This is the final chapter of this story. I hope I did the real life Nitro justice. Rest in peace little guy. You will live forever in all the hearts of all the lives you touched while you were here.

***13***

Several hours later Nightwing watches from a nearby roof as police raid the Cox and Young offices. He glances over as Deathstroke steps up beside him.

"I spoke with Cox personally as long as his secret affair with the guy Red X got pictures of him with stays secret he won't say a word about Rachel and Nightingale being the same person."

"And Nightingale's disappearance?"

"Maybe she just moved on before Rachel was kidnapped. No reason Nightwing can't say he's spotted her in Bludhaven. No one can prove that anymore than they can prove she and Rachel was one in the same at this point." He turns to Deathstroke. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"

"You're the one she sent the cat for."

"And your the one who felt her getting weaker. I think it would do her more good to wake up and see you than me. Besides she needs someone who can keep her out of trouble if she gets the urge to run off and play Nightingale again."

At the hospital Nitro hides under the bed as a nurse comes into the room. He peeks out as the nurse checks the I. V. it seems to be a very good thing that he found the blood drawn from her in the lab. Despite getting it back she is still very weak. As the latest nurse leaves the room he waits for the door to close then leaps back up on the pillow-purring in Raven's ear.

In her dark mindscape Raven sits up-feeling a little stronger now. When she looks around she sees the asteroids coming together to form the familiar path. She manages to get to her feet and walk.

Nitro purrs louder urging her on. He isn't about to let her give up and be stuck forever in some mental limbo. If only the master would get her to pull her from it.

Later Deathstroke finds himself on the roof of the hospital. The last encounter he has with Raven rings clearly in his mind as he crushes the cigarette he is smoking under his boot heel before heading inside.

"...I will always care for you-"

"-Even now after all we've been through you still can't say it."

"I can't allow myself to feel it...so how can I say it?"

"I thought your days as Raven were over."

"They are-"

"-Then why do you care what might happen if you give into your feelings?"

"I...I...I'm sorry I know what could happen and I just can't take that chance." She watches as Deathstroke gets up and crosses the room where he dresses. "Where are you going?"

"I could give up everything right now for you...just drop it all and stay with you forever. But I need all of you...mind, body, soul, and emotion..." Before he knows it Deathstroke finds himself inside 'Rachel's' private room looking down at her unconscious form.

Nitro looks up at the master expectantly wondering what he's waiting for.

In her mind Raven stumbles near the edge of one of the asteroids. She barely manages to hang on. She's so weak-she knows if she falls she will be lost in the darkness forever. She cries out slipping as the crumbling edge of the rock starts to give way.

Finally Deathstroke takes Raven's hand in his as Nitro meows loudly. "To hell with emotion I'll settle for whatever else you have to offer."

Raven looks up as something grasps her hand keeping her from falling into the darkness. She tries to shield her eyes from the light that invades the darkness. When they adjust she sees Deathstroke there by the bed. "You...came..."

"And I don't intend to leave again."

Nitro looks up at Richard who stands in the doorway.

The jingling of the charms on Nitro's collar catches Raven's attention. She reaches up weakly stroking the cats fur.

Richard turns as he spots Srgt. Maddox down the hall. He gets his attention so that Raven can have some time alone with the men in her life after all she must have been through the last several weeks.

Its a rather abrupt ending that leaves one wanting more. It slips my mind as to who said and where but the phrase "Always leave the audience wanting more" is just what I'm doing here. As I said elsewhere in another story I DON'T DO SEQUELS so this is the ending of this story.