Still don't own Teen Titans. But I wish I did. It would make my year.

Hypnophobia. Fear of sleep.

"Weren't you afraid of…?" Beast Boy asked. The stone floor beneath him wasn't the most comfortable, but at least it kept out the wind. He shifted slightly, resting his head back.

Raven smiled at him, "Dying? Of course I was."

"How did you go through with it?" That was one thing he never understood about Trigon's ascension. Why did Raven just give in and let herself be, in every sense of the word, killed?

"I had to." She paused, the communicator shifting views as she passed it from one hand to the other.

"No, you didn't," he told her. "We would have fought him."

"Fought and died. Just like me. If we had stood together as regular Titans, we would have died." She stated it like a fact. Maybe she was right.

"So why go through with it then?"

"If I had stood and fought with you against my father's armies, he would have killed all of you before forcing me to become the portal," Raven said quietly. "By walking into it, I was able to plan it out. To give each of you a fighting chance at saving the world."

"You still…died." You'd think he'd be more accustomed to the word and concept of death, but honestly, when it was one of his friends, it truly terrified him.

She shrugged, "When given the choice, I'd choose dying for you over going on without you every time."

He hesitated, and then smirked, lightening the mood, "For me?"

Raven flushed. "For Star, Robin, Cyborg. And yes, for you."

Honestly surprised to hear her admit it, Beast Boy's grin tempered itself, becoming genuine. "You're a good friend, Rae. And you know I'd do the same for you. In a heartbeat." He watched the surprise flit across her face and added, "Though your life would become so much more boring without me."

"How could I go on?" She deadpanned.

He twisted his mouth to the side, "Well, I guess you're just gonna have to force yourself to get over me and try to live a half-life on your own."

"Good thing neither one of us will be making that choice again anytime soon," Raven said, a faint smile on her face.

He smiled back, "Good thing."

Beast Boy stared at Raven with heavy eyes, replaying those words over and over in his head – "I'd choose dying for you over going on without you every time," -and wishing she'd chosen differently, just this once. He couldn't help but feel he had been given the short end of that stick. It would have been easy to fall asleep. Much more difficult to keep on going alone.

She was hooked up to a whole slew of monitors and machines. He didn't know what half of them did and never bothered to ask. The nurses who came in tried to chat with him the first couple times, but after a day of his silence, they just came in, did their work, and left. An uneaten meal sat by the door. Raven certainly wasn't up to eating it.

She hadn't woken up nor even moved since she was brought out of the ICU. They had stitched up the gash in her side, splinted her broken bones, set the fractures to healing, and given her a transfusion. He really didn't care for that last one. It made her smell wrong. Robin and Cyborg had been excited after the first day, when it was clear that her injuries were healing up a lot faster than any normal person's. They thought it meant she'd be waking up soon. But that had been five days ago.

With her bones nearly healed and little left to speak of their fight other than slightly red scars, there shouldn't be any reason for her to still be asleep. And yet…

"Beast Boy?"

He didn't turn, recognizing Starfire's voice anywhere. She had been technically released from the hospital, although none of the Titans strayed far from it. Despite the fact that she'd made no move to talk about her experiences with Phobia, she had tried to apologize to each of the boys. All of them had brushed it away and they hadn't said any more about it.

The alien girl sat across from him, brushing Raven's hand with hers. "Hello, Raven."

Even though there was no response, it didn't deter Starfire from speaking. Beast Boy dully wondered if Starfire's daily visits and chats were for Raven's benefit or for his.

"Ms. Hawkins was taken into custody today. There were some concerns about transporting her, but it looks like the Justice League was made aware. Martian Manhunter arrived this morning to escort her to prison and set up some safeguards for the wardens," Starfire said quietly, her eyes never wavering from Raven's face.

"He attempted to awaken Dr. Light, but was unable to do so. Whatever you did to him must have been quite strong. He said that it was as if Light was awake and able to comprehend everything that went on around him, but he's unable to move, speak or open his eyes," Starfire didn't sound disappointed by that. "Martian Manhunter said that he would make no further attempt to release Light until you awakened. He seemed impressed," Starfire smiled slightly. "I think he'd be interested in sitting down and talking with you when you are better."

Beast Boy's hand tightened imperceptibly on Raven's at the mention of Light's name. He hadn't forgotten anything from their fight and he remembered in detail the look on Light's face when he went after Raven. That man could waste away in his hospital bed for all he cared.

"Robin mentioned returning home in the next couple of days. If you awakened, of course. It will be nice to return there. You haven't been back since before the Brotherhood, have you?" she asked Raven, as if she anticipated an answer. After a tense and silent moment, Starfire continued. "I stopped in once for a night when I was passing through, but without the rest of you there, it didn't quite feel like home."

Starfire was quiet for a minute, but Beast Boy didn't make any move to fill the stillness. Then he heard a faint sniff and Starfire's voice wavered slightly, "I wish you were awake. I know that you saw everything that Phobia did and I wish…I wish I had someone to talk to about it. Someone who understood without me having to explain it. Robin's tried, but I just can't…he would think differently of me."

She sniffed again, "Cyborg isn't speaking much. I think he feels that it's his fault, for taking so long to return to the gym. Robin swings between working like a fiend and spending time here or with me. He misses your opinion on things. He told me once that he felt he could speak with you about everything and you would always give him a straight answer, whether or not he wanted to hear it. You seem to know things about people without ever meeting them. You understand them. You know how people work and when Robin is too invested in things, he sometimes loses the ability to look at them from a distance. You always make things clearer. He needs someone like that."

Starfire took a moment and wiped her face. "Robin said that he would have been here, but he had to go down to the police station to finish writing out the reports. He'll probably be over later. Cyborg went with him to give his statement. Beast Boy gave his statement and yours a few days ago, so you won't have to worry about that. I've tried speaking with Beast Boy about leaving, but he refuses. I expect you'll be speaking to him when you realize how much time he's spent here."

He didn't rise up to her bait. He had been at her side ever since the ambulance. The only times he had left during the past six days were to use the bathroom or wash up quickly. Otherwise, he'd been here, just like he told her he would be. The police had come to the hospital to get his statement, but it had been Officer Campbell, who had been quick and understanding about it.

"Robin told me that-"

"Excuse me? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," someone said at the door.

The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but Beast Boy couldn't place it. He turned, making sure he knew who it was.

Martha stood in the door, her hands twisting together. "Hi. I don't…I don't know if you remember me, but I'm-"

"Martha," Beast Boy said, standing up. "No, I remember." His voice was hoarse with disuse. Honestly, he couldn't remember speaking much after Campbell had gotten his statement. "How are you feeling?" He motioned for her to come in and shook her hand.

Starfire pulled up another chair for Martha on Beast Boy's side of the bed. The girl smiled and took the seat, "I'm all right. I was just released an hour ago."

Beast Boy noticed Star's look and did the necessary introductions, "Star, this is Martha Staffers. Martha, this is Starfire, a friend. I'm not sure you remember Raven."

Martha's eyes were currently on the grey-skinned girl, "I remember her. She saved my eyes. And helped me. She got this from that man?"

Beast Boy returned to his chair, his hand slipping beneath Raven's with practiced ease, "Yeah."

"But she's…he didn't…?"

"No," he said firmly.

Martha breathed out in relief, "Good."

Beast Boy nodded, turning his attention back to Raven's face. "Yeah."

"How long has she been asleep?"

"Six days," Starfire answered, when it was clear Beast Boy wasn't going to answer. "She's been healing herself, but she hasn't woken up yet. Hopefully, it won't be long."

"And the two that did this to her, they're gone?" Martha asked.

"They're in custody, yes. The man that hurt you won't be able to hurt anyone else." Starfire was clever enough not to mention that Light was in the building. Martha didn't need any more reminders of that night.

"Good. That's good." She sat quietly for a minute before she sighed, "I guess, I just wanted to say thank you. To both of you. All of you."

"You don't need to. It's our job," Starfire said easily, smiling at the girl.

"I know. But I wanted to. When I heard Raven was here, I had to come and let her know that," Martha said. She stood up and touched Raven's wrist. In the process she brushed Beast Boy's fingers. "Thank you."

He didn't move or answer. Martha left shortly after, saying a quiet goodbye to Starfire on her way out. The alien didn't make any comment on his manners, but he felt her disapproval. He just couldn't bring himself to care.

Starfire stayed for a few minutes longer, talking with Raven about which Titans had been returned home, which villains still ran amok. Beast Boy tuned out, not really listening. She got up and left soon after, touching Beast Boy's shoulder as she passed by, but didn't say anything.

He remained in his seat, dozing in and out. He hadn't gotten a truly good night's sleep since she ended up in the hospital. Too many dreams. When he woke up for the fourth time, more than six hours had passed and he was just in time to see Starfire, Robin, and Cyborg entering.

"Hey, B," Cy said quietly. "How's she doing?"

Beast Boy shrugged, rolling his shoulders.

Robin passed him a bag, "I brought you some food. Please, eat it. I know you didn't eat anything yesterday or today, so please, just eat it?"

Beast Boy took the bag so as to avoid any arguments. He unwrapped the veggie burger and ate it in a four bites, tossing the wrapper in the trash. Robin made a sound like he was going to make some sort of comment, but he stopped himself. Beast Boy's stomach stopped the painful cramping it had been doing all day and got quiet.

Cyborg and Robin never stayed long when they visited Raven. Beast Boy couldn't find it in himself to get upset at them for that. They were incredibly busy and they knew he would call them if anything changed. They didn't need to stay with her and they still visited at least once every day.

"The doctors say they're not entirely sure why she isn't waking up," Robin said after they had finished their meals. "The damage to her head wasn't as extensive as the rest of her, which would be one of the only things to cause this type of coma."

"Wasn't a head injury," Beast Boy said.

He could nearly feel their surprise. He had only given Campbell a very basic statement, leaving out the more unbelievable aspects of the fight. He hadn't told his team much more beyond what they absolutely needed to know. In addition, Beast Boy was pretty sure that he hadn't spoken to Robin or Cy since Raven had arrived here.

"Then what was it?" Starfire asked quietly.

Beast Boy glanced up, "She used her soul self to keep Light contained. I think…it might have been damaged and then Phobia was going after her actual body at the same time. I don't think it's anything physical that's keeping her from waking up."

"Well…that's good, right? It's just a matter of time," Cyborg said.

Beast Boy shrugged, feeling his various cuts and bruises pull. "Maybe. Or maybe her fight with Light injured her more than she could handle. Maybe the physical damage was too much. You didn't hear her before the ambulance showed up. She wasn't…it wasn't looking good."

They all watched him, as if they expected him to break down. They'd just keep waiting. It wasn't going to happen. Not in front of them. And not when there was still a tiny shred of hope left. After a tense moment, Robin looked away from him and turned his attention onto Raven.

He stared at her, his jaw tight. "She'll be fine."

"She's died before and returned," Starfire added.

"It's just a matter of time." Cyborg stood up, nodding at the girl on the bed. "I'm going to head back to the hotel. Rob, Star?" They nodded and stood up, too. Cyborg looking at the changling. "B, do you think-"

"I'm staying here," he said, his tone broking no argument.

"All right. Sleep well, man." The cyborg patted him on the shoulder before leaving.

"Goodnight, Beast Boy." Starfire smiled and Robin nodded, tucking Star beneath his arm as they left the room.

And then there were two.

Beast Boy stood up, pacing around the room for a few minutes. He checked the clock, then walked to the door and pulled down the small set of shades. Then he shifted into a mouse, taking refuge beneath the bed. Moments later, the door opened and the nurse assigned to Raven's room checked her vitals and charts before turning off the light and shutting the door behind her. Beast Boy shifted back into his normal form, knowing that no one else would come in unless something drastic happened.

He took what had become his usual place at night, lying next to Raven on the tiny twin bed. Not wanting to move her, he lay on his side facing her with one arm over her stomach. He never slept long usually, but he might tonight. The time, worry, and stress were just starting to wear on him.

Here's the deal, he told her silently. I'll sleep right now, and in the morning we'll both wake up. Okay?

There wasn't even the vague sense of comprehension that usually came from their silent communications. It was like he was just talking into a void.

He tugged her closer, pressing his lips into her hair as his eyes closed. I miss you. Wake up.

The night passed in bursts of fitful dreams for Beast Boy. Dreams of the scene on the rooftop, dreams of blood, dreams of constant silence in response to his pleas. Still, he did he best to push them out of his head when he woke up, trying to get more sleep. Because if he slept long enough, she would have to honor their deal. Eventually, when he woke up, she'd be up and smiling at him.

"Poor little changling," a voice said from the doorway.

Beast Boy jumped out of the bed in a minute, between Raven and the door. He knew his growls would draw attention from the medical staff, but he couldn't stop. Light just smirked.

"Is she dead?" Light asked, as if he were checking the time.

Beast Boy didn't answer, but Light glanced beyond him to Raven's monitors. "Ah, just sleeping. I wonder what she's dreaming about. Or who."

Light took a step into Raven's room and Beast Boy was instantly in front of him, one hand on either side of the door, keeping Light out. "Come on, Light," Beast Boy said quietly. "Go ahead and make a move. I'm begging you."

"So eager for another fight?" Light asked, stepping back nonetheless, "I thought you righteous types frowned on excessive force."

"Killing you wouldn't be excessive enough."

"Perhaps not." Light looked past Beast Boy again, "She does look rather delectable, all vulnerable like that."

Beast Boy snarled and slammed Raven's door shut behind him, grabbing for Light's arm. "That's it, you're going to prison, either willingly or in a body bag but I'm not-"

He trailed off as Light's face smiled and said, "You never learn, do you?" Then he vanished. His heart frozen, Beast Boy turned back to Raven's room and pulled on the knob.

It didn't budge. Beast Boy looked in through the glass window – hadn't he drawn the shades before heading to sleep? – and saw a second Light leaning over Raven's bed.

"No!" Beast Boy yelled, slamming his fist on the door.

Light glanced up and smirked at the helpless changling. Beast Boy tried shifting into a bear or rhino or something that could break down the door, only to find that he was unable to. He couldn't do anything. Light bent down over Raven and all Beast Boy could do was watch and-

Beast Boy woke up, sitting straight up and his heart pounding as if he had been running a marathon. Raven was still asleep next to him. There was no one else in the room but him. Light was a few floors down, in a guarded room, in a coma-like state, completely incapable of anything. Everything was fine. He glanced down at the sleeping girl. Well, almost fine.

Knowing he wasn't about to get any sleep now, he got out of the bed and went into the bathroom. Splashing some lukewarm tap water on his face, Beast Boy tried to wipe away the last dregs of his nightmare. First real nightmare he'd ever had. Fantastic.

What would he do if she never woke up?

The thought came unbidden and unwanted, but there it was, out in his head now. No ignoring it any longer. His chest felt tight as he thought about it. What the hell would he do? Things just couldn't go back to normal. Could he live in Titan Tower every day, looking at all the places Raven once sat before he had ever gotten to know her? That'd be horrific.

'Course, he couldn't exactly stop being a Titan, either. Maybe he'd just continue on as he had been, handling assignments out of the country as needed. Only stopping in for short breaks with other Titans from time to time. He would be the perfect candidate for it. It was amazing how many people ignored a green bird flying around or failed to look down and see a green mouse. Plus, he could handle assignments in pretty much every climate – ocean, tundra, desert, sky. There was always an animal for the occasion. So, that's what he'd do. Go off on his own. Alone. At least he'd have his communicator, so he could still talk to Ra-

Ah. Right.

He wiped off his face with the small towel, pressing his palms into his eyes. Fact was, he wasn't going anywhere for the moment, so there was no point in considering any other routes right now. She'd probably wake up and everything would be fine. He wasn't going anywhere, not until she woke up. That was his job right now.

He walked back into the main room, leaving the light on in the bathroom and partially closing the door. He took up his regular seat, taking Raven's hand in his and using the other to prop up his chin. His eyes slid shut a couple of times and he kept jerking himself awake just before he fell.

"Why don't you just lie down?"

Beast Boy snorted and kept his eyes closed, "'Cause then I'll just have nightmares."

"I thought you didn't get nightmares."

"I do now, ever since you-" he cut himself off and froze. He managed a tight smile, "Oh, great. So I get to suffer through these kinds of dreams, too? Awesome."

He dreamed that her hand tightened on his, "Beast-"

"No," he said quietly. "I'm gonna wake up and you're still gonna be asleep and then it's all just gonna be that much worse."

He didn't dream anything else from her for at least two minutes and still he didn't move. If he opened his eyes now, she'd be asleep, because she'd never woken up. All he had to do was open his eyes for a second and look at what he already knew to be true. Just a second.

Beast Boy swallowed and opened his eyes.

Raven was watching him, a tired smile on her face. Her eyes were rather sunken in, as if she hadn't been sleeping for the past six days. Her skin was paler than it should be and her eyes were a little dull, but they were clearly open.

"You're awake," he told her. He didn't move an inch.

She smirked and sat up a little, "I noticed."

"And I'm not dreaming?"

"I don't think so, no. You could always pinch yourself to-"

"Ow."

"Hmm. Well, there you go. Not dreaming."

"Huh."

Raven stared at him for a second, her head tilting to the side as she squeezed his hand, "You're scarily calm about this. Are you sure you're okay?"

"You're awake."

She sighed and leaned forward, "Yes."

"For real?" he asked.

Raven grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him so he was sitting on top of the bed, touching her forehead to his. Yes. Real.

He hesitated for only a moment more before closing the rest of the space between them and hugging her tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt her arms wrap around him. "You are an idiot," he mumbled into her hair.

She tried to sound offended, but her words just came out muffled, spoken into his neck, "Pray tell, how am I an idiot again?"

"You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have gone after Light like you did and let Phobia go after you." He wouldn't tell her how terrified he had been when he had woken up and seen her lying on the floor, as if she was already dead. Light had made him angrier than he had ever been before, but he had never been so close to losing his control than when he had seen Phobia bring the bat down on Raven.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

He laughed shortly, kissing her temple, "No, you aren't. You'd do the exact same thing again when given the chance." His humor faded as he remembered the scene in the gym and he pulled her tighter against him, "I thought you were dead, Rae. I didn't…it was…"

"I'm so sorry," she repeated, quieter now.

Beast Boy let his arms loosen, bringing up both hands to cup her face. She smiled and wrapped her hands around his wrists. "I missed you," he told her.

"I missed you, too."

He glanced down at her mouth and dipped his head towards her-

The door swung open and a barrage of nurses and doctors entered, one of them speaking loudly, "You're awake! The monitors just went off and…"

Beast Boy slipped off the bed, leaving room for the medical staff to work, but kept a tight hold of Raven's hand. One nurse glared at him, "You shouldn't even be here at this hour, sir."

He met her gaze and didn't say a word. She must have seen something, because she flushed and backed down, turning her attention on to Raven. She answered question after question, but Beast Boy didn't pay any attention to what she was saying. Every few moments, he would squeeze Raven's hand and she would return the pressure, just letting him know she was all right.

When the questions finally began to slow, Raven smiled at him. Beast Boy felt every bit of tension just wash out of him. So what if Light was still alive and the JLA was getting involved and the past year had been hell on everyone. Beast Boy grinned and winked at her.

As long as he had her with him, he could handle anything else the universe had to throw at him.

Only a few more chapters left, guys. At least two, maybe more. Hope you'll stick with me through the end. :)