Notes: So, I have a tumblr now. I go by quinquinis. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I have enabled asks if you have something you want to say. Reviews here are also most welcome.

Chapter 18 – Safety Net

Nightstar didn't remember escaping the building.

She remembered feeling sick. And dizzy. Not knowing which way was up. When she woke, those feelings were still with her. Along with the pain of landing on the remains of a broken building. A pang of pain ran through her shoulder as she shifted. Her leg burned.

She couldn't help the little gasp of pain which escaped her. A hand flew to hear ear and she could feel that the comm. had been damaged. There were sharp pricks in her fingers from wire and casing. They came away with spots of blood on her tanned skin.

This was not good. She knew that. Everyone had probably heard her fall! Worst of all, her dad had warned her and she hadn't listened. He would certainly stop her from going out as Nightstar based on that alone.

She had been so foolish!

Calm down, she repeated to herself silently. She needed to calm down. Her heart was racing and she wouldn't be able to fly unless she could stop hyperventilating and stabilise her emotions.

"Calm down," she said quietly. "Calm down," she repeated. "Breathe in... one, two, three, four... breathe out, one, two, three, four." She kept saying it, doing it and her heart-rate slowed.

Just when she thought everything would be fine, the body next to her left out a whimper of pain. Nightstar's heart shuddered in hope and fear as she looked over the reason she had put herself in danger.

The woman had been protected by her body as much as possible as they had fallen down here. However, her leg had caught on something. Blood was still slowly dribbling from the wound, trailing down the rubble which they were resting on. The woman's skin was covered in gravel and dust, possibly hiding more injuries.

Nightstar touched the woman's face. It was damp, hot and her breath was shallow. It was not a good sign.

Panicked and unstable though she was, Nightstar didn't think this woman could wait for her to get her act together. It was only the light of Nightstar's hair which allowed her to see a small distance around them. She didn't carry flares.

An attempt at a starbolt only created a momentary purple light which burned out after a moment.

Nightstar closed her eyes and called to mind a happy memory. It was the one which helped fuel her flight; carefully locked in her mind for easy access, a trick her mother had spent an entire month ensuring she had down. It seemed to work. She could stand, even though most of her weight was only pressing down on one leg, if at all.

"Time to get out of here," she said, trying to project some confidence into the situation.

It seemed that fate was against her. A feeling of helplessness swelled through her as she dropped to the ground. They were on the ground and out of the hole. The air was clear.

But the roads were abandoned. Pain blossomed all over Nightstar's body and gravel from the road dug into sensitive cuts, exposed by rips in her uniform.

She had nothing she could use to call anyone.

"Come on," she said, gritting her teeth. She pulled herself to her feet, using a building for support. The edge of the sinkhole was, what she considered to be, a safe distance behind her. The woman would be safe on the road for a bit, especially if this area was already evacuated. Nightstar made slow progress to the main road. She looked up and down the street, not seeing a single phone booth she could use to call for help.

"Great," she muttered in sarcastic annoyance. The little pang of annoyance was the most emotion she could manage right now. If it wasn't for her need to get the woman to safety and medical attention, she would collapse right here and now.

Flying out of the sinkhole had been a challenge, like walking the final stretch of a marathon.

As she turned, she spotted the trail her hair left as she moved. Maybe, it's light could act as some kind of signal?

She hoped that someone was looking for her as she used the last of her energy for a burst of flight into the air.

"Come on!" she shouted, feeling her hair trail flames in her path.

Then, for the second time that night, she fell.

Nightstar fell on purpose. She only had enough energy for one last burst of flight, enough that she could use it only at the last moment to keep herself from splattering on the pavement. Even so, it was nice to feel her father's arms wrap around her and pull her along as they moved towards the ground. She could keep that energy for later.

Dick landed with only a slight grunt. Then he looked his daughter over from head to toe.

"That was stupid," he said, most of his anger evaporating into worry at her state. She shouldn't even be able to move with her leg the way it was.

Nightstar didn't disagree, she just shifted as best she could and pointed at the woman lying in the street. Dick glanced over and heaved a sigh.

"B, I need support," he announced. He listened to Bruce's voice on the other end with thinly veiled annoyance and frustration. "Nightstar is injured, she needs to be looked at since she pulled an also injured civilian out of the sinkhole."

"I'm fine," she insisted, hoping that would get the woman help quicker.

Her dad glared at her.

"Don't even try that. We're going to see Alfred and then you're going home." Then, addressing whomever was on the other side of the comm. "And if someone doesn't get here in five minutes, then I'm taking the civilian to the Batcave as well."

The Batcave? That helped improve Nightstar's mood a bit. She knew she would be in big trouble once her dad learnt got her looked at and she wasn't looking forward to that one bit. But, it might be worth it, if she got to spend some time in the Batcave.

Robin appeared a few moments later with a frown on his face and a bulky shadow off to the side.

"How bad is it?" he asked, looking Nightstar off.

"I'm fine," she huffed, pointing again to the woman.

At least Damian seemed to listen to her. He walked over and started patching the woman up.

"How'd you know to come here?" Dick questioned, asking both Robin and Abuse.

"You're broadcasting over all channels. Including ours, thanks to my comm in your ear," Robin pointed out.

"I explained what was happening to Robin as it was coming across," Abuse said nervously.

Dick seemed to find that to be a plausible explanation.

"I'm fine," Nightstar huffed, seeing how Abuse was looking at her injuries. She cursed how she wasn't able to wriggle out of her father's hold. Illegitimate princess she might be, but she didn't need to be carried like one. It was also uncomfortable at her size, like a bed a few sizes too small.

"Who are you trying to convince?" Robin grumbled at them. "Just get her to Alfred!"

Mar'i squirmed under Alfred's looks. He had been gentle and took care while patching her up. But when it came to explaining exactly what her injuries were, he gave her some of the most disappointing looks she had ever received.

She had to stay off her feet for the next week, at the very least. Dick gave solemn nods that those instructions would be followed. Mar'i caved and agreed after just moments under the disapproving glare. She tugged at the sling around her arm as she had never had one before. It was kind of restricting.

"Can I trust you to take her home?" Alfred asked Dick. "Or should she stay here for a few nights?"

"Mar'i should be alright at home," Dick admitted, although nervously. He seemed to blur as Mar'i's eyes stopped focusing.

She yawned. Fighting off the tired feeling in her body was getting harder.

"That would be the sedative kicking in," Alfred informed her. The sedative felt weird to her; like something heavy crawling through her veins. "I'm glad it worked on someone of your biology, Miss Nightstar."

Her eyelids drooped down and she could feel herself being pulled down into sleep.