Crisis became aftermath. All of the Titans except Raven needed immediate care and more than anything she wanted to stay with them, or if she were honest with Gar, but she couldn't. Mike was badly beaten and she had scourged his mind in her wrath yet if he woke up with nothing but cops around him, they wouldn't be able to do a damn thing. The emergency responders quickly removed her friends to get the help they needed. Raven just stood on the beach watching Mike's still form, not realizing what an intimidating figure she cut standing silent and dark in the bright sun. Finally, four heavily armed officers came carefully down the strand to take him into custody. "I need to go with you," she said. "He's too dangerous."
"You did your bit," the sergeant of the detail said with grave respect. "Let us do ours."
Raven looked at the woman, the same one who braved the open beach during the fight to pull Robin out, and shook her head. "But if he…" She looked around in some confusion and realized that since the adrenaline was wearing off, her hands and knees were shaking. That she was used to. No matter how many times your life is in danger, there is always a reaction. It was in its way a reassuring old friend but she also was suddenly dizzy and confused and nearly fell. To her surprise, one of the officers immediately caught her from behind. Apparently she was so on the ragged edge that they had anticipated her weakness. The man set her gently on the ground. In her periphery she saw the woman gesture and a team of EMTs ran up carrying a stretcher. Raven stared at Mike, wary of any movement, but she let them strap her down and carry her away. She took a deep, shuddering breath and asked in a bleak voice, "Is anyone dead?"
"No," the EMT said. "Everybody is going to be OK. What hurts?"
"I'm not hurt," she said, "I'm just exhausted. Used too much…" She was craning her neck around the improvised staging area that had been set up.
"Ok," he replied. "Rest. We got you."
"Wait, no" she said desperately. She realized that she was about to ask about Gar and shook her head slightly. "Beast Boy," she asked, "how is he?"
The EMT had read about the two young heroes… and his own daughter was only a few years younger than Raven. "His arm's broken, concussion, pretty well beat up and unconscious but he'll be fine." Raven relaxed and passed out. She woke up in what was clearly an ER bay. She immediately grabbed the juice she saw sitting near the bed and downed it. Her movement set off an alarm and a nurse was there in an instant. Raven barked at the woman as soon as she was visible. "How's Robin?"
"In surgery. It looks good," the nurse said. "How are you?"
"Physically fine," she said bluntly as she began getting up, glad they hadn't felt the need to cut her out of her clothes. The nurse reached out as if to support her but saw there was no need. "I need my communicator." The nurse pointed to a table in the corner and Raven grabbed the device. She called the police using a special number know only to the Titans. It was answered immediately. "Raven," she said immediately. "Is the prisoner still in custody? Is he conscious?"
"Conscious and in custody. He's cooperating." That should have surprised her but it somehow didn't. "He said he knew when he was whipped."
"OK, good," she said as she broke the connection. Raven retrieved her shoes and sat to put them on. "Starfire?" she asked brusquely, standing up.
"Dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, concussion, still out" the Nurse said, feeling a bit intimidated and bowled over by the younger woman's forcefulness. "We called in help from..."
Just then she heard Cyborg's voice, very loud and annoyed, from somewhere nearby. "No, dammit, just… look, give me the thing. Give it! How the hell did you get an engineering degree!?"
The two of them regarded each other for a second, amused in spite of the situation, and the nurse then said compassionately, "Beast Boy is awake."
Raven nodded and gestured for her to lead the way. She had steeled herself for seeing him looking horrible but it wasn't as bad as she had imagined. The cast was being put on his arm and he didn't look happy about it. Other than that, he was just generally battered, bruised and bandaged. He looked up at her and smiled. "Hi," she said, suddenly feeling reticent and shy. It wasn't easy for her to acknowledge her feelings in front of her nearest and dearest. The idea of strangers being privy to that was anathema to her. She actually waved at him and felt silly for doing it.
Beast Boy grinned in understanding. "Hi," he said.
She cleared her throat and said "How are you?" In spite of herself and the presence of the young physician working on Gar's arm, she gently touched a massive, deeply emerald green bruise on his face. He winced even though her fingers barely brushed the injury.
"Out of the game until this heals," he said, indicating his left arm. "Other than that, I could be a hell of a lot worse." A woman appeared in the door pushing a rolling chair that she left for Raven, who sat. She looked indecisive for a moment and then got a look of resolve that he had seen many times in various conflicts. Almost defiantly, she took his good hand and held it. Experience had taught him it was best in these situations to not comment. "How are you?"
She shrugged a little and noticed that the young man working on Gar gave her a quick glance as she spoke. "Exhausted. I…" Rae looked at the floor for a second and cleared her throat. "I really had to push. It doesn't matter. All of you are worse." He gave a little half shrug. She took his hand in both of hers and held on tight. "Bad one," she whispered after a moment.
"Yeah," he replied. She nodded agreement. They sat silently together for a while.
Cyborg tried, he really did, to just look quietly into the room and leave them to themselves but quiet and unobtrusive were never easy for him. They both turned to look instantly when he approached the entrance to the bay. He had bruises covering most of his exposed flesh and a bandage covering the side of his head. Other than that he appeared in order, it being a matter of replacement rather than healing. "Hey," he said. With a gesture toward the chart on the table and receiving a nod of permission, he took it and paged quickly through it. He nodded and his face lightened. "Ok. Good. Not bad at all, considering. Star's in the process of signing herself out AMA..."
"AMA?" Beast Boy said, his brows knitting.
"Against medical advice," Cyborg supplied.
"She should…" Raven began.
"I will heal," Starfire said suddenly, also entering the room and moving carefully. For a long moment she simply looked at them and finally said "Why do you look sad, friends? We are victorious. We all live and our foe is vanquished. This is a great day," she said as she smiled a wolf's grin, all teeth and cold eyes.