Author's Note: It's been awhile . . . Sorry for keeping you waiting! Please enjoy!

"Are you alright?" A voice questioned him. Alfred forced himself to open his eyes and glance around at his surroundings. The squeals of bats immediately informed him where he was—the Bat cave. But how had he gotten down here? The last thing he remembered was Robin sprinting out of the house—Robin, who had something clearly wrong with him.

"Master Richard!" Alfred exclaimed as he tried to sit up, but a strong hand pushed him back down.

"Alfred, calm down," A husky voice barked and Alfred's eyes widened. He knew that voice, but it was impossible, wasn't it? Bruce was supposed to be dead! "You're hurt."

"Master Bruce?" Alfred inquired, a hopeful tone entering his voice.

"Yeah," Bruce replied. "It's me." Batman stepped into the dim lights of the cave and Alfred could see Bruce's face with the cowl down. The man he had considered his son was filled with shame and clearly remorseful. Alfred felt pity enter his system and he resisted the urge to comfort him. Right now, he didn't matter. Getting Dick back safely was all that mattered.

"Master Richard?" Alfred inquired.

"Gone," Bruce answered quickly. "Superman and Young Justice are tracking him as we speak."

"There's something wrong with him," Alfred informed his master. "I was about to have him tested in the Cave when he—"

"Hurt you," Bruce completed and he hung his head in shame. "Nothing serious, just a few bruised ribs and some minor bleeding, but still—"

"He wasn't in his right mind!" Alfred interjected, sitting up for the first time. Ignoring the pain that flared up in his side, he swung his legs over the side of the examination table and forced himself to stand. Bruce looked about ready to protest, but Alfred simply held his hand for silence. "He thinks you are dead! Of course, he wouldn't be in his right mind!"

"It's not just that." Bruce mumbled.

"Then what?" Alfred challenged.

"It's the fear gas." He told him simply. Immediately, Alfred felt dread hit him and panic began to overtake his senses. Richard was only 13—he was too young to die!

"Dear God," Alfred muttered, a tortured expression filling his face. "Is there a cure?"

"No," It wasn't Bruce that answered, just the Batman. Alfred had noticed that whenever something hit Bruce personally, the Batman would take over almost as a coping device—a way for Bruce to escape from his pain. "I don't have a sample to begin to synthesize an antidote."

"And Scarecrow?" Alfred added.

"Missing," Batman answered. "I've got the League looking for him." Alfred nodded sadly, wishing that there were someway he could help.

"I'll keep an eye out here," Alfred offered. "Will you be going to help with the search for Master Richard?"

"Yes." Batman nodded and then began to head towards the Bat mobile.

"And sir?" Bruce spun around to face his butler. A moment of understanding passed between the two. "Bring him back."

A ghost of a smile passed over the Batman's face and then, he sped off.

They were after him.

He could hear their voices taunting him, daring him to stop. He couldn't stop though for then he would hurt them—his family. Robin knew on some level that everything he was experiencing wasn't real and that it was just a product of Scarecrow's toxin. That didn't; however, stop the feeling of guilt that came from the fact that he had attacked Alfred and the fear that he would do it again to someone else. He couldn't stop, couldn't rest. He had to keep running in order to protect them!

You hurt him and you let Bruce get killed. You should've gone with him!

A dagger of pain ran through him, as he knew that voice was right. What kind of son was he? He had let Bruce go into a dangerous situation—a situation that got him killed! If only he had done something, if only he could've saved Bruce!

It's all your fault! You don't deserve to live!

He knew he didn't deserve to live. He didn't deserve to be in a world where he was a murderer. He belonged in Hell where he could be punished eternally.

"Robin!" A voice screamed and for a second, the Boy Wonder almost stopped, as he knew whose voice that was.

But he couldn't stop—not even because Kid Flash was calling him.

He had to keep moving away from them.

It was the only way to protect them!

"Robin!" Kid Flash yelled as the team tried to keep up with the Boy Wonder. Despite the fact that one of their members could fly and another one had super-speed, it was clear that Robin knew how to avoid them. Batman had taught him well. "Dammit!"

"We're losing him!" M'gann exclaimed to her teammates below.

"Superman to Young Justice." Superman's voice crackled in over Kaldur's intercom. Kaldur kept pushing his body faster in the hopes that he would be able to catch up with his rogue teammate and somehow, he managed to press the talk button on his communicator.

"Go ahead, Superman." Kaldur told him, nearly breathless.

"Stop the pursuit," Superman ordered. "We need to meet up and discuss strategy."

"Agreed," Kaldur replied. "Stop! Stop chasing him!" Immediately Kid-Flash froze and M'gann hovered above the ground. Superboy glanced at Robin once more before facing their leader.

"Why are we stopping?" Superboy snapped impatiently. "We have to catch him."

"You need a plan," An authoritative voice interjected. Superman descended from the skies and landed on the rooftop. Superboy immediately tensed up and avoided looking at the face of his "father". He hated the man with a passion, but if working with him would help bring Robin back alive, then that's what he would have to do. "Robin's been trained by the best. If he doesn't want to be caught, he won't."

"What do you suggest we do then?" Kaldur asked the League Member and Superman sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"You will find Scarecrow," The team spun around and faced the figure that had suddenly appeared out of the shadows. "I will deal with Robin."

"Batman," Kid-Flash mumbled. "You're alive."

"This is wonderful!" M'gann exclaimed. "Once Robin sees that you're okay, everything will be alright!" Batman shook his head ruefully.

"Even if Robin sees me," Batman began. "He won't believe I'm alive. The toxin has warped his mind too much. It's a miracle that he hasn't hurt more people."

"We have to help find Robin!" Superboy protested.

"You want to help?" Batman growled. "Find Scarecrow and force him to give you a sample of his fear toxin. Without that, I can't synthesize an antidote."

"But Batman—!" Kid-Flash called as the Caped Crusader faded once more into the shadows. The team exchanged worried glances before Superman finally spoke up.

"Don't worry," He assured the teens. "If anyone can find Robin, it's Batman. Now, we've got to find Scarecrow."

"Wait, you're coming with us?" Superboy questioned.

"Yes," Superman answered simply. "Robin has saved my life numerous time. I have to try and save his. Now, come on."

And with that the Man of Steel took off into the skies, the team close behind him.

Author's Note: This was a hard chapter for me to write. I hope you all enjoyed it though! Please review!