Judgment

Part 5

[All standard disclaimers apply.]

Jaime frowned as Garfield stumbled into the kitchen. Donna had already left to take pictures for her photography class. Bart was busy shoveling breakfast pastries into his face as they came out of the toaster. The only one not accounted for was Damian and Raven.

"Look, I'm up," Gar said to Jaime as he made his way to the fridge. "I even have time to eat before training."

"Who said I thinking about you?" Jaime replied.

"Everyone's always thinking about me," Gar said with a smirk. He began making tofu eggs. "So where is everyone?"

"Hey, I'm right here!" Bart said.

"Yeah, I see you." He turned back to Jaime. "Where's Donna? The lovebirds?"

"Donna's taking pictures for her class. I haven't see Raven or Damian. Bart, have you?"

Too busy chewing, the speedster shook his head.

"That's weird," Gar commented. "Usually they're both up by now."

Jaime stood up and put his dishes in the sink. "I'm going to check on them. Bart, don't forget you have kitchen duty."

"Oh, man!"

"I'll come with," Gar said, turning off the stove.

"What about your food?"

Gar shrugged. "I've got time."

"If you say so."

scene changescene changescene changescene changescene change

"Raven!"

She jerked as she came back to herself. She fell back against the headboard with a huff. She blinked against the late morning sunlight. "What?"

"Raven, what is going?" Jaime demanded.

She glanced down at her lap. Damian was still unconscious in her lap. "Oh, no."

She raised her hands back to Damian's head when Jaime grabbed her wrists, stopping her. "Raven! What's happening? What's wrong with Damian?"

"The old woman placed a curse on him."

"What kind of curse?"

"Something psychic. I can't make out it exactly. I'm helping him fight it.

"I need to call Dick and Kori," Jaime said.

"We need to call Batman," Gar said.

"No!" Raven protested.

"Damian's unconscious!" Gar shot back.

"But he's fighting it," she said, "and I'm helping. He can defeat this. I know he can."

"Raven," Jaime said.

"Just give him time, Jaime. Please."

"You can't be serious," Gar interjected. "Damian's out. We need to be calling somebody. This is serious."

Raven shot Gar a look. "What are we training for? To run to the Leaguers at the first sign of trouble or to learn to handle things ourselves?"

"That's a low blow, Raven," Gar said. "Handling Dr. Light or robbers is one thing. This type of magic is not something we can handle."

"I can handle it." She looked at Jaime. "We can handle this. We just need time."

Jaime studied her for a moment. "Twelve hours."

"What!" Gar gaped at Jaime.

"Thirty-six," Raven countered.

"Twenty-four hours and not a second more, Raven," Jaime said. "Otherwise, I'm calling in everybody."

"Understood."

"You're both nuts," Gar said, throwing his hands in the air.

"We can handle this, Gar," Raven said. "Trust me."

"Rae."

"Please, Gar."

He sighed. "Fine. But I still think this is a really, really bad idea."

"Noted," Jaime said.

She gathered her magic. "Now, get out. I've got work to do."

The boys left. As they headed back to the kitchen, Gar grabbed Jaime's arm. "What are we going to do about Donna and Bart?"

Jaime thought for a moment. "Keep them busy."

"And when that doesn't work? Donna's not stupid."

"I'll think of something."

"I hope so."