Watchtower, a few hours before midnight on June 20

Nightwing was rushed to the medical room where everyone helped Black Canary wrap him in medical gauze and pumped a cocktail of drugs into him. Afterwards, Artemis and Kid Flash stayed behind in the Watchtower to monitor the situation. Miss Martian, Sphere, and Aqualad used the bio-ship to pick up the other heroes on Earth before going to Happy Harbor beach to greet the returning League members. When Doctor Fate arrived to the medical room via his magic portal, he was asked perform a healing spell. Just as he was about to, Zatanna barged in and froze in shock. She then suddenly screamed, "NO NO! THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANTED!"

She broke down in tears as Kid Flash drags her out because Doctor Fate needed to concentrate. The commotion gets the others' attention when they returned from shutting down the MFDs. Artemis had already told the Team what happened. Aqualad, Miss Martian, Sphere, and the Leaguers who went to Rimbor eventually arrive at the Watchtower. Blue Beetle, Superboy, and Black Canary come out.

"Fate's healing spell is speeding up his recovery, but he's still badly injured and in a coma. Barely alive. Only you and Superman can come in," she tells Batman before turning her attention to the crowd that formed outside the door. "I'll alert the rest of you if we have any more updates."

When the door closed, Batman was quietly in tears. The only sign that his first protege was barely alive was the heart monitor beeping. He sat near Nightwing's bedside and pulled his cowl off. Superman put his hand on Batman's shoulder as a sign of emotional support for him.

"He sacrificed himself, despite and because of how he was treated," Batman blurted out.

"What do you mean?" Black Canary asked confusingly.

Black Canary's eyes widen as Batman filled her in. When he finished, her eyes narrowed and she became furious. Batman wanted rip the Team into shreds, but Black Canary refused. She coldly said to him, "Let me take care of that. Besides, you've been away from him long enough. He needs his father now. Don't you agree?"

Batman nodded yes before Black Canary headed towards the door. She was halfway there when she pauses because she hears Batman whispering, "Dick, if you can hear me, I'm so sorry for everything...I never wanted you to turn out like me..." Batman gripped Nightwing's hand as tightly as possible, which gives her an idea.

"Bruce. Remember what you said to Diana about Robin when we found out about Billy's age? Can I tell them about that?" she asked. He gives her a cold yes.

"Canary, what's wrong?" asked Mal Duncan when the door closes behind a furious Black Canary.

"I know how you and the others treated Nightwing," she replied coldly. The blood of him and the other Team members ran cold. "Artemis. You, M'gaan, and Kaldur go in there and monitor Nightwing's situation with Superman, Batman, and Fate. I want the Team, Wally, Rocket, Zatanna, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter to follow me NOW. The rest of you need to disperse and let them grieve for now."

Everyone did as they were told. The trio was shocked to see something they've never seen before: Batman as Bruce Wayne crying.

Aqualad stepped forward. "Batman. I'm sorry that-"

Batman bitterly cuts him off with his acidic tongue. "That what? That Wonder Woman was right because he did turn out like me?"

Aqualad was frightened and confused. Superman puts his hand on Batman's shoulder before things got ugly, knowing that he could be exposed to Kryptonite for intervening. Batman went back to moping while Superman explained batman's remark.

Watchtower, present time past midnight on June 21

"I hope all of you are proud of yourselves," Black Canary says angrily with particular attention being paid to Robin, Batgirl, Zatanna, Superboy, and Wally. She could easily break the glass cup with a grip from a single hand rather than use her canary cry. "The coma wasn't anyone's fault, but there's now the additional possibly that your leader could be trapped with depressive and even suicidal thoughts because of your words. Each of you has every right to be angry with his actions which could've put the lives of your fellow teammates in more danger than before. And unfortunately, it did...However, NONE of you have any right to kick Nightwing off the Team or even talk to him like that simply because Batman was off planet. The League decides on each member's fate because the Team operates on League terms. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes ma'am," they murmur in shame. Black Canary's voice became increasingly louder.

"And another thing. You all said that your leader was turning into Batman because he didn't care about your well-being. Well he did care! He had to think all of you guys, the League, Kaldur, Artemis, and the fate of the world!"

She got up and turned to Martian Manhunter. "J'onn. Can you please project my memories into the minds all everyone in the room? I want to show them something personal."

He nodded yes and his eyes glowed. Two memories were projected into people's heads. "This happened during a training exercise that went horribly wrong. Artemis "died" during the exercise, traumatizing Miss Martian and trapping the original Team in a simulation. Back then, it wasn't part of an elaborate deception back then."

"Hurting? Try traumatized. I finally become leader and wind up sending all of my friends to their deaths. And I know I did what I had to. But I hated it. When we started this team, I was desperate to be in charge. Not anymore. And that's not even the worst of it. You can't tell Batman."

"Nothing leaves this room."

"I always wanted, expected to grow up and become him. And the hero bit- I'm still all in. But that thing inside of him, the thing that drives him to sacrifice everything for the sake of his mission, that's not me. I-I don't want to be "the" batman anymore."

Another memory is projected. "And this happened when the League was discussing if the League should expand and if so, who would join."

"Captain Marvel is a member and is entitled to participate, until or unless he's voted out."

"It's not just his age. It's the fact that he lied about it."

"I didn't lie exactly. I just left out the part about being a kid."

"A lie of omission is still a lie. You kept an important secret from us. No one in the League knew the truth.

"I did."

"I shouldn't be surprised. Since you indoctrinated Robin into crime fighting at the ripe old age of nine"

"Robin needed to help bring the man who murdered his family to justice."

"So he could turn out like you?"

"So that he wouldn't."

Everyone suddenly found themselves back in the room. The interrogees were filled with even more shame and regret than before.

"People change for better or worse, but that wasn't an excuse for what you did. I'll tell Batman that you're ready to apologize to him and I expect you all to do the same when Nightwing wakes up. Understand?" asked Black Canary with her arms crossed.

They didn't answer because they were still in shock.

"I said 'do I make myself clear?'"

"Yes, Black Canary," the interrogees said in unison.

Nightwing's room, present time past midnight June 21

Miss Martian was about to ask a question when there was a knocking on the wall.

"Batman. Can you come outside? There's something these people want to say," says Black Canary.

Batman wipes his tears away before doing just that and gives them the bat-glare while he crossed his arms. The ones with human DNA stepped back, leaving La'gaan by himself. He gulped.

"We're all sorry for how we treated Nightwing by not understanding what he's been through as leader...Can we see him?"

Batman clenches his fists and breathes in and out slowly to calm himself.

"Yes, you all can and I trust that none of you will try this again?" he asks bitterly. The Team nodded yes. The medical room was spacious enough to accommodate the Team. As soon as they were all in, they all tried to tried to get a good view of Nightwing's body. Robin wanted to hug his older brother so badly but couldn't.

"How long will it take for him to heal?" Miss Martian asks Doctor Fate.

"His burns will disappear in a day but I'm afraid I don't know how to wake him from his coma. My magic cannot fix a broken mind," he replied.

"Wait. I got an idea. Maybe the Team should go into his mind to find him and wake him up just like the two of us did with Kaldur," suggested Artemis to Miss Martian.

She fearfully replied, "What?! Are you crazy?! Kaldur didn't have severe burns when I tried to fix him. I don't know how those burns would affect our time in his mind. A-and Tula was there when me and Artemis tried to help and she attacked us-"

"Please, we have to! We can't leave him like this without apologizing!" pleaded Batgirl.

"It's getting late and we all should be getting some sleep. Our first day of clean up efforts is in the morning," said Black Canary. "In the meantime, Batman and I will be discussing what to do and we'll let you know beforehand when you get back from clean up efforts."

daytime, June 21

The Team and the League were busy cleaning up the mess caused by the Reach and their MFDs, but one person continued to linger in their minds. It's just before sunset in Gotham when Batman and Black Canary tell Zatanna, Rocket, Wally, and the Team that they need to go to the Watchtower when they're finished.

"Good news is that Superman did an x-ray. All the burns are completely gone. Bad news is that Nightwing is still not responding. I know that a coma rarely lasts more than 2 to 4 weeks but I can see the toll it's having on you guys...I've talked with Batman and we've decided to approve Artemis's idea...at the risk of discovering aspects of Nightwing's personal life...Martian Manhunter has agreed to help me and Batman monitor the situation here while you guys go inside Nightwing's mind tomorrow night," said Black Canary as everyone looked at each other with worry and determination.

Nightwing's room, June 22

It's nighttime in Gotham. The search and rescue party have finished dinner a few hours ago and are now trying to find a spot in Nightwing's room to sit or lie down in. The body cast and gauze have been removed, showing that all the burns are gone.

"Before we go, I need to warn you guys that his mind might perceive us as a threat. Just remember that the illusions aren't real. If you let them hurt you, your mind could suffer permanent damage," explained Miss Martian. The others nodded in response. Batman, the Martian Manhunter, and Black Canary, who will monitor the situation from outside Nightwing's mind, wish them good luck.

"Ready?" asked Miss Martian. When they all said yes in unison, she sighed and ordered them to close their eyes.

"All right. Here we go. 5...4...3...2...1..."

Nightwing's mind, same time

Meanwhile, 3 little red haired kids walk out from the minibus that crashed earlier.

"Ugh. What happened?" asked a male redhead.

"No! The bus!" yelled another male redhead when the ground suddenly splits open, swallowing the minibus.

As they mourn the loss, a female redhead becomes instantly enraged after a picture flies into her face. She sees Wally West and Dick Grayson as Kid Flash and Robin with their arms around each other. After ripping it up and stomping on it, she yelled, "I'm gonna kill him if it's the last thing I do!"

"Hey! Save some for me," said a male redhead.

"Me too," chimed in another male redhead.

Unbeknownst to them, they were being monitored by Dick's captor who sensed high levels of despair and bitterness from them. After gaining control of Dick's mind, the figure takes off his fedora and puts on a black owl mask with gold accents. Acting upon the redheads' strong emotions and the Team's presence, he zaps 3 black collars and sends them off to find their targets.

The black collars find their targets and attach themselves around their necks, establishing a telepathic link between them and Dick's captor.

"Talon is my name and I have some news for you three. Good news is that I'm taking good care of your creator right now, but he's too hurt to talk. Bad news is that Wally and the others are here to take him away from you again. If you three destroy them for me after I lead them into a trap, I'll restore everything back to the way it was. Deal?"

"Sure thing, Talon. We vow to avenge Dick's broken heart," the trio said in unison. Each one is instantly enveloped in a black cloud with translucent purple streaks. During transformation, they open their eyes to reveal glowing yellow irises...