This chapter leaps about a bit – so stick with it, and read carefully!

Chapter Twelve

Raven felt as if the seas of her soul were drowning her. The pit of lonliness in the dream felt so deep that she feared falling forever. And it was all she could do to whisper his name softly.

"Beast boy…"

He could not hear her. No one could hear her. She felt disjointed from everything and everyone, except for evil eyes which seemed to seek her out and glare into her core, stealing her essence with a flick of an eyelid.

She struggled and screamed but could not seem to overcome the tremendous pain and peculiarity of the situation.

"Help me…"

Until one day everything disappeared into white and her eyes began to blink back into focus.

The phone in the main room at Titans tower was ringing.

Cyborg and Beast boy were sitting on the sofa's talking. For the first time in their lives, neither of them felt like playing Game Station. Infact, the whole of the tower was upset about the infirmity of the Azarathian.

Also, Star and Robin had revealed their relationship to which the reply was:

"At last! I could'a written it all over the walls and y'all would have still taken forever to see!" from Cyborg.

And a mere grunt of, "Congratulations" from BB. Raven was not the only titan whom they were worried about.

Ever since the disappearance of Terra and the hospitalisation of Raven, BB had started to draw inside like a snail into a shell. He had stopped cracking jokes, stopped talking almost and wasn't eating properly. More than that, the boys hadn't played Game Station in days.

Raven had been out for a week, and the strain was pulling the team slowly to it's knees. Plus with the loss of the other titan, and Beast boy's strange behaviour, fighting crime was tougher than ever.

Which was exactly what BB and Cy were discussing when the phone started to ring.

"I know you're cut up right now, man," Cyborg began to spiel, as BB leant back against the sofa. He'd heard it a million times already. "But you've got to remember who you are. You're part of a team and you can't just drop it when you feel like it."

"I'm not just dropping it, Cy," reasoned BB, rubbing his sore eyes. Insomnia was another of his current symptoms. "I'm just a bit quiet at the moment."

"We know, man, we know," Cy answered, trying to sound as rational as he could. "But it's not the deal here. It's just like you don't want to be here with us anymore. And you won't talk to any of us. Starfire is 'worried to death' you're gonna leave as well."

"I'm not going to leave," replied BB, shaking his head. His already messy hair became more dishevelled. "I'm just on a downer."

"Man, you're avoiding the point here."

"Which is what exactly?"

"Look I—"

Brrng Brrng.

The two titans looked up abruptly.

Brrng Brrng.

Beast boy was off the sofa like a shot and ran to the phone, pulling the reciever and speaking.

"Hello? Hello?" he questioned, much more eagerly than he meant to sound. He tried to regain his composure – very difficult for someone with as little equanimity as Beast boy. "Can I help you?"

"Is that Garfield?"

The green teenager recognised the voice immediately. He had to think before replying to his name – it had been so long. "Hi, yes it is!"

"It's Natasha from the hospital."

"I thought I recognised your voice," answered the shapeshifter, leaning on the counter, trying to sound polite. After all, this girl had done a lot for him by looking after Raven. "So, how is she?"

"She's awake. I thought you ought to be the first to know…and seeing as I can't find any records of her parents…"

"She doesn't have any parents," the changeling replied almost immediately. He shifted his eyes over to Cyborg who was realising who this must be and jumping around and making signals. BB decided to ignore him.

"We're her only family."

"We?"

"Me and the rest of the people I live with – our friends."

"Yeah, I figured as much," the nurse chuckled slightly. "She is a live-wire isn't she?"

"That's Raven alright! So, when can she come home?"

"Tomorrow, if she is fit enough. We just want to make sure she's okay."

"I understand," responded BB, gravely. "Can we see her today?"

"Well," the nurse sounded uneasy, and the changeling could swear he heard her grappling with her conscience. "You aren't meant to. But as it's you I suppose I could make an acception. But you must come at the right time – 8.00 pm – and you can't wear anything like that outfit you had on last time. You must blend in."

"What about my friends? Can they come too?"

"If they follow the same rules then yeah. Normal clothes, correct time and meet me outside the hospital. I'll take you through the back entrance."

The girl took a deep breath, and Garfield couldn't even begin to describe how much he felt he owed to her.

"Thank you, again."

"Hey, don't say I never did anything for you, okay? And don't tell my boss!" she exclaimed, giving a half chuckle. The shapeshifter laughed.

"I wont," he answered honestly. But there was a slightly impish tone to his voice. "Providing you stay on my good side!"

"Well, I'll let you into the hospital providing you stay on my good side. How does that sound?"

"Fab!" laughed the green skinned shapeshifter.

He said goodbye and put the phone down. Cyborg bounded over.

"Well?"

"She's awake!"

Raven's violet eyes flickered before springing open suddenly. The girl sat bolt upright and gasped violently, as if she was being suffocated. She gulped in the air as her ears throbbed with recognition that she was back.

She looked around, the adrenaline rushing around her head. She was in a hospital – alone. The room was dark and silent except for the gentle whirr of the machines monitoring Raven's health.

She blinked before realising that she was in immense pain and she couldn't move another muscle. She collapsed onto the bed weakly, wondering where her friends were. She winced as she tried to move her arms, but she was so tired and fragile it was next to impossible.

Giving up she sighed, and decided to lie there, seeing as there was nothing else to do. She pondered the things she had longed to deliberate. Now that Terra was 'gone' what would Beast boy say to her? She closed her eyes and remembered the rush she had felt when she had kissed him, and that warm, wonderful, breathtaking feeling.

Her eyes snapped open as her thoughts were disrupted by some kind of movement outside the door. She tried to call out, but could merely whisper. She frowned, thoroughly frustrated.

The door opened slowly and slightly, and a nurse came in humming gently. She carried a clipboard in her arm and had brown hair with a fringe which flopped over her left eye. Raven raised her eyebrows as the nurse checked the machines, then turned to look at the girl.

"Oh my!" exclaimed the brunette, crouching down. "You're awake!"

Raven nodded slowly, frowning. The nurse gave a light chuckle.

"Well that is a relief. Garfield will be pleased."

'Garfield?' thought Raven, blankly. Then it clicked. 'Is she talking about Beast boy?'

"Is…he…green?" she whispered hoarsely, as the nurse hoisted her gently into a sitting position. The medic nodded and smiled widely.

"Nice guy. Seemed keen to make sure you were okay."

"Well where is he now?" whispered the Azarathian angrily. "If he was that bothered, he'd be here."

"Sweetie, the poor guy's got to live. He couldn't just stand here for a week!"

'A week!' she thought helplessly. 'I've been asleep for a week?'

"A…week?" she managed eventually, as the nurse helped give her some water. "A whole week?"

"A whole week," confirmed the girl, smiling. "It's okay, though. Believe me, it could have, and should have, been a lot worse. I don't know how you pulled through so well."

'No thanks to Terra,' thought Rae angrily, frowning.

"I guess I'm just lucky," she answered softly, touching her throat. She looked at the nurse, who's green eyes met her own lilac ones.

"Oh, I believe it was much more than luck. One look at you tells me you're special."

'Special?' Raven's inner voices whispered, confused.

"Don't you mean creepy? Weird?" Raven corrected, shaking her head and casting her violet eyes down.

"No. I mean special," countered the nurse, smiling. "I'm Natasha by the way."

"Raven," Rae croaked, pushing her long purple hair out of the way. Natasha smiled.

"I know," she confirmed, waving the records. "I like your hair. I was wondering how you manage to keep it that long."

"I…don't do anything," answered Raven, shrugging then collapsing weakly back onto the bed. The other teenager laughed.

"Well, you're lucky. Hair's a pain in the butt," she sighed sitting down. "I never was interested in that stuff."

"Me neither," replied the Azarathian, now warming to the nurse.

"Really? Cool! I always preferred reading myself," confided Natasha, giving a little grin. "And writing."

"Really? What do you read?"

"Anything and everything. I love Poe's poetry especially but…well, I work so much it's almost impossible to get five minutes to read."

Raven was genuinely shocked. She managed a smile eventually. "That's nice. I don't get much time either."

"I knew I recognised you!" exclaimed Natasha, smiling and pointing gently to the teenager. "I knew it! You're one of those superhero's aren't you? A Teen Titan?"

"Yes, that's right," answered Raven nodding. She looked away. "But it's just a job."

"I think it's a little more than that. Anyway…I think you are really brave, doing something like that must be really difficult."

Raven looked back up again. She had one of those serious and pensive looks on her delicate face. "I think that you're the brave one."

Natasha let out a small laugh and stood up. "I'll go and phone Garfield."

W00t w00t!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while was ill then away so been kinda busy! Hope you enjoyed this chap will try to update quickly!

Replies to some of the substancial reviews as I am strapped for time:

Gladdecease: Sorry! It's probably better if you tell me your email and I'll send you one to give you mine. :sighs: Smart people around me? Nah, all everyone is obsessed with is men. Eighteen year olds suck! Lol. Glad you like my humour, I love writing Cy and BB.

Afterdark: Thanks!

Greenlobster7878: Darn, I never lived in Kansas! Sorry bout that…I'm from England, lol!

Toast: Thanks mate, you're such a sweetie:gives you cookies:

Moonchild10: Haha, yes, it's true! Cyborg…his song made me laugh in Titans East part one…hilarious writing! Add some of my friends stories too! At Opposites Attract there are LOADS of writers who'd want you to put their stories up I'm sure:huggles: Don't do short reviews! It frightens my brain!

DarkRavenna: WELCOME! I'm glad you're liking the story! Visit my forum some time, k?

Lyzz2nwn: Wondered where you'd been! Hehe, that sounds really funny:pinches her friend: bwahahha! Man:gives you dark sunglasses: that sounded embarrassing! Never mind. I've comedy fallen over many times. It's awful! Preps suck. I hate them and their dyed blonde hair:shakes fist: They remind me of Terra:gags: See yas!

Thanks to all for being so patient!

Love you

xChibix