(Hey guys, tomorrow I head back to campus, but my classes won't start until Tuesday. However, I don't know when I'll be able to continue writing; for I don't know what the people at my college plan to do before classes start. I know how those of you feel when the author doesn't update their story(ies) for a while and believe me: it gets really bothersome. But I try to be patient and wait. (I'm not telling you what to do; I'm just explaining what I do). But seriously, I hate that I might not be able to continue for an unknown amount of time. That not only gets annoying with you guys, but it also messes up the author. When you don't do your stories in a close segment of time, it really undermines your train of thought for what you want to put in the stories. But I can't honestly say when the next update will be. It could be tomorrow, or it could be not until Spring Break. I just hate it that this is going on right now…I'm sorry if I'm unable to do this story (and I also hoped to do another Ultimate Spider-Man story I have in mind now…but I just hope luck is in my favor. But until then, here's the next chapter. Again…sorry guys…)

Chapter 35: Not A Prisoner

(Red Hood's hideout, a few days later)

The group had doing their best to organize themselves. With such few members left in their squad, and many powerful people hunting them…their plans had to be carefully thought out. Dick and Jason did differ on the possible methods to be used in tracking the Light and destroying their operations one plant after another. Jason wanted to go in guns blazing; Dick wanted to use stealth ops in coordinated sabotage. They tried both ways, making a balanced amount of success. They usually had four of the group leave while the rest stayed behind. Jason created his own communication technology based on the designs by Batman. This new tech was created to keep outside ears from listening in. He explained it took a lot of time to make, but the others were very thankful for it. But being detected wasn't their only problem…Batgirl had woken up the day after they arrived in Red's lair. She refused to talk to any of them, and she glowered at Gabriel every time she saw him. The shifter tried to leave her alone, but knew that wasn't doing much good.

"Anything?" Blue Beetle asked as Dick came back from questioning Barbara. "Nothing, she's just not going to talk." Nightwing sighed in reply. "Than maybe it's time we tried using other methods of interrogation." Hood grunted as he pulled out his favorite knife. "No." Gabriel grunted. "Agreed, we're not going to hurt her." Dick said. "Too late for that. She already despises us, but she hates Gabriel. Besides, I was only going to threaten her. I have no desire to actually use this." Hood replied, holding up his knife.

Gabriel sighed. The others turned to look at him.

"I know she blames you for her father being booted off his position…but it's not your fault." Nightwing said. "If you think about it…it is…if it weren't for me…than perhaps…"Gabriel started to say, but BB interject," We already had this talk! None of this is because of you!"

Gabriel tapped his nails on the arm of the chair he's sitting in. But it didn't feel that way to the shifter. He believed if it wasn't for him, the Light wouldn't have become so much more powerful. Even with some lost allies and less connections…they rose to new heights of power.

"It sure feels like it is." Gabriel sighed, not looking at the others. "Perhaps you should talk to her? Maybe something you can persuade her that we're not enemies." Beast Boy added. "Would she even talk to him?" Bart said. "She will…" Hood grunted. "How do you know?" Virgil asked. "She'll say something…though it won't be pretty." Jason answered as he laid back on his couch.

The shapeshifter looked to Nightwing. Dick reluctantly nodded. Gabriel nodded and walked to Jason's room. He opened the door and walked into the room. Batgirl is lying there in the bed. The shifter shuts the door behind him and turns to face her. He sits down on the ground, waiting for her to say something.

"…..What do you want?" She hissed. "I just want to talk…or listen…whichever works for you." Gabriel answered.

Barbara sat up. She's not wearing her suit. The squad had found some clothes for her to wear while they continue to fight the Light while also trying to stay undetected. The girl narrowed her eyes with his. She stared into the dark emerald eyes of the shapeshifter.

"How about I tell you about how much I hate you?" She growled. "Go right ahead." He replied.

Barbara raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise. She didn't expect him to respond that way. She'd been questioned by Dick, Jason, Jaime, and Garfield. They left once she said that line. But for some reason, Gabriel didn't.

'Time to give him a piece of my mind.' She hissed in her mind. "Your idiotic actions in Gotham have destroyed everything: my father's career, all the good work both teams have done, our good names amongst the populace, everything! If you hadn't come along, everything would've been amazing! The Light would've been defeated! The world would be in peace! And I wouldn't be your prisoner!" She shouted.

Gabriel was silent; he waited for her to catch her breath. Barbara's yelling had caused her to lose her breath.

"You're not a prisoner." He replied.

She just chuckled in dull amusement. Gabriel raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I'm stuck here, being interrogated daily by one of you! I'm away from home! I can't even leave this damn room without one of you having to keep an eye on me!" She growled.

The shapeshifter crossed his arms.

"Once Batman finds me...and he will…you will be…" She started to say, but Gabriel interject, "Be put behind bars? Locked away in the big house?"

Barbara was instantly silent. She didn't know what to say in reply. Batman and his partners had always handed over criminals over to GCPD once they were defeated. Now with the law after Gabriel & his allies, and Batman & his allies…things weren't too great. Then an idea came to her.

"Batman could keep you unconscious till he builds a prison cell for you." She stated, a smug grin on her face,

Gabriel rubbed his stubble beard, pretending like he was contemplating her statement.

"Doesn't sound all that bad." He replied. "Yeah you'll be…wait, what?" She gasped. "It would be better than my previous cages." He replied.

Her eyes widened in realization of what he said.

"Being one who was experimented on and tortured for countless years by your own parents is a rather difficult thing to live through. Day after day I had to fight off their abuse, their sickening actions…Do you really think being locked away in the Batcave would really be the worst thing to happen to me?" He continued. "But look what you're doing now…keeping me against my will here in this dump. Sound kind of familiar?" She growled.

Gabriel's face was blank, no expression present. Barbara tried to read into what was going through his mind, but she couldn't figure it out.

"Is that so?" He grunted. "Yes." She retorted with a hiss. "Than why haven't you destroyed this place? Why isn't it in flames?" Gabriel asked, not looking at her. "What?" She asked.

Gabriel sighed.

"When I escaped my cage there, I tried to destroy my parents' work, to destroy the building. I felt much stronger one day, and I knew it was the time to cut loose. Their days of ripping me apart, both literally and figuratively…was over." He snarled.

Barbara knew he was being truthful; she didn't need to be a mind reader to know. She could see the pain & anger in his eyes. She felt herself wavering, but she didn't want to.

"So what is this?" She grunted. "Pardon?" He asked. "A true hero doesn't kill people! A true hero doesn't cause others to turn against each other! A true hero doesn't hold people against their wills for their own selfish needs!" She screamed.

Gabriel stood up. His face was hidden from her view. She didn't know what was going to happen next. A part of her feared he might attack her. The reason being was because she could hear him growling.

"Perhaps you're right." He said. "…I am?" She replied in confusion.

He opened the door and was about to walk out. But he stopped and stood still. He didn't look back to face her.

"But I never considered myself to be a hero." The shifter added, then walked out and shut the door.

To be continued…