The Team wasn't even supposed to be chasing the armed robber. They just finished handling an attempted kidnapping when they heard over the police radio that an armed robber robbed a liquor a few blocks away and went into action. Artemis and Tempest followed him from rooftop to rooftop until Tempest was able to lasso him with a water rope. They handed him over the authorities and returned the money to the owner. The owner was a short round man with cold blue eyes, tufts of hair on the side of his head, making the top of his head shiny like the hood of a new car, the stains of food and sauces littered his shirt like a pre-schooler art project. His lips curved into a mean grin like a bully finding his target. His glare could kill anyone that bothered to mess with him. Kaldur's glare was just as worse, thanks to Batman.

    "Here, that's everything we could find," Artemis said while she put the bag on the counter.

    "Where's the rest of it?" The owner snarled.

    "That is all that the perpetrator had on him when he was apprehended," Kaldur explained.

    "You didn't steal did you, nigger?" The owner sneered.

    "Excuse me?" Artemis snapped.

    "Well, I mean come on. Just look at that. You can't trust a monkey."

    "Excuse the fuck out of you, he hasn't stolen anything in his life!"

    "Artemis, it's okay. We are leaving now."

    "Temp come on-"

    "Now Artemis," he took her arm gently and lightly shoved her in front of him.

    They started to walk to the door, Kaldur making sure she wasn't visible to his vision.

    "I wish we could go back to a time where a man like him would be short for so much as looking at a white girl."

    "Fuck you!" Artemis shouted while she turned around to see him holding a shotgun on the table.

    "We are leaving. Now!" Kaldur pushed Artemis out of the store.

Artemis feel to the ground and pushed her body out of the store while three loud bangs rang loudly. The Team ran out of the Bioship to see what was going on.

"Arty!" Wally shouted while zooming to help her up off the ground.

"Kaldur's inside!" She charged inside with the others, how drawn.

They saw Kaldur with a bullet wound in his chest, another bullet in his leg and one through a bag of chips. Connor saw the man loading the gun again and charged at him, grabbing it and breaking it in half. He was able to restrain him as the police rushed into arrest him.

"Don't arrest me! Arrest the nigger! He stole from me!" He shouted while fighting the police.

The Team tried to cover the bullet holes and called for an ambulance and Batman. Artemis was sobbing along with M'gann while trying to keep him awake.

"K-k-Kaldur please wake up!" She shouted sobbing.

She screamed as his slightly cold blood covered her hands and nails. The paramedics rushed him and got the bullet holes covered as best as possible and got him transported to the ambulance. Artemis started cursing and shouting at the paramedic, demanding to know if he would survive. Batman arrived on scene and was able to get on the truck. He ordered the Team to met him at the hospital. He sat next to his son and started to talk to him.

"Biri im, ju duhet të jetë i qetë dhe le ndihmën e mjekut të," (my son, you need to be at ease and let the doctor's help you) he spoke softly while stroking his bloody hand softly.

"B-baba." (daddy)

"Sh. Sh. Djali im. Unë nuk jam duke e lënë anën tuaj. Tani, të qetësuar në rregull." (Sh. Sh. My son. I am not leaving your side. Now, calm down okay.)

Kaldur passed out while his heart dropped drastically. The paramedic injected him with something and it increases his heart rate and stabilized him. The arrived at the hospital and rushed him to emergency surgery. The Team and Batman waited while Artemis stared fearfully other bloody hands. Bruce took Artemis to an empty room and turned on the warm water. He gently washed her hands. Artemis hid her face in his shoulder and cried softly in his neck. He dried her hand's entry while tears fell down her cheek. He took off his cowl and wiped the tears gently and held her close to him.

"It's gonna be okay."

"Th-this is all my fault," she sobbed softly.

"No, it does not stop it."

"I should have seen the gun before."

"Sh. Sh. This is not your fault. You can't control the actions of others."

"Bu-but-"

"But nothing sweetheart. Now, let's get back to the others. They need us okay," he put his cowl back on.

Artemis followed him and hugged M'gann tightly. Later, the new broadcasted a news clip of the owner, now known as Alexander Philips, being lead away in handcuff fro assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, and hate crime. Several hours later, around the time of 4:14 a.m, the surgeon came out and said that Kaldur would be okay after a couple of weeks or rest. The bullet barely missed his heart it was touch and go for a couple of hours. They went to see him, but he was sleeping, still trying to wake up from the anesthesia. When Kaldur finally woke up, he gazed his tired eyes to a crying Artemis, alone in the room, holding his hand tightly.

    "A-artemis, wh-what happe-happen"

    "Sh. Be quiet and go back to sleep. I'm gonna get the nurse," she whispered softly while she started to get up.

    "Not y-your fault," his body gave up on staying awake and he passes out.

    "Yes it is," she whispered and wiped her tears.

Next morning came and Kaldur was awake. He was talking and breathing normally and was recovering faster than expected. He felt an uncomfortable presence from Artemis. He asked to be alone for a while with her and they talked.

    "I know you feel guilty for what happened. This is not your fault.

    "You got shot trying to protect me."

    "You are my sisters, it is my job to protect you, no matter what the risk may or may not be."

    "That racist bigot is in jail and charged with a hate crime."

    "One less closed minded person in our society," he closed his eyes gently.

    "Kal?"

    "Yes."

    "Why didn't you go completely nuts when he called you the 'n' word."

    "Because if I did, I would have given him what he wanted. He would have all the ammunition against me. I would be just another stereotype."

    "You weren't mad at all?"

    "Of course, I was. Who wouldn't be? I know that if I reacted violently, I would have been just a guilty as he was."

    "You're a better person than me," Kaldur chuckled softly at her words.

    "So Artemis, are you feeling better."

    "Yea, thanks, Kaldur."

    "You are welcome. Come here," he opened his arms slightly to her.

She hugged him gently, being careful of his wounds. He hugged back gently while rubbing his back. They stayed in the embrace for several seconds and pulled away. Kaldur was able to leave the hospital later that evening. It doesn't matter if you are man or woman, no matter what religion you practice, matter what color your skin is, in the Wayne household, it is your intentions that matter. In the world we live in, people are so quick to judge rush to judgments on people based on their religion or skin. Bruce would never allow that in his house. As people, we should embrace diversity in all people because we are more alike than we are different.