Second Chances

.

"Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures: A fear of time running out."- Mitch Alborn

.

.

.

Everything around him was a blur. In a portal of blue light, Wally ran as fast as he could. Artemis was just up ahead, waiting for him to reach her.

Looking back, shadowy apparition clawed at him.

"Wally, run away. Forget about me!" Artemis cried out as her face showed the fear she had for him.

"I won't leave you!" The speedster shouted just as he felt hold fingers touch his shoulder. It tugged him so that they were facing each other. The thing in front of him opened his mouth as Wally could feel his life source slowly leaving him.

"WALLY!" Artemis screamed.

Mount Justice

April 4, 8:36 EDT

Green eyes shot open as he jolted up from bed. He tried to calm down, closing his eyes and trying to catch his breath. Just what was that dream about?

Wally stared at the calendar in front of him with an unreadable expression. It was April 4th; a couple of weeks til that terrible mission came up. Time had gone by so fast; he didn't even realize it until now. Running a hand through his red hair, Wally took a shaky breath. He had to prepare everything to make sure Artemis didn't go on the missions that would lead to her death.

Stepping out of his room at the base, he quickly freshened up before walking into the kitchen where he heard the sounds of laughter. Artemis was in the kitchen making breakfast with M'gann and Zatanna. It was the weekend and the team decided to stay at the base. The team had gotten very close after New Years.

The first thing they did as a team was to try and find the real Roy Harper. Wally had given Batman the information he had in secrecy. But just like his timeline, they had nothing to go on. However, Red Arrow had joined the team here and there after everyone had talked to him. He agreed to stay until the real Roy Harper was found. During the past few months, he had begun to train Artemis due to Green Arrow's request.

He hadn't wasted his months with Artemis either. They were now together and in love. This was something that didn't happen in his timeline. Kaldur had pressed him into telling Artemis the truth about everything eventually. Robin and Zatanna had agreed with their leader. Wally was still hesitant in doing so. He still hadn't told Superboy and Miss Martian.

"-in there? Hello?"

The young speedster was pulled out of his thoughts as he saw Artemis in front of him with a concerned look on her face.

"What?" Was all he could say.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she reached out for his hand to hold. "I've been trying to get your attention."

Wally squeezed her hand back in reassurance. "I'm fine babe." He responded with a kiss on her cheek, causing the archer to blush.

"Well, it seems your stomach led you to the kitchen in time. We just finished making breakfast for you boys." Artemis smiled as she led him to the table. The smell of pancakes, bacon, and eggs caused his stomach to growl in hunger.

"Beautiful, smart, strong, and can whip up an awesome breakfast? You sure know how to make me fall in love with you over and over again." Wally smirked as he gave his girlfriend a wink. Artemis shook her head as she hid a smile. Zatanna and M'gann tried to cover their giggles.

"I smell breakfast!" Robin said as he and the others came into the room.

"Good morning boys!" M'gann greeted.

Morning went by great until Batman entered the room. For some reason the air in the room began to feel tense.

"I have a mission for you all in Bialya." The dark knight spoke.

Wally began to get an uneasy feeling in his stomach. They weren't supposed to have their Bialya mission until the 18th.

"WALLY!"

Wally closed his eyes as he tried to forget that terrible dream he had.

Seeing the speedster tense up, Robin stepped forward. "What is the mission?"

"Queen Bee has been spotted preparing something. Seems like someone is coming and we're going to stop her plans before they begin. We need to figure out info on who it is and when they're coming." Batman answered.

"April 18…" Wally answered. "That's when Kobra is going to appear to pick up the emerald."

"Then we have to get it from her first." Artemis said with a confident tone. She soon turned to look at Batman. "When do we go?"

"NO!" Wally shouted out, shocking the others.

Kaldur quickly grabbed the redhead and walked away from the group. Artemis looked at the two in confusion before Zatanna went to get her mind off it.
Aqualad led the speedster to an abandoned hallway.

Wally didn't say anything as his mind went back to the last time he talked to Aqualad in his timeline.

.

.

.

"Aqualad…" Wally called out to his leader.

It was only he and Kaldur at the base. It had been a week since the funeral and members were dealing with Artemis' death in their own ways. No one wanted to be at the base. When Wally couldn't find Aqualad anywhere in the base, he went outside to find the older boy staring off into the ocean. It was late in the day and was beginning to get dark.

"Hello Wally." Kaldur said slowly as he never took his eyes off the waves moving in front of him.

Silence entered between them as Wally joined him in watching the waves. As he listened to the waves, all he could think about was seeing Artemis fall off the cliff and into the ocean. The speedster wondered if his leader was thinking of when he jumped into the water after their fallen comrade.

"She used to join me here once in a while to watch the waves." Kaldur finally spoke. "She said it had a calming effect on her and wondered if it did the same for me."

"Did it?" Wally asked as he turned his head to gaze at him.
"It made me miss my home for a while. I would come here and wonder how Tula and the others were back at home. I missed my family. As the nights went by and Artemis would continue to join me out here, I realized that I did have my family with me. I did have a home. It was all with you guys. And then…" Aqualad's voice began to crack as tears appeared in his eyes, slowly and quietly rolling down his cheeks. "…the water was supposed to help me. I couldn't find her in the water. I wasn't quick enough. Then I thought maybe I didn't find her body because I didn't want to. I didn't want to see her that way. I let her sink down in the ocean all alone."

"Aqualad, you know it's not your fault."

"How can you guys still have me as a leader? I failed that mission. I failed you guys. I failed Artemis. Now she's gone. I-I had put in my resignation to the Justice League. I-I need time for myself. I'm sorry."

.

.

.

"Wally. You need to get it together." Their leader spoke. Wally blinked a couple times as he realized he was back in the hallway with Kaldur.

"I-I'm sorry. Things in the timeline were changing and it scared me." Wally answered honestly. "I can't go through that again…"

"You won't." Kaldur nodded. "We won't let Artemis die this time around."

"What did you say?" A new voice said, causing them to jump. The boys turned around to see Conner standing on the other side of the hallway in shock. Super hearing. They had forgotten.
"Superboy, we can explain-"Conner had stalked over to them with building confusion and anger growing on his facial expressions.

"What are you hiding? What happened in your timeline?" Conner said as he glowered down at the redhead in front of him.

"We couldn't find Roy-"

"DON'T. LIE. TO. ME." Conner practically growled.

"Artemis is gonna die on April 23rd trying to achieve the emerald that Queen Bee has in her possession right now." As Kaldur spoke, Wally could only watch as the anger started to wash off Superboy as disbelief replaced it. "Wally came back from the future to prevent her death."

'That is the real reason I came back…" Wally frowned. "You can't tell anyone else. Too many people know and we can't be changing the timeline anymore right now until that day. That means no telling M'Gann."
"We promise we wouldn't lie to each other." Conner sounded defeated.

"This is the only way to save Artemis." Wally muttered as he looked down. Silence fell between the three.

"How?" Conner finally asked.

"How what?" The redhead looked up.

Conner was looking at the wall as if he was trying to keep his feelings at bay. "How did she die?"

"Kobra…he was the one who killed Artemis." Wally choked up a bit. "He had her by the throat, crushed her neck, and threw her over a cliff and into an ocean like it was nothing."

"Kobra…" Superboy said as if it was bitterness in his mouth. "He'll be the one coming to Bialya to retrieve this emerald necklace."

Wally nodding was what gave Superboy the sign to walk away, leaving the other two alone.

"Do you think he's gonna tell M'gann?" Wally soon asked.

Aqualad continued to watch Conner walk away before shaking his head. "I don't know."

X

Mount Justice

April 5th, 17:45 EDT

Wally wasn't sure but it felt like everyone was trying to spend time with Artemis. He felt like he wasn't able to get any alone time with her. After the meeting yesterday, Artemis had asked him about his outburst. He made an excuse that talking about the emerald reminded him that he wasn't able to figure out his mission with Ray Harper yet. Artemis had spent the rest of the day trying to make him feel better. Since that day, everyone had been taking his time away with Artemis.

Batman felt that taking the Queen Bee by surprise would be their best bet to get the emerald before Kobra. Instead of yesterday, they pushed the mission to the 8th. Just ten days before the actual mission.

The mission to face Kobra was in three days and Wally wasn't sure if he was ready to face Artemis' killer just yet. He just needed to find Artemis. Walking around, he heard sparing happening. Entering the training room, he saw M'gann floating in the air as she was watching Conner and Artemis fight.

"Hey Wally!" M'gann greeted as Wally didn't say anything and watched the two fight.

His eyes widened as he watched Super boy's movements. For some reason, it reminded him of Kobra. He was beginning to get a weird feeling in his stomach.

"Are you okay Wally?" M'gann tried to talk to him again. Artemis finally looked over, hearing M'gann. The archer's eyes met with his. All of a sudden, Superboy had grabbed Artemis by the throat and lifted her in the air. Artemis wrapped her hands around his large ones as she struggled to breathe.

"How would you get out of this situation if someone had you in this position?" Conner asked, his voice raising. "You can't be distracted."

"I-I get it. Let me go!"

Wally continued to watch as he took a step forward. Instead of Conner holding Artemis, he saw Kobra.

.

.

.

"Kobra, we have the pac kage. Let her go to fight another day and let's leave." Sportsmaster ordered as he blocked Robin's kicks and Kid Flash's punches.

Cheshire and Red Arrow watched Kobra wearily as they positioned their weapons at Kobra. Psimon, who was in another mind battle with M'gann, knocked out Superboy and Zatanna. Artemis continued to kick around as her feet dangled in the air. She dug her nails hard against Kobra's wrists. She tried gasping for air as she continued to be choked to death.

"Let her go." Aqualad shouted as water from the ocean hovered behind him.

Kobra smirked. "With pleasure."

"NO!" Sportsmaster uncharacteristically called out.

A loud, sickening crack was heard, as time seemed to have slowed down even much more for Wally. Sportsmaster was about to attack him with his javelin but froze in his movements. Kid Flash stared at his enemy confused. He looked like he was surprised by something. Looking over at Robin, he seemed to have fallen to his knees as he stared at something in disbelief.

A gasp was heard from Cheshire, who had dropped her weapon and almost fell to the ground, had Roy not caught her. Zatanna opened her eyes before it widened with terror. Superboy had gained consciousness as well and had the same reaction as the others. M'gann had tears forming in her eyes before opening her mouth and saying the name that caused his heart to drop.

"ARTEMIS!" M'gann had screamed.

.

.

.

Wally felt pulled out of his memory as a shock of invasion was felt in his mind. Looking over to M'gann, he saw tears form in her eyes as a shaky hand raised to cover her mouth.

She saw it.

She knew.

"M-M'gann!" Wally tried to start but she shook her head as she ran out of the room in tears. Conner had finally let go of Artemis as they looked over at the Speedster. Conner made a move to run after his girlfriend but Wally shook his head

"Did you and M'gann get into an argument?" Wally heard Artemis asked as he left the room to chase after his alien friend. After almost 5 minutes of zooming around the building, he found M'gann in the grotto. It was the room holographic effigies of other fallen members of the League were placed. Wally frowned. Of course, she would be in this room. The last time the two of them had been in here was right after Artemis' death.

.

.

.

"M'gann. Everyone's looking for you." Wally said as he stepped up to the Martian. She was looking at the holographic effigy of Artemis. Her funeral was just yesterday and no one in the team was able to talk to each other. Wally felt like he was the only one trying to keep the team sane.

"It was all my fault." M'gann cried. "I could have beaten Psimon faster and I could have helped Artemis."

"You know that's not true."

"What's the point of having powers if we can't save the people we love?!" M'gann shouted.

A shock of pain appeared in his head as he cried out and closed his eyes. He fell to his knees as he clutched his head. A wave of sadness entered his body.

"M'gann!" Another voice called out. Wally weakly opened his eyes to see Black Canary and Martian Manhunter rushing to his niece. With a tap of a finger, M'gann fell unconscious in his arms.

"Wally, are you okay?" Black Canary ran to him and helped him up.

"I-I'm fine." Wally weakly said.

.

.

.

"M'gann…" Wally placed a hand on her shoulder. He grimaced as she continued to sob.

"Why? Why couldn't we save her?" M'gann cried.

"We can still save her." Wally cried. "That's why I'm here."

"How could you have held this to yourself all this time? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because I didn't want the team to fall apart like it had in my time. We were all so lost and confused. I didn't want that. I thought I could do this on my own. I'm sorry…" Wally cried harder. M'gann immediately pulled him into a hug as they cried for what they had lost and what could have be lost again.

He couldn't do this on his own anymore.

He needed his team more than ever.

Robin.

Zatanna.

Aqualad.

Superboy.

Miss Martian.

They all knew. They could prevent that tragic mission from happening once again.

Staring at the empty place that Artemis' holographic effigy would have been, he vowed it wouldn't be there in this timeline. Not on his watch.