Reverse Rebirth Series Book 2 : So I'm A West {COMPLETED}

Chapter 13: The Dead Are Remembered -

Once again, I'm summoning some Season 1 flashbacks (mainly episode: Denial), because I loved Kent Nelson and the fact that they talked about Wally's disbelief in magic. Also it was an episode that kinda started the Spitfire flame burning hot...

Parking the Bioship on the ground, and opening the hatch, the blonde rushed out, and over to Wally, as he attempted to stand, while a few of the other members from the Bioship straddled out, and went to help their teammates up, as each slowly regained consciousness. Artemis grabbed ahold of Wally's arm, as he mumbled, "Ugh my head... Artie, what the heck happened? We were fighting, then everything went pitch black." The blonde replied, helping her husband to his feet, "We lost contact with you, after you told me that the enemy knew we were here. They must have interrupted the radio and found a way to knock you and the others out." Wally asked, blinking, "Well, how did they know we were here?" Artemis responded, "Walls, I think there's another mole on the Team." Wally started, "You mean...oh gosh! Where the heck is Bart? Where's Gar? Where is-?" Artemis interrupted, "Wally! Calm down. Bart's fine and so are the others. No one's dead. You're all fine. We should get you guys back to the Watchtower though, so we can be sure something internally didn't happen." The red haired speedster turned his head around, and saw Bart limping again, as well as Beast Boy sitting on the ground, holding his green hands around his lower leg, and whimpering in pain, like a puppy. Immediately, the speedster rose, and raced over to Beast Boy, and said, pointing to the lower leg of the boy/monkey mix, "Can I see that, Gar, please?" The young boy shapeshifter removed his hand, and let Wally touch the already bruising leg. As Wally felt it carefully, he concluded soon after, telling him, "So you've got a broken tibia, but that can be easily mended at the Watchtower, although I think you'll be out of missions and shapeshifting for a while." Standing up, Wally bent down, and swooped the boy off the ground, then headed for the Bioship. As soon as Beast Boy was settled, Wally came back out, and came over to Bart. He asked, saying the name like Barry used to, to him, "You alright, Kid?" Bart winced, as he took a step, and replied grinning from ear to ear, "Nothing a little food can't fix." "Bart, I'm so sorry you got your ankle hurt again, on my watch. I put you and the others at risk, again. Barry wouldn't have done that. He would have done everything in his power to stop Savage, and this whole mess.", Wally admitted. The brown haired speedster said politely, yet with a little snap, "Yeah, but Barry isn't my mentor, Flash. You are. This is the reason I wanted to be on Artemis' squad. At least on there, I'm not babied with the nickname." Artemis came up to the two speedsters and added, "You didn't cause any of this, Walls. This was all Savage and Klarion's doing. You were just trying to complete the mission, like we were taught." "But I was the designated leader for this squad, Artemis, and I let them and the Team down. I thought I was ready to take down the bad guys, like Barry used to, but I couldn't even stay alert long enough to do that!", Wally replied boldly. Artemis calmly responded, "You're not your uncle, Walls. I know you miss him. I do too. He was the only person that knew what was going on, when you were hurt, after coming back. He told me about the Speedforce and how it changes each speedster differently when they go in. He was the one I was with, when we brought you back and your memories were restored. I think Barry would be so proud of how far you've come, from an impatient kid, to a mentor of an impatient kid yourself! I know it's hard to let that go, the sacrifice he made, and how you were pressured to save him, even when you were still unable to fully grasp what was going on." Collapsing to the ground, with tears in his eyes, the older speedster cried, "He's DEAD, Artemis! How can I deal with that?! I was the one that was supposed to get him out of there in time, and I failed him! I couldn't save him from that stupid bullet, even though I easily could have done it. I froze, and let my uncle die because I couldn't move fast enough! Barry is dead, and it's all my fault, just like what a failure this mission was." Standing up, the speedster raced off, leaving behind only a trail of blue sparks. Artemis watched Wally leave, knowing exactly where he was going, but not being able to follow him quite yet. Gathering herself, the blonde said, "Everyone get in the Bioship. You're going back to the Watchtower." Static asked, "But what about you, Artemis?" Artemis responded, "I'm going after my husband." Heading into the Bioship, the blonde set the coordinates for the League's space building, then hopped off with her bow and arrows in hand, and ran towards where she knew Wally would be. As she ran faster, Artemis turned her head back, and watched the Bioship leave to the destination programmed into its memory. She sighed, then slowly walked until she came to an old magic shop, that had some serious memories for her and Wally personally. When she arrived at the old place, she opened the creaky door, and stepped inside. Years of dust laid on everything, from an old 'magic' table, to the portrait of a very old couple, both with silvery grey hair. Artemis found Wally staring at the portrait, his emerald eyes glistening with tears. Coming up behind him, the blonde asked softly, "Still can't get what Kent Nelson told you out of your mind, Walls?" The speedster spoke, and said, "They were such a happy couple, Artie. Kent never lost his memory in the Helmet, because he always remembered Inza. I lost you once, and I lost Barry too, but for eternity. I just sometimes wish that I was able to still summon Nabu or even Dr. Fate to be able to bring back the people I love." 

"Find your own little spitfire. One who won't let you get away with nothin'." ~ Kent Nelson