AN- So here it is! The big chapter! Please be sure to review.. cuz I just know you're all going to hate me and be all like WTF. lol

CHAPTER 46

Bruce leaned over the bed, gently tugging the blanket draped over his sons shoulders up more securely about his shoulders. There was a small murmur that passed Dicks lips as his head tried to burrow further into the small space on the side of Danielles body. He knew it couldn't be comfortable, but the little robin refused to leave. It was a long fight to watch, the battle between Dick and sleep. His head had nodded, he even scared himself awake a few times as his head slipped from his hand. Finally, sleep won over the battle weary teen and Bruce was left with two sleeping children. He brushed a stray strand of hair from Dicks face before moving to sit more comfortably in his chair, once more taking up Danielles hand.

The images were still fresh. The kevlar was scorched around the edges of the entry wounds. It shouldn't have happened. The kevlar in their suits should have protected her. This new enemy was good, he knew everything. This was dangerous. Superboy had already been exposed to krptonite, Kaldur had been taken to the med bay with severe burns. And he knew to carry rounds that could pierce Danielles and Robins armor. He knew their weaknesses, knew their strength and just how to exploit them to take the team out.

His mind was reeling with questions. His mind was dark with thoughts and nightmares that plagued his thoughts. It had been so close on that operating table, pulling the slugs from her chest. A collapsed lung, massive blood loss..

He was afraid to breath.

But such dangers, such close calls, brought much more to mind. He feared for this child. In such a short time she managed to carve her name into his heart, right next to Dicks own scrawl. And yet, she wasn't his. This girl didn't belong to this world. He hadn't been the on to bring her into this world, wasn't the one to spend years teaching her, training her. And as much as he could care for her now, he could not imagine how the Batman of her own universe felt.

How could he deal if the situation were reversed and Dick had gone missing. If there was no way to know the boy was alive, safe. He couldn't.

And yet, here he was, putting someone else child in danger

There was a soft, pained intake of breath and the small hand in in his grip curled, shaking with pain. He looked up to see dark lashes flutter against too pale cheeks. Slowly, squinting green eyes surveyed the room. When her her tired gaze fell on Bruces discowled face, a pained smile pulled at her lips. Her mouth moved wordlessy for a moment before the words scraped from her throat, raspy and pained. "Hey..." He didn't know what to say, didn't trust himself to speak, so he simply let a smile tug at the corner of his lips for the briefest of moments. The gleam in her eyes let him know the message was received. "The others...?" She asked.

"Safe." Bruce whispered. She released a shaky, yet relieved sigh."M'gann told us about the fight." He said softly, pretending not to notice her stiffening as weary eyes glance sideways at him. "Once you're healed you'll be cleaning the whole cave for you foolish actions." He said with a straight face, keeping any malice from his eyes. A smile broke her chapped lips and her chest vibrated with a quiet laugh that caused a sharp intake of breath.

The movement from Danielle caused a groan to escape from Dick on the other side of the bed. The mop of hair on the boys head shifted as he groggily looked up, fighting the sleep from his eyes. He blinked with confusion on his face, as though he'd forgotten where he was. Internally Bruce smiled.

"Huh..?" Turning, Dick was met with tired green eyes and a warm smile. "Dani!" He burst, jumping from his seat to lean further over her, fully awake. "You're up! Why didn't you wake me up!" Dick accused his father.

"I've only been up for a minute." Dani defended in a small, weak voice still barely more than a whisper.

"Does it hurt?" Dick questioned.

"I'm ok.."

"Good. That means I can yell at you. What were you thinking! You could have gotten yourself killed! Are you crazy?"

His only answer from her was a large smile that reached her eyes. This was the Dick she knew, her over-protective big brother. It both warmed and broke her heart to see his face with that pout, those accusing eyes that promised retribution for causing him to worry.

Bruce hid his grin. Perhaps he'd had more of an impact on Dick than he thought. Raising to his feet he brought the cowl back over his eyes, turning to see their questioning stares. "I'll be back soon." Dicks gaze seemed more hurt than Danielles as he turned to leave the room. He should have stayed, but he had things to think about, things to plan with a clear head.

Once the door was shut Dick turned back to his.. co-crimefighter?- with wounded eyes. "Why didn't you tell us about the real fight that night?" Danielle shrank away from his gaze. "You avoided the team for weeks and nearly get yourself killed on your first time back all over a fight?"

"I didn't do it because of the fight." She defended. "I.. it was instinct." She looked away, breathing a bit harder than she should be due to her injuries. "It was stupid, I know, but.. my body thought to protect M'gann before I thought about it."

"Yea. Well she's been a mess this entire time." He said off handedly. "She's blaming herself for what happened."

Danielle turned to him with imploring eyes. "She's not angry with me..?"

"They certainly didn't look like angry tears to me."The room fell into silence. Danielle watched her still hands in her lap intently over the tube still leading out of her chest. The air was thick and choking them. Having to do something Dick spoke up "Soooo, Superboy is like, my brother in law in your world?" He laughed when the pillow was thrown weakly at his head.

~o~

"Sparrow said it took time to develop your powers" Clark gave a surprised look. Conner looked away, feeling the need to explain his sudden outburst of information. "She was telling me.. that the me.. from her world.. has powers I don't... She said he was younger.. That he left Cadmus earlier than I did and it took time to get his powers.. like you did."

Clarks face turned into one of thought. "She knows much." He said softly.

"It's true?" Conner turned to him with hope sparkling in his baby blues.

"Yes, there were times where I made a few new... discoveries." He settled on calling his awkward teen years. "I suppose it took time for my body to adapt to the yellow sun. and in all reality, you've had even less time her on this planet than I did."

"So.. there's still hope?"

Clark wrapped an arm around the teens shoulder. "There's always hope Conner." The teen smiled at him sheepishly before stiffening suddenly, eyes growing dark "Conner?" He questioned with concern.

"Batman's called us to the cave." Conner said without emotion. M'ganns voice had sounded so tired and worn in his mind when she'd informed him. He didn't know what to do. There wasn't an enemy to protect her from here, no one he could punch would make his girlfriend feel better and it made him feel useless. "I guess I should go." He offered.

"I'll come with you."

~o~

"Kal, you sure you should be up? Those burns looked pretty bad." Artemis stuck close to their leaders side as they waited in the briefing room at the cave for Batman to arrive.

"I'm fine Artemis. They are mostly healed already. But thank you."

Artemis pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Must be nice to have super powers. She said with agitation, feeling the pull on the stitches in her arm. It'd be a while before it healed and she'd be lucky if it didn't leave a scar. The archers attention was drawn to the side where M'gann was talking to Robin, trying to curl up in a ball on herself.

"Megs just go see her!" Robin insisted.

Megan shook her head violently. "It's only because of me that she's lying in that hospital bed! All cause I was so insecure!"

Artemis shrank back hearing it. If she hadn't been so spiteful... Wally placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, her hand snuck up tolay on his.

"Trust me," Robin continued. "If she could be here she would. You gotta go see her."

The room froze when Batman walked in, all gathering around the Dark Knight of Gotham.

Something was wrong. Dick knew it above everyone else. There was something in Bruces demeanor, his stance. He was cold, shut off. When he got like this, it usually meant He was on some case that Dick wouldn't even be allowed to think of. Something was VERY wrong.

They all waited anxiously for the Bat to speak. Finally, after several long, breathless moments he spoke with a commanding voice, deep and dark.

"Reviewing the last missions failure and this teams functioning, I've come to a decision." He paused as everyone waited.

"As of today, Young Justice is officially disbanded."

AN- I bet the face I'm wearing right now could be considered a 'troll' face... lol. It was short I know.. but three updates within a week? That's pretty good right? Not sure when the next will be, I wanna take my time doing it, make it right, but then.. I've been in a writing mood.. but no promises! Also, I'm just kind of giving Kal a faster speed of recovery (not sure if it's cannon or not, but he's super-powered so.. why not?)