Two weeks later.

P.O.V of Wally.

Artemis had been in casts for the past two weeks, but today they had been removed and replaced with support bandages, which she hated seeming I was perfectly back to normal due to my fast healing factor. But I stayed with her through it all, even when she tried to push me away. That was my duty now, to protect her whatever the price. I sat snuggled into her side as we watched Megan and Conner. They still hadn't gotten over the fact that she thought Dick was cute. And he found it even worse now for two reasons: He was Robin, She was the one who had let him back in when he wanted to kill us all. I shuddered at the thought, pushing those memories back down. I had barley seen Dick since we had left our jobs as substitute teachers, he barely came to the cave. But he just needed space and I wasn't going to invade it. And, if I'm being brutally honest, I'm not sure I can look at him as my best friend after that stunt with the fire. I know it wasn't him, but it still hurt. And even when I tried to think of him as that best friend I had had for so many years, all I could think about was the hatred and anger that had burnt in his eyes when he left me to die. It was selfish, I know, but I just couldn't face him.
"Hey Baywatch." My eyes came back into focus as Artemis waved a hand in front of my face.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Rob's coming to visit today." She said, "And I know it's selfish of me and all." She twisted a strand of hair around her finger, a nervous habit she had had since I had known her, "But, do you maybe want to head out for the day? Like, just to the mall or something until he leaves."
I should be berating her for a comment like that, trying to avoid my best friend, but instead I said, "Sure."
"I know he's your best friend and I'm sorry." She crawled over to sit on my lap.
"In all honesty Arty, I don't really want to see him myself." I admitted.
She smiled at me, "Alright then, get changed into some stylish clothes and let's go."
I looked down at my sweatpants and tank top, "What, these aren't good enough for you?"
She just raised her eyebrows and I sighed as I went to get changed. I shoved on some jeans and reached into my top draw to pull out a Batman and Robin one. I looked at the logo of my best friend for a while, the iconic R. I quickly shoved it to the back of my draw and pulled out a plain grey top, tying my trainers I met Artemis just out of the Zeta beams at the nearest Mall. She gave me a quick once over, took my arm and led me into the mall.

P.O.V of Conner.

I had listened to Artemis and Wally's conversation, I know Megan told me eavesdropping was bad, but not as bad as avoiding your own best friend.
"You look distracted." She floated over and sat at the other side of the sofa to me.
"I was just listening to Wally and Artemis-"
"What have I told you about listening to other people's conversations." She said, a slight smirk playing at her lips.
The look of her having a joke made my heart warm, but then I remembered that she had made a move of Rob and it instantly froze back over.
"They were talking about Rob." I said.
"Oh, he's coming over today." She smiled, "First time since the Owls. I even baked him some special cookies."
"M'gann." I growled, "They're avoiding him."
She looked shocked for a moment, "Why would they do that?"
"I don't know." I admitted, "Do you think we should tell Kaldur? Or Batman?"
"Maybe." She chewed on her lip, an annoying habit of hers that I loved, "But they could change their minds."
"I don't think they're going to." I said, "They just both seemed like they really didn't want to see him."
"Maybe we should ask them about it." She suggested, "They're the only ones with the actual answer."
"I know." I sighed, "It just seems cruel. He probably just wants to check that they're recovering."
"And see us." She cut in.
"I don't want you seeing him." I growled.
"This again?" She sighed and I just looked at her, "Look, Conner. It was a weightless crush. You know I never liked Robin like that. It was just his eyes pulled me in. And, when you dumped me I just needed something to get over you with. He was temporary, I'm with you 'til the end of the line."
I didn't think, I just moved over to her, took her face between my hands and kissed her. It was a kiss of love and passion. Slow, as if we had all the time in the world. And I realised that as much as I may deny it, I would be with her 'til the end of the line as well.

P.O.V of Kaldur.

I had told the team that Rob was coming today so that they could prepare to welcome him back. I think after what he went through he would need some positive energy, and two weeks was enough time for us all to heal physically so that he wouldn't have to look at any of the injures he caused. During his two week absence I had been team leader and led everyone on the missions that Batman sent us out on. I walked in the main cave to make sure that everyone was ready to greet him. But that was not what I was met with. Instead I saw the absence of Artemis and Wally and Conner and M'gann sitting on the sofa, the latter curled up in the others arms with a contented smile on her face.
"Do you know where Wally and Artemis are? Rob's due here in five minutes." I asked quietly.
"They're at the mall." He replied.
"Pardon?"
"They were speaking, they said they didn't want to see him." He explained, "They don't plan on coming back in time to see him."
I would love to say I didn't understand what they've done, but after what happened to them, I couldn't really blame them. But that didn't mean that I wouldn't try to bring them back. But as if reading my thoughts Conner said, "You won't convince them to come back. They've made up their minds, and you know how headstrong they can get."
"But they will be who he wants to see." I said, "He'll want to make sure that they are okay and back to normal."
"Sorry Kaldur," Conner did sound sincere, "It's not going to happen. But Megan said she's made some cookies for him as a welcome back gift." He paused for a moment before tentatively asking, "Is he going to become leader again or will you keep the mantle?"
"I shall let him decide." I answered, "I am only standing in for him whilst he is not here. Ultimately, all decisions must go through him."
Conner nodded and I went to sit on the sofa opposite them just before the cave announced Robin B01. I turned around to see him in much worse state then I had expected. His baggy clothes looked crumpled and unwashed, his hair greasy and starting to grow out into a tangled mess. His eyes looked down wherever his feet shuffled to and his shoulders were hunched over as if he was shielding himself.
"Rob!" Megan called excitedly getting up, "I baked you cookies."
"Thank's Miss M." He replied in a monotone voice.
"Are you feeling alright?" I asked as he practically collapsed on the sofa that no one had occupied.
"Yeah," He replied, "Fine."
I wasn't inclined to believe him at all, but I didn't push. Of all the people this would effect, his reaction would be the most severe. Megan came back in and offered him a plate of Chocolate chip cookies from which he took one but didn't make any move to eat it. We all sat in an awkward silence, broken at last by Robin, "Where are Wally and Artemis?"
I looked over to him to see his usually bright blue eyes dulled and empty, but it was Conner who replied, "They're out at the moment. But they're fine."
Rob nodded, a small sigh escaping his lips, and began to nibble on the cookie. But eventually he gave up after making a small dent in it.
"How have you been doing Rob?" I asked awkwardly.
"Fine." He replied.
I waited for him to say more but it would seem he was done explaining himself so I asked my next question, "Will you be joining us again?"
"No."
"What?" All three of us exclaimed.
"You'll be better off without me." He said, "I'm nothing but a hindrance."
"What are you talking about Dick?" Megan said, "Without you this team would have fallen apart."
"But don't you see?" He suddenly looked up, his eyes glinting again but not with happiness or any emotion like that, no they glinted with madness, "It's my fault you and Conner began fighting. It's my fault Wally and Artemis are paranoid and always looking over their shoulders in case I should come to kill them. It's my fault that Jason is stuck between crutches and a wheelchair for the next three months. It's my fault that you all fell apart because I just couldn't do anything. Because I am nothing."
"Dick, you know that this is not true." I comforted him.
"Really?" He let out a dry chuckle but his eyes were becoming dull again, "What from that list was not my fault. Tell me just one thing."
None of us could, and he knew it. But he had curled back in on himself, his eyes once again dead. We sat in that awkward silence until he shuffled back to the Zeta Beams and left the cave, but even then the silence was not lifted. It was only broken another hour later when Artemis and Wally came in, laughing whilst they carried their shopping. But when they felt the solemn mood of us, they instantly turned quiet.
"What's wrong?" Wally asked.
"Rob does not seem to be himself." I replied.
"He'll be fine." Artemis said, "He just needs some time to readjust."
"You didn't see him." Conner said.
"He asked after you guys." Megan got in before they could reply, "I think he just came to make sure you were alright."
They exchanged a guilty look, but not a look that said they'd be thinking about it later.
Robin B01 We all turned around expecting to see Dick back, Megan's face hopeful, Conner blank, mine pitying and Artemis and Wally gone and hidden somewhere. That told me enough about what they really thought about Rob. But it wasn't Dick who entered it was Jason. He flopped down on the sofa next to me placing his crutches against the arm, "Thank you."
"What for?" I asked.
"Talking to Dick." He said, "However brief it must have been."
"Oh no." Megan lied, "He was lovely, he just talked about normal things munching on my cookies."
"Don't lie to me." He said, "I know how he's been recently."
"What has be been like?" I asked,
Jason drew in a long breath, "Bruce brought in Harley to analyse him, he was worried for him." He paused, collecting himself as tears began to form in his eyes, "She said he has major depression. And when she spoke to him about it she managed to piece together that it's not just one event that led to it. It was his families murder, every scar, every kidnapping, every time he was raped by Crowder, every order he took from the Owls. It's just become to much for him now."
We took in everything he said, a much deeper silence engulfing us.
"We were given a mission." I broke that silence, "And that was to protect Richard Grayson. And I say that mission isn't over yet."
"What are we going to do?" Megan asked.
"We're going to continue our mission." I said, "We will keep protecting our leader."