Disclaimed.

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'Fear'

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There weren't many things that Artemis feared, and the few things that she did fear were locked away neatly with the rest of her secrets. Her many, many secrets.

When Artemis did happen to come across the feeling of fear, she would focus and push the feeling away, converting it into rage. Into anger. Into anything other than fear.

So it is to be said that while Artemis does have her own share of fears and that she can indeed feel fear, she does not let her fear overcome her thoughts. Cloud her mind. Taint her actions.

The moment she reached their floor in the apartment building she felt fear. She paused, wide eyed, as she stared at the door that was jarred open and the broken pieces of a lock scattered about. In that moment, all Artemis felt was fear. Fear kept her feet planted to the ground as though they were made of cement and far too heavy for someone like her to move. Fear kept her eyes open, unblinking as she took in the scene. Fear caused her to tremble like a leaf attached to the highest branch of a tree. Artemis was consumed by fear and that fear was what compelled her to move swiftly all of a sudden.

Her mind wasn't even working, but somehow Artemis had edged into their apartment, phone in her hand as she listened to the emergency number operator.

"This is 9-1-1. What is your emergency?" The voice was all business, crisp and distinctly feminine. Artemis felt herself breathe out as the woman spoke. Her eyes took in the mess that was left in their apartment. Their home.

"Someone broke into our apartment," her voice cracked and she wished that she sounded as calm and cool as the woman at the other end of the line.

"Was anyone hurt, miss?" slightly concerned, but still formal.

"I'm – I'm not sure. My mom should be here," Artemis stopped, fear and panic rose in her chest. Her heart hurt as air filled her lungs and it was truly a painful moment before she began to function again. The hand holding the phone dropped to her side and the terror that clenched her heart forced her into movement once more. Her feet moved quickly as she mindlessly assessed the damage and their losses as she moved through their tiny apartment.

Their television. Gone.

Knick-knacks her mother adored. Half gone, half busted.

The lamp on the side table and the standing lamp in the corner. Both in pieces on the floor.

Most things were broken and the few things they had that had any worth were gone. Even their cordless phone had been taken, the base ripped from the wall abruptly.

Her mother's door was ajar and once more fear gripped her heart and squeezed hard as she nudged the door open with her toe, fists ready to take down an attacker.

"Mom…" Artemis' voice was automatic. Soft and heartbroken.

Paula Crock lay on the floor, eyes closed. A bat was had rolled a few inches from her slack hand and her wheelchair was overturned right next to her. Blood had pooled around her head from the large gash across her forehead.

Tears were already rolling down her face and Artemis moved to her mother's side. Her hand was still warm.

"Miss?...Miss? Is everything okay?" The now worried voice of the emergency operator drifted into her ears.

The small movement of her mother's chest caused her to drop the phone the floor and for it to search desperately for a pulse.

She found one.

Weak. Slow.

But it was there.

She grasped her mother's hand tightly, tears still rolling down her face as she snapped up her cell phone.

"Ma'am. I need an ambulance. Please. My mother she…" Artemis rattled off her mother's condition and the address. The woman affirmed that a police officer and an ambulance would be there in a matter of minutes. Her voice had become formal and crisp once more.

Artemis' heart still hurt as it thudded loudly in her chest. The blood was pump erratically and she could hear each beat of her own heart in her ears. She was certain that her mother would have been able to feel her heartbeat through the death grip on her hand, had she been awake.

Artemis stayed crouched next to her unconscious mother, listening to her own heart beat against her chest as tears rolled down her cheeks. Fear was still present.

"Police! We're coming in!" A yell from the front of the apartment snapped her head in the same direction.

"The back bedroom!" her voice was hoarse as she called out, surprising herself. Suddenly, there were more people in the room than what seemed to fit. Artemis was helped to her feet and moved out of the paramedic's way as he began to check her mother. She stood idly by as they began to load her up onto the gurney. She answered each of the cop's questions simply and mindlessly, no one bit of attitude leaked into her voice. They asked her if she would be riding to the hospital in the ambulance, but she declined after receiving a confirmation on her mother's recovery and the address of the hospital she would be taken to. She had things that would need to be prepared and done before she could visit.

Artemis would have to speak with the owner of the building to get the door fixed. Then she would have to increase the security in their shabby little apartment that they called home. She knew that Jade would want to know what was happening with their mother, even if she acted blasé about their relationship with their parents. Then, once everything was taken care of, she would hunt down the scum that dared to do this; carefully, not to alert the Batman of her actions. He wouldn't appreciate such a thing should he find out.

Artemis watched as they took her mother from the apartment and loaded her into the ambulance. The lights and sirens were turned on and they were gone. Artemis propped the door closed as best as she could for the time being as she dug through their cleaning supplies. Armed with a broom, dust pan, and a bucket of hot water and cleaning rags she exited the kitchen, still in her Gotham Academy uniform with her bag still strapped to her back.

He stood in the living room, surveying the disaster carefully. Artemis couldn't help thinking that he looked so out of place in his clean business suit that probably cost more than a month's rent. His blond hair was tame and his facial hair perfectly trimmed. When he locked eyes with his new prodigy, he sighed.

"Artemis, what happened?"

Artemis was careful sitting down the water and leaning the broom against the wall. She turned back to the Ollie, tears welling up in her eyes once more. Her bottom lip quivered and as Ollie stepped closer to the girl, she met him halfway. Wrapping her arms around his midsection, she buried her face into his clean, expensive suit jacket and cried. His arms were stiff around her shoulders, as he hugged her in return. He rubbed her back, and tried to shush her tears with optimistic promises that she knew to be untrue. Eventually, Ollie stopped with the words and just hugged the girl when he realized she cried harder every time he opened his mouth. Artemis wasn't sure how long it had been when she finally stopped. Ollie hugged her still.

Her voice was small. Too small for Artemis and that broke Ollie's heart. It was no louder than a whisper, but filled with so much emotion as she uttered the words.

"I was so scared."

So.
Tired.
I truly apologize to the short hiatus my stories have been on. I just got home a few hours ago from following an emergency air-vac last week. My sister is pregnant, blah blah blah. Something happened with the baby, blah blah blah. They had to take her to a hospital seven hours away (SEVEN HOURS!) and guess who had to drive the non-helicopter riders.

Me.

She and the baby are okay though, so no worries there. They're slated for release early this coming week. (Guess who has to drive back up there.)

Hopefully, you all had a happy Christmas/Holiday/weekend. And a Happy New Year to come as well.

On another note, We hit 100 reviews.
Score.
The lucky review that hit 100 was: anubislover.
The prize pack that this reviewer won includes:
A one-shot.
Less glamorous than we had hoped. Durn.

Now I'm going to bed.
Until next time.
(Soon. I promise.)