Keystone City: 24 Cresent Drive(#628RJn)

        Complete with the picket fence and ceeky floorboards, the rather
rusty looking old farm house sits comfortably outside ont he edge of the
Keystone City limits, int he peaceful Midwest countryside. With the city
set not far off in the background, this white weathered two-story home
greets visitors and residents alike with a friendly air that has endured
the test of time. Being a little rough around the edges, a little home
repair should add new care to that which has already been molded into the
house, making it an idle place for a family. And this is where the Flash
family resides.
        A large porch complete with a swing-seat introduces you to the
house after passing the healthy front lawn, and once inside you are
witness to the spacious hardwood floored rooms, each distinct in their
gentle warm earth-toned colorings. Downstairs there is the large lounge
filled with an array of entertainment equipment, the dining room with the
long oak table that connects to the kitchen and the librabry/den parlor
room. The basement is a place for the furnace, to warm the upstrairs which
is divided into nothing but bedrooms, for the three people that live here
and plenty left over for any visitors.

Leaning back against the chair he'd slid off of, but relaxing a little,
not so clingy at Jesse, Bart sighs. It's kinda like a deflating balloon;
deep breath, taking forever to let it out. His face is still kind of red
and warm, but the adrenalin thing and the emotion thing've left him far
more drained than he's used to. "Man...I'm sorry...I'm sorry, Jesse. Don't
tell Wally I lost it?"

Jesse smooths back Bart's hair, "Don't worry... I won't tell him." She
won't tell Bart either that Wally had figured this one, "And its okay that
you did. Don't worry about apologizing.." She glances away, "We are going
to find a way to fix this.."

*SLAM*

That's the sound of the front door closing. Closing with more than a bit
of agression, as someone is on edge. That someone is Wally West, formerly
the fastest Man Alive. Now... now he's a guy that had to borrow a car to o
into town to talk to the mayor... and basically everyone else. Know what
sucks about losing your speed, becoming powerless and not having any
necessary skills to succeed at everything else, to go from being the most
public hero in the world to this? Telling all of those people about all of
those things, repeatedly. It's not a good day, and Wally had decided on
this when it took him a full second to turn off the alarm clock this
morning. A full second! Let alone that he needed the alarm... normally he
micronaps in between seconds, and he can't remember the last time he
*needed* to sleep in his bed...

Tossing his keys aside...well, not *his* keys, but the keys tot he car
that's on loan to him... keys to a car that it took him an *hour* to learn
how to *drive*... Wally just sighs as he stands there. "Well, the mayor's
promised that he's going to do *everything* in his power to help us, and
right this right away... all of which he said right before asking if I
should have a press conference and then if he should change the 'Welcome t
Keystone' sign..." The sign that welcomes you to the home of the
speedsters. Sighing heavily, Wally just shake shis head and moves towards
the kitchen, needing something to drink. "... all I need now is for the
Titans to find out about this...."

While emotions inside the mid-western farmhouse run from hot to cold,
outside the first signs of morning are calm and serene. Scarcely a cloud
mars the corn blue of the sky, and only the gentlest of breezes stirs the
long blades of grass and wheat. As if on cue to Wally's statement,
however, the tranquil scene is abruptly disturbed by the arrival of a
sleek, futuristic looking jet. Black in color and bearing a promient T
along either wing and the tail, it unmistakeably belongs to the Titans. It
lands out on the front lawn of the house with a dull roar, before the
engines quit and a hatch opens up in the side. Guess someone let the
proverbial cat out of the bag?

Bart Allen pauses. "Wally...you...uh, you told people? I mean, you told
them what happened?" He rubs at his eyes, clearing them up a little, and
gets awkwardly to his feet. "Isn't that not a good idea? Not that...not
that I'd know any better, but shouldn't you be telling your -friends-
instead of people who'll take advantage of you?"

Jesse arches her eyebrows, "You told the Mayor?" She face palms and shakes
her head, she blinks a bit. "What the heck is going on outside?" She
stands up lightly and makes her way to the window, "Uh Wally.. did we have
a training session with the Titans we forgot to cancel?

Bart Allen suddenly gets -really- quiet.

"I didn't have any *CHOICE* in telling the mayor! He was rather insistant
why no one showed up to stop two bank robbies and then that fire, and
something else and... two other things or ... something." Wally just stops
at the doorway to the kitchen, to bang his fist against the wall. He
doesn't mean to take this out on Jesse and Bart. They're the ones he needs
the most. And they need him. "Guys, I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." he
sighs, heavily, and then just leans his head against that wall, speaking
from there. "I *had* to tell him, I had no choice. He's uopeful, in all
honesty. But then I guess he has to be, as you're right Bart. This gets
out and... I don't fear for us, but Keystone. it's the city that's going
to be hit, and hard. Looted." He shrugs his shoulders. "But he's not
tellign anyone, keeping it from the media for us. He's given us a 'couple
of days' before he says he feels as though he'll have to go to the press."
Banging his head againstt he wall he sighs, *again*. "Never though we'd be
pressed for time, y'know...?" And then he just stops.

The Titans.

"Yes, Jesse I think... aw, crap." He just slinks now, down along the wall.

Shaking his head, falling back into 'responsible' mode since, you know,
Wally's not thinking clearly (at all), Bart crosses his arms loosely over
his stomach. "No. Listen, Wally, sprock it - the Titans are there for you.
They're your family too, and you help them so much all the time, I'm sure
they'd be more than happy to help -you-. They can cover for you. The mayor
has _no right_ to go to the press!" He looks agitated, annoyed. Worried.

Jesse murmurs quietly as she continues to stare dully out the window,
"Wally.. they're here." She glances back over her shoulder. She doesn't
even want to think about the Mayor now, "If he had sense... he wouldn't
tell.. after all it makes him look like he can't protect the city without
our help."

Only a moment after the hatch to the jet hisses open, a darkly clad figure
can be seen leaping from the opening, down onto the ground below. He lands
in a smooth motion, knees bending slightly to absorb the impact as his
mask-clad face regards the farmhouse before him. Wondering perhaps as to
what's going on inside. Did Impulse tell Wally they'd be coming? And just
how well is Wally going to respond to their arrival anyways? But, he
/needs/ the help, whether he wants it or not. Giving a quick glance back
to the jet, Nightwing makes sure that those he brought with him are
following, before heading up to knock on the door of his friend's home.

"YIPPEE!" Superboy yelling 'yippee'? Um.. Someone had too much Jolt before
leaving, but maybe it can be understood as there atop the Titan's jet
rides the Kid, using his tactile TK to hang on. He was rather surprised
when he found out that he couldn't fly fast, and thought if anyone could
help him find out why, it would be his little buddy Bart. Or more exactly,
his little buddy's bigger buddy Wally, the King of Speed. But then, how to
get to Keystone? Why, hop a plane, of course. And what better plane to
jump than the Titan's! So that's how Kon got here, hair *GASP!*
disheveled, perhaps beyond repair. Just don't tell him, for the love of
gawd.

"So we think and know, Jesse, but... Bart, the guy... the guy could care
*less* about us. He wants the votes, always had... the people, they care
but... when we're not there to save them from car wrecks before they
happen, construction accidents... I mena, don't they have a *right* to
know that we're not going to be there for them?" Apparently all of those
long talks this morning with the mayor have worn on Wally, tearing down
his defenses. As if his depression and repression over all of this wasn't
doing that already. "I just... I don't know any more..."

He just bows his head, slumping it into his hands for a moment sa he tries
to *think* about this. Do you know how difficult it is to think about
something when you only have the time to think *one* thing at once?

Dragging himself up to his feet he takes the long walk back to the front
door. "Sure, they're here to help, and that's..." But Wally doesn't finish
that though, aside from sighing it out. And so, without further adieu, he
opens the front door. "Titans! Why, c'mon in! Can I get you some ice tea?
Take your coats?" And yeah, Wally looks at Dick, who leads the pack, just
as Wally knows he likely has Bart and Jesse staring daggers into the back
of his head.

Donna Troy emerges from the jet just behind Nightwing and along with Jade.
Though strangely, she is not in uniform. Since quitting the
Darkstars...well...the woman has no uniform even. But the look on her face
is one of absolute concern. There are creases in her foreheadand her dark
blue eyes survey the area as she shakes her head. There was no way she
wasn't going to be poking her nose into this one, whether Wally wanted or
wants the help is not an option. She walks up to the door and even knocks.

Bart Allen's expression has degenerated into 'outright scowl'. What in
Valor's name is he doing, taking the position of devil's advocate. Getting
mad is better than getting scared, at any rate. "I can't believe I'm
hearing this! No, they don't - they don't! If you think the Mayor doesn't
care, how do you think the people feel? And you expect the Mayor to keep
his mouth shut? Better yet, you think the Titans aren't gonna find out if
this gets to the papers?" He can't keep an element of absolute frustration
out of his voice. "What are you -thinking-? *Are* you thinking?" He should
talk. The scene this morning...

Strolling out immediately after the dark clad figure at a more leisurely
pace, a figure of emerald green walks alongside the former Darkstar. Clad
in the newest rivision of her uniform, she carries herself with her usual
relaxed demeanor, with a smile on her face, and though she is just as
serious as the others, she's never been one to brood on the darker aspects
of a situation. No, that's her brother Todd's job. Instead, she hopes to
be able to brighten everyone's mood, as is typical of her style. She
offers a friendly wave of her hand to the three gathered speedsters, a
sharp constrast to the other two Titans she is accompanying.

Superboy slips off the jet and floats down to the ground behind the
gathered Titans, trying to look inconspicuous, especially around the two
female members. Not that he's afraid of them, mind you. He's terrified.
Thus, he sticks his hands in his pockets and hunches his shoulders,
marching in behind, after trying, in vain, to smooth his hair down, making
it look instead like he's a reject from the 80's spiked craze.

Jesse sighs, "Bart calm down.. Wally... he's right you know...." She's not
up to the Titans for the moment. The blond turns about on her heel and
goes to the kitchen to get a mug of now cold coffee. Never mind she's
forgetting about the cup she dropped and then spilled all over. She's not
exactly quite in the right mind right now.

In all honesty, Nightwing has known Wally long enough to see something is
wrong, even if he hadn't already been told as much by Bart. The white
eye-slits in his mask narrow in thought as he steps inside the house,
mouth pursed together into a thin line. "Wally..." he begins, pausing for
a moment as if taking the time to choose his words carefully. "Look, I
know you weren't the one to call us, and you likely aren't happy that
we're here. But, we are, and we're here to help." He leaves the nature of
that help vague, easily meaning both in terms of finding a 'cure', as well
as subbing in around Keystone if they need to, until that cure is found.

Donna Troy walks in and smiles softly, giving a nod to those already
present and then walks up to Wally, offering a hug in greeting. "How are
you doing?" Because, well, that's the most important question isn't it?
How are you? Everything okay? Well, sure, you've seen better days, but
hopefully things aren't so bad.

He *wants* to tell Bart that yes, he is thinking. About too much. Far too
much. And he doesn't have the *time* to think about it all. It's all
coming *so fast* and he can't keep up, ever. Not like this. The mayor, the
people, the questions... yes, he had a life before speed, but it was never
like this. He *wants* to tell Bart to try going through what he did this
morning, but he can't. That'd just be unfair, and right now wally would
rather have Bart pissed at him than pissed at himself. Perhaps even having
that emotion will allow Bart to focus, somewhat. So Wally doesn't say
*anything* to Jesse and Bart. They *are* right. And so is the mayor. So is
everyone that's pulling him in a million directions. You're all right. And
he just doesn't have the time or the ability to please you all, to solve
this. He's failed, and he's falling.

But he can't let that show, of course. Smiling, he grins to 'Wing, "Always
the helpful one. Yeah, come on in already. Wow, this much be desperate, I
must need a lot o help if yu've dragged Jade out here." He winks to her,
teasing in the 'hello' he just gave. "Come on in already, guys. I may not
have my speed but I know it's still taking you guys forever to come in...
and again, drinks? Anyone? Superboy, hey, step right in. I'm sure Bart
would be glad to see ya." And then Wally stops, winking to Donna. "Just
peachy." And then he looks over to Bart. Hopefully she'll get the clue...
but he heads towards the kitchen. "Juice, milk, tea, water... just none of
the hard stuff." He got rid of that last night. For a reason.

Jade's head pokes in through the doorway before the rest of her even
appears, scanning about to make sure it's acceptable for her to enter
before she actually does. After a brief scan, she deems that everything is
ok and she proceeds to follow Donna through the door. Waving her hand in a
friendly greeting, she smiles and then giggles silently to herself at
Wally's antics. "Well, you know. I just had to come and spice up your town
with a little color. There's red and yellow everywhere you look. You need
some green too." Tilting her head to one side, she flashes Wally a look
that's a mix of cheer and mischief.

Bart Allen sighs bitterly. He won't see eye-to-eye with Wally on this: he
can't. It's unlikely he'll see eye-to-eye with *anyone* right now, on
anything at all. A surprised look crosses his features when Superboy
enters, and slowly it changes to curiosity. He hadn't called TMS - which
is, it should be supposed, a bit hypocritical of him. But honestly, he
figured it'd be a bit harder for his teammates to get out here than the
Titans. After all, the 'kids' don't get a jet. Wordlessly, he waves.
Unsmiling. "Hey."

Jesse glares at Wally as he approaches her kitchen. She's hiding out in
here dammit and she's not planning on leaving it. She sips the now cold
and bitter brew and scowls some more. "Talk to them Wally please... but..
please.. don't let them stay to long..."

"Just water is fine for me," Nightwing answer's Wally's insistent offer,
his thin-lipped mouth turning downwards into a frown. "But, I'm more
concerned with what you all need." He glances briefly towards Bart as he
says this, giving him a careful look to make sure he's doing okay as well.
Or, at least as okay as can be expected. Jesse, of course, is yet to be
seen by the Titan's leader - and if he hears her words coming from the
kitchen, he doesn't say anything in response to them. The former Boy
Wonder crosses the living room after Wally then, though stops by the
doorway, staying just outside of the kitchen. "Do you have any leads yet?"
His detective mind starts to almost visibly work, gears turning as he
tries to get a feel for the sequence of events and any clues that might
help out with the mystery at hand.

Superboy steps inside and nods to Wally, keeping his hands in his pockets
and slipping around and past the Titans. "Nothing for me," he mutters as
he moves across the floor, over to where Bart-boy is. "Hey Speedy." Though
he uses the name, it's more of a gesture of a friendship, rather than to
pick on his friend about his loss of powers. C'mon, the Kid ain't like
that. He's here for his friend, even if his intentions in the beginning
were for himself. Kon didn't know, then, but he does now, and with Supes
guarding Metropolis, he could like, move here and stuff! Live with Bart!
Have a pajama party, if he wore such girly things, until this all blew
over!

Donna Troy shakes her head,"Nothing for me, thank you," is all she says.
Is she buying this attitude? Not likely. In fact, it only makes her worry
and wonder all the more. She does turn, grinning back at Jade, and then
walks further into the room herself, crossing over close to where Bart
might be, but she doesn't say anything as Superboy speaks with him,
instead of doing anything really. Finally, she moves over toward the
window, glancing out of it fora moment across the lands. Then her gaze
moves over toward teh kitchen and what Nightwing is saying. Then, she
turns her gaze to the window again, a quiet presence as seh leans sideways
against the wall, listening.

"You're a Titan now, Jesse. That makes you family to them. How quickly
would you leave any one of them in need?" Wally makes sure to point that
out to his 'sister' in the kitchen as she tells him this. He has *no
control* over how long they stay, and perhaps he's just pointed that out
to her. "You want them out *you* tell them, kay?" Yes, that's said a
little more harshly than he needs to, but then he's not taking attitude on
this. There's a reason he didn't call the Titans. There's a reason he
didn't tell his friends. He'll take crap about the mayor, about Keystone,
defend them all, but the Titans? Don't go there.

Leaving Jesse int he litchen, Wally steps back out to join the others,
handing 'Wing his water. "Not a one, Nightwing. No idea what ended or, or
what would jump-start it again, even if it *can* be jump-started. We were
fighting this 'meltdown' character when it happened... only thing I can
think of is that scientist, almost three years back now, or is it four?
Any way, the one that discovered the Speed Force, something she did.
Perhaps I didn't repair that tear properly..." He muses to himself,
mentioning his own failures aloud. "But say, Jesse's the theorist, or
well,t he one with a better mind than me. Perhaps she'll have a clue for
ya'? She's int he kitchen." Go on, Dick. Head on in and talk to her?

Looking to Kona nd Bart, giving the two kids a bit of space, Wally hopes
that Superboy can help cheer Bart up. Even a little. But then he addresses
Donna and Jade. "I know how busy you guys are and all. The business, your
lives... Donna's changes... I appreciate this, guys, really." No, not
really.

It's easy - it's easy to see why Bart called in the Titans. He can't
handle this, and boyola neither can Wally or Jesse. Especially Wally. He's
so glad they know him so well - can see he's falling to pieces even though
he's trying to gloss it over. And MAN, with all the things he leaves
unsaid...well. Them here is good. He doesn't have to be 'in charge'
anymore. Bart's voice is really quiet as he addresses Superboy, "Man...I
don't know if I can...you know how Robin gets when there's Gotham stuff
going on? And Batman doesn't want anyone else involved no matter how bad
it is?" He pauses. "Will you take me home if I ask? Back to Metropolis?"
Very quiet. If Wally's gonna do this, he can't deal at -all-.

Jesse glares up at the cieling of the kitchen. She yells out at Wally,
"That's not what I meant and you know it, Wallace..." She however stays
put and adds more sugar to the vicious coffee.

Superboy nods slightly as he removes his hands from his pockets and folds
them across his chest. "Sure man," he answers Bart back, just as softly.
"Or to Cassie's.. Or wherever. Just give the word." Wow. If Kon is willing
to go to Cassie's, he must be serious about helping Bart out with this.
And he is. No questions asked.

Offering Wally only the brightest of smiles, Jennie-Lynn waves her hand
dismissively, "It's no problem at all, Wally. Honestly, I think you're
handling this very well. If it were me, I'm not sure how I'd even react."
Sarcasm, darkness, brooding, she's seen it all and none of it really seems
to phase her in the least. Opening up her palm, she holds it outwards, as
the star shaped symbol on it glows dimly. Small swirls of green plasma and
magical energy whirl around in her hand before forming into a large green
happy face button. "Things will work out, you'll see." She holds the
button up for Wally to see, before letting it fade away from existance in
her hands.

Once again narrowing his eyeslits at Wally, Dick shakes his head for a
moment, before heading fully into the kitchen. Yeah, he does know Wally
well enough to notice the things that aren't being said, and see through
the false face that's been put up. But, he decides to humour his long-time
friend for a moment, even though it's fairly clear that Jesse wants even
less to do with the Titans right now than Wally does. "Don't worry," he
begins in greeting to her, tilting his head towards the direction of the
living room as he continues, "He'll get his soon enough. You holding up
okay?" At least Jesse seems to be a bit more truthful about what she's
feeling at the moment.

Without looking to Bart, the silence kind of tells it all. Yes, Bart knows
Wally and the thing is... Wally knows Bart too. And you know... no, no
he's not going to let that show, not now. In truth? Bart is right. Again.
So, yes, he should. Smiling to Jenny, he grins. "Neat trick. Now that I'm
speedless you'll have to teach me that one, or anything else that you want
to. Yeah, you're right. I mean, this is manageable, and more than likely
temporary. How many times have we all been depowered at one time or
another in our lives on missions and stuff?" He's smiling, but inside he's
thinking of the difference. When it happens like that, when a foe stripes
you of your powers you know they're still there, just buried, hidden or
repressed. This is different because even that locked away feeling isn't
there. *Nothing* is there. "So, sure you don't mind taking a few days off
here and there to defend cows?"

Jesse sighs and takes a sip of her drink, "Well... I'm not repeating the
formula over and over again.. " Liar.. just not at the moment. "Its not
good, I won't lie. Bart's a step away from cracking, I think I already
have.. and I personally think HE already passed that line and is of course
burying beyond belief." She swirls her coffee, "Sorry I didn't greet you
all.. I'm.. just feeling a bit like ....like.. I guess... I'm crippled."

Nodding, silent for a second, Bart grimaces. "I think the HQ would be
best. I scare Cassie's mom, I think. And Artemis hates me." It's taking
him a while to put his thoughts together, looks like. To do everything.
Biting his lip, the teenager looks like he's about to say something, then
abruptly changes his mind. He glances at Wally with mixed annoyance and
worry, then lowers his voice once more. "Yes, please, when you leave, take
me with you. I can't stay here." He raises his voice and calls to Wally,
"Can I take some time off from school? I'll make up the work."

Pausing a moment, Jade seems to ponder things inside her head for a brief
second, her expression becoming serious for the briefest of moments as she
replies, "Well, I sure wouldn't mind being able to turn off my powers
again once in a while, like I used to be able to." As quick as it arrived,
however, the moment is over and her characteristic smile is back, "Because
it's just not easy being green." Taking a few almost hopping steps
forward, she walks up to a chair, and in an incredible display of
completely useless talent, she spins around 180 degrees and falls
backwards right into the seat in one swift motion, without damaging
herself or the chair. "Well, part time hero, that's my job description.
New York, LA, Keystone, I'm not particularly choosey about the 'where'
part of it." She gives Wally a playful wink, "Besides. Those cows need
protection from those darn cow-tippers."

Jade nodes her head knowingly, as if she was speaking a solemn commandment
of being a superhero. Thou shalt protect the sacred cows from cow-tippers.

"Thanks again, Jade. Seriously. I mean, I know there's a bit of a
different pace to things out here and all, somethign you may not be used
it... it's not exactly Infintiy Inc., material out here, but there's still
your fair share of wackiness. One of the foes about here is an actual
intelligent monkey. Or ape." But then Wally pause sin his talking to
Jenny, turning to look at Bart. Just look at the kid. For how long?
Seconds? A moment? Seems like longer... "Sure, Bart, sure." And then he
turns back to Jade, and grins. "Did I ever tell you about the time I
weilded one of the rings? Well, it wasn't a real ring, only kind of. But
still..."

"Sure Bart. Jeeze. Lighten up a bit. You're gonna get an ulcer.." With a
million dollar grin, Kon tries, he really does, to make Bart crack even
the smallest of grins. If he fails, well, he'll just have to try harder
next time. He has a long flight back to Metropolis to try. "Like I said,
just say when. Not like we're really involved in the meeting of the
minds," he adds, motioning to the guys around him with his head.

Taking a drink of his own, Nighting listens quietly as Jesse speaks, just
happy to find someone who can at least be honest about what's going on,
and talk about it openly. Unfortunately, though, the Aerial Avenger
perhaps isn't the best person to understand such a concept as being
'crippled' without superpowers. Not that he isn't sympathetic to what's
happened, but for Dick, being a superhero has always been more about the
strength of one's character, than the level of their power. His lips purse
together into another straight line as Jesse makes the comment, followed
by a brief shaking of his head. "Whatever this is that's happened, hasn't
changed who you are. It might alter how you /do/ things temporarily, but
that doesn't mean that you're in any way crippled or handicapped." It
seems that he might continue with that though, though after a brief pause,
he changes the topic slightly. "What can you tell me about this Meltdown
character?"

Every other thing Wally just said magically vanishes from Jennie-Lynn's
immediate attention except for his last sentence. Her curiousity piqued,
she glances at Wally and shakes her head, "No, you never did. You have to
tell it to me sometime." There's a slight gleam in her eye as she says
that, as if her emotional energy were suddenly ready to spring forth from
her emerald eyes. Glancing at her watch, she slowly lets a wide grin creep
onto her face as she states, "Well, look at that. I happen to have some
time right now."

Bart Allen's eyes narrow, and he stares at Wally's back for a moment.
Looks like the message is 'well, you're on your own, kid. again - or as
usual, whichever.' His voice is incredibly matter-of-fact, and quite close
to 'extremely angry', as he answers Superboy while still glaring at Wally,
"Lighten up, huh? Okay, I can lighten up as soon as I'm outta the century
of fakers here. Let's go..." Then, once more, quieter and a little wobbly,
"Let's just go. Thanks for coming, man."

As Bart speaks, Kon frowns, then looks to the gathered Titans. "Sure,
Bart," he mutters after a moment, slipping his hands back into his pockets
once more and, rather non-discreetly, heading for the door. It's not like
he thinks he needs permission or anything to go, seeing as how he is in
the company of one of the residents here. One thing that does, or rather
did, give him pause was the 'century of fakers' comment, but he'll let
that slide, too. Not like he hasn't been called that before, after all,
what with just posing as Superman...

The look Wally gave to Bart? It was one to go. To leave. If that's what
the boy wants. Wally can only hope he kept the desperation in himself
back, not to be revealed in that look to his cousin, to his 'brother' and
to his friend. It's for the best. And once again, Bart is right. Grinning
to Jade now, nwo that he has her attention, he nods. "It was back when I
was Kid Flash, and ironically enough, I was temporarily depowered then.
So, while Barry was working with Hal, Green Lantern made me this ring. One
for me to use. it was limited, he said, but it was enough for me. It was
quite... something. So, well, maybe I should walk up to hal, mention what
my condition is now and perhaps he'll take pity on me enought o whip me up
another one?" He winks as he teases, not really thinking Hal would or
should do that. Not that he'd accept either, not at this point. "You know,
I think we did have a villain that did that, professionally. For a time.
The Mad Cow-Tipper. We finally caught him by making fake cow, one like
those puppet things you punch to knock over and it comes right back up?
So, he tipped, it flipped back and tipped him."

Jesse rubs the back of her neck, "Yeah.. that will take some time to sink
in I'm afraid. I'm pretty sure they feel the same way." She closes her
eyes, "Fast enough to give us trouble.. I threw a pinto on him and he
melted through it.. lots of radioactivity and heat.. " She shakes her
head, "He's not involved in this... he was affected just as we were... he
was quite startled that he slowed down as well.... you can tell he wasn't
involved in that...."

Bart Allen looks *royally* pissed off, and heads out behind Superboy. His
last comment? A loudly called, so it reaches Dick in the kitchen, "Thanks
for coming so quick after I called you, Nightwing. I really, _really_
appreciate it." Then he's out the door.

Nodding quietly as he listens to Jesse, Nightwing's attention seems to be
solely focused on the female speedster, the majority of the goings-on in
the living room a bit too far away to hear clearly from his position in
the kitchen. Which is probably just as well, given the disparate moods in
there. He sets his now half-empty glass of water down onto the counter
top, before lifting his hand back up to rub thoughtfully at his chin. "So,
something with the Speed Force directly then? What about what Wally was
saying, and that scientist?" Unfortunately, the urgency of the matter made
it so that Dick wasn't able to read up on the history files like he may
have wanted to. And just as he finishes asking that question, Bart's
acknowledgement drifts on through, eliciting an audible, but not hollered,
response. "That's what the Titans are all about, Impulse."

Donna Troy has kept her place near the window watching this entire event
unfold before her with more than a bit of shock and worry. She shifts,
wondering what can be done really, her eyes are mostly focused on Bart,
then Wally, and then Bart once more. She let's out a deep breath and
wonders if perhaps she should walk over to Bart, perhaps try and calm him.
And so that's exactly what she starts to do...she winces just slightly, as
if perhaps her head hurts as she steps near to him and hesitates, gritting
her teeth slightly, and then instead moves to the nearest chair, sitting,
and then looking up at everyone again.

Listening in wonderment, Jade is practically on the edge of her seat. If
there's something she enjoys, it's surely sharing old stories. Especially
with her father being Alan Scott, she gets to hear them all the time. But
it never ceases to amaze her how many of them there are to be told still.
Practically on the edge of her seat, she covers her mouth and giggles as
softly as she can, so as not to disturb the goings on. Though the obvious
tension between Wally and Bart concerns her, there is little she can do to
remedy it as neither of them seem to be terribly receptive to her cheer at
the moment, and probably understandably so. "That must've been one of your
more sinister and challenging villains," she jokes with a smile, "The Mad
Cow-Tipper."

Jesse shakes her head, "Wally didn't screw up fixing it. No. I doubt
that.. I can't help but wonder if someone used the same tech that
scientist used to tap the speedforce... maybe they've severed our
connection. I don't know.. maybe they've negated it totally.." She sighs,
"I would say that mystical or magical just doens't make sense and Zatanna
didn't seem to sense that..." The blond sips at her coffee, "Heh... maybe
they're using an antiformula against us.. maybe they... maybe we used it
all up.." She shakes her head. Its probably good that most of what's going
on out there she can't hear well. She'd probably be wounded totally by it
all.

You know one of Wally's first real reasons for wanting superspeed? To be
like The Flash? To be like Barry? To run away. To runa way form his life,
to leave it behind in less that a heartbeat, to have somehing else a world
away in a moment's thought. To escape. Over the years he actually managed
to find another reason for his speed, to have a means to come home, to
return. And well, now, seeing Bart leave out of the corner of his eye?
Wally feels something he hasn't felt since he was ten. What he wouldn't
give to leave this all behind, all of his worries, *everything*, just like
that... He's mad at Bart for leaving, for abandoning him, just like the
rest of his family has always done. Even Barry. Now Bart too. And Wally's
also mad enough to be jealous of Bart, for having the strength to leave
him behind.

He doesn't reply to Jade right away. Instead he 'answers' Bart. "I'll send
your things on to you." Now, normally that could be a polite thing, you
know, a friendly gesture, right? A thoughtful thing? But the wya it's
delivered... it's more like an expression to say that you're free of the
;baggage' you're leaving behind. Don't worry about him, kay?

"Sorry, Jen, where was...? Oh, yes, well. Piper was kind of silly, before
he turned int he elf shoes. Or there's Boomerang, who's Australian and yet
he wears a toque..."

"I confess that I don't know all that much about the Speed Force,"
Nightwing answers Jesse, leaning back against the counter, "But from what
I do know, it's not something that you can just use up. It's like
gravity.. an actual force of nature, isn't it?" He twists his head
slightly tot he side, his fingers still wrapped around the cut of chin, as
the gears in his detective's mind get to work. "No.. from what it sounds
like, it almost has to be some sort of artificial manipulation. Especially
if Zatanna has ruled out any mystical avenues." Nightwing pauses slightly
again then, taking in a breath before posing his next question to Jesse.
"Do you.. or, any of you really.. Have any sort of mechanical means that
you can monitor the Speed Force with? Or, how about that scientist, is she
still around?"

Bart Allen pauses just outside the doorway, reaching out to put a hand on
Superboy's shoulder. His face is set, and you can practically *hear* him
grinding his teeth. He spins to face Wally, inside, hands on the sides of
the entranceway, stance almost fighting-ready. Almost. "Send my things on
to me? Wally? Is that what you're saying, is it?" His voice is hesitant,
almost stuttering, he's so incredibly pissed off. Like he has to force the
words out. "I don't live here at all, anymore? You're not my cousin
anymore? I don't need to watch you like a hawk anymore so you don't do
anything soulrendingly _stupid_?" He leans in the doorway, his face
incredulous, affronted - terribly hurt. "We're not each other's problems
anymore? IS THAT IT?" One step closer; he lets go the door. Another step
closer, moving like a car out of gas on a bumpy road. Trying to stop
himself long enough to stop seeing red.

Donna Troy just...blinks.

Perhaps hearing and seeing the exchange between Wally and Bart is more
than she can take at the moment. She looks up at Wally, her soft blue eyes
nearly pleading, before she stands from her seat and takes a breath before
she walks over to where Bart is, braving the young man's anger, but not
about to let this thing get any more out of hand without some input. Maybe
its not the best of times. Maybe her help is completely unwanted. But if
she doesn't try to at least do something, she's just going to explode.
"Bart, you know he didn't mean it that way...." She says, her voice soft,
calm. She looks over at Wally, her looks is easy for him to read.
Prompting. Come on, Wally. Tell him you didn't mean it that way. Then she
looks over to Bart again. "Please, just stay, if just a bit longer. We all
need to just calm down, take a step back, and think." Her eyes are riveted
on Bart,"Its obvious this isn't easy, for anyone involved. Let's not say
or do anything that we'll regret later."

Keenly aware of the events happening around her, Jenny tries to get
Wally's mind off of it, as well as her own. "Yeah, you have to wonder
about some of them. But I guess the mental stability of most
'supervillains' are in question anyway. And those names, I don't know what
they were thinking when they decided that it was the perfect name for
them." Still flashing her ever present smile, she suddenly seems to
realize something as her expression drastically shifts to one of shock,
"Oh my god, I was supposed to call Todd." Glancing over to Wally, she
gives him a pleading look, as if asking to be pardoned, "Can I use your
phone? It's long distance, but I'll be quick, I promise."

"Yeah I didn't think that was likely myself.. but sometimes one has to
look at the improbable.." Jesse places her mug down in the sink.
"Mechanical? Nah nothing I know of. Least nothing Wally's told me about."
She takes a breath, "Mmm oh she's dead...I think the machine explo..." She
blinks and slips around Nightwing at the sudden increase in volume, "What
is going on out here!?!" She glances worriedly out in to the living room.
She's supposed to keep them together and sane.. what's going on..."

Superboy turns as the hand is placed on the shoulder and he looks back
into the house, maybe expecting this little outburst from Bart. At least,
he doesn't seem too surprised by it all. More like he was just waiting for
the other kid to burst, though when it does, he frowns once more. He
-should- just grab Bart and take off as he knows his friend just needs
some time to sit down and relax, but for whatever reason, he doesn't.
Maybe it's because here, what Bart is doing, is what Kon-El has secretly
wanted to do to Kal-El more than once. Stand up to the legend and show him
that hey, he's not just some nobody.

Looking to Bart at his outburst Wally just... he wants to... there's so
much that... it's all... Is that it? It's such a simple question, and yet,
there's a lot more to it than that. Is that it? Is *this* it, right here
and now? It... it may be. Wally so doesn't know any more. Everything is
just so... everywhere. Like a broken vase, or spilt milk, or something...
he can't even think of an example for himself, but he just knows the
pieces are scattering too fast to stop, it's all slipping through his
fingers no matter how tightly he holds them together. Looking at Donna he
does indeed catch her concerned look. And perhaps she'll see that pleading
begging desperation in his, that cry for mercy. Not for himself. But for
Bart.

What else is better for the kid than to be away from all of this, right?
Right.

Nodding to Jade waving her on to the phone bnearby, apologetically that's
not even a concern right now. Wally just looks, no, *half* looks over his
shoulder to Bart. Not even really looking at Bart. This is for the best.
Really, it is.

"That's it."

That stops him. Right f*cking directly in his tracks. Did he expect that?
No. Did he understand that? You can almost see him trying to process what
Wally just said to him. Luckily, Wally'd already turned back around - or
he'd see the evidence on Bart's face of this ultimate rejection. The
unbelievable hurt there, and the total lack of understanding. After all
this - after all they'd been through, after all he did to get Wally back
from the time stream, after the trust Wally'd placed in him that second
time he thought his powers were going to do him in, after he kept Wally
sane through girlfriend-rejection after girlfriend-rejection...after all
Wally said it was important to keep Barry's legacy, and how proud he was
of him when he did well. 'That's it.' That's it. He's saying it's over -
that all of the teenager's life wasn't worth anything anymore, that
nothing he'd done would count anymore.

You could almost swear Bart had superspeed again, he's across the room so
fast - but no, everything he does is slow motion to himself. Hand on the
cold shoulder with which Wally'd presented him, Bart wrenches the older
speedster around, and unhesitatingly reaches back and delivers a solid
roundhouse to that heroic jaw. *POW!*

BA-LINK.

Okay, that wasn't exactly what Donna was going for. At all. She is perhaps
still frozen in shock at Wally's words when Bart is flying across the room
and literally socking the older man right in the chops. Again, she's just
frozen, but the wince is clear in her features. Then, she just blinks
again and starts to steadily shake her head. What has gotten into Wally?!
And Bart, well...can she blame him for his reaction? No, not really.
"Rhea, help us...." is said softly under her breath. This is just
insane...has the world truly gone mad? She looks up and over at the entry
to the kitchen, then she looks away entirely.

Suddenly, she just feels ill.

Of course the scientist who knew how to tap into the Speed Force is dead -
not like a viable lead would present itself right off the proverbial bat.
Dick may have expected as much, but he still shakes his head slightly at
the news. "Well, mabye we can use some of her notes.." he begins, before
that same increase in volume catches his attention as well. A half-step
behind Jesse, he's also interested in just what's going on - and hopefully
getting there in time to stop it, if it looks like its bad. And oh.. is it
bad.

"Everybody hold it!!" The command (yes, /command/) issues forth from
Nightwing's lungs in a rush almost as sudden and powerful as Bart's
impassioned punch. The white eyeslits in his mask are narrowed to the
point where they're barely larger than toothpicks, and his thin lips are
pressed together in an equally thin line. Didn't he bring along Donna so
something like this wouldn't happen? "Bart. Wally. Both of you just /stop/
for a second. Especially you, West." The Aerial Avenger moves to intercept
the two, and brings his masked gaze to level on Wally, not sparing him an
iota of sympathy, despite the blow to the jaw. He heard enough of the last
bits of conversation to understand why it happened. "Number One: I don't
care how much stress both of you are under, but fighting /yourselves/ is
not the answer. Number Two: Wally, if you don't open up your eyes and stop
shutting out the people who are both here to help you, and dealing with
same problem that you are..So help me, I'll hit you myself." He's serious
about it, keeping his gaze on Wally, remaining between the two speedsters
if he can. "This is something we need to focus on together." His voice
lowers a notch, before he adds in a final statement, one he hopes will at
least rouse Wally out of his insensitive funk. "This is one problem you
/can't/ run away from."

Even if he had his superspeed he wouldn't use it to dodge this punch.

It lads, squarely, and it's a damaging one. And not just for the pain in
Wally's jaw and in Bart's hand. As the blow connects Wally just wonders
one thing; who is this hurting more? Him or Bart? He can only *pray* it's
him that's going to hurt more from this.

Wally goes down, not in slow motion or a blur of activity, just at
regular, normal, average speed. Just plain speed. Plain. Plain everything.

Not bothering to get up, Wally just stays where he lands, on his knees,
one hand at his mouth. Not a lot of blood, but just enough to be
noticeable. See, with Bart and Jesse he finally had something he's *never*
had before. And now...

Not able to meet Nightwing's gaze, or anyone's, Wally just stays down,
looking at the floor, not giving any answer.

One black brow quirks over eye of blue, just before Superboy winces as
Bart lashes out at Wally. Now would probably be a good time for him to
step in and take his friend the heck outta here, and that's what he moves
to do. Moving just as quickly back toward the two speedsters as Imp just
did, Kon reaches out to pluck his friend off Wally and into the air in
front of him by his collar. "I think we should go, Bart," he says softly,
calmly, waiting to get a punch or a kick himself for his troubles. "Thanks
for your hospitality, Wally..." Looking to Nightwing, the Kid nods his
agreement, even if he doesn't voice it. "I think Imp needs some time to
cool off," he begins, adding under his breath, "and maybe a dip in the
Atlantic... Let me talk to him for a bit, then I'll bring him back. Coo?"

Jesse looks as staggered as if she'd been the one to take that blow. Her
eyes glance from Bart to Wally. Wally to Bart. First one thought comes to
her, What in the hell is she going to tell Iris... Uh Missus Allen I had
the care of your grandson and nephew and let them beat the dog snot out of
each other. Her fingers flex for a moment, "Bart?!" Wally?" She knows this
isnt' them. She knows this is them reacting to the the stress.. and
probably the older man's sense of supposed protection. "What the hell has
gotten into you!? Its not supposed to be like this... dammit Wally.. " As
Nightwing starts in on his speech she just leans her head back against a
nearby wall. She doesn't speak, she glances over Bart and Kon again for a
dull moment. At this rate if she ever does find about the panty raid she
wouldn't give a dam. Her eyes goes back to the man she considers her
brother and just watches him.

Bart doesn't struggle, not at all. Doesn't fight Kon even one bit - that
outburst - against /Wally/ of all people - took all the fight outta him.
Just hangs there for a second, unmoving at first, then finally brings his
hands up to cover his face. Hiding like a kid - acting like a very, very
upset and frightened little kid. Before this all started, it'd been a very
long time...but this - twice in one day he's lost control. Everything's
magnified, everything's faster and far more out of his hands than he'd
ever hoped would happen. He hears Dick, but he doesn't move his hands from
his face; doesn't look at Wally. Doesn't say -anything-. Is he crying?

Donna Troy finally turns back to the scene before her, even as Nightwing
and Jesse come into it all and she looks at Wally and Bart once more. She
is silent at this moment, perhaps letting the others do the talking for
the time being. She walks without making a sound across the room and comes
up behind Bart. There is a soft hand placed on his shoulder, first one and
then the other. She looks down at Wally and let's her breath expell again.
But still, not a word from her is spoken.

Shaking his head at Superboy, Nighting answers the suggestion in the
negative. "To be honest, I really think he should stay. I don't think
anything is going to get accomplished by the three of you splitting up."
Dick directs this last to the three speedsters on hand, the words both
literal and figurative. As he stated before, this is something that needs
to be tackled /together/. "I can't pretend to understand what each of you
is going through. But I /do/ know that you're all stronger people than
you're showing yourselves to be tonight. The Speed Force isn't what makes
you heroes, it isn't what gives you the strength to overcome challenges."
He looks back and forth between Bart, Wally, and Jesse, even if they don't
return his gaze as he speaks. "That comes from *inside* you, and that part
hasn't changed."

Jesse starts to step towards Bart, but Donna is there first. The blonde
halts in her steps and glances towards the pair before returning a look
towards Wally. She hears Nightwing but she lets it wash over her. Her
voice gone for the moment.

Superboy shrugs and sets Bart back down on his feet, hoping the other kid
can stand on his own. "Sorry, Bart," he whispers. "I tried." Turning back
for the door, Kon shoves his hands into his pockets before walking out,
sure the last thing Bart needs right now is for him to be there, watching
him like this.

His dad was right. Wally knows that.

Remaining on the floor, Wally still doesn't look up. "Nightwing, have a
heart. He wants to go, he goes." Really, you want more of this going on,
and it being on your conscious, Batboy? Wally finally does look up now,
first at Donna ad then Dick, giving them each an individual look.
Hopefully they'll both catch it. To Donna it's a look of hope, that she'll
understand, even if she can't agree, that she'll accept even though she
knows it's wrong. And to dick it's a look of guided ignorance, that this
isn't just somethign done out of anger, but something needs to be done.
This is his stad, by staying, to be able to let Bart go Don't you see?
That's Wally's sacrifice, that his attempt be to 'made of sternier stuff.'
He isn't. He's everything his dad beat into him as a kid, and he should
realize it. Maybe he did run away for some time, but you know, all he did
was go in circles, to get right back to where he left from. "it's for the
best, 'Wing." Don't make him say please. Not now, Dick. Not now.

Almost sinking to the floor, too, Bart keeps his knees straight out of
pure, unadulterated contrariness. Superboy...left. Wow, two for one.
Finally dropping his hands, the kid gives Dick a look of such venom, you
almost don't notice he -was- crying again. His voice is so quiet, so quiet
- and very unsteady: "He doesn't want me here. Therefore, I don't want to
be here. He says it's over? It's over. Now Kon is gone, too...I don't have
eith-" Bart breaks off suddenly, voice catching. Well, if he's gonna get
to Metropolis on his own, he's gonna need some stuff. Without another
word, he walks over to the basement door, starts down the steps, and
closes it behind him.

Donna Troy seems a step away from tightening her grip on Bart's shoulder
to keep him from leaving. Then again she doesn't have any particular super
strength without her suit to keep him there? Right? Umm...right. Perhaps
he were trying to leave the house itself, she might've made the attempt,
but instead, she let's her hands fall to her side and again, she looks to
Wally, just shaking her head once more as she moves into the kitchen,
disappearing for the span of only a few moments, and then emerges again
with a wet clothe. She kneels next to Wally and applies it to his nicely
busted lip. Well, Bart has good aim at least, and she sighs. Once she
hears the door close to the basement she just looks Wally straight in the
eyes, blue meeting green. "You know that was wrong." Her voice is still
surprisingly calm even as she dabs at his lip, wiping the blood away.
"You're not protecting him by pushing him away. He loves and needs you as
much as you do him." Chastising? Yes. But understanding as well.

First Wally, saying that cliche'd line to him.. It's for the best. Then
Bart, claiming it's over. Nightwing begins to see not only what's
happening before him, but his minds eye also plays out a scene from what
seems like the distant past to him. The day that the original Dynamic Duo
had their own less-than-civil parting of the ways. And the two of them,
proud and stubborn as they are, /still/ haven't fully buried the hatchet.
Dick can't stand the thought of that happening to Wally and Bart, can't
abide the fact that these /family/ members even, would do that to
themselves. Yet, he's powerless to stop it. It's almost already done.

Almost. There's still a chance that tonight doesn't have to end in
disaster. Not a very big one, especially given the way that Wally's been
acting.. but there's that chance nonetheless. And Dick is /not/ going to
stand idly by and watch this same split happen all over again. The
circumstances are different, sure. But the emotions are almost exactly the
same. "I don't know what else to tell you, Wally, that Donna, Jesse, or I
haven't already said to you this evening. You're the one who crabbed out
the Titans for not taking care of our own. Well, we're here, we're helping
and looking out for you. Let us help and stop trying to push away the
people who /care/ for you."

With that having been said, Dick leaves Wally to Donna's care, striding
off purposefully towards the basement. Slammed door or not, Dick is going
to check on Bart, and do his best to smooth over the damage that Wally's
done. Having been in the same position Bart is in now, before. "I'll be
downstairs if anyone wants me."

Tilting his head back for Donna, Wally just sits there on the floor to be
attended to while Bart walks away, to the downstairs. He just follows
Bart's walk away, and yes, he wanst the boy to come back. Desperately. But
that wanting is wrong. So very wrong. "I know, Donna. I know it is. It's
wrong. Everything's wrong right now." And it doesn't appear to be getting
better anytime soon.

Not looking up to Dick, but replying to him before he goes, and everyone,
he explains. "The second best thing that ever happened to me was Barry
accpeting me into his life. Teaching me, helping me to get away. There
wasn't anything he didn't give to me, show me... and now..." He sighs,
shaking his head, but not too much, for fear of upsetting his 'nurse' in
her medical treatment, so he keeps fairly still for her. "The best thing
that happened in my life was the day Bart accepted me into his life. With
Barry I may have had a 'dad', one a hell of a lot better than my real one,
but it was the first sign of having my own *real* family. Now? Look at me.
Where I am right now,w hat I'm doing to myself. What Bart's going through.
This has to be *hell* for him. Even *I* can't begin to imagine what hell
this has to be for him, and I know no one els ehere has any idea. We
can't. With me like this and everything like how it is... Barry taught me
to be free. It's time for me to try to give that to Bart. I love him. I'm
not going to be the reason he becomes like..." Like him? Wally just sighs
and bows his head here. "Perhaps it will only be for a few days. But if he
wants to go, he should."

As Dick comes down the stairs to the basement, the place is pretty much
all laid out in front of him - Bart's "room" on one side, storage on the
other. Believe it or not, it's fairly neat: his bed's made, most of the
surfaces are free of clutter, his schoolbooks are open on the desk in the
corner. Even his PSX games and music CDs are neatly stacked over between a
slightly dusty iMac and an old television, atop a battered dresser. Bart
himself is carefully, methodically putting things into an oversized
backpack - a couple of changes of clothes, money, a notebook, some
assorted gadgets. As soon as he hears someone coming down the stairs, he
freezes...then slowly, deliberately takes the ring off his finger and puts
it on his bed. He turns, not even bothering to try and hide his face or
dry it off, and crosses his arms.

Donna Troy winces just slightly again. Doesn't she indeed know what its
like to be powerless? Was it better or worse that at the time it was her
own decision, she hasn't quite figured that out yet. But no matter how it
was sliced, still the biggest mistake of her life. And the reasons for her
doing it taken away from her just the same. Still, she continues to tend
to Wally, shaking her head. Then, she just stops. "By Hades, Wally, can
you be so...so...so stubborn." There is an edge to her voice, part
frustration only fueled by the fact she really does feel for the speedster
right now. "Freedom is one thing, but scarring him for what you consider
to be his own good is another. Listen to me...." She lifts his chin with
her fingers to be sure that her point is clear in this matter. "Do not
push him away. He's hurting right now," Just like she knows Wally is right
now. "Do you honestly think this will make it better? That he'll be better
off? Its only going to make a difficult time worse. And some wounds are
harder to heal than others...."

"God dammit Wally.. he needs you now. Barry wouldn't have walked away from
you when you were in trouble... You want to be part of a family then don't
act like you father... act like Bart's.. now's not the time to let him go
or let him be alone." Jesse rubs the bridge of her nose, "I wasn't
supposed to tell you this but he woke up this morning screaming. He's
terrified Wally... you...two need each other. You know this... you could
use your speed with out a thought most of your life, so could Bart. You
two need to talk through this. I tried to help him this morning and I
think all I did was upset him more. Talk to him."

Doing his best to shut out Wally's words as he descends into the basement
(Not only can Donna reach the red-head better than Dick, but if he heard
just what Wally was trying to pass off...), Nightwing instead focuses on
the younger of the two in this family drama. He knows that Bart heard him
come down the stairs, and just stands there for a quiet moment, watching
the defiant set of the youth's stance. "Believe it or not," he begins, the
tone of his voice remarkably softer than it was upstairs, "But I know what
you're going through. Not with the Speed Force," he's quick to clarify.
"But with Wally." He lets the statement hang in the air for a moment,
keeping the white eyeslits of his mask focused on the young hero. "With a
mentor, a father-figure, a /partner/... That's made a huge mistake."
Nightwing doesn't move any further into the room, but instead stays near
the entrance, his hands moving a bit in gestures as he talks. "But that's
all that it is. A mistake. And it's not one that *you* should be punished
for. Wally /wants/ you to stay. And I'm pretty sure that /you/ want to
stay too." The vigilante pauses another moment as he regards Bart, judging
what to say next, and how best to say it. "I know the two of you are too
close, to stand seeing this happen... Just give him another chance. You
both need each other right now, perhaps more than you ever have before."

"I don't need to be here, no," answers Bart, immediately and precisely. He
bends down, runs a hand under his bed, and comes up with a pair of boots.
These he puts on the bed next to his ring. He doesn't address the
'mistake' yet, but keeps packing. Not a lot left. TMS comm device,
cellphone...Gameboy. Finally he speaks again, straying slowly over to his
desk, looking at the pictures. "Try to imagine this, okay? You see
yourself as normal, but everyone else sees you as much more than normal.
Everyone else expects you to be a hero because of this, 'cause that's what
people who're more than normal do. You're okay with that. You grow up, you
get better at what you do, you get better with relating to other people.
Then one day, all of a sudden, you're not normal anymore. Not to yourself.
You feel like a frozen snail, and you look at everyone else, and you see
-them- as more than normal." He lifts a photograph up and traces his
fingers over it - a photo of a redheaded man and a brown-haired woman
holding a newborn child. "All of a sudden, you feel so incredibly slow, so
unbearably dense and cumbersome...and everyone else is talking and moving
really fast. The world is moving -so- fast, and there's no way you can
possibly keep up!" He sets the photo down again, and moves on to the next
one - a set of three, Atlantic City booth style, of Cassie, him, and
Wally. This he lays facedown on the desk. "Okay. You're dealing with this,
trying not to explode, trying not to hide under your bed..." Bart's voice
rises a little, "...when the guy who you trusted, who trusted -you-, who
you *rescued* from the fucking *TIME STREAM* collapses out from UNDER you.
You find out that you, as you suspected, have been more god damn *MATURE*
than he is the /entire time/." He flips all the photos of Wally facedown,
and puts the rest in his backpack. "And you don't have the strength to be
that mature anymore. Would you leave?"

"It's what you love about me, isn't it, Donna?" Wally grins to the former
Wonder Girl as she compliments him on his stubborness. "But do I think
he's better off without me? At this point, you honestly need to ask? can
you honestly tell me you don't think he'd have a better chance at finding
sanity elsewhere? I love him, Donna, and there isn't anything I wouldn't
give for him. Including my own happiness." And then he sighs to Jesse, but
he nods. "I feared worse, actually. You know what it's like, to be in both
worlds. Or rather you did, but for Bart... No, I don't think Bart needs
me. That's the honest truth. it took me years after I took up the mantle
to realize that I didn't need Barry. Bart.. he's a lot more than anyone
gives him credit for. No, he doesn't need me." Want? That's another issue,
and one that Wally can only hope Bart has for him. But need? Wally needs
Bart, does does Bart need Wally? Or is it a matter of want? "Right now
he's struggling because he wants to save me. To be hoestw tih both of you?
I'm not sure that's possible. But Bart? Yes, he has the chance. A whole
lifetime. And the honest truth is I'm holding him back."

With that wally pushes himself up, to stand. He knows he's right. Which is
what hurts. More than his jaw. "I'm not sure I can save him this time,
though I'm trying. This is the only way I know how. On his own, perhaps...
I'm not asking that you understand. I don't myself. I can't even bare to
think about..." But he stops there, looking down to his hand, to the ring
on his finger. And then he's pulling it off, to hold out and hand to
Jesse. "Perhaps this should be your's. Hell, if anyone rightfully deserves
to be the Flash because of who they are? That'd be you Jesse. You deserve
it a hell of a lot more than me. But please... give... give this to Bart?
I would myself, only..." he doesn't think Bart would accept it. "Not much
good it's going to do me right now and... it's his blood to have it. Tell
him... tell him I was looking forward to the day I could retre, handing
that over to him?"

With a weak smile he waits for the Flash ring to be taken, hopefully, by
Jesse. But then he's looking back to Donna. "I know this doesn't make much
sense. I doubt it will ever. He hurts now, yes, but... in time? Maybe?"
It's a vain hope, isn't it? To hope it will get better for Bart in time?
In time... gawd, they have that now.

Jesse reaches out with her hands looking absolutely horrified and pushes
the ring back to Wally, "You know Bart wouldn't want you to do
that....Wally you are the Flash. No matter what happens you can't.... "
She just twitches she wouldn't want to be the Flash in a million years
thank god he didn't give it to her. "You need to talk to Bart.. Wally
please.. really think this through..." She knows this is a mistake. This
is the biggest mistake he could make. Wally West not be the Flash? It ...
it would be like.... oh hell there not being a Superman, "Don't...
oh...oh.. just don't Wally. Oh god please don't do this.... "

The answer that Nightwing gives Bart is just as immediate and precise as
the Bart's initial response to him. "No, I wouldn't." He keeps his
mask-covered gaze even and level at the younger hero, his body posture
solid and confident as he talks to him. "Not knowing what I know. I'd
stay. When things get difficult, /that's/ when it's the most important to
see them through. If you've lost that strength inside you - then that's
when you need to look to other people to help. So you can pool your
strength /together/." His lips pull into a slight frown as he talks,
eyeing the turned-down photographs momentarily. "If you turn your backs on
each other now... I can guarantee you'll regret it." As the words are
spoken - laden with experience-buffered truth - Nightwing moves closer
into the room, and if allowed, takes hold of the photographs with Wally
and starts to turn them back up again, standing them properly. "I know
it's not easy. And I can't make you stay. But trust me when I say it's the
right choice."

Donna Troy just stands in shock really. She doesn't know how she's suppose
to react to Wally at this point. She takes the cloth in hand and her
knuckles whiten just slightly. If she didn't know any better, she'd say
her best friend had lost his mind. Perhaps he has in essence. Still, she
just sighs. Then moves to sit on the couch behind her. This is getting
nowhere. Nowhere fast and she feels rather helpless to do anything. She
leans over, briefly placing her face in her hands, leans back, letting her
fingers slide through her hair in a gesture of frustration and just
crosses her legs, looking off across the room. Thinking. Plotting. Wishing
there was something she could do. But at this point, just feeling like
she's getting cut off at every pass.

Bart Allen turns away from the photographs and picks up his bag, swinging
it around to his back. He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks at the
ring on his bed. The one with -his- costume in it. "When you look to other
people, huh? I know Wally has a history of overextension - I knew he
wouldn't call you. I called you for him, not for me. For me...I need to
get to Metropolis. Back to Cassie and Kon, and Tim. You're Wally's family.
They're mine." Slowly, he reaches down and picks up the ring again,
turning it over and over in his hands. His voice gets a little disgusted,
"And I'm sorry, but that's bullshit...pooling our strength together. He
hasn't got any right now, and neither have I. You heard him, he doesn't
want me here. You knew what he meant, too - maybe somewhere he -does- want
me here, but over it all is him wanting me to leave because he thinks he
needs to protect me, even though I'm protecting him most of the time. Well
maybe if I leave, he'll figure that one out. Then when he finds out he
-does- need me, maybe I'll come back. Maybe. Maybe I'll come back when he
stops trying to convince himself he's trash - I sure as hell can't change
his mind on that one, and I'm tired of trying."

"Everything I've done witht hat ring, Jesse, it's been... a miracle. It's
been a dream come true. In every sense of the word. I hoped for it, for so
long. Prayed. Said I'd do anything to have it. I had it. Bart... he was
*born* to wear that ring. He was born as speed. It's in his blood to have
it. I'm sure of it. I know I accomplished a lot of The Flash, especially
for myself. But I was only half the flash Bart will be. Or you could have
been. Serious, no please. Give it to him for me. I know I owe you a lot,
Jesse. Any aweful lot. For everything you've done, and knowing you, will
do." He smiles toher, meaning every word of that.

Leaving Jesse with the ring, Wally follows Donna to sit beside her.
"Imagine how much he hates me right now, huh? And he should, you know. You
too." He hopes he's not sitting too close. Should he move away, to give
her more distance? "You're right Donna. It's wrong of me to do this. And I
want him to stay. I'd like for nothing else. But why does my mind tell me
it's wrong to want that? To not want Bart to have his own life? Away from
me? Why does it feel wrong to want that? BUt I know things are going to
work out. In the end. They always do, you know? That's so very true for
us, you and I, all of us, the Titans. Just seems to happen that way."

Jesse turns to walk away staring at the ring in her bandaged hands. Her
feet don't quite work and she stumbles. The words roll around in her head
and she's at a loss. Her voice lost her eyes blank. The blonde turns and
just makes her way to the basement after a few awkward steps... then
another few steps take her down there. She just holds out the ring
blinking... she croaks out carefully, "Bart?"

Donna Troy just remains seated. Her eyes looking across the room at that
nice patch of blank wall. Its really very fascinating...only, the paint's
already dry. Alas, can't have it all. Then she looks back at Wally,
arching an eyebrow. "I could never hate you, Wally...and neither could
Bart. But I'm sure he's angry...I would be," she admits fully. Then she
turns to fully face Wally, her expression reflects her tiredness. "Its one
thing if he wants to be on his own for a bit, Wally. Its quite another
when you manipulate it to happen. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he
doesn't want to go? That maybe he wants to stay here with you, but you're
making that hard to impossible? You want to give him his freedom? Fine. Do
it. But don't force his hand and then say you're doing it because he needs
his space and freedom."

"And I'm sure that you walking out the door is going to be just the thing
for his self-esteem," Nightwing retorts to Bart, the corner of his lips
turning in a sardonic quirk. He remains close to the teen, one hand still
lightly resting on the last photo that he re-oriented. "The funny thing
is," he continues then, his gaze moving from Bart to the picture, one of
just Impulse and Flash. "I know how close all of you are in TMS, but I
always thought that Wally was your /family/." He shakes his head,
withdrawing his fingers, and crossing his arms over his chest. "That's a
stronger bond than I ever shared with Batman. And there still isn't a day
that goes by that I regret the way we handled things, when we parted ways.
There was no need for it to go down the way it did. Just like there's no
need for /this/ to happen either." Nightwing waits a beat, before starting
to head back towards the stairway, apparently having nothing else to say.
Just as he reaches the entryway, however, he turns back to make a final
plea. "It's your choice, Bart. And whether you make that choice for Wally
or for yourself, I hope you realize that the equation comes up the same.
You're better together than you are apart." And with that, he heads on up
the stairwell, passing Jesse as he does so. Fortunately (or is that
unfortunately?) missing the ring she has cradled in her hands as she goes
by.

"He's not my father. He's my cousin. Yeah, he's family, but it's not much
of a relationship if only one person's willing to hold it up," mutters
Bart, hesitating for a second, then impulsively putting his ring back on.
"And he could sprocking well use a slap to his self-esteem. 'That's it' my
left foot! He sure didn't worry about -mine-, did he?" He looks at the
stairs, watching Dick walk up them and Jesse walk down them...and he sees
the thing gleaming in Jesse's hand. With all the idiot Wally's being right
now, he knows exactly what it is. The numb expression on Jesse's face
confirms it. "No," he says softly. "I've got one. He gave me his costume
once, but I gave it back. Then...he didn't even need it anymore. Now
neither of us do. Trust me, he'll want it back in about..." The kid
glances at the clock. "Three, three and a half hours. I'm gonna go. Thanks
for this morning...and I'm sorry I can't do the same for you." A beat.
"And I'm not gonna apologize for Wally anymore."

Jesse places a hand on Bart's shoulder, "Please don't go Bart... I'm in a
lost sort of place at the moment...." She merely folds her hand about the
ring reflecting that even though she's lived with this pair for a while
now.. she really doesn't know them at all. She won't badger him, she won't
argue anymore, she's too tired to try and come up with reasons. A slow
breath is taken and released, her own eyes water now for a moment before
she blinks them away. Her shoulders drop a bit and she leans over to kiss
his cheek, "Call me to let me know you're okay?"

Bart Allen finally smiles, ever so slightly. He reaches around to his
backpack and pulls out a cellphone. "Number for this is on the fridge,
under the Madman magnet. I'll leave it on." He sticks it in his pocket
instead, now, and reaches out to give Jesse a hug. "And I'll be back. It's
just that if I don't leave, I'm -really- gonna beat Wally up, and nobody
wants that, I'm sure." His smile fades, and he lets go, heading up the
stairs.

Wally West knows he has to do something. He's known that from the start.
And he's botched it the whole way along. at first he tried to be that
strong someone, that persont hat Dick thinks Wally can be, that they all
can be. But it was hard, beyond hard. it was impossible. Like Barry, Wally
can't be like someone else. And who he was was The Flash. Just as Bart is
who he is. Wally understands that, and accepts it. It's why this is
happening. "You're right, Donna. I've been making the choices for him and
that's... that's wrong. It's wrong of me to say this as well," he finds
himself once Dick is up the stairs, and thus maybe able to overhear this.
"But just like it was wrong of Barry to force me into taking up his place.
Or like it would be of someone to strip me of who I was, or someone to
deny me from becoming what I want to be. I want that from Bart, without me
being in the way. And yet I'm doing *just* that. You're right. Of course
you are. When are you ever wrong?" He smiles to Donna. He only partially
means that, as yes, she makes mistakes. But she's right about all of the
important stuff. So, Wally stands, to head to the top of the taits. But he
keeps back a ste or two, not to be in the way. With a closing o his eyes,
a deep breath and then a nod, he waits for Bart to emrge. To say what to
him? What can be said at this point?

"Nice right cross you have. It's going to stick for a while. My jow, that
is." A lame way of saying he's sorry you had to hit him. He sighs once
more. "I need you to stay. I want you to go. Or I want you to stay and I
need you to go. It's hard, Bart, and it's only going to get worse.
Whatever you want, whatever happens, just know... I'm okay with you hating
me. I do support you in whatever you do. Kinda' cheesy, but you know...
Ah, ahem. Right, well. Ah, if you do..." Well, that's kind of enivitble
now. "Key will always be under the flat rock along the proch. Promise."
Hopefully... hopeully that says it clearly enough.

Wally then looks back to Dick and Donna, nodding to them both in silent
appreciation. And then he looks to Jesse, sorry for what he has and is
putting her through. But if any of them have any strength whatsoever...
it's her.

Having said as much as he could to Bart, Dick was ready to have to talk
some sense into Wally as well when he reached the top of the stairs. He'd
almost forgotten that he'd left Donna with their long-time friend however,
and there's actually a measure of observable relief that meets his
features as he watches Wally make his concessions to the dark-haired
woman. Even from behind his black mask, the glance that he gives Donna is
obvious. Success? There's little other way to find out than to watch what
happens, though, as Nightwing moves over closer to Donna, awaiting Bart
and Wally's words to him, watching and listening with a studious
expression. Hoping that the two can make amends tonight... But preparing
himself for the worst. There's a part of Dick that just wants this over
and done with, regardless of which way it goes. The real problem, the
missing Speed Force, is being completely overshadowed by the family drama,
and that detective in him can't shake the feeling that time is a critical
issue in this mystery...

Donna Troy looks up as Wally stands, a smile finally touching her lips.
"Good," she says to him. About what? Maybe about all of it. She doesn't
want to see this entire thing go wrong. Its a lot easier to nip things
early on rather than let them fester after all. Though she smirks lightly
at Wally's comment to her rightness. If only someone would inform the rest
of the world of that fact, she might face a lot less hassle.

She does look up though as Dick comes up, passing Jesse and perhaps making
note of where Wally is heading as well. She smiles to the Aerial One and
catches the given look and inclines her head subtly. Though perhaps her
arched eyebrow wonders if he was able to get through to Bart and to what
extent. She stands as he moves over toward her and takes a deep breath.
Then, she leans closer to him, whispering low. "I suppose now is the point
when we wait to see if good sense will win the day?" And the prays that it
certainly will.

"If I stay there will be trouble, if I go it will be double?" Ah, the
element of cheese. Bart holds up his keychain, showing the duplicate key
there. "I don't hate you. I'm not even -that- mad at you right now. Don't
get me wrong, I'm still mad - but I'm not gonna sock you again." He
pauses. "But I might if I stay. I can't believe you said what you said. I
thought your bastard days were over, but I guess you gotta sort through
that." Holding up his hand, palm facing inward, he shows Wally his ring.
"Jesse still has yours. I...I've gotta go. Cellphone number's on the
fridge." He nods to Jesse, Dick, and Donna...then to Wally. Then he's out
the door.

Jesse stands in the doorway and sighs. Her eyes look at Wally, no words of
chastisement, nagging, none of the banter and bickering. She straigtens
herself for a moment before holding her wrapped hand to show his ring held
between her index finger and thumb. "Its yours you know. There's nothing
that can change that now. The lightning is always yours Wally." So what if
she makes sense. Right now she feels like being cryptic. Some of the best
folks she knows say weird little things like that. With a flick of the
wrist she tosses it towards him.

At Donna's return look of question, Dick just shakes his head once. As far
as he's concerned, his talk with Bart was a dice game. But then, he never
did have the knack for that sort of thing that she did. He remains silent
as Wally and Bart have their short conversation, but can't himself in
letting out a small sigh of disappointment as the younger teen walks out
of the house. Not disappointment in Bart, or Wally - but in himself. It
seems he still has some things to learn in being a leader. The darkly clad
man turns to gauge Wally's reaction then, unsure of just what to say yet.
Sure, the pain will go away.. Someday. But how long that will be? Dick
only wishes he knew.