A/N: well the Costume Crisis is over (I'm sure you are all relived) I hope all you guys had an awesome Halloween and have bunches of candy to snack on as you read and relax! (just be sure not to get any on the keyboard! ;)
Only Human
Chapter 6
J'onn J'ones was yanked out of his relaxed state of slumber by the strong and unmistakable jolt of human pain emanating from the next room. Almost instinctively he sent his consciousness out in a quick telepathic sweep of the area. He already had a good idea of what had transpired, and he was far from pleased. Forgoing the series of doors, the Martian opted to simply phase through the separating wall and appear hovering next to the bed of the room's sole occupant.
"What is it, J'onn." demanded the rasping voice without turning to regard the Martian. If anything it seemed even harsher than usual, the shape-shifter couldn't decide if that was due to him not having voluntarily ingested any form of liquid in the last few days, or a result of the waves of pain the man was desperately trying to suppress. Probably both.
"You are in no condition to be attempting to leave." Finally the cowled head turned to glare at him, somehow managing to look menacing even when placed atop a bandaged torso.
"I'm fine." J'onn did not consider accepting that for as much as a single earth second. Even if he had not still been able to feel buried remnants of the intense pain that had woken him, the fact was that the Batman had been devastatingly injured and still fighting for his survival for several days. He'd only begun to show marked improvement two days ago. Perhaps the accelerated metabolism of the Flash could heal that quickly, but the Martian was disinclined to believe it was within the Batman's comparatively limited abilities. In fact, according to everything that J'honn had learned about the normal human physiology, his patient should not be conscious, regardless of the Leagues' advanced technology.
As the Martian showed no sign of responding to his curt answer, Bruce carefully levered himself off the bed and begin making his slow way toward the room's door. His brain was decidedly clouded, but he still knew that this was not the most logical action for him to take. He was well aware of all the signals his body was sending him. He was just choosing to ignore them. He needed to get out of here, back to Gotham. He wouldn't be able to do anything for his city for several weeks, true, but he felt that he could not stay here. Here. Here there were six heroes with whom he had to work. Whom he had to trust. Who had to trust him. Showing excessive amounts of vulnerability and suffering was not the way to become trusted. The only people that the Batman was less inclined to show weakness to than his enemies… were his allies. Enemies' lives didn't depend on their faith and trust in one's abilities.
He had to get to Gotham, to the Cave and to Alfred, where he could heal in the peace and safety of his own realm. He had to get to Gotham. He got halfway to the door. It seemed that he could ignore the warning signals, but the ability to shut them out didn't matter once his body stopped transmitting. His last impression was of green arms reaching out to stop his fall.
A/N: sigh yes, I know it's short again. Still, we must keep the suspense, mustn't we? Anyway Please drop a review! Special thanks to all who reviewed last chapter, thevigilante15, Batzi, Lynn, Valandil, LarSinger, EvilHamsterMastermind, Manuel, and RedSoxGirl5. Later guys- Delia Ra'Nar