AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, so it's not as long as I wanted it to be...but I'm getting ready to end this story pretty soon.

Chapter 11

Bruce kept quiet the next morning after Kal-El left. The alien did not seem alarmed by this as he gave his prisoner a kiss behind the ear. Promising he would be home later that night as he flew off. Once Kal-El was gone Bruce reached down and slipped out the Batarang from the mattress. He turned it around in his hands as he gazed down at it.

There was nothing particularly great about this Batarang. In fact, it looked like all his others. Where the wings spread there were sharp edges which could easily cut through brick. Usually resulting several of them to be embedded in wall when he threw them. The center was slightly thick to help balance it out so it flew at an even angle for good aim.

Bruce turned it over and noticed a slight indent on one edge. Big enough to fit a the edge of his finger into. Frowning, Bruce wondered if the Batarang was a bad one. He worked at the indent and suddenly the Batarang popped up, revealing a small compartment on the inside.

Nested in the middle outlined in red and gold was Flash's symbol. Bruce stared at it stupefied wondering how that had happened. Then he remembered dimly having gone to go out patrolling one night and Wally had been down in the Batcave alone. He remembered his uniform had looked as if Wally had been messing with the cape, but had thought nothing of it. Sending the younger man out of his workspace as he dressed and left to patrol that night.

Brushing his fingers over it Bruce pushed down on the symbol. There was one, long loud beep and then silence. He continued to stare at it wondering what he had done. He knew already this was Wally's work. But what was it for? An alert system, perhaps? Bruce wanted to crack it open more but dared not touch it any further then he had.

"Flash, you're not supposed to mess with my toys." Bruce said. Dry laughter escaped devoid of emotion. When was the last time he had ever been happy? Truly happy? Wally's antics were annoying but they were…a breath of fresh air. There had been a strange freedom in not always following a strict code with the younger man around.

"I know, but I didn't want to lose you." The voice was completely soft, almost a whisper. Bruce wondered how far gone his mind truly was. Now he could hear Wally's voice.

A hand fell on his shoulder and Bruce tensed wondering when Kal-El had come back. Had the alien not said he would be back by tonight? When raised his head to look his captor in the face, he was faced with a mask instead. Red with white eye slits, and a golden lightning bolt on either side of the mask.

"Wally?" Bruce said his voice catching. Flash's bottom lip began to tremble as tears gathered up in his eyes pooling at the corners of his mask.

"It's okay, Bruce, it's me. You're gonna be ok. I promise you'll be….oh god, what happened to you?" Wally said as he gazed down at his partner. He had seen the bat symbol burned into his lover's back.

Bruce got up from the bed nearly knocking the other man over as he threw his arms around Wally nearly crushing him. Clinging to him desperately as if he feared the other man would suddenly disappear. Sobbing as he apologized over and over. Flash held him trying reassure the other man but hardly able to stop himself from crying as well. He had been searching desperately for his partner wherever he could possibly think of. Nightwing as well went where he could, tracking down every lead he could only to hit a dead end.

"When need to get you out of here! Who did this to you?" Wally said as he gently extracted himself from the other man. Bruce stared at him as if he didn't understand still holding the other's arm in a death grip.

"Kal-El, he's the one who brought me here. He's been…been…" Bruce tried to say but began to choke. What would Wally think? He would be disgusted to know his partner had been so easily taken control of. Deciding they could talk later Wally flickered away checking the fortress for anyone else. It was completely empty save for him and Bruce. Coming back he was at the man's side before the other could know it.

"Don't worry, Bruce, I'll get you out of here and get you home. I can carry you, but I can't vibrate through the wall with you. Do you know anyway to get outside?" Wally asked him. He spoke in a calm tone to help the other man relax. Bruce stared at him dumbfounded as if he could not understand him. Wally flickered away a second time, coming back a moment later holding up his lover's Batman's outfit.

"Bruce, do you remember this? Can you put this on for me? Maybe it will help you focus if you're Batman." Wally insisted. Bruce took the offered garment but only stared down at it as if he had never seen it before. Then with shaking fingers began to pull it on.

It took a few precious minutes as Wally helped him to dress, pulling the cowl down over Bruce's face gently. With the mask on a bit of old fire seem to come back into the other man. Though his hands still shook as he reached over and grabbed what Wally had assumed was a red blanket.

Walking across the room a door slid open. Flash stared but quickly came after the other man. His form continually flickering as he checked to make sure they were not being followed. It did not take long until Batman had come outside. The door slid open but that was where Batman stopped. Gazing out at the cold, white wasteland before him. Flash flickered out into the open then stopped, turning around to stare at the other man.

Go. Before he comes back. Batman hesitated, scared. His heart began to pound as he thought of the punishment he would receive should he leave. He began to shake uncontrollably as Flash came back to him talking soothingly reaching down to hold his hand. The younger man squeezed the crime fighter's hand in his as he reached up to gently touch the other's cheek.

"Bruce, I swear to you, I will not let anyone hurt you. Do you understand me? Nothing and no one will happen to you."

Ask him if he is still in contact with the any of the Justice League. That same, calm voice. A strength he used to have.

"Do you still talk with the rest of the team?" Bruce asked uneasily. Flash blinked but nodded his head.

"Only a few. Diana, Shiera, and John really. I tried to stay in contact with the others but they just…well, we can discuss this later."

"Contact them and tell them to meet us somewhere secret." Bruce said. Flash frowned but nodded his head as he reached over and drew the man close to him. Wrapping an arm around his waist to lift him slightly off the ground.

"Just hold on to me, and whatever you do don't put your feet down until I say so." Flash said gently.

Within the blink of an eye there was nothing left but a red cape fluttering gently to the ground.