Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.

Author's Note: What's this? karana32 posted two new chapters at once and it's not a holiday! There's a glitch in the Matrix! Haha, just kidding. Yeah, I won't normally do this, but I left chapter 34 with such a bad cliffhanger and I didn't want to just give you this next week. BTW, this is not the "biggie" chapter I mentioned in chapter 34. In my mind, this isn't even a chapter, it's a vignette relating to the story. And yes, I do plan on having a few of these dispersed along the story once I go back and edit it. Remember everyone, this is still a work in progress and I fully intend to better this fic. So, after you read it, go back and read again, 'cause I might change something. Okay, I think I've talked long enough so let's get right into my first vignette! Enjoy! Please review!

Oriole

Vignette 1: Bad Dreams

Batman

5:00 am

Jump City

Bruce's Hotel

Bruce growled in frustration. He tried to trace the signal ever since Slade started that video chat. Thirteen hours later he still knew nothing about the assassin, except that he was a devious, merciless, cruel, sadistic bastard. Bruce almost laughed at himself. That cursing sounded like Sara. The thought of Sara sobered his mood. Ever since she awoke, she'd gotten worse (if that was even possible). According to Dick, a peaceful sleep was completely unheard-of. Judging from the bags under the boy's eyes, Bruce guessed that applied to Dick too.

And all this happened because he let Sara go to Jump when he knew it was a bad idea. Logically, he knew there was nothing he could have done about it even back when she asked in the first place. Psychologically, grief didn't allow logic to rid himself of the burden. Alfred did what he could to help Bruce, but the butler's attempts always came up empty-handed. A lot like Bruce's investigation.

His cell phone rang and when Bruce looked at the Caller ID, it read Barbara Gordon. Reluctantly, Bruce answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bruce, I'm on three-way with Dick. Any luck?"

Bruce could picture both Dick and Barb holding their breaths in anticipation. "None. Whatever tech Slade is using, it would take much longer to hack."

"How long?" Dick asked immediately. Dick was the better hacker between Bruce and Dick.

"Too long." Bruce replied sullenly.

"Send me a copy of the info. I'll see what I can figure out here." Barbara said.

"It won't do any good, Barbara. By the time you hack it, it'll be too late."

"And by that time, Dick might be in the hands of a psychopath and Sara will be dead. Do you really have a better option?" Barb snapped.

Bruce sighed. Both teens on the other end of the phone waited patiently. "Fine. But be careful with it. We don't need this technology getting in the wrong hands."

"I'll be careful. Unless you want me to pick it up, which I can."

"No, you don't have to do that. You have college to worry about. The last thing you need is a extended vacation for Thanksgiving."

Barb laughed. "You sound like my dad." Though Barbara seemed perfectly at ease, the once "Dynamic Duo" didn't feel so comfy. Finally Barbara added, "Don't worry guys, we'll save the twerp."

Dick chuckled at the nickname for Sara. Bruce wasn't sure why Barbara and Sara disliked each other so much, but apparently Dick found it amusing.

After Barbara hung up, Dick asked Bruce to come over to compare notes on their findings (of which none would be useful) about the transmission. Bruce declined, admitting to the need of sleep and the fact that Alfred walked in the room two minutes ago and shook his head at the idea of Bruce going anywhere.

After Bruce set his cell phone down, Alfred pointed out, "You told Master Dick that you needed sleep. I suggest you head to bed, sir."

As Alfred walked out of the room, Bruce shook his head. Even after all these years, Alfred was still taking care of him.

When Bruce nodded off, as soon as his head hit the pillow, nightmares danced in his head, torturing him with horrific scenarios and grotesque images. He almost woke up once or twice but something kept him pinned in this terrible dreamland.

All at once, the nightmare vanished and he found himself near a lake, a women wading out of the water. To his surprise, it was Sara. And she wasn't swimming. She wore a beautiful white sundress with black flowers on it and, to his amazement, was walking on the water. She wore a serious expression on her face and her eyes glinted with something hidden, something dangerous.

"Sara?"

Sara gazed at him, her eyes meeting his and he saw anguish flitter across her face. "You shouldn't be here. Those things you saw, they weren't yours to see." Her voice echoed as she talked, like she was yelling down a well.

"Were they yours?" He asked.

She smiled grimly. "You always know the right questions to ask." He raised a brow, confused as to how all of this pertained to whatever she was trying to tell him. She looked away and tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear. "I'm not like you and Dick. Even BG's more detective material than me. The only way I can help is with my powers. I shouldn't be on the team."

"But that's not what you came here to tell me, is it?" Bruce knew the answer, of course, but Sara merely smiled and nodded. "Then why are you here?"

She sighed. Leaning in, she whispered, "To keep the bad things away."

Her dress's color changed rapidly from white to blood red and back again, so fast he wondered if it really happened.

Still worried, but not showing it, Bruce grabbed her arms in his hands and asked with urgency in his voice, "Sara, tell me what's going on."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"The Boogeyman might get you."

"You never believed in the Boogeyman, Sara. And certainly not now. You're just not thinking clearly."

She giggled. "Oh, I am Bruce. I'm thinking more clearly than I have in a while." Her emotions snapped back into seriousness and her eyes burned with ferocity. "You can't save me Bruce. No one can. If I'm going to die, at least make sure that Dick stays safe."

She'd already accepted her death? Was the pain really that bad?

She laughed. "Oh, you have no idea."

Bruce frowned. He hated it when she read his mind. That's why he always shut her out. How-

"How am I reading you mind now? Simple. We're in my head now Bruce. Your mind knows the difference and can't adapt to the new environment."

"You still haven't told me why I'm here." Bruce pointed out.

She smiled. "I brought you here to warn you. Slade doesn't want to kill me, Bruce. At least, not yet. I know his plan. Wanna know Slade's secret."

A shadow appeared over the sun above them. Sara looked up and fear lit her face. Her dress turned crimson and the flowers changed into running drips of fresh blood. It became torn at the bottom and her eyes turned black as the blackened sun above them. All around them, a voice boomed, "I dare you to, Sara. Go right ahead."

Frightened, she looked at Bruce then down at the water. "Go. Go now!" She pushed him into the freezing lake just as pain surrounded him like a blanket. Just like that, Bruce woke up. Sweat stained his white shirt yellow and stung his eyes. He wiped his forehead with his hand and tried to calm himself down.

What the hell just happened?

Author's Note: So, I know that my first symbolic dream was way too obvious and it was…well, needless to say it wasn't the best. Repeat: I promise I'll go back and edit this fic when I get done with it, because do remember everyone: this is still a work in progress. And it will be even after the story is over. I hope this dream sequence was way better and I really want to know for sure if it was or not, so PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! I NEED TO KNOW HOW I DID ON THIS CHAPTER!

Oh, and btw, happy January everyone!