Yes, a lot of you correctly predicted that Barry's attitude was going to drive Wally to the edge. And I think that it's best summed up by this song in Hebrew "You're still a cub when you're in uniform." I think that really is the essence of what it means to be a parent, and sadly, there's no guide book. Still, Wally's got a good head on his shoulders, so everything should be okay? Or not.

No matter how it turns out, special kudos to the girl by the downtown caffe, this chapter is for you!

When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray

-The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Your Guardian Angel

Aunt Iris and Uncle Bary were finally asleep. Wally had already made his choice and had just been waiting for them to be sleeping so he could use the cover of darkness. Despite how angry he was at his uncle, he loved him and Aunt Iris. He hated hurting them a moment more than he had to.

They were the best family in the world, they had given him a home and an education and a happiness that few children could ever boast about. He had enormous photo albums filled with pictures of them on vacations and on holidays. They had taught him right, they had made him a person who believed in doing the right thing. And the right thing was to save Jinx.

It was his fault she was suffering. He had chased her, begged her to join his side, and then he had allowed her to go to prison for a crime she didn't commit. And now he would have to make sure justice was done. Even if it meant doing the worst thing possible. It was the only logical choice he had, if he wanted to clear in conscience.

Wally knew what he had to do. He knew what the price would have to be. This would have to be his last act as Kid Flash, because he was about to destroy everything the Flash name stood for. He took out a sheet of paper and a pen and began writing. As he did, the tears blurred the words, as sobs poured from his chest. He couldn't even imagine what their reactions would be when they got this.

Dearest Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris,
By the time you read this...I will have done something terrible. I can't explain to you why I am doing what I am planning to do. I wish I could make you understand, but I am at a place where I have no choice but to follow my heart. Please don't be angry at me or blame yourselves. you are the best parents a guy can ask and I wish it didn't have to come to this. You taught me wrong from right and now everything that I know is wrong is right.
I wish there was another way for me to make things the way they should be. I'm afraid of what the future brings, because I know you will have to treat me as what I have become. I know I will have hurt you and the thought of that makes me want to stop. But I can't, I've gone too far now and nothing can stop what I must do. I made a promise to protect Jinx and I will keep it, even if it ruins my life. I am prepared to take the punishment and I swear, I won't run and hide. I know I will have brought disgrace to you, but this wasn't my intent. You were the perfect teachers, it's my fault as a student. These words, they just seem so stupid now. God, I love you and I am sorry, so sorry, like you wouldn't believe. If there was another way, any way, I would take it.

I could write forever. I have so much to say, but if I don't stop now, I'll never be able to leave.
For what it's worth, I remain your most loving nephew, and you are the best parents in the universe. It's not your fault,
Wally

He needed this to be in a place where Uncle Barry wouldn't find this too easily. It would only take a few seconds for his former mentor to find him and drag him back by the scruff of his neck like a naughty boy. He was a man now and he had to forge his own way, even though he wished he still could be put in the corner like a kid again. What lay ahead in his future would be much worse.


Jinx lay sobbing on her narrow bed. In the morning, she would be transferred to Arkham and dead. Scarecrow would pick her brain apart into little pieces and put them together again, just to smash them again. She wanted to die; she wanted to never wake up. She hadn't killed those people, she hadn't done anything to deserve what she had. Wally was alive, she was innocent now! She didn't deserve this windowless hell.

Maybe he had forgotten her. She knew his precious mentor had locked him away and was most likely demanding he give her up. She could just hear the harangues in her mind about what an unworthy slut she was for the pride and joy of the Justice League Juniors. And like the dutiful good boy he was, he'd do it.

He had forgotten her. She was alone again. Now that she had been cared about again, it was hard to return to that emptiness. Not that she'd know about it soon. She had seen Scarecrow in his civilian clothing, talking to one of her guards to put her on suicide watch. He knew her too well.

She had finally been so happy. She had a boy who adored her, and she was finally feeling like more than a villian. She was starting to feel like a person, someone who mattered and then he had been taken away from her. Why did he have to ruin her life? She had been happy living without love and affection. Now she was hopelessly in love with a boy who was never going to see her again and whose name she couldn't even say. It just didn't seem fair.

She could see the moon through the barred window. It was nearly midnight, she only had a few hours till she would be bundled into a straight-jacket and straight into the mouth of hell. She should treasure these hours. She had always figured it would end this way, either she'd lead a criminal empire, or she'd be waiting to die. There was not much in the middle in the line of work she had been forced into.

As she sobbed some more, she felt a wind graze her cheek and a whoosh of sound. "Don't cry," a very familiar voice whispered. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I gave you my word." But how could it be him? He was supposed to be locked up, he must have moved heaven and earth for her.

"…" Jinx said, not believing herself. "You came to say goodbye to me? Your uncle is going to be so angry." Still, she was touched that he had gone to see her, even if it was a hopeless gesture. "He can't make it worse on me though."

"I know," Wally whispered. "It's going to be okay. I'm sorry I put you in this place, but I'm not going to let you suffer. That's why I'm taking your place," he said, caressing her face lovingly. "You're going free." How could she be going free unless he was willing to break the law, something he had sworn never to do?

"They'll kill you," Jinx whispered, as she felt herself being lifted into those wonderfully familiar arms. As she looked up into those blue eyes, she realized something terrible. He was not dressed as Kid Flash anymore, but a black spandex suit. Had they stripped him of his title for caring for her? Being Kid Flash had meant everything to him.

"You didn't burn down the building. You don't deserve this and I won't let them hurt you," he said in a grave tone. The hands holding hers were shaking and his eyes were rimmed red with tears. He was terrified, breaking every rule for her. It would be romantic if it wasn't also so depressing. She was breaking his soul into a million pieces. Still, she was free and she needed this so much.

"Thank you," she whispered, falling into her arms. "You saved my life." She closed her eyes and felt a weird vibrating feeling shudder through her body.


Wally vibrated his molecules out of the prison, feeling himself grew cold and afraid despite his joy in seeing Jinx again. No one would catch him, he was far too fast, but he knew what he did and so would those around him. They could never forgive this.

What had he done? He was a criminal now. He was not safe anymore, he could outrun justice, but he could never stop his exile. He had broken the law; he had become an accomplice to a criminal. He could only imagine the fury, betrayal, and anger Uncle Barry was feeling. He felt his breath catch in his chest, he had never felt so dirty and ashamed, and it was physically painful for him to even move with that crushing weight of guilt on his shoulders. "Please, know I had no other choice," he prayed, wondering if his parents were right. Was he just a selfish, unmanageable kid who couldn't care less about anyone's feelings?

Finally, they were outside. Wally, still carrying his substitute ran as if the Devil himself was chasing him. He had to get her away before they found out her absence; it would be easier to turn himself in without the police alerted. He shuddered at the idea that the police would be called to find him and track him down. And he would have to let them drag him away in hand cuffs. He hated to think what would happen to him if he was caught by his own uncle. That would be even worse.

As he stared into the enormous moon, he tried to burn away the imagined looks of horror from his eyes. He couldn't regret what he had done now, he could only look to his new future and make the best of it that he could.

Wally should be enjoying this run. He would not be running free for a long time; he would go crazy without being able to express the speed force inside him. His life was ruined and he had no one to blame but himself.

Still, he had made his plans and he would not look back. There was nothing there but regrets and he had no stomach for that. He had done the right thing. "Dela…I burn for you," he whispered, remembering the words from the song he had sang her. The prediction had come true.

Jinx had found the entire ride exhilarating. She was free, the Scarecrow would never have her now and she had her Wally carrying her. So she had a little vertigo and nausea, she was free and she had never been happier. He had come for her, he loved her and he had proved it. She couldn't believe how choked up she was at this moment. She wanted to kiss him till she left bruises on every inch of him. He had left his heroic duty to join her forever.

Wally had been strangely silent during the entire ride, but Jinx had just enjoyed laying her head against his chest, feeling his disturbingly rapid heart-beat and knowing she was safe and loved. As he ground to a stop, Jinx was already thinking of all the ways she would reward him. She hoped wherever she was going, it had whipped cream, silk ties and a flat surface.

"This will be your safe house," Wally explained, looking extremely gray and pale as they arrived to an adorable cottege hidden in the trees. "It's five hundred miles outside of Jump City. It has everything you need, a fully stocked fridge and all."

Jinx looked around at the cabin. It was beautiful, old and rustic, with antique wood furniture that she couldn't wait to use erotically. She walked inside and looked around at her new safe house, all beautiful and love nest ready. "It's incredible."

"I have money for you. It's enough to last you a while, it's all I could get out of my trust fund," Wally explained, handing her a bag. The hand holding it was shaking like a leaf. "And thank you." He looked so sad and broken, like a man convicted of a terrible crime. "I don't regret it."

"Where are you going?" Jinx asked. Her plan for the two of them to go crooked together, and this was starting to sound pretty bad. "Aren't we going to run off together? I'm in the mood to reward you," she said. Actually, she was in the mood to take him right then and there and have him on the pallet but she figured that might inspire another attack of conscience.

"I'm going to take your place in prison." Wally must have noticed her look of extreme terror and shock so he continued. "I have to, I broke the law. I don't regret what I did, but I have to turn myself in and it's easier I do it than have the Teen Titans or the Justice league take me down. I'd rather not have them involved with this. They are going to find me anyway, so I figure I'll spare myself the perp walk. So this has to be goodbye," Wally's voice broke in grief.

"No, it doesn't have to be goodbye," Jinx demanded. "You can't leave me now. I need you!" This was not working out the way she wanted it to.

"I have to go back and do what's honorable. It's my only choice." Oh no, she wasn't about to let him do that. It wasn't even out of love. If Wally was arrested, all of the Titans would be doomed. Which would have been a good thing in her opinion, but she understood the problems that Wally would find in that.

"But then I'll have to break into prison to save you," Jinx whispered, realizing how much he was willing to give up for her and yet, he was ready to let her go free and leave him behind. He would never survive behind bars; he had too many people there with grudges against him. He'd be dead in a week along with everyone he held dear. "That would be really inconvenient for me. Besides, no one knows you were involved. Why sacrifice everything and turn yourself in when you committed the perfect crime?"

"That would be pointless. I know I committed it and I am not going to be able to escape this, people will know. I'm turning myself in. I'll be staying there willingly. I hurt a lot of people and I need to act like the hero I'm supposed to be," Wally explained, his voice sounding very husky as if he was on the verge of tears.

Jinx rounded on him. "You are not going to go all savior on me! I don't need you to sacrifice your life for mine as some noble martyr and leave me alone again. I need you. The world needs you. So you made one wonderful lapse in the law, it doesn't make you less of a hero," she snapped, holding his sleeve.

"Actually, considering what I just did, I think I'm not a hero anymore. You finally got your wish, you've broken me of everything I worked for to prove my love for you," Wally said with a bitter smile, looking completely destroyed as he pulled away from her. "Does it feel good to win?"

"Quit with the guilt. I didn't start the fire and you know it. I didn't deserve this. You were just fighting injustice again and had to crack a few eggs!" Jinx demanded, standing in the doorway. It was a fruitless gesture, but it was all she could think of doing at the moment. "I can't even say your name because of them. "

Wally was at her side in an instant. "Only one cure for that. True love's kiss. Hollywood gets things right some time. Of course, you might still be magicked, and then I've just screwed up my life really badly," he said softly, taking her hand. "But I'll risk it."

Jinx grinned. "Let's try it," she whispered, and launched herself into his arms, enjoying a deep full kiss that finally relaxed her and convinced her she was free. She only broke away so she could check it and was satisfied with what she heard. "Wally…Wallace Rudolph West. Your name is Wally. My Wally."

"So you do love me," Wally said softly, stroking her hair. "I'm glad to know that I went down for someone who truly loves me. For what it's worth, you're worth every bit of pain."

Jinx grinned, enjoying the sound of her lover's name. "Thank you, Wally. My Wally, now, let's see what new kinds of magic we can make," she said seductively. "There's no rush to ruin your life. I want to reward you, you know. And you might just get away with it. "

"Jinx, the Justice League will know it's me. They aren't exactly going to be as understanding as you," Wally explained, still looking confused and shaken. He wasn't listening to sense!

"You spent all this time bringing me to the light side. And now you are going to let me be alone again? Why not shove the lock pick back into my hands? I need you," Jinx pleaded, an idea already forming in her mind. "And I have information for you."

"I can't do this," Wally said, staring at his shoes. He looked so sad and forlorn, like a lamb on the way to the slaughter. "I have to face myself in the mirror every day and I can't look at myself right now. I can't live my life, knowing that I'm a fraud."

"Don't you get it, you idiot?" Jinx snapped, holding onto his sleeve. "The League will lock you on some ice planet for life. And if the cops catch you first, they'll put you into a regular prison and remove your mask. And if they do, everyone will know your secret identity. And if you're put in a regular prison,you'll be a walking target. They'll kill you before you can even blink. You can't go back there. "

"You don't think I know that?" Wally whispered, shrinking in terror. "But if I escape, I show I'm above the law and I'm not. I'm still going out doing what a hero does, even if I can't be a hero anymore."

His mind was made up. And as a good girlfriend, Jinx knew the only thing to do. She leaned over as if to hug him and gave him a direct blast of energy to the left temple. As he fell unconscious into her arms, Jinx kissed his forehead tenderly and made sure he was breathing. "That's why I can do this." Wally's stupid martyr complex was endearing, but it had to be nipped in the bud.

She gently bound his wrists, knowing that she'd need something a lot more permanent once he awoke. A shock like that would give her two hours, she needed to work fast. She went to the phone and dialed a familiar number. "Seemore? This is Jinx. I;m out and I need a favor. I'm on Slade's good side now, served my time and I'm on a mission. Tell Gizmo I need a level five containment chamber in thirty minutes or I will come up there and take him and every piece of machinery apart myself. Hope you are having a lovely day," she said, with a smile. It was good to be back.


Wally had not expected the blast. He really should have been smarter than that. But considering he had thrown away his entire life on love, he was sure that his IQ had dropped dramatically even before it had gotten zapped by his girlfriend. He had not exactly expected what would greet him. He was in a big glass metal tube…without much gravity. No gravity meant no friction, which meant no running or speed, which meant….he was a sitting duck. Batman had taught him how to pick locks and hack into things, but the walls were entirely smooth. Nothing for him to try and jam! It was a brilliant piece of machinery for a possible death trap.

What if he had been wrong about Jinx all along? What if she had played him for a fool the entire time and was now preparing the gift wrap to deliver him to the Brotherhood of Evil? He hated himself even more for doubting her after all he had done for her, but given the circumstances, he figured he deserved a few seconds of worry.

Those worries were not laid aside when Jinx walked in, looking quite satisfied. "Ah, you're up? Just on schedule, good to see you up and unable to move," she said, sounding cheery. Wally was both turned on and very confused! "How are you feeling?"

"Jinx, I've been a good boyfriend. I've put up with abuse, cruelty, the loss of my entire future and all. Don't you think I'm owed an explanation of why I'm in a glass test tube?" he asked. He was starting to believe that this was to his benefit but he still wanted to know what was going on.

"So you don't have any idiotic ideas about turning yourself in. I'm not about to lose my boyfriend to his stupid suicidal tendencies. Therefore, I am making sure you are not a danger to yourself or my happiness. It's called tough love. Dr. Phil says it's the only choice a woman has when she's fighting for her man," Jinx said, making Wally ponder if the world had gone stark raving mad.

"So you are keeping me locked up so I don't get locked up? Where's the logic in that?" Wally demanded, as he floated around helplessly. This was ironic in some way. He was sure of it. "I think you really need to look up the definition of love and check it against the definition of insane."

"I'm not letting them hurt you. Think of this as a time out, you big baby," Jinx said affectionately. "After what you went through to get me to fall in love with you, you should take this as a compliment. It took a lot of favors to get Seemore to get Gizmo to build an inter-dimensional capsule which allows you to live in suspended animation in the tank, not needing food or stuff, but still be able to talk. You won't even be aging while you're in here. It's ingenious. You should be impressed."

"Oh, I am. I'm just a little unsure if this counts as romantic or sadomasochistic," Wally said, tapping on the glass. He was starting to feel like a pet bird, here. Wally want a cracker?

"I'm into both," Jinx said, making Wally blush as red as his hair as he pondered what his captivating captor meant by that statement and was this the time to remember Uncle Barry's lecture on the birds and the bees and how neither should happen until he was married or Barry was dead, whatever came first.

"How long do you plan to keep me as your pet?" Wally asked, as he pondered how he was supposed to be fed here. Not that he minded the zero gravity, but his metabolism really needed a boost.

Jinx flopped into a chair, letting her hair down. "A few months. Just till the heat dies down. You're a villain now, so we are going to rob some banks and settle out in Europe somewhere. It will be amazing, just you and me and a beach house in Tuscany. And don't worry about people finding out, the only person who knows is Seemore and he'll keep my secret. I made sure to inform him of what I'd cut off if he didn't."

Wally winced in male solidarity. "You're very convincing," he said, wondering what he had gotten himself into. First of all, he wasn't a villain, he was a criminal. There was a difference. Second, he was still locked up. Of course, this was a lot more comfortable than the last time he had been captured by a villain, so he supposed he should count himself lucky. And this was better than a cell at Arkham.

Jinx winked, looking very pleased with herself. "You have no idea what I'm capable of. But I think I am going to show you."

Wally blushed in spite of himself. She did know how to play him like a violin. "I'll hold you to that, warden," he said softly, trying to figure out his next move.

"Warden's right. You aren't going anywhere and the sooner you accept that, the easier it will be," Jinx said haughtily, a cat who swallowed the canary. "At least being in my care has benefits."

"So can you at least tell me why you mentioned Scarecrow? I know you were trying to indicate the villain, but I needed more to establish the connection," Wally asked, at least trying to come to his senses and get some information. This seemed to please Jinx immensely.
"Scarecrow. I know his real identity. It's Dr. Jonathan Crane, head of Arkham. He revealed it to me. He was supposed to punish me for something. I know what he does to people who are on Slade's bad list. Tortures and breaks their mind, without even touching their bodies," Jinx explained. "That's why I kept saying it to you. I needed your help."

Wally nodded, convinced that maybe he had made the right choice. "Then I really did need to save you," he said, feeling relieved. "If what you're saying is true, then that explains how information passed out of Arkham and will take down a major thorn in our side," he said, feeling excited for a moment. That was a major blow to his uncle, his colleague was an actual villain. "Can you prove it?"

"Why does that matter?" Jinx demanded. "I doubt we'll be looking to prove anything. If you want, we can take him out later, but for now, we have to make our own lives."

"But we have vital information," Wally said breathlessly. "We need to make sure the League knows this." This could be the ticket to getting them out of trouble, they had smoked out a mole for evil, this was a good thing.

"Not likely. We need to lay low. We are not going anywhere. Let the world solve its own problems. Right now, it's just you and me," Jinx said, clearly trying to be firm with him. He had asked her for to go to the light side, he supposed a sense of responsibility was part of the package. "You had to work so hard to help me; I am going to be just as strong as I help you. You should rest. I gave you a nasty bruise and it won't be healing as long as you are in there. Besides, I have plans to make."

"How long do you plan to be like this?" Wally asked. "To keep me locked up like this. I need freedom, you know. Imprisoning people doesn't show you care about them." That was something all of the people in his life really needed to learn.

Jinx sighed dramatically and winked. "I wish there was another way I could do this," she said mournfully, trying to hide her smile. "I really do."

Wally glared at her. "No you don't. You love having me locked up," he reminded her, realizing that he was grateful to her. Even if he was locked up, he was happy to be outside of prison. Was this a sign of criminal behavior? Nah, he was a simple guy and liked simple things like his freedom.

"Okay, you got me there. You do make a delicious prisoner and I'm just sad I couldn't use shackles. Well, we'll save it for when I trust you enough to let you out and reward you for saving me," Jinx said with a wink. Very nice images were filling his mind.

Now Wally was really red. He definitely wanted some of that, and he figured he had damned himself to help, he deserved to enjoy some of the forbidden fruits. "Sounds good. So how long till that?" he asked eagerly. "Because I'm ready right now."

"Hopefully, not too long. Just till you agree to stay with me forever. I need to do this, because I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me. I don't need a savior. I need a boyfriend," Jinx said quietly. "I need to protect you."

"You're a lot like my uncle," Wally sighed. "He said the same thing. And I think I'm beginning to understand it." He looked away. "I'm usually not so confused. But nothing is making sense now. Of course, with you at my side, I should be used to this. You do have a habit of making things complicated for me."

"You haven't been too easy on my life either." Jinx pressed her hand against the glass and smiled, looking so beautiful in the morning sunlight. "It's good to have you back," she said softly. "I missed you."

Wally placed his hand over hers and wished he could touch her skin again. "Me too." And for a moment, he forget how much trouble he was in. "Seeing you again is the best I've felt in a long time."


AN-Isn't that sweet? I mean, besides how massively screwed up their lives are and how they're doomed and all that, it's sweet! Okay, next chapter is in the editing stage, so whatever happens, you'll know very soon. Till then, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what happens next!