Chapter 8

Wally awoke alone that morning. He rolled over to wrap his arm around his nighttime companion, but the bed was empty.

He rolled on his back and stared up at the ceiling in exasperation. Great, just great he thought angrily to himself.

He got out of bed and stretched. To his recollection he had never slept on a more comfortable bed, but he'd be the first to admit that his knowledge on the subject was extremely limited.

As his arms came down he noticed the scabs on both his elbows and forearms had disappeared, complete dermal recovery within two days. He made a mental note of that along with all the other unique abilities he was discovering.

He tip toed out to the den, trying to be silent in the event Artemis had felt uncomfortable during the night and had removed herself to the couch, but it was empty as well.

Pangs of sadness pulled at his heart whenever she was away, but he had to get over that. It wouldn't be long before he'd be with his family and she'd go on with the life he'd interrupted. As much as Wally needed to know who he was and where he came from, a small part of him was fine living in that darkness with Artemis being the only light.

God I sound like a cheesy greeting card.

He found a shirt and the same pants he had worn for days, and walked out the door and sat on the stairs that faced the park. It was a beautiful day. His initial introduction to Gotham had been storms and rain, but since he met her it had been nothing but sunshine and blue skies.

You're doing it again he chided himself with another smirk

He was so transfixed with the oaks that shaded the sidewalk and street that he never heard the archer come up.

"Good morning sleepy head."

He whirled around to see the blonde carrying a large bag and two cup holders from the Starbucks a few blocks away.

"You sleep well? she asked already knowing the answer.

He just smiled and nodded, avoiding words that might sound better in his head that out loud.

Before she even opened the bag, he could smell the pastries.

She handed him the cup and opened the cardboard box that housed the treats. "One Grande Vanilla Bean Frappuccino and lemon pound cake."

Wally produced a satisfied smile and after taking a sip he asked, "How do you do that?"

"What?" she grinned innocently.

"Know what I want before I do."

"It's not like they have a huge selection there, I just got lucky, but for as long as I've known you, you've always had a sweet tooth."

"Well thanks. What did you get?"

"Soy Mocha Latte, you're not the only one who needs a sugar fix," she held up her cup and smiled, "Cheers."

They sat on the stairs for an hour talking about everything under the sun, everything but last night. It could have been awkward, but they refused to let it.

Artemis told him about her family, the edited version. That her mom was handicapped, her father had skipped out on them at early age, forcing them to learn to fend for themselves, that she had a sister with a child, once again mostly truths, with a few omission thrown in for good measure.

"So how was your night out? Did you have good time?"

"Yeah, it was good." She answered nonchalantly. Artemis didn't elaborate and despite his intense curiosity Wally never asked.

She had questions of her own too. Why had he left Gotham? What had drawn him back to Wayne Manor? It bothered her he was withholding things from her. This wasn't who they were, not anymore. It had taken so long for her to finally open up to him, to stop the lies, to finally trust someone with her heart and soul, and she could see all those old habits starting again, but this time with a new addition. He was the one lying now, and that's something the Wally West she remembered never did.

"So I was thinking, Gotham doesn't seem to be jogging any memories loose, but I know a place that might. You up for a ride?"

xxx

They arrived by mid-day to the harbor town.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. Ever heard of it?"

"No. Not even a little. What's so special about this place?"

"This is where we met," she replied.

Artemis took him on an abbreviated tour of the town. The restaurants, the stores, the ice cream parlor. All establishments they and the team used to frequent during down time. It had been almost two years since she had stepped foot in this town, she wanted it to feel like home, but it never would, never again.

The entire time they explored, he looked so serene, so at peace. Walking around the town all she could remember was the fiery tempered loudmouth, the self-appointed Casanova who she would constantly trade barbs and insults with, the class clown of the team. But even before they started dating, when they were alone, just she and him, Wally would trip up and show his vulnerable sensitive side, the insecure person guarded by the clowning facade. The person afraid everyone would see through, as a fraud or a cheap copy of the original, never appreciating the true beauty of his own brilliance, the person she eventually fell in love with.

After grabbing some lunch at Eddie's Diner, the two walked the beach, gazing out at the Atlantic as the sun danced across the sky. Up ahead their path was blocked by the 10 foot barb wired fence put up a long time ago, behind it the remains of Mt. Justice lay in rubble. They two walked to the fence where the warning sign hung.

Warning U.S. Air Force Installation. Mt Justice Bombing and Gunnery Range. Restricted Area. No Trespassin.

"What happened?" Wally asked, looking at the remnants of a one time national landmark. He didn't have to have any memories of the mountain to appreciate the destruction around him.

Artemis swallowed hard.

"Do it," Aqualad ordered.

"You sure?" she questioned

"Do it."

Artemis cleared her throat and weaved her lie. "The unofficial version is a military missile test gone wrong. Someone fed the wrong coordinates into some navigation computer, dropped an H-Bomb or something right on top of the mountain."

Wally just stood in awe, thinking about the sheer power needed to do such damage. "That's unbelievable. Was anyone hurt? Anyone killed?"

No, we got lucky, she said in her mind. "No, no lives were lost thankfully, but the military denied any responsibility. Surprise surprise. The town recovered, but it's...it's never been the same since," she answered quietly.

"You and I, we used to go hiking here," she pointed, "and over there we'd hang out with friends, do cookouts, volleyball, swimming, you get the idea."

"Is this where the school was ...I'm mean where we trained?" he asked.

"Yeah. It was...it was on the outskirts of town, it's not there anymore."

Wally nodded in understanding, still staring at the remnants of the mountain. Artemis sighed inside, this was supposed to do it; this was the place that should have sparked a memory. She could tell how hard he was concentrating, how hard he was searching for a flash, an image, something. Nothing came and they both fell silent in their disappointment

Wally walked away, hands squeezing the sides of his head in frustration, "Damnit, this is such bullshit!" he yelled, his words echoing through the cavernous rubble of the remains of the mountain." I'm sorry Artemis, there's nothing. Just like everything else. God Damnit!" he spit walking away from the fence and her in disgust.

She gave him space to work through the anger before joining him at the shoreline. "We'll just have to try harder," she said faking the positive attitude she didn't really feel. "Wally we've barely begun, try to have faith."

He nodded silently, but inside a growing fear ached and began to fester, a fear that his memories would never return. The same fears Artemis had been facing for days.

They were halfway home when the idea hit her. "Hey let's get some pizza, it's always a magic cure that gets me out of a funk. Silvio's is the best pizza in West Gotham; they're slow but worth the wait. I'll order now and it'll be ready by the time we get back. Sound like a plan?"

"Yeah...that's sounds great," he replied as his body drew closer to hers on the bike, his grip around her waist stronger.

When the cityscape appeared on the horizon, Wally tapped his chauffeurs shoulder.

"Hey can you drop me off at the library? I have some books on hold I need to pick up. I can hoof it back."

"Have you thought about maybe renting a room there?" she smirked.

"Nah, your couch and I have gotten pretty close, I think she likes me."

"Dork," she chuckled. "Don't take too long ok? I can't promise how much pizza will be left, it's freaking Silvio's after all," she excitedly exclaimed, like it was a cheese covered gift from the gods.

"I know… the best pizza in Gotham," he said maybe a little too sarcastically.

"That's the kind of attitude that that makes slices disappear Mr. West."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Ok... ok I'll hurry, just don't hurt the pizza."

Artemis gave a flirty grin and sped away.

Wally hustled into the library to the reservations desk, showed his card, and retrieved the books waiting for him. Nearby one of the terminals in the computer lab opened up. He looked at his watch and sat down; he still had a few minutes to kill. He opened the browser and quickly continued the search he had begun days ago.

Artemis had said the Midwest was where his family hailed from. He had spent a great deal of time going state to state searching his name. Facebook, Ancestry, Familyserach, Blogs, Twitter, anything that might tie him to someplace, anyplace.

A young girl next to him crumbled her paper and huffed, clearly frustrated with the references she was searching for. "Stupid tem paper," she grumbled and that's when the idea shot through Wally's brain.

High School.

He restarted his search state to state, searching the words Wally West, graduate, mid-western high schools. There was bound to be a couple hundred hits that wouldn't even be close, but he'd discovered he was a fairly fast typist. He had about 10-15 minutes before he'd have to make the journey back to her apartment, and he figured he could quicken his pace if need be.

Nebraska was a bust, only a handful of Wests that graduated back in the 50's, and no Wally's or Wallace's. Anyone one of them might be his father, but that would be another search for another time.

Oklahoma was similar with even fewer hits than Nebraska. There were plenty of Westfalls and Westons, but no West's and no high school connections.

He labored on.

Kansas had been a hot bed for Wests, but no Wally's, Wallace's, or even Walter's. This is going to take forever he sighed and he pursed his lips and continued on. There were at least 12 states that would be considered the mid-west, and that was if Artemis was even correct about where he came from. Chances are she'd probably never even met my parents he thought.

He looked at his watch and he needed to leave. He was about to log off when he decided to mark one more state of his list. Missouri, Wally West, graduate, high school he plunked loudly keystroke after keystroke, like he was punishing the computer for not finding the answers he sought. The librarian shhhh'ed him and the speedster rolled his eyes and searched the page.

If he thought Kansas had been a hot bed, Missouri was West central. Since he was focusing on high schools, he quickly did the math in his head. Artemis was 23 and she told they were around roughly the same age, so he would have graduated somewhere between 2011 and 2012. Using the new information, he entered it into his search and seconds later only one hit came back.

Wally West Keystone High Valedictorian.

No way! He yelled in his mind, but quickly composed himself. This could be one of another 100 dead ends he'd already run into headfirst.

He clicked on the link to the school website and that's when he came face to face with himself, a much younger version of himself. Wally West Valediction Class of 2012. In the picture with him according, to the liner notes were Principal James Martin, and two others; Mary and Rudy West. His parents.

He had found them. Wally focused in on the picture and could see parts of himself in his parent's faces. His mom's eyes and hair, his dads' smile and nose. It was an odd feeling, a fluttering in his stomach, much like when he first had seen Artemis on the streets of Gotham. He'd found them.

There was a link on the left side of the page for alumni news. Faces and names scattered across the screen, those who had married, who'd had children, people that meant nothing to him. At the bottom was one final link and for some reason he noticed his hand begin to shake as the mouse approached the hyperlink. He was nervous.

He clicked the tab In Memoriam and looked at all the students who had passed before their time. There he was. 4th row down. Center picture.

Wally West 1994 -2016

He felt the room get brighter, a sweat on his brow began to form. Wally swallowed hard, but deep down he already knew, he just didn't want to believe it. He closed the page and his heart sank.

For minutes he just stared at the blank screen, lost in his fear and despair. There were only a few options left, and he didn't like anyone of them. He couldn't tell Artemis, and even if he did what would he tell her? He felt his eyes water, and rubbed them away before anyone could see. Finding his parents had brought him to an all-time high, and now…

He just shook his head. He was lost, utterly and truly lost. He wasn't a Meta-human, he wasn't even real.

Wally remained trapped in his thoughts until he was interrupted by a convoy of fire and rescue trucks that sped past the library, sirens and horns blaring furiously as they attempted to navigate the thick Gotham traffic stuck in gridlock.

xxx

Artemis was in the shower when the phone continued to ring. Any other time she would have ignored it, but when you had a boyfriend unfamiliar with the city he found himself in, a phone call could mean the difference between getting home in 15 minutes or an hour

Boyfriend. Had she really just thought that? She bit her lip nervously when she considered how easily that term came out, as if kissing him under the Eifel Tower had just happened yesterday. As if the last year in a half was all some fucked up nightmare she just awoke from. In the background she could her Tigress laughing, laughing at her naiveté and desperateness.

Her mouth tightened as she cast those thoughts aside and picked up the phone

"Hello?" Artemis spoke.

"Ignoring your sister again I see?"

"Hi Jade, sorry I was in the shower."

"For the last two days?" Jade laughed.

"I'm really sorry; it's been kinda hectic lately."

"You ok?" Cheshire asked?

"Yeah I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine."

Artemis appreciated her concern. Jade had spent so many wasted years battling her younger sister, punishing the archer for her disloyalty, for shunning the family business, when in truth she was fighting against the one person who truly cared about her. They were sisters, and nothing and no one would come between them again.

"So what's up?" Artemis asked

"I looked into that thing…."

Artemis's curiosity piqued. "And?"

"It seems Falcone has a handful of public officials in his pocket, one in particular being Criminal Court Judge Faden, the same Judge Faden that just dismissed a major racketeering charge against one of Carmine's lieutenants."

"Hmmm," the archer hummed.

"Yeah I thought you might find that interesting. If Falcone has gone underground, I'd bet Faden either knows where he is or knows someone who does, and it just so happens there's a campaign kickoff party for him two nights from now over at the Ritz Carleton."

"Perfect," Tigress purred.

"Artemis," Jade unusually pleaded, "Falcone's a dangerous man."

"They're all dangerous," Tigress clarified.

"Yes, but he hires talent, real talent, ex-military mercenary types. Nothing you can't handle, but all it takes is one time, one slip. Just be careful ok?"

"I always am," she lied. "I owe you one sis. Give my niece a kiss for me ok?"

"Why don't you instead? Come have dinner us."

"Soon Jade Soon"

"Be careful baby girl," Cheshire grinned.

"I will little girl. See ya."

The nicknames their father used didn't seem so venomous now that they used them for each other. One more thing to piss off Daddy.

She went back in her room and quickly tried to blow-dry her long mane. Wally would be back anytime now and the pizza soon thereafter. It had been an unrewarding day, but there was still a chance for a nice evening, professionally things were about to get hectic for her, and she needed some nice right now.

She walked past the mirror and stepped back quickly as raven hair and steel eyes stared back sneering.

You're such a god damned fool if you think this will last. If you think for one second he won't see right through you and who you really are.

Artemis didn't answer as the figure in the mirror grinned.

We have a job to do, and pretending the last year happened won't change that. He's dangerous and you know why don't you? This is wrong, he is wrong. Ignoring it so you can have your little high school crush back doesn't' change who and what he is. You know death, you've caused it countless times, how many of those poor fuckers do you see following you around these days? You're setting yourself up for a bad fall baby girl and you and I both know it.

She could feel Tigress feeding, feeding off her pain, filtering everything out but the anger from entering into her heart. That's how she grows, that's how she survives.

Fuck you Artemis hissed at her reflection that had now turned back into her normal blonde appearance.

There was a knock on the door and she smiled away her pain, realizing Wally had once again left the key she gave him at home, like the 1000 times he did in Palo Alto. It's always the brilliant ones that are the most forgetful; she chuckled remembering the sick and fearful look on his face ever time Valentine's Day slipped by.

She opened the door wrapped in nothing but a small towel and a smile, when dark brown eyes stared back at her, open mouthed.

"Oh wow…ok.. um that'll be 32.50 mam."

Artemis ignored the look, turned to get purse, and handed the man his money.

"Eyes up here," she demanded as the nervous pizza man realized he had been staring at places he shouldn't. He retrieved the money and put into its pouch.

"Thanks. Sorry it took so long, there's some big fire over at Essex Towers, the fire department can't even get through, the streets are a parking lot."

The delivery man got back on his very demasculating scooter and rode off as Artemis shut the door, dropped the pizza on the counter, and got dressed. Minutes later she opened the box and willingly tortured the unknowing speedster by removing a slice, like an adult dancer would an article of clothes. He would pay for his tardiness she smiled to herself satisfied.

Artemis opened a beer and took a bite. Extra pepperoni, Italian sausage, green olives, onions, and pineapple. It had taken them years to finally compromise on the toppings they both could tolerate, and it soon became each other's favorite. Salty and sweet, just like them. They were always good like that. She mindlessly flipped through the channels, checking her watch, when she stumbled across the local news.

Artemis turned the sound up as the KGBT reporter continued her story.

"Emergency responders are still stuck at the bottleneck of Broadway and 5th, as the fire continues to burn out of control. Apartment management believes most residents have made it out safely, but there are still many elderly and young children unaccounted for and fellow residents fear the worst."

A loud explosion echoed in the background causing the cameraman and reporter to run for cover. Artemis watched intently as the camera panned to the building's windows just in time to watch several of them blown out and shatter, allowing the intense heat an avenue to finally escape.

The reporter ran back from the chaos and in front of the camera to continue her report. "Several other outlying fire crews have been dispatched and are in route, but it's still unclear if they will make it in time. Reporting live from the scene this is…."

Suddenly the reporter, her cameraman, and several dozen bystanders were knocked to the ground as a violent electrical distortion wave blew past them. The reporter's microphone was still hot as they all struggled to their feet.

"What the hell was that?"

Artemis dropped her pizza slice on the floor as her stomach jumped into her throat; she knew exactly what that was.

Windows began to break and shatter all over the building when one by one, missing residents suddenly appeared on the street, an electric blur depositing them on the ground, moving off just as quickly. Children, parents, the elderly, pets, all suddenly coming to life in living color. They were disoriented, confused, covered in soot, but breathing, alive.

The blaze inside the building began to grow stronger as local bystanders grabbed the newly arrived evacuees and scattered away from the structure. Inside the complex, flames began to grow white hot behind the windows and a low rumble began to vibrate through the block. The crowds gathered around Essex Towers looked around feverishly trying to determine its source when the sonic boom went off inside the tower, shattering all remaining windows and doors. Just as suddenly they blaze was gone, completely extinguished as simmering smoke slowly escaped each opening.

Within minutes fire responders finally broke through the traffic and arrived at the tower. EMTS's quickly ran to treat the injured, completely dumbfounded as to what had just occurred.

xxx

Wally finally showed up at Artemis's apartment about a half hour later. He knocked on the kitchen door around back to not draw attention to his blackened appearance.

At his second knock Artemis wheeled the door open and screamed. "What in the fuck were you thinking!" and violently yanked him inside.

"Artemis I…"

"Shut up! What in the fuck is wrong with you Wally? You don't run into a burning building like that. You had no fucking idea what you were doing did you? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Is that it?"

Wally stood stunned. "Artemis people were trapped…dying, I had to do something."

"They have people trained for that genius. There called firefighters. You can't even run through the god damned park without falling on your ass!"

"But they couldn't get through…."

Her hands were balled into fists as she began beating on his chest. "What is wrong with you!" she demanded in anger, alternating words between strikes. Wally braced her shoulders and brought his hands to hers, slowing down her assault.

"Shhhh," he whispered. "It's ok."

Tears were rolling down her cheeks and it made the speedster's heart ache.

In her mind, Artemis was suddenly back aboard the Bioship, speeding towards the Artic again, running through the tundra looking for her lover.

She closed her eyes and buried her head into his chest, still muttering unintelligible curses at him.

Wally gently cupped her face and brought it to his.

It was a moment frozen in time, just a second, but all the time in the world for him. He leaned forward and kissed her, a gentle kiss, a loving kiss. She pulled away in shock, her eyes widened in disbelief.

Wally's heart began to sink at her reaction, realizing that once again made a mistake, stepped over an uncrossable line, when abruptly her lips crashed into his.

He stumbled back but never lost hold of her. Her kisses were passionate, needy, desperate.

They tripped into the den before falling on to the floor, wrapped in each other's arms. Her mouth explored every inch of his neck and jaw line, inhaling his scent as Wally's hands slid down her backside cupping her, needing her. His hungry mouth demanded hers one again and his tongue danced across her moist lips before meeting hers.

Artemis guided the speedster on top of her, spreading her legs slightly, welcoming him in as their kisses grey stronger, more frenzied. She looked up at his penetrating green eyes, recognizing the desire behind them.

Her breathing hitched when his lips found her neck, nipping gently down towards her shoulder before resting on her chest. A moan escaped his lips when her felt her nails raking down his back, as their clothed hips met and began pressing in to the others. She held his head, fingers entwined in his hair, kissing him feverishly, opening herself up emotionally for the first time in what seemed like years. Tears were flowing down both their cheeks, but they ignored them. Wally drove harder into her, feeling the heat emanating beneath the fabric of their clothes. They both struggled to breathe as pleasure shot through her body, his moans signaled the same. She wanted him inside her so damn badly it hurt. She had to have him.

This was the moment she longed for in her weakest times, a dream she would torture herself with when her numbed heart cried out to feel anything but the anger that dwelled there, but something was wrong.

She was no prude, far from it in fact, but she was not as experienced as she led others to believe. She had fucked Cameron years ago- her first, got impossibly close to it with Christopher Deacon from Gotham Academy on Homecoming night, and most recently the nameless soul from the bathroom stall she wished had never happened, but she never fucked Wally. What they had was too important, too special to define in such crass terms.

They had sex, lots of sex, but what made it special, what made it real was the love that existed behind it. The love they denied for so long, the love they refused to see even when everyone else did, the same love she wanted to only have with him for the rest of her life. Sex with Wally was fun, exciting, dangerous, kinky, but what made it real, what made it more than an act, was love.

She did want him, but the thing that caused her hesitation was suddenly Tigress wanted it more. She needed it, demanded it, so she could satisfy her selfish needs like at Falcone's Club, and that in of itself proved the time wasn't right, not yet. She realized her partner might be feeling the same way.

His voice shook, "Artemis I don't think..."

"Shhhh," she whispered, putting her finger to his lips. "It's ok, let slow it down a gear or so."

"Ok," he said, with possible bit of relief in his voice.

They snuggled onto the couch and began kissing again, hands exploring carefully, but more gently now, more loving. His fingers delicately removed a blond strand covering her stormy eyes, and tucked it behind her ear, and she traced the tear track down his cheek that had washed the soot and dirt away from the fire.

"I have wanted to do that for so long," he laughingly sighed, kissing her lips and chin sweetly.

"You have no idea," she replied.

They stayed like that for hours, completely lost in each other. Eventually she pulled him into her bedroom and they spent the rest of the night locked in each other's arms, taking the same breaths, dreaming the same dreams. Before the sandman took them away Artemis reached over kissed him goodnight.

"You know tonight, over at the tower, you were pretty amazing."

"Yeah?" he smiled eagerly, a small swell of pride appearing on his blackened face.

'Yeah," she grinned and kissed the end of his nose. "Don't do it again," she ordered and then snuggled into him and drifted away.

xxx

Dick gritted his teeth and groaned in pleasure looking up at the beautiful brunette riding him hard. Her bare breasts shimmered with sweat in the early dawn as she forced herself on him harder and harder.

They had been at it for hours, multiple times, multiple positions. She squealed in delight when he flipped her on her back.

She grabbed his hair and cursed him "Fuck me Dick! Fuck me harder," she growled. He was more than happy to oblige. She was wild, she was dangerous, she was just what the doctored ordered.

They continued to wrestle for dominance, but she was hopelessly outmatched. Her fingers dug into his ass as she pulled him inside, harder and deeper with each thrust. Their speed was picking up as her moaning reached it precipice.

"I'm gonna cum!" she exclaimed. Dick was close as well, but her scream brought him over the edge as she climaxed immediately after. She collapsed next to him, pulling the sheets over their sweat soaked bodies.

"Unfucking believable," she panted as Dick smiled in satisfaction

"You liked that huh?"

"Oh hell yes!" she replied, trying to slow her breath. "The first, second, and third time." she purred.

The sun was beginning to rise and they had not slept all night. Dick had met Maria Demonbreun at the Wayne Foundation fundraiser earlier that evening, not his usual hunting grounds, but the brunette could not take her eyes off him all evening. He eventually introduced himself, she the same, and before they knew it, they were locked in a janitors closet going at it like wild animals.

It only seemed appropriate for him to invite his new companion to the apartment for a night cap. Several hours and multiple positions later, they lay together listening to the sounds of birds awakening, echoing throughout the penthouse Dick called home.

"Can I get you some coffee? he asked as he stood naked at the foot of the bed, Maria eyeing his toned body with admiration and approval.

"Yes please, and maybe you could get me something for the road."

"What's that?" he playfully asked.

"You," she moaned.

Dick walked into the kitchen and smelled the coffee that was automatically set to begin brewing every morning. It was an Americano Espresso he believed he had set last night, but the aroma itself was just the jolt he needed.

She was beautiful, enough so that he might consider asking for her company again, which was rare for him. She was wild in bed, and lately he needed more. The hunt was no longer numbing him like it should.

From across the room he heard Maria dial the phone as her one sided conversation began.

"Hi honey. Yeah sorry I didn't call last night, the fundraiser went way late and Judith let me stay over with her and Milt."

Dick closed his eyes in guilt. A married woman, a new low. Way to go.

The conversation continued, and she was remarkably believable, probably not the first time she had done this dance.

"Ok. I'll be home in about an hour. I love you too."

She began to end the call when a voice desperately shouted for her from the other end of the line.

"Hi baby," she cooed.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to tuck you in, but mommy had to stay late to raise money for the little boys and girls who don't have enough to eat."

The small voice continued with their rapid fire questions until Maria lovingly cut him off.

"I know honey, but mommy's on her way home now."

A quick pause and she was just about done.

"You're a sweet boy. I love you too Wallace, I'll be home in a little while."

Dick felt bile form in his throat.

She hung up her phone and strolled into the kitchen, swaying her bare hips to elicit the reaction that she hoped would lead to one final romp.

"So where were we?" she grinned evilly.

Dick threw her - her clothes. "Get out."

She stared back at him in angry disbelief

"What? Because I'm married? You saw the ring. I know you did. So what…. you get your rocks off and now you throw me out like some piece of trash?"

"Something like that," he coldly replied

"Fuck you!" she bellowed and began pulling her underwear and bra back on in disgust.

"There's a cab waiting for you downstairs. The Wayne Foundation thanks you and your husband for your kind generosity." he said bitterly

"Go to hell," she stormed out as the private elevator opened to escort her down stairs. She stared daggers into him until the door shut and she disappeared.

Dick pulled on a pair of gym shorts and sat down in his den. He no longer hated himself; he'd grown numb to that a long time ago. Violently punishing criminals no longer calmed him, soothed him. He was running out of distractions.

Dick walked to his mantle, staring at the pictures that lay upon it. The photos represented almost his entire life; an old picture of his parents and he, carnival shots, Bruce and Alfred, His days at Gotham Academy and its ridiculous uniform code, he and Wally…. He stopped right there.

Dick picked up the picture and walked back to the couch, staring intently at it.

It had been a year and a half, but it still felt like yesterday. The redhead had his arm around him, almost in a headlock as they both laughed. It was a great picture, natural, not posed like so many fake ones. He held it in his hands tightly, before throwing it across the room shattering it into pieces against the wall.

"God Damnit Wally! Why did you have to fight me, why couldn't you just have supported me, trusted me! I was your fucking best friend and I was in over my head, we both knew it, but god…there was no one else, no other way. No one who'd step up."

"You fought me on principal…fucking principal." he screamed to no one.

"You were so god damned stubborn, how many times did I ask for your help…fucking begged for it. You'd let your girlfriend risk her life, but you wouldn't join your best friend because I asked her to do the things you wouldn't. You are a fucking pussy West." he sobbed.

"If you'd just joined me like I asked, maybe all this shit would never have happened." The tears rolled down his face, he fought so hard against to keep in.

"This was your fault!" he sobbed, "Yours not mine"

Dick swallowed down his coffee and headed for the shower to wash the filth off of him.