The Son of Speed (Completed)

Chapter 12:

(Warning: Time Skip - Two Weeks Exact) 

Artemis sat in a hospital room, her eyelids nearly drooping from the extensive, long, boring wait. It had been exactly two weeks since the attack at Belle Reve, where the Reverse Flash had done damage to everyone, some more than others. She was in a hospital room, because the throw from the villain, had caused her ankle to become sprained, even though she hadn't felt the pain in the moment of action. Hearing a small buzzing beside her, the blonde reached over and picked up her phone, as a new message appeared on the lit screen. Tapping in her password, she opened her messages, and saw one from Bart. The message read, "They've just finished with him, Artemis, here at the Cave's infirmary. Hopefully he'll last through today and into the night, but what his father did to him, nearly killing him, he may not. Pray that he'll live." Artemis closed her eyes, and breathed a deep sigh of relief. Black Velocity was alive, despite what she had thought on the scene. What had happened that day, left her crushed and wondering if she had failed him. When she and Flash left Belle Reve, the older speedster had keenly noticed that the younger villain teen was still alive, but his breathing was shallow and barely noticeable, which is how he passed as dead to Artemis. For the last two weeks, he had been on life support, until his body was strong enough to go in with surgery, and repair the damage caused by the Reverse Flash's vibrating hand. She had gotten word the night before that he was ready, and they had taken him in, to begin the operation to repair it all. Now, the message from Bart assured her that the League had taken the young teen, despite his background, and had treated him as a Team member. Though, she guessed Flash had something to do with it, considering he knew about the bloodline, and how Black Velocity really was his family. Hearing a few voices at her door, Artemis put down her phone, and looked up, to see Dick standing at the door, a cheesy grin on his face. The other members of the Team were also there, except Roy. The taller Bird walked in, and asked cheerfully, "Hey Artemis! How ya feeling?" The blonde answered, "I'm fine, Dick. My ankle just hurts like heck, but that's normal for the situation." M'gann walked softly into the room, and came over to Artemis, her red hair waving slowly, and her auburn brown eyes glazed in worry. She said, "You're not fine, are you, Artemis? You're worried about if Black Velocity will survive the day and the night." Nodding, the blonde said, "Bart just texted me and told me they finished with the surgery, but they aren't sure how well everything will go from here on. I'm just so scared, because..." Kaldur asked, "Because why, Artemis? You seem uncertain about sharing that bit of information." From the bed, Artemis replied, "Because I never had the chance to tell Black Velocity, er Wally, how I really feel. I'm so scared that he won't wake up, and if he doesn't, then I'll always remind myself that I didn't do anything to try to save his life. To me, he was dead and out for twenty minutes, but now he's alive and recuperating at the Cave." M'gann smiled, then said, "I'm pretty sure you'll get your chance to tell him the truth, of how you truly feel." The ginger stepped back, and went over by her Kryptonian boyfriend, the clone of Superman, Conner, who put his muscular arm over her shoulder. He had been off world during the whole incident, but had returned after the fact. Dick agreed, "Yeah, and if that's what you decide, we are all going to stand by your decision. Also, I have a proposition for him, that I'd like to discuss with you personally, when we have the time." "Why me?", Artemis asked curiously. Dick answered, "Well, I need to ask you about it, because it concerns what you would be doing, and if you'd be comfortable doing it." Sighing, the Bird continued, "I was going to ask Black Velocity if he would consider joining the Team, if he changes his name to something more heroic, and if he promises to not use his abilities in the wrong way. The reason I want you involved, is because I was thinking maybe you could be the one to show him the way we do things, and how to be a hero. He trusts you, not any of us, and it would be just weird if someone he didn't trust, asked him to do or consider something as big like this." Artemis looked at Dick, then at M'gann, Kaldur, and Conner. Each of them just looked back at her. The blonde finally said, "I can ask him, if he wakes up." "When, Artemis. When he wakes up, you can ask him!", M'gann joyously said. Artemis smiled, and assured, "When he wakes up, I'll ask him. I promise." Suddenly, Flash raced into the room, and stopped at the foot of Artemis' bed abruptly. He said urgently, "Batman says you can go see him, Artemis. Do you want to? He won't be awake quite yet, but that never means you can't go see him." The blonde stuttered, "I-I can?! I thought that... Yes, Flash. Yes, I want to go see him. How can I get there though? I'm nowhere near a Zeta-tube." The speedster grinned, "You've got teammates, and who says there's no Zeta-tube nearby? Batman had one installed in case there was ever a necessary surgery that needed to be performed on you or Nightwing, that couldn't be done in the Cave's infirmary, when you were all kids." Turning to her teammates, the blonde asked, "Could you guys give me a lift then? I'm not that heavy, considering the food in this hospital sucks, and I've been out of practice for two weeks now." Dick said, "Sure Artemis. I'll need Kaldur and Conner's help though." Coming over to her bedside, the three boys made a chairlike structure with their arms, as Artemis scooted into it. When she was finally seated comfortably, they hoisted her off to the Zeta-tube, in one of the ER rooms. Heading through the Zeta-tube, they soon arrived in the Cave, but were greeted by a solemn and stern faced Batman. He asked deeply and sternly, "What are they doing here, Flash?" The speedster answered, "I told Artemis she could come see Black Velocity. She's been worried about him, since the day of the attack at Belle Reve." Batman stated, "No one, except full League members are allowed in the infirmary at the moment. You thought wrong to bring her and the rest of the Team." Flash insisted, "No, you said originally that I could do this. Come on, Bats! Artemis needs this! She's the only one Black Velocity really knows who to trust. If any of the League were to be around when he wakes up, who knows what he could think! He's my nephew and I should have the say of who is and who isn't allowed to see him. I give Artemis permission, because she was the one that was able to bring me closer to meeting my nephew in the first place. I understand that you're the boss of the League, but on this matter, it's my choice. Please... I beg of you to let Artemis in with Black Velocity." The Dark Knight responded coldly, "She has ten minutes." Asking to be let down, the blonde hobbled, with aid from Dick, over to the infirmary. Standing outside the glass door, she said, staring at all the machines, "Let's go." Dick nodded, and helped Artemis in, being sure to close the door behind them.