Copyright: All Batman related characters are the property of DC comics, Warner Brothers and their studios. Batman created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Joker created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Julie Madison created by Gardner Fox, Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff, Jeannie Napier Kerr created by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland and refitted in by AJ Lieberman and Al Barrionuevo, all other characters respectively created by their creators at DC comics.

AN: Pulling from Batman the Killing Joke, Gotham Knights #50 through #55 Return of Hush story line Pushback and from the Batman Animated series. Mostly based around the comics and Pre 52 storylines.

Chapter 1

Gotham, Early November, Gotham Heights, Evening, Bellingwood Mansion (Formerly)

"How long has she been in this state?" Dr. Thomas Elliot regarded the sleeping woman with a keen eye. Her blonde hair was streaked blue, as if someone had dunked her head paint brush style into water colors and then never fully washed it out. She was sweating profusely, a high fever, breathing heavily, and twisting around, clearly in some form of pain. He was holding onto her wrist, taking a pulse, and frowning at the man that was standing opposite of him on the other side of the bed, holding tightly to the blonde's hand. He hated this man for kidnapping him and dragging him here, and, when the woman was alright, he'd find a way to make him pay.

The room was dark, save for the light from the lamps that dotted the room, so it was hard to make out the features of the man across from him. But there was no mistaking it. Even in the dim light it was hard to ignore the pale white skin and ruby colored twisted lips of the Joker. His face was on the woman, and, for once in his damned existence, he wasn't smiling like some twisted sycophantic lunatic. Everything was a joke to the Joker, and it disgusted Hush. Even though he wasn't an official doctor anymore, there was certain things that he still had stuck in his mind, among them, you didn't kill someone for a laugh. The Joker though, he was the type that did, so it was odd to see him in a morose state.

When he didn't answer him Thomas barked again, "I asked you a question! How long?"

He suddenly wished he hadn't. Green eyes gleamed out from under a shadowy face. Cat like, they glowed with some hidden rage that sent a cold shiver of fear trickling down his spine. Thomas bit his tongue before he said anything else; the look told him to shut up more than any words could at that moment.

"Two days, going on three," the Joker said with a hint of impatience.

Hush stared down at the woman and sniffed, "She's been like this that long? You're toxin I'm assuming?"

"Ha, ha, heee, haha, No." the Joker chortled and a nasty grin came over his face, "But when I find the person who did this, hee heee, oh they are soooo going to wish they had never shown their face in Gotham."

Thomas sneered and set the woman's hand down, "You took her medical charts?"

"Of course," Joker waved to the glossy hard wood Victorian table that was in the room across from the fire place. "What do you think I am, stupid?"

"I wouldn't put it past you to be," muttered Hush as he walked over and grabbed the chart flipping through it.

"Watch it," the low growl from the clown did nothing to intimidate him. Thomas knew he wouldn't be here unless Joker absolutely needed his services, and clearly the man wasn't about to waste him until those services were fully rendered. Scanning carefully the doctor made some soft noises of 'hmm', 'huh' and 'ttch' as he went through the paper work looking over the medications that Dr. March had prescribed for the woman in the hospital. He checked the name and snorted. "Jane Doe?"

Joker raised his head to him at that point and smirked, "Funny you should ask, poor dear didn't remember her name. Such a sad case, isn't it, memories and all that."

"So why take her then? You don't know her, or do you?"

"You could say that," Joker smiled and felt the woman grab his hand tighter. His eyes darted back, and, for a second Hush thought he saw a flash of worry come over the Joker's face, but it was gone again in a moment. "Find what you need?"

"Whoever shot her up, they did a good job. Most of the drugs in her system are based around compounds for medications used for people suffering from memory loss. But some of these, they're more polished toxins," some he heard were even used on members of The White Sharks men when they turned witness to the Prosecution –so he had to wonder if the woman was one of those. However she didn't look like the mob sort. She was average in height, a decent figure, and looked fairly normal. No heavy makeup remained staining her skin, which was pale at the moment, and excluding the odd colored hair she didn't have any markings on her which would have indicated connection to either Black Mask or Tobias Whale. So he had to wonder who she was and what was going on.

Joker was looking at him again, his eyes lidded. "And?" the sarcasm was palpable as he drawled, "tell me something I don't know, McCoy?"

Hush scowled, "This isn't a damn joke."

"You think I find working with you funny? Don't make me laugh. Actually, on second thought, do. I could use a good chuckle, Heh."

Balling his fists, Thomas thought of pummeling the clown to the ground and leaving him in a bloody heap. He'd done it before a few years ago, when the Joker was in his way. The annoying idiot wouldn't stay down, and had the crap kicked out of him. Joker had gotten him back though, acid had killed a number of men he was working with and had nearly cost him his own life. So, in that way, they were even. He needed it to stay that way, at least for the moment. Rumor had been swirling that the Joker had been acting off since mid-September, and Hush had to wonder if the woman lying in the bed was the reason why.

"So what's it going to be, big boy? You gonna punch me into oblivion or work on the patient like a good little doctor," the Joker cooed in a dangerous way. Thomas glanced between him and the woman. He glowered and went back over to check on the heart monitor that was beside the bed. How the hell the Joker had lifted all the equipment in the hospital room was beyond his guess at the moment, but he knew not to take anything for granted when it came to the Joker.

"That's what I thought," Joker said with narrowed eyes, then let go of the woman's hand for a second and shook it out. "She's got one hell of a grip at times. Forgot about that."

"Forgot about what?" Thomas looked up from his notes and the Joker waved it off.

"Never you mind, Mummy dearest." He went over and poured water from a carafe that was on the table and downed it in one swig. "Ah, that hit the spot. Now," he turned and faced Hush and put his hands behind his back. "What do we got here? Hummm?"

Hush frowned. "Did I ever tell you how much I hate your voice?"

"All the damn time, but that's not gonna stop me from talking," came the snide remark. Hush ignored the comment and finished taking his notes.

"She has an elevated heart rate, and her muscles are going into…" he paused seeing the Joker staring at him and started again with simpler terms for the man, though he was sure that the Joker would have over all gotten the message, it was far more interesting to screw with his feeble mind and make him think that he thought he was slow.

"Elevated heart rate and…." Joker looked annoyed and tapped his foot impatiently. "We don't have all night, Dr. Killjoy. Answers are needed and Gotham's not New York, this city does sleep, you know. Not peacefully, mind you, but it does take a nap now and again."

Oddly this elicited a chuckle from Thomas for a quasi-second, before he became serious again. "If her heart continues to have these fast pace beats, at this rate, it's going to cause her to have a heart attack. That could kill her, on top of it the toxins in her system are causing her to have flu like symptoms. High fever, muscle lapses. We need a way for her to throw the drugs out of her system and quickly."

"I can get her some medications that can force the toxins out of her body. But it's going to be messy."

"In what way?" Joker asked seriously, and again there was something behind his eyes that Hush couldn't quiet put his finger on, but it was gone just as fast. "Because, junior, I'm not cleaning up. Do I look like a nurse to you?"

"It will cause her body to….let's say it's a form of stomach pumping. She won't have control of her bodily functions." Thomas took off the medical gloves he had on and pulled on the black leather ones he normally wore, depositing the latex ones in the trash. He looked at the Joker, who seemed to be in a debate in his own mind. The pale faced clown closed his eyes and, after a moment or two opened them.

"Well then, let's go and get what you need," he walked over to grab his coat. "We'll also get a nurse to aid you in your endeavor Doctor."

Thomas saw a swish of purple as the Clown prince donned his long trench coat and fedora. Joker noticed the look and smirked, "Never leave home without dressing your best, that's what I always say."

Again the madman laughed and Hush turned to leave the room followed by the Joker, when a sound from the woman made the clown pause in his tracks. He gave a quick smile and wagged his finger, "Seems you'll have to meet me by the car. Just remembered something. I'll be out in a jiff."

One hard push later and Hush was out the door with the Joker closing it hard behind him. Thomas growled under his breath. The Joker had promised payment for this, in addition to lending out some of his boys. How much of that Thomas wondered would come, he didn't know, but one thing was for sure, something odd was going on in Gotham and had since late September.

Joker pressed his ear to the door, as soon as he heard the heavy boots of Hush walk away he quickly rushed over to the bedside. Kneeling he gripped the woman's hand, his voice far softer than normal, and he reached out with his other hand to stroke her hair. It was greasy from sweat, and he knew that when she was better she would be rather shocked, and possibly amused, to see the color.

The woman whimpered again, squeezing his hand, her words barely whispers, "Don't leave me."

"Shhhhh, honey, I'm right here. Alright. I promise, it'll be fine. But I have to go for now. I'll be right back."

"Pr…Promise?" her eyes were still closed, he was sure she was in a dream, thinking of someone else.

"Promise, but you have to relax." He grabbed hold of a teddy bear he'd found in another room and put it in her hand, "There. When it hurts just squeeze that. I promise you, I'll be back."

Another squeeze of his hand from her acknowledged that she'd heard him and then he let go, reluctantly, and headed out the door. It wasn't long until he met Hush outside the front doors of the long abandoned mansion. Over the years he'd used his ill-gotten gains to spruce the place up; he was, in some ways, proud of that fact. Books and art on the inside gave it a nice touch, while a solid wifi system and some interesting "toys" in the yard allowed for great security, and then there was the garage where he kept his cars.

"You took your sweet time," the larger man said as the Joker approached him.

A quick pat of his coat told Hush everything as Joker grinned, "I just couldn't leave without good ol' Lucy. She'd be lonely without me."

Another snort from Hush who quickly walked ahead as Joker mockingly called out, "After you. Oh no I do insist."

Around them walked Joker's goons, men and a few women, wearing painted faces and purple clothing of various sorts. There was no uniformity among them, just a chaotic symphony of colors that moved about them like some flamboyant silk banner. Hush glanced over at one of them, and noted coldly, "How old are you?"

"Nineteen," the boy said, and Thomas gave him a once over.

"A bit young, don't you think?"

"Hey, it pays well."

"And let me guess, he makes you laugh?"

"No scares the hell out of me, but like I said, he pays well." The boy hurried ahead of them and opened the door along with another man and a luxury Cadillac pulled out, painted a dark purple in color. Joker grinned at Hush and leaned on the cane he was carrying, crossing his legs at the calves.

"As my father always said, if you're gonna ride, then ride in style."

Hush raised his eyebrows, though the Joker couldn't see it through the bandages, "You don't think that's going to make us an easy target?"

Wagging one finger, Joker made a 'tut-tut', and smirked, "The bat's got more to worry about right now then a caddie with two of the city's most notorious criminals joy riding through the streets of Gotham." The Joker stood up and tossed the can over his shoulder as he sauntered on past Hush. "Besides, you're gonna need this car if we don't want to get hit by Black Mask," he patted the side, "Bullet proof, made sure of it after our last run in. You still owe me for damages. But no matter, if you play this right I'll just chop it off from your advisory fee, Doc." He bowed as the door opened, "After you."

Thomas gave a reluctant grunt of agreement and followed him into the back of the car. The inside was fairly simple, nothing garish like Hush had assumed it to be. Leather seats, and what looked like a small bar on the side for riders to have something wet to tip back, while probably praying to god that the Clown didn't do anything drastic to them while they were driving. The drive was a fast one, but surprisingly quiet, Joker not mentioning anything and staring out the window. As for Hush, he didn't care where the woman had come from, that was no concern of his, all he wanted was to get the situation over and done with.

"Turn left on Kane Drive, and head towards Morrison Ave."

"Uh, sure thing," said the driver who glanced at the goon in the passenger seat, the guy shrugged. It was the first time Joker looked up from being in his own world to remark.

"So we're not heading to Gotham General then? I thought you used to work there? Afraid of letting your old buddies see you with such a handsome fellow like me?"

"Keep talking clown and you'll have no teeth." Hush sneered and Joker laughed.

"Is that any way to treat your date?"

Hush cast him a withering look which the Joker returned. The tension in the car was tight that a single word could set either man off. So, smartly, the guard in the passenger side quipped, "So, ah, are we heading to GGH or not?"

"Yes, but it's another route in," Thomas explained to the guard and glanced between them, "a back entrance, it's used more by medical suppliers for deliveries; we get in and we get out."

"So a stealth mission? Never really had to do that before." The driver muttered as the Joker sniggered at a personal joke.

"Well there's a first time for everything… if you can get in, that is."

Hush glanced over at him out of the corner of his eyes, "What do you mean Clown?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you, the cops are probably swarming all over that place. Heheh. Poor bastards are on a wild goose chase." He was saying when Hush grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him close, hard, his voice full of anger as he snarled.

"You said you took her from a private room. You told me you took her from St. Helana's."

Joker smirked, tutting again, "No, no, I said I took her from A hospital. I didn't tell you which. You just assumed that private meant expensive, they have private rooms at Gotham General you know. Special rooms for specific cases, like hers. "

"So, you mean to tell me, that the GCPD will be swarming the hospital?" Hush's grip tightened and Joker gritted his teeth to take away from the fact that he was starting to choke.

"There is that possibility."

"Turn this car around now!" Thomas shouted to the driver and the man in the front screeched on the breaks, just as Joker shouted at him not to. The driver looked between the two men as Hush held his grip onto the driver's boss and the guard started to make for his gun.

"I am not getting arrested because of some stupid stunt you pulled," Hush started to say when Joker managed to wrestle away from his nearly iron grip.

"You won't," the Clown muttered and motioned to the driver and the passenger guard moved slowly away from his peice. "Well don't just stand there, keep driving. We have a hospital to get to."

He nodded as did the guard and they were moving again.

"Are you crazy?!"

"Some people might say so, yes," Joker drawled again and fixed his tie. "You really need to learn not to ruffle up the suit Doctor. Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners?" Hush lunged for the clown, and Joker backed off just enough to aim his acid flower at him. "Ah…Ah, Mummy boy. You don't want that pretty face of your permanently damaged."

Hush slowly backed off, his voice low, threatening, "Don't. You. Ever. Speak of my Mother. Do you understand?"

Joker waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah. Mommy's boy and all that. Gottcha."

"Good."

"Now," the smiling fool chuckled and tapped a button to roll up the glass between the front and the back of the car. He grinned at Hush, "I have a way to make your plan work."

Thomas crossed his arms leaning back and narrowed his brow, "And how is that?"

"Simple, we create a distraction in the front, and you," he made his hand into a walking person, "Sneak yourself in the back." Joker smiled, "Easy peasy. No muss and no fuss."

"And if the cops are around?" Hush said pointedly and Joker smirked.

"They'll be far too busy dealing with me and the boys to be worried about the likes of you. Besides, all you need to worry about is getting the medication that will clear out her system." Joker said coolly and then gave Hush a tight grin, "And if you don't, there will be no hole on earth deep enough for you to hid in from me. Capiche?"

Thomas searched the madman's eyes again. What was it about this woman that was making him even think of threatening him in any sort of manner? Physically he was stronger than Joker, more powerful as well, but the Clown was a mastermind in his own right. Cunning, sly and agile. For all his weaknesses, the Joker had something to at least balance them. He wasn't physically strong so acids and using the element of surprise were part of his schemes, and Thomas noted that he had a way of charming the hell out of anyone within earshot. He could act, Hush could give him that much, and his instability kept everyone guessing on where he would strike next. You could never be sure he was your ally, and that was why when the Joker held out his hand to Thomas he hesitated and waved it off.

Joker frowned and pulled his hand back, "Not much of a deal maker are you. No one taught you about handshakes?"

"Let's just say, I prefer not to make a mistake like Faust did." Thomas said and the Joker stared at him dumbfounded for a moment, then burst out laughing and slapping his thigh.

"OH, you DO have a sense of humor. And here I thought that you replaced that when you changed your looks."

Dr. Elliot glared as the driver slowed and Joker brought down the glass. They were just across from Gotham General Hospital and it was dead. It was three in the morning, on a weekday. Normally the busy shift would start at this time on the weekends, but given the situation from Halloween, no one was in the mood to come out at night and party. Joker looked out at the street and the glowing lights of the emergency entrance of the hospital.

"Hmmmm, hasn't changed a bit since we broke in there a few days ago."

"Of course not, it's a hospital. They don't change overnight you…." Thomas shook his head as Joker got out along with the guard. He looked back at the other cars that had followed them and several other clown faced, purple clad, gun toting men crawled out of the darkness. Joker laughed softly and shut the door behind him then turned around to face Hush. Leaning on the frame of the rolled down window he smirked.

"So, Junior there is going to drive you to your little secret entrance. Just be ready to run when the fireworks go off and the sirens come."

"I have myself covered," Hush said darkly, needing no help from the Joker. He though, was curious. "Exactly how did you get her out of there anyway?"

"Same way she got in," Joker shrugged and Thomas stared at him slightly annoyed.

"You stole an ambulance?"

"I prefer to call them screaming wagons of life altering devastation," Joker said in an amusing tone, then shrugged, "But to each his own." He tapped on the roof of the car and waved at the driver. "Take him away Junior."

Junior gave a nod and took off driving leaving Joker smirking after the car. Turning to face the hospital he put his one hand in his pocket and pulled down his fedora. "Well, Well, looks like Gotham General is about to get quiet the shock. Let's liven up the place boys!" With that they headed for the emergency entrance, the Joker's laughter echoing in the empty streets.