Ok so this is sort of a short chapter but I'll try and not make them all this short. There isn't much interaction between Joker or Rachel yet but don't fret! There will be tons! Please feel free to review and tell me what you think! I'd love ideas from you guys and I'll try my best to add them into the further chapters to come. Enjoy!

Chapter One

So Close, But Too Far

The Joker laughed excessively as Batman ran off to leave the building. The S.W.A.T team was running up the stairs. Still hanging upside down, he quickly pulled out a pocket knife and severed at the rope that tied around his legs until it started to fray; then into nothing. The Joker started to fall, his ludicrous laugh echoed in the night sky as he fell from 15 stories high. The clowns waited at ground level, holding out a large blanket that would secure his fall.

"Right on time," The Joker said after landing on the blanket and jumped off trying to find his balance, "Don't you just love jumping off a building? It's just like bungee jumping but without the help of… a rope to spring you back up." The Joker teased and snickered as his gloved hands moved about as he spoke.

Suddenly gun fire shots rang in his ears and the Joker and his crew of clowns raced into a van and drove off.

"That was a close call, Sir," The driver said in relief.

"Hmmm…" The Joker licked his lips, "Pull over."

"What? Why?"

With no patience the Joker grabbed the driver with his right hand and pulled him off the seat into the passenger side, causing the vehicle to swerve left and right on the road. The other cars on the road honked at the unexpected surprise of the out of control vehicle. The Joker took hold of the steering wheel and straightened it out. He just laughed as he pulled the car over.

"Are you mad?!" The clown yelled that was pushed to the passenger seat.

"Well...hmmm… let's see," The Joker pulled out his shot gun and pointed it at him, then shot. "Maybe juuussstt a little."

Screams were heard from outside the van by the loud gun shot. The other clowns looked at the Joker in shock and fear that he might shoot them, too. The Joker looked at them, then back at the now dead man in the seat.

"Ah now look what you did!" The Joker spoke to the body in a displeasure and perverse voice, "You made a mess!"

The Joker reached over and opened the passenger seat door; pushing the body out into the street. "Problem solved!" The Joker foolishly smiled and closed the door.

"I don't mean to interrupt whatever you're doing Boss," One of the men in the back blurted out as sirens noisily rang out, growing louder as he spoke, "But the cops are approaching us."

"Fun fun fun!" The Joker yelled, laughing. "Just wait for the… perfect moment."

The Joker opened the car door, just waiting for the cops to turn the corner. When they did, they abruptly put on the brakes and surrounded the van. The cops quickly stirred out of their cars and crouched behind the doors, using them as a shield. A megaphone came on, and a male cop spoke.

"We have you surrounded, drop your weapons and abandon your vehicle."

The Joker mouthed the voice of the cop with annoyance, knowing exactly what he was going to say because this was all too familiar. Cackling under his breath, he took out one of his hand grenades from inside his coat, and quickly tossed it over at the blockade. He plugged his ears with his fore-fingers and shut his eyes tight with a giant grin on his face, listening to the panicked officers yelling out in horror as they tried to escape from the explosion waiting to happen. Suddenly, the sound of the detonation took out a police car, then another, and another like dominos. The rising flames lit up the street. Cries and screams filled the night air from what was peaceful only five minutes ago. The Joker laughed at the amusement, but a cop caught him off guard, pointing a gun directly at him.

"I want you and your friends to come out with your hands on your heads, now!" The cop yelled.

"Alright officer…you got me, but I have you know that it wasn't fair plaayyy." The Joker gagged.

The cop waited for the rest to exit the van. Once they did, the remaining cops hand cuffed them. The Joker just laughed at the one who was placing the cold steel around his wrists.

The officer ignored his ridicule and said, "Once again you're caught in the act. So close but yet too far. Looks like we're the ones who are laughing now. You know, I don't think there is enough room for you in jail. Maybe we should just put you in a circus instead?" A few of the cops were amused at his statement and laughed along with him.

"Hmmm…that's a good one!" The Joker joins in with the laugh which confuses the officers. "I have a small…question for you…however," Joker continues, clearing his throat, "How many friends of yours just got taken by the explosion? It's inconsiderate of you to be making jokes at this moment, hmm?"

Unimpressed, the officer roughly snatched the Joker's left arm. He laughed at the sudden pain as he was put into a cop car that just arrived, along with a few ambulances.

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When they arrived it was early in the morning, around 2:00am, and Joker was put in cell to be further questioned. Gordon was there to see for himself if they really had caught the Joker. Of course, he was very pleased when he saw it was true. Rachel was there too, waiting for Joker to be questioned. Her and Gordon both stood in front of the cell, their whispers were low enough so the Joker couldn't hear them, but loud enough to hear themselves over the noisy bunch of other criminals. The Joker sat on a bench, glaring up at the two. He especially watched Rachel, remembering her face when he tired to find Harvey at the City Hall. Rachel had an expressed look of sadness and depression, knowing that The Joker used Harvey for one of his sick games, resulting with one half of his face destroyed. The love of her life, Harvey, was now dead, and it has grown a whole in her heart. Gordon explained everything to her. How he changed, shot those five people and two of them were cops. However, he didn't know why he had turned into a monster. Batman took the fall, everyone believing it was him who murdered those five people. It was hard, and Rachel of course didn't want to even consider that it was all true. She had her cry, and now she is here.

The Joker's elbows dug into his thighs, and his palms were clasped together; his fingers tapping each other. He glared at the movement of their mouths as they talked, almost as if to read their lips. He kept his eyes on Rachel, just waiting for her to glare back.

"I think its best that you go home and get some rest," Gordon told Rachel, "I'll be interrogating him."

They both looked over to the Joker. Rachel locked eyes with him and her face twisted with disgust. Fear melted inside of her, which is exactly what the Joker wanted. He grew a half grin, and Rachel's fear intensified.

"That's a good idea," Rachel spoke in a shaky and serious tone, still looking at the clown in the cell, "I'll come back later and see how far you got with him." Rachel then walked off, leaving Gordon standing in front of the cell.

"Put him into the interrogation room," Gordon pointed to The Joker. The officer opened the cell door and grabbed Joker's arm.

As soon as the Joker was placed into the interrogation room, Gordon walked in. They caught each others eyes, and The Joker licked his lips and spoke slowly.

"Evening…com-miss-ioner. This seems…vaguely familieerrr. Nice to see you… again." The Joker smiled showing his yellow teeth, accentuating his last word with a disappointing tone.

Gordon sat down on the chair across the desk from Joker. He looked intently at the clown's face, hoping to get any answers by just looking at him. Of course, there were no results.

"You know…it's rude to stare…" The Joker stopped the silence between them.

"Why are you doing this to innocent people?" Gordon blurted out. He waited for an answer, but got none. "WHY?!" He yelled this time, pounding his fist on the desk.

The Joker didn't flinch, not even blink.

"Whoa, calm down commissioner. That's no way to treat someone that you're trying to get answers from. Now…let's start over." The Joker smirked and licked his lips. "You were asking why I do this to innocent people."

Joker was playing games, and Gordon did not have patience for them. He calmed down and gestured his hand for an answer. The clown bit his lip and lifted his brow.

"Well, ask…me…"

Gordon rolled his eyes and repeated his question. The Joker laughed, pleased that he got his way.

"Chaaooss, if you will," The Joker smacked his lips, "puts everything out of…proportion. Everything is all rules. I hate rules, it's mundane. I don't know those people; they just get in the way. When the rules are broken, everything turns uh…crazier. So you see, everyone is just. Like. Me. I'm just ahead of the curve. People are just so…readable. It. Makes. Me. Sick." He growls in his throat.

Gordon isn't pleased, but asks another question trying not to get angry. "Why do you laugh when you feel pain?"

The Joker snarled, and then smiled. "People are…afraid of their own reality. People automatically assume that pain is something to avoid. Pain wakes you up, makes you realize that you are still alive. In your…en-count-er of pain you find strength. Pain is reality, and avoiding it means you're letting society tear you down."

Gordon looks at the Joker dumbfounded. "Okay Joker, what exactly happened to Harvey Dent?"

The Joker bit the scar on his lip. "If you really want to uh…know, why don't you just ask the Batman? I'm sure he'll love to tell you."

"The Batman won't be around for a while. Why don't YOU tell me?"

The Joker burst into laughter. "Is the batty hiding in his cave? Harvey sure made a mess!"

Gordon grew impatient. "What happened?!" He yelled.

"What did I say about treating guests nicely?" The Joker waited for a respond while licking his lips. "If you really want to know, I'll give ya a hint just between you and me," He eased in closer to Gordon's ear, "Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you…stranger." His voice grew deeper on the word 'stranger' then broke open into laughter once again right in Gordon's ear. Gordon snapped his head back away from the Joker and rubbed his now ringing ears.

Gordon stood up from his chair and knocked on the door for someone to let him out with Joker's laugh still echoing the room.