Okay, this is the first TDK fanfic I've done and I'm really gonna work on this one. It's not going to be like my old stories and only have a few chapters then quit. No one liked that. Especially me. haha So I hope you like my new story and also I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my new friend/beta reader/TDK buddy, KissxTemptationx! Happy Birthday! Thanks so much for helping me and talking to me for the last 2 weeks or so.

So anyway, Enjoy!

"HARVEY DENT FOR GOTHAM CITY," read the polished button pinned proudly to my jacket lapel that hung in my closet.

"TAKE BACK GOTHAM CITY: VOTE HARVEY DENT," demanded the bumper sticker on my shiny, black Nissan GT-R sitting in the car-park.

I believe in Harvey Dent.

I believe in Harvey Dent because he is my brother. Just saying that brings a soft smile to my face, even now. I'm so proud of him. He's been running for District Attorney with my help as his honored Campaign Manager for the last two months and I'd say were doing quite well. I'm sure there are some real scum bags and weirdos out there who would like to get a hold of Harvey in a dark alley some time soon because of what he's trying to do, but I know he can take care of himself. Hell, he's taken care of me most of his life. I figure it's time I pay him back for all those years he spent protecting and providing for me.

I lay here in bed. It's the crack of dawn and I have a very busy day ahead of me. Today is the first time that I have to take Harvey's place on the news. Gotham Cable News has requested a live interview with Dent but unfortunately he's very busy with a case right now and can't be bothered. He says that he's done too many T.V. spots to count. Now it's my turn. "Good luck, Carley, represent me well!" I remember him saying to me with a hurried smirk before he shut the door to his office. Right, thanks Harv. I feel my head shaking back and fourth slowly on my white pillow, my face curling into a wry smile in the dark of my room. This was so typical of him. I sure hope he's grateful for me after all I've done for him lately.

Of course he is, said a comforting voice in the back of my mind, he loves you. He promised that day back then that he always would and that you would always be together. That day when mom and dad...–Don't think about that, Lee, now's not the time. I taught myself to squash any thoughts about that ill-fated day a long time ago. They always crept up on me at the worst possible times. Painful memories are never helpful when your already nervous about appearing on the news for the first time.

Coffee never really appealed to me as a kid. With all that hubbub about stunting your growth and staining your teeth, I was never fond of the drink but now that I'm more experienced with the grogginess early mornings, I've learned better. Coffee, more importantly, caffeine, is a total necessity to someone like me. I know the street and address of every coffee shop and café in the city and I know exactly what and what not to order at every one of those vendors. What can I say? It's a sort of talent I posses–a sixth sense, if you will. When in politics, coffee becomes your most valued source of energy. Today, I decided on a frou-frou drink they called a Cinnamon Spice Mocha in 'grande' size with a couple extra shots of espresso for an added kick. It sounded pretty good and hopefully that little boost can give me a few hours to work with. My small screen debut wont be until later on tonight but I still have a few other things to do today. I'm not sure wether to be thankful for having to wait for my interview or curse for making me stress about it all day.

I walked into the office, my tooth aching-ly sweet coffee half empty (or was it half full?) and I was stopped in my tracks. The T.V.'s volume was down low and all four people in the room were gathered around it like flies. Harvey's face was plastered on the screen as usual but something wasn't right. What was it saying? "Turn it up!" I blurted out.

"Harvey Dent offered me cash money to lie so he could wrongfully convict a good man–a great cop. When I refused, Harvey Dent said he'd go after me next. Harvey Dent is a liar..." I stopped listening. The T.V. was full of bull. I heard myself say, "What the hell?" out loud and my co-workers turned to me. I have to do something. I have to tell Harvey. If he didn't know about this he could be caught off guard by a rude reporter asking nosy questions. That could make him look even worse. This man's lie could tear down every advancement we've made in the last few months. Fumbling with my cell phone, I pressed speed dial number one.

Ring... Ring... "Carley, I –"

"Harvey! Did you see that?"

"Yeah, Lee", he says, "I saw it."

He sounded stressed and angry. I knew he was pinching the bridge of his nose because that's what he always did when he was worried.

I waited for a response. "... What now?" my voice was small, scared. I'm not always the most composed under conditions like these. I'm useless to him when things like this happen. I know this and he knows this. Times like now, I'm glad Harvey went through law school.

We were quiet for a short time while he thought. I waited on bated breath for him to say something; for him to come up with another one of his great last minute solutions. The four people in the room watched me like I was the next show on Prime Time.

After what seemed like minutes he told me to stay calm. "Were going to make it through this. After you hang up I need you to come straight here to my office. You, Rachel and I need to discuss what to do about this. Were going to find whoever hired that cop and bring them down." I could hear Rachel's voice in the background. She was already there.

I set my face. "Okay, I'll be there in a minute." I disconnected the call. Calm Down, calm down. This is no big deal. Harv knows what he's doing. I felt awful because this was supposed to be my job. Harvey had enough on his plate already, why can't I ever help him instead of the other way round? He's going to have to do my job for me and pay me for doing nothing. This job that I get too flustered to do on my own. When I work for my brother I live well because he would never allow me to go without food on the table and a nice place to stay. And by 'a nice place to stay' I mean the best apartment in the city. Sometimes, I don't think I deserve it.

But I have to stay positive. For Harvey and for my city.

I rush outside and wave for a cab, it would take too long to go get my car. The garage was too inconveniently placed for a quick get away. If I were in some sort of trouble I'd be dead by now. The city really should look in to that. A yellow cab stops and I slide in on the worn leather bench seat in the back. "1539 South Farrow, and step on it." I've always wanted to say that. I don't think he catches the hint of humor in my voice. But really. I mean it. Step on it. Harvey and Rachel are cooking up some genius plan without me and I can't stand the thought of being left out.

Rachel Dawes. The woman was quickly becoming Harvey's whole world outside of the election and his beloved job. I don't want to sound mean but I don't know what he sees in her. Yes, she's intelligent and does a phenomenal job as Assistant District Attorney but when you talk to the girl her nose is always in the air. In everything she says you knew she thinks she's was better than you. I never want to come in second to her in Harvey's mind. Not after all he and I have been through. And it might just be me but, she's not even that pretty. I believe Harvey Dent could do better.

When we get there I pay the cabby and hurry through the glass doors. The secretary at the front desk looked alarmed at the sound of the door opening but when she saw it was me she smiled vaguely. Just living in Gotham made people jumpy and paranoid. I wouldn't be surprised if half the city were on anti-anxiety pills. People like her made Harvey's job seem even more worth it. She tells me that the elevator is out of order and she's sorry but I'll have to take the emergency stairs. There's a couple of guys coming in next week to fix it.

"I saw the commercial," she says. "Mr. Dent would never do anything like that, would he, Carley?" Her heavily made up face looked back at mine with curiosity. Sometimes I wondered why people never called me Ms. Dent.

I was shocked. "Of course not, Nancy!" She's seen him come in and out of this building every day and he must have talked to her when ever he could spare the time. That's just the type of guy he is. Everyone is worth his time. Especially girls who look like her. I tell her that, Harvey Dent, I stress his name, is not a liar and that he would never falsely convict a cop or anyone in Gotham. "Nearly every criminal that he address' in court has a solid case and he would never threaten anyone. I'm sorry about all this, Nancy." I apologized to her on behalf of the smear. I think that I'll be doing that a lot over the next few weeks.

Half way up the stairs, which was about five stories up, I realized that it had been a bad idea to wear high heels today. There was a window for me to look out near where I was standing. Just as I lean against the wall to take off my shoes something catches my eye hovering darkly over the city. Smoke. My brow contracts into a frown and I take a moment to think about what kind of chaos other people are experiencing at this very moment when I'm sitting here resting my feet in a stairwell. All over Gotham, there are citizens being raped, mugged, shot, knifed or somehow terrorized by other citizens turned criminal who were made by abusive parents, drugs and low income jobs. It's the only life they've known. Then there are the corporate lions dressed in silk and diamonds who have never even seen the slums and never thought about anyone but themselves. Fire and ice would look like identical twins compared to this. Times are hard, but weren't they always?

I look down where my hands are rested carelessly on the concrete window sill. There's a playing card under my hand... Why hadn't I noticed it before? Picking it up and flipping it over I also notice it's covered with blood. "Shit." I drop the card, disgusted. Great, now I have AIDS or West Nile all over my hand. Who the hell leaves a bloody card in a window? Wait. A bloody card with writing on it. The letters were typed and in the white margins around the joker graphic.

"Don't worry. It's nothing personal." It said in thick, black letters.

"... Personal?" I ask the card. What is that supposed to mean? Who's idea of a sick joke was this? Was this card meant for me..? I suddenly remembered where I was supposed to be. Harvey and Rachel were waiting for me. Looking down at the filthy card one more time, I leave it there. The climb up the next five stories feels like it takes forever.

"Harvey, do you have any hand sanitizer?" I ask when I walk in the door looking distractedly at my repulsive hands. I probably shouldn't have even touched the door knob.

"Sorry, I'm fresh out." Said a voice. But wasn't Harvey's or Rachel's. My head snapped up and my eyes lock with ones lined in black, messy circles. My eyes widened with surprise and he grinned wide enough to split his red, painted lips.