A bright light surrounds me when I wake up again. Like before, I'm face down, but this time I can't tell what I'm lying on.

"Open your eyes, Sweetheart." That voice. It can't be.

I obey the voice, opening my eyes as I sit up. It's him. It's really him kneeling in front of me.

"Daddy." I throw myself into his arms, tears flowing from my cheeks. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Ronnie," he whispers in my ear. His arms are strong and familiar around me. I never thought I would get to experience one of my father's hugs again.

Then it hits me. "Wait," I pull out of his embrace, "where am I?"

Dad's smile fades.

"You're… in-between." He looks over his shoulder nervously.

"What do you mean?" I follow his gaze to find a man in white robes standing a few feet away. "Who's that?"

Dad brings my face back to looking at him. "You have a choice to make, Ronnie. You can go back or you can come with me."

Suddenly this reunion doesn't seem so wonderful. "Oh. That 'in-between.'" I think about what it would be like to be with my dad again. I'd never have to worry about something bad happening. I could just spend eternity laughing with him again. But then there's the ones back home. I shake my head. "I can't. Mom needs me. And Jason, too. And," a lump comes up in my throat, "and Carson…." I look down, away from my father, shame filling me up from last time I saw my brother.

Dad puts his hand on my cheek. "Ronnie, look at me." I obey. "Carson was right, I do believe in crime and punishment, but… he was also wrong. I believe in standing by what you believe in way more than justice and you didn't falter one bit when it came to Jason. You saw someone who wasn't evil, but lost and helped him find his way. I'm not ashamed of you, Ronnie. I am the proudest father that has ever been."

The tears are back and I hug my father harder than before.

"I'm ready to go back." The words were hard to say, but I knew it was the right choice.

"That's my girl." Dad kisses my forehead and I'm gone.

This time, I wake up back on Earth in a hospital bed. I feel pressure on my right hand and I look over to see my mom smiling at me.

"Oh, thank goodness you're awake," she exclaims.

"How long was I out?" I ask as Mom helps me sit up.

"You were in a drug-induced coma for two weeks while your body healed. It's still healing, but the doctors took you out of it last night. They weren't sure when, or if, you'd wake up." Her eyes are watery.

Oh, no. I didn't even think about her when I ran out that night. What it could do to her. "Mom, I–"

"One second, sweetie." Mom reaches behind me and presses a button, going into nurse mode.

A woman answers over the bedside intercom. "Yes?"

"She's awake," Mom tells her.

"Thank you. I'll inform the doctor."

Mom grabs my hand. "Now, what is it, Ronnie?"

I take a deep breath, worried at her reaction. "Mom, I'm sorry."

She shakes her head. "It's not your fault. If anything, it's–"

"Don't say it," I interrupt. "I'm sorry, Mom, and I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about him, but don't you dare blame him."

Mom sighs and put her head in her hands.

I bite my lip. "You don't… agree with Carson, do you?"

"I don't know, sweetie," she whispers. "I like to think of the best in people, but I just don't know."

Just then the doctor comes in.

"Hello, Ronnie. I'm Doctor Meloni." He checks the machines and then turns back to me. "All your vitals are normal. Better than normal for this situation, actually, which is unnatural, but not unwanted. Now, let's check those bruises." Dr. Meloni starts with my face.

I feel awkward, not knowing where to look while the doctor examines the bruises on my face. Next he moves to my arms and then my stomach. It's the first time I see my skin and I flinch. I'm black, blue and yellow. I don't understand how Mom can just sit there with a straight face.

Then again, she is an ER nurse.

Dr. Meloni finishes up with my legs and then sighs. "You know, Miss Reid, I am still amazed that not a single bone was even cracked."

"She's always been like that," Mom says. "Her and her brother could fall out of a tree and walk away without a scratch."

Dr. Meloni nods, obviously impressed. "I'll come check up on you again in a few hours." And with that he leaves.

I turn to Mom, fearing the answer to a question I have to ask. "Mom, has Carson come by?"

Mom shakes her head. "No. But he calls. Every day at 10 a.m. and then again at 7 p.m." She takes my hand, "You two will make up. You always do."

I cringe. "This one might take a while."

Knock, knock.

"Come in," Mom calls.

The door opens and in walks Tim and Dick.

"Hey, guys!" I'm happy and disappointed at the same time. "What are you doing here?"

"Bruce told the doctor to inform him the second you woke up. We rushed right over," Tim explained.

"I'll leave you with your friends," Mom says, touching my cheek. "I need to grab something to eat anyway. I'll be right back"

As soon as she's gone, I say, "Okay, I understand Tim being here, but I honestly don't know you that well, Dick."

Dick smiles, "Actually, we're just a cover."

I tilt my head sideways. "What do you–"

The door opens again and someone walks in. Tim and Dick separate to reveal the somebody.

My world lights up. "Jason?"

He smiles and sits in the chair that my mom had occupied before while Tim and Dick sneak out.

"I am so sorry," Jason says thickly. His eyes are red from a combination of lack of sleep and possibly crying. I have never seen Jason even on the verge of crying.

"It's not your fault," I say, taking his hand. "It's his and only his."

Jason gives me his "you're crazy" look. "Have you seen yourself?"

I clear my throat, "Bits and pieces."

Jason lets out a disgusted sigh. "There's no reasoning with you."

"Good," I spit. "You're learning."

Jason sighs, "Look, Ronnie, I might need to go away for a little while."

I wait for the punchline or the "I'm just joking" grin. I take one look at him, realize he's serious and smack him upside the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" Jason asks as he rubs the spot I had hit.

"For being an idiot," I clarify. "You're not going anywhere."

"Ronnie, it'll be better for everyone if I go," he pleads.

"Jason, I just got beat within an inch of my life by a crowbar-bearing lunatic. What I need is for you to be by my side while I heal. I don't know where the notion of you leaving would be good for me but let's get one thing straight. The body can only heal if it isn't under stress. You leaving would cause me stress, ergo you have to stay."

I can tell he wants to argue. I can see the conflict inside his blue-green eyes. Finally, he sighs.

"Okay," Jason nods, "okay, you win." He kisses my head.

"Good," I nod even though it hurts to. My neck is so stiff, but I don't wince in fear of Jason's reaction.

Tim opens the door, "Mom alert."

Jason stands up.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"Your mom's smart enough to make the connection of who I am if she finds me in here."

I don't like it, but I nod and Jason slips out of the room along with Tim and Dick. Mom comes in a minute later.

"Where did your friends go?" she asks.

I lie, "Bruce needed them back home."

Mom accepts this and continues, "I have good news. The doctor said he's going to release you tonight. All the paperwork is done. We're just waiting on the nurse."