And here we have another chapter. I struggled a lot more with this than I thought I would. I think conveying what I was thinking to writing, was damn hard. Anyway, thanks to my lovely reviewers, but I shan't hold you up, let's begin!

Chapter 12

Cosmic Boy wasn't hard to find. He was in the training room, as Superman had figured he would, no doubt trying to become more prepared for a future Scavenger attack.

'Cosmic Boy, we need to talk,' said Superman, landing at the edge of the training area, eyes focused on the other boy.

Cosmic Boy, who was currently floating, looked down at Superman, slight frown on his face.

"Does it have to be now. I want to prepare, incase those few remaining Scavengers regroup and try to attack again"

"And that's why it has to be now," said Superman, stepping into the area, eyes never leaving Cosmic Boy's. "You're already becoming over consumed with plans and strategies."

"It's strategies that lead us to victory," said Cosmic Boy, voice betraying no emotion "We got very lucky those three days ago. Just charging in like that..."

"When your friends are in danger, you just screw planning!" yelled Superman, springing into the air, colliding with Cosmic Boy.

Cosmic Boy's eyes widened briefly before he went on the defence. Using his powers to pull part of the metal wall a way, he hovered it in front of himself, to act as a shield.

"A plan would have given us a better chance of capturing all the Scavenger's, to prevent anything like this happening again!" countered Cosmic Boy furiously.

"A plan would have taken time to make, time we did not have," said Superman, smashing through the metal. "Brainy had already been there a week! He could have already been dead and you were willing to waste more time?"

Something briefly flickered through Cosmic Boy's eyes before the stoic and determined mask was in place. He carefully but quickly continued to dodge Superman's punches.

"I was leading, I had to do what I thought would make us victorious."

A crack echoed in the room as Superman's fist connected with Cosmic Boy's cheek, sending him flying into the wall. Superman stayed in the same spot, fists now clenched at his sides.

"A victory? Was that all the mission meant to you? Another success against the evil forces of the world? Brainy's life was in danger!"

Suddenly, a huge piece of metal was flung as Superman, Cosmic Boy guiding it. Jaw set tight with blood oozing out the side of his mouth, and eyes practically burning as he threw it again.

"You just don't get it, none of you do!" he yelled, using the metal like a bat, hitting Superman, over and over with it, little damage being done.

Superman grabbed hold of the metal, yanking it out of Cosmic Boy's field, letting it drop to the floor.

"Get what?" Superman yelled back, flying over, grabbing Cosmic Boy by his costume, almost shaking him. "All we could see was your damn pride being bruised when we wouldn't listen, when we needed help! Why wouldn't you rush to save your teammate like we were!"

"I didn't want to loose anymore of my friends!" he screamed at Superman.

A heavy silence buzzed through the air. Superman blinked slowly, replaying what he just heard. He didn't want to loose his friends? Anymore of them? Suddenly, it clicked. He understood what was going on.

"You were really scared, weren't you?" said Superman softly, releasing his hold on Cosmic Boy's costume. "About loosing more people, like we lost Ferro Lad."

Cosmic Boy visibly flinched and his mask crumbled. His shoulders sagged and he looked to the ground, as though it would answer for him. A minute ticked by before he answered.

"It's true," he sighed, slowly lifting his head up again. "Brainy had been there a week...I didn't think they would have let him live that long."

Superman gave a slow nod, to show he was listening, sympathy now shinning through, cooling his once anger.

"I mean, were heroes, they're villains. We foil them. And for that they hate us. Most cases, the person would dead, or scarred for life. Who knows, maybe Brainy is..." he said, arms raising around himself as he looked at the wall, lost in his own words.

"You didn't want us, to see him dead, to loose all hope." said Superman, still looking at Cosmic Boy, who seemed to becoming more vulnerable each minute.

"Yea. I didn't want to leave him down there obviously, but I wanted to make a plan where I'd go get him, so, if he was...dead," said Cosmic Boy swallowing thickly "then I could deal with it, maybe find a way to break the news easier. I couldn't bare the idea that Saturn Girl or Triplicate Girl especially to be the one's to discover something like that."

"And you thought if you planned well...no one else would die?" responded Superman, anger completely gone.

"I...I couldn't loose more of my family, Clark," he said, once again, looking at Superman. "That's what they are o be now. Not a team, and not just friends, were a family. Loosing Ferro Lad, made me come to terms with that. I always thought if I maintained some distance, it would be easier if something went wrong. But it wasn't. I felt such grief, like nothing else. But, I had to be strong. So others could be free to cry."

"Your wrong," said Superman, in a gentle tone. "You just said it. Were a family. Families look out for one another. Which is what you may be trying to do, but you should know, no family wants one member alone to carry all the responsibilities. We do this all together, including sharing the burdens of grief. You're not alone in this, just remember that."

And finally, after over a week of closed off masks and careful words, Cosmic Boy allowed himself to smile. It was tired and lopsided because of his bruised cheek. But it was a true smile.

Superman returned with one of his own. The tension flew out of the room and out of his body. Things may still be slightly odd for a few days, but he understood his friend better now and respected him once again. He gently placed a hand on Cosmic Boy's shoulder.

"You best put some ice on that. I'd help if I could, but I feel if I don't get back to the medical bay soon, the girls may become annoyed."

"So your confessing when he wakes up then?" questioned Cosmic Boy, laughing slightly at the pink tinge to Superman's face. "Your right, you better go then. This mess will still be here for us later after all."

Superman, recovering from his embarrassment, nodded, and quickly peeled out of the room, and made his way to the Med Bay.