Disclaimers and Useless/Useful Stuff to Know:
Don't own any of these characters. Never will. Wish I did. Major spoilers for "Countdown to Infinite Crisis". Good idea to read the comic first. Also, spoilers for the Question six-issue miniseries.

Also, Kiffie rocks. She's helped on a few things during the course of this story. As a matter of fact, you all rock, with your reviews and pretty pikshures. THANK YOU. EVERYONE.

Warning: The Pool is Contaminated

by Alba Aulbath

The stairs seemed to go on forever, into the dark and into the depths of what Ted was sure was Vic's mind and very being. It felt cold, and somehow... Ted felt incredibly alone, even if he was in someone's head.

He wasn't sure how, but he did.

Snow was drifting by, landing on him and not melting. It crunched under his feet as he climbed the stairs, gazing around him. It was all a wide void, including him and the stairs and snow most of the way in; there were the occasional scenes that seemed to suddenly play out at either side of the stairs as he climbed. Ted assumed they were memories.

"I couldn't tell what was real, you bastard! I couldn't tell what was real..."

Ted couldn't keep his eyes off of the scene, what he assumed to be a young Vic Sage slamming his fist into someone else's face. The violence was familiar, the moment was not.

"I can't believe he had a mullet," Ted mused to himself.

Nothing answered him. He almost felt dead again.

Continuing up the stairs, he saw things he was not particularly familiar with in his own crimefighting days. Death, horrors, filth, the rotting streets of Hub City. What tied the Question to the place? What kept him there? Dedication? Stubborness?

The snow was coming down faster, colder. Ted winced and continued on his way, glancing aside towards the temporary images, the constructs of question marks that were formed occasionally.

To his left, there was a giant statue of the symbollic woman of Justice, blindfolded and carrying a scale.

It was broken in several places, sinking into the black void.

Ted appeared to reach the top, finding himself at black rusty gates, the tops twisted into the shape of question marks.

"Great. I can't even get in," Ted grumbled, pushing at the stubborn gates.

However, he began to see why. Looking through the bars, he could see a cemetary, snow drifting down.

This looked familiar.

"Hmm...?" The brunet squinted and watched. Was this a memory? But this was Vic's mind; why would a memory of Ted's be here?

The snow continued to drift down. There was a casket at a grave, marked "Aristotle Rodor". There was no one there, but a lone man, sitting up against the casket. His knees had pulled up against his body, head bowed down. He was trembling. Cold, and maybe some grief.

"Rodor..." Ted folded his arms. "I remember-"

He decided to be silent, simply watching.

There were steps heard, crunching through the snow. Whoever was approaching...

The man shivered, lifting his head. It was no surprise, it was Vic Sage.

Step, step, step, and was approaching.

Vic Sage lifted his head, watching the snow, letting it land onto his face.

"Hey there."

Vic Sage turned his head, surprise coming to his face. Vic Sage was startled to see someone else. Nobody else cared. What brought him, of all people?

"Sorry. Do you mind?" Vic Sage shook his head, silent still. "Okay. Thanks. I..." There was a smile. A smile. A smile, for him. Nobody smiled at Vic Sage. "I mean... it's just... well, I didn't know Doc Rodor that well - I met 'im a few times because of my college professor, Doc Garret."

"Dan...? So this is-"

"Dan Garret," Vic Sage murmured.

"Oh, you knew 'im too?"

"Not really." Vic Sage turned his head away. "Not really..."

"But you knew Doc Rodor."

Vic Sage nodded. "We were... very good friends..." His face fell. "Hub City. He lived there with me. Died, because... of me..."

Gunshots. He looked around, frowning.

Vic Sage winced.

"I heard," was admitted. "Well..." Sat down beside Vic Sage. "I don't think it was your fault. And he probably doesn't either. Not that I knew him, but if he was friends with Doc Garret and was anything like him, I doubt it, y'know?"

"...Mm..." Vic Sage nodded, but was not entirely convinced.

"I know he died. But... Look, you don't have to blame yourself. I know he's gone. I know that. But... you shouldn't think of his funeral as death. It's more like a celebration of life. Right? Maybe not his... but maybe yours? He'd want you to..." Thought on it, trying to find the right words. "Yeah, I guess... He'd want you to celebrate life. Not his death. Right?"

Vic Sage looked at him quietly, intently.

"Uh... did that make sense...?"

"Yes," Vic Sage whispered.

"Oh, good. I think I confused myself. Well..." Standing up, brushed off snow. "Hey. I don't see any flowers. Did you...?"

Vic Sage smiled bitterly. "Couldn't afford it."

"Oh! Well. Here. It'd probably mean a lot more from you than me, right?" The flowers were offered. "Okay?"

"I..."

"It's all right," was assured.

Vic Sage lowered his head, reluctantly accepted them. "Okay... ...thank you...? Thank you."

"No problem." A hand was offered. "I'm Ted."

"Oh hell..."

"I know," Vic Sage said, amused. "I know." Hesitantly, he accepted the hand. "Ted Kord... KORD, Inc. Kordtronics. I know."

"Oh." He grinned. "And you are...?"

"...Good question..." Vic Sage glanced aside.

Ted Kord glanced at his watch. "Shoot, I have to go. Look... are you gonna be okay?"

"A better chance than before."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Ted Kord smirked. "It'll be okay. It's not the end of the world. I'm sure people are still looking out for you."

"...I know they are," Vic Sage mused, watching him.

Ted Kord nodded. "Later." He turned and walked towards the gates and disappeared.

"Thank you, Beetle."

Ted Kord had no idea what to say other than, "I'm such an idiot..."

It hadn't been that he had forgotten a little funeral. Ted had gone out of his way to go, mostly because Doc Garret wouldn't have been able to attend. He remembered meeting someone there, he honestly did.

Just not who.

"Should have figured..."

The gates unlocked themselves, opening slowly, creaking as rust grated against rust.

Ted frowned, looking towards the cemetary. There were stairs that continued on, towards the other side of the scenary.

Was this why Vic had been so determined to help him? Because of a few words at a funeral...

Vic had known who he was. He had known for some years, Ted was aware of that. It had never been the other way around until he died, though - which was why Ted had been so ignorant then and now of his identity.

He felt like such a jerk; it had been so important to Vic, obviously.

Ted would have to go and apologize. Finding him was key, though.

Blue Beetle hurried towards the next staircase.

It was dark, as it always had been in his mind. It was a void with a few pieces scattered, with what little of his mind left he could keep connected, to memories and thoughts and logic and illogic. Separation.

The Question felt another fist to his face.

There were moments, brief moments, they were remembered and he remembered why. Just exactly why he was what they claimed. Delusional. Crazy. Mad. All wrong - no, he was the most sane of them all. He knew such truths of the unkind world of man, monster, mutant, demon, alien, God. All things, gone in an instant, gone.

The Question's ribs cracked.

All different ways, taken from him. Death, life, unfortunate events. Never loving parents, never Lois - no more Myra, Tot, and...

The Question was thrown across the floor.

There had been no more Ted, for awhile. But he was alive.

The Question's ankle was twisted when he tried to kick.

For awhile.

The Question's arm was pulled out its socket.

Not for long, not long until it was dictated that he would be taken again. Killed, forced away, somehow. Just somehow. Like the rest of them.

The Question felt his throat grabbed by a strong hand, stronger than his own. He stared at Psychopomp.

"So you know, then."

The Question did not respond.

Ted had gradually found himself at the top of the second staircase, a rotting wooden archway twisting over in cruel greeting. Glancing around cautiously, he found it difficult to see beyond a few inches in front of himself; the entire area with thick with yellow mist, rather reminiscent of the Question's bonding gas. Stepping through cautiously, unsure of there was still a platform to step on, he found himself grateful for every time his foot met with something solid.

As he continued on, the mist seemed to lighten; in front of him was another archway made of stone, crumbling and falling apart with dead vines clinging around the columns. Ahead was a wide platform, built in almost like a traditional gladiator's arena, only that too seemed to be worn down with age.

Only, this was the Question's mind. So was it due to age, or lack of sanity? Or maybe because whoever this man was, it was wearing down on him quickly.

Nearing the stone archway, he could see the same man battling the Question; it was a magnificent battle, if one ignored the fact that it was threatening the Human Enigma's life. The way the two attacked each other with such precisition and full-out determination was a bit admiring, ignoring the fact that they were out for each other's blood.

The Question was losing, though. Ted could tell; he was struck back, and Blue Beetle could swear he heard bone cracking from each hit, stronger than the next.

Ted stepped forward, but found himself thrown back by an unseen forced in the stone archway.

"Oh give me a break!" he growled, standing up and slamming a fist against the forcefield. What was keeping him out now?

He winced, watching the Question's arm forced out of its socket.

The faceless man was weakening, limp as he was picked up by his foe at the throat.

"Vic! HEY!" Stubbornly, Ted slammed his fists against the invisible barrier. It did not budge. "God damn it- Vic!"

"You're going to lose," Psychopomp told him.

The Question's hand - the one still working for him - clenched into a tight fist. "Rather die first..." he managed out, his voice weaker than he would have liked.

"Unfortunately, I can't have that."

The Question threw his fist into Psychopomp's face, managing to free himself for a brief moment. "Won't lose," he growled, slamming his shoulder into the shaman, knocking him away - however, the Human Enigma's foe slammed the heel of his foot into the Question's jaw before pinning him against the floor with his knee.

"You will. You're the only one here I have to worry about." Psychopomp was taunting him. Question hated it. "You've been alone, from what I've seen. How unfortunate."

Alone. All alone, all the time -

It made him vulnerable.

"...Beetle... he's in here, too, he..."

Psychopomp eyed him. "Could he really come for you, that little bug?"

The Question kept silent.

"Vic!" His fists sparked with lightning as he continued to attempt to knock the barrier down. "You moron, I'm right here! VIC!"

The Question couldn't see him? Or anything? Ted gritted his teeth. This was ridiculous!

Ted shouted, trying to be heard, "You're not alone! You're not!"

"You're all alone. And you should really give in - do you really want to die now, Question? It's not yet your time. Not now."

The Question hesitated.

You're not alone! You're not!

He turned his head, looking towards the archway.

"Am I...?" the Question murmured.

He was so used to doing things on his own. It was easier, it was-

It wasn't better. It wasn't easier. It wasn't much of anything, but him and the dark streets and just himself. Just a Question. Eternally a Question.

Not alone...?

I'm. Right. HERE!

"Are you ready to give in, yet?"

The Question had lost.

He had lost, because he was on his own.

"...Not... yet..." the Question growled. "Not yet..."

"It's only you, and you've fallen. Give in, give me what I deserve."

"Not yet..." the faceless man muttered stubbornly.

He was not alone.

The Question called out.

"Ted!"

The barrier finally broke away, and Ted stumbled forward, a bit surprised. Finally! Narrowing his eyes, he found himself flying forward, lightning sparking around his arms. As he approached the arena quickly, he noticed that it was starting to crumble under both the Question and his foe pinning him down.

"Hey! Casper the Apalling Ghost!" Blue Beetle snapped, bringing out his arm. Electricity ignited from his fist, blasting the man away from the Human Enigma. This was enough, apparently, for Psychopomp to disappear into the void with a frustrated yell.

The arena collapsed, falling towards the darkness below.

Cursing to himself, Ted took a dive towards the Question as the faceless man began his fall. "Vic!" The brunet reached out towards him.

He was grateful that the Question was prepared enough; the no-faced vigilante grabbed onto Ted's hand, letting him lift and carry both of them back towards the archway where it still managed to stand.

Beetle let out a heavy sigh, holding his head after he let go of the Question. Then he turned to look at him sharply, holding up his index finger, "Moron! Stupid! Idiot! Imbecile! ... I'm so glad you're alive! Don't scare me like that again or I... uh... argh, I dunno!"

"Ah..." The Question tilted his head. "...Ted...? Thank you..."

Ted would have liked to have stayed frustrated and angry at him, but somehow, he couldn't. Instead, he grinned faintly. "You're absolutely welcome, you annoying bastard." He turned around, looking down the stairs. "So... I saw what happened. What was that, four years ago?"

"Mmm."

"I didn't know it was you," Ted admitted. "I really didn't. I'm sorry."

The Question shook his head. "Not sorry. Don't be. Didn't expect you to know it was me. Had a face then."

"You still do, in your own little nutty way, you know. You are who you are." Ted shrugged at him. "Okay? Maybe you might be confused about yourself, but... you're still you. I mean, I'm kind of... confused about myself, too. This new powers thing is weird to me. But I'm still Ted Kord, y'know?"

"Hm."

"That... doesn't really change your mind, does it?" Ted raised a brow at him.

The Question lowered his head. "...It's difficult..."

"No, I. I understand that. It's hard, after all you've been through. But you're still you. You can be the Question and Vic Sage, you know."

"Maybe..."

Ted nodded. "Right. Well... honestly, I'd love to chat more about it, but. What about that crazy guy who was attacking you? Psychopomp, right?"

"Not in my head anymore," the Question told him. "...You helped drive him out. I... I had to admit. That. I was not alone. Used to it, but not. Not right now."

"Hey. You don't have to be. You're kinda crazy, but. You've been really helpful. Booster and I really owe you."

"No." The Question turned to face him. "No, you don't. ... I owed you. Let's... be even now?"

Ted smiled. "Sounds good to me. Now, just do me a favor and tell me how to get out of your head. It's kinda creepy."

Nodding, the faceless man motioned down the stairs. "Follow me. I'll guide you out."

"And, uh. You'll be okay now, right?"

The Question paused, then nodded. "I will be," he assured quietly. "Just need to step out and finish him for good."

"Can you do that on your own?" Ted peered at him.

"Maybe."

"That a yes or a no, Vic?"

The faceless vigilante considered. "...Perhaps... I should use the help, but... you aren't familiar enough to-"

"Blah blah blah, I don't care, just let me help you," Ted told him.

There was a crease around the brow area of the man's faceless face, suggesting an unamused scowl. However, he replied with, "All right... Down here, there is a pathway out. Walk through it, and you'll still be out of your body temporarily. We'll have to make it quick; you're not used to stepping out."

"What exactly are we going to be doing?"

"You have to attack him. I'll condemn him." The Question's brow area narrowed.

"Right, this condemning thing? That's bad, right?" Ted frowned.

The Question shrugged. "Damn him for all eternity, to repeat his unfortunate death."

"Uh-huh. Is there any other way around this? I don't feel that great condemning someone to anything. I know this Psychopulp or whatever isn't the cheeriest soul around, but damning someone isn't really my thing."

The faceless man glanced away, walking down the steps with the brunet following him. "...Could... make him move on. Could..."

"Move on? Like, he won't be around to pester us anymore?" Ted asked.

"Essentially... Too good of a fate for him," the Question remarked.

"Look, when a guy's dead, he should just move on."

There was a pause, and Ted was positive that the Question did not like this suggestion. However, he eventually replied in a low voice, "Very well."

To himself, Ted smirked a little.

The pair continued their way down the stairs; there was a new path that the inventor had no seen before, cutting away from the snowy cemetary down below them. It was a stone path, leading away to a blindingly bright gateway at the very end. The Question turned to Ted, telling him, "That way. I'll be right behind you. Keep Psychopomp busy; I'll do the rest."

"Okay. Not damning his soul, right?" Ted eyed him.

"No. I won't."

"Okay then." Ted nodded. "Guess I'll see you on the other side?"

The Question nodded to him. "You will. ... Promise."

"Works for me," Blue Beetle agreed.

Hesitantly, Ted walked down the path towards the gateway waiting for him.

The bright light had taken him back to the living room, standing just in front of the couch where the Question was laying. He could see that Booster had curled up in one of the chairs, holding his face; Ted frowned, worried. However, Ted turned, immediately finding himself face to face with Psychopomp.

The shaman snarled at him, "Little bug."

"Oh damn-" Ted was cut off as Psychopomp slammed a fist into his abdomen, knocking him through the wall - which wasn't difficult, considering that their forms were currently intangible to the physical plane of existence.

Blue Beetle shook his head, clearing it enough to dodge away from another strike by Psychopomp. "Hey, don't be pissed at me - it's not like Vic wanted you in his head, anyway!"

"Without the Psychopomp, who will guide the souls to Heaven and Hell?" the shaman growled.

"Wow, I almost missed how delusional you supervillains were," Ted muttered, ducking away from a sharp kick.

As the brunet avoided the strikes from Psychopomp, he could hear the Question whispering, voice hissing in such a dark, twisted way that even though he was out of his body he swore he could feel shivers.

"O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things..." The Question approached through the wall, faceless face in Psychopomp's direction; the shaman could only stare. "Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity..." Psychopomp let out a frustrated yell, raising a fist to attempt to strike Ted. "...and save our souls, O Good One."

Unable to fully bring his fist to Blue Beetle, Psychopomp stumbled back before letting out an angered yell; his chi lost its humanoid appearance, drifting away towards the sky, formless and somehow much more free.

"Are you sure that he's... you know, moved on and such?" Ted stared up where Psychopomp disappeared to. "And... where did he go?"

"He's gone... The prayer was a bit of a typical morning one. Chinese. As for where he is... good question." The Question shrugged at him. "Won't know 'til we all move on after death. You... you clung on. ... Rightfully so."

Turning towards him, Ted smirked softly. "We're all a little stubborn. So... do I just walk back to my body?"

The Question nodded. "Yes. Go Inside. Go in, and center. You'll awaken... with a migrane, most likely."

"Lookin' forward to it," Ted grumbled.

Stepping towards his body, he slowly stepped in, concentrating.

The moment that Ted had done the femmy shang thingamajig, Booster Gold had found himself at a loss. Against the wall in one corner, Ted was sitting with his eyes closed, breathing clearly but not ... there. That was frightening enough for Booster; on the couch was the Question, laying with his face somehow locked in a painful frown. Both of them were worrying the hell out of Booster.

It was frustrating; one moment after the other, all three of them were somehow fated to be in some kind of distress. Was this another Checkmate thing? Were Ted and Question in danger?

What had shaken him so badly was the Question pleading Booster to kill him. What had frightened him, of all people? Could the Question get scared?

Apparently so.

It was enough to scare Booster right back; the detective was crazy and all, but he was a decent guy. Booster knew that; he had helped both Ted and himself, willingly risking his own life.

Maybe there had been something that threatened them badly that the Question had to die...?

No. No no, that was just unacceptable.

Booster Gold had eventually sat himself down in one of the chairs by the couch, sick of pacing in the room, waiting. How slow was this going to be?

It agonized him; would he end up losing both Ted and the Question? Literally, they were all he had left. After everyone else had died, after the rest of the superhero community just decided that Beetle was not worth their time, Booster didn't have a whole lot. And that was fine; he was glad to have Ted in his life. Question? A bonus. He was nuts, but a good man.

Sighing, he held his face. It was stupid. He already cried once, and grown men... just don't cry.

Do they?

He waited, shaking and frightened.

How long it had been... Booster wasn't sure. But when he heard Ted groan out, "Ugh, my fucking head..." he felt incredible relief.

"Ted!" Booster leapt to his feet, hurrying to his friend and grabbing his shoulders. "Are you okay? What about Question? What happened!"

"One at a time, please for the love of my aching head," Ted mumbled, rubbing his forehead.

"Fine," the Question called out. "Both are fine."

Standing up from Ted, Booster turned and immediately rushed over to the detective. Without another word, he had wrapped his arms around the Question's abdomen, hugging him tightly. The Question's reaction was expected; he was stiff, unsure how to respond. His head turned, expression helpless as he looked at Ted.

However, as the brunet stood and approached, he shook his head. "Nuh-uh. You're on yer own with this, Vic."

"Well, excuse me if I'm glad you're okay," Booster grumbled. "Both of you."

The Question seemed even more confused. "...You... are?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Hm." The Human Enigma nodded. "Thank you... thank you, Michael."

Booster shrugged, sitting up and glancing between both the Question and Ted. "What the hell happened, anyway?"

"Well, uh... um... look, you tell him. I have a killer headache. I think I'll see if there's some painkillers somewhere in this place..." Ted turned and walked for a bathroom.

The Question tilted his head, watching the inventor go before looking back to Booster. "...Someone I fought, some years ago. Used the name Psychopomp. Died, years ago. But his soul was still around. Could push other souls out of their bodies to possess them. He wanted mine. Which was why I asked you to..."

"About that." Booster narrowed his eyes, holding up his index finger. "You aren't gonna ask me or Ted to ever do that to you, got it?"

"I..."

"Okay? Okay?" Booster stared at him sternly. "We're just not going to, and that's that! It's not an option for any of us."

The Question watched him, then slowly nodded. "...All right."

"Good. Okay... so what else happened?"

"...Ted Saw what was going on. I guided him into my mind to fight off Psychopomp. After he helped drive him out, I had Psychopomp move on." Question frowned to himself. "...Damnation was better suiting, but. Ted said no."

Booster shrugged. "But he's out of our skins for good, right?"

"Mmm."

"Okay. Then I can't complain. Just... God, don't scare us like that again, okay? That really freaked me out."

"I didn't intend to..." The Question shook his head. "...I ... am sorry? Sorry."

"It's all right. Look, I know we really haven't known each other and I think you're really nuts, but... you've helped Ted and me. So I'm really grateful. I don't wanna see you end up dead, okay?"

This caused the detective to look puzzled, frowning as he absorbed this information. Slowly, he nodded. "...Okay."

Booster seemed pleased with the response, grinning. "Good. I'm totally through with freaking out tonight, so... I'm gonna get some sleep. But..."

"Yes?" Question watched him.

He frowned, not really sure how to voice it.

But Booster managed.

By the time Ted had returned, after taking some well deserved aspirin, the headache was slowly going away. Not fast enough. He probably should have asked the Question for some of the reiki he could perform, but considering all that both of them had gone through inside the detective's mind? Ted didn't figure he ought to pester him.

Turning to step into the living room, Ted had discovered the Question fast asleep on the couch. Well, he supposed the entire thing that happened would have been very draining, aside from the fact that apparently the Human Enigma was always trying very hard to keep from sleep. A workaholic that could compete with the Dark Knight.

What had been a little more surprising was Booster Gold sitting up against the couch, curled up and stubbornly sleeping by the Question.

Ted considered.

He got himself a blanket, sat down beside Booster, and decided sleep was indeed in order.

Notes:

Shorter than the previous chapters, but hey. Whaddaya gonna do, BITCH?