A/N: So it's been an incredibly long time since my last update. I can't completely blame this on school. Partial to blame is my muse who seems to go missing from time to time. I want to thank Sugar Coated Bullets for giving me a review on my last chapter. It's greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Invasion

"It's good to see you up and moving, Commissioner." Detective Stephen said as he entered the hospital room.

Gordon was walking back from standing at the window peering out onto the park below His glasses were at the bridge of his nose as always. They framed his hard battered and bruised face. The accident left a memento on his right temple from where he had smashed his head against the passenger window.

"Please, tell me you have news." He wanted to cut to the chase, "No one is telling me anything. My own men aren't speaking to me about the case." He made his way back to his bed slowly sliding on top of it and into the covers.

He hated the feel of generic sheets against his skin. "Is there any developments regarding the Joker? Have you found out anything?"

"We have a lead, actually." He said with his head sunken low looking down at the yellow folder that he tightly embraced in his fingers.

"Stephens?" Gordon asked seeing the pain in his face, "What is it?"

"I'm sorry to tell you this." Stephens looked up, "Dr. Alexis Reed is missing."

"What do you mean missing? Why didn't you come to me sooner?" He slowly got back off of his bed reaching over to the chair grabbing at his clothes. Barbara had left a pair of pants a tee shirt for him during her last visit. So that when he was released he'd have something clean from his own closet.

"It was best that you got your rest. You've been working on this case for awhile now. First, you scared the hell out of your wife by faking your own death. Now, you're in the hospital due to the Joker's escape yesterday?" He took in a breath, "Jim, I'm telling you this as a friend, you're not superhuman. Let some of us do the ground work. Then when you're feeling better and the doctor releases you."

"I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing. I've been doing this a hell of a lot longer than you." He reassured Stephens, "Now, tell me about your lead." He demanded as he motioned for him to give him the folder.

There was no use arguing with Gordon he was a stern man set in his ways. "We didn't get the call until early this morning. A security officer coming in for his shift did his rounds and found Dr. Reed's apartment door open. It was relatively vacant except for" he handed Gordon a yellow envelope, "two men. Both found dead. The bellhop's throat was slit and the security guard on duty that night was shot in the back of the head. Forced entry and they left the place in a mess. They were looking for something."

"Joker." He shook his head as he picked up the Joker's calling card. "How do we know Alexis was actually taken?" Gordon opened the envelope and slid out the contents.

Pictures of the crime scene that depicted the gruesome death of the bell hop and security guard. Along with several images of the destruction left behind; papers thrown everywhere, cables and wires hanging out from the wall, etc.

With a sigh he flipped to the security photo which was taken in the elevator. Her face visibly distraught, "Alexis. I shouldn't have let her go back."

Detective Stephen's remained silent as he waited for further instruction from his superior.

Gordon ordered, "Get my release papers."

"I'm not sure if the doctor is going to just let you go. You suffered a rou--" He was silenced quickly.

"They can't keep me here. Make it happen. I've got to get back to work before this creep manages to kill someone else." He grumbled, "This town is going to shambles."

"I'll notify the doctor, but you need to tell Barbara."

Gordon rubbed his temple as he contemplated his wife's reaction. She wasn't going to be thrilled with the idea of him leaving the hospital against warnings from the doctor. But she'd understand that Gotham came before his own health. It always was like that.

The clown masked henchmen that entered the room turned his head back and motioned for his cohort to come inside. He followed suit as he pushed a cart in front of him. As he turned the corner it was now visible that the cart carried a thirteen inch television screen with a camera on top.

In a sing-song voice, "I think you're really going to enjoy this."

Alexis watched closely as he proceeded to the cart his back hunched just ever so slightly. He leaned over and slid his finger against the play button on the video camera.

"Da-Ta-Te-Da!" He hummed as quickly stood back in his own amazement, "And Showtime!"

An image of the DA assistant Melissa Malone appeared on the screen. She was sitting in a similar chair as Alexis and her mouth was gagged. Her face was badly beaten as if she had lost a fight in a UFC match. She was crying uncontrollably as she was struggling with her restraints.

"Why are you showing me this?" Alexis asked as she looked over at the Joker.

"Shh.. Pay.. attention." He said with a finger to his lips as he spun around. He ambled once more across the floor and maneuvered himself behind Alexis. His hands clutched on to the back of her chair to keep her from speaking again.

"Melissa Melone, we have something-g in common you and I." The joker said behind the shaking camera. "We both know what it's like to have Gotham in the palm of our hand."

He pushed her cheeks in with his index finger. "I could kill every last one of your kind. Yah know, the people who are in charge with giving this city a measly little voice. But your kind are like ants. Once one is dead two more come in to replace them. A vicious cycle to say the least. Do you wanna know a little fact-toid about your old pal, Harvey?"

She shook her head no.

"Come on! Don't spoil the moment-t!" His knife was visible now as it playfully glided across her swollen cheek. "He didn't die a hero. No, he killed for the sake of revenge. He killed.. A police officer.. A mob boss.. And he even tried to kill the Commissioner!" He cackled, " He had you all fooled! I did this town a-a uh favor. So in a way.. This town owes me one."

There was a pause between the two as the camera zoomed in on Melissa's face. She kept her hard stare fixed on the Joker behind the camera.

"Yah know, my mother told me that women were trouble." A pause waiting her reaction. "Do you want to know how I got these scars-s?"

When she didn't respond to his questioned he grew aggravated. She screamed loudly as he roughly jerked the gag from her mouth.

The camera fumbled as it was tossed to one of his men standing nearby. The goon leveled the camera and moved to the side getting a better view of the scene unfolding.

"My family was dependent-t on me. I would cook, clean, and work two jobs to keep us from being homeless. While my father would go out every night and get plastered-d." He licked his lips, "I was a good little boy, I did what I was told. Yah see my mother was unable to keep a steady job and pay the bills due to her cocaine habit. Yah know, she even took me to a drug deal when I was four!" Another lick of his lips followed, "So one day, I accidentally knocked-d over a can of white paint in the kitchen. What does my father do to teach me a lesson?"

Melissa turned her head to the side as the Joker brought it back to look at him. "Y'see, he puts his trusty switchblade in my mouth like this." He demonstrated with his blade pulling her cheek taut. He held her head still by placing his palm against the back of her neck. She struggled in his grasp.

Alexis turned her head away to the side trying to shield herself from what she knew was coming. It wasn't hard to figure out that Melissa wasn't going to last long in the video.

The Joker placed both of his hands firmly against her head. He held them there so that she remained facing forward. "Ah, this, this, is the best part-t."

"Then he just simply." As he trailed off he let the blade sliced open her left cheek. She let out another hurling scream before she lost consciousness. The camera caught the Joker smiling as he towered over his victim. He reached down and put the blade in her other cheek slicing a matching incision.

The video cut out and the henchmen pressed pause on the camera. Fixating on the static. He put his hands back behind his back waiting for further instructions.

The Joker lightly tapped the right side of her face with his finger. "So.."

Alexis jerked her head away trying to keep him from touching her again. His glove clad fingers were cold against her skin.

He walked in front of her blocking her view of anything else. With his hand firmly against the back of her chair he moved in closer. "I wanted to give you a little more prospective on your, uh, current-t situation."

Alexis closed her eyes as tight as she could trying her hardest to block him out of her head. But his harsh voice resonated through her ears.

"You want to know why I do the things I do?" He smiled as his tongue took another swipe at his lips, "Simply because I can. Fear is an intoxicating thing. To see someone, uh, simply shift in their seat when I enter-r a room is breathtaking for me." He paused to lick his lips, "The fear of not knowing what the outcome is going to be. See it scratches away at their soul. That's more power than any of these so called 'civilized people' could EVER. Imagine."

He poked her cheek playfully, "Hey! Hey, at least I'm honest. These people you've put-t your trust in." He held his hand up motioning towards the door as if they were waiting outside, "are liars." He licked his lip as he continued, "They want nothing more but to better themselves with your money. They'll promise you the world-d if it'll get them an extra dollar in their wallet. So what would happen-n if they were non-existent? The leaders of our great city.. Gone!" He smiled, "Corruption and anarchy."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"You honestly didn't believe just-t because I was in Arkham my men were having a vacation?" He grinned wider, "They've been watching you." He pointed to the screen again. The henchmen pressed play on the camera.

The camera showed Alexis walking on the sidewalk through Gotham with Commissioner Gordon by her side. The video shot just shortly before the trial against the Joker. The video cut out and showed them walking into the police station together.

"I had my men follow good 'ole Gordo around the city when I was locked-d up in that humble dwelling known as Arkham. To gather some information up about him. See what made him tick. Little did I know that you, ya know, were such good friends with him. It sparked my interest. So, they sent me letters detailing what my beautiful Dr. was up to."

"What better way to get to Gordon than through one of his good friends that he apparently loves like his own daughter? Hmm?" He smirked, "Yeah, I could've went for the obvious approach and snatch up the little wife and kids." He shrugged, "It's been done. I obviously strive to be different." He motioned to his face, "Why not attack someone who knows me on a personal level."

He considered for a moment, "Then of course if that doesn't work out. I can still have the family option-n."

"Gordon is never going to stoop to your level of insanity"

He patted her head as he straightened up before taking a few steps back out of the light. "You're such a clever girl thinking he'll pull through. That he'll do the right-t thing." He smiled, "Now lets get down to our other business."

He motioned for his goon to come closer. The goon handed over a Polaroid camera that was tucked behind the television set. The Joker turned it to its side as if examining it for defects, "It's a shame they're getting rid-d of these things. Isn't it?"

The Joker moved over to Alexis and positioned himself snuggly behind her. He nuzzled his left cheek against her own smearing some of his paint on her face. "Smile pretty! You're going to be on the evening news."

With a press of a button the picture spit out. He grabbed the photo instantly shaking it back and forth. With a laugh, "Shake it like a Polaroid picture!"

Alexis rolled her eyes as she shifted her eyes off to the side.

"Time to write our good friend a letter."