Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.

The Healer 3

Chapter 3: For Whom this Bell Tolls

"Can love exist in a deep pool of hatred? Can you truly forget such pain—pain that is nothing but unforgettable? It entertains me seeing how you convince yourself that you can. But that is all nonsense... And I am sure you know that."

Robin's eyes opened to reveal the tower's infirmary room. A soft beeping substituted the silence that otherwise filled the empty space. Robin struggled to sit up for his body was covered in pain. His arms and legs were throbbing—especially his right leg. He leaned forward and tried to feel his leg, but all he felt was a hard surface. Surprised, he immediately pulled his blanket off and discovered that he had a cast on, one that stretched from the middle of his thigh to his foot. Robin was speechless. He never thought that he would be back in a cast. He tried to shake off the shock and looked around. With a groan, he started moving his body to sit on the edge of the bed. Sitting up only made the pain worse. He was about to leave the bed when the door opened.

"Don't even think about it," said Raven walking in.

"I was just gonna—"

"Stay put."

Robin remained sitting at the edge of the bed. The throbbing aches contorted his face and he began to groan. He clenched his teeth but the pain was not going away. Raven was watching him the whole time and she knew his threshold was about to be reached.

"You're still in pain. That is why you should lay down."

Robin's voice was weak.

"Yeah."

Raven walked over to him and aided him to lie back down. As soon as Robin was back in this position, his pains were alleviated a little. He watched Raven as she made her way across the room to the giant monitors mounted on the wall. She picked up a nearby clipboard and wrote a few notes then she placed it back down. She grabbed a chair and positioned it next to the bed. After taking her seat, she leaned back and glanced at Robin.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"I'm okay. I feel fine."

"That's good. Your condition has stabilized but we're still monitoring everything which explains why you're still hooked up."

Robin seemed surprised. It was only after Raven mentioned them that Robin realized the equipment still connected to him. After all, his mind was preoccupied by the pain. A needle was in his arm and electrodes were on his chest. He then sat up again and massaged his head.

"What happened anyway?"

"From what Cyborg said, Cinderblock threw you into a building—hard. We found you unconscious."

"Wait. What happened to Cinderblock and Plasmus?"

"Behind bars where they belong."

"And how's the city?"

"Starfire and Beast Boy are out there right now helping clean up."

"That's-That's great. That's good news."

Finally, Raven saw Robin calm down. It was obvious that despite his current state, Robin could not help but worry about others. Raven then stood up and approached her teammate. She placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.

"Now, lay back down and rest. If you need anything, Cyborg and I are available."

"Where is Cyborg?"

"In his room, recharging. You know, he was up all night and all day fixing you up."

"Really? Then when I get the chance, I'll thank him."

Raven smirked.

"You better. 'Night."

"Goodnight."

Raven turned off the lights and exited the room. Once the door closed, darkness became Robin's companion. Only the machines and their humming prevented the room from getting all too lonely for the patient. Robin stared at the ceiling and waited for sleep to take him over. It was not long before his wish was granted. His eyes began to feel heavy and his breathing became gentler. Before long, the boy wonder sunk into his bed and fell asleep. Raven was in the surveillance room watching Robin on one of the screens. When she saw that he was asleep, she left and headed for her bedroom.

"Friendship holds a lot of promise. But those are empty promises. Did you really think you could get rid of me? You are a fool. Remember this: I am you and you are me. Remember."

Daybreak broke in through the curtains to greet the sleeping Robin. The ray that fell on his eyes caused him to turn his head away.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled.

But the sun was persistent in waking him up. Robin eventually opened his eyes. The room was a little brighter and seemed warmer than last night. Again, he could hear the equipment humming and beeping. The day brought a calming effect for him, yet his body could not be put at complete ease since his body was still aching. Just then, the door opened to reveal Cyborg. He had on a big smile that brightened up the room a little bit more.

"Morning!" he greeted.

"Morning, Cy."

"And how you doin'?"

"Better, thanks. And by the way, thank you for everything."

"Oh, you don't have to thank me."

"No, I do. Raven said that you worked on me nonstop and I can't thank you enough."

Cyborg chuckled and found a sit next to his masked friend.

"And Raven."

Robin looked puzzled.

"What?"

"Raven was next to me the whole time. I told her to go and help Star and B. B. but she insisted on staying. I'm glad she did. Because of her powers, the whole process went more smoothly and quickly."

"I wonder why she didn't say anything."

"Well, you know Raven. I guess she just didn't want to be in the spotlight."

"Yeah, maybe."

Cyborg gave him a smile and got up heading for the door.

"Where're you going?"

"Getting you some breakfast. You need to keep your energy up. Want anything in particular?"

"No. Anything's fine. Thanks."

"No problem."

Robin let out a sigh. He reached for the bedside table and grabbed the remote. As soon as the television was turned on, Raven strolled into the room. Robin immediately lowered the volume of the TV.

"Raven, hey. Good morning."

"Morning."

Her voice was colorless and her complexion made her seem pale—or paler. Not only did her voice lack tone, it also had a hint of agitation.

"Something wrong?" asked Robin.

Raven's eyes shot at Robin causing him to shrink into the bed. She instantly caught herself and contained her emotion. She rubbed her temples and heaved a giant sigh.

"Sorry. I've just been up all night."

"Something kept you up?"

"Yeah; a really good book."

"Seriously?"

Robin started to sit up while Raven found a sit.

"So, what's the book called?"

"Into the Abyss."

"Who wrote it?"

"Um, her name is Alzear Valentine."

Robin began to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing; it's nothing."

"What is it?"

"I was just... imagining you in your room with a flashlight underneath a blanket reading the book."

Robin continued to laugh. Raven could only cross her arms in response.

"I did no such thing," she denied.

"No, no I know. I was just... Never mind. Just being stupid."

"Yeah, very."

"Okay, okay. I know it was silly. I was just messing around."

"I don't mess around."

Raven got up and walked over to the monitors. Robin shook his head, smiling as he looked at Raven.

"Have you ever had a sense of humor?"

"It comes and goes."

There was a brief moment of silence before Robin spoke again.

"Hey, Raven?"

"Yeah?"

Her back was to him as she studied the monitors.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Cyborg said you helped him fix me up."

Raven turned to him and leaned back on the wall.

"Now why would he say that?"

"I don't know. Did you?"

"I go where I am needed."

"I guess that's a yes."

"Or a no."

She resumed her work by the monitors leaving Robin smiling and chuckling to himself.

"I stand corrected," he said.

"Oh yeah? About what?"

"You do have a sense of humor."

"Oh, be quiet."

"But really. Thank you, Raven, for all your help."

"Like I said, I go where I'm needed."

She sat back down in the chair close to Robin's bed. She grabbed a nearby magazine and went on to skim through it. At that time, the door opened and Cyborg came in carrying a tray with a bowl of soup.

"I brought you soup. Is that okay?"

"Yeah of course."

"I just thought it'd be better if you avoid solid food for a while."

"Yeah, thanks."

Cyborg went over to the bedside table and placed the tray on top of it.

"Hey, Raven. Watcha up to?"

"Reading."

Cyborg looked at Robin and then back at Raven.

"Is that a magazine?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Well, I thought you always thought magazines were stupid."

"I do. But it always depends on what it is."

"So what is that?"

"An issue on local mystical legends and myths."

"You have fun with that. Later, guys."

Robin waved at his friend.

"Catch ya later."

Robin looked to his side at the soup. He tried to get it but the pain prevented him from doing so. An intense pain shot from his abdomen that halted his movements. Raven looked over her magazine at her struggling friend.

"Need help?"

"Please."

Raven's hand became covered with a black aura. The tray then, too, was shrouded by the same dark energy. She placed the tray on Robin's lap.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Robin was about to reach for the spoon when Raven suddenly asked,

"Do you also need help with that?"

Robin paused. His expression was one of surprise.

"Like spoon-feed me?"

Silence. Then Raven raised the magazine again covering her face.

"Never mind."

"I don't mind," teased Robin.

"I said never mind."

Robin laughed.

"Thanks for the offer, but I got it."

He dipped his spoon into the soup and served a spoonful into his mouth.

"Wow, this is good."

Robin continued eating, his slurping getting louder and louder. Raven peeked over the magazine and her eyes conveyed irritation.

"Please, slurp louder why don'tcha?"

"Oh, sorry."

"And use a napkin."

It would seem that all of his food did not make it to his mouth. Some of it was dripping at the sides of his mouth and onto the bed sheets.

"Sorry."

Robin quickly grabbed the napkin on the tray and wiped his mouth.

"Thank you."

Raven resumed her reading and Robin went back to eating.

Some hours passed and the room carried a rather peaceful mood. The tray with an empty bowl was back on the bedside table. Robin was propped up by his pillows as he watched TV. And seeing that there was nothing to watch, he turned it off and laid the remote on the table. He yawned and then sunk into his pillows. He looked over to his side and saw that his companion was fast asleep. A knock came on the door. At first, it opened a little just enough to let Cyborg's head to fit through.

"Robin, you awake?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

Cyborg fully entered the room.

"Nothin'. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Then he looked at the sleeping Raven.

"I guess I don't need to ask how she's doing."

Robin gave a chuckle.

"She was up all night reading her book," he explained.

"Somehow I knew that would happen."

"By the way, Cyborg, where're Starfire and Beast Boy? I've been waiting for a visit from the two of them."

"Sorry, but they're not coming."

"Why?"

"Day two of city clean-up."

"Oh."

"Believe me they wanted to see you. But they were tired from yesterday and by the time they woke up today, they had to go and help. Starfire I think was more bummed than Beast Boy."

Robin smiled and said, "I wish I could've seen Starfire... A-And Beast Boy. I could use some of his jokes by now."

Cyborg raised an eyebrow and smirked as he saw Robin blush.

"Sure, jokes. Well, see ya buddy. Gotta work on the car."

"Yeah. Thanks for dropping by."

"But you're sad it wasn't Starfire?"

"H-Hey! Cut it out! Just work on your car."

Cyborg was laughing as he exited the infirmary. Robin relaxed in his pillows sighing. Then he remembered: Raven was sleeping. Robin turned to her, afraid that he woke her with his yelling. But seeing the girl fast asleep with the magazine lying on top of her stomach put him at ease.

"Glad I didn't wake her up," he thought.

His gaze remained on Raven as she dreamed away. Her breathing was gentle, her expression serene and carefree. Seconds raced by and Robin maintained his stare. As he looked on, he felt his heart beating faster and faster. He instantly broke his gaze and placed his hand on his chest. Slowly, his normal heart rate returned. He looked at the ceiling, his mind at a loss.

"What was that?"

Chapter end