Here's chapter two. Thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 2: Secrets

I awoke to sunlight streaming in my window and stiffness in my bones. I inspected my bruises as I headed for the bathroom. Yep, she really connected a couple of times. I was now the proud owner of no less than four large bruises. I felt a little better when I considered the fact that Cass might have a couple of her own this morning. I showered and shaved, since Alfred obviously kept all the guestrooms stocked with the essentials. Wrapping a towel around my waist I wandered into the bedroom again, realizing that it was only about 7:00. I poked my head out the door to see if anybody else was awake and then realized how stupid that was since there could be whole party going on in another part of the mansion and I'd never even hear it. I'd forgotten how huge this place was. Too many cramped hotels and dorm rooms for me. I happened to look down before I returned to my room and noticed my meager belongings piled neatly in the hall. Someone had made the trip to my hotel. Good, I needed some clothes.

I changed into comfortable jeans and a T-shirt. I strapped my bo sheath into the small of my back and pulled the loose shirt over top. A pair of well-used tennis shoes finished my preparations for the day. I carefully packed up all of my gear again. Regardless of what Alfred wanted, I wasn't planning on staying here. I didn't want to make any assumptions, and it was better that I stay on my own for now.

I carried my stuff down the stairs to the main hall. I was moving quietly out of habit, but Alfred heard me and came out of nowhere to talk to me. "Good morning, Master Tim." I don't understand that man, I really don't. How do you wear a suit every day of your life? I think it would kill me. But I have to admit that I would be shocked to see Alfred in anything less than a perfectly pressed and impeccably clean black suit.

"Morning, Alfred. And please, just Tim ok? I'm not master of anything." I allowed myself to be herded into the kitchen. Alfred somehow had blueberry pancakes waiting. I had to wonder if he had the whole manor wire tapped or something. That was the only way that I could figure out how he knows absolutely everything that goes on in this place.

The pancakes were killer, and I ate hungrily. It had been quite a while since I'd had pancakes, though, so I felt slightly justified in my greediness. Alfred didn't say much, content to leave me to myself. I finished and shoved my plate back. "Thanks, Alfred, those were great."

"Master Bruce asked that I inform you that he's scheduled an appointment with him at the Wayne Industries Building at eleven thirty. Does that time work for you?" Alfred cleared my plate and then stood waiting for my answer.

I wasn't sure what to say. It was rather presumptive of Bruce to 'schedule' an appointment, but that was Bruce, so I wasn't all that surprised. What I couldn't figure out was why the appointment was downtown and not here. Knowing Bruce, he probably had a reason. I was tempted to change the time just to assert my independence, but realized that that was rather childish.

I didn't need to act independent, I was independent. I was honestly in a position to do whatever I wanted with my life. I realized this for the first time, sitting in Alfred's kitchen. For once in my life, I didn't have to hide what I was if I didn't want to. I didn't have to keep secrets or even obey my father. I could make my decisions based on the respect that I held for people, and my own desires and plans. It was a heady feeling, one of freedom. But I was also mature enough to realize that independence carries a huge weight of responsibility with it. I was independent, but that also meant that no one else would take the fall if I did something stupid.

I was jolted from my wandering thoughts by Alfred's voice. "Master Tim?"

I realized that I'd left him standing there. "Oh, sorry, Alfred, my mind was wandering. Please tell Bruce that I'll be there at 11:30."

"Very good. He also asked that you review file 19985 downstairs. I believe that Miss Gordon put it together to get you caught up on your old friends." Alfred looked pleased, and I wondered if it had been his suggestion.

Good. But Alfred's comment brought another thought to my mind. "Dick hasn't married her yet? Are they still…" I searched my mind for the proper term. Nothing came to mind, and it wasn't like Alfred didn't know what I meant, so I left the sentence hanging.

Alfred merely smiled at me and stated calmly. "Yes, they are still. No, they are not married. Now, no more gossiping, I believe you still know the way downstairs." He returned to his work, bustling around the kitchen. Probably making breakfast for Bruce, for whenever he woke up.

I mentally shrugged and headed for the grandfather clock. The correct movement of the hands came to me as if it had just been yesterday that I had entered the cave through this very doorway to notify Bruce that my father had found me out. I stopped on the brink of the stairs and remembered the horrible feeling of not finding him and knowing that I had to go home and deal with Dad without Bruce's advice. No one had been in the cave, and even the manor was empty. I'd felt so alone.

I shook my head, clearing those thoughts from my mind. What was done was done. I continued down the steps to the cave. I instantly noticed that the case holding my R shaped throwing star was nowhere in sight. Rather than try to figure out what that may or may not mean, I proceeded to the computer and quickly located file 19985.

I grinned as the computer accessed the file, and immediately sent off a coded message to somebody. I assumed that Oracle wanted to know whether or not I'd read her message. It was very interesting, catching up on everything that I'd missed. I really appreciated Oracle's effort.

Young Justice had dissolved soon after I disappeared. Superboy, Impulse, and Wonder Girl were now with the Titans, who had also went through a major rehaul. Troia had returned to Paradise Island, Tempest visited occasionally but seemed to be more concerned with Atlantis, and Jessie Quick and Argent had taken cities of their own. Arsenal still lived at Titan's tower, and occasionally worked with the current team. Slobo had returned to the stars, and Secret was… no.

Secret was dead. A very annoying part of my mind questioned whether or not a ghost could die, but I pushed that inane thought out of my mind. I leaned forward in my chair as I read the details from the screen in front of me. About a year ago, Secret slowly began losing control of her hold over the Abyss. She would lose consciousness and envelop people when she didn't even know what she was doing. There were no fatalities, but a lot of very frightened people and a lot of very concerned superheroes. Finally, she had quietly sent herself to the abyss, something that I didn't even know that she could do. The official story was suicide and I cringed away from the harsh word.

Oracle had added a footnote. -Tim, I thought you might want to know that STAR labs only gave her about three months to live, and most of that time she would be unconscious and a danger to those around her. Technically, she took her own life, but she did it for those around her. Sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news, but since she was always rather behind the scenes the news never got a hold of it. I'm sorry. Babs-

I wiped the moisture from my eyes, leaned back in my chair and stared at the vaulted cave ceiling above me. Suzie had been a friend, and a good one. I'd miss getting a chance to see her again. Still, I understood why she did what she did. It would be one thing to be paralyzed or brain dead, but another thing altogether if I would be a danger to those that I love and respect. I think that I would do the same thing, given her options. I hoped she was happy, wherever she was now.

I don't know how long I sat and thought of old times, but finally I returned to the files in front of me. The rest of the information was about my school friends and most of it I had already researched myself. I skimmed the rest of the file and exited it.

Not five seconds later, Barbara's face popped onto the monitor. I raised an eyebrow quizzically at her. She must have had yet another program notify her as soon as I was finished with the file. Impressive. I wondered if Bruce knew how much control she had over his system. Probably, knowing him. "Sorry to interrupt, Tim."

"Don't be, I had just finished. What can I do for you?" I leaned back in the chair, surreptitiously checking my watch as I tucked my hands behind my head. I still had about an hour and a half before my appointment with Bruce.

Barbara looked rather uncomfortable. "Well, you read what I sent you about your friends, right?" At my nod, she continued. "I'm sorry about Secret." Her voice trailed off as she searched for something to say.

"I'm ok, if that's what you're asking. Yeah, it was a shock, but from your note I gathered that she went easily." I almost choked on the last word as my throat clogged up again. Dang. I didn't want to get all emotional in front of her.

Barbara tactfully ignored my watering eyes and changed the subject. "Umm, I don't suppose you noticed that I left someone out, did you?"

Grateful for the subject change, I pondered for about ten seconds before I realized who had been missing from the file. "Steph." Now that I thought about it, I hadn't seen her and no one had mentioned her last night.

Barbara grimaced. "Well, I thought that I should probably tell you in person…"

TBC…