A/N: This is my first attempt at a Batman/Joker story. I've been going back and forth in trying to decide whether or not to write this. After reading several awesome fanfictions on Joker I figured, why not? I obviously don't own the Batman franchise. The only thing that I do own is the Alexis Reed character. It contains spoilers of The Dark Knight. So if you haven't seen it yet.. well you're like the only one (hehe). Enjoy! Oooh and.. Reviews are lovely.

The Mind of a Madman

"As we reflect on the very difficult past few weeks, after the tragic death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, we need to realize the current state that our city exists. Gotham is now in need for our citizens to stick together against the criminals and corruption that is unwavering. We are raised with much more corruption and crimes popping up all over the city. So how do we respond to these criminals who are so intent on ruining Gotham's good name?"

The new district attorney's assistant, Melissa Malone, was making an official statement on the morning news. She was in her mid twenties with her hair pulled back and black rimmed glasses framing her pale face. She wore a traditional black business suit which was partially covered by the wood podium she was standing behind.

"It's important for our city to fight back against these criminals as well as putting an end to the vigilante known as Batman. Gotham police is now on the hunt for him and rest assured he will be caught. He is responsible for the deaths of several men. Some of which were well respected police officers." She cleared her throat before she continued, "Harvey Dent, as you may recall, addressed the public and informed us all, that he was in fact Batman." She shook her head, "This was just a ploy, Harvey Dent was hoping that this would help force the real man behind the mask out of hiding."

Malone glanced down at her notes to regain her place in her speech. "The Joker, our prime threat, now resides in Arkham Asylum until he is reviewed for psychiatric evaluation. Rest assure, Gotham, this man will pay for the crimes he committed against us."

"But, this city will remain corrupt until Batman turns himself in. Harvey Dent, as well as everyone else, once believed that Batman was this city's only hope. We were mistakenly wrong in our judgments and it has cost us. Several of us can even go as far as to say we put too much trust in the man we know so little about. We owe it to Harvey Dent's good name to bring him and the men like him down."

Malone looked down at her notes then back at the camera. "He wanted what's best for this city. We owe him our respect to keep up his incredible work. We shouldn't allow his work to go unfinished. We must stand up for ourselves and show them that we're not afraid. That there is no safe haven for them to hi-."

With that Alexis Reed turned her television off she had listened to enough. Truth of the matter is things went to shambles after Harvey Dent died. The cops were unable to keep crime rate down and people were afraid to go out at night.

Harvey Dent had a great way of making sure justice was served – he was feared by many – and threatened just as much for it. Alexis herself had no problems with Harvey Dent and even went to his funeral. He received the proper burial and hundred attended to show their respect for the man that once had five hundred and forty-nine criminals arrested in one day.

Commissioner Gordon had specifically called Alexis in to work on behalf of the Gotham City police. Alexis' connection with Jim Gordon was simply that of a family friend. Her father had been friends with him since they both field trained at the Academy. Where her family resided in Washington, DC and her father eventually became chief of police. Jim Gordon found his own way in Gotham.

Ironically, she believed her father had the hardest job. But that quickly changed when she heard of the criminals that continued to make their ever lasting mark on Gotham. Several masked vigilantes and crazed clowns which surprisingly enough were not a common thing back home.

Fresh from college she was offered to practice under Dr. Crane, after hearing good things from her professors, in Arkham Asylum. She worked under his wing for a few months before she relocated back home. She remembered the day clearly that she informed him that she would no longer be working with him and was seeking self-employment. The look on his face was disheartening and cruel but she couldn't stand to be in the dark about everything that went on in the Asylum.

Alexis found him and his bizarre interest in experiments inhumane. She once curiously visited a patient who had been "treated" by Dr. Crane. At first she shook off his notions of hallucinations as a side affect of the medicine he had prescribed. But closer evaluation proved it to be something else entirely that was affecting the patient.

She had later mentioned to Rachel Dawes that there was something odd about Crane and that maybe she should keep a close eye on him. It didn't take too much digging around for Rachel to find out what exactly was happening. He was using his patients for experimentation and that his patients were not progressing – but getting worse.

Dr. Crane had gone mad.

Alexis stayed in Washington where she completed an internship at a neighboring psychic ward and later began her own practice.

To say that she was nervous was an understatement. She was going back into the place she vowed never to return to only a few years prior. She had to re-compose herself before she even stepped out of her car. Her self composure began to decline with every mile she drove towards Arkham.

Alexis glanced at herself through the mirror and inhaled a single deep breath before she stepped out of her car. She looked up at the building in front of her – something that looked like it was ripped straight out from a horror film. The building was a dark grey and the windows at the very top had been boarded in.

Her four inch black Louboutin heels clinked against the cement floor of the Arkham Asylum hallway. Her hair was pushed back and up tightly in a ponytail secured by a black hair tie. Her glasses propped up against the bridge of her nose. She carried her briefcase in her left hand letting it swing just ever so slightly as she was led towards the consultation room.

Alexis paused in front of the door and showed her badge to the officers standing guard. The officer on the left, who she estimated to be about forty-two with balding hair and a beer gut, punched in a code that ultimately let her inside. The man on the right, who was much younger around his mid thirties, looked her up and down as if he was examining a piece of meat.

Typical.

The room was immensely small and cold. But overwhelmingly bright; it took her a few seconds to adjust her eyes. Apparently, it had been a while since they had used the room but was being remodeled to accommodate psychiatric one-on-one meetings, making room for new patients, as well as cleaning up Dr. Crane's mess he left behind. Boxes were shoved in the corner labeled Office 23, basement, etc.

Alexis entered the room and quickly placed her brown patent leather briefcase on the table in the center of the room. Her eyes studied the room for a second taking in all the details and exits. She sighed and took a seat at the table until her patient arrived. She was aware of his public persona and criminal history. Gordon warned her of what she was getting herself into. It wasn't going to be an easy case but she reminded herself and Gordon, no case is an easy one. Gordon, of all people, should know that.

Alexis remembered the night that Gordon had called her asking for her help in the Joker case. She remembered it clearly. Gordon's kind voice wavered nervously into the phone as he spoke. It was uncharacteristic of a man of his nature to be nervous about asking for help on anything. She knew that the Joker must've got under his skin.

Although she didn't really do much as far as treating the criminally insane, Gordon though that another opinion wouldn't hurt. All he had to do was get the OK from the Arkham director and have her flown in from D.C. A few meetings and hopefully Alexis could give them some details about the clown. After all, the other psychiatrist weren't taken seriously by the Joker. Gordon knew he wouldn't take her seriously either, but it was worth a shot.

A few quiet moments later of sitting in the room in solitaire she slowly began to hear the faint jingling of handcuffs echoing throughout the hallway. Her patient was growing closer to the room. She shifted in her seat and watched the door closely waiting to see the man who had made such a mess of Gotham.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Here we go.

She could hear the same officer punching in the four digit code allowing the door to beep. Then it was followed by the door swinging open. Alexis got to her feet to properly greet her patient. Two officers entered the room first scanning the room for potential hazards; not for him but for her. They had to be extra careful with this one.

"Room is secure," With his rifle propped up against his shoulder.

The second police officer was followed by a man in shackles, which extended to his feet, who was being escorted by two more cops.

He kept his head down looking at the floor as if he was counting the tiles as he walked. Understandably, he was apparently displeased with his current situation being shackled at the wrist and ankles. Just as any man who was obsessed with chaos and anarchy would be. To be confined was a mockery of all he stood for. The system he fought against had gotten him this time.

The officers roughly forced him on to the metal chair opposite Alexis. The older police officer cuffed him to the matching metal table that was bolted to the floor. He still had adequate room to move his hands around.

The older officer mumbled a warning to his partner that it was time for lunch. That he would take the next watch shift to keep an eye open for anything suspicious. It was likely that the Joker would lash out.

He didn't like rules.

The officer slipped outside the room and shut the door quietly behind him. The beep of the security alarm resonated through the room once more.

The younger officer, his badge named him Brian McDaniels, was in his early thirties. The beads of sweat from his forehead gave him away. He was nervous. He must have lost the draw for who was going to be inside the room.

As he was the only officer left to stay inside the room with the crazed clown. He leaned against the wall facing forward. His trembling hand was placed on the holster attached to his belt which held the pistol. He had passed the training sufficiently, but nothing prepares you for reality.

The Joker didn't quite match the description that was depicted in the security photograph that Gordon had given her. His face was clean of the pasty makeup baring his bare skin against the fluorescent lighting in the room. His scars were shadowed underneath his fading green hair.

He was oddly quiet.

The man was obviously forced to change clothes before his initial arrival to his cell. She doubted anyone would want to change into the standard uniform willingly. He wore a red jumper with his identification number planted on the badge at his chest. He looked as though he hadn't slept for weeks.

Judging by the chaos that he created while he was on the loose - his mental capacity was different than the other patients in the Asylum.

His new humble abode, a cell with a 4x6 single window peering into the hall, must've been quite the adjustment.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Reed." She kept her hand neatly by her side as she tilted her head to look at him.

"I've been brought in to look over your case and diagnosis your mental state and present it to the court in the city's defense against you. Although my commitment lies with them I can still make sure you are treated fairly." She continued even though he didn't seem to be listening. "This is to aid in further determining if you need to remain here or be transferred to the state prison. But first I need to-."

In a whisper he spoke as he cut her off. "Ask me." He kept his head down as if the writing was on the floor.

Alexis couldn't hear his soft voice as he spoke to her. She took a breath and leaned in closer, "Sorry?"

The Joker raised his voice to say it again, "Ask me... a... question, beautiful." He slowly looked up at her as his smile widened. "Let's move this thing along I've got bridge at four. Hmm?" He brought his hand up to his face as he pushed a few strands of hair out of his face. He quickly lowered them and motioned for her to move it along, "Come on, come on!"

Alexis raised her left eyebrow curiously at his suggestion. She lowered herself down on to the seat across from him. She took one look over to McDaniels who was still battling his nervousness.

She changed her gaze over to look at her briefcase and opened it pulling out his paper work that was tucked neatly into a brown folder. "We'll get to it then," she declared. She placed it on the table in front of her.

"You have quite an impressive record with the Gotham Police, Mr.?" She paused realizing that no official name was given. She looked up at him, "What do you want me to call you? From what I understand you have no birth records on file either. If it weren't for these" she pointed to the police records, "I would consider you non existent."

He licked his pale lips as he started to bob his left leg up and down. She wasn't telling him anything that he didn't already know or cared about. He knew that if you had no true identity you could be anyone you wanted.

The Joker looked over to the officer as if he was trying to determine how he would kill him. He winked at the young man before brushing his long green locks away from his face. Without speaking he mouthed, "Hey there."

McDaniels fixated on the Joker before he shifted on his feet uncomfortably. He quickly turned his head away.

The Joker smirked as he received gratification from the reaction he was hoping for.

Alexis watched as he interacted with the officer. She pointed to the folder to get his attention. She sighed realizing that she was going to have to attempt to treat him like a delinquent child. "So tell me, how does a man who is sitting right across from me. Have no records?"

"Maybe they were misplaced?" The Joker returned his attention back to Alexis as he shrugged. "I'm not in charge of them." He batted his eyes at Alexis trying to emphasize his innocence.

"Right." She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "We should start at the beginning." She tried to progress this along. She pulled out a notepad and began writing. She could already tell it was going to be a long session.

"I haven't-t even said anything yet." He motioned with a whirling finger to her notepad. "And yet you're scribbling down. Scribble, scribble, scribble!"

Alexis firmly placed the pencil down on the top of the yellow notepad. She extended her fingers forward as she laced her fingers together. "I apologize, please continue."

"Now, that I have your full and undivided attention." He smirked as he slowly walked his finger across the table towards the notepad. In a sing-song voice, "Can I have your pencil? I'm in the mood to doodle. It will help me get comfortable."

"As long as you are cooperative an answer my questions," She pulled the notepad away to stress her point. "You can draw."

"I'll be a good boy. I'll answer anything. Now, gimme!" Like an eager child at Christmas he motioned for her to turn the pad and pencil over to him.

Alexis looked over to the guard hoping to receive a reassuring look. She didn't receive even a glance before she pushed the pencil and pad to the Joker.

"Where were you born?" She asked as she returned her attention back to him.

"Where were you born?" He laughed maliciously as he began to draw.

Alexis pinched the top right corner of the paper with the tips of her fingers as if she were about to take it away.

"Ask me something else." He chuckled as he snatched the paper back from her grasp. He leaned back in his chair as he began to doodle once again.

Moving along, "What did your parents do for a living?" She adjusted herself in the metal seat trying to get comfortable.

As he continued to draw he didn't look up from his paper. "My mother, she was, she was a school teacher."

Alexis waited for him to mention his father, but to no prevail. "And your father, what did he do?"

He slowly looked up with a grin planted on his face. "I'll tell you, only, if he leaves." He motioned with his head to the officer positioned at the door.

"Is that so?" She narrowed her eyes at him as a quizzical expression appeared on her face. She was used to having mind games played on her. It was the typical behavior of a mental patient to gain control of the situation. One bit of knowledge that came from work experience rather than the classroom.

He matched her movement leaning in slowly wiggling his eyebrows, "I'll even show you a magic trick-k."