Author's Note: As always-- I've tried to keep everyone in character. Sometimes Batman myth changes to suit the story, but I really do not mess with it too much. Enjoy and thanks for the kind reviews! Sorry so short, but work comes early.

Gotham Waterfront: Pier 18

Bruce Wayne felt good about finally sharing his secret with Gordon. He had grown to trust the Commissioner through the work the two had completed together in the past. With the bat signal destroyed, it was almost a necessity that Gordon knew the truth. He had given him a cell phone invented by Lucius that was untraceable and to only contact him in the direst of situations.

Bruce opened the door to the deserted canning warehouse and stepped inside. As expected, Jim Gordon was there waiting.

"Hello."

"Good to see you again, Commissioner."

"Can we count on you?" Gordon asked directly.

Bruce put his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket and shrugged. "Yes, you can. I have been doing a lot of thinking about my place in the world. It's time to return." He paused. "This Joker-- no one knows him like I do."

The Commissioner nodded." And he knows you."

"That is why he'll show himself. We didn't finish what was started."

"What did he say to you on top of that building?"

"In short—one of us has to make a choice. Change the rules. We are at an impasse."

The two men thought about the situation. Finally, Gordon added. "Let's hope the right guy wins."

A faint smile crossed Bruce's face. He remembered the Joker told him that his one rule would have to be broken, but he was not going to let him decide where and when. If the Batman would break that sacred rule, he would save the deed specifically for the Joker. After all, Harvey Dent had died, but the man was now Two- Face and was very much alive in the deepest depths of Arkham Asylum.

"We'll wait for him to start the game again, Commissioner. I'll do what needs to be done."

"I don't like the idea of sitting around waiting for him to make the first move. We're putting the citizens in danger."

"Remember, it's me that he wants."

Old St. Mary's Church and Cemetery

The young man stood face to face with the man in the purple suit. "Boss, the Arab is waiting for you at in the backroom of the grocery store."

"I'll drive," said the Joker, taking the keys from his young associate. Half way to the door, he stopped dead and turned around. "Can I borrow your phone?"

"Sure." The young man placed his cell phone into the outstretched gloved hand.

"Thanks," he replied in a cold quiet voice. The Joker then revealed from his pocket a shard of glass from one of the broken stained glass windows. His movement was quick and fluid as the shard slid across the young man's throat.

The Joker looked up from the body to the statue of Christ. "He's your problem now."

Rick's Tattoo Parlor and Piercing on the Corner of 147th and Green Blvd.

Bruce Wayne opened the door to the tattoo shop and a little bell rang from above the door. A red- headed girl was on her cell phone with a very displeased look on her face. Her boyfriend was not answering.

"Can I help you?" she asked, turning the phone off and placing it back into her purse.

Bruce hesitated a moment. "Yes… I'd like a tattoo."

The young lady looked him up and down. "Hey, you're that billionaire guy aren't you."

"Yeah… the billionaire guy."

"Cool. What would you like?"

Truthfully, Bruce Wayne had no idea. In fact, up until five minutes ago he was not even thinking about a tattoo. He passed the shop, drove around the block, and found himself here. "I'll leave that up to you. Just nothing too big or…,"

He stopped in mid sentence as he viewed pictures of past customers on the wall. Their tattoos were garish and dark.

"Maybe this isn't for you," she said.

"No, I want something… something meaningful." He took off his shirt and pointed to his right shoulder blade. "Can you put it here?"

The woman went to work using an outline and shading technique with black ink. When the tattoo was finished, she handed Bruce a mirror. "Tell me what you think."

He stood up and rolled his shoulder somewhat feeling the pain from the tattooing needle. After tilting the mirror, the tattoo came into view. It was of a woman, kneeing and holding an Egyptian ankh. On her back was a pair of partially open dragon- like wings. "It's beautiful. Why did you choose this design?"

The woman stopped cleaning her tools for a moment and approached Bruce with some surgical gauze to cover the tattoo. "I don't know. You seem like the type of person who is kind and cares about people, but you never let them get very close and you don't let them know you're looking out for them. So, I used a dark angel. The ankh, well-- that's eternity. You seem very spiritual to me and committed."

How more right could she be?

As they walked over to the counter, Bruce noticed her tattoos. The designs were mostly black and red, depicting symbols and flames. "Why did you choose your designs?"

"Tattoos can tell the story of a person's life. When something happens—good or bad, people use it to display or to cope with the event."

Bruce did not inquire further. He paid for the service and made his way back to Wayne mansion and the lab. He and Lucius had a lot of work to do.

Part Three on the way!!