Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 08:32:49 GMT
Subject: The Return (Titans)


Warning: Yes, after losing my first edits, I was too darn lazy to spell 
check and make general corrections and such. (We are some slang/odd 
contraction usin' folks, it would've require more patience than I had at the 
moment to deal with my checker and go through it all ;). But, may you still 
enjoy.


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Zero - Monday, January 24, 2000, 10:18 PM
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The Dormitory ~T~ Titans Island

        Wide and spacious metallic hallways divide the various levels to 
this housing complex, all linked with turbo platform lifts in each of the 
four corners. Each of the four levels are home to eight large and very 
comfortable apartment style individual rooms, being two per block in each 
't' hallway divided levels. There is little personalize the space, as that 
duty rests upon those that may life here, to also customize the hallway 
outside their door as they please. Outside each door to each room is a 
comm/access panel.


It seems like a pair of Titans have had better days as they come into the 
hallway. Donna just shakes her head a bit as she walks with Wally toward her 
quarters. The outting they have returned from? Dropping off her son. Why did 
she take Wally? After the incident when she'd picked him up a couple of days 
ago, she wanted and needed the company. "Thanks again for coming with me, 
Wally. I don't know why, I just didn't feel like dealing with Terry and his 
attitude again today. I wish you could have seen him in that park 
before...its like I didn't even know him."

"Perhaps you didn't, as I mean, you never signed on for something like that, 
you know Donna? You can't keep beating yourself up over what he did, what he 
is, or has become. I mean it, Donna. You're just allowing him to hold onto 
you in a twisted sort of way. Him making you hurt is his way of making you 
hold onto him, you know?" Really, since the run-in with terry in the park, 
Wally's been with Donna pretty much all of the ime, not leaving her for long 
at all. No way in heck he's letting her be alone now. "So, now, ah... no 
mopping you," he says in a mock-stern-fatherly voice, to see if that helps 
to make Donna smirk.

Light footsteps can be heard only seconds before the news worthy red head 
peeks in the room. He listens for a moment, then begins to make his way to 
his room, still treading lightly. He has on a backwards baseball cap over 
his red locks, and a soft brown leather jacket to keep out the elements. 
There are large bags under his eyes and a small one hanging under his right 
arm, he sees Donna and Wally out of the corner of his eyes, and he 
freezes... eyes going wide in panic for a moment. A troubled grins spread 
across his lips as he sees he isn't getting away without notice, and his 
right hand lifts in a bashful wave, "Uhhh... Hi Guys."

Donna nods slowly to Wally's words as if considering something. "Maybe...I 
just don't know." Then, she does indeed smirk, her voice taking on a little 
kid lilt. "Gee, pop...didn't I get this lecture before?" Then she smiles as 
really, she's fine. She had fun with her son and that's all that matters. 
Her sapphire eyes turn down the hallway again as she continues walking 
then...she stops. She blinks a moment. Donna glances at Wally and then over 
to the waving figure. "Roy...?" She looks like she's seen a ghost. But then 
after her initial surprise, she takes in his appearance. "Great Hera...what 
happened to you?"

Normally Wally would be there, ziipping forward suddenly, to be there before 
Roy and examining him in detail. But right now he just stands there, frozen, 
paused. He looks to the other red head and just ... looks to him. But, 
finally, "Roy? Roy, gawd, I looked for you *everywhere* the *instant* we 
heard. Do you have any idea just how much we've been looking for you?!?"
Long distance to Wally West: Donna smiles as Orion tells her how helpful and 
friendly Wally is.
>From afar, Wally West smiles and hasn't had a reason not to like the guy. 
Seemed inteeligent and knowledgeable to me, willing to listen to me and my 
bizarre suggestions.

Roy Harper laughs softly, "You mean you didn't hear? I assumed that every 
corner of the world is familiar with the Roy Harper saga..." He trails off 
sadly, then turns to Wally, "I know you did... thanks for trying. Kind of 
glad you didn't find me, actually." Doesn't mention that he purposely avoid 
and hid from his friend, wouldn't want to admit that... not yet. "Listen, I 
just came for some clothes and stuff... so you guys don't have to worry 
about the news getting ahold of me being here. No one's seen me... I don't 
think." He tried to wait until the news had settled a bit before coming out 
of hiding.

It takes a few moments, but Donna seems to come out of her shock as she 
listens to Roy talk. "We'd heard...things." But frankly, she'd hoped they'd 
just been some strange rumors. People with nothing better to do. Then, she 
can't help it, she walks over to the scarlet archer to take in his 
appearance at closer inspection. Her blue eyes seem to take in the circles 
under his eyes, and not happily. Then, she looks up, her gaze focused on him 
as if trying to gauge something else within the man. "What do you mean you 
just came for some clothes? Roy, you can't just disappear, show up again, 
and then disappear...what's been going on?"

"Don't worry, Donna. He's not going anywhere. Look, Roy, I don't care who 
knows you're here. Darkseid could come and want to drag you off, and he 
would *not* get through me. This is your family and you're staying." That's 
Wally, putting his foot down, and he has a lot of practice doing that, you 
know. So, well then, listen to him. "Jeez, we've been through hell worrying 
about you, and I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through. I 
don't care what happened, I don't care what was. What is is that you are 
here, and so are we. So, here," he says, moving in himself, "Give me Lian 
and I'll get her to bed, and you come in as well and stay."

Roy Harper flinches at the close inspection from Donna, "Listen guys... I 
screwed up bigtime, and I don't want the Titans to get drug..." he smirks 
slightly at his unconscious choice of words "...into this." His eyes shift 
to mee Wally's, "Whoah, look who grew a spine while I was away." He smiles 
nearly proudly for a moment at his friend, then the smile slips away, "Lian 
is with a friend, and safe from the prying media." To think, Roy was a media 
darling not so long ago. "Its for the best, Wally. Nothing but bad things 
would happen if I were to come home tot he family." His logic seems tired at 
best, his eyes not able to meet either of yours for long, and roaming around 
a bit, giving him a hunted look.

Donna sighs softly, though she doesn't move from in front of Roy. She looks 
up at Wally then...maybe the worst was true. Though she hopes with all of 
her heart not. "Roy, whatever it is...we can help you. But you have to talk 
to us." Then, she seems to decide something. By Rhea, Roy just looks 
horrible.... "Come on," she steps behind Roy and starts to usher him toward 
the door to her 'apartment' within the complex. "You're here, and at the 
very least you're going to eat and sit and rest." Sure, Roy could try and 
argue. But he's seen this side of Donna before. Its only gotten worse since 
she really became a mother.

A spine? Not really. Just a stern look. "Roy, when we came together to form 
the team, sure, we did something amazing in that and it wasn't that we had a 
teen superhero collective something or other. I don't know how we did it but 
we found something special, in each other. We had a family, I believe this, 
and damnit it, you're a part of that. We lost you already, Roy, and we're 
not about to let you go off again." He sighs and moves himself, to his 
friend. "Look, I'll be honest with you as you have two choices. Either you 
*let* us be involved or you don't and we get involved any way. 'Cause I 
promise you, even if you say no, we will."

Roy Harper smirks at Donna, and lets her push him towards the doorway, "OK, 
mom." He glances at Wally as if expecting some help here, then just shakes 
his head, seeing that there will be no rescue. He takes in a long breath and 
sighs, "Of all the people to catch me here..." he trails off, shaking his 
head, but you both can hear a kind of relief in his voice, as if whether he 
will admit it or not he is happy for some help. "Alright, but you can't make 
me eat that chicken noodle soup."
Donna smiles a little at Roy's remarks, though her head nods in time as she 
agrees fully with Wally. Like it or not, the Titans would get involved with 
or without consent. There's been some strange rumors circulating and she's 
not about to let one of their own breeze in and then out. "Don't worry, 
hon...Bobby already beat you to it." The poor little guy had a cold after 
all. There's not a can of chicken or tomato soup to be found in her place 
now. Though she gives Wally a glance behind Roy's shoulders as she ushers 
him inside. The look says it all...was that National Enquirer-esque news 
report true? Hopefully, they'll know is just a bit.

Donna's Place ~T~ Titans Island(#598RCgn)

        The room is not so much a room as it is a small apartment really. 
Directly across from the door, placed against a wall, is a beige couch that 
is flanked by one matching coushioned chair and a matching recliner, a 
coffee table being the center piece of it all. A stand on one end of the 
couch has a small lamp and a picture held within a silver frame of a dark 
haired woman holding a newborn. Another picture forms an angle with it, the 
frame containing several symbols around it and the picture itself of the 
original 'Teen Titans'. Against the wall next to the door is a television 
with a VCR just underneath it. A full entertainment center really as it has 
a place for a playstation and a stereo system is also hooked up there. There 
is an open air kitchenette as well as two doors that lead into seperate 
rooms. All around the walls are various pieces of black and white 
photography, mostly of landscapes and a few that appear to be more candid 
shots as if from someone's photo album, granted, a very professional looking 
one.


Zipping into the room, ahead of you all, Wally gets himself into the 
kitchen, to prepare drinks... of water or juice, and to get the requested 
food ready, as he calls back to you both, "So, get in here, settle in, or 
we'll have to tie you to something."

The scarlet archer phews dramaticly, shaking his head slightly to himself at 
the work he has ahead. As he walk in the apartment, his eyes wander and he 
smiles whistfully. He wlaks over to his customary spot on the couch and 
smiles at the speedster's antics. He looks over at Donna, "So... how bad has 
it been?" He's asking about the blow back from his 'drug bust', for the 
Titans in general, for her, and for himself... he hasn't exactly been 
staying in 4star hotels...

"Thanks Wally," Donna says to the speedster. She figures Cocoa or hot tea 
for Roy as the weather is not exactly warm outside. There's much to choose 
from foodwise. Leftovers even. "Well, good question...." She settles herself 
on the couch as well as Wally knows his way around. She reaches out in a 
gesture to take Roy's jacket as she speaks. "We haven't actually heard from 
anyone, I think mostly because we went to them first. The police. Street 
contacts. Your agent. When we heard, we tried looking for a way to find out 
what was true, what wasn't, and no one seemed to have an idea. No one had a 
clue where to find you."

"I literally covered every square inch that I thought that I could cover, 
zipping to and fro on foot, checking out any place that I thought you would 
be, could be and might be. Turned over stones and everything. I think that 
you have a hidden power or something, to turn invisible." And tea it is, as 
Wally is there to you both offering cups of it, prepared how you like, as he 
remembers that much. Being able to lend speed is handy when making hot 
drinks fast. "So, I won't ask where you were. Honest."

Roy Harper nods to Donna, as if all that was expected... he had talked his 
way out of police custody and dropped off the face of the planet as best he 
could. He shrugs out fo his jacket to reveal a noticably thinner frame, as 
if Roy has just gotten over a serious illness. His long sleeve shirt hangs 
rather loosely, as he shrugs to Wally, "I needed to get away..." He takes a 
long breath, and lets it out slowly, "Alright..." He takes his tea, and sips 
it briefly, "I don't want to know what you guys think of the whole thing, 
but what have you heard? About the bust? Me being... under the influence?"

Donna smiles in thanks to Wally, but its only momentary as her face takes on 
a worried cast once more. She takes Roy's jacket and folds it over her arm a 
moment. She walks over to a nearby closet and hangs up in there. She is 
still listening completely as she walks back over, settling herself on the 
couch again next to Roy. Inwardly, she winces at his emaciated appearance, 
but doesn't say anything. Just looks to Wally again. Soup wouldn't have been 
on the menu even if she had it. Then, finally, she looks to Roy and asks the 
question that has been on her mind as it will help her answer his,"Just tell 
us...is it true?" She hesitates even to ask, resisting flinching at her own 
words as there's an anticipatory tightening in her chest.

"Frankly, Roy, it doesn't matter what we've heard as that is from everyone 
else, from everyone but the one persont hat really knows. My thoughts on it 
all? Well, is anythign with you what it really appears to be?" There is a 
slight smile there as Wally is zipping back tot he kitchen, to fish out the 
ingredients for the soup, to arrange it and basically make it from scratch. 
Not out of a can. "I mean, ah, all of whatever has been said is just 
speculation."
Roy Harper nods slowly at Donna, his eyes meeting hers as if trying to gauge 
her reaction, "Its a long story, but yes, I was 'under the influence' when 
the DEA busted in." He waits for this to sink in with his friends and he 
sets his tea down, in favor of taking off his hat and running his fingers 
through his hair. He waits in silence for a moment, almost as if wiating for 
you to pass judgement on him, before going on...

Donna is quiet for several moments and it takes perhaps all her willpower 
not to look away from Roy...but then she loses the battle as she just looks 
away. But what was reflected in her eyes before she turned...disgust? Anger? 
Pity? No. Rather just sadness. She doesn't look at anyone or anything at the 
moment. Rather, she sits there and nods her head slowly. Then, she takes 
several deep breaths and turns to regard Roy again when she seems to trust 
herself to speak. "Why, Roy? What happened...I thought you were through with 
all of that, what could've possibly changed?"

The soup's ingredients are mixed, stirred, and left for a moment as Wally 
zips back to look to Roy. His look? Not judgemental. Frankly, he doesn't 
care why, how or what happened. It did. It's in the past, over with. it's 
what happens now that he worries about "Where do we go next, Roy? What's the 
next thing ahead int he plan of action, or like, do we need to form one of 
those?"
Roy Harper smiles bitterly at Donna, his head shaking and leaning back on 
the couch, "Nothing changed..." He seems mildly disturbed for a moment, then 
sighs and begins to explain, "I was going in to bust this Drug Cartel, but 
my information was grossly off... when I got there the manpower was nearly 
triple what I was told. nothing unusual, really..." He further explains his 
infultration and eventual capture, sounding very much like his informant set 
him up. "And then the drug boss thought it would be funny to inject me with 
their product... they were actually surprized at how much it took to get me 
off. Guess the movie gave them the idea..." He shakes his head, and looks 
over at Wally, "Where can I go from here... I'm totally discredited, hell, 
you guys didn't even think..." he stops, unable to finish.

Donna listens calmly, wanting to understand what exactly is going on. But as 
the story unfolds...it does sound like something out of one of his movies. 
But like Wally said, is anything with Roy ever as it seems? Another score 
for the speedster. And now there is anger in her eyes, but not for Roy. "I'm 
surprised the news report was even that close to the mark," she says, not 
able to keep the anger out of her voice as it seems they got the story 
right, just not the details. But at Roy's words, her anger dissipates and 
she blinks a moment. She reaches out a hand to place on Roy's arm. A 
comforting gesture and shakes her head. "Roy, I'm sorry. Its not what we did 
or didn't think...we didn't know if you were even alive or dead. I've..." 
she sighs. "...we've been worried sick about you."

"Of course we thought many things, Roy, but that? We *didn't know*, and 
forgive me if I'm a bit upset, but you did keep us inthe dark which only 
helped to promote that. But also? I'm mad at mysef, for not having been 
there for you the first time, to make you think that maybe I wouldn;t be 
here for you this time...." Wally sighs as he just looks to Roy, regret in 
his eyes as he is sorry, for himself. sorry that he didn't find you. "It';s 
not that we want you to be something, Roy, we just want to know how to help 
you. Whatever happened."

Roy Harper shakes his head, "i'm sorry now that I didn't come sooner... but 
well, I couldn't let you guys see me when I was... in the tougher stages of 
recovery." Withdrawl... that's what he means. He won't tell them just how 
close he came to dying from being so stubborn and going through it alone. 
"Its like my body is betraying me... it needs something I dispise." He 
shakes his head again, know that neither of your guys could understand 
exactly.
Donna just watches and listens. She keeps a hand on Roy's arm, perhaps to 
reassure him that she's there and is there for him. "You're here now and 
that's all that matters." Though really, she is much of the same mind as 
Wally. Maybe they did fail Roy in some way in that he didn't come to them 
for whatever reason. "And now that you're here, you're not getting away. We 
care about you and whatever you're going through, whatever is 
happening...we'll help you. And more than that, we'll get to the bottom of 
this and clear your name."

"Well, I don't know if we can clean it up, or if that is what he would like, 
really, but we can at least polish it up and make it look real pretty." 
Wally winks to his friends, both of you, as he hopes that that helps some? 
But then he's off and into the kitchen, stirring his soup once more. It is 
turned off and laddeled out, and he's back offering you *both* a bowl, as 
gawd, with what the two of you have gone through? You need the food to help 
keep you going. "Look, Roy, really, I mean whatever happened for whatever 
reason... it's what was. What is ... well, we'll find out. So, just tell me 
where you need me to look first."

Roy Harper smiles at Wally a moment, as he gets his soup, and nods, "You can 
look for a bed, twinkletoes... I need some serious sleep." He seems resigned 
to stay here, atleast tonite, and he makes short work of the soup. He looks 
at you both, and says, "Thanks for believing..." He doesn't mention that he 
can barely believe it himself.

Donna nods her head slowly to Roy. Good thing he's decided not to argue, 
otherwise, knocking him senseless probably wouldn't be the best way to 
welcome him back. "I'm glad you've decided not to make us lock you," she 
smirks, surpressing a laugh at Wally's words as she wonders if Roy would 
ever deal well with a 'clean' image. No, clear his name, let him have his 
image as he wishes. She hasn't even touched her own soup, but seems pleased 
that at least the archer is showing he has an appetite. A good sign. "Your 
room is still as you left it. Its all yours...but if we let you out of our 
sight, don't you dare think about sneaking out." She levels a gaze at the 
man next to her and judging by her expression, she's not kidding.

"No, no, not his own room. No you being by yourself and all of that stuff. 
Look, Bart isn't here and I have the spare bed in there, the whole room in 
there. So, I'll go make that up and get that ready as, well, that's there 
you're going." There ya' go, Wally settled that, making the decisions int he 
pan of a heartbeat because, well, he can and did. So, he just leaves you two 
with your soup and zips to the door, to clean up Bart's room. And when he 
opens the door perhaps he will be reminded that he called someone earlier, 
to come and do some cheering up to someone else, when he sees this someone?

Roy Harper smirks slightly after Wally runs off and says, "Damn, I was 
hoping for your couch..." he winks and some of the old Roy can be seen 
shining through. He bends to pick up his tea and sip from it, then looks 
Donna in the eyes, "sorry if I worried you."

Jack Knight is, indeed, standing at the door when Wally opens it. "Hey 
Wally, I came as soon as I could. Where's Don-..." A pause, as he notices 
the lady has company. His eyes narrow, his pulse races, and Jack's reminded 
immediately of the conversation he and a certain Wonder Girl had the other 
night. "Harper." It's said with a low adverserial tone, and immediately 
makes Jack's opinion of the Red Archer apparent. "What are you doing here?" 
He looks from the founding Titan, over to Donna, and back to Roy again. Jack 
doesn't look pleased.

Donna laughs softly. If she wasn't just glad to see Roy in one piece after 
his tale, she'd probably hit him. "I think you're going to need more than a 
couch to get a good night's rest...." She admonishes lightly. Then, she 
shakes her head a bit. "I'm just sorry you didn't come to us for help, Roy. 
Forget the fact that -- " But her words are cut short as she hears a 
familiar voice at the door just as Wally opens it and she turns from her 
place on the couch. "Jack?" She seems surprised at the man's presence, 
knowing he's been in Opal recently. Yet even as she smiles through that 
surprise in greeting, she blinks a moment. "Jack..." She says slowly, taking 
in the man's tone and the cause thereof. "Roy just came back today," she 
says, pausing to gaze at the Starman.

Standing there in the doorway, Wally knows that he is what stands between 
Jack and the room, a room Jack has every right on enetering. Ah, he smiles 
to Starman and draws back a step, to let the man pass and enter. "Forgot I 
called you in all the excitement," Wally says, grinning a little, "and it's 
nice to see you as well, Jack. Hope you had a Happy Holiday? Remember m? 
Wally?" He just shakes his head and looks back to Donna, before he dashes 
off that is, just for a moment, to be back for his next pose. She'll be 
alright for a moment, right?

Roy Harper blinks at the Starry entrant's tone and frowns, immediately 
becoming defensive, "Knight." he answers coldly, wondering what Jack thinks 
of him after all this, and assuming the worst. He sets down the tea, and 
glances at Donna, then back to Jack and frowns deeper, connections being 
made in his head. "Wow, didn't take you long..." he trails off, his eyes 
fiding Donna again, looking slightly hurt.

Jack Knight takes a few steps in, and puts his hands on his hips, dropping 
the Cosmic Rod to his side and letting it float there while he glares at the 
Archer. "Yeah, kinda like it didn't take you long to come crawling back 
after fucking up again." Donna's seen the look on his face, recently, when 
dealing with another of her ex's. It's not a pretty site. Somehow, the fact 
that it's Roy and the circumstances in which he left makes it even worse in 
Jack's mind, and it's evident. He doesn't even look at Donna now, he's 
completely focused in his anger.

There's a knock on the door if it's shut, or a clearing-of-the-throat from 
the door if it's open.

For some reason, Donna has the feeling she doesn't like where this is 
going...not at all. She looks between Jack who's just come into the room and 
Roy who's sitting next to her on the couch. But as the frown on Roy's face 
deepens and his words to Jack, she looks down for a moment. Especially after 
the look of hurt that is directed her. "Jack...Roy, this isn't the time." 
Indeed, she seen Jack's look and hopes he'll listen to her again just like 
before. Then, she looks up to Jack again. "Jack, the things that we heard 
happen aren't like the news made it out to be...it wasn't what it looked 
like." Donna looks up and toward the door as it seems someone else is here.

After announcing his presence with the requisite Obvious Noise, Sandy 
Hawkins enters Donna's living room. "Hi Donna, Jack," he says easily, with 
the air of someone pretty fairly aware of the tension in the room, but 
paying almost no attention to it. He glances at Roy, raises his eyebrows, 
walks up next to Jack and stops, still facing the archer. He adds, stressing 
the formality of greeting, "Don't recall having met you. Harper, right? Or 
am I completely off my rocker?"

Roy Harper stands up fast, so fast he shins bang against the coffee table, 
upsetting his teacup. He bends and a hand flashes out to snatch it out of 
the air, but not without some of the cooling liquid hitting the floor. As he 
straightens a cool smile stretches his lips, "Where do you get off, 
Firebug?!?" His hand squeezes the cup tightly, his knuckles white, and its 
surprizing the cup doesn't break. His eyes leap to Sandy, he nods, " That's 
me, but I'm not signing autographs right now, fanboy." He is all but 
growling at the two late arrivals, until he remembers Donna, who was just at 
his side only moments ago, he glances down, thinking how good it would feel 
to crack some skulls, but just how bad it would be for his already strained 
relationship with Donna. His eyes lift warily back to Jack, "You care to 
refraise that, Jack?"

Jack all but ignores all in the room, most notably Sand and Donna. In his 
eyes, Mr. Roy Harper has a target painted on his face, a nearly irresistable 
one. "Yeah. Sure. I'll rephrase, as I'm not sure your addled brain can 
contemplate what I'm asking." He takes a few more steps toward Arsenal, 
gritting his teeth. "How many more times do you expect these people to put 
up with your bullshit?" The firebug comment stoked Jack a little further. 
Part of him is trying to regain control, but with every word he hears Roy 
speak, he gets a little further to feeling the need to throw a certain 
someone out of the room and out of his sight. "It's not fair of you to do 
this to her." Oh yeah...her...of course Jack isn't really making things 
easier on Donna either, but he's not being really reasonable now, is he? His 
fist clenches slightly at his side.

Donna stands up in a smooth, fluid motion from the couch, stepping up 
between Jack and Roy even as Jack takes a few steps forward. "Stop it! Both 
of you." The tension is mounting and just escalating and someone has to put 
a stop to it before it all gets out of it. She turns to Roy, putting a 
restraining hand on the one holding the cup. Partly to calm him down...party 
because she knows Roy is deadly with any object he can hold in his hand. 
"You walked into this base looking like death warmed over. You need to 
recover. You need to rest. And right now...you need to calm down." She looks 
him squarely in the eye and turns to Jack. "And you, just need to calm down. 
Just calm down and listen."

"Leave for a moment, spend an extra moment or two to make sure that the 
corners are neatly tucked in for that extra nice look, and this?" Wally has 
returned, the blur that he is in the room, also between Jack and Roy. "Well, 
you're right Donna, of course, and everyone should listen to you." Wally 
means it, seriously. Listen to what Donna has said and think about it, guys. 
With what Donna just went through recently with her ex-husband the *last* 
thing she needs is this. "Roy, Bart's bed is ready and your room awaits. 
Shall I? Escort you there, that is." Jack and Sandy? They're given a warning 
look from Wally, that such as this is not really wise to bring up now, here.

"Not looking for autographs, Roy," says Sandy pleasantly, taking a hand out 
of his pocket and offering it to shake. "Never have. Sandy Hawkins." As he 
continues with the formal Art of Conversation bit, he shoots Jack a warning 
glance and looks around the room, as if to remind him that most fights tend 
to start with a 'Let's take it outside' for a reason. His gaze flickers over 
Wally and Donna, as if assuring them his intentions are only the best, then 
returns quickly to Roy Harper. "Of the All-Star Squadron."

Roy Harper changes the hand that is holding the cup so that he can shake the 
extended hand, "nice to meet you... thought you'd be... older." he says, 
disractedly before turning back to the approaching Knight. "Wow, kid... 
You're going to make me sorry I suggested you join up real quick if you keep 
this up. Perhaps that was my first 'fuckup'." He watches Wally's entrance 
and nods slightly in response to his polite offering of an out, but doesn't 
move from his stance, feeling much like the old, sickly wolf, with the 
uprising cub nipping at him. He says softly to Donna, "I am calm... might be 
the other one, but..." He simply watches Jack, waiting.

With Donna standing in front of him, Jack does back down. Wally and Sand are 
also worthy distractions from his focus, so he steps back a second, getting 
more of a sulky look, than an "I'm going to break some bowstrings" face. He 
looks apologetically at Donna, but he thinks maybe she knows where he's 
coming from. To be honest, he's a little disappointed in both her, and 
Wally, and as he looks at the two of them, it shows. Finally, he shifts his 
gaze to Sand, the one guy here who might know exactly what would have 
happened should the others not have been here. "Just fuckup once more, Roy. 
That's all I'm asking." Another glare toward Harper, but Jack shows he's at 
least a little in control by turning now, and leaving. Holding out his hand 
to the Rod as he steps out the door, it leaps to his hand, and flares 
slightly. "I'll be watching." Bold words, and a nice way to leave his words 
hanging in the air. He's gone.

Donna looks over at Roy and gives him a chastizing look. "I said that was 
enough," and her voice is much more stern than before. Sure, Roy might say 
he's calm, but she saw his knuckles before and that's not the essence of 
calm. She sounds frustrated, but its hard to be angry with someone who looks 
like Roy does at the moment. Which is hell, as he should perhaps feel after 
his ordeals. "Now...sit down. Please." She adds this last as she tries to 
calm the situation. She turns to regard Jack, but he's a quick one as he 
turns to stalk out of the door. By Rhea. She exchanges glances with Wally as 
she wonders what in the hell just happened. "Jack...?" Great. She turns to 
take quick steps to the door and calls down the hallway. "Jack...wait! Where 
are you going?" Somehow, banging her head against a brickwall would've been 
a more productive evening....

"Well, that went well, I must say. I must say, we should do this sort of 
thing more often, as lord knows we haven't had our fill of this enough 
lately. I mean, really. Since the team reformed we haven't had the whole 
teammate pissed at another. Makes this kind of like a kickback to old 
times." His tone is light, but Wally is just shaking his head at the whole 
thing. Jack was the one that he thought would be mature? It's just all so 
odd and happening so fast, even for him. But Wally looks to Sandy. You or 
him, to go after Jack? Should be just one of them.

Sandy Hawkins raises his eyebrows at Wally. Wally'd be better at keeping an 
eye on the situation here, failing to ignite any tempers or make things 
worse by either subtly or openly siding with Jack (as Sandy might be tempted 
to). And Sandy would probably do better at getting Jack to vent in a 
non-destructive manner. Platitudes are all well and good, but when a 
temper's that inflamed, it's better to let it burn out violently than throw 
a damp blanket over it. Wordlessly, he offers Wally a lopsided, halfhearted 
smirk and heads out the door after Jack. Quite rapidly, it might be added.



Roy Harper shakes his head at the departing duo and plops back to the couch, 
"Well that got the arenaline flowing... didn't know your boyfriend was 
dropping by." The jibe has no heart to it, and he leans forward to set the 
cup on the table, before dropping back again and sighing loudly in relief, 
"What the hell got into him? Figured Jack would understand the situation he 
best because of what he has been through, but he wouldn't even listen." Roy 
wonders if this is what is in store for him all around,a nd shakes his head 
in frustration.

It was the look he gave her before he left. Jack had looked at her similarly 
to Roy just before he and Jack got knee deep into it all. Only this 
time...it was disappointment. The exchange between Sandy and Wally goes 
unnoticed but as Sandy breezes past her, she just stands there a moment, her 
hand on the wall and her back to the room. She frowns slightly at Roy's 
words, but has her back to him and Wally that hides the expression. Finally, 
she just turns around and walks into the kitchen. No word is spoken. No look 
is given. But after a moment, there's running water and sounds like someone 
is moving a pot from the stove and putting some cups into the sink.

Wally West knows what that means, he really, really does. He blurs for a 
moment, and then is there again, right where he was. Okay, well, that wasn't 
what he wanted. He had called Jack to try and cheer Roy up. "You have to be 
jetlagged, or something, Roy. You look like hell, so let's get you to bed. 
The sooner the better, as the earlier you can get upt o tell us what we need 
to do to help. Right? Right. Now, up, up, let's go and let Donna get some 
sleep. Come on." This is for the best trust him. He blurs again, but is 
back, to where he was, urging Roy to just come with him.
Wally West pages: Both blurs ar zipping to hugh for hugs from behind.

Roy Harper stands and sighs again, "I'm sorry Donna. I have no idea what 
that was about, but I'm sorry it happened... didn't mean to make things hard 
on your guys." He looks toward the kitchen thoughtfully for a moment, then 
looks rather helplessly at Wally, as if asking him what he can do to make 
things better.

Donna continues to occupy herself with the dishes even with the dishwasher 
right there, not pausing for Wally's apparent blurs of movement and 
seemingly not for Roy's words either. But then, after another moment, she 
stops. She reaches for a hand towel and dries her hands a bit, but she 
doesn't turn to face the room, not quite yet. Unfortunately for her, she 
feels like she knows exactly what it was about. "So am I...." She says 
softly and then turns around at last. "I -- " She pauses. "Just another 
Titans reunion...." She says with no humor finally. As much as she might 
blame either of the two men involved in the argument, under normal 
circumstances....there might not have been one.

"That's right. Just another night about the Tower," Wally says,with more 
tone to his voice than he feels himself. He looks back to Roy, his ow eyes 
apologetic, upset that there wasn't more he could do to make this better, 
for Donna. Help? really there isn't anythig that can be done, and the most 
helpful thing to do is to go, to give Donna some space. And Wally thinks Roy 
knows this. "Night, Donna. I'm off to direct Sleepy to a bed." Witht hat he 
is to the door, to lead Roy off, to make sure Roy gets to the assigned bed 
and stays there, until he will drift off to sleep, hopefully.


Donna nods to the pair a moment at Wally's words. "Good night, Wally. And 
Roy...get some sleep." Despite the events of the evening, she does still 
worry either way. But as the two men take their leave of her room, she turns 
back to the dishes. Really, there's not that much to do. Bobby's juice cup 
from just before they left. A pot from the soup. A couple of other cups. 
Then she remembers...the tea that spilled on the floor. She reaches under 
the cabinet to get the spot cleaner and then walks into the living room to 
get at the stain before it sticks. The now eerily quiet living room and 
tries to not assimilate just how upsetting this evening has been.

It's not quiet for long. Perhaps you wouldn't have let him in? perhaps you 
would have pretended to be asleep had he knocked or perhaps you would have 
trned him away. Whatever the case may be, Wally couldn't take that risk. 
Vibrating through your wall, he is in your apartment, sitting on the 
counter, watching you. A tune is hummed, softly, as he watches you work. "I 
think you need to slip into something more comfortable, you know?" In his 
hands is a borrowed pair of boxers and a tee, from his won wardrobe as he 
knows with Bobby over, you likely haven't had time to do your own laundry. 
He'll do that for you while you sleep. "Once you're done there there's room 
for two on this here counter. There may be room, but I still plan to sit 
close, if that's okay?"

Donna is getting at the stain well enough. It was still wet thank goodness 
and easier to tackle even on the light colored carpet. But at the sound of 
the voice behind her, Donna starts and nearly jumps out of her skin. She 
turns, her hair whipping around her face as she does so. "Wally," she says 
wanely, knowing what he must've done to get in and apparently not approving. 
She looks up at the man and the clothes he holds. She knows what her friend 
is trying to do. She even appreciates it. But now.... "This entire night has 
been uncomfortable...why should now be any different," she half mutters and 
stands to walk past the counter and into the kitchen to replace the cleaning 
items.

You may not appreciate him being here *now* but in time? Perhaps tomorrow? 
He hopes that you will thank him. "That's me, Wally. Your best friend, and 
the man that loves you dearly, that doesn't want anything else from you but 
to see that smile." He lays back, over your counter, tracking you with his 
eyes. "So, you can feel free to hate me too, as 'll take it. Just don't 
direct it at yourself. You know, you're right. Tonight sucked big time. But 
you aren't and weren't in control of that. You're in control of you, and you 
getting down on you is something that.... well, the boxers will help with. 
Honest." He holds them out to you to claim, take and perhaps change into? 
"Of course it was uncomfortable, because, well, use men are idiots. I have 
this on good authority."

Donna closes the cabinet perhaps a little harder than necessary...even if 
they are child proofed. Though Wally's words about her hating him bring an 
unusual smile to her lips. Almost like she would laugh...if she wasn't 
afraid of crying. "Funny, shouldn't I be asking you that question? I mean, 
after...I'm two for two with guys tonight. Roy looked like I'd just kicked 
his puppy and Jack...Jack looked like I'd betrayed him to Brother Blood," 
she says, shaking her head again and sighs leaning back against the sink. 
She expells a long breath and brings her hands up to her face for a moment, 
then draws them through her hair. Then, after a moment. "I'm sorry. I know 
you mean well, Wally. Really, I do. Its just right now...right now just 
really isn't a good time."


"And it isn't going to get any better, I assure you Donna, if you keep 
beating yourself up over it like I *know* that you're doing. You know what? 
pardon my language, as I know I don't normally say such things, but... Fuck 
'em. And I mean it, at elast for tonight. Terry? he's being nothing but a 
self-centered, self-righteous pretentious asshole. Roy is being a needy, 
leechy slef-centered prick. And Jack, gawd, what the hell was with that 
immature, little kid act? So, fuck 'em all." He lays there, spawled still, 
on your counter, looking to you upside down. "You need time for you, 
remember? So, stop worrying about them. They're all bog boys and they can 
tie their own shoelaces. You have nothing to be sorry for. be, Donna."

Donna shakes her head and moves from the counter and walks back toward the 
living room. She doesn't look over at Wally as she does so, maybe for 
different reasons. But then she turns, shaking her head. "That's not really 
fair, Wally. Especially with Roy. Everything he's been through...and no one 
was there to help him. I just wish -- " She shakes her head. Then, she 
remembers the conversation of just a few nights ago in Opal. "I had no idea 
Jack felt so strongly about Roy. I just wish I could've stopped all of this 
before it even got started."

"So, you want me to go back in time and edit it all? Or say, when it screws 
up agin do the same thing? Donna, look, this isn't your fault. it's not your 
fault what happened to Roy. No one could have been there this time... I know 
you want to heal the world, Donna, but you can't. That's what I'm here for, 
to help you. But, beore you can do that stuff, geez, you have to help 
youself somewhat. How can you help make someone else's life stable and 
reasonable if your own isn't even close?" he doesn't look to you either, 
keeping his eyes up, on your ceiling, his hands on his chest, holding the 
change of clothing there. "You haven't done anything wrong. So, stop 
punishing yourself."

"No...." She says, reaching up and idling fingering the silver necklace at 
her throat. She moves and falls into the coushions of her couch, reaching 
for one of the small pillows on it and hugging it close to her. Then, a slow 
smirk comes to her lips. Maybe in some twisted sense, Terry was right. "You 
know Wally, maybe that's just it." She turns to regard him now. "I spend all 
of my time trying to help the world. Everyone else. The people I don't even 
know. And...that's fine. Its what I do. Its what I've always wanted to do. 
Ever since I first saw that article with you, Dick, and Garth." But then she 
looks down, shaking her head. "But what good am I if I can't even help the 
ones I love the most. When its the ones closest to me that I can't save and 
always hurt."

"Donna, people like us, we jump out of planes wihtout parachutes. We screw 
up our own lives, on purpose, because we're heroes. I mean, how many times 
have you lept into a burning building to save someone? How many times have 
I? Dick? Garth lept into a .... flooded house? But, you get my point, I 
hope. We lead lives that lead us to danger, naturally. What's the good thing 
is that we're here for each other to understand it. It's great that you're 
there for all of us, Donna, and you do so much for us all daily. You give 
and you ive and you give... to anyone, at any time. You amaze me with that. 
But, I don't know.... *sigh* I just know that I want for your happiness, 
Donna. Seems impossible, but I'm going to keep running until I find it for 
you."




Donna smiles wanely. Maybe that's because it wasn't quite the answer she was 
hoping for...though strangely enough, she doesn't know what to hope for. She 
just knows how she feels. "Thank you, Wally. And I get what you mean, I 
really do. And I appreciate it more than you could know, but...." She raises 
those sapphire orbs to look squarely at him. "You're not responsible for my 
happiness. I know you mean well and I know you would do anything for your 
friends, but ultimately...its up to me to do something with my life. For 
good for bad. Mistakes and all. You can't take my personal failures and 
dissatisfaction to heart. You're not responsible for my personal sadness and 
you're not in charge of my joy."

"Take what you just said, apply it to yourself in regards to Roy and Jack, 
and heck, even me." He shrugs, still looking up at the ceiling, lounging 
there on your counter. "You're right, Donna. You're absolutely right in what 
you just said." He sighs for a long moment, and shakes his head, even if you 
can't really see this, he still does it for himself. "I know that I'm not 
helping right now, because you're pissy. You're upset and you're tired of 
being beyoind emotional. You fight so hard, work and for what reward? Things 
only get more messed up and not more clear. So, you're angry and rightly so. 
Lost, confused.... am I getting any of this right?"

Donna looks up and over at Wally. She is smirking. Using her words against 
her? Very smooth, Flash. A worthy opponent. Still, she's a stubborn lass. 
She takes the pillow she's been holding against herself and throws it at 
Wally...not hard. But perhaps its a sign that she's not quite so upset as 
just a few moments before. Then she sighs, settling back into a corner of a 
couch, her gaze now fixated on her friend. "Maybe...." But her tone of voice 
says he's closer to the truth than she'd like.

The pillow hits bare counter as Wally is no longer there. He's there ont he 
sofa beside you. "I'm dead on. I'm perfectly right. You don't have to say 
it. I'm just that amazing." He finally turns to look to you, sidelong as... 
he offers the change of clothes again. "So, how about going and getting 
comfortable, washing up, getting some water on your face, teeth brushed, 
come back witha comb for me, and you can just lay down here and I'll stay 
with you. Hmmm?" He knows you want it, don't you? Why not? "I don't I'm 
addictive, but indulge."

Donna blinks and Wally's right there beside her. She just shakes her head. 
"Riiiight," she says to his words. Doesn't help that everything he says is 
true. Even the amazing part. She looks at the clohtes, back to Wally, and 
then the clothes again. Finally, she smiles and shakes her head a little. 
"I'm not getting rid of you am I?" Its more a rhetorical question as she 
knows the answer already. She takes the offered shirt and boxers. "You know, 
at this rate, I'm going to own half your wardrobe." Oh, Wally didn't expect 
these back did he? She takes the clothes and disappears into her room to 
change and freshen up.

"It's a way for me to keep my closet updated," he calls after you as you 
actually do as he had hoped! Wow. A hard fought battle, but hopefully one 
that will be worth it. No, you own't be rid of him. Now or any time soon, as 
he's not going to go anywhere too far from you, at least not for long. And 
right now he is here. While you are off, freshening up and such, Wally finds 
the remote to turn ont he tv, to some old movie, tunring the sound off and 
the lights as well. There, perhaps that will help you to relax more. And the 
comb too if you bring it.

Its not too long before Donna returns. She dressed in the boxers and T-shirt 
that's nearly long enough to entirely cover the boxers. But, she is a bit 
refreshed upon her return. At least, she looks better than before. Her teeth 
are brushed, her hair combed back, and she is partially wrapped in a 
blanket. "Just remember, you're not my babysitter. And don't go doing 
anything silly." She says softly after laying down the law. Then, settles 
onto the couch in the near darkness, noting the movie on television and 
suddenly feeling exhausted as if the night took more energy than it should 
have. Then,"Oh, I almost forgot...." She hands Wally his requested comb and 
settles back comfortably.

Taking the comb, Wally moves to get in behind you and that blanket. "Hey, if 
I was your babysitter I'd be charging you two dollars an hour and begging 
for a tip, and a rather hefty one as well." He winks to you and knows while 
your tone may be frumpy and upset, he has to try and appear to be all happy, 
in tone, just to counter you. But, once settled he moves the comb into place 
and asks, "Me? Funny stuff Not possible, Donna, not considering how serious 
I am, about everything." He moves the comb slowly, carefully, not meaning to 
work out any tangles (though he will if he finds any), but to try and soothe 
you. "You know what, though? I have a brilliant idea. You should sleep."

Donna smiles at that and barely keeps from laughing. "And yet you babysit my 
son for free? Nice to feel wanted," she quips lightly. Now she's joking. 
Perhaps the speedster is having a good effect. At least right now, she be 
assured Roy's resting well in Wally's quarters, which he's bound to go back 
too once she's either asleep or sufficently lulled he knows his work is 
done. There's another who needs them to watch out for him more right now. 
And Jack? Well, he seemed to ignore when she called to him. Not unexpected. 
Hopefully Sandy is able to cheer him up. Calm him down. Whatever it takes to 
make him feel better. Donna tilts her head a bit as the comb makes its way 
through her ebony hair. "Wally...I think that's the best idea I've heard in 
a long time." At least asleep, she won't have to think about what a mess the 
evening was. And why.

And you can perhaps relax. Just not in body but in mind. He'll stay with 
you, of course, until you have been lulled to sleep, the general teasing 
chatter or the soothing touch of the brush. "You are wanted," are words he 
is sure to get out, after your first tease, at wish he will give you a soft 
squeeze of a hug, to help affirm the fact with you, as much as he may. And 
once you are settled and sleeping, he will indeed make sure you are 
comfortable, laying down and covered in and with your blanket. Brushing the 
hair that may have falled out of place over your face, Wally's finger s make 
sure of this work, to view you as you sleep for a moment, to make sure that 
you are doing so that he can leave you for the night...

... and expect him back in the morning, to make you breakfast.

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