Okay, time for an update. And today is a special day, it's my birthday! So to celebrate, I'm posting a new chapter as verbal cake. Okay, the next two chapters are pre-written, so expect a fast update next week. I apologize for some of the legal stuff, I'll be attending law school next year, but I didn't know exactly how a legal proceeding would work here. But bear with me.

And for those who felt the chapter was too short, I included a lot more in this chapter, it's jam packed with action. So, Jinx has a very fun guest and does some very naughty things. And finally, it happens.

Clothes of sand have covered your face
Given you meaning but taken my place
So make your way on down to the sea
Something has taken you so far from me.

Does it now seem worth all the colour of skies
To see the earth through painted eyes
To look through panes of shaded glass
See the stains of winter's grass.

Can you now return to from where you came
Try to burn your changing name
Or with silver spoons and coloured light

-Nick Drake

Clothes of Sand

Wally opened his eye lazily. He was still sore, but he was feeling much better, which was always a good sign. He seemed to have all his limbs intact, which was always great to know. In his business, it was something worth noting when you were not in imminent peril. All that video game had knocked him out and he had been glad to rest. Now, if only he had some information on Jinx, his life would be perfect.

He was alone in the room, but he could hear voices from the kitchen through the vent. The sounds of pots and pans meant that lunch might just be coming. He hoped he wouldn't be on a liquid diet; he could definitely go for some pizza now. And hamburgers. And roast beef. All together. Now.

"Zatanna's doing better," he heard Uncle Barry report. "She still has no memories that she's been gone, but she still has her magic. Turned Black Canary into a cat and back again." Wally smiled, happy another super hero aunt had returned safe and sound from her trip to the demon realm.

"How wonderful," Aunt Iris said. "You heroes seem to have a knack for bouncing back," she said pleasantly. Always calm, that was his Auntie Iris. She had always been a pillar of strength to all of them and no one appreciated her enough. Sometimes, Wally wondered if they even noticed how much they needed her.

"Well, we face death on a daily basis. It's in the job description, as we can so plainly tell," Uncle Barry said, his voice horribly dark. "Zee still keeps talking about a baby, that she can't find her baby. She gets hysterical when we tell her the baby most likely died in the demon realm. That's what being a hero is, loss and sadness." There was a lot that was not being said, but hinted at passive aggressively.

"Wally knew what he was getting into, Barry. He's a hero too and despite it all, he's very mature for his age. He fought to save people's lives. I'm not happy he got injured, but he is alive. And that is all that matters." Wally had tried his best! He couldn't win them all.

"This is why I shouldn't be on duty! As long as I'm the Flash and Wally's out there, none of us are ever safe. Sometimes, sometimes I think I should turn in my suit, lock Wally's away and just send him to school at Sacred Heart down the street. Give him a normal life," Uncle Barry said. 'I can't bear to watch him suffer." Wally clutched his blankets, miserable at the pain he was causing his loved ones.

"You want suffering? The two of you are heroes. Benching you both would cause a lot of suffering, since you both would be miserable," Aunt Iris chided, always being her level-headed intelligent self. She was so strong, never saying a word as her family risked their lives around her. Would Jinx be that loyal to him?

"Wally's like my son. And now, with a baby on the way…what if our child is born with super speed? Will I have to send him out to possibly die for mankind? I may have read it on Sunday as a child, but I sure am not ready to do it," Barry said angrily. He had been going through a Gnostic streak lately and been doubting theology.

"Our baby isn't even born yet and already you worry about her or him?" Aunt Iris demanded. "Can't we just worry when the time comes?" When God created Aunt Iris, he had really done a miracle. She could cook and keep Uncle Barry calm.

"What other choice do I have? You see how I brought Wally home. I am not sure I can let him go again," Uncle Barry muttered, as dishes began to clink in the sink.

"I'm not sure he'll give you a choice. Even Rudy couldn't take the streak out of him," Iris said softly. "And you know how hard he tried." Wally scowled. His father had done everything to keep him on a certain path, ignoring Wally's own beliefs on the subject. He had never listened to him!

"Rudy wouldn't have let Wally come on an IV. He may have had communication issues, but he sure kept his child safe. I should send him to boarding school. Military school. That would do him some good, teach him how to handle himself properly in the line of fire," Uncle Barry mumbled, clattering around in the kitchen.

"The headmaster might notice that Wally can break the sound barrier while whistling Dixie," Aunt Iris reminded, her voice going lighter. "And you know that Wally starts acting out when he's bored. We have to accept he's not a normal boy."

"I should never have tried to heal him that way. If he dies in the line of duty, I will never be able to live with myself. And neither will you." Wally had to admit, he didn't fear dying as much as leaving behind broken hearted loved ones.

"You are turning into an old woman, Barry. You are a respected professor of criminology and a noted businessman. You have a wife who loves you and an adopted son who worships you, and another baby on the way. You have wonderful friends who care about you. You save the world on a consistent basis. I'd say you should be happy right now. Why do you always see the glass as half empty?" Aunt Iris demanded. Wally could picture her hands on her formally slim hips, glaring at her husband.

"You are wonderful, Iris. You are going to make a great mother. Sometimes I think you are the smartest one of all of us," Uncle Barry said affectionately and there was the sound of kissing. Wally was debating putting a pillow over his head to avoid hearing that. Not that he begrudged his aunt and uncle romance, but did he really have to hear it?

"Barry, he might hear us," Aunt Iris giggled, as the kissing sounds continued. "Behave yourself! What is Wally going to think if he hears this?"

"You're pregnant. Unless you're giving birth to said savior, I think he knows something is going on between us. But fine, I'll check up on the little rascal and make sure he's all right. But then tomorrow, I'm calling in a nurse for Wally and we're going to a hotel."
Wally quickly rolled back from the wall, and assumed the angelic patient position of looking helpless and adorable flat on his back. He couldn't let them know he had been able to listen to them for all these years. Then how could he get information?

"Hi, Wallace. Are you feeling better?" Uncle Barry said, still looking like he hadn't gotten any sleep. Wally sighed, realizing his uncle had stayed by his bedside again. This was starting to get a bit annoying. Not that he didn't love being with his uncle, but he was almost sixteen, he was quite capable of sleeping alone at night. Maybe it was just scaring him how close he had come to joining his parents in the great beyond.

"Yeah. Can we remove the IV now? It's a bit itchy," Wally mumbled. He hated lying down in bed. He was a superhero who could break the sound barrier, sitting in one place was complete and utter torture. He wanted to feel normal again, lying around like a wounded old grandpa was no fun at all.

"Wallace, your lungs were being attacked by the serum, to cut off your air supply as soon as you took into superspeed. You were poisoned. I'm trying to make sure you don't have another seizure," Uncle Barry said gravely, giving him a very worried glare. Damn it, Uncle Barry's eyes were red. He had been crying again. That hurt. "So deal with being itchy."

"I was poisoned?" Wally whispered, feeling a cold chill run down his spine as he processed that information. "I know that something happened but I … I just…lost control of my powers. I still have them, right?" he said, beginning to worry. Life without being Kid Flash was almost not worth living. If he lost his powers and was reduced to being some pathetic cripple in a chair, he'd have preferred being left in the building. He still hadn't forgiven himself for failing. He had let the Hamiltons die. He hadn't been able to help them.

Uncle Barry rubbed Wally's hands affectionately. "I was afraid of the same thing, my boy. Don't worry, your tests show that you have retained your super speed and the results were temporary."

Wally breathed a sigh of relief. "I would prefer that not happening to me again anytime soon," he quipped, still trying to crack a smile out of his uncle, but it fell weakly. "I…am sorry. I failed to save Doc Hamilton's family. I'm so sorry," he whispered, tears budding at his eye.

"It wasn't your fault, Wallace. It was a trap, set out to destroy you. Someone, someone who knew science and was able to get to your DNA created this serum and managed to get close enough to get it into you. Can you think of anyone I need to track down and punish?" Uncle Barry asked.

Wally shuddered, not liking the idea that he had been poisoned. It made him feel very frightened and vulnerable to the creeps he had tracked down. He knew that they would take revenge soon enough, but he hadn't actually expected he'd have been so affected. He pondered if it was a plot against the Hamiltons, but realized someone had taken a lot of trouble to try and take him out. "No, I can't think of anyone. I am careful, you know," he said, racking his brains.

"I can't imagine it would be mathematically possible for the fumes to form the exact combination needed to disrupt your powers." Uncle Barry mused, as he checked Wally's pulse.

A cold shudder passed through Wally's body. He knew someone with the knowledge and a possible motive to seeing him dead. Of course, he could tell Uncle Barry what happened, but that would only make things worse. "No." He had to keep lying, he was in too deep to stop.

"All right. I'll figure out what happened. I think I already have a very good lead. Have some work to do, got some good news in a case I've been working on. You rest and get well, my boy," Uncle Barry said affectionately, bending down and kissing the top of Wally's forehead. "I know it's under bad circumstances, but I am glad to have you home. I missed you. Don't tell your Aunt Iris, she doesn't want you to get spoiled but I'm buying you tickets to the concert you wanted to go to."

Wally learned back contently, wondering why he was being rewarded so much. Maybe God approved of his lying and wanted to reward him. 'Thanks," he said, with a terrible feeling that this couldn't last forever.


Jinx stared at the new person who had come to visit her and smirked. He didn't look so tough; she was expecting a lot worse. Then again, she was pretty bad herself, even shackled to a chair. "Need me chained up? Couldn't a big strong man like you handle me?" she purred, batting her eyelashes at him. The drugs had taken away her ability but not her intelligence.

Red rimmed green eyes stared back at her through a pair of thick glasses. He looked so pale, she wondered what his problem was and how she could exploit it. "My name is Dr. Allen. I'm here to offer you and your lawyer a chance to look at any evidence we have," he said quietly, a strange twangy accent marring his words. If he hadn't been so morose, he would have been cute. Soft blond hair and nice cheekbones, he had a geeky charm that she had seen before and remembered she had once liked.

"I'm touched by your kindness. Is this be nice to criminals day?" Jinx asked, rolling her eyes. "Or are you here to poke and swab me?" She hated blood tests, they made her feel nauseous.

"Your DNA is on file, I won't need further samples," Dr. Allen said blankly, handing her a neatly typed file of papers. "I am here to assist you. As a juvenile who has not been assigned a lawyer, you are entitled to receive aid and be made available all information the prosecution has."

"I don't need your help. You all think I burned down Star Labs and killed the people. You won't believe me anyway," Jinx sneered. It was ironic; she was actually telling the truth. She had nothing to do with the fire. Of course, as well argued, everyone said that. When you lied all time, people started assuming that the truth was something you avoided on principle.

"My opinion is inconsequential here. I am merely doing my job. I'm fairly busy, Miss Jennson so I think we should get to work as soon as possible," Dr. Allen said softly, opening another thick file. "Do you understand all the tests performed?" he asked.

"You're boring me. I don't care about the tests; you've all convicted me in abstentia. So…why not just send me back to juvvie and stop looking like the world came to an end on you." She knew him from somewhere. He seemed so familiar! Had she stolen his wallet once?

"I see," Dr. Allen said bitterly. "And the fact that ten innocent people died means nothing to you?" he asked. He stared at for a long moment, and adjusted his glasses. Jinx noticed a wedding ring and made a note that meant family issues. Always a fun thing to mock.

"You aren't my lawyer. I don't have to answer anything you say. I can see it in your eyes, just what you think of me. Don't bullshit me that you're on my side. You'd love to just strangle me." She was almost sure of it, she could feel the hatred radiating out of him. Or maybe it was the florescent light bulbs above their head.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Dr. Allen said coldly, standing over her. He was awfully tall and scary looking for a geek. "I am a professional. I am here as an expert. I present you no harm. I'm just here to make sure you get a fair trial." He didn't even sound like he believed it.

"You can't keep it together long enough to lie to me. It's not very professional. You've been crying a lot in the last few days. I can see it; your eye lids are puffy. There's a bruise on your hand, you recently punched a wall. Temper, Doctor, temper. You really should leave your problems at home. The wife cheating on you? The kids being rebels?" Jinx mocked, finally enjoying herself for the first time in days. "Come on, let's have a nice little chat."

Dr. Allen's eyes narrowed. "I don't think someone facing murder charges should be concerned about me," he hissed, his body shaking with rage. "Do you understand that you could be going away for the rest of your life? Do you have any care for your own life?" he demanded.

Jinx had him on the ropes now. Poor idiot didn't realize she was already plotting how to get busted out. "Now I can see you grabbing your pen, your knuckles are white. What did I do to you that you decide to take out your issues on me?" she asked.

For one moment, a look of such intense hatred flashed in the scientist's eyes that Jinx visibly leaned back. This guy wanted to kill her with his bare hands and this was very personal. "You are a menace to society. You are chaos, you are cruelty and you are everything I work to stop. You kill, you steal and you prey on the innocent. If it was up to me, you would be locked away where even the fleas couldn't find you." That look was so familiar to her. She had seen the same tilt to the chin when someone else had spoken to her.

"Owch," she forced herself to mock. There was something scary about this guy that extended beyond him being able to testify against her in court. He hated her much more than most police pigs did. "That actually hurt. Here I thought maybe we could have been friends." She'd have to hurt him a bit when she escaped, on principle.

Dr. Allen glared at her. "Does that answer your question? Then we can move on. Do you have any evidence proving your claims? Your lab work will be covered by the state."

Jinx's eyes widened as the idea came to her. She had seen him in the newspaper articles. "You're Wally's uncle!" she said, a pang of pain hitting her.

"What did you just say?" Dr. Allen asked, looking shocked. Now she had finally discovered the answer to the riddle. He was mourning the loss of his nephew and was taking it out on her. Jinx was impressed. In his ignorant grief, he had actually found the person responsible for his pain.

"Dr. Barry Allen. I know all about you. You're from Iowa, you graduated MIT and Princeton. Both Summa cum laude, aren't you a smart boy? Then you studied under Dr. Ira West where you met his daughter, journalist Iris West. You adopted Wally when he was eight, right?" she asked. A pang of misery hit her heart at the name of her murder victim paramour. If she hadn't numbed herself to the world, she would have teared up.

The look of anger briefly faded to one of shock. "My family is none of your concern," Dr. Allen whispered, looking very dangerous indeed. "Did you hurt them?" He looked like he was about to stop breathing.

Yes, she had, more than he could ever know. "So, how does feel to lose Wally?" Jinx said, hating him so very much. This was the perfect family that had kept the love of her life so annoyingly moral. If they had thrown him out on the streets, he would have been a Hive Kid with her, and they'd be celebrating their victory over the Titans together.

"Be quiet," Barry Allen hissed, clenching his fists. "This is not about me." He was so professional, but she had hit his most tender nerve and she had the power now. This man's poker face had been shattered, losing Wally had been to much for him. She mentally apologized to her mental Wally ghost. After killing him, she had lowered her standards a bit.

"Yes, I know. They most likely told you it was a car accident. And it's all your fault," Jinx sneered, as the pain and hatred and loneliness bubbled up inside her.

"What are you talking about?" Dr. Allen asked, but the look of terror in his eyes had answered the question of this being right. He was crying for a very specific person, the same person she had cried over.

"I'm asking if you are still sad about losing your nephew?" Jinx asked, knowing she was being sadistic and hoping it hurt. "It's a simple question. For someone with a PhD, you should be able to answer it."

"My personal business is none of your concern," Dr. Allen hissed icily. He adjusted his jacket self consciously. "We are here to discuss you."

"Don't you want to know what happened? I thought you'd like to know he died a hero. Not that you would know, but perhaps its better that way. He obviously didn't want you to know. I knew a lot more about him than you will ever know." She smirked and allowed herself a brief respite from mourning. "Things he never told you."

"And what did you know about him?" Dr. Allen asked in a low, angry tone. If not for the cameras, Jinx estimated he would have killed her. She didn't care, though. They deserved to know Wally belonged to her and her alone.

"I know so much about him. I know he liked mustard and that his favorite artist was Monet and that he had a scar on his hip from the car accident that killed his parents. I know that when he was eight, he tried to kill himself." That was something she had ferreted out during one of their conversation. She had never asked why Wally would do something like that, but she knew it would be a potent weapon. "The Flash saved him from throwing himself off Blake cliff. I suppose you weren't a very good uncle to him. It wasn't you who saved him, was it?"

Dr. Allen was the color of chalk now. "Are you finished now?" he asked, his eyes looking glassy. "Because I think this would be a good time to finish this interview."

"I'm just getting started. I know so many different things that the grave has locked away. Kinda a bad joke, that the last person who spoke to him was a wanted criminal. And now he's dead." And Jinx would never be happy again.

"And you claim you were the one who killed him?" Dr. Allen asked in a cold tone. Oh, that was too easy; she should hold back a little bit and savor the moment. But she was in prison and there was nothing else to do.

"No. I didn't. I would never have killed him. He was my lover. We were going to blow this joint and run off together. You see…he was Kid Flash." Jinx winked at him. Dropping the bomb was fun!

"Wally is in a wheelchair. Everyone knows that," Dr. Allen said skeptically, but there was a tic of terror in his voice. The room was so quiet that Jinx could hear the pounding of her own heart beat. This was a mental duel. She had been trained for this by the best and she would not disappoint. "You're lying."

"I know you won't believe me, but search his room at Dr. Hamilton's office. You'll find out everything he told you was a lie. He hated you all." Jinx was lying through her teeth, but it was the only way she could stop herself from crying. She couldn't stand to know that these people had kept them apart. Why couldn't; they have abandoned him so they could have gone to the Hive together? "That's why he never told you."

"So you expect me to believe my nephew is dead, but before he went, he was supposedly your lover and your accomplice in crime?" Barry Allen asked skeptically, but the anger in his voice gave away his feelings.

"Hard to believe he wasn't much of a saint," Jinx simpered, driving the knife as deeply as she could before twisting it.

"Wally is alive. He was in a car accident, but he's alive and well and recovering. He was released from the hospital." Jinx felt a flood of emotions hit her at once. Wally had pulled through, that magnificent bastard. She should have known he would save the day, and she should have waited for him. At least, she had a free conscience now.

"He is?" she breathed, relief flooding into her. "He's all right?" she asked, her body relaxing for the first time in days. And if he didn't know about the lipstick…she could still see him again. He would forgive her, she knew it. Everything was going to be all right. She closed her eyes in relief as emotion leaked back into her heart. She hadn't been able to kill him after all!

"Yes. He's still resting, but he's fine. I wouldn't let anything happen to him," Barry Allen said softly. He looked so angry at that moment, which terrified Jinx. Could he know that his nephew was a super hero? Could he even be the Martian Manhunter who could read her mind? This was definitely bad.

"He's incredible," Jinx whispered. He'd come to visit her, he'd help her. She wasn't alone in the world. Wally would come to rescue her. They would finally be together again. She'd tell him what Slade had told her and he would get the Justice League to take him down.

"He is not just my nephew. He's my foster son. I would die to protect him." There was another long look as Jinx felt herself being mentally weighed, measured and found dangerous. "And whatever relationship you think you had with him, I promise you one thing. You will never see him again. Where you are going…you will never get out. I will spend my life making sure you are kept where you can never hurt him or anyone else again," he said softly, bristling with anger. Then it hit her. She had just told his uncle his secrets, all of them. And she knew now that Wally's carefully constructed alibis, meant to protect their relationship had fallen completely apart.

"You don't understand. I was lying, I was just messing with you," Jinx begged, realizing that if Wally's secret was out, he wouldn't be able to rescue her.

"You have said quite enough. And I think I'll ask Wally if any of this is true. Forgive me if I think you're a little sociopath of a liar. Kid Flash…indeed…" he laughed. "My nephew, the super hero in a wheel chair. You're insane."

Jinx paled as the man stalked out, looking livid. She really should have left him. All she brought Wally was bad luck.

The door slammed, leaving her alone again.


Message on Titan Communicator: Wally, we found Jinx. Call me back. Dick.

AN-Yeah, I enjoy throwing a bomb into the mix and seeing what happens. Next chapter, everyone gets their punishment.