Caution: This installment of 'The Accounting' contains an evil cliffhanger. Please address complaints to 'Brain.'


The Props:


Jules: Hi! (waves…) You do sound like a reviewer… (Brain: Does this sound like me? Kill her!) Down boy! Hey-I have a little more for you to look at-got time? I still don't feel great about the you-know-what, but you're the master…if you say it's okay… (Brain: The whining imbecile doesn't even realize he has delivered a backhanded insult.) Did not!

Dark Side of Blue: Of course I care! I read your stuff (when I can wrest the computer from my daughter.) Fine! Crush my fragile little ego with your cavalier boasting! (Brain: And how long has he been doing this? And since he changed his name he has to start over!) Hey-good point, Brain! Pthhhhpt!

AstaOmega: Ehhh…it's getting better… I've got a whole different audience here, and they are just finding me. It's getting better, and I'm running out of story… (Brain: We'll just write a bunch of crap that will keep them coming back.)

Change-of-Heart2: Explaing things? Oops-forgot about that! (Brain: I do not grant explanations.)

DM: Yeah! Scoreboard! Don't worry-you're young. You still have time to do a lot with your life. (Brain: Unlike loser Vin.) LYa back!

Yume Takato: Thanks. Yes, 'The End, pt 1' annoyed me no end…although it was the greatest Raven episode ever! (Brain: And to all those who continuously insult us with 'you made Raven OOC…')

Wolf of Raven: (Brain: Nexet, we'uns iz gonna insult youze…) So sorry about that… I can't control him.

(Brain: Try again, loser.)

Teleportal: Snicker... (Brain: He believed it.) Hey-just kidding! I had not insulted you yet-didn't want you to feel left out. (Brain: You deserved it.)

JustShadow: Why are most of my reviewers female? (Brain: He is soooo dense.) Don't worry-even though you despise me, I still love you (you do review, after all.) (Brain: I missed because he didn't think your name was an accurate description. Can't kill a shadow now, can we?) See- it's just Brain that wants to kill you…

Lady of Faerie: Only cool people hate you…Slade hates you… therefore, Slade is 'cool?' (Brain: She must really think me cool! I hate her greatly.) I treasure your friendship, however! (Brain: Brownie!) Of course-I have a professional degree…

Hollie: We must be patient…can't rush these things, you know. (Brain: Die, Xmas girlie!)

Wicked Witch of the SE: Toto says hi! (Brain: Says die fluffrag dogmutt!) Thanks for reviewing!

Not Quite: Huh? Sobbing? (Brain: He can't even remember! Hee hee…what a hose-head…) Oh! I checked…Brain is stupid! She cried tears-no mention of 'sobbing!' Ha ha-dumb Brain! (Brain: You will both regret making a fool of me! Many times, before you die…)


The Accounting, Pt. 6, Wherin Raven & Beastboy Conspire.


Arriving at the Bat Cave, they were met by Alfred, who carried the green-grey wolf to Batman's infirmary. Beastboy seemed to be stable, but he was hooked to monitoring equipment, just to be sure.

"Sir?" Alfred ventured. "I had presumed that Werewolves were extinct-"

"Quite right, Alfred. I had thought the same." Bruce frowned.

"So, it isn't just a legend?" inquired Raven. "Well then, what can we do about Beastboy?"

The Batman's expression became one of sorrow, as he looked from Raven to the floor. Alfred just turned away from the girl's innocent question.

"Nothing...?" Raven implored.

Batman spoke softly. "I have never come across anything in my studies of the subject to indicate that the condition is reversible. I'm sorry; you care for him, don't you?"

Raven fought to hold back the tears that threatened to escape. She nodded weakly.

"He'll have to be restrained, until daylight, in case he regains his strength before then." Bruce tried to sound neutral.

Raven nodded once more, her eyes glistening with moisture. She succeeded in regaining enough composure to speak. "Can I stay with him?"

"Of course."


Beastboy woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. Although it was dark, he noticed the ceiling was high enough to fade out of sight high overhead. He examined the hard 'bed' he was on, and was shocked to see the steel manacles attached to the hospital-style cot.

Unknown to him, Raven had stayed awake long enough to remove his restraints when he reverted to his normal form.

The changeling examined his environs in more detail. To his left was an extensive computer array. To his right – darkness. As he turned toward the head of the bed, he started. Raven was asleep in a chair, facing him.

What had happened last night?

Beastboy remembered only up to his last gasp effort to conceal his trail in the stream. He remembered collapsing from exhaustion and weakness from blood loss. After that – nothing.

Did Raven rescue me? That would mean...she must know.

The little changeling lowered himself gently off the bed, testing his wounded leg. 'Not too bad,' he thought, but running a hand over the healed area revealed that the bullet was still in his thigh. As he pondered this, he shuffled quietly over to where Raven was sleeping. Even so, her eyes fluttered open even before he reached her.

"Beastboy?" she said sleepily, "you okay?"

"Yeah," he replied, holding his breath.

Raven stood up, and embraced her companion. "I was so worried about you last night: I didn't know if you were going to leave me."

Beastboy held her close, feeling her heartbeat. They clung to each other, neither wanting to broach the subject that was a tangible presence, filling the very air about them.


They all sat around the enormous table in Bruce Wayne's formal dining room. No one seemed to be in a mood for talking. Bruce's attempts at small talk were feeble at best, and Raven and Beast boy were both seemingly lost in private thoughts.

After brunch, Bruce considerately excused himself, to allow the teens some time alone. Before leaving, however, he extended an invitation to spend another night, if they wished.

"Thank you, Mr. Wayne, but we need to get back to the tower; the others are probably getting frantic about now..." the sorceress began.

"No need to be concerned, Raven." Bruce interrupted. "I already took the liberty of contacting Robin, and everything is taken care of." He held a hand up, to reassure the wide-eyed Raven. "I told him that I asked you two here for help with a little project of mine – he knows not to pry." Wayne gave her a wink, before turning to leave.

"Raven," Beast boy said in a serious voice, "I need to ask you a favor." He took a deep breath, and exhaled frustratedly. "I know that I'm a menace, and I want you to promise that if I ever do anything-"

Raven stared at him calmly. "No."

"If I ever become a danger to anyone-"

"No."

"You're the only one I can trust!" He huffed. "I need you to do this for me!"

"You want me to imprison you?" She sounded hurt. "And I should feel good about it?"

"No..." The changeling began, haltingly. "I – I don't know if you could restrain me..."

"I can't maintain an energy-bubble indefinitely," Raven stated, not sure if he already knew her limitations.

"I don't think any cage would hold you, either."

Beast boy smiled grimly. "Yeah. That's why I'm not asking you to try to pen me up. But, I don't feel like I'm always in control of what I do when – when I – you know." He looked downcast. He picked up a small satchel that Raven hadn't seen before. "That's why I got these – in case you need to stop me..."

The furred one dumped the contents unceremoniously on the table.

Raven's eyes widened, at the implication of that peculiar collection of items. Then realization hit, and she tried to suppress a smile. "Uh...do you know what that stuff is for," she asked, covering her mouth with her hand.

"What? This is serious!" He pouted. "If you have to – kill me, to stop me from doing something terrible, you need to drive this stake through my heart, and then...separate my head, so I won't come back-"

Raven smiled more broadly. "No-no! It's not the idea that's funny..." She tried to compose herself. "That stuff is to kill a Vampire." The sorceress chuckled softly.

"Oh." Beast boy grinned sheepishly. "I guess the garlic is no good, either, huh?" He puzzled for a moment.

"Oh yeah, I remember – silver, right? Silver dagger – or – a silver bullet."

"Forget it, B." Raven became deadly serious again. "I couldn't do anything like that. I'm flattered that you would place your life in my hands, but I am not the one..." A pained expression crossed her face. "Besides– we're going to find some way to deal with this."

"I can't go back."

"What-?"

"I can't go back to the Titans."

Raven sunk back in her chair. The changeling was right. Robin already knew. Perhaps Bruce could afford to be sympathetic, but not Batman. "Well, don't you want to try talking to Robin..." She stopped herself. Raven knew his answer already. She would do the same. Oh shit! That's why he wants me to make a death-pact. He already thought this through. I still haven't enough respect for his intelligence.


Please review! No more threats from Brain, I promise!

(Brain:………)

Uh-uh-uh!

(Brain: Kiss my-)

Shut up and review! I mean, shut up Brain!

(Brain: Nice page-breaks, wussie boy.)