Disclaimer- Do not own Young Justice or any of it's characters.

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Chapter Length: 4,108 words

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Half a month.

She'd been gone for half a month and three days.

Wally was a wreck. He'd stopped calling Dick; his answering machine was full of messages that he hadn't even bothered listening to, because he knew none of them held the words he wanted so desperately to hear. He wouldn't even answer the door when Dick had tried beating it down on two different evenings, before he finally stopped showing up at all and simply called twenty times a day without leaving voicemail.

Barbara and Zatanna had tried, in their own ways, to offer up support, and Wally was grateful for that somewhere inside of his heart. Babs had sent an order of coffee and a baker's dozen of Megan's finest pastries one morning, with a note attached that simply said "Don't give up." Zatanna had left, of all things, a bottle of the most expensive wine Wally had ever laid eyes on. The bottle alone was splendid in design, very large, intricate, and sealed tight with solid red wax. He had only known it was from the magician because the fancy script on the letter hanging from it's neck could belong to no one else.

"Thought you might need this, non-believer. Hang in there, we'll get her back home, magic or no."

Wally hadn't touched the wine; it rested in a cabinet in the kitchen, and there it would stay until he had a reason to celebrate instead of worry.

In all this time, the scientist had neglected his weekly calls to his mother. Things had been so hectic for him lately, his emotions on a roller coaster ride so intense it left him struggling to remember how to tie his shoes in the morning, let alone remember to call his mother. But now he would be pushing on the third week, and he couldn't avoid it anymore. Mary West would threaten to fly right up to Gotham if he kept up his neglect, and he couldn't honestly say he'd blame her for it.

And as much as it scared him to admit… he needed her reassurance. Ever since that day Dick had stopped him from marching into the slums, he'd felt like some of the fight had gone out of him. He'd spent his evenings moping around his apartment, out of work and out of touch with his best friend, wondering what he could do if he couldn't physically go after her himself. Wally had never felt so useless in his life, and with his hope waning he needed desperately to hear his mom's voice, her reassurance.

Even if it might amount to nothing in the end, he just wanted to get his feelings off his chest. They'd been bottled up and he was sure to burst if he didn't talk to someone about it.

So he sighed and sat himself down at the kitchen table, and dialed the familiar number after running his fingers several times through his thick red locks.

"Wallace Rudolph West, it's about time young man," Mary West answered the moment it finished ringing. He winced at the stern tone of her voice; it was impressive that even as he got older she could still quell him with a single look or inflection of voice.

"Uh, hey, mom," he tried weakly, feeling a little ill for the coming conversation.

"Don't you 'hey' me! I could have your hide for forgetting to call me! Rudy and I have been worried sick!"

"She's been worried sick," Wally heard his father correct calmly in the background. Mary ignored him and plowed right on.

"So what do you have to say for yourself? You better not think about becoming one of those young men that can't be bothered to call their mom just once a week," Mary chided, sounding hurt behind all that indignation. "Just once a week is all I ask from my boy."

"No, mom, it's not like that-" Wally tried with a low sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger for patience. This was so not what he needed right now, even if he did kind of deserve it.

"It's not? Well then you better have a good explanation, Wallace."

A good explanation? Wally thought as he took a deep breath to steel himself. No, nothing about this explanation is going to be good, mom.

"Do you want the short version or the long winded version?" he rasped, feeling a headache coming on.

"It doesn't matter, I'd just like the truth. I've missed you, honey, I like our talks and knowing what's going on in that independent world of yours," Mary informed him with much more affection in her voice, but there was still a lingering hurt, too. "I'm not trying to stick my nose in your business, I just-"

"I know, mom, I understand," the redhead said wearily. "I do."

"Then please, just tell me what's wrong, Wally."

He furrowed his brows in mild surprise. Had he really been so obvious? Then again Mary West had possessed the gift of being able to read him like an open book since he was a small child. She'd always told him he wore his heart on his sleeve and his good nature in his smile and that it was never a mystery to figure out his mood. He used to take offense to the notion of being so obvious, but he'd grown to realize it wasn't always such a bad thing.

"How do you know something is wrong?" Wally asked softly, even though he was sure he already knew her answer. Sure enough, it was exactly as he anticipated, and the tiniest curve of a smile tugged the corner of his lip. Just for a moment, though.

"A mother's intuition," Mary replied simply, predictably. "That and you sound like you've just been to a funeral. Tell me what's wrong, Wally. Talk to me."

"It's Artemis," he blurted with no finesse. It was almost as if the name had been trapped in his chest, fighting to get out until that exact moment when his lips had parted with intent to start with his bad position at work first. Instead, her name had burst forth and now he couldn't take it back, couldn't ease in slowly to the topic as he had wanted. His chest burned and he felt something thick and unwelcome easing up his throat behind the name.

"Have you broken up with her, dear?" his mom asked sympathetically. Wally felt a bitter laugh trying to come up now, but bit down on his tongue to stop the notion lest he cause his mother more worry. "I just can't imagine it, you've sounded so sure about her the last few times we've spoke. Do you know, I've been thinking you might be in love, Wallace."

His heart throbbed at the words. A pulse that made his chest hurt. His digits tightened around the device until the skin stretching between his long fingers felt like it would split in half.

"I am in love with her," he confirmed, the fingers of his free hand curling deep into his palm. "I love her so much… more than I can say. I've never been more sure of something in my life, mom." He closed his eyes, listening to the soft noise she made in response. "I wish you could meet her."

"You wish?" Mary inquired, sounding alarmed. "For goodness sake, tell me what's happened, Wally."

"She's missing mom. Artemis is missing," Wally let out that bitter bark of laughter from earlier, running his fingers through his hair and feeling his eyes sting. He kept his tears in check though, pressing the pads of his digits against his closed lids and rubbing the wet away. "I'm a complete wreck right now. It's why I haven't called, I just… don't know what to do anymore."

"Oh, honey…" Mary lamented, her voice dropping low. He was sure he could hear the sounds of her palms shifting against the plastic on her end; a tightening of fingers, mimicking his own. "How long?"

"A little over two weeks," Wally said, his mouth dry. It felt so surreal to be talking about it out loud, yet at the same time he felt as though a weight was easing off of his shoulders the more he spoke; not entirely, of course, but easing at any rate. As if some of it was now resting on his mother's shoulders as well, helping him carry it all. "She just… we had a date, she left my house that night for home and I haven't heard from her since. No one has. I went to the police of course, Dick's on the case but… there are no leads, mom. There's nothing to go on. And I just feel useless. Dick isn't letting me help and I'm in trouble at work because I can't focus knowing that she's out there somewhere, maybe in the hands of some really bad people. Psychos, even. I just…" Wally clenched his fist hard on the table top, swallowing the bile in his throat, his brows furrowed in consternation. "I want her back."

"I wish you had called me sooner, Wally, I had no idea. And here I was yelling at you over something so petty."

"Mom, it's really no big deal, I deserved it," Wally sighed out, messing with his hair again; it was bound to look like that of a madman's by now. Fitting, considering he felt like one lately. "I've just been in a bad place and well… calling you wasn't on the forefront of my mind."

"I understand, honey. I just can't believe it… and yet I'm sad to say I can. Gotham City isn't the crime capital of the world for nothing," Mary said sadly, her voice still leaking disbelief and empathy. It was oddly soothing just to be able to listen to her after all this time; he'd missed her more than he'd realized. "I can't begin to imagine what you've been going through.I know it must be hard, but Wally, dear, I'm glad Dick isn't letting you out there with him. I know this might not be what you want to hear right now, but sometimes the best thing we can do is put it into someone else's hands. Dick is your best friend, I'm sure he's doing his very best, and I know he just wants to keep you from going missing, too."

"Yeah…" Wally agreed softly, guilt welling up in his chest for the way he had been towards Dick lately. Avoiding his calls, being less than pleasant… and yet he was still out there digging tirelessly for a lead, possibly putting he and his partners lives in danger in the process. Wally had been so upset he could only see Dick's prevention as a hindrance, as some beneath-the-surface revelation that he didn't care enough about Artemis to throw all of his energy into it.

Wally was ashamed it had taken his mother's words to make him snap out of that line of thinking. He really was a huge mess.

"Just promise me you won't give up hope on her, Wally," Mary said with conviction. "You absolutely cannot give up on her or on yourself, that won't help a thing. You're always going on and on about how strong and stubborn Artemis is; I'm sure wherever she's at, she's giving them a whole lot of hell. She doesn't sound like the type to give up so easy."

The words made Wally smile. A genuine, amused smile at the thought of her giving her werewolf captors absolute hell.

"You're right, mom, she's a fighter. I'd hate to be on the receiving end of her wrath," he chuckled very lightly, Mary joining in. His heart was still laden with worry, but it was thoughts like this that would help him make it through it all. His mom was right; if he gave up all of his hope, then he would lose himself before he even had the chance to be reunited with Artemis. He had to be here, and whole, and ready to be there for her when she was back home safe. He sat up a little straighter in his chair, feeling comforted, encouraged, by the words. "Einstein, mom, you always know what to say."

"Mother's intuition," Mary insisted again calmly, and he could practically hear her soft smile through the speaker. "I really wish I could be there for you in person. Just know I'm always here if you need me again. And Wallace, you better call me the second she's found, do you understand me?"

"I will," Wally promised. "You'll be the first to know. And mom? Thanks. Thanks a lot."

"Always," his mom said. "Hang in there, don't let it consume you, dear. She'll be fine. I love you, Wally."

"Love you too, mom," Wally mumbled. He heard the click signaling the end of the call, and hung up his own phone.

Wally sat back in his chair, feeling lighter than he had since Artemis had gone missing. He was by no means placated with the situation, or any less anxious to get her back, but sharing his worries with his mom had done him a world of good. He felt more emboldened by her words, ready to find Dick and apologize and to offer up what help he could from the sidelines. He still hated being stuck on them, but if that was the way things had to be then he would find a way to deal with it from there.

He wasn't going to give up hope. Artemis Crock would have never given up on him if it were the opposite way around, and he felt ashamed with himself for letting his hopes dip so low. She was tough, she was a werewolf; he'd never met someone so strong-willed in his life, and if there was anyone who could make it through such a mess, it was her.

She was alive, he was now sure of that in his gut. But she needed help.

Wally inhaled deeply, rubbing a hand along the length of his face and sitting up straighter. His eyes alighted on the closed lab door across the kitchen. It had not been opened since she'd been gone, but now all at once he was flooded with the idea that her salvation could lie somewhere within. Inside that lab, locked safely in his cabinet of chemicals and compounds, he had access to things that were considered a werewolves worst nightmare; wolfsbane, silver instruments, combinations of things that not even a werewolf could be immune to.

Dick had been forced to be too cautious because of the nature of the situation. They were up against creatures they barely knew about, but Wally… Wally knew a few things.

If he could arm them with these natural weaknesses, would they not stand a fighting chance if they delved deeper into the slums for Artemis Crock?

Wally felt a strange excitement flood his stomach at the opportunity to be able to do something to physically help. He got up from the chair, his heart thumping because of all the ideas thundering through his head. He'd need to call Zatanna, get her in on it; she was the only supplier of fresh wolfsbane he knew of, after all, and he'd need as much as he could get.

This could really help get somewhere on Artemis's case.

He could help get her back.

"Just hang in there, babe," he said out loud to himself, picking the phone up off the table to dial Zatanna's shop.

But he never got the chance, because there was a knock at the door.

His brows furrowed. He hadn't been expecting anyone, the last time he'd had someone at his door had been a week ago.

"Just a second," Wally called, setting the device down.

In the span of time it took him to walk to the door, the knock came again, much louder and more insistent than the last. Then it sounded like another fist joined in with the first; then another, and another, until the noise was so tumultuous that he feared the neighbors would call the law on him. Alarmed at the rude, cacophonous explosion of fists suddenly banging on his door, the scientist hastened to yank it open, now livid at the crass action.

"Who the-!"

Wally was tackled to the ground harshly, his cheek sliding across the carpet and collecting a nasty burn from the material.

"Gaw, this place smells awful, Tuppy," came a deep, southern drawl from the threshold of his apartment.

"I don't like it either, but we have our orders, Tommy," came a second southern voice, this time female.

Wally cried out in pain as his head was yanked up off the floor via his hair. He felt several locks part way with his scalp. He was forced to look into the face of a very homely looking teenager, with shockingly pale skin and even whiter hair. His blue eyes were icy and cruel, and he reeked of cheap hair gel.

"Look at this guy," he laughed, pointing Wally's face toward the other two and back. "He's pathetic. I can't believe Artemis would sink so low."

At the sound of her name, Wally's heart flew straight up into his throat, where it beat incessantly against his Adam's apple. He had to physically restrain himself from demanding where Artemis was at, biting so hard into his lip to keep it in that he was sure he could taste blood welling up. But something in him knew it would be wisest to keep quiet, and think clearly in this situation. He wasn't entirely sure what they were here for, but he would bet his bottom dollar it had something to do with his connection to Artemis. Why else would there be a small gang of werewolves on his doorstep?

And they were definitely werewolves; the way they spoke was clue enough. Maybe they weren't Artemis's captors, but they had information on her. This was good. Bad, but good.

I'm coming for you, Artemis… Wally thought roughly, his nostrils flaring wide against the carpet his face was being smothered into again. Wherever you are just hang on.

Emboldened considerably by mention of his girlfriend, Wally snorted, forcing his face up an inch or so. "Are you suggesting she would have been smarter to go for you, Hair Gel?" Seriously, the guy's hair was caked with the stuff and something about him just screamed that he was the ultimate sleaze; he wondered if this loser had ever gone after Artemis, the way he talked.

"Someone find some duc' tape so we don't have to lissen to his mouth," Tommy growled out before the pale teen could get his angry response out.

"No, leave his mouth open, we might need 'im to tell us a few things," Tuppy insisted. "Now hand him over to Tommy an' get sniffin', Cam!"

Cam groaned, dropping Wally's head roughly. "I always get the shit jobs."

"That's yer fault fer havin' the best sniffer this side of Gotham," Tommy answered with a laugh, taking Cam's place as Wally's captor. He picked Wally up of the ground, pulling him into a tight bear hug in front of his wide, muscular chest. The redhead could tell this guy was strong enough to snap him like a toothpick, yet he was having trouble breathing and couldn't stop himself from making a comment.

"Care to loosen up a bit, Tiny? I'm getting less oxygen than it probably takes to pump blood to your cerebral hemispheres, and that's saying a lo- Agh!" Tommy had tightened his grip into a vice, chorded forearms pressing into Wally's stomach until he nearly hurled. After a moment the grip relaxed marginally.

"Be glad yer breathin' at all, red! Now shut yer trap!" he warned.

Cam went through Wally's entire apartment, trashing it has he did so. Everything Wally owned was strewn about the place or broken by the time the white haired boy managed to find the entrance to Wally's lab. As soon as the door swung open, Cam retched and turned away, waving at the invisible fumes.

"Ugh, Fenrir! This smells suspicious to me! It reeks."

"Urgh, I'll say!" Tuppy murmured, scrunching up her nose in distaste.

"That's rich, coming from a bunch of dogs," Wally snapped. Tommy squeezed him until spots popped in his vision and he couldn't breathe.

"I'm warnin' you for the last time, red!"

They all moved into the lab, or tried to. Tommy was entirely too wide for the entrance, so he situated himself at the threshold, allowing himself and Wally to see inside.

Wally didn't even know what to make about the situation. He had no idea what they were looking for. Or why it had taken so many weeks after Artemis's disappearance for the werewolves to come after him.

What if they didn't even know where Artemis was?

The thought made his heart sink.

"What'n tarnation d'you reckon went on in here?" Tommy pondered in slight awe.

"I don't know, why don't we ask our human friend here?" Cam sneered, striding over to Wally and grabbing the front of his shirt. "What is this place?"

"It's called a lab, Hair Gel," Wally said with contempt. The boy looked ready to punch him, but Tuppy spoke up before the action could be fully contemplated, much less enacted.

"Don't bother with that one, boys, I jus' found some interestin' things in this here drawer," the female said, waving around a yellow notepad triumphantly.

The yellow notepad that contained all of the notes he and Artemis had taken in their deep research into lycanthropy. If they read those… oh Einstein, they'd know everything that had gone on there. That must have been why they were snooping around his place.

"Hey, I wouldn't-" Wally started to yell, but Tommy slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Shut yer yap, the sister's tryin' to read us a story," he said maliciously. "Go on Tuppy, what's it say."

"'Treatment tests: Rat exposed to allergens associated with medical lycanthropy. Wolfsbane IgE's extracted and introduced to subject. Wolfsbane administered. Reaction ensued. 2ml epinephrine injected…" Tuppy read off, her eyes going wide. "Treatment tests?" she repeated.

"Medical lycanthropy?" Tommy eked out, his thick brows coming together in confusion as the words rolled with much effort off his tongue. "Ain't that some fancyful term for werewolf?"

Cam's mouth gaped open as he caught on.

"Holy shit... you don't think…?"

The three wolves eyes locked across the cramped room. Wally closed his eyes tight, breathing deeply through his nose.

He was in deep shit. Artemis was too, wherever she was.

"I'm thinkin' it's time to take these here notes to the Alpha an' smash the rest of it!" Tommy declared, much to Wally's horror. "But first…"

Wally was thrust into the room. Tuppy grabbed him, her sharp nails digging into his shoulders as she forced him down onto his knees, placing one of her boots on his shoulders to keep him there.

And then he was forced to watch his lab be smashed to pieces right in front of his eyes.

Cam did it all while the other two laughed; beakers were smashed, chemicals were recklessly spilled on the carpet when he knocked the entire white cabinet over. Fumes overtook the room, stuff they probably shouldn't have been inhaling. The table was snapped in half by Tommy, who got Cam to scoot it close to the door so he could reach through and chop down on it with his steroidal arm.

The rat cages, rats squealing inside, were squashed under foot in the nastiest, most disturbing spectacle Wally had ever witnessed. He heard them snap like twigs, silenced as the life was stolen from their pure white bodies.

Nothing in that room was spared. His trophies and plaques, those material things didn't bother him nearly as much as the science that he and Artemis had toiled tirelessly over for months. The sight of it all being destroyed was almost enough to make him cry in frustration; all that hard work, gone!

"There," Cam boasted, dusting his hands off when it was all done. "Now, let's get those notes and this jackass into the wolf's den where he belongs."

The other two laughed, like it was a big, secret joke they were sharing. Wally kept silent, his lips pressed together while he glared at them in defiance.

He had a feeling that whatever was so funny to them wouldn't be remotely so to him.