Disclaimer: In a perfect world I would own Teen Titans. But this isn't a perfect world. I just have to be content with writing fanfiction.

A/N: This poor Aes Sedai and her Trekkie roomie have the sniffles. But that hasn't stopped us from cackling with glee while we read/write fanfiction. But seriously, guys…how…on…earth…did…this chapter…come out on time? I'm so stressed out that I'm just about ready to take my tennis racquet out and go kill something. Preferably a small animal. I know that this isn't at the top of my priority list since I'm in school, but I'm an INTJ and I LIKE to have self-imposed deadlines. It makes me feel accomplished. And it's something for me to look forward to on the weekends. This week for me was just killer. It wasn't a bad week though, just a hard week at school.

GAH! I'm really talkative today.

Chapter 19: Implications

-BB-

9:03am

Jump City, California

Beast Boy and Starfire flew through the streets of Jump City. At least his locator wasn't off line…although it seemed odd for him to run off like this. The Boy Wonder wasn't one to run away from his problems like a frightened child.

"His locator's signals are coming from the other side of town," Beast Boy said.

"Oh, I hope he has not gotten lost," Starfire said, her voice full of worry.

They found him sitting on the edge of a rooftop, his feet dangling over the side of the building. Robin's head was turned towards the large red-and-yellow circus tent erected just outside the city limits. Beast Boy stopped dead when he noticed tears trailing down Robin's cheeks. The way Robin was just sitting there reminded Beast Boy too much of a depressed child. There were times when he wanted to see Robin's other side…but not this.

He let Starfire float to the edge to comfort him. She spoke to him in a low voice while Beast Boy watched from a distance. It didn't take a genius to know that something was going on between those two. Watching them interact so intimately only ostracized him from them as he thought of what could have been with Terra.

Yes, he loved the ladies. But even though Starfire didn't know who the boy was underneath the mask she could relate to Robin in a way no one else on the team could. In a way they held each other up. Beast Boy longed for that kind of relationship, and watching them together only reopened the wound in his heart for Terra.

After a minute Robin pushed himself to his feet and wiped away his tears with the back of his hand. The changeling didn't like to see his leader so…emotionally weak. All of his conceptions of what the Boy Wonder was like had changed drastically since their first encounter. To think that Beast Boy kept calling him "sir"…

"What happened?" Beast Boy asked. "Didn't you call Batman?"

The Boy Wonder visibly tensed at the mention of Batman. Almost at once Beast Boy wished that he had kept his mouth shut. Robin did call Batman. He wondered briefly what Batman had said or done to make Robin cry.

"Batman can shove it," Robin said, his tone uncharacteristically harsh. "He's not coming to help us. He doesn't care about me or anyone else."

"But didn't you-?"

"You don't know him like I do!" Robin snapped. "He manipulates people, even the people he claims to care about. He doesn't care about anyone but himself."

Robin took out his grapple hook and leapt off of the side of the building. Beast Boy stayed behind for a fraction of a second.

Just last night Robin spoke of Batman tenderly. What on earth did Batman say this morning to make him so edgy? Robin told him that Slade wanted a son…so he took him away from Batman. Even though Beast Boy and the others now knew that Slade seriously screwed with Robin's head Beast Boy began to suspect that something more went on between them. It was a well-known fact that Robin's relationship with Batman was rocky before Robin came to Jump City. Did Slade still influence Batman and Robin's relationship? Did the apprenticeship cause even more friction between them?

Before Starfire and Robin disappeared around a corner Beast Boy leapt off and morphed into a hawk to follow them.

"So what are we going to do next?" Beast Boy asked.

"I'm going to call the Chief of Police and have him round up all of the suspects. I want to talk to them myself…especially the vandal Mark Wolfman."

"Shouldn't we have done that sooner?" Beast Boy asked. "I mean, if you suspected their further involvement—"

"They're only pawns," Robin said. "But I can't think of anything else to do."

"Raven does not believe that the perpetrator will harm her," Starfire said.

"She's wrong. It doesn't matter if she thinks nothing will happen. Something's going to happen and Raven knows it."

And God save us all when it does, Beast Boy thought.

-BW-

12:36pm

Gotham City

Wayne Enterprises

Bruce fought back a yawn as he studied the charts Lucius was showing to the others at the meeting. Some of his employees turned their heads to look at him. At least he hadn't fallen asleep again in his chair. By now most were used to his sleepy interactions. He knew that it was bad protocol, but what could he do? Clayface managed to avoid him for the rest of the night.

Lucius shook his head disapprovingly, although said nothing to Bruce. In a way, Lucius was a good man for putting up with him. Him and Alfred both tolerated him more than they should. It seemed as though Dick was the only person who dared to talk back to him…well, in a more straightforward way.

"Mr. Wayne," Lucius said, bringing Bruce out of his daze, "do you approve of the funds for upgrading security?"

"What?"

"Security upgrades for our auxiliary buildings, Mr. Wayne. In particular our building in Jump City was broken into about a year ago, don't you remember?"

Oh like hell I do, Bruce thought.

"The Teen Titans got involved, didn't they?"

"Yes, Mr. Wayne."

Bruce nodded, not trusting himself to say anything more. He knew the real reason why their auxiliary building in Jump City was broken into. It wasn't a lack or flaw of security. As the sensible heir apparent Dick knew the layout of the building pretty well. The only reason Bruce allowed Dick in to live in Jump City by himself was because of his branch there. He could subtly keep an eye on him. How ironic, then, that Slade made him steal from Wayne Enterprises.

As Lucius turned back to the charts the entire room jumped when a cell phone rang. Realizing that the noise was coming from his pocket, Bruce held up a finger and pulled out his cell phone. He glanced at the caller i.d. How strange, Clark was calling him on his personal cell phone instead of the JLA communicator. What could be so important?

"I'm sorry, Lucius, I have to take this call."

There was nothing Lucius could really say or do to stop Bruce from taking the call. Silently cursing Clark, Bruce got up from his chair and went out to the hallway. Since most of his staff was on lunch break there weren't a lot of people in the building. As soon as Bruce answered the call Clark's voice bellowed out in an angry tone.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Wait…wait...what are you talking about?"

The lack of sleep made his head muddled, which merely annoyed him. There was still so much work to be done. Honestly, he didn't understand. Sure, Clark thought he was crazy all the time but this tone suggested that he was ready to argue this one out. Whatever it was that he was angry about.

"Bruce, what the hell is wrong with you? Alfred called me this morning. Dick was trying to talk to you and you just pushed him away!"

Alfred called Clark? What right—

"This is a personal matter and it has nothing to do with the League! Stay out of this, Clark!"

"NO!" Clark growled. "Listen to me: that boy has been through too much…more than any kid his age should go through. He's been denying this for a year and now when he's finally ready to talk to you about it—"

"I just—this isn't a good time."

It really wasn't. He couldn't back out of this meeting now.

"When is a good time? When?"

Bruce couldn't answer. Annoyance and anger surged through him. Just because Clark was the Man of Steel didn't mean that he held the ultimate authority within the League. Bruce made sure of that by carrying a little bit of Kryptonite with him at all times.

"Look, you called in the middle of a conference meeting. I can't talk now."

"Bruce, don't hang up on m—"

He did exactly that. To make sure that Clark wouldn't bother him anymore Bruce turned off his cell phone and placed it back in his pocket.

The Joker is involved, he thought, He's always making me edgy even when he's in Arkham.

He felt no shame for walking away from Dick. What the kid didn't quite understand—what the kid still didn't understand—was that Bruce worked to keep everyone safe.

Now that he thought about it, though, he felt a tinge of regret for not listening to him. It was just that he wanted to get this business with Clayface over with. He honestly wanted to talk about that business with the apprenticeship with Dick and understand what went on between them.

If Dick had disappeared completely and continued to work for Slade things could have fallen apart for the entire superhero community. It did worry him that Slade knew his identity, and if what Dick said was true then there was the question of how Slade figured it out.

His Justice League Signal device buzzed. Bruce took it out of his pocket and sighed. Barry was calling him now. Clark must have told everyone in the League and Reserves about what happened that morning. Bruce gritted his teeth. He didn't want Clark or anyone else getting into this. One thing he disliked about working with the League was the politics. Everyone butted into everyone else's business. And Clark always butted into his business.

Bruce ignored his communicator and walked alone down the empty hallway of Wayne Enterprises with his hands deep in his pockets. Dick's haunting words about Slade being right echoed in his mind. His footsteps echoed loudly in the empty hallway. He stopped in front of the large window overlooking Gotham City, which still looked gloomy even at high noon.

Being at one of the topmost levels and one of the highest buildings in Gotham City, Bruce felt as though he was on top of the world. This was the city he protected. His home. He worked hard to make the world a better place. He had the choice of squandering his parents' wealth and become a true spoiled playboy, but Bruce didn't do that.

Bruce barely noticed the sound of another pair of feet approaching him. He could tell from the heavy footsteps who it was before the man spoke.

"Should we finish the meeting another time, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius asked.

"Yes, Lucius. I'm sorry, but it's family business."

"Is everything all right?"

"I need to speak with Dick. I'm flying out to Jump City tomorrow morning."

Bruce found his gaze drifting back to the window. After their shouting match Dick probably changed his mind about having Batman help. However, Dick had called him to ask for help. Bruce intended to keep his promise even if Dick didn't want help anymore. There was just one thing he had to do: reassure himself that the Joker was behind bars and not involved and capture Clayface.

Lucius' face brightened at the mention of Dick.
"I really do miss that kid," Lucius said, "how's he doing in California?"

"Spectacular. I just…I just want to visit him."

To his surprise Lucius placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand. You're a great man, Bruce. You've done so much for him. I hope you have a good time out in California."

His stomach churned as Lucius smiled warmly before turning away back to head back to the conference room. He was never one to praise himself for charity work, and Dick was not a charity case. He didn't like to think of Dick as a charity case. He knew that Dick would hate to be thought of as a charity case. Bruce clutched the Justice League Signal Device tightly in his fist as he looked back to the window.

Lucius was wrong.

Bruce allowed Dick to go out to Jump City to put his life on the line every day. He trained the kid to protect himself but that eventually attracted the attention of a mercenary looking for an apprentice. Lucius didn't know about Bruce and Dick's nighttime vigilante activities, so of course there was no way he could see Bruce and Dick's relationship otherwise. Lucius had no idea of the horrors Dick went through. Yes, Bruce had trained him. He trained Dick to the best of his abilities. But even that wasn't good enough. In that respect, Bruce had failed.

And Bruce didn't want to admit it out loud.

He looked out of the window again and saw Alfred waiting for him on the edge of the curb. That man always seemed to know when he was needed most. It was an uncanny habit of his. Sighing heavily, Bruce made his way out of the building.

"Master Bruce."

Alfred stood in front of the car, holding the door open for him. The expression on the British butler's face was of indifference. Bruce didn't have to ask to know what was bothering him. He ducked his head and went into the car.

"Mr. Kent called again," Alfred said. "He wants to talk to you."

"So does the rest of the League."

Bruce set his elbow against the side of the car and glared out of the tinted windows. He took his Justice League signal Device from his pocket and saw that Diana and Ollie also called. Wonderful.

"Alfred, why did you call Clark?"

Alfred pulled away from the curb and began to drive back to Wayne Manor. He glanced up at the rearview mirror to look at Bruce.

"I called Mr. Kent because I could not contact Dick. I know that Dick listens to him, especially when he doesn't listen to you."

"I should be the one talking to him. I—"

"Master Bruce, you are not the only one who cares for Dick. You are his guardian and mentor. Act like it."

Bruce shot Alfred a cold glare. He didn't like the fact that everyone was accusing him of being a bad father.

"I agreed to help him, didn't I?"

"Indeed you did, Master Bruce, but you did not need to accuse the boy of weakness. You know so much better than that." Alfred shook his head. "You are supposed to act as his anchor, the foundation to all that he's learned and all that he fights for. He called seeking comfort and you did not give it to him. I believe that Master Dick did not want to tell you about the apprenticeship because he was afraid that it would hurt you to know how much it hurt him."

Genuinely surprised, Bruce thought about that for a moment. He did the things he did because it was a way for him to let out his inner angst. Bruce wasn't one to get all touchy-feely. Dick was always the more free-spirited one. He was more emotionally vulnerable and easily manipulated. Perhaps Slade had been such a master of psychology that he realized this long before Dick left for Jump City. He went over their conversation again. As he thought it over again he realized how stupid it was to say that in the middle's of Dick's monologue. What went over him? Did his tone actually sound accusing? He didn't mean to sound accusing. And if what Alfred said was true…then…

Bruce struggled to comprehend this. Like himself, Dick held a high code of conduct and ethics on fighting crime. He never taught Dick to put himself before others. To sacrifice himself for the sake of others. Bruce loved the kid. He really did. But sometimes it seemed as though Dick tried too hard to protect the physical and mental well-beings of the people he loved.

"I also believe," Alfred continued, "that Dick defended you while he was with Deathstroke. To have you accuse him of weakness after he went through all that was the worst thing to say to him. And that is why, Master Bruce, you must talk to him."

"He's right. But I have to find Clayface. I have to see the Joker. I have to—"

"Master Bruce, being Batman isn't your day job. You have other responsibilities. I suggest that you go to Jump City not only to help the Titans, but to apologize to Dick. Not through me. Not through Clark. From you."

As much as Bruce wanted to deny this, Alfred was right. Sometimes the line between civilian and hero blurred much too often. The two sat in silence for a good five minutes.

"Your jet leaves at five tomorrow morning," Alfred said. "I suppose you'll sleeping on the plane."

"I suppose so. Are you coming with me?"

"Of course. I have a hunch that it would do Master Dick some good if I saw him."

Having Alfred with him would definitely produce a calming effect on Dick for the inevitable shouting match that would occur.

Tonight was going to be an interesting night. Before heading back to Wayne Manor Batman contacted Gordon again and asked about wrangling a pass into Arkham. Commissioner Gordon, though somewhat baffled, said that he could get one by early tonight. Once Bruce saw the Joker rolling on the floor and laughing hysterically in his straightjacket would Bruce's mind finally be at ease.

This time Clayface was going down. There wouldn't be any jewel thieves to distract him tonight. Once these problems were settled he would be on his way to Jump City. Although he more of a laconic man Bruce decided that he would show Dick that he cared for him by helping him solve this mystery.

-C-

9:39am

Jump City, California

Titans Tower

"Dude, what happened?" Cyborg asked as Robin, Starfire, and Beast Boy came into the Tower.

Robin looked particularly frazzled. Even his jet-black hair—usually up in its customary spikes—seemed to droop a little. He shook his head, as though he was trying to convey to them that he didn't want to talk.

"Robin, we all know you talked to Batman!" Beast Boy exclaimed, throwing out his arms for emphasis. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

The little liar.

It annoyed Cyborg that even after all they had been through together, Robin was still unwilling to talk about the things that bothered him. Cyborg wouldn't mind it so much if it didn't affect the performance of the team. Although it was a weakness they had to fix, the Titans really couldn't function well without Robin as their leader. Oh, Cyborg did act as a surrogate leader those few times Robin wasn't there, but Robin was a competent leader.

"Robin," Raven said, "if you're going to act like this all day then will you at least talk about what's bothering you?"

"None of you would understand—"

"Try us," Cyborg said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Not once had Robin ever mentioned why he and Batman had a falling out. From what Cyborg could tell, they had an odd love-hate relationship going on. It was quite a contrast to the younger, pun-loving Robin in his scaly green shortpants.

"Fine. I called Batman. I asked for help, all right?" Robin pressed a hand to his chest. "I admit that I'm wrong. I admit that I haven't been able to stop these attacks from happening. Batman and I…we've moved past the stage of partnership. He's controlling."

"Even more so than Slade was?" Beast Boy asked.

Robin's jaw dropped slightly, but he closed his mouth into a firm frown. For all the crap that everyone—including Cyborg—had given Robin about being similar to Slade, Cyborg realized that Slade acted more like Batman than anyone else.

"No. Batman never tried to kill my friends. He never tried to control me like that. He offered me the opportunity to fight back and I took it. Slade gave me no choice in the matter."

"So you asked Batman for help," Cyborg said, "is he going to come and help us?"

Judging from the expression on Robin's face, Cyborg already knew what the answer would be. Both pity and sympathy surged through Cyborg as realization came crashing down on him. Robin had asked for help and Batman had refused. This man who raised him refused to give his protégée help when Robin needed it the most. That would crush anyone.

"He's trying to crack a drug ring involving Black Mask and Clayface," Robin said, trying to avoid the question. "He believes that the Joker is involved, even though the Joker is locked up in Arkham."

"So…what does that mean?" Beast Boy asked.

"It means that he's not coming until he figures it out."

Both Slade and Batman reminded Cyborg of the coaches he had in high school. They were always pushing him to do his best even when the best didn't seem good enough. But the worst kind of reaction to get is the cold shoulder. When the coach doesn't even acknowledge you when you've lost.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Cyborg asked.

"The question isn't if I can handle this," Robin replied, "the question is if whoever is behind this can handle it when I get my hands on him."

"We haven't really looked into Brother Blood," Cyborg said, "I think we should at least take a look into the HIVE Academy. After all, they've been more active than usual lately."

Robin looked up at Cyborg with a tired expression.

"Yes, I suppose we should. All of our other options are moot."

He didn't sound too enthusiastic about the idea.

"First we're going to talk to those suspects we know were involved," Robin said, "the security guard Bill Menville, the astronomer Dr. Glen Cipes, and the vandal Mark Wolfman."

-R-

10:58am

Jump City, California

Jump City Police Department

The three suspects sat handcuffed to the tables: the vandal Mark Wolfman, the astronomer Dr. Glen Cipes, and the security guard Bill Menville. Although Menville was blackmailed he agreed to the come to the meeting. No one had officially been arrested, but all three were being kept in holding cells until the mastermind behind these attacks was caught.

"Thanks for letting us in, Chief," Robin said, glaring at the suspects through the two-way mirror with his arms crossed over his chest.

"No problem, Robin," Johnson said. "I hope you figure this out soon."

The Chief of Police's tone was careful. Deep down Robin knew that many policemen thought that the Titans shouldn't be doing vigilante work, but like many others Johnson respected Robin because he used to work with Batman.

And for some, that was the only reason why they tolerated the Titans.

"What do you to find?" Cyborg asked.

"We still don't know who broke into the Tower and implanted the virus," Robin said. "Or messed with Star's technology or—"

His communicator rang.

Startled, Robin took out his communicator and found that Superman was calling him. Several milling police officers looked up at the noise, their faces intrigued. He didn't like the fact that everyone was watching him. He nodded towards them and gestured towards the empty hallway.

"I have to take this call."

Superman's handsome face appeared on the communicator, although he looked concerned. Almost at once Robin's heart sank when he realized that he knew exactly what Superman was going to talk about.

"I heard about what happened."

"Oh, so now the entire League knows?"

This irritated Robin. He loved Clark like an uncle, but spreading the news of their catfight to the other League members without Robin's knowledge grated him just a bit.

"Well…yes."

"Fantastic."

"Listen, Robin, we're on your side. We've all been trying to contact Batman."

"If you manage to talk to him—which I doubt you'll be able to do—then would you mind telling him how much of a prick he is?"

If there was anyone who could bring Bruce to his senses then it would be either Alfred or Clark. A lot of people in the League used to think that—because Robin was his adopted son and protégée—Dick could get closer to Bruce better than anyone could. But now that certainly wasn't the case.

"He's not a prick. He just gets a little…a little…"

"Obsessive? Yeah, I know what that's like."

And his friends thought that he was obsessive. Nothing would compare to the Dark Knight, who was going just a little overboard with the Joker.

"Why are you calling me?"

"He'll listen to you. I know you two don't talk too much anymore, but even if it doesn't seem like he's listening know that he is. Having you as a partner was one of the best things that ever happened to Bruce. Ever since you left to form the Titans Bruce has been acting worse. I'm just calling to tell you, on behalf of myself and of the Justice League, to talk to him. Please talk to him. And we also wanted to let you know that we all care about you and your friends."

Superman logged off before Robin could reply.

To his surprise, Robin found that Superman's words hit him harder that he originally thought. He clutched the communicator in a tight fist and brought it to his forehead. He wasn't going to cry again, but he still shut his eyes tightly.

It was astounding, sometimes, to think about the community of superheroes as a whole. Everyone knew everyone in this risky business. In a way, he was still a performer of sorts. Ever since his parents' deaths he never really left the world of flamboyant personalities and flagrant spandex uniforms. Everyone in the League, the Green Lantern Corps, the Justice Society and the Titans may not all be human, but everyone leaned on each other for support like a family.

He often wondered why, if Superman and Batman and everyone else cared for him so much, they did not come to help him when he was trapped as Slade's apprentice.

"Robin?"

Starfire stuck her head out of the doorway to look at him. He had almost forgotten that everyone was still waiting for him. Robin put his communicator away and strode back towards the interrogation room.

"I'll be doing the talking."

He ignored his teammates' low murmurs as he walked into the interrogation room. Even though he knew that he shouldn't do things alone, he couldn't help but continuously fall into this pattern. He heard them follow him.

"Hey Boy Blunder," Wolfman sneered.

He glared coldly at Mark Wolfman.

No one knew how pissed he felt. Since Bruce walked away he didn't call back. He wasn't sure if Bruce was still coming to Jump to help. Now Robin wasn't even sure if he still wanted Bruce to come.

"I am done playing games," Robin snarled, grasping Wolfman by the collar of his shirt. "Tell me, Wolfman, how many fistfights have you actually gotten yourself into?"

Wolfman shook his head, still smirking.

"Kid, you're not the Bat. Don't try to scare me. It won't work."

Why were people always comparing him to Batman? This only fueled the bad mood he was already in. When would he step out of Batman's shadow and become his own man?

"True. I'm not. But that doesn't mean that I can't try."

"Oh bird boy, you're no fun like this," Wolfman said, "whatever happened to the puns and shortpants?"

For once these insults didn't register in Robin's mind. They were juvenile. Harmless insults. Robin found himself smirking.

"Oh, the puns haven't left me. The thing is that I can be nasty when I want to be. Jump is tame compared to Gotham…and nothing the HIVE Headmistress taught could ever prepare you for the real world. I've seen people go insane. I've investigated murders and faced murderers. I've seen people die."

Suddenly all the horrors of Gotham City's underground came flooding back to him. He remembered chasing down the Joker with Batman and finding people literally dying of laughter as the Joker's laughing gas sank into their nervous systems. And, of course, he remembered watching his parents fall from the trapezes that had grown to love.

Crooks killed his parents. They were murderers. The criminals in Gotham didn't train in a prissy prep school for kiddie villains. They learned how to live the hard way.

"Have you ever seen anyone die, Wolfman? Anyone at all?"

The vandal looked a little unnerved at Robin's choice of interrogation techniques. Robin never lied when he said he learned from the best. Bruce taught him all that he knew and he was grateful for that. Robin suddenly understood that he wouldn't have to physically hurt Wolfman to get a response from him. Wolfman shook his head.

"How about having a gun shoved to your forehead by a psychopath? Or knowing that your whole way of life can be destroyed with the push of a button?" Robin didn't know where all of this was coming from. He hated this guy's flippant attitude towards Gothamites. In a way, Robin felt as if he knew more about crime than Wolfman did just because he grew up in Gotham. He wanted to show this guy that he wasn't a sissy kid playing hero in tights. "Or knowing that no matter what you do or say the screwball messing with you won't ever let you go? Criminals like the Joker will hire you, feed you spiked candy and laugh while you vomit your innards out."

He was so focused on his monologue that he didn't notice the horrified expressions on the Titans' faces. But he didn't care. This was what he grew up with. There was a hard core criminal class that used people like Wolfman to wipe the blood of their victims off of the streets. Those were the kind of people he dealt with when he worked with Batman. Robin let the vandal go. Wolfman slumped back into his chair.

"Criminals like you ruin lives—and I'm not just talking about the people you kill. There's collateral damage and messy cleanup."

Both Dr. Cipes and Menville stared at Robin in odd fascination. Robin wasn't aware just how creepy he sounded. But it was the truth. Gotham City was a tough neighborhood to grow up in, even for a circus boy.

These three people were key to figuring out this whole mystery. If Robin could get John Wyatt—that guy who wrote the Tamaran article in the Daily Planet—here he would. But it was fine just having these three here. Robin crossed his arms over his chest.

"So, gentlemen, do you have anything to say?"

Dr. Cipes shook his head in dumb silence. Wolfman looked a little shaken, but tried to keep a calm demeanor.

The guard spread his hands apart.

"How much time do you have left?"

"Next to none." Robin cocked his head to the side as a sudden thought occurred to him. "Menville, when did your employer contact you? Do you have his phone number or email address or—"

"After he bombed my front porch he sent me a disposable cell phone in the mail that had enough minutes for one call. He used that one call to tell me to free Cinderblock when I received a text to tell me to. This happened about nine months ago, just before Terra betrayed your team."

"What were the perpetrator's exact words?"

"He told me to wait. No matter how long it would take for my signal to arrive. If I didn't do it then he would make sure that everyone in my family would die."

Robin's eyes widened as he realized the implications of what Menville was saying. Again, though, Robin knew that his rivalry with Slade wasn't a secret. Everyone knew about how obsessive he got over the man. Anyone could have done this. The perpetrator was a patient fellow. It was likely that someone from among the Bat-villains could be doing this. Ra's al Ghul perhaps.

"Mr. Wolfman, when were you hired?"

"About the same time as him."

"And Dr. Cipes?"

"The same time. Once I contacted the Daily Planet money was transferred to my account. Police already tried tracking it, though, so I don't think you'll have any luck with that."

So they were all hired at the same time. Someone planned this out very carefully. Robin could tell that the suspects didn't know anything more. His eyes glanced at the clock on the wall. Time was running out. Whatever was going to happen could happen at any moment. He wasn't going to waste more time.

"Let's contact the HIVE."

A/N: Wow…Robin's just uber-pissed in this chapter, isn't he? Well, I would be too actually. Tell me if you think he's a little OOC. I also love writing Bruce's reactions to the whole apprentice thing because we just didn't get enough of Batman on the show (which was like, non-existent except for those few bats) and I'm quite sure Bruce would have something to say about it.

Oh, and BTW when I said that I left a hint in the last chapter I didn't necessarily mean that the hint was in THAT chapter now, did I?

Be awesome. Go review (not that you aren't awesome if you don't review, 'cause you definitely are if you're reading this).

P.S I joined Tumblr. My roomie coerced me. So now I have another website to rant about superheroes and DC Comics. Same username, but I have revealed my first name on Tumblr…

Haha…wow guys…I'm going to pass out now. See ya next week.