AN: Italics=past/memory

Cujo strolled happily towards the forest, then he smelled THEM. Cujo halted and let out a whimper until he caught Danny's scent with THEIRS. Cujo growled and transformed. He didn't care if he lost the teens he had just met, because his master was in trouble. Cujo raced through the forest. He had to protect Phantom. As a guard dog it was ingrained into him to, well, guard. And Cujo had easily chosen Danny. However, Cujo paused when he came upon the scene.

I held Cujo behind my back ready to turn him invisible if they looked any harder for him. "Where is the green monster?" one of them screamed. I could feel Cujo shaking in my hands, but he didn't let out a single whimper. I growled as I took a step back. Cujo leaned into me and I let out a sigh. This wasn't going to end well.

"Leave my dog alone!" I shouted back. They started laughing. Oh crap, I missed something. I had gotten careless, or clueless as my friends used to say, again. They stepped closer but I backed up more, aware of the trees that I was bound to bump into soon. One of the men pulled out a gun, but it was different from the usual ones they liked to use around me.

"That's not your dog punk, it's that freaky green titan. So, you should do yourself a favor and hand him over. Don't be stupid and try to play hero. Just do what you're told and you won't get hurt," Agent K instructed. I glared but brought Beast Boy in front of me. How did I so stupidly miss the fact that this wasn't Cujo? I felt like slamming my head against a table. This means my collar is now going to be garbage, because I couldn't let another mistake like this happen.

Beast Boy started whimpering and pushing into me and I covered him with my arms as I realized they had all their weapons trained on him. Then my eyes widened in shock, as I realized why he hasn't transformed. He can't. Again I felt like hitting myself as I realized I had made the collar a little too well. I let out a puff of air and kneeled onto the ground.

I placed Beast Boy on the floor and he stared at me with these broken looking eyes. I released a sigh. I thought about pulling off the collar when Agent O yelled at me to get away from him. "You know Beast Boy can transform into anything he wants as many times as he wants to destroy you guys, right?" I called, making sure that the collar heard the hidden order. The agents just laughed, while Beast Boy looked at me quizzically. No one noticed the collar change from green to black.

I pulled the hood closer to my face. I couldn't let them see my face clearly or this situation could go from bad to worse. I really hope the Teen Titans arrive quickly. One of the agents aimed at Beast Boy and the sound of the engine starting to whine hit my ears.

The gun whined and then energy burned through the air as it encased a hidden bullet. The projectile hit home on the girl and her scream echoed through the room. Ectoplasm leaked out of her and onto the floor. Desiree panted as she tried to stay awake. "Come on you useless freak, why don't you help us figure out how to destroy this piece of scum," Agent B stated.

"NO!" I shouted. Tears were running down her cheeks, but she hadn't looked up once. I pulled against the chains that kept me next to the agent. "Leave her alone! Stop hurting her!" I screamed pulling against the restraints trying to get to Desiree's side. She was still looking down as the agent let the gun start up again. Agent B smirked as he stared at me, watching as tears ran down my cheek uncontrollably, enjoying every bit of my torture. He aimed at where her core should be.

Agent B yanked on the chains to grab my attention. "Watch, Freak, as I end this creature's no good excuse of an afterlife," He sneered. I started shaking as dread filled my body. I didn't know what to do. I strained against the chains some more trying to escape, to at least help someone. The engine whined again.

"I wish she won't get hurt, I wish Desiree won't get hurt, I wish they won't hurt her," I started chanting as tears poured down my face. I was pulling hard against the chains, but nothing was giving. Then a shot was fired and echoed through the room. Then a sound seemed to roar in my ears. It couldn't have though, it must have been quite soft in the white room. Thump!

Beast Boy stared at the boy. He had gotten comfortable around him, to be honest. It was the way the boy acted, Beast Boy guessed that that made him feel so safe with Danny. His need to protect Danny though was probably from being a dog for so long. Danny had spoken in two different tones. It was confusing because he could hardly tell, but something felt different about him. Then Beast Boy figured it out as he thought about what the kid said.

He knew the boy had given him the collar and after receiving it he couldn't transform. So, the boy stating he could transform meant he really could now. Maybe. Beast Boy thought of becoming a giant dinosaur and was happy when he became one. Then, though, a giant green dog burst in leading the rest of his team.

I had come to the wrong conclusion. I rubbed the back of my neck as Cujo ran towards me. My mind was wandering back to the project I got from Selena. I needed to use the suit before I left, because something about the Teen Titans was getting me stuck in Jump. I stared at Robin as he swung his bo-staff around knocking agents out. I winced and backed up a step as I remembered mom doing that when Vlad tried to kidnap us.

Cyborg and Starfire were just blasting away with energy while Raven levitated rocks and sticks that she would fling at them. Beast Boy just knocked them over or pushed them towards one of his teammates. Cujo was just standing in front of me, protecting me. "Cujo, shrink!" I shouted as a shot from one of the agents was headed our way. Cujo followed orders and I grabbed him in my arms and hoped I shielded him in time.

I didn't. Cujo whimpered. He had been hit, but it was only a scratch on his tail. I ran as tears fell from my eyes. "I had to be the hero. Next time I won't. I'll only protect family. Playing hero only causes pain," I whispered as I hugged Cujo tighter against my body. I didn't stop running until I reached… home.

Robin looked at the screen. Was he wrong? 238 Graysons in California alone. 34 Graysons were listed as being in Jump City. How many could have changed their names or were moving. His easiest guess, was that it was all based on emotions. Was his conclusion wrong?

Beast Boy placed the collar gently on the highest shelf in his closet. Cyborg spent a few hours getting it off, but Beast Boy couldn't bring himself to care. Because at the conclusion of the day, Beast Boy knew he made a new friend that he would hold close. Beast Boy silently closed the door, never noticing the collar turn white.

AN: Hi!

Dear Guest of Honor, what in the world were you thinking. How could you ask me to update my other stories and not this on? You should personally thank what ever possessed you into reviewing me that because I LOVED it! That is why Once Guarded has been updated and I plan to work on Corruption Jinxed next!

Ahk I have to GO! I had a longer AN before but the computer turned evil on me so I'll make it up on the next chapter... along with tell you the joke or pun or whatever that I had on the tittle of these two (part) chapters!

BYE! AND... ENJOY! :D