Who's ready for an update? I AM! \O/ Yeey! *-* Well, I wrote this chapter once, ending the story here... But I felt like it was way too rushed... (I skipped some of the parts you see)... In the end I felt completely unhappy with it... And wrote this instead. I REALLY hope everyone enjoys it ^^ It surprisingly took me longer to write than I expected (I didn't even get started on my next chapter for 'Hero's Come Back D:) But no worries, it's here now ^^

Thank you sooo much for the reviews: LizzieH22; j9162; tdyn0 and random obsession! You guys are truly THE BEST *-* 3

Enjoy!

"One minute for self destruction."

Tim almost dropped Zatanna in surprise. He looked around and saw Khaldur struggling to stand. He had a smirk spread across his lips and he was holding up some sort of control. One of the buttons was pressed down... Tim soon realised what had just happened.
"Guys! We need to get out of here now!"
The others didn't take long to follow. Kid Flash helped Nightwing stand, Blue Beetle and Superboy cleared their path and Tim gently picked up Zatanna. He tried to ignore the increasing pain he could feel in his chest.

"30...29...28...27...26...25"

"We're not going to make it, are we?" Dick said weakly.
"Shut up and focus on keeping your eyes open. I still need to figure out what he's done to you." Wally ordered.
"Guys! The Bioship's right above you!" Blue shouted out.

"14...13...12...11"

Tim secured Zatanna on the med-bed. Wally strapped Dick to one of the seats and began examining him. Blue successfully got the Bioship running; now all they needed to do was escape.

"4...3...2...1..."

The loud explosion was heard, followed by huge flames and a massive amount of ash clouds. Blue struggled to keep the Bioship in the air, making everyone tumble in their seats.
"Can you scan to see if Khaldur's still down there?" Wally asked.
"Scanning..." Blue stated as silence took over. "No... No trace of him. I'm guessing he escaped."
"No doubt about it." Connor sighed.

"I-I... Can't feel..." Dick mumbled.

Tim's POV

Dick's eyes are closing. Wally keeps yelling at him, that he needs to stay focused. Why won't he listen? What did Khaldur do to him? I need to know... I need to remember...

He took us in, trapped us, used me for the machine, used Zatanna and had him almost beg for our lives... I don't remember him doing anything fatal to Dick. Or maybe I didn't see... This is confusing. Khaldur didn't get what he wanted, so he might be coming back. We'll have to stay alert. But, as much as I hate to admit it, I don't think we'd stand a chance without Dick.

"C'mon dude, you're gonna be fine. Just focus on me. Don't take your eyes off me."

I better go check on Zatanna.

She's still not awake. I might need to get Wally to examine her after he's done with Dick. I guess there's nothing I can do now... I might as well see if anyone needs me. I surprisingly feel... Fine...

"R-Robin..."
I stopped, half way through a turn. Zatanna's awake! Dick's going to be really happy to hear this.
"Zatanna... Lay down, you're still weak. We're heading back to the cave."
"W-where's N-night-"
"He's fine. I promise."

I take it back. I can't promise something I'm not sure I can keep. I don't know if he's fine. Wally's keeping him awake for now. He's probably pulling it off with will power. But that's about it. No one knows what's wrong with him yet.
"I-I want to see h-him." She's really worn out.
"Hold on."

"Wally... She wants to see him..."
Wally understood immediately. I'm guessing he thought it would be a good thing for Dick... He wouldn't want to doze off with Zatanna around. Can't blame him, of course, she was supposed to be dead, but isn't... Crazy story now that I think about it.
"C'mon buddy. This will keep your mind busy." Wally grinned.

We carried Dick in and he sat next to where she was lying. She'd fallen asleep again. Dick watched her silently. He pushed himself slightly backwards, so he could place his head close to hers. He just better not close his eyes...

x.x

Barbara came running into the room as soon as she heard the computer announcing her friend's arrival. She noticed how Dick and Zatanna looked completely tired and drained. Tim was silently rubbing his chest and the others all looked determined and ready to give the update.
"Bruce is waiting for him." Barbara whispered to Tim, before leaving to listen to what the others had to say.
Tim acknowledged this and took both Dick and Zatanna to the infirmary.

"No need to report. I'm aware of everything." Bruce said, as they entered the room.
"So you know what's wrong with me?" Dick said, groaning.
"Poison... It's attempting to kill you slowly." Bruce smiled. "But I already have an antidote."
"Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" Dick asked, curiously.
"To me, you are of much more importance."
Zatanna silently struggled to get up again, but was held down by Bruce. He quickly examined her and got her some food and cold water. Tim happily helped himself to her leftovers.
"I'm happy to know you all came out alive." He stated.
"Wow... This is the first time I've seen you all without masks." Zatanna interrupted, wide eyed.
Everyone stared at her for a while. Dick soon looked away, slightly embarrassed and Tim grinned.
"You will keep it a secret, right?" Bruce said, mostly ordering instead of asking.
"Of course I will! I'm actually really happy that I finally know who you are... Though, I was suspecting Grayson and Wayne for quite some time." She grinned.

"To be honest... I was going to tell you." Dick said, shyly. "That day..."
"It doesn't matter now." Zatanna smiled, getting up and sitting next to him.
Bruce cleared his throat and muttered something about having stuff to do. Tim nodded in agreement and began following the man out of the room. He stopped once he reached the doorway and placed on hand on the wall. Dick turned towards the younger raven and noticed he was acting strangely.
"Tim... You okay?"
The young boy didn't answer. He breathing became heavier. He clutched his free hand to his chest and fell to his knees.
"Tim!"
"Bruce! Something's wrong with Tim!" Zatanna called out.
Dick held the young boy up, who was struggling to breathe at this point. Bruce came running into the room and bent down to examine him.
"I... I don't know what they've done to him..." He said quietly.

Dick's POV

I-am-going-to-kill-Khaldur. And how can Bruce not know what's wrong with him? Bruce knows everything! But he's not going to die. I won't allow it. I just got Zatanna back, I'm not losing Tim.
"Deep breaths, Tim." Bruce keeps saying. "Inhale... Exhale..."
I can tell he's trying to obey, but it's not exactly working.
"Maybe it's the poison?" Zatanna said. Could be... But these aren't the symptoms Bruce had detected.
"It's more than that."
Bruce hadn't stopped examining him. I guess he just wants to find out what's wrong, whatever the cost. He'll find it. I'm sure of it.
"I think it has something to do with that machine... Plus the poison apparently." Khaldur's definitely got it coming. He talked about me not going after Joker... But I'm absolutely going after him. "I can help him, but it'll take some time... He's just going to have to hold on a little longer.

x.x

Dick paced outside the doors while Zatanna sat in the corner. Garfield had been around a couple of times and asked whether or not Bruce was done yet. The rest stayed in their own places. No one wanted to disturb the Bat when he was at work, especially when the work was Robin. Dick was getting inpatient. He was silently imagining the many ways he'd get back at Khaldur for hurting the people he cares for.
"Stop it, Dick." Zatanna whispered.
"What?" He asked, confused.
"You're not getting revenge on Khaldur."
"Are you reading my mind now?" Dick smirked.
"I don't need to... I can tell it's what you want." She said, looking away. "But please... Don't go after him. He's not worth it."
"He tried to kill you... He almost killed Tim... I can't let him get away with this." Dick whispered angrily.
"And he won't." Zatanna now stood and held Dick's hands. "We will bring him to Justice. But as a team and not you alone."
Dick sighed. She was right and he knew it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and began trailing kisses across her neck.

x.x

After many hours, Bruce figured out what Khaldur had planned for Tim. This didn't make him less worried. He quickly hooked the young raven to a machine, so his heart wouldn't fail. Taking a deep breath, he walked out of the room.

"I've got good and bad news." He said, waking up Dick and Zatanna.
"Bad first." Dick said, without hesitating.
"Khaldur gave him a slight boost, to accelerate his heartbeat. It was for a better, or quicker, effect on the machine. I've managed to calm him done but he needs the antidote. Which I, alone, can't make. Plus, it would take time."
Dick's head fell at the news, Zatanna realised he was fighting back the tears.
"What's the good?" He asked, in a very low voice.
"Khaldur would've needed an antidote, just in case it went wrong and he'd have to start over. He would've taken it with him, also. An antidote like this takes months to prepare. There's a way to track him down back at the mansion. Go there and find him. Then go after that antidote."
"What about you?" Dick asked, now standing and ready to leave.
"I should be heading back. The league will be needing me soon."
Dick nodded and began walking out. Zatanna quickly grabbed her things and followed.
"You're not going."
"Well I'm not letting you go alone."
"I promise to take someone with me. But not you... That would be like handing you over." He looked away.
"But-"
"Please... You can come with me to the mansion..." Dick noticed Bruce had looked up from what he was doing after hearing this. But he smiled, obviously not minding. "But you'll stay there, with Alfred and wait for me to get back."
Zatanna sighed, which made Dick smile because he knew she'd given in.

x.x

Dick's POV

Okay, this won't be hard. All I need to do is find Khaldur, go after him and find where's he's hidden the antidote. Well, now that I think about it... It might be a lot easier to sneak in and find it. Wait... Sneaking... Maybe I won't have to go after all...

"Why do I get the feeling you have an idea?"
Zee knows me too well.
"Because I might just have one."

It's really obvious if you think analyse it. Khaldur had little time to escape that day, so it was either on him or close to him. He either hid it somewhere safe, where he knew he'd be able to get it later or he simply took it with him. Right... Time to call Lagoon boy.

"Well... Are you going to let me in on it, or what?"
"Right... Sorry, Zee." I grinned.

x.x

"So, all I have to do is jump down and search for something that I have no idea what it looks like?" Lagoon asked.
"Yes." Nightwing ordered. "You'll have me on radio at all times. Any doubts, just ask."
"Okay."

Lagoon dived into the water and began his search. There were many bits and pieces spread under the surface. He took his time to stop and look at almost everything, making sure he wouldn't miss something important.
"I assume it's liquid." Came Nightwing's voice through the radio. "So it's going to be in some sort of container."
Lagoon boy rolled his eyes at the obvious statement. He scrambled for a few more minutes but found nothing. Dick, who was waiting anxiously in the Bioship, felt his heart accelerating.
"If you find nothing in next ten minutes, come back up. We'll go to location Beta."

Both spent the entire day searching the surrounding areas of what once was a Search Institute. Nightwing eventually gave up on that place and headed home, highly encouraged by a tired Lagoon boy.
"I'm sure we'll find it somewhere, Nightwing. Just feel the aster." He grinned.
"Aster? Since when do you know 'aster'?"
"Robin... He picks up your weird words. I was really confused at first but he's explained how you like playing around with them."
Nightwing smiled, slightly. He was now, more than ever, determined to save Tim and get back at Khaldur.

x.x

Zatanna's POV

Things are getting worse... And I still don't understand why Khaldur's done this to Tim. He's got nothing to do with what happened on that mission. I wonder if Dick ever got his revenge on Joker... I'll have to ask him about it later. Not directly, of course.
"We're back!" I heard Lagoon boy shout. I bet he's run off to M'gaan already.
"Anything?" I ask, as Dick comes through the Zeta beams. He shook his head. I can tell how upset he is and I'm seriously fighting back my tears right now.

Tim's worse. I'm not even sure he'll make it through the night. Yes, that sounds extremely cruel. But he's really bad. He can barely breathe. Dick doesn't know yet... But I'm sure he'll freak out once he goes to check on him. Damn Khaldur... If I didn't know it would lead to nothing, I'd totally kill him for all this.
"Dick... Things aren't looking good." Black Canary said, leaving Tim's room. "He's worse... Much worse. If you don't find it soon-"
"I'll find it." I could see the determination in his eyes, but it slightly worried me.

x.x

Zatanna, Superboy, Black Canary and Beast boy sat beside Tim, hoping he'd miraculously recover. Nightwing, Blue Beetle and Miss Martian had set out once again to find the antidote. Lagoon boy, Bat girl and Wonder girl had gone to yet another location Dick had managed to find. Everyone was now hoping for the best.

It was past 1am when Nightwing and his team returned. The others had apparently been back for quite some time already.

Dick ran quickly to Tim's room but it was empty. Panicking, he began rushing around the cave hoping to bump into someone.
"Dick?" Zatanna said, as she rushed towards him. "Dick... He..."
"Please tell me the others found it and he's fine." He said, his voice already quivering.
Zatanna looked away and broke into tears. This made Dick's heart ache, badly.
"I-I'm s-so s-s-sorry..." She mumbled between her sobs. "W-we t-tried..."

Black Canary soon spotted them and walked towards them slowly. She looked just as sad.
"Nightwing... I'm guessing you've heard the bad news."
Silence.
"I am truly sorry, but there was nothing we could do for him."

I'm mean... I know :x But PLEASE don't kill me. D: So here's the bad news for you guys: The story ends here! Naah, just kidding... But it might end on the next chapter .-. (unless my mind comes up with some wild idea). The problem with me coming up with more ideas is that I get the feeling it might get a little weird and you'll all hate it... And so on :p

So yeah, cliff hanger for you all... Who can guess what'll happen next? Winner will receive a cookie! ^^

Until next time, you lovely people 3 XOXO

ps: Is it 'One min until self destruction'; 'One min for self destruction or none of the above? Please let me know ! *-*