*pokes head tentatively around the corner*

hello?

Sorry for the long silence. First I had a lot of busy weekends, and that combined with one of the most severe cases of writers block I've ever had to ensure that I didn't even finish this chapter until today. Any suggestions or ideas you have would be most welcome so that I can recharge and become re inspired for this story.

I will try my best to crank out another chapter and update next week, but in the next couple of months my life is about to become a heck of a lot more hectic. I'll be doing my last few practices as well as two performances for my play, my mom will have a baby, I'll be working, doing school, finishing my book (including making the cover), and also trying to prepare for several summer camps I will be going to in June.

Hopefully, if I get inspired again, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Hang in there.

Reviews:

Kim: Yeah, I'm afraid that cliffhanger was necessary, but don't worry. Someday everything will turn out all right.

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Disclaimer: IF I owned Young Justice, I would definitely have a new episode every week . . .

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Chapter 18

Gotham City

May 23, 21:03 EDT

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Alfred Pennyworth did not like waiting. He especially did not like waiting when it was incredibly likely that the person he was waiting for was picking an incredibly foolish fight right then.

It didn't help that Jason and Tim were just as impatient. While Alfred was very happy that Jason had come home for the week, he did not appreciate the pacing. Or the considerable amount of complaining.

"Why didn't he take me with him?" Jason ranted for the hundredth time in the past three hours. "If he's going to get Dick out of there, then he's going to need backup! Why am I even wearing this mask if he isn't going to let me help him? This is ridiculous!"

Tim, who was watching his brother from where he was sitting on the stairs, sighed. "You said that already, Jason. You know he wants to keep us safe, so he left you behind. Remember, he told you to keep an eye on Gotham for the night?"

"And I am!" Jason growled, running his hand through his hair. "I've set up alerts on cameras and police scanners all over Gotham, but there's been nothing! No robberies, no muggings, no vandalism, no stupid kids doing stupid things, nothing!"

"That's gotta be a record," Tim said, pulling out his computer, a look of interest on his face. His fingers started flying over the keyboard as he looked up references. "Hah! This is the longest Gotham's gone without a crime in eighteen years!"

"It's been four hours," Jason muttered. "That's the record we have to beat? Jeez."

Alfred shook his head and sighed. "Master Timothy, it's about time you went to work on your homework. You can work on your hacking skills another time. I'm sure master Bruce will understand if you aren't out here when he gets back."

The glare that Tim shot him made Alfred hide a smile. Dick and Jason had long since perfected their glaring technique, but Tim was still working on it. As it was, with his hair all messed up, and a smear of chocolate on his chin from the cookies they'd had after dinner, he looked about as threatening as a puppy.

"Are you kidding? I want to know what happened as soon as he gets back!" Tim protested. "If he managed to get Dick out of there, then there's no way I'm going to be upstairs doing homework!"

Alfred hesitated. He had to admit, that for once he felt inclined to let Tim take the night off. Even if Bruce didn't return with Richard, they all would want to hear what had happened, and he'd promised to tell them. Bruce would keep the promise, but if they were all waiting for him, then they could control when he kept his promise.

"So long as you promise that all of your work will still be turned in on time, then you may stay with Master Jason and I," Alfred conceded.

Tim's smile made Alfred feel sure he'd said the right thing. It was the biggest smile he'd seen on the boy's face since Richard's kidnapping.

Jason had noticed it too, and a look of gratitude appeared in his eyes as he glanced at Alfred. The light in the house was normally Richard, and with him gone, and the brooding atmosphere of the older family members, Tim had been becoming quieter and quieter. Jason's visit over the past week had helped a bit, but all the same, Alfred doubted it would get completely better until Dick was home safe.

Alfred glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. I was past nine now. Bruce had said he would be back by or before ten, so soon they would know how Richard was.

Jason growled as something beeped. "Crap. Alright, I have to go. Sounds like there's a problem in east Gotham. I'd better go meet Batgirl." He put on his mask, ruffled Tim's hair, nodded at Alfred, and jogged in the direction of the batcave entrance.

Alfred sighed. He'd been hoping that Jason could avoid going on patrol tonight, but it was not to be. He couldn't remember the last time there had been a night that none of his charges were out on patrol, and this would not be the night to change that.

"Alright, master Timothy, shall we go and wait downstairs?" Alfred asked quietly. If they were down in the cave, then they could be there in a flash if Jason, Bruce, or Barbara were injured. Alfred had found over the years that he worried less when he was only a couple of inches away from bandages, painkillers, and a telephone to call Leslie Tompkins.

Tim got his feet. "Yeah. We have to be there when they get home," he said softly. "So they had better come home."

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Blüdhaven

May 23, 21:40 EDT

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They'd been standing there for nearly two hours now. Dick was itching with restlessness, but he forced himself to stay still. Batman and Deathstroke hadn't fought each other yet, and he was still holding out for Bruce to leave peacefully.

Neither man had said more than a word since Deathstroke's challenge, and it was making Dick nervous. The assassin's fingers kept flitting across the handle of his sword, and Bruce's left eyebrow was twitching under his mask- although Dick doubted that anyone else other than Alfred could have noticed that. To most people, Batman probably looked as he always did; calm, cool, and absolutely terrifying.

"I'll be going now," Batman said suddenly, making Dick look up sharply. "I have a promise to keep, and you aren't worth my time, Slade."

Deathstroke's eye narrowed. "How fascinating. You don't mind if I punish your former sidekick then?" he drew his sword slowly, and turned it towards Dick. "It's obviously his fault that you are here, and so he should be punished accordingly."

The force of Batman's glare almost made Dick flinch, and he'd been able to resist the batglare for years. "If you harm him, then I swear that some day it will come back to bite you."

Dick tensed as Deathstroke pulled his blade away, in a swift move that he recognized from their training, and flipped backwards just in time to escape getting a sword cut across his face.

"Leave, Batman!" He yelled. "I can take care of myself, and you have people waiting for you in Gotham."

"Robin," Batman said hesitantly. "Are you sure you want me to leave you?"

He doesn't want to leave, Dick thought despairingly. I don't want him to leave. But he has to. He has to get back to them. "I promise, Batman, I will get out of this," he sad under his breath as he narrowly avoided Deathstroke's blade. "Just tell everyone I'll be back."

Batman nodded, determination written across his face, and then he took off, away from the fight between master and student.

Dick sighed in relief as he turned his full attention to dodging Deathstroke. He'd seen Batman, the person he'd missed the most in the long weeks since his kidnapping. Sure he was still with Deathstroke and Talia, but it was with a renewed sense of hope and direction that he finally lay on his bed that night, covered in bruises from his trainer's punishments.

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Central City

May 24, 10:03 EDT

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Wally West lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling with an absentminded expression on his face. He'd been feeling listless ever since he'd come home yesterday evening. Jason had texted him last night to tell him that Bruce had seen Dick. He was alright, but he wasn't home yet.

It was infuriating.

They'd been so close, so very close to him. He'd saved Artemis, warned them away, and was now being trained by assassins. Of course, there was no way he would ever succumb to their training or anything like that, but still, Wally hated to think that Dick was working with the crazy guy who'd tried to kill Artemis.

Artemis.

She was still shaken by her run in with death, not to mention speaking with Dick. Wally had talked with her late that night until she'd completely come out of shock, then he'd spent a while running around Happy Harbor to cool himself off.

Wally gave into the urge to move, and stood, pacing at high speed around his room. He'd taken a couple of days off school, and he was staying away from Mount Justice for a little while. He needed a break.

His parents had gotten a doctor's note for him claiming he had the flu, so he just needed to make sure he stayed out of sight of anyone who knew him.

Which meant he was going to go for a stroll in a different city.

For instance, Blüdhaven.

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There we go! Hope you like it! Next week we should see some Catwoman ;)

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