A/N: Augh, so sorry to take so long with an update.
I'm really missing Heath lately, guess it's the holidays. So, need a little clown action!
Hope you like it!
Seds
Bruce easily navigated through the Gotham afternoon traffic, and he and Spencer arrived at the Wayne penthouse in a short time. Bruce escorted his guest to the entry hallway, where they were immediately greeted by Alfred. Bruce proudly presented Spencer to him.
"Alfred, I'd like you to meet Dr. Spencer Reid."
"At last! I've heard so much about you, sir."
"Oh, thank you. It's nice to meet you, too." Spencer submitted to Alfred's vigorous handshake with a smile. He'd always envisioned butlers as being reserved and aloof, but Alfred was warm and effusive, and instantly managed to make him feel at home.
"Well, it's a great honor. If it weren't for you, two very special people wouldn't be with us today, and-" Spencer felt a flush of red come to his cheeks and he gave Bruce a "Help me!" look.
"All right, Alfred, I think you've embarrassed the poor doctor enough. How about bringing us a couple of glasses of chablis?" Bruce suggested.
Alfred nodded deferentially. "Of course, sir..." He put a hand up to his mouth as if sharing a secret with Spencer and stage-whispered, "But, it really is good to meet you." He winked, then went to get their drinks.
"Wow, I've never met a real butler before," Spencer said.
Bruce nodded. "Yes, but Alfred is so much more than that. He raised me after my parents died. He's family."
"Oh-I'm so sorry, I didn't know about your parents."
Bruce stared out a window for a moment before speaking. "They'd taken me to see a show downtown. I became frightened and insisted that we leave. A robber waylaid us outside the theater and shot them dead."
"Oh, my God. That's horrible, I'm so sorry."
Bruce turned his gaze back to Spencer. "It was a long time ago."
"But, that doesn't make it any easier, does it?"
"No, it doesn't. But, enough of that. Would you like a tour? This is only temporary until the manor is rebuilt, but it's actually quite nice..."
Alfred returned with the wine glasses, and Bruce showed Spencer around the penthouse. They chatted for a while, then Bruce suggested that Spencer retire to the guest room and take a few minutes to relax before getting ready for dinner. Spencer was just about to agree when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID-it was Morgan. He grimaced, remembering his long-overdue promise, then smiled apologetically at Bruce.
"Excuse me. This'll only take a minute." He clicked the phone to "talk" as he walked to the far corner of the large room for privacy. "Reid here."
"So, you're not dead."
"Excuse me?"
"You told me you would call when you got there. I guess you were too busy with the billionaire to bother."
"Oh, Derek, for heaven's sake. I'm sorry, there just hasn't been a moment when I could gracefully step away-"
"Yeah, right. Well, as long as you're still alive, that's all that matters. Have a great time."
"Derek-" But, he had already hung up.
"Problem?" Bruce asked, strolling up to Spencer.
"Oh, no, not really. It's just-never mind. Um... you mentioned the guest room?"
"Alfred, would you please show Dr. Reid to his room, and make sure he has everything he needs? Spencer, I'm going to make a few phone calls before dinner-I'll see you in just a bit."
Spencer nodded. "Thanks, Bruce." He followed the butler to the guest room, then stretched out on the bed to ponder his exchange with Derek. He frowned in irritation and stared up at the ceiling.
If Derek Morgan had so little trust in him, maybe he wasn't ready to be in a serious relationship, after all.
The dinner guests arrived within minutes of each other. Bruce had just enough time to introduce Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Jim Gordon's wife, to Spencer before Rachel and Harvey were led into Bruce's living room as well.
"Dr. Reid, I am so happy to finally meet you." Rachel Dawes hastened to take Spencer's hand in both of hers and squeezed it tightly. "You have no idea how grateful I am to you, how grateful we both are-Harvey, get over here and shake Dr. Reid's hand!"
"It's a pleasure, Dr. Reid. You can't imagine. I've waited much too long to say this to you in person, but-thank you. Thank you for your help. When I think of what could have happened-"
"Well, I really appreciate everyone saying such nice things, but if it hadn't been for Commissioner Gordon inviting me in for a consultation, I wouldn't have had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a real criminal mastermind." Spencer's eyes brightened and he began to sound like a twelve-year-old baseball fan talking about meeting a legendary pitcher. "I know this probably sounds creepy, but that was a huge thrill for me. I learned so much! It was really amazing to speak to the Joker face-to-face. In fact, I'm hoping that someday I can arrange to have an interview with him in Arkham. There's a paper I'm working on, and I think that would be an absolutely fascinating addition to-"
"Uh-would anybody like some wine?" Bruce interjected. He'd seen the look on Rachel's face when the Joker's name was mentioned; Jim came up and clamped a hand warmly on Spencer's shoulder.
"That's just Bruce's way of telling you that not everyone has been as delighted to meet the Joker as you were, son. But, make no mistake-you did a wonderful thing. We're all very grateful."
"That includes me," Barbara added. "The Joker's responsible for some of the worst moments of my life." She cast a glance at her husband. "I'm just happy he's finally locked up where he can't hurt anyone anymore. So, thank you, Dr. Reid. Thank you so much."
"To Spencer!" Bruce raised a toast and they all smiled and clinked glasses. Spencer shook his head in acute embarrassment.
"Please, everyone, thank you, but this really was just part of my job. The good days are the ones when everything works as it's supposed to, and unfortunately, those are far fewer in number than we'd like. But, I can tell you one thing-the day Mr. Dent and Miss Dawes were rescued was a very good day for me."
"Me, too," said Bruce quietly. A somber air engulfed the room as Bruce held up his glass and looked from face to face. "Rachel, you're my oldest friend. Harvey, you've brought hope to this city and happiness to Rachel. That means more to me than you'll ever know. And, Dr. Reid-thank you. Thank you for answering Jim's call. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you hadn't."
They again clinked their glasses together. Alfred stepped in to announce that dinner was ready, and everyone moved to the formal dining room to take their seats.
"Good night, Bruce. This was all so wonderful. Spencer, you're an absolute delight." Rachel gave Spencer a tight hug. He smiled shyly and patted her back.
"Yeah, and, listen-if you ever need legal advice, just give me a call. No charge." Harvey shook his hand, and Spencer laughed appreciatively.
"Well, don't worry. I won't hesitate to take you up on that, should the need arise."
Jim and Barbara also said their goodbyes, but everyone milled around Bruce's door for a while, not quite ready to let go of the night. Eventually, however, the two couples left the penthouse and headed to their cars.
No one noticed a black sedan with medical license plates and an Arkham ID sticker slowly cruising down the street. The Joker took in the departing guests and grinned. Wayne must have thrown quite a party. That was okay-he'd had no interest in crashing it. Been there, done that.
He was more interested in getting the guest of honor alone for a little while.
He wanted to know what the Bat would think about that...
After locking the door behind his guests, Bruce turned to Spencer with a rueful grin on his face.
"Wow-I thought they'd never leave. Those characters can talk for hours, can't they?"
"They're all very interesting people."
"Yes, they are." Bruce walked up to Spencer and put his hands on his shoulders. "But, to be honest, I find you to be... far more interesting than all of them." He leaned forward and brushed his lips over Spencer's, then pulled back and smiled. Spencer stared at him, momentarily speechless.
"Uh..."
"Shh. I'm sorry, I know I'm being forward. It's just that we have so little time, and I really would like to get to know you better." He pulled Spencer into his arms and kissed him again, and this time it was a rich, deep, passionate kiss. Spencer had had more wine than he was used to, and the room began to swirl. He leaned into the kiss, into Bruce's muscular frame. He thought of Derek-If you're going to fuck him, do me a favor and use a condom-and he wondered if he really could, if he really could indulge in a one-night stand with someone he barely knew.
A low, creepy laugh derailed his train of thought.
Bruce pulled away and they both turned to face the Joker as he descended the staircase. His laugh trailed off into a slight wheeze.
"Ah. Look at this. What're you doing, Brucey? Auditioning a little Boy Wonder for the Bat?"
"Damn it. How'd you get out of Arkham?" Spencer noted that Bruce's voice held absolutely no fear whatsoever.
"Oh, good, I managed to surprise you. Actually, I'm a little late, but I didn't think your other guests wanted to watch this part of the evening's... entertainment." The Joker had a knife in his hand; he held it up and waggled it teasingly.
Bruce stepped away from Spencer and moved toward the Joker. "What do you want?"
The Joker rolled his eyes upward as if in thought. "Let's see. For starters, I want you to take a little nap." He licked his lips and held the knife threateningly as he took a step forward. Bruce immediately lunged at him; he would have easily disarmed him, but in focusing on the weapon, he missed what Spencer saw immediately-a hypodermic syringe in the Joker's other hand. He plunged it into Bruce's neck just as their bodies made contact, and he watched with amusement as Bruce sank to his knees, then fell unconscious onto the floor. The Joker's lips twisted into a sardonic grin, and he moved toward Spencer, who was watching him approach, amazed.
"That was good," Spencer said, gesturing toward Bruce's prone body with genuine admiration.
"Oh?"
"Yes-a real magician's trick. Distraction. I know, I do a little magic myself. You're... you're very adept."
"Mm." The Joker was now inches away from Spencer, with one hand in his pocket. He slowly withdrew a pistol and aimed it at Spencer's heart. "I do like to perform an act of prestidigitation every now and then-and, right now, I'm going to make a doctor... disappear." He chuckled and pulled back the trigger.
"Wait!" Spencer suddenly felt cold fear rush through him. The Joker was fascinating, he was intelligent-profoundly so-but he was also stone cold crazy. Was he really about to die? He had to do something. Engage him in some way... "Why do you want to kill me?"
The Joker raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I don't, not yet, anyway. But, I do want to have a little fun with you, and, honestly? I just don't think this is the right venue for what I have in mind. So, I'm going to make sure you don't do something stupid that would make me have to kill you." He lowered the pistol and aimed at Spencer's leg. "You see, I'm doing this for your own good. Doctor." He fired and Spencer felt hot steel tear through his thigh. He cried out and fell down. The Joker hummed pleasantly under his breath, clicked a pair of handcuffs onto Spencer's wrists, then put an arm around the young man's waist and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
He paused to flick something out of his breast pocket onto Bruce's still-unconscious body. Spencer saw that it was a playing card. Then, the Joker carried him out of the penthouse, down to the street, and laid him in the back of his stolen car.
