FudoTwin17: Hey, guys. Sorry I haven't updated in so long, but stuff is crazy around here. For instance, we had a lot of work on the plays to do and I had to get stitches for my hand. They got taken out today, but my hand still hurts. I probably am not supposed to be typing. *shrugs* Oh, well. I thought you guys deserved a chappie. Also, for those of you reading For Old Time's Sake, it's a struggle to update and I'm sorry for that to. I'm practically brain dead when it comes to that story! :( Anyways, sorry again and I'm also sorry about the lack of amusing conversing that should be going on right now, but I'm not feeling too great right now, so sorry. I don't own YJ.
Chapter 6
The team found themselves light headed when their surroundings finally made sense. Looking around, they realized that they were in a hospital room and, unsurprisingly, the younger version of their youngest member was in a hospital bed, looking almost worse.
His either too pale or too flushed skin looked wrong against the whiteness. His broken limbs were in much too big and thick casts. His torso was heavily bandaged, visible even under his too big hospital gown. His shivers were obvious as there was no blanket over him and strategically placed ice packs all over his body.
The older Dick turned away. "Come on." He said, visible eyes on the door rather than himself. "Nothing is happening here. It's gotta be somewhere else." Before his teammates could speak, he strutted out of the hospital room.
His team stared at each other before Megan set up a mind-link, one that didn't include their youngest. This is getting scary. She whispered in their minds as if afraid that their human friend might overhear.
We have to figure out how to stop Slade soon. Wally agreed silently. I don't think I can take much more of this.
We must, though. The leader stated, his voice rough and obviously pained even in his mind. We have to stay strong to stop Slade and protect Robin.
Wait a minute. Artemis murmured, her eyes quickly snapping away from the child in the room to her team. We were all sent back in time, even Robin.
Wally blinked. Yes?
How far away was Robin? She asked, a slight edge of panic in her voice, one that no one else could find a reason for.
He was almost halfway across the room. Superboy remembered, frowning.
And where was Slade? She asked quietly, her form tense.
Aqualad stared at her almost fearfully, but there was strength in his eyes that Artemis was thankful for. If he could handle it, she could handle it. What are you getting at, Artemis?
I'm thinking, She began slowly, that if he was fighting Robin at the time the machine went off and Robin is here, then shouldn't Slade be here? I mean, just think about it! He should be here, but . . . but where is he?
Fear flooded the team and the mind-link broke, the team finding themselves uncomfortably confined to their own minds. They stared at one another before turning and rushing toward their little brother.
. . .
When the team saw their friend, they all relaxed slightly, slowing down their fast pace. As soon as they made it to Dick, they noticed the rest. It looked as though they were in a waiting room. The two police officers that the team had followed were standing, anger in their eyes as they stared at another tired looking man.
At the question in their eyes, Dick quickly stated. "He's the commissioner. Commissioner Gordon."
They all looked back at the scene, trying not to speak in case their still raging emotions made an impression on the boy whom it concerned the most.
The dark haired cop that they had been following-Jason?-seemed to be struggling to regain his composure. He was staring at the commissioner speechless, shock and horror on his face. See that he couldn't respond, the second cop-Ron? Yes, Ron-spoke instead. "After he went through all that, you're going to send him there? Why?"
The majority of the team frowned, confusion obvious on their faces.
Wally's quiet stutter was the only voice that actually spoke. "Wh-what are they-what are they talking about, Rob?"
Robin didn't answer.
And neither did the commissioner.
"Commissioner! There has to be a better way!" His loud voice attracted the attention of many nurses, doctors, and random strangers. The team slowly felt their stomachs clench. "A-A nice family! A foster home-a better one-"
"That hole you just rescued the boy from was the last one." Gordon interrupted. "We don't have a choice.
"Gordon-" Jason's quiet, pleading voice caught them off guard. However, it didn't catch his boss off guard, and the team knew it immediately by the sad shake of his head.
"We don't have any choice." The commissioner sighed, running a hand through his hair tiredly. "No choice at all."
Jason, the first cop, appeared tired. He sighed, falling into place next to his boss. However, his partner stared between them.
"So that's it?" Ron asked after a moment of silence. "So he's just going to be sent in there, treated like a delinquent? His life is going to be ruined, and no one cares?" The officer looked pained as he sat down next to them. "This is going to change his life. He'll never be the same."
Commissioner Gordon sighed before standing. "I'll go see if he's awake. If he is, then I'll tell him the bad news." With that, the tired man walked away, shoulders sagging and his hand tight around a round of coffee that was the only thing that appeared to be keeping him on his feet.
After watching him go, the officers both turned away from one another. After a long moment, Jason stood to leave. He looked at Ron and the man sighed and stood. The two left, leaving the hospital room empty, except for the almost non-existent group of teens still standing around.
"Where are they sending you?" Conner's voice was so quiet that they almost didn't hear him.
Robin's dark blue eyes didn't wander to him or any other member of the team. They were trained on the direction that Gordon had disappeared to. "Juvenile detention."
Wally gagged, stumbling forward. "Bu-But that's for-that's-" He seemed unable to finish his sentence as his best friend finally looked back at him.
"What is juvenile detention?" Megan asked quietly, her confusion and fear in her eyes. It couldn't be a good answer she was getting.
"Juvenile detention, also known as juvie, is where child criminals are usually sent since you can't put adult criminals with children." Robin began, voice deceptively even. "In Gotham, since we have orphanage problems and host families are so hard to find, children who don't have a family are often times put in Juvenile detention."
Aqualad's eyebrows furrowed. "But how can they do that? Surely it is illegal to put an innocent child in a jail."
Robin chuckled darkly. "When it comes to Gotham, you never know."
They all stared at him before their eyes turned to the room that held their younger teammate's past self. No one looked at him, not even Artemis when her quiet voice asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "How long were you in there?"
No one spoke or looked at him when they heard the answer. "Almost a month."
No one could convey their anger.
And no one could convey their fear.
FudoTwin17: Okay, that was tiring. Okay, I'm tired and my hand hurts, so I hope you like it and bye! Love you guys!
