I own nothing except for... *deep breath*... Apollo, BlackHawk, Blaine McGuyver, and... hrm... anything else? Well, my OC's, that's obvious.

WARNINGS: high T for inexplicit pre-rape (nightmares)

PAIRINGS: um... non in this chapter. (The Artemis and Blaine is PURELY friendship/sistership. NO SLASH!)

He smelt of liquor and other hard drinks. His tee shirt was stained with brown liquids, and his stubbly chin matched perfectly with the bags under his eyes. He was already balding from drug abuse, alcohol, and unsatisfying genetics. His eyes were extremely blood-shot and taking up a strong look at her body.

His daughter's body.

"Strip," he ordered gruffly.

Even at six years old, she was used to it by then.

Pulling away her long blonde hair, she undid her pants button expertly, slowly and reluctantly taking off her old, thinned shirt with it. He smiled evilly, approaching her slowly.

She screamed as cold hands touched her face roughly.

"AUUUGH!"

Blaine shot up bolt-right in bed, sweat plastered to her forehead. Onyx eyes were wide and full of tears. Her hair, still wet from her late-night, after-mission show, stuck to her quavering lips as she shivered, pulling the blankets up around her bare shoulders. They shook with rapid sobs, forcing her arms forward. Crystal tears ran down her cheeks as she wept softly.

Footsteps echoed in the stone hallway. Her bedroom door shot open, and the whole team appeared in her room.

In an instant, Robin had limped at her side, hugging his big sister into his chest protectively. "The nightmare?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded into his shoulder, weeping harder as he stroked her hair gently.

Wally took a step back, licking his lips. "Come on," he hissed to the others, pulling lightly on Kaldur's and M'gann's elbows. Connor left easily, rubbing tired eyes and yawning. With a wistful glance behind him, Kaldur allowed Wally to drag him out of the room. M'gann frowned, biting her lower lip gently as she stepped away lightly, backing out of the room.

Artemis stood at the door, her face stoic. She knew that scream. She had screamed a wail much like that when she was little.

Taking a tentative step forward, Artemis peered over Robin's shoulder and at Sparrow. Her hair fell into her face as she held onto her 'twin's' neck in a death-grip.

"Want to talk about it?" the archer heard Robin whisper into Sparrow's ear.

Gently, the older girl shook her head. "G-Go sleep, R-Rob..."

He pulled away, bewildered. "But-"

"I'll stay with her," Artemis spoke suddenly. "You need rest, Robin, if you want that leg to heal." During their late-night mission, Robin's leg had been shot by an evil goon.

Sparrow pulled away, wiping her eyes. "I-I'll be fine, Robby... J-Just g-g-go..."

Reluctantly, Robin stood, nodding slowly, and limped back to his room.

Artemis pulled herself onto the bed, sitting Indian-style. She just sat there while Sparrow cried.

She cried for an hour, until 3AM.

Finally, in her slow hiccups, Sparrow looked up. Artemis gasped lightly when she saw the older girl's eyes. They were a deep, deep onyx. Maybe even with a slight tint of navy. Her eyelashes were snowy white, making her look like a pixie, or a princess.

"What was your nightmare?" the archer asked gently, taking Sparrow's hand in hers. She rubbed consoling circles around the girl's palm, lightly pushing her pressure points to try and calm her.

Sparrow looked away, biting her lip as she struggled to grasp her breath through anguished hiccups.

"Take your time..."

Another half hour later, Artemis was truly testing her patience. But, Sparrow needed this.

Finally, Sparrow looked up. "It- it was a memory, actually..." At least her voice was steady now- but her eyes were still pained.

Artemis gently pulled both of Sparrow's hands to her heart. "You can tell me, Sparrow..."

"My father used to rape me."

It came out so fast, so blunt, that it pulled Artemis aback. She had guessed it, but Sparrow's willingness to say it...

"I-I've talked to D- Robin about it... W-We both have... our own pasts... Same with Batgirl and BlackHawk and Apollo... We're all our own heroes for a reason..."

Artemis nodded slowly, continuing to massage Sparrow's hands. "My father used to... to torture me. He trained me to- to kill... I have a past, too. I understand. Well, I mean- I- I don't really understand being... well... being-"

"Yeah," Sparrow chuckled grimly. "I understand what you're trying to say... And, Artemis? Thank you."

Artemis felt her eyes widen. "Oh... Well, yeah- I mean, um... Really, Sparrow, I should say thank you."

Sparrow smirked. "Oh, and Artemis?"

"Yeah?"

"Call me Blaine."

Artemis's eyes widened further, her golden hair falling into her face as she tilted her head down, peering over her brows at Sp- Blaine. "Blaine? Y-You're Blaine McGuyver? From TV? Oh, my gosh... That makes Robin Dick-"

"Grayson, yeah." Blaine chewed on the inside of her cheek. "Just... Just don't tell Bruce I told you, okay?"

Artemis nodded slowly. Oh my gosh... Bruce Wayne...

"R-Right..."

Sparrow looked to the clock, which read 4:36. "Well, we have training at six... Might as well go get breakfast."

Artemis smirked, standing up and pulling Blaine with her. "Yeah. C'mon, Blaine. I can make us cinnamon waffles... As long as you don't mind them on the crispy side."

Blaine laughed as she threw an arm around Artemis's shoulders. "I love crispy."

Yeah, it's short, but I promised this to many of my readers.

So... yeah.

The next chapter will be very long and titled "Why Young Justice is Banned From the Mall"... tee hee hee!

The more people that review, the faster that I post the next chapter! :D