A/N: I'm updating because someone threatened me with zombies, rope 'em in I'm writing.

I don't own anything, but maybe if I had my own zombie army . . .

Chapter 10

Monday Night-Titans Tower

"What did you say to her?"

Raven, Beast Boy, and Batman had gotten back from the school at least two hours ago. Raven had explained what had happened with Jessie, probably a dozen times . . . every other minute. Everyone just kept firing those questions. She figured the Bat had finally gotten sick of it because he'd run off to his room twenty minutes in. Starfire hovered next to the couch beside Beast Boy. Wonder Woman and Superman stood at the other side of the room, looking a little less out of place than they had a few days ago.

"I told you. I asked how Sean was and told her it wasn't his fault about staying out all night. She freaked. She ran. What more can I tell you?" Raven was about to strangle Cyborg. They were all getting impatient with the whole situation, but he kept trying to get information where there wasn't any. Well, if Raven was honest, she didn't actually know there was no information. She just had to be sure before she got everyone's hopes up.

Cyborg was about to start in on another round of repetitive questions when Raven decided she'd had enough," Cyborg, can I just give you an opinion?"

That caught him off guard," Yeah, sure."

"We should leave them alone," Raven said bluntly, no change in tone.

"What?" the word was said in unison by everyone in the room.

Raven sighed," Look, we're not going to get anywhere by getting them into trouble and following them around. You know as much as I do that "Sean's sick" story is a load of crap. This Martin psycho did something, and I dread to find out what. So until we know without a doubt what we're working with here, let's just leave them alone," she said the last words slowly and deliberately.

They were all staring at her as if she'd grown a few extra limbs.

Starfire began to look angry, "So we just give up?" her eyes even started to glow.

"That's not what I said Star," Raven was trying very hard to keep her patience intact," I just mean to give them time to stop hating us."

"I guess that sort of makes sense," Wonder Woman startled them, Raven had forgotten she was there," you wouldn't want them to be completely against your help when you really have some to offer."

They all looked at each other, even Starfire calmed down enough to give a tiny nod," I could not live with myself with one of my best friends hating me," she said miserably.

"Leave them alone for how long?" Beast Boy asked anxiously.

"Until I know how to fix this," Raven said, and with a determined look she walked to her room.

Raven knew a lot about mind-control and mind-reading. But even the strongest of either practice shouldn't be enough to block her connection with Robin. The fact that she couldn't figure it out frustrated her beyond belief.

She was in her room searching through mounds of ancient mythology, when there was a knock on her door. She growled and went to the door.

She had expected to see one of her own teammates, but Wonder Woman stood in her doorway," I thought you could use some help. Here," she said to a shocked Raven, and held out a book.

Raven took it. It was very old, but in pretty good shape, bound in some sort of animal skin, and held together with giant gold clasps. The title could no longer be read, but when Raven opened it, it was written in Greek, or some form of it anyway.

"What is this?" she looked up at the beautiful Amazon.

"It's a mythological history book, of sorts," Wonder Woman took it back and flipped through the pages," I had it sent to me from home, I remembered reading something in here I thought would greatly interest you," she found the page and handed the book back to Raven, pointing to a worn picture," this is Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory."

Batman came into the room not long after Raven and Wonder Woman left. Starfire had taken up residence on the end of the couch. Beast Boy and Cyborg were trying to have a conversation with Superman, that wasn't working out so well.

It was a relief when Batman looked at Beast Boy and said," You remember that question you asked me?"

"Uuhhhh . . . no, not really," was all the little changeling could say.

Batman didn't look annoyed as he answered, which meant he had found something," About memory and human senses?"

It dawned on BB then," Oh, right! Why did you ask about that anyway?"

"When Sean was here he asked me what cologne I where, I had no idea why until now, I double checked the bit of information you gave me and it's true, smell is the strongest sense tied to memory," Batman paused to get a breath and Superman spoke.

"He recognized your cologne?"

"Well, when he was eight he spilled a bottle of it all over his bathroom floor," they could almost see a flicker of a smile on Batman's face," no matter how many times we washed it that smell would not come out, it's very possible," he did sound certain.

"Well, that's good, right?" Beast Boy bounced a little on the couch.

"Yes," Batman said slowly," but I don't think that's enough. And there aren't a whole lot of scents, that I recall, that would summon the same reaction. We'll have to find something else."

"Well not anytime soon," Cyborg said grudgingly," Sorry but you missed the vote. Apparently we're supposed to leave them alone."

"What do you mean?" Batman's expression went back to the stony carving.

"According to our resident Goth, we are not to get to close until she knows exactly what we're working with," Cyborg said it in a resigned sort of way.

"Which is right now!" they all started as Raven blew through the door, Wonder Woman right behind her. Raven was carrying one of the biggest books Beast boy had ever seen.

She had a very excited look on her face as she said," I know what he is." She placed the book on the coffee table so they could all see a faded portrait of a woman. On the page beside it was hand written symbols that none of them recognized, but obviously Raven did.

"You mean Dr. Martin right?" Beast Boy stared at the enormous volume.

"Of course, who else?" Raven said impatiently," Now be quiet and listen up. Diana brought me this."

Silently Batman mouthed to Wonder Woman Diana?

She shrugged and whispered," Wonder Woman is such a long title."

Raven had started talking again, she was pointing to the portrait," This is the mythological Greek goddess of memory, Mnemosyne. I'm not actually sure how much truth there is to this, but when I followed this train of thought in my own collection, I found something," she took out another book, much smaller and set it on top, and began to read aloud,

Ancient belief and folklore tells of a powerful source of mind power. The ancient Greeks believed that one of the muses, the daughters of Mnemosyne, had a child, and this child had certain powers over the mind if he chose to use them.

It is said he could alter a person's memory, but only by certain means. He cannot control another humans mind, but can make them think in specific ways. He can even give them memories they never had.

Raven stopped and looked up," This book doesn't say much more about it, but I can see the basic idea. I think that our doc is from whatever line their talking about, and he inherited the gene."

She paused to gather her thoughts and Beast Boy asked," But what does it mean by, he can do all that "only by certain means"?"

Raven thought then said slowly," I think it means that the victim has to already have a reason for wanting their memory altered."

"Wait you think Terra and Robin did this willingly?" Batman asked roughly.

This time something in the room blew up as Raven tried to keep calm," I don't know! You're getting ahead of me."

They backed off as she gathered her thoughts again," The books basically say that, by himself, he can alter memories. And even with that the victim has to have a strong reason, whether they know it or admit it or not, to want their memories altered. If they don't, and they have a firm, stable mind, it would be harder for him to use his power on them. What I think he's done is found a way to enhance his powers."

Raven paused for a second, studying her book again, then said slowly," The text tells of ways he could have done it. But he would still need a reason to go after who he did. A reason for them to want to forget something." She stopped again, thinking.

The room was silent, until Beast Boy said, as if from a hundred miles away, "Guilt."

Raven's head snapped up," What?"

Beast Boy said it again," Guilt. Or at least in Terra's case. She felt horrible over what happened, who wouldn't want to forget it?"

Raven thought about it," That does make sense. Any emotion strong enough would work. But how would he enhance his hold on them? All the ways in here are highly unstable."

Wonder Woman brushed the hair out of her eyes absently as she said," There several myths about certain stones and herbs capable of such things. They're usually just old tales."

"Not to mention all the science knowledge that guy has," Cyborg said.

"That's true," Raven chewed her thumbnail," but how do we reverse this?"

The whole time Batman had been very quiet. He almost didn't catch the rest of the conversation.

Guilt. What could Robin have to be guilty about? His team couldn't think of anything. Unless . . .

Bruce didn't finish the thought. There was no way Robin blamed himself for what happened. But then, Richard often blamed himself for a lot of things.

How could you Richard . . .

They started talking of ways to reverse it. Bruce couldn't focus right now; Clark or someone could fill him in later. He silently slipped from the room. No one noticed.

He didn't know what to do, which was rather a first for Batman, in a long time. He knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to race to that house as fast as he could and kill the psycho responsible for all this. He would have if he thought it would help.

He'd given Sean the alarm. That was a slight comfort to him, if Sean didn't throw it away. Raven said they shouldn't bother them for a while. He wouldn't, unless Sean asked him to.

He could wait.

Saturday

Sean made it through the rest of the week all right. He didn't have gym this semester, thankfully, so there was no awkward excuse to sit out. Other than covering his scarred wrists with a thick banded watch and a leather strap/bracelet thing, it wasn't that bad. His leg was almost fully healed. He was sore but it was easy to manage. Strangely enough there were no unexpected visits from the Titans . . . or Batman. He didn't know why he thought about that, he was forbidden to talk to them anyway.

Finally it was the weekend, and Jessie had dragged him out of the house for their normal Saturday ritual. She took him to several new stores that he didn't have that much interest in, until they got to the book store. He'd enjoyed that one enough to not want to leave; he knew Jessie had saved it for last so he wouldn't have to suffer through her shoe stores.

"Listen, you'll probably take up the better part of the afternoon in here," She said," So just meet me in front of the bank, at say 9:30."

He nodded," Bank, 9:30, got it." Their extended curfew went to 11:00 at the latest, they were both ecstatic about it, but they didn't want to push their luck. They were going to get home early to show they could be responsible. The bus ride home only took thirty minutes, but they were being overly-cautious and accounting for any delays.

Jessie walked out of the store leaving Sean to his reading. He felt a little uncomfortable being alone after a week of having nearly every move watched by Father. He did what he always did when he felt this way. He reached up and touched the tiny lump under his shirt, the Batman's odd gift. It comforted him in a way he couldn't explain, and he was still a little afraid of the feeling.

Especially lately, he'd started feeling a new emotion every time he touched the little gadget. He couldn't explain that one either, he couldn't even name it. It crept in the bottom of his stomach, and tugged at the back of his mind. He let go of the trinket, and picked up another book.

Sean's mind kept wandering. Back to everything that had happened that week. Every time Father dropped him off at school he'd put both hands on Sean's shoulders and say," I love you, son. You believe that don't you?"

Every time, Sean had answered," Yes, I know."And at first he'd wanted to say "I love you, too" but he never did. He didn't feel bad about it either. Sean often wondered if Father knew that.

Sean sighed. There was no way he could concentrate on reading. He picked up the books he'd already chosen and bought them. He'd just be early to the meeting place. Walking out of the store he readjusted his watch and the leather thing on his wrists. Shoulder bag now fully loaded with new books, he set out into the streets. It was getting dark fast, and the people were thinning out.

This made Sean even more uncomfortable, because to get to the bank he had to pass a lot of dark alleys, where he was sure someone was hiding. Just touching the little bat around his neck wasn't helping as he passed the first dark passages, so he pulled it out so he could hold it in his hand. That was better.

The bank was in sight and Sean breathed a sigh of relief . . . much too soon.

Of course something would happen in the very last alley. A hand reached out from the dark and grabbed Sean by the arm. Before he could cry out he was slammed against a wall with a hand over his mouth and a knife to his throat.

A rough voice spoke," Hey, there little guy, kids as small as you shouldn't wander the streets at night," it crooned. Sean could smell his breath, the man was drunk. There were footsteps behind him. Sean tried to tell him that he could just take any money he had or whatever, but he couldn't speak, and he didn't think the man really wanted money.

"Aw, Len, why you gotta go and scare the kids like that?" another man, and he didn't sound any less drunk or there to help.

"You can't blame me for havin' a little fun, man," the knife man said," 'Sides I was only gonna cut him up a little bit," he put the knife to Sean's side and started to press.

Sean did to, and the little bat in his hand blinked. The men didn't notice. In fact the man's hand had slid from Sean's mouth to his throat, cutting off Sean's air supply. Sean tried to kick the man in the gut but only got enough momentum to hit him in the knee. It didn't bother him at all. Sean's head felt light and the man was laughing.

Sean heard his shirt rip and felt the knife begin to dig into his side. He managed to make a tiny yelp, which came out as more of a gurgle, and that made the men laugh more. Sean's already limited vision began to fade, but just as he began to black out the pressure on his throat lifted, and he dropped to the ground.

As Sean sat there coughing and sputtering there were several noises, mostly from the drunk men. Shouts, a low threat, and finally the sickening crack of metal hitting flesh, and then quiet. Sean decided it was safe to look up now, he already knew who he would find anyway.

Batman was tying the men to a busted light post, they looked unconscious. He kept glancing up at Sean. When he was done he hurried over to Sean, the Bat almost looked anxious over the whole ordeal. Why? Didn't he deal with this stuff all the time?

Sean spoke as Batman knelt beside him," I'm sorry." He wasn't sure why he'd said that.

"For what?" Batman was just as confused," This is why I gave you that thing. Are you hurt? What were you doing out here by yourself anyway?"

Sean's head was still spinning and Batman's rapid fire questions weren't helping. So Sean just said," I'm not hurt, just a little blood that's all."

"Where?" Batman looked a little angry at the idea. Sean ignored it, and showed him his side.

Batman sighed and pulled something out of his belt, "What were you doing out here?"

Sean leaned against the wall," Going to meet my sister in front of the bank, we were headed home." Sean had the sudden realization that he had just called Batman, he was speaking to him, and he had just promised Father he wouldn't. That thought made him stiffen as Batman patched his newest wound.

Batman felt it and looked up at him," Did I hurt you?" he asked.

"I'm not supposed to be talking to you, that's all," Sean looked away from Batman, but he could feel Batman watching him.

"You do everything he says, don't you?" the question caught Sean off guard.

"You mean my father? Of course I do," he said.

"Why?" Batman was still watching him.

"Because, he . . ." Sean stopped. He didn't want to say because he's my father. He didn't like that reason.

Batman finally looked away," I think it's patched up."

"Thanks," Sean whispered," for you know," he nodded to the two still tied to a pole," everything."

"It's my job," Batman helped Sean up.

"You give everyone you meet their own Bat signal?" Sean held up the tiny devise. Batman had no answer to that.

They were quiet as Batman thought, and for the second time since he'd met him, Sean noticed how frightening the Dark Knight really was. And how it didn't bother him one bit.

"Let me take you the rest of the way," Batman said suddenly.

Sean pointed in the direction of the bank," It's only a few blocks . . ."

"I know," Batman looked like he was up to something," But I'm not letting you walk the rest of the way alone." He had that no arguing tone again.

Sean just shrugged and started walking," Fine, come-on," Batman didn't budge.

"Why don't we take my way?" he asked slowly. Sean turned to look at him.

"Which is . . .?" Batman gestured for him to come back.

When Sean was close enough, the Bat bent forward a little, and whispered," Hang on."

Sean stared at him," What . . . Hey!" in an instant Batman had grabbed him around his middle and Sean heard a swishing sound, and then felt a jerk. He suddenly realized what Batman meant by hang on.

They were in the air the next second and Sean finally wrapped his arms around Batman's neck, and hung on for dear life. He buried his face in Batman's neck in effort not to look down. The still winter air whipped around them, threatening to blow them away, in Sean's panicked opinion. They landed somewhere and Sean was about to rip himself out of Batman's hold, when they took off again. Sean held tighter. He hated, hated, HATED heights.

Batman repeated this maneuver a few more times, until it seemed like they had finally stopped. Sean still couldn't let go. Batman was a great deal taller than Sean, so when they did land Sean's feet weren't touching the ground. He had no idea if this lunatic was dangling him from a roof or heaven knew what.

"Sean?" Batman sounded a little off," you can let go now, it's all right." Sean shook his head, still buried in the Bat's cape.

"Where are we?" Sean asked, voice shaking and muffled. He thought he knew the answer.

"We're on top of the bank," Batman said," Don't worry, kiddo, I'm not gonna drop you."

"Can't . . . scared," That was all Sean could get out, he had that about-to-throw-up-feeling again. He could feel his hands start to shake.

"You're afraid of heights?" Batman sounded pretty shocked by the idea. Sean wanted to say something really condescending, but all he could do was nod into the Bat's shoulder.

Batman shifted, and then Sean felt his feet settle into the snow-covered roof. He almost gagged, he was on a roof. And the bank wasn't exactly a small building. Sean didn't lift his face, so Batman spoke.

"Just take one look Sean," he said softly.

Sean shook his head again," Take me back to the ground."

"Only after you look," Batman wrapped his arms tight around Sean, and spun him around," I promise I won't let go. Just one look." He sounded so sincere.

Sean took another minute, his eyes still closed. This could not be happening.

"You promised," Sean whispered, and opened his eyes; his breath caught. It was amazing. He was looking out over the city. Most of the buildings were smaller, and the snow glistened in the afternoon light. It reflected the setting sun, the amber, and pinks and purples. The scattered stars that were already out glinted off the rooftops. When he looked down at the now tiny people and cars, he suddenly remembered how high up they were, and found that he really didn't care.

That scared him even more. For as long as he could remember he had been scared to death of heights. He didn't even look back when he climbed stairs for fear of falling. And here he was, with a stranger no less, on top of a ten story building, looking out over the city. He looked down. What would Father have to say about this?

All this time Batman was patiently waiting," So? What do you think?" he whispered, his arms still protectively holding Sean.

Sean didn't answer immediately. Batman must've taken that as a bad sign," You're still scared," he said it as a disappointing statement not a question.

Sean spun around to face him," No," he said quickly," I'm not," he felt so shaky," it's just . . . this isn't right. For as long as I can remember, I've been afraid of heights . . ." Sean didn't know how to finish. He reached up and rubbed his eyes, trying to focus his thoughts.

Suddenly he felt Batman grab his right arm, the one with the thick banded watch on it. It wasn't a painful hold, but firm, and Batman was staring at it. Sean looked up to see what he was staring at. To his horror he saw that his watch had slid up his arm, the scares showed plain as day. He pulled on his arm, trying to get it back but that was useless, Batman's grip was too strong.

"What happened . . ." Batman's voice died, and he finally tore his eyes from Sean's wrist to his horrified face," He did this to you," again it was a statement not a question. Sean knew who he was talking about, and try as he might he couldn't deny it.

Batman didn't let go of his arm," You weren't lying when you said he'd be mad." Batman sounded mad, very mad.

"He just worries, I deserved it," Sean shouldn't have said that, he just blurted it out. Batman's face was furious. Sean couldn't see his eyes, but he could tell. "Why are you angry?"

That caught Batman off guard," He hurt you," he said simply," I thought you were at least safe where you were, but I was wrong. How can you say you deserved this?" He took Sean's other wrist and pushed back the strap," What else did he do? This so called father of yours."

Sean was starting to get angry himself, he successfully snatched his arms away," I want to get down now."

"So you can go back to that house and he can do it over again? Not a chance," Batman's voice was rising.

"Fine! I'll find my own way down," Sean backed away from the Dark Knight and looked around for a fire-escape, or something. Obviously, he didn't know a whole lot about roofs. He saw a ladder thing, and as unwilling as he was to climb down it, it beat staying here.

As he walked toward it Batman spoke again," Why did you keep it?"

Sean couldn't help himself, he turned," Keep what?"

"The alarm," he pointed to the tiny bat still in Sean's hand," and why are you still holding it?"

Sean stared at him. He wanted to give him a logical answer, but he couldn't. That's what always happened with Batman, nothing was logical. The crazy emotions he couldn't explain, the cologne, the comfort of just having the little alarm, even now as Sean stood their staring at him, the odd creeping feeling came into his stomach, tugging at his mind like something he needed to say but forgot. Sean couldn't answer.

Batman didn't stop there," Why did you call me? You knew your father would disapprove, no matter what the situation."

"He worries . . ." Sean tried to sound confident, but came as a murmured defense, blown away with the wind. Sean turned back to the ladder, studying it, mostly so he didn't have to look at Batman anymore. He suddenly thought of his dream. His head was spinning again, Sean hadn't thought about that all week, why had it come back now? He really felt dizzy.

Batman had walked up behind him," Think about it Sean. Do you really want to go back to that house?" his voice was quiet. Sean knew that voice, from somewhere other than his few meetings with Batman. He wrapped his arms around his chest, his head ached.

Sean almost whispered," Who is Bruce?"

Batman was very quiet for a very long time, until Sean turned," Who is Bruce?" his voice rose over the wind that had picked up, it was darker.

When Batman still didn't answer, Sean put it together," I spilled the bottle." He didn't say it for Batman; it was just something that dawned on him. Suddenly Sean found himself sitting in the snow, head pounding. Batman was by his side in a second, holding Sean's trembling frame.

Sean was still staring at Batman's face, and for some reason, he reached up, touching the cowl. Sean's head was hurting and his blood rushing through his ears was making more noise than the wind. Batman reached up and put his hand over Sean's . . . and slid the cowl away.

Well, Sean thought vaguely, that answered my question. He stared into blue eyes. Bruce's eyes, the one's in that strangely familiar dream. Sean was having trouble keeping himself upright. He leaned fully onto Batman . . . no . . . Bruce. Bruce held him close.

"It's okay," he whispered to Sean," It's all going to be okay."

Sean looked back up at him," I don't want to go home anymore," it came out childish and a bit slurred, but Sean didn't care. His head hurt, he felt like he was going to pass out.

Bruce held him tighter," You don't have to. I'll take care of you. I promise." Sean believed him.

It was 9:40. Jessie had checked her watch a dozen times. It wasn't like Sean to be late, ever. Something had happened. All the worst possibilities rolled through Jessie's head, as they always did when she worried.

Mugged, shot, lost, tied to a giant cement block and drowned? Okay, that last one she got from a movie, and Sean had no ties to any mafia that she knew of, but still.

9:45, where was he. She was going to kill him herself.

Finally (at exactly 9:47) she saw someone walking toward her, two some ones actually, one leaning heavily on the other. It was Sean doing the leaning, and the second figure nearly made her heart stop.

She ran up to them," What did you do?!" she nearly screamed it at the Batman. He didn't look surprised as he and Sean stopped.

She was about to yell at him again when Sean spoke," It's okay Jess, I'm not hurt." He was come to Batman's defense. Jessie stared at him.

"You don't look not hurt," she said simply," Whatever, come on. We're going home, now." She reached for him, he didn't move from Batman's side.

He looked very tired when he said," I'm not going home Jessie." She blinked at him.

"What?" she looked accusingly at Batman. He stared right back. Jessie looked back to Sean," Don't tell me you believe all this insanity. Sean their all crazy! You can't . . . "

"I can," Sean said firmly," I'm not going to try and explain why. But I can't go back to that house, Jessie." He paused for a while and looked pleadingly at her," And I want you to come with me. Please Jess."

Jessie could've slapped him. No, she could've slapped Batman, he was obviously the culprit. She thought about what Sean had said. Father would be furious.

But she couldn't let her brother do something stupid without someone watching his back. They were waiting for her answer.

Jessie shook her head in disbelief," I leave you alone for a few minutes and all heck breaks loose," she sighed," Fine, I'll come. But only because you can't be trusted alone." The end of her sentence almost didn't make it through Sean's delighted hug.

She knew she would regret this.

A/N: I'm not sure if I like ending the chapter here but if I make it any longer I'll practically have the story finished, and where's the fun in that?

About the "goddess of memory" the name and a few other things I didn't make up, but other things I did. Sorry if you got confused, but I tried to make it as clear as possible. So please review if you did, and I'll try and fix it in the next chapter.

Thanks for your reviews so far! Your all awesome.