Another chapter!

I do not own DC. I do own Dr. Richards.

...

Dr. Richards woke up with a rush, sitting up fast from the small cot in the break room he looked around, his surrounding not immediately known. He rubbed the sleep from his face with both hands and staggered up from the small bed. He walked to the sink, his muscles sore, but he felt somewhat rested.

And thirsty. He had dry mouth.

Did someone drug me? What the–

"Hey, doc."

Richards turned towards the voice, finding Red Hood leaning against the door jam sans mask, a smirk on the younger man's face.

He turned on the faucet and splashed his face with water, waking himself up before he grabbed a few paper towels and confronted his visitor. "I take it my sugar wasn't Sweet N Low."

Jason pushed away from the door, "It was."

Richards gave him a look.

"That's just not all it was." Jason smiled. Richards just rolled his eyes, a little angry that he'd been drugged.

"I take it you had a good reason?"

Jason shrugged, "Sure, I wanted to make sure you didn't keel over before you fixed up my buddy."

Richards leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms as he smiled casually at a man most people were afraid to be in the same room with. Richards knew better. Looking at the clock he was surprised six hours had gone by. "I was on my way to sleep for a few hours before you so kindly helped me along."

Jason moved back towards the hall, laughing under his breath. "Yeah right, doc. Because coffee is a great way to fall asleep."

Richards smiled, rubbing his sore neck muscles as he watched the vigilante exit the room. He should be more angry, especially considering the trouble they were possibly facing with Luthor's serum problem. But he couldn't help but feel a little grateful, and something else...

Richards shook his thoughts away, grabbing a styrofoam cup, he walked to the coffee machine and started making himself a cup of coffee. Just as he started to pour, a rushing Betty caught his eye.

Betty was out of breath having walked briskly the whole way. Richards, poured a small bit of coffee in the cup, slugging the brown liquid down as fast as he could without burning his throat.

"Flash?"

Betty shook her head, a sudden urgency rushing into Richards' stomach.

"Luthor."

"Yes, doctor. He's coding." Betty said, rushing out the door with Richards hot on her trail.

The doctor tossed to up into the trash bin and ran down the hallway to bring one of the most powerful super villains in the world from the brink of death. The irony of how many of his friends the man had put in his OR and Emergency room was not lost on him, but a patient was a patient regardless of his deeds.

Running into the secure room, he was surprised to see Superman in the corner out of the way of medical personnel.

Jumping into action Richards ignored everything but the problem at hand.

"Okay, grab the crash cart, the patient is flatlining!" He commanded the room, shouting orders and executing action to save Luthor, the man sweating and pale.

He grabbed the paddles from an intern, concentrating he placed them in position on Luthor's chest, "Clear!"

Thump.

Nothing.

"Again!" He placed the paddles, "Clear!"

Thump.

The heart monitor let out a monotonous beep, the line going dead. Richards swore.

"Damnit, not today you ass!" Everyone in the room looked a bit surprised, but stayed steady, ready to act.

Richards placed the paddles one last time, "Give me a little more juice! Clear!"

Thump.

A moment, then...

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Richard's let out a sigh, relief flooding him as he saw the line spike up and down. Signs of life back in the man on the bed, the doctor almost forgetting for a moment he just saved a super villain. He handed the paddles back to a nurse, thanking her as he removed his gloves and looked down at Luthor with a small chuckle.

"It seems you do actually have a semblance of a heart, Mr. Luthor." Looking over at Superman, he saw the caped hero looking concerned.

Tossing the gloves in a nearby bin he grabbed Luthor's chart and rattled off a few directives for the nurses to follow and motioned for Superman to follow him out into the hall.

Superman followed, his brows creased in worry. "Is it the gunshot wound?"

Richards stopped a few yards away from the doorway, his voice quiet. "Unfortunately, no. I'd know how to treat a gunshot wound, but the gunshot wound has completely healed."

Superman's eyes widened, understanding in his eyes. "The serum."

Richards nodded, "The tox screen we ran on Luthor when he got here showed conclusive evidence he has a similar component that our John Doe did earlier. And as we know, things didn't end well for our friend."

Superman let out a groan, "What can we do?"

Richards crossed his arms, thinking as he spoke. "I'm going to run a few tests on our guest and see if we can do anything." Richards looked through the observation window at the unconscious criminal. "But with the scientist who made the concoction dead, I don't have any ideas except to base them off of his original subject..."

"You mean…"

Richards nodded, "Regrettably yes, I mean I'm going to have to ask Flash about it."

Superman frowned, shoulders slumping a bit. "Do you think he's up for it?"

"I don't really have any other choice. It's either that or let Luthor die on the Justice League's watch and as much of a pain as he is, we all know that isn't what you do." Richards rubbed his forehead, trying to rid himself of the headache slowly forming. Looking back at Superman, he took a deep breath, "And I'm a doctor. I took an oath and everything."

Superman grimaced, "Batman is going to be mad."

Richards sighed and began to walk down the long hall to Flash's room. "I know." Waving his hands in the air he walked away from the hero, "Be sure to say nice things about me at my funeral."

Superman smiled, "Doctor."

Richards paused, turning back to look at Superman.

"It's we. Not you. You're as much a part of the Justice League as I am." Superman said softly, eyes serious.

Richards was a little startled by the statement, but nodded and smiled back at the legend in front of him. He paused a moment looking like he would say something, but turned and walked down the hallway instead.

Superman just smiled and shook his head, watching a brave doctor walk to his almost certain doom.

...

I like my character, so sue me. (But please don't because I'm poor.)

As always, thanks for reading.