A/N: Well everyone, it took me long enough to get back to you, but the next chapter is finally here. After two years, I know many of you have probably forgotten that this story even existed, but I hope that you all are still waiting to read what happens next.
Just to keep you all updated, I have graduated from university with my bachelors in English Literature, so I can begin writing for an online columnist. In the meantime, I have also taken up a job with DCFS in a branch office known as CYFS, so my job keeps me VERY busy. So, between working crazy hours, raising a three-year-old, and staying actively involved in community projects, I sort of got behind on my updating; but I am back now, and you shouldn't have to worry anymore about me going on hiatus for years at a time.
Last we left off, Artemis learned quite the bombshell about Lawrence's secret activities in life, and she discovered that she and Jade have a half-sister. If you thought that added drama to the storyline, you haven't seen nothing yet. On with the update!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Young Justice, Young Justice: Invasion, or Young Justice: Outsiders series. All three were created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti. I do not own any characters from the show or their backstories that were created for the show. I do however own the idea that forged the plot of this fictional piece, and all original characters that I have created for this story. With that being said, DO NOT REPRODUCE THIS STORY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, FORMAT, OR POSTING. I created this story and all of those rights belong to me. Please read, memorize, and abide by this disclaimer.
Sincerely,
KairiAngel13
"The Setback"
Jade breathed out a long sigh as she lifted a dirty lasagna plan from the sink and began to scrub it with her scratch pad. An old Bon Jovi song played through the static of a radio, as it sat on the windowsill, as the twenty-four-year-old quietly sang to herself. A loud bump vibrated the ceiling above her, shaking the hanging palm above the sink, and Jade sighed before lifting her head.
"Halen, Tristin, and Lian, settle down right now!" she shouted in annoyance before turning her attention back to the dishes, scrubbing at the dried sauce and cheese with more effort than before. The kids had probably knocked over a lamp or chair, and Jade could do nothing but hope that it had not broken.
As the beginning of the Spin Doctor's "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" started on the radio, the patio doors slid open off to Jade's right. She glanced over in the direction of the door, pausing briefly when Roy stumbled into the house still bearing his five o'clock shadow. Jade narrowed her eyes before setting the dish down in the sink and drying her hands on a hanging rag that was tied to the cabinet handle below her.
Roy did not notice her at first, and he knocked a ceramic jar of sugar off the counter beside him as he struggled to slide the door shut behind him. Jade tensed as the small white crystals spread across the floor, the lid to the jar rolling like a coin across the floor and coming to rest at her feet. Roy's eyes followed the lid and paused when they spotted Jade's bare feet. He slowly lifted his head and sighed at the sight of a scowl on her face.
"Don't start." He sighed in annoyance as he walked across the kitchen and pried the refrigerator door open, the bottles of condiments rattling loudly from the effort.
"Where the hell have you been Roy?" she chastised him as she moved to stand behind him. She watched as he reached for a half-emptied Aquafina bottle and unscrewed the cap, tossing it carelessly over his shoulder as he threw his head back to chug the water. "You do realize it's almost four in the afternoon? You've been gone since six last night Roy. I needed your help with the kids today and you were conveniently nowhere to be found. Care to explain yourself?"
"I had things to do." He said when he finished chugging. He crushed the empty bottle in his hand before slamming the fridge door shut and stomping over to the recycling bin in the corner. "I didn't think you'd want me coming in at five this morning, so I slept over at a friend's place. Turns out I left my phone here, so sorry if you couldn't get a hold of me."
Jade was not sure whether she should scream at Roy or just ignore him. His behavior was really starting to piss her off and she had no clue as to what she should do. The man standing before her was a hollow shell of the husband she knew and loved. This man was an unemployed alcoholic who slept all day and had no purpose in life other than to warm her couch cushions. Her Roy was happy and filled with life, a man who valued his family and loved his wife beyond measure. How is it that those two men were the same person?
"What's your problem?" Roy asked suddenly, pulling Jade from her thoughts. It was then that she realized she had started crying. Her eyes had blurred, and the back of her throat was burning as though steam were rising up her esophagus. With a sigh she wiped the tears from her eyes before returning to the sink, her fingers turning the radio up to full blast. She could feel Roy's gaze on her back for a minute before he left the room, his feet thudding against the tiled floor.
With a shaky breath, Jade allowed her tears to fall freely as she went back to finishing up the dishes. She ignored the evening playlist on her favorite radio station. She ignored the sound of her kids knocking something over out in the front hall. She ignored the sound of Roy's snoring coming from the living room. Jade Crock stayed silent as her eyes pooled with tears, the pain in her heart searing her chest.
Two hours later, the tears had finally stopped, and Jade continued with her evening. Her three children sat at the dinner table happily talking amongst themselves as she spooned a simple dinner of instant macaroni and cheese with hotdogs onto their paper plates. The kids remembered their manners and thanked their overworked mother before shoveling their dinner into their mouths, occasionally burping and stopping to drink the glasses of water Jade had given them before their meals had been served.
Before Jade could fix herself a plate, the front doorbell rang, its sound echoing off the walls of the tiny townhouse. Jade sighed and sat the pot and spoon back on the stovetop as she asked the kids to stay put and finished eating. She ignored her snoring husband in the living room as she headed for the door and stood on her toes, squinting to see through the peephole. Artemis was standing on the porch, her hands shoved into the pockets of her leather coat as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. Knowing that Artemis would blow her stack over her disheveled appearance, Jade quickly wiped at the tears staining her face and tousled her hair about to give it a wild, yet pleasing appearance. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the door handle open and forced a light smile.
"Well, well, if it isn't my little sister." Jade said before stepping out onto the porch, shutting the door tight behind her. "It's a little late for you to be on my side of town. What gives?"
"I need to talk to you." Artemis said, her usual rasp causing her voice to crack. "It's pretty big."
Jade's smile faded when she noticed how tired her sister looked. Whatever was going on, it obviously had Artemis worried. Jade motioned her head towards the small wicker loveseat on the porch, silently asking her sister to sit down, as she opened the door and grabbed her coat off the hook just inside. After shrugging the wool jacket on and covering up her swollen belly, Jade joined Artemis on the cushioned seat and patiently waited for her sister to explain.
Artemis opened her mouth but quickly shut it. Jade decided not to push the girl and watched as Artemis breathed out a slow breath, a stream of fog blowing from her mouth and into the late October night air.
"I met with Mr. Atteberry today, dad's attorney." Artemis began as she started playing with her fingerless gloves, her nails pulling at the small bits of fuzz and lint that she could see. "We started going through all of Lawrence's things. At first, I thought I should have taken your advice and just left everything in Mr. Atteberry's hands, but I've learned some things that I think you should know."
"Artemis, can we not do this right now?" Jade sighed as she leaned back in her seat. "Lawrence is locked away for life and he is literally going to die in prison. Why bother digging through his past? We already know that he is a sick son of a bitch."
"Jade, will you please just listen to me?" Artemis pleaded, her eyes worn out and tired. Jade breathed through her nose before willing her eyes to slide shut as she tilted her head back, her nose up in the air. Artemis knew that her sister probably could care less about what Lawrence had done with his life, but the blonde still had a desperate need to share what she had learned.
"Lawrence was responsible for one of the country's largest drug cartels." Artemis began as she thought over the documents she had seen earlier that day. "He had safe houses set up all throughout Gotham, and he even had a few houses in other cities around the U.S. Lawrence had a ledger in which data was recorded – the data being pay dates for the ring leaders that Lawrence had in charge of each location. It made me sick to my stomach Jade."
"And you're surprised because…?"
"Damn it Jade, how does this not bother you?"
Jade was silent for a moment as she mulled over her thoughts. Artemis watched her older sister as she opened and closed her mouth several times, the older of the two struggling to find the right words to say. Looking out the corner of her eye at the blonde beside her, Jade breathed out a sigh.
"I knew dad was running a cartel." She finally admitted, earning a gasp from Artemis. "I didn't know how far spread it was, but I knew Artemis. Dad had been working on the docks since we were kids, don't you remember?"
"I just always thought he was loading lumber or cargo. He was never specific about the kind of work he was doing. Then again, I never asked."
Jade rolled her eyes at her sister's innocence before resting her hand on Artemis's thigh. "Lawrence was a crooked bastard who used his cargo gig as a coverup operation, so he could run drugs around the whole damn city. He has hurt and killed people to keep his business thriving, and lest we not forget, he took all his frustration out on the two of us. Remind me again why you're working so hard to help him out?"
Artemis's lips pressed into a thin line as she thought over her sister's words. Yes, Lawrence had been a cruel man to all who knew him, and he certainly was not deserving of the title: "Father of the Year." He had a sick, twisted mind and he did not show a bit of remorse for the pain and suffering he had caused both Artemis and Jade growing up.
In spite of this, he had shown a small bit of compassion when Artemis had seen him inside those stone walls. He looked tired and defeated, his life slowly ebbing away with each passing day. Despite the way he had treated her, Artemis did not think that a slowly and painful death, from cancer, was the way to go.
"Well, if that's all, I'm going back inside to eat dinner." Jade said as she stood to her feet, the wooden floorboards of the porch creaking loudly under her added weight.
"Wait a second Jade." Artemis said as she reached out and grabbed her sister's hand. "There's more."
"Artemis, I really don't give a damn about Lawrence or any of the bad decisions he's made in life. I have bigger problems okay? I have three kids to take care of and another baby on the way. Roy is still unemployed, and he doesn't do a damn thing around here to help out. I work two jobs to keep a roof over our heads and to make sure our kids are taken care of. I don't have the time or the desire to let dad's drama into my life."
Jade's shoulders were heaving by the time she finished her ramp and Artemis felt guilty for not noticing how stressed her sister had been before she had shown up unannounced. Jade's eyes were puffy and red from crying and she looked worn out. Silently, Artemis stood to her feet and walked past her sister to head into the house.
Artemis ignored Jade's cries to come back as she headed deeper into the house. The blonde's eyes moved around the foyer, taking in the sight of crooked picture frames on the wall, toys trailing up the main staircase, and piles of laundry strewn about. Artemis paused when she reached the living room, her eyes settling on Roy who was snoring loudly on the couch. Artemis could hear the children in the kitchen arguing, Lian hollering for Halen to stop throwing macaroni noodles at her.
"Roy Harper get your ass up right now." Artemis snapped, her voice echoing loudly off the high ceiling. The older male continued to snore, completely unaffected by Artemis's presence. Nostrils flaring, the blonde stomped across the room and grabbed the sleeping Roy by the friend of his shirt. With a heavy grunt, she managed to yank him off the couch, watching as his body slammed against the hardwood floor.
A stream of curses spewed from Roy's mouth as Artemis glowered down at him, her rage ebbing off her in waves. Roy lifted his bloodshot eyes and froze when they met the stormy gray irises of his sister-in-law. He mumbled something inaudibly as he stood to his feet, the word "bitch" being the only word to reach Artemis's ears. Once he was standing upright, he leaned down so that their faces were mere inches apart.
"What the hell do you want Artemis?" he asked, the stench of cheap whisky practically burning the younger girl's nostrils. Artemis's eyes watered from the stench and she backed a few steps away.
"Jesus Harper, the least you can do before going to bed his brush your damn teeth. You wreak."
"Sorry I couldn't clean up and please you." He said with a roll of his eyes. "We can't all be perfect, you know. What the hell do you want?"
The front door could be heard slamming shut outside the archway, and Artemis could hear her sister's bare feet padding against the hardwood floor as she hurried inside. Jade paused in the doorway, her right hand holding onto the wooden trim for support as she tried to catch her breath.
"Artemis please leave." Jade groaned as she gave her sister a pleading look. Artemis shook her head, ignoring her sister's request, as her eyes remained locked on Roy's.
"I'm not going anywhere Jade." Artemis said firmly while Roy glared at her. "How can you sit around here asleep, in a drunken haze, when my sister clearly needs your help Roy?"
"Artemis stop it." Jade warned her. "This is none of your business."
"The hell it isn't my business. How many times do we have to go through this until you both start trying to change? For Christ's sake Jade, you're six months pregnant. You should not be working so damn hard to keep your family afloat. Roy you need to be a man and take care of my sister. Do you not see how tired she is? Do you not see how stressed out she is? She suffers in silence because you aren't being the husband that she needs you to be. You're supposed to take care of her just as much as she takes care of you. Geez, do you even care about her?"
"Why don't you worry about your own damn marriage and stay the hell out of mine!" Roy roared. "You always find the time to stick your nose into mine and Jade's business. Stay in your own lane Artemis."
"Are you kidding me? My sister has spent her whole life taking care of everyone but herself. So, forgive me for being a little upset with the fact that you, her husband, is a disrespectful and selfish son of a bitch."
Artemis's words struck a nerve then, Roy's right eye twitching in irritation. Jade's eyes blurred with tears as she watched her husband and sister bickering like two children on the playground, their faces red as they shouted insult after insult back and forth. Roy gave Artemis a good shove and Artemis shoved him back with enough force that he stumbled back and landed on the couch. Their screaming built up to the point that it was practically deafening. So, it was no surprise to Jade when her three children came into the room, confusion on their faces.
Artemis jabbed her index finger into Roy's chest, her ears turning red from how angry she was, as she demanded he get a job and: "get your shit together, or so help me God…" Roy ignored her words and hollered for Artemis to get off his case while his children started yelling for the two of them to stop fighting. Everything suddenly came to a standstill when Lian started screaming.
"Mommy, mommy get up!"
The little girl's words suddenly pulled Roy and Artemis out of the shooting range, their heads snapping in Lian's direction. Their eyes grew wide when they saw that Jade had collapsed, the woman completely unresponsive as Lian screamed for her mother to open her eyes.
Artemis ran over to her sister, dropping down on her knees so hard that they would probably bruise the next day. She gently pushed Lian aside before lifting Jade's head into her lap, calling out to her sister to try and get some sort of response. Roy stood up from the couch and walked over, his shadow falling over the two sisters, before he also got down on his knees. Artemis could see the panic on his face, and as much as she wanted the chew him out for finally showing some concern, she knew her sister was top priority.
"Call an ambulance." She said quickly before reaching in her pocket to hand him her cell. "I can feel her pulse, but it's really slow."
Roy nodded, his hands shaking as he unlocked Artemis's screen and stood to his feet. Artemis took a deep breath to calm herself as the children started crying. She then turned to Lian and did her best to stay calm.
"Lian, I need you to take your brothers upstairs. You guys need to put your shoes on and find your coats. We're going to take a little ride to the hospital."
Lian, always an obedient little girl, picked Tristin up before asking Halen to follow her. Artemis watched as they disappeared up the stairs before turning her attention back to Jade. It was then that she noticed the pool of blood.
"Uncle Wally, you could at least color inside the lines." Lian said with a giggle as she leaned over her coloring book. Wally laughed along with her as he turned his picture of a frog just slightly to the left, angling it better so he could color in the frog's long tongue. He had never been one to color inside the lines and as an adult, that still had not changed.
The older man spared a glance at Lian's coloring page of a group of fish before looking up from the small play table to where Artemis and Roy were sitting in the waiting room chairs. Roy had managed to clean himself up before going to the hospital, but he still looked completely run down. Halen was sitting in his father's lap holding onto Wally's phone, the sound of Sonic the Hedgehog collecting rings quietly drifting throughout the room. Artemis was sitting beside him holding a sleeping Tristin, her fingers gently combing through the boy's raven locks as his head rested on her shoulders.
Wally found the scene to be heartwarming, even though the circumstances were rather sad. The doctor had yet to emerge from the sliding emergency room doors with news on Jade, and it been almost an hour since they had been there.
When Wally had gotten Artemis's call, he had panicked at first, thinking that she had been the one to be admitted. When Artemis had explained that it was her pregnant sister who had collapsed at home, his worry did not lessen. Jade was far along in her pregnancy, and the fact that she was bleeding was not a good sign. He had logged off his office computer, his mystery novel shelved for the time being, before he got into his car and sped over to meet his wife at the hospital.
"This is all my fault." Roy spoke suddenly, all eyes moving in his direction. Artemis gave him a questioning look, not sure of whether his words were truthful or completely guilt-driven. Even though he had been cooperative with Artemis in getting Jade to the hospital, that did not change the fact that he had been neglecting his family for months.
"Roy, I don't want to get into this right now." Artemis spoke, her voice cracking from being unused in a few hours. "Can we please just sit here and wait for the doctor."
Wally could see the hurt in his friend's eyes and found that his heart felt for him. Despite the way Roy had been behaving, since being laid off, Wally knew that Roy still loved and cared for Jade. After all they had gone through together, how could he not? Roy had been a rock in Jade's life while she suffered through Lawrence's abuse, and he had convinced her to run away with him when Jade wound up pregnant with Lian. He had supported her and loved her unconditionally. That much was clear, but he had somehow lost his motivation and love for life along the way. Surely, it could not be possible for him to never rebuild the love and trust they once shared?
The sliding glass doors, leading to the emergency unit, whooshed open as a doctor came out wearing his green scrubs. A stethoscope was hanging around his neck and his facemask had been pulled down, its stretchable strings still wrapped around his ears. Artemis stood up quickly, still holding the sleeping Tristin in her arms. Roy stood up after her, setting Halen down on the floor, the little boy's eyes never leaving the video game in his hands.
"You're the family of Jade Harper, yes?" When they nodded, the doctor rubbed the back of his neck. "We managed to stop the bleeding, so Jade is resting comfortably now. We ran several tests, including taking a sonogram to check on the baby. The baby is fine, but I'm afraid Jade has developed a condition that we refer to as placenta previa. What that means is the placenta is now resting right on top of Jade's cervix."
Wally slowly stood to his feet as he allowed the doctor's words to sink in. He had never heard of placenta previa before; and judging by the look on the good doctor's face, it was not something to be taken lightly. Wally spared a glance in his wife and brother-in-law's direction. The two of them had put their earlier spat behind and looked as though they were struggling to keep it together. It is what Jade would want.
"Is there a cure for this condition?" Roy asked, his voice hoarse from its overuse during his most recent bender. "I mean, it isn't life threatening right?"
The doctor's brow furrowed as turned to face the taller man. "Mr. Harper, this condition could potentially cause your wife to lose the baby, and it even has the potential of ending her life. I know you don't want to lose your wife, and I will do everything that I can to ensure that she and your daughter make it through the rest of this pregnancy."
"It's a girl?" Roy asked, blinking a few times before a smile spread across his face. Jade had not said anything about the baby's sex. Then again, when had he been sober, enough for her to tell him without incident?
"That's right, a baby girl. I have contacted Jade's doctor to bring her up to speed, and I have discussed this condition with Jade. As you can well imagine, she did not take the news well. She must be on bed rest for the remaining three months of her pregnancy to prevent further complications with her pregnancy."
"Three months?" Artemis repeated, the blonde blinking in disbelief. "Doctor, there has to be some other way. Jade has been working two jobs to help support her family. What is she going to do?"
"She could always apply for disability until after the baby is born." The doctor suggested, folding his hands in front of him. "At this point, any stress or overexertion is not got for your sister Mrs. West. I'm sorry, but this is how it must be. Under normal circumstances, we suggest that the patient terminate their pregnancy, but Jade is too far into the baby's development to do that now. So please, try and understand that this is the best option for her."
Artemis breathed out a deep sigh before sparing a glance at Roy who had not said anything yet. He had a focused look on his face, as though the cogs in his brain were starting to turn for the first time in months. Of course, he had waited until Jade's health was poor to finally have an epiphany. The question now is whether he will make a better effort?
Artemis cleared her throat before turning her attention back to the doctor. "Can we see her?"
"She's still a little groggy, so I suggest that only one of you go in at a time. I'll make an exception and let the girls go in with their father. I'm sure Jade could use some good news."
"Actually, I'd like to see her first." Artemis said quickly, causing Roy to turn towards her with a questioning look in his eye. "I promise, I'll be quick."
The doctor looked back and forth between Artemis and Roy. A thick level of tension was walled between the redheaded male and his sister-in-law, and the doctor would bet money that Jade's condition had only strengthened that wall. The last thing his patient needed was more stress. Perhaps seeing her sister first would be the best option.
"Sure thing Mrs. West." He said, giving his final decision. "Follow me please."
Artemis nodded before turning to Wally, motioning to the sleeping boy in her arms. Wally understood her silent message and moved to lift the toddler into his arms. Artemis gave him a grateful smile before giving him a quick peck on the cheek and turning to follow the doctor back through the sliding doors.
Wally watched his wife's retreating form before turning to Roy, who had scoffed in disbelief. With a raised eyebrow, Wally turned and watched as Roy drug himself back over to the waiting room chairs and collapsed on his bottom, his head rolling back as he stared up at the fluorescent lights overhead. Despite everything that had happened over the past few months, Wally knew that Roy loved Jade. The evening's events probably had his friend scared half to death, and that worried Wally.
"You okay man?" Wally asked as he sat down beside Roy, adjusting Tristin in his arms so that the toddler's head could rest more comfortably on his shoulder. Roy sighed, looking up to watch Halen walk over to sit at the play table with Lian.
"This is my fault." Roy stated, rather than questioning his friend. "God…what have I done?"
"Come on Roy. Don't do this to yourself man. It isn't going to change a thing."
"What's happened to me Wally? Things didn't used to be this bad. Jade and I, we were happy. Losing my job really fucked things up and I just didn't know how to shake it. What are we supposed to do now? Jade can't work, I don't have a job, and we only have enough saved up to stay afloat for two, possibly three months. Sure, the baby will be here by then, but we have other expenses to take care of before then. What do I do Wally? God, what am I supposed to do now?"
Wally watched with a heavy heart as Roy finally allowed himself to break, the older man slumping over as his shoulders shook with silent sobs. Wally watched his friend for a few minutes, not sure of how to comfort Roy. Roy had every right to be fearful for the future, especially when there was so much at stake. If he were in the man's shoes, Wally wouldn't be sure what to do either.
The former Speedster watched as Roy sat up, a shaky breath escaping his lips. Wally's lips pressed into a thin line before he took a deep breath.
"Look man, you have to get yourself together. No more excuses, okay?"
"You say that like it's easy." Roy snapped, his voice drawing the attention of the nurses who were currently working behind the emergency room desk. "I tried looking for work after I got laid off, and it didn't get me anywhere. Hell, I'm sure my name is sitting on hundreds of waiting lists all over this damn city! I hate feeling like I can't provide for my family. I hate that I'm such a failure."
"Roy, stop it." Wally said as he rested a hand on Roy's knee. "It's time that you stop feeling sorry for yourself and buck up. You can't allow your failures to keep you from being a winner. You were successful once, and you can get to that point again if you just try. Destroying your liver and ignoring your family isn't doing you any good. You heard the doctor. Jade can't take on any more stress. You have to try man."
Roy took a deep breath before looking over at Lian and Halen, who were coloring at the play table. "Right. I guess it's time to start trying harder."
"You look like hell." Artemis said, doing her best to make light of the situation. Jade looked up as her sister walked into the room, the raven-haired beauty managing to smile at her little sister.
"After everything I went through tonight, it's only natural that I look my best." Jade said with a small chuckle. Artemis's raspy laughter joined in beside hers as the blonde grabbed a cushioned stool and scooted over to her sister's bedside.
"I'm really sorry about tonight Jade." Artemis said as her smile fell into a worried frown. "I shouldn't have snapped at Roy like that. It just pisses me off how you work your ass off everyday while he sleeps off a binge on the couch. With all the stress your under…it's no wonder you developed this condition."
"I shouldn't have let myself get so worked up." Jade sighed before running her fingers through her hair, the strands sticking out like a wild lion's mane. "I've gotten so used to taking care of things on my own, that having someone else take on my problems is like a foreign concept. I know that Roy has been a lousy husband and a smartass Artemis. I mean, I do live with the man. Despite how awful he's been to me, I still love him."
Artemis watched as Jade took a deep breath and leaned back against the mattress. She winced as the I.V. in her arm shifted, before turning her attention back to Artemis.
"I understand now, why you're trying so hard to help Lawrence out after all he's done." Jade admitted, her voice soft as though she were ashamed to speak out loud. "He caused all of that hurt and pain and you just want to give him the benefit of the doubt. You have a small glimmer of hope that for once in his miserable life, he will prove that he isn't such a bastard. You're fighting hard for him like I'm fighting hard for my marriage with Roy."
"Hey now, Roy has done some pretty awful things, but he and Lawrence can't even compete with each other. Roy has treated you and the kids horribly since he got laid off, but his sins aren't even on the same playing field as Lawrence's. I get why you don't want anything to do with him. Hell, I don't want to bother with him either; but the more I learn about this double life he had, the more I want to help those that he has hurt. Which brings me to what I wanted to talk to you about in the first place. Jade, we have a sister."
Jade stared at Artemis for a few seconds as she let the words sink in, her eyes blinking as though she were struggling to comprehend the idea. Jade's mouth moved a few times, the words caught in her throat, before she let out a stale laugh.
"Just when I thought I couldn't hate the bastard anymore than I already do…" she finally managed to get out. "Was she another walking, talking case of abuse too?"
Artemis rolled her eyes at her sister's harsh words before leaning forward to rest her forearms on the mattress. "I don't know much about her yet. I stumbled across the detail after Mr. Atteberry left my office. All I know is that dad has been making steady child support payments to an account here in Gotham. I found the information in a manila folder, along court-ordered DNA test results. The tested child's name is whited out, but her race, gender, and genetics are all visible. The test was run years ago, about three years before dad even moved us out of Canton."
"Meaning this…girl is probably fourteen or fifteen. God…"
"I don't know if this girl had to grow up like we did, or if Lawrence actually managed to show her some small bit of compassion. I am worried about her getting the financial care she needs once Lawrence finally croaks. Do you see my dilemma? I mean, do you think I should investigate this further?"
"Leave it alone Artemis." Jade said, surprising the blonde. Artemis gave her a questioning look, but before she could speak, Jade raised a hand to silence her. "You are happily married, you have a career that you love, and you have friends who love and support you. You have a good life Artemis. The more you allow Lawrence's shaded past to cloud your thoughts, you will start to lose every bit of happiness that you have. You have a life of stability now. Don't let Lawrence take that away from you."
Was Jade right, or was she just being paranoid? Since Lawrence first told Artemis about his limited time left on this earth, things did seem to be a lot more stressful in his youngest daughter's life. All of the wounds that Lawrence had inflicted on her were slowly starting to open again, even after all the progress Artemis had made since he had been shipped off to serve his sentence.
Years of therapy, night terrors, and glancing over her shoulder had come to an end and Artemis was at a point where she felt the ability to truly breathe. She no longer felt shackled in that dingy apartment in the slums, and Lawrence was no longer a threat that was looming over her head. She had gained an unimaginable amount of strength in his absence and she had learned how to truly love someone. She had her sister back, she had the support of her friends to keep on going, but most importantly, she had her Speedster.
So yes, Jade was right. Even though he physically was not present, Artemis could undoubtedly feel Lawrence's shadow looming over her everywhere she went. She should call Mr. Atteberry and have him deal with the affairs on his own; but what of the sister who was somewhere in the city with that monster's blood running through her veins? Was Lawrence a shadow in her life too? Had he hurt the girl in the same way he had hurt his oldest two; and what of the girl's mother?
There were so many questions that Artemis needed answered; and if she walked away now, she would be burdened with the guilt of never having found out. Perhaps this girl was in hell too and needed to be saved?
A knock on the door snapped Artemis back to reality, and the blonde turned just in time to see Wally and Roy walking into the room with the kids. Lian squealed happily when she saw her mother awake and alert, and the ten-year-old ran over to give her mother a hug.
"Careful Lian." Artemis said with a small laugh, as she helped to lift the girl onto the bed. Lian wrapped her arms around her mother tight and buried her face in Jade's hospital gown to hide her face. Artemis knew that Lian was probably crying, and she smiled at how brave she was being.
Halen and Tristin watched their mother and sister with inquisitive eyes, the two of them not too sure of what to make of the situation. Artemis smiled before standing up and walking over to them. She scooped Tristin up into her arms, placing him on her left hip, before giving Halen her right hand and leading him over to his mother. Artemis then sat both boys on the bed, so they too could hug their mother, reminding
"Mommy's sorry she scared you guys." Jade said with a shaky breath, as she struggled not to cry. Artemis watched the scene with a loving smile before walking over to Roy and Wally, wanting to give the mother a little privacy with her kids.
Artemis locked eyes with her brother-in-law before motioning, with her head, for him to follow her out into the hallway. She did not wait for him to respond and headed out of the dimly lit room, Roy's audible sigh reaching her ears before both he and Wally walked after her. The door clicked shut and Artemis spun around, leaning up against the wall opposite Jade's door, with her arms folded across her chest.
"Can't this wait?" Roy asked, irritation in his eyes. "I need to be in there with my family."
"Listen Harper, I'm going to be nice to you right now, because I don't want to bring Jade any unnecessary stress. I know you're scared and worried about her, but you have to step up now Roy. That baby means everything to Jade; and if she were to lose that baby, I don't know what she would do. So please, let's put our differences aside just this once so we can concentrate on doing what is best for her."
"He's got this babe." Wally reassured his wife as he snaked his arm around her shoulder. "He and I sort of had a heart to heart out in the lobby. I think things are going to be okay for now. Right Roy?"
Artemis raised an eyebrow before looking at Roy once more. The drunkard had a hard look in his eyes, and he looked as though he were struggling to keep himself together, but he exchanged a glance with Wally and gave a firm nod before turning and walking back into the hospital room.
"He's got this babe?" Artemis repeated her husband's words before turning to face him. "What exactly is that supposed to mean Wally? You expect me to believe that Roy is suddenly going to change, just like that? There's no way in hell."
"Artemis don't worry about it, please. Just trust me on this. Roy and I were best friends once upon a time. I know him better than you do, and sometimes, better than even Jade does. Things are gonna be different, you'll see. Now, what do you say we get out of here?"
Wally watched as Artemis's curiosity slowly faded, the blonde groaning as she scratched the back of her head and started walking towards the elevator. "Let's go Baywatch." She called over her shoulder, earning a snicker from her husband. Wally smiled at Artemis's backside before jogging after her.
"You and Jade have another sister?" Wally repeated the information he had just learned, his eyes wide as he stared at Artemis, who was sitting across from him at the dinner table. "I didn't see that coming."
"Well neither did I." Artemis said as she stood from her seat to scrape the remnants of spaghetti off her plate. "I don't have a name or a home address for her, but I know she lives here in Gotham. Lawrence had been making steady child payments to the girl's mother, but her name was omitted from the file as well. I know I shouldn't pry, but how can I not? I have a sister somewhere out there and I must know how she turned out to be. I need to know that she just wasn't another victim. Jade told me to let it go, but I can't."
Wally nodded as he watched Artemis set her emptied plate in the sink. She paused for a second, her hands gripping onto the edge of the counter. She did not say anything for a while, and Wally began to grow worried. When her small sniffles could finally be heard, Wally was on his feet in an instant, his arms wrapped around Artemis from behind. She leaned back into his embrace, her head resting on his shoulder, while Wally pressed small kisses to her temple and cheek.
"I was so scared when I saw Jade on the floor." Artemis admitted, speaking for the first time in minutes. I thought that I was to blame for her collapsing. I thought I had pushed her buttons with the whole Roy thing and that the stress was too much. I had no idea…I mean, placenta previa? I had never even heard of it before today."
"Jade and Roy are going to need us." Wally reminded his wife, who nodded in response. "For the rest of this pregnancy, they will need us to be strong Artemis. Roy isn't the only person Jade has to depend on. She has us, her family."
Artemis nodded before standing upright and wiping the tears from her cheeks. She turned around and faced her husband with red, puffy eyes. It made her look so young and innocent, and Wally could not help but to smile. Artemis raised an eyebrow at her husband, not sure how to read the situation.
"You're so cute when you cry." He admitted before giving her a playful grin. Artemis smirked before slapping his arm. She then walked to grab his finished plate off the table to add to the sink.
"This isn't funny Wally. It's a very serious matter. I mean, what if I were in the same position as Jade? Would you be joking then?"
Wally's smile quickly fell. "Of course not Artemis, but I wouldn't want you to sit around feeling sorry for yourself then either. I am your husband, and it is my job to make you feel better when you're upset. So, if you happened to be pregnant with the same condition as Jade, I would be there for you through it all, making sure to comfort you when you're upset. You can count on that babe."
"If I were pregnant…" Artemis repeated the words with a sigh. Wally felt a small bit of giddiness in his stomach at the thought, but it quickly dissolved when he saw the frown on Artemis's face. "I don't know Wally. This whole thing with Jade really turns off the whole idea."
"Come on babe, you can't be serious." Wally said with a nervous laugh. "What happened with Jade doesn't happen often, you know? It isn't exactly a hereditary thing either. I know the idea of something going wrong scares you but think of all the good that would come out of being parents."
Artemis sighed as she popped the drain cover into the sink and squirted a small amount of Dawn inside. She then turned the faucet on before turning to look at Wally.
"What if I'm not cut out to be a mother Wally?"
"Babe, come on, you would be a great mother! You work with kids for a living. Think of all the little kids that you have taken from abusive homes, and the new happy lives that you have given them. Think of the smiles on your clients' faces every time you see them. You handle every case with dedication and love Artemis because it is what you were born to do. I mean, look at how much our niece and nephew love you. You babysit for Jade all the time and you always keep the kids in line. You know when discipline is needed and when love is needed. You kiss their cuts and scrapes, you comfort them when their said, and you love to do arts and crafts. Babe, wouldn't you love to have a child of your own to pour your heart into – kids that would the perfect blend of us both?"
Artemis stared at Wally for a moment, and she felt her heart hurting at the hopeful expression on her husband's face. This had clearly been something Wally had been wanting, but now was not the time for them to discuss such matters.
Artemis just was not ready, and who could blame her? She had not had the best role model for good parenting growing up. She had some memories from her childhood with her mother, but most of her memories growing up involved Lawrence, and all the abuse she had gone through. How could she be a decent parent when she did not know the first thing about being one?
"Can we not talk about this now?" she asked in a small voice. A look of hurt flashed across Wally's face, and Artemis immediately regretted her words. She reached a hand out, but he had already turned and left the room. With a heavy sigh, Artemis turned around and flipped the radio on, filling the kitchen with the opening piano chords of Journey's "Open Arms." Doing her best not to tear up, Artemis sunk her hands in the sink to get started on the dishes.
A/N: And so ends my first chapter back. A lot happened in this chapter, but it introduces one of many conflicts in this story. Artemis's childhood has made her very insecure about how she herself would be as a mother. Obviously, Wally feels differently, so how will their relationship be affected by this?
Then we have the Roy and Jade factor. Will Roy manage to clean up his act and be the husband Jade needs him to be, or will he just let her down again?
The rest of the gang will be featured in the next chapter, and so will the next addition to the plot. So keep your eyes on your email inbox. The next update is coming your way soon!
-KairiAngel13
