This chapter is dedicated to the three people who reviewed anonymously and made my day. Their reviews were long and heartfelt and I was so pleased and honored to get them. You guys made this update come faster, I was going to wait till Wednesdays, but you made me want to stay up late and get it done. I'd be honored if they would leave their email addresses in the review so I could thank them in person.

I actually had nearly 6,000 words for this scene, but I split up the chapter. This one was easy to write, but it was also gut-wrenching and horribly tough to write, because I literally had to just rip into my worst memories to get the emotional impact. Wow, I still have so much to do, but this chapter I think is one of my best pieces. I really think it will prepare me for going fully original.

I must apologize for some personal occasions prevented updates. I got a new job for the city council, and I am a masters' student. I also got into some law schools, got an apartment and went to Comic Con, plus constantly writing articles. Just to say, Comic Con was incredible, I networked like crazy, got two interesting new projects to work on with friends, met the voice actors I actually envisioned for Jinx and Kid and some interest by a publishing company was had for an original novel of mine. I am still excited about that one. I also met so many celebrities. On the bad side, I also had some major surgery and an illness which I happily recovered from. But enough on that, you want to know what happened.

I played the fool today
I just dream of vanishing into the crowd
Longing for home again
Home, is a feeling I buried in you

I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe

And I can't ask for things to be still again
No I can't ask if I could walk through the world in your eyes
Longing for home again
Home, is a feeling I buried in you

-Melissa Ethridge

Breathe

Wally and Aunt Iris were playing video games happily when they heard the door open. "Wally!" Both jumped at the shout as the door slam angrily. They had rarely heard the third member of the family act violently towards the furniture. "Iris, where's Wally?" his uncle's shaking voice asked. "We need to talk!"

A sinking feeling filled Wally's stomach. He was being called Wally, this was not a good sign. Whatever it was, the next few minutes would not be pleasant. "In here, Uncle," he whispered, hoping against hope he wasn't heard.

"Barry, is everything all right?" Aunt Iris said, looking like she was about to get the tranquilizers as the patriarch of the family walked in. He looked like he was about to have a stroke. His face was red and he kept clenching and unclenching his fists angrily.

"Ask our nephew. I think he would know the answer to that," Uncle Barry snapped, pointing an accusing finger at the shaking patient. "I think he has something to tell you about some things he's forgotten to mention. Like a certain villainess?" he bellowed furiously.

Wally felt the entire room spin as he realized the game was up. "Oh," was all he managed to say. The sound of his freedom and happiness being destroyed was much more horrible in reality than in his guilty thoughts. Suddenly, he wondered why he had kept this secret so long. It would have been so much easier to come clean and just take his medicine on his own terms. Now, he would be helpless.

"Am I missing something?" Aunt Iris asked, looking very confused at the entire affair. She wouldn't be for long.

"Ask your nephew, Iris. Maybe you can finally get some truth out of him," Uncle Barry said softly. "Apparently, he doesn't consider me worthy of his trust."

"Will you kindly quit ranting and just tell me what's happening? I'm all for yelling at him when he screws up, but I can't do this if you keep speaking in riddles," Iris demanded.

"I just visited Jinx in prison. She sends you her good wishes to Kid Flash. Seems she thinks Wally's dead, she knows his secret identity and is her paramour," Uncle Barry said in a cold tone, as he paced around the room.

Aunt Iris blanched. "I believe you had some things you left out on our phone calls home," she said, failing entirely on humor. In fact, she only made it worse.

Wally felt the blood drain from his face. Jinx had told him his secrets. How could she? "This can't be happening." The room seemed to get smaller and close in on him as his carefully orchestrated

"That's the first thing I said, Wally. That my nephew didn't just reveal his secret identity to a villain, but that he also slept with her. She told me all about you, things that you have never told anyone else. And considering your blabberings, you neglected to tell me any of this until it was too late!" Uncle Barry demanded.

Aunt Iris turned to Wally, horror-struck. "Is this true?" she demanded, looking so confused. He wished he could lie to her and make her believe everything was all right. "Because if you deny it, I will believe you. But you need to tell me the truth."

Ohhh, the truth, that wonderful rope that he had formed into a noose to hang himself with. Yes, she wanted the truth and that was the last thing she would hear before she realized how low he had fallen. "I'm sorry," Wally whimpered, curling up into a ball. The moment had finally come and it was worse than he could ever imagine. He had been so close to avoiding this whole incident.

"That was not the answer I was hoping to hear," Aunt Iris whispered icily. "So…apparently, you lied to all of us."

"Her voice sounds familiar. I had thought Starfire sounded strange, but like a fool, I trusted you!" Uncle Barry hissed, slamming his hand into the wall, and cracking it slightly. Aunt Iris didn't even bother scolding him for losing his temper. "Do you know how that feels, watching a villain smirk at you and reveals the most important secrets possible?" he demanded.

"I swear to you, I didn't mean for this to happen," Wally pleaded, breaking down into a frightened child begging for forgiveness and absolution. "Please…don't be angry."

"I have failed you completely. I thought I raised a responsible, mature young man who was capable of understanding the word responsibility. I have never been more ashamed of you than this moment. You have stabbed me in the back." Wally had been hearing his inner Flash conscience saying the same thing for weeks but hearing it for real was a whole new level of pain.

"Please, I didn't mean to," Wally begged, as he bit his lip to keep himself from breaking down. He could feel his lies shatttering before him.

"What didn't you mean to do? You didn't mean to lie to us? You didn't mean to get caught?" Aunt Iris asked in a cold tone, staring at her hands. She couldn't even look at him.

"Iris is right. You gave your word! And you broke it. You had so many chances to step forward, admit you were wrong and get help. But you decided that you had the right to just do what you want and not care what damage you've wrecked." Uncle Barry paced the room at lightning speed for a brief second before returning to the bedside.

"Please, just listen to me," Wally wimpered, as he laid his head back down on the pillow and wondered where the morphine was. "I can explain." He couldn't, but it sounded better than he was a just piece of treason and should be sent to an ice planet for life.

"Be quiet! I'm not finished yelling at you. You'll have your chance to speak soon enough, but I have a lot to say to you first." Uncle Barry was yelling and Aunt Iris had gone cold. This was the worst levels of their anger. Wally closed his eyes and waited for the axe to fall. "Everything I have done, I have done to protect you. And in a fit of hormones, you put everyone's life in danger. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am," Uncle Barry snapped, sitting down in a chair. "I am ashamed of you."

"I know," Wally whimpered. There was a point where he had once believed himself not just a good guy, but one of the best. That was a long time ago, wasn't it? It seemed like it. He remembered a time before lies were his daily existance. "You're right."

"And here, here's some fun news. Why don't you mention to your aunt that you slept with Jinx? She knew about the scars you have, she had obviously seen you undressed. You not only took off your mask, you actually…slept with a villain, someone who would as much kiss you as sell you for parts," Uncle Barry demanded. "How stupid can you act?" It was a fair question. Wally had promised to talk to him if something big came up and he knew this qualified. He had just been afraid to disappoint him.

"I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know the right words to say," Wally mumbled, knowing how horrible that sounded. He had broken Uncle Barry's trust. He was the worst student in the world.

"The right words? Hi, Uncle Barry, oh person who loves me like a father and wants the best for me. I think I have a problem and need some help. How hard was that?" Uncle Barry thundered, actually turning red for a moment with rage.

"I didn't want to disappoint you. I knew you wouldn't approve," Wally pleaded, wondering if covering his face with the covers would help the situation.

"Well, you certainly disappointed me now. Do you remember what happened when you fell into the hands of criminals?" Uncle Barry demanded. "I remember a very frightened, battered little boy who was lucky to escape with his life. I thought that experience would teach you a lesson about what criminals were."

Wally closed his eyes, remembering that experience. "I didn't forget what happened. I just refuse to let it make me angry and bitter and judgmental. I still want to see the best in people, just like you taught me," Wally said, knowing that was a very smart move. Make him think he was trying to emulate him.

"And seeing the best in her nearly killed you. I did not teach you to let your guard down and let your identity be compromised, did I?" Uncle Barry demanded angrily, giving Wally a look of intense fury.

"No sir," Wally whispered. That attempt had failed miserably. He braced himself, knowing the worst was yet to come.

"And you took her...to Star Labs. To your safe place provided to protect your identity," Uncle Barry said softly, his tone ringing with fury. "Have you completely lost your mind?" he demanded.

"I...thought I could trust her," Wally whispered, wondering if he had been wrong. He had almost taken her to the Tower and to his home in Central city. "She couldn't have started the fire." He had been with her the entire time; she had been too far away from the building to do anything.

"You risked your life, your identity, the entire Justice League, do you understand that?" Uncle Barry snapped, his voice lowering to a very angry pitch. "All for some two bit little criminal slut who could have killed you! Do you know what losing you would have done to your aunt and I? I can't believe you would act so recklessly. You put all of our lives in danger."

"It wasn't like that at all," Wally pleaded, as he tried to calm down his uncle. He had only seen him this angry twice and neither had been a very pleasant experience. "I love her. I didn't mean for it to explode like this."

"I didn't mean for it to explode like this," Uncle Barry imitated savagely. "What did you expect would happen when you gave your heart to a little…hooligan who tried to kill you? Did you expect she would just go and be good and the two of you would just run off into the sunset?"

"Yes," Wally whispered, hanging his head. "I saw good in her. I thought I could help her." Had that all been a selfish ploy? He had seen a beautiful girl and painted her in the colors he wanted to see her in.

"I heard quite differently. She said you were going to walk out on me, and the League?" Uncle Barry asked, in a strangely calm voice. "Would I have even been invited to the wedding?"

Run off with her? Jinx had said they were on the same side, that she was going good for him. "No, I swear it. I would never do that," Wally pleaded, feeling completely destroyed.

"I wish I could believe you. But so far, all I have heard out of your mouth lately are lies. I can't tell when you're telling the truth. You have completely destroyed my trust in you," Uncle Barry snapped. "I need to make some phone calls. Apparently, I need to find out the truth from some people. You will sit here and compose yourself. I'm not finished with you." He turned and slammed the door on his way out.

Aunt Iris stared at him, pale. She had sat silently through the entire dressing down, and tears had filled her pretty eyes. Wally was officially the lowest person in humanity. "Please, you're my best friend, don't be angry at me," he pleaded.

"Wally…I can't understand with you right now. If Rudy were here…I think he'd say I did the worst job imaginable raising you. You have always been my special kid, the person I looked to when I needed hope for humanity. You were mischievous, but you always showed a love of life and justice that was contagious," Aunt Iris whispered, looking horrified. She clutched her stomach.

Wally panicked. "Is the baby all right?" he begged. If he made his aunt ill, he'd throw himself into the sun. He had done nothing but cause them trouble from the moment he had joined the family. He couldn't bear to make their lives worse.

"I'm fine. I'm just nauseous. But didn't you understand that risking your life hurts me? God, Wally, you and Barry are all I have left. Charlotte's not much family and Dad has brain damage, you two are my family. You don't have a right to risk your life and leave me alone. Didn't you know how much losing you would have killed me? Killed your uncle Barry?" she said. "Was this girl really worth losing your life?"

It was a question he really hadn't considered. "I think so. I don't know, I was sure I knew her, I was sure she was the girl for me. I never thought things would get this terrible," Wally explained, burying his head in his hands. He was so ashamed of himself and he didn't see any way of getting back in his uncle's good graces in the next century.

"Wally, what have you done to yourself?" Iris asked. "I promised Barry I wouldn't interfere with your hero life. I stepped back and I let you go it alone. I blame myself. I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have let you become a hero, but I thought you could handle it."

"I thought I could handle it too," Wally whispered. "I don't know where it all went wrong. I tried so hard to make things work. I know you think I'm a liar…but I swear that much is true. I swear it on Mom and Dad." It was the only promise he truly held sacred.

A small part of Aunt Iris's frown turned into a sad smile. "That part, I believe you. You are many things, but you are someone who wants to do right, even if you don't think it through. And even though I'm half inclined to strangle you with your own suit, I'm going to be here for you through this, whatever happens."

"What is he going to do with me?" Wally whispered. Aunt Iris could predict her husband better than anyone else. "Please, I know he's angry, but he'll forgive me, won't he?" he pleaded. He couldn't live like this for much longer, he'd lose his mind from the guilt and the anger.

"He will never stop loving you, Wally, but you will have to face the music on this. I think he'd have spanked you if you weren't so ill," Aunt Iris said softly.

Ordinarily, that would have phased him, but this time, it seemed like a relief. "I'd have taken three spankings if he would stop looking at me like I was the worst villain he had ever seen," Wally pleaded, tears falling down his cheeks. "I know I screwed up, but I am so sorry. "

"You're so independent, kiddo. But you're still a kid. I know you didn't want to burden us, but that is no excuse to break the rules," Aunt Iris said softly, as she adjusted the blanket to keep him warm. "We deserve better from you. You hurt us more than anything we could ever imagine."

"I never wanted to cause you pain. I just thought I had it all under control," Wally whispered, the pain radiating from every fiber of his body. "I just…the lies kept coming and I wanted to stop. I was so upset about it, but I just didn't know what to do." It was like running so fast, he didn't know how to stop before he got hurt.

"If you were so sorry, why didn't you tell us earlier? You aren't sorry for what you did, you're sorry you got caught. And that worries me a great deal. You would have kept lying to us, had you not been found out. That I can't forgive. I never expected you to go through life without making mistakes. But lying to us isn't one I can forgive easily."

"Quite right. You said it better than I ever could. But Iris, love, would you mind leaving the room? I don't think you'll enjoy seeing what comes next," Uncle Barry said, coming into the room. His hands were shaking, but at least he seemed to have calmed down from the rage.

Wally had latched on to her hand. "No," he pleaded. "Please don't leave." He knew his uncle wouldn't actually hurt him, but he didn't think he could survive bad news without his aunt's softening influence.

Iris gently detached his hand from hers. "Barry, he's our boy. Remember that," she said, kissing Wally's cheek. "And you, you need to face up to what you did. Take it like a West," she whispered, patting his hand before walking out, leaving him alone with a very angry hero.

Wally stared up at his uncle with obvious terror, helpless to escape his fate. "I have decided what will happen. You are going to face me. And you are going to tell me every single lie, every explicit order disobeyed, I need to know every precise detail. I figured we agree Iris doesn't need to hear the extent you have shamed us all," Uncle Barry intoned, sitting down on the chair next to the bed. Wally nodded quickly, hanging his head.

" And heaven help me, if you leave one thing out, I will find some way of making you the sorriest apprentice to a hero ever known to mankind," Uncle Barry continued in a low tone. "Believe me; you do not want to test me right now."

"No, I don't," Wally whispered. "Believe me, you have me scared. I get it, I'm on thin ice." He wondered what those consquences would be. There were holding cells on the Watchtower that could hold even a Flash. So he began to talk, all the messy details.

He discussed how he had seen her with the Hive Five, how he had saved her from Madam Rouge and how she had saved him in return. He mentioned the secret dates, the lying to everyone about the mysterious girl on his arm. From the angle of memory, he was seeing what a patsy he had been.

"And then after we went shopping, I just got annoyed so Jinx…she gave me a joint. And I didn't mean to smoke it, but I just couldn't help myself. I just wanted to try it. I didn't think it would be so bad. But Superman caught me and I conned him out of telling you. I know…I shouldn't have…and I don't take drugs anymore, please…" he said, admitting to the drugs. The look of fury in his uncle's face broke him. "Please, don't make me say anymore now. I'll finish it later," he wept pitifully. He was so exhausted, he just wanted to curl up into a ball and hope that sleep would take him.

"You will tell me everything you know on the matter," Uncle Barry said coldly. There was no warm glimmer of recognition in his eyes. It was just Dr. Allen, expert criminologist and some punk kid who had gotten caught red handed.

Wally couldn't even get the words out of his mouth. 'Please…give me a second," he begged, unable to see straight. Tears had blinded him and left him completely helpless to do anything but wish he was dead. And his uncle had not even offered him a single word of comfort. "For the love of God, try and pretend I'm your family and have some mercy on me," he spat angrily.

"I said continue. You aren't my nephew right now. You're a possible collaborator with a criminal. You don't get to throw yourself on my mercy anymore. I am not going to protect you. And for the record on being family, I…wish I would have never given you powers. You don't deserve them. You treat them like a plaything instead of a responsibility and an honor. You are spoiled and reckless and thoughtless." The coldness of the words actually made Wally gasp in pain. Uncle Barry had never spoken to him so harshly. It was worse than getting slapped around by villains. "Now get on with it. First, are you taking drugs anymore?" he intoned.

"No," Wally sobbed, miserably, completely and emotionally beaten by the verbal tirade. "You can check my blood work." He hoped all traces of the drugs would be gone by then.

"I plan to. So, you were hiding drugs from me as well. Sex, drugs, lies, what lows haven't you stooped to?" Uncle Barry asked icily, as he took a sip of water with a shaking hand. "Am I going to hear of grand theft added to your charming tale or can I at least be spared that bit of humiliation?"

Wally's sobs grew louder. 'I'm a rotten worthless hooligan. Is that what you want to hear?" he demanded, forgoing the meek penitent act for the moment. "Why are you doing this to me? Don't you think I hate myself enough right now?" Why did he have to keep twisting the knife?

"Do not talk back to me. For all I know, Jinx could be selling your identity in prison. That's one step closer to me losing my secret and people coming after our family. So unless you want to be responsible for more pain and suffering, finish your testimony," Uncle Barry snapped, giving him a glare that could freeze beer in July.

The thought of hurting his family further was too much for the young hero. So Wally choked out every single poisonous word, feeling completely rejected. The rack would have been easier. "Jinx and I then had a big fight because I said I wouldn't turn bad for her. I ran off and got captured by Poison Ivy. I know, I got sloppy, but Jinx saved me. She risked her life and carried me home. That's why I had welts on my back. Poison Ivy would have choked me to death if she hadn't come. You see, she is good!" he said, clutching to the point like a lifeline. Even he was beginning to doubt himself and his girl.

"And do you think it's possible that she just didn't want Poison Ivy to have you under her control, since you were being such a patsy," Uncle Barry snapped. "You know, I didn't think all my lessons would have flown out of your ears. So…what's next on the hall of shame?" he demanded.

Wally gasped in pain at the harsh words. He recounted the story of his injury quietly, wishing for the pain to end. As he did, the pain grew and swelled around him, making him cry harder. "I lied to you and Robin, pretending I was sick to get information. That's everything. I swear it, on my parent's graves," he gagged, completely hysterical. "I'm sorry, please don't do this to me. I can't take it anymore."

Uncle Barry didn't even look at him. "You did it to yourself, and everyone around you." Without another word, he rose and walked out of the room without a glance backwards. He wasn't an uncle anymore, he was a jailer. "I would have helped you, you know."

Wally wasn't his precious nephew, he wasn't his apprentice. He was being treated the way he had treated…criminals. And in many ways, that was what he was. He was a traitor to his own friends and family. "I know. And I'm sorry."

"I wish I could verify if you were telling me the truth." There was no need to mention that he was confined to his room and that leaving would have dire consequences. It was understood by both without words. But he kept hoping for one word, anything to reassure him. "I wonder if you even care how much pain you caused us."

As the door clicked to lock, there was a long silence punctuated by footsteps walking away. Wally buried his head in his pillow and howled in pain, soaking the pillow with more tears. He had been punished many times by his uncle and he could say it had never been unfair or unwarrented. He had gotten his just desserts and had accepted them as payment for his sins.

But he had never felt abandoned before. After he had endured his due, he was hugged and told how much he was cherished. This feeling of being unloved was one of the worst feelings to be endured. As he sobbed himself to sleep, he kept realizing he was all alone, he was a failure and his own family hated him.

Jinx had lied about him. She didn't love him at all.

All the lies, all the pain and it hadn't even been worth it.

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AN-Yes, Barry was horribly harsh, but can you blame him, he lost his temper and he's really mad. This is going to be a fascinating arc, we have everything going to hell and a big big twist next chapter. You are going to see Barry, Jinx and Wally pushed to their limits, this much I can promise you. And if you think Barry was harsh, remember how people act during arguments. They just explode.

And for the threee anonymous reviewers, please visit my website livejournal, where I have answered your reviews and discussed them. It should be up by tomorrow.