Disclaimer: I dont own Batman

AN: well I know it's been awhile, but unfortunatly I do have to work sense I'm not getting paid for this story. sigh heart breaking huh? Anyway still no clues as to how this is going to end up, I'm fairly certan that Joker is mocking me for trying to plan this out...

Joanda, thank you and I'm not sure anyone knows where it's going but I'm glad you decided to read it despite my horrible summary ;)

Jill Loon, Thanks, I'm sorry the update was so slow but I've got some time off hopefully I'll have another chapter soon

PhantasamBunny, Thanks tons it's good to know that someone enjoys reading it as much as i enjoy writing it

J-Horror, Thank you, I was worried about her getting too Mary-Sue-ish I may take you up on your offer of plot bouncing right now I'm just hoping for a plot to bounce :D

Shelly, wow an all caps review, you have no idea how excited i was about that, and thanks for the encouragement with the character I've been worried that with all the other stuff she was getting swallowed up into the mad whirl of ffdom

And now on to the main event...


Marie woke early the next morning, or at least before her usual 10:30 starts on most weekends with the luminescent clock beside her showing it to be only 8:47. She groaned and tried to roll over scrunching her eyes shut tighter trying to block out the sunlight that was leaking into the room. She tossed and turned for another half hour before giving up, rolling out of bed, and heading toward the kitchen to make breakfast for herself and Janet.

She began frying eggs and making bacon automatically, letting her mind wander to all the things she needed to do today. Get her clothes from her apartment, shop for groceries, and of course avoid getting killed by a psycho. All in all a full day, she decided as she turned on the coffee maker and let it go.

"What are you doing out of bed at this ungodly hour," Janet asked as she staggered into the room still half asleep.

"When did 9:30 become an ungodly hour?" Marie asked calmly as she flipped the bacon.

"Since you decided to wake up at it," Janet informed her with a yawn.

"I think someone needs a trip back to preschool," Marie observed as she poured a coffee for her friend. "You know where we learned to form sentences."

Janet growled at Marie and buried her face in her hands trying to clear out her desperate need for sleep.

Marie placed a plate of breakfast in front of her new roommate as a peace offering. "Eat up sunshine we've got alot to today."

"You are entirely to perky," Janet snarled as she started sipping her coffee.

When Janet was finally awake enough to drive they went to Marie's small apartment to collect her clothing. After all four days of wearing the same outfit was starting to be gross.

As the door to her place swung open Marie gasped. It looked as if the movie "Twister" had been recreated in the small space. "Apparently I wasn't invited to my own party," Marie whispered when she was able to speak again.

"Burglars," Marie asked eyeing what had once been a book case.

"Sure looks like it," Marie said as she pulled out her cell phone and began to dial.

"Cops?"

Marie shrugged, "Commissioner Gordon said he wanted to know if anything unusual happened. I'd say getting robbed is fairly unusual." The young woman lifted the receiver to her ear and waited for an answer.

"911 emergency please state your problem," a female voice answered calmly and Marie was reminded of the voice that had announced the breakout at Arkham.

"Yes this is Marie Gardner; I'd like to report a robbery at my apartment on 67th street."

"Is the crime still in progress?"

Marie looked at the wreckage that had once been her home, "No I think they're done."

"Alright I'll relay the message to the nearest officer and have someone there right away."

"Thank you," Marie said, "and could you also tell Commissioner Gordon what has happened."

"Oh you're that Marie Gardner," The woman said knowingly.

Marie rubbed the bridge of her nose and made note that if she was ever to meet this woman to punch her in the face.

"I'll inform the commissioner and he should be down shortly," the woman continued.

"Thank you," Marie barley managed to choke out over her frustration.

"If you want I could stay on the line until the officers arrive," the too calm voice asked.

"No."


Gordon looked around the apartment in confusion, there was nothing here to suggest the Joker had been involved in looting Marie's home, and yet given the robbery followed the Jokers threat so closely he didn't want to just dismiss the event as coincidence. The way he saw it there were two options either Joker was completely obsessed with her or the young woman simply had the worst luck ever, and neither option gave Gordon much hope.

Marie and Janet were leaning against a wall trying to stay out of the cops' way. Marie was waiting for an explanation with a grim look on her face and Janet was watching the cops with mild interest.

Gordon walked over to the two girls, "We cant pin this on the Joker, he didn't leave his calling card and there is no evidence to suggest he was behind it."

"Just an occupational hazard of living in Gotham," Marie observed bitterly staring at the spot her TV had occupied a few days before.

Gordon rolled his eyes starting to become used to Maries sarcasm. "All things considered were going to keep you under phone surveillance but I'm going to have to call you twice a day."

"Thank you," Marie said knowing just how much this went against the cops' better judgment.

"Also I'm going to have to insist that you don't leave Miss King's apartment after dark until the Joker has been caught and try to keep to heavily trafficked areas during the day."

Marie looked at Gordon in horror, there was no way he could be serious, but he was. The young woman slowly nodded her consent knowing that over the next few weeks she would become better acquainted with Blockbuster than most people who worked there.

"You can collect whatever you need but try not to touch to much," Gordon told her, "we've got it under control."

Marie began to pick her way across the scraps of her furniture toward her bedroom. Janet followed quietly letting Marie take in the destruction knowing that the waterworks would come later.

Marie began to shove her remaining outfits into a suitcase. "I'm going to need some ice cream," Marie observed.

"I figured as much," Janet said quietly, "We'll get some on the way back to my place."

Marie nodded in agreement as she finished shoving the last bits of clothing into the suitcase feeling suspiciously like a kid being sent off to sleep away camp. Then she noticed the flashing red light that signified that she had a message. "Hit the button on the answering machine would ya?"

Janet punched the button into the machine and it began regurgitating its messages.

"Marie Gardner I wanted to make sure you know you are scheduled today. 9 to 5 same as always see you when you get in," came the voice of Marie's irritated boss into the room.

Marie swore unhappily as the machine beeped to the next message. "Miss Gardner you haven't been returning my phone calls, I'd like to remind you that you did not put in for any vacation nor have you received any. We need you here now." Marie's boss was sounding more and more irritated with her.

"Marie I've been looking at some figures and the company can't afford to keep someone employed who can't manage to show up for work. I'm sorry but you're fired," the click of the phone hanging up was so final and so serious that Marie could have sworn it was a gun being cocked. She slowly sank onto her bed. Maybe the Joker should have just killed her in that alley rather than having her live through this day.

"How about a bottle of whisky instead of the ice cream," Janet asked.

"Sounds good," Marie answered as she picked up the suitcase and headed for the door ignoring the cops and the curious looks they gave her. They had heard every word of the messages and were waiting for the inevitable breakdown but Marie pushed by without a word or a trace of emotion.

Gordon waved Janet over to where he was standing. "Is she going to be ok," he asked with concern watching Marie leave.

"She'll be fine," Janet assured him, "we'll have a beer or two watch some horribly violent movie, she'll cry a bit, then she'll be right as rain, and start looking for a new job in the morning."

"I'll take your word on that," Gordon said quietly. "I'll call later."

Janet nodded, "Thank you." She then turned and raced after Marie


Marie walked through the aisles of the convince store her face still set into an emotionless mask. Janet trailed behind waiting for the inevitable outbreak of emotion from her friend knowing the slightest thing would set her off at this point.

Marie selected the last item that she needed from the shelf and made her way to the front where the clerk was busy watching a news clip. Marie glanced up and saw a picture of herself behind a news reporter. "Miss Marie Gardner has been on the run from the lunatic known only as "The Joker" for almost four days," the reporter told the citizens of Gotham.

Marie didn't hear the rest of the report; her life and her problems were plastered all over the evening news for everyone to see. She wanted to scream to push the clerks head into the glass counter and tell him to stay out of her business; instead she tapped lightly on the countertop.

The young man turned around and his eyes bugged out slightly in recognition.

Marie started handing him the groceries then turned to Janet, "Ice cream and beer."

Janet nodded knowing that Marie was likely to go off at any second and hurried to the freezer to get the items.

The clerk continued to stare at the young woman as he scanned the items without paying much attention to what he was doing. Marie wondered if his mother had ever told him it was impolite to stare and wondered if she should remind him.

When Janet returned with the beer the idiot checking her out didn't even look at her ID. Marie shoved the money at him and waited as he counted change. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Janet watching her with concern, obviously waiting for Marie to lunge across the counter and hurt the guy.

Marie grabbed the groceries and hurried out the door not waiting for her change or even for Janet who followed as quickly as she could. Marie was waiting in the car already buckled in with the groceries in the back.

Janet knew it was a "Kill Bill" marathon kind of a night.


About a third of the way through the first movie Marie stood up. "I cant take it anymore," she announced, "I need some me time."

Janet looked up at her friend in confusion, "Huh?"

"I'm going for a walk," Marie explained as she grabbed her Jacket.

"But Commissioner Gordon hasn't called yet," Janet pointed out.

"I don't care," Marie snapped, "Tell him I'm in the shower, tell him I'm asleep, and in fact tell him anything except where I am."

"Where are you going to be?" Janet asked with panic.

"Out for a walk," Marie repeated.