GHOST PROTOCOL {JLU/DP}

• BOOM •

TEARS WELLED UP IN HER eyes, but Jazz stood up straight, wiped her eyes clear and took the ID card with a straight face, determined not to make a fool out of herself. "Thank you, Superman."

"Please, call me Kal."

She offered a weak smile. "Will do."

"All Leaguers, to the Conference Room, now." Batman ordered with a snap over the intercom.

Jazz glanced at her card and then back to Superman with a skeptical question in her eyes.

Superman smirks a little as he starts floating, offering her a hand. "That means you."

She still seemed skeptical. "Are you sure? Because I'm more of an honorary member--"

"You're a member," Kal stresses, "I selected you because you mentioned that you were used to getting into the mindsets of people who didn't want your help even though they needed it and because I've seen you connect with Joker enough to get him to talk about something even Batman couldn't." He says strongly with a slight tinge of amusement before it softens to reassurance, "Jazz, you may not have powers or be a good shot, but you are good at saving lives. And in the end? That's what matters."

Jazz smiles softly. "Sounds like something I would've said to Phantom..."

"Who?"

"No one," Jazz backtracks casually, brushing off the question. She lifts her arms up. "So, are we going or what, because you chuckleheads decided to forgo any way to get to the Conference Room besides flying or grappling hook." She says to him dryly, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

Superman laughs. "I guess we'll have to fix that then!"

"You mean you'll get some stairs?"

"I mean we'll fix your aim!"

Jazz groaned as he swooped down to grab her, offering her arms, only to be scooped up off her feet like a princess, leaving her spluttering, but she adjusted quickly, remembering her time flying with Danny prior to this mess.

Kal looked at her in surprise. "You've flown like this before?"

She grinned at him mischievously. "I did say I had experience, didn't I?"

He shook his head, chuckling a bit, a wide smile etched across his face, "And here I thought you meant you helped Metas."

Jazz let out a short, sharp laugh of slight disbelief and incredulousness. "Ha! Trust me, once your patient has to relate to you the bizarre story of how he gave love advice to his enemies and they listened, nothing seems weird."

Superman looked at her incredulously. "You're kidding."

"Oh-ho-ho, I'm not! It was the weirdest week of my life and he was thrown for such a loop he--" Jazz cut off, the blood draining from her face as her voice caught. "N-never mind," She mumbles rapidly, keeping her eyes on the ground. "But to answer you question, yes, I have flown before, though not like this-- he'd grab my arms and drag me wherever-- did it to most people to get them out of a blast zone."

"'Did'?" Kal parrots.

Jazz's voice caught. "...He was killed six months ago," She said quietly. "His daughter was off travelling with a friend. She doesn't even know. Part of me hopes she never will no matter how selfish it is..."

Kal looks at her with a both worried and saddened expression. "You know that you have to tell her. It's gone on too long as it is if it's been six months."

Jazz shook her head, a lump in her throat. "It's out of my hands. She probably thinks he just went radio silent. Her uncle refuses to tell her."

The flew quietly the rest of the way up, and once they landed, Kal hesitated a moment before putting her down.

"...Thanks..."

"Of course."

"...Can... you not mention this..? I... I was technically her aunt, and... he didn't even know he was the father... it... it was just a mess..." Jazz says quietly, raking a hand through her hair.

Kal nods, smiling a little. "Of course."

Jazz nodded and started to head for the door that would take her to the conference room when Kal called, "Jazz?"

She turned to face him, hand inches from the key card scanner, look inquisitive.

"If you need to talk... well... I've got two ears that work above average."

Jazz bursts into slightly tearful laughter. "Thanks! I'll keep that in mind!"

In a comforting silence, the two walk in.

"Good. Our resident expert on Amity Park is here," Batman quips monotonously as they arrive. Jazz looks at him in confusion. "What?"

"Tell me, how often do two neon green mushroom clouds appear in your town?"

All the regained blood rushed from her face in one fatal swoop until she was paper white. "What?"