend's as he writhed on the floor in agony. Batman physically pulled his son's hand from Wally's, but even as the older teen's eyes fluttered open, Robin's fluttered closed; a single, pained sigh easing from blue-tinged lips.

"Robin? Robin?" Batman called him, but the boy didn't answer. Blood began to seep from his mouth. "No."

"Ugh! What happened?" Kid Flash sat up. His eyes widened as he looked at his side to see his best friend breathe his last breath.

"Rob?"


REACTIONS?

Honestly, I'm really kind of surprised that accidents like this hadn't happened before, what with Superboy's strength and anger management issues . . .