I stared intently at the news. Yes, I know I'm watching the news and not Jersey Shore someone chuck her to the loony bin.

There was a party that was going to be held, it was a fundraiser for Harvey. I was surprised when Bruce mentioned this to me. I didn't think he was too fond of Harvey Dent since they were after the same woman, not that Bruce would ever admit it. So when Jimmy called me to tell me that Harvey was on the news, naturally I had to turn it on.

I had to admit, it was very interesting. I saw Mr. Gordon on and apparently they arrested most of the mob bosses and members in a conspiracy that they were all connected to, or something like that. I couldn't understand most of the details but I got the gist of it, I think. They mentioned something about an Asian man called Lau who had the entire mob's money in one trust fund and it connected all of them together. The news also reported Harvey, who was the persecutor. They mentioned suspicion on Batman's involvement, but I figured if it's some big action that helps the city then Batman must have had lent a helping hand.

"I still can't figure out if it's a smart move or extremely stupid," I said out loud as I sat on the floor in front of the TV.

"If all of them are charged," Bruce replied, I was surprised that he was watching behind me. "the higher members of the mobs get the better lawyers, so there's no spare for the ones on the lower parts of the hierarchy. It's Harvey's idea of keeping the streets clean. By removing the body of the mobs, then the head can't really move." I was surprised by how much he knew.

"But, Bruce" I saw Harvey shown on the TV again. "doesn't that make him a target. He'd probably be a bigger target than the Batman," I looked at Bruce to gauge his reaction.

His was cradling a scotch in his hand and he wore an intense calculating look on his face, the same one he wears when playing chess with Alfred. "Harvey is the one Gotham needs now. Batman paved the way for someone like him, and Harvey is more than willing to take on the role. He is the face that Batman could never be." Bruce spoke with such determination, as if willing Harvey to take over for Batman.

I didn't have time to contemplate what he said. The TV suddenly flashed a man dressed up as the Batman dangling next to a building, the court building. Then they showed the man being taken down and I saw that he had make-up on, similar to the one I saw on the bus almost a week ago. I hadn't thought of that incident for some time.

"Charlie go to your room," I heard Bruce order.

I ignored him; they started showing a video with the man tied up and a spine chilling voice talking to him. I turned the volume up.

"Charlie, go to your room!" Bruce yelled louder. I stood up but I couldn't move. I kept watching the video. It was scary, it was very scary.

"NOW!" he shouted even louder. It was the same time the Joker shouted 'look at me'. I was startled with shock but didn't turn my eyes from the screen. For a moment there was a pause, I couldn't hear the video, I couldn't hear the people preparing the party, all I could hear was silence; the silence before the storm.

Bruce ran towards me when I didn't move. He pulled my face to him, covering my eyes from the TV, his hand blocking my ears. It was futile though, I could hear the Joker laughing. It was ringing in my ears. It was an insane laugh.

The Joker had said something about wanting the Batman. He threatened to kill people if the Batman doesn't turn himself in.

I hugged Bruce and I felt his grip on me tighten. I couldn't imagine a life without him. I couldn't breathe properly, I was shaking. I couldn't stop myself. For once I wished that my suspicions were unfounded, that Bruce was an ordinary, if not flamboyant and rich, man. I wanted him to not be Batman.

"It's ok," Bruce said in an attempt to soothe me. "That's nothing that concerns you,"

I prayed that he was telling the truth.

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I could hear the party going on in the other room. Bruce invited me to join but I decided not to. Having to wear an uncomfortable dress with a fake smile plastered on gossiping guests versus staying in my room with my computer? It wasn't a hard choice to make.

Our condo had two floors. We had the highest room, since we owned the building, and bedrooms were upstairs so I had a nice view of the whole city. I saw Bruce arriving by a helicopter accompanied by model like creatures. I learned to ignore his antics, it's not like I ever saw those ladies the next morning anyway so chances of one of them being my 'new mother' was pretty slim.

My stomach started growling. I could smell the aroma of food they were selling downstairs. I didn't want to go down for obvious reasons but the only way down was the main staircase, where all the guests would be, which led to the elevator. I remembered the emergency fire exit. I decided to go down to the main lobby and see if the restaurant was open. I liked their food there and I knew I wouldn't be able to order room service with the party going on.

I was a few flights of stairs down; about to open the door so I could enter the elevator of the current level I was in when I heard a suspicious commotion. I heard a laugh, it was echoing around the staircase. It was the same laugh I heard on TV! Chills went through the back of my spine.

I looked down carefully and froze. I saw him, the Joker. He was with a bunch of other people, his cronies I think. They all wore grotesque clown masks except for the Joker; he had make-up on, which was scarier than the rest of them. I could see that they had a hostage with them but I couldn't see who. I couldn't move. That's when the Joker looked up at me. His eyes were crazy, they held nothing but malice. They were eyes of a killer.

"Well hello there," he called out to me, his voice repeating several more times as it echoed.

I forced my body to move and for a moment I thought it wouldn't but thankfully it did. I ran fast, faster than I have ever run before. I tripped once but I managed to pull myself together again. Ignoring the pain, it was irrelevant when you think a crazy serial killer was after you.

I went inside the panic room Bruce had installed. The locations and secret ways of opening it were drilled in my head so many times. I thought I was useless of him to do it but now I was grateful. The only ones who knew how to open them were Bruce, Alfred and I.

I crouched. It was small, no bigger than an average house's bathroom. I've only been inside a few times but I knew where to find what I was looking for. I reached for the phone and pressed the speed dial to Bruce's emergency phone, it was the phone he had that I was to use only for extreme situations.

"What's wrong?" he asked urgently after only one ring. I could hear party noises growing fainter; I figured he was walking away from them.

"He's here." I whispered urgently, "The Joker is in the building,"

"Are you in the panic room?" I was glad he didn't doubt me. I didn't think I was in the right mind try to convince him.

"Yes," I answered.

"Stay there; do not leave the room until I come for you. Whatever happens, do not go outside," he ordered.

"Bruce," I said before he could hang up. "be careful,"

I tried taking my mind of the Joker but it proved close to impossible. Even the assortments of weapons, which included guns, sleeping gases, and a parachute amongst other things, could not capture my attention. I settled myself on a corner; I sat down hugging my legs.

I gasped when I heard a gunshot. I prayed no one was hurt, especially not Bruce or Alfred. After the shot there was silence. It had probably been only a few minutes but it felt like hours. It was like being back in that tiny cupboard under the kitchen sink, unable to do anything. What if I had done something then? Would mom still be alive?

I was crying. Tears were pouring out, I wanted to do something. I didn't like feeling so weak and I definitely hated the feeling of uselessness. I could feel myself shaking, I felt like a coward. I heard another gunshot.

Stand up Charlie. Stand up. But Bruce told me to stay. What if Bruce got shot? Do something Charlie. Stop being a coward. Stand! He told me to stay. What if he's dead? What if he was the one who got shot? I can't do anything! What if he kills Bruce and Alfred? I can't. Stand up damn it! Stand up and help them!

But I couldn't. I stayed, waiting.

After what felt like eternity the door opened. I saw Bruce peer in. Thank god!

"Are you alright?" he asked. I nodded but I saw that he didn't look well.

"You?"

He brushed me off and pulled me out of the room. He was aggravated. He took one of my duffle bags and started dumping my clothes inside. He went through my closet and drawers putting as much as he could fit inside the bag.

"What are you doing?" I was scared of him; he was moving all over the room. He didn't look like he was in the right state of mind. I frowned when he reminded me of how Batman was like when I met him in the alley that night I ran away.

"There's a chopper waiting for you outside. It's going to take you to our lake house. You are to stay there until I come for you," he told me. When he was done he closed the bag and pulled me roughly.

"Bruce," I gasped as I tried keeping up with him, "What about you?"

"I have to stay, there are things I need to do," He looked very rattled I can tell. Did the Joker get to him?

When we got downstairs, I saw that there weren't any people left except for Alfred. I was glad he was ok. I also noticed a broken window pane. I wondered, not for the first time, what had happened. There were no signs of blood or anything so it means nobody got killed, I think.

The helicopter's spinning blades grew louder the closer we got to it. I didn't want to go. It must have shown in my face as Bruce lifted me to the vehicle.

"You'll be safe there," he assured me, "I'll come get you when things settle down here,"

"Bruce!" I yelled when he closed the door. I pounded on the glass, "Bruce!"

He gave me a thumps up, as if everything was fine. Everything was not fine. Things were falling apart. What was happening? Why is it like this? I thought everything was getting better.

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A message from TemperedRose:

As always thanks to those who reviewed. And to all the readers, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

I'd like to clarify as a response to wtchcool's review, Charlie is 99% sure Bruce is Batman. Like Lucius Fox, she kinda figures he's batman but there's a part of her that would deny it. She doesn't want to know because she's afraid that if she finds that Bruce is Batman then she would probably force him to stop running around in a bat costume. Also, a part of Bruce wants Charlie to know because he doesn't like hiding things from her but he's too afraid to tell her so he's hoping she'll just catch on and confront him.

Anyway, with the holidays coming up here's my question: How are you planning on spending Christmas?