A/N hey everyone sorry for the late update, but i will tell u that this chap went through some serious editing, and thanks to liettebird, who has done a wonderful job, anyway the story is almost complete and ready, just bare with me a few more chap, there are gonna be a few more ups and downs but hey wheres the fun in a one tracked story :P gotta find ways to keep u on the edge right, dont know if i have done such a great job so far.

"Why are you wearing that shirt, it's not so cold in here," she looked away from him knowing where this was going. "If you can't deal with your issues, if you separate them then it will consume you drown you. And kill you away like cancer." She looked back at him, he pulled down the turtle neck, and saw the love bites that were there, she didn't move but just stood still looking at the floor.

"I can do this I know it. I have to, if I ever want my issues dealt with. If I don't, I will lose my mind!" She was sincere and Batman knew that she was right. But he didn't like it, she was just a kid.

"Ok but if it gets to messy and you can't handle it, you escape." His voice was unbendable and firm when saying this. The team was gathering around. "It is your call, but know this isn't a game anymore." She understood very well more so then he knew himself.

"Artemis!" Wally speed up to her. And eased up when he was close almost skidded into her.

"Hey," she said with a little too of a smile forced smile to everyone that was now filling up the room.

"You ok?" Wally asked worry in his voice.

"Yeah we heard Green Arr-"Megan was cut off by Batman.

"You should not be hearing things which don't concern you." Batman said. Artemis was confused, and then she looked to Batman and then to Robin. Connor was angry the way Batman spoke to Megan.

"What is Artemis solo assignment, which she couldn't be here? What's so difficult about telling us that?" Superboy asked.

"Missions aren't always assigned in to all, like this mission; I will split you into groups." Batman said. Now looking at Artemis, both were relieved, hoping the team wasn't thinking what they were. Though no one could tell by either of their faces.

"What is it that you need us to do?" Kaldur stepped forward, everyone shifted a little, ready for action.
"I need Superboy, Miss Martian and Aqualad, to investigate at Luther corp. machine factory situated out at Kansas." An image of a building came to view. The three exchanged looks, while again Superboy tensed even more so with annoyance of the mention of Luther. "While, Robin, Zatanna and Kid Flash, you will go to Gotham University, and find out as much as you can on Lenard Brinks," two other images came to view, one of the university, and one of a man in his 50's. "He's a lecturer at the school, or at least he was, over a month ago he went missing. Brinks' research was on theoretical drug structures. We believe he was taken to help develop the mind manipulation drug. Find his research, and if possible find him." Batman finished, but however someone wasn't.

"What about Artemis?" Wally asked very bugged and confused at the leaving out of the archer. "Sure she can't handle our awes-"
"She has a different assignment" Batman interjected, cutting Wally off. Artemis glared at Wally.

"Yeah Baywatch, I'm cool that way." She said folding her arms over her chest. No one was feeling comfortable with the whole Artemis going in solo, but it didn't really bother anyone as much it did Wally. He just folded his arms and pouted.

When everyone went to suit up, making their way to the hanger, Artemis went to find Robin. She found him about to enter, the bio-ship, but Artemis pulled him back before he could enter the aircraft, so she could have a word with him.

"Hey what's going on?" he asked while being dragged out.

"What did you tell everyone?" She questioned, hands on her hip and bending over a little, so she was on the same level as the younger boy.

"What…. What are you talking about?" he was confused for a minute.

"I'm talking about the party at Wayne's" she now narrowed her eyes at him.

"I was worried… so… I might have said something about last night.," he said sheepishly "but it was all in the goodness of my heart!" He made a weak smile. She stood straight, pinched her nose bridge sighed.

"Robin that's real sweet, but don't ok? If anything I'll tell them, I don't like it if people are noising around in my business." He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. "It rises to many unnecessary questions." Turning to walk into the ship, she smiled mischievously. "Beside I think that Barbara likes you".

"What no she is like a good frie- Wait what!" he wide eyed her back as she left.

"Oh, if you say so, ***." Satisfied with herself, she took her usual seat. Kid Flash came to stand next to Robin seeing that his friend had turned an unflattering shade of red. Kid Flash had his arms crossed and was still pouting.

"Pfft…. Whatever, who does she think she is going in alone, we don't even know where she's going!" Wally sounded a little angry an annoyed. "Bet you she's going on a cover date with 'Lee,'" Wally gave air quotes. "We don't even know the guy, what if she can't handle herself and needs back up?"

"If you are so concerned why you don't go with her, if you're so worried" Robin patted him at the back. Wally scoffed.

"I'm not worried," he said immediately. "No I'm just…a… worried about the mission." Trying to cover up "Now if you want some alone time with Zatanna, I'm just saying…" getting back at Robin. That caught him off guard, and he lost balance.

"Will both of you quite it!" Superboy interjected, annoyed more so than usual, he pushed passed them, knocking into both of them.
"Dude what's your deal?" Kid Flash said childlike angry, Superboy didn't say anything and had strapped into his seat.

"Have you noticed he has been more not like himself?" Robin asked, Kid Flash.

"It's true, Superboys recent attitude gives me reason to be concerned." Kaldur joined both flash and Robin.

"Dude not cool…" pointing at his own ear and mouthing the words, "super-hearing."

Superboy had heard that and clenched his fist. Everything was just making him more and more annoyed, and angry.

"Conner is everything ok?" Megan asked through her mind link with Conner. He wasn't surprised; he was use to her voice in his head.

"Fine, everything is fine, everyone is fine!" He mind replied back, but she knew something was wrong.

"Conner whatever it is you can trust me I'm here for you".She took his hand but when he still didn't look at her, she cupped his face.

"I'm serious. I love you" she then kissed him, an audience of Zatanna and Artemis didn't matter to them, they exchanged looks, and rolled their eyes.

"If you love birds are done then shall we move?" Zatanna said from her seat, they both broke and were bright red, Artemis and Zatanna smiled at each other.

Gotham University….

"I just don't get why she has to go there," Kid Flash said pouting while Robin tried to search Brinks' computer. Robin rolled his eyes and tried to ignore him, Zatanna was searching in the room through the files, and Kid flash was supposed to keep watch, but was pacing through the room ranting on Artemis and her take in the mission.

"If you are so worried why you don't just go over there, you do have super speed you know," Zatanna said from opposite desk of Robin, looking through more files. "What are we supposed to find anyway" lightly throwing away the file she was just reading to move to the next one,

"I'm not worried." Kid Flash said to himself pacing.

"I'm not sure, but I'm downloading all files, there are too many to go through right now," Robin said looking over his team mates.

"What do we know about this guy anyway, he seems kind of crazy?" Zatanna whispered going over his notes, "this looks like rambling of a mad man, and Robin checks this." She went over to him to show him Brinks' personal journal. "The more you read the more crazy he sounds. Look..." Robin skimmed through.

"Let's take this with us." Robin closed the journal, kid flash saw through the blind.

"I think it's times to leave the security are doing their routine check," Robin just finished downloading.

"Almost… Done." Moving his hand to his ear, "Robin to Aqualad, come in."

Somewhere in Kansas,

Luther corp., one of the many factories.

The building that was guarded were out sleeping, thanks to Megan telepathically making them sleep, they searched, hoping to find something of use but there wasn't, each time Superboy would stiffen more and more. He hated thinking about Lex and it made him angry at how they were related. And that it was his DNA which had prevented him from, gaining all of superman's true abilities, and had to rely on the shield provide by his father.

"Anything?" Kaldur asked Megan as she read the minds of the sleep guards hoping to learn something. Her eyes were glowing green, with the use of her Martian talents.

"Nothing looks like there really isn't anything here, seems like a dead end," said answered to the team leader.

"If there is nothing here let's leave why waste our time here!" he said very annoyed and irritated.

"Connor!" Miss Martian tried to often him. Superboy was not acting like himself he was a hero with anger issues but sometimes he would just push it. Kaldur sighed realizing that there truly might not be any lead here.

"Superboy right, we should return there is nothing of use to us here". Kaldur said, looking at his teammates.

"Robin to Aqualad, come in." he put a finger on his com in his ear to hear more clearly.

"Aqualad here, what is it Robin?" he asked.

"We might have found something but I think that's it, we are heading back, to the cave" Robin said.

"Agreed so are we, Artemis what's your status?" Each made their way out making sure not to be seen.

"Artemis?" he called out again.

Her voice crackled over the com-link. "I'm going home."

Somewhere in Gotham,
Lee's Penthouse Suite

After being dropped off by bio-ship, Artemis had come to Lee's place pleading for him to help with her non-existent math problems.

"DONE!" Lee fist punched the air after completing his last question, and settled in to relax on the sofa.

"What, argghh!" She closed her book in defeat, annoyed. "Whatever" she put her hand under her chin, looking coyly at Lee, "I'll just copy off you then." She said trying to act all cute.

"Hmm, don't you know? My work isn't free," he said with a bit of ego

"Come one, can't you at least do that for your dear friend?" Still trying to act cute (it was so not like her). He just stared at Artemis, his expression unreadable. She didn't push anymore. And after a few moments she asked,

"did the police say anything?" lee wasn't caught off guard by that question.

"Um… no. Not yet, but they do suspect a few things. Let's not talk about that." He walked into the kitchen, and took out two cans of beer, and a bottle of tequila, handing one over to Artemis.

"No thanks," she said as Lee sat down beside her, he looked at her confused.

"What? Why," he cocked his eyebrow.

"I don't want to drink anymore," she said rubbing her hands on her knees, Artemis herself thought the words felt weird coming from her own lips.

"Okay, that's cool, but I got to ask why?" Lee looked to her while he opened a can of beer to drink for himself.

"Just, a friend, he- they said I shouldn't." She meant Wally, the friend who advice against drinking. Unknown to her she was blushing and not realizing. Just thinking about him made her smile, his steady gaze, his unchangeable morals, and his stupidity.
Lee saw that and felt a pain within him slightly showing on his face, but he was keeping a brave front.

"And who would this friend be?" Lee asked hoping he would get a name, but fate, he thought sadly, is not always so kind.

"It doesn't matter to me if you drink, if you want to have it, it's totally fine." She reassured him. With that settled, he took a large swig of the frothy drink. "Listen I was thinking, why would they attack you, do you think it's because of your uncle?" she questioned trying to change the topic.

"Well of course. He's not necessarily the kindest soul around, if you get what I mean, I put all projects on hold, but he keeps on pushing me to this one project," his eyebrows scrunch together as he tried to remember, "I, ah- I can't remember the name." Lee was almost through with his beer, and started eyeing the tequila.

"So why aren't you going through it?" she questioned sitting on the sofa with both legs comfortable, as she could be.

"My legal advisers tell me I should personally go over each project before I give it a pass. And so far there are a lot of disturbing holes." Unscrewing the bottle of the hard liquor, he meets her eyes. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Because I care about you, and want to help you." It was true; she did care for him, but strictly as friends.

"I don't know what is with this thing, but I think with each passing day it could blow up on me," he told her feeling a little tipsy now after having 2-4 shots of tequila. Lying on his back now, "I'm just glad you are here, my mom left me, went back to her parents, when she couldn't handle her in-laws here." He twisted his lips up, not in a smile but more of a grimace. "Some family huh?" he said, still trying his best not to crack.

Artemis felt empathy for her friend radiate throughout her whole body. Grabbing his shoulder, she tried her best to comfort him in a hug. He held her tight and returned the tight embrace. And in that moment, when they were about to pull away, Lee kissed her.

"Lee," Artemis said trying to make space between them.

"Artemis, please." He begged, not looking at her, eyes shut tight. She felt bad, conflicting thoughts raced through her head. Artemis stayed impossible still while thinking, but Lee made her choice for her and he went back to kissing her.

She didn't fight him this time, but Lee was a good kisser and her traitorous teenage body, slowly started to reply. They moved closer, until both were on their knees on the sofa. Lee's hand gently pushed Artemis down on her back side, with him lying lightly on top of her. His hands made their way from her back to her waist, along the hem of her shirt. His hands lingered there waiting to put his hand under her blouse.

Lee kept on kissing her neck, but warning bells started ringing in Artemis' mind, she felt weird and uncomfortable. Gripping his hands, she tried to stop Lee from putting his hand under her shirt. His hold on her waist tightened; even with the alcohol in his system, he was stronger than most. But it was until he started sucking her neck, did images flash in her mind. White hot memories of the night where she was….

"NO!" She pushed at Lee's shoulders, startling him.

"What's wrong, are you ok?" She started shaking. Acting on impulse, He reached out to touch her again.

Before his hand made contact with her arm she was standing.

"I need to get home." Without saying anything else she ran out through the door. Lee just sat there, his mind too clouded to follow or grasp what had just happened. He ran a hand through his hair, and letting out a sigh of frustration.

Artemis needed out of the building, now. Not stopping to wait for the elevator she ran down the stairs. She hated herself and was getting berating herself; her mind was in chaos. All she could do to stop the memories from flooding in was to push her legs harder, making her limbs go even faster.
Robin and Aqualads voices came through her ear piece. She suppressed a startled yell, and put a finger to her ear, wrapping the other one around herself, as Kaldur spoke.

"Artemis, what's your status?" Kaldur asked, he paused waiting for her answer. "Artemis?" He asked again when he received no response.

"I'm going home." She said still holding herself.

A/N now please review it the more reviews i get the sooner it will be up. btw thanks al my fans for the PM. make me happy and spill with reviews

heheheh... also now more to come, so be ready but first please review muwah!