Disclaimer: Still don't own Batman. Still own the original characters.

The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter Three: Ha-ha-cienda

"And uh, here we are!"

Jack had insisted on 'taking me home' immediately, and I'd packed up a few things, put Lazlo on a leash, and off we went.

Now we had pulled up in front of an abandoned construction site right in the heart of the most dangerous part of town. The half-finished building was left over from better days, when there was little crime and a stronger economy.

It was supposed to be an apartment complex, but only half of the building even had a roof. Weeds and grass grew up around abandoned construction equipment, and the place had an eerie, desolate feel.

"Home sweet home." My host said merrily, and when we got out of the car, he insisted on carrying my bags.

"It's… interesting." I said weakly, and he laughed.

"It uh, serves its purpose. Cops never come around here. Too dangerous."

I nodded, and we picked our way through the construction area, walking past faded and rusted signs proclaiming the place to be a hardhat area, and others saying it was condemned.

Lazlo happily lifted his leg to pee on several different sign posts, and the little dog was often lost in the tall grass and weeds that filled the empty areas.

We reached a set of double doors, and Jack motioned with a jerk of his head for me to open them up. I did so, and he led me down a hallway, lights flickering and dim, illuminating the cobwebs and filth all around.

When we reached another door, I opened it up and we entered an apartment. The place looked substantially better than what I'd seen so far, and I sighed in relief.

"Welcome home." he said, voice lower than usual. He put down the bags, I let go of Lazlo's leash, and Jack grabbed my hand.

"I'll uh, show you around."

The layout was pretty standard, but there was only one bedroom. When I mentioned this, Jack laughed hysterically.

"Afraid to uh, share a bed with little old me?" he asked, still giggling.

I blushed and chose not to answer which only drove him to laugh harder.

"Don't worry, baby. I'll be a gentleman. Tonight." He gave me a lecherous grin, and I swatted in his direction with a growl.

"So uh, whaddya think?" he asked, lifting his eyebrows curiously.

"It's nice. Clean and stuff."

"Surprised?" he chuckled, and I nodded.

Lazlo was busy scampering around the place, sniffing in every nook and cranny, nails clicking on the linoleum. His bright red leash trailed behind him, but didn't slow him in the slightest as he made sure to examine every inch of the new area, panting and snorting away.

There was suddenly a knock at the door, and Lazlo's ears perked up and he gave an excited yip, but remembered his training and didn't run for the door. Instead, he came to my side and sat down, looking up at me eagerly.

"Stay." I ordered, as Jack strode over and pulled the door open.

A large, beefy man entered, and began to speak with a heavy Italian accent.

"Mister Joker now, is it, Jack?"

Jack grinned. "Falconi, good to see you!" he grinned, and I looked on in confusion. Hadn't Jack just killed a Falconi?

"I just stopped by to thank you for taking care of that little problem for me," he said with a wink, "the payment's been put in your account."

He looked past Jack and met my eyes.

"Oh my, who is this?" he asked, eyes raking up and down my body a few times. "Is she for sale?"

Jack went deathly still, and slipped a hand into his pocket.

"No. She's mine." he ground out, and Falconi, oblivious, came towards me. I gulped, trying to decide if I should run.

He reached out and had barely brushed my hair with his fingertips when there was a knife at his throat.

"I uh, said she's mine." Jack growled, voice the lowest I'd ever heard, and Falconi put his hands up in a placating manner.

"Okay, okay Jack. Relax, I won't touch!"

"I think it's time for you to go." Jack hissed, lowering the knife, and Falconi nodded.

"I'll be in touch." he said, then hurried out the door, Lazlo growling deep in his throat as he stood beside me.

Jack strode over to me, grabbed me by the upper arms and hauled me against his chest."Mine." He snarled.

And then he kissed me.