J'onn smiled softly, coiled up loosely with his head by his stomach. If he was quiet enough he could just hear Flash's heartbeat, slowed to an almost normal rate as his metabolism slowed from lack of necessity. Flash was sleeping again, twitching or kicking softly every-so-often as he dreamed. J'onn couldn't deny that he enjoyed having Flash inside him like this, feeling the absolute trust the human had for him now that the fear had vanished, J'onn was pleased in had only taken a week for Flash's trust in him to rebuild itself. It also made J'onn feel pleasantly warm inside. He knew he would be sad when they were found and he would have to let Flash out, but he couldn't just keep Flash trapped forever. Flash was a free spirit, he would only be content to stay in his small space for so long before the desire to run overpowered him. Still, J'onn could enjoy it while it lasted.

Before J'onn knew it a month had passed on this frigid planate. He had already eaten for both himself and his tenant and was enjoying a rare ray of this planet's blue sunshine when he heard it: the gentle purr of a well cared-for engine. He looked up to see a Javelin coming down to land, sensing three minds inside. He could sense Shayera's concern when she didn't see Flash, Dove's worry for his long-time friend, and Hawk's eagerness to destroy anyone who had hurt his teammates. J'onn rose up slightly as the Javelin landed near him in the clearing and the three Leaguers disembarked. "J'onn? Is that you?" Shayera asked, one hand on her mace just in case.

"Yes, Shayera. I was beginning to wonder when you would arrive, though I admit I had expected founders only." J'onn said, nodding in greeting to the three.

"Where are the others? You had Flash and Booster Gold with you, right? Are they both okay?" Shayera asked, looking around. Her wings drooped slightly when neither hero came running out to greet them.

"We were separated when we crash landed here. I found Flash soon afterwards. He had a mild concussion and the beginnings of hypothermia. I found Booster Gold a week later. He… didn't make it." J'onn kept his eyes on the ground, remembering the mangled state the time-traveling hero's body had been in when he'd found him, striped of most of its meat. The three new arrivals bowed their heads as well for a moment of silence before Shayera looked back to J'onn.

"What about Wally?" She asked fearfully. Unless J'onn had found a hot spring on this forsaken place, her little brother's chances were practically zero. J'onn looked uncomfortable for a moment, then closed his eyes, not in mourning, but in telepathic communication.

"Wally. Wake up Wally. Shayera and Hawk and Dove are here. It's time to go home now."

"Shayera? You're sure?" J'onn didn't blame Flash for his disbelief. There had been a few times they had thought a Javelin was coming only to be passed by.

"She's standing right in front of me. Would you like to see her now?" J'onn smiled softly at Flash's excited squirms and lifted himself a bit taller, contracting his stomach muscles and gently forcing his full load back up his throat. Shayera, Hawk, and Dove exchanged concerned looks when their friend started gagging slightly. They backed up a step when something large, wet, and moving slid from his mouth and into the snow in front of them. J'onn quickly reverted to his humanoid form and wiped Wally's face free of slime with the corner of his cape, double checking his breathing just in case before sitting back and letting the others see. Wally's mask was off, hanging from his neck, and his was blinking in the sudden light before his gaze found Shayera.

"Hey. You miss me?" He asked softly, voice low and raspy from disuse. He winced slightly at his sore throat before smiling at his sister and friends. After just a few seconds, though, the cold starting biting at his flesh, making him shiver almost uncontrollably.

"We need to get him somewhere warm. I will explain everything on the way back to the Watchtower." J'onn said, carefully picking Wally up and carrying him aboard the Javelin, three shell-shocked heroes following close behind.

~*~

"…if he hadn't gulped me down I wouldn't be alive right now. I know it sounds pretty freaky, but it was the only way he could protect me." Wally finished telling the other founders his side of the story. He watched all of them closely, trying to gauge their reactions. Shayera was still in shock over what she had seen, but seemed happy just to have Wally back safely; Green Lantern looked slightly ill but relieved; Batman and Diana were impossible to read; and Superman looked like he didn't know if he wanted to kill J'onn for eating his teammate or give him an award for creative thinking in a near-hopeless situation. "You guys aren't gonna kick him out or something, are ya. 'Cause if you even try it I'm gone just as quick." Thid gained him a few startled looks, though Batman looked almost amused…almost.

"We'll need to discus it a bit further, but I think it's safe to say J'onn won't be going anywhere anytime soon." Batman said, surprising everyone in the room. "In the meantime you need to rest and finish recovering. You've been through a lot." Wally nodded and snuggled back into the med-bay bed, happy to find it was a comfortable one, before dozing off. His last conscious thought was that he hoped J'onn would let him back in again some time.

THE END