An: Yay! Reviews! (hugs MOTH and eijifan6654) You guys rock! Here's the next chapter just for you.

Chapter Two

Batman cursed under his breath, mostly because if he cursed aloud he would have to stop and catch his breath. That would not only be embarrassing, that would waste precious time. Of course the Joker would go as far away from the cops as he could. It suited Batman just fine - after all, the police of Gotham City were no more his friends than they were the Joker's - but it did mean running halfway across town, to the docks and the warehouses that lined them. This was where most of the gang members had done their business - until Batman and Gordon had taken care of that little business not six months ago. Right when the Joker himself came into the limelight. Batman sighed once again and continued to make his way down the buildings, gliding in the shadows on his massive bat-shaped cape to the rooftop. His landing caused a slight bump, but judging from the noise coming from inside the warehouse, he doubted Joker actually heard him. Besides, if this was a real trap, Joker would know about his eminent arrival anyway. He almost shrugged, but instead headed over to the edge of the roof, gripped the gutter, and flipped himself upside down, putting all his weight on his fingers as he peered through the filthy salt-encrusted window.

He could barely make out a small shape on one side of the warehouse, but he could clearly see the Joker, his back to the window. His eyes narrowed as he attempted to listen it.

"Did you really think you could hide from me?" Odd, but the Joker actually sounded pissed off. Batman couldn't remember if Joker had ever sounded truly annoyed. The only time he had come close was when the ferries didn't blow up like planned. The figure in the corner made some sort of motion, but he couldn't hear any words. Joker stalked across the room, and Batman took the opportunity to move from his position in front of the window to the door. He checked the hinges. Rusty, like he suspected. Salt air did not like metal. There would be no chance for a silent entrance. He would have to break down the door.

"Do you know the trouble I have gone through to protect you all these years?" Now Joker was practically snarling. "Everything that you have, I have given you. And now you try and run away?!"

There was the distinctive sound of someone being slapped, and a child whimpered. He could not wait any longer. With a scowl, he took a step back and kicked the door in.

Joker's head whipped around, glaring at the massive figure that now stood framed in the doorway. "Ah, great. Can't you see I'm in the middle of something here, Bat?"

"I can tell." Batman replied dryly. "Let her go, Joker. Game's over."

"This is no game." Joker bit out. "This is serious business."

Batman gave him a look, although it was partly lost because of the mask. "I thought you didn't have serious business. I wouldn't let word get out about that. It might ruin your image."

Joker snarled and grabbed the girl by her collar, hoisting her up in front of him. One hand held a razor blade to her throat. "Don't come near us, Bat. I'll kill her and you know I will."

Rachel. "If you were going to kill her, you would have done it by now." Batman pointed out. Joker chuckled at that. "Give her to me, Joker. Let's not risk the girl getting hurt now."

"You think I care?"

"Scarily enough, this time I think you do."

There was a hesitation. Suddenly, the Joker began to laugh. The sound rattled off the metal interrior of the warehouse and magnified to an almost deafening volume. The girl whimpered. "Now I see. Oh, but now I see. So that was your plan all along, you little twit. Very clever, but then, I wouldn't expect anything less of you." He turned his focus to Batman, and he stopped in his approach. "You see, Bat, we've both been tricked. You were supposed to come after me, just as I was supposed to come after her. It all worked rather nicely, don't you think?"

"Are you going to give her to me or do I have to fight you for her?"

Joker hesitated, then smiled. "I think I'll make you fight me." With that he tightened his grip on the girl and backed out of the warehouse, Batman advancing on him every step of the way. That smile was back again, the one that made Batman's gut clench. That was the same smile he had right before he produced some twisted ultimatum and vanished from sight, leaving him to scramble to catch up. He hated that smile.

"Come on, Joker, this is ridiculous. Why fight me over a girl?"

"Because it's fun."

He could have beat his head against the wall. Once again, his ear piece crackled. "What did you expect from the Joker? A straight answer?" Alfred pointed out reasonably. Batman neglected to respond to that.

At that moment, Batman lunged. He knocked the Joker back off his feet, breaking his hold on the girl and shoving him a good three feet away. He would have liked the psychopath just a bit farther back, but he chose instead to grab the girl and hold her close to his chest. Her small fingers latched on to his armor, refusing to let go. He couldn't exactly say he blamed her.

The Joker scrambled back to his feet, but instead of coming back after him like he thought he would, the man simply laughed and took off out the back door of the warehouse. Batman sighed. "Joker's gone again, Alfred." he said quietly.

"I gathered." Alfred responded. "Should I alert Gordon?"

"No, I'll do that later. Right now I need to get this one back to the cave. Get a first-aid kit from the house and meet me down there. She's cut up pretty bad." Batman instructed.

"Understood, Master Wayne."

Batman sighed and set the girl back down on her feet. Slowly, she moved back far enough that he could get a good look at her. She was filthy, her clothes torn, but he could still see the dark hair and large, dark eyes, her malnourished form. The still-bleeding cut across her cheek where the Joker had nicked her with the blade. He sighed. "Come on, kid. Let's get you cleaned up."

She nodded and slipped her small hand into his black-gloved one. For some odd reason, they seemed to fit perfectly.