A/N:

Well, here's the next chapter. There's another cameo in this, but it's mostly a bit of a breather/thinking chapter. Wow this took a long time to write, lol, hope you like it XD Sorry for any typo's, it was around 5am when I finished this XD

*Yakko's POV*

Well Jar-Head caught on quick didn't he? Nice of him to finally join in the program! Not that I blame kiddo for keeping him out of the loop; better safe than sorry since you can't see inside his head. Well we could, but I don't fancy bringing out the Lecter gags today. And who knows, maybe Jar-Head wasn't as much as a pushover with R.J as he was before. But it's fun to play detective though right? Thinking about our history with the sloth habit… I think I might just start charging a fee.

We'd been waiting around for a while on the outskirts of this Nowhere place. I wouldn't have minded hanging out at the quivering canine's house while we waited but kiddo felt like she was going to be having a panic attack soon enough anyway without us giving that dog one too. Really, it's like she doesn't trust us at all. We wouldn't have given him a panic attack; we would have just, you know… Had some fun with him. He was a good sport! But nevertheless kiddo insisted and we were left moping around. It got me thinking though. I didn't doubt that R.J was telling the truth about being stuck in the town, heck it really was some tourist trap if you didn't know your way, but what got him out?

"But I don't get it, if he was lost inside Toon Town then how did he get to the studio all of a sudden?" Slugger demanded, voicing exactly was we were all thinking.

"I don't know, it's not like he can teleport or anything!" Dot snapped, "But then again after the prison break who knows."

"Plot-hole?" Wakko wondered aloud.

"Not unless a toon placed it for him first." I shrugged.

"And no one around here would do that." Kiddo concluded, "People get excitable when they see us let alone him of all people."

Something was really bugging Red and I couldn't put my finger on it. Come to think of it her eyes had snapped upwards at the mention of a plot-hole. She'd used them before why was she worked up about them now? Unless something else was running through her head. Jeez there's enough stream of consciousness' around here to flood The Pacific. Oh wait, we beat ya to it.

Kiddo seemed to pick up on this and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Poppy? It's going to be alright, you know that right?"

Red lowered her eyes and looked ready to pull out the water works, "No it's not. And it's my fault…"

"What do you mean?"

"I…" tears started forming in her eyes, "I forgot to take the plot-hole with me after I caught up with you guys outside Toon Town the first time… I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean-"

"It's okay, it wasn't your fault!" she assured, crouching to her level and putting hands on her shoulders. Kiddo looked at us questioningly, "I thought humans couldn't use them?"

"They can't when it's in hand, but it it's already set in place, it's free game." I answered, not my best move come to think of it…

"I'm sorry!" Poppy sobbed.

Kiddo wrapped her arms around Red, smoothing her hair soothingly, "It's not your fault, you didn't know. You hear me? It wasn't your fault, you've got nothing to be sorry for. Most likely he didn't even use a plot-hole."

"But -"

"No buts. It's not your fault." Her voice became firmer, but kissed the top of her head to reassure her, she slung to her desperately as tears spilled down her face. Wakko patted her shoulder gently.

Dot smiled and prodded her arm playfully, "Cheer up, kid, keep blubbering like that and we'll have to pay for water damage."

Poor Red. Kiddo had a point, chances are that R.J snaked his way into the studio with those mind-games of his, not some random plot-hole left somewhere way on the outskirts of the town. Nah, she didn't need to feel guilty or anything! But she was more shaken up than the rat that lives in a Hilton handbag. Kiddo just hushed her softly, that older-sibling kind of way that I found familiar, and she was doing a pretty good job of it too. And as for Slugger, he even made an effort to avoid the Nickolas Cage look of constipation and put on a smile. Awe, this was almost a picture moment!

Until a certain Jar-Head interrupted it, "There you are!"

"Hey look at that, Jar-Heads new contacts are working just fine." I rolled my eyes.

He scowled put tried to pass it off as a joking one. Nice try, you can't fool anyone. That look of worry was like Zeta-Jones' makeup; permanently etched into their faces. Weird, normally I'd be saying that about kiddo. Don't get me wrong, she looked worried too, but that was pretty much hidden under the overall resentment to the guy. Guess she was still sore about him keeping this place all hushed up, and apparently for also making us look like we attracted more trouble than we actually did. Yep, I don't blame her.

Jar-Head paused for a second and looked down at the laptop case hanging from kiddo shoulder, "What's that?"

"A laptop." She answered curtly as if it was perfectly normal and kudos to her for it, "You weren't giving us straight enough answers so I looked elsewhere."

"You hacked the studio computers?" he groaned, "Talia, if R.J was watching the system then he could have copied your signal and -"

"Well he wouldn't have had the time, we barely got enough time to look at it ourselves, let alone him."

"That's not the point here."

"Then why not enlighten me, what is the point?"

Watch our Jar-Head, she's getting sarcastic, you're in trouble now. "The point is that R.J is wondering around at his own free will and you knew! Why didn't you tell me? To get some petty payback for me delaying telling you about the town?"

"No, I had other reasons."

"Such as?"

"I really don't think I should say right now." She returned, smoothing Red's hair protectively.

"Why not?"

Okay this was getting a little heated for my liking. I loved watching the pair bicker more than Cher liked the hair products. But Red was still pulling out the water works and Slugger didn't look too impressed with the ordeal.

"Ahem!" I cleared my throat, getting their attention and tilting my head slightly towards the rest of the group, "Kids present."

*Talia's POV*

"Uh-oh, mommy and daddy are fighting again." Dot pouted.

I sighed in exasperation. They were right, talking about this in front of the younger ones was just going to contradict everything I've just said about everything turning out okay in the end. I was terrified so god knows how they felt. Jack was not helping. It wasn't as if things weren't bad enough already! None of this was fair on them, on any of us. I was running on nothing here and it was all building up. It was like an actual weight crushing the inside of my mind. R.J was never going to stop. He didn't have a reason to stop and for every dead-end he hit, he had a million other ways around it. It just wouldn't end.

"Jack, not now okay?" I muttered, struggling to keep my voice steady, "Just tell me what you saw, and I promise I'll do the same."

He took a breath and nodded, "Okay. But, not here."

"Back to your office?" Flynn asked sardonically, "Because that's such a safe place, right?" Normally I'd give him a look for being so curt, but I figured he was in his rights and let it go.

"Kids gotta point." Dot folded her arms for effect.

Jack shifted, "I know. I think it'd be best to stay here for now."

"Because that's worked so well in the past." Yakko muttered, "Okay Jar-Head, where'd you have in mind?"

It turns out that Jack had a small café in mind. It was tiny, very easy to pass by if you weren't looking for it. This point was proven by the fact that there was barely anyone in with us. But that's what I liked about it. It was isolated and forgettable. And hopefully anyone that might walk in here would think the same of us. Yeah right we were never that lucky.

But what exactly did Jack have planned? I mean I could see his logic in wanting to get indoors and out of sight, but what could possibly be done here? By the sound of it R.J was capable of anything. Trapped one minute, wondering free the next; hunting us down and then letting us go. I didn't understand it and frankly it was driving me mad. And madness was something that needed to be avoided.

"What's your fancy, newbies?"

I looked up to see a toon-human waitress leaning casually against the table. Jack answered, "Usual for me thanks, Betty, and five sodas and an iced-tea please." He looked at me quizzically, "You don't like coffee, right?"

"Well look at that, he remembers." Dot scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Betty? Oh now I saw it. The short black curls and wide eyes, not to mention the signature skimpy dress and garter that made her so well known as a symbol in the old days. She giggled, adding the signature boop-squeak and nudged Jack's shoulder, "Well look who's back! I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."

There was a sudden blast of air as the Warner siblings rushed out into the isle and ogled at the toon, "Hellooooo ink-well Nurse!"

Poppy scowled at the boys before giving the new arrival a sheepish smile, "Hello."

Dot opened her mouth but then thought against it, "Never mind…"

"Now what took this meeting so long?" Yakko slunk to Betty's side and wrapped an arm over her shoulders, "We're both timeless after all."

"And available." Wakko added, tongue lolling out as he smirked from her other side.

"Not to mention desperate…" Dot muttered in my ear.

The icon blinked in surprise at the pair and suddenly reacted with a grin and returning the gesture of pulling them closer, "Well, well, look who finally came for a visit!"

"Are we missing something here?" Flynn asked, "You wanted to run into them?"

"Don't be jealous, Slugger, can you blame her?" Yakko responded, letting his head droop onto her shoulder, hearts in his eyes.

"I'm not complaining…" his brother muttered, eyes mimicking the shape.

"Me either." Betty giggled, tousling their heads which only encouraged them, "I've been waiting a long time to see the cousins!"

Just as I was half way through preparing a scowl, wondering why the hell she was going along with this, she came up with that! Cousins? Suddenly, the boys froze in alarm and the hearts in their eyes shattered like they'd been smashed into a wall. Frankly I was a little surprised by the nickname myself. What did she mean cousins? I looked at Dot who just shrugged as if she didn't have a clue either. Betty seemed to pick up on the confusion and just smiled knowingly, giving the boys an extra squeeze for good measure.

"Oh come on, I'm a Fleischer gal; and ya may be Warner's but you were adopted by Fleischer's, right?" she laughed and winked playfully, "Welcome to the family… Cousins."

Dot smacked a hand over her mouth to hide a laugh as the look of horror spread on her siblings faces. They ducked out of Betty's grasp and instantly acted as if they were trying to rub germs from their arms. Flynn smirked in amusement and Poppy chewed her lip trying to hide a smile. Yakko scowled at me as if to dare me to say anything; I didn't, but he couldn't stop the smirk on my face. Flirting with a technical family member, I was going to have fun winding him up about that. Betty gave me a brief nod as if to say 'and that's how you do it'. Right there and then, I figured that I liked Betty.

"Small world?" I offered, just making the pair shudder all over again.

"Drinks are on the way, hun." She added to Jack as she walked past, "And there's a play-area out back for the kiddies."

Poppy looked at me hopefully, "Can I see?"

Figuring I wasn't sure where this little exchange was going to go with Jack, and I didn't want my family listening in on the inevitable stress that was to follow, I nodded, "Only if all of you go and stay together."

They agreed, Yakko giving me a deadpan look to which I returned with a pleading one. I knew he wasn't happy about being out of the loop again, but he of all people knew that whatever I was told then it wouldn't be long before the message was passed onto him. Nevertheless, he grudgingly got up and joined after his and my siblings into the back room, collecting their drinks from the counter as they passed. Betty walked over and placed an iced-tea and a coffee before us.

"Oh Betty, I've got a favour to ask."

"Sure thing, hun, what d'ya need?"

"You couldn't call the boys around for a delivery for the studio could you?" he nodded to the laptop still over my shoulder and shrugged, "No sense lugging it around if we're staying a while."

"No problem." She winked and gave me a smile, "You gotcha self a real gent here, you know."

I scoffed, "Not likely."

Betty arched an eyebrow knowingly, letting me know that she was just teasing and made her way back to the back-room, "I'll get the boys around asap."

"Thanks again."

"You're a regular here then I take it." I muttered bitterly.

He looked guilty, "It's a quiet place to think, and that's rare to find in these parts."

"We wouldn't know."

"Are we really getting into this again?" he asked tiredly, "I've explained why I didn't say anything before."

"Yes, because you wanted to make sure we weren't going to endanger anyone, because we plan that stuff…"

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it. Think about it, I didn't say tell you beca -"

"Jack, I get it." I cut him off, not wanting to go over it again, "You were waiting for the dust to settle, fine. But, what took so long for the Warner's to find out?"

"Honestly, that was a Plotz choice. He figured keeping them and the town separate was easier then merging them, you know, because of the Fleischer involvement it would just raise questions that he really didn't want to answer. So when R.J took over and wiped his memory, it's not surprising he didn't listen to anyone else about the town."

I shifted uneasily, "Yeah well, he's sure interested now isn't he."

"Yeah…" he looked at me earnestly, "And what stopped you telling me that he'd come back? Hell how did he even get out of prison?"

"Honestly your guess is as good as mine." I admitted, "And I didn't tell you because… I just…"

"You thought I might still be under his control." He finished for me. Not wanting to confirm that, I took a sip of my drink. To my surprise, he nodded, "Fair enough."

"What?"

"It's a fair argument to have. Honestly I don't know what's going to happen if he gets too close, but I promise you that I won't let him get any of us."

"You're aware you've just contradicted yourself, right?"

"I'm trying, Talia."

Yeah, I guess he was, "So, where in the studio did you see him?"

His story was short and to the point. He simply looked out of his office window, and there he was. Just tapping his watch as if to indicate time running out, and then he was gone. Now, as promised, it was my turn to talk. And this time, I didn't fully understand why, but I told him everything. Everything from R.J telling us he was trapped in the town and wanted us to find out all we could about it for him, to how he had plans to 'free' the town whatever that meant. Every single detail came spilling out. And it wasn't until I had finished, that I realised why. I was scared.

I was so tired of putting on an act for the others. They weren't stupid, they knew we were in trouble here, but I had to keep it together for their sake. But for how much longer I didn't know. So when I was given this rare chance to say all of this outside aloud and think about it without the mask, I chose to go with it. Honestly I wasn't happy that it was Jack, but to be fair he was just as involved as the rest of us so I guess it couldn't be helped.

But still, as I finished explaining, I still felt a little ashamed. And twice as confused. By the looks of it Jack was too, "Freeing?"

I shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."

"I have no idea." He grimaced.

"Well fan-flipping-tastic."

"Talia…"

Okay, that was harsh, "Sorry… I'm just -"

"Yeah, me too."

There was a long, awkward pause that for a while, neither of us knew how to break. But after a while, I figured things weren't going to get any better by staying like this, "So what do we do?"

"Honestly, I don't think there's much we can do until he shows up again. And that's going to happen if he wants answers from you." An apologetic look, "And when he does-"

"We made a grab for him?" I asked sarcastically, "No problem, Fred, I'll get Scooby and the gang now."

"Maybe that's not a bad idea." He offered.

Right, I kinda forgot where we were… "Pick a different day to be a smart ass."

He rolled his eyes, and the anxiousness came flooding back, "The best we can do it up the security and -"

"Right because we can't possibly have any more security than prison."

"Will you stop?"

I ran my hands through my hair and stared hard at the table, "Sorry I'm trying but… For christ's sake I can't do this again, Jack. He's everywhere and he's toying with us and-"

He took my hands forcefully, making me instinctively flinch away but he held firm, "Stop it. I know it's difficult but everything will be okay. Isn't that what you've been telling the others?"

"Well, yeah but I don't know it for sure."

"I do. Honestly I've got no idea how; but it will be. Now how about using the attitude you're giving me and put it to some use to stopping this lunatic, got it?"

His sharp tone made me blink in surprise. Not liking the tense grip he had on me, I slowly pulled away and studied my glass for something to do. As much as I hated it, he had a point. This wasn't helping us at all. And in truth, we didn't know where the hell R.J was, so what could we do until he showed up again? The best thing was just to wait. God this was messed up.

"So we wait. Then what?"

"I'll think of something."

There's the motivational speech of the year, "Great."

A/N:

I liked writing Betty Boop as a sassy little missy XD Those boys will be traumatised. Well, stress is taking it's toll, and it's only a matter of time before things get worse all over again. But that's for laters XD Hope you liked this one and I'll see you guys in the next chapter!