In a race between

Danger and indecision

The difference between

Life and Death …

Comes down to Confidence.

Faith in our abilities,

Certainty in ourselves…

And the trust we put in others

QUOTE OF THE DAY

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

PARKING LOT OF CASSCAIDA PRISON, 11:30 PM

"Yup, we are dead sure", Wally said over com to Kaldur with certainty, "he befriended Richard; he could have protected him and made him feel like he owes him". Wally explained as he sat on the driving seat.

"And note to mention, he owns Datsun Z, we saw the car keys with Z emblem, it couldn't be a coincidence", Artemis added as she entered into the car and sat right beside him, "He fits the profile". She fastens the seat belt and calmly settled down but Wally passed her a mischievous smile on that and shook his head in arrogance.

Before Artemis could ask anything, Kaldur said over com, "Okay I will try to crack him. Since we have no physical evidence on hand, SWAT wouldn't listen so … you guys will have to tail Vogel if he leaves the prison but please be stealthy and no confrontation without back up". He advised sternly.

"Roger captain", Artemis said to Kaldur with a glare towards Wally. Wally phone ranged alerting him of a text message. It was from Richard and it said, 'try to keep Artemis out of the field and if not keep her safe'. He quickly placed the phone back in his pocket to avoid being caught and passed her another innocent smile. Artemis asked in annoyance, "What...wipe that stupid grin of your face"

"My dear lady! You are really a rookie in all of this aren't you?", he asked with fake innocence. Artemis just pouted and waited for him to explain further. He added with a smile, "you are a field agent now; we don't wear seat belts. It takes valuable time in case of chase. What would you do if you have to leave the car suddenly".

Artemis snorted but unbuckled the seat belt anyway but asked skeptically, "You are not messing with me now. Are you?" Wally shook his head in response and passed her a genuine smile and Artemis believed him reluctantly.

Wally released a cold breath and asked, "Listen about earlier, the whole…"

Artemis cut him off abruptly and said, "We are good". Wally passed her a quizzical look still not believing that he has been forgiven on which she explained, "Someone told me to not to hold grudge over other's personal losses".

Wally still looks bewildered that she has forgiven him without a snarky comment. Artemis waited for a while for him to lose the expressionbut when he didn't she said in annoyance, "Stop that I could be nice to an idiot like you. Is that so hard to believe"

"Yes it is as unbelievable as believing the pigs are flying or I am Adam Young and you are Taylor swift", Wally replied while shrugging.

Artemis rolled her eyes at his comment and shook her head in annoyance. "Really if that's the case…I really don't feel enchanted to meet you Mr. Adam", she said referring to the Taylor swift song.

"The feelings are mutual, Miss. Swift", Wally laughed and said with a glint of hope in his voice, "Since you are being nice does that mean you are gonna share those 10 packets of Cheetos resting peacefully in your bag …with me"

Artemis smiled wickedly and said, "No way"

"Ok…one packet?"

"No"

"10 chips"

"Nah"

"1 Chip"

"Dude you are really pushing it", Artemis said while having fun with their banter and Wally also laughed heartedly on that, "Fine I will share. Now please perform the lookout job first you idiot"

Wally smiled and said with a bow, "As you wish my Cheetos Lord". Artemis shook her head but smiled along with him, "But seriously who give you an idea of keeping a safe deposit of Cheetos with you"

"Actually I didn't its Cassie. When I told her that I am going to be a field agent, she literally packed my lunch…and Boy Am I glad for that", Artemis explained with a smile on her face. She just lightened up like a 1000 Watt Flood light while talking about her. Wally couldn't help but to notice her how beautiful she looks when she genuinely smiled, not her smirk, not her wicked smile with whom in a short time he has become quite well accustomed of, but her genuine smile.

He smiled and admired her from the core of his heart. A word beautiful surfaced in his mind to define the person who was sitting next to him but he denied it himself after a second. "Who is Cassie?", he asked casually shaking his inner thoughts from his mind.

"Well …she is my crime partner…and also my neighbor", Artemis answered, "not for long though, I am thinking of changing my house", she said with sadness.

"How old is she?", Wally asked skeptically.

"11", Artemis replied casually while Wally passed her an impressed look, "told you I could be nice….Now the job please", Wally nodded and start observing the prison gate.

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

Five minutes passed without another disturbance and both of them kept their attention towards the Datsun Z that they can easily see through the back mirror. After one more minute, Wally start tapping his shoes. Artemis passed her an unimpressed look but didn't complain further. Wally took it as a sign of encouragement and start tapping the steering wheels with hands. Artemis waited patiently for a while praying to God that he will stop it himself but to no use. But to add fuel to the fire, Wally starts humming. On this Artemis completely turned around and come face to face to him, "would you stop this. What are you a fidgety fish?" Wally was about to whistle so when Artemis turned towards him, she become stunned because with her being so close now it looks like Wally is about to kiss him, they both backed away from each other like they have touched the electric wire.

Wally was first to speak after the mishap. "This isn't what it look like…", Wally said while calming down his nerve. The butterflies he felt in his stomach a moment ago turning into a hunger pang.

" …I know…just …shut up…", Artemis said with irritation, "but I so not wanted that image in my head I am pretty sure millions of my brain cells died".

"Your brain have cells?", Wally asked giving her a perplexed expression. Artemis glared at him in response. " I thought it was filled with garbage…Besides like I would… ever…try to…kiss you", Wally said with a smile trying to lighten up the situation, "you are not my type", he added with a smirk.

"Yeah trust me…you are not my type either", Artemis tried to end the discussion and resumed her duty of watching the car.

"wanna make out?", Wally waited for a while then added with a smile.

"SHUT UP WALLY", Artemis shouted and also smacked him at the back of the head, "God you are annoying"

"Hey", Wally complained in a playful manner but become serious when he saw Vogel coming out of the prison. "Here we go", Wally said in the serious tone as he started the car.

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

F.B.I FIELD OFFICE, INTEROGATION ROOM 11:45 PM

Kaldur stood in front of the window pane observing Salesman's body language who was in the adjacent interrogation room handcuffed but otherwise motile. The coldness and confidence seeping out of his demeanor was constantly worrying him. He sighed and on the com, "Richard we need a location. I don't care about possibilities just give it your best shot"

"So how are you going to handle it", the lead detective of Seattle P.D asked Kaldur. Kaldur took a calculated breath and move towards the control panel and turned on the air conditioner. "What you gonna present him coffee too now?", the detective asked skeptically.

"I am lowering the room temperature it puts them on edge", Kaldur said with authority, "I need some file boxes. Fill them, I don't care if the papers are blank but I want you to write a name of Tim Vogel on the sides"

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

Kaldur dramatically entered into the room with a bang. Beside him came the two police officers with two file boxes each in their hands. Kaldur once glared at Salesman then took one of the boxes from the officer and said with an authoritative tone, "4 months of investigative work, one file and guess what Richard, it's not your file. See, we don't care about you, it's Vogel we want". He glared at him and slide down the file box towards him. As soon as the name of Tim came up, Kaldur noticed his eyes getting widen and the tendons of his jaw tighten. Kaldur nodded towards the transparent window pane and start circling around him.

On the other side of glass, the Detective brought out his phone and said, "We have conformation. Get the SWAT unit ready in 15 minutes"

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

RICHARD SALESMAN'S HOUSE 11: 55 PM

"Zee, I have been thinking about the CD's", Richard said while showing her the CD case of Metallica.

"Come on Richard, we tried the CD's. We searched, sifted and sort through every one of this guy…head banging heavy metal collection", Zatanna asked frustratingly, "What could we possibly be missing".

"I think we may have missed the obvious", Richard turned towards the laptop and opened the DVD room of it. Inside it was a CD.

They both smiled in delight and Zatanna asked in amazement, "How did you know?".

Richard waved the case again and explained, "It was the only empty case….Alright I am an insomniac who listens to Metallica to go to sleep, what song could possibly speak to me?", Richard though out loud. A memory brought a smile to his face when he remembered stealing the Artemis's iPod and replacing her collection of Metallica with love songs. The way she cursed in front of Bruce and Oliver who always thought of her as a very sophisticated and quite person brought a pure delight to him at that time. That was the first time he ever found both of them speechless and it was stunning. She used to listens the song "Sand man" a lot and dick used to tease her for that. His smile turned into frown when he remembered the prank Artemis pulled on him as a payback. She put a red dye in his shampoo causing him to play the Final match of his football team in the red outfit with red hair. Bruce always thought it was fitting and he expressed his opinion the whole summer. Artemis even left the red wig for him as a gift for acting like a trolling brother she never wanted and never will (in her words) when she went back home after spending the whole summer vacation at the Wayne mansion.

He snorted and murmured in a low voice, "Got to love and hate the Ice Queen at the same time". Zatanna raised an eyebrow at that to which dick sheepishly answered by saying 'Nothing'. He entered "Sand man" in the password slot and the computer's windows opened and they both exchanged gleeful smiles over it.

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

"Guys Sarah is alive", Richard said over the com typing furiously over the computer

"How do you know?", Wally asked while keeping an eye on the Tim's car.

"Because we are seeing her right now. The web cam is transmitting the live video straight to the IP address of the Salesman's laptop", Richard explained, "She is in a cage and messed up pretty bad. We got to get there man"

"Richard can you get a location", Kaldur asked while putting the vest on and shaking hand with the Chief of the SWAT team.

"Yeah give me three minutes", Richard answered.

"Guys we might have a problem here", Artemis asked while closely observing the car ahead, "When we left Vogel he was calm but now he is ignoring every stop signal, not using blinker at any turn, he is not slowing at yellow lights…..bottom line either he knows we are on to him or he is rushing to kill her"

"No he didn't try to dodge us anywhere…. I don't think he knows", Wally provided his input.

"I don't know what's the location is but we have come quite far from the main city. If he is rushing to kill her I don't think we will have time to wait for backup", Artemis explained

"No, you are not going to confront anyone without back up", Kaldur said with authority but anxiousness found its way into his voice, "Richard…." He nodded to the SWAT team and tells them to ready the cars.

"It's a shipyard…Allied Shipyard", Richard nearly shouted over the com.

"Allied shipyard?", Kaldur said to SWAT.

"It's thirty minute drive from here", the SWAT team Chief answered.

"Damn it..", Kaldur shouted but get into the car anyway, "Get us there as fast as you can… is there any police unit or station out there close to it".

"No, this is the closest one", Chief answered.

"And we are almost there", Artemis said while releasing a cold sigh seeing the shipyard from far.

Kaldur hit the seat in front of him in frustration and said over com, "No matter what…Wally you are going to wait for the backup…it's an order"

Wally remained silent for a while but then said with a determined tone, "if I wait the girl is dead…I can't do that".

"What do you mean I, We both are in this together", Artemis said dejectedly.

"You are not going in", Kaldur, Wally and Richard shouted at the same time.

Artemis looked ready to blow up and passed Wally the nastiest glare she could manifest. "Thanks for the vote of confidence guys", she said angrily, "but what if he needs help"

"And what exactly you are going to do to help", Richard asked over the com with anger and care overwhelming his voice.

"There are other ways to help besides pointing a gun. I can….", Artemis retorted but was cut short by Wally.

"Artemis we don't have time for this", Wally said with a little more harshness than required as he sees the Tim Vogel's car stopping in front of the ship yard. He also stopped his car behind the closest tree and brought out his gun from its holster.

"Damn right…now please can we save her instead of fighting here like an idiot", Artemis says as she opened her car door but before she could hop out, Wally grabbed her arm restraining her from getting out.

"Could you just for once… listen to me", Wally said anger lacing his voice. The perplexed look he received from Artemis puts him on edge and he released a tired sigh calming himself down, "Look just let me go first…Richard could tell u if I need help…But if I don't.. Stay here …Please…. I have already got one death on me I don't want another person dying on me", He said casually giving away no emotion of concern for her from his expression while looking Tim from the peripheral vision noticing the boat he was getting on.

Artemis was taken aback by the sincerity in his voice and the fierceness in his eyes. 'Having someone blood on your hand's', Artemis mentally laughed at the irony of his statement, 'if only he knew that how many people died because of her'. She repressed the bad thoughts from her mind but surrendered to his demand clearly understanding his concerns for her, "Fine but if you got in trouble …which I am pretty sure you will since you are an idiot… I am coming in with a stick in my hand. Got it".

Wally laughed at her jab and got out from the car and stealthily moves towards the Tim's boat docked at the shipyard. Artemis also got out from the car but didn't pursue him. "Good choice Artemis", Richard said over com with a relief radiating from his voice, "But seriously Rapunzel A stick"

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

Sarah was sleeping restlessly in a cage when someone came down into the boat. With the force the cage door opened, she jolted awake instantly. She could feel someone opening the chains attached to her back. A thought that a savior has come to save her crossed her mind but after seven days in hell it seem too good to be true So she refused to give in to hope and submitted peacefully to him.

"Here…. here kitty come on, we don't want to get me mad …now are we?", Tim asked sadistically as he dragged her out of the cage. He helped her on her feet and whispered in her ear, "I promise this will be the last time". He inhaled her scent while standing right behind her and forcefully rubbing his body against her. Sarah whimpered and her eyes become watered but it only increases her pain since a layer of duct tape over her eyes restrained them to get out. He smiled taking pleasure in her pain and start playing with the belt around her neck, "This will all be over soon…Sarah", he whispered again as his hand moved towards the small lever protruding out of the belt. Before he could put pressure there, someone came charging into the boat. The shout of FBI, caused him to become hyper vigilant in a second. He released the lever instantly and brought out a gun by one hand and with the other hand pushed Sarah in front of her using her as a human shield.

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

"FBI …STOP", Wally ordered while aiming a gun towards Tim, "Release the girl, Vogel…Your game is over".

"Drop the gun", Tim roared threateningly while completely exposing Sarah to the Wally's line of fire and aiming a gun at her head from behind, "Or I will shoot her"

"I said release the girl Vogel", Wally demanded again while cursing mentally for not having a clear shot.

"You think I am an idiot…I am a police officer… I know how this works …You have five seconds to drop the gun or I will shoot her", Tim threatened while pressing the barrel of the gun at her head and got behind her completely to avoid any possible head shot.

"Wally take the shot, he knows our tricks, he wouldn't surrender", Kaldur ordered over com. Wally prepared to take the shot but couldn't bring himself to put Sarah in harm's way.

Artemis piped in, "I can distract him", she said as she starts moving towards the boat.

"No", Kaldur ordered, "wait ten more minutes we will be there"

"I hate to say this but Wally could use a distraction. Vogel is using her as a human shield, Wally doesn't have a clear shot", Richard also expressed his opinion. Artemis didn't wait to get permission from Kaldur and was already on the boat.

"Fine but be careful, both of you", Kaldur advised.

On the other hand, Tim was counting "5 …..4..."

"Stop it", Wally shouted trying to divert his attention, "If I were you I would aim the gun at me, you shoot the girl, you got nothing"

"Drop the gun", Tim repeated his demand again in a determined tone.

"What are you a coward?", Artemis said as she entered into the boat's cabin and came to stand right beside Wally, "Hiding behind the girl…dude does you forget your bag of masculinity in the prison …or you doesn't even have it". Artemis said casually making faces at him. A smiled appeared on Wally's lips clearly knowing where this whole scenario was going. He straightened himself a little more and looks for the right moment to shoot.

"Shut up", Tim boomed in anger tightening her grip on Sarah who was continuously whimpering and calling for help through her gagged mouth.

"Shoot me", Artemis took a step forward and challenged him, "Come on …What, ….are you a lousy shot?...50 feet away…you got a perfect shot, Shoot me", Artemis encouraged again.

"You think I am stupid", Tim asked angrily still hiding behind Sarah.

"No, I think you are an absolute moron. I know all about you, Tim", Artemis said; her voice laced with disgust, "You are at gym five times a week, you drive a flashy car, you stink of cologne and you can't get it up. Not even Viagra is working for you; you know what that tells me?", Artemis added with a smile making fun of him at his face, "that you are hopelessly compensating and it's not just in your head, it is physical…. What the girls call you in high school? What'd they come up with when you fumbled your way into some girl's pants and she starts laughing at you when she got a good look at how little you had to offer?"

"Shut up", Tim clamored in anger as his face become red with fury. He inched a little further towards Artemis moving a bit away from Sarah.

"Short stack.. Very little Vogel?, Artemis answered in the same pitch as him and then added with a laugh, "Ohh….I got it….. Tiny Tim". Two things happened at the same time when she said it, Tim blinded by his fury aimed a gun towards Artemis but while doing so he moved from behind Sarah while Wally took the head shot the moment he got a clear shot. The bullet hits its mark and Tim go down before he could have pulled the trigger. Sarah immediately ran away in their direction and Artemis grabbed her while Wally ran towards Vogel to make sure he is dead. He kicked away his gun from his hand and when saw a pool of blood showering out from his head, he nodded towards Artemis who hugged Sarah and whispered in her ear, "It's over. He can't hurt you anymore. You are safe", she said soothingly to console her as she starts removing the duct tape from her eyes.

Wally passed her a grateful smile and said over com, "We got him".

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

Artemis passed her a smile and stroked her hair to confront her. Sarah was lying on the stature in an ambulance while one of the paramedics was bandaging her hands. The whole seaport was crawling with police, agents and reporters. The detectives were collecting the evidence from the boat and Zatanna were giving an official press release to the media. Wally was also giving his statement about the shouting to the lead Detective on the case.

"So what are you gonna tell Selena", Richard asked Kaldur in a hushed voice. They were standing a little away from the ambulance observing everyone in the team.

"What would you say?", Kaldur asked with a smile as he saw Sarah and Artemis laughing about something.

"She saved the girl's life…that's good enough for me", Richard answered honestly while Kaldur nodded in agreement.

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

WASHINGTON, DC

CRIG, HEAD QUARTERS 3:00 AM

"Come on Ollie", Dinah said with a blissful smile on her face, "You are losing Old man". They were having one of the late night chess match again and like always Oliver Queen was losing.

"Nah…babe just wait for my secretive bazooka move, you will get blown away before you even realize what happens", he said while stroking his beard in thoughtful manner.

"God I love you more when you start bluffing", Dinah said in playful manner But then added afterwards, "Loose the thoughtful expression papa bear; it ruins your facial beauty".

Before Oliver could retort, Bruce entered into his office and quickly locked the door behind him. "You both lied to me", Bruce said getting straight to the point.

"Hello to you too", Oliver still greeted him a smile, "Not that we mind you coming here at fucking 3 in the night like you own the place, What exactly are you accusing us off".

Bruce glared both of them and turned towards Dinah, "You said Paula crock is in comma. The records of Saint Marry Asylum say otherwise. The last time I checked she wasn't a psychotic patient. What happened?"

Both Oliver and Dinah become sober instantly. "Do you really have to ask…..the Reaper happened", Dinah asked unsettled by the topic of Paula brought up again.

"Dinah! Level with me here. You wanted me to protect her who could I do that if I doesn't even know what the truth is?", Bruce asked in a lower tone with a straight face but worry in his voice betrayed his calm demeanor.

Both Oliver and Dinah exchanged glances and Dinah nodded to Oliver. Oliver got up from his seat and sighed. "To be honest I would say that nobody know the whole truth about what happened that night", he said while pouring wine in three glasses. "Nothing ever goes as planned in this world. We learned that too late didn't we?", he released a cold laugh unnerving everyone in the room. They all looked away from each other, nobody brave enough to meet each other's eyes, reflecting and drowning in the abyss of their own nightmares. "That night I was so confident that I could protect Paula…for the first time we were one step ahead of him…I have the perfect opportunity to catch him. I knew he was coming for her and I failed her. Not only Paula, I failed Artemis too…..you know reaper always left the children alive. He made them choose but he never harm them physically…but only to show he had beaten me he mutilated her…he…"

"You did what was best for them, Ollie. Don't beat yourself over it", Dinah said sternly trying to ensure Oliver that he did the right thing.

"You guys could never understand", Ollie smiled bitterly and placed the glasses of wine in front of them, "I knocked at their door, I told them that since their daughter is blond and has smoky grey eyes they are the Ripper's next target. I told Paula that she is going to die and he is going to make her daughter choose the method of killing. I promised Lawrence that I will keep his family safe no matter what. I did that… I…", Oliver released a tired sigh and slumped down on the seat and said in a very low tone, "I made a promise to an eight year old girl that I will slay the dragon trying to get into her sweet castle and I am sending my army's best general to protect its princess and ….. I failed", his voice quivered in the end, "and now because of me there family is in ruins…".

"You followed the protocol Oliver. You shifted her whole family into safe house, how did reaper find out about the safe house is not on you", Bruce added with sincerity, "My friend…you did the right thing. Nobody blames you"

"I blame me…look how it turns out… My five best agents…my friends died trying to protect them… We found Artemis and Paula butchered like animals…they did survive but for what… Artemis went crazy; we had to take every memory of her family away from her just to keep her sane. Lawrence didn't have a heart to even look at Artemis; he blames her for what happened to Paula...in sixteen years not once he ever came to visit her, he do visit Paula time to time but never Artemis; he avoids her like a plague and you know what the worst thing about it is Artemis doesn't even flinch or hurts because of that; she doesn't remember him as her father so she doesn't care…", Oliver stopped and took a deep breath," and the person you want to know about…got the worst of it"

"Bruce we have to keep her a secret because she didn't actually came back alone from the coma…she brought her daemons along with her", Dinah explained their position giving Oliver a chance to compose himself, "and no matter how hard we tried…we couldn't redeem her…. She is long gone to be saved"

"… Paula is paraplegic now…Before the whole reaper incident, Paula was suffering from acute depression problems…that accompanied with the Post traumatic stress; destroys her ability to differentiate between reality and imaginations…Paula is haunted by hallucinations … she thinks she has killed Artemis…she keep repeating that she has drowned her daughter and she should die for it… She tried to kill herself two times… All in all she might be awake from comma but the person who comes back is not the caring mother I have known but a hollowed soul of what's left of her physical shell… We didn't tell anyone because no good is going to come out of this. This Pandora box should be left close as it is because it will only bring more pain and sufferings", Oliver concluded and finished his wine glass in one sip.

"Where is she now?", Bruce asked mentally agreeing with the logic of keeping all of this a secret.

"In Asylum of the National Security and before you ask Salina doesn't know about it. I didn't want to give her anymore dirt on Artemis than she already has", Oliver said with the hint of anger in his voice.

"She has every right to have reservations. She cares a lot about all the Departments working under her. I would take precautions too if I was in her shoes", Bruce defended Salina.

Oliver quickly becomes offended at that. "So you are supporting her reservations", Oliver straightens and inched forward; anger seeping out of his demeanor.

"No, I am just thinking rationally, anyone who has access to the Reaper case knows that she went through hell. Her encounter with reaper, her psychotic breakdown, loss of a mother, abandonment from father, her being the only survivor…sane survivor of the ripper case …these are too much of highlights to miss. Any person who doesn't know her could judge her wrong. Though Salina is unaware of the last two factors, still others are enough to trigger an alarm in careful people like her", Bruce tried to justify his act of defending Selina.

Dinah smiled wickedly, "Ollie don't be mad at him…he wants to keep a free ticket to get into her pants, she would kick his balls out if he doesn't defend her". Bruce nearly chocked on the wine he was drinking when Dinah said it. He passed her an uneasy smile which she gladly accepted, "Think of it as a payment to the mental shock you gave to my loving husband and yes… now you can't keep secret from me since I am counselling your girlfriend".

"Payback is a bitch isn't it?", Oliver also teased him.

"Fine, you got me", he ended the discussion to save himself from any further embarrassment. "I hope there is nothing else you forget to mention to me regarding Artemis right?", he asked as he got up from the seat to leave.

Oliver shook his head gesturing the signal 'no' but suddenly stopped and asked Dinah, "You did tell him about her heart condition right?"

Bruce becomes alarmed at once. "Heart condition?", he shouted in shock.

"Never mind I got the answer", Oliver said to Dinah and turned towards Bruce, "Hey calm down… it's not that serious. It is one of the curses she has because of her encounter with reaper. Artemis has a weak heart…. One of the reaper's cut damaged her aorta causing the lower supply of blood to a heart for a long time, though she never had any serious complication regarding it. But she needs her medicine after every two days. She takes it regularly so there is nothing to worry about", Oliver explained.

Bruce released the breath he was holding and releases a contented sigh when Dinah piped in and blow his relief into pieces, "But she has to be careful about getting any serious blow to chest. An injury which will only result only in a cracked rib in any ordinary person could stop her heart once and for all".

Bruce rubbed his temples already sensing an incoming headache. "My apologizes, I asked…is there anything else you want to anguish me with or should I leave", Bruce asked snidely frustrated that he has been kept in dark about all of this.

"That's about it…and Bruce don't worry she knows her limitations", Dinah added with a smile.

"No, she doesn't…Do everything you can to keep her safe", Oliver also presented his analysis.

Bruce nodded and was about to leave when he stopped and said with appreciation in his voice, "Oliver don't blame yourself for anything that happened in the past. I took over the reaper case after you and I know there is nothing you could have done to help them… Artemis couldn't be more lucky to be raised in your family and you should be proud of her at how far she has come"

"I am proud of her… I am", Oliver answered with a smile

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

ON THE JET

"I couldn't digest the fact that how is it possible to have this much foolishness in one human", Artemis asked as she observed Wally lying asleep in the three seater sofa.

Richard looked up from the tab on which he was playing mortal combat and simply answered, "I think he was dropped on his head as an infant" and resumed to game again.

"Or he could be born stupid"

"huh-huh"

"He is sprawled like a starfish"

"Hmm"

"His mouth is open, anything can go in it …eww"

"Logically true"

"He is snoring like a wounded warthog"

"My ears are working"

"He is drooling too"

"Are you checking him out", Richard left the game and passes her a cheeky smile.

Artemis gave him an incredulous expression. "No…I am just pointing out that he has no manners. Who sleeps like an idiot in front of everyone especially ladies?"

"You call yourself a lady?", Richard asked perplexed

"so not the point here", Artemis asked with a little aroused voice.

"Fine stay turb will you?...let the man have his beauty sleep", Richard said with hands up, "he is not bothering you besides Zee and Kal doesn't seem to mind"

"May be because they are asleep themselves"

"Or May be you have a problem with everything he does", Richard supplied.

"No, I don't … FYI we get along just fine"

"trust me I witnessed that", Richard said with a devilish smile on his face and asked after a while, "You still smoke?"

"Only when I am stressed …trust me I am trying to quit it…and I will…I just need some time I guess", Artemis answered a little embarrassed at his question.

Richard nodded and didn't comment any further instead asked the question which was bugging him for a while now, "Why did you returned the gun?"

"You will laugh at me if I tell you", Artemis tried to avert the question.

"No, I wouldn't, Rapunzel… You know you can tell me whatever you want, I care about you, Miss and I wouldn't judge you no matter what…...", Richard surprised her with his honesty and sincerity.

Artemis released a tired sigh. "All my life I have been questioned whether Reaper's incident has any effect on me or not and I always gave them the answer they want to hear…you know five of my previous psychiatrists suggested that I shouldn't even be studying psychology…According to them, I had narcissistic potential in me and telling me ways to kill someone will only give me more ideas to repeat what happens to me to others..." Richard moves closer to her to comfort her, "Richard I don't believe them but I am afraid …What if it's true…what if I…", Artemis said pain clear in her voice, "I just don't want to know what I would feel when i take someone's life So no guns…does that make me weak?"

Richard didn't say anything for a while. He took one of her hand in his hands and lightly pressed it. "Listen you brain dead cute little fried disk of the destroyed hardware, you could never bring any harm to anyone…it's just not you… I don't care what others say but a person who risk her own life just to ensure that his friend whom she hates from the core of her heart doesn't get into any trouble…how could she be a killer… and if you think that refusing a gun makes you weak…you are dead wrong, it just shows how strong you are; how much restrain you have in you…… psychopaths doesn't have that…", Richard explained care evident in his voice, "Those who doesn't fear the sword they wield, have no right to wield the sword at all…if anything it is a proof of your compassion and empathy…so delete these sick thoughts from your head and focus on checking Wally out…He will be winning in his dreams for being neglected by you"

"Shut up you troll", Artemis punched him in the shoulder on that, "and thanks shortcake"

"Hey…Will you quit calling me shortcake?"

"Not a chance"

CHAPTER END

THANK YOU EVERYONE …PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING…