Chapter Eleven

Recognize Nightwing B-03

The Dark Knight was barely fazed by the computers announcement of Dick's arrival as he sat in the cold darkness of the Batcave studying the images on the center monitor. It had been a long night. Before Dick Grayson could even ask the question, the Batman answered it.

"It's not him."

Dick frowned at the news; too angry to be impressed that Batman was already one step ahead in the investigation.

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm looking at a live feed of Eobard Thawne as we speak."

Dick walked next to him to see the image of Zoom laying peacefully in his cell reading.

Bruce continued. "I've reviewed security footage from the past week, specifically the time frames of the alleged attacks, he's been right there the entire time."

"I still want to question him," Dick declared, preparing for the argument that would likely ensue considering the secret nature of Thawne's incarceration.

"I agree," Bruce replied.

Dick was taken aback by the detective's response. A brutal attack upon a hero retired or not fell directly under the purview of the Justice League, and more specifically the Dark Knight himself, but Bruce knew this was personal, and Dick had shown time and time again that the title of the world's greatest detective needed to be shared.

"I'll make arrangements.

"That was surprisingly easy. You think it's a dead end don't you?"

"I never said that, but right now what little evidence we have points in a different direction. It's troubling that whoever the assailant is knows their identities, but the fact remains that Thawne's in a state of the art holding facility secured with a next-gen inhibitor collar. He's not allowed visitors or contact with the outside world of any kind, and all video surveillance has shown him in his cell, but that doesn't mean he might not have some insight into who may be responsible. It's worth a conversation. In the meantime you've secured housing for the Wests?"

"I've got them at the Central City Four Season while their insurance company prepares temporary housing. If State Farm drags their feet, I might get you to make a call."

Wayne nodded. "Do they know what's going on?"

"They have their suspicions. They're not stupid."

"Tim has volunteered to stay on campus to keep watch over Bart."

"And Wally?" Dick asked uncomfortably.

"Arrangements have been made. It's a League issue now."

"Who?" Dick asked again.

"It's been taken care of; trust me, but right now you have pressing matters that need to be attended to."

"Bruce, don't talk to me like some kind of teammate. This is personal and you know it."

"I'm sorry, you're right. You'll be involved in every step of the investigation, but right now you other obligations."

"Bruce there's a psychopath on the loose; an engagement party seems pretty trivial right now."

"I understand, but that doesn't change the fact that you've made a commitment. This party, this engagement isn't going away. As your friend, as your family, I'll tell you no matter the circumstances, right now Barbara needs to be your priority. If you don't, take it from an expert, you don't want to end up like me."

"Oh God no," Dick laughed.

"Wally will be taken care of. You have my word."

Dick sighed. "Ok. I just wish things were, you know…. different."

"I do too," Wayne replied, placing his hand on his ward's shoulder, "Let's get changed and head upstairs. Alfred's meeting with the caterer in an hour, and unless you want nothing but hummus, cucumber bites and lamb dishes, I'd get up there and give some input."

Dick's face soured. "Oh shit, we better hurry."

xxx

Wally sat across the street from Keystone Elementary in the adjoining park, watching as his children played at recess. He'd passed all the chemical and thermal irritation asphyxiation tests his doctors had put him through, and after a two night stay was released. He was lucky, and his injuries were nothing compared to what Bart had suffered, but thanks to his cousins healing factor, the young speedster was nearly himself by the next day. Wally wished he still had that ability.

UMCC had been kind enough to offer him an extended leave of absence, but Wally had declined, only taking a few days to help his parents get their affairs in order while the fire department did their investigation. He did his best to downplay the events to his children. There was no need in letting them know how close they'd been to losing their father. They'd lost one parent already and he intended to do everything in his power to make sure they didn't lose two

Bart's attack had him worried. The League had been in contact with him just briefly to let him know the matter was being investigated with the utmost urgency, and they remained confident that that the assailant was not the man who'd killed Linda Park-West and Barry Allen, but Wally was not convinced.

The scientist in him could easily point out that his parents' house was over thirty years old and in desperate need of new wiring. That it was heated by natural gas and a small leak in the line was not beyond the realm of possibility. Combine those two factors and it didn't take a genius to figure out what could happen next. He'd know more once the official report came back from the fire department, but he was fairly confident that Batman's would be back sooner and much more thorough. All he could do now was wait.

But there was still the matter of the voice.

"Boom," it whispered.

Coupled with Bart's attack at nearly the same time, it was just too much of a coincidence, and there was only one man he knew who could have pulled it off.

"But it's impossible," he though to himself. "Right?"

The troubled speedster turned his attention to Jai as he and one of his friends wrestled each other to the ground, laughing all the way until the recess monitor blew her whistle and the two scurried away for cover. Iris was busy on the other end of the playground, reaching unnerving heights on the swing. All in all everything seemed normal, and right now normal was good. Wally continued watching the controlled chaos as a figure came up from behind him and cleared her voice not to spook him anymore than he probably already was.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Artemis asked politely

"No please." Wally replied, scooting over on the park bench to give her room. She sat next to him scanning the group across from them, looking for two small children in particular.

"Which ones are yours?"

Wally beamed proudly, pointing to the playground "He's the short brunette over by the monkey bars, just to the right of the kid picking his nose, and she's the redhead who's about to launch herself down the slide that she's not supposed to be climbing."

Iris reached the top, looking over and waving at her dad before catapulting herself down with reckless abandon, landing hard on her derriere only to get up and do it again even faster.

"She's fearless," Artemis smiled.

"She's her mother. She might look like me, but she's Linda made over."

"I know you don't want to talk about it but I'm sorry about your wife. I know she must have been special."

"I appreciate it."

For minutes they sat silently watching the children across the street running and laughing under the sunlight of a beautiful Missouri sky when Wally finally spoke up.

"Thank you." he whispered, referring to his recue.

"You're welcome," she answered in kind.

"The way I acted, the way I treated you that night, it was inexcusable," he said with regret.

"Don't!" she replied sharply.

"But…"

"Don't even go there Wally. You have nothing, and I mean nothing to apologize for. I brought this all on myself. There's nothing you could have said or done that I didn't deserve. I know my apology doesn't mean much, but I truly meant it. This was never what I intended. I hope you can believe that."

He nodded, looking to the ground and pursing his lips. "I do."

After a few moments he looked back up and asked. "So what's next for you?"

"I'm going back to Europe. That seems to be where all the good paying jobs are."

Wally shot her a troubled look.

"Legitimate work," she spit out quickly. "No killing or anything like that. I'm done with that chapter."

"Thank God," he sighed

"What about you?"

He gestured to the playground. "You're looking at it.

She nodded and smiled. They were beautiful kids and she'd by lying if she didn't admit to having a few pangs of envy. How special it must be to have a father that loved and cared for them. Someone that put their needs above anything else. Artemis knew she'd probably never be a mother, but if she did she'd hope for kids like those and a man like him. It infuriated her that someone had tried to take that all away.

"Are there any leads?" she asked

"None yet, but if they find anything I'm sure they'll contact me. I guess being back on the Leagues radar I'm going to have to come clean about my speed. I just really don't need them back in my life, but I've suppose I've got no choice."

"Why do you say that? What's wrong with them wanting to watch over you?"

"I don't know. Insecurity I guess. Because I'm not Barry, and because I just don't like not being able to fend for myself, it's stupid I know."

"Do you miss it?" she inquired.

Wally paused for a few moments before shaking his head no. "No not really. My head was always a million miles away, thinking five moves ahead instead of focusing on where I was. I need to be living in the here and now, I owe it to those two," he tilted his head towards his kids. "It's better this way."

Artemis nodded in acknowledgment, before her brows furrowed just a bit and a disbelieving smile crept across her face,

Wally shrugged his shoulders and threw her a guilty grin. "Ok maybe a little. I get a tad impatient with how slow everyone is. I miss the uniform, I miss helping people, but what I really miss is the sensations. I wake up at night with these dreams that are so real, so vivid. It's those moments where it really hits me. Plus with raising those two munchkins over there, there are times when super speed would really come in handy."

"I bet," she grinned, "and you don't know how or why?"

"No," he sighed. "Right after Barry died it just started cutting out; like a bad spark plug. It would just come and go until one day it just…stopped. Like I was somehow unplugged from the…"

Suddenly he stopped talking, like he'd said something wrong

"Unplugged from what?" she asked

He scrambled nervously. "You know…the chemical compounds that altered my DNA. Never mind it's kind of technical. It doesn't matter anymore. The fact of the matter is I didn't remotely live up to his legacy. I know that sounds stupid, but there was a time I really wanted that mantle, when I thought all of us would one day replace our mentors. Those days are over, but for the brief time I was the Flash, I choked. I think Barry would be pretty disappointed."

"Don't say that Wally. Barry loved you. He was proud of you regardless if you were a Flash or not. This isn't your fault, none of it is."

"If you'd told me ten years ago that one day I'd be a slow, non-meta widowed parent of two, carrying a mortgage I can barely afford, a jeep that barely runs, and a job at a community college teaching teenagers that are so stoned half the time that they don't know the difference between a hypotenuse or hypnosis, I would have said you're insane. But you know what? I wouldn't give up this life for anything. Those two, they're my whole world, and if this is all I ever do with my life, I'm fine with it. I just… kind of expected something different."

"I guess neither of our lives turned out the way we planned."

"I guess not," he replied, pausing briefly before asking, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

Wally paused searching for the words to something that had haunted him for almost a decade. "Why didn't you trust me?"

"Wally I did trust you. That was the problem."

"Where you afraid I'd stop you from killing your dad?" he asked

She shook her head no. "I was afraid you'd join me."

The answer wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear, but at least it was honest. She knew he was still hurt, still angry. Her death must have been the most traumatic thing he'd experienced in his young life and it had scarred him. The life that followed hadn't been any easier, for either of them.

In reality they'd only known each other a few years, dated for even less, but you never forget the ups and downs, the pangs of joy and sorrow of first love. When you put your life on the line day in and day out, that connection, that relationship becomes timeless, special. He was special and they were special together. Even years later, rarely a few weeks went by that he wasn't in her thoughts in some form or fashion; be it a beautiful sunset, a cutting joke, an impressive maneuver, a daring last minute escape, or just a constellation in the sky that she'd watch at night dreaming of a different life. By accident or by purpose he had always been her beacon of hope, all of them were.

"I'm sorry Wally."

"Yeah me too," he answered.

"So um…Dick really came through." she stated hesitantly.

The speedster nodded. "Yeah, my folks tell me he's the one who put them up at the hotel, probably the same guy who's got a construction crew already working on the house before the insurance company's even had a chance to process the claim."

"Did you know he and Barbara are engaged?"

The speedster's draw jaw dropped "No shit!" he said astonishment. "Good. That's good. I um… guess I need to send them a gift or something."

"He'd rather have a call. It's been too long Wally. He misses you."

"I know," he sighed. "It's… complicated."

"It doesn't have to be," she replied. "Despite all that's happened he's still your best friend. I know he cares. I think he's proved that."

"Artemis it's been too long. I wouldn't even know where to start."

"Like any good scientist would, at the beginning. Sir Isaac Newton once said…"

Wally groaned. "Please don't quote Newton's First Law of Motion to me."

Artemis pretended to hold an imaginary book in her hand, licking her finger as she turned the pages until she found the appropriate chapter

"Newton's First Law of Motion: she announced clearing her voice. "Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

"I always hated it when you threw science back at me," he sighed

"I know," the archer grinned

"But I'm pretty impressed you still remember that."

"I had a good teacher," she smiled. "Things aren't going to change unless you try. He's reached out, reach back. He deserves it, so do you. Just tell me you'll think about?"

"I will."

"Wally…?" she scolded.

"I will," he smiled, his green eyes shining in the sun. "I promise."

"Good."

"So you and hulk huh?" he asked.

Artemis looked at the red head curiously, as his eyes drew past her looking at the muscle bound mercenary standing by the rental car in the adjoining parking lot.

"Zane? No, it's not like that. He's just…We'll it's…." she hesitated just as Wally finished her explanation for her.

"Complicated?"

"Yeah," she surrendered.

"Things with you usually are. I mean that in a good way," he smiled as she reached over and playfully punched his arm.

"Ow!" he winced.

"Sorry old habits die hard," she grinned.

They both got a laugh out of the moment, but it was just a form of deflection, a way to stall. There were still so many things she wanted to say, but above all she wanted to tell him she loved him and she always would. They were just words, but if this was really goodbye, she knew she'd never have another chance. As she struggled to find the courage, a blaring horn from behind stole the moment.

"I guess they're playing your song," he chuckled.

"Yeah," she frowned turning back to the car and shooting a deadly look to the mercenary.

Wally took her hand, "Take care of yourself harpy."

"You too Baywatch," she smiled, leaning over and kissing his cheek. "And just know if you ever need anything..."

"Yeah," he smiled. "Thanks."

She stood and began walking towards the car, pausing briefly to look out at the playground one last time; the life that might have been. This goodbye felt more final, more permanent, and in some ways this moment hurt more than it did all those years ago. She ran with a dangerous crowd, and that crowd had no right being anywhere near him or his family. It was for the best, the hard part would be convincing herself of that.

Wally watched as her car pulled away, a surprising sadness washing over him. Neither of them were the people they once knew, both of their lives having taken drastic turns, but at least she was trying hard to make amends, to be more than the assassin she'd been forced to play. He'd spent so much time believing he'd cornered the market on pain and loss, never once had he considering hers. Artemis had made a huge mistake and she'd admitted as much, but god knows she'd paid for that mistake a dozen times over.

The archer had earned a second chance, and with that chance she could have easily faded into the sunset and started her life over again, but instead she chose to came back to bare her soul and take responsibility for her mistakes, saving his life in the process. At that moment she'd become exactly the person he remembered, the person he once loved. Wally wished he had told her that now, he wished he'd told her a lot of things, but it was too late. And for the second time in his life the speedster watched her disappear in the ether.

The ring of the recess bell awoke him from his reverie and he looked at his watch, seeing he only had an hour before his next class. He hated not saying goodbye to the twins, but his kids were preoccupied by friends and chaos, and he'd see them again in a few short hours anyway. He threw his backpack into the jeep, and headed out for the short drive into the city, while his mind raced a million miles away.

The kids stood in line and began their march back to class when Iris West realized she'd left her soccer ball on the playground and ran back to retrieve it. The young redhead searched frantically for it, worried that any moment she'd get a scolding from the recess monitor when she saw its unique pink and green coloring resting in the wooded pine trees behind the playground,

She ducked under branches to reach for it when an older man stepped out from behind the tree and picked up the ball.

"Is this what you're looking for?"

The red head nodded nervously, reaching out cautiously for the Adidas Brazuca her Korean grandparent's had sent her for Christmas.

"Do you have a name?" the older man smiled

"My daddy says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

The older man smiled. "Sounds like your father is a very smart man. Here child," he replied, gently tossing it to the relieved young girl.

"Thank you!" he heard her say, as she dropped the ball, dribbling it back to the recess line.

"You're welcome," he answered back, pulling on his coat and walking back into the woods unseen, "but we're not strangers' child, were practically family."

xxx

Artemis rode in silence for the next half hour, staring out the window at once familiar places. Zane knew he'd overstepped his boundaries a bit, but he'd always known what was best for the archer, even when she didn't. From time to time she'd even begrudgingly admit to it, but it still didn't make that pill any easier to swallow.

She was the risk taker; he was her level headed wingman. They'd kept each other alive with that approach for years, and it had worked out fairly well for both. Any physical or romantic relationship that came as a result of it was a bonus as far as he was concerned.

The quiet ride would give her time to work things out and reflect, to see that he was right and only watching out for her well-being. The mercenary was sure her mood when improve once they got out of the city. This trip had lasted way too long, and the siren song of a life she couldn't get back had clouded her judgement. He'd known her a long time, and felt assured that once they were on a plane and away from these pointless distractions, the woman he once knew would return.

Through the corner of his eye he saw her reach over to him, and with that gesture he knew he'd made the right call, that was until she grabbed the wheel and jerked them off the road.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted, slamming on the breaks, barely missing several parked cars on the side of the freeway.

"What in the hell is wrong with you!?" she shot back. "This," she gestured between them, "is not how this works!"

"I'm just looking out you," he countered.

"Are you? Are you really? Or is this personal? You knew what I gave up. You knew what I left behind. Do you think I'm that blind or that stupid to just assume I can have that life again? This isn't Beijing, this isn't even Bangkok. I'm not that scared little girl afraid of her shadow anymore. And I sure as hell don't need you saving me from myself. All I'm doing is weighing my options. Did you give Jade this same kind of shit when she went back to Roy? Or did you know what she was going to do all along? Were you afraid I was going to do the same thing and you'd end up alone? Is that what this is?" she asked fiercely.

"Gorgeous. You're spinning your wheels here. What happened to a whole new life? Skin-diving in Fiji, dining at Relais Borgo Santo Pietro near the canals, living the high in Ibiza?"

"Those were your fantasies Zane, not mine. They were coping mechanisms, things we daydreamed about to give us the hope when we didn't have any. I know this life has passed me by, but I'm not so sure I'm that interested in yours either."

The mercenary shook his head and chuckled. "You're breaking you own rule beautiful, you're getting attached. Big mistake."

"Then it's my mistake to make." the archer replied as the rental car got back on the road, leaving Central City and beginning its long journey back to New York.

xxx

Two days later the archer rushed from her hotel room towards the mercantile district of downtown Gotham. Barbara's message seemed imperative, albeit a bit cryptic, only giving specific coordinates in lieu of standard directions and stating only one word; urgent.

Despite being mid-day, she brought her crossbow just in case, she wasn't about to be caught in a crossfire unprepared.

Zane was not happy about being thrown out of her hotel room, but he was lucky that was all she'd done. These were her friends, and the length and manner of her goodbyes would not be dictated by him or anyone.

Her cab was stick in gridlock when in exasperation she threw her money into the front seat and ran the rest of the way on foot. Five blocks ahead she reached the corner of Broadway and W. 20th, the designated coordinates she'd been sent. All around her droves of people moved normally throughout the sidewalks and streets, no signs or indications of any disturbance or troubles.

She peered all around her, looking for anything out of the ordinary when from inside of one of the shops Barbara appeared, waving the archer in off of the streets.

"Are you ok? The blonde asked the redhead urgently, her finger still tickling the trigger of the crossbow tucked away in her bag.

"I'm fine. You?"

"Barbara your message sounded like and emergency. I thought you were…in…some…kind…of…troub... Aw damnit," she cursed, as she noticed the fine formal and cocktail dresses that hung all around the shop.

"No,no,no," she said irately. "Barbara we talked about this already."

"I know we did, and I decided we should talk about it again, in a more neutral location."

"You call this neutral," she frowned, absentmindedly caressing the fine fabric of the teal dress hanging closest to her. "I call this entrapment."

"You can call it whatever you want to, but the simple fact of the matter is I need you there. Artemis, these aren't my people, this isn't my element. I'm a cop's daughter, not some socialite. And to be honest I don't care how uncomfortable the idea of coming to this makes you feel, because for me it ten times worse."

"Barbara…," the blonde whined.

"It would really mean a lot to Dick and me. I mean it, besides I figure you owe me."

The archer sighed, she knew when she'd been beat. A few extra days in Gotham wasn't going to kill her, and the adventurous side of her knew that she'd never be invited to something so fancy and formal ever again, so what the hell.

"Fine," Artemis grumbled, "but there's no way in hell I can afford any of these. You're going to have to loan me the money."

"I'm not going to do that," the redhead grinned, "but she will."

The archer was beyond confused at this point until the whiff of a unique fragrance spread throughout the room, a sweet scent lightly floral with hints of a citrusy note. Despite the years, she'd know that fragrance anywhere, and with that knowledge her face went pale.

"Oh shit," the archer gasped

"Oh shit is right," the sorcerers replied angrily."Uoy era ni os hcum elbuort."

xxx

Zatanna was not a fighter by nature; she didn't have to be with her abilities. She'd been trained by the Justice League in the basics of self-defense, even excelling in a few, but on her best day she was still no match for the archer. However even with that knowledge, when she drug Artemis to the alleyway in the back of the store, genuine worry began to fill the archer's heart, because if the sorceress didn't have success in landing a few blows, she might just turn the archer into a frog out of pure spite.

A half hours later after a long tirade of Italian curse words and tears, they finally embraced each other, Artemis stroking her long raven hair, apologizing over and over, wiping both their tears away.

"You are such a bitch," Zatanna sniffled worth a grin.

"I am" the archer agreed.

"If you ever pull something like this ever again, I will kill you myself, and not something quick and painless, but something long and painful, magical mafia style."

"I know," the archer chuckled. For someone so fluid in three different languages including magic, her friend was still so bad at making threats that didn't come off as cartoonish, at least some things hadn't changed, but just to safe the Artemis decided she'd better no push her it.

"So tell me about this Zane guy?" Zatanna asked as Artemis looked over at the red head in displeasure.

Barbara shrugged and smiled. "This is what happens when one decides to keep secrets."

Artemis sighed, taking the sorceress's hand and walking back in the store to begin their shopping. "It's a long story."

xxx

It was well past ten as Wally sat in his darkened office grading term papers, his desk lamp providing the only illumination to the room. Dean Washburn, the head of the science department had been more than understanding about his absences, telling the young professor to take his time in returning, but Wally had grown restless and needed something to take his mind off his troubles; nothing did that better than science.

His children were excited to spend the night with Gran and Granps, not entirely sure if the hotel they now resided was actually their new home or not, but it had a pool and that's all that mattered. As always the speedster appreciated the assist, but with the mountain of work he'd come back to, it looked like he'd be calling in a lot more favors for the foreseeable future.

On his phone played his Best of the Beatles playlist. Barry had always joked that his young protégé he'd been born four decades too late, but even if he didn't understand the meanings of the lyrics back then, even at the age of thirteen, those songs spoke to him. Now in his mid-twenties he appreciated them even more

In My Life was currently playing, and as he paused for a moment from his papers to ponder the meaning for the thousandth time, he would swear it had been written for him.

The song recalled all the people and places John Lennon had known and loved throughout his life, and it went on to confess that they still meant something special to him even though he was leaving it all behind. Lennon still manages to say that these people and places will always have a place in his heart, even if they have since changed. Words, lyrics, and meanings that couldn't have hit home harder if they tried.

Wally tried to focus on his work, but too many distractions ran rampant through his mind. Something out there, something he didn't understand yet was trying to kill him. Bart had barely survived, and he still had his speed. What kind of chance did that leave him? His kids, his parents, none of them would be safe as long as that person was still out there. Now it was all in the hands of the Justice League, but still Wally drew little comfort from that. It's not that he didn't trust them, but if that thing was fast enough to sneak up on Bart, he had serious doubts the League would be able to keep up.

And then there was Artemis. She'd stormed back into his life so fast, and had left just as quickly. Her mere presence in his mind racked him with guilt. The way he'd reacted, the way he'd treated her. With Artemis now alive it had brought back so many old feelings, and it made Wally feel uncomfortable that those feeling somehow disrespected his wife's memory.

He'd only loved two women in his life, and he'd lost them both. Linda was his entire world, and the gift she'd given him by not only saying yes to his proposal, but giving life to the two most perfect kids in the world could never be matched or replaced. Every time he looked in his children's eyes, he could see her, feel her, and it renewed his love for her daily. She was his everything. Artemis being alive and well had now caused a similar effect.

Was it really love? he questioned himself.

He was so young and it was such a strange experience. It was something weird and frightening and exciting and new, and at the time he called it love.

Throughout his time in therapy, his shrink would always tell him that people often compare their current relationship to their first love in order to determine if their feelings for their current partner align. If that was the case then it definitely was, and for some reason that made him feel even worse.

What if Artemis had never left, how would his life have played out? The thought of not having his children in his life was more than he could bear, but caring about Artemis and at the same time caring about Linda made is stomach churn, like he was some kind of low life cheating husband trying so hard to carry on two separate lives. It felt like he was trapped in a causal loop in his own personal fucked up temporal paradox.

Suddenly science had lost its appeal and he put down his grading book and leaned back in his chair, thankful Yellow Submarine had been next of the playlist, and not something deeper, but even then his thoughts drifted back to the archer.

"God," he sighed. "Get a grip West. You're lonely, tired and sacred. Don't add stupid to the mix."

He took a deep breath to clear his mind when he heard a loud thud coming from the hallway outside. Wally dismissed it as one of the cleaning crew going about their jobs when less than a minute later he heard it again, that's when he grew worried.

He rose from his desk, stepping out in the hallway.

"Hello?" he yelled, his words echoing off the walls. He took a few steps forward, now concerned why his movements hadn't activated the hall sensors to turn on the overhead lights. He stayed frozen for a few moments, listening for the sound again, but it never came.

"God Wally, you're losing your shit, "he chuckled to himself, just as a hand reached through the darkness and pulled him inside it.

xxx

A/N. Serious and sincere apologies for the months between updates. The birth of my second son, too many hours at work, not enough hours of sleep, and a severe case of writers block are to blame. I'm working up the next chapter now, but after that it might be a while. For those of you still following the story; thanks for sticking with it, for those of you who've given up on it; I'm sorry, and for the nice guest reviewer who said "And this is how people lose interest in a story. You suck, at least finish what you started." Well...you don't have to read it.

Reviews like that don't motivate anyone. Anyone can PM me anytime for questions or timeframes about updates, I don't mind at all, but if you going to be a jerk, put your name on it. Thanks for letting me vent. See you in a week or two (hopefully)