I'm back. I do apologize for the long wait and since I figure you want to get to the story I'll put my explanation for the long wait after the chapter. Anyway, I know it's not super long but I still hope that this makes up for the wait in some small way. Only two more chapters after this one :)

Thank you so much for all of you who reviewed!

I don't own Young Justice

Chapter 9: Just Like Before

(Bruce's P.O.V)

"Call me Renegade"

Bruce's eyes widened as something tightened around his neck, cutting off his airflow. Wait... Renegade? What was going on now!?

Spots began to dance in front of his vision, proving very helpful in getting his mind to stop reeling and get his priorities straight. Breathing first, then thinking.

Making sure to keep eye contact with Dick - Renegade? - Bruce lashed out hard with his right leg, connecting solidly with his assailant's shin. Instantly the pressure around his neck loosened as Renegade let out a low grunt of pain and staggered back a few steps.

Taking very little time to get his breath back, consequentially also not giving his opponent any time to recover, Bruce sprang out of the chair and grabbed Renegade's arm, spinning him violently in order to wrap his arm around the smaller man's neck in a choke hold.

Renegade thrashed a bit, trying to reach inside the belt to grab for a weapon, but Bruce grabbed his wrist with his free hand. He tightened his hold on renegade's throat, feeling his struggles slowly lose their edge and become more and more sluggish. Finally the boy dropped the belt and went limp in Bruce's arms.

Bruce let go of his neck as soon as he was sure Renegade was really unconscious. As soon as he had lowered him to the floor, he backed away from the body to collect his thoughts.

What in the world just happened?

Everything had been going so well and then suddenly... he didn't even know. Could something have triggered a flashback? Or a split personality? Or-

He really didn't want to believe it but, could Dick have been lying this whole time?

Based on what J'ohn said that was technically possible, but still...

Well, one thing was for certain, he needed to bring Wally in and he needed to make sure Dick was securely detained while he did so.

Bending down, Bruce picked up the boy's body and carried him bridal style back down to the cells. Placing him on the bed, he tucked the blanket around him and stepped back. Looking at him now, you would never guess he'd just tried to kill someone. But that was the problem wasn't it? He seemed so innocent, yet the evidence was overwhelmingly clear that he wasn't.

He couldn't think about this right now. He needed to find Wally before it was too late.

With newfound conviction he made his way to the computer. Now that he knew what, or rather who, he was looking for, the next part was easy. He programed the computer to search for Wally's specific heat signature, then the computer brought up a map of Gotham with lines dictating where it picked up Wally's signature. The more frequently he visited a place, the thicker the lines were. From the look of the map, Wally had been spending a lot of his time at an old abandoned lab a few miles from Arkham Asylum. Seemed like the best place to start.

Stopping only to check on Dick, who was still unconscious, Batman made his way to the Batmobile with a myriad of emotions.

Contrary to what Dick seemed to believe, Bruce was not enjoying this at all.

Dick and Wally had been the best of friends. To Bruce, Wally was like a nephew and he had always liked the young speedster. He had been a great help to Dick in more ways than he could count, from saving his life on missions to providing moral support on the anniversary of his parents' deaths. Bruce owed that boy a great deal...

So how did it all come to this?

He really needed to put this out of his mind for now, focus on the task at hand.

Protect Gotham.

Schooling his features, he started the car and sped out of the cave.

(Dick's P.O.V)

Dick awoke from the nightmare with a gasp. He sat bolt upright in bed, his body soaked in sweat as he gasped for air. Looking around, he took comfort in the familiar sights and sounds of the cave around him. He relaxed his muscles and lay back, staring up at the ceiling of his cell.

Wait... his cell?

He sat up again. Why was he here? Shouldn't he be in his room? Upstairs?

He closed his eyes and tried to remember. He came downstairs to the cave. Bruce ran some tests, and Martian Manhunter managed to unlock his... memories.

Oh.

A wave of sadness washed over him as he remembered exactly what those memories had entailed.

Anyway, then Bruce said he was going to bring Wally in, Dick remembered getting mad and then... nothing.

Nothing?

Nothing!?

"Damn it!" he yelled, grabbing his pillow and flinging it across the room.

It landed with a soft thud against the bars. Dick just glared at it, breathing labored as he vented all his frustration upon the inanimate object.

'Why!? Why did this have to happen? What was the point of any of this!' he raged mentally. 'I was a hero, a superhero! I fought to protect people, to keep the world safe. Then one day I just decides to start killing people all on my own? And I don't even remember WHY!'

He wasn't sure how long he spent silently ranting about the injustice of his situation, but when he was done he simply sat perfectly still before flopping back onto the bed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

He felt tired, so tired. Tired of being frustrated. Tired of not remembering. Tired of being alone.

Wait. Alone?

What happened to Bruce?

He abandoned you

"Shut up!" Dick snapped, his head turning slightly to the side as he did so.

He closed his eyes and tried to remember exactly what happened before his black out. Bruce was here. He was definitely here. He wanted to find Wally-

Oh God.

Wally. Bruce had gone after Wally.

If Dick thought he was panicked before, it was nothing compared to how he felt now.

'Wally? He's my friend. He's innocent! But... if Bruce catches him. He'll... he'll throw him in Arkham,' the more his panic grew the more broken his thought process became. At the mention of Arkham though he stopped. All his memories of his time in prison filled his mind, paralyzing him with fear. All the pain, the cold, the hopelessness - he shuddered - he couldn't let Wally, his energetic, loyal, brilliant best friend, go through that.

He couldn't let him be broken like that.

Then stop him

Dick bridled at the detached boredom the voice emitted, but that didn't stop him from listening.

"How?"

Go after him

That made Dick laugh. "Have you forgotten where we are? We're locked in, the door has to be opened from the outside, and Bruce is gone."

Yes, but Bruce isn't the only on who lives here is he?

Dick stiffened as realization began to set in.

Alfred.

"No," his voice was firm "I'm not dragging him into this."

You have to

"What if I hurt him?"

The voice said nothing. Instead it conjured up the image of a pale freckled face, with once fiery red hair now dull and matted, and green eyes that were now dim and lost.

"Stop it." Dick whispered.

Only you can do that

The image changed to show Dick's old cell, only instead of Dick, the shivering, emancipated form of Kid Flash lay on the cot. His shoulders shook slightly with repressed sobs as he coughed and fruitlessly attempted to warm himself up with the meager blanked.

"Stop it!" Dick demanded again.

Just say the word.

Again the vision shifted slightly, it still showed Wally curled up on the pitiful excuse for a bed, but now he was quiet, still, he was...

dead.

Dick thought he was going to throw up. He couldn't stop seeing his friend's lifeless, emerald eyes. It was like they were looking directly into his soul, accusing, condemning...

"Alright! I'll do it! I'll do it!" he finally broke down, grabbing his head as if he could rip the vision out of his mind.

His head cleared, leaving him feeling more disoriented and scared than ever before. The look in his eyes. He saw those eyes almost every night in his nightmares, they were the eyes of the people he couldn't save, first his parents... now Wally.

It doesn't have to be that way

The voice was right. He wasn't that helpless nine year-old anymore, he could do something. He could save Wally.

He had to save Wally.

"ALFRED!"

(Alfred's P.O.V)

Alfred was busy in the kitchen. He had been waiting upstairs for the duo to return as per Master Bruce's wishes. His reasoning being that if something in the cave triggered a violent outburst in Dick then he didn't want Alfred to get hurt.

So Alfred threw himself into baking to take his mind off current events.

However, when four hours had passed he started to get worried.

As he pulled a third cherry pie out of the oven, he decided to go investigate.

The moment he set foot in the cave he knew something was wrong.

"Alfred! Alfred?!" a slightly hoarse voice rose up from the darkness below him.

Good heavens, was that Master Dick?

Following the sound of the voice, Alfred hurriedly descended the staircase. When he reached the source of the calls, however, he stopped.

He was correct, it was Master Dick, but why was he back in a cell?

The normally unshakeable butler felt anger rise up within him. He thought he'd made his stance very clearly to Master Bruce on this matter. Speaking of Master Bruce...

Where was he?

Alfred didn't get much time to ponder this dilemma however, for the young man in the cell took that moment to notice he had a visitor.

"Alfred!"

Picking up on the note of desperation in the boy's tone, Alfred approached the bars swiftly.

"Master Dick are you alright? What is going on here? Where is Master Bruce?"

Dick took a moment to swallow, his throat was probably sore from all the yelling, and sucked in a large breath before beginning.

"I'm fine Alfie, I don't know for sure where Bruce is. We did the tests and I blacked out and then I woke up in here and he was gone. You've got to let me out though, he thinks Wally is behind the attacks, but he's wrong, and I think he's going after him to arrest him and you've got to let me out 'cause he's making a big mistake!"

Alfred stood with wide eyes, saying nothing while Dick panted after his tirade.

"So, you believe Master Bruce is going to hurt Master West?" Alfred asked for clarification, Dick had spoken so fast he wasn't exactly sure what he'd said.

"Either that or he's gonna hurt himself. Please Alfred you have to let me out of here. I have to stop him before he..." Dick trailed off and looked up at Alfred with a helpless expression. Alfred met his gaze and was instantly certain of two things - first, he had never seen Master Dick's blue eyes open so wide, and second, he had never seen any person more look more honest in his life.

Feeling his last reservations fade, Alfred walked to the door of the cell and entered the code onto the DNA sensitive keypad. As the door slid open a pair of arms instantly wrapped roughly around his chest, pinning his own arms to his torso. Alfred panicked for a moment that he might've just made a dreadful mistake until he realized what was happening.

Dick squeezed the butler tightly and buried his face in his shoulder, whispering "thank you" over and over again.

Feeling silly for his previous reaction, Alfred relaxed into the hug and whispered back a slightly confused "you're welcome" to his rather overly emotional charge.

(Dick's P.O.V)

Dick pulled back from the hug, felling a little embarrassed at his overly emotional reaction. In all honesty it just felt so good to have someone trust him again. But he didn't have time to enjoy the moment, he had to find Bruce and rescue Wally. With those specific goals in mind he walked straight to the main computer and started typing furiously.

Dick had had a difficult time hacking Bruce's files in the best of days. So to say that breaking into them now was challenging, since his hacking skills have been collecting dust for two years, would be a massive understatement. This was practically impossible! His typing grew more frantic as he was blocked by firewall after firewall. If he could just... find... the right... password!

*ding*

Success! An unbidden smile found its way across Dick's face. He couldn't describe how right this felt. To be working as a hero again, to be using his skills for good, and helping his mentor, and rescuing his best friend. He was so lost in his thoughts and his task that he didn't notice Alfred coming over to stand beside him.

"You look rather pleased Master Dick."

"Hmm?" Dick glanced away from the screen, finally registering the smile on his own face, and a small, yet genuine laugh escaped him for the first time in years. "Yeah, I guess I am. It just... feels good to be doing good again Alfred."

He turned his full attention back to the screen just soon enough to miss the way the old butler's eyes misted up at the words, and the single tear that slid down his face.

"Yes well," Alfred wiped his eyes quickly with a handkerchief as he spoke, "it is good to see you smile again young sir."

"Thanks Alfred" Dick clicked a few more times before a map of Gotham appeared on the screen. "Got it!"

"Got what Master Dick?"

"Bruce's tracking device, now I don't have to waste time running all over the city looking for him," Dick explained while gesturing to a small flashing red dot on the screen.

"Ahh, I see." Alfred sat down in the chair to take a closer look at the screen. Dick scrambled around behind him, he knew it was back here somewhere...

The butler eventually turned around, probably afraid the boy was making a mess, "Master Dick whatever are you do-"

He cut off when Dick turned to face him, his domino mask placed securely over his eyes.

"I know the rest of the costume's too small now, but I figured this would still fit, and it's better than nothing," he said with a somewhat sheepish expression on his face.

Alfred smiled, "Good luck, Master Robin."

Dick's smile widened, turning around he grabbed his utility belt off the table and clipped it on on his way down the stairs to the garage. Selecting one of his old favorites from the row of bikes, he was relieved to find it already fueled up and working.

He smiled from beneath his helmet. It did feel great to be back, headed out just like he used to. His mission was clear, he would find Bruce...

...and he would finally kill him.

End of Chapter 9

There you go! Remember only two more chapters left. All of your questions will be answered soon. Please just bear with me for a little bit longer.

Anyway, for those who care I just started college last month and the transition was really hard on me. I'm doing better now, but it was just a very difficult time for me and couldn't get myself to write anything presentable.

So, I'm back now and hope you enjoyed the chapter. I would truly appreciate any feedback you guys would like to give, I honestly could really use some of that right now. Hopefully the next update won't be too much longer of a wait. See you all soon!