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Jason paced. "We are running out of time, Grayson."

Dick looked up from where he was tending to the robin, and nodded. "I know. Hey Jason...if...if Tim doesn't make it...will you, you know...take care of him?"

"Don't even go there, Dick! Yes, IF, by some cruel twist of fate, Tim dies, I will take care of him. If you are successful, I won't have to, right?"

"Right."

The nightwing squawked angrily, trying to get to its prey. Jason snarled at it and waved his crowbar, "Don't make me bean you again, you retarded bird! I nearly killed Dick when you attacked last time. I was hoping you'd learned your lesson."

The bird flew to a tree and waited for the evil being with the metal stick to leave. Jason snorted in satisfaction and took another look at Tim.

"You're doing well, I saw his eyes flutter for a sec."

"I'm almost done." came the tired reply.

Jason was about to say something when the air became deathly cold, and a foreboding figure appeared in front of the boys, eyes glowing sickly green. Jason yelped and hid behind Dick. The nightwing squawked and hastily flew to a far tree, covering its beak with its wing. The figure reached for the deceased Boy Wonder, but found himself blocked by Nightwing.

"You dare stand in my way, Richard?!" hissed the Spectre, raising his hand to shove Grayson aside. Jason thought he was going to obliterate the Former Boy Wonder, and screamed "NO!" shoving Nightwing aside and stepping in front of him, thus reversing their roles. The Spectre smirked at this, and folded his arms, glaring down at Jason, who was beginning to regret exposing himself, and began shaking as the wraithlike voice hissed at him.

"You have taken too long Jason Todd. How will you pay for this insubordination?"

"I have time! I still have at least an hour please Jordan PLEASE!" Jason begged, on his knees before the Harold of Vengeance.

"I am afraid your time has run out. Had Richard been in danger still, I would have allowed you more time. As it stands now, he can awaken whenever he chooses, so by all accounts, your work here is done."

"No it isn't done!" Jason growled, "Tim is stuck here and without me neither one of them can get home!"

"SILENCE!" the Spectre roared, making Jason cower lower than he was already. "You will pay for this after you are done here, Jason Todd. In fact, for your defiance, you shall feel some of your punishment NOW!"

The Spectre pointed a finger, and Jason screamed, his skin changing to the deathly white of the ghastly avenger. The chill of the transformation made Jason wish that his costume had included leggings. The Spectre disappeared, his last words echoing in the empty air long after he departed.

"Your punishment is pending, Jason Todd. Use the rest of your remaining time wisely. I will allow you to stay as long as you are needed. However, each hour you take merely advances your punishment."

Gasping and shivering, the deceased Boy Wonder wrapped his cape around himself. Dick hung his head, "I'm sorry Jason. I failed you again."

"N-n-n-no...no you didn't. I made m-m-m-y own bed, Grayson." The boy said, waving his hand to dismiss Dick's guilt.

"I promise, I will get Tim better before too much time passes." Dick said, advancing towards the trembling nightwing.

"Ok you, come on, time to go!"

The bird of prey squawked at him and brandished its long talons, daring him to step closer. Dick climbed up the tree, and dove down to catch the black and blue bird eluded him, and he crashed to the ground with a thud.

"You think you're SO SMART!" he said, trying again to tackle the elusive bird. To his suprize, it did a flip, kicking him in the face with its talons and knocking him on his back weith a grunt. Dick stood, a little ticked off now.

"I am NOT going to be beaten by a friggin BIRD!"

As Dick continued his assault on the kryptonian menace, Jason continued to grow very cold, very weak, and very worried. If he was forced out of Dick's mind, Dick and Tim would both join him on the other side. Admitedly he wished it many times, but ultimately, the boy didn't want it to happen until they were ready.

He seriously doubted that either of them felt like kicking the cavern yet. Looking at the comatose form of Tim, Jason grit his teeth. The youngest Robin looked so peaceful, like he didn't care that he was so close to not waking up ever again.

"Hang in there, Drake, Dick is working on it." He said shakily, crawling to Tim's side to check his vitals. Tim was breathing steadily, but his heart was beginning to fail him. Jason looked for the injured robin and found that it was dying too. With Dick preoccupied, Jason was the last hope for both the robin and Tim.

Picking up the bird, that in his present condition weighed a ton, Jason began tending to it, keeping an eye on Dick and the nightwing.

"With any luck, we'll both be successful."