Author's Note: Guuuys, for a long time there I felt like if I coughed anymore, I was going to lose a lung. But, you didn't want to hear that. I MADE YOU WAIT A MONTH AGAIN, I'M REALLY SORRY.

Summary: His father is back and everything around him seems to be crumbling before his eyes. Sequel to Things Fall Apart.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I have some Dayquil and Nyquil, good stuff.

The Center Cannot Hold

Part Four

"Looks like you can go back to school tomorrow." His Uncle grinned, checking his skin for any discoloration. "Bet you're happy about that."

"You have no idea." Wally replied, only managing a miniature version of Barry's own smile. Barry patted his nephew's shoulder.

"School isn't that bad is it?"

Tell him, he shouted at himself, but hey, since when did he listen to the wise little voice in his head, "Nah, I just didn't do the homework that was due today."

"Get to it then and take out the garbage when you're done." Barry instructed giving the teen a shove towards his bedroom.

"Fine." he tried for a pathetic whine, pulling it off quite nicely. Once his door was closed, Wally slammed his head against it.

You never listen.

"Oh, shut-up."

.:...:.

"Just school, no big deal. Same old, same old. Get shoved into a locker, homework taken, slow teachers, awful food, I can do this." Oh man, he couldn't do this. Wally had been standing outside the school minutes after the bell had already tolled signaling the first class had begun. Still, he stood there the shadow of the brick school building loomed over him. He took a deep breath and lifted his foot to take a step forward and..now his foot was frozen. "Really? Really? Stupid foot."

He didn't know what his problem was, well he did know what a few of his problems were, it was the current one that stumped him. Minutes before the first bell he had every intention to go inside instead of standing still looking like an idiot. A chill that ran down his spine stopped him short, he felt like he was being watched. Normally, he would just write it off that he had been spending too much time a certain Boy Wonder and some of the ninja's tendencies was rubbing off on him. Problem was, he couldn't shake it off, he was paralyzed, the feeling continued to persist. Finally setting his foot back down, he tried again, this time to glance behind him.

Maybe being around Rob so much wasn't a bad thing after all.

A familiar car was parked on the other side of the street, the tinted glass made it difficult to tell who was inside or if there was even anyone inside the automobile, never the less Wally knew that car. He had seen it two days prior. Why it would be here now was beyond him, unless was his dad actually watching him? Like, stalking him? He heart palpitated painfully and his chest seized. He couldn't stay here, wasn't safe. He had to go hom-

No.

Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris would ask him why he left and then he would have to tell them and as stupid as it sounded, he didn't want to. He didn't want to involve them. It was his life and it was something that he was going to deal with. Besides, after Saturday it would all be over.

Still, the fact remained that he needed somewhere to go, a place to hide.

His feet were moving the second he knew where that place was.

l-l

"Be home, be home, be home, be home." He repeated to himself quietly as his knuckles rapped against the door. He listened for any signs of movement from the other side. This was the only place he could think of, he felt a wave of relief wash over him as the door knob turned and the door opened a margin. The person behind it stared at the speedster in confusion and irritation.

"Wally?"

"Hey, Roy." he greeted nervously, "Can I come in?"

.:...:.

"Looks like we'll be here for a while." Speedy stated after fruitlessly trying to open the door to the industrial sized freezer. A cloud of white air wafted in front of him as he exhaled, behind him he heard a buzzing sound, probably Kid Flash vibrating to keep himself from getting too cold. Green Arrow thought it would be easier if they asked the Flash gang for help in going to find Count Vertigo. They decided to split up so that there would be knowledge and speed on both teams. On the bright side, he and Kid Flash had found him first, only they didn't know that they found him at the time. The two were in the abandoned industry, checking every building, when a solid whap to the back of their heads rendered them unconscious. He didn't know how long they were out, but Kid Flash had woken him up quickly informing them where they were and that both were with out their comms and Speedy was without his bow and quiver. "Flash and GA will be here soon."

He turned around, Kid Flash's back was turned to him his palm flat against the cold steal, his head was dipped low, the buzzing sound ceased. "You alright?" he asked. Kid Flash's scarlet clad hands slipped away from the wall.

"I'm fine." he replied, moving away from the wall. Unconvinced, Speedy walked over and turned the speedster around, a rivulet of blood was coursing from his nose. "I tried to vibrate through the wall. It didn't work."

"I can tell." He grunted, tilting Kid's head back, "I thought you said you couldn't vibrate your molecules."

"I figured now was as good as time as any to learn how." Kid replied grinning, teeth chattering. Speedy felt the same, his exposed skin on his arms was starting to sting due to the frigid air. If he ever changed his costume, he was going to add sleeves.

Kid pinched the bridge of his nose giving a small cough, "What are we going to do now?"

"Sit, wait, and try not freeze."

Kid Flash tilted his head back to normal, rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand. He glanced around choosing to sit on a pile of tarp covered crates, coughing again. Speedy decided to remain standing, pacing the length of the refrigerated unit. Every other moment he would try the door again, shouting then listening to see if anyone was coming. His jaw clenched to prevent his teeth from chattering together, going through every motion to keep himself warm, from rubbing his arms, to cupping hands over his mouth and trying to ignite a spark of feeling in his fingers. Kid Flash pulled his knees to his chest and was rocking himself, eyes half lidded. Not missing it, Speedy snapped his fingers in front of the speedster's face, startling him.

"You can't fall asleep, I thought you were a kid genius." he said giving Kid Flash a small shake, "Come on, talk to me, you're good at that."

The speedster hugged his legs tighter, "I'm cold."

The eldest snorted, "Thanks for the heads up, I hadn't noticed." He pushed the speedster over then jumped up on the crate beside him and threw an arm around the speedsters shoulders and pulled him closer, "You breathe a word of this, I'm turning you into a speed bump."

Kid Flash huffed, "I don't want to ruin your tough guy image." Stuttering every other word.

"Glad you understand."

Flash's partner trembled, "'s better than a basement."

At first, he thought that he misheard him, "What?"

Kid Flash started rocking again, forest eyes locked on the door, "Better than a basement."

"Yeah because nothing's worse than the threat of a spider crawling on you."

"Bu- but we know we're going to be rescued."

Speedy trained his eyes on the younger, "Kid, what do you mean by that?"

The speedster buried his nose into arms, "You can't tell Robin or anyone." his voice was muffled, he moved his head so that he could see the archer with one eye. Speedy nodded, silently promising not to. "Sometimes my dad used to lock me in the basement. It wasn't that bad, just sometimes I wished someone would come and you know, get me out."

"Why would your dad do that?" He asked, the white lenses of his mask narrowed into slits.

"My dad doesn't like me." His voice was small, doing his best to avoid Roy's eyes.

"So he locked you in the basement?" He was on the edge of shouting. When Kid didn't respond, shaking even harder than before, "Wally, what else-."

Kid didn't make a move to answer at first, "You know how some people hit things they don't like?"

He didn't feel the cold, didn't hear the hum of the motor, "He-."

For a second he thought that Kid Flash was vibrating, his shaking was increasing and Speedy doubted that being cold was the only reason, "I don't want to be here anymore Roy, I don't want to be here." Kid Flash choked out. Speedy pulled him over, resting his chin on top of Kid's hair, the icicles pricking his skin.

"It's okay. Flash is coming. You're safe."

You're safe

.:...:.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" Roy asked tossing his "guest" a can of soda which was easily caught. Wally smirked, popping the can open before falling back into the worn sofa that he had sneaking suspicion that Roy just picked up on the side of some dingy street, that is if the stains were anything to go by.

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" Wally asked in return knowing full well that the archer had his first class in thirty minutes. The archer shrugged taking a seat on the other side, resting his socked feet on the coffee table effectively knocking a newspaper on the floor.

"Class was canceled." he replied nonchalantly.

"Skipping class again?"

Roy shrugged, slipping down in his seat, "I'm pretty sure nothing important is going to happen today." he said then drank from his can, "What are you running away from this time?"

Wally suddenly found picking out designs in the multi colored carpet far more interesting, "I didn't feel like sticking around Central today."

Patient as always, least as patient as he could manage, Roy said slowly, "Any reason why?"

"My dad is there."

The sound of aluminum being crushed caused Wally to turn to the archer beside him. If Roy noticed that his drink overflowed and hit the armrest, he didn't show any signs that he was about to try and clean it up, "What do you mean he's there?"

He dug the toe of his shoe into the carpet, "A few days ago, he showed up at our front door."

"Just like that?" Roy nearly growled setting the can down. Wally felt that he probably should tell Roy about his mother, but the idea was still foreign to him and accepting the truth was still difficult.

"Uncle Barry kicked him out-."

"Good."

"But he came to my school." Wally continued, "He wants to be a family again."

A string of curses flooded of of Roy's mouth as the archer pushed himself out of the couch. "What right does he have to come back and ask you that?" he almost shouted, Wally continued to keep his eyes downcast. Roy breathed deeply, slowly unclenching his hands, "What did your Uncle say?"

"I haven't told him." He said quietly, partly hoping that Roy didn't hear him, but guessing by the next slew of curses, he did hear him.

"Why the hell not, Kid? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is something that Barry would want to know."

Guilt seized him, he knew that his Uncle would want to know and that stupid know it all voice in his was constantly telling him that he should have told his Uncle yesterday when he got home after fleeing Gotham or even this morning at breakfast and yet he didn't, "I know." he sighed "But I wanted to handle this on my own."

"And you're here, I don't think you're handling it very well." Roy snorted, crossing his arms.

"I didn't say it was a smart plan."

He felt Roy's gaze on him without having to look, part of him really hoped the couch would some how open up and swallow him, "You're not actually considering it are you?"

Wally didn't say anything, which was all the answer that the older teen needed. Roy exhaled loudly then sat down, "Alright, you came here." Roy said and Wally knew he was struggling to sound calm, "How can I help? I can get rid of him if you want."

Some of the tension in him eased away as he managed a small laugh, "No thanks. I just, I don't know what to do."

"How hard is it? Tell him to go to hell, kick his ass, go home, eat dinner."

If only. "And I could top it off by throwing a hat at him."

A snicker, "Didn't you take my old hat? Use that."

The tips of Wally's ears burned red because he did in fact have the Red Arrow's old hat resting on one of his home souvenir shelves. "Yeah, but that's a souvenir." For a fleeting moment he thought of throwing the helmet of fate, it'd work better. The ginger archer huffed softly.

"Kid, I don't think I need to tell you that you already have a family and it isn't with him and unlike that one, the one you have now cares about you, your Aunt and Uncle love you. Can you honestly tell me, that you're willing to give that up?" He asked, the stopped before adding, "And if you even think about it, I'll track you down and hit you alongside the head myself."

Advice from Roy, nothing could even compare. "Thanks, Roy. I think."

The archer shrugged, "My offer stands, I'll kick his ass if you want."

"Roy." Wally groaned, hand covering his face.

"He won't even know what hit him."

The smile came easy to him this time, he knew that Roy meant every word but, then again just like snark was Robin's way of showing concern, threats were Roy's way of showing that he cared, "Thanks, Roy."

"No problem, Kid."

To be Continued

Final Thought: Would you believe me if I said that I am completely and utterly brain dead and that this chapter is complete crap? I would. If you stick with me, I'll make it up with the next chapter I promise! It'll be angsty and all that great stuff! For now I have two papers I need to do, a group project to focus on, and a huge list of fic ideas that I want to do, especially this one idea I have. This part stinks (especially the ending, but honestly, I went brain dead), I started out strong I think. There should be about three parts left and I think I've finally figured out how I want it to end.

I blame my brain.

Until next time, this is Fallen signing out saying, stay classy readers.