Second chapter is up. Getting into this story, and although it may seem rather innocent for now, stay with me and you'll be rewarded with nice juicy bits in chapters to come!

And please, check out The Sickness series by ClownQween'69, starting with Down With The Sickness. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. This girl is my inspiration and a good friend of mine who can write one of the best Joker/OC fanfics i've ever come across. Check her out!

I do not own Batman, nor do I own The Dark Knight or any characters or plot, but taking bits and pieces for your enjoyment. But oh, how I wish I did...

Review!

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Anna woke up with a groan as she slammed her hand against the alarm clock. Jim had kept her at the police department until past midnight, working on the case of the mysterious 'fear drugs'. Some lunatic had been going round Gotham, picking random people to test drugs on that ended up with the citizens being hospitalised as they realised their worst fears were coming true before their very eyes.

Doctors had to tie the patients to their beds as some that had been drugged were lashing out and attacking the medical staff. Some had been hurting their selves and every single patient had been screaming, crying or whimpering when Jim Gordon and Anna visited Gotham General. Their worst fears were been played out and there was no knowledge yet of how to treat it. And almost every day, another patient would be admitted into the hospital, yet there were no clues as to who was doing this. No evidence was left behind and the patients were too afraid of their surroundings and their selves to answer a single question. For now, the only hope we had was to wait for one of the patients to feel well enough to give us some answers.

Jim had asked Anna to speak to Bruce. He knew of the cases but he had no knowledge of the latest victims. With the lack of evidence and sane victims, we needed all the help we could get, and Batman was certainly a big help no matter what the case.

She hopped out of bed and took off her pyjama shorts and top, ready to have a quick shower. She thought about the recent case as the cold droplets stroked her fare skin, soothing her for the day ahead. Thinking about the affects the drugs had caused, she thought about what her worst fear would be. She knew without a doubt it would be her mother.

Anna's mother was a French model that her father Daniel Wayne had fallen desperately in love with. Anna's father was a well-known lawyer who defended Anna's mother in court, and soon after he won her case he couldn't wait any longer to ask her out. A year later they had married and her mother, Anya Wayne, had fallen pregnant with Annalisa. Daniel Wayne had been delighted, but Anya felt otherwise.

As Anna grew up, she noticed her mother's discomfort around her. She saw how upset her mother got when Daniel used to devote all his time to Anna and told her she was the most beautiful girl in the world. When Anna hit thirteen, her mother despised her and her looks. Her father tried to ignore it, but when Anya began to hit her daughter, he filed for divorce.

The abuse Annalisa suffered at the hands of her mother still lives with her to this day. Blinking the water from her eyelids, she glanced over her shoulder and cringed at the sight of a long ugly scar running from her left shoulder to her spine. It was the final straw when Daniel Wayne came home from work to find his daughter doing her homework, with blood seeping through her white school blouse and a black right eye. When Annalisa had come home from school, her mother had been drinking heavily. She took out a kitchen knife, came into Anna's room and screamed at her. She wanted to make her feel the pain she had felt when Anna was born, she said. The pain she had felt for thirteen years, she said. So she took the kitchen knife and sliced her back. When Anna tried to stop her, her mother had punched her face and knocked her daughter out cold. Anna had nightmares about that day even now, almost twelve years later.

At the age of sixteen, on the night of one of Gotham's worst recorded storms, her father Daniel had died as one of the many bridges that led into the city had flooded. Her father's chauffeur decided to brave it but crashed off the edge and into the water, taking his own life and Daniel Wayne's away from the world forever. Of course, all of the money her father inherited went to Anna, but at the young age of sixteen, Daniel's will declared that she will live with her cousin Bruce until she came of age. But as Bruce and Anna had grown closer, the need to get away from the city and Bruce had lessened so she continued to live with him until that faithful day she left to make something of herself, only to return five years later.

She shook the drops from her skin and squeezed water from her thick long hair. Stepping out of the shower, she stepped over to the mirror and frowned. She mentally slapped herself for looking at the scar; it automatically put her in a bad mood and, in all honesty, the scar made her feel ugly. It was a constant reminder that her mother hated her own daughter's appearance. Annalisa stared at her reflection.

Her icy blue eyes stared back. Her eyebrows arched down in a frown, instantly making her face darken with emotion like it always did. Her wet hair was slicked back and rested all the way down past her shoulders. It was thick and wavy, the wet-look making it look almost black rather than her usual dark chocolate colour. Her lips were plump and pale pink, perfectly shaped to look either sexy or dangerous as they hid a perfect set of white teeth. Her figure was thin yet curvy, her bum plump and cute and her breasts perfectly shaped. To anyone she looked like the perfect model, but to Annalisa she only saw the little girl her mother despised. She didn't see herself. She saw someone, but not her. No one had ever made Anna feel like herself but her family.

After drying off, Anna decided as it was unlikely that she'd be called into the GCPD, she would wear something more casual when she went to see her cousin. She pulled out some tight black jeans and a purple off the shoulder jumper and let her hair dry to give it that natural wave. She quickly applied some mascara then slid on some boots then stepped out of the bedroom. She grabbed her keys and phone then headed to the elevator. Anna lived in the penthouse of a stunning modern building, were glass ran all the way around so along most of the walls hung long drapes for when she wanted a little privacy, even if no one could really see her from this height.

Anna didn't care for the money she had, even though she was grateful for it, but when it came to her cars she appreciated it even more so. She found the speed of her Aston Martin Vanquish exhilarating and the look of her red Mini Convertible adorable and the two she used on different occasions. The Mini she often used to blend in and it was useful to get around town in.

Today she took the Aston Martin Vanquish in her rush to see her cousin for some serious cheering up. His was the only face that could make her smile only by seeing it. That was, until, she saw Jack yesterday. The thought of him standing up for that girl yesterday and his chivalry made a small smile play with her lips and she found she couldn't help but think of him. His wavy hair, his contagious smile, and those liquid eyes…

But then she remembered who she was and the fact he would never want to know her.

Suddenly her tummy growled and she remembered that she hadn't eaten any dinner last night nor had she eaten breakfast. She knew if she turned up to Bruce's apartment like this, Alfred, his butler, would kill her for 'starving herself'. She swore and quickly slowed to park outside of Starbucks. She hesitated in her car, unsure if she wanted to go in or not.

Just go in, she told herself. What are the chances that Jack will be in there again, an hour later than yesterday?

Maybe he had a job to get to and wouldn't be there at this time of day. Maybe he didn't even live in Gotham.

Or maybe he had found out who she was and ran a thousand miles?

"This is ridiculous," she hissed, and got out of the car and strode across the street. She found herself slowing down the closer she got to the café. She tried to tell herself she wasn't worried about Jack being inside.

She didn't believe herself.

She walked through the door and was welcomed by a cheery young man.

"Hi, what can I get for you today?"

"Hi," Anna smiled and looked at the boards to decide what she wanted for breakfast. She decided to go for something yummier this morning, seeing as she'd decided to take it easy. "Uh, yeah, can I get a Bacon Buttie and a Berry Hibiscus Refresha to go please?"

"What size?"

"Make it a Medium, please," she answered without hesitation. Anna paid for her order then waited at the collection counter. As she leaned against the round table that almost reached her chest, Anna suddenly felt nervous. She didn't have the guts to look around the café to see if Jack was here; that smile of his would send her to her knees.

With a slow glance to the right, Anna's eyes picked up a few couples, one or two groups of girls and a few people just on their own. Most were tapping away on their laptops or gossiping to the people sitting with them and she could see no sign of Jack. Anna realise she had been holding her breath and slowly let it go.

A moment later she saw the waiter bring her a bag radiating heat and the smell of bacon and a mouth-watering drink. She thanked the lad and turned to walk towards the door.

Anna was so close to grabbing the handle and leaving the café when she heard a low voice clear his throat. She whipped her head round to see a dreamy looking Jack sitting at a table close to the door; no wonder she hadn't seen him. He'd chosen the only exit. There was no escape now. He sat with a grin plastered on his face and his ankle balanced on his knee, while he sipped from a hot mug.

A hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. Ha ha, she thought sarcastically.

Jack's low voice made Anna go weak at the knees. "You're not avoiding me, are you?"

Annalisa laughed nervously. "No? Why would I want to avoid you?"

He shrugged and took another gulp of his drink. Anna stood, feeling numb, not really knowing what to say. Jack gestured with his eyes to the chair opposite him. "You can sit down, y'know?"

Anna pointed with a spare finger towards the door, her hand clutching the take-away bag, hoping Jack hadn't noticed how nervous he made her. "I really should be going-"

"Aw, come on!" He moaned half-heartedly, a smirk playing on his lips. He winked, "I won't bite."

With a final look towards the door and a silent groan, Anna caved and sat down opposite Jack. She set down her drink and took a tip through the straw, deciding she may as well have breakfast now. She took out the delicious smelling buttie and tore at it with her teeth. She suppressed a moan as the taste of bacon filled her mouth. Jack's chuckle at her did not go amiss.

"So," he started, drawing Anna's attention from her breakfast to him, "do I finally get to know you name, Miss 'I'm really late'?"

The light in Anna's eyes seemed to go out as she thought about all the reasons she didn't tell him her name yesterday. She didn't know why but she really liked this guy, and the thought of him thinking she was some spoiled rich kid made her stomach drop. But if she didn't tell him her name, maybe he would think worse of her?

Or maybe, she thought, just maybe he likes you too?

She sighed. "Anna," she mumbled. "Annalisa Wayne."

"Annalisa?" His eyebrows rose and she held her breath, waiting for him to laugh in her face. "That's an interesting name."

She let out her breath and smiled back at him. "Interesting good?"

Jack grinned. "Interesting great," he replied. Anna couldn't help but grin back and giggle softly. "So how come I didn't see you early this morning?"

Anna looked confused, "You were here earlier?"

"I've been here," he glanced at his watch then looked back at her, "75 minutes."

Anna snorted and decided to test him. "You drink hot chocolate that slowly?"

"It's the marshmallows," he smirked. "You have to savour them. They only give you four!"

"Four!" Anna mouthed, pretending to be shocked at this information. The two laughed at her reaction and only once they settled down, Jack decided to answer quietly. He watched his thumbs play with each other instead of looking up to see Anna's reaction.

"I was, uh, waiting to see if you'd turn up," he confessed. "I hoped you would."

Anna couldn't stop the butterflies that rattled about in her stomach. He didn't know her, or think that she was some spoiled billionaire's daughter, but he wanted to see her. Her!

"What you did yesterday for that girl…It was real sweet," he carried on, suddenly looking up to face her. "Most people would stuff the money back in their pockets. Hell, most people would barely apologise then leave as fast as they could." Jack's eyes sparkled as they held Anna's pale blue one's, refusing to let go of her gaze. "Why did you?"

Anna bit her lip and shrugged her shoulder's lightly. "It was my fault, and when you didn't want the money, I thought the girl deserved a pick-me-up after what that asshole put her through. It wasn't any kinder than what you did for her."

Referring to Jack telling the man to back off, Anna smiled as she watched Jack cringe as he recalled what he said.

"Yeah, I'm not exactly the greatest public speaker you'll meet," he chuckled, "but someone needed to say it."

She nodded in agreement. Anna refrained from jerking when she felt Jack's foot suddenly touch hers under the table. The butterflies were going crazy now and her palms had started to get all clammy. She noticed the twinkle in Jack's eyes, as if her touch had gotten him all nervous too.

"Do you often give money to random strangers, Anna?" His voice was full of humour as he playfully mocked her.

"Only the strangers that get hot drinks spilt on or get shouted at in public," she hit back. Would it matter if he knew just how rich she was? Would he suddenly become incredibly interested in her, just for the money? He didn't seem like that type of guy.

"Well then, maybe I should save some more damsels in distress and I could make a fortune!" Jack winked at Anna and finished off his drink. "So where were you off to before I made you sit down with a complete stranger?"

"You didn't make me," Anna half whispered and she saw the flash of a smile on Jack's face, and she thought he never looked so handsome before now. "And I was going to see my cousin, actually. We have some…business to discuss."

"You work with your cousin?"

"Not really," Anna laughed, thinking about joining Bruce dressed as a bat and flying around Gotham, sending criminals over to Jim Gordon then seeing them in jail in her usual clothes the next morning.

If only, she thought.

"My cousin runs a huge enterprise, and sometimes I help him with a few things here and there. And sometimes he advises me on my job too."

"Which is?"

"I'm a detective, and get called into GCPD when I'm needed."

"Wow," he chuckled, running his hand through his wavy hair. Oh, how Anna wanted to run her fingers through it now. "Should I be intimidated right now?"

"Yes," Anna quickly replied, causing Jack to laugh even more so. "What about you? Do you work?"

His smile faltered slightly. "I did. I, uh, used to help my dad back in Detroit and had a few odd jobs here and there. But I didn't really get on well with him, so when my grandmother died, she left me a house on the outskirts of Gotham."

"You fancied a change?" Anna could understand that. Taking five years away from her home did her a whole world of good.

Jack nodded, clasping his hands together and leaning his chin on them. He was a mixture of hot and cute in that position, is sent Anna's head in a spin. "My dad's the only family I have left, but in all honesty I don't consider the man family anymore." Jack eyed Anna for her reaction. But she only smiled and nodded. "I'd rather start a new life for myself. Here, in the city. Meet new people, make new friends. Maybe," his eyes regained that spark of life, "Maybe one day start a new family of my own."

Anna blushed at the thought of wanting to be there to see it. Jack noticed her cheeks grow red, but he was glad to see it. He was glad to be here in Gotham. He was glad they had met.

Jack couldn't help but feel disappointed when Anna looked at the time and sighed. This random but amazing time they had together was about to end and it tugged on Anna's heart. She really wished she didn't have to leave.

"Jack, I'm sorry. I have to meet my cousin before he heads off to work." Anna bit her lip and admitted, "I wish I didn't have to leave but-"

"Can I see you again, Anna?"

That surprised the both of them. Anna was a mixture of excitement and anxiety at his question, unsure if he meant as friends or if he wanted to get to know her better. Jack was surprised because he didn't want to throw the question out there like that, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to see Anna again, and as soon as possible. He felt this pull towards her and didn't want this to just be a morning coffee type of friendship. In his heart, he couldn't deny he wanted more from this woman. She was very beautiful, and she brightened up his gloomy mornings two times in a row. He would love to make it two mornings and a night out together.

"I, uh-" she tripped over her words, hoping he wasn't about to change his mind. She took a deep breath and answered, "I would like that. Very much."

Jack felt a wave of relief and happiness at her answer. "Do you have a pen?" he asked, and after a moment of diving into her purse and scrambling to find one, she brought out one and handed it to him. But he put up his hands to stop her. She frowned in confusion, but when Jack rolled up his sleeve and offered it to her, she understood.

"Are you serious?"

He grinned, showing off his dimples. "I want it in big letters, across my arms so I can show it off." He winked and Anna rolled her eyes, holding back a giggle. Her fingers wrapped around his arm and she relished in the touch of his skin, purposely writing down her number as slowly as she could in a way that seemed natural. She wanted the touch of their skin to linger, and Jack had to admit, so did he. When she was finished, she took her fingers away and stuffed the pen back in her purse. She stood from her chair and bit her lips when she noticed Jack following her. He opened the door for her and she passed through, thanking the Starbucks staff and thanking Jack.

"So you think you can promise not to spill any more hot drinks over me when we go out?"

Anna laughed, crossing the street. "I think I can cope."

"Good," he nodded, trying to keep a serious face. "There's only so much scolding hot water and free cash a man can take."

"Is there?"

He nudged her with his arm playfully. "Well, maybe for you I can make an exception." Anna and Jack arrived at her car, and she watched Jack's chocolate orbs widen at the sight of her beautiful car. "This is yours?"

"Yep," she answered, somewhat nervously.

"She's a beauty."

"Thank you," Anna replied and unlocked the door. "So I guess I'll speak to you soon."

"Soon," Jack agreed whilst Anna opened the car door. "So long as I can trust I didn't get fake-numbered."

"Ah," Anna said in fake seriousness and sat down in the driver's seat, ready to close the door. "We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"

Jack licked his lips and helped Annalisa to shut her door. The engine revved like a wild animal and soon Anna was speeding down the street, on the way towards Bruce's apartment. She tried desperately not to glance at the mirror to watch Jack get smaller and smaller. She failed.

It took but a few minutes to arrive at Bruce's penthouse. She parked outside and nodded at all the familiar faces in the lobby. When the elevator doors opened, she felt a weight lifted from her shoulder's as Anna stepped into the familiar space. The penthouse was modern, polished and pristine.

Hearing the ding of the elevator, a familiar face stepped out of a room. A large grin spread upon the butler's face as he welcomed Anna inside with open arms.

"Miss Wayne, what a lovely surprise!" Alfred approached her and brought her in for a friendly hug. His English voice did wonders for her nerves that had yet to leave after seeing Jack again. Soon they were wiped away and she breathed in the scent that had once been one of her homes. Alfred Pennyworth was a great friend of the Wayne families and was well known to have raised Bruce up after his parents had been murdered. He was a father figure to both Anna and Bruce and Alfred too thought of Annalisa as his daughter of sorts.

Once Alfred released Anna, he patted her upper arms and spoke with the fondness her always held when speaking to the young miss.

"I do hope you've returned to stay with us for a bit longer."

"Alfred, I slept here last week." Anna giggled at the older man. "Surely Bruce hasn't exhausted you already."

"Exhausted? Never," he replied. Alfred was practically a machine; he was non-stop, always helping Bruce, always cooking and cleaning and running Bruce around town. It was more often than not that he'd offer to drive Anna around too. "But Master Wayne might drive me around the bend if he rejects another breakfast one more time."

Anna rolled her eyes in good humour, although she was secretly grateful she had eaten. Otherwise she may have been at the end of Alfred's wrath instead of Bruce.

"You know Bruce. You tell him one thing and he'll do the exact opposite." The two laughed. "He's like a child!"

"Who's like a child?" A voice came from behind them and Anna turned to see Bruce walking into the room, adjusting a cream tie. His gaze fell onto me and he grinned from ear to ear. "Anna!"

"Hey Bruce," she began to walk up to him and felt no surprise when he grabbed her arm and pulled her in for a hug. The two were practically brother and sister, and if it weren't for their complicated and busy lives, they'd be inseparable.

"You here for work related reasons or did you just miss your dear old Cuz," he chuckled, still adjusting his tie. Anna sighed and slapped his hands away playfully, happy to do his tie for him if it meant he wouldn't take years doing it.

"Just here to give you a heads up on the case."

Bruce's eyebrow raised and he looked over to Alfred then back to Anna. "Gordon caught who's doing it?"

Anna shook her head, watching her fingers as she fiddled with the expensive tie. "No, no evidence has been given yet. But they're bringing in more and more victims every day," Anna said sadly. "You've seen them Bruce; they're stone cold with fear. I doubt we'll be getting any help from them any time soon."

Bruce nodded in agreement and thanked Anna when she had patted his chest to indicate the tie was done. She picked up his coat and helped him slide his arms through the sleeves. Bruce looked as handsome as ever, with his hair slicked back and his expensive work suit causing him to look the exact opposite of frumpy.

"Any changes in how the drugs being administrated?"

"Not that we know of," Anna shrugged. "So far its injection and pills, and we've yet to find a single syringe. Any remains of the drug they're using might help to create an anti-dote for whatever this fucker's putting into its victims' body."

Bruce touched her shoulder fondly. "We'll get him, Anna. With you and Jim covering this guy's act, he's bound to slip up. We'll have him then." Anna nodded but couldn't entirely agree. This case had been going on for months and the criminal had yet to make a mistake. But the earliest victims were so close to recovering that finally, information might be attained and the three of them could finally throw the scum in jail.

Bruce loved his cousin dearly. She had his heart and wanted so much to help make Gotham a safer place to live in. He always worried about her, and sometimes his worry for her clouded his decisions in letting her help. But she was as stubborn as he and would not take no for an answer. Anna was fiery and driven and had a good heart, just like her father. Bruce had been very fond of his Uncle Daniel and he remembered Annalisa from when she was just a young girl. With only a few years difference between the two, and such close personalities, the two were always destined to become each other's family.

"Miss Wayne," Alfred interrupted the two, "I do hope you have eaten this morning. I'd dread to think Jim Gordon was keeping you from your meals."

Anna flashed him a grin. "Don't worry, Alfred, breakfast has been checked off my list."

"Hmph," Alfred eyed her suspiciously but with a good heart, "Good because I won't have you skipping meals on my watch."

Anna saluted the man, "Yes, sir."

Alfred chuckled and shook his head whilst sorting out the coffee. Anna nudged Bruce's stomach with her elbow and stage whispered, "That goes for you too, Batman."

Playfully, Bruce shoved her shoulder so she stumbled to the side, and he moved his fingers to tell her to 'bring it on' when he saw that glint in her eye she used to get before the two would wrestle. Anna punched Bruce's shoulder, knowing it wouldn't hurt him one bit, but just for that, Bruce caught her in a head lock and began to mess up her hair. Anna squealed with laughter as she tried to jerk free, but Bruce held on tightly.

"Who's the better cousin?"

"Me!"

Bruce messed up Anna's hair further so it was just a ball of tangled chocolate locks. She attempted to elbow Bruce's ribs but he jumped out of the way before she could get in a decent hit.

"Who's the better cousin? Come on, Anna, surrender already."

"Never!" Anna called, and unexpectantly bit down onto Bruce's arm, making sure she left a good amount of saliva there too. Bruce yelled in disgust and after he let his cousin loose, he chased after her, trying to wipe her dribble onto her. Anna was full of giggles and so was Bruce. Alfred watched on as if the two were mere children in school. After one shriek hit his ear, he called to the two of them.

"If you two children and quite done playing, I believe Master Wayne has a meeting to attend to in fifteen minutes!"

Bruce breathed heavily with the wildest smirk on his face. He mouthed 'I won' to Anna which only made her stick her tongue out at him before she stepped over to the kitchen. Alfred had prepared some buttered toast, a bowl full of chopped up fruit and a large coffee.

Bruce jogged over to the kitchen but went straight to his briefcase instead of his breakfast. "Don't wait up, you two. Anna, you're free to stay so long as you keep your evil fingers off my sushi, alright?"

Anna frowned, and turned to Alfred. He translated, "Master Bruce is off work tomorrow in order to try and get more information out of this case you two are on." Anna nodded in understanding. "The sushi is to be his lunch." Alfred looked away from Anna all of a sudden to order one leaving billionaire to stop in his tracks. "Master Wayne, you have barely eaten all week. I insist you eat some breakfast before your meeting."

"No time, Alfred."

Anna called, "Bruce, if you don't get your butt back to this table right now, that sushi is mine!" Her voice was so innocent that Bruce couldn't help but growl at Anna's threat. He knew that tone of voice of hers always got what she wanted. He spun round and threw the case back on the sofa like a child and re-joined the two in the kitchen. Anna giggled at his slight pout. Sushi or no sushi, for once he would do as his told.

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TBC

Nice long chapter for you there! So what do we think of Jack and Annalisa? Please review, and make my day!