It's definitely shorter than I wanted it to be but... baby steps? Please tell me what you want to see happen with this (This was my last pre-written chapter soooo)

From now on it's all new stuff. I was thinking he could meet the team? Or he and Robin have a heart-to-heart? Or Roy? Who knows. Not me.

Give me any ideas and I'll put it in the story (as long as it's not too off the storyline)

So yeah. Here it is. Help.

Iris paced the kitchen floor in her home. Barry was coming by to get her in a few minutes to go see Wally in the Watchtower. It would be no surprise if he were late, of course, but her nerves were already wired enough about seeing her nephew/adopted son, after all those years.

She wished she wouldn't have to get anxious about his state, but she'd covered kidnapping and abuse stories before. They never turned out pretty.

The door burst open and before Iris knew it, she was speeding through the streets of town in her husband's arms. It took five seconds to get to the nearest Zeta-Beam and be in the Watchtower.

Barry set her down outside the hospital's door. Iris wasted no time in moving forward, but Barry's hand on her wrist stopped her.

She gave him a look but dropped it when she saw the seriousness on his face.

"Barry?"

He dropped her wrist and sighed. "I haven't been completely honest about Wally. He's more messed up than I let on."

She turned to face her husband fully. "Oh? You think I don't know how bad these kinds of things can get? I have had a pretty good idea of how 'messed up' this entire thing is, Barry. The only thing I'm going to focus on is that the worst kind of people I can imagine hurt my Wally, and they're going to pay. But for now, Wally needs some love and care, and I'll be right there to help provide it. No matter how 'messed up' he is."

Barry smiled. "Thank you. Go say hi."

Iris returned the smile and knocked on the door. "May I come in?"

A clearly tired Robin opened the door a few seconds later.

"Iris!" His face brightened and he let her in the room. "Hey Wally, look who's here!"

Iris's chest tightened when she saw her nephew on the hospital bed. He was so much thinner than she remembered him. She made a mental note to fix that. His hair had been cut recently, and he looked just like he had before... Iris shook her head. Now was not the time for those thoughts.

Wally glanced over and had to do a double take. He blinked a couple times before changing focus back to the wall. Then he looked back at Iris and visibly relaxed some. He even tried for a smile.

Iris took it as a good, no, make that great, sign, and took a few steps forward. "Wally?"

His face fell a little and the bed sheets became interesting.

Iris swallowed but continued. "It's me, Iris. Sorry it took so long..."

She cut herself off when he snapped his head up at the word 'sorry' and shook it.

Iris was confused, and her face showed it.

Wally ducked his head. "Too many 'sorrys.'" He whispered.

Iris smiled respectfully. "Okay. Would you mind if I sat here with you for a while?"

His eyes widened just the slightest bit. "No. I wouldn't mind."

She sat down in the chair Robin had occupied earlier. "Are you hungry?"

Wally looked away and hesitated before shaking his head 'no.'

"Oh, nonsense." She waved her hand dismissively. Turning around in her seat, she faced the door where the two heroes were still standing. "Barry, go get something from the cafeteria he can eat."

Barry tried to hide a smile before zooming off. Robin looked a little skeptical, but sat in a chair by the wall nonetheless.

Iris turned back to her nephew and smiled. He smiled nervously back for a moment before it fell. Iris felt like she died on the inside, but she was determined to help him in some way. From what Barry had told her, Wally refused to eat anything they gave him.

Her husband returned a few seconds later with five pudding cups. Iris gave him a 'are you kidding me' look before taking them.

Barry held his hands up in surrender. "It's all the doctors are allowing. Trust me, I want him to have real food too," He whispered.

She glanced back at him with a short nod and moved her hand in a 'shoo' motion. He got the gesture and backed off; he sat in a chair next to Robin by the door.

Iris gave Wally her full attention. He was playing with the sheets and stealing glances around the room, anywhere but Iris or the heroes by the door.

"Hey." She started. He slowly looked her in the face. She smiled brighter.

Iris opened one of the pudding cups. "Plain old vanilla, but it's something, right? Now here,"She handed him a spoon. "Eat up. You need to start somewhere, why not here?"

Wally grasped the spoon as it was shoved into his hand. He looked nervously at it and looked back at Iris questionably.

"Here." She shoved the pudding into his other hand. "Now don't make me hand feed you. I'm eating some of my own, so no funny business."

He nodded and gulped.

He didn't move an inch for two whole minutes. Iris dropped her head. "Come on, Wally. Please? For me?" She whispered.

Wally blinked at her and glanced back at the pudding in his hand.

Iris started eating her own and was halfway through before Wally touched his. It was a small spoonful, but he raised it to his mouth.

It was a small, silent victory, but everyone celebrated in their heads.

Wally made an approving face and before anyone could blink, he was finished.

Iris chuckled. "Do you want another?"

Wally nodded sheepishly.

He had three more before Iris suggested he rest. It was more food than he'd had since they found him, maybe before that. Robin slipped out the door as his friend fell into a deep slumber, Iris on one side of the bed, Barry on the other.

When Robin arrived at the cave to tell everyone on Wally's condition, he hugged Superboy.

Conner blinked. "So... He's stable?"

Robin could only nod. "Better than stable."

He was gone again before anyone could ask what that meant.

You can review or PM me any suggestions! I'll just be eating this bag of chips :D