Disclaimer: Do you think this'd be on if i owned Young Justice? Nope! I'd be ranking in the dough instead! But i'm still poor. Too bad.

TADA! Hiatus here over, 'Without Me' now on hold. This remains the answer to all the people asking what's going on in Robin's world. Once Bats is sent to the other reality, both are going to be finished. So, without further ado, Back to the story! Remember, it's day one in 'Without Me' so it's basically chapters 5 - 10 for a bit if you want to correlate them time wise. Enjoy!

Where's Robin?

Ch. 6 – Plans to Sleep

Of all the League members to identify the alien device, no one could have guessed it'd be Guy Gardner. He was the rudest and most infuriating Green Lantern of them all, fighting every fight he could blindly. In this man's case, everyone agreed with Batman's assessment of the Guardians of Oa. Their standards for the Corps were too low.

John Steward kept shaking his head at the man. Hal would have too, but he was deep in space at the moment. His com was open to them and he listened to everything they said. His input was just as valuable as the rest, even if he wasn't there.

But Guy was the one they owed for the intel, despite his cocky attitude. Took nearly fifteen minutes to get him to stop laughing at them for losing Robin. Batman's glares had little effect on this Lantern, but his bunches worked wonderfully.

"It's a storage transporter from Volvion," he growled once he caught his breath. He glared at the senior Leaguers for a moment, then to John who shrugged at him, as if saying he earned it.

"Volvion?" Hal said over the com. "The junk collectors world?"

"Yeah. They use these do-hickies to send things into another universe where their planet is completely dead."

"Then why all the buttons?" Superman asked quickly. Earlier he had compared the device to the phantom zone projector and realized they both bent space, but in different ways. The projector only had a few buttons to turn it on and use it. This thing had as many as a TI-36 calculator.

Guy shrugged. "I think they found other universes to trade things with. Wanted access to them. According to what I know, these things just shove things through a small barrier between dimensions. No harm, no foul."

"Does the location change?" Batman demanded instantly. Guy seemed like he wanted to have a glaring match with the man, but everyone had warned him not to test Batman further right then. Guy was a reserve member and new at that. He didn't know how much Robin meant to the Bat. Not until now.

"Nah, same place, just different universe."

"So Robin's in an alternate dimension, but still in the mountain?" Blue Beetle surmised. Guy nodded.

Everyone exchanged glances, some more worried than others. If in the other world the mountain hadn't been hollowed out, Robin would be dead. If it was and the team was there, there'd likely be a fight before they figured things out. If the League was there still, they might help him go back home. If the occupants of the cave were evil, Robin was in for the fight of his life. And if it were empty, who knew what the kid was thinking. There were too many options.

Still, he was on Earth. Just not their Earth.

Everyone was about to breathe a little easier when Batman moved on to the next question. "How do we bring him home?"

Guy looked up thinking for a minute before looking over the machine again. "Normally, they put tags on their things so they can pull their junk back through. They're usually on the bottom of these do-hickies."

He lifted the gizmo up and looked at the bottom. He frowned. "Don't see any here."

"Are you saying," Diana emphasized, "that the only way to get Robin back is for one of us to go after him, tag him with something we don't have, then get pulled back through universes to world again?"

"Pretty much." Guy set the alien 'storage gun' back on the table, pointing at a particular button on the side. "That's the retract button. KF must have hit the send button. The other buttons determine what world the kid went off to."

"Jordon," Batman started, "how far are you from Volvion?"

"Pretty far. It'd take a month to get there from where I am." Hal wasn't happy about this, and they could tell. "No shortcuts straight there from this sector."

"How'd you get there then?" John demanded from Guy.

Guy shrugged. "Hitched a ride on some strange ion trail. Haven't found it since. I was lost for three months remember? I was lucky to run into other lanterns to recharge my ring."

"What about merchants?" Batman demanded, his attention completely on Hal's voice. "Are there any merchants out there that would have these tags?"

The senior Green Lantern didn't say a word for a moment, then they could hear him smile. "I know of a few. It'll probably take all day to check them though. Think you can keep yourself occupied until then?"

"Just. Get. The tags," Batman growled through clenched teeth.

"Don't worry B. I'll get 'em. Robin's a tough kid. He's been through worse, remember that."

Hal cut himself off, probably to avoid any angry comments Batman had for him, but there weren't any. Batman merely nodded, silent as the grave. Only those who knew him well could tell he was worried and anxious over his boy. He hated having to wait on someone else to save him. Robin was his responsibility, his charge. But without Hal or Guy, there was nothing they could do to get the kid back home.

Superman put a hand on his friend's shoulder, giving him a comforting smile. "Hey, there's a chance now. He'll be back before we know it."

Batman glanced at him for a moment, then looked at John. "From where Jordon is, how long will it take for him to get back to Earth?"

John hesitated, glancing once at Guy who stepped back. He did not want another punch from the dark knight. The man took a deep breath before answering. "About a week. It depends on how many wormholes he can find and how long it takes to find those tags. And that's if everything goes well on the return trip."

Batman clenched his fists, everyone knowing full well things rarely went well when you're talking to Corps members. A week was standard travel time. Unforeseen events would add to it. Hal wouldn't ignore a crisis in front of him and he had a knack for finding trouble at the most inconvenient of times.

"Think you two can meet him half way?"

Guy and John looked back to each other. Batman couldn't order them around for anything but League business on Earth. Supporting another Green Lantern was part of their duties with the Corps. Normally they'd have at least one GL there to safe guard Earth (since it had a knack for attracting interstellar trouble), but meeting up with Hal and making the trip faster and easier on him would make it easier for things to return to normal. Batman didn't give orders to them very often anyway, and asking for help wasn't usually his style.

John nodded. "Don't have any pressing business here."

"Think you can watch Coast for a while?" Guy pitched in. He was just glad he could leave without another sucker punch.

"We'll keep tabs on everything," Diana informed them, a small smile on her face.

Both lanterns nodded then proceeded to leave. The big three and Beetle watched them go, knowing they were Robin's only hope at the moment. And with him, the dark knight's.

He leaned on the countertop, his eyes not really seeing anything. The man was on the verge of collapse again. The whole night he worked on the images, finding the exact sequence Wally pressed on the device. If those were coordinates, they now had them. All they needed was the tags and they'd be able to get Robin home. Once he was back, they all could breathe easy, for both of their sakes.

Batman may not be the crumbled up mess he became when he thought Robin was dead anymore, but knowing the boy was still far out of his reach was enough to tire him. He hadn't rested the whole night, not even for one of his famous ten minute naps. He hadn't eaten. Even the coffee Superman prepared for him was untouched, and the man practically lived off the stuff. Worry ate at him, making everything hard to bear while his bird was away.

"I think I hear my bed calling me," Blue Beetle said awkwardly. It was clear he shouldn't be there when the three wanted to talk freely with each other. Quickly the man made his way to the door, where he stopped face to face with Conner. "Whoa there."

"Find anything new?" the young kryptonian asked. He was prepped for school, but the worry on his face reminded them he cared just as much for Robin as they did.

"Uh… yeah." Blue slid to the side to let the kid go into the room. He really wanted to get out of there.

"Really?" Earnest hope jumped out of his throat, making him look at each adult in the room like a begging puppy. He wanted to know. Conner's eyes stopped on Batman, and even more concern than before entered his face. Just like Robin, Batman never showed weakness in front of them. Not 'til now.

Batman straightened himself and looked evenly at Conner. He nodded firmly. "We have an idea of where he is and how to get him back."

"That's great!" They heard Megan's voice mix with Conner's, both elated there was news.

"It may take a week though to retrieve him," the Bat added, bringing them back to reality.

"A week?" Conner jolted forward, worry coming back to his face. "Why?"

"We need some tags in order to get him back," Superman explained quickly. Batman really was in no condition to debrief anyone. "Unfortunately anyone who could have them nearby are about a week away, via Green Lantern flight."

"Couldn't you—"

"I'd need a space shuttle," the man of steel admitted. Even he had his limits. "The Lanterns are faster in space than I am and last longer too. All the javelins are being repaired from that last space fiasco. This is the best we can do."

"But—"

"Get to school," Batman interjected. He knew Conner was only trying to help, but there really was nothing more they could do. "We'll keep you updated."

Conner looked like he was going to say something more, but Megan put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a small sad smile. The adults could tell they were having a mental conversation, one causing the boy to look back to Batman with concern. It didn't make them feel very welcome, but it was enough to make the kid nod once and start walking. "Okay. Later then."

"See you after school?" Megan asked quickly.

"We'll see." It was enough for the teens, and they finally left the doorway. Blue Beetle rushed out as well, casting one last look at the three before leaving. Down the hall they could barely hear Megan reminding herself about cheerleading practice. Finally the door closed.

And Batman collapsed. Sheer force of will only lasted so long under these circumstances, and for the past few days the League kept calling the man in for different cases around the globe. Other than sending the kids off on a mission the previous day, he hadn't been able to talk face to face with Robin for nearly a week! Now they'd have to wait another to converse at all.

Then there was the fact that he hardly slept those days.

Superman caught his friend and Diana helped him back to his feet. "It's alright Bruce. We'll get him back soon," she said in soothing tones. Batman didn't respond.

Superman felt the man shake in his grasp, but not out of grief like the previous night. This man physically couldn't take much more. And knowing him, after a few minutes rest, he'd do everything he could to keep busy until they had the homing beacons. Bruce pushed himself too hard.

"Come on Bruce. It's time to get some rest." The man nodded dumbly and the two of them slowly walked around the counters to the door. Diana peeked out to make certain no one was there (it wouldn't do anyone any good if Batman's strong image was destroyed) before the three of them made the long walk to Robin's room. The Amazon snuck off when they crossed with the medical wing, leaving the men to continue alone for a while.

"You're going to sedate me aren't you?"

The man of steel chuckled. "Ever observant aren't we?"

The Bat rolled his eyes, having regained some mental focus. His friend eyed him for a moment, then continued. "You haven't treated your hand yet."

Batman grunted. "Damn computer's fault. Who kept that program up?"

"Don't know." It was hard for the man not to chuckle again. "Anyone could access it. Hate failing don't you."

He grunted. They finally made it to the room and quickly Batman punched in the code without a sound. Diana caught back up with them, bandages and syringe ready to be used. "I thought—"

"Don't worry about it princess," Batman stated. He wasn't going to fight them this time. "It'll probably be the only sleep I get for a while."

Once inside Bruce took off his cowl and sat on the bed. He glanced at the pictures while his friends worked on his hand. Robin smiled joyously back at him, ready to say something silly and clever, just to make him smile. He thought of the random hugs the kid would give out and how much he teased just to get a small punch in the arm. Never could control his mouth. Heart always in the right place. He'll be home soon. 'Just wait a little longer old chum.'

He didn't fight as Diana put the needle in his skin. He just laid down gazing at those pictures, ignoring everything else. Bruce would only allow them to knock him out this one time. One day of forced rest. After that, the criminal world better hope Robin found a way home on his own. Batman needed to hit something other than a sobbing teenage boy.

A/N: See now why I had to stop here before? I set a time limit in this chapter and if you knew that way back at chapter 5, you guys wouldn't be enjoying a wonderful cliffhanger! *cackles evilly*

One thing I like to note is that even though Batman is mr. larger than life, he's still human and can't keep functioning forever under these circumstances. yes the human will is strong, but eventually the body wins. Hence why his friends decided to drug him.

I think that's gonna be the last you see of Ted Kord here. Guy and John will return when Hal makes it to Earth, but I think that's all the extra leaguers I'm gonna put in. Don't quote me. Only thing I really know about Guy Gardner is that he's cocky and loud. basing a lot of particular characters off of brave and the bold here. shame that one was canceled.

Lil' supey's gonna be asking about Robin a lot, mostly because he can and really should. He's too cute like that. What Wally's up to is in the next chapter.