I made you all wait entirely too long for this update. So I made up for it by making a super long episode. So I didn't really have an excuse for not updating big deal. It's not as though my reviewers have my house bugged. OR do they? O.o Well I'll just assume they don't (I've got my eye on you) and I'll just update.

Samanthe 2121, Guardian of Azarath, Linzheart92, Sklyer-A-Teloiv, Realfanficts, Swimming-Toon-Lover, Akanu. Thanks for the reviews guys. Enjoy!

"Robin!" He heard her clear as daylight. She gasped his name, frightened, desperately needing his help. Then he could see her, her foot was caught under a heavy piece of concrete. Rain fell from above like heavy wet rocks. Robin ran towards her but she never seemed to get closer. "Robin help me!"

"Hold on Star!" A low creaking above head told them something was on the verge of breaking. Apparently on Starfire could see it. She returned her terrified wide eyes back to the boy wonder, her hands reached out to him as far as she could stretch them.

"Please Robin! Help me!" He jumped from a fast run to a dead sprint and still it seemed only the ground moved beneath his feet. Robin saw with horror something dark and huge descending upon her.

"Star!" She trained her gaze back skyward and screamed shrilly from the impending object. He ran so hard it began to hurt but still he got no nearer or farther from her. Still screaming she shielded herself with her arms. Robin reached to her just as the shadowy object fell upon her.

"STARRRFIRRRREEE!"

"STAR!" Robin woke in his bed so fast he fell out onto the floor. The boy wonder breathed heavily and held a hand to his sweating forehead. "Starfire…"

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When there's trouble you know who to call
Teen Titans!
From their tower, they can see it all
Teen Titans!

When there's evil on the attack
You can rest knowing they got your back
Cuz when the world needs heroes on patrol
Teen Titans GO!

With their superpowers they unite
Teen Titans!
Never met a villain that they liked
Teen Titans!

They've got the bad guys on the run
They never stop 'till the job gets done
Cuz when the world is losin' all control
Teen Titans GO!

1,2,3,4 GO!

Teen Titans

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Chimera

The doors to Robin's room swished open and he walked out, straightening his mask as he went. With a tired sigh he lumbered his way into the common room for something to calm him his nerves. He opened the fridge, the light within lip up his person and blackened out everything else around him. He found nothing but some soda but ever since he was little that never helped him in the slightest. He pulled a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with tap water. To that he added some powder that made it fizz and sizzle. He gulped it down as though his throat was but a smooth pipe then followed it with a small pill to sooth his upset stomach. He then felt slender hands run up his back and rest on his shoulders.

"Starfire?"

"I heard you shout something? Are you okay?" Their voices were both quieted by the still air of the night. He turned to face his girlfriend and nodded.

"Yeah I'm okay it was…just a dream. Woke me up." She some imaginary dust of his shoulder and held her hands their still.

"It bears a striking resemblance to the 'dreams' you have been having for the past week." He was surprised at first. How did she know? His wonder soon replaced itself with comprehension. She cared for him so deeply it was almost a symbiotic pain they felt, that and her room was directly across from his making it easy to hear him shout.

"How long have you known?"

"Since the first incident," she admitted. "Robin you should tell Raven about these nightmares, they may start to affect you physically." He shook his head and gently took her hands off him.

"I can deal with it Star. They're bad dreams; I've had them ever since I was a kid."

"But you are not alone anymore-"

"Starfire," he cut in. "I'm fine, you don't need to worry so much about me." She hung her head but then looked at him a bit sternly.

"May I beg you to promise me something?"

"I'm not going to like this am I?"

"If they do not stop will you please see Raven or anyone for help?" He looked away reluctantly. Then of course he looked back at her and found her gazing longingly into his eyes. "Please…." He was sometimes afraid of the power those green orbs had over him, but not often.

"Okay, if it gets worse. But I'll be the judge of that."

"We shall see." She giggled and kissed him on the cheek. She then hugged him tightly and hovered back to her room. Robin prepared another dose of the tonic but paused as he raised the glass to his lips. One thing Starfire didn't know about his dreams, or that he failed to mention each time, was that they were about the exact same thing. And each time the outcome was same.

THAT MORNING...

Cyborg entered the common room in the middle of a large yawn. Starfire was already up and perky as usual. Cyborg stopped in mid-walk as his nose detected an inviting aroma.

"Morning Star."

"Good morning friend Cyborg."

"Whoa something smells good, what'cha cook'n?" She seemed quite proud to present him the dish.

"Zorka berry cakes of pan." He eyed the round pieces of bread a little warily. She saw this and quickly reassured him. "Do not fear Cyborg, I am well aware of your aversion to the unearthly tartness of the fruit, so I merely added a large amount of sugar to the mix."

"You don't say." She held a plate out to him.

"Taste."

"Uhhh, don't I get any syrup or anything?"

"If you wish, although I would think that because of the extra sugar needed to dull the zorka berries it might become overpowering."

"Ah, I get it." He cut off a piece with his fork and stuck it in his mouth. He stopped chewing and held a strangely curious expression. Starfire at first didn't know what to think. It was always a suspenseful venture whenever she asked someone to try something she cooked. All of a sudden Cyborg jammed a bigger piece into his mouth. "Star…these are like.." He swallowed them down and began cutting off more. "These are literally the best pancakes I've ever had." She glowed humbly and poured him some orange juice.

"I am glad. Please, consume your fill."

"Don't mind if I do," replied Cyborg with a wink. She went back to making more as Raven, Beast Boy, and Robin all walked in.

"Good morning friends, will you not try-"

"NO! They won't," shouted Cyborg. They all gaped at him. "Trust me guys they taste horrendous, I'll save you the trouble and eat them all myself." Raven, without saying a word, picked up the tea pot Starfire heated up and simply poured herself a cup. Robin's eyes looked at him then scanned an adorably confused Starfire.

"Rigghhht, well we just can't stand to see you suffer."

"Oh but friend Cyborg is not suffering, he finds my zorka berry cakes of pan to be quite delightful." Cyborg uttered a disgruntled huff.

"I figured," said Robin with a half smirk. He picked up a couple of folders he left on the table the night before set to continuing his work on them.

"Ooo! Ooo! Me next!" Exclaimed Beast Boy. Starfire felt overwhelmed by the fervor toward her food and was only to happy to provide some for him. Next she slipped Raven a plate and finally a serving for Robin. He glanced at it but declined with a short shake of the head. She pulled back the plate a bit perplexed.

"You do not want any?"

"I'm sorry Star but I really need to concentrate on these, I'll have some later I promise." She looked disappointed but shrugged it off.

"A-As you wish." A few moments later Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy finished eating their second helpings to Starfire's experimental breakfast. Cyborg let out a satisfied belch and sighed in contentment.

"Well I sure hope you wrote down how you made these Star, those were some good eats."

"Dude I inhaled these things!"

"They were okay," deadpanned Raven with a shrug. Starfire felt on the verge of tears. Never before had she received such compliments on her cooking. Without warning she jumped up and flung her arms around each of them in turn. "Hugging-Hugging…" Warned Raven.

"Oh I am so elated to have finally made something you all enjoy or are able to digest."

"I'm sure they were delicious Starfire, I really can't wait to have some." said Robin. She nodded with a smile. Her mini celebration was cut short by the alarm. Beast Boy got up from the table and hurried to one of the computer monitors. After a quick read he shut it and the alarm off.

"Killer Moth."

JUMP CITY BRIDGE………………..

As the hordes of press arrived on the scene to capture what they could the Titans were already locked in battle with the eccentric Killer Moth. Raven, along with Cyborg held aloft by a dark platform, targeted several hungry mutated insects. Raven skillfully maneuvered Cyborg in the air around her while also knocking away the oversized moths descending upon her. Robin and Beast Boy took up arms against Killer Moth while Starfire covered them from above.

"One of these days you've got to tell us why you like this bridge so much," said Beast Boy.

"It's none of your concern!" Barked the winged villain. He lashed at them with his energy whip causing bits of the asphalt at their feet to jump up. Robin skidded backward with bared teeth.

"Take him down!" At Robin's command Starfire flew from above and began tracing the ground toward Killer Moth with her eyebeams. Meanwhile overhead Cyborg and Raven had a growing difficulty keeping the hordes of mutant moths from eating away at the heavy bridge supports. Robin lunged at Killer Moth with his staff but after he saw the move was dodged swung it about until it connected with the villain's back. He uttered a grunt of pain and staggered back. Beast Boy meanwhile had to divert from attacking Killer Moth to defend himself from the hordes of moths bearing down on him. In the form of a gorilla he grabbed one by the antennas as it flew by and used it as a club to know another out of the air.

"ARRGGHH!" Killer Moth growled angrily and threw his whip upon Robin. The boy wonder managed to avoid being hit but the whip wound around his staff and pulled it from his grasp. As soon as Killer Moth disarmed Robin he flew forward on his wings and rammed Robin to the ground. No sooner had he done that when Starfire began counter attacking for him. Killer Moth shielded himself from numerous starbolts then sent his whip up at her. The alien red head skillfully dodged the stream of energy and took aim with her bright eyes.

"HA!" Just as the energy left her a stray moth flying by caught the full blast and spun out of control down into the water. Killer Moth took advantage of this momentary break and wound the very end of his whip around Starfire's ankle. She gasped and tired to fly away. The moth master tugged powerful toward the ground and down Starfire went. Her body caved in a sizable dent in the asphalt. Killer Moth pulled the whip loose and narrowly jumped aside to avoid a sonic blast from Cyborg.

"That's our girl you're mess'n with!" Killer Moth saw that the numbers of his mutant servants was diminishing. Time to leave. He quickly ran past Robin, who at that moment came to with a groan. Using his elbows for support he sat up just hearing Killer Moth's fading footsteps behind him. His eyes then fell on Starfire. She too roused from a short knock out and put a shaking hand over face.

"Starfire!" Her eyes focused more and they were met with a heavy bridge cable just above her, which from the moths eating on it earlier began to loose its hold. With a quick "EEK" she pulled herself up to fly away but suddenly fell back to the ground. She looked back frantically and saw that her foot was stuck under a heavy pile of broken asphalt. Panicking she stretched her arm out to the first person she saw.

"Robin!" He began to run to her but froze. Starfire pulled and tugged but her foot just wouldn't budge. She pleaded once more, "Robin help me please!" This was it, the dreaded moment Robin had been haunted by for the past several days was actually coming true. Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy still had their hands full with the remaining moths, it was up to him. A horrible sound of wires breaking filled the air and both Titans saw the cable was only moments from falling on the poor trapped alien. She barred her teeth from the effort needed to free herself. Robin sprinted toward her without regard from the burning creeping up in his lungs. He was suddenly met with a cloud of raging moths. Unprepared Robin was forced on his back kicking and punching at the passing flock. "Robin! HELP ME!" There it was, the last thing she said before it happened. With no more patience to spare Robin released a small yield explosive in the air forcing the moths to disperse and clear his path. But he was too late. Robin's blood came to a screeching halt as he watched the enormous and heavy cable fall upon her. At the last moment that hope itself occupied Starfire yanked her foot out of the rubble and tumbled away from the crashing cable. Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy caught up to the scene just as Robin pulled Starfire on his R-Cycle and rocketed away.

TITANS TOWER………………..

A highly tensed Robin stood looking through the observation window into sickbay as Raven, assisted by their computerized doctor, provided Starfire with treatment. Cyborg and Beast Boy stood on either side of him just as anxious.

"He got away," muttered Cyborg. Robin rubbed the space between his eyes.

"But no one else got hurt, and Starfire wouldn't be hurt if I hadn't been taken by surprise."

"Chill man, we've got the best doc on the planet working on her." Robin nodded, though the bulk of his attention was on Raven's patient. He watched her sit Starfire up then explaining her condition to her. Raven then walked out to meet the three boys.

"How is she?" asked Robin. "I-Is she okay? She's okay right?"

"She's going to be fine," replied Raven steadying him with a raised hand. "A few bruises here and there and a broken ankle." Robin darted his eyes about toward the ground. "She'll be on crutches for a few days but because of her species' accelerated healing process it might even be less than that."

"Wish I had that," said Beast Boy.

"Yes it would certainly have helped with that debilitating stubbed toe you had a while ago," deadpanned Raven.

"What are you talking about, that freakin' killed." Raven however began to notice beads of sweat moving down Robin's head.

"Are you okay?" For a moment Robin didn't answer, as though he failed to hear Raven's question.

"I saw it." The other three Titans exchanged looks.

"Saw what?" asked Cyborg.

"I saw what happened to Starfire."

"Yeah we all did," said Beast Boy. "It was pretty scary." Robin shook his head with an aggravated wince.

"No, I mean I saw it before it happened." Raven quirked an eyebrow. "For the entire week all I've been dreaming about every night was that moment." He returned his gaze to Starfire. "And every time I wasn't able to save her." He gazed steadily at Starfire as she rubbed her sore and throbbing ankle. "I'm not going to let it happen again."

"It was just a dream," assured Raven.

"The same dream?!" Snapped Robin. "How can it just be a dream if it's been exactly the same every night? In my 'just a dream' we loose Starfire and its all my fault, she's not going out again."

"You don't mean ever do you?" asked Beast Boy. When Robin didn't answer he and Cyborg traded bizarre looks. "You can't be serious." Again Robin ignored him. "Dude you can't keep Starfire here in the tower forever. I mean what're you gonna do? Ground her?"

"What if it happens again?"

Raven's powers enveloped him and forced him to look at her. "Like you said Robin we're heroes, we all know the risks every time we step out of the tower. Even Starfire would have to see how unreasonable that is."

"I don't care," said Robin. His voice was now shaking. He didn't give his friends time to respond as he quickly entered sickbay and walked up to Starfire's bed. Raven watched them and shook her head with a sigh.

"He'll never get her to agree to that."

"She might for a while," said Cyborg. "But not for long." Inside they saw Starfire adopt an estranged look as Robin told her of his unilateral decision.

Cyborg and Beast Boy sat planted on the couch totally engrossed in Grand Tourismo 4. Starfire entered the common room; she kept her busted ankle in the air as she moved forward on her crutches. She overcame the short flight of steps by hovering down to the lower level.

"I thought we said no cheat codes B!" exclaimed Cyborg.

"There aren't any, I'm just majorly whopping you're butt for once!" chuckled Beast Boy. Starfire finally reached the couch and sat down with a soft moan. The changeling quickly glanced at her then back at his game. "You okay there Star?" She set her crutches aside on the floor.

"Oh yes, this is just strange to me. I have never had the need for the crutches before."

"I have, you'll get over it. Haven't seen Robin all day, what's he up to? Starfire sighed and moved some hair out of her face.

"He remains the same as he was the previous day, only……worse." Cyborg paused the game and turned to her.

"What do you mean?" She hesitated to answer. "Starfire you need to tell us, what's going on with Robin?" Starfire held her arms uneasily and sighed. There was anxiousness and worry in her eyes.

"I know Robin means well and that he cares for me……but what transpired last night leads me to believe that something may be wrong." Cyborg motioned to Beast Boy who switched off their game system.

"What happened?"

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The Night Before………….

Robin followed behind Starfire as she made her way down the hall. "There you go." He encouraged her as she made her first journey on her crutches. "Looks like you're getting the hang of it."

"It is…oomph…difficult to adapt...but I am certain I will manage." Then entered Starfire's room where upon she immediately sat down on her bed. "Oh my, the walk alone was tiring."

"Being on crutches will do that to you," said Robin with a smirk. "So, you need anything?"

"Not at the moment thank you Robin." He smiled and shook his head dismissively.

"Ahh its no problem I just want to….." She only noticed that his voice died down a few seconds later. She looked back at him to see his face looking strangely at a vacant spot in her room.

"Robin?" He blinked as though what he was seeing was rippling mirage. According to Robin his girlfriend was not sitting on her bed as she actually was, but was lying prostrate on the floor bound in heavy chains. "Robin what is wrong?"

"Starfire?" He didn't take his eyes off the empty spot he was staring at. Suddenly he bolted down to the floor and began fumbling with an imaginary person.

"R-Robin?!"

"Don't worry Star I'm going to get you out!" She threw her crutches away and hopped on one foot over to him.

"Robin I am here! I am right here!" He snapped his eyes to her and took in rapid heavy breaths. "What is the matter with you?" He placed a hand over his forehead to steady himself.

"I'm sorry Star, I saw…."

"What? What did you see?" she asked seriously.

"Something………I've gotta go."

"O-Okay, I hope you feel-" He quickly stood upright and hastily walked out of her room. "-Better."

-----

Robin stumbled into his room and almost instantly tipped over a trio of extra bo-staffs leaning against the wall. Drops of water fell from his face, he having stopped at the bathroom to splash his face with a cold rush. The act unfortunately brought only seconds of relief. The whole of his sense became overwhelmed by a shaky sense of delirium. His breathing hardened and his cape suddenly felt as though it weighed two tons. He roughly unclasped it and fell down on his bed like a rock. The boy wonder rolled onto his back and was suddenly met with not the ceiling but the sight of a heavy bridge support falling upon him.

"NO!" He rolled off his bed and ran about blindly until he collided head on with the wall. The thud it produced was quite low and pronounced. On the other side of his door Starfire balanced on her crutches, a worried and tense feeling growing within her.

Present…………

Both Cyborg and Beast Boy sat perplexed. Sure Robin could be overprotective and sometimes a little crazy about it, but seeing something that wasn't there was not something you'd call normal.

"Since that moment Robin has become somewhat distant. He mutters to himself and talks to people who are not there, at times he has grown angry with them."

"You're saying that Robin's seeing things and hearing voices?" asked Cyborg. She nodded sadly. He nodded and held her shoulder. "Don't worry Star, you did the smart and right thing by telling us. We'll help him."

"Thank you."

Robin walked along an impatient stride into Raven's room. Upon entering he saw her lighting candles and dimming the lights.

"You must have me confused for Star Raven. I don't usually meditate with you."

"Perhaps you should," she replied bringing the last candle alight. "But that's not the reason I asked you to come." Robin folded his arms. "I've been told you might need someone to talk to-"

"So now you're a shrink along with everything else?"

Raven held her irritation at bay. "It's clear to everyone you're not yourself. You respond with curtness, you easily forget things, and according to Starfire you had a full blown hallucination." Robin raised his head toward the ceiling with an ironic smirk.

"Ahhh, so because of what Starfire said you think I'm going nuts."

"All I'm sure of right now is that our leader is clearly preoccupied and we have the right to know by what."

"This is a waste of time." He turned to walk about but the doors became painted by black energy and closed with a snap. He turned back just in time to see the glow in Raven's eyes die away.

"They asked me to talked to you not because they're suspicious but because they're worried….and so am I." Robin let out a sigh of acquiescence and sat down on the floor across from Raven. "Now, as far as I can tell all of this started when Starfire got hurt. Is that correct?" He hesitated. Robin never liked talking to anyone about his inner most feelings. It was usually Starfire who allowed him a way to vent. But he quickly realized that Raven wasn't some stranger or high charging therapist, she was his friend and was only trying to help.

"No, I've been feeling agitated since last week." She nodded as he spoke. "I kept having this dream about Starfire, every night it was the same. We were in a fight and Starfire becomes caught and……and I can't ever save her in time."

"And the night on the bridge?" Robin looked up at her with a mixture of terror and shock.

"I couldn't believe it, every single detail about my dream was suddenly happening. Starfire was in trouble and I couldn't do a thing about it. All my skills and training…..and I couldn't save her."

"So you think you've been having some sort of premonition?"

"I don't know what to think Raven, and I've been seeing and hearing things all of a sudden. I feel like I'm loosing my mind!" He spoke in a hoarse whisper and raggedly ran his hands through his hair. To Raven's apprehension he then began to return his eyes to her, they were wide and unblinking. "Raven…."

"What?" He saw four of the demonic birds of Trigon's ilk land on her shoulders and they began to merge with her.

"A-A-Are you okay?" Raven moved her shoulders up and down.

She grew another set of red eyes as she spoke. "I feel fine, you?" Robin tried to ignore what he was seeing, fearing that he was hallucinating again. The boy wonder blinked several times. "Robin? What's the matter?" Her voice deepened and she began to grow antler-like horns. He suddenly tackled her to the floor.

"Trigon's birds are inside you!"

"Robin!" She took hold of his shoulders and locked gazes with him. "Look me in the eyes." He did. "Listen to my voice, there is nothing and no one else here; it's just you and me." He held his stare with her but still appeared unconvinced. "Just you and me…"

"B-But I saw it."

"I know you did, but there's nothing there." She let go of him and he sat back down across from her. "Robin you starting to display some trouble symptoms, I'll have to look into it further."

"You mean you need time to find a place to lock me up." Robin's tone changed immediately from frightened to harsh.

"No, I mean I need time to examine what went on and to properly diagnose you."

"Why BOTHER!" She jumped at his sudden outcry. "You've already made up your mind, I can tell Raven; you, Cyborg, Beast Boy and even Starfire. All of you think I'm going crazy."

Raven replied with a monotone retort. "You're not giving me much reason to think otherwise. Caring for someone is one thing Robin but what you've been doing is boarding on obsession and paranoia." Robin stood up, grabbed Raven hard by the arm, forced her to her feet and held her against the wall. She turned deathly white at his actions. "Robin let go me!"

"You don't get it do you Raven!" Hissed the enraged boy wonder. "I'm looking out for the one I love and I'm being called crazy for it."

"Robin please let go of me…" Her voice shook. His grip instead only tightened and he pulled her closer to him.

"You know Raven, if you weren't so popular around here I'd have mind to make more room at the breakfast table. All you ever do is question, insult, and-and-and read. DON'T YOU EVER DO ANYTHING ELSE?!!!" Raven closed her eyes and with her powers forced Robin away from her. He hit the opposite wall with a hard crash and slid down to the floor. With a tired groan he rolled onto his side and slipped out of consciousness.

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Starfire followed Beast Boy into an observation room where Cyborg and Raven were already waiting. Cyborg offered up his seat to Starfire and took her crutches as soon as she sat down. They all watched from a pane of one way glass down at the poor boy wonder. He sat in a padded room devoid of his normal attire for a plain white shirt and pants.

"Raven?"

"He attacked me Starfire." The alien princess covered her mouth. Raven read her expression and waved a hand. "I'm fine; I doubt he knew what he was doing. But before that he experienced another hallucination. Since he's regained consciousness he's had several more."

"What is wrong with him?" Raven looked down at him somberly.

"I didn't want it to turn out this way, but he's displaying all the signs and symptoms of acute schizophrenia." While Beast Boy and Cyborg knew the gravity of this affliction Starfire was in need of clarification. "A schizophrenic unfortunately looses all grip on reality, they see and hear things. Sometime they believe so strongly in paranoid delusions that they never again trust a living soul. It is treatable but it's not something you get through over night."

"And he doesn't start to get better?" asked Beast Boy. She glanced at him then at the other two Titans.

"Sometimes it only gets worse."

"Robin was acting the same way from the dust on Slade's mask," said Cyborg. "How do we know this isn't the same thing?"

Raven shook her head in dismay. "After you identified the specific chemical when you removed it we were able to enter its signature into the database. It was the first thing I looked for and so far it's not showing up anywhere in his body."

"But what can we do for him?" asked Starfire. Concern was quickly assuming control over her. Raven paused as she was afraid to believe her own words.

"If his condition doesn't improve or worsens…….we may have to commit him to mental health." Starfire held her laced hands to her chest and gazed down sadly at her significant other.

"May I speak with him?"

--------

Robin sat cross-legged in a corner of the padded room staring aimlessly at the floor. He became aware of the door opening, camouflaged as it was because of the pads on it. Starfire stepped inside so cautiously as though to be walking on egg shells.

"Star?" He said without looking at her.

She responded brightly, "Hello Robin-"

"Shhhhhhhh," he shushed her with a finger raised to his lips. "You shouldn't be so loud; Raven gets upset when I'm too loud." Starfire glanced up at the pale Titan. Raven could only look back gravely. The Tamaranian princess returned her attention to Robin and titled her head at him.

"I hope you feeling well," she said quietly.

"Me? I feel fine I'm…..just feeling fine."

"Raven has explained to me your condition." Her eyes shown with affectionate tenderness. "You can be certain we will search for a means to help you. You know we want nothing more than to help you." He finally looked up at her and she saw that his eyes were red and puffy, dare she think it from crying.

"I hope you're quick." She painted a soft smile across her face. He then buried his face in his hands as his tears began again. Immediately almost out of instinct Starfire hobbled down to his side and held his face.

"Shhhh, you are safe." He felt her fingers gently run through his hair. He wanted to look at her but as soon as he did his eyes went glassy. He saw none other than Slade standing behind her. She saw his terrified expression. She moved stood up and moved away. "What do you see?" He rubbed his eyes as though trying to clean heavy grime off of them, his lingered on his face. The vision of his arch nemesis firmly gripped her around the neck as though daring him to say more. Robin's hands slowly fell to just below his mouth then he began to softly chuckle. He pointed up at her.

"Slade's right behind you…" His arm shook from his bizarre laughter. "And I-hee hee ha ha-I don't even know if you're in danger or not." A tear trickled down Starfire's cheek; it pained her so greatly to see Robin like this. Her mouth trembling she quickly vacated the room. "Hey! Where you going! Ha haaa take Slade with you will ya!"

--------

Starfire pushed the door to the observation room open with one of her crutches taking Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy by surprise.

"We-are-going-to-help-him-now!"

"We're working on it," said Raven. "But this isn't like getting a vaccine. And when you think about it Robin has witnessed a lot of terrible things over the years. It could be that it's finally taking its toll on him." Raven didn't like the effect realism was having on Starfire's mood. "However I think I have something." She displayed a readout on a screen before them. "This is Robin's neural activity in real time." They saw a series of lines jumping in ways that could hardly be described as normal. "These are recordings from when Robin hallucinated last night, my room, and just now." Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire examined all three.

"They are identical," pointed out the red head.

"Exactly, and that's just impossible. Now while this is irregular as far as schizophrenic patients go we have seen this brain wave pattern before." At this they all leaned in closer wit narrowed eyes. It was first to click in Beast Boy.

"Phobia."

"Its gotta be," agreed Cyborg.

"Um, I do not wish to slow our progress but who is this 'Phobia'."

"She was a hired hand for the Brotherhood," explained Cyborg. "We never ran into her until you with the Eese. And when we did we had a pretty hard time taking her down at first."

"Turns your worst fear against you," added Beast Boy. But Raven still had qualms about their conclusion.

"But still, Phobia was never to affect us on this level," she said gesturing down at Robin. "I doubt she's able to bring a victim to the brink of total insanity."

"Not without some help," said Beast Boy. They regarded him with curiosity. "If she got some other telepath or maybe even some sort of machine to amplify her powers maybe she could do something like this."

"I agree with Beast Boy," said Starfire. "We should seek out the Phobia and stop her torture of Robin."

"But something still just doesn't add up," said Raven. "How could she have known things would happen as they did on the bridge? She couldn't have, not unless she already told someone to make sure it did." Cyborg picked his head up in comprehension.

"She got Killer Moth to attack the bridge and make sure Starfire got caught and keep Robin from getting to her at all costs."

"We have to find him," said Raven.

"How?" asked Beast Boy. "Last time I looked he got away, and it's a big city."

"No prob," came Cyborg's voice. He tapped off his arm screen and turned to them with a smirk. "You'll never guess who Titans East just picked up on breaking and entering." When he showed them the mug shot it was of course Killer Moth.

"Not the sharpest tool in the shed," muttered Raven. "You two go, Starfire and I will stay here and watch over Robin." Cyborg and Beast Boy saluted her in their own fashion and promptly took their leave of the tower.

--------

A few hours after Cyborg and Beast Boy passed by and Robin appeared to be making no progress. He lay on his side in his padded room sleeping restlessly. His head rested on his hands and his eyes quickly darted about behind the lids. Flashes of the day before and his dreams of the past week flashed through his mind like a broken movie reel.

"Robin! Please help me!!"

"It's a risk every time we step out of the tower."

Slade appeared from around Starfire like a lingering poltergeist.

"I wasn't able to save her…….I'm not going to let happen again."

A falling bridge support took up the whole of his view

"Robin help me Please!"

"Robin I do not understand, why must I remain in the tower? Do you not trust me?"

"It's not about trust Star; I just want you to be safe."

"AH!" Robin gasped and snapped his eyes open. He remained firmly stationary on the floor. He darted his eyes about, surprised that he could see as perfectly as he could before this whole mess broke out. He promptly stood up and looked for a means to escape. Rats, there didn't seem to be one. His hands reflexively went for his utility belt, but of course that was taken away so his tools were out of his reach. "Double rats." There really was only one way out, and he would regret it later. He walked up to the door and pounded on it. "Starfire! Star! Raven! Anyone I need help!" Through the small pane of glass he saw a shadow coming closer. Readying himself Robin stood up against the wall on the other side of the door. Sure enough Starfire entered and looked about for the boy wonder.

"Robin?" He moved around from behind the open door and lightly gripped a spot just below her neck. Her eyes widened and she looked around at him.

"I'm sorry Starfire." Starfire's eyes then rolled up into the back of her head and with a small groan Robin gently let her settle down to the floor. He took her communicator then stroked her hair. "I'm sorry." He walked out leaving the door open behind him. The fist place he stopped was his own room, obviously for his caped uniform. Once he began his journey down the halls again he came upon Raven. She lay on the floor with a couple of books scattered around her. He knelt down and turned her over. She looked as though she were being forced to endure one horrible nightmare after another.

"Raven."

"M-Mother…" Her voice cracked as she spoke to the air. "Where are you?"

"It's me, Robin," said he. "Raven where are Cyborg and Beast Boy?" She convulsed suddenly causing Robin to take his hand off her. He forced himself to get over the small shock and he sat her up and held her shoulders. "Raven listen to me, I need to know where Cyborg and Beast Boy are." Her eyes opened a hair. She stared at him with a faraway look. "Do you know where they are?"

"I'll tell you," she whispered. "If you tell me where my mother is." Robin's eyes shut in futility. It wasn't Raven's fault; she was suffering from the same effects that recently plagued him.

"Raven I know it's hard to tell but the things you're seeing aren't real. You told me yourself it's just an illusion." Tears streaked down her face, her rattled emotions caused the downed books scattered about the hall to rise up and shoot in all directions. Robin pulled her back to the floor and shielded her from the flying projectiles. As soon as it was safe he moved away and was dismayed to see Raven had slipped back into slumber. He let out a hard breath, and sprinted for the common room.

STEEL CITY…………………

"If we knew he was this important we would've treated him better," said Bumble Bee as she led Cyborg and Beast Boy toward their brig.

"Ahh bugs," dismissed Beast Boy. Bumble Bee chuckled lightly and let them inside a circular room lined with small enclosures. Speedy sat watch over one cell occupied by Killer Moth.

"Looks like you've got visitors," snickered the agile archer. "I'll leave you to it." He left the three of them alone. Cyborg and Beast Boy stood before an oddly silent Killer Moth. The invisible force field was all that separated them.

"We've got some questions for you," said Cyborg.

"Tsk."

"I'm serious! Either you start talking or we start ignoring some civil liberties." Killer Moth made an effort to keep from looking at them.

"It would help immensely if I knew what you were talking about."

Beast Boy held a hard grimace. "Robin's being driven nuts, that's what we're talking about. We know its Phobia and we know she hired you to stage that attack on the bridge."

"And if that's true?" Cyborg gave Beast Boy a nod where upon the changeling switched off the force field and Cyborg bounded inside the cell. He gripped Killer Moth by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall.

"If that's true you're gonna tell us where she's hid'n out."

"And if I don't?"

"Remember those civil liberties I mentioned, we're willing to give you everything you're entitled to…..but-" Cyborg pulled him forward then shoved him back again. "But there's nobody here but us, we could do without them for an hour or two."

"I doubt that," spat back the villain. "You despise me but you won't 'lower' yourselves to my level."

"I wouldn't push him," warned Beast Boy. "I mean…you know how Cyborg gets, when he doesn't get his afternoon cake." Cyborg covertly rolled his eyes. "Where's Phobia, tell us and maybe you'll have an easier sentence." The wheels turned in Killer Moth's head. He let out a sigh of defeat and Cyborg let him fall back down to the cot.

"We met and she offered a substantial sum for threatening the bridge and concentrating the attack on the Tamaranian."

"And…" Prompted Cyborg impatiently. "Did you meet where she's hiding or…what?"

"We met during the night at a closed construction sight, down Aldrich St. They had only just started laying the foundation and the basement wasn't covered yet, we met where they were installing the water heaters. She popped some pill and we talked about the job."

"What pill?"

"I don't know it wasn't something I paid much attention to." Cyborg opened his mouth to speak again but he suddenly heard Robin's voice in his ear.

"Cyborg." He and Beast Boy stepped out of the cell and reactivated the force field. He held two fingers to his head.

"Robin?"

"Yeah it's me."

"No offense bud but shouldn't you be resting?"

-----

In the common room of Titans Tower Robin sat at a computer terminal typing while speaking into the communicator he commandeered from Starfire.

"I've somehow made a miraculous recovery, I don't know how but that's not what I'm concerned about right now. I think I know who's responsible for this."

"Phobia." Robin looked up with a mildly surprised gawk.

"That's a neat trick Cyborg, you're gonna have to teach me that one later."

"Robin Phobia hired Killer Moth to attack the bridge," said Beast Boy. "He doesn't know where she is but they met at the construction site for that new hotel." As Robin listened he stood up from his chair.

Cyborg and Beast Boy were soon met with Robin once they reached the construction site described by Killer Moth. They made their way to the open basement and to the area of water heaters waiting to be hooked up.

"I don't get it Rob," said Cyborg scratching his head. "What do you expect to find here?"

"Something," muttered Robin.

"You don't think she left her address written on a napkin do ya," chuckled Beast Boy.

"Yeah I'm sure she didn't," said Cyborg. Robin looked around the ground with careful diligence. "Seriously though Robin, there's nothing here except lumber and piping." Robin however disagreed.

"Its true with every crime scene, everything you need is right in front of you. You just have to pay attention." His eyes roamed over a pyramid stack of copper piping where lying beside it he found a tiny plastic wrapper. "Here we are." Cyborg and Beast Boy crowded around him.

"What'cha got?" He held it closer and narrowed his eyes.

"Some kind of wrapper for a medicinal." Beast Boy saw that it was completely blank on all sides.

"No name on it anywhere." Robin however saw that it greatly resembled a pill that he took the night before to help settle his stomach. He smiled with a snicker and let it fall into Cyborg's open palm.

"Dramamine, it's for motion sickness." Beast Boy morphed into a humming bird and zoomed off toward the open air. Robin and Cyborg waited patiently. He quickly returned and resumed human form.

"The supplies for this building are being shipped by boat, and in the nearest dock that I can see from here there's one ship that looks out of place."

Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy made a mad dash for the suspicious ship docked beside the others. The absence of guards or any kind of look out gave them enough pause to suspect it might be a trap.

"You think she's expecting us?" asked Cyborg.

"Can't be sure, we'll have to risk it." Though risk taking was a decided factor they still wanted to be as discreet as possible. They found the door leading inside but soon after found it was locked tight. Beast Boy glanced off to the side and found an open port hole cover. He took the form of a spider and crawled his way inside. After making the other two wait yet again Beast Boy unlocked door from the inside and they silently entered. Now, the thing left was to find Phobia. But in a ship as winding and maze like as the one they were currently in that could prove difficult. "I'd want to be as far from anyone as I possibly could…." Robin thought out loud, letting his intuition guide him. "Wherever I was I'd want it well ventilated."

"Engine room," said Cyborg. Robin nodded in agreement. The boy wonder knew that if Raven was feeling the effects it was only a matter of time before Starfire did as well, and then possible Cyborg and Beast Boy. Once they reached the engine room, and of course another locked door, they found their path blocked. There were no windows or opening for Beast Boy to crawl through. "Only one way to go," said Cyborg with a wide smirk. His arm transformed into his sonic cannon and from it a powerful blast shot out and ripped the heavy door from its hinges. Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy jumped inside just in time to see Phobia herself jump to her feet and back away.

"How did you find me?!"

"A little moth told us," said Cyborg. Behind her they saw a device with an attachment that obviously fit over the user's head. Robin extended his bo-staff to a battle ready position.

"Phobia, it amplifies your powers over great distances doesn't it?" She cocked her head as though saying 'go on'. "I doubt you were able to put that together yourself." She placed her hands at her hips.

"Maybe I did have it built for me by someone else, but I don't see how that's relevant to the status quo. You were supposed to stay in your former condition indefinitely but as you can see I'm still working out some kinks and refining the technique."

"Technique? Do you have any idea what I've seen the entire week?!" She chuckled derisively.

"Oh come come Robin what kind of a question is that, of course I know what you've seen. I made sure of it." Robin bared his teeth angrily. "And you're just the beginning; once every Titan on this planet is in a padded room of their own there will be not a soul who could stand in my way." She threw her arms forward and they were suddenly met with image of thousands of snakes shooting at them. Robin twirled his staff in front of him like a propeller.

"I'm not falling for it again! ARRGGGGHHH!" Robin ran through the illusionary serpents and swung his staff into Phobia's stomach. She fell back against her machinery and quickly recovered. The green suited villainess threw many punches and kicks at the boy wonder, all of which were dodged and deflected. In a bout of sleaziness she reached up above her head and pulled a rubber pipe out of its gasket. A jet of hot air rushed into Robin's face sending him to the floor. She picked up a heavy wrench off the floor and held an evil leer.

"I am your worst fears." Just as she raised the tool turned weapon above her head a short blue blast came out of the cloudy air and knocked it from her grip. She turned her eyes toward her attacker and saw a green snake quickly move out of steamy mist and wound around the whole of her body. She fell to the floor with a grunt and growled irritably. Robin righted himself with a helping hand from Cyborg. He retracted his downed staff and after stuffing it away pulled Phobia back onto her feet.

"You've got some curing to do. Now!" Beast Boy, still tightly bound around her, hissed just loud enough to make her jump. She hung her head and Cyborg rested a congratulatory hand on Robin's shoulder.

TITANS TOWER…………….

Robin sat alone at the dinner table in the twilight hours of the night. During the time Phobia was feeding him nightmares he'd allowed himself to fall behind on his crime reports, thus he was now forcing himself to get caught up. He yawned greatly and tried rubbing the fatigue from his eyes. He heard the door to the common room open.

"Robin?" He turned and saw Starfire had called his name.

"Starfire, shouldn't you be asleep like everyone else?" She sat down at the table and set her crutches aside.

"You could do with the shut eye yourself. You needn't labor over these into such late hours of the night," she said nodding her head at the large stack of files.

"I know but there are so many I just want to get them done and out of the way-" His speech was interrupted by the growling of his stomach. "Just a little hungry," he said laughing at himself. She smiled back then with an idea in mind hovered to the refrigerator and placed something in the microwave. Seconds after it beeped to signify that it was done Starfire placed a heated plate of her newly invented pancakes in front of him.

"Then you should eat."

"Okay, just let me get to a stopping point." Her hands fell on his and he stopped writing. Without taking her eyes from his she softly took his hands away from the folder and closed it.

"It can wait patiently." Robin smiled at his easy defeat and after shoving the file aside pulled the plate toward him. He paused with a fork in hand.

"Starfire, I'm sorry for freaking you out earlier-well all of you actually. I know you're more than capable of taking care of yourself." She stood up and limped her way around the table to sit beside him.

"Robin, there is no fault in caring deeply for someone. And if there is then I am afraid that I am guilty as well." Robin's smile lengthened. Carved a piece from the short stack and placed it in his mouth. With a nod he wound an arm around her shoulder.

"It's delicious Star." She moved some hair out of his face.

"I am glad you enjoy them." They met each other in a soft kiss and Robin mumbled something about her cooking that suddenly made Starfire giggle and playfully hit him off the shoulder.

The End

Well I am most hopeful the next epie won't take THAT long to write. I would've updated yesterday except I almost got fired so I spent the bulk of that afternoon convincing him not to do so. But the good news is I got the job done and I didn't get fired. Yay for me! XD. Please review. Laters!