Ten: Consequences

Aré fell unconscious the moment he was pulled from the computer. He would have hit the floor hard had Bruce not caught him. Blood flowed freely from his ears and nose. His teeth were stained red from internal bleeding. His breathing was shallow, his lungs sounded like they were full of fluid. Most likely more blood.

"Infirmary—"

"On it Bats," Flash took Aré from Bruce and ran down to the infirmary.

Bruce replaced his cowl and quickly followed after Flash. He could almost feel Terry and the others following after him. They weaved their way through the corridors and people who lined them. Most who knew him knew enough to get out of his way. The few who didn't were quickly schooled on why it was not a good idea to block him.

He reached the infirmary in record time. Doctors were trying their best to stop the bleeding. He'd never seen Aré's magic harm him. He didn't know it could. Aré had always been able to heal quickly, to see him hooked up to monitors with a tube down his throat was more than a little disconcerting.

"What's wrong with him?"

One of the doctors working on Aré answered, "We're not sure yet." The doctor's hands were red from blood. Aré's coat had been opened and his shirt cut off. There was a tube sticking out the side of his chest. His torso was dark from bruises and blood. His whole body was flushed, looking like he had a fever but Bruce knew that wasn't the problem. His blood looked to almost be seeping through his pours. "All we know is he's bleeding internally and we have no way of stopping it."

Batman watched as blood was set up for a transfusion. "How is that possible?"

The doctor, a middle aged man with salt and pepper hair turned to glare at him. "I told you I don't know yet. We're not exactly well versed in Phoenix's anatomy. He's identical to humans in his organs and their locations however his magical ability has always been an unknown factor. We don't know enough about his species to know why he's not healing like he should or what could have caused him to start bleeding in the first place." He returned his attention to Aré who continued to bleed on the table. It ran like rivers onto the floor. "It's like all of the blood vesicles in his body burst starting with his head and working their way down. His blood was boiling."

Dark bruises continued to from along Aré's abdomen where blood had pooled. This couldn't be happening. He'd nearly lost Terry and now he was about to lose the only flesh and blood he had left. He couldn't do this.

"What about his dad?" Terry asked.

The doctor's attention snapped back to them. "He has living relatives?" The doctor didn't wait for an answer. "If you know a blood relative for Phoenix get them here quick. The closer in relation the better. What was he doing before this happened?"

"He was using his magic," Batman supplied. Aré had opened a connection to another time. Aré had told him before that he couldn't travel time. Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Aré had forced his powers to do something they weren't able to do. It had to have put an enormous amount of strain on his body. "I have to contact his father."

"You need to stay, I'll do it," Superman said then ran from the room.

He knew Superman was right. If the only way to save Aré was to reveal their relationship to these people then so be it. At least until Kane arrived. "How much blood do you need?"

"Your blood wouldn't do any good. You're not related."

For the first time Batman voiced a secret only few in the tower knew, "I am. Phoenix is my uncle. How much blood do you need?"

The doctor looked momentarily surprised. "More than you can give but I'll take what I can get so long as you're a match."

"I have type O blood."

The doctor turned to a nurse. "Set up an i/v for him."

"Set up two."

Batman was speechless when Terry spoke. The boy, whose cowl was back in place, gave a sheepish shrug. "I told him I wouldn't tell anyone but what's more important, the secret or his life?"

"How…?" Though he probably knew.

"Hi dad."

Could this day be any more full of surprises? What was next? Was Hell going to open an ice rink? He didn't have time to contemplate or take in the gravity of Terry's words.

They both went about removing sections of their armor which would allow the nurses to take their blood without revealing their identities. Though the medical staff was sworn to secrecy and also had doctor patient confidentiality some habits were hard to break.

It seemed to take forever for the blood bags to be filled but the moment they were done they were given to Aré. Batman began to wonder what was taking Kane. He knew the man well enough to know Kane would drop anything at a moment's notice for Aré. The nurses took the blood he and Terry donated and immediately began to give it to Aré. After a bag and a half had been given the bleeding appeared to be slowing down.

"His blood pressure is still too low." The doctor made an adjustment on one of the machines. "He's also not getting enough oxygen."

"And that means…" Terry prompted.

"The lack of oxygen can cause permanent brain damage. If his oxygen levels get too much lower he will die."

"What about his blood?" Batman asked.

"It's slowly starting to clot. Something has seriously messed with his system. We took a sample of his blood for tests. Hopefully we'll know more once the results come back."

Where was Superman? Batman was about ready to start climbing the walls or go search for the man himself. The door behind them opened and Batman was relieved to see Superman with Kane right behind him.

Kane immediately went over to his son. "What do you need of me?" he asked the doctor.

"He needs the blood of a close relative. We're hoping it'll help heal him. We've already given Phoenix donations from those two."

Kane's turned to him and Terry. His eyes widened momentarily when he realized what it meant that Terry had given blood that had helped. He reached down and pulled out a small dagger from a holster in his boot. Turning one of Aré's hands up he cut his son's palm before cutting a deep gash in his own and placing their hands together. "Naosu," heal.

The moment Kane spoke Aré began to thrash about. The doctors and nurses attempted to restrain his flailing limbs only to be knocked away. A glow surrounded the two. Kane held Aré's hand tight while Aré seized, allowing the blood to flow from him into his son. The bruises on Aré's body slowly began to fade. Kane reached with his free hand to pull the chest tube free, the wound closing afterwards. Aré's vital signs began to return to normal.

Shortly after the seizing had stopped Aré's eyes fluttered open and he looked around in confusion, his gaze still a bit disoriented. One of the doctors removed the breathing tube.

"How do you feel?" Kane asked his son.

"Like I was hit by a bus," Aré rasped. He curled towards his father, clasping his head. "Hurts," he said in his native tongue. He coughed, left over blood covered his hands when he did so.

Kane ran his fingers through his son's hair. "I know." Kane's gaze immediately settled on Batman. Switching back to English, "What happened to him?"

"We were trying to contact the time the boy comes from."

Kane leaned down to whisper in Aré's ear. Aré nodded then Kane came over to him, gripping his arm and hauling him from the room. "What do you know?"

Batman told Kane everything he knew about Terry and Aré's trip through time. "We managed to contact the future. He was fine until—"

"You should have known better," Kane growled. "His ability to travel time has been blocked for unknown reasons by an unknown source." Kane ripped the cowl from Batman's head, grabbing his throat and squeezing. Bruce gasped for breath. "You nearly killed my son. Be thankful Aré didn't die boy. If he had nothing could save you from my wrath, his kin or not."

Kane let go and Bruce sucked in large gulps of air. He was thankful they were in an area no one could see them. Then again given Kane's mood an audience would probably have been a good thing. "I'm sorry."

"You say that but how would you feel if you were in my place?"

It was then Terry's words came back to him, 'Hi dad.' God, Terry was his son and he had nearly lost him only a few days before. He'd even seen him… "I watched my son die once. I'll do everything in my power never to see it again."

Kane tilted his head to the side. "The boy."

"How did—"

"I figured it out when I saw you two together. You look very similar and you both carry the essence of Aré in your blood. I simply didn't say anything before."

Bruce replaced his cowl and followed Kane back to the infirmary. He noticed Terry was the only one waiting. Kane went over to his son who looked to still be in some pain. The doctors had gone about attempting to clean him up. There was still a lot of blood covering Aré.

The two conversed in low tones before Aré finally sat up. He gripped his head, covering his eyes. Kane pulled Aré to him, rubbing his back. The glare he sent Batman would be very hard to misinterpret. Kane was right, Bruce should have known better.

"He's going to be okay right?" Terry asked softly.

Batman nodded, "Now that his father is here. Where did everyone go?"

"They thought it was best to let Aré rest for a while." Terry turned his attention to him. "I'm glad we were able to tell you and my mom we were fine. I just wish it hadn't made Aré sick. What would cause that? I mean, I thought he and his dad were the only ones who were allowed to go back and forth through time. Why can't he now?"

It was a question Batman had no answer for. "I don't know. Nothing should be able to prevent it."

"I wonder if it has to do with…" Terry motioned with his head for them to leave the room. Once in the hallway Terry continued, his voice low, "something happened to Kane in my time. I don't know what. Aré said he was under some kind of spell. The first time I saw him he was in some kind of glass coffin. He looked… I don't know exactly how to describe it. He looked dead but you could tell he wasn't. I guess suspended or frozen would be the best way to describe it."

The only one who would truly gain from removing Kane from his position was Sora. That woman had been working for centuries to take control of Gaia. Though the last he knew she did not have the power to pull off the kind of spell Terry was talking about. "It is possible it's connected but I'm not so sure. Something happening in the future like that shouldn't affect his abilities in this time." One more mystery which needed to be solved.

Sounds of protest came from inside the infirmary. He and Terry turned back just as the door opened. Aré paused when he saw them, pulling his coat tighter around himself. He looked like hell, his eyes were still bloodshot, his complexion pale, covered in residual blood and he looked like he wanted to vomit and pass out all at once.

Aré grabbed onto the edge of the doorway to keep from falling over. Kane was right behind him, "You need to rest."

"I'm fine," Aré protested.

"You don't look fine." Terry said.

Batman saw inside the room where the doctors looked at a loss at what to do. Their own voices of protest had been heard and it was obvious Aré was ignoring them. "Listen to you father."

"Like you listened to me?" Aré placed his other hand against his head again. He groaned, "I feel like my head is going to explode."

"Let's go back inside and you can lie down." Kane placed a steadying hand on his son's back. "You need to give yourself time to heal. You lost a lot of blood."

Aré turned pain filled eyes back on his father, "I'm not going back in there."

Kane nodded, seeming to have come to the same realization as Batman had. Aré hated doctors and the idea of being stuck in a hospital, even one maintained by the Justice League frightened him. He was always afraid he was going to end up some kind of science experiment.

"Fine," Kane reached up and placed his hand against Aré's forehead, "sleep."

Aré's eyes rolled back and he collapsed against his father who picked him up right away.

"What did you do?" Terry asked at the same time the doctors rushed over.

"I simply put him to sleep." Kane reassured them. He looked at Batman. "Where can I put him?"

Batman motioned with his head for Kane to follow. He led both Kane and Terry to where he kept quarters while at the Tower. Aré made it a habit to not stay at the Tower. On the rare occasion he had to he always stole Batman's quarters.

They reached his room quickly, avoiding as many people as possible. Kane placed Aré on the small bed along the far wall, taking the blanket at the end of it and using it to cover Aré. Once he was satisfied he turned to Batman. "This is going to stop."

That came out of left field, "Excuse me?"

Kane waved his hands around the room. "I'm tired of you and everyone else here taking my son for granted. Every time you have something wrong you come to him expecting him to be some kind of miracle worker simply because he's Fae. You need to get out of trouble, who do you send for? First time you were hurt while you were out doing…" He made a vague gesture at Batman's suit, "that. Who was the one to heal your wounds so you wouldn't get caught? Who's covered for you time and time again when some idiot figures out whom you are under there? Who was it that healed Terry of his injuries? Aré told me about what happened. Aré has bled for you more times than I can remember and this time you almost got him killed."

"Aré's my family, I think of him like a brother."

"I know you care for him but you have a shitty way of showing it."

Bruce pulled his cowl off. "Look I'm sorry—"

Kane folded his arms across his chest looking every bit the king he was. "You say that every damn time. It's not just the physical wounds you cause him, have you ever thought about the emotional ones? When you came to Gaia a couple months ago it was because you were trying to figure out how Terry got here. All you cared about was the mystery you needed to solve. You treat Aré like a child but he's not. He may look like he's twenty but you need to stop trying to control his every move."

"I am not trying to control him."

"Oh really?" Kane scoffed. "You want him at your every beck and call. He's been trying to send Terry and himself back to the time they belong in and what did you do when you found out he hadn't told you what had happened? You got mad and treated him like a child because you don't think he can handle it."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it? Remember the Robert Josephs incident? You had been on him for days about his insomnia. Constantly checking on him, making sure he didn't do something to expose you all. I understand, in part, why you did it but it doesn't excuse your treatment of him."

"He'd been falsely accused of murder by his brother if you recall. Hell, he passed out in his jail cell and Gordon saw what he was. He's damn lucky Gordon likes us enough to keep his mouth shut. If he'd just come to me he would have been fine."

"How can you be so sure? You treat him as if he doesn't know how the world works. As if he needs to get a little older before he can be let out on his own. You have known him since you were how old, ten? Was he the same child then that you see him as now?"

"It isn't like that. You don't understand, he's not—"

Kane's eyebrow rose, "not what?"

Bruce's eyes went wide as realization of what he was going to say hit him. His mouth worked but no words passed his lips.

"He's not human? That's what you were about to say isn't it?" Kane shook his head, his expression twisting into one of frustrated anger. "I had truly hoped you were different. That you would see Aré for who he is instead of what he is. Aré isn't blind to what you think of him but he still has faith that as family you would eventually see what so few take the time to. You've never seen him as anything except for your immortal uncle who has the power to make your life easier."

"I…"

"Leave."

"Kane—"

"I said leave," Kane bellowed, his eyes glowing white momentarily. Taking the hint, Bruce turned and left.

Aré heard the door close after Bruce and Terry left. He cracked an eye open, "You didn't have to be so harsh dad."

Kane turned towards him, his ire still tangible. "You should be sleeping."

Aré sat up and shrugged, "What can I say? I was a little resistant."

"Stubborn is more like it." Kane pulled a chair close to the bed and sat. "I meant what I said to him."

"I know you did but contacting the future wasn't his idea. It was mine."

Kane shook his head. "Yet he would have suggested it eventually."

"Maybe," Aré rubbed his eyes. He was tired but he couldn't let himself sleep knowing Naku and the others were out there gunning for Bruce and Terry. "I also had to know if things there had changed."

"Your blood was boiling Aré. The amount of power you were forcing yourself to…" Kane swallowed, "Why would you do such a thing?"

"This is my responsibility. Naku and Sora came back using a time machine, bringing with them people who want to kill Batman. If they kill Bruce then Terry will never become Batman and things there will become worse."

"Well you have one more thing to yell at your nephews for when you're up to it."

"What… Nephews?" He groaned, "Son of a bitch. I'm gonna kill Terry."

"Don't blame him. He and Bruce donated blood to keep you alive until I arrived." He reached over, taking Aré's hand and squeezing. "I don't want you doing anything like this again. If you need to contact the future, ask me to do it."

"Can you? Are you even able to send us back?" Aré had thought about asking his father but since they still had to foil Naku's plans he'd never brought it up.

"I can always try."

"And end up like I just did, no thanks."

"Aré—"

"Dad please, I heard what you said to Bruce and you're just as guilty of treating me like a child as he is."

"I'm your father, I'm entitled."

"Whatever."

"You're grounded."

Aré laughed, "You can't ground me."

"Want to place money on that?"

"No, I want to crawl into a dark hole and pull a Rip Van Winkle."

Kane shook his head, chuckling softly.

"What?" Aré asked.

"You complain about their being stubborn. Ever wonder where they learned it from?"

"Don't blame this on me. It's all Mari's fault."

"Who taught her?"

"I…" Aré reached behind him and threw the pillow at his father. "Shut up."

The two sobered up, "I suppose this explains why Sora and Nakumaru are no longer at the palace."

"When did they leave?"

"A couple of days ago. It's not unlike them to leave but this," Kane shook his head, "this was different."

"How so?"

"I suspected something was wrong when I felt another shift in time. I don't know how they masked it but somehow Sora and Nakumaru did. So much for them being at the summer palace."

"We have to release Naku from his curse."

"I know but I am not about to sacrifice one child to save another."

Aré looked away, "You may not have a choice. Besides, hasn't he suffered enough?"

Kane reached up, taking Aré's chin and forcing Aré to look at him. "I am not going to let you die. Aré listen to me. I have fought too long and too hard to simply allow for you to give up. Regardless of what I said to Bruce I think of him as family as well. He's your kin and having him in your life makes you happy. I'm not going to let anything happen to any of you."

"Easier said than done."

"Ever the pessimist."

"No, I'm being realistic. Bruce said Joker was there when Terry was hurt. That means Naku's recruiting people from this time. It may not just be Joker."

"Right now it can all wait. You need rest."

"What I need is a fifth of whisky and a loose woman."

Kane smacked him aside the head, causing Aré's headache to flare. "Don't be a smart ass. Besides Mai wouldn't like the last part."

Aré rubbed his head, "Unless she was the—"

"Ah!" Kane interrupted, "I don't want to know what you do in the privacy of your bedroom. I don't care how old you are you're still my baby."

Aré leaned down to capture his father's attention. "Gaga."

"Cheeky brat."

"You love me."

Kane shook his head. "Go to sleep." He stood stopping any protest Aré had when he said, "Don't make me use a stronger spell."

"Fine," Aré took his pillow back and laid back down. "This isn't over."

"Yes it is." Kane tucked Aré in.

Aré rolled onto his side muttering, "Napoleonic power monger."

"You have been watching way too much Stargate SG-1. You're starting to emulate Jack O'Neill."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"With you, maybe."

"Love you too dad."

Aré closed his eyes. His head hurt less once he did so. Damn he hadn't realized just how much the lights were hurting him. He forced himself to rest. He didn't fall asleep but he did plan on what he was going to do to stop his brother and step mother from killing his family.

Nakumaru watched as Joker went through the process of making his toxin. He stood in the doorway as the purple clad man moved back and forth between the various stages of the procedure. He paid no attention to Joker's mutterings. The man was insane, even Naku knew that, but he was a vital part in his mother's plans. It also killed Naku knowing what he was doing and having no way of warning his brother.

He turned when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. "Did you retrieve what I told you to?"

Spellbinder and Derek Powers stopped. "We did," Powers replied.

"Interesting package," said Spellbinder. "Gross but interesting."

"Where is it?"

"In the other room," Powers said. "What did you want with it anyway?"

"It's just another piece of the puzzle."

Joker turned around now, having heard the conversation. "More toys for us to play with?"

"Nothing I will let you touch," Nakumaru replied. He may not be in control of all of his actions but with this he would allow no harm to come. "If any of you so much as think of harming—"

Spellbinder held up his hands, "Hey what you want to do with a bunch of bones is your business. It's a strange kink but whatever."

Did this man honestly think he… Ugh these… things had disgusting thought processes. "That is not why I had you collect them." Leaving Joker to his own devices, Naku went in search of the package he had had the other two collect. Upon entering his private room he found the box placed upon the desk. Naku opened the box. Inside was a human skeleton. He honestly couldn't believe his mother was going to do this. It went against everything…

Nakumaru felt a sharp pain along his spine causing him to suck his breath in sharply. Dropping the lid of the box he turned to where his mother stood with one hand outstretched. The kanji along his back burned.

"You were thinking of the bastard again."

The pain subsided allowing Nakumaru to catch his breath. Actually he hadn't been thinking of Aré but now that she mentioned it. How he wished he could speak freely. He fought for control over his body. "This is wrong Mother," he ground out. "It goes against the highest laws."

Sora shrugged, seeming indifferent. "Those laws will be forfeit when you take the throne."

"I don't want it."

She moved over to him, placing her ice cold hand against his cheek. Naku's skin crawled. This may have been the woman who birthed him but he hated her with every fiber of his being. "Perhaps but it will be yours which will in turn make it mine."

"You are never going to release me are you?"

Sora smiled, it was a frightful sight. "You are mine, my precious son. I will not allow anyone to take you from me."

"Not even papa."

"Your father is weak. His feelings towards the halfbreed will always make him weak."

"Stop calling my brother that!" Pain shot along his spine once more forcing Naku to his knees. He gasped for breath while spots danced in his vision.

"Do not make me have to punish you."

He glared up at his mother, feeling himself lose control of his body once again. "Yes Mother." Rot in Hell bitch!

"Good, now come. We have a ceremony to perform."

The pain once again receding, Naku stood, picked up the box and followed his mother from the room.

Terry found Aré a few hours later sitting in front of the computer in Batman's quarters seemingly engrossed with whatever he was doing. He looked better, his color had returned. He'd changed out of his bloody clothes. The intense look he was giving the computer screen made Terry curious. "What are you doing?"

Aré used the mouse to move something, "Playing Spider Solitaire."

Terry blinked, "You're kidding. You look like you're trying to solve some kind of intense math problem."

Aré glanced away from the screen before returning his attention back to his game. "You ever try to beat the four suit version? I've never won a game. Gah, screw this," there was some more mouse clicking, "I'm going back to the two suits."

Terry couldn't believe this, "You're using a multi-billion dollar computer to play solitaire?"

"You got any better ideas right now?"

Actually he did, "Couldn't you be using that to try and find your brother?"

Aré leaned back in his chair, "I could but it wouldn't do me any good. Naku's not usually one to be on the grid, if you know what I mean."

Great, so they were back to square one.

"By the way, being here right now probably isn't the smartest thing for you to do."

Terry cocked his head to the side, "What are you talking about?"

"What did I tell you not to do before we got here?" Aré didn't give Terry a chance to answer. "I told you under no uncertain terms to tell Bruce about your true relationship to him. Didn't I? Why can't you listen, just for once?"

Terry bristled, "You were dying. What was I supposed to do, let you bleed out on the table? I did what I could to help keep you alive until your dad could get here."

Aré turned his gaze away, "It wasn't worth the risk."

"You're life wasn't worth it? What the hell? Does everyone in this family have suicidal tendencies?"

Aré's lips twitched, not quite forming a smile. "Apparently so. You seem to have a knack for it."

"Look Aré, I wasn't going to stand there and let you die when I had the ability to help. Dad would never have forgiven me if I had. I wouldn't have forgiven myself."

"It's not that simple Terry, it never is. Did you even bother to stop and think about the consequences?"

"Actually no, but since we're on the topic. You've been telling me over and over that we can't mess up the timeline. How badly would things have been screwed up if you had died?"

The look on Aré's face told him the other man obviously hadn't thought about that one. Terry kept his satisfied smirk in check.

"That's not the point," Aré eventually said.

Terry couldn't help the roll of his eyes. They were going in circles. They seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "Whatever, point is it's done and over with. Can we please focus on more important things?"

"Yes, more important things." Aré rubbed at his eyes, tipping his char back so that only the last two legs were on the floor, his feet pushed against the desk to keep him there. He glanced at Terry, "How's he taking it by the way?"

It took a second for Terry to realize what Aré was talking about. "Uh, well…" he rubbed the back of his neck, "better than I thought actually. I haven't told him that my mom isn't even born yet."

"Oh yeah, surefire way to make him feel old," Aré laughed. "All joking aside, it'll probably be good for him once we get back to our time. He doesn't have a lot of family."

"And now he's got two sons."

Aré shuddered, "That's just creepy." He sobered, seemingly to set him mind back to the task at hand. "Right now I honestly have no idea what to do, as much as I hate to admit it. I just… I have a very bad feeling Terry. And I feel like I'm dragging innocent people into my problems. Naku is my brother and I… I don't want to lose anyone."

"We'll find a way to save him," Terry said with conviction. "There's something else I came to talk to you about."

"What's that?"

Terry pulled out a chair and sat. Given that Aré had nearly died a few hours ago he could understand everyone's wanting to let Aré rest but what Terry had overhead he felt Aré should be told. He wasn't exactly sure of the significance but…

"Part of the reason I came was I think there may be some new evidence to help us find your brother."

Aré looked intrigued, "oh?"

"Yeah, though no one's told you yet because of," he made a gesture with his hands, "you almost dying and all. The reason it took Superman so long to find your dad was because your dad was busy."

"He does run a country."

"He wasn't busy with that." Terry said. He took a breath, "He was checking out a…" Terry suppressed a shudder, "…a grave."

Confusion was written all over Aré's face. "Okay… You've lost me."

"Your sister's name was Mari right?"

Terry watched as Aré's color drained. "Yes," Aré replied hesitantly.

Terry nodded, swallowing around the lump which had suddenly formed in his throat. "Your dad was investigating her grave. Someone desecrated it, her bones are gone."

There was a beat of silence then, "What!"