AN: So sorry for the long wait! There were...complications. Anyways, the chapter's here now and it's a long one! Also, I'm thinking there's only going to be two more chapters to this story. I have to see how long they are when I write them. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the DCAU.

...

"We need better security."

They were the only words spoken in the Watchtower after the memory faded, by Batman of course. No one else knew what to say.

Barry won't be coming back, Hal thought sadly. He had started to hope in those five minutes before Harbinger's warning had crushed it.

For the others that had known Barry, it was like the weight had been briefly lifted only to settle back in their chests. Most of the leaguers only felt slight disappointment though, as they were more focused on everything else that had been said.

Every hero's thoughts were jumbled.

They weren't sure what to make of Harbinger, but it was clear that she had no ill will towards Flash. She had come to him when he doubted himself and alleviated his fears. In doing so, she had laid out everything about Flash in a way that everyone could start to organize their own thoughts about him. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit to take in.

So, Flash is more powerful than Superman.

Okay.

They can deal with that.

They've had to face every other truth about Wally.

And maybe if they'd had time to wrap their minds around it all, Harbinger's visit with Flash wouldn't have been such a big deal, but it was all just too much for the leaguers to handle as it brought back everything they'd learned in the past twelve hours.

And how they'd always treated Flash.

How could they not treat Wally differently now that they all knew the truth? He's the most powerful person in the world, and so much smarter and serious than what he shows.

But he's still Wally.

But how could they accept his old behavior and act like everything's normal?

The arguments went back and forth in their minds. They didn't know what to think.

All they could do was focus on the new memory forming on the monitors. Everyone expected Harbinger to be the last memory to be shown before Grodd took him, so it came as a surprise to all but the founders when the new memory showed Flash and all the other Founders sitting around the conference table.

Flash had indeed painted his logo on the back of his now scarlet chair, but he slumped in it miserably as he listened to Superman.

"It's only right that we put everyone's fears to rest. Tomorrow, we'll announce the disbandment of the Justice League and the disabling of the Watchtower."

Everyone but Flash nodded their heads sadly in agreement.

"I guess we're dismissed," Superman said quietly.

"When is Galatea being moved from the Watchtower?" Diana asked as she stood up.

"Four hours," answered Batman. "A team of Cadmus specialists are coming to transport her back to earth."

Flash looked up at them curiously. "What will happen to her?"

Batman studied him for a moment then turned to J'onn for him to answer. "Amanda Waller told us that it was none of our business and asked if we won't be glad we don't have one of our enemies in our headquarters," J'onn replied in a monotone. "I tried reading her mind, but her mental shields didn't allow me access too much, just a feeling of regret. She never did answer the question, though."

Flash frowned. "They'll kill her?"

"It's not our decision," Batman said as he looked away.

They were all at the door when Flash called out to them. "Guys?"

Flash was still standing in the same spot. "I've never asked for much, but I need a favor from you all."

"Of course, Wally," Shayera said instantly.

Flash spoke slowly. "When they come for Galatea, whatever happens, I need you to back me up."

Superman shared a look with Green Lantern. Everyone frowned and no one spoke for a moment.

"Whatever you want."

Batman's deep, graveled voice got the others to hesitantly comply.

The memory changed again, and Flash walked into an isolated medical chamber. Vibe, Etrigan, Dr. Light, and Booster Gold all stood guard outside the locked titanium doors.

Flash nodded as he walked past them when the floor to ceiling doors slid open. He walked a short ways before coming to a regular door and stepping inside.

Flash closed it before turning his attention to the patient lying in the bed.

Galatea was in a hospital gown and her blonde hair was short and spiky from the electrical shock Supergirl had given her.

She smirked at Flash. "This is a surprise. I was expecting the Big Bad Bat to come and interrogate me."

Flash gave no indication that he heard her and sat down in the bedside chair. He leaned back and made himself comfortable.

"Do you know who I am?" Flash asked.

Galatea narrowed her eyes.

"Look," Flash said plainly. "I just want to know so I can take this stupid cowl off."

Galatea continued to glare at him, but replied in a monotone.

"Wallace Rudolph West, son of Mary and Rudy West who died in an accidental house fire when you were eleven. You were adopted two weeks later by your aunt and uncle, who Cadmus believes was the first Flash while you were his sidekick, Kid Flash. They died when you were seventeen, officially in a kidnapping gone wrong, though Cadmus believes otherwise. Afterwards, you put on the Flash costume and helped found the Justice League two years later. You graduated high school at sixteen, attended Central City University for four years where you got your masters in forensic science. You now work at the lab in the Central City Police Department. You're twenty-three years old and have no living family members."

Flash nodded slowly and raised his hand to pull his cowl back so that his green eyes and red hair were showing. "Not bad," he said. "Better than what most people believe, but you got a few things wrong."

Galatea frowned angrily.

"For one, my parents' deaths weren't an accident," Wally said. "That's what I got Nightwing to change the report to a few years ago. What actually happened is that Rudy beat my mother to death and then set fire to the house, killing himself as well."

Galatea blinked in shock as Wally kept his face neutral.

"Also, my aunt and uncle didn't adopt me two weeks after they died." Wally paused for dramatic affect. "They adopted me two weeks before."

He left it at that to let Galatea figure out what he might mean. She had frowned in thought, and then glared at him, trying to get him to explain why. Wally just smiled.

"Rudy used to hit me. My uncle saved me, and he and my aunt gave me the family I always should have had." Wally continued to smile at Galatea while she just looked at him in confusion.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked bluntly and with no sympathy in her voice.

Flash leaned forward. "Because I want you to know that everything I tell you will be the truth."

He let that sentence sink in before leaning back in his chair again. They were both silent for a few moments; Wally staring up at the ceiling and Galatea staring at Wally.

"Do you know where I'd be right now?" Wally asked randomly. He had a slight smile on his face. "Or what I'd be doing and who I'd be doing it with?"

Galatea rolled her eyes. "I really don't want to know," she sneered.

"I'd be at the park," Wally said happily. "Central City Park, right in the middle of the city. We've got a great park," Wally told her, his voice soft and wistful. "And for once, the world would let me have my way. It'd be sunny out with a nice breeze, random strangers passing by, enjoying their day, and everyone I know would be there: the Justice League and their families, the Batfamily, my Grammy Joan…"

Wally's eyes glazed over as he got lost in his vision. "They'd all be there as civilians, even Batman, and no one would worry about villains attacking. There'd be no fighting amongst themselves. Everyone would set all that aside and come to the park with their favorite foods so we could have a big buffet picnic. And maybe some of them would start a game of basketball on the nearby courts, or maybe dodge ball or soccer. There might be a few taunts thrown back and forth, but all in good fun. They'd all be smiling and laughing. I'd look around and see everyone I care about safe and happy, having a good time. That's my perfect day," Wally finished quietly.

The league members smiled.

Wally cared so much about all of them. The simplicity of what he described…it was so Wally. Of course he would choose a day with family over anything else.

And it sounded nice.

"What's your perfect day?" Wally asked as he refocused on Galatea.

Her face had relaxed as Wally talked, but now she glared suspiciously at him. "What?"

Wally smiled. "Humor me," he said.

Galatea remained silent for a minute until she looked away. "I-I guess I'd be with my father," she said as she glanced at Wally. Seeing his confused look, she said, "Dr. Emil Hamilton."

Understanding showed on Wally's face and he nodded slightly. "Go on."

"We'd be in his lab." Galatea shrugged.

"So you'd be doing an experiment," Wally guessed.

"No." Galatea shook her head. "He doesn't let me touch anything in his lab. He's afraid I'll break something. Besides, I'm not into the whole science thing."

"So," Wally said slowly, raising an eyebrow, "on your perfect day, you'd be in a stuffy lab silently watching a man take down notes on microscopic strands of DNA?"

Galatea just glared at him and curled her hands into fists.

Wally studied her. "You really haven't seen the world have you?"

"Yes I have!" Galatea snapped angrily. "The hard light simulator can turn into any place on-"

"I'm not talking about a simulator," Wally said patiently. "I mean the real world with real people. Have you ever met any normal people? Civilians?"

Galatea raised her chin proudly and looked away as though Wally was beneath her.

"What do you really want?" Wally asked her.

Galatea's eyes snapped back to him angrily. "Why are you even asking me this?" She yelled.

Wally's eyebrows were both raised as he said, "Because I don't think anyone's ever asked you before, and if you told them what you want, they ignored you unless it benefitted them."

Galatea's face scrunched in fury. "What I want is for you to leave me alone!"

Wally's eyes narrowed. "Cadmus is coming for you in about 3 hours."

"Good," Galatea said simply with a nod of her head, and her face relaxed into an aloof expression.

"They'll kill you," Wally murmured.

Galatea's eyes widened in shock. Wally took advantage and kept speaking.

"They'll kill you," he said again in a stronger voice. "If they don't, the best you can hope for is to be locked away for the rest of your life."

"They wouldn't do that!" Galatea said angrily. "They need me."

"Do they?" Wally asked skeptically. "You were created for the government so they could have a superpowered human to bring down the Justice League, but by tomorrow, there's not going to be a Justice League anymore. We're disbanding," Wally said with his eyes downcast. He looked back up at Galatea still lying in the bed. "Even if we weren't, Cadmus doesn't need you, and they don't want you."

"Yes they do!" Galatea shouted. "My father wants me! He would never let them hurt me!"

"Hamilton." Wally nodded in thought. "We tried to contact him when we first put you in the med bay and you were comatose. We thought he'd want to make sure you were alright." Wally looked Galatea in the eye. "He's been transferred to another location and has had his identity scrubbed. Emil Hamilton no longer exists, never did."

Galatea's eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock. In a small voice she said, "But he's my father."

Wally shook his head slowly and looked at Galatea with sympathy. "He requested the transfer."

Galatea's mouth closed into a thin line. Her brows scrunched together and her eyes gleamed with tears and anger. "YOU'RE LYING!" she yelled. "HE WANTS ME! HE'S MY FATHER! HE WANTS ME! YOU'RE LYING! You're lying," she finished in a broken voice.

Wally stared at her unblinkingly. "They don't see you as a person, just a tool to be used when necessary. But you. Went. Rogue," Wally said harshly. "You were ordered to stop the attack on the Watchtower and you didn't. Cadmus has no use for a weapon that doesn't preform like they order it to."

Galatea's face betrayed her fear as the realization sunk in. This was really happening to her, and despite the hell that Galatea and the Ultimen unleashed on them, a few members of the league couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"Waller," Galatea said, grasping at straws. "Amanda Waller wouldn't-"

"Order someone to be killed?" Wally asked. "We both know she would. She has, or did you think she wouldn't order you to be killed?" Wally shrugged. "Truthfully, I don't think she did, but even she has superiors. They can't control you and you know too much," Wally said. "That makes you a liability."

Wally leaned forward. "You know what they do to liabilities. Don't you, Galatea?"

The tears in Galatea's eyes had spilled over and she looked close to panicking, but Wally wasn't finished yet.

"I heard about your fight with Supergirl. You're jealous of her. You want what she has. You want a life. It's okay to want that. In fact," Wally said lightly, "it's more than okay. You are a person, and everyone should have the chance to choose what to do with their lives. I'm giving you yours."

Wally stood up. "If you want to be more than what you were created for, all you have to do is say it. I won't let anyone take you, but it has to be your decision."

Galatea looked up in confusion and shock at Wally.

"How can you do that?"

Wally smiled. "I know people."

He walked to the door.

"Why?"

The question stopped him.

Wally turned and looked back at Galatea. Her cold mask was back on and she glared at him.

"Why are you treating me like this? Don't you hate me?"

Wally considered it.

"I remember, when I was younger and living with my parents, how I'd wish every day for someone to look just a little closer, listen just a little longer, and maybe they'd figure it out and take me away. I remember hoping so much and being crushed every day that passed. Yet, I was also so relieved."

Wally's brow furrowed. "I was afraid of what getting out of there might mean. I didn't know where I'd go or who I'd be with, so I kept quiet because I was afraid of losing what little I had. But I still sent out that silent plea for help every day. I guess that's why I can hear everyone else's now," said Wally slowly.

Galatea frowned at him. "I never asked for help."

Wally smiled. "You did. You might not know it, but you did. I was watching when they moved you up here after you woke up from your coma. I saw how surprised you were that no one was hurting you and that we were trying to heal you. I saw how you looked at Dr. Midnight when he offered you water. You weren't expecting any of that. You really thought we were dangerous and that we'd hurt people." Wally smiled. "I saw it, and that's how I knew you weren't evil, just misguided."

His smile faded a bit.

"You shouldn't ever be surprised by kindness. Even though you never said 'thank you', I saw it in your eyes. That was your cry for help."

Galatea glared even harder at him through eyes so narrowed, they were just slits. She smoothed her face into an unreadable expression.

"When does Cadmus come?" she asked in a monotone.

"About two and a half hours."

Galatea blinked once, but kept her face blank. "Then I better get ready."

Wally's smile faded and he looked at Galatea sadly. He turned and left the room as the scene morphed.

Flash was standing with the other Founders in the docking bay where several Cadmus soldiers waited by a shuttle.

Galatea entered the room wearing hospital scrubs and was surrounded by her four guards.

Superman nodded to each of them, and they took the hint and left.

The seven founders stood in a row a dozen yards away from the Cadmus soldiers. Flash watched Galatea intensely as she nervously glanced at him every few seconds. She swallowed and walked towards the shuttle and armed soldiers.

When she was just a couple feet away, her steps faltered and her face froze in a look of fear.

"Flash?" she said. "I change my mind. I want a life."

They soldiers shared a quick glance and stalked towards Galatea. She backed up with her arms in front of her like a shield.

"I change my mind!" she yelled. "I want a life! I want a real life!"

Before any one could say another word, Flash had zoomed in front of Galatea and glared at all the men. "Don't touch her!" he commanded.

The soldiers faltered and Flash took the opportunity to look back at the other founders. They were all standing there in shock, though Batman kept his reaction hidden. "Guys," Flash whispered. "You said you'd back me up."

None of them moved until one of the soldiers took a step forward. Immediately, the other founders put themselves between Flash and Galatea.

Superman folded his arms. "You heard the man. You're not to lay a finger on Galatea."

"Or on Flash," Shayera added, holding her mace threateningly with both hands.

The commander walked up to Superman and raised his chin. "We've been ordered to bring Galatea back with any force necessary," he said in an authoritative voice.

Diana crossed her arms and smirked at him. "And you think you can take on the Justice League?" There was a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Flash stepped forward. "I'll take full responsibility for any of Galatea's actions," he said firmly. Galatea had crossed her arms in front of her, looking scared as her eyes flickered over everyone.

Batman put his hands on Flash's and Superman's shoulders and they stepped back, Flash going to Galatea's side. "I'll handle the arrangements with your superiors. I suggest you leave now," Batman said darkly.

The commander turned and entered the shuttle, his men following him. After the ship had left, the founders turned to Flash.

He leaned towards Galatea, who was about the same height as him. "This will just take a minute, then we can leave as well."

She nodded and he walked a short distance away where the others had gathered in a circle.

John was the first to speak. "What were you thinking?" he hissed in a whisper. "I know I said I'd back you up, but this is just insane what you're doing."

"You have to trust me on this, guys," Flash whispered back. "She's not evil; she just hasn't known anything else. Please," he asked with big eyes. "I meant what I said. I'll take responsibility for her, but I promised her that I wouldn't let anyone take her away or lock her up."

"We need to talk about this," Superman said.

Flash walked back to Galatea.

"They're deciding whether they should let me go with you," she said.

Flash frowned at her. "Stop eavesdropping on them. That's one thing we're going to work on. No using your powers to invade other people's privacy."

She glared at him and huffed herself up for a retort.

"Hey," said Flash before she could start. "You said you wanted a real life. That means a normal life. Normal people don't have super hearing."

He turned when he heard the other founders behind him. They all looked at Flash with worry and Galatea with suspicious glares.

The heroes on the main deck of the Watchtower all knew what their decision would be, and it made Supergirl furious.

Batgirl looked at her friend nervously. "Kara, are you okay?"

"NO, I'M NOT OKAY!" she exploded. "HOW COULD THEY DO THAT? HOW COULD HE DO THAT AND TRUST THAT PSYCHOTIC BITCH?!"

A few leaguers privately agreed with Kara, but didn't say it. Others had tried to look at it from Wally and Galatea's point of view and decided that as long as she didn't cause any more trouble, they'd give her this last chance.

Barbara sighed. She was on the fence. While Kara was her best friend, and therefore fiercely protective and loyal to her, Barbara did see Wally's point. Galatea had been bred to be a weapon, but was she one? She didn't choose it, and for Barbara, that made a difference.

She was one of the few non-powered heroes, and out of them was the only one that she knew of that had chosen to be a hero without a need for vengeance. She had been born to lead a normal life, but she chose to be a hero. Like Wally said, she chose to be more than what she was supposed to be, and it was hard. Barbara knew that it would be even harder for Galatea, but Kara was too angry to listen to that kind of reasoning.

For good reasons, Barbara admitted. Still…

"I trust Wally," she said loud enough for others to hear.

"HOW CAN YOU TRUST THAT SKANK?!" Kara screamed at her.

"I don't!" Barbara yelled back. "I don't trust Galatea at all. I'm pretty sure Wally doesn't trust her that much either, but I trust him! For me, that's enough. Is your trust in him enough for you?"

...

AN: Like with Long Shadow, I think Galatea needed a better ending then just disappearing from the DCAU without another mention of her. Also, she's kind of like the DCAU's version of Young Justice's Superboy, so I feel for her. I decided that it'd be just like Wally to show her a better way of life. There's also the fact that I think the DCAU made her a version of Powergirl. Hmm...