Dangers of Fighting Crime
It had been six months since Dick proposed to her; they were slowly planning their wedding. They wanted to take their time and enjoy their engagement they still hadn't set an exact date but they choose a theme and who would be in the wedding and where. They decided to have Wally and Zatanna as the best man and maid of honor. Barbara and Tim would also be in the wedding, then Damian and Lian would be the flower girl and ring bearer. They decided to have it in one of the local Gotham church's and then have the reception at Wayne manor. Artemis also decided that she would ask Ollie to walk her down the aisle since she didn't want her father anywhere near her, and Ollie had done more for her than he ever had. Currently she and Nightwing were getting ready for a mission with the team. She was partnered with M'gann and Nightwing was partnered with Cassie. They were going to Africa to stop Professor Ivo, Artemis wasn't happy about the pairings but apparently Kaldur and Dick thought this would be the best for the mission, even though Artemis and Dick worked the best together.
After the entire team was ready they bordered the bio ship, since the team still didn't know Nightwing's identity they pretended to just be friends and not engaged although the team did know she was engaged to the rich Dick Grayson. Nightwing sat next to Kalur and Connor as they talked about the mission, Artemis sat with Cassie, M'gann, Garf, and La'gann. Once they were at their destinations Connor and Garf dropped out of the bio ship, next was Kaldur and La'gann, and then Nightwing and Cassie. Before dropping out of the ship Nightwing gave her a reassuring smile and then jumped out of the ship with Cassie. Artemis waited as M'gann parked the bio ship before loading her arrows and jumping out of the ship with M'gann.
Artemis landed on the ground quickly scanning the area as M'gann landed next to her "Everything's clear" Artemis said. Together the two moved forward watching for anything suspicious or any bad guys. They finally made it to the building when she heard Nightwing, Kaldur, and Connor in her head saying they were all in position. M'gann opened the door with her telekinesis. Artemis loaded her bow and entered the building, it was slightly dark but she could still see. Slowly they walked down the hallway that had no doorways or anything. They had just rounded a corner when they ran into their first henchman. His back was to them so Artemis quickly hit him over the head with her bow knocking him unconscious.
M'gann smiled "Good job, let's keep moving" the two girls started down the hallway again, they walked in silence for a while before they came upon a large open room. In the middle of the room was Professor Ivo along with at least fifty henchmen. Professor Ivo was standing in front of a computer that was hooked up to Amazo. Both girls quickly hid behind some boxes as M'gann used the mind link "Guys we found Professor Ivo and it's a lot bigger than we thought".
"What is it Miss M?" Nightwing asked.
M'gann looked at Artemis who nodded her head "He's making Amazo again".
The mind link was silent for a little bit before Connor spoke "Well we'll just have to stop him like we did the first time".
Artemis and M'gann both smiled "So what do we do?"
"Stay where you are, we'll be there shortly and we'll all attack together" Nighwing said.
A couple of minutes later Nightwing was crouching down next to Artemis smirking at her. Cassie was next to him as well as Connor, Kaldur and La'gann were next to M'gann, and Garth was in the shape of a rat and on M'gann's shoulder. Through the mind link they formed a plan for all of them to spread out and attack the henchmen as Garth would attack Proffesor Ivo. Once everyone was in their positions they attacked, Artemis shot arrow after arrow at henchmen and using her bow to hit them over the head if they came to close. On guard got to close behind her and Nightwing had Cassie throw him, causing him to tackle the henchmen, Garth had managed to attack Professor Ivo and the two were now fighting. Professor Ivo had managed to send Garth across the floor and start typing on his computer. Ignoring the henchmen around her Artemis loaded an explosive arrow sending it at the computer. Her arrow hit it's mark too late though, Professor Ivo managed to push something causing Amazo to start up.
Artemis had her legs kicked out from beneath her by a henchman causing her to fall to the ground hitting her head on the cement. Blinking the black dots out of her eyes she managed to see Connor and Cassie taking on Amazo, the henchmen was standing above her smirking. He bent down to grab her hair as she kicked him where no man wanted to be kicked. Groaning he fell down next to her holding his groin, Artemis kicked him in the head knocking him unconscious. Looking around she saw that most of the henchmen were already taken care of and that Nightwing and Kaldur had joined Connor and Cassie in fighting Amazo, Garth had taken care of Professor Ivo and putting handcuffs on him and had joined M'gann and La'gann in fighting the remaining henchmen. Thinking that the others had the henchmen under control she loaded an explosive arrow and aimed at Amazo letting it fly right after Connor had punched him in the head. The arrow landed in his neck and exploded seconds later, once the dust moved Artemis noticed Amazo was heading straight towards her and nothing that the others did was stopping him. She loaded another arrow but Amazo just grabbed the arrow sending it towards Nightwing instead. Her eyes widened as Nightwing moved just in time but the explosive arrow landed right behind him exploding on impact causing him to fly forward. Connor and Cassie both tackled Amazo distracting him so that Artemis could run towards Nightwing. The back of his costume was in shred's showing burn marks and cuts on his back and legs. She placed her fingers on his neck begging there was a pulse, sighing when she found it she grabbed the little gauze she had in her quiver and started placing it on his bleeding back. She needed to move Nightwing out of the battle but there was no way she could drag him by herself.
Eventually M'gann came over kneeling on the other side of Nightwing "We need to get him to the bio ship".
Artemis nodded her head fighting off the tears and swallowing the lump in her throat "I know but I can't move him on my own".
"Garth can help you, I'll stay here and help them fight Amazo, you two get to the bio ship and call the Justice League for back up and get Nightwing to the cave" M'gann said.
Artemis nodded her head as Garth came over and together he and Artemis rolled Nightwing onto his back and into Garth's huge gorilla arms so that he could carry him easily. Grabbing her bow Artemis ran beside Garth towards the exit of the building. Finally they were able to find their way through the hallways and made it outside where they ran into a couple of guards.
"Go to the ship don't stop, I'll take care of them" Artemis said loading an arrow. Garth nodded his head and continued running. She shot off the arrows filled with knock out gas; once she ran out she loaded her last explosive arrow and shot it at their feet knocking them off their feet. Not even looking back she ran after Garth. When she finally made it back to the ship Garth had already loaded Nigthwing into the med bay and had him lying on his stomach. "I'll get him hooked up" Artemis said. Quickly she sat her bow and quiver down and grabbed the Iv's and heart monitors hooking him to the machines. Once she was done she turned to see Garth sitting on the bench across from her, he didn't look too good. Artemis squatted in front of him "I need you to keep an eye of him and put more gauze on his back, while I call the Justice League and get us back to the cave, okay?"
Garth nooded his head "Okay I'll do it".
Artemis smiled and set her hand on his shoulder gently squeezing it before she stood up quickly looking at an unconscious Nightwing before running towards the controls and getting in the seat. She called the Justice League where Black Canary and Batman answered, after she told them what happened they said that Black Canary, Wonder Women, and Superman would be there to help the team, and Batman would meet her at the cave. Finally after flying for at least thirty minutes she made it safely back to the cave, the entire time Nightwing still hadn't woken up, Garth had gotten the bleeding to stop but he had to use a lot of gauze. Once the ship was parked Batman came rushing onto the ship with the medical team and a stretcher. The medical team loaded him on the stretcher and rushed off towards the medical ward, Batman placed his hand on Artemis' shoulder as they walked behind them. Garth followed behind them but Artemis stopped and pulled the younger boy into her side, she knew he was probably scared and until M'gann arrived he would need someone to comfort him, place it gave her something to do as the doctors worked on Nightwing. Together Artemis and Garth sat in the chairs waiting; Batman sat with them for a little bit before he started pacing up and down the hallway. Eventually Robin and Batgirl arrived, Batman told them what happened and Batgirl sat down next to Artemis putting her arm around her friend. Robin took Garth to the kitchen to get some food as Artemis put her head on her friends shoulder and finally let the tears fall.
Barbara rubbed her back "He's going to be fine Artemis".
"I know but I can't get seeing him fly forward from the explosion out of my head" Artemis said wiping the tears off her face.
Barbara smiled sadly "I know, but it'll get better once you can see him and know he's okay".
Artemis nodded her head and sat with her friend, Robin and Garth came back sitting with them. Forty minutes later the team came back to the cave, everyone fine just tired and sore. They managed to take Amazo down, and the Justice League took Amazo apart again and took Professor Ivo to jail. They doctors didn't come out of the room until thirty minutes after the team had arrived.
When the doctor came out everyone stood up from their chairs "He's in recovery now, we stopped the bleeding but it took some time, we had to give him a blood infusion, it took us a while to find where it was coming from because of the shrapnel and his costume. Once we found it we were able to clean it and sew it up. There are some minor cuts on his back as well and we cleaned them and sewed them up, he's going to want to stay on his stomach for a while. He should be fine to go home by tomorrow, but someone will have to change the bandages daily and put an ointment on his back that will help with the scaring and the eventual itching" the doctor said.
Batman nodded his head "When can we see him?"
"He's still unconscious right now, but two of you can go in at a time right now" the doctor said before going to clean up.
Batman turned to Artemis gently taking her arm and guided her into Nightwing's hospital room. Dick was lying on his stomach with heart monitors and IV's hooked up to him. He was only wearing a pair of green scrubs; his back was open and completely covered in bandages that wrapped around his entire torso. "I wanted you to be the first one to see him even though the team thinks you're just friends" Batman said.
Artemis sat down in the chair taking Dick's hand in hers and lightly moving the hair covering his covered eyes "Thank you Batman".
Batman stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder "There is nothing for you to feel sorry for Artemis; you didn't know Amazo would throw that arrow at Nighwing".
Artemis looked up into Bruce's eyes "I know thank you, I just wish he would wake up already".
"What do I get if I wake up?" Dick mumbled.
Artemis smiled tears coming to her eyes she leaned closer to his face "You get a kiss from you fiancé" Artemis lightly kissed him.
Pulling away Dick painfully smiled at her "I like waking up to that. What happened 'Mis?"
Batman spoke before Artemis could telling him everything that happened when Batman was done Dick squeezed Artemis hand, she laid her hand down on their intertwined hands and closed her eyes enjoying in the fact that the man she loved was alive and going to be perfectly fine, he could just add some more scars to his already very long list. Batman let the two have their moment as he enjoyed the fact that his oldest son was alive and well. After a couple of minutes he spoke "I think it's time we let the others come in and see that their leader is alive".
Artemis lifted her head "Okay, I'll stay the night here and sneak in once everyone goes to bed okay?"
Dick pouted "But I don't want you to go".
Artemis smiled "It'll be fine I'll come in here and sleep once everyone is asleep, and you get to go home tomorrow and I'll be there waiting. Besides Babs and Tim really want to see you, and I know Garth does to, you scared the little guy to death".
Dick sighed "Fine but I don't like this".
Artemis leaned forward pressing her lips to his when she pulled away she spoke "I know you don't, neither do I but it's what we have to do when were in these costume's. I'll see you in a little bit, I love you".
"I love you to 'Mis" Dick said as she stood up leaving the room. Artemis took a deep breath calming herself down and stepped outside the door with Batman following him.
"Nightwing wants to see you two" he said looking at Batgirl and Robin.
The two stood up going into the room "I'm going to take a shower and stay here in one of the spare bedrooms" Artemis said heading towards her bedroom. Once she closed the door she slide to the floor and put her head in her hands letting the tears fall. She was extremely relieved that Dick was okay but she had been so worried, she knew she would never be able to sleep by herself not without seeing Dick fly forward from the explosion. After staying on the floor for a little bit she stood up and headed towards the bathroom where she took a hot shower. She changed into sweat pants and one of Dick's old shirts before sitting on the bed looking through the random books that was in the bedroom. Once the cave was completely silent she snuck out of the guest bedroom and quietly headed towards the hospital room where Dick was. Once inside she locked the door and sat down in the chair taking his hand.
Dick stirred before smiling at her "Hey" he said hoarsely.
Artemis smiled "Hey" she reached forward taking his mask off so that she could see his beautiful eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"Doctors gave me pain meds so I can't feel a thing, but I'm really tired 'Mis" Dick said yawning.
Artemis smiled and brushed the hair from his eyes "Go to sleep babe, I'm not leaving I love you Dick".
Dick smiled sleepily "I love you to Artemis". Quickly Dick's breath evened out and Artemis knew he was asleep. She grabbed the blanket from the back of the chair wrapping it around herself she made herself comfortable while still holding Dick's hand and feel soon fell asleep listening to her fiancés breathing.