The black smoke curled around the mix of heroes and villains, blinding everyone within the confines of the hallway. From the startled gasps, frustrated shouts, and unmistakable sounds of people banging into unseen obstacles, it wounded as if the smoke had successfully paused the fight. Jason wasn't the least bit disoriented by the smoke. Having trained with Batman, he was familiar with the age old Ninja trick and used the temporary distraction to his advantage. Jason lifted Dick to his feet and dragged him through the smoke, using the sensory lenses in his helmet to guide him.
Jason backtracked to the shattered window and pulled himself and Dick out into the open air. He hated to run in the middle of a fight, but the piercing pain in his side forced him to retreat. He was in no condition to fight and Dick and Artemis were in pretty desperate need of medical attention as well.
"The smoke… Robin's back there. You can't leave him." Dick whispered hoarsely, feebling struggling as Jason dragged him towards the van.
"The Replacement's fine. He's got the team to watch his back. Worry about yourself for once." Jason growled, pulling open the van door and resting Dick inside next to Artemis. The elder hero looked like he was a dead man walking! How he could have survived the past two days was beyond Jason. Yet, Dick was still trying to fight his way past his little brother to go back for the kid!
"The team can hardly handle one of Gotham's villains, nevermind a court house full of them! They'll get themselves killed Jason!" Dick tried to stand only to be forcefully shoved back into the van by his little brother.
"Dammit Dick, you're the one acting like he's got a death wish! Fine, I'll make sure they're out! Just sit back and shut up for a while, won't you?" Red Hood hissed, activating his communicator.
"Hey kid, Golden Boy says retreat. Get the team out of there, asap."
"You want us to just leave? What about Joker? Two Face? Deathstroke?" Robin's voice echoed through, naming only a handful of the highly dangerous fugitives that were fighting against the team.
"We let Batman handle it when he get's back. No arguments, Replacement. Get the team out. I'm taking Nightwing and Tigress back to my place. Check in once you're home." Jason instructed, hearing yet another objection, this time from his other brother.
"No, take us to the Batcave. Alfred can patch us up. Artemis won't last 'til your place… and neither will you." Dick pointed out, motioning to the blood seeping through Jason's t-shirt. The latter pulled his leather jacket around to cover the wound, annoyed with Dick's reasoning. He hadn't been to the cave since Batman arrested him, and he sure as hell wasn't looking forward to going back.
"Bruce is still offworld." Dick noted, as if he could read the concerns in Jason's mind.
"He won't be back for days. Come on Jay."
Before Jason could answer, a small gust of wind rushed past and Wally suddenly appeared beside the van.
"What's the hold up? Come on, we gotta move! The team's out, they're gonna Zeta back to the Mountain. Move it Red, we've gotta get Dick and Artemis to the med wing."
With the suggestion of going to the Mountain, somehow the Batcave didn't sound like a bad option. At least Bruce wasn't home. If Jason set foot in the Mountain, he would have no escape from those self-righteous heroes! Besides, he was starting to feel weak from the stab in his side and he didn't trust anyone to stitch him up other than Alfred. Getting in the driver's seat, Jason sped away from the courthouse. Wally and Dick were both fussing over the fresh cuts that littered Artemis' body from her crash through the window. The heroine was just starting to stir when they entered the cave.
Jason parked the stolen van beside the batmobile and helped Dick limp out of the vehicle (putting additional strain on his open wound in the process), while Wally carried the rousing Tigress. They had just stepped into the Medical Bay when a familiar, concerned voice echoed through the room.
"Master Jason? What brings you… my word! Master Dick, Miss Artemis… Lay them down. I will call Dr. Leslie. I think this is beyond my abilities." The English butler started when he saw the condition of his young charges. He was so concerned with the injured, it took him a moment to recognize the fourth figure in the room.
"Master Wallace?! But, I thought… How is this possible? Does the league know about this?" Alfred asked, rushing around to gather whatever medical supplies were needed. Wally stood at Artemis's wide, holding her hand as she woke, while Dick rested on the table beside her. Jason was standing off to the side, not wanting to interfere. He hadn't been a part of a group like this in years. He probably would have avoided this too, if it weren't for Wally showing up on his doorstep a few days earlier, telling him that Dick was about to be killed! Besides, the pain was starting to make him feel dizzy and he didn't want to draw any further attention to himself.
"I haven't told anyone yet. Jason was the only one who knew I was back and he… Jay!" Red hood suddenly collapsed against the wall, clutching his hand to his wounded side. Alfred was at his side in seconds, pulling his hand away to inspect the wound, but as soon as he saw the amount of blood bubbling from the open slice in his side, he replaced the pressure and turned to Wally with urgent eyes.
"Master Wallace, you need to run and get Dr. Leslie. You're the only one that can get her here fast enough! Hurry! Master Jason is in far worse condition than we thought!"