Chapter 2

-In Wait-

"I am a hero?" Wally held the backpack in both hands in front of him, like it would disappear.

"Yes, Wally. You are. Now eat." Bruce told him simply, taking the backpack and putting it beside the bed.

"That looks good." Wally's eyes bulged at the amount of cheese and put a nacho in his mouth. Immediately, his stomach let out a louder growl and he started shoveling the food in his mouth. No body looked repulsed by this. Even straight-faced Bruce's eyes teased a smile, while his face stayed neutral.

"Cheesy."

"Yeah. M'gann and I went a little overboard on the cheese."

"No. This," Wally indicated at the small party of people around his bed. "is cheesy. You guys look like you could all use some sleep. I- um, I could use a minute with my uncle. Thanks for the food." He thanked his friends, using every bit of warmth he could muster from his tired form.

"Wally?" Dick asked.

"I'm okay Rob." Said Wally automatically, then the surprised look registered on his face, then a smile with a span of a second as a flash went through his mind. "Maybe I'm getting better at this."

Artemis and Roy had matching smiles, with promise, but reserved doubts. Each knew this was going to be a long process.

"Okay. Everyone out." Bruce called.

"See you later, Wallman." Artemis ruffled his hair softly.

"You'll be okay soon. You've gotta be. Speedster's heal quickly." Dick gave his hand a firm squeeze, but not enough to hurt. Roy gave him a smile and then stepped out of the room. Batman stepped out of the room, making sure the mask was securely back over his face.

"Batman, I need to stay at the cave tonight." Wally heard Rob/Dick ask Batman in the hall.

-In the Hall-

"Fine. I'll be up at the Watchtower. Do not bug Wally." Batman told Dick sternly.

"I won't. He looks like he's on borrowed time as he is." Robin said.

The two held each others gaze for a minute or two, Roy watching them with an indifferent face. What do they do when they do this? Are they telepathic?

Wally and Roy as kids had a theory that Bruce or Dick had telepathic powers to link up the other, as they hardly needed to speak.

Wally had wondered if Dick had been begging for a donut as Bruce was scowling and saying "No".

Dick nodded to Batman, put on his glasses and walked on.

Batman rounded on Roy.

"Yes Roy?"

"Batman-erm Bruce?" Roy said quietly.

"Yes, Roy." He answered in a softer voice-Bruce Wayne's voice.

"You can trust Artemis. She's cocky, she's rash, and she's had her secrets. But when we went to Europe, well- you can trust her. As she said, "She's not perfect: but she would die for anyone on this team."

"Roy, are you feeling alright?" Bruce asked. This was not the Roy he knew. He kept quiet revelation talks to Black Canary, his surrogate mother figure.

"Wally is my brother. I've been obsessed to get in to the League. Now I realize what an idiot I've been. It's almost like it wasn't me, like something was controlling me."

"Greed?" Batman inquired.

"Yeah. I guess." Roy wasn't convinced. Something danced at the back of his head. But then, it disappeared. "I guess we should go."

Batman watched him go, thinking about how the next few days he was going to talk with Black Canary and Green Arrow.