Connor was about to fly through the entrance of the Cave with Jaime. They had dropped Solomon Grundy off at Belle Reve. Hopefully the zombie would be out of the Team's hair for a while. The Bioship was parked in his usual spot, but what surprised Connor was that he could hear a faint heartbeat coming from it. Using his infra red vision he could see notice that two bodies were in there. One body was wrapped up, and the other one didn't have a heat signature at all. That body was dead.

"What's wrong," asked Jaime flying next to him.

"There are two people inside the Bioship, one of them is tied up and the other is dead," explained Connor.

"Do you know who they are?"

"Let's just get inside and coordinate with Gamma."

Jaime nodded and they both entered the Cave together. Once they entered the mission briefing room, Connor's heart did a back flip when he saw that M'Gann was okay. Everyone from Gamma Squad was there except for Bumblebee. He had his answer but unfortunately Jaime was a bit more naïve.

"Where's Bumblebee," he asked.

Kaldur looked at him with his arms folded and said," I am sorry, she didn't make it Blue Beetle."

Jaime didn't speak for a long time. Then he asked," Karen's dead?"

Connor asked," what happened?"

Zatanna wiped her eyes. Her make-up was smeared. "Garth was responsible for the attack in Nebraska. Kaldur was fighting him but Bumblebee was determined to help him out, but Garth was too strong and he killed her."

"He's on the Bioship?"

"Yes."

Artemis spoke up and said," how did things go in Texas?"

"Solomon Grundy was attacking the city of Houston."

"But why," asked Kaldur. "Grundy's a follower not a leader. He isn't one to just attack a city for no reason."

"Well we know it's the Light again," said M'Gann.

That got Connor's attention. "How do you know?"

"Garth was preparing to tell us everything about the Light," explained Zatanna. "But as he was telling us, he went into a coma that M'Gann couldn't pull him out of. We're hoping Manhunter can once this threat is over."

Connor looked over at Jaime. The kid looked like holy hell, this had been one helluva of a first day on the Team. He put his arm around the kid and they started walking towards the zeta tube.

"C'mon Jaime I'll take you home," he said.

Jaime said quietly," you don't have to do that Connor."

"I wasn't asking for your permission."

"Look at you Connor being all nice to the freshman," teased Artemis.

He didn't respond he just smiled. Just before they got to the tubes they heard Zatanna ask, "what happened to La'Gaan's forehead?"

Connor smiled and the zeta tube activated; and just before him and Jaime went through it he said, "he accidentally ran into a steel wall."

30 minutes later

"And that's how my friends found me," explained Connor. He had been telling Jaime the story of house Wally, Kaldur, and Dick saved him from Cadmus. Normally he didn't just tell that to anybody, Jaime was different though. He was alright. He was definitely more agreeable than La'Gaan. As they were walking down the street Jaime tripped and fell. Connor smirked and helped him up," careful kid."

Jaime was smiling as he got back up and as he was fixing his sweatshirt that was when Connor saw it. A bruise on his stomach, Connor stopped him before he could fix it.

He got on his knees and examined it and then asked," Jaime who did this?"

Jaime stiffened and said," no one. I fell."

He was obviously lying but Connor wasn't going to pry; not yet anyway. When they reached Jaime's front door, the kid got kind of depressed, but Connor didn't know why. The kid had a pretty nice two story house. It made him wish that his Dad had a job that paid a lot more, but he loved it at the Daily Planet. He watched as Jaime opened the door with a key but before he turned the knob the door flung open.

A man grabbed Jaime by the ear and yelled," where the hell have you been?"

Connor finally had the last piece to the puzzle. He had to resist grabbing the man by the throat. He simply said," I've been helping Jaime with his studying. My name is Connor Kent; I'm part of a mentoring program at Happy Harbor High."

"I'm Jaime's stepfather, Jack. I didn't know he was in any mentoring program, but you're wasting your time. This kid is dumb as hell and that's not going to change."

Connor took another deep breath. He was one minute into meeting this man and he already wanted to punch in his ribs.

"Jaime grades are already improving, just give it time," said Connor.

"You'll forgive me if I don't believe you." Jack let Jaime go and out of the corner of his eye Connor could see a portion of Jaime's armor retracting back under his sweatshirt. At least he and the Scarab agreed on one thing. Jack was a problem that needed to be dealt with.

"Thanks for the help today with math Connor," said Jaime.

Connor smiled and said," no problem, tomorrow we'll work on science."

They shook hands and Jaime went inside. As Jack was closing the door Connor grabbed him by his wrist hard and brought him to his knees. "I'm only going to say this once and once only," growled Connor. "If I see one bruise, cut, anything on him tomorrow or any other day after tonight, you're going to regret it."

Jack winced in pain and said," you don't know who you're dealing with boy. I pay the bills here I'll treat him as I please and I'll call the police on you for threatening me."

To show that he meant business, Connor spraigned Jack's wrist. Jack screamed and held his wrist in pain. He tried to go into the house but Connor grabbed him by his leg.

"I'll break every fucking bone in your body if you even think about hurting him again. Do you understand?"

Jack glared at him and nodded. Connor smiled and let Jack go, and he ran in the house. Connor heard a window open and he looked up. Jaime was smiling at him. Connor gave him smile a thumbs up and jumped into the air and headed back to the Cave. When he got back into the Cave Dick was there but Tim was no where to be found.

"Where's Tim, "asked Connor. Please not two deaths in one day.

"Relax," said Dick. "He's fine, just knocked out." Dick paused for a minute before saying, "just like La'Gaan."

Connor rolled his eyes and said," he was getting on my nerves."

Kaldur had a look of shock on his face and he said," are you sure it was him?"

"Absolutely positive," replied Dick.

What were they talking about thought Connor.

"Recognized Kid Flash B03"

Dick slapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh shit," he muttered.

Wally limped through the zeta tube. He was bleeding from the mouth and one of his arms was obviously broken. He walked right up to Dick and as hard as he could muster, punched him right in the face with his good arm.

"WHOA"

"HEY"

"WALLY!"

"DICK ARE YOU ALRIGHT"

Connor gently restrained Wally but he could still holler. "DUDE WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU," Wally bellowed at him. Dick glared at him. He was supporting a busted lip.

"I'm sorry Wally, but something came up."

"If John Stewart hadn't show up I was going to get my ass killed! What was so goddamn important that you left me to fight a super ape with an intellect as good as Batman's alone?"

Dick was silent for a second then uttered," Jason."

Wally stopped struggling and said," Todd?" Dick shook his head yes. "I thought the clown killed him."

"So did I, but apparently he's still alive."

"That's impossible."

"I wish it was, he's working with the Light."

"So do you think Grundy is apart of the Light now too," asked Connor.

"I would think no," said Artemis. "Everyone we've fought in the Light have been really strong and smart. Grundy is just strong perhaps it was just a coincidence that he was attacking Texas."

M'Gann folded her arms and said," with the way things are going there are no coincidences. Someone sent Grundy to Texas."

Zatanna nodded her head and said," but who and why?"

"Recognized Batman 02, Martian Manhunter 07"

"We will discuss this later," said Dick.

"Should we tell them everything," asked Kaldur.

"No," said Connor. "Not yet."

"The Omega Level threat is over," said Batman.

"Who was attacking, "asked Artemis.

"We do not know," said Martian Manhunter. "We stood on the Watchtower for five hours and not one thing attacked."

"This gets better and better," said Wally as Zatanna healed his arm.

"How did your missions go?"

"They didn't go as planned Unce J'onn," said M'Gann.

"Start talking," said Batman.

So for the next hour: Dick, Connor, and Kaldur explained what happened on the mission. From Solomon Grundy, to Bumblebee dying and Garth becoming comatose, and Jason Todd's return.

When they finished talking, Batman turned to Dick and said," are you sure it was Jason?"

"I would recognize that voice anywhere," said Dick. "And the fighting style too. He countered a move that only you, Superman, and Superboy know how to deflect. Any one else gets brought down by that move, even Black Canary."

The Dark Knight was silent then he said," you, Barbara and Tim can watch Gotham tonight, I have work to do." Dick nodded. "J'onn, examine Garth's mind back in Atlantis, see if the Atlanteans can find out what's wrong with him first. If they can't do anything tell Orrin I want him brought to the Watchtower for further examinations." The Dark Knight left to no doubt go and investigate the cameras at where the bank was robbed.

Manhunter nodded. "M'Gann show me where Garth is please."

"Of course."

As M'Gann was leaving the area with her Uncle, she blew Connor a kiss.

"I'm going home to Metropolis tonight," he said only to her.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow and don't forget about Thursday," she responded.

Connor nodded to everyone exited the Cave and flew home.

20 minutes later

Connor opened the door to the house.

"Connor!"

He was literally tackled into the hallway. Normally when people tried to tackle him, they broke their necks. When his four year old half Kryptonian little brother James Kent did it, he fell down several feet back.

Connor rubbed his brother's head. "I thought I asked you to stop doing that. No one wants to get tackled as soon as they get home."

He put James on his shoulder and the boy said," I know, but it's fun."

James of course, looked just like a younger version of himself. Clark's Kryptonian DNA was obviously dominant in the boy as well. He got up and they walked in the house, Clark and Lois were on the couch both on laptops doing work.

"James go and brush your teeth," ordered Lois not even looking up from her computer.

James pouted and left. Lois stopped typing and looked at Connor for a second, then went back to her laptop. Connor and her had 4/10 relationship in getting along. Thing were perfect when she first moved in, then one day it did a 180. She kept changing things around to her liking, and none to his. He got really pissed when Lois took his weight bench out of the living room and sold it. She claimed that he didn't need it and that it took up too much space. In return he threw all of her earrings out of the second story window, and melted all her shoes with heat vision claiming she didn't need them. At that point Lois threw a frying at him which bounced off his head. She was lucky his Dad walked through the door right after that because he was about to throw the 55 inch plasma television at her. But after James was born five years ago, they had reached an understanding; when Clark and James were around they would remaind civil with one another.

Connor grabbed some Oreos out of the cabinet and said," the Bat tell you what happened?"

Clark sighed and closed his laptop. "Yeah. Damn to lose a new recruit on the first day."

"Yeah, well I don't think that splitting up into different squads anymore will be necessary. Had I been there Bumblebee would still be alive."

"Don't even start with that. Accidents happen simple as that."

James came back out of the hallway and grabbed Connor's hand and shook it. Connor felt like his arm was going to come out of the socket. The brat was strong. "Connor can you watch TV with me please," he begged.

"James I had a really horrible day today," explained Connor. "I just want to go to sleep."

"But if you don't watch TV with me they'll make me go to bed."

"Jal-El," said Clark calling out his Kryptonian name. "You asked to stay up until Connor got home, he's home now; it's time for bed."

James looked up at Connor and Connor looked at him. Goddamn those blue eyes thought Connor.

"I'll watch TV with you for twenty minutes."

The boys went into Connor's room and sat down for an episode of Spongebob. Ten minutes later Clark would go into Connor's room. He smiled as he found both of his super children knocked out on Connor's bed.

Kaldur was holding Tula in his arms. He knew it was a dream, but it was his dream. Suddenly she crumpled into dust and Black Manta re-appeared in his arms and asked," aww do you miss her Kaldur'ahm?"

Kaldur woke up with a yell and found that Crassius was standing in his bedroom. He wiped his face and turned on his lamp. "Crassius, how come you're not in your room sleeping?"

The boy looked so much like his father it was heart breaking. "I couldn't sleep," he said.

"What's wrong?"

"I couldn't stop thinking about my Daddy."

Kaldur sighed. From day one he insisted on not lying to the children and he tried not to. The twins knew how their mother died, Crassius knew that his father was in prison and today Kaldur had told him about what happened during the mission. He left out the part about Garth entering a coma though.

Crassius continued. "I'm never going to see my Daddy walk free from prison am I?"

Kaldur felt horrible. Garth sentence was going to be over tomorrow night, but since he attacked and killed people on the surface Orrin was surely going to extend his sentence if he ever came out of that coma.

Kaldur looked at Crassius and said," there's a slim chance."

"You promised us you'd never lie to us."

"That wasn't a lie; one day somehow I'll get your dad out of prison. I promise."

"But until then you can stay here with us," came Tejay's voice from the doorway. "You are still my brother even though we have different daddies."

Kaldur smiled and said," you can always stay here with us."

Crassius gave him a hug and he sighed, while rubbing the kids back. Another disaster averted.

"So Uncle Kaldur since me and Tejay are already in here," started Crassius.

"No," said Kaldur firmly pushing Crassius back.

"Please Daddy," begged Tejay.

"NO."

Kaldur rolled his eyes. Every time he let the twins sleep in the bed with him, it was the most uncomfortable night ever for him and he never got decent sleep. Tejay was like a jellyfish moving from spot to spot the whole time, and while Crassius didn't move he snored like a damn hammerhead shark with digestion problems.

"Out," ordered Kaldur. "You two each have your own rooms that you cried for, go sleep in them."

45 minutes later

Kaldur found himself walking down the hall to sleep in Tejay's full size bed room since the twins were asleep in his king size bed. The boys had fallen asleep almost instantly. But Tejay had already kicked him in the ear, and Crassius just snored way too loud. It was the same thing, just a different night.

"Why am I such a softie," he said to himself as he climbed into the smaller bed.

Dick was laying up looking at the ceiling. After patrol with Batgirl and Robin he returned to his and Zatanna's apartment. After their "nighttime exercise" she was lying asleep on his chest. As of late they had been arguing more than usual but they always made up in the end.

"It wasn't your fault," she told him while she was still awoke.

"Of course it was," he shouted back. "I picked the teams. I should've sent her with Connor he could've protected her."

"You don't know that."

"I DO!"

"Richard just stop okay! Kaldur stepped down as Team Leader years ago and you've been a better leader than he was. Even he's admitted it. In our line of 'work' sometimes people are going to die and there's nothing that we can do about it. You still blame yourself for Rocket's death and her death like Bumblebee's could not be avoided."

Dick sighed. He still remembered it like it was yesterday.

Flashback 2 ½ years ago

"We're going to make it," shouted Robin (Dick Grayson). They were running for their lives, the whole laboratory they had been infiltrating was set to self-destruct in 5 minutes. They had gotten the intel they needed to incriminate Lex Luthor for smuggling illegal weapons into Germany, and North Korea.

"We have to go now," screamed Superboy. He was holding up a pillar while everyone else was running through it.

"How close are we to the surface," asked Miss Martian.

"Artemis is running out of time," cried Kid Flash.

Aqualad came running through holding Artemis, and when they got through Superboy let go of the pillar. Artemis had been shot in the thigh but Zatanna had closed the wound, but the bullet was still in her leg. It was a poisoned bullet and her breath was getting weaker. The Team ran about thirty more feet when they came to the door that led the surface. Superboy tried punching it but didn't even make a dent.

Zatanna cried," rood nepo," but it still stayed shut. Rocket ran up to a computer and typed some keys.

"It's a special kind of portal," she said. "I can access it but only person can go at a time.

Robin checked his holo-computer. "We've got two minutes left."

Rocket's hands flew over the keys and within 1 minute an 20 seconds everyone was gone except for Rocket and Robin.

"You go," ordered Robin. "I'll be right behind you." He knew that he was going to die, but he as leader had to get his Team out. Rocket shook her head yes and as soon as Robin turned felt pain in the back of his skull and he blacked out. Robin woke up in the Cave infirmary with Red Tornado standing beside him.

"Good you've awakened," said the Android. "You have been unconscious for two days. Batman will be relieved you have awakened."

Robin sat up and said," where's Rocket?

"I am sorry, but Rocket did not get out in time." Red Tornado handed Robin a small disc. "She left this for you."

End Flashback

Dick sat up slowly and careful to not wake Zatanna he reached into his sock drawer and found Rocket's last message he pressed the play button. A video hologram of Raquel appeared.

"Sorry Robin but we both knew it was impossible for the other to get out. The Team needs you more than me my friend." She paused as a part of the computer around her exploded. "Take care of Zatanna and don't blame yourself for anything. It had to be one of us." She blew him a kiss and said," goodbye everyone. Take care; I hope we'll all see each other again someday."

The playback ended. His first mission as Team leader and someone died. The Team had known Raquel an entire year when this happened. God he missed her. He was surprised as he felt one of his tears be wiped away.

"I miss her too," said Zatanna. "Raquel didn't blame you Richard, and Bumblebee wouldn't want you to blame yourself either."

She took the video message from him and put it back into his drawer; then she kissed him and put her head back on his chest. Dick smiled, wrapped his arm around her, and closed his eyes. He would just have to start over again tomorrow.