"Ooooowww." Jason blinked rapidly, his head swirled. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a bad head ache. Other then the time when he came back to life, but he refused to think about that.

"What the he-" He stopped, sitting up groggily.

He was in the Batcave. The god forsaken Batcave! He almost blew the place up right then and there. Something caught his eyes. And he forgot everything.

With slow, dreamlike movements, the un-dead boy walked towards a lit up glass case. His Robin suit looked back at him. Without him in it. It was . . . empty, soulless. Forgotten.

"I can't believe he-"

"Jay?" It was soft, meek.

Jason whirled around, refusing to acknowledge the fact that he'd been near tears, "You! What the hell did you do to me last night?!" His face turned murderous.

Dick laughed sheepishly, "I uh . . . shot you with a tranquilizer gun .. ."

That did it. Jason threw punch at the stupid ex-boy wonder. Dick dodged it with irritating grace.

"I'm sorry! You were just gonna leave!" He yelled out between dodging Jason attacks, "I was desperate!"

"Sorry doesn't fix anything you moron!" The younger man hissed as he drop kicked the older hero, "Especially when it comes from you." He snapped, lifting the now down Dick up by his T-shirt.

"Jay. I just wanted to show everyone . . .I'm not a complete heartless jerk. I left to find you. To find my little brother that those monsters manipulated into the living." Dicks eyes connected with his.

Jason's head ached. His grip loosened. He let Dick go, "I don't care." He turned towards the exit, "You have some serious shit to dig yourself out of. Stay out of my way. And there will be no problems."

With that he stormed out, shoving past a surprised Alfred, swearing he'd never, ever come back again.

Dick had other plans.

"I suppose it went well Master Dick?" The elderly butler asked as he brought the young man a plate of food.

Dick turned towards the bat computer and clicked it on, revealing a tracer blink on the screen. He'd planted a tracker on his AWOL brother, "Yah, thank Al."

He looked at the older man curiously, "I know this won't make up for what you've had to put up with but . . . I'm sorry. I'm gonna fix this." He looked at the prim Brit pleadingly.

Alfred smiled softly, "Young Master Dick, I won't deny you've done some incredibly foolish things that you will have to work very hard to fix, but," he placed an assuring hand on the younger males shoulder, "It's nothing I haven't dealt with before. As far as I'm concerned, welcome home Master Dick."

The boy almost teared up.

"Thanks Alfred."

Now if only the rest of the family would be like this.

A month.

A whole, freaking, unbearable, stuffy, guilt inducing, heart breaking, soul crushing month.

Tim hadn't come out of his room. Alfred fed him through the door.

Barbara hadn't stepped foot near the manor. Nobody knew where she was.

Annie just followed Alfred silently, mostly out of loneliness, and didn't make eye contact.

Zatanna spend the days meditating and nights bawling in her guest room.

Dick sighed and kicked the chair he was standing next too.

Even the stupid criminals were quiet!

He felt the urge to tear his hair out. Nobody spoke to him. He was a stranger that used to belong here, but was now worth nothing. He deserved this. He knew he did.

But it hurt.

Badly.

You're the one that pushed them all away after Jason died. Then abandoned them when you found out he was alive again. Now they're finally giving you what you want Dickie. The voice in his head taunted.

I know.

He plopped in the chair and slammed his head on the bat computers keyboard. Jason still hadn't noticed the tracker, so Dick kept frequent tabs on his whereabouts. So far Gotham was in a panic because he'd gotten rid of at least four more drug rings and left the disobeyers dead for the police to find.

Dick groaned, he should have known this would be the reaction of this stupid soul sucking city. No matter what you did for them . . . they still had doubts.

He knew he should stop Jay. But nothing gave him the momentum he needed to fight again. That's it. I'm all washed out. Done. Finished. A complete idiot.

"You really are."

Dick let out a shriek and bolted out of the chair in shock. He peeked around after a moment to see . . . a little unimpressed face glaring up at him.

"And you're supposed to be father's first partner? Pathetic." He tutted.

Crap. I forgot he was even here. Maybe . . . maybe I can do something right with this. This kid can't hate me if he doesn't know me yet right?

One look at the little monsters face had Dick doubting.

"Um . . . Hi? I don't think we've been formally introduced. I'm Richard Grayson, everyone just calls me Dick, you-"

"Know who you are. I've made it my personal mission to know who, and what, all of you are. And so far, I can't say that I'm impressed."

Um . . . that was weird.

"Ok . . . So yah. I'm Dick and you are?" Way too serious to be a kid. But he finished that in his head.

The little twerp drew himself up importantly, "I am Damian Wayne-Al-Ghul. Son of Bruce Wayne, Batman, grandson of Ra's Al Ghul, Heir to the Wayne enterprises and future ruler of the world." He finished more than a little snooty.

Dick almost laughed. That was way too much for a kid, "You couldn't just say, My name's Damian?"

The boy gave him a death like glare, "You're beneath me." He turned and headed for the exit.

"Hey Kid, er, Damian, wait . . . can you explain how your Batman's son?"

The child looked at him as if he had smaller brains than an insect, "Do you really not know the process fool?"

Dick colored, "What? Seriously? What the heck do they teach you at your ninja school?"

"League of assassins, and nothing but the bare necessities of perfection."

"So . . . never mind then." The older man didn't like the way the kid seemed to remind him of Talia. It freaked him out a little.

Now . . . back to his actual problems.

Boom!

Wally flew out of the building a split second before it blew up. He landed in a heap, scratched and bleeding.

"Ow. . ." He stood up shakily, the burning building reflecting in his blurry eyes. Well at least I got everyone out. he moaned and started for his apartment. Hoping nobody would take notice of an injured hero.

Ever since Babs had told him Dick was back, and everything else, he avoided Gotham. But an intense fire call had dragged him back. His conscience was a lot tougher then him apparently.

He hissed as his arm throbbed, dang, I really did a number on this. He was too banged up to realize he was bleeding profusely in several cut places in his suit.

His mind started to blur. His body was going numb. Numb was good. Numb took away all the hurt, especially in his mind and feelings.

He stumbled past a fire hydrant and fell weakly onto some stone steps.

Who gives a crap anymore. . . The red headed hero let himself loose on the cold sidewalk. Bleeding. Not caring. Caring hurt too much. And it was always shoved back down his throat.

He didn't want to feel anymore.

Not anymore.

"Oh my Fuckin-"

That was the last thing he heard before blacking out completely.

Ow. What hit me? His mind whirled awake as he felt a groggy moan escape his lips. Somebody was hovering over him, something felt cool and gentle against his hot face.

"Mmmh, Mom? Is that you?" He moaned softly. His throat hurt. Pain was starting to became noticeable in way to many places at once.

"No. It's Not, and you're lucky too. If I was your mother I would smack you senseless." A harsh voice snapped at him, but something continued to stroke his face, "Come to think of it, I'll probably still smack you. Regardless."

That's when he realized he wasn't dead.

"M-Mallory?" He gasped out, his blue eyes widened as he looked up at her sharp indifferent face. Her eyes unreadable.

"Yah."

Wait . . . how did I . .. wasn't I on patrol? That fire and then I musta got hurt really bad to-wait! His thoughts scrambled in a panic as he shot up at beyond normal speed. His hands slapped all over his face, feeling nothing but skin. The Hell!

He turned to look, horror flashing in his eyes.

Mallory looked stone calm, His mask hung limply in her hand as she stared at him nonchalant.

"You . . . took off my . . ."

"Mask? Yah so?" You were bleeding all over the side walk." She raised a pink brow at him, "Or did you want a doctor to do it for you, Flash." She emphasized his hero name for his cringing benefit, "You're lucky I found you first, who knows what would have happened if someone else had."

Of all his rotten luck, he had to end up at her feet and mercy. . . how did that even happen?

"You didn't t-tell anyone-"

"Relax bozo." She threw his dignity back into his lap, and turned towards a first aid kit, "I already figured it out. Before you came near dead on me."

Wally felt cheated, "How did you find out?" His mouth felt sore.

She didn't answer for a minute, seemingly in thought. She turned towards him, her eyes were pink he noticed. Actually, she looked like when she used her powers, pink hair, cat like eyes, and pale skin.

"I realized that it was way to coincidental that two guys saw my powers, not to mention Flash knew where I lived. And . . . he reminded me of the way you talked. So yah. It wasn't that hard. Hold still." She leaned over and began wrapping gauze around his wounded torso.

That's when he realized he was bare up to his waist. Man . . . she really went past the mask. He consider calling her on it. But his throbbing wounds warned him that that would only get him more pain.

He settled for a quiet:

"Thanks."

She stopped for a minute, her head under his chin. Wally felt a feeling of contentment wash over him. His wounds hurt like heck, but for some reason this girl was dulling the pain.

And . . . he wasn't as worried as he should be that she knew his secret. Man . . . if he was Nightwing, Batman woulda killed him and-

He shoved those thoughts aside. He didn't want to think about the Bats. Not tonight anyway.

"There. You should be good for now. Probably need to change them tomorrow but-"

"Mal." He cut her off, his voice lower than he expected it to be.

Her eyes shifted to his, still pretty close in his space, "Yeah?"

"Who are you, really?" He didn't know why, but he suddenly really wanted to know.

She bit her lip, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

"Hey, I'm trusting you to keep my secret. Why don't you trust me?"

"It's hard to trust after what I've been though." She muttered, straightening to get away.

But the young hero was having none of it. This girl intrigued him for reasons unknown, and right now he really needed a friend. A real one.

He grasped her small wrist gently, and pulled her back, ignoring the twinge of pain that action caused him, "Please."

She hung her head limply, "Look. If I told you, you wouldn't want to be around me anymore. Trust me, it's better you don't know."

He slipped a finger under her chin and lifted her head so her eyes could meet his, "Try me."

She bit her lip, "Fine . . ." With a harsh pull, the small girl got out of his hold and hugged herself.

"What would you do . . . if everyone was always afraid of you? Abused you out of fear? Called you names?" She turned pained eyes towards him. "Called you a Jinx . . ."