Chapter Three:

Minnesota

November 24th, 09:32 CDT

Suzanne groaned and rolled over. She felt soft bed sheets beneath her. Her head sank into her pillow and her comforter was warm and tangled up with her body. She smiled and tugged the blankets closer.

That's when she remembered the events of last night.

She opened her eyes and rolled over on her back. Had the Teen Titans stopped the Doomsday Ra's had planned? Was Artemis alright? Suzanne started to get up, but groaned and clutched her head. On top of a massive headache she had, it seemed that the punch by Ra's al Ghul had cracked her cheekbone. She could feel something holding it together.

She slipped out of bed and into her house shoes. Throwing on some clothes, she sleepily made her way downstairs.

"About time sleepy head." Artemis said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Where's Wally?" Suzanne asked.

"Store." Artemis replied, taking a sip out of her hot chocolate as Suzanne got some cereal. "I ran out of stuffing for the turkey."

"Ah." Suzanne said, pouring some cereal in a bowl and starting to eat it.

"That was pretty gusto of you last night." Artemis said. "I would probably let you get off with your cracked cheekbone, but you almost got Batman killed last night, and that's something most villains never get to dream about."

Suzanne looked up from her bowl and at Artemis. She was still sleepy, but was trying to look like she was paying attention to Artemis.

"But I destroyed the remote and gave the location for the Titans."

"True."

"Speaking of which, did they-"

"Yes. Of course they did. They're the Titans." Wally said, speeding in. "Though Bats might have a word or two to say to you later."

"Bout time you were home when I am awake or supper isn't served." Suzanne said.

Wally raised an eyebrow. "You didn't finish talking to her yet, did you?"

"I was trying when you walked in." Artemis said, taking another sip out of her hot chocolate.

"Basic point is you're dead." Wally said.

Artemis glared at him.

"Um, when..., to say that is, um... batman... Screw it!" Wally sped away. Suzanne turned to Artemis and raised an eyebrow.

"You did well." Artemis said. "Yes, you got a slap from the immortal, but thankfully that's all. You're fine. Everything's fine. In fact-"

Artemis reached under the table and emerged a moment later with Suzanne's bow, folded up to conserve space, and slid it across the table to her.

"Thanks!" Suzanne exclaimed, picking up the bow and testing it to see if it still functioned properly.

"Keep a hand on that. Because you're going to be training a lot the month you're grounded." Artemis said, calmly as could be as she took another sip from her hot chocolate.

"What?" Suzanne exclaimed. "But I just saved the world! Technically twice!"

"Yes, true. But you disobeyed my order and didn't stay at the house. You endangered my life, Batman's life, Wally's life, the entire world, and most importantly, your life." Artemis said.

Suzanne was upset, but understood. She nodded and went back to eating her cereal.

The wound on Batman's leg was painfully obvious. He had been forced to have the bullet pulled out and the leg wrapped. But nothing more. The large bulge in his lower thigh beneath the Batsuit was as painfully obvious as the lack of sleep he was getting.

Robin hated to see him like this. Even more, he hated to disturb him like this.

"Are you sure he won't rage on me?" Virgil whispered to the Boy Wonder.

"Pretty sure. I've never seen him like this before." Robin whispered back.

"This is the Batman we're talking about here."

"Nightwing, not Bruce."

"Oh. Sorry. I'm just so used to 'Big Bad Mr. Batman' that I forget he's Nightwing."

Robin sighed and walked in the room. "Batman?"

Batman stopped typing on the holo-computer and sighed. "What Robin?" he snapped.

"It's Virgil."

Batman turned. "What now. Did he fry the TV again?"

"No. Contrary, to that. I seem to be grounded." Virgil said.

"Stay out too late?" Batman asked. Virgil cocked an eyebrow before realizing the mistake.

"No, sir. I meant I lost my powers."

"You what now?" Batman asked.

"I lost my powers. Sometime this morning. It was an accident I found out at all-"

"What he means is he was juggling too much equipment, lost his powers, and got trapped under a few hundred pounds of dumb bells."

Static grinned nervously.

"Have you taken him to-"

"Yes. But nothing checked out wrong. In fact, he was in the peak of health."

Batman rubbed his chin, which was covered with stubble. "Any recent interactions with anything that could have done something to your powers?"

"I'm not a remote. That sand last night won't get in my motors or anything. Just my ears."

Robin sighed. "He meant-"

"He meant did you come across any psychos carrying a gun that could eliminate your powers?" A new voice entered the conversation. Stephanie walked into the room.

"Uh, not really. Just the usual." Static replied.

"The usual?" Stephanie asked, tossing something to Batman. "And get him to stop hitting on me before I have to beat him up." she aimed the last remark at Robin.

"That, I could take from you." Virgil said.

"Dude. Stop hitting on my girlfriend." Robin said.

"Your what now?" Virgil asked.

"If you don't know what happened to your powers or how they were disabled. We may have to remove you from the Teen Titans mission board for your own safety." Batman said. "Your powers may be gone for good."

"Yes!" Suzanne cried. "And another target bites the-"

"Hit!" Artemis yelled, tossing a skeet into the air. Suzanne grabbed an arrow out of her sheath, aimed, and fired. The arrow nicked the skeet on the bottom and it flipped in the air as it finished its ascent and began its decent.

"Damn!" Suzanne exclaimed.

"That's one lesson you must always learn." Artemis said. "Always be ready to fire another volley, like-NOW!"

Artemis tossed three skeet up in the air. Suzanne grabbed her arrows and shot one, two, and the third one was out of range before she could get the third arrow notched.

"Fancy shooting." Wally called from the porch. Suzanne grinned and winked at Artemis who winked back.

"Thanks Wally!" Suzanne called, notching another arrow.

"Uh huh."

Suzanne rounded on Wally and fired. Wally looked up and squealed, dashing to the other side of the porch.

"Artemis!"

Another arrow flew toward him.

"Help!"

Artemis was laughing as the third arrow flew right in front of Wally.

"She's gonna kill me!"

Wally screamed again as the fourth arrow landed at his feet and he tripped over it.

The two girls were laughing.

"Wally," Artemis managed to gasp out. "Did you just scream like a little girl?"

"No!" Wally said indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Maybe...Can we talk about this later?"

Artemis laughed. "Sure."