Tough Love

Part 1

<A fanfiction by yours truly, and yes it is spitfire and yes it is depressing. I hope you enjoy this.>
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Artemis Lian Crock was not a happy Arty. An afternoon planned for reading and hiding indoors has been rudely interrupted by the League, requesting all of the team's attendance. Putting down her book and cup of tea, she grumpily made her way to the living room where everyone was. Everyone except Wally that is. Craning her neck to look for the ginger, she was disappointed that she couldn't find the ginger. Not that she'd ever let it on of course, gosh. Secretly she had a soft spot for the ginger, what with his happy go lucky attitude and ability to keep happy. And the fact he was ginge- No. Artemis. Change thoughts, she thought to herself. No more thinking like that.
"Is everyone present?" Bruce's deep voice sounded as he surveyed the room. Again, the blonde looked around for the ginger, but couldn't find him. She could see Robin, tapping on his wristwatch computer, M'gann muttering something to Conner who had his usual stoic expression on his face. Kaldur was flicking through a file, his lips moving silently as his eyes moved up and down the page. As nobody else had noticed the ginger's absence, the blonde decided to point it out.
"No, Wally isn't here, we can't start yet." She said, trying to see over the taller members of the JLA but failing miserably, as the other older members of the League were much taller.
"Artemis." Green Arrow walked over to his protege, slinging his bow onto his back and placing a hand on her shoulder. "That is why we called the meeting. Wally's missing." He said gravely, looking at his protege in concern. He knew she had a soft spot for the ginger; their arguments were usually friendly, and they worked well together and had become quite good friends recently, and he also knew for a fact (thank you very much Barry blabber mouth) that the ginger had quite the crush on the blonde archer. He suspected that she had many of the same feelings, but he didn't need to intrude in her business. After all, he had already lost one protege.
As Artemis heard the news, she felt a cold feeling rush through her, like she had been dropped into a pit of icy cold water. A feeling of dread crept up in her heart, as her brain processed the news. No. That couldn't be happening. She put her hand out to steady herself, dropping into the sofa behind her in shock. Wally couldn't have been kidnapped or missing. He was one of the strongest; super speed gave him many abilities, including super healing. So it had to be bad whatever took him, as it took a lot to take him down. This couldn't be good. She didn't like to admit it, but the concern she felt for him was so much more than just a teammate, but kind of empty. Like when she was in combat, she knew he would always be there, and he would always have her back. Now he was gone, and she didn't really know how to deal with it. Blinking away the tear that came to her eye, she stood up.
"Do you have any ideas about his whereabouts, Batman?" Artemis addressed the most senior member of the League, leaning her head up to make eye contact with the black clad man.
"No, we do not have any idea." He replied, in his customary tone. All official and businesslike. The fact that they were just standing there not searching just made the blonde angrier. Why weren't they looking for him? Why did they just abandon him? She wanted to ask, why weren't they looking for him, why the hell were they just STANDING THERE being all OFFICIAL?! Wally was missing for Christ's sake. She covered her eyes with her hands, trying to keep a lid on her emotions before she started going crazy. She removed them a minute later, her eyes still wet, and tear stains on her cheeks, her face steely. But her eyes betrayed her, unsure and scared, not knowing what to do. Like a hunted animal, trying to escape their impending doom.