Dagger

VIII

*Bruce*

I can't say that I wasn't scared to enter her mind, I've never actually been in anyone's mind before. The fact that there were 6 of us made me even more nervous that Phoebe couldn't take it.

I thought she was gone and I had no clue on where to start to find the son of a bitch that took her. Everything I had checked lead to a dead end, every lead and every favor I called in lead to nothing.

Alfred's face was absolutely priceless when I told him she was alive, I have never seen that man smile more but the anger in his eyes when I told him the condition she was in made me wish I hadn't told him anything. Alfred is the one person I'm even close to fearing, but that's expected from the person that practically raises you.

We all examine the room and I take notice it's the attic of the manor. Everything was the way it was on her last day at the mansion.

"This wasn't here yesterday." Tim told me and I nodded to him.

At that moment I look up at the ceiling and notice it disappeared and when I look to the floor it's turned into freshly cut grass. I look on the over grown weeds and lawn cover the ground as vines cover the gates to the Manor. Slowly all of that dissipates and is replaced my the freshly manicured lawn of my home and her favorite flowers are in full bloom in the garden.

"Wally! I told you I'm not going to race you! We both know you would win!" Laughed an ten year old Phoebe as Wally sped circles around her trying to get her to run.

"Awe c'mon Pheebs! I'll go easy on you, honest!" The twelve year old Wally laughs at her and stops running around her but stands firm infront of her.

"Ugh... fineeee." Phoebe gives in then takes off running. Wally tries to follow but can't due to his shoe laces being tied together.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Wally protests as Dick takes off from behind the bushes and catches up to Phoebe, the two of them laughing at their tricks.

"I said I would race you! I never said it would be a fair race! Besides, it's not like you gave a set of rules." Phoebe justifies and takes a sip of her lemonade sitting at the table they used as a finish line.

"You're too smart for your own good kid." The Flash cuts in.

"Uncle Barry!" Phoebe squeals and hugs Barry as Wally groans once more from embarrassment.

"Hey kiddo, how are you?" He asks looking down at her as I watch from a distance.

She giggles taking a sip of her drink.

"Pretty great I think. I just got five dollars from your nephew for winning a race so you tell me." Phoebe's devious smile said it all. She was always so sneaky, but being on the streets does that to you I guess.

"Don't forget the money from Alfred." Dick reminded her and her smile grew.

"Oh yeah, he bet that I couldn't get Miniature Flash over here to stand still long enough for Richard to tie his shoe laces. C'mon Alfred, pay up." Phoebe chuckles and the two each put five dollars in her hand.

"I don't understand how they do it. I can't even get him still for two minutes unless I give him food." Barry sighs and Alfred mimicks his movements nodding in agreement.

"You know, if you wanted ten bucks, you could have just asked, you didn't have to con two guys out of their money." I remind her earning a shrug.

"True, but what fun would that be?" Phoebe sassily replied and I roll my eyes. "But... does that mean I can have ten bucks?"