Chapter 2: Bravery vs Stupidity
Disclaimer: read chapter 1
It was election day in Gotham. Lacey, Harvey, Rachel, and Harvey's campaign manager, Allen Cypes, were at Harvey's house, waiting anxiously. The votes were in, and they were just one phone call away to know who will become Gotham's new DA.
Rachel noticed Harvey's breathing being uneasy, she squeezed his hand in comfort and whispered in his ear, "No need to be nervous, Mr. Dent. There's no question that you will be Gotham's new scourge."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I don't want to appear cocky."
Lacey giggled, standing next to Harvey, "Ooh, he's not only smart, charming, and cares for Gotham, but he's also humble." She smirked, laying a hand on shoulder, suppressing the urge to touch his pecs. "But let's not be modest, Harvey. You know you're going to win."
Harvey pressed his lips, holding back a chuckle, "No. I won't say it."
"Hm..." Rachel quickly placed her hand inside his suit pocket, and swiftly pulled out what she's been looking for.
Harvey turned to his girlfriend questionably, "What are you doing?" Harvey's went inside his pocket, not feeling his prized possession inside.
Rachel snickered, holding up something his coin, "Let's flip a coin to see if you're telling the truth." Before she could flip, Harvey rushed by Rachel's side and caught the coin in his hand before it fell onto her palm. "Give me that! You must understand about this coin, Rachel, that no one flips it but me."
Lacey scoffed, "Since when are you so superstitious?"
"I'm not," Harvey flipped his coin, that landed on his palm, revealing heads. "See? I'm telling the truth."
Rachel stared at Harvey suspiciously, "You know... It's funny that coin lands on heads every time you flip it."
Harvey smiled, approaching her, "Like I said before... I make my own luck. It's how I won my first date with you. Remember?" Lacey watched the two of them go at it again, they were both embracing and moaning in their kiss. She didn't know whether to stare in awe or puke.
Luckily, Harvey's campaign manager's voice end their make out session.
"Hello? Yes! I'm still here, where else did I go?!" Allen demanded with arrogance in his tone, "Now tell me who won!"
Harvey couldn't help it, he was squeezing Rachel's hand for dear life, as they all stared at Allen's neutral face in silence. They waited for Allen to make a reaction or response. His voice was there, but his face was emotionless.
"Okay... I'll be sure to tell Mr. Dent. No, thank you," Allen hang up his Bluetooth headset and turned around to face the anxious trio with his lips pressed in a thin line, and breathed out through his nose.
"Well?" Rachel demanded, urging Allen to tell them the news.
Allen was still silent, too quiet for everybody's liking. It was the first sign towards the bad news.
"Allen?" Harvey asked in worried tone.
"Enough with the suspense, Al!" Lacey snapped, "Tell us who won already!"
Allen shook his head, "It was not even close, Harvey."
Harvey's jaw dropped, and lowered his head and shook it in disbelief. He thought for sure that he won.
"Oh, Harvey." Rachel wrapped her arms around him tightly, trying to comfort him, "I'm so sorry." Lacey couldn't believe it, she stared at Allen, who looked like he had a lot more to say.
"What is it, Allen?" she asked.
Allen sighed, "Like I said, Lace. It's not even close... but you did it, Mister District Attorney."
Harvey's ears perked up by Allen's last words, "What?"
Allen smiled and nodded, confirming it, "That's right. Congratulations, Harvey Dent! You won!"
Rachel gasped, covering her mouth in shock. Lacey grinned and clapped her hands for the new district attorney.
Harvey laughed joyfully, hugging Allen. He pulled away and put a hand over his own chest, controlling his breathing.
"You okay?" Allen asked.
"Allen, don't ever do that to me again!"
"Oh, come on, Dent. I have been waiting my life to do that."
It was Rachel's turn to hug the new DA, "I knew it! I told you can do it! And you did it!"
Harvey cupped Rachel's face, shaking his head, "No, Rachel. We did it!" He gestured the four of them in the room, "We all did it! If it weren't the good people's votes..." Harvey looked over his shoulder at Allen, "Allen's hard work and management..." He turned his head to the over side, facing Lacey, "Lacey with her faith and friendship and best coffee."
Lacey tucked a curl behind her ear, her hand hiding the flush across her cheeks.
"And best of all..." He faced Rachel with a smile, "I have a beautiful woman, who's been by my side through the whole thing, pushing me to do my best and help me end the corruption in Gotham."
Rachel pressed a kiss on Harvey's lips and wrapped her arms around his neck. She moaned as she pulled away, "Wonderful words, Harvey. I can't wait to hear your victory speech."
"Congrats, Harvey!" Lacey said, pulling out her phone and saw that she got a couple of missed calls. "Now I'm really looking forward to the victory party Saturday. I work very hard on making it a success, and I expect y'all to be there."
Harvey grinned, "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Lace."
Lacey smiled back, "You shouldn't, because you are the guest of honor. Now if you excuse me, but I have important calls to make." Lacey walked away to do just that. Harvey continued to hug and kiss Rachel, and received a pat on the back from Allen.
"Congratulations!" Allen said with a laugh.
Lacey was a few feet away from the group, so she could hear her call clearly.
"Thank you for calling St. Swithin's Catholic church, home for the orphan boys. This is Father Reilly, how can I help you?"
Lacey was tapping her foot, impatient to hear Father Reilly's long introduction, "Hi, Father, it's Lacey."
"Miss Donaldson?" the priest exhaled. He sounded... relieved, like he was glad that she called. "It's so good to hear your voice. How are you feeling?"
Lacey grinned with a nod, "Let's just say that God has given Gotham a blessing today."
"Oh? How so?"
"Look, I know Nathan has classes, but could you give him a message for me... like now?"
There was a long pause, until she heard the priest said, "I'm afraid he is not in class at the moment."
Lacey furrowed her brows, questioning his statement, "Oh? Where is he? Do the boys have a field trip or something?"
"He's at Gotham General, right now."
Lacey's mouth became agape, feeling the terror take over her body, afraid that something happened to Nathan, "Why?! What happened?!"
"The boys, who were there, explained that he fell down the stairs."
She gasped and covered her mouth in horror. Her hand that was holding the phone started shaken. "I-Is he going to be okay?"
"I'm not too sure. The paramedics had taken him about two hours ago."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I tried, Miss Donaldson, but you weren't answering your phone."
Lacey cursed herself for silencing her phone. She was so caught up with the election, she missed the important call about her closest friend getting hurt.
"Gotham General, you say?" she asked for confirmation.
"Yes, but I'm sure-"
Lacey didn't want to hear the priest's assuring words. She hung up on him and grabbed her coat from the couch, and approached the victorious group. Rachel's smile faded as she took in Lacey's frantic state.
"Is everything okay, Lace?" she asked, the two men joined her concern.
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave," Lacey explained as she was about to walk away, only to be stopped by Harvey.
"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Harvey placed his hands on her shoulders, demanding answers. "Where you going? Why?"
"Nathan is in the hospital."
Rachel covered her mouth, hiding her shock, "My God. Is he okay?"
"I don't know! Father Reilly told me he fell down the stairs!"
Allen shook his head in dismay, "Horrible. Just horrible."
Lacey looked up at Harvey and pulled away from him, "I have to go."
Harvey nodded in agreement, "Yes! Yes, of course! Go to him. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine."
Lacey spilt out apologies and goodbyes as she rushed out the door, heading to Gotham General.
~000~000~000~
Lacey rushed through the doors of Gotham General, and went to the receptionist's desk.
"Excuse me? Excuse me? Hello?!" Lacey banged on the desk to get the front lady's attention.
The front lady, who looked to be a high school graduated, was currently on the phone, but lifted a finger up at Lacey, telling her to wait one second. She smiled and laughed, listening to other person on the line.
"Yeah, and what did he say?" she asked on the phone.
Lacey tapped her foot and folded her arms, clearly inpatient.
The front lady nodded, "Uh-huh. Uh-huh. So he thinks I'm pretty?"
Lacey scoffed. The girl was clearly taking a personal call, when she should be working. Having enough of this, Lacey reached over the desk and pushed a button on the telephone, ending the lady's call.
The front lady's mouth became agape, when her friend's voice was cut off, "Hello? Hello, Jess?" The girl looked at the phone set to see Lacey's finger on the end call button, then she looked up in disbelief, "What the hell is your problem, bitch?"
"You're my problem, Bitch!" Lacey snapped, "I have a kid in the hospital, and you're sitting there, taking a personal call!"
"That was an important call!"
"Oh, yeah. You're afraid it's the end of the world, if you don't find out a boy likes you? Wow! That is important!"
"What made you so cranky?"
"I need help!"
"Ooh, I think you're in the wrong hospital, lady, Arkham Asylum is across the bridge," the girl giggled at her own joke.
Lacey made a fake smile and giggled with her, "Ha. Ha. Funny. But seriously, I need help. I need information about a boy who came here. Now!"
The teenager scoffed, "With your attitude? Why the hell should I help you? I can call security right now, and they'll throw your sorry ass out!"
"Go ahead, but you should know that I work in the DA's office along with Gotham's new district attorney."
The girl frowned at Lacey's words.
Lacey smirked, "So before you send your big guys here to throw my sorry ass out, I can pull my own phone out and call Harvey Dent, who I am happily acquainted with by the way, and tell him how I wasn't getting help and was thrown out for interrupting your girl talk. He'll come here and talk to your boss about the poor service. Who do you think your boss will be mad at? Hm..."
Lacey pulled out her cell and practically waved it at the girl's face, "So, do you want to make your call, while I make mine?" Lacey flipped her phone open tracing her thumb over the buttons.
The girl huffed and put the phone back on the handset, "Whatever."
Lacey smiled with satisfaction, "I thought you see things my way." Lacey snapped the phone shut, and put it away.
The girl's hands were on the keyboard, "So you said you want information on a patient, Ma'am?" She asked with force politeness.
Lacey nodded, "Yes, a boy name Nathan Machin."
The girl typed the name on the computer and searched information about him, "Your son is getting his stitches done in room 1304."
Lacey blinked, completely taken back by how the girl addressed him as Nathan's mother. Without saying anything else, Lacey stomped away from the mean girl to find the room Nathan was in. Once she finally located his room, she walked in to see a nurse wrapping a bandage around the poor shaggy, blonde boy's head.
"Oh my God, Nathan!" Lacey cried out.
The nurse and Nathan perked up, hearing Lacey enter the room.
"Lacey!" Nathan cried happily.
Lacey rushed to Nathan's side, giving the boy a hug. "I came as soon as I heard, are you alright, Buddy?!"
The nurse sat there watching the two, not expecting the reunion, "Excuse me, who are you?"
Lacey lifted her head up to face the nurse, "Oh!" She pulled away from the hug, but sat down next to Nathan and put her arm around him, "I'm a friend. I'm Lacey Donaldson."
"Best friend," Nathan corrected, showing off his buck teeth.
The nurse shook her head, "I thought the boy was from the St. Swithins church."
"He is. The priest who runs it told me Nathan was here, so I came. You can call him if you don't believe me."
"No need."
Lacey looked at the boy's head and caressed the blonde crown without touching his bandage. "What happened to you?" she asked Nathan.
"I fell down the stairs," Nathan responded, acting as if it wasn't a big deal.
"And now he has ten stitches around his head," The nurse added. "But there's no sign of a fracture or concussion."
"Thank God, you're okay," Lacey said to him. "But since when did you become a klutz?"
Nathan laughed and laid his head on Lacey's shoulder.
The nurse put her supplies back in a container, but her head perked up, noticing another visitor entering the room. She smiled, "Well, it seems you've become popular today, Mr. Machin."
Nathan and Lacey were confused at first, not sure what the nurse meant, until they turned around. Lacey was completely surprised when she saw Gotham's new District Attorney in the room.
"Mister Dent!" Nathan cried in shock. His blues widened like it was Christmas morning. He never thought to meet the White Knight, until now. "Wow!" He jumped off the table, rushing towards him.
"You must be Nathan!" Harvey lowered himself to level the boy's height, reaching a hand out for a handshake. "I am Harvey Dent."
"I know who you are! I have read and watch you throughout the election! You're one of my heroes!"
Harvey smiled, "Well, I am honored to meet my biggest fan. Lacey told me all about you."
"And Lacey told me all about you! Saying that she's scared of you, but you're such a nice guy."
"Nathan!" Lacey stood from the table, keeping him from spilling any more details about her. She refused to look at Harvey as he stared at her, no telling what he was thinking. "What are you doing here, Harvey? Don't you have victory speech to make?"
Nathan widened his eyes at Lacey with confusion, before turning back to Harvey, "What?"
Harvey made a disapprove sound, "Nice going, Lace. You just ruined the surprise."
"You mean... You won the election?" The nurse asked.
Harvey nodded and smiled at the nurse, "Yes, ma'am."
She smiled, "Well, congratulations, Sir!"
"Thank you."
The nurse walked past Lacey and the two males, the smile never faded, "How about I leave you all alone, while I spread the word at the hospital."
"You do that," Harvey straightened his legs, turning to face the nurse again, "Oh, and nurse?"
The nurse turned and looked at the district attorney questionably, "Is there something wrong, Mr. Dent?"
"I just want to thank you for taking care of this young man right here," Harvey patted Nathan's shoulder.
The nurse nodded, "It's part of the job, Sir." With that, she left the room.
"I knew it!" Nathan cried happily, "I knew it! I knew you will win, Mister Dent!" Harvey laughed heartedly, picking Nathan up.
"Harvey," Lacey jumped in the conversation, "What about your speech?"
"I decided to postpone it and check in to see if Nathan was okay."
"I'm fine!" Nathan said smiling, "I got ten stitches!" Nathan lifted all his fingers up, indicating the number.
"Ten stitches?!" Harvey blinked in disbelief. "Did you scream?"
Nathan shook his head, "No. The nice lady rub some stuff so I won't feel it."
"Were you scared?"
Nathan paused, a bit reluctant to answer, until he shook his head with hesitation, "No."
Harvey smiled, knowing that Nathan was lying, he played along, "You truly are brave."
The boy's smile resumed, "Thanks."
Lacey was standing there, watching the sweet moment between the two, until she clasped her hands dramatically, gaining attention from the two, "Well, I'm going to get myself a cup of coffee. Do you guys want anything?"
"Ice cream!"
Harvey and Lacey chuckled at Nathan's answer.
"Same for me," Harvey said.
"What? No coffee?" she teased.
Harvey paused, before shaking his head side to side, "Maybe a mocha for me."
"Okay, then. I'll be back," Lacey left the room, leaving the two alone.
"I'm so glad you came to see me, Mister Dent," Nathan said, "You and Lacey being here, and you winning the election makes me forget my head."
Harvey carried Nathan back to the hospital table, "Mister Machin, you are officially a good friend of mine. You are free to call me 'Harvey'."
"Really?" Nathan asked as Harvey set Nathan on the table.
Harvey shrugged, "Yeah."
"As long as you call me Nathan, I can call you anything you want."
Harvey smiled, shaking the boy's hand, "It's a deal... So, uh, tell me. How did you get a bobo up here?" Harvey pointed at the bandage.
"I fell down a set of stairs," Nathan said.
"You fell? Did you trip or something?"
Nathan frowned, "You can say that."
Harvey narrowed his eyes, questioning the boy's words. He can tell that the boy was keeping something from him.
"Nathan, is there something you wish to tell me?"
Nathan shook his head, avoiding eye contact, "No."
"Is there something you like to talk to Lacey about?"
"No. I'm fine. I fell that's all!" Nathan said in anger, clearly annoyed by Harvey's questions.
"You know..." Harvey sighed, stepping off the table and kneeling down in front of Nathan who was still avoiding eye contact, "I have been an attorney for a long time, and I've been taught how to tell when someone is lying."
Nathan bit his lower lip, moving his eyes away from Harvey.
"Now let me ask you again, is there something you wish to tell me?"
Nathan was silent. His face showed hesitation. His teeth chewed his bottom lip, keeping the words from escaping his mouth.
Harvey patted his knees and nodded, "Okay, but you could, if you want to."
"I really don't want to talk about it. I can handle it myself."
Harvey sighed, shaking his head, "That's what I thought too, when I was bullied at school."
Nathan looked at Harvey with widen eyes in disbelief, "You were bullied?"
"Yep. You see..." Harvey sat back down on the table and put his arm around Nathan who was paying attention, "When I was at school, I was bullied by a kid name Ryan. Now Ryan was a big kid who can push and shove anyone in order to get what he wanted. Mainly, he wanted lunch money. During lunch break, Ryan came up to me, demanding to have my lunch money, and do you know what I did?"
"You gave it to him?" Nathan guessed.
Harvey shook his head, "No. I didn't." Harvey scoffed, "That was a big mistake. I came home with a black eye that day."
"He hit you?!"
"Yep. And from that day on, during and after school, he started picking on me, calling me names, pushing and shoving because I refuse to give him my lunch money."
"So... You did nothing to stop him?"
"No. I took it like man, at least that's what my father tells me to do when beats me with a belt."
"Your dad beats you with a belt too?"
"All the time..." Harvey frowned and clenched his fist at that horrifying memory. He remembered the whips he received from his alcoholic father. Ever since Harvey's mother died, his father lost the handle. Harvey had been abused, until his father's death. He wanted to hate his father for hurting him all those years, but he couldn't have the heart to do it. He can never have the heart to show anger and hatred towards him. Before his mother's death, his father was a decent person, a good father. Harvey loved him, despite the abuse he put him through.
"But that's not important," Harvey waved it off, and continued the story, "Anyway, one day at the playground, I was on the swings, minding my own business, until Ryan showed up and pushed me, laughing while taking a seat on my swing. Something inside me exploded. I realized that I have enough, and there's no way I'm going to let this kid put me down anymore."
"So what did you do?"
"I swung my fist against his face, knocking him off the swing."
"You did?!" Nathan asked in shock.
"I did."
"What did he do? Did he punch you again?"
Harvey chuckled, "No, the kid ran away... crying."
Nathan smiled, "Awesome! Some tough kid he turned out to be."
"Yeah..." Harvey relented to tell him the rest of the story, but he continued cautiously, "And then I... got in trouble with the principle."
"Really?" he asked, disappointed that Harvey's story didn't get a happy ending.
"He called my Dad, and I received another beating."
"B-But - But you didn't do anything wrong! That guy deserved it! He had been punching you! He's a bully!"
"And what does that make me?"
"You're just a victim! You were defending yourself!"
"Yes, but stooping to Ryan's level makes me a bully too. I realized that if I had the guts to tell my teacher what's going on, then I wouldn't got in trouble and the torture would've ended sooner."
"So... If I had trouble with a few bullies and told an adult, it'll make the bullying go away."
Harvey nodded, "Yeah. Sometimes, it takes a big man to admit he has a problem."
Nathan sighed in defeat and lowered his head, "Okay... You see there were a few boys at the orphanage... and they keep on picking on me. I tried to ignore them, but they won't leave me alone. They make fun of me for being the smartest kid in the church."
"How long has it been going on?"
Nathan looked up at Harvey, "Since the first day at the orphanage."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I don't want to be a tattletale."
"Tattling is different. It's like getting even with someone. Speaking up is protecting yourself!" Harvey's face showed worried, "Did these boys have anything to do with your accident?"
"I was heading for breakfast, only to be cornered by the guys. I tried to get past them, but they took their picking to a whole new level."
"How far did the boys go?"
"They started shoving me down the hall, calling me names, roughing me up." Nathan's eyes started to water.
"Did they push you down the stairs?" he asked.
Nathan shook his head, "I don't know. All I know is that we started fighting. You should've seen them, Harvey, they were scared."
Harvey furrowed his brows in confusion, "Why? Did you put up a good fight?"
Nathan frowned in disappointment, "No. I fell down the stairs, and when the blood started to come out of my head, they were scared."
"My God!"
Harvey and Nathan whirled around to see Lacey with three pudding cups and two coffee mug on a tray. She placed the tray on the counter and rushed to give Nathan a big hug, "Oh, you poor boy! I'm so sorry!"
"Why are you sorry for?" Harvey asked, "You weren't picking on Nathan."
"But I should've seen it happening! If I had known this has been going on, I would've helped." Lacey grasped Nathan's arms, forcing him to look at her, "Okay, Nathan, give me names, I'll kick their asses out of town."
Nathan widened his eyes at Lacey's choice of words, while Harvey had mixed reactions to it. He was stunned, then horrified, then amused. Lacey has spirit like a lioness. She'll jump in and attack to those who mess with her or the ones she loved. That's what he liked about her, but her method to handle a bully was completely wrong.
"Lace, you can't go in the orphanage church and beat down a few bullies."
"I'm not that stupid, Harvey. I wouldn't dare hurt those boys inside the church... I can do it in the playground."
Nathan raised his hand, "I'm all for it!"
Harvey shook his head, disapproving this, "No! Stooping their level isn't the way!"
"Well, we have to do something!" Lacey argued.
"And we will. We can talk to Father Reilly and the teachers who educate the boys, and tell them what's going on."
Nathan looked up at Harvey, shaking his head with fear in his eyes, "No! Please don't! T-That's just going to make it worse!"
Harvey sighed, kneeling beside Lacey, facing Nathan once again, "Nathan, do you know why bullies do mean things?"
Nathan shook his head.
Lacey raised her hand, "I know why I was bullied."
"You were bullied too?!" Nathan asked Lacey in shock, "Who would bully a girl like you?!"
Lacey laughed, amused by Nathan's words, "You would be surprise, Nathan. You see in my high school days, girls' way of bullying is mostly talking trash behind your back."
Nathan rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Girls are lucky."
Lacey shook her head, "No, girls would disagree with you. I remember butting heads with Anna Stellars. She was just jealous, because her football boyfriend dumped her for me. It's not my fault Greg was attracted to my charm and good looks! Not that it's gone now. I still have the stuff."
Lacey whipped her hair back, while Harvey laughed at her story. Whoever this Anna Stellars was, she should be jealous of Lacey's charm and beauty. Any guy was lucky to have her.
"Um... Lacey," Harvey began, "This is about Nathan. Remember?"
Lacey shrugged, "Of course it is, I'm just saying."
Harvey turned his attention to Nathan, "You see Nathan, bullies do these things to make them feel stronger. Really, they're just cowards hiding behind their fists or dirty tongue. You, me, and Lacey..." Harvey pointed at him, "We are the strong ones."
"I don't feel strong," Nathan said.
"Maybe not, but you forget that it's there. The bullies want you to be afraid to speak up. That's how the bullying keeps going. You did a courageous thing by speaking up."
Lacey watched Harvey talking down to Nathan, feeling impressed by the man. The more she got to know the White Knight, the more her feelings bloom for him. What was wrong with her?
"Okay... Will the bullies go away, since I told you?" Nathan asked.
"They'll be taken care of. Your stay at the orphanage will be better from now on."
Lacey placed a reassuring hand on Nathan's leg, "This will be taken care, Nathan. You don't have to worry anymore."
"Promise?" the boy asked with hope in his eyes.
Lacey smiled, "I promise."
Nathan began sobbing; Harvey and Lacey felt the need to shed a tear as well. The three of them wrapped their arms around each other into a family-like hug. Lacey couldn't help but feel butterflies at Harvey's warm touch.
~000~000~000~
Harvey and Lacey spent long hours with the priest, then to every teacher who educated the boys, then they have been given permission to speak with the children about bullying.
Harvey lectured how wrong it was to pick on somebody smaller than them, and explained to the bullies that they could go to jail for assaulting Nathan. The young sixth and fifth grade boys were horrified at the revelation, but Harvey made them a deal. He'll flip a coin. The boys voted heads over tails. If the coin landed on heads, they'll have a get-out-of-jail free card, and promise that they'll never bully another soul again. If the coin landed on tails, they'll spent their summer vacation in a juvenile camp.
Luckily for them, the coin landed on heads.
When the boys were free to leave and went back to their studies, the bullies immediately apologized to Nathan and offered him special treatment to help him recover. Harvey and Lacey smiled, knowing that Nathan will be alright in the orphanage.
"Are you upset that you missed your speech?" Lacey asked, walking out of the orphanage with Harvey.
Harvey scoffed, "Of course not. The bully problem was obviously an issue to take care of as district attorney. Besides, I can give my speech at my victory party Saturday."
"Yeah..." Lacey glanced at the entrance in deep thought, "But what happens if the coin landed on tails? Would you really send those boys to juvie? Most of them didn't do anything."
"Lacey, kids today... they always pick heads, don't know why."
"But what if, Harvey?" Lacey questioned him, "There was a fifty percent chance that they guessed wrong."
"You want to know a secret?" Harvey asked as he pulled out his coin.
Lacey nodded. Harvey flipped the coin and caught it with perfection.
"I don't leave it to chance. I make my own luck," Harvey finished with a smile. Lacey returned the gesture, rolling her eyes. He always said that. Then the man's face fell in consideration, making Lacey furrow her brows in confusion.
"What?"
"Lace, the boy said something about you being scared of me."
Lacey let out a laugh, "Oh... That." She snorted, "That's just Nathan being a kidder."
"Was he?" he challenged.
Lacey's laughing slowed down, regretted looking back at Harvey. His intense gaze buried deep in her soul, forcing her to cave.
"Okay, um... I wasn't scared entirely, just embarrassed."
Harvey placed his hands on his hips and squinted his eyes at her confusingly, "Embarrassed?"
"Back when we first met," Lacey explained. "Me insulting your slogan. I-I didn't mean to insult you like that. I-I didn't know-"
"I thought it was amazing," Harvey cut her off.
Lacey stopped rambling and looked up at Harvey with widened eyes, not expecting that statement from him. "W-W-What?"
Harvey chuckled, amused by Lacey's surprised face, "What you did... It's amazing."
"It is?" Lacey asked. She didn't know how insulting people's slogan could be amazing.
"Yeah. When it comes to asking for an honest opinion, mostly you'll hear people tell you things you want to hear. There's nothing honest about it."
"Really?"
Harvey nodded, "Yeah, so when you told me your opinion... It was brutally honest... It's good."
"But it's brutal! An insult!"
"So is the truth. It hurts, but we need honesty. I thank you for that."
"Well... I'm happy to be at your service," Lacey saluted, trying to hold back the grin. His laughter made Lacey laugh with satisfaction.
"Good." Harvey smiled, "Now, lets go back to my place and celebrate our big accomplishment with Rachel and Allen. I'm sure Nathan will be fine."
Lacey smiled, "I love to, but I promise Kathy a girl's night at the apartment. We are watching the live eviction of American Idol."
"Ah," Harvey nodded with understanding, but a bit disappointing. "American Idol, I almost forgot about that. You voting for Chris Daughtry?"
"No, Katharine McPhee."
Harvey rolled his eyes, "Seriously?"
Lacey nodded, "Absolutely."
He scoffed, "Girls."
Lacey smirked, "And you and your boy bands... but I'll see you Saturday for the party, I hope."
"Miss my own party?" Harvey shook his head, "Never."
"Make sure you don't drink too much. The last thing I want is for you to say your speech in a drunken state."
Harvey laughed, "I would never pull a Bruce Wayne on you."
Lacey's smile faltered when the attorney back talked the playboy, who didn't seem a playboy according to Kathy. Instead of making an argument, she headed to the car.
"I'll see you tonight, Mister District Attorney," Lacey said, opening her red Honda door.
"Not if I see you first," Harvey replied, watching Lacey step inside her car and drive off.
As she was driving, she let out girlish giggle, "That wasn't so bad, Miss Donaldson. Not bad at all." She really needed to find another man. Her infatuation with Harvey Dent was getting out of hand. She was about to kiss him on the spot. She needed therapy. She needed her best friend. Lucky for her, tonight was American Idol night.
~000~000~000~
"Thank you, Doctor Arkham," Kathy exited her boss's office with a forced smile and fifty dollars at hand. She hurried down the elevator, relieved to have a moment alone to breathe. Almost alone.
"Coward," her hallucination hissed next to her.
Kathy huffed, not bothering to look at him. She stuffed the money in her pocket, keeping her eyes locked on the elevator that was going slow to her liking.
"You actually talked to Doctor Arkham."
'I'm doing the right thing,' Kathy argued mentally. She tried her best not to talk out loud, because of cameras. The last thing she wanted was her sanity questioned by Arkham. Not tonight. Not now.
"And your definition of the right thing involved tattling to the teacher?"
'I am not going to risk my life by confronting the clown like that. He gave me poisoned chocolates, remember?'
"And you still haven't learned from that day." Jonathan shook his head, clicking his tongue in dismay.
Kathy took deep breaths, attempting to focus on her surroundings. The smell of rust, the sight of the metal cage, still tasting the onions in her breath, and hearing-
"Hearing an annoying hallucination talk your ear off," Jonathan finished her thought.
Kathy glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"You can't ignore me, Kathryn. You can't get rid of me, or him," He gestured the phone in her pocket. Kathy didn't respond, only to inhale and exhale sharply. "You know what happens if you try to ignore something?"
She didn't respond.
"It will come back much stronger. You try to pry me out of your mind, I come back with an image. You ignore John Doe, and guess what?"
'He is in solitary confinement.'
"And that makes you safe? One of these days, he will find a way out. He will come for you. Might as well walk around with painted target on your back."
Her breathing and lower lip began to quiver. Her fist clenched to prevent the shaky tremors.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Kathy whispered out loud, tears threatened to fall.
"Me?" He chuckled, "Oh, Kathryn. Still blaming me for the choices you made?"
"Because of you-"
"I warned you to steer clear from me, Kathryn," he glared at her with narrowed eyes, that once buckled Kathy down to her knees. "But you insisted on seeing me, and look where that got you. Every choice you make have consequences. You fucked with me, I fuck with you."
Kathy gasped, appalled with her hallucination's choice of words.
"Jonathan-"
"You ignore John Doe, and he'll be sure to have your attention in the worst way possible."
His face softened at her trembling state. She was afraid, who wouldn't be when it came to the clown? He sighed, staring back at the elevator door that was coming close to the first floor.
"If I were you, I would start running out of town. Run from everything you held dear and don't look back. Put your mind at ease and take control of your fears." He turned back to her, "If you have to pick a country where would you go? Canada? Japan? You always wished for us to take a trip to Paris, did you not?"
"Sugar!"
Jonathan merely stood there emotionless as he listened to the wailing cries and curses of the doctor. She was on her knees, tangling her hands into her curls, leaking tears, shaking her head.
"Now Kathryn, do try to bottle the emotions," he cooed like a father to a child. "We're almost there." He inhaled as he leaned his head and body back against the wall. "It won't be long now."
He disappeared in a blink, much to her relief. She didn't want to see his face again. It was his fault that she's in the Joker's list to kill. She was so scared and shaken, she wasn't thinking straight. She don't think she could work here anymore. Protection or no protection from Arkham.
~000~000~000~
Bruce held up an empty glass for Alfred, without looking away from the TV, "Thank you, Alfred."
His butler poured Bruce a glass of orange juice, while he took a peek at the confidential folder.
"Still researching on Crane, Sir?"
"Shh," Bruce hushed him, "The maids might be around."
"Yet, it's wise to bring your work in the house, Sir?"
Touche.
"I would've stayed there longer, but I couldn't," Bruce explained, sipping more of his juice. "If you know what I mean."
Alfred nodded, "Absolutely, Sir." He leaned forward to Bruce's ear and whispered, "Either you get rid of the maids, or we have to talk like this for the rest of our days."
There conversation was interrupted by a ringing phone. Bruce rolled his eyes as he picked up the phone from the coffee table, "Would you rather do the cleaning, Alfred?"
"If that's what you wish, Sir."
Bruce didn't respond to Alfred as he answered the phone call instead.
"Hey, Lacey. What's going on?"
"Hey, Bruce. Look, I know it's late or you're busy-"
"No. No. It's fine." Bruce assured her politely, "I'm free at the moment. What's wrong?"
"It's Kathy."
Bruce tensed up when she mentioned the girl's name. From the tone of Lacey's voice something wasn't right. He was worried.
"What about Kathy? Is she okay?"
"I don't know, Bruce. I keep trying to call, but she isn't picking up her phone. We were supposed to watch American Idol together! It's not like her to just bail!"
"Did you try calling Arkham?"
"I did. The receptionist said that she left Arkham two hours ago. I was hoping that she's with you."
Bruce shook his head, "No, I haven't spoken to her since at night at Pascuale's."
He could hear Lacey's frantic breathing.
"Oh my GOD! Do you think something happened to her?"
"Lacey, calm down. I'm sure she's stopping at some place to eat. What you need to do is keep trying on her cell, and if she answers let me know. Lets just stay calm."
Lacey's breathing seems to slow down a bit, "Okay. One more thing, Bruce... If you somehow reach out to her... tell her to call me... so I can kill her for giving me a heart attack!"
Bruce nodded, "Got it. We'll find her, Lace. I'll be in touch." Bruce hung up and stared ahead in silence for a few minutes.
"Is Dr. Knightly missing, Master Wayne?" Alfred asked with concern.
Bruce instantly hopped off his chair, "I'll be back, Alfred." He ran up the stairs to his room.
"Where are you going, Sir?" Alfred asked.
"Putting my suit on. I'll be back!"
"Is the suit really necessary?" Alfred suggested, "I'm sure Dr. Knightly is on her way home right-" He was cut off by a door slam. "Now," he finished weakly.
Bruce sped past his bed and toward a certain wall to press a button that opened a secret passage. He ducked inside the passageway to dress in his suit. Time to find Nancy Drew.
A/N: So Kathy didn't confront Joker like old version. I told you I am doing something different, and more smart. You know what could happen if you confront an unpredictable clown, unprepared. How would the Joker take to Kathy ignoring him again? Will it be worse than poisoned chocolates? Will Bruce find her? Will Kathy give into the madness?
For those who are a fan of Book 1 - Love is Merely Madness, I uploaded a remake trailer for it. Now available on YouTube. I encourage you to check it out, and be sure to leave a comment or like.
Thank you those for taking the time to read the series and this remake. Special thanks to the readers who kept this story to their favorites and alerts. And special thanks to Questiongirl473 for adding this story to alerts. You guys Rock!