VII.-

"You came! I knew you would!" Said Cassie when she saw Conner.

She ran to him, stopping a few steps from him, her hands twitching, the wish to hold him too big, the fear of his reaction too real.

"Of course I came". His smile was tense and his hands were on his pockets. "This Harm guy was a moron."

"Yeah, he still is." Her hands went to her back.

One didn't need to be trained by the world's greatest detective to see all they were saying without words, so I felt a little awkward watching their rejoining. The rest of the Titans surrouding them and patting Con on the back eased the tension.

So we were a cheerful bunch again.

Yipei yai hey.

Cyborg came to me after greeting Superboy.

"Kory says you have news for us."

"Sort of." I felt uncomfortable, really unconfortable. As if I was the one piece that didn't fit. "I can fill you in so you can give a brief to the team."

"No, Boy Wonder. Your research, your speech." He gave me one of his thumbs up smiles. "I'll gather them around the table and you talk. That's what we commonly call Team Work."

"No, that's what you commonly call let the rookie graft."

But I went to the computer and reprinted what Con had ripped.

When I turned to the table, they were all there, waiting. So I started again with the four stolen relics are their legendary properties. I talked mater-of-factly, passing all the files I had and displaying the map with all the red spots, so I could give the impresion that I was at ease.

"So, this makes fifteen possible spots where he could be hidding." I said, finally. "Assuming we are right, of course."

"I asume you are always right, Robin, dude." Said Beast Boy, grinning. "So, what do we do?" Sing eeny meeny miny mo and choose? Search the entire area?"

"Or look for the one that has solar panels."

We all turned to Bart, still not used to his new thinking habit. He was besides the screen, with a smart smile on his face, signaling one of the spots, four miles from where we were.

Of course. Solar panels. Sekhmet was a sun goddes.

Mental note: Give Kid Flash a flash-cookie. He had earned it.

So we choosed our spot, relying in old legends, Bart intuiton and bit of luck. But it didn't loosen the notch in my stomach while we got to the Jet. And I didn't really knew what was causing it. I was not afraid of Harm coming back to life, not more than reasonably afraid. And I was sure as hell that my postponed talk with Con, hurtful as it might be, was not the cause. So, why? What was turning my entrails upside down?

"Hey, Rob, you all right?"

Bart sat next to me, kicking me out of my trance.

"You won't be content with a yes, will you?"

"Nope."

"I guessed." I sighed. "Then say whatever you think will make me feel better and let's hope it works."

"You also quit once, Rob, and me too. And it was hard, the quitting part and the coming back part."

"It was diferent."

"Yes? How?"

"I quit Young Justice because you made me feel like shit in Apokopolis and I needed time to forgive you all." How was any of this going to help?. "And when I quit Robin... when I quit Robin I did it because of my father... and it's something I don't want to discuss right now."

"And me? I quit because I realized I could die. As Cissie said, not a very good reason."

"I've told you, it was diferent back then."

"But you still can't tell me why it was so diferent."

I didn't need to. I just felt it. It was diferent back then. Everything was diferent.

"It was. Period."

"Gee, Tim, one can see you've been trained by..."

"Yeah. Whatever, Bart. Not now." I was getting tired of the subject. "If it makes you feel better, I plan to talk to Con as soon as we get rid of Harm."

"Does he know it?"

"Yes, Bart, he kwons! Why you are acting like an adult all of a sudden?"

"I was just cheking, dude. At least now I know Harm will not destroy Young Justice. We already have."

And, really slowly for someone as fast, he stood up and went to the other side of the jet, where Con and Cassie were still talking. Their hands were not touching yet, but it was a matter of time.

Seeing them so close only intensified the notch on my entrails and I finally realized what it was. Steph... I missed her so much...

My recent nightmare came back to me and my heart raced like crazy.

No. I didn't need those kind of thoughts. Not dwelling on the past, Tim. What was over should stay over. And the dead should stay dead. You began forming the idea and you became crazy sooner or later.

Yes. I missed her. And I missed Dad. But they were dead. And the dead should stay dead.

Shit!

I was scared. Uterly petrified.

Conner was looking at me, concerned, and I realized he could hear the frantinc beating of my heart. So I focused and breathed, acompasing my breathing slowly to my heartbeats, calming.

Then I turned to my printed files, pretending to be reading.

Wich failed as I turned page number two and my heart began bumping like crazy again.

Giving up, I raised and joined to Cyborg and Starfire at the controlers.

"Are we there yet?"

"You should have gone when we left, Robin." Said Victor really serious, making me blush in spite of myself.

Then he smirked.

"What he means is, yes, we are." Starfire kind of pitied me, I guessed. "We are landing half a mile from the solar panels, so you all should sit down and fasten your safety belts."

I nodded in agreement and turn to the others, repeating her orders and sitting down. I deliberately push the papers far from me while I fastened my belt.

This landing was smoother than the last, and I guessed it was due to Cyborg. The Jet was his idea after all, sure as hell he knew the controls by heart.

"Ok, Titans." He said, standing up, turning as to face all of us. "We don't know what we are facing exactly, but what we do know is that we are going to win. So I want team work down there. No rushing, no splitting. Is that clear?" He waited until we all nodded in agreement. "Then, Titans, go!"

So... Team work. And probably by team work he meant no scheaming behind their back.

I delayed on purpose, placing myself near Superboy. It was my only chance to talk to him privatedly.

It was an stupid idea and totally against Victor's speech.

Fuck.

I had to do it. Now or never.

I took him by the arm, stopping him.

"Con..."

He turned to me but said nothing, just stared, confused and bit wary.

Bart, who was walking besides him, dissapeared in just a blink.

I took a deep breath.

"I... I need you to do something."

"Yes?" He said, cautious.

"The goblet... you have to destroy it."

"Well, if it will stop this maniac, sure, I will." He smiled, perhaps relieved because it seemed a tactical conversation. "But I think we can kick his butt and save this valuable museum piece without even breaking a sweat. You worry too much, Rob."

"You don't understand... I need you to destroy it, even if we win. It must be smashed."

"But..."

I closed my eyes, letting go of him, feeling myself trembling and trying not to crumble.

"It raises the dead, Con."

"Yeah, I know and it's creepy, but..."

He went silent and I could feel his eyes piercing my skull. I couldn't look up, I couldn't even breath... the air was heavy and hot...

"Oh, Tim, man! You are not seriously thinking about..."

I clenched my fists and set my jaw, bringing myself toghether.

"Just tell me you'll do it, Con. I need to enter this place knowing the fucking thing is going to be destroyed."

I heard him swallow and his powerful hand fell over my shoulder.

"Yes, of course. You don't need to worry."

But I worried.

It didn't make me feel better. Just void and numb.

"Perfect. Now, lets go..." I said, not really moving. "The Titans must be worried."

"They must think we are solving our little personal quarrel."

But we weren't, were we? Not really. Not if Con was still quoting myself.

"Better not to make them wait."

And ignoring his worried look, I walked down the plank to join the rest of the Titans.