A/N: Hey, um, one of my reviews made me think I may need to explain something that I wasn't really able to portray properly in the story (but I'm going to try) so let me clue you in:

Where Robin and Terra are both very brave and social and sometimes impulsive, Sean and Jessie are not. What that means is they are Robin and Terra but they don't know that, all they know is . . . well, I can't say too much or I'll give everything away . . . but the only character traits they know right now is Sean and Jessie's-- which is basically normalcy and in Sean's case a little timid. Sorry if I confused you but its important information, and I don't want people saying I didn't portray them right.

Because I did-- so there.

I own nothing.

Chapter 8

7:00 Sunday Morning-Titans Tower

The alarm went off at the normal time and Sean reached up and hit the snooze button. Father insisted they still get up at the same as they would on a school day. He said it was pure laziness to do otherwise.

That didn't mean Sean couldn't stay under the warm covers a few extra minutes. Soon Jessie would come in anyway, ever since he moved here she got him up on weekends to show him some new store she'd found. It was just an excuse for them both to get out of the house.

Finally Sean opened his eyes, he'd slept surprisingly well. The best he'd slept since he moved here.

It took his eyes a few seconds to adjust and when they finally did he bolted up-right. He stared around his room. No, not his room. Where was he?

Then his brain began to catch up to his conscious self, and the events from yesterday afternoon came crashing back. He sighed, It's all right, you spent the night in Titans Tower, you're safe. This thought didn't give him much comfort when he thought about how mad Father would be.

But, really for someone who had woken up in an unfamiliar place, Sean felt great. Besides the worry over Father, he was actually in a pretty good mood this morning. The storm was completely gone except for the layer of snow it left behind.

Then he heard a loud crash from somewhere in the building and then yelling.

Hm, I must be really close to the kitchen, he thought, and immediately wondered why. What made him think the kitchen had anything to do with early morning yelling?

My head must still be in dreamland somewhere. He just shrugged it off and found his clothes from yesterday. When he'd gotten dressed he looked back at the clothes Raven had found him last night, and wondered where she'd gotten them. Then decided he didn't want to think about it.



He went to the bathroom she'd shown him to wash his face. To his surprise when he got to the bathroom there was a toothbrush (still in the wrapper), toothpaste, and everything else he might need. They really did have everything in this place.

It was kind of nice knowing they'd thought about it, though. He hadn't thought that far ahead, as to what he would do about hygiene and all that in the morning. It's not like he'd planned on staying.

Speaking of which . . .

As soon as he got back to his room he began to search for his bag. He could have sworn he'd left it next to the door so he could get out in the fastest manner possible if he had to. No matter how good a mood he was in he still wanted out of this loony bin.

Now he couldn't find it anywhere, and he didn't know where any of the others were to ask what had happened to it. He kind of hoped they remembered that to. He had absolutely no wish to wonder these halls himself. He shuddered, what if he opened a door that went out onto the roof?

That thought made his stomach turn; he was scared to death of heights, and several other things.

Turns out his predicament was solved for him. He heard a knock on the door. He answered and was expecting to see Batman; he seemed to be everywhere anyway. But it was the pretty red-head, Starfire.

She smiled when he answered and said brightly," I wish to invite you to have breakfast with us. I remember clearly that you wanted to depart when the storm of snow had passed, but I do think you should stay at least for the day's most important meal." She beamed at him again.

For a minute Sean wondered how many people had actually declined an invitation from Starfire. With a smile like that he couldn't see anyone accomplishing it.

"Sure," he returned the smile, not nearly as big as hers, but genuine all the same. She giggled in delight and next thing he knew he was being swept by his left arm down the hall.

Suddenly he remembered his leg, or rather it reminded him, with a sharp stab of pain that shot all the way up his spine.

"OW!" he didn't mean for it to come out so loud but that's what happened. Starfire immediately stopped and turned, letting go of him. She stared at him as he clutched at the brace willing his leg to calm down.

"Oh!" she said as she realized what happened," I am sorry. I did not mean to harm you," tears welled in her eyes as he watched her," Can I help?"

He hadn't meant to make her feel bad, it wasn't her fault," It's okay Starfire, I forgot too. I should have warned you, please don't be upset," he walked past her, deciding to just change the subject," Come on you were showing me to breakfast?" he looked back at her and smiled a little.



She nodded and smiled too, and more slowly led him down the halls, to the big double doors he'd gone through yesterday in the middle of the cake explosion. The yelling and crashing was louder now.

Sean almost asked if it was all right that they go in, but he didn't. Somehow whatever was going on behind those doors was funny to him. He smiled to himself, but that quickly vanished.

Why would a war zone sound funny to him, he hated yelling? What was wrong with him?

Starfire opened the doors and they walked in. Sean immediately saw the source of the upset. Cyborg and Beast Boy were fighting over something . . . a frying pan?

"I told you I was making pancakes today, twerp!" Cyborg had the pan up in the air out of Beast Boy's reach.

"And I told you that I was making breakfast today," Beast Boy did something Sean hadn't seen before; his whole body morphed into a green bear and toppled his entire weight onto Cyborg. Sean stared wide-eyed.

When the bear had Cyborg pinned to the floor it morphed back to the tiny green Beast Boy, who retrieved the frying pan with a gleeful," Ha ha," got up ran over to the stove.

Cyborg got up more slowly, looking very grumpy, until he spotted Sean, then he grinned.

"Morning," he said," Sorry you had to see that but I was trying to save us from eating plastic today," the last few words were obviously meant for Beast Boy.

"Don't listen to him," Beast Boy turned to look at Sean," it's tofu and it's great, he's just stuck in the past."

"Fine," Cyborg went and sat down at the table," We'll eat your nasty tofu, but I so call breakfast tomorrow."

Starfire just giggled and led Sean over to the table with Cyborg. Sean glanced around the room for the first time; they were the only one's up. He remembered his bag.

"Um, do any of you know what happened to my bag, I couldn't find it this morning when I got up," Sean said.

"Oh!" Starfire suddenly squeaked," Wait here," with that she flew out of the room.

"What is she . . .?" Sean started.

"Don't ask me, I can never figure that girl out," Cyborg shook his head.

Before Starfire got back, though, Beast Boy plopped a large plate of tofu pancakes in front of them and Raven walked through the door. She gave him a tiny smile as she passed but didn't look to be well rested.



"Thanks for the toothbrush," he said as she put a kettle onto the stove.

"Beast Boy loses his every now and then," she replied without turning," we have to keep extra."

"There," Beast Boy slid three pancakes in front of Sean," Try those and tell me there not the best things you ever had."

"Don't worry I will," Cyborg muttered, as he drowned his in syrup. BB shot him a glare that would have rivaled Raven.

Just then Starfire zoomed back into the room. She stopped right in front of them with her hands behind her back," I hope this will make up for me taking it out of your room without your knowledge," she said then pulled his bag from behind her back," but I fixed it for you."

She held it out to him proudly, and he took it. Now, where there had been a large taped up hole, was a thick line of stitching. Clumsy and redone in many places but patched up perfectly all the same.

Sean didn't know what to say," Thank you," he said quietly," you didn't have to do that."

She radiated glee after that. In order to keep from saying anything else, Sean stuck a forkful of tofu pancake in his mouth. They really weren't bad. Actually he had the strangest feeling he'd tried them before, even though he knew he hadn't.

That's what made him really want to leave this place. He'd never been here before, Jess hadn't even told him much about it, but he was perfectly comfortable here. Even the view out the windows made him have the strangest sensation of seeing it before. It scared him, it wasn't normal.

He finished his pancakes and got up to leave," I should go now," he said quietly.

"So soon?" that deep gravelly voice never failed to surprise him. He turned to look at Batman.

"Yeah, I'm already in enough trouble as it is," Sean felt the familiar turning of the stomach," thank you, though," he looked back at the Titans and tried his best to smile," the pancakes were actually really good."

"Ha!" BB pointed a fork at Cyborg.

"Would you like me to take you home?" Batman asked.

"No," Sean said it way too quickly, he tried to cover it," thank you I'll be fine," he started out the door, and then realized he didn't know the way.

A hand was placed on his shoulder," At least let me see you to the boat," Batman said kindly.

He nodded and followed Batman while calling the ferry driver. Thankfully he picked up.

Finally they reached the door. Batman unlocked it and they walked out to watch for the ferry. Sean could smell the fresh snow on the ground and in the breeze.



Suddenly the breeze made Batman's cape flutter towards him, and Sean caught a whiff of that frighteningly familiar smell. He willed the ferry to hurry up.

"Sure you don't want me to take you?" Batman asked.

"I'm sure," Sean said curtly. He could see the ferry now, it was half way across.

Batman waited until the ferry had almost landed to ask," It's an awfully long way; I'd feel a lot better if someone went with . . ."

"I said no!" Sean hadn't meant to sound hostile, but this was wrong. This was all wrong. He wasn't supposed to be here in the first place, nor was he supposed to feel comfortable around these insane people. He wanted to get off this island and back to where things made sense.

As soon as the ferry landed and without looking at Batman, he ran to the water side and jumped in before the driver had even pulled in good. The driver gave him a weird look but shrugged it off and started back to the mainland.

When they were only half-way across Sean dared to glance back, and saw Batman, looking as stoic as ever, watching the ferry fade away.

9:00 a.m. - the Martin residence

Sean found his house key and hesitated. He had no idea what Father would say. It was awful when he yelled, Sean hated it. But what else could he do?

Father already knew he was here from all the security features, so he slid his key in and turned the knob. He opened the door wide and walked in.

Father was sitting at the end of the entrance hall, in one of the big dining room chairs that made him look like a demonic judge. It made Sean's heart speed up.

"Close the door, Sean," Father's voice was cold and harsh. His green eyes flashed.

Sean closed the door; it shut with an echoing bang.

"Come here," Father folded his hands in front of his face, only his eyes showed now.

Sean walked up to him, trying his best not to shudder. He stopped a few feet from the chair.

"Jessica told me where you went last night," Father said simply. Sean didn't blame her if Father had looked at her like he was looking at Sean now.

"I told you that place was forbidden, did I not?" Father's eyes bored into him.

"Y-yes sir," Sean couldn't keep his voice from trembling.



"Then why did you go, explain son."

But Sean couldn't answer. His reason had been to find the whole story, but that would never hold up with Father. And the reason he'd taken the risk of going all the way over there was the knowledge Father would never find out. He couldn't answer.

Father let out a frustrated sigh and stood up, towering over Sean.

"Well?"

That single word made Sean's blood run cold.

"Jessica, come out here please," Father said without taking his eyes off of Sean. Jessie stepped into the entrance hall, looking terrified. She had dark circles under her eyes and it looked like she'd been crying.

Still keeping his gaze on Sean, Father said loud and clear," Jessica, can you think of any reason to go back to a place I said was forbidden to the both of you."

Jessie pulled in a shaky breath before answering, her voice shaky and quiet," Sean just had to see for himself, please don't be angry . . ." her voice trailed off as Father turned to her.

"Go to your room. Now," Father hissed. Jessie gave Sean the most apologetic look she could, and he gave her a small nod, as if to say it was okay, and she trudged back to her room.

Sean looked back at Father and he froze right down to the marrow. He'd never seen Father this angry.

"Well, Sean?" he said again.

Sean didn't answer, he couldn't. Next thing he knew he felt a hard slap to his right cheek, so hard that he stumbled into the wall.

"Answer me, boy!" Father grabbed him just above the elbow and shook him, hard.

"I-I . . . I'm s-sorry," Sean spluttered, he felt a sob rise in his throat. Father had never hit him before. He'd yelled and locked him in his room, but had never hit him.

"Sorry, won't help," he held Sean close to his face as he said," I've been very patient with you, Sean, but you leave me no choice," he paused and Sean swallowed only to realize his mouth was dry," I'll have to punish you, Sean. Severely."

He pulled Sean's arm hard as he led him down a hall, ignoring Sean's cries of pain from his leg.

"I just don't understand, Sean," Father was saying," I've given you everything you could possibly want, and more, but you insist on disobeying my orders. I make these rules to keep you safe and you blatantly, disregard them."

He stopped at a door Sean didn't recognize. He pulled out a key and unlocked it, revealing a long flight of stairs.



"I'm very understanding about speaking to strangers, it is necessary to a point. But accepting an invitation to their house? I thought you were smarter than that," he shoved Sean down the stairs where he lost his balance and tumbled down. He landed awkwardly at the bottom and tried to get up as he heard Father' footsteps get closer. It was pitch dark down there, another thing Sean feared.

"But now, I see, I'll have to teach you," Father snatched him up again and turned on a bare bulb in the center of the ceiling.

Now that he could see, Sean saw what looked like a normal old basement, damp, cold, and dirty. There was one addition, though.

There was a long mental bar on the opposite wall from the stairs, about halfway between the dirt floor and the ceiling. And connected to it were sets of chains with cuff attachments, like the ones in all those movies with medieval prisons. Father was pulling him toward the one in the center.

Sean was in shock; it was only when Father pushed him down on his knees and was placing his wrist in one of the thick metal cuffs did he begin to struggle.

He tried to wheel around and go back to the stairs, but Father had a tight hold around his middle, and Sean's right leg protested with every move. Sean thought of screaming and opened his mouth but nothing came out, who would come anyway?

Finally Father had both Sean's wrists in the tight metal restraints. Sean twisted and pulled but all he accomplished was rubbing his wrists raw.

Father had walked over to a door under the staircase, opened it and began pulling something out. As he closed the door Sean saw the flash of metal in the dim light. Scissors? And something that looked like a short whip.

"Hold still," Father whispered as he knelt behind Sean. He began cutting Sean's sweater off, and Sean knew what was about to happen. Sean felt the sob rise in his throat again.

The first crack of the whip immediately released it, raw and sickening, and hot pain shot diagonally across his back. The next hits brought the same, despite Sean's efforts to stay quiet.

It seemed to last hours and Father kept hitting him, until Sean was almost unconscious, too weak to struggled anymore and too stunned to cry out. But finally, when Sean was just barely able to keep himself upright, Father stopped.

Sean was finally registering the extent of his pain when Father knelt behind him again. Sean flinched at his touch but Father wrapped his strong hands around his thin shoulders and pulled him backward. Sean's breathing was ragged and his mind fuzzy with pain, so when he felt Father push his head back to rest on his shoulder he didn't object.

"Now, Sean," Father breathed into his ear," What have we learned?"



It was hard to speak his throat was so dry, so Sean's words were hoarse and scratchy," Not to . . . go with . . . strangers." He gasped between every other word. He felt like throwing up.

Father brushed the hair out of Sean's face," Good. And who are you especially never to speak to or go see again?"

"The Titans."

"And why do I make these rules Sean?"

"To . . . protect us."

"And why do I want to protect you?" Father pressed a cool hand to his cheek.

"Because . . . you love us," the word love stumbled on Sean's tongue. It just didn't fit here, in this dark, cold, nightmarish place.

"That's right," Father said softly," I hate to punish you like this, my boy, but you bring these things on yourself," he sighed then," I hope you've learned."

Father still had his hand on Sean's cheek. Sean couldn't help believing him," I have, sir," he wasn't sure Father heard him, but he meant it all the same.

Then Father reached into his pocket and retrieved the key to the cuffs. When he had Sean out he slid his other arm under the boy's knees and picked him up. He took him up the stairs and to the second floor bathroom where he leaned Sean against the tub while he filled it up.

Sean just closed his eyes, the pain wouldn't subside. Father picked him up and placed him in the warm water, jeans and all. A hiss escaped Sean as the water lapped at his new cuts and for the first time he felt the blood oozing down his back. His wrists stung from the chains. He sobbed again.

You brought this on yourself.

Father cleaned his wounds and wrapped him up, finally helping him pull his wet jeans off and got him into a set of pajamas. Father carried him to his room and gave him a glass of water, which Sean drained, then laid him in the bed, tucking him in securely under the blankets.

He kissed Sean's head and walked out the door turning the light off as he went.

Sean had only one last thought before he sank into unconsciousness.

I wonder what kind of cologne Father where's.

Jessie's P.O.V



She sat on her bed, her head in her hands, listening for the stairs. She knew where Father had taken Sean. The basement.

She'd only been down there once, and she'd done everything she could not to ever go down there again. Father told her not to tell Sean though.

"The basement is simply a last resort for disobedient children," he'd said," Your brother shouldn't have anything to worry about if he listens to me."

Of course she did what he said. She hadn't warned Sean about the basement, and now he was down there.

He's not down there because you didn't warn him about the basement, she thought miserably, he's down there because you didn't stop him from going to those people.

But what could I do? That's just how Sean was; he didn't like not knowing something. He wasn't nosey, just enjoyed a good problem to solve. As timid and quiet as he was he could always pluck up the courage if it meant finding something new.

The only reason Jessie was able to go to her friend's houses was because Father said she'd "earned it". He told Sean that he would have to earn the privilege as well. Jessie thought it might take longer than with her because of his boundless curiosity. Didn't he remember that dumb saying about the cat?

She sighed, Sean had crossed a huge line this time, and she felt like a true coward for letting him. But every time she thought about what else she could've done, the only thing she came up with was barring the door with her own body. With the way Sean was dead set on going he'd of just found another way out. That didn't make things better though.

Then she heard footsteps coming up the steps. A few minutes later the water in the bathtub began to run, and she swore she heard someone crying. She wanted to cry too, but that wouldn't help anything, either. The footsteps faded into Sean's room a few doors down. She knew what was coming next.

Her door was slowly pushed open. Father stood there, no longer looking frighteningly angry, but more disappointed. He walked to where she sat and sank into the desk chair beside her bed.

Her eyes were on the floor as he said," I'm not angry with you anymore, my dear girl. But I do expect better of you. I understand if you couldn't stop him, but why didn't you tell me?"

Her eyes were still on the floor as she mumbled," I don't know . . . I guess I just thought he would be fine. They would never hurt anyone."

"And his traveling all that way, with his leg the way it is? Not to mention the usual dangers of this city," Father leaned forward in his chair and placed his hand on her cheek," Why do you do these things?"

"I'm sorry," she didn't know what else to say," It won't happen again, I promise."



"That's my girl," father smiled a little, then got up, kissed her cheek and walked to the door. He paused before walking out," your brother may not feel up to school tomorrow, make sure you get all of his assignments for him."

She nodded and asked," Can I see him before I go?" she didn't want him to wake up disoriented and scared like she had after the basement.

"If you want, I don't see any problem with that," he paused again then added," I'll be driving you both from now on, I don't like you walking alone." He walked out.

Of course. Walking home alone was one of the privileges Father had given them as long as they got home at a certain time. It would take forever to earn it back, if ever at all. Sean would hate that.

It's for your own good, both of you, that's what Father told her and that's what she always told herself, and she couldn't help but believe it.

She sank into her pillows. After a lot of tossing and turning she fell asleep.

A/N: Ick, this chapter was weird, please don't shun me I'm pretty sure my idea for the next one will make up for it. Anyway, please review, and tell me if I'm getting off subject, I hate that.