First of I need to say thank you to abazaba, Aquamaureen13, The Nemean Lion, XxSlayerChickxX, Hybrid301, xBeautifulxRealityx, candi711, cassandra karin, caitymae1992, Artemis Delos, furyuu, Maddylovessmiles and olympic girl 21. For following, favouriting and reviewing. You have all brought smiles to my faces. The fact that you are all enjoying this fic as much as I am enjoying writing it makes me happy. Enjoy this next chapter.

At the same time that this had occurred in the Control Room, Artemis and Conner had sat quietly in the Infirmary. The silence wasn't the usual comforting easy silence that normally enveloped the pair. The air was full of tension and both were deliberately avoiding looking at each other. Neither was willing to give in it seemed. Until Artemis broached the silence.

"Look, Conner. I ... um ... well, look the thing is. Thanks."

It was awkward and felt wrong but he had cared. Not only cared but had done something about it. That was more than she could say for a lot of people who had been in her life over the years. Teachers, students, parents even some cops. All had known about the issues in her life but had done nothing for her. No one had ever really tried to help her. Until now. Sure Black Canary, Green Arrow, Red Arrow and even on occasion Batman had all tried to get her to talk to them but none of them had ever really pushed. Not the way Conner had. They all wanted her to come to them. Artemis knew that that was never going to be her. She was never going to cry to someone voluntarily. Letting people in and relying on them was dangerous. She had learnt that the hard way. Artemis had allowed the team in only so far. They were all aware that there was still distance there. A distance they were unsure how to cross. Just large enough that she could run if need be. It would hurt but not as badly as it could. Then today Conner had basically crossed the remaining distance and then retreated. He had breached the gap because he wouldn't quit.

It was for this reason that she thanked him. She still wasn't happy about what he had done but he had done it for her because he cared. No one had ever forced an issue with her before. Most because they didn't care and the rest because they gave in when she refused to acknowledge the problem. Conner had been just as stubborn as she was and had succeeded where everyone else had failed. For his concern she would be forever grateful and the sad part was she could never say it out loud. It would hurt her pride too much to admit it and draw him in closer.

Not only that but he had no idea what he had set in motion. The fact was Artemis's life and her lies were about to unravel in front of her. She had no way to stop it now and inside she didn't want to. He was setting her free, something he might never realise. Her White Rabbit was rescuing her once again and never realising how much it would mean to her. He never did. That was okay though. For Artemis being able to thank him this once was enough.

"You're welcome." Conner responded only slightly stunned before he said what had been on his mind this entire time. "Artemis what's really going on? And not just who injured you but why? And not only that but what has been wrong these last couple of weeks? I know no one else seems to have noticed but something has been up for weeks. I know we don't talk much, I mean I think we have talked more today than we ever have in the past but I've noticed that you seem lost. It's the only way I can describe it. You space out for ages, even when people are talking to you. On mission's your distracted, at training it's like you're not even there and when you're just hanging out with us it's as if you don't want to be there. I don't know if I can help or if you even want help but I can listen. I'm your friend Artemis and even if you don't believe I care, I do, just like the others do. We're all here if you need us. Please let us. You and I, we don't like letting people in but you can let us in. We won't let you down. If you would just let us in we can prove it to you. We just want to help. Let us Artemis. Please."

As Conner had spoken something had shifted between them. When he had asked about her injuries and then about what had been troubling her for some time she had spun to look at him eyes wide in shock and fear. Her face was so much clearer with her mask pulled down. She had thought that no one had noticed but Conner had. When he had seen her reaction he had moved forward and sat down next to her. Their eyes had never left each others. When he had started his little speech his voice had been full of worry and then toward the end had turned to pleading. He had grabbed her right forearm by that time hoping the contact would help. When he finished they held each other's gazes for a few seconds before Artemis had dropped hers to her lap.

His gamble failed. He had had plenty of time to think while Black Canary had examined Artemis. Even Roy's interruption had not interrupted him too much. Whilst he had been thinking he had realised that there was more to Artemis's problem then her injuries. He had noticed things over the past few weeks that hadn't quite registered until he had noticed her strange behaviour today.

Both M'gann and Wally had held entire conversations with her that she had paid no attention too. Normally Artemis listened, even if she didn't want to hear what was being said. On recent missions someone would have to remind her about her role or on several occasions had missed her shots. When they were training Artemis was normally one of the hardest people to put down, recently though she had been one of the easiest. It was like she wasn't even trying. When the team had spent time hanging out at the cave Artemis had sat away from the others and had only joined in when she had to. She was the first to leave and always seemed to be looking for a way to escape. Hindsight had allowed him to put together the clues they had all missed. Conner had known he had to do something. It didn't seem to have worked. So he was surprised when Artemis started talking.

Artemis had been stunned by Conner's speech. His face had been so full of conviction and honesty. She couldn't ignore the fact that someone was trying to help. He was offering her a lifeline all she had to do was reach out and grab it. Would it really be so hard to give in this once? To let someone else in and let them help her.

"Conner, I-"

Artemis was cut off by the sound of the door opening. The moment she heard it she pulled away and looked in the opposite direction, withdrawing her arm from Conner's hands. Something neither of them had noticed until then. Conner looked at the door to see who had interrupted them. He was mad; she had been going to tell him. When he saw Batman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Red Arrow and Superman all enter and shut the door he knew it was something big. Artemis kept her head facing the opposite direction to pull herself back together before confronting the new problem.

"How are you feeling Artemis?" Batman asked, Artemis responded by looking at the wall in front of her instead of him. "Has she been like this the whole time?"

"Worse actually." Black Canary responded, bringing smiles to Conner, Artemis and herself.

Their mentors then spread out around the room and both Conner and Artemis knew something serious was going on.

"Are the others okay?" Artemis blurted out catching them off guard.

"Did something go wrong on the mission?" Conner followed up with.

The adults all looked to Batman who had been made their spokesperson.

"There was an incident on the mission involving Wally and M'gann. It seems that Wotan and Professor Ivo were also present on the mission. The team succeed in the mission. However Wally and M'gann suffered a combined assault from Wotan and Karion. Dr. Fate and Zatanna have done what they can but believe that there is no way to reverse the spell."

When he finished Batman waited. They would both notice the gaping hole he left. He didn't want to tell them yet and he felt as if he had walked in on something important before. He just hoped that he wouldn't regret interrupting them.

"What's happened to them and why is it irreversible?" Artemis asked warily, knowing that she and Conner wouldn't like the answer.

"Well the combination of the spells means that it can't be reversed." Batman took a quick breath before telling them the rest. "The spell seems to have totally wiped out their feelings for the pair of you and created new ones between them."

Artemis and Conner sat there staring and digesting this information before Conner spoke.

"What?"

"Please explain." Artemis added.

"Well all we know is that Wally and M'gann seemed to have developed intense feelings of the romantic kind for each other. Both are fully aware of their romantic feelings for the pair of you from before the attack but both now report feeling nothing but friendship for the pair of you." Red Arrow responded for them. As great as their mentors were sometimes they were horrible at explaining things and both Artemis and Conner were people who needed direct answers. Beating around the bush was not going to cut it.

"And the spells can't be reversed?" Conner asked; he was gazing at the assembled group. Hoping they had better answers than irreversible.

"No. According to Dr. Fate and Zatanna the mixing of the spells makes it impossible for them to reverse it." This time the others had looked at Red Arrow as he seemed to be communicating better with them.

Neither Artemis nor Conner spoke for a while. They were both lost in thought.

Artemis realising that even the distance she had kept between herself and everyone else hadn't worked because if she was honest it would only stop them from hurting as bad as she was. She had been an idiot and now she would pay the price. It seemed her life was determined to unravel. She just wished that she could get off the ride.

Conner wasn't sure how he should feel about this situation. He was mad but he couldn't be mad at Artemis or M'gann or Wally. Even blaming the enemy or himself would be useless. So he was mad because of what was most likely coming and... He was lost all over again. Back to the beginning. He could see Superman... Clark shift. He looked like he wanted to come over and try to provide some comfort but was unsure of how to. They were still working on their relationship. Well he would have more time now, he realised rather sadly.

The Justice League members were surprised; they had thought that both of them would be ready to fight. They were more worried now. If they weren't going to fight now then this could blow up later but there wasn't anything they could do until it happened. For now all they could do was wait.

A knock at the door brought everyone back to the present. Even though no response was given Wally and M'gann opened the door and stepped inside. Conner and Artemis noticed they were standing incredibly close to each other and holding hands. Both had different reactions. Artemis simply turned away from the scene. Conner on the other hand launched himself over the bed at Wally. No one had expected that. Wally was rescued by Artemis. When Conner had launched himself, he had put his full weight on Artemis's leg. Though only bruises, Conner's weight and the pressure had been too much. Artemis had cried out in pain and pulled her leg to herself. This had stopped Conner's fist an inch from Wally's face. He had then spun round to see all the adults had converged around the bed. Conner moved away from Wally back towards Artemis. She was trying vainly to get them to back off. It wasn't going to work.

"Can I speak to you in private Conner?" M'gann asked drawing his attention away from Artemis and back to herself and Wally.

Conner looked between them before nodding his head and exiting the room. As he did so he felt slightly guilty about leaving Artemis there but he had to hear this. She would understand; it's not like he had promised to stay. Though he knew that that was what he had implied by his actions.

Artemis was lying on the bed in agony. The Super Dork was dead when she got her hands on him or when she could move her leg without feeling pain again. She watched him leave with M'gann while Wally watched the adults trying to get Artemis to tell them about her leg. She was doing her best to ignore them. That was until Batman bumped her lower ribcage and she head butted him. They all decided to let Canary deal with her. They trekked outside with Wally in tow. A few minutes later Black Canary left the room to let them know what was wrong.

"It's nothing major. Conner's weight added to her already bruised leg caused the pain to intensify. She's lucky he was too angry to focus his strength otherwise it could have been a lot worse."

"Can I go in and see her?" Wally asked.

All of the adults looked at him before Batman nodded his approval. After the door shut the group looked at each other.

"We best go find Conner and make sure he hasn't destroyed anything." Clark stated rather sadly.

They all headed towards the main control room whilst two very similar conversations sprang up in the infirmary and the hanger. Both were full of apologies and explanations. Promises of continued friendship and company.

"So that's it is it M'gann?"

"I really am sorry Conner but it is. Please don't hate me and please don't hate Wally. It's not his fault." M'gann pleaded.

"I'll try not to." Conner said as he turned to leave. Losing his first real relationship was hard. It hurt but he had to try. For M'gann he decided, he would try. It was a few minutes before he remembered Artemis and decided to go and apologise to her.

"Wally shut up. Whatever your reasons are for your decision, there yours. I won't question them and I am not gonna stop you. Just if you ever develop feelings for me again don't act on them, please."

"If that's what you want Artemis."

"It is"

"Ok."

With that Wally left Artemis to go find M'gann. A single tear slid down Artemis's face. She wiped it away. She could do that when she got home. When no one entered immediately after Wally's exit Artemis got up and grabbed her bow and quiver. Even though she was in pain she slipped quickly through the door and headed for the zeta beams. Her injuries could wait. She had to get away from here.

About twenty minutes after leaving Artemis alone with Wally Conner turned up at the infirmary. As he arrived Black Canary came around the corner in a rush. She had just seen Wally and M'gann and found out that Artemis had been left alone. When Conner saw her rushing he turned back to the door and noticed it was ajar. The door was always shut when someone was in there. He pushed it open to find an empty room. Artemis had left. He couldn't really blame her. If he had somewhere else to go, he would to.

"Damn it." Canary sounded pissed.

Conner turned to see her staring at where Artemis should have been.

"Why so mad. You finished the exam?" Conner asked curious.

"That's true. I was however hoping to talk to her more and I was supposed to take her home and make sure her Mum knew about her injuries."

"Well I think she'll be fine. Besides I don't blame her. If I had somewhere else to stay, I'd go to." Conner replied rather sadly before walking away.

Canary watched him leave and felt sympathy for him. She was still worried about Artemis. Like Conner she had realised something had been wrong for weeks. She just wished that she had realised sooner.