Disclaimer: *looks around at everyone* you have got to be kidding me. If I owned young justice, Wally would be in EVERY episode, and the time jump would not happen. But I don't, so it did.

Mist: OK, here it is, the update. Looks like GG's demon army won't be coming after me today :)

Whistle: No, no they're not

Mist: I'm just hoping I'm typing fast enough; I barely even have time to proof read these.

Whistle: And before people start complaining about me checking for you. My only job is to make sure she writes, it's her job to do a good job

Mist: Which I do! Right guys?

Whistle: We're going to begin now.

Mist: *nods* but first I'd like to thank everyone whose reviewed this story, it really means a lot to me.

Whistle: Also, I apologise for what Mist has done, she was watching way too many episodes of 'The Flash' and couldn't help but add in this dude. You know who I mean.

^o^

Chapter five: with my eyes wide shut

^o^

(Wally/Blitz's POV)

I shifted my feet nervously as I tried to look anywhere but at the adult.

I recognised him all too well. He's Uncle Barry's best friend, Julio Mendez. They work together. I'd recognise his wild hair-style anywhere.

The man looked confused. "It is you, isn't it?" He asked, but from his tone I knew it wasn't a question. "Wally, right? Why aren't you in school?"

"Umm…" I tried to think of a good excuse, but my usually fast moving brain was failing me.

"Who are you?" Hartley asked, sounding a little more than annoyed.

"My names Julio Mendez, I'm a police forensic scientist," He answered him, eyes narrowed in suspicion, "I work with Wally's uncle."

I noticed that James flinched when Julio said the word 'police', not that I could really blame him considering who he is.

Hartley seemed mostly unfazed though. Actually, he looked more annoyed than anything else.

"Then I suggest you go back to work and pretend you didn't see us," Hartley hissed.

I wish he'd make it a little less obvious that he has no respect for authority. But what's a speedster to do?

Julio opened his mouth to answer, but his phone ringing interrupted him. Scowling at Hartley he answered the phone. "Hello?" He asked the person on the other line. "Whoa, Barry, slow down. Listen for a second! He's right here!" There was a small pause before Julio passed me the phone. "It's for you."

I looked at the phone nervously for a second. My hyperactive brain had picked up on who Julio was talking to. I wasn't sure if I was ready to talk to Uncle Barry…

I looked over at Hartley, who sighed at me. "Fine," He told me, "You can talk to him."

I felt an excitement bubble up inside me as I grabbed the phone, but I didn't know why. I didn't have much time to think about it, though, as the voice on the other end wouldn't stop repeating my name.

"I'm right here," I told Uncle Barry, allowing myself to feel a twinge of happiness at getting to talk to him again.

"Oh, thank god!" Uncle Barry's voice exclaimed from the other end of the phone. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Wow, overprotective much… "I'm fine," I told him, carefully thinking over what I should say next. "I've been at a friend's house."

Hartley and James grinned at what I said, obviously happy to be called 'friend'.

"Why didn't you call me?" He asked me, sounding betrayed.

Well it wasn't like I didn't ask if I could… "Sorry," I tried, not wanting to explain last night just yet.

"Wally, where are you right now?" He asked me, sounding slightly panicked. "I'll be right there to pick you up."

I froze for a moment and looked over at Hartley. He was leaning towards me slightly, listening in on the conversation. He could probably hear it from where he was because my uncle wasn't exactly being all that quiet.

Not that he ever has been.

"Hang up the phone," Hartley ordered me.

"But…" I objected, but my words fell flat as Hartley glared ever so slightly at me.

"Hang up the phone," He repeated, a sharp edge in his tone.

"Wally?" Uncle Barry asked me, "Who is that?"

Apparently Hartley isn't all that quiet either.

Hartley kept his eyes level with mine, a dangerous glint in his eyes that I haven't seen since the last time we battled. "Wally, hang up the phone, now," He ordered me slowly, a silent threat hanging in the wind.

"Wally! Don't listen to him!" My uncle's voice screamed at me from the other line. "Just tell me where you are! Please!"

I looked back and forth at Hartley and the phone frantically. My mind swirling in my head. It was telling me to listen to Hartley, to hang up the phone and go on my merry way. But something else was telling me to tell Uncle Barry where I was. To hide. To escape from the Rogues.

What is wrong with me? Why am I so conflicted?

"Ok, will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?" Julio asked, making me aware that he was in fact still here.

James stuck his tongue out at him. "Shut it cop!" He told him before kicking him in the shin.

"Ow!" Julio squeaked as he began hopping on one foot.

I found myself giggling at the sight.

"Wally? Answer me!" Uncle Barry snapped at me from the other line, reminding me that I had yet to make a decision.

"Don't answer him, Wally," Hartley told me, placing a hand on my shoulder and shaking it softly. "You don't need your old family anymore. We're your family now."

"Stay away from my nephew you creep!" Uncle Barry snapped at him.

Hartley sighed in annoyance. "You're one of us now, Wally," Hartley reminded me. "This was completely your choice."

I lowered my head. "I'm scared to let go…" I admitted weakly.

"Open your eyes and see reality," Hartley lectured me, "leave the past in the past."

I looked down at the phone in my hand.

"Please don't leave us," James pleaded with me, looking as though he was on the verge of tears.

I looked back down at the phone. "I'm not," I told him.

I closed the phone.

"That's our boy," Hartley laughed, his eyes looking normal again, as he ruffled me hair again.

"Sorry for the scare," I apologized.

"It's ok," James told me, "Just don't ever do it again."

I laughed at him. "I won't," I promised him before tossing the phone over to Julio, who was staring at me wide eyed.

"Just what are you getting yourself into?" He asked me, looking both shocked and panicked, maybe a little scared for my safety.

"He's found a new family," Hartley answered for me, and for some reason I was ok with that. "Is that a crime now?"

Julio scowled at him, but kept his mouth shut.

Hartley grabbed me and James' wrists before dragging us away.

^o^

For a few blocks I stayed silent, content to just let Hartley lead me around like the Pied Piper he was. Of course all calm things have to come to an end. This came in the form of Hartley stopping randomly and pushing me against the wall.

"You're letting your past feeling manipulate you," He told me before I had the chance to ask him what he was doing. "That was the Flash you were talking to, wasn't it?"

I was afraid to answer; I didn't want to betray him! Even if he didn't care about me…

But he does!

Where did that thought come from?

Hartley sighed in frustration. "Wally, we don't care about the Flash's identity," He told me, "We're Central City Rogues; when it comes to capes we deal with the mask, not the person. Now I'm gonna ask you one last time. Was that the Flash you were talking to on the phone?"

I nodded weakly. Finding myself too afraid to do anything else.

"That's what I thought," He growled, but his anger no longer seemed to be directed at me. "He's just playing you, you know? The only thing he's worried about is getting his little sidekick somewhere he can control him. We're the ones who really care; not him."

"Wally," James started, concern written all over his face, "We're just worried about you. If you freak out like that during a fight he might capture you! I don't wanna lose you…"

James began to cry silently.

Hartley released me and wrapped a comforting arm around James. "Don't worry, James," He told him, "We won't let Flash take Wally again."

I lowered my head again. "I'm sorry," I all but whispered.

James looked up at me, wiping away his tears. "It's not your fault you have Stockholm syndrome," he told me, and for once I didn't argue for fear of making him cry again.

"You've been living with your eyes closed for years, just letting the Flash lead you around like a defenseless child," Hartley told me, frowning at the thought. "We know it will take time to adjust to all of this. But we'll be here for you."

I looked up at him, allowing a tear to fall from my eye. "Was I… was I really being controlled all this time?" I asked, not to him in particular, a feeling of dread passing over me.

Hartley didn't answer me; instead he pulled me towards him with his free arm, forcing me into a group hug.

"You're gonna be ok," He finally answered me.

"And we're gonna help you every step of the way!" James promised me.

I allowed myself to smile. I must be the luckiest guy on earth to have made such wonderful friends. Where would I be without them?

^o^

Mist: Hope this turned out ok, I think the ending was a little awkward.

Whistle: How about you have a teacher check it for you at school tomorrow?

Mist: Good Idea Whistle. Ok everyone, I may replace this chapter with an updated version tomorrow at around eleven, so check back then.

Whistle: if you would.

Mist: I can't believe I just did three chapters in one day…

Whistle: I know, I'm in shock.

Mist: Also, (some of you might already know this) sometimes when I'm writing a story the story kind of takes over itself and begins to add things I don't remember adding. I've read through the entire story, and has anyone else noticed that Trickster/James is acting a little… strange?

Whistle: I've noticed too.

Mist: Well, if anyone else notices anything weird about him, please add it in in your review

Both: Until then, good night, and sweet nightmares.