Special thanks to Patty, Tammy and BethO'K for beta reading this for me. I hope you all enjoy. Char :-)

COURT MARTIAL PART 24

The crowd assembled in the Hall of Justice for the start of the day's proceeding. All eyes in the room were focused on the prosecution table. John Stewart, Ted Kord and Jean Loring were huddled together like a football team preparing for a big offensive play.

Dick smiled at Barbara and Wally as he took his chair between them, Captain Atom walked behind him to the chair slightly to the right of the defense. "Morning," Dick said. He turned around briefly to give a slight smile greeting his family and friends gathered on the first two rows behind the bar.

Tim reached across the bar taking Dick's hand. "Hey bro."

Before Dick could reply, Wally touched his elbow. Dick turned and stood with the rest of the room as the Tribunal filed in taking their seats. Everyone but Ted Kord sat down.

"Is the prosecution ready to proceed?" Captain Marvel asked.

Ted cleared his throat. "Yes sir, your honor. The prosecution was going to rest today but ... we would like to recall a witness to the stand if we may. We would like to recall Robin."

Dick's mouth dropped open and he stared at Blue Beetle. "He wants to what?"

"Objection!" Barbara called from behind the defense table. "They've already called Robin."

"We can recall him. He was not released from his subpoena. I can even make a proffer if it's necessary," Beetle replied.

"An offer of proof?" Barbara questioned skeptically. "You've already questioned him once what else do you think you can get out of Robin? He wasn't there. Why don't you call someone who was?"

Beetle glared at Barbara. "Prosecution can't call the defendant, counselor," he quipped back. "Unless you're offering?"

Barbara stared fiercely at Ted, her brows knitting in anger. "You --"

"Enough," Captain Marvel's raised voice interjected. "We don't need to bicker amongst ourselves. I don't see why they can't recall Robin. Objection overruled." He looked behind the defense table, his eyes falling on Robin who sat between a scowling Batman and frowning Catwoman. "Robin, please retake the stand."

Nightwing turned around to face his younger brother. His hand went out. Robin's green gloved hand took it when he stood. Their eyes locked. When Nightwing nodded, Robin moved off toward the stand.

Blue Beetle steeled himself for the coming confrontation. He had already made his peace with the fact he was going to hate himself after this examination. "How old are you Robin?" he questioned the teen on the stand.

Robin looked up at him, annoyance showing on his face and echoing in his voice. "Sixteen."

"How old were you when you and your team were on Apokolips?"

Tim clenched his jaw. "Fifteen. Why?"

Dick leaned over to Barbara whispering, "Why'd they call him back. Where are they going with this? I wasn't on Apokolips. I wasn't even there."

"Shh," she admonished as she batted Dick back with her hand and concentrated on Blue Beetle. Her green eyes narrowing like a wolf stalking its prey, waiting for the opportunity to pounce.

"How long have you trained with Batman?" Beetle asked holding his ground at counsel table.

Dick glanced back at a soft squeaking, creaking sound behind him. It was the protest of the stiff material of Batman's gauntleted hands balling into tight fists. Batman's scowl had deepened, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes had narrowed. Dick knew the signs of an angry Batman and only Catwoman's gloved hand and the stern negative shake of Superman's head as he made eye contact with Batman seemed to hold him back. Dick shook his head as well and Batman relaxed his hands. Dick refocused his attention on the front.

"Since I was twelve," Robin replied. His eyes darted from Beetle to Nightwing to Batman and back.

"How long did Nightwing train with him?"

Dick's eyes narrowed. "Damn him," he hissed lowly, comprehension washing over him.

"Objection! Relevancy." Barbara called out.

Blue Beetle turned toward her, their eyes locking, before looking back at the Tribunal. "I think the relevancy will be made clear very soon."

"Since this is his second bite at the apple he needs to make it relevant now or stop," she countered authoritatively.

Captain Marvel watched the two advocates for a moment considering the objection and then spoke carefully, "I'll give him a little bit of room, but let's not belabor the point, Beetle. Whatever it is. Robin, you can answer the question."

Robin stared at Captain Marvel. "I guess ... from the age of eight ... I mean you don't ever really stop your training. It's something we all continue."

Ted nodded. "So ... let's get back to when Young Justice was on Apokolips, shall we?" He paused briefly and watched the teen. He read the boy's discomfort. Biting his bottom lip, Ted continued, "You were having some trouble with your team, correct?"

Robin shrugged. "They weren't my team exactly, but we, uh ... were having a ... little kinda forceful discussions about what to do."

"They were questioning you and your motives because of what Batman did?"

"I don't understand what this has to do with Nightwing?" Tim questioned.

"Neither do I. Objection to the relevancy," Barbara curtly interjected. Her fingers steepled together.

Blue Beetle looked at the Tribunal. "It's directly connected to Nightwing's training with Batman. If you give me just a little more time, I'll show what all of this has to do with Nightwing when he faced Roland Desmond."

"That sonovabitch," Nightwing hissed under his breath. He sat back when Flash elbowed his arm.

Barbara ignored him grabbing up her pen and hastily scribbling on her legal pad. "I find it hard to believe that what Robin did with Young Justice on Apokolyps when Nightwing was not there and what Robin's team being upset with him about something Batman and not Nightwing did can possibly be relevant to this case."

"Overruled. You can continue Beetle, but make it relevant and quickly." Captain Marvel warned.

"Thank you, Your Honors. Answer the question, Robin."

"Yeah ..." Robin started then he looked down, "they didn't trust me and were questioning me. I was having troubles getting them to listen and I failed to keep them together. It got a future-self of Impulse killed and uh... sorta Lobo too ... because of me." The boy looked down as he mumbled this last. Memories of past failures and the pain that had happened on that mission welled up swallowing him.

Dick growled in Barbara's ear. "What the hell does this have to do with me? Why are they forcing him to go through this in public?"

"They think they're making a point," she growled back, her eyes never wavered from the witness on the stand.

Tim continued, finally looking up, "But Nightwing wouldn't have that trouble with his team --"

"Maybe, maybe not. What happened next?"

Tim shrugged, "Part of us got captured and then we escaped. We came home. End of story and it doesn't seem relevant to me."

"Well I think there was more to it then that." Ted turned and picked up the print out of Young Justice's mission log about the details of the Apokolips mission. "This is a record from the archive of the Justice League."

"If you say so," the Boy Wonder replied flippantly.

"It says that you were tortured by Granny Goodness for several hours. She used virtual reality for the purpose of testing your resolve and strength to resist --"

Robin sighed. "I don't understand what that has to do --"

Blue Beetle pressed on. "You were still upset about what happened with your team and worried about them, yet utilizing your training - according to this record - training by Batman, you didn't break."

"I was very angry and when Empress escaped, I did," Tim looked away from Batman, "I did want to hurt her and maybe more... "

"But you didn't." Robin shook his head, Beetle charged ahead. "So would you agree that Nightwing is better than you by virtue of the years of training?"

"Yes."

"Did Batman teach you more than what he taught Nightwing to this point?"

"It's not like --"

"Objection! Robin has no first hand knowledge of what training Batman gave Nightwing unless he was there."

"Sustained."

"Let me rephrase. Did you learn something from Batman, that allowed you to resist the pain, the torture, the realization that your friends didn't want you anymore, that your father thought you were some kind of delinquent, that Batman had betrayed your trust as well as the trust of the entire superhero community, and that you probably had gotten part of your team killed? Or was that just something you picked up watching an After School Special?"

"Objection, relevancy! This is going far afield --" Barbara was wheeling her chair around the table toward the center of the room. Her fiery temper exploding. "Also the snide comments need to come to an end!"

Robin looked down avoiding making eye contact with Batman who had risen, but Catwoman had firmly tugged him back down, "Batman taught me to ... to resist."

"Be quiet Robin," Oracle commanded. "I made an objection."

"Which they haven't sustained yet," Green Lantern said standing.

Barbara wheeled her chair around, her footrest hitting Beetle in the shin, and glared at Lantern. "You aren't part of this examination."

Beetle rubbed his shin and proceeded on. "So at fifteen, far from home with no way to get home, you were better than Nightwing with all of his friends, family only minutes or in some cases literally seconds away?"

"Objection! AGAIN! Stop firing questions at him, Ted, until they rule on my objections."

"Stop," Captain Marvel's voice boomed out. "Beetle, I think we see what you're saying. Move on to something else, please."

Beetle nodded. "Yes sir. Let's see." He rubbed his chin as he walked around the table. Bending over he shuffled through some papers. "Yes, Robin, at the time you were on Apokolips, you were having some problems with your father weren't you? He thought you were a delinquent?"

Robin remembered that. He hated lying to his father. But now that Jack Drake knew his secret, things were even worse. He'd forbidden Tim from being Robin. He had been forced to quit. Tim only sat here in costume as Robin for the purposes of this trial and his secret identity. "Things like that happen." He shrugged and sat back staring at the prosecutor.

"You were also having problems with Batman yourself at that time?" Beetle queried.

"What's that got to do with this? I thought you were moving on?" Robin retorted.

Beetle propped on the table. "I think you're confused. I ask the questions, you answer them. So was that a yes?"

"I guess so."

"So, with your relationships with your family, Batman and your team strained; after being tortured and being the cause of the death of two of your teammates; being stranded with no way to come home; in a most desperate situation, you did not freeze? You did not kill? But Nightwing with far more training just could not bring himself to save Blockbuster."

"Objection!" Barbara yelled. Her angry fist slammed into the table causing books to topple and files to shift.

"Sustained!" Marvel responded.

Robin, however, was not listening. He was glowering at Blue Beetle, his face flushed from heat. "Yes Ted, I am incompetent. I couldn't lead my team, two of them "died" ... sorta, and even if I coulda got our ship working again -- I knew I would be coming home to a father who thought I was a criminal at the very least and Batman who I thought didn't want me around. Thanks for reminding me ... of course, I didn't have to watch someone systematically destroy my life and threaten everyone I ever cared about. If I had had the power to kill Darkseid I might have ... happy?"

"Sustained!" Marvel shouted again. "Computer strike the question and the answer."

Beetle turned to Green Lantern and sighed. He was not happy, far from it. Lantern nodded, urging him onward in his odious task. He sighed again before turning back to the boy. "You and Nightwing are close?"

"That's no secret."

"Brothers even," Beetle continued, a lulling tone coloring his voice.

"Yes," Robin replied tensing. He had enough training to be suspicious of this seemingly friendly turn in the questioning.

"Where's he going with this?" Nightwing whispered at his table.

"Bias," Oracle replied as she continued to watch the banter Blue Beetle was building.

"And like all brothers, you share secrets with each other," Beetle continued.

"Sure. What's -- "

"Has Nightwing ever shared a secret with you?"

"Well ... yeah ... "

"Nightwing told you that he consciously chose to let a person die, didn't he?"

Tim felt his throat constrict, his mouth go dry. "What? ... I ... yes."

Ted avoided Barbara's annoyed stare and continued. "Nightwing told you how he chose to let Blockbuster die, didn't he?"

"No. He never said that to me," Robin defiantly answered.

Ted dropped his pad on the table. "Did you say no? How did you say no when you just said yes?" He looked at his co-counsel and saw confusion on their faces as well. He swiveled and looked at the defense table. Flash was shaking his head in an irritated fashion. Barbara appeared as if she thought that they were going over old ground and was scribbling notes on her yellow legal pad. Nightwing was riveted to his seat, his eyes boring ahead at the teen on the stand. His face was a mixture of pain and regret. Could it be ... "Nightwing told you he chose to let someone else die? Someone other than Blockbuster?"

Tim looked down. His eyes fell on the golden lasso ensnaring his wrist. Despite his desire to lie, his desire to run, his desire to disappear, he was compelled by a force that engulfed him to respond. "Yes."

Nightwing covered his face with his hand as the courtroom erupted in confused and curious buzzing. Batman's black gauntleted hand clasped Nightwing's shoulder.

Flash looked confused. Turning to his best friend, he queried, "What is he talking about?"

Robin stared at the golden lasso surrounding his wrist. His fingers tried, unsuccessfully, to pull the rope from his arm. "I'm done. I wanna go."

Blue Beetle waved his hands in front of him. "Oh no. We're not done."

"Yes, we are done!" Robin spat.

"No. Who else did Nightwing kill?"

"Objection!" Oracle shouted. "Nightwing has not killed anyone."

"Sustained," Captain Marvel replied.

"I'll rephrase. Robin, please tell the Court who you were referring to." Beetle stood between the prosecution and defense tables watching the boy.

"I ... no ... I ..." He tugged the lasso again. Instead of coming off, the magical object seemed to tighten around his wrist compelling him to answer. "Judge ... Judge Watkins. Lawrence Watkins."

"How did Nightwing cause Judge Watkins death?"

"Objection! Foundation!"

"Overruled, Oracle. I think we all know what Beetle's trying to get to and I think the Tribunal would be interested in hearing about this."

Robin's head jerked up toward Captain Marvel. "This hasn't got anything to do with this. It's not what you think ... it's different ... it's not."

"Then what is it?" Beetle followed up.

Robin turned pleading eyes to Nightwing. "This is between Dick and me, Ted. Don't make me --"

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Nightwing's voice held a deadly edge as he shouted at the prosecutor. When all eyes fell upon him, Nightwing was standing, glaring at Beetle, seemingly ready to strike. He started around Barbara, his eyes now fixed on his younger brother. "This has nothing to do with this!"

"He has to answer," Beetle said to Nightwing.

"He doesn't HAVE to do anything," Nightwing growled as he fiercely whirled on Blue Beetle.

Beetle backed up and into Green Lantern who was also advancing around his table. "Um ... Security," Beetle said looking at Booster who was sitting there watching.

"What?" Booster asked pointing at himself. "Me?" He saw Captain Atom advancing from the back of the room and pointed, shouting to Blue Beetle, "He'll take care of it, Ted. I'm just gonna watch."

"Sit down!" Barbara yelled at Dick. Her anxious voice broke through his concentration and he turned back to face her. "Sit. Down. Now." Her voice was drowned out by the booming voice that erupted from the bench.

"Nightwing! Enough! There will be none of that here. This is a tribunal not a backstreet brawl and you will show respect for that authority. One more outburst and you will watch the rest of these proceedings in absentia. You may not want to show us that respect, but you will!" Aquaman glared at Nightwing.

Stewart stood beside Blue Beetle. "Your Honors, if the defendant will not restrain himself, the prosecution requests that he be restrained." He looked around the room waving his hands in a wide gesture, "Unless of course Rage has snuck into the court room and is messing with his mind again."

Barbara swiveled around to throw her glare from Nightwing to Green Lantern, the wheel of her chair running over Ted's foot. "May we have a ten minute recess?"

Ted shook his foot and looked at the Tribunal. "Your Honors, I am almost done with this witness. Please allow me to finish."

Flash had almost materialized beside his friend pulling him back over to their chairs. Gripping Nightwing's arm, he jerked him down into his seat. "Shut up."

"But --"

"Shut up!" Wally said forcefully. "Do you want to go to that prison planet? Tell me now if you do? I'm sure we can arrange it."

Nightwing flopped back in his chair, slipping down into it, and crossing his arms over his chest. He exhaled an exasperated breath, out of the corner of his eye, he now saw Superman sitting on one side of Batman and Catwoman on the other, both gripping Batman's arms tightly. Dick looked up at Robin who was sitting in the witness chair staring at the floor.

"It wasn't ... like that," Robin said, his voice barely a whisper.

"Tell us what it was Robin?" Wonder Woman's soft voice soothed.

"Dick was Robin then. He was nine ... Two-Face had captured Batman and Judge Watkins. Dick had to choose who died first, scarred or unscarred side of the coin. Batman tried to warn him, but Dick thought that if he could keep Two-Face going or maybe even win, Batman would have time to save them all. But ... he didn't know ... didn't understand Two-Face then. He didn't know that you can't play the game. Dick's choice made the judge's death first. He baited Two-Face into a second coin toss, to try and stop him from killing the judge. He won the toss, but although Two-Face honored his bet. He didn't hang the judge, he drowned him. If he hadn't played the game, Two-Face woulda focused on Batman or him. He wouldn't have killed the Judge. But he didn't know… He's always blamed himself for that. But it wasn't his fault." Robin looked back up, his eyes glaring at Blue Beetle. "And what happened with Blockbuster ... that wasn't his fault either. Oh he blames himself just like he blames himself for Judge Watkins' death, because that's the type of guy he is, but it wasn't his fault!"

"Well that's for the Tribunal to decide," Stewart sniped from the table.

"Oh objection," Flash yelled.

"You aren't part of this examination," Stewart parroted Oracle's words to Flash.

"Neither are you, but I can be part of something if you want it," Flash retorted. He didn't need eyes in the back of his head to know there was a mile-wide grin crossing Roy Harper's face. The audible "Woo" from the back told him all he needed to know.

"Enough!" Captain Marvel bellowed, his hand slamming down on the table causing it to fracture and the whole room to shake. "That is enough! Oracle, your objection to this entire line of questioning is sustained."

"Motion to strike," she calmly requested before turning to return to her seat. Her angry green eyes made contact with Nightwing as she maneuvered around Blue Beetle. "Not one word," she whispered to him as she moved into her place beside him. "Do not open your mouth."

Robin's hand easily escaped the lasso that had been binding him before. The boy almost jumped down from the witness chair. He kept his eyes on his brother as he headed over to his seat beside of Batman.

Blue Beetle whispered, "I'm sorry Tim," as Robin walked by. He started to look down, but was caught in the nose by a green gloved fist smashing into his face. Blood spurted. Gasps emitted from the audience, drowned out by Arsenal's "OH YEAH!"

"Shub up Roy!" Ollie screamed from his seat at the Tribunal table.

Nightwing and Batman seemed to have materialized at Robin's side. Stewart stood screaming for security.

"You brobe my nobe," Beetle said clutching his face.

Booster placed a comforting hand on Beetle's shoulder. "He sure did. That was a great right hook. You shoulda seen it."

"Sbut ub Boober."

Robin's whole body was jerking as a mixture of emotions raged over him. He turned from the bloody scene of Ted Kord's face and wrapped his arms around the man who was his brother. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Shh, shh, you're good. It's good," Nightwing soothed softly.

Jean Lorring elbowed Green Lantern, her head tilting toward the bench where all members of the Tribunal watched the tender moment between brothers. Lantern knew he had to remind the Tribunal of what had happened immediately before. "That was an assault!" Stewart began his outcry. "I demand --" He grabbed at Robin's cape but before he connected, Nightwing's gauntleted hand shoved him backwards.

"You don't demand anything," Batman interrupted stepping between the Green Lantern and his boys. His voice was low but the message it conveyed was quiet clear.

Before the room erupted into utter chaos, Captain Marvel's voice thundered throughout the Hall of Justice. "STOP!"A hush fell over the assembled crowd as all eyes fell on Captain Marvel. "That is more than enough. Not another word, not another sound, nothing. Blue Beetle, go to the med bay and get your nose taken care of. Captain Atom, take the Defendant to his cell. No visitors outside of his trial counsel. Counselors, the Tribunal will meet with you in our chambers in one hour. Don't be late."

"But what about assault charges --"

"What part of 'not another word' do you not understand, Lantern?" Captain Marvel asked rhetorically as he stood to his full height. The hands of the World's Mightest Mortal slamming into the already fractured table causing the wood to buckle and the table to cave in. Sighing, Marvel looked to Plastic Man. "Please get us a new table. We're adjourned for the day."


"Enob dnem. Kaerb riaper. Eson laeh," Zatanna spoke her spell as her hand made a swish and flick movement with her wand. White sparks emitted from the end of her wand falling over Ted Kord's nose. The magician stiffled a giggle as Ted closed his eyes and made a moaning nose as her magic mended the broken bones. "All better?"

Cocking open one eye, Ted reached up and touched his nose. Opening his other eye, he replied, "Yeah. Thanks, Zee."

"Anytime, Ted," she said as she patted his shoulder.

"You know, he only gets his nose broken to get medical help from pretty women," Booster Gold interjected from his seat against the sidewall.

"Really?" the magician started, "I thought that was you, Michael."

Ted erupted in a laugh that ended in an oww as he slid off the examination table and grabbed his mask. "I think I'll still go without this the rest of the day."

"That might be a good idea," Dr. Midnight stated as he came out of the small office in the med bay. He handed a bottle of painkillers to the Blue Beetle. "You may still have some residual pain despite the magic used to mend the bone. Take these --"

"And call him in the morning," Booster chimed in draping his arm across his best friend's shoulder and flashing a mischievous smile.

Dr. Midnight stood unmoving. "I was going to say as directed. Beetle, Zatanna, good evening."

"Thanks, Doc," Ted waved and watched Midnight leave the med bay. Ted stood perfectly straight as he saw Barbara sitting just outside the sliding doors. He watched as she entered the room.

The sight was not lost on Booster. He took Zatanna by the arm, "Let me buy you a drink or two in the cafeteria, Zee, and tell you about my adventures in Grand Cayman last summer." Booster led the protesting magician out of med bay.

"How are you?" Barbara asked, her green eyes taking in his face.

Ted shrugged. "I'll heal. What about Tim?" He leaned against the examination table.

Barbara shrugged back. "I hope he'll heal."

"Yeah, emotional wounds aren't as easy to repair as my nose." He grinned slightly before a sigh escaped his lips. "I'm really sorry Barbara. I don't know why I did it. I think my brain had a Booster moment."

Barbara laughed. "Oh Ted, warn me before you say something like that."

Ted kneeled and took her hand in his. "I am sorry, Barb. This ... I know what some people, specifically Roy Harper, are saying. But I am not doing this just to ... get rid of the competition."

She sighed and looked down at his hand wrapped around hers. "I know that Ted. I know you aren't capable of that. You didn't even want to prosecute Dick."

"No, I didn't. I still don't, but ... as much as I don't like prosecuting Nightwing, I do think he's guilty. Of something. I wish he'd taken that plea," Ted sighed.

"We'll agree to disagree about Dick's innocence. And don't worry about the plea, I plan on beating you."

Gallantly, he kissed her hand. "Ms. Gordon, I'd expect nothing less of you than to try. You ready to go get chewed out by Captain Marvel."

"Who said he was going to chew on me. I think he's going to chew on you," she laughed.


"They aren't going to let you in," Wally said as he walked down the corridor toward the secure cells. "You heard what the Tribunal said."

"Let them try to keep me out," Roy spat back, keeping step with his friend.

"It's Captain Atom. I think he can keep you out. He can go toe to toe with Superman. You're all mouth and a few things to throw." Wally countered as he shook his head. He loved his friends. He really did. But sometimes he could strangle his friends with his bare hands. Especially when Roy was the friend.

Roy stopped dead in his tracks and glared at Wally. "I am going in. No one is stopping me. You got that. I'm seeing Dick. Besides it wasn't the whole Tribunal that said he couldn't have visitors, it was just Marvel. Well Ollie can counter his vote and he'd let me in."

"Ollie would hit you in the head with a stick. He probably has an arrow called Roy just to use for you. Shoot it at you and it envelopes your head in a soundproof bubble."

An incredulous look fell upon Roy's face as he rolled his eyes. "Shut up and let's go see the Boss."

"They ain't gonna let you in," Wally countered as they rounded the corner and stopped in front of the door leading into the secure area. Wally pushed the com button and waited, his foot tapping impatiently. He hated waiting for people to answer doors. It always seemed like it took a few years for the door to slide open. Sometimes he wished the world would speed up just a bit.

Captain Atom's face did not give away his thoughts as he stood inside the common area as the entryway opened the detention center to the visitors. Flash and Arsenal stepped inside the common area. "Can I help you Flash?"

"We came to see Nightwing," Flash replied.

"I can let you in, but Arsenal can't --"

"Arsenal can and will," Roy replied, his chest seeming to expand as he blustered.

"I'm afraid you can't go in," Captain Atom calmly replied. "Tribunal said no visitors except counsel and you're not counsel. I'm sorry. I don't make the rules, I'm just here to enforce them."

"Just following orders, huh. Well, that never worked out too well for me when I was working for Checkmate," Roy retorted.

"Yeah that's why they fired you, isn't it?" Wally asked scratching his head.

"Shut up!" Roy turned toward Dick's cell and moved over. He peered through the porthole at his friend. Dick lay stretched out on his bunk, his Nightwing suit draped over the small metal desk attached to the wall across from the bed. His friend was garbed in the drab green scrubs. Indignation welled up within him at the way his friend was being treated. Roy would be damned if they would keep him from talking to Dick. He nodded his head toward the cell door, "You going to open this up for us?"

Captain Atom shook his head. "No. I'm not opening it up for both of you."

Trying to defuse the situation that he knew was soon to explode, Flash stepped between the other two men. "The Tribunal said that the defense team could see Nightwing. Roy's part of that team. So --"

"No sir. They said counsel. He's not counsel."

"He's helping," Flash added. "According to Oracle, counsel is not just the attorneys or acting attorneys but their staff. Roy's ... staff."

"Staff?" Captain Atom asked incredulously.

"Yeah he's ..." Flash zipped around Captain Atom, grabbed the score pad Plastic Man and Booster had been using and zagged back between Atom and Arsenal slapping the pad into Arsenal's chest, "my secretary."

Cocking his head to the side, Captain Atom gave the duo a "Yeah, ri-ight" look as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"The tribunal said only counsel and witnesses --"

"I'm a witness!" Roy bellowed. "We're gonna go work on my witnesseyness."

Wally smiled broadly. "He does have you there. Roy gets to go in. Open 'er up."

With a defeated and exhasperated sigh, Captain Atom punched in the code to the key pad by the door and watched the heavy door slide open. Arsenal followed Flash into the small cell stopping for a moment to pat Captain Atom on the arm as he passed. "His secretary. I'm gonna sit on his lap and everything."

Dick sat up on his bunk pulling one leg under him. "Secretary? Do I want to know?"

"Probably not," Wally said as he pulled off his cowl and sat on the other end of the bunk.

Roy grabbed the Nightwing suit, tossed it onto the metal table, and sat on the stool. "Why're ya wearing those?"

"What? You want me to stay in that," Dick pointed to his costume, "all day and night."

"It's better than the scrubs, man. Why don't you let us bring --"

"No, Roy. Thanks for the offer but no. They wouldn't let me wear it even if you brought it." Dick fingered his green top. "This is to remind me that I'm in jail. Just like the little no visitors decree is to remind me that I am in jail and I shouldn't shove the prosecutor in court. They ought to try sitting in here for nineteen days and they'd know I don't need a reminder. I know I'm in jail. I'm very cognizant of that fact."

"You okay?" Wally asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wish I had been the one to punch Beetle," Dick seethed.

"You're not the only one," Roy responded. "I thought we were about to get the free-for-all I've been waiting for. I just wanna clock Stewart; just one good one to the mouth. Is that too much to ask?"

"Yes," Wally said as he kicked out at Roy. "You need to be serious."

"I AM being serious," Roy replied then stuck his tongue out for good measure.

"How's Tim?" Dick asked. He drew his other leg up on the bunk and hooked his arm around it.

"He's okay," Roy said leaning back on the table resting on his elbows. "Batman and Catwoman took him back to Gotham. Not sure if he'll be up here for anymore of the trial."

"That might be a good thing," Dick sighed. "I want them to leave him alone. If they want to come after me that's okay, but they need to leave my family alone."

"I think Batman's going to make sure that they can't call Robin or Batgirl. I don't think anyone will be able to find them," Wally said as he leaned back against the wall. "Stewart was going on and on about bringing assault charges against Tim."

"Which shows what a colossal jerk he is," Roy said propping his legs on the bunk in front of him. "Tim had every right to hit Ted. Hell, I had a right to hit Ted out of general principal and was heading down there to do just that."

Wally shook his head and chuckled. "You are so going to be sitting in your own cell beside Dick before this is over. I ain't representing you."

Sticking his tongue out, Roy retorted, "That's fine, I only want the hot babes representing me."

Dick laughed loud and hearty. "I'm glad you came. I'm glad he got in. I still don't want to know how he got in." Dick leaned his head back. "Look ... if anything ... well ... if things go south ... I want you two to take care of Tim. Be big brothers to --"

"Whoa, Boss, whoa," Roy said throwing his hand up. "This ain't going south. And if it does, we got it covered. We won't have to play big brother to your little brother, trust us."

"Roy," Dick started but stopped when Wally grabbed his wrist. He shook his head.

Roy looked behind him, grabbed the deck of cards Tim had brought, and started shuffling. He tossed cards across the small space to his friends, they landed exactly where he aimed. With a grin, he asked, "Poker anyone?"

Wally shrugged, "Why not? After we meet with Captain Marvel I probably won't be around to pay up anyway."


Wally drummed his fingers on the conference table so fast that the noise created a rhythmic din like the rumble of an earthquake deep with in the bowels of the earth. Nervously he kept looking at Barbara. She sat placidly in her chair, jotting notes on the lined yellow paper. Jean and John spoke to Ted in hushed tones on their side of the conference table. All eyes looked up when the door opened and the five members of the Tribunal proceeded into the room.

Green Arrow was the first to enter, followed by Martian Manhunter. They took two of the large chairs against the sidewall. Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel sat opposite the trial teams at the conference table.

Marvel folded his hands and laid them on the table. "Ladies and Gentlemen the drama portion of this trial is over. You people have run amok and it stops now. I may not know what a real court is like, but I am very sure that badgering a sixteen year old to the brink of tears would not be accepted, badgering a sixteen year old to the point of physical violence is not acceptable here."

Ted sighed and nodded. "I understand."

"Well, now wait a minute," Stewart started. "Ted was not out of line --"

"He most certainly was out of line," Marvel replied.

"If this was a real court, you'd both be in contempt for what you tried to do today," Barbara spat out.

Marvel sighed, "And he wasn't alone." He turned his attention to the defense side of the table. " Oracle, if this was a real court, you'd probably be in contempt for ramming into Beetle."

"That was an accident," slipped from Barbara's mouth. A slight blush crept into her cheeks as she lowered her gaze sheepishly.

"Really? Do you really want to keep going down that path? You certainly seem to move very well and not nick a single piece of furniture." Marvel looked back at Ted, "But you ... that was reprehensible. I know EXACTLY what the prosecution is trying to do and it is NOT what you were charged with." Each time his voice raised the floor seemed to shake.

Ted and Barbara looked at each other before they both dropped their eyes to the floor. Wally was looking anywhere and everywhere but at Captain Marvel. He felt like a kid in the principal's office.

Marvel looked at both sides and continued. "This tribunal is about the truth, not who can bicker the most or degenerate to kindergarten at recess."

"Your Honor, if I can say something on my colleague's behalf. There is a certain amount of maneuvering that has to go on in any trial," Jean Loring interjected. "John and Ted have not done everything as I would have liked, however, all trials are maneuvreing, using whatever advantage you can get."

"Yes, I'm sure there is. So Ms. Loring, did you ever get past that point with them? I mean it is obvious that you shared the get every advantage you can get, but did you explain to them that ruining someone's reputation was not okay, or how about how berating a witness into violence is looked down upon." Marvel watched her as she shrugged and looked down. He shook his head slightly and continued. "I know there is maneuvering, I know there is legal jockeying, but all of that takes a backseat to the fact that every single person in that courtroom is someone we know. MOST are our friends. Today, Beetle, you used things told to you in confidence, and then badgered a hero to the point that I am quite sure that it was soon going to be a race to see who tore you into pieces first - Batman, Nightwing, Robin... or how about Superman and Arsenal who were both moving in."

Barbara's head jerks up, confusion on her face. She looked at Ted and saw his eyes were wide with confusion as well. She looked to Wally who shrugged and mouthed to her "I'll tell you later."

"Enough is enough. I hate this trial and what it is doing. It's destroying the League and people's reputations and I won't have any more of this. The damage may be irreversible and I blame myself for waiting too long to stop it. But I also feel a healthy share of the blame could be pointed in both of your directions."

"We weren't the only one's who were out of line in that courtroom," Stewart said. "I want to know what charges are going to be brought against Robin for attacking Blue Beetle?"

"No charges," Ted interrupted. "No one is doing anything else to Robin. I ... I've done enough. I want him left alone."

"Fine. But what about Nightwing? He assaulted me," Green Lantern started.

"Now wait a minute!" Wally yelled standing up. "That wasn't an assault. He was just keeping you away from Robin." His indignation over his friend momentarily distracted him from remembering that they were in the process of being chastised. Captain Marvel's voice quickly reminded him.

"Sit down, Flash!"

"Yes sir," Flash said as he sat beside Barbara. He shrugged his shoulders in response to her glare.

Marvel composed himself before beginning again. "Green Lantern, your concern is duly noted." Turning toward the defense, he continued. "Oracle, the defendant, while provoked, will NOT be allowed to do that again. He'll be in restraints all the time. There have been too many incidents."

Barbara's head shot up, fiery defiance emanated from her. "NO! NO you will NOT do that to him!" Wally grabbed her by the arm, but she snatched it away. "I will not let you do this to Dick."

Stewart shrugged. "It's not like the restraints really stop him."

Captain Marvel glowered at Green Lantern before turning back to Oracle. "Then get your client under control. One more outburst, one inch out of line and he will be shackled and manacled the remainder of the trial. Period."

Hot tears stung her eyes, her jaw was set in steely determination. "He will be under control. He'll be a perfect little defendant."

Nodding at her, Marvel turned back to the prosecution. "Lantern, to say your win at all costs attitude is harmful is an understatement. I want both of you to understand this -- there is doing your job and there is doing a job. You two are like loose cannon. You've assaulted the defendant, witnesses and now are moving on to destroying reputations."

Lantern balked, his fist slamming on the conference table. "We didn't --"

"I only know a little about law, but I do believe that badgering and threatening is considered assault. I certtainly know hitting someone in the back with a blast from your power ring is assault."

"Nightwing's reputation isn't what's important here. We aren't trying his reputation, we're trying him for his complictity in Roland Desmond's murder."

"Alleged complicity," Barbara shot back hotly.

"ENOUGH!" Captain Marvel slammed a book down on the table causing the table to crack under the force. Both Prosecution and Defense teams jumped at the noise.

Green Arrow leaned over to J'onn, "That's two tables today. He's on a roll."

"Nightwing has not been proven guilty yet and until that point, he is the accused. Do you not understand the concept of innocent until proven guilty Stewart?"

Stewart blustered. "I'm prose --"

"NO! You're not. You're persecuting. There's a difference."

"Let me expla --" Stewart started.

"No. What about chambers and judge do you NOT get? Forget Nightwing's reputation at this point, he's done a real good job on it without the prosecutions help. But now we've moved on to Robin, Batman. Who is next Superman?"

This time Ted spoke up. "I didn't mean to hurt Robin."

"Did you honestly think that this wouldn't hurt Robin? Do you think what is said in that room doesn't get out. The press is having enough of a field day with this trial even with just the filtered information Clark's giving them. The pressure they're putting on all of us to convict is incredible. And what's worse, everyone in our community is getting the whole story. All of this will affect how Robin and Batman are worked with in the future. At the resolution of this trial, if Nightwing returns to crime fighting, we've irrevocably damaged his relationships with many here when it simply wasn't necessary. You two are responsible for getting all those nasty little digs out into a public venue. From the fight in the holding area to the escape. Everything has been a maneuver with you two."

The room was silent for a few moments. Uncomfortable silence. Green Arrow leaned over to J'onn again, "Damn, who pissed in his Wheaties this morning?"

Marvel tried to ignore Green Arrow. When he felt that he finally had everyone's complete attention, the world's mightiest mortal continued. "Okay, let me clarify the point for everybody -- one more time -- all of you are on thin ice. I must warn you I have abilities the gods gifted to me and yet I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this mess and everyday it just gets worse. So this is it. I will not pull you into chambers again for a little discussion. I promise you, if the antics continue or we have problems with the defendant ... I will deal with it. Whether dealing with it means chains or declaring a mistrial and sending Nightwing to Bludhaven for trial. I will do it. This is it. I will not tolerate anymore. Are we understood?"

"Yes, your honor," Barbara and Jean replied in unison.

"Ms. Loring, I realize you are here in advisory capacity but I am holding you responsible for anymore antics by the prosecution. And Oracle, Nightwing is your problem. He acts up again ... you're responsible."

"Yes, sir," Barbara replied.

"Are we clear?"

"Yes," Jean answered.

"This tribunal is a search for truth and justice, those are not mutually exclusive terms. You'll all do well to remember that. Now get out of here," Marvel said. He stood and moved to the window behind him looking out at the vast blackness of space.

Barbara looked up at Wally. "Let's go," she wheeled backwards and turned around.

Wally moved along beside her, "Oh yeah."

"I'm sorry Cap, that you feel --" Green Lantern started.

Marvel clenched his fists but did not turn around. "Lantern, I may be blessed with gifts from the gods -- but you ... you've just managed to get on my last nerve. If you say anything else, you'll ruin everything you accomplished with your case. Get. Out."

TO BE CONTINUED ...