AN: Its back. And better than evur, I hope. Its kinda slow this chapter but I found it impossible to avoid, so here you go.
Alienvspredator5- Yup, Jake's returned from hell to raise it once more. And its all thanks to our favorite empath. Thank you for reviewing and enjoy teh chapter.
Raven didn't bother detaching herself from Jake to speak. As a result her words were slightly muffled but not so much as to prevent Jake from hearing her. "I thought I'd lost you." Her tone carried sorrow, something Jake wouldn't stand for. Especially not when he was the cause.
"Hey, It'll take more than a little fifty story fall or trip though hell to kill me." He joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Raven loosened her death grip on Jake as soon as she felt sure he wouldn't be going anywhere again. "I know, but it came close. Too close." She leaned back and looked him over, once again taking in all his new scars. Every patch of red tissue that she saw seemed to hurt her as it did him to have gained them, every one of them was a failure on the team's part. Each a failure on her part.
Jake looked at her face as she pulled away, the sorrow growing in her eyes could only have been born of one thing. "Raven…" he called her attention back to him. He held his hand up and took hers, "It wasn't your fault. You can't take blame for something you had no hand in. This…" He said motioning to his newest scars. "You couldn't help this Raven, no one could."
Raven flashed a sad smile at Jake, always looking out for others instead of himself. "Ok, let me go get the others. They'll probably want to know your still alive."
"Help me up, we'll tell them together." He said pulling himself upright.
Raven shook her head while pushing him back down onto the bed, "You just fell out of a helicopter, rest."
"Come on, if I'm healthy enough for skydiving I think I can handle a little walk." He pleaded like a child would plead his case to his mother.
"Two things you got wrong. One, skydiving involves safely landing with a parachute, and two, you weren't healthy enough for it in the first place. Now stay put." She ordered.
Jake tossed a mock salute at her from the bed, shouting, "Ma'am, yes ma'am!"
She turned and left Jake to his own devices as she relayed the news. As the door closed behind her she paused half a second to question the wisdom of leaving him on his own. But she had faith he'd behave if only for a while.
Like a wraith she glided down the halls, never once making a sound. It was something she did unconsciously, years of habit instilled the motion deep into her subconscious. It was faster, safer, more versatile and efficient than walking. And most importantly quieter.
In the other room, thanks to her enhanced senses and quiet transit, she heard the others talking. That in itself wasn't all to a shocking revelation, it was more what she didn't hear that surprised her. No raised voices, no radios, not even the TV. All was silent as the grave, save the murmurs of her teammates.
"-to worry man. He's trained SWAT, they're tough. He'll pull through just you wait and see." Cyborg reassured someone on the other side.
Star spoke up next, "Friend Robin, you know Raven better than any of us. Why would she chose to do this alone? Surely we would be capable of assistance."
"Star its not that she thinks we can't help. But this is something that she needs to do. She needs us to trust her, and in the end that's all we can do." Robin spoke to all of them. He was their leader and if he had faith in their resident empath the rest would follow suit. But she needed more, deserved more. They needed to have faith in her because she was their friend not their teammate. "With all she's sacrificed for us, it's the least we can do to trust in her."
Raven was caught off guard by Robin, the trust placed in her. The confidence they held in her. That was something of she hadn't expected. As the door ahead effortlessly slid open she met the concerned stares of her friends who had turned at the sound of the door opening.
She touched down in the doorway and flashed a rare smile before she spoke. "He's back." She motioned for them to stand and follow. She stayed as Cy and BB walked past and waited for Robin to approach. Her hand caught his arm as he to tried to pass, "Thank you. For… for believing in me, us. It means a lot to hear someone say it."
Robin put on a reassuring smile, "I meant what I said. For all you've given and never once asked for anything in return, it is the least we could do." He nodded in the direction if the med-lab. "Come on, if his past is anything to go on he shouldn't be left alone for to long."
Raven smirked as she had been thinking the exact same thing.
Jake, meanwhile, stayed in his comfy padded prison as ordered, and for about ten seconds it was alright. But staring at the ceiling lights grew old quickly and he soon found that familiar itch in his blood. The primal need to move, get up, DO SOMETHING!
Seeing as he sort of promised to stay put, there weren't a whole lot of options. That left him at a crossroads, to keep his promise and stay put or try and leave. His decision making was cut short by the door creaking open, strange as it was the first time any door in the tower ever making a sound in Jake's memory. Silver fingers slid around the edge and he instantly recognized them as Cyborg's
"Tin man! That you back there?" He half yelled out the door. His question was answered as the door swung open revealing the entire team splayed out in the hallway, each unsure if it was proper to enter. Raven finally took the first step through the entry way, and strode over to his side. The rest followed suit, behind the empath, who had taken his hand in her own.
"Hey guys, been a while hasn't it?" Jake greeted the rest of the team.
"Yeah, too long." BB added.
Star found her voice next, "We have missed you greatly. When news was delivered from the department of police we thought you gone from this life."
Cyborg tried to lighten the mood with a small smile, "Yeah we had a memorial service and everything. Hell of a party afterwards to."
Jake caught on to the humor quickly, "Hell yes, that's how my passing should be remembered with drunken friends and kick ass music." He snapped his fingers and added, "That's an idea, we need to celebrate my not dying. Lets me go grab my keys, shots are on me tonight."
Raven looked down at him, "I said bed rest not binge drinking."
Jake sighed, "Yes mother."
Robin stepped forward assuming his leader role once more. "She's right Jake. Get some sleep today and party tomorrow." With that said he turned and left with the others following, presumably giving him some peace and quiet so he could sleep.
Raven looked down at him, "We'll let you loose tomorrow, just please rest for now. Your body still needs to recover."
"No worries, I'd hope I'm capable of sleeping without killing myself." Jake joked.
Just as she left the room he saw Cyborg catch the door, in his hands what appeared to be a tin of oil. And he then knew why no door in all of Titan Tower ever made a sound. Because of the half metal teen with a can of oil and way to much time on his hands.
Soon after Jake fell into a deep sleep, comparable to an almost comatose state. For the first time on months his dreams took mercy on him. In place of the reoccuring nightmare, instead of those four faces that plagued him there was but one. His violet eyed savior, his Raven. Safeguarding him from himself.
AN: Alright, there it is. Hope you enjoyed and please review.