Brothers To The Bitter End

21

"Let us out!" Wally screamed for the umpteenth time.

"Shut up, West. We aren't getting out until someone posts bail for us," Artemis had her face smushed against the bars, her arms dangling outside the cell.

"Dick? DICK? WHERE IS DICK! I AM ALLOWED ONE PHONE CALL AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT!"

"Shut up," Artemis repeated.
**********
Outside the cells in the jail corridor, Stan Hardy began bonking his head against the wall. It had been three days since the two had been shoved into those cells, and he was going mad with all their arguing.

"Hey, Stan," Dick strolled up, smiling. "How's it going?"

Stan just sighed, allowing the arguing clearly audible from the cells to be the answer. Dick winced. "Well, I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll talk to them and make them understand that I won't post bail until they can get along."

"Good luck,"

Dick strode through the corridor and stopped in front of Wally's cell. "Hey West, why the long face?"

"Dick!" Wally shrieked rushing over to the bars. "I thought you'd never come!"

"Ugh. I'm pretty sure you're happier to see him than you ever were to see me," Artemis muttered.

The speedster frowned at her. "Ignore that traitor, Dickie bird. Now, how soon can you get us out?"

"Well, Wall, that's entirely dependent on you,"

"How so?"

"Wall, I can't keep posting bail if you and Artie are going to keep getting yourselves thrown right back in here. So, until you two can get along, or the thirty days is up, you're stuck here."

"What?!" Artemis shrieked.

"Really?" Wally looked hurt. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Bud, I'm doing this for you. You and Artie need to come to some kind of agreement. And this is the best time to do it." Dick put a hand on Wally's shoulder. "The guard on duty's name is Stan. He'll let you call me anytime he's on duty, which is eight to five Monday through Friday. I've also made arrangements for Alfred to bring you breakfast and lunch, because we all know that prison food is terrible."

"Personal experience?" Artemis asked dryly.

"Yes," Dick replied before turning back to Wally. "I know this is hard to believe, but this is for the best,"

Wally sighed and smiled. "I know you're trying to do what's best, but I don't think you understand the situation,"

"Whether I understand your situation correctly or not, I understand mine perfectly."

"Which is?"

Dick grinned. "The fact that this Sunday there's a Shark Tank marathon Dami, Jay, and I want to watch at the same time Alfred wants to watch Downton Abbey reruns and Tim wants to watch Cutthroat Kitchen. Since there's only two TVs in my house and since you're in jail, I'm sending Tim over to your place to watch Cutthroat Kitchen with Roy, Lian, and Richie."

Wally looked stunned for a moment and then burst out laughing. "You always were clever,"

Dick laughed too. "Awwww you think I'm clever? Wally, I'm blushing!"

That served to make both boys cackle uncontrollably. Artemis rolled her eyes at the two. "You're ridiculous,"
*********
That night Artemis couldn't sleep. She kept replaying the events leading up to Wally leaving. She finally sat up and glanced at Wally's sleeping figure. She almost laughed. Dick had brought him a "care package" from home. It had constituted of a Hello Kitty pillow Artemis was 90% sure he had just bought that day, a crocheted blanket that displayed Robin and Kid Flash in very heroic poses, an almost obnoxious set of pajamas that were clearly Jason's (they had My Little Ponies all over them), a picture of Dick, Wally, and Roy, cookies that had immediately evaporated, and so many pairs of fuzzy socks that Wally had laid them out like a rug, in addition to putting two pairs on his feet and hands.