Disclaimer: really, if Batman Beyond was mine, this would have been in the show. *sigh* I miss terry...

A scene they should have had between lines. I'd dig up the episode, but it's the one where Max figures it all out.

Seriously Max?

"He wasn't even on my list," Max admitted, then looked straight at Terry. "But you were."

Terry jerked back in surprise. Her stupid "Find the Jokerz" program he thought got her in trouble with them the other day, identified him as a Joker. He raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Max I really think you need to work on your programming skills."

"You have a lot of unexplained absences," Max persisted, "you doze off in class, your grades have dropped lately, and you're turning into a bit of a recluse Ter. You're impulsive, violent, have no respect for authority, have a juvie record and—"

Terry held up his hand, explanations far past ready for her. "Went to juvie when my parents were breaking up. Lots of angry kids do that in that situation. I'm not that violent or impulsive, and I do respect authority, provided they respect me."

This won a smirk from his friend but as she tried to explain again, he continued. "The main thing you're forgetting Max is my dad was murdered, and the cops say it was a gang of Jokerz. Do you really think I'd up and join them after that?"

"Ahhh…." The self proclaimed computer genius gaped at him. Apparently this thought never entered her mind, or her program.

Terry looked at his feet, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "It's been… it's been hard without him. I keep myself busy with Mr. Wayne, but it's really hard working for him too. I can't focus on school and my job keeps me busy. Those absences have been explained and I've been given some allowances because of my job. And because of…"

He really didn't want to say it. He missed his dad. Even if he wasn't Batman, Terry bet his grades and sleep would have suffered anyway. At least now he had a good reason behind it. Wayne really didn't push him about it, and for that he was grateful. The old man did help him with school when they got the chance though. He was becoming like a second dad to him.

Creepy.

Max also looked at the ground, letting everything sink in. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "I'm sorry."

He looked away out of reflex but said nothing. Everyone would say sorry, but trying to reassure them you were fine never helped. Instead he shrugged, trying to move on. "Yeah well, it just goes to prove your program didn't work right. Doubt any of those people are Jokerz."

She glanced at the list for a minute, then realized something. "Not Jokerz, but…."

Max smirked and looked at Terry impishly. He finally looked up at her and felt a rush of dread run through him at the sight. What was she thinking now?

END

A/N: Okay, did anyone else see the flaw in her program? In the end it IDed Terry, but consider the one major fact in his life (Dad dying my "Jokerz") do you honestly think he'd become one of them? Seriously Max, get a clue!