Fire and Lightning (Book One) [Young Justice fanfic]

Chapter Forty-Two- Worth

I'm sorry (or am I?... >:) That was a terrible cliffhanger to leave you all off on. :3 Enjoy this chapter as repayment!

February 15, 2011. 00:27.

Wayne Manor

"Guys," Wally's nervous voice broke through everyone's heads. The team was spread across the garden, looking for Willow so that they could all head back to mount Justice for a good night's sleep, but at the sound of Wally's voice they knew that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. "You need to get over here right now."

"What is it?" Dragonfire asked.

"Did you find Willow?" Artemis was already running in his direction.

Kid Flash was hesitant to answer. "I found a trail of ice, leading out of the garden."

By the time Dragonfire reached her teammates, standing in a ring of burned rosebushes. Zatanna and Artemis were both staring in shock at Wally's back, and Wally himself held something in his hand. He looked almost like he was about to cry. In any other situation, Emma would have teased him about something such as this, but now, I was much too scared.

"...Wally?" Artemis asked in a whisper, scared that Wally would lash out at her, or anyone else.

Emma's voice rose with panic, "Wally, Wally what is it?" She could barely feel Kaldur gripping her hand tightly.

Wally slowly turned to face the team, holding out Willow's goggles.

"Check the bushes," Zatanna's voice was high-pitched and doubtful.

Artemis nodded frantically, "She could still be here! She could be hurt and need our help!"

With reckless abandon, Dragonfire blew all the bushes aside, revealing nothing but burnt petals and leaves.

Nothing.

"...Nothing." M'gann whispered when she searched for her telepathically.

"Nothing," Rick said when he tried to track her with his GPS

"Nothing," Wally repeated.

"Just a few blacked rosebushes....and a burnt willow tree," Connor said quietly, trying to console a distraught M'gann.

It was all a dream, a nightmare. Any moment now, They'd wake up and they'd all be gathering in the Cave's lounge to watch the new Doctor Who episode that came out, and M'gann would burn cookies, and Wally would go full-on fanboy, and Artemis would calm him down by shocking him with a kiss, and Willow would take in everything with wide eyes, and hurry off to read another chapter of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" before breakfast.

And everything would be alright.

"Back to the cave," Aqualad said, "Now."

-------

The trek down the hall from the garage to the mission room of Mount Justice was the longest they'd ever taken, and Emma paled as she saw Canary approach with her usual gentle smile. She had no idea what had happened at Wayne Manor.

It was strange. The team was aware that they were more inexperienced than the League, but they thought they knew the risks just as well, especially after the failsafe stimulation. It was almost impossible to imagine that one of them might not make it back someday.

"So, how di- Where's Willow?" She asked, quickly noticing the absence of the girl she had taken on as a daughter.

After a long silence, Kid Flash stepped forward. "Canary, I'm sorry, but..."