Batman looked out over his city. The sky had dimmed to black and the streets had come alive with people. The edge of the city was the perfect place to sit and listen. Batman's sonar picked up bits and pieces of every sound from the city. It was filtering the usable information from the onslaught that kept Batman focused.

Batman heard the word clown and turned to get better reception. He followed instinct and stepped off the building into flight. He glided to the next tallest structure and listened again. Batman was following a cell phone conversation. Apparently from what he heard Marconi had finally captured the clown and was inviting his partners over to watch his final demise.

Batman alighted onto a warehouse roof. As he watched several nice cars pulled into the building. Bats entered an office off the second floor that over looked the open end of the warehouse. Dozens of cars lined the inside of the building, Men milled around in a circle chatting to one another and in the middle of it all sat his clown, beaten and bloody looking. Barely conscious and tided to an old wooden chair with an old rag secured around his eyes. Batman couldn't help but consider he should leave. The Prince of Crime was finally getting what he deserved. The Bat had actually turned to leave when Marconi fired a single shot into the roof to get everyone's attention.

"Gentlemen I finally, give you the clown." Men started to clap and cheer. "Tonight's entertainment will watching the Joker get nailed, literally." Two men drug an altered wooden pallet out of the shadows. A third man followed waving a claw hammer and carrying a bucket of large rusty looking nails. The circle of men laughed and jeered. Some placing bets as to when the Joker would scream or pass out. Just then the Joker laughed. Soft at first then it bubbled into hollow skin crawling cackling. One of Marconi's men walked over and punched the clown. Jokers head whipped back, blood spraying from his nose. Still the wet giggling could be heard.

"We'll see who will be laughin soon, put him down boys" Marconi yelled

Batman thought he could live with them shooting the mass murdering clown but they were going to nail his body to a wooden pallet and torture him first, or more. Batman shook his head. Was he really going to save Joker from the Mob?

Batman found the main power relays. Simple, he would hit the lights, grab the Joker, walk out the door and block the exit. But first Batman had a new toy to try, a new gun that fired mini batarangs. From his vantage point he fired 3 shots, 3 tiny sharp bat shaped knives at the Jokers bindings. Joker felt the tiny vibrations of the knives hitting the chair. His restraints slackened as two of the ropes were shredded on impact. Keeping his head down, Joker was able to cut the rest of the ropes binding his hands and body to the chair. It cost him a few sliced fingers but Joker also removed one of the batarangs from the chair and palmed it. When Batman saw the Joker slice the last rope he smiled and blew the lights. Batman glided to the center of the crowd and tossed the Joker over his shoulder as his legs were still bound together. Just then the backup lights come on and Marconi saw Batman making off with the clown. Marconi is yelling for his goons to stop them but in all the pandemonium no one even seems to notice Batman walking to the bay doors. Batman ducks out and throws 3 grenades under the nearest cars. Boom. No one will follow now. The police have been called and are closing in to clean up the mess.

Batman looked down at the Joker. The clown smiled and nearly fell; he tucked himself under Batman's arm. Weird. Perhaps he should check the clown for head injuries. Batman lifted Joker and he whined and tensed. This definitely wasn't a good sign. Batman placed the man inside the tumbler and climbed in himself. Joker seemed to tuck himself around the bigger man. It felt strangely soothing to Batman. He decided to take the Joker to the Batcave to gauge how sever his injuries are before dropping him at Arkham. He would get little to no medical help there. They were afraid of him.

The Joker made no movements through the entire ride. Batman scooped him carefully from the tumbler and laid him on a metal table. Batman looked the clown over. He was covered in blood. His clothes were matted to his body. Batman slowly began removing the purple suit. In order to prevent more bleeding Batman decide to cut the suit off. The Joker though breathing lay perfectly still. Batman peeled away the coat and vest and was working on the shirt. They must have beaten his bare back then re-clothed him. Batman had to get a bowl of water and sponge the shirt off in places where the blood had dried it to the wound. Joker was lousy with reddened belt marks over his chest and shoulders. It seemed he was beaten from the waist up but Batman unzipped his pants to check for further injuries. There were no marks on the pale thighs. Batman refastened his pants quickly before his mind caught up with the fact Joker had gone commando today. In his haste Batman's hand brushed over the semi-erect penis making it jump. Batman fixated on just how he was going to tend all the Jokers wounds. As Batman's eyes traveled back up the lithe mans hips and muscular chest, he couldn't help but admire the firm stomach. Batman's eyes finally reached Jokers face only to see those emerald eyes twinkling at him.

"Gee bats, if ya wanted to get my clothes off all ya had to do was asssk a" Joker giggled and then began coughing painfully.

Batman took a step back and cursed himself for not planning on the Joker waking up.

"Don't worry I couldn't hurt a fly …much less a bat right now" Joker moaned,

"I'm going to get something to make you more comfortable. Don't move." Bats growled and then handcuffed the Joker to the table anyway. Batman gathered some medical supplies. He got a clean t-shirt and painkillers. He also prepared the small cell he had built for just such occasions.

Batman made his way back to the Joker who hadn't moved at all and spoke to him.

"I need to wash away the blood to see if any of this needs stitching."

Joker laughed "no cuts, just belt marks. I don't even think most of this is my blood really"

Batman smiled despite the fact Joker implied he killed some of Marconi's men before they took him. Joker caught the small smile and winced as Batman lifted Joker to a semi sitting position.

"Ribs" Joker wheezed

Damn. Batman laid him back down and started gently washing away the blood trying not to soak his mans pants.

"Can you roll onto your side so I can get to your back?" Batman asked

"Right side maybe" Joker painfully made it to his side. Batman walked around to clean his back. Joker's sides were deep blue with bruises.

It felt strange, Batman being so gentle with him. Joker's ribs were broken on both sides and he jumped whenever Bats touched him no matter how gentle. Batman went to his supplies and brought Joker a bottle of water and 2 pills.

"Take these" Batman held the pills up to the Joker.

"What is it?"

"Its vicodin, you are going to need it for us to tape those ribs and maybe if you'd like to move around."

"Where am I moving around too?"

"Arkham…but not tonight. We will make sure your ribs set before I let those orderlies at you."

That almost sounded protective and Joker took the pills without a fuss he was so stunned. Batman laid a white towel under Joker and had him lay back.

"I need to get a few more things. When the pain reliever kicks in we are going to coat the abrasions in antibiotic and tape your ribs. I hope." Batman starts to walk away.

"Hey Bats…don't leave me alone" Joker whispered

"I'll be right back," Batman pushed the hair out of the Jokers eyes staring at him before he realized what he did and jerked his hand back. Joker felt the touch and closed his eyes before Batman's reaction.

He never needed anyone to take care of him but it felt nice having Batman touch him so kindly. Maybe he could get Batman to keep him. He laughed to himself.

Batman found the large ace bandage he was looking for. He went to his room to get some more clothes as well. Just in case another t-shirt, some black sweat pants with a drawstring and some socks. He almost ran Alfred down as he headed back to the cave

"Master Bruce" Alfred said in shock as he struggled for his balance. Bruce caught him before he hit the floor.

"Alfred, we have a guest. Joker was badly beaten by the Mob and he is down stairs. When he is well enough I'll take him to Arkham."

"Shouldn't that be where he is now sir?"

"No…yes…it's complicated."

Batman returned to the Joker who was now singing softly to himself. Bats stopped to stare again Most of the clowns face paint had rubbed off and he looked rather rakishly handsome with the scars.

"Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me"

Joker sang softly turning his head to sing the last line to Batman.

"Hey Bats…. I feel better but I'm cold"

"I'm going to sit you back up and try to do this quickly, and then we'll get you into a warm bed for some rest." Batman already had him up and was spraying his back with the antibiotic spray, now the front. Then he wrapped the large ace bandage snuggly around Jokers ribs.

"Gee you've done this before" Joker giggled

Bats smiled again.

"Watch it Bats that's two smiles tonight didn't your mama tell you your face might freeze that way." Joker still laughing

Bats unhooked the handcuffs and picked the Joker up.

"Whoa…" Joker looked around gleefully and put his head on Bats shoulder.

Batman hesitated for a moment but he figured he should get this done while the clown was in a good mood. Batman laid the Joker on the cot in the cell, left him a bottle of water and checked to make sure there was nothing dangerous in the small bathroom. Satisfied Batman made to leave.

"Hey….aren't ya staying" Joker patter the bed next to him.

Batman nearly smiled again and caught himself

"And here I was thinking we were gonna play nice. Keeping me as your sex slave maybe" the Joker asked hopefully.

This time the Bat did smile, "not with those ribs. Maybe tomorrow, IF, your good"

"Did Bats just make a joke…Oh my gawd? Better yet you don't lie so I'll see you tomorrow." Joker laughed. He was exhausted and the meds where going past pain relieve to unconscious. Joker lay down and was asleep in seconds.

Bruce had his own makeshift bedroom down the hall. He removed his batsuit and put on some sleep pants and a tee and a black stretch mask that covered as much as the cowl but resembled spandex. He had started carrying this after he lost his cowl while patrolling. He looked a little like Zorro but it was more comfortable to sleep in and still protected his identity. Bruce was just as exhausted and was asleep within minutes of climbing under the covers. Bruce slept soundly just maybe because he knew the joker was safely in a cell next door. He thought.