Thanks for all the reviews people! It's always nice to hear from people who like (or even don't like) my writing! Keep it up!

To those who were wondering about Harbinger... no, I've not abandoned it. Don't worry, the story will be finished. :) I've just written myself into a corner and need to find a way out of it. I know what I want to have happen, but I just need to do it delicately so it doesn't end up sucking horribly.

Meanwhile, here's Chapter 2 of Cause and Effect! Enjoy!


Chapter 2: All That Glitters...

"His vitals look stable," Cyborg stated as his hands moved over the medical computer controls before looking back at the group surrounding the infirmary bed and smiling, "See? I told ya'll BB would be okay."

Beast Boy, for is own part, lay in the bed and looked around him with bleary-eyed confusion. Everything looked like the Titans Tower infirmary, but something sure wasn't right.

"Terra?" the green Titan said again, once more turning towards the scrawny blonde, "Is... is that really you?"

"Of course!" Terra replied, smiling widely down at Beast Boy, "Who else would I be?"

"You're... alive?" Beast Boy asked, again blinking in disbelief. This was entirely too weird. "Dude, what happened?"

"You were hit by that curious device wielded by Doctor Dimension," Starfire piped up, clasping her hands together, "You've been unconcious for two weeks. Fortunately you are recovering quite well."

"Yeah, I remember that..." Beast Boy murmured, still keeping an unbelieving eye on Terra, "But... but..."

"But what?" Terra asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Beast Boy's mouth moved, but no sounds came forth. How do you describe to someone who should be locked in a lava stone prison that you don't think they should be here? Especially to someone like Terra. "Nothing, nevermind," he replied, relaxing back against the pillow and shutting his eyes tightly. His mind swam and he attempted to just block everything out for the time being.

"We should let him rest," Robin stated to the others, ushering them out the door before turning and smiling at the bedridden Titan, "Don't scare us like that again, okay? Rest up. When you're feeling better, there's tofu waiting."

Without opening his eyes, Beast Boy only nodded in response. This was strange. Too strange. But he was too tired to attempt to figure it out just now. Maybe some sleep will clear his mind.

Out in the hallway, Robin gathered the other Titans around, looking grimly at Cyborg. "What's the diagnosis?"

"He's confused, that's certain," Cyborg stated, running a hand along the metal portion of his head, "But he should recover soon. Thing is..." A hesitation. "His brainwave patterns are a lot different from the ones taken during his last physical. Much moreso than they should be."

"Are you saying that thing he was shot with scrambled his mind!" Terra asked archly before snarling, "If that Doctor Dimension did anything to BB--"

"Easy, Terra," Robin calmed the blonde girl, "We don't know how he's been affected yet, if at all. For now, let's just play it by ear. No need to walk on eggshells around him, but we should probably try to be more forgiving to his... quirks until we can figure out what's up." Robin cast a glance in Cyborg's direction.

Cyborg raised his hands in a defensive gesture, "Hey, man, I'm making him tofu! What more do you want from me?"

"Friends," Starfire spoke up, "Since we don't currently know how that evil weapon has affected his mind, perhaps it would be good to have someone stay with him once he recovers enough?"

"That's a good idea, Star," Robin replied with a curt nod, "Someone to make him comfortable and answer any questions he has. We'll more likely find out about any problems that way." He turned towards Terra, "I think this would be perfect for you, considering your relationship."

Terra's cheeks pinked slightly, rubbing the back of her head self-consciously, "Uhm, yeah. Sure, I can do that, but..." Her features became marred by a slight frown, "What was all that he was saying before? About me being alive?"

"Probably the result of exhaustion," Cyborg stated, "C'mon, now... do you really think he'd forget about you of all people?" Cyborg winked impishly.

"Yeah, you're right," Terra replied with a grin, "I'm worrying over nothing."

"At any rate, we should let him rest," Robin stated practically, "We'll just have the medical computer alert us when he's about to regain consciousness."

Everyone nodded their assent.

He could see her again. There, standing amid the caldera and spewing lava, willing the earth to close around her and seal the broken rift. He tried to get to her; he ran as fast as he could. But everything seemed to happen in slow motion; the ground rumbled beneath his feet as he leapt over the crumbling and cracking earth, trying to get to her. Finally, after what seemed like ages, he got close enough to touch her. He reached out with a hand, ready to pull her free. Her angelic face turned to him and smiled slowly, just as her entire body turned to stone.

"Nooo!" Beast Boy shouted, awakening in a cold sweat and sitting bolt-upright in the medical bed. Several panting breaths later, the green titan fell back against the bed and sighed. "It was all a dream."

"What was, dear friend?" Starfire asked as she walked through the door with Robin and Cyborg in tow.

Beast Boy paused then shook his head, offering a weak smile, "Nothing, don't worry about it. Ugh, what happened? I feel like the floor of a taxi cab."

"You were hit by Doctor Dimension's weapon," Robin stated for the second time that day.

"Oh, right. I remember." Beast boy replied with a nod, lifting a hand to rub his temple idly.

Robin and Cyborg shared worried looks before the door opened again revealing Terra carrying a tray with pancakes and what looked like milk. "Hungry?" she stated cheerily, "Cy made you this. All vegetarian, too... this is soy milk!"

For his own part, though, Beast Boy was staring at Terra, his mouth agape. "It... it wasn't a dream," he breathed softly, disbelieving eyes widening at the sight of Terra.

"Hey, don't act so surprised," Cybrog stated with a wry smile, "I can cook with that stuff you call food too, y'know."

Beast Boy shook his head quickly, "No! No, I mean... I mean Terra!" He motioned hurriedly towards the confused blonde titan.

"What about her?" Robin asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"She's ALIVE!"

The other titans just stared at Beast Boy for a long moment before all sharing more worried looks.

"Of course I am, BB," Terra said carefully, putting the tray down in front of the green titan who immediately began to eat with gusto, though still staring at the vision before him, "Is there any reason I wouldn't be?"

"Well, there's that whole turned into stone thing," Beast Boy stated, almost giggling. He was hysterical with joy. Though that joy soon abated as he noted the concerned expressions on his friend's features. "What?"

"I knew it!" Terra growled, slamming her hand into her fist, "I knew that Doctor Dimension scrambled his brain!"

"Terra," Robin warned carefully, "This isn't the best time to discuss this."

Beast Boy stopped in his attack of the soy pancakes, a look of supreme confusion rising over his features. "Huh? What is it? What's wrong?" Beast Boy paused for a moment then blinked. "Hey, wait a minute. Where's Raven?"

All the other titans froze for a good ten seconds. Starfire looked away sadly. Cyborg shifted his weight on his feet nervously. Terra fumed, crossing her arms over her chest. Robin, however, looked as cool and controlled as ever.

"Raven is... no longer with us, Beast Boy," Robin stated gently, "We lost her nearly a year ago."

Those words rang in Beast Boy's head, the full horror of what Robin said taking a while to hit him. "No..." he whispered softly, feeling his heart sink, "No, that's not true. Dude, that can't be! Raven... can't..." Beast Boy's green eyes began to shimmer with unspent tears as he stared down at the remainder of his meal. What an emotional roller coaster he's been on this morning. "This was wrong. All wrong."

Robin frowned and pursed his lips, casting a sidelong look at Cyborg before turning his attention back to the titan in the medical bed, "Beast Boy... I think you should know... there is the possibility that Doctor Dimension's gun might have done something to your mind. We don't know what yet, but we're working on it."

Slowly, Beast Boy raised his head to peer at Robin through the stinging tears in his eyes. "Is t-that why I remember Terra being dead and Raven being... being..." The green titan couldn't force himself to say the word, his voice cracking.

"It seems likely," Robin replied gravely, "It's probably not permanent."

"But I remember everything," Beast Boy whispered, "I remember fights and birthday parties and Halloween and..."

"I think we should leave," Robin stated to the others before nodding at Terra, "Except you Terra. Talking with you might jog his memory."

Terra frowned but nodded several times, forcing a smile on her features. "Sure thing."

"This is all wrong," Beast Boy muttered to himself as three of the other titans shuffled from the room, leaving him alone with Terra.