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Superman had to make a choice between calling Batman or leaving him out in the dark.

He knew Dick and Bruce had some problems that they hadn't yet resolved, but that was no reason to not let him know that his surrogate son might die.

Batman had to know.

Superman was still with Robin at STAR Labs. He didn't want to leave him. The man of steel was standing behind the glass window looking in on the doctors operating on the young boy; he didn't want to stop watching just in case something happened. He wanted to be in there with them but he couldn't; he'd just get in the way.

He wasn't sure if he should've brought Robin to STAR Labs or not. Robin was a normal human not a meta-human like the rest of the superhero population. But Robin was still a hero; where else was he supposed to bring him?

Tears welled up in his eyes. He'd known Robin since he was a little boy. He remembered the first time he saw him. He was around ten years old and he was the happiest, liveliest child in the world full of so much energy and love. He brightened up Wayne Manor and Superman could see the joy he brought to Bruce.

'What happened between them?' Superman thought.

But before he could ponder that question further a rush of air blew past him ruffling his hair. He heard of squeal of shoes stopping suddenly behind him.

"Hello Flash," Superman said turning around slowly.

"Hey Supes!" the young man in the red and yellow costume said in his usual enthusiastic manor.

"What are you doing here Wally?" Superman asked tiredly, not able to understand how Flash could smile yet he couldn't.

"It's my turn to inspect this place," he said not put out by Superman's tone. "How about you? You aren't scheduled to check this place out until next month. Hey who's the kid?" Flash asked finally noticing Robin ion the other room.

"That's Robin," Superman said trying to keep his voice calm as more tears filled his eyes.

"Hey Supes you ok?" Flash asked noticing his leaders face.

"I've known him since he was ten years old," Superman said not taking his eyes off the boy. "He's only fifteen Wally."

"How did this happen?"

"He was shot protecting two civilians. Now I have to call the man who trained him.........the man who is practically his father.........and tell him what happened.........against Robin's wishes."

Superman clenched his fists tightly.

"Do I know him?" Wally asked. "I could call him for you........."

"No thanks Wally. You know him but I think I should do it," Superman said giving Flash a small forced smile. "How's your inspection going?"

"It's finished. Everything seems fine. Containment cells are in perfect condition."

"Where is the rest of the team?"

"Lantern, Wonder Woman, and J'Onn are up looking at some unnatural moon alignment on Saturn and Bat's didn't show up at the meeting today so.........he's probably still in Gotham. You should probably check up on him Clark.........we haven't heard anything from him in almost a month."

Suddenly a beeping sound came from his JLA communicator. He answered it.

"Hello?"

"Where is he?" a gruff voice asked.

"I'm at STAR Labs now," Superman said again trying to hide the distress in his voice. "You might want to come.........it looks pretty bad."

"What happened to him Clark?" Batman said in an icy tone chilling Clark and Wally.

"Bruce just come over here please.........just come over and be with your son."

Batman just clicked off his com-link off and Superman let a tear fall.

Flash's eyes went wide.

"Bats has a kid?" he asked awed. He'd never have thought that Batman would have any tolerance for children.

All Superman could do was nod and keep looking back in through the window.

The Titans arrived at the same time as Batman. Batman drove up in the Bat-Mobile just as the Titans and their passengers landed from their flight from Jump City.

They both reached the entrance doors at the same time; and Batman gave them a cold half glance and ran in the building his cape swishing behind him. The Titans had no clue who he was but he apparently knew who they were.

Then suddenly it dawned on the team. His costume looked like a bat.

"Was that the Batman?" all four of them asked in unison.

"Come on," Cyborg said leading them inside the building.

The operation was over and Robin was in a room with white walls. The room was empty with an exception to the bed he lay in, the many beeping machines hooked up around him, and a silver and dark blue folding chair at his bedside. The floors were a dull gray and the entire room smelled of antiseptic and sterile air. There was a large window on the wall across from the door but that was all.

Batman met Superman and Flash outside the door to his room. His mouth was set in a grim expression and his eyes were cold.

'Why are you still hiding your feelings Bruce?' Superman thought to himself. 'We are your friends we wouldn't hold anything against you.'

"How is he?" Batman said looking daggers at Superman.

"The operation went well from what the doctor told me but he will need to recover from his injuries," Superman said. "He hasn't woken up yet so........."

At those words Batman's face seemed to lose all color as worry overtook him.

"But the doctors say that it looks good," Superman added noticing his worry.

Batman let out a small sigh only heard by the Krypton.

"Can I see him?" he asked trying to mask his emotions once again.

"Yea," Superman said quietly. "But there is something I think you should know."

He sighed not wanting to tell his friend what Robin said but knowing he had to.

"He didn't want you involved."

"What?"

"He didn't want you to know." His words were filled with gentle sorrow.

"So what you telling me is that if I didn't call you, you wouldn't have told me about all this?"

"He was gonna' call you but you called before he had the chance," Flash said speaking up from behind Superman.

Batman just whipped around and pushed open the door to enter his "sons" room when he heard Superman say quietly, "It's not my fault that you two don't get along."

But he just ignored him and let the door close behind him.

Anger and jealousy ran threw him.

'How dare Superman say that? How dare him!'

Then he looked up and his eyes saw the boy he called his son and he stopped his angry thoughts as guilt and shock overtook him.

It was so quiet; all that could be heard was the beeping of the machines. He seemed so small and was so pale. His mask was still on his face but he could tell his eyes were shut. There was a tube running down his throat and his matted dark hair contrasted dramatically with his pale skin. He was wearing a light hospital gown and his arms were lying over a light coverlet. He could see an IV sticking out of his left hand.

All Batman could do was stare. He didn't know how long he was standing there but after what seemed like days Superman came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. He didn't swat it away.

"What happened?" he asked not turning around; he couldn't tear his eyes away.

"He was shot in the back. It pierced through part of his lungs so they had to repair that. They had to put a tube down his throat to help him breath. They had to repair some muscle and tissue damage and stop some internal bleeding from inside his chest cavity. It went well but it should take awhile until he is back to normal. Only a few months if all goes well."

"What if things don't go well?" the cold voice asked.

"Please don't ask me that," Superman said quietly.

It was silent for sometime then the dark knight broke the silence.

"Why did you come in?"

"I thought I should be here to give you the details and," he paused for a second and Batman turned around. "I thought you needed a friend."

Another long silence followed.

"Can I be alone with him?" the emotionless voice asked.

"Yea sure." Superman started backing out of the room but stopped and looked at the man in the dark uniform.

"Bruce," his voice was gentle but more sorrow seemed to fill the room with his words. 'I'm sorry........."

TrigunChick: Ahh My e-mail thing didn't show!! Ahh!! Anyway let me try it again it is ComicFreak86 there! Maybe it'll show now!

Elizabeth Aiken: It was Batman!! YAY for you!! You get a cookie! Awesomeness on a stick? Cool!

Raven-Yumichick: I hope it turns out to be an awesome story!

Lost Inside: Thanks! I will update! This took awhile for me to type because school sucks!

Terra18: Thanks!

Poopy Penguin: Whatever the crazy penguin demands I guess I must obey! So here is the update and I hope to post again soon!

Kat: OOOO a 14 really? You think so?? COOL!

Maroonedpirate11: I'm sorry 'bout your test. I'm not the smartest person alive either. Well I hope to update soon.

KaliAnne: OO thanks! Slade's Apprentice was my favorite thing I've ever written. Thanks for reading it! I'm really trying to update fast! Really I am!

J Potter: OO thanks for awaiting this chapter! Hope you liked it!

Blue Jedi: OO thanks!

Spazzfire: I love the Batman theme song ::sings along:: YAY and you were correct also you get a cookie too! YAY!

Jgurl: I'm not sure if I'm gonna kill Robin or not. He's my favorite character but look at what I did to him in my last TT fic. It all depends on where the story goes. I don't think I will but you never know.........

THANK YOU MY REVEIWERS! I LOVE GUYS TO DEATH! I was actually thinking of stopping but then I got reviews and I kept going so...here I am now. THANKS AND REVIEW IF YOU WANT MORE!!

TheDudeLordOfFantasy