A/N: Well I'm now one kidney short...though at this point not in much pain. That's a good thing and the fact that I don't have to do anything all week could mean lots of updating...then again, it could mean nothing. Oh well...thanks to those of reviewed and hope this shorter update is good enough for you. And on a strictly observational note...has anyone else noticed a severe decline in the writing quality of the Teen Titans genre? I mean my god, other than a few stories, I didn't think this much garbage could be produced.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, but hey, I think we all knew that already

Trying to Do the Right Thing

Chapter 29: Gone

By: Finalitylife

"Raven do you sense anything?" The communicator crackled to life, relaying Cyborg's message. Raven scanned the building they stood in front of with the best of her abilities without extending herself too far for the sheer fact she didn't know if there was any danger within the building that could counteract her mental abilities or harm her when she was in that semi-vulnerable state.

The building itself seemed slightly run down but not completely dilapidated...just something that might need a little fixing up and a new paint job. There were no visible lights anywhere, even in the vicinity of the building giving everything a slight foreboding sense but things like that had little effect on Raven. She just continued to try and do her job without delay for delays just meant more lost time and more lost time meant more lost Robin.

"This is Raven...honestly, I don't sense anything within the building at all but I could be wrong. Of course as Batman showed, there do seem to be some people who can avoid my abilities rather easily and this is Slade's daughter we're talking about so everything is to be expected." There was a brief silence from the communicator before Cyborg finally responded.

"You're right Raven...anything is a possibility. We'll wait to see if Beast Boy finds something." Raven nodded despite the fact that Cyborg wouldn't even be able to see her, just more on reflex. Raven gazed down at Beast Boy who was currently in the form of a dog, sniffing carefully around the building, hoping to pick up the scent of someone or at the very least, detect the scent of any explosives that might be positioned around the building as welcome mats. Starfire remained ever vigilant high up in the air, looking down at everything, watching for anyone trying to escape or any sudden movements nearby that could signal a coming attack. The Titans had to be perfectly prepared for any possibility because this was their opportunity to maybe find Robin and they could not blow it. If they messed this up, who knows what it could all lead to. All of them would rather not think about it.

Beast Boy finally seemed satisfied with his work and shifted into a rat to scutter away from the building back to his position. He morphed back into normal form so he could use the communicator.

"I didn't detect any strange explosives...well at least anything we've ever encountered before but I did pick up the scent of a single person...definitely a girl because she smelled really good." Raven shook her head at the message, wishing Beast Boy would be far more serious but really, she didn't think that was a possibility and in the end...she was okay with that.

"Alright...here's the plan ya'll. Beast Boy...Raven, you two go around back, sneak in that way. Starfire, you land on the roof and come in from that direction. I'm going to take the lead and head in first right in the front door. It should provide a nice distraction for whomever is in there giving each of you the opportunity to blind side them. This needs to be quick and efficient. Everyone got it?" No one needed to respond for Cyborg to know the answer.

Raven morphed into her soul self and crept through the shadows appearing next to Beast Boy. Thankfully, he did not freak out at her sudden appearance, and she could only smile slightly at his steadiness for the moment. Moments later, the Titans began their stealthy convergence on the building, almost no sounds being made...Robin would have been proud.

A few minutes later, Cyborg came through the front door, loud enough to gain the attention of anyone there though not overly loud as to disrupt the senses of his fellow Titans. The other Titans readied themselves for some type of attack or explosion or...well any type of movement but instead nothing happened. There was nothing...nothing.

Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfire crept toward Cyborg's position which appeared to be in the main room for this floor of this building...a large, flat open space that didn't seem to have any furniture in it revealed by Cyborg's shoulder mounted light. Everything was peaceful and quiet and that really shouldn't have been a possibility if someone was in fact here. Despite all of their silent pleas, it was becoming clearly evident that the one they sought was in fact already done from this place. Someone must have tipped them off on the Titans coming to pay a visit...someone who must have been aware of their intentions. It must have been Slade...only he could have done something so quickly and effectively...then again maybe not. The Titans had no way of truly knowing.

Suddenly, the lights of the room flashed on with a noise, startling Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven and a starbolt flying toward the source of the sound accompanied an eep from Starfire. It singed into the wall right next to a frightened Beast Boy who had simply found the switch for the lights to the room though had neglected to mention that fact to anyone before turning them on.

"Umm sorry guys...please don't kill me." Cyborg and Raven just shook their heads at the green changeling while Starfire muttered a soft apology. Now that the room was fully illuminated, it be came clear that this room in fact looked like a training room...something that would be used by Robin. There was some training equipment, some punching bags, and a few other miscellaneous items that none of them could identify but all and all, it was simply a gym.

"Raven...you picking up anything?" Raven softly closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the underlying surrounds that only she could sense but it was quite clear that the only consciousnesses within this building were that of the four Titans.

"Sorry Cyborg but no one is here." Cyborg nodded, taking a few moments to think.

"Alright everyone...Let's search this place top to bottom for a clue...this person couldn't have left very long ago from the looks of this place so hopefully they were sloppy and left something." The search began without many words uncovering what appeared to be a bedroom, a bathroom, and several other rooms that would be found in anyone's home. Rose...Slade's daughter had in fact been living here. There was still food in the refrigerator that was far from being stale.

Starfire's voice loudly calling for everyone to come quickly soon echoed through out the place gathering everyone rapidly to the location just next to the main room. She was standing in front of a small table with a sheet of white non descript white paper in her hand...something the Titan's had all walked by several times with little notice. Starfire handed the note to Raven rather than Cyborg for some reason though no one really noticed. Raven's amethyst eyes carefully scanned the few words on the paper.

To who it may Concern: If you are truly meant to find me, you will find me...until then, I will be nothing but a ghost.

The letter was signed with a rose as an insignia providing the identity of whom had written it...Slade's daughter. Raven so badly wanted to just rip up the piece of paper in sheer frustration but restrained herself for there might be some further clue to the paper that couldn't be see yet. Her slightly trembling hand passed off the message to Cyborg before she did something stupid, wrapping her own arms around herself in a futile attempt to comfort herself.

Everyone stood in silence, unsure of what to do at this moment, their first attempt at finding a lead to Slade coming up completely empty...the person they sought gone before they had arrived leaving nothing but a scant few possessions and a note...not quite taunting but not quite anything. It was very neutral sounding as if Rose didn't care of they did find her but only if they could.

It seemed like the path was being set out before them...find Rose, and in doing so, hopefully finding Slade...and Robin.

"Pain exists, that can not be denied. It is biological, born into the very structure of the human form yet in the end, it only serves as a hindrance to achieving greater power. One must learn to accept the pain...to deal with the pain, and in doing so move beyond the pain so that it no longer is bothersome, no longer can act as a control on our actions. Do you understand Robin?"

Robin glared at the sadistic madman from his current position, not wanting to risk moving. He cursed Slade loudly in his own head even as the unseen pain threatened to flair up on him. Robin currently found himself in the middle of Slade's latest twisted form of training and just as always, it served to bring mental as well as physical pain to his weary form.

Robin stood with his arms outstretched, holding up an unknown amount of weight with each arm, his arms constantly straining to keep from dropping for if they did, a blade would slowly stab into a nonfatal part of his back. The result was usually extreme pain which caused Robin to further drop his arms which resulted in even more pain. Robin struggled to control his breathing to a perfect a rhythm, doing his best to center himself away from the increasing pain building in his shoulder and elbow joints, doing his best to pull his mind away from the knife just waiting to stab him in the back as well as Slade's smooth, calm voice.

"You see Robin, it is impossible for you to forever hold up those weights. I know this, you know this...gravity will inevitably win out yet you continue to fight on against this inevitability because you fear the blade and the pain it will bring. You prefer to ceaselessly fight on against your own physical limitations when you could simply drop those weights at this very moment and be done with all of this. It is that simple. However, you fear pain when you should not. You must embrace the pain so that you can master it. Mastery of pain is of the most important things you can learn my apprentice for it will serve to sever you from the flailing, pathetic masses that is humanity. It will make you greater than you are...far greater than merely Robin."

Slade stands only a few feet in front of Robin, lording tall above his apprentice who continues to struggle with the weights. Slade pushes a button on a remote in his hand which adds more weight and instantly Robin's arms drop, causing the young man to grunt in pain before he can force his arms back into a holding position, a slow trickle of blood beginning its path down his body, pooling at his feet.

"You continue to resist me, refusing to accept the truths I reveal to you. You continue to resist your human limitations, yet you refuse to take the next step beyond these lowly limits you place on yourself. It doesn't make sense does it Robin? Your logic should instantly tell you that you are wrong. It is that simple."

Another jerk by Robin's arms causes another grunt of pain, Slade shaking his head slowly in disappointment at his apprentice.

"You chose to prolong the pain without any purpose rather than simply get it over with for a purpose. Stupid, foolish boy. You will learn. Accept the pain...control the pain...evolve beyond it...become greater!"

It is at this moment, that Robin's arms finally give out, the weights slamming into the ground, the blade stabbing deeply into his body.

-

Raven shoots up from the bed she is on, screaming with complete terror into the night. Her whole body is shaking and covered in a cold, dead sweat, and she finds herself unable to regain any of her senses...only able to register the pain and her own, shrieking screams. Suddenly, there are two firm hands on her shoulder shaking her forcefully and a voice trying to calm her down.

"Raven! Raven! Snap out of it dark girl! Come on!" Eventually, Raven felt the pain dissipate and though she still felt like screaming from the visions in her head, her voice didn't feel like it had the strength to carry on. She continued to breathe erratically and harshly, her lungs straining to calm down, Cyborg's hands finally removed from her shoulders. Her senses were hazy but more focused and she could see the concerned faces of all her friend's looking at her.

The Titans were still in the former residence of Rose, having decided to stay there the night to continue searching as well as for the small chance someone would show up here to see Rose that could provide useful information. Raven remembered suddenly feeling faint, and Cyborg had insisted that she lie down, that she had still been pushing herself too hard as of late. She had lied down on the bed they had found, and she must have fallen asleep, and that is when she saw it...when she felt it.

Robin...Robin was in so much pain...so much suffering. The pain was calling out to her, drawing her in and she couldn't resist because it was coming from Robin. It had all been so real...it had been real, and Raven knew without a shadow of a doubt that in his moment of incredibly suffering Robin had reached out to her somehow though she could do nothing about it. She had woken up, whatever connection that had been formed broken, and again Robin was completely lost to her...to them. So much pain...so much pain.

Raven's body continued to shake and soon the comforting arms of Starfire were holding her tightly, doing their best to help calm her frazzled nerves. Raven found herself leaning tightly in to the comfort, its warm inviting even if it was not from the person she truly wished it to be from. At least it was something...something other than the pain.

"Hey Raven...do you want to talk about what just happened there?" Raven somehow had shifted until her head was in Starfire's lap like it was a pillow, Starfire gently stroking the head of Raven trying to sooth the still visibly rattled woman.

"I don't know what happened Cyborg. I just...it was a dream but not really...it was Robin...I saw Robin." The other three Titans felt a moment of shock sweep over them.

"Robin? How...What...Where..." The unanswerable questions flowed out quickly from each of them and all Raven did was slowly shake her head.

"I really don't know...there was just so much pain...so much terrible pain and what scared me the most was that in the end, Robin didn't fear that pain anymore." Raven's body started quivering again and the Titans knew better than to press further at the moment. Starfire continued to do her best to help Raven relax who just continued to stare off into nothingness...trying to forget the pain.