The League immediately rushed him to the Watchtower and into surgery as the Team, Roy, Mera, Orm, Arthur, and little Julian waited on pins and needles on an update. No one even realized that he was shot.

"How could we miss him being shot?" Robin asked the billion dollar question.

"He was coming out of the water. For Neptune's sake, I saw the blood in the water!" Arthur said as he hit the wall angrily.

"You know how much pain Kaldur can tolerate. This is not your fault." Orm said as he placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.

"He wanted me to take him to the infirmary." Roy said in shock as he remembered what Kaldur was trying to say back at the cave.

"Why did I hit him?" Mera asked in tears.

Her voice sounded so angry and hurt, yet Mera's voice was so soft. Arthur sat by his wife's side and wrapped his arm protectively around her and Julian.

"You did not know the extent of his injuries. You could not have known that he was shot." Arthur said soothingly to his wife.

"I know the abuse he suffered as a child. I am the only mother figure in his life and I- I would not be surprise if he hated me for my actions. He might die and the one of the last things I did to him was cause him pain . What kind of mother am I?" Mera said as she held her son close to her chest.

When the surgeon and his aid came into the room, everyone stood in attention.

"How is my son?" Aquaman asked worriedly.

"Kaldur- he-. God how do I say this." The surgeon began to say.

"Simple, you just talk." Orm ordered angrily.

"We were able to get the bullets out of him. But-." The surgeon began to explain.

"But what?" Connor asked slightly angry and mostly worried.

"He lost a lot of blood. And as an Atlantean, we do not have any blood to put into him that is a match." The surgeon's aid explained.

"So what are you saying?" Mera asked trying to fight sobbing.

"Kaldur fell into a coma and he suffer major lung damage due to the bullet." The surgeon said. "He probably will not make it through the night. We can make it comfortable for him but, we need a miracle to save him." The surgeon added as he and his aid walked away to remove their blood clothes.

Mera sobbed loudly as she nearly collapsed to the floor. They tried to calm her down but they were also moved to tears. They could not lose Kaldur this young. It broke their hearts to know that Kaldur was running out of time. The surgeon's aid came back and showed them to Kaldur's room. Kaldur was connected to wires and tubes to help him stay alive. Arthur punched the wall angrily as he watched his son die in such a painful way. The girls, Mera, and even Canary couldn't stop crying.

"Kaldur came to my place with the kid and told me to watch him." Roy said as he leaned against the wall.

"He gave me the drive to put the virus and the tracker program on it." Robin added.

"He asked me to create the fake child." Zatanna said through her tears.

"Before I fell asleep, Kaldur asked me if I trusted him. I told him I did, but.." Mera said before sobbing again.

"You believe that Kaldur was a traitor." Orm asked already knowing her answer.

"He drugged me and took my newborn son. But even with all of this happening, I believe Kaldur did it with good intentions." Mera added through her sobs.

"Kaldur always said wanted to die on the some forgotten battle field. I always told him it would not happen so soon." Arthur added in tears as he walked to his dying son's bed.

"Aquaman, the League will take over searching for the Black Manta." Batman said as he came into the room.

"Thank you." Orm said as he Arthur remained silent.

Batman, out respect, placed Kaldur's now cleaned buckle in Kaldur's hand before leaving.

"I saw in a movie that if you talk to someone who is in a coma that it can bring them back." Megan said as she leaned slightly leaned heavily on Connor's shoulder.

"Maybe it can help him." Wally added some what hopeful as he held Artemis.

No one said a word. after a minute to two slowly went by, Robin stepped forward to Kaldur's bed.

"Hey Kal. It's Robin. I don't know if you can hear me but, I- we need you to come back to us. We need our leader and our friends and I need my brother back. I lost my family when I was 9 years. I never thought that I would find another family, but I did with Wally and Roy and Megan and Conner and Artemis and Zatanna and the League and Batman and you. When we started this team, we, in a way, became a family. I can't- I won't lose another family. I can't lead this team yet. I know how you told me that you were bearing my burden and you would give it to me when I was ready, I need you to keep my burden just a little bit longer. I know I'm being selfish, but we need you Kaldur. Please keep fighting." Robin begged as his body started to tremble as he held back his sobs and tears flowing down his cheeks.

He went to stand next to Zatanna as she hugged him. As Robin tried to stop crying. Wally decided to go stand next to Kaldur's bed and spoke his peace.

"Kal, do you remember how we met? It was during a fight Flash took me on at the beach. Flash told me not to run on to the water since I wasn't ready, but me being stupid, I went anyway. I was only 10 and had no clue how to swim. I got a good couple feet before I sank into the water and you dove after me. You saved my life. I wouldn't stop thanking you and asking you all sorts of questions. You were and still are the hero I always wanted to be. Kaldur, we need you to come back. You know how screwed we would be without you. You are an older brother to me and- I can't lose my family." Wally said holding back his tears.

He stood next to Artemis as Zatanna went to the bed.

"Kaldur, I know I haven't been on the team long but I want to thank you for accepting me. With everything that happened with my dad, I really needed friends. I already lost my father, please don't make me lose you too. You became my family and I can't lose any else." Zatanna said as she wiped her tears.

As she walked back to Robin, Artemis went to stand next to Kaldur's bed.

"Kaldur, remember when the whole mole fiasco happened. You said that you didn't say anything because you knew that everyone would point a finger to me because I was the new girl. When I asked if you believe it was me, you said because I wasn't my family. How did you know the truth. I never told you or anyone else. I honestly think that you know what it's like to have a enemy as a parent. God what am I trying to say. Um- thank you for being my friend I guess and you don't deserve this." Artemis said before she ran out of the room in tears.

Wally nodded as he ran at a normal pace after her. Roy went to the bed as his fist started to shake.

"Dammit Kaldur. Why're you so stupid? We are heroes Kaldur not martyrs. God Kaldur, I need my friend. You helped me out the dark and my addiction. I can't lose you. You are the only person that never gave up on me. I-I won't give up on you." Roy said as angry tears started to flow down his cheeks.

He walked away and went to lean on the wall. Connor walked to the bed and took a step back.

"I never said thank you for getting me out of Cadmus. You told me to become my own person. So I guess I'm saying thank you. I honestly don't think I would be where I am today if you didn't." Connor said as he went back to Megan.

Megan swallowed heavily as she went to Kaldur's bedside.

"Kaldur, I know that we aren't the most responsible of people. We at times get a little crazy and insecure and we become difficult with you. But you take all of our problems and try to make them better. So I'm gonna try and help you. I want to transfer my blood to him. I can change my blood type to match his." Megan explained.

"Can you do that with Atlantean blood?" Arthur asked.

"I will try my hardest to save him. He saved me before and almost died in the process. I want to return the favor." Megan explained.

"We can take a small blood sample of his blood but you need to know that his body might reject the blood and it could kill him." The nurse explained.

"Let the child do it. I am not losing my son." Mera ordered as her eyes grew hopeful.

They allowed the procure to go forward. The team leave to let Kaldur rest. God I hope this works is all the team can think of.

Arthur, Mera and Orm stayed and watched over Kaldur's sleeping form. Arthur went up to his son and kneeled next to him.

"Kaldur, I-um-. You have always been a son to me. You have always been a better hero than I ever was. Remember when I asked for your opinion about the joining the United Nations. I was amazed at what you told me." Arthur began softly as his memory went back to that day.

Flashback

Aquaman came out of a meeting with several different Atlantean officials and was frustrated with what to do with the matter of joining the United Nations. This has been a matter brought up to his attention multiple times. He made his way to Kaldur's room to ask him for his insight. He knocked on his door and waited for a response. Kaldur soon opened the door opened the door and was shocked to see his king on the other side. He saluted him properly.

"What brings you to my quarters my king?" Kaldur asked in surprise.

"I need to speak with you. I need your opinion on a matter." Aquaman answered.

"Come in." Kaldur said as he stepped aside.

Aquaman came in and sat down on the bed as Kaldur sat in the chair.

"This is about the United Nations argument is it not." Kaldur said.

"How did you ever guess?" Aquaman asked.

"It is a matter highly debated on the surface. I could only assume that it is a matter debated in Atlantis as well." Kaldur explained.

"You are very observant." Aquaman said.

"If you are asking for my opinion, it is that you should be to join the United Nation." Kaldur said

"Why?" Aquaman asked curiously.

"If you are to join the UN, Atlantis would have a third line of defense against our enemies." Kaldur explained.

"This is true." Aquaman said as he pondered the thought.

"My king, the surface, it has not only become a home for Aqualad, but a home for me as well. I shall protect it as I would Atlantis, you, Mera and her unborn and even those who have cause me pain. You, my king, need to understand that our enemies are not just from Atlantis itself, but from all the surface as us being Aquaman and Aqualad. Do not make the mistake of if believe that you can handle all of them. I will be here to serve a loyal servant and protector but you must give me the proper tools in order to do the job that I was trained to do. Does that make sense?" Kaldur explained slowly.

"I do. Kaldur, I would not be surpise if my son pick you to become his liaison." Aquaman said with a small chuckle.

"If that is the case, I will accept it with pride." Kaldur said with a smile. "Yes Robin. Of course. I shall be there shortly." Kaldur said when his com link went off. "I must go my king, I am needed on the surface." He said as he got up and saluted to him.

"Of course." Aquaman said. "Be safe my son." Aquaman called out to him as Kaldur headed out the door.

"When am I not my king?" Kaldur asked with a small smirk.

END OF FLASHBACK

Aquaman was sobbing into his hands. The flashback was the actual time they had a real conversation before Mera gave birth. It was bad enough that Kaldur nearly lost his life the first time to the Manta but this. He never deserved this. Aquaman knew he had to finish what he was saying. He cleared his throat and started again.

"Kaldur, you have always been a son to me even before we adopted you. I know this will sound crazy, when I saw you in the hospital, I never wanted you to be in pain like that again. Ever. So, if you have to go then you go. Do not put yourself through this pain. It's ok. You do not have to fight any more. You can go and be with your mother again. Promise me that you will not put yourself through more pain than you already have. Ok. I love you my son." Aquaman said as he sobbed out the last part.

He bent over and kissed his forehead. Mera was too upset for tears. All she could do was sob into Orm's arms. Aquaman, a member of the Justice League, was powerless to save his child.