Chapter 8: Gunfire

Morgan was doing the dishes and was softly humming with the radio. It was a calm December day. Martha and Jonathan both sat in the living room. Jonathan was reading and Martha was knitting. Wolf was still panting. He had been running around in the thick snow the entire morning. Right now, he laid down in his basket and sighed. Morgan smiled at him and dried her hands. Lois had arrived that day, and Morgan heard her heels tapping on the floor above her. Morgan stroke her bang aside and looked outside. The world was so enchanting, covered by this white blanket. She had always loved the winter more than any other season. Suddenly Morgan noticed something in the sky. Something which came closer. Soon she recognized it and ran outside. Jonathan stood up, but when he saw what Morgan was running towards he smiled and sat down.

Gently Conner landed on the ground and immediately Morgan jumped in his arms. He swung her around and kissed her. They looked funny together. Conner had his usual Superboy outfit on, only now with long sleeves. While Morgan was wearing a black polo neck with a blue skirt and a thick tight under it. She wore black boats under it and her hair was in a tail. Even though it was very cold outside, it was one of the coldest winters in thirty years, Morgan could feel her body warming up against her heating. Conner and Morgan just stood there in the snow, kissing each other. When suddenly a black van rode to them and stopped about 9 feet from them. The side door swung open and several gunshots were heard. Morgan looked wide eyed at Conner, expecting him to collapse in her arms. But he did not, he looked at her, his look darkened. When the shooting stopped he turned around and shot with his laser eyes. The van exploded and some of the men quickly jumped out.
'Get down!' Conner yelled and Morgan bent down on her knees, down to the ground. Conner roared and attacked several men. Morgan covered her head with her arms. Seeing Conner like this gave her chills. A gun fell down right in front of her and Morgan looked at it. It had been a while since she had held a gun. Should she take it? Morgan looked up. There were still five men, two behind the burning van. Conner was knocking out the other three, while the two behind the van were shooting at him. Before she knew what she was doing, Morgan jumped up and grabbed the gun. With one look she checked it. She aimed for one moment and than fired. Four shots she released. The men on the right side fell down immediately, but the one on the left shot back. With one more shot he fell down as well. Conner yelled, knocked the last men down and turned around. He scared her with his look. For a moment she feared he would attack her too. Then his looked eased down and he walked up to her. Morgan dropped the gun and lost herself in his arms. She breathing heavily and pressed herself close to Conner. Conner softly stroke her back as he laid his head on hers. He felt how her breathing settled down a bit.
'O my God,' Martha said while she walked to Conner and Morgan. Jonathan followed her. Conner gently lifted the chin of Morgan and smiled at her.
'Are you alright?' he asked, she nodded.
'Come on, let's go inside,' Conner said and took Morgan by his hand.

Morgan sat on the couch, close to Conner. She was drinking tea and looked around. The heroes had arrived not long after they had went inside. Even though Batman had said that he knew who it was, he did not mention any name. Morgan took another sip of her tea. Conner looked straight at Batman. Batman had been thinking for a while now.
'No,' he concluded. Conner jumped up.
'What? You can't do that!' he yelled.
'Superboy, no,' Batman simply replied.
'No!' Conner just yelled. It was not fair!
'Superboy, she is not coming, end of discussion!' Conner yelled and ran up the stairs.
'Conner,' Morgan stood up, but Batman stopped her.
'I hope you understand why I said no,' he said, letting her arm go.
'I do,' she said. Conner wanted her to come along to the Watch Tower of the Justice League. There, he claimed, she would be safe. Batman had thought about it, especially when Conner said that now they knew his only weak spot. Still, it was foolish.
'Don't be to hard for him, Bruce,' she said, 'He just wants me save.'
'I'll go to him,' Superman said, but Morgan jumped up the stairs.
'Let me take care of this, alright?' she said. If he would show up Conner would only be more upset.
'You do that,' Lois said, 'Actually, Clark, can I talk to you for a moment?'
'Good luck,' Dick said when Morgan went up stairs. Lois took Clark to the hall.

Morgan slowly opened the attic room and looked around. Empty, not much of a surprise. The window was open, not much of a surprise either. Carefully Morgan climbed up the roof. It was tricky, with all the snow. But she pulled it off. She looked around. Conner was no where to be found. Morgan looked to the sky and did not see him there either. Damn, it was cold up here! Even though she could not see him, Morgan was sure Conner was looking at her. So she walked to the edge of the roof.
'Conner,' she said loud, 'come down, please.' No response, but Morgan did think that she heard a sound. She smiled and decided she would play it bold.
'If you don't come, I will fall down,' she said.
'Please don't,' Morgan turned around, a bit shocked by the strange voice. Morgan faltered, but regained her balance. She looked at Red Arrow.
'What are you doing here?' she asked.
'Doing as I'm told,' he smiled, 'Doing, what your lover told me.'
'You know where he is,' she said and her lips curled, 'don't you.'
'Perhaps,' he said shrugging, 'but you have to get in that room or you'll freeze.'
'Uh-huh,' Morgan said monotone. Even though Red Arrow was dressed in quite normal clothes, all red though, he still wore his mask. He did know where Conner was. Which mend that he was probably still around. Probably watching. She smirked and made up her mind. If it did not work, at least Red Arrow would be around. Red Arrow looked at her smirking, she was making some plan! Suddenly Morgan knew it was now or never and turned around. She ran towards the end of the roof and jumped off it. Red Arrow leaped forward, but missed her.
'Shit!' he cursed and almost wanted to jump after her, when he felt something passing him by. Just as Morgan expected, or actually hoped, Conner showed up just in time. Catching her before she was even half way her fall. He lifted her up and sat her down on the roof.
'Don't ever do that again, you hear me!' he yelled at her.
'Well, it's the only way I could get you down, isn't it,' she said sharp.
'Look, I'm sorry, but-'
'No, but, Conner,' Morgan said and stood close to him, 'You have to trust me, with everything.'
'I,' but he did not continue, he sighed and took Morgan in his arms, 'I will.'
'Feeling the "aster"?' she smiled and stroke through his hair.
'You whelm me,' he smiled, knowing the expressions from Nightwing.
'Red-' but when Morgan turned around, she saw he was already gone.
'He does that,' Conner said.
'Yeah, I know another one,' she smiled at him, 'Come on, Lois has something to say.'

By the time they got downstairs, Lois and Clark just wanted to share something. Morgan and Conner sat down on the stairs. Morgan already had a wide smile on her face, just like Lois and Clark. Conner looked at her, but she simply took his hand.
'Everyone,' Clark said, Lois winked at Morgan, 'we have something we want to tell you.'
'I'm pregnant,' Lois smiled. The first second, everyone was quiet. But the second, Martha jumped up and yelled. Quickly all the others followed. Standing around them, hugging, congratulating.
'You knew this, didn't you?' Conner said, looking at the smiling face of Morgan.
'Yeah,' she said and giggle. Conner stood up and congratulated them as well.

Morgan woke up, panting. Ever since the shooting, she had been thinking of all kinds of things that had happened before she lived with the Kent's. Even some of her nightmares had returned! She hate it. But even hated the fact that Conner was not with her more. Morgan ran her hand through her hair and stepped out of bed. She needed a drink. When she walked downstairs, Morgan noticed how quiet this house could be. Even Lois left! When she would have her maternity leave she promised she would stay at the Kent's again. But that was not until another two months. Lois had staid until Christmas, but had left soon after it. None of the boys had made it.
'I can hear you,' Morgan said, while she drank some warm milk. She had seen someone jump away when she entered the living room and now still heard someone. From behind a wall a persons stepped into the little light. Red Arrow.
'Can't sleep?' he said, she nodded.
'Aren't you supposed to sleep?' she asked, he shrugged. Red Arrow was not really a person of many words. But as time passed, they learned to deal with each other.
'You miss him, don't you?' she did not return his look, but nodded.
'I do,' she sighed.
'He misses you too,' he said, 'Big time.'
'I know,' she said. For a moment they said nothing. Morgan just sat next to Red Arrow, wishing he was Conner. Suddenly Red Arrow stood up.
'I'll take you to him,' he said and reached his hand.
'No, you can't,' she said, 'Batman will kill you.'
'I will take you to him,' he said, still reaching his hand.
'But why?' Morgan asked, not understanding, 'We never liked each other.'
'We may not be best friends,' Red Arrow said with a smirk, 'But Superboy has always supported me going my own way, as one of the few. He's my friend, and I am his. And as a friend I want to help him. He never wanted you to stay here anyway.'
'Thank you,' Morgan said and took his hand, 'I'll go change.'

Within five minutes Morgan had put on a black, warm dress with a turtle neck. The dress reached to her knees and the small part of leg between the dress and her boots were covered with a blue tight. Her hair still hung lose, but Morgan did not care. She had packed a small bag with some things. She would be caught by Batman pretty soon anyway. She wrote a small note to Martha, telling her about the plan and then stepped in the car with Red Arrow. Even now he did not take of his mask.
'May I ask you something?' Morgan said, while Red Arrow drove on some highway, 'Why do you always wear that mask?'
'To keep my identity a secret,' he simply said.
'Alright, Roy,' she said. She had remembered his name since Conner had yelled it at him. He smiled. Morgan had changed her mind about him. He was a friendly person, just very busy and not so open to everyone.
'Shit,' Roy said as he saw the flashing lights in his mirror. He had been driving to fast, apparently. He looked at Morgan. He could not ride away from the cops, but he could neither show himself with the mask on.
'I won't tell,' Morgan said, when she saw him doubting. For another few seconds he thought, then Roy took of his mask and handed it to Morgan. He looked a bit nervous and pulled over. He cleared his throat and opened the window.
'Evening,' the police man said, 'Do you have any idea how fast you were going?'
'No, sir,' Roy said, controlling himself.
'Where are you going, lad?' the men asked. He seemed to be in his late forties and did not want to give Roy a hard time.
'We're going to my place, sir,' Morgan immediately said and bent over.
'You're place, aye?' the man said and looked at the both of them, Roy smiled, 'Well, you two have a wonderful evening.'
'Thank you, sir,' Roy said and closed the window again. Morgan sat back and smiled.
'Here you go,' she said and handed him his mask back. He looked at it, then took it and put it back on his face. The rest of the road they called about several small things. It had been quite a ride, but Roy knew some short cuts. Around three o'clock they finally arrived at the Watch Tower. Red Arrow let Morgan in by some small, unknown entrance. They sneaked up, higher and higher in the Tower. They only saw a few heroes, but Red Arrow would always walk in front and would simply great them. Finally they reached the room of Conner. Morgan thanked Roy and he left. She took a deep breath and sneaked into the room. The lights were out, Conner was probably sleeping. Right on time! For a moment Morgan had been afraid he would be in the Head Quarter in space, but this proved she was wrong. Conner laid under his blankets, sleeping. She quickly took of her boots and gently placed them near the door. Morgan approached the bed on her toes as quickly as she could. She would wake him anyway. When she stood by his bed, Morgan quickly took of her dress and tights. She crawled under the blankets and he woke up.
'What-' he murmured, but she placed her finger on his lips.
'Sh,' she said and smiled. His eyes widened in surprise, 'I have not yet been caught and I'm not planning on getting caught.'
'But how?' he whispered.
'Red Arrow said you missed me,' she smiled, 'And since I missed you too, I thought I'd come over.'
'Batman is going to kill you,' he said and pulled her closer.
'I don't give damn right now,' she said and laid her body upon his. She felt his body tingle for a moment when her skin touched his.
'I love you,' he said and kissed her.