A/N: Sorry it took so long. Shit happens.
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I DON'T OWN YJ!
It was days after the team had faced the Joker, and the four newest members hadn't been seen since Nightwing had told the team of their history with the Joker. There were no stories on the news about the heroes stopping a crime, in or out of Blüdenhaven. The team was starting to worry about the brothers.
The whole team was sitting in the TV room, watching movies. It wasn't their official movie night, but no body had anything better to do.
As a movie ended, Kaldar spoke. "Has anyone heard from Nightwing, Red Hood, Red X, or Renegade?" Everyone answered negatively.
"I hope they're all ok," Megan worried.
"They're fine," Artemis reassured the Martian.
"We are," a voice said from the kitchen, "But our brothers need help."
The team quickly spun around to see Red X and Renegade in civil clothing.
"Your eyes," Wally exclaimed, easily distracted. But it was to be expected, seeing as the brothers had nothing covering their eyes. From where they were sitting, the team could clearly see Red X's and Renegade's brown eyes.
"O shut up," Renegade snapped. "It's contacts. Now get over it, quick. Our brothers need help."
"What's wrong?" Roy asked while the whole team stood up to follow the partners.
"Nightwing and Red Hood. They're sick," Red X informed the team while walking to the Zeta tubes. "Really sick. They have been for days, and they aren't getting any better. And all of you don't have to come."
Roy, Kaldar, Wally, Artemis, Megan, and Connor followed the worried brothers to Blüdenhaven, to one of the worst parts if the city. They rushed up to a small apartment. Either the lock was broken, or the brothers had left it unlocked, because a light push in the door was all it took to open the door.
The team looked around the room, bunched close together. Everyone's first thought was on how small it was. Due to the lack of room, it didn't take long to notice the two sick boys. Nightwing was laying on the couch, tossing and turning in an uneasy sleep. Red Hood was on the recliner nearby.
"I told you we don't need help," Red Hood's voice was hoarse; his eyes, bloodshot.
"We do," Red X said. "You've been sick for days. And Nightwing hasn't woken up for three days."
"What?" the team exclaimed.
A knock sounded on the door. "Hide," Renegade ordered while slowly walking towards the door. Some of the young heroes hid in the bedroom, while others quickly made an exit to the roof via the open window.
Everyone listened as Renegade and Red X opened the door, letting a man in with a quiet greeting.
"Hey, Drake, Jack" the man said, "How are your brothers doing?"
"Not much better, Bill," Red X, or Jack, informed the older man. "Pete is awake and lucid, but John still hasn't woken up." Bill nodded grimly as he walked over to Pete.
Kneeling on the side of the chair, Bill shook the red head lightly to get his attention. "Hey, Pete. How do you feel?" Bill asked.
"Not to good, boss," Pete answered, "Not to good at all."
"I know, kid. But it will get better." Bill passed Pete by to go to John's side. Bill kneeled by his head and gently brushed John's hair back, feeling the heat on the forehead.
"He's getting thinner," Bill observed. "He's usually thin, but this is worse then normal."
"He's been asleep for days," Drake reminded the older man. "We have been able to get some soup and water in him, but not much and not as often as he needs."
"I still don't get why you don't bring these two to the hospital," Bill said.
"No hospital," Pete injected.
"We don't have the money for it," Jack answered. "Plus, none of us like hospitals. Too many trips. Too many bad memories.'
Bill sighed. "I really wish I could help you all some more."
"You help plenty, boss," Pete argued, "We would still be on the streets with the same crappy situation as before if it wasn't for you."
Bill smiled lightly. "You're good kids." The oldest man checked his watch. "I have to go, guys," he told his workers. "I was in the neighborhood and figured I'd drop in."
Jack and Drake thanked their boss as the older man left. They gave a sigh of relief as the door closed. Turning around, they saw their teammates re-entering the room. "Who was that?" Wally asked.
"Our boss," Renegade informed the older boys.
The team was silent as they watched Red X care for his sick brothers; giving Red Hood water, and putting a cool cloth on Nightwing's head.
"Are you just going to sit there, or are you going to help us?" Red X asked suddenly.
"What do you need help with?" Kaldar asked.
"We're taking them to the cave," Renegade said. "They need help, which we don't have access to here. What we need is in the cave."
The team was silent as Roy walked over to Nightwing and picked him up. Connor walked over to Red Hood, who refused to be picked up. Red X walked over to the chair and started whispering to Red Hood. "It's okay," he reassured the red head. Red X realized that the moment of lucidity was leaving his brother. The older was once again slipping into the feverish hallucinations that had been plaguing him for the past few days. "It's just Connor. Superboy, remember him."
"The clone?" Red Hood asked, not waiting for an answer before continuing. "Daddy dearest doesn't love him. Just like out daddy dearest."
The team looked questioningly at Red X, who ignored them and continued talking to Red Hood. "They made up. They're on much better terms now."
Red Hood mumbled before closing his eyes and falling asleep. Gently, Connor picked the sick boy up. Once again, Renegade and Red X led the heroes to the Zeta tube.
"Why is no one stopping us?" Megan asked. At the confused looks from her teammates, she explained. "We are walking on the streets two carrying unconscious bodies. Not one person has given us a second look."
"They know it's safer to mind their own business," Renegade told the Martian. "If you get in someone's way in this city, your body will be the next one their carrying."
After this, the team walked in silence. They quickly went to the infirmary to help their teammates.
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