Catching I Bruce Wayne

XXXIX

Dick, Damian, M'gann, Connor, Artemis, and Wally returned to the compound with the unconscious body of Zero. They left the others on the hotel in case someone else decided to attack the diplomat. They were all capable of protecting the diplomat on their own and if things got too out of hand they could always Zeta Tube to the nearest location.

The matter at hand was more serious. No one understood why they brought Zero, normally they'd turn her over to the authorities. Also, Dick was seriously freaking out, no one understood what was happening.

They put Zero in the infirmary room, her hands and legs were cuffed, so if she woke up she wouldn't be able to run away. The others were in the living room. Damian was leaned against the wall. Wally and Artemis were at their feet, watching Dick walk back and forth while looking like a maniac. M'gann was sitting at the couch, since Martians were badly effected by fire, she was still recovering. Connor was sitting by her side.

" Does he always get like this?" Damian asked. He wasn't trying to be sarcastic or rude, well- maybe not entirely, but he was genuinely curious. He had never seen Dick like this. He was always so, collected. The only time he lost his cool was the other day and he had a big finger in him losing it.

Wally walked to Dick and tried to stop him. He didn't stop, kept walking and mumbling things to himself. " Dick!" Wally finally shouted. Dick's head went up. He seemed to get out of a trance. " What?" he snapped. " Dude, what's going on?" Wally asked.

Dick took a deep breath. It was like he was trying to put some pieces together. He looked so vulnerable. His eyes were red. Dick hugged Wally. Wally was just as surprised. He had never seen his best friend like that. If someone were to have a meltdown, Dick would be the last person he'd name.

Suddenly Dick jerked away. " I need to go in there," he muttered and quickly went there. Wally looked at his girlfriend. " What. Just. Happened?" Artemis said. " I don't know babe, I don't know," Wally sighed and walked toward her.

" No, seriously. He's been acting weird for a while now. Something is going on," Connor said and got up. " He's been having a rough couple of days. You know," Wally defended. " But he seemed fine today. He changed once the mask came off, he froze," M'gann said from the couch.

Once Zero was knocked unconscious Dick put the mask back on her face. But when he fell to his knees Wally sped to his side to see if he was injured. And for a split second, he saw her face. Wally took a deep breath.

" Yeah," he mumbled. " The thing is, he never gets like this. We all know this. The only time is when ..." Then, suddenly, everything made sense. He put the pieces together. " FUCK!" Wally gasped loudly, startling everyone. " What?" Damian asked, he was annoyed. " I need to go," Wally mumbled and quickly sped away. Damian sighed. " Great, we lost him too," he mumbled.

" That's it, I'm calling Barbara. She'll deal with him," Artemis said and took out her phone.

Wally walked into the infirmary room. Dick was standing over the bed, looking at her. Her mask was still on. " Dick," Wally let out and went to his side. He grabbed his shoulder and made him turn to face him. " It's her, isn't it?" he asked.

Dick looked at him. He looked sad, in shock, despair. He looked broken. " How?" Dick whispered.  " How can it be?" his voice croaked. " I don't know," Wally whispered. He took a deep breath. " One way to know for sure," he said and the two friends shared a look.

Dick faintly nodded his head, understanding what his friend was hinting at and giving permission. Wally slowly took off her mask. They both took a deep breath. Dick looked like he was going to cry.

It was Skylar. Zero was Skylar. Firegirl.

Everyone from the 'old' Team knew what she looked like. Wally first met her at his aunt's wedding. And they had a commemoratory hall in the watchtower for the allies they had lost in battle. Her hologram was there too, of course, it was her hero disguise, but since Wally had met her before, he knew her face. What she looked like. That was her.