Intertwining
Lady Countryrose
Ch. 3
Bruce was at the entrance of the medical lab. He was struggling with himself about going back into the building. But found that Joker came out, crossing his arms across his chest.
"You know...I had a feeling that something like this...was happening to me." His voice was darker than he had ever heard him. Not since the night that he had first saw him. The night he took his parents.
"What were you expecting," he found himself asking. "A cure...or something else?"
Joker laughed darkly, something that was new to even to Bruce's ears. "No," he shook his head. As a lone tear leaked down his left eye. "I...wished I didn't kill my own wife…" He glanced into the medical building for a moment. "My own...DNA...killed my wife…"
Bruce sighed, he really didn't understand when he had walked into the room. He realized he only walked into the last part of what Hermione had told the man. Now that he knew...he felt conflicted for the man before him.
"Jack...you didn't know," stated Bruce with his own building emotions. "If you had known…"
"I WOULD HAVE LEFT HER ALONE," yelled Joker with more anger than Bruce had seen him in years. It almost made him feel like the young ten year old boy again. "I would…" Tears running down Joker's cheeks. "...left her alone…"
"What are you going to do," asked Bruce. Not really knowing what he should do. One part of him just want to knock him out and send him back to asylum. While another, just wants to walk away and let Joker come out when he's ready for a fight to face him again.
"Take me home...Bruce," whispered Joker softly. Causing Batman to whip his head towards him. "Oh," laughed the man who had haunted his dreams. "I've known...all...this time," his voice became dark. "I've never told anyone, because I didn't want them to have the power that I have over you…"
"What power," asked Bruce with no emotion behind his words.
"Familiarity," he stated with a knowing smile. "No one shall ever know you the way that I do. Nor will they know that I was the one that made you…" A laugh left his lips once more. "I made you," he purred with more feeling than ever before. "I'll never be your father that I had taken, nor the beautiful and loving mother."
Joker shook his head. "No," he laughed some more. "I'm the uncle, who encouraged you to take your first steps in driving the car!"
Bruce couldn't argue with the man. Without him, he wouldn't be the hero that he was for Gotham City. Without him, he would still have his parents… A life that was unreachable.
"Come," stated the dark crusader. "I'll take you home, Jack…" Lucky for the two of them, the asylum wasn't that far from where they stood.
When they had reached the front gates, Joker turned to Batman once more. "Do yourself a favor...take the good doctor out on a date," his voice was low with a deep purr. "I believe she already knows who you are…"
"Is that a fact," stated Batman with a deep dark voice, with conviction. He fished out a key from his belt and opened the front gates. Leading the two onto the grounds.
"Why does that not surprise me," stated Jack with a scrunch up nose. "I wonder if they have you on speed dial…?"
"If that was true," stated Bruce with a dark look. "I wouldn't have to go looking after a few days...after the nightly news…"
Just as they had gotten to the front doors. Joker turned towards Bruce with a hard look across his face. "Do something for me, Bruce," he whispered softly and harsh tones. "Get yourself a wife and have kids...before life changes and it becomes too late…"
"Not you too," he whined softly.
Joker laughed, "I take it you get that a lot…" Then the doors opened, showing them a medical staff in front of them. He took a deep breath before looking towards Batman again. "Like I said Batman, think about it…"
Bruce could only nod, before Joker went with the medical staff peacefully. One of the doctors came out with a raise eyebrow, as he looked towards Joker for a moment. "What happened? I don't see any noticeable attack...from either of you?"
"He...took a doctor, only to get the answers he sought out." Bruce took a deep breath. "He found that his DNA was what killed his wife…"
"Oh yes," the asylum doctor replied. "He did...mention something like that. But to get that kind of answers...must be and eye opener for him…"
"Try to be nice to him, doctor." Batman turned to leave.
"Will do," stated the man before going back into the building.
Bruce had a lot to think about and not enough time to do so. 'Why does my life end up being more of a mess than I would like it to be?'
xXx
Once Hermione Granger had made it back to Gotham General. Many of the people had rushed towards her. Asking how she had gotten away from Joker. She hadn't answered anything. Only pushed people away from her, trying to get to the next set of rooms to help other children.
As she was talking to the parents and administer another set of meds to another child. Batman came into the room with a bellowing cape. 'Professor Snape would be so proud.'
"Dr. Granger," he spoke with determination. As his fits rested on his hips.
She shook her head, as she watched her medicine do its work. "I can't stay and talk, Batman. I have patients that need my attention."
"What kind of heart-to-heart did you have with Joker," he asked with determination in his husky sounding voice.
"What do you mean," she shrugged her shoulders. Hermione turned to the little boy with a smile. "I think ice cream will be heading your way, once you have a some dinner…"
"Thanks, doctor," the boy rasped with glee.
Hermione then turned towards the hallway, having the hero of Gotham at her heels. "Out of all the times I've faced him. He actually asked me to take him back...to the asylum."
At that moment she stopped in her tracks. Causing everyone to stop as well, since everyone had been following them. Hermione turned on her heels to look into his eyes. "Really," she asked with a tilt of her head.
"Yes," he spoke simply. Reminding her so much of her old professor.
'Did all men in black had the same schooling of indifference?' She shook her head before turning back towards where she was heading. "Interesting," she stated with confliction. She really didn't know how to feel about everything.
"Batman," called Dr. Jones, as he was making his way towards the two. Rushing and trying not to trip on his own feet. "We don't have any more issues that asks for your professionalism!"
"Wrong," huffed Bruce, as he crossed his arms over his chest. "She was with Joker, who asked me to take him back… I just want to know...what happened?"
"You should know Batman," answered Hermione as she went into another room. Talking to the parents before looking over the little girl before her. Hearing the child's battle of trying to breath. "You were there."
"Pneumonia," gasped Batman with worry. He glanced towards Hermione with a harsh look. "Why didn't you come to her sooner?"
"I would have," she growled out. "But someone kidnapped me to find answers to why he's still alive." Her voice became harsh and distant.
Instead of using a syringe into the bag like she did with others. She did it and placed into the child's chest. With a tub that is already sticking out of her body.
Hermione leaned down towards the girl with a sweat calm smile. "Now sweaty, the medicine is making its way to your airways… Take deep slow breaths…" Once the child was doing as Hermione had asked. "That's it...you got it."
"Dr. Granger," asked the father. "Will..she be alright?"
Hermione glanced up, with a happy smile. "She will. Just allow her to rest when she needs it. Within a few hours, she'll have some soup and see how she does from there…"
"Thank you, Dr. Granger," the mother rushed to Hermione and hugged her. "Bless you…"
Batman then followed the estranged doctor out of the room again. "Tell me," he harshed out with a demanding under his tone of voice.
It seemed to have been the last straw for Hermione. Because she turned around and rushed towards him. Digging her finger into his hard leather, chiseled chest. "Now see here, mister," her voice became harsh and strict. Making everyone around them to go silent.
"You may be the hero of Gotham City, Batman," her voice risen only slightly but controlled. "But you have no power over me. Not when there are people that need me the most." Her brown eyes flashed with a hint of red of fire. "Don't...mistake me for a fool!"
She then turned around and went on to others that needed her help. Feeling the close shadow of the man at her heels. Hermione had managed to go to all of the fifty children within the building that were sent to the hospital. Where all the Medical Board would see how her research had pans out, under their watchful eye.
As agreed, once she was done giving the children their doses. She was not allowed to see them again, not without another doctor to see how their were fairing. Once she had given them the treatment, she couldn't go back to the next day. With the added doctor, to see the notes and see how far they had gone.
Hermione turned towards Batman, since he had hardly left her side. "Since you've stayed around and allowed me to do my work." She saw that the whole hospital floor was watching them. "I'm willing to go with you… But I must be back by tomorrow at eight, for my final rounds…"
"Final...rounds," he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Surely you have to stay longer than that?"
"No," she shook her head. "As agreed," her eyes flashed towards Dr. Jones. "Tomorrow, will be my last day...here."
Batman understood what was going on. Dr. Jones was threatened with Hermione's research on healing people. That he only agreed for a small window of proof. Before she had to leave the city once again.
"Mr. Bruce Wayne had asked for your assistance, Dr. Granger," he purred deeply. "Asking you to come by the estate to... Educate him on the worldly issues that his donation will help you on your research." It was enough to see the heated anger coming from Dr. Jones that he so enjoyed to see.
Hermione groaned, as she whispered. "Did you really have to do that?"
"If it gets the point across," he whispered back.
She bit her lip, trying to prevent a smile or even a laugh to escape her lips. "I'll...meet him...then." Her smile was enough to make everyone to heave a sigh of relief.
A news crew that still was in the building had walked over to them. "Batman," a cameraman asked. "Would Mr. Wayne be angered if we come along. We would like to be educated about what is to go on with Dr. Granger's research?"
Hermione saw the confliction in his eyes. She shook her head and made her way down the hall. It was time to change out of her clothes. 'It's been a long day…'
As she walked away, she heard. "Mr. Wayne wants a private discussion with Dr. Granger but he will be sending a document of what was said…"
"But," cried everyone. She didn't stay long enough to hear the rest of it. It wasn't her place to put out the fires that Bruce had set up for himself. 'He may be a Billionaire but...that is all that he has going for him…'
