I apologize for the delay but the real world is now upon me. It also didn't help that I got a migraine and mine are the ones that incapacitate me for a day and then the effects last for almost a week. On a good excuse I am also in the middle of writing my very own original book that I am super excited about but that's for another day because write now I have this lovely fanfic to give you all.

Chapter 5: Finding the Answer

Red Arrow shot an arrow out and let it hook to the top of the building. He slid himself across the streets completely unnoticed as he made his way across town. He had been searching on five hours of sleep in the past two nights. He was now looking for two people; the original Roy and the boy wonder. Roy knew that he might be a knock off copy of the original but the brotherly bond he felt to the thirteen year old was still his own and he owed the teen.

He couldn't count the amount of times that Robin had saved his life. He remembered the times of when Green Arrow and Batman had teamed up and had brought their protégés with them. One time a mutated alligator got in the sewers of Star City and it almost got him from behind. If it wasn't for Robin, he would have been lizard chow. He owed the kid by finding him and he knew exactly who would bring him to him. He needed to find Cheshire to get her to tell him something, anything that might lead him to Robin. Of course the one time he actually wanted to find her she was nowhere to be seen.

He decided to go to the one spot in the entire world that he was able to think; Star Bridge. The suspended bridge spanned over the river that connecting the city to the next region. At night he loved to sit at the top of the red bridge letting the wind fly through his hair and watching the lights in the distant city flicker.

He swung himself on the ledge of the bridge and walked onto the top platform. He froze at the site of someone else on the bridge though and once he realized who it was he brought his bow and arrow up.

"Hands in the air," he said sternly to the persons back. Her black raggedly hair blew in the wind and with her hands slowly reaching up she turned around; her mask hiding her face.

"Hello lover boy," she said with a tease.

"Don't move," he said tightening his grip on his bow.

"I come in peace," she said lowering her arms and walked towards him. She moved until she was right in front of the arrow and slowly took off her mask; she knew that he wouldn't strike. He growled lowly as she placed her hand on the arrow head and lowered it for him. "Is this how you treat all your girlfriends?" she laughed.

"You are not my girlfriend," he said collapsing his bow and placing his arrow back into his sheath.

"Really…that's not what it seemed like a few weeks ago," she said seductively.

"I don't have time to deal with your antics Cheshire. You know who I'm looking for and I want answers."

"Yes, yes your little acrobatic team mate. He was quite a fighter," she said. Roy grabbed her by the collar of her kimono and pulled her upwards so only her tiptoes touched the bridge.

"What did you do to him," he growled and Cheshire frowned.

"I'm not the one to tell you that. I'm just the messenger," she said and he let go of her clothing and she faltered to her feet.

"Then give me the message," he said. He was prepared to beat the information out of her when she looked him the eyes.

"Talia al Ghul wants to meet with Batman tomorrow at midnight. She said to tell him at their…spot," she said walking over to the ledge as she began to put her mask back on.

"And where is this so called spot," Roy demanded. She lowered the mask and turned to him.

"Ah, ah, ah. You know the old saying. Curiosity killed the cat," she said with a smile.

"Yeah well, satisfaction brought it back didn't it," he said. Cheshire's eyes widen in surprise and then she smirked.

"Well look at that, Arrow told a joke. I must be rubbing off on you," she said a placed her mask back on "Remember, tomorrow, midnight," she said and leapt from the top of the bridge. Red Arrow's eyes widen in horror behind his mask and he ran to the edge. He looked down and only saw cars rush by honking at each other in the processes; the assassin nowhere to be seen. He pulled out the small communicator and shoved it in his ear.

"Batman it's Red Arrow…I got us a lead."

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Wally sat in the back of his class and tapped his pencil in frustration. His teacher droned on about something that had to do with either nuclear fusion or fission. He wasn't quite sure because his mind was on the clock.

They had all heard it last night those nine simple words; "Batman its Red Arrow…I got us a lead." He and Artemis were searching Louisiana in the Bioship hoping that maybe the Shadows decided to use the Injustice Leagues old base but it was never touched since the plant incident. The two of them had just announced to Aqualad that they were coming back when Roy's voice was heard loud and clear.

Kid Flash pressed the small button in his ear.

"Where?" he asked quickly "I can meet up with you to help just-"

"Sorry KF," Red Arrow said cutting him off "This is for Batman only."

Batman's voice had come through afterwards and Red Arrow said he would meet him in the Watchtower to explain leaving the rest of the team in the dark.

"Mr. West," Wally heard and looked towards the front of the class where his teacher looked at him with arms crossed.

"Uh yeah?" Wally asked sitting up straighter while not jostling his injured shoulder.

"This isn't band class," he said looking at the pencil that his student was just tapping "Maybe you would like to teach the class on what Uranium hexafluoride is instead?" Before the teacher continued his speech Wally sighed.

"It's a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons," he explained in a monotone voice. The class turned to look at him and the teacher cleared his throat.

"Yes well…next time just don't be disrupted," he said. Wally inwardly smiled but it was short lived. If it was a normal day as soon as class let out he would have told Dick about the burn he just did to his teacher, but there was no Dick to tell it to.

Artemis walked through the hallway in her school uniform. She sighed heavily as she made her way to class. Her heart just wasn't into it today which she thought was understandable. Too bad she couldn't explain to her English teacher that she couldn't do the five page paper on Shakespeare's life because she needed to go out and help search for the younger half of the dynamic duo that just happen to be a close friend of hers. Everyone else assumed that Dick Grayson was now living happily with his uncle and wasn't coming back to Gotham Academy.

She remembered yesterday when they received the transmission that Red Arrow might know where Robin was. When Wally wasn't allow to hear where his best friend was she watched as the speedsters heart sunk. She just wanted to do something for him so she didn't have to see that face again. Her phone rang in her pocket and she walked into an empty girl's bathroom before a teacher could see her with it. She flipped it open and saw that it was unlisted.

"Hello?" she said.

"It's me," the gruff voice on the other line said and she instantly knew who it was.

"Roy?" she said in surprise "What are you…"

"I need your help," he said cutting her off.

"You are coming to me for help?" to her this day could not get any weirder "With what?"

"I Are you in Gotham now?"

"Yes I'm in school."

"I need you to leave and get into uniform."

"I'm not leaving school. Batm…I mean Mr. Wayne gave me this scholarship and I'm not about to lose it because you asked."

"It's about finding out where Robin is," Red Arrow hissed. Artemis sighed and looked into the mirror. She stared back at herself in her polished skirt. She was Artemis, a Gotham Academy student but she was also Artemis; Green Arrows protégé and Robin's teammate; which one came first. She growled and walked over to the bathroom window. She placed the phone between her cheek and shoulder and proceeded to unlock the screen.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked.

"I need you to track Batman," Roy said. Her eyes widen and she fumbled for the cell phone that she almost dropped.

"Are you crazy," she yelled and then looked behind her to make sure no one heard her. When no one came in she went back to the phone "He'll know that I'm there before I even establish a visual. He's the god damn Batman. Besides why don't you just do it?"

"Because Batman doesn't like outsiders in his city so I never really been. I don't know the city like you do. Besides…aren't you supposed to be one of the best," Roy teased her.

"I may be good but…why am I tracking him anyway," she asked cutting her own train of thought off.

"You know that lead I told Batman."

"Yeah."

"Well it's a meeting that Cheshire told me about," the archer said and Artemis's breath hitched in her throat. She had told Red Arrow about her past after the fight in the Watchtower. She thought that it would make him feel better knowing that he wasn't the only one with a messed up past; it didn't. He tried to not mention it ever since then.

"What meeting," she said regaining her thought.

"Apparently a woman named Talia al Ghul, who I assume is related to Ra's wants to meet Batman in their…"spot" at midnight and I need to know where that is. I'm assuming it's in Gotham."

"Fine I'll try and follow him on one condition."

"And that would be," Roy growled. He hated having to ask Artemis for help in the first place but now he had to follow her conditions.

"After I find this spot I don't just call you in. I get the whole team in on it," she said. Even if she wasn't there for it she knew Wally needed to be there. It was almost like he blamed himself for not being able to find Robin so he had to be a part of the rescue.

"Fine," Roy finally said and Artemis shut her phone and gripped the screen from the wall allowing her to jump from the second floor window.

Dressed in her green costume Artemis was surprised that she hadn't been caught yet. She had followed Batman all day. She followed him going to work where she watched with binoculars across from Wayne enterprises and watched him do his errands around the city. She had to admit he was a great actor; he didn't seem upset at all going about his day like everything was normal but she was trained to see the small things and that included the slight glances at his watch and the impatient frowns he gave every now and again.

When he went back to the manor she realized that this was going to be harder then she thought. She had no idea where the Batcave was and he could easily have a zeta tube in his home which could take him anywhere.

"That's it!" she cried happily and left her hideout across from the mansion.

She found herself lying on the rooftop near the abandoned telephone booth. She yawned tiredly and frowned. She had been here for hours and there was no sign of Batman, maybe she was wrong but just before she was going to give up a dim light shown through the booth.

'Recognize Batman 0-2' the computer announced and Batman walked through. Artemis smiled at her hunch being right. Batman took out his grappling gun and flew in the opposite direction. Artemis followed behind quietly. Batman led the archer to the top of Wayne tower and he stood next to one of the stoned gargoyles that littered the roof of the building. From her hiding spot she touched her comm-link.

"I'm on top of Wayne Tower," she said quietly to her team. Suddenly a shadow loomed over her and she turned quickly. Batman stood above her, a glare pierced his face.

"What are you doing here," he demanded.

"I was…I mean…I…" she didn't know what to say. She had never been on the other end of batman's glare before, not like this.

"She was doing me a favor," the two heroes heard and turned to see the Bioship de-cloak itself and Red Arrow drop down from the whole on the bottom of it. Kid Flash and the rest of the team soon followed.

"I apologize Batman," Aqualad said "But we want to know what has happened to Robin just as much as you do," the group leader said respectfully.

"Go. Home," Batman said. Kid Flash took a step forward.

"We can't do that," he said "I want to help…we want to help."

"Let's just be honest you're the one that needs our help," Superboy said crossing his arms.

"What makes you think that I need your help," Batman said.

"We think you're a little distracted," M'gann pointed out.

"A little," Red Arrow laughed "He had Artemis tracking him all day and he never noticed."

Batman grabbed the older archer's shirt and brought his face close to his with a growl.

"Are we interrupting something boys," Cheshire's dark voice rang out. Everyone turned to see the assassin and the shadows princess at the edge of the roof.

"When I told you to meet me I didn't think you would bring your day care center with you," Talia said as the cold wind blew through her hair.

"Talia," Batman said and walked up to her "I don't have time for your antics. Just tell me where Robin is."

Talia frowned and brushed a strand of hair behind her hair. Kid Flash felt like every part of his body was vibrating in anticipation.

"Batman I'm sorry," Talia finally said "but Robin is dead."

M'gann gasped and gripped Superboy's shirt as the rest of the group looked at her in disbelief.

"What do you mean he's dead," Wally cried out but before he could run forward Batman held him back. He looked at them stoically.

"This is why I didn't want any of you here," he said "Now stay back." Artemis gripped Wally's shoulder to comfort him and keep him back so Batman could talk to Talia one on one. The hero followed the brunette to the other side of the building leaving the team at a standoff with Cheshire.

Talia stood straight and looked out towards the city.

"This is where it happened all those years ago," she began "Where you asked me to join you but I chose my father over you."

"Yes," he said "That was two years before I met Robin."

Talia frowned.

"I truly am sorry but what I said is true. Robin is dead. Before he was…sacrificed he wanted me to pass on a message you. He wanted to thank you, for everything and that he needs you to find his uncle for him as a last request."

"You would not call me up here just to tell me that. There is more," Batman said beginning to lose his composure. Talia sighed.

"I had to tell you of the threat that is coming. I owe you that much. The demon of the Lazarus Pit has awakened from his slumber."

"There is no demon of the Lazarus Pit. It's just a natural chemical made in the Earth."

"The Lazarus is the demon, the demon of order. He needed a body for his resurrection. I gave him Robin."

"What do you mean you gave him Robin," Batman demanded.

"The demon needed a body. A young, fit, knowledgeable body and your protégé fit the description. My father came up with the plan to use the boy's uncle to get him away from him you but I was the one who said to use him in the first place."

Batman created fists with his hands and stared the woman down.

"Why did you do it," he said almost begging for an answer.

"I had to," Talia said now unable to look at her past lover in the eyes "If I didn't get someone soon the demon would have taken away my father's means to immortality. I couldn't do that to him."

"So once again you picked your father over the right thing and killed an innocent child…my child," Batman said in rage and Talia backed away.

"Bruce…" she said pleadingly.

"Where is he? Where is the demon?"

"He calls himself Aamir and he is in Bialya. He will be coming to America shortly and once I know when and where I promise to inform you personally."

"No," Batman said turning away, his cape flying in the wind "Send Cheshire or one of your other goons I don't care but I don't want to see you again," he said and walked back to the team.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

A small private plane landed on the run way of Metropolis's air terminal. The doors of the building opened and Lex Luther along with his body guard Mercy Graves walked out. Luther smiled as the plane's door open and Ra's al Ghul stepped out with Clay face behind him.

"So where is this master of yours," Lex asked and his eyes widen in shock as Dick Grayson walked out of the plan in jeans and a green winter jacket "What is Wayne's brat doing here," he demanded. While he didn't know that Dick was Robin he didn't need one of his biggest company's rivals son to be here.

"Oh you must be Mr. Luther. I am Aamir so nice to meet you," he said walking to Lex and held his hand to shake the older man's.

"You are Aamir but…" Luther started confused shaking Dick's hand.

"This is the boy we used to host Aamir's soul," Ra's al Ghul said.

'I must admit that is quite brilliant, using one of the most influential children in the world to house a demon."

"That was part of the plan," Aamir said with a smile "So are we ready to get this meeting started," he said rubbing his hands together. Lex had Mercy drive the group to one of his facilities and they walked through the halls. Aamir ran forward like a young teen would normally do and looked through one of the large windows where the scientists were working. Luther gave Ra's al Ghul a skeptical look.

"He has been a sleep for a very long time and his host will have great influence on him until he gets stronger," Ra's al Ghul explained to the company's president.

"Is that my Lazarus?" Aamir asked as one of the scientist's poured red liquid into a small machine and a bunch of pills came out the other side.

"Yes it is," Luther said taking a stand next to Aamir.

"Very smart, using the Lazarus to cure human sicknesses," Aamir said

"We are starting with heart medication but soon we will be introducing it into diabetes and cancer cures," Luther stated.

"We have already introduced it into the public with great results," Ra's al Ghul said "First it cured them of their heart problems but as they keep taking it, it slowly made them go insane."

"Soon we will have the members of the light release it all over the world especially with the help of Savage and Queen Bee and then the world will fall into chaos," Luther smirked. Aamir looked up at the two men and smiled.

"And that is where I come in…to rein in the order."

I hope that chapter was ok. Sometimes I think it's good and then people hate it so let me know.

But as you can see nothing is random. The medical files that the team was looking for in the first chapter as you can see was and still is important. There is some random things in this chapter as well that will become important in further chapters as well so just you wait.

YJ rant: So this isn't really a rant because I loved the episode Beneath, the all-girl team kicked ass. Of course who didn't love Nightwing's little mess up and was totally school by Batgirl.

I think one of the reasons why I am liking the first season so much more than the second right now is because the first focused on such a small group of people that I was able to grow with them while now there is just too much going on going back and forth from two story lines at a time. I liked this episode because it was like watching a small group again kicking butt and it was like the first season a bit.

On a total separate note did everyone hear that they finally released the DC character that will now be revamped as gay? Alan Scott is the big winner and I say congratulations. The only thing I don't get is that they already had gay superheroes in DC like Bunker and Scott Allen's son Obsidian so I can't figure out why they needed to revamp another. Now they had to get rid of Alan's son and daughter Jade because they were never born.

Whatever, like I said never a fan of his in the beginning. I'm a much bigger fan of Hal Jordan and his new voice done by Steven Blum *drool*

Review kindly please