Two days ago, my mother's dog had to be put down.

R.I.P. Ranger. You will be sorely missed.

ENJOY!

It wasn't supposed to happen like this. It wasn't supposed to happen, period.

Conner carefully climbed down into the bin. It was full of broken glass shards, some massive, others incredibly small. He didn't mind. He was the super clone, glass couldn't harm him.

He could still hear yelling and explosions in the distance. His team was perfectly capable of handling the rest without him. Right now, he was determined to get to his injured teammate, and to help them.

Everything had gone so wrong…

"Conner look out!"

Wally's warning came too late. Mere seconds after Wally's yell, the blow made impact right between the clone's shoulder blades. Conner was thrown forward off his feet with a cry. A second brilliant red beam of light hit him while he was down, sending him skidding across the concrete floor before slamming headfirst into a wall.

For once he didn't get back up right away, thirsty for more.

This strange new villain was tough. And whatever sort of energy he was shooting them with, it hurt. Even Conner, the clone of Superman, had to admit he was feeling the hit's more than he usually did.

If he was being honest, it ran a close second to kryptonite.

Wolf had taken several hits, but that wasn't unusual. After being enhanced with Kobra Venom, Wolf could and often had taken a pounding on many many occasions. But tonight was different. Tonight when Wolf was hit, he bled. And he bled profusely.

Conner had been moving in for the take down when the final blow hit Wolf.

The super clone had been racing toward the villain, when the red garbed figure had lifted Wolf up into the air above his head with both hands and flung him away. Seconds later, Conner's fist had crashed into that crimson helmet and their foe was down, leaving only his goons to attend to.

Conner had employed a trick he'd seen Superman, and on a couple very rare occasions Wonder Woman, use when they were in a big hurry. He grabbed a metal pipe and quickly and carefully wrapped it around the man, effectively tying the unconscious villain up.

Then he'd looked for Wolf.

The massive India wolf had landed in a big blue bin, and Conner had been quick to go to him. Upon reaching the bin's edge and looking in, he'd expected to see Wolf getting up and shaking it off the way he always did.

But not this time.

This time was different. He was horrified to look in and realize that the bin was full of broken shards of glass of every size shape and color. Many of them were slick and wet.

Many of them were stained red.

Conner shook his head as his eyes took in the damage to his canine friend. It shouldn't have been this bad. Wolf's Kobra Venom had given him some degree of invincibility. He wasn't to Conner's level by any means, but the glass shouldn't have cut him up.

Not like this.

Wolf had apparently stopped trying to get up. It hadn't taken him long to realize that moving only injured him more. Now he simply lay there in his nest of glass, thick white pelt stained bloody crimson. He lifted his massive head to look at Conner, and he did something the clone had never seen him do before.

The proud alpha, whimpered.

It was a soft, barely audible whimper to a normal human's hearing, but it would've been enough for a wolf and it was definitely more than enough for Conner. Wolf knew that. The clone quickened his pace, being careful not to push the shards of glass closer to Wolf when he stepped on them.

At first he tried to pick Wolf up, thinking to carry him out of the bin. But Wolf gave such a piteous, pain filled yip when the clone slid his arms underneath him that Conner didn't dare try to lift him. So he did the only thing he could think to do.

Conner carefully settled himself in the glass by Wolf's head and gently cradled the massive canine's head in his lap. "It's ok Wolf." He found himself whispering. "Everything's going to be ok."

He gently stroked the India wolf's thick white fur. He glanced down when he felt something sticky, then quickly glanced away again when he realized what it was. But he didn't cease his stroking. He just continued petting his dog and friend, whispering what comfort he could aloud and silently praying that his friends would wrap this up soon, and that Wolf would be alright.

His second prayer at least was answered.

The sounds of battle soon died away. He could hear his friends talking and laughing as they tied the villains up, but he didn't move from his spot, patiently waiting for them to finish so that they could come to help him.

Conner? M'Gann thought anxiously over the psychic link. She'd noticed his absence after the strange new villain had been taken down, and she could sense his worry and distress now. Conner where are you? What's wrong?

Over here in the blue bin. Conner answered back. Wolf's hurt and I can't get him out on my own without hurting him. The clone worriedly bit his lip. Please hurry, it's really bad…

The team cast each other worried looks and raced for the bin.

Conner wasn't prone to exaggeration. In fact, if he ever did exaggerate, the team was pretty sure that would be the day you could knock them all over with a feather at one blow. Today wasn't that day. If Conner said it was really bad, then they had better be prepared for one heck of an injury.

They weren't disappointed.

"Miss Martian, lift him out telekinetically." Kaldur ordered grimly. "And signal the bio ship. The police will be able to handle this from here."

M'Gann nodded, eyes glowing silver green as she called her ship. She held out her hands towards Conner and Wolf, and the massive white India wolf slowly floated up into the air. While she slowly levitated Wolf out, Conner hurriedly scrambled out of the bin after him.

M'Gann started to put him down when Robin intervened. "Don't put him down." He suddenly ordered. M'Gann stopped, giving the boy wonder a curious look. Robin moved closer, tilting his head a little to see underneath Wolf.

"He's got lots of glass shards sticking out of him, and a lot of those are underneath. If you set him down that's gonna hurt, and it might drive the glass up into him further." Robin stated.

"So let's just pull them out then." Conner growled.

Robin shook his head. "No."

Conner stared at the boy wonder as if he'd lost his mind. "No?" he repeated.

Zatanna set a hand on her hip. "Um… Isn't that counterproductive?" she asked. She gave a helpless gesture in Wolf's general direction. "I mean, we can't just leave all that glass in there."

Robin had slipped underneath Wolf now and appeared to be examining the wound's in the canine's belly, though he was being extra careful it seemed not to touch the broken shards of glass. Wally was doing the same with the glass shards embedded in Wolf's back and sides.

"We can and we will." Robin answered grimly. He peered out from underneath Wolf, looking up at his friend. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Tamponading of the wound?" Wally asked.

Robin nodded. "Yeah. If it is, we need to jostle him as little as possible and get him to a vet fast."

Conner frowned. That big word Wally had used wasn't one he knew. He'd never heard his teammates use it before, and the genomorphs had never taught it to him. "What's tam-…?" he frowned, trying to wrap his tongue around the unfamiliar word. "A tamp-…." He growled and shook his head. "What is it?

Wally backed away from Wolf, apparently having seen enough. "Tamponading of the wound. It means whatever caused the wound also plugged it, stopping the bleeding. So long as those glass shards stay in, they're inhibiting the blood flow. So until we get Wolf to a vet who knows what he's doing, those glass shards are staying right where they are."

Kaldur nodded to M'Gann. "Get him aboard the ship, and keep him levitated. We do not wish the glass shards to enter in any further." To Robin he added, "Robin will pilot the bio ship."

The team hurried to obey. M'Gann floated Wolf up the ramp, taking Robin's customary seat while he took the pilot's chair. It was weird for the Martian, sitting somewhere else in the bio ship and letting someone else pilot her.

Sensing her boyfriend's distress, she moved Wolf closer to Conner.

Wolf barely responded, the massive dog hanging limply in her hold as she floated him across the cabin to Conner. Conner leaned forward in his seat, reaching out anxious hands to his pet. Wolf wagged his tail ever so slightly at Conner's touch, his ears pricking up a little. But it was clear he was hurting.

"Robin, get us in the air." Kaldur ordered grimly. He touched his fingers to his com link. "Aqualad to Batman…"

Conner didn't quite understand what his ears were telling him.

Or maybe he just didn't want to. His fingers dug deeper into Wolf's thick white fur. The massive canine flicked an ear at him, then lifted his head to give him a look.

Conner loosened his hold, but he wasn't about to let go. "…what are you saying…?" he breathed, starring at those people in the white coats. Those people Batman said would take care of Wolf.

The dark knight had sent them to S.T.A.R. labs.

While they generally dealt with humans, S.T.A.R. had also dealt with aliens, meta-humans of every description, magic users, and they had experience with several different makes and models of robots and androids. An India wolf upgraded to something roughly the size of a pony through the use of Kobra Venom was a little off the beaten path, even for them, but they were nothing if not flexible. Working with individuals like those in the Justice league, they had to be.

You never knew what the league would hand you.

It had been murder for the team, Conner in particular, sitting out in the waiting room while the doctors, scientists, and vets worked to save Wolf's life. But at last one of the white coats had come, asking for Conner. As he led the clone down the hall he said nothing of Wolf's condition, other than that he was stable for now.

In a sterile white room, Conner had finally gotten to see Wolf. He wasn't the least bit surprised to see Batman there already. But he only spared the dark knight a passing thought, he was more worried about the giant white form laying on the table.

The huge canine was bandaged and appeared to be resting comfortably, though he kept casting what seemed to be irritated glances at the I.V. set in his foreleg. He appeared weak, but he was definitely more alert and responsive than he'd been when the white coats had whisked him away from Conner. He wagged his tale, ears pricking up as he raised his head, intelligent gold eyes fixed on his boy.

After the initial greeting, they'd settled for Conner sitting on the table with Wolf's huge head in his lap.

Then the white coats had started talking.

One of the doctors, an older gentleman, reached out a hand as if to give Conner's shoulder a reassuring pat or squeeze. Conner avoided the touch, glaring at the man, silently daring him to try it again.

The doctor sighed. "I know this is hard." He said gently. "And I wish we could do more..."

"But you said he'd make a full recovery." Conner growled.

One of the other white coats, a younger woman who's badge I.D.'d her as a veterinarian gave him a sad smile. "If it were only the damage from the fight we had to contend with, then yes. But it's not just that… What did you say your dog's name was?"

"Wolf." Conner supplied grudgingly.

The woman nodded. "Wolf. Wolf is the way he is because he was infused with a substance called Kobra Venom, yes?" A nod from Conner. She went on. "Up to now that's been an asset for him. Now that same venom is what's causing the problem…. Here, I'll show you what I mean."

She activated a screen, then turned and slid a glass slide under an electronic microscope. The corresponding footage appeared on screen.

She pointed. "This is a sample of Wolf's blood. Now, you know that Kobra Venom enhances the users musculature and hardens the skin, to the point where the skin cracks and splits because of all the new muscle mass underneath. The only signs of cracking I saw on Wolf were on the inner legs so in a way he's fortunate to retain a somewhat normal appearance."

She sighed, sadly stroking the fur of Wolf's shoulder. "We've yet to truly get a handle on what it is that man's gun shoots, what sort of energy it's harnessing. But whatever it is, it's causing the Kobra Venom in Wolf to self destruct."

Conner stared at her, then looked at the screen.

As if to prove her words, or maybe to punctuate her statement, one of the cells pictured on the screen chose that moment to rupture. It simply burst, as if someone had poked it with a pin. Conner looked down at the mass of white fur in his arms.

"That's why the glass cut into him like that…" he murmured.

The older doctor nodded. "Indeed. And that's why he must be put down now."

Conner jerked, arms tightening reflexively around Wolf. "What? No! You can't!"

Wolf gave a yip, though whether it was pain of his wounds or annoyance for being jerked around like that, Conner wasn't sure.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Batman. But the dark knight wasn't looking at him. Batman's eyes narrowed at the various doctors, vets, and scientists in the infamous Bat Glare. The look that had, and probably always would, set many a Gotham villain shaking in their boots.

"Wait outside." His ordered calmly.

Conner moved to get up, but the dark knight's hand on his shoulder kept him from rising. It was with a start that he realized Batman was telling the white coats to wait outside. Didn't it usually work the other way around? He looked down at Wolf and decided he was glad it wasn't running that way this time. No way was he leaving Wolf alone in such a state with people that wanted to kill him.

As soon as the door closed behind the last one, Conner looked to Batman. "Batman, you can't let them do it."

The cold, emotionless white lenses of the dark knight's mask slowly rounded to face him. "I can't." He agreed quietly. "The decision has to come from you."

"From me…?" Conner repeated, stunned that the dark knight could even ask such a thing of him. "Batman… I can't. I won't. I won't let them kill Wolf. So what if the Kobra Venom is self destructing? It just means Wolf will go back to being a normal Indian wolf. He won't be able to go on missions anymore, that's all…. Isn't it?"

Batman's silence was a more than adequate answer.

Conner felt the blood rushing from his face. He was certain if he looked in a mirror at this very moment his face would be whiter than Wolf's fur.

"…it's more than that…isn't it?" Batman nodded, and Conner felt his heart begin to pound harder, faster. "Batman…what is it I'm not getting…?"

The dark knight sighed, and Conner was abruptly reminded that this man in front of him was completely and utterly human. For those few brief moments he was being allowed to see a side of Gotham's dark knight that, as far as he knew, only Robin had seen. He was seeing the human side of the Batman.

And it scared him more than the actual Batman side did.

"Conner." Batman said calmly. "What's the one reason we haven't taken away Mammoth's powers? Or Blockbuster's? Why haven't we changed them back into humans?"

Conner frowned, wondering where the change of subject had come from. "Because we can't. The Blockbuster formula is a permanent change to the body. It had the same effect when mixed with Bane's venom. We can't get it out of their bodies now."

Batman nodded. "It's fully integrated with their systems." He agreed. "Bonded with them at the cellular level. To try and remove it would be to kill them."

Conner nodded. "I know that. But what does that have to do with…" he slowly trailed off as the pieces clicked together, and his eyes fell to Wolf. "…oh no…"

He looked up at that screen again, and the slow rupture of those cells on screen suddenly had a whole new meaning for him. He watched as yet another one exploded, right before his eyes. That was Wolf's life, disintegrating right in front of him.

He shook his head, unable to accept it.

No. No, no, no, this couldn't be happening. Not now. Not to Wolf. He couldn't lose Wolf now, not like this. Not here in this cold, white room, so sterile he was pretty sure it'd kill anything off if it was stuck in here long enough.

"Batman." He whispered. "Please…"

Again, that little bit of humanity peeked through the mask of the dark knight. And again, Conner found himself more afraid of this humanity than of the Batman.

"The Blockbuster formula is permanent Conner." He stated, sounding almost sad. "Whether he's put down here tonight, or whether you take him back to the mountain… Wolf will die."

Batman slipped a hand underneath Conner's chin and lifted his head to face him. It was a gentle gesture uncharacteristic of the dark knight. Conner had only seen him do it once or twice before with Robin, and that was when Conner had walked in on them by accident.

"The only difference Conner…" the dark knight told him. "is where he dies, and how much it hurts."

That got Conner's attention. This was going to hurt Wolf?

"His cells are rupturing." Batman stated, reading the unspoken question. "It's still early. He doesn't feel any of it yet. But he will. And when that happens, there won't be anything we can do for him." He fell silent for a few moments, letting the clone mull it over.

"He's your dog Conner. Whatever your decision, the choice is yours…"

I'd originally intended this as a One-shot deal, but it sort of morphed into a "Two-shot plus epilogue" sort of deal. The whims of life right?

Review.

Until next time...