Wally POV

After our performance we were escorted back to the Green Room. Much to everyone's demise, Jack was there waiting for us to file in. When Artemis saw him she stopped in her tracks, shoulders tense. She always slightly tensed up whenever he was in the room, but she never stopped complete seized up with an angry stare. Something happened in the half hour we last saw the man with an overly expensive watch.

Everyone trickled into the room all taking some note of Artemis' stance. I walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder to turn her attention away from Jack. It worked only for a moment until Jack cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. I let my hand drop.

"Great performance today everyone. You have the rest of the day off and half of tomorrow before we head out to Metropolis," Jack informed everyone as the ending of Cat Grant's talk show showed on the TV behind him. "I called a town car with your usual driver here in Gotham and he is waiting outside. I will see you all later," Jack continued through the tense atmosphere that Artemis had created.

"Thank you," Kaldur replied, always stepping up to be the polite one no matter what the circumstance is. "We will have our phones on and at the reading in case anyone calls with an emergency."

"Good," Jack nodded before walking out. Once the door was closed everyone turned to Artemis ready for an explanation of her previous actions.

"What the hell was all that about?" I addressed the elephant in the room first.

"What are you talking about?" She was playing a tiring game and we all knew it. I raised my left eyebrow in disbelief and crossed my arms in a firm manner. For once that was all it took to make her drop the game and get down to business.

Sighing she ran a hand through her perfectly styled hair making the curls at the end slightly frizzy. "I'm next," was all she said.

I dropped my arms to my side in disbelief, M'gann gasped in horror, Conner became defensive, Kaldur was taken aback, and Robin unnoticeably to everyone else clenched his jaw. We all knew that it was going to happen; no one fathomed it would happen so soon.

"You don't know that," I tried to argue against the fact.

"Every victim is a blonde blue eyed girl that is on the rise to fame that just so happens to have Jack as a freaking manager," Artemis replied voice rising with each point. She was just as scared as we were. We have gone undercover to take down conmen, drug dealers, and smugglers. But murders? No, that was for the League. Rapists? No, just too plain dangerous for teenagers. And there we were scared out of our wits for the Harpy's safety. We have fought murderers and rapists, but putting one of our own out there as bait was shaking everyone to the core.

Artemis had a slight tremor in her hands that she tried to conceal by crossing her arms.

"I saw May today," Artemis changed the subject. She gave a short smile that looked to be a grimace. "She bleached her hair and had colored contacts. Without the contacts she fits the profile of every victim. That guy has a weird obsession."

"No kidding," Conner grumbled under his breath still tense from the thought of anything happening to Artemis. The two became something like siblings over the months. Apparently they bonded over static and "The Big Bang Theory", something about teaching him to have a sense of humor.

"Let's not keep Agent A waiting any longer," Dick said trying to change the subject to something more enlightening; it was much appreciated by us all.

We all filed out of the Green Room once again and out of the studio with the direction of employees. Once outside I was blinded by the Spring sun and shielded my eyes against it looking for an expensive car. The least expensive car that Bruce owned was a Mercedes, and don't get me started on the most expensive and in-between cars.

A nice breeze washed over us making Artemis to my right give a slight shiver. She was only wearing a sleeveless green blouse that was see through, what did M'gann call it, chiffon, and a green, I think they said bandeau, underneath. Her black skinny jeans were the only thing that provided some warmth in the breeze. Her outfit, makeup, shivering, and un-Artemis demeanor made her seem real, fragile, breakable. I hated every minute of it, yet I loved it too. How could she let her guard down at a time like this, a part of me thought. The other part thought, at least she is starting to trust us with who she really is now.

The shuffling of feet on pavement and the opening of a car door snapped me from my reverie. Soon I too followed my friends into the car hearing the distinct piercing sound of her heels slowly approach the car behind me.

Artemis POV

Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. In. Out. In. Out. In, out. In, out, in, out, inoutinoutinout. Stop! Close your eyes and control yourself. This was the only thing going through my mind the entire car ride.

I could feel heavy eyes on me. Wally. He was sitting next to me while Kaldur sat near the other window, Conner and M'gann sat in the way back, and Robin up front. The little thirteen year old was allowed to sit up front despite being the youngest and smallest. That didn't peeve me as much as it would any other day.

I finally couldn't bare his stare anymore so I snapped my eyes open looking at him throwing out a harsh, "what?"

He wasn't taken aback by my snappish tone but asked if I was "okay" in a concerned, soft tone. When did we get like this? Soft and caring instead of harsh and snappish.

I found myself unable to lie to him or the rest of the team listening in on our conversation.

"No," I found myself saying. The first time I admitted defeat to them. I leaned my head on the car window; I could feel it vibrate under me. That was when the stupidest idea ever hit me.

"Drop me off and Journey and 6th," I told Agent A. This caught the curiosity and worry of them all, and I pretended I didn't care. I couldn't care, not when I was about to walk into my past.

"Of course," Agent A responded in a distinct British accent.

"Artemis, what are you doing?" Wally asked cautiously leaning down to try and look my in the eye as I turned my attention once again to the window and the streaks of colors flashing by.

"Something that I should have done a while ago," I replied lazily as if it was only about something as trivial as shopping.

One minute. One minute was all it took for the light bulb in his brain to go off. He didn't know exactly what, but the more he thought the more he realized just how stupid and dangerous it could possibly be.

"No," was all he said as he shook his head.

"Wally, it's -" I tried.

"Dangerous and stupid. No. No, I-WE won't let you," Wally adjusted himself against the seat as he sat facing forward like he already won the battle.

"Wally you don't even know what I'm doing. For all you know I could be playing hooky," I snapped back. We were falling into our old rhythm, but this time we all knew that the stakes were higher.

"Playing hooky on your day off?" Wally scoffed. He turned to look at me ready for triumph, angry, and waiting for an answer.

"Or maybe I just want to get away from you," I yelled back as I watched him slump in hurt. "Maybe I want to get away from all of you," I looked around the car at the pained looks. "Just because I'm next doesn't change anything. I am not a damn porcelain doll so stop acting like I am." The cursed hurt on their face made me stop only for me to stupidly start again, "Maybe I shouldn't have told you guys that I'm next."

I rubbed my fingers across my forehead looking down. I couldn't bare to see the look on their faces. I could feel the hot stinging or tears coming and I just couldn't cry in front of them. Not here, and definitely not now. I looked out the window. We were close, about two blocks away.

"Let me off here," I told Agent A still keeping my eyes on the world outside the SUV.

"We are only a few blocks away, Miss," he insisted.

"I can manage," I replied coldly. He complied by pulling over. I tore my gaze from the grimy, suburban street and reached over to unclick my seatbelt. Wally's hand came over mine in a desperate plea to stay. His hands were rough, warm, and inviting, but I refused to give in. I looked right at him and pushed the red button releasing my constraint. The seatbelt slid back and I weaved my right arm out from behind it. "Please," he mouthed as one last attempt. I turned away, opened the door and stepped down from the car. I slammed the door behind me without looking. I turned left and walked.

I had somewhere to be. I had someone to see.

A/N: Sorry for being MIA for so long. School and swim and the need for sleep have been consuming me. I will definitely try harder to make more time. Thanks for sticking around! Love to all! ~dancingintherain