HappyVerse Fic: Road Rise Up to Meet You

[sylph_fics]

Title: Road Rise Up To Meet You
Cowriter:
Characters: Most of the combined clans, references to most others, and a guest star or three.
Rating: R, profanity
Word Count: 11, 418
Continuity: The HappyVerse. All fic gathered here.
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics--and our one-stop fix-it shop.
Summary: St. Paddy's day. Mostly an excuse to work some more things out, as the holiday gets short shrift.

((yes, I should be working on the final from hell. I need cheering up, and this's been on my HD too long. So here, guys, enjoy.))




The Birds of Prey--which Dinah absolutely loved Zinda for suggesting as a team name--had enjoyed a long break for Valentine's...and then started running missions back to back, non-stop. Dinah managed to put Rose and Kon down for either Titan's or more bat training, by their own choice, every other week, but she had hired a second shopkeeper to cover just how much Oracle was running her under the gun.

She had not even managed to do more than simply tell Rose about Slade's 'rescue', and had no idea if the girl had pursued that fact, or the outcome, as Rose had declared her father a no-talk subject immediately. She had further confused both Dinah and Kon by asking how soon it would be before she could see Tim again, but refused to say why. She was keeping up that denial in spite of Kon's questions, much to the super-teen's annoyance.

When Dinah's phone rang and showed Pieter's home number, she was so tired from everything else that she was confused why he would be calling her, even as she clicked to answer it, sprawled across her couch. "Pieter?"

"Dinah, I'm going to need you to bring the young lady to me. We think we have something, but it's going to take her express consent to test it."

Dinah processed the request, and all fatigue drained in the hopes that meant what she thought it did. "Let me clear the week, and I'll go get her; the new Headquarters?"

"Yes," he assured her.

"We'll be there." She hung up with him, and cleared her throat, activating Oracle's line. "Babs? Not available this week, for any reason short of Doomsday, Darkseid, or Warworld."

"Dinah? What's going on?"

"JSA business." It was a slight prevarication, but this was Mia's personal life she was affecting.

"...All right. I'll put Helena on primary."

"Thanks." Dinah signed off, and stood up with a groan, walking unsteadily toward Kon's room, knocking on the outer doorframe as he and Rose played a video game. "Guys, you two can either clear out to the Tower, or stay here and keep an eye on things. I need to go tend some business with the JSA." She watched one blue eye and then the other pair meet her face.

"I'd rather stay here, Dinah," Rose said. "If I drop in unannounced, they might think I'm up to something."

Kon finally had enough of his TTK back to fly where he chose, and looked at her. "Need me to run you somewhere? I think I'll stick around here, if you trust us not to burn the house down or anything..."

She shook her head. "No, I'll ride. Have to handle some other stuff first." She smiled at both of them. "And I trust you both." She walked away to go arrange for Ollie to get Mia to her, in New York, by morning.

Kon nodded, and didn't listen as she worked on whatever it was she was doing. He wondered... but she'd so kick his ass. He finally heard her hand up and head out the door.

Rose nudged Kon in the side. "Going to skip off and see Tim?" she asked in a low voice, amused at him.

Kon gave her his best, most innocent, Superman look of "would I do such a thing?"... then grinned and nodded.

"Take me with, or bring him back here?" Rose looked perfectly serious, and looked past his shoulder for a long moment, before growling. "Please?"

"... Sure, I can take you with. Um, why?"

Rose stopped, and closed her one eye. "Swear you won't think I'm insane?"

"Remember who you're talking to? 'Course I won't." Rose was becoming kind of like a sister. Which... was pretty cool.

She sighed. "About a month ago, I started seeing and hearing that Gotham kid... the girl who wanted to be Robin."

"Spoiler? Steph?"

"Yeah...the dead girl." Rose glared at that empty spot behind his shoulder. "She says you should believe her, because of Secret?"

"...Oh-kay. Hi, Steph. ...um, did you tell 'Nita bout this?" He figured the voodoo priestess might know something about ghosts.

Rose smacked her forehead. "No! Been too busy listening to her talk about Tim, swearing he could figure out how to get her unstuck somehow." She sighed; Empress was one of the few new Titans she got along with, and she hadn't thought to mention it.

"...Tim hates magic, blondie," Kon reminded the air standing next to him. "How 'bout we try the priestess first?"

Steph stuck her tongue out at his head, then sighed. "I just figured Tim would get that creepy Blood guy to fix this," she said, a comment relayed by Rose. "But the voodoo chic works, Rose. Anything to either get back or go forward.... Delirium is really really creeping me out."

"She says Empress is fine." Rose would just be glad not to see the apparition anymore.

"K. Let me call 'Nita." He grabbed the phone and dialed, waiting.

"'Lo, mon....why you calling and waking the parents?" He could hear the squall of overtired toddlers in the background.

"Sorry, 'Nita. Forgot how late it was," he admitted, wincing at the clock. "We've got a problem with a ghost, though. You never met Tim's girl, I don't think, but y'heard about her, right? Spoiler?"

"The Girl Robin...tragic." Anita picked up her father, bouncing him on her hip until he calmed, then swapped him back to the bed to pick up her mother and repeat the process.

"Yeah, well, she's haunting Rose."

Rose snapped. "Knock it off, Stephanie Brown, and sit down! I hate that floating nonsense."

"So I hear," Anita said thoughtfully. "Can you two break away from the Black Bird, come down t' see me?"

"No prob. She headed out the door 'fore I called you. When? Now?"

"That will do, mon. Just got them down again, so be quiet," she added.

"Sure thing." He hung up, and tilted his head at the balcony. "She says come on down."

Rose turned off the game console and snagged the two blades that had been lying beside her. Three months in Dinah's home, and she still could not be found without them in arms' reach. "Then let's go, Super Teen....the girl is so not my type."

"Not mine either," Kon replied. That was... putting it mildly, actually. He and Spoiler were like oil and water. Not least because she'd tried to replace Tim. "Try and keep up, blondie," he told the air as he wrapped an arm around Rose once they were out the balcony door, locked it, and took off. Rose held on to him, shivering when Steph wrapped ethereal arms around her and held on for the ride.

"You okay?" he asked as she shivered, headed for Anita's just as fast as he could fly.

"Damn clinging ghost," Rose growled. "So not liking being her medium."

Kon nodded. "Can't blame ya there. How'd you get elected?"

Steph laughed brightly at the question. "Probably your brief bout of insanity or that nifty precog thing," the too-bright blonde ghost told her.

"Bad luck," was all Rose answered.

"K." He dropped, tapping lightly at Anita's door.

The door opened to show Anita in a long, loose skirt and a half shirt, already enjoying the warmer weather of her native city, even this late. "Kon!" A quick hug, slow kiss on the cheek, and then she took Rose's hands, squeezing them. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to make out the sight of the presence she could feel. "Rose, you should have told me, when she first showed up. Think she might be bonding to you, girl."

"Hell, no!" Rose growled, getting a laugh from her spectral companion.

Kon had hugged her back, then found a spot on the wall he could lean against to stay out of the way.

Anita tisked, and drug Rose to the den. She had been looking for the right rituals, and now she worried if there was one. "She might not have known it, but since you acknowledged her, she's been staying close to you?" Anita questioned.

"Hoping I'd see Tim and get her help." Rose was not liking the sound of this.

"She's made a connection to you. Going to be hard to break that."

Kon followed, but hung back. 'Nita's voudoun was powerful stuff, and he didn't want to get caught in it. And no way was he opening his mouth, not after the way she'd gone off at one of the movies they'd watched...

"But you can?" Rose sounded almost desperate. Stephanie was probably just fine in the flesh, but as a spirit, Rose could not bully her away, could not get any real privacy. She had not let herself go find her father yet for fear Steph would see and find some way to rat her out.

"It may take time. I'm looking." Anita frowned. "You used to babysit, right? Ask that Black Bird you work for to let you come help me a time, and I will be able to study more."

"We've got the next week, Anita, Canary's working something of hers..."

Anita nodded. "Should be enough time." She smiled at the Super Tee. "You...make yourself scarce, Kon. You upset the babies."

Kon looked insulted, crossing his arms at her. "Why do I upset the babies?"

"Because you are loud, and hyper. Then they get loud and hyper, and then I have to find a switch," Anita said. "So you upset them."

"I can be quiet," Kon replied, looking at her with big, unhappy eyes. He ought to stay, right?

Anita gave him a disbelieving look. Rose snorted. "Go visit Tim like you planned the second Dinah said she was cutting out on us."

"Okay, okay..." and Kon was gone about as fast as Bart would be.

*****

"Oliver," Dinah said, and her helmet phone started dialing. The archer picked up, a smile in his voice.

"Pretty Bird," he purred.

"Love you, Arrow Boy, but I need you to do something. I need Mia at Roy's house, pronto."

Ollie blinked, startled. "Okay, but why?"

"Pieter called me tonight. I'll keep her for the week." Dinah shifted lanes, her bike almost an extension of her thoughts at this point. She was tired, but the adrenaline of anticipation for Mia's sake was enough to guide her to her son/brother/friend's home.

"Pie--oh. They've got something?" hope in his voice as he went to find Mia.

"They need to talk to her," Dinah said, keeping a neutral tone. She refused to get her hopes up just yet. She could not bear the thought that Mia might never be as happy as she deserved to be. And, selfishly, if they could help Mia, maybe she could make her conscience back off for her moments of weakness on the island.

"All right. I'll get her there. Talk to you soon, Pretty Bird."

"Yes, Oliver...I love you." She turned off her phone, and concentrated on not scaring the other drivers.

Mia was in the basement, just sliding into her cloak, getting ready for patrol.

"Mia," Ollie called to her as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "You need to go pack for a week."

"But..." She paused, the domino in her hand. "Patrol, Dad."

"Dinah needs you in New York. I can handle patrol."

Mia shifted instantly. "Something wrong with Lian? Roy? Kyle? Connor?"

//Stupid.// "No, no. Everyone's fine. Shoulda said that first. She just needs you over there."

The girl archer cocked her head sideways, then shook it. "Dad, that's going to leave you with no back up."

"So I'll take it easy. Go get packed, Mia."

Her jaw set in a stubborn pattern, but Ollie crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine...don't let me hear you did anything you needed Speedy with you for!" She ran upstairs, taking her quiver, bow, and the rest of her costume to pack it away.

Ollie shook his head, and rang his soon-to-be son-in-law. "Kyle, where are you boy," he muttered under his breath as the phone rang.

"H'lo?" sleep-thick voice after several rings, and half-heard muffled grumbling came through the line.

"Kyle," Ollie began. "Hate to bother you, son, but I need to get Mia out there, immediately," he explained.

"...Ollie?" he was starting to sound a little more aware. "What... can't you get Hal? He should be home..."

"I was trying to keep it in the family," Ollie said. "But you're right...I'll give him a call. Sorry, Kyle." //Not really, dammit, you get him all the time now.//

"It's okay... wait. You said... you'd rather I come?"

"It's not an issue, Kyle. Hal will be fine." Ollie shook his head. "Tell my boy I said hi." He missed his younger son... it was bad enough letting Roy live so far away.

"I was just thinking he was closer, Ollie... okay. If you're sure."

"Later, Kyle." He hung up, took a deep breath, and called Hal.

The Lantern actually had the "night off," so to speak, and was kicked back with a beer and a fight, making low comments at the skill--or lack thereof--of the fighters, so his phone got an annoyed look until he read the display, then he smiled as he answered it, voice almost as lazy as he felt. "Ollie."

"Hal, buddy...need a favor." Ollie had not felt perfectly comfortable with Hal lately. Part of it had to do with reading the underlying disapproval; the other...well, he understood now, what Dinah had said about Ted and Michael. Ted had been growing up, moving on, and Michael... had not. Hal was still very much in his glory days, but Ollie felt the need to do more than just sling a bow these days.

Hal sat up, curious. He hadn't gotten a lot of time with his best friend lately, so whatever this was... "Y'know I will, Ollie. What's up?"

"Dinah needs my girl out there in New York, at Roy's house."

"So you need me to play taxi. Sure, I can do that. Pronto?"

"Yeah." Ollie breathed out in relief. "Sorry to buzz you like this, but Kyle's already in New York."

"Ollie. It's no problem. Besides, I've hardly gotten to meet the girl," he said as he shut off the game, finished his beer, and headed out the door.

"She's packing now," Ollie said. "Maybe, since she's gone all week, you can come catch a game with me?"

"That sounds great, Ollie," Hal nodded at the phone. "Be nice to get to catch up. And hey, ought to be something good, considering that St. Paddy's is tomorrow..."

"True...and I could use a chance to hit the local bars," he chuckled.

"Been a while since we did that," Hal agreed, already on his way.

"Yeah, too long, Hal." Ollie would try to find the old connection...maybe he could bring Hal back into the circles again.

"Come open the door, Ollie," Hal said, lighting on the step.

The door swung open as Ollie pocketed his phone. Mia came down just then, and looked at Hal. //Great, the sky jockey.// She was unsure of Hal; the man seemed like a bad influence on Ollie at times.

"Hey green jeans." The Archer thumped his friend on the back as he came in.

Hal pulled him into a quick embrace, thumping his back, then let go again. "Hey Old Man. Hey Speedy."

"Hi, Hal." Mia slung her bag over her shoulder; she had packed two days' worth, since she already had clothes at most of her East Coast relatives'.

"You know where Roy's new place is?" Ollie asked Hal. "Dinah said she'd meet Mia there."

"Yeah, the kid told me where he'd moved," Hal nodded. "When do you want me to drop back by, Ollie? Around game-time tomorrow? Or earlier?"

"Come on out earlier." He flashed his best devilish grin, then drew Mia into a rather tight hug, thinking about what this trip might mean to her. He half-wanted to be there for her, but Dinah's touch was what was needed now.

"Umm, Dad...enough?!" Mia got free, shaking her head at his weirdness. She knew Connor leaving had not been easy on him; he needed his family.

Hal studied Ollie and Mia a moment, wondering what was going on, but he'd figure it out later. "Ready, Mia?" he asked, offering her a hand. She picked up her kit bag, the other on her shoulder already. She took his hand, and let the Lantern take her to New York, and whatever mystery Dinah was holding.

"Ollie okay?" he asked somewhere over the Rockies, trying to figure out if Mia knew what was wrong.

"Connor's been staying in New York. It's temporary, and they're supposed to move this way, but..."

"He's missing his son. Both of them. That makes sense, though Ollie didn't use to be the family type..."

Mia laughed, then covered her mouth. Her eyes were dancing. "Think that went out the window with the Battle Of Metropolis. Or when Roy got hurt so bad a while back before that. Or...maybe when he got back from the dead and decided to connect with both his sons."

"Maybe so," Hal nodded. "...so. I'm not asking for gossip, but is the damn Bat really treating him okay?"

"The 'damn' bat is treating us all very well." She bristled, then brought it down to a neutral tone. "It's a rare day they don't touch base at least by computer, now that we finally dragged Ollie up into the Information Age. And He's had no problem with Kon and me dropping in on Tim, or Dick taking a few days here and there for Roy."

"Huh. Doesn't sound much like him... but good."

Mia shook her head. "People change, Hal. And I know that's been a thing for a lot of people... not wanting to see what almost losing the world, because everyone forgot what this gig was all about, has done to make some people change." Mia cut herself off, realizing she was lecturing an older, far more experienced hero. "Sorry...it's just...I want this world right...and I think my family is on the right path to being strong enough to make a big dent in that goal."

Hal turned and looked at her, obviously thinking intently about what she had to say, and not too angry about the heat of her words. "It's okay, Mia. I'd say you're a pretty smart girl. You're right. A lot of people are changing... here's hoping it's all for the better." He glanced down, seeing the turned earth of fields through the Midwest.

"I hope so too." Mia looked up at the stars, thinking about each of her 'family' members. She had come a long way, and she would not trade Ollie's assorted family members for anything.

"You kids doing okay? I know the Titans are getting things back together. That was some nice work the other day, with Merlyn. Good to see him back behind bars."

Mia grinned; She and Cissie had taken the front of that mission, outshooting Merlyn with ease. "We've decided to field two teams. All senior Titans and juniors, and rookies setting up rotations."

Hal nodded. "Get the youngest experience and the older ones some time off... sounds good." They were getting close to the city, time to be paying attention to where he was going.

Mia glanced sideways at him. "Still plotting for a League?" She smiled at him. "You know Dad's kind of hoping Roy's on the invite list."

"Rather have him, but it sounds like he's going to be too busy with this politician thing, and we do need an archer... but do you think he'd leave the Titans?"

"He might... might not. Depends on Nightwing, probably." The girl shrugged. "There's also Connor to consider." She was not above putting her brothers' interests forward.

Hal nodded. "That there is. And he's good. We'll have to see how it goes, but I can't see one of them not getting an invite once we're back in gear. Got some others to convince, though. The League... we've got a lot of bad press to get over. But we will." He was firm about that, about them reforming, and being the force they'd once been.

"If I were helping, I'd say let the Titans start...and then wait until the JSA goes official again." She was casual as she dropped the strategy Dinah had planted in her ear weeks back. "The older members have the public love, and we kids appeal to their sense of adventure. Both teams active... getting relied on, the public will be more likely to accept a new League."

"Huuuh. That's... pretty smart, kid. Well... here's your stop." He dropped them at Roy's door, knocking.

The red head came to the door, looking confused to see Hal and Mia. "Umm, is everything okay?"

"Dinah forgot to call you," Mia said, amused. "Ollie said for me to meet her here."

Roy blinked, then shrugged and moved to grab Hal up in a back-thumping embrace. "Hey old man. Got turned into a taxi, huh?"

"Hi Roy. Seems like it."

Mia slipped past, going to drop her bags in the spare room, and peek in on a sleeping Lian. She came back to the living room about the time a motorcycle could be heard in the distance.

Hal thought about sticking around to banter with Dinah, but decided he didn't need to. "Catch you around, Roy, Mia."

"Sure thing, Hal. Anytime." Hal headed on out with that, taking off.

Dinah pulled into the drive, watching the green light fade for a moment, then secured her bike and helmet in the garage before going in. The minute she walked in, a freshly awakened Lian pelted into her arms ahead of either Mia or Roy, making Dinah smile and cuddle her goddaughter tight.

"Hey, Dinah," Mia said, settling on the couch as Dinah took the gliding rocker, petting Lian's hair gently. "Mia, Roy...Don't worry, I'll get her back to sleep," Dinah said before he could say a word.

Roy nodded, and caught his sister to drag her into the kitchen by the arm around her shoulders. "So, any idea what's up?"

Mia shrugged. "Not a single damn clue what could be important enough to leave Ollie alone in Star." Mia sounded frustrated. "You know that saying, Bat or Arrow? She's very Bat sometimes."

"Don't I know it?" Roy muttered. "Bad as any of them. Don't start that, okay?"

"Not in my nature," she said, before blushing. "Hell, Roy, I started giving Hal Jordan a lecture...had to catch myself."

Roy started to laugh. "What were you chewing him out about?"

"Oh he was sniffing about 'the damn bat', and I pointed out people change." She sniffed. "Think he'd know that first hand, ya'know? No slight on your friend, but...history speaks for itself."

"Yeah, it sure oughtta. Hal, damnit... Oh, well. Want anything, while we're in here?"

Mia shook her head. "Kind of got an itch to be doing, not sitting... Ollie caught me just before patrol."

"Huh. Well, once Di talks at you, we can go do a round..."

She looked at him with relief in her eyes, then jumped up as Dinah walked past, carrying a soundly sleeping Lian to bed. "I'll meet her in the living room," Mia said.

Roy nodded, and decided to see what he had in the fridge that they could eat when they got back.

Dinah rejoined Mia, her eyes studying the girl intently. She sat down on the couch and took a deep breath. "Mia, you know I have a tremendous amount of respect for you, for your privacy, right?"

"Well sure, Dinah." Mia dropped onto the arm of the couch, watching her worriedly.

"I discussed you with my friends at the JSA." Dinah looked nervous. "Because I thought, maybe, they might be able to help you."

Mia's eyes widened. Sure, since she'd joined the Titans, more people knew, but... "How could they help, Dinah? I've got HIV. It's not like there's a cure, and Ollie's already got me the best docs money can buy..." That still bothered her, but he wasn't listening to her "no's".

Dinah fidgetted a minute. "You know that story Connor enjoys telling about the second time we worked together. The Island lost in time thing? We were there to get a cure...and it has the potential to cure all diseases. Star Labs has been trying...and I decided my friends should try too, for you. I made Eddie meet with them, give a blood sample...and now Pieter...Dr. Midnite...wants to talk to you, so he might be almost ready to test."

Mia's breath caught, and she kept her hands still with an effort. "You... really think it might work?" //Why me? I'm just the ex-hooker... I got this cause I screwed up, not through bad blood or an attack or... anything... Just... me.//

Dinah took the girl's hands in both of her own. "I can't make any promises....but Eddie was very sick, Connor said, and he's healthy as an ox now."

Mia swallowed, nodded, and tried not to cling to Dinah's hands too hard. "I... guess it's worth the shot..."

"You'll meet them tomorrow. Dr. Midnite, Mr. Terrific, the rest of the JSA. If you thought the Titans were family oriented...the JSA will feel like home. And they'll respect your privacy, but there's no way they won't know what Pieter's trying for you, for humanity at large. So if they seem a bit...interested, just try to let it go." She rolled her eyes. "I grew up with it; trust me, I know a little family can go a long ways sometimes."

She nodded again, kind of sharply. "Guess this makes me... kinda a guinea pig, huh? I mean, if that's what your friend wants..." //That makes it better. If he's trying for all of us... I still shouldn't be first, but it's worth trying...//

Dinah shook her head. "You are...but only if you choose to risk it Mia." The older woman stood and moved to hug the girl tight. "I just want, very very selfishly, for you to be well, and have the freedom to pursue life a little less guardedly."

Mia hugged her back, wrapping her arms tight around Dinah's waist, trying not to shiver in reaction to that. "W-why selfish? You're trying to help me... That's not selfish."

"Yes it is, when it's all so my family can be happy." Dinah kissed her forehead. "So... sorry about the no warning, but I've tried to keep it under wraps. I started it the day after Christmas, and only Ollie and Bruce...and Eddie, obviously, knew."

"Its... it's okay, Dinah. I mean... What if nothing'd happened? It's okay."

Dinah nodded, then yawned., covering it quickly. "Sorry, honey. I'm beat to a pulp. Oracle is a very harsh mistress."

Mia hugged her again. "It's okay, Dinah. Where're you gonna sleep?"

Roy walked out of the kitchen. "Di, take the spare bedroom, I'll put Mia in my room and bunk on the couch."

"I already put my gear in the spare room... it's a big bed," Mia offered.

Dinah shook her head. "Keep the spare room, Mia; I should probably take the couch, because Lian will come find me first thing in the morning."

Roy sighed at both of them. "Dinah, you're not sleeping on my couch. Dad would kill me."

Dinah ruffled his hair. "Fine, I'll take your bed, but Mia needs a night of good sleep... So you can bring your butt to bed there, Roy."

Roy snorted, "We'll figure that one out. Right now, you to bed, you look like you're about to fall over."

She leaned into him as she hugged him. "You're not joking, Boy-o." She then left the pair of them alone, with Mia trying hard to cover the shock she still felt.

Roy curled his arm around his sister. "I'm an eavesdropping jerk, but I heard everything. Y' all right?"

Mia shook her head. "It's...so...big."

He let go, and dropped onto the couch. "C'mere, lil sis," he said as he reached out for her again.

She moved close, shaking her head still. "It's just...I'm no one. Never was anybody. And just because I happened to be in the wrong place at the right time, I got caught up in Oliver Queen's life, and now look at this!"

Roy pulled her close, holding on to her. "Shh, Mia. Yeah, you're caught up in Ollie's life... but you're not just caught up in it. You're one of us, now. And we move worlds to take care of our own. If there's a way, we'll find it... and god, Mia, I hope they can..."

"Yeah, me too..." Mia wiped the one tear away in irritation. She hated letting anyone see her cry, even herself. Tears were a waste of time. "Tim won't have to worry so much," she whispered.

"There's that, too," Roy agreed, stroking her back. "Y'know, you don't have to be so tough. You've got backup..."

Mia nodded, her back straightening, looking determined. "You promised me a round." She nodded to the door. "I really need it."

"Alright, alright, Mia. Let me suit up."

She popped up and ran to the spare room, suiting up with intense fervor. He went to suit up himself, shaking his head at the girl's damn stubbornness. It wouldn't hurt her any to let go once in a while.

*****

Dinah cracked one weary eye as Roy stopped in to check on her, after the patrol, once he was sure Mia was staying in her room. "Seriously Boy-o...big bed," she whispered.

"No, Di. Thanks. I got this." //No. way. Too wierd.//

She pushed herself up, wearing a pair of sweats borrowed from him and a too big shirt, also his, and grabbed the pillow. "Fine." She had all intention of taking the couch.

"Dinah. Stay. I'll be fine. You're not sleeping on my couch."

"No sense in Lian waking both of us first thing in the morning...if I'm out there, she'll leave you alone," Dinah argued. She kept moving for the door.

"Di~nah." She wasn't going to get through said door. He was in it. "No. Go back to bed. She'd wake me up anyway."

"I can stand here all night, or I can use up what little rest I got to kick your ass," Dinah informed him. "I'm not kicking you out of your bed."

"No, you're not. I'm giving it to you."

She crossed her arms over her chest, weight all on one foot, the other tapping. "It's not too late for me to drive on over to the JSA, and get someone to let me in. I'm sure Pieter is probably still up."

"Why're you being so stubborn, mom? It's a fine couch. Even long enough. I just want you to have the bed." //And I don't want to embarrass the hell out of both of us by waking up wrapped around you...//

"Because you're the man of your house, now, Roy, and it's your bed."

Roy rolled his eyes. "So listen for once and go back to it."

"No." Dinah shook her head. "I'm not sleeping in that big bed, when I'm tinier than you by a long shot, and I'll be up early regardless."

Roy swore at her, thankful he'd never tried to teach her Navajo. She responded anyway, with a very ugly insinuation about his relation to stubborn oxes in Mandarin.

Mia's door opened and she padded out in pjs. "Knockitoff. Botha you. I c'n hear you. Worse'n KonnTim. Dinah, bed. in here. roy happy you happy, i c'n sleep."

Dinah let an amused smirk touch her lips. "Roy? If you'd move?" She still held the pillow she had swiped from his bed.

"Fine," he muttered, then went back to growling about frustrating, willful stubborn females as he walked into his bedroom.

"Mia, go to bed," Dinah said as she slipped into the hall and down to the living room, the smirk growing into a smile.

"Not arguin'," Mia said sleepily, going back in her room.

*****

Dinah kissed Lian one last time, then handed her back to Roy. "Going to swipe one of your helmets, Boy-o," she told him cheerfully. "Come on, Mia; if we get there early enough I can annoy Ted by waking him up." She was not a morning person, but if she had to be up, she was going to annoy as many people as possible by being cheerful.

"Go for it," Roy said, downing the rest of his coffee to go get his baby ready for school. "Ought to be a holiday," he grumbled. He'd made sure he had green on by pulling on a green and grey T-shirt the second he stepped out of bed.

Mia was in jeans and a green tee shirt that had the 'kiss me' logo on it; Dinah had just opted for a green sweater, complaining that it was not her color even as she stole it from Roy's closet. Mia settled her jacket on, and followed Dinah to the garage. Within minutes, they were cruising the early traffic to reach the new JSA Headquarters.

They got there and Dinah introduced Mia to everyone in their path, mostly the older members, before she got her 'daughter' to the medical bay.

Dr. Midnite was waiting on them, and he smiled at Mia. "Welcome, Miss Dearden."

"Thanks... Dr. Midnite, right?"

"Yes." He indicated the chair. "We need to talk."

She dropped into it, watching him. "Okay. Di told me what she asked, so... what.."

"We have a potential cure." He watched as Dinah settled by the door. "But there are risks."

"What are they?" //Business. Business. Business.//

"To make the cure work...and this is where Star keeps failing...we have to make it tailored to your genes, and the virus's." He paused. "Writing at that level...could have unforesseen consequences."

"...So, you need my DNA to try and make it work, or, it's a one-shot either this works or whatever consequences happen happen?"

"I will need your DNA, and then there are chances it will work, and chances it won't." Midnite laid it out bluntly, but without the statistics. "If it fails...your condition could immediately flare...or worse."

Mia swallowed hard, eyes widening. //I don't want to get worse... but... Dinah got them this far. I've got to try... but... the risk... I don't want to go into full-blow AIDs, I don't, I don't want to die any faster than I have to--but what if it works? ...right it'll work. Miracles don't happ--Kon came back. Yes, they do. They wouldn't say try this if it was a death sentence. This's the JSA.// "Okay."

Dr. Midnite released a slow breath. He had worried she would decline, when he was confidant he could make a working cure...but he knew the risks, and had to present them to her. "I'll just get the DNA sample I need today, and I'll see how it goes from there. Black Canary says you're to be in town all week; I hope to have a guideline for the treatment by that time."

Mia nodded once, watching him. She'd had more than enough vampires after her blood over the last couple of years. That was routine... and she was scared to death.

As if sensing it, Dinah was right there, standing behind her, taking her by the shoulders and squeezing. "Treat my girl good, Pieter," Dinah said soothingly.

"I will, Dinah; I promise you that."

She held onto her composure by a thread when Dinah held her shoulders, forced to reach for Robin's voice steadying her through a new routine that pushed her to the limit--and thinking about Tim nearly did more to break her control than steady it... but it finally worked. She tilted her head at him and offered her arm, waiting.

The blind man moved steadily, making it a nearly painless procedure, then turned immediately back to work. Dinah waited a moment, then helped Mia up from the chair. "Come on; we'll make Uncle Ted buy us lunch later, but right now, I just want to see my new Headquarters."

"You're going back to the JSA? Aren't you wearing enough hats already?"

Dinah looked at her with a smile. "I can't... can't be active League, once it starts up again, Mia. At least one person I love is going to make that team, and... I won't risk hurting our family relationships by doing the teammate thing again." Mia knew good and well it was Bruce she was concerned about. "So, Birds, with the expanded team Oracle is letting us use, and JSA makes sense." She shrugged as they walked. "Sand asked me a couple of weeks ago. I just haven't told the family."

Mia was glad to have something else to think about--really really glad. "Huh. That makes sense... not that any of the Titans would agree with that idea," she said, grinning slightly. It was easier to figure out which Titans hadn't been involved with another hero than know which ones had. "Can't believe you told me first... but I like it."

Dinah laughed softly. "I haven't gotten to spend the same amount of time with you as I did the other Speedy. And I need to fix that, because you are very much part of my family now."

Mia stared at her, touched and pleased. Sure, she was Ollie's kid and Di was sleeping with him, but... that didn't necessarily mean anything. "I... thanks, Dinah..."

"Hellcat!" A loud roar of that nickname made Dinah stop and turn, just before Wildcat crushed her into an embrace. Dinah laughed softly, pressing him back. "Sand told you!" she accused.

"After I threatened to act out, yeah," the boxer said, looking at Mia. "You joining up too? Could use another saucy blonde."

Mia shook her head, watching the big man squeezing her... mom? Wow. That was a weird thought. "No... I'm a Titan, and that's plenty for me!"

Wildcat shrugged, and it was almost the exact way Dinah did it, Mia noted. It was very easy to see where Dinah's rougher edges came from, seeing them together. "Anytime you want to trade up," he teased.

"Ted, stop recruiting my kids and go on. You're buying lunch!"

"Can't; gotta meet Karen." He nodded to Mia once and took off, leaving Dinah shaking her head.

"Hard to trade up from the Titans!" Mia called after him. She was just a little loyal to her team, after all.

"Damn straight," Dinah said, thinking of all the Titans had done over the years for her Boy-o. It had been the Titans that had held it together the best through the recent Crises, and they were still plugging away.

Mia nodded sharply, proud of her team. "Okay, so let's check this place out, Dinah."

*****

Kon touched down and made sure he looked like a normal teen before he made his way up to where Tim was sitting in the cafe, watching as Dick and Bruce good-naturedly argued over the bill for the benefit of the staff.

Tim saw him coming in and waved. Dick had him trapped in, that was about the best he could do.

"Hey guys," Kon said as he stood at the edge. Dick considered making him sit on Bruce's side, then magnanimously rose and let Kon scoot in.

"We weren't expecting you today," Bruce said, his eyes asking if everyone was okay.

Tim was asking that same question with his own eyes, though his hand moved below the table to slide into a back pocket. Kon settled into that hidden touch, and smiled charmingly. "Di's got some business; let me and Rose pick our place." He did not say that the options had been the apartment or Titans Tower.

Bruce merely nodded. "Alright. Tim, I'll still expect you to join me first thing in the morning."

Tim rolled his eyes, "Yes, dad. Of course. Can we cut out now?"

Bruce gave a curt nod, and Kon tried hard not to just pull Tim along with his TTK. Tim was letting him know by the hand on his shoulder that he'd kill Kon if he even thought hard about doing that, at least until they were somewhere out of the way and could take to the air.

Dick shook his head, watching the two of them disappear, then finally let Bruce win about the check. Bruce gave his elder protege a smile for that, and it was the smile of peace that had been so rare in Dick's later life, the one they were all getting used to again.

Kon did wait until they were clear before grabbing a hold of his lover and pulling him into a kiss as he took them into the air. Tim kissed him back, deep, arms wrapping around him, loving the feel of honest to god flight, even if Kon was doing all the work.

Kon finally broke from the kiss, grinning hugely. "Whoa man... I am so ready for you to be home, so I can see you more."

"Yeah. You're telling me. Dick and I're about ready to gang up on Bruce 'til he decides he's done enough retracing his steps and we can go home. I like traveling, but enough's enough. I'm missing so much of the setup, and it's killing Dick, too. I hate to think about the phone bills we're racking up... me to you guys and Dick to Roy and Vic about the Tower..."

Kon shrugged. "Can't be any worse than the nightly porn talks the grownups are having," the super teen said without even thinking. He could not help what he heard, much as he wished he could.

"....Say. What. Now?"

Now Kon realized what he had let slip, and flushed. "Figured you knew...They call each other every night...night by his time, since she's usually fighting at our night. Ollie too."

"I knew they were talking, but not all of us have super-hearing..." Tim was shaking his head, trying to block any and all images of Bruce and... //phone sex? God. Traumatized, I'm traumatized.// "Never. Ever tell me something like that again, okay? There are, actually, things I don't need to know..."

"Oh-kay," Kon said, actually enjoying the sight of Tim being a bit uncomfortable. "So, where we going?" He could fly anywhere now, as long as he could rest when he got there.

Tim shrugged. "The hotel? Over east a ways and south a few blocks, you'll spot it. Brucie needed to show up again. Any idea what Dinah's up to that you're suddenly at loose ends? Normally you call... and where'd you leave Rose? The Tower?"
"Rose is at Anita's....remind me to tell you about that, and Dinah had business in New York." Kon licked playfully at Tim's ear as he flew.

"New York... JSA? ...Why on earth.." he shivered at the licks, "did you stick Rose with 'Nita?"

"Rose is being haunted by your ex-girlfirend," Kon blurted out before he dropped them toward the hotel.

"...You're taking entirely too much pleasure in freaking me out today, knock it off," Tim growled at his boyfriend.

Kon chuckled. "No, seriously, Rose...been acting a little odd. Finally admitted that Steph...Spoiler...has been following her around, talking to her. So I took her to Anita."

"...Steph's... haunting Rose? Why Rose?" //Steph? God, Steph I'm sorry...// "Good call on Anita. If anyone can figure out something like that, it's her."

"Rose isn't happy with her, by the way." Kon shook his head as they made their way up to Tim's room. "But yeah, 'Nita will fix it."

"...Rose. And Steph.... yeah. I see that being a disaster. On... kind of a large scale. And Rose probably can't shut her up... I think I feel sorry for Rose." //Right. Calling Rose tomorrow morning.// He wasn't about to ask his boyfriend if his dead ex-girlfriend had said anything about him.

Kon wasn't volunteering either, as he did not want Tim guilt tripping at all over something he had no way to fix or prevent. "So, we're going to be alone a while, right?" Kon's eyebrows waggled as TTK flowed over Tim's body in provocative manners.

Tim shuddered, hand fumbling with the keycard a moment before he shoved the door open. "We should be, yeah..."

Kon never relented, adding kisses and real touches all the way to the bed.

"You're getting... entirely too good at that..." Tim growled as he twisted and tried knocking Kon backwards into the bed... and god, but he hoped Steph hadn't also been haunting him...

*****

The man did not necessarily stand out. Tall, but not unusually so. The cap pulled tight over his shock of white hair obscured it, as well. Hands fisted into the pockets of his black leather coat, casual slacks at odds with the way he held himself casually ready for the world.

Roy had only intended to check on the progress of the Tower going up on the newly cleared Titan Island, before he went to make sure his part of the city stayed to an acceptable level of insane over the rowdy holiday. As he was leaving, he had gone past the memorial, and noted the man watching the construction. Now Roy knew where their nemesis had landed. For a minute, he seriously considered Ollie's offer to move back to Star City with the family. Then he put it aside, and knew he was being ridiculous. Besides, when Slade went active again, Roy wanted to be sure they caught him early on.

The redhead drummed a hand against his thigh, trying to decide if he ought to do anything about one of the Titans' biggest problems suddenly showing up on their doorstep, and had a sudden, nasty wish that Gar hadn't taken back off for the West Coast the day before. He hadn't yet heard of Slade causing trouble, but it was surely only a matter of time.

The man shifted, his gaze taking in the way the Tower was shaping up, likely taking in all he could about how defensible this one would be.

Roy gave up fighting himself and headed that way, checking the placement of his weapons as he did. "...Don't suppose you'd play nice and tell me how the hell you got over here without anyone noticing you?"

"I'm me." That was all the answer Slade was willing to give to this Titan, anyway. "Impressive layout, Harper."

"Thanks. Vic's doing a damn good job. Not that I'm surprised." //God. Damnit. I told him to get the cameras working before we got this far. I'm going to spend the rest of the night checking those systems... Damn and double damn. I was going to deal with the bar crowd tonight... Maybe I'll sic Wally on the vids. That's got possibilities.//

"I've seen some of those kids coming over to help. You have some potential there." Slade was well aware what his knowledge of new things Titan was doing to Harper. He considered it a partial payment for whatever Harper had done to Dick, to make him look so...hurt, that night on the plane, when they had come to get him for landing.

"Damn right, we do," Roy agreed, much as it sat like acid in his throat to agree with anything Slade Wilson said. "I think this's the biggest team we've ever tried to field. Which means plenty of trouble cut off at the pass, once we're up and moving at full tilt." //Including you, if we have to. You're still just one man.//

"Should have enough senior Titans to handle the teams," Slade commented, rubbing at his beard lightly. "Heard all five of you original ones are running around again."

"Now... where'd you hear that? Everyone knows it's Barry back in the suit. Might want to check your sources..."

"They run differently, Harper. Same suit, two men... I did check." Slade gave him a look that was a gentle reminder of who he was dealing with. "Witnesses that night in Seattle saw two men in red, not one." He was quite thorough.

"Damn. Eh, it was worth the shot." He hadn't had any faith it would work, but he'd had to try. For the kids' sake, if nothing else.

Slade gave a wry chuckle at that, then looked back over the memorial stones. //Why not my sons?// The thought was heavy in his chest as he thought about all the miracles his sources had turned up.

It wasn't hard to guess where Slade's mind was wandering to, not with that look and expression. //I miss Joey too.// He couldn't spit it out, though. Not to Slade, and he wasn't about to get within arm's range of the man. Not for anything less than an absolute disaster. "Take care of yourself. And get off the island before you leave your scent everywhere. I don't wanna have to calm Gar down again." That had been... an interesting few hours.

"Tell him not to get his feathers in a ruffle," Slade said in a friendly tone, before he shifted, suddenly in Roy's range, and reaching one hand out to his shoulder. "And Harper?" The voice was low, not pleasant, but not menacing.

//Shiit..// "What?" He snorted at Slade's words. "Riight. Ruffled feathers is the least of what you're going to have to worry about with him."

"Don't ... Don't let me see that look on Grayson's face again." The subtle menace did come into those words.

Redheaded temper nearly boiled over at that, and he tensed all through his shoulders and arms, "Then stop fucking with his head." //It's your damn fault.//

Slade inclined his head. "Haven't gone near him, Harper." The mercenary had more important things on his plate now.

"I know." //Keep it that way, would you? He's a hell of a lot more sane when you're out of his sight.// "Haven't heard him complaining, either."

Slade matched gazes with Harper, not fully satisfied by that answer. "Let me hear different, Harper, and I'll be sure to make him the right offer," Slade said neutrally, backing away.

"The hell you would. You know that's not who he is... unless you lied to him." Hell no, he wasn't above using the man's own words against him. Not when they profited him so much.

Slade smirked. "Haven't heard of me breaking any laws, have you?" He left it hanging at that, that he was a fully pardoned man, with no criminal record in his new life.

"I'm keeping my ears open," Roy retorted. Slade wasn't going to quit, it was just a matter of time before Deathstroke was back to his usual tricks.

A low chuckle was the only reply he got to that before Slade walked away from him, away from the construction.

Roy let him go, swearing under his breath. //The hell I'll give you another shot at him, clean or not, you son of a bitch. Mine.//

//Maybe the Harper kid finally understands.// Slade was not going anywhere too soon. He still had not seen his daughter, and was laying odds on her being part of this team more than the other one.

Roy turned around and jogged back towards the construction site, hunting whoever else was around. If his playtime with the local idiots was going to be interrupted, the misery was going to be shared.

*****

Clark Kent, ace reporter for the Daily Planet, was mildly amused at the reactions he got when he showed up to get a story about the newly reforming JSA. He started to go straight to Sand, but then he saw Dinah, with the new Speedy and Stargirl. That changed his plans, as he needed to check up on Kon.

Mia was still out of her costume, and her eyes widened as she saw her other best friend's... quasi-parent mentor-person headed her way. It was still kind of wild to know who Superman was--not that she'd ever say a word about it.

Dinah looked up, saw him coming and smiled at the two girls. "Courtney, take Mia and show her the room I picked out. Maybe you two can figure out what to do with it."

"Sure thing, Canary." Stargirl headed the other way; she thought the reporter guy was a little geeky.

Mia trailed her, buoyed into good humor by running around with Dinah and the addition of Stargirl's cheerful good humor.

Clark walked up to Dinah, trying to figure out how not to break character and still get the answers he wanted about how his son was doing. They'd talked a few times, over the phone and in person both, but... Kon was... oddly stubborn about not telling him things.

"Clark Kent, isn't it?" Dinah was cheerful as she held her hand out. "Why don't I help you out. Sand's running around somewhere, But I know a good office we can talk in."

"Thank you, Black Canary. That sounds fine."

She led him up to one of the offices that would be used for the museum part, and closed the door behind him once he was in.

"Hi, Dinah. Thanks. Is Kon doing all right?"

She nodded. "He's staying at home, while I'm here."

"Good. He didn't bother to tell me he was working with you girls now, but I saw the news the other day." He wasn't quite sure what he thought about that... and speaking of things he wasn't sure of with Dinah Lance... No. He wasn't going to ask. Bruce had told him it was fine, Ollie'd told him things were fine, that was enough. He was worried about Bruce, though, and what it was doing to him to have Dinah so close and so far away.

"He accepted Oracle's invitation to join the team for whenever he's not at the Tower," Dinah said, quite pleased. "It lets Oracle worry a shade less about my guns-blazing moments." She let her smile at Kon cover the amusement she had knowing what he wanted to ask.

//..She's letting someone cover her back?// Clark nodded. "Had any luck getting him to decide on when he's taking the exams?"

"He's almost ready." When Rose had turned that into a competition, Dinah could have cheered. And if Rose was holding back in certain areas while spurring him in others, again, Dinah could not fault the girl for wanting to fit into the family.

"Good. I hate him just taking the GED, but... it seems like the best idea. I've been trying to talk to him about college..."

The woman gave her old friend a look that said it all, echoing Kon's thoughts on that subject. "College isn't for everyone, straight out of highschool."

"All right, all right. I'll leave him alone about it."

Dinah reached over and took his hands in hers, squeezing. "How about you? Barry said you have a few of your powers flickering in."

Clark couldn't help the size of his smile. "Yes. I'm starting to get them back, finally. Not up to leaping tall buildings yet, but... I think I'm going to get there. It's starting to feel like it again, at least."

"Good. I'm sure that makes Hal and Barry both very happy." She knew the two men were plotting thick as thieves on who to bring into a new League.

"It seems to," Clark replied, nodding. "They're plotting away, you know. But... we're not going to have you on the team?" His look at the walls explained the question.

She shook her head. "I'll take reserve status again, Clark. Whichever Arrow they pick doesn't need me over their shoulder."

That... did make sense, given the dynamic there. Since Ollie was so busy in Star City, it was going to be Connor or Roy, and neither boy needed their "mother" as a teammate. Personally, he was betting on Connor, as stirring Roy out of the midst of the Titans was going to be... difficult at best.

"If Kon's being ...a teenaged boy, why don't you and Lois just come over for dinner one night. Let you see him at home." Dinah was being quite open, her normal self, not tainted by the rumors of bat-ness.

"I'd... like that, Dinah. I'll call you. Now... about that interview..." he flashed another smile at her, inviting her to share in the joke as he settled to drag information out of her.

She settled in to give him the interview, and he was quick to see that she had the most unique viewpoint of all the ones linked back to teh JSA originally. A child of a member, raised by them, trained by them, never a sidekick as Sand had been...and then a member of its current line up. She gave him both a tour and the interview, introducing him to the various heroes with tidbits that rarely saw the news, about how each member fit within the team.

It was... interesting, hearing all of that. He sometimes forgot how deeply connected she was to so much of the community... but somehow, he doubted many of them would be forgetting those connections again, the links between them all, more than just the "job" in common. It looked like the JSA had a pretty solid handle on that, at least. He left with more than enough material to write a couple of articles, and a promise hanging about dinner with his son.

*~*~*~*~*

It was Wally who first saw the muscular, vaguely familiar man in a domino, and as speedsters tend to do he acted before he thought, buzzing over to do quick circles out of arm and leg range, trying to figure out who in hell this was. Some of the tech on him looked Bat, but no... this one wasn't familiar. "Who are you?" polite enough for the moment. //Roy is going to go ape. God, I feel a lot of sensor emplacement getting dumped on me post-haste...//

The man took a pose that was part Dick, all eased and comfortable, part Bat in the deep awareness of his surroundings, and part...there was only one man Wally knew who was that cocky in his body language, and this guy was no Wilson.

"Name's RedBird."

"And you're here because?" Wally decided to stop, he wasn't throwing this guy and the circling got annoying after a while.

"The Titans are here, and since big bro's off running around the world, I'm here to pitch in."

"Big... bro... holyshit, Jason?!" His eyes widened--this was one for the books. They'd all been warned about Red Hood, more than once, even, by Robin and Nightwing, in the midst of some frustrated growls about not knowing what the hell he was up to.

"The one and only." He laced his fingers together, cracked the knuckles outward, and grinned. "So, what still needs doing?"

"Well for one, you to prove you're not effing insane, two, me to figure out how many standing warrants are on your head, three, related to that calling that big brother of yours." //So that he doesn't kill me. Unless you do it first.//

"One: call Alfie. Two: None...pulled a deal. Three: do that." Jason gave him an 'innocent' smile that was anything but.

"Freaking stay put. Arsenal's pissed off enough already." Wally went after a phone, not actually having any faith that Gotham's most quietly notorious new Rogue would behave, and rang the Manor as he headed back that way.

Jason started whistling, off-key, just to show he was standing still. It galled him, really did, but he knew there were steps to follow, to keep himself out of jail and still be able to break the heads that needed breaking. He still thought Bruce was nuts... but there it was.

"Wayne Manor." Alfred's dry tones were completely unperturbed.

"Hey, Alfred, how goes?"

"Master West, so good to hear your voice." Alfred smiled as he looked at the big note left in a scrawling hand on the calendar. "I take it Master Todd has arrived?"

"....ah, yeah. He's here. Last I heard that wasn't a good thing..."

Alfred nodded sagely on his end of the phone. "He has been assiduous in assisting Mister Dent in keeping Gotham clean and safe, the terms of his...parole, from Commissioner Gordon."

"...Uh. Huh. I'm gonna kill Dick for not letting us know..." low, annoyed mutter. "So, he's clear?"

"Master Dick and Master Bruce are not in the know, so to speak. He wishes his actions to speak for him. And he is 'clear'."

"Guess I'll forgive him, then. He's so not gonna be happy... Okay, Alfie, thanks." Shaking his head, he hung up and skidded to a stop back in front of Jason. "Damn. You grew up good after all."

Jason threw a glance over Wally that would have made just about anyone feel stripped naked. "Not bad yourself." He shifted his weight to walk with Wally. "So, let's get busy; I'm ready to start teaching those kids how to throw a proper punch."

"Please don't do that. Bad enough--nevermind." He shook his head, thinking about that tape of Dick and Roy at New Years he'd finally conned out of Vic. He'd almost forgotten how... impetuous Jason could be. "Most of the kids aren't here--they're underfoot more than anything, right now. We're working on getting back up and running--"

"And the security breaches every damn half hour aren't helping," the redhead with the loaded crossbow and highly annoyed expression growled from just outside the Tower doors.

"Hey, Arsenal," Jason said nonchalantly. "Want me to look them over? Give you an insiders point of view?" His grin was just short of mocking in its cockiness.

"Ease down, Arsenal. I talked to Alfie, Jay's cleared. Everything's cool."

His hand came off the trigger slowly. "Yeah? Seems I can think of a couple people that might not be so happy with that idea." //You know, like both of your brothers, you arrogant ass? Wally what the hell are you thinking?//

"Hey, Arsenal, ease off. It's not like they've been home for me to have a nice family chit chat, or anything like that," Jason said. "I'm working straight, and Alfred's got my back on this."

Wally nodded. "I checked, take it easy."

"Alright. He's damn hard to fool, if he's got your back, come on. Where the hell did you come through the sensor net? I know it's thin, but it's not That thin..."

"Got a diagram? I can show you all the ones I plotted out the last two days." Jason did know security systems; he was a lot like Catwoman in that regard.

"Like I said, come on." //Dick, you're so not going to like this...//

*~*~*~

By the time Anita finished testing possibilities, doing what she could magically, and explaining everything, Rose was not a happy formerly insane young woman. But, at least now people could see she was not currently insane, as Steph, in a foggy incorporeal eggplant cloak accompanied her. The white haired Titan was convinced she was in a ring of hell that had previously not been described to her, knowing that the ghost was bound to her, and would always bounce back to her if she was tired or injured on her plane of existence. It had taken the entire week to get them to this point, too, and the continual presence of Anita's toddler parents hadn't helped her nerves either.

"There was good news," Steph said. "I can be seen and heard by everyone now. And Boston showed me how to borrow a body, if the person's willing. And I don't have to stay right where you are," she continued, her voice entirely too bright. "Who would have guessed? Me, an agent of Chaos?"

"Not an agent," Rose growled. "A tool, that's what Empress said."

"Agent, tool, whatever," she said just as enthusiastically, watching as Kon grew big enough to actually see in the sky.

Kon dropped... and stared, forcing his jaw up. "Wow... you look like Greta used to." //This is so not cool.//

Steph dimpled. "That was the best Anita could do. And it's pretty cool...I get to be all sneaky still."

"Not in that color, or that shade of lipstick," Rose muttered.

Kon snorted, "Just watch where you decide to be sneaky, ghost-girl."

Steph stuck her tongue out, while Rose stepped close enough to Kon to be picked up.

"Anita said not to disturb her, which is why we're waiting out here," Rose told her housemate.

"What's she up to? And are you ready to go?"

Rose shrugged. "I really don't know and can't care right now." She threw an arm around his shoulder, her bag hefted in the other one.

"So, I hope Dinah's not too miffed to have me around again. She never was real keen on having a sidekick," Steph chattered.

Kon closed his eyes, slowly, and sighed. "Do you just have to hang around Rose?" Obviously, it wasn't his fault she was apparently planning on being at the house a lot... Damn. //Play nice, Kon. Tim liked her--Tim dated her, and she can't have him back! ...stop being stupid. She's a ghost. That didn't stop greta from crushing on Tim, and he might get all wierd about it and she can't have him. Mine.//

"No, but when I get tired I do," Steph told him. "I accidently bonded to her."

"Karma hates me." Rose was very annoyed, to be griping about it openly.

"Apparently," Kon agreed, picking Rose up to take off. "Heard anything outta Di?"

"She hit my cellphone the day after we got here, wanting to know where we had taken off too. Figured I was less likely to be involved." Rose said that last word with a leer in her voice, enjoying the way Steph frowned at her. "She and Mia are going to be home tonight. And we're supposed to have company, but she did not say who."

Kon laughed. "She was right, too... less there's something I don't know? Huh. Wonder who's dropping by."

Rose shrugged as best she could with one arm around his shoulders. "Don't know. Hoping Mia's going to stay the weekend. She needs to do some work on her hand to hand."

Kon nodded, "Yeah, that'd be nice... though we're all supposed to hit the Tower, aren't we? Eh. You two can still spar. Just... be careful with her, ya know--and yes, I know you are."

"I think we're supposed to pitch in on the new Tower this weekend," Rose said, eyeing Steph as the ghost flew higher and higher.

"That's what I was thinking, yeah. ...'Wing got a phone call from Roy that put him in a seriously wierd mood the other day, but he wasn't talking about whatever it was... wonder what's up--no, they're fine, they talked the rest of the week," he hastily fixed what he'd implied, before his almost-sister could get too upset.

"Good." Rose was highly protective of Dick, they had all discovered, and that extended somewhat to Tim and things that could upset Tim. "Guess we'll have to wait to find out."

"Guess so. I swear, they keep secrets for the hell of it," Kon grumbled as he headed towards the apartment, diving from high up to the balcony fast enough not to be seen by normal eyes. "Other than ghost-girl, how was your week?" he asked as he unlocked the door with his TTK. Of course, he'd left his keys in the apartment when they left.

Rose looked around, realized Steph had not accompanied them here, and shook her head. "Pretty good. Anita is damn good company. Wicked stick fighter." Rose's voice was almost purring; she loved a good fight like other people enjoyed sex. Kon wasn't sure the two weren't the same for Rose.

"I will never understand the kick you get out of that, but I'm glad you had fun. Huh. Looks like we lost your ghost." Kon wasn't particularly displeased.

"Probably visiting other people she knew," Rose remarked offhandedly. The girl headed to her room, dropped off her bag, then set about getting things out Dinah had told her to.

"Need help?" Kon asked, leaning against the wall and trying to convince himself not to go call Tim immediately. He'd told him something was up with Steph, he didn't need to do anything else. He didn't... hell he didn't. "Be right back, Rose, and you can point me at a list."

"I've got it...Dinah says you're not allowed in the kitchen without her being here."

"One little bitty grease fire..." Kon bitched as he headed for the phone. "She's the one that dared me to anyway..."