A/N: My battle against the school beast has only gone on for three days so far, but already I feel weak and bored out of my mind. I hate school. Here's chapter nine for you, I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Teen Titans.

Chapter Nine: The Escape

Before he left, Gar ran into his room and grabbed two pairs of scrubs, a small duffel bag, and his car keys. He wasted no time as he ran outside to his car.

The speedometer registered speeds far above the legal speed limit, but he wasn't paying much attention to that. The hospital was only 5 minutes away, he just prayed that he didn't get pulled over.

When he finally reached the hospital he parked outside and raced out of his car, barely stopping to take out his keys. The guard at the gate smiled when he saw the teenager running over.

"Hey, Gar. What's the hurry?" Not wasting time to answer, Garfield just kept running. "Okay, I guess I'll talk to you later then."

Once he reached the door to the ward he barely waited for his card to register before pushing through the doors. "Hey," Richard greeted cheerfully, but Gar just pushed past him. Bursting through Raven's door, Gar stood panting and out of breath.

Raven stood up from her bed when he entered. "Gar, we really need to talk... Is everything alright?" she raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

Closing the distance between them quickly, Gar pressed his lips against hers. She was completely caught off guard by this, but that's not to say that she didn't enjoy it. While Gar was just as surprised as she was if not more, he definitely hadn't planned to do this.

It was a shy kiss, but quickly became more confident. Although he didn't want to, he pulled away knowing that he had wasted enough time already. Raven looked extremely confused and her cheeks were a bright red. He was sure his looked the same, but he didn't have time to be embarrassed

"There's no time to explain. Just put these on," Gar said as he handed her the other pair of scrubs. "We have to get out of here as soon as possible." Hesitantly, she pulled the shirt on over her head. She trusted him, maybe too much. The uniform was large on her, but easily slipped over her other clothes. "Anything else you'll need just put in this bag."

Nodding, she grabbed a few pair of clothing and stuffed them in the bag. "Let's go." He grabbed her hand in his and walked swiftly out of the room.

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Kori was sitting in the office talking on the phone when she saw Gar run into the hospital. It was odd because his shift didn't start for another three hours. Leaning forward, she glanced through the window as he disappeared down the hall. A few minutes later she saw him running out again, but this time he was with a certain violet haired girl. They were walking hand in hand towards the door. Now Kori understood why he was there, she smiled. She really should stop them, after all it was her job, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Good luck, friend," she whispered before returning back to her conversation on the phone.

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"I don't know about this, Gar. What if we get caught? It wouldn't matter for me, but you could get into a lot of trouble for this. I don't-" Raven was interrupted by Gar.

"I understand, and I can handle the consequences." They walked at a quick pace, but slow enough to seem inconspicuous.

"What's going on?" She sounded uncertain and a bit worried.

"Your father is coming."

"What!" She tried to stay calm, but it was difficult.

"It's alright, I'll explain everything when we get out of here. I promise." He gently squeezed her hand tighter. Finally they reached the gate, Gar considered running, but he changed his mind.

"Hey, Gar. Who's your friend?" The security guard eyed Raven suspiciously.

"This is Rachel, she just started her." Hopefully he would believe that.

"Hi, I'm Eric," he stepped out of the small booth and shook Raven's hand. A sigh of relief wanted to escape Gat's lungs, but he held it in. "Well, have a good day." The gate swung open when he pressed the red button inside the booth.

"You too," Gar said over his shoulder. Once they were far enough away not to be heard by the guard, Gar began to laugh. "That was a close one."

"Yeah." They crossed the street over to his car, and he held the passenger door open for her. "Thanks," she mumbled as she stepped in.

Walking around to the other side of the car, Gar got in and started up the car. He felt oddly calm considering the circumstances. "There's his car," she sounded scared almost as she looked over her shoulder. Behind them a shiny, black car pulled up to the gates. "Let's get out of here before he finds out that I'm not there."

"Sure thing." They sped off in the opposite direction. After a minute Gar began to laugh without provocation.

Raising an eyebrow at him questioningly, Raven asked the obvious question on her mind. "What's so funny?"

"That was way too easy. I just can't believe that we walked right out." Finally, he drove into the driveway of his house and stopped the car. "Well, here we are." When they got to the front door he put a finger up to his lips motioning her to be silent. Gar opened the door and looked inside making sure no one was there. Turning back towards Raven he made the move in sign with his hand like a member of swat might do, he grinned and she smiled back.

She followed him down the hall and into a very messy bedroom, presumably his. "Sorry about the mess, I would have cleaned up if I knew I was going to have company..." He walked over to his dresser and changed quickly, not even caring that Raven was standing right behind him. "I'll be right back, in the meantime make yourself at home." She nodded as he left the room.

"What do you mean missing?" Mark said into the telephone. Taking a deep breath, Gar strode into the kitchen. "I'll get there as soon as I can." Sighing as he hung up the phone, Mark turned to Gar. "Where'd you run off to earlier?"

"Um... I forgot something at my friend's house." It was a lame excuse, but the only thing he could come up with.

Mark looked at him suspiciously for a moment before accepting the explanation. "I have to go. Something happened down at the hospital."

"What?" Gar acted surprised.

"Raven's disappeared and her dad is there to pick her up. Apparently he's threatening the hospital. I really don't know what to do."

"Wow. I hope you find her."

"Me too." With that Mark left the house. Once the door the front door was closed, Gar grinned widely.

Then, he went back to his room. "Okay the coast is clear, my dad just left." Raven was still standing in the middle of his room, but she had taken off the scrubs she had been wearing over her clothes.

"Shouldn't you have told him the truth?"

"Eh, I'll tell him later." He wasn't sure how he would tell him, but he knew this kind of secret would be hard to keep for long.

"I can't thank you enough for helping me," she stared at the floor as she spoke. "But I should go now."

"What do you mean? You have no where to go, and you have no money."

"I'll be fine. I've already caused you enough trouble, I'll find somewhere to go."

"Trouble? I want you here, Raven. Why won't you just stay here, at least until you find somewhere else?"

"If I were to stay I would be putting you and your family in danger. I refuse to do something so selfish as that."

"I won't let you leave," he replied stubbornly as he stepped into the doorway.

"Move, Gar," she said, getting annoyed with his childish behavior.

"No." Shoving him hard, she tried to move him, but he was only knocked back a little. When she went to shove him again, though, he grabbed her wrists before she could touch him.

"Gar, please, just let me go. I don't want to hurt you." She sounded like she was almost about to cry. Gently, he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. Practically melting into him, Raven didn't resist. "Wh-why did you help me?"

There was silence for a moment, and then he replied, "Because I care about you, and I believe in you. I don't want you to throw your whole life away."

Nudging her face into his shoulder, Raven whispered, "I'm worried, Gar." They didn't say much the rest of the day.

A couple hours later, Gar's mom got home from work. She knocked on his door, but opened it before he could answer. "Gar, I'm home." She saw Gar sitting in a computer chair in the middle of his room. Then, Marie noticed there was someone sitting on his bed. "I didn't know you had company, Garfield."

"Uh, mom this is Raven."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too," Raven answered awkwardly.

"Well, I was just about to make dinner. You're welcome to stay if you like."

Glancing at Gar before answering, he nodded. "I'd love too, Mrs. Logan."

"Please, call me Marie. Well, I'm going to go start dinner." When she left she kept the door open a crack.

"I guess she doesn't know about you, yet," Gar said.

Twenty minutes later, Marie called them into the dining room for dinner. Raven examined her food before eating it. "I hope you like lasagna," Marie said from across the table.

"It looks great. Thank you," Raven replied. They all ate in silence for awhile.

Then, they heard the front door open. Everyone looked over down the hall.

"We couldn't find her," Mark sighed. He had returned home from the hospital and he sounded exhausted and frustrated. "I don't understand how she could have gotten out of there without being spotted." Looking through the mail in his hands, Mark didn't see their guest. "I'm not sure what her father will do, I just hope he doesn't sue the hospital. He looked ready to tear my head off, and judging by his size I bet he could have." Walking out of sight into the kitchen he went to set down the mail and his keys. "I don't know how far she could have gotten."

Raven and Gar just watched the kitchen doorway with anticipation. Then, Mark walked back in. Looking around the table, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked from Gar to Raven and back to Gar.

"What's going on here?" he asked, still too surprised to be angry.

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A/N: I'm not sure if I'm too happy with how this chapter turned out. I tried to make this one a little longer than the last. Well, please tell me what you think.

Luna Forest: Haha, I'm such a tease, aren't I? I'm so sorry, I don't mean to make you mad. I hope this explained everything and made you a little happier. Don't beat me, I'm just the defenseless writer. :)

ravenmasteroftele: Yeah, all popular kids are made out of plastic and their heads are hallow and squishy. I always hated Barbies, G.I. Joe's are way cooler and they have weapons. I play percussion and drums, but instruments are way too expensive, it's ridiculous. I had to wait a little over a year to get my drum set. Thanks, you're way too nice. I really enjoy writing cliffhangers, now that I know someone likes them I'll start writing more. :D

Rainbow-Jess: Come on, I couldn't pass up a cliffhanger like that. I'm sorry. Of course you'll get more story. Well, after reading this chapter hopefully you'll be happier. Yay! I'm not a failure... yet:D

Mrs. Peacock: Thanks, you're too nice! Good thing too, sitting on the edge of a seat can be really uncomfortable. :D

Overactive Mind: Thanks! Sorry about the short chapter, I was totally out of ideas and I really wanted to end it on a cliffhanger. Hopefully this chapter made up for the length of the last. :D

AureliusXsoul: Thanks! Yeah they were gonna kiss, sorry I made that kinda vague. Yeah, I love cliffhangers too, and they're so much fun to write. There was no way I could make him beat Gar there, I tried but I just couldn't do it. Don't worry, we'll get through this school year together, lol. Burn down the schools!

cailinXaiden: Thanks, you're too kind. Nah, I couldn't do it. Gar had to get there first. I hope you like how that turned out. :D

Lilliesofthevalley: Hahaha! Yay I made a better chapter! I know what you mean, and thanks! You're too kind:D

Beast Girl 433: Yeah, sorry about the slow update. Hopefully I wasn't too late. Thanks! I'm finally getting into the climax, it took me a long time, but it's finally here. I'm just really hoping that it isn't a big letdown. :D

moo-like-a-floofy-llama: Sorry for the false hope last chapter. I hope the kiss was worth the wait and that it was as magical or whatever as you had hoped it to be. Hahaha! I'm glad you're getting into the story. Sorry about the short chapter, I tried to make this one longer. I hope you liked it. :D

beautifulpurpleflame: Thank you. It's finally to the climax, so hopefully I can make it exciting. :D

aelita819: Thanks! You're too kind. I'll do my best to make this exciting. :D

BunnyKat: Sorry, I don't know what happened to the continue-y button, frankly I have no clue what button you're talking about. Thank you. Was your guess was right about the assassin? I hope you liked this chapter.

Kaos Kraze: Hahaha. Yeah, he was a moron. I feel really hyper to, but I don't know why. Thanks! I'm usually not to good at writing humor, so that's a great compliment. :D

ELLIEdangerous: Yes, I am writing this to torture you. It's just so much fun. I'm so sorry. Maybe this chapter was a little less torturous:D

Crazy Sugar Girl: Haha! Thanks! I'll never stop writing! Well, at least not until the story is over. :D

Snea: Hey, calm down. Everything will work out in the end... Probably. I couldn't let her father get there first, I tried to type it but I just couldn't do it. I hope you're a little happier with this chapter. Maybe? (Cowers) Please don't hit me, I'm just the nice little writer:D

Hide-because-it's-me: Yay, you're back! That really sucks. Sorry that it wasn't all that long. Yes, I am very lucky. Oh, he will run as fast as his skinny green legs can take him. Yes, overlord, I understand perfectly. That heart looks juicy! I agree, that travel agent was totally asking for it. Thank you, master. This will be a long battle, but I will fight with honor and courage! I will not disappoint you, master:D

chittychittybangbang16: Then I completed my goal. I hope I wasn't to late. I typed this as fast as I could. :D

teentitansraven2: Sorry, I typed it as fast as I could, although I stopped for school a couple times and to sleep. I hope this was quick enough for you. :D

Django X: I didn't separate them, but it was still a big plot twist. The story is really gonna get crazy now, no pun intended. The climax is finally here, after so much waiting. Thanks, it's great to be back:D

Malaya21: Thanks! I'll type as fast as I can:D

Agent of the Divine One: Yeah, that's what he's best at. Things should work out in the end, for the most part anyway. :D

talim9: Thanks! I think this chapter should have answered your question for me. Well, I hope you liked how things have turned out so far. :D

XX.xXx.AchillezWiplash.xXx.XX: Thanks, I think. Of course I'll update, especially since you asked so nicely. :D