A/N: Hey everyone! Normally I would say 'sorry for the wait' but in this case that would be lying. See, I had a sudden epiphany that led to another YJ story that totally took off with my mind and I've been obsessively writing THAT one because I so badly want to know where it's going. I decided to give it a short rest to come back to Fallen Heroes for a few more chapters. I hope you're all very very happy.

The third scene of this chapter contains a *VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT!* I know not much is happening right now, but trust me, the action will start to pick up shortly. I promise. Review (as always)!

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice. Guess the guys at DC didn't get my birthday request. Holding out for Christmas now...

Barry tolerated their silence as long as he could. But a speedster can only control his impulses for so long.

They were in the main chamber of the Cave inside Mount Justice. Artemis sat on the couch, with her back to the two speedsters, staring at the black TV screen as if she could find all the answers to the universe in it. Wally leaned against the kitchen counter, eyes averted. I wish they would just look at me, Barry thought. Would that be so hard?

Apparently, it would.

He waited for something—anything—from the two of them, but after nothing but silence for who knows how long his patience had run dry. "Okay," he said, trying not to sound like he was scolding them, "tell me everything. What happened? Where are the others? Why did you leave without the League's permission?" Why won't you tell me what's going on?

Neither of them seemed inclined to answer. "Wally, please, we need to know what hap—"

"Call Batman," Wally said suddenly, in a voice that sounded nothing like his. "I—we don't want to have to tell it twice."

"Tell what twice? If you're worried about getting in trouble with Batman, just tell me and I can tell him everything later. Or—"

Wally shook his head. "No. Call him and tell him to come. Now. He needs to hear this from us."

Barry wasn't sure whether he wanted to throttle his nephew or hug him. "All right. Have it your way." He made the call. As he did, he snuck a glance at Wally, who was still staring at the floor, and caught just a hint of apprehension in the boy's eyes. Apprehension… and regret. For what seemed like the millionth time, he tried to imagine what on earth these two had been through.

He would find out soon enough. Following the kids' lead, he settled down to wait in silence.

Conner wanted out. Now.

Partly because he had too many less-than-fond memories of enclosed glass spaces. Partly because he needed to move, to get rid of all his pent-up anger and frustration and sadness. Mostly because he wanted to get back to the surface world, find out what had happened to the rest of his teammates. He had to know if his friends were still alive, or if they were sleeping under the waves like Robin. Not knowing would kill him.

If being stuck in this glass bubble didn't kill him first.

He glared at Tula, who was swimming absentmindedly in circles around his pod. His neck ached from trying to keep her in his sight. "Well?" he asked pointedly, trying to get her attention.

"I have told you, you cannot leave until King Orin returns; he is the only one who can authorize access to the portal to your Hall of Justice."

Conner's glare intensified. "How does Kaldur manage to go back and forth between here and the surface so much? He doesn't have to call Aquaman every time he wants to come home, does he?"

Tula shifted her gaze away, trying to avoid his glare. "Kaldur has access to the portals because he was King Orin's partner. But yes, when practical he does call upon King Orin for permission. Out of respect for the King's authority over his borders, you see."

Conner bit back a caustic remark about Atlantean etiquette being too constricting. He was irritated, but he still knew better than to tick off the only person who was remotely interested in helping him at the moment.

Tula could sense his frustration. She pressed a hand to the glass. "Try to relax," she said in her throaty voice. "Garth is even now trying to reach King Orin to tell him of your plight. You will be home soon."

Home. Mount Justice. A cave inside a mountain. Was it really better than a 'test tube'? Especially if Megan wasn't there…

When they were there alone, when the rest of the team wasn't there, the two hardly ever talked. But it was nice to know that if he needed anything, she would be there—in the kitchen, burning another batch of cookies or making a mess while trying to make dinner, or outside, watching a sunset with an innocent smile on her face, or reading books about 'Earth life' because she wanted so badly to fit in. It was nice walking to and from school with her. He wasn't sure he wanted to go back to living in the Cave by himself.

Then you know what to do, said a voice in the back of his head. Save her. Bring her back. And Kaldur too. If they're still alive… He hoped beyond hope that they were still alive. Wally and Artemis too. He had already lost one friend; was it even possible he could bear to lose another? It was something else to add to the list of things his telepathic education hadn't taught him.

"Idiots!" she heard someone yell. She was in that sluggish state between sleep and wakefulness. Whoever was shouting, it wasn't going to trouble her overmuch. But she might as well listen; what else was there to do?

"Didn't I say specifically that you were only to administer a single dose of the drug every three hours? Did I not make myself clear enough? What possible reason can you give for this?" There was the sound of flesh hitting flesh, and a grunt of pain. "Idiots!" the man screamed again. "Do you imbeciles have any idea what a triple dose will do to her?"

"Why do you care so much, Doc?" drawled another voice.

Somewhere in the fog of her brain, she realized they were talking about her.

"We just wanted to be sure she wouldn't wake up."

"You're not supposed to turn her into a vegetable; she's no good to us that way! That drug was engineered to very exact specifications to suppress her mental abilities without causing any damage to her mind!" There was a very loud sigh. "Luckily for you buffoons, I caught this early enough that no permanent damage has been done. Don't give her any more for now; we'll start fresh tomorrow with the right dosage."

"Got it," said the other one, sounding very cowed. "What do we do with the other one?"

"We can't risk him getting anywhere near the water. Just keep him locked up until we reach port." The man laughed. "He can keep her company. Just don't give him any water."

Footsteps; a door slammed. Then silence. She tried to wrap her mind around everything she'd just overheard, but it was too difficult for her mind to grasp. She slipped in and out of consciousness, trying to stay awake. For some reason it was important to stay awake; she just wished she knew why…

It was too hard; she let go, drifting slowly back into slumber. The guard hadn't even noticed she was awake. But in the next cell, Kaldur (who had quickly learned to feign sleep when guards were watching) could sense that she was awake, though barely. The effects of the overdose would soon wear off.

Every few nights, as far as he could tell, there would be a small amount of time—perhaps ten or fifteen minutes—during which there was no guard to watch the cells. The thought kept him going now; if the drug wore off quickly, it wouldn't be long before he would get the chance to talk to her, even if only for a few minutes. It would be so nice to hear a friendly voice again.

He didn't know how much longer he would last without water, but it could not be long. He just wanted to hear a friend's voice one last time, before... before it happened.

*GASP* so melancholy.

Go check out my other story World Turned Upside Down! especially if you like this heart-wrenching death fic... :) Cheers!