A/N: Just a heads up, the next couple of chapters are pretty dark.

oOo

For the next few nights, Jason didn't see much of Dick as he patrolled Gotham with Batman. He promised Dick he would make it up to him at the weekend and that they would finally get a chance to spar together, but that still didn't stop Jason from feeling bad at the sight of Dick's forlorn figure as he and Batman left the Batcave each evening.

Jason didn't want Dick out on patrol as Robin, especially while some psychopathic maniac was wreaking havoc on unsuspecting Gothamites, but neither was he happy with the idea of Dick feeling left out.

Also weighing heavily on his mind was the murder of Selina Arklow. Something about her murder was lodged in his brain, something important, but whatever it was remained elusive. Always just on the cusp of his thoughts, out of reach; yet near enough to scratch tauntingly at something in his memory. It was bloody frustrating.

By the time Friday evening rolled around, they were no closer to discovering who was committing the brutal murders in Gotham. Moreover, the Media had gotten wind of the Joker cards at the murder scenes and were having a field day with what they called the 'Joker Copycat.'

Jason was decidedly unhappy about that. One Joker was enough in any reality, two was a hideous nightmare, and the escapades of this wannabe were frighteningly near to the clown from his own world.

His mind stretched once more towards the image of Selina Arklow…what the hell was he missing?

"Tea, Sir?" Alfred's voice sounded beside him and he looked up into the warm, slightly concerned face of the Butler.

Jason smiled. Alfred always knew just the right moment to deliver a much needed break. "Thanks, Alfred," he said, accepting a steaming mug from the man.

"Find anything on patrol last night?" Dick's voice sounded behind them.

Jason quickly closed the file in front of him and turned in the swivel chair with a smile. "Hey, kiddo, how was school?"

"School was school. Your deflection sucks, by the way."

"How so?"

"First, totally obvious that you're avoiding the question. Second? Dude, if you're gonna deflect than at least do it with something more interesting than school!"

Jason's lips twitched. Brat.

"So, what happened on patrol last night?" Dick demanded, coming up beside Jason and reaching for the file.

Jason slapped a hand onto the little brown folder. "I don't think so! Just 'cause Bruce and I told you what's going on doesn't mean you have to see the gory details."

Dick huffed and crossed his arms across his chest. "You only told me because it's all over the news. I wish you'd both stop treating me like a kid, you know I can handle it."

Jason blinked. Was Dick…pouting at him? He chuckled. Teenagers.

"It's not funny, Jason!"

The boy looked hurt and Jason sobered. "Sorry, Dick, that's not what I was laughing at." He leaned towards him. "Bruce and I both know that you're not just any kid, but there are some things that you just don't want to share with people because it's like forcing them to eat cockroaches fried in puke, and who wants to do that to someone they care about? Dick, we haven't even shared the details of these killings with Alfred." He waved a hand in the direction of the Butler who was listening nearby.

"And I would be very grateful if you would endeavour to keep it that way, Sir," he interjected.

Jason grinned at him and turned back to Dick. "It's not that we don't think you're capable, it's just that we don't want to force you to eat fried cockroaches and puke."

Dick wasn't buying the metaphor. "I could help!" he persisted.

"And once we have a lead on who this guy is, maybe you can," Jason told him. Privately, he knew that he would never let Dick within an asses' roar of this man.

Dick was eyeing him sceptically as if he knew that was exactly what Jason was thinking. But he wasn't given the chance to argue further because at that moment, Bruce entered the cave.

"Computer, Gotham news!" he barked.

The computer responded, flickering to life and filling the screen with an image of a burning building. Jason gave a sharp intake of breath. "Where is that?"

"Gotham General," answered Bruce shortly.

"Think it's our boy?"

"Probably. News reports indicate that hundreds of Joker cards were blown into the air when the explosion went off."

"Guess this guy really digs the Joker," said Dick quietly.

But Jason was no longer listening. Alarm bells were going off in his head, screaming so loudly it was almost deafening. There was something too familiar about this, about all of this. And suddenly it clicked into place.

"Dear God," he whispered, his hands tightening on the armrest of the chair. Selina Arklow, Judge Watkins, how could he not have seen it?

"Jason?" Bruce's hand was on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Jason didn't know how to answer. He was not alright. He was as far from alright as it was possible to get.

"Jason?" Dick was beside him now, those wide, blue eyes looking at him in concern. "Are you okay?"

Jason wanted to grab Dick, to run with him, take him out of Gotham where the most savage man that Jason had ever encountered had clearly taken up residence. With effort, he looked at Bruce. "It's him," he croaked.

Bruce's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"

Jason nodded and Dick looked between the two of them, confused. "It's who? What's going on? Jason?"

Jason swallowed at the confused and slightly apprehensive expression on the young face. No way in hell was he giving the Joker a chance to hurt that innocence. Man up, Todd!

"I'm okay, Dick," he said, placing one hand on the boy's arm to reassure him. "Just shaken. I wasn't expecting this."

"Expecting what?"

"Joker." Jason's face hardened. "From my reality."

"He must have crossed through on the same night you did," said Bruce, as Dick's eyes widened.

Jason got to his feet. "Doesn't matter when he crossed through. What matters is getting him back." And as far as fuck away from Dick as possible.

"You sure you're up to this?" Bruce asked, frowning.

"I'll be fine."

"Okay then, suit up."

Jason was armed and ready in less than ten. Joining Batman by the Batmobile, he was surprised and alarmed to find Robin with him. The two of them were arguing.

"But why can't I go?" Robin demanded furiously.

"Jason and I have this covered. You're not going, Robin and that's my final word."

"But, Batman, I can help!" Robin turned to Red Hood. "Jason, tell him."

But Jason couldn't imagine anything he wanted less in the world right now than Robin joining them. The very idea of the Joker being in the same reality as Dick practically brought on a panic attack, not to talk of them being in the same vicinity. Something icy seized hold of Jason's heart and squeezed hard as he imagined what Joker would do if he got his hands on Dick. The images that flashed into his mind were enough to nearly stop him breathing.

His fear made his response harsher than he intended. "Hell no! I agree with Batman!"

Robin blinked and his mouth opened slightly. The wounded expression on his face made Jason instantly contrite. "Sorry, Dick, that didn't come out like I meant." He placed a hand on Robin's shoulder. "This isn't your Joker. This Joker is a whole other ball game and I just don't want to see you get hurt." Dick didn't answer and Jason tried again, feeling bad. "C'mon, Kid–"

"Stop calling me, Kid!" Robin snapped, shaking off Jason's hand.

"We're wasting time," Batman interrupted. "Robin, we'll discuss this later, but right now this is not up for negotiation. Stay put." He climbed into the Batmobile and started it up.

Jason looked at the small, angry figure. He wished he could make him understand just how dangerous this Joker was; that given the chance, he would rip Dick apart just for being Robin. Jason wasn't even sure if this Batman was ready for him. "Try to understand, Dick, this is for your own good. We'll talk later, okay?"

"Yeah, whatever," Robin mumbled, eyes on the floor.

Jason gave his shoulder a comforting pat, before climbing into the car with Batman. As the car peeled out of the cave, he gave one last glance at the figure watching them.

oOo

Jason used the journey into Gotham to educate Batman on the Joker's past and explain how he had worked out that it was the Joker from his world who had been rampaging through Gotham.

"I should have seen it sooner," he told Batman. "It was Selina Arklow, I knew there was something about her! Back in my world, she was a psychiatrist in Arkham assigned to the Joker. It was before my time but I remember the story. She spent a couple of months psychoanalysing him until he managed to break out. One of the first things he did was find her, shove explosives down her throat and blow her head off."

"Same as Selina here," concluded Batman grimly.

Jason nodded. "Word was that she came pretty close to cracking him in one of their sessions. Of course, after that, there wasn't a single psychiatrist in Gotham who would work with the Joker."

"And Judge Watkins?"

"Sentenced the Joker to hard labour in Gotham Penitentiary as opposed to his usual cushy number in Arkham. Took a full year before he was able to break out of the maximum security wing."

"So he's going after everyone in this reality that he believes wronged him in his own. What about the hospital?"

Jason's expression behind the mask was tight. "Sick as it sounds, I think this is his way of showing Gotham that he's not just a copycat, but the real deal. There was a Joker impersonator in the other Gotham a few years ago that disappeared. We never found a body but Batman always guessed the Joker had something to do with it. He doesn't like competition."

"It seems he doesn't like a lot of things."

"He likes plenty of things. Just not what normal people like," Jason answered shortly. Gotham city limits were coming into view and he could feel his adrenaline spike. This ends tonight, he promised himself.

As they cruised into the city, they were met with scenes of utter chaos. Several streets had been closed off and police were trying to keep back the Gotham city dwellers who were trying to get past the barricades. Jason guessed they were trying to get to the hospital to find out about loved ones and felt sick.

The Joker had only been in this reality for a week and already he was able to wreak this level of carnage and chaos. If they couldn't catch him and send him back, would this Gotham become as hopeless as the other? Jason didn't like to think about what that meant for Bruce or Dick.

Batman guided the car into a nearby alleyway. "We're not going to get through the city in this chaos. Its time to go up."

"Agreed."

Within seconds, they were out of the car and travelling through the upper levels of the city. It was just like old times and Jason had to swallow the slightly bitter pang of nostalgia that flowed through him. Not your world, not your Batman!

Travelling through the air, it didn't take them long to reach Gotham General. As their feet touched the ground, Jason felt like he had landed in the middle of a war zone. The hospital was a raging inferno, flames soaring thirty feet into the night sky. There were at least twenty fire-trucks surrounded by frantic fire-fighters trying to battle the blaze and keep it from spreading while saving as many people as they could. The police were struggling to keep the grief-stricken relatives who had made it past the other barricades from rushing forward and getting in the fire-fighters' way, or worse putting themselves in harm's way. An area just behind the fire-trucks had been set up for survivors. It was a frantic hive of activity as doctors and nurses worked to stabilise patients and transport them to other hospitals. Jason guessed that every nurse or doctor in Gotham not caught in the blast or standing by in other hospitals was here tonight helping.

"Batman!" he heard a voice yell and turned. Commissioner Gordon was hurrying towards them. He saw the man's eyes narrow suspiciously at him and the officer's hand brushed his gun. It would appear that even in this reality, Red Hood was a known criminal.

Batman held out a hand. "Relax, Jim, he's a friend."

"Friend, huh? Pretty unusual look for a crime fighter."

Jason shrugged. "What can I say? I don't do capes and tights."

"What's happening, Jim?" Batman's voice was low and tight, drawing Gordon's suspicious glare away from Jason. "How bad is this?"

"Bad. The blast decimated the entire west wing of the hospital! There were no survivors. And to make matters worse, the fire is spreading faster then we can evacuate the rest of the hospital!" Gordon turned a grim face towards the burning building. "Who is this lunatic?"

"The most dangerous man you'll ever meet," Jason answered shortly.

Gordon looked at him. "He says he's the Joker."

"He is," Batman replied. "But we don't have time to explain how. Red Hood, you know him best, would Joker stay to watch the chaos?"

"Sick son-of-a-bitch would consider his time wasted if he didn't."

"So he has to be nearby somewhere," Batman concluded.

"Where's the best vantage point?" Jason growled.

"This way."

They were gone before Commissioner Gordon could stop them.

Jason could feel his anger growing as he followed Batman through the upper levels of the city once more. He swallowed, trying to get a handle on his rage, knowing that losing control around the Joker could cost him. And this time, there was even more at stake.

Suddenly, a building just ahead exploded, sending Batman hurling into the wall of the opposite building. Because he had been behind Batman, Jason was able to divert himself out of the path of the blast, but was still unable to prevent himself from being tossed violently.

"BATMAN!" he yelled, twisting in midair to regain his balance, his eyes locked on the plummeting figure of the Dark Knight.

Batman moved quickly, firing a line at the nearest lamppost and whirling around the upper bar to slow his momentum before landing neatly on the ground.

Jason joined him quickly. "You okay?"

"Awwww, isn't that sweet?" a maddeningly familiar sounded just above them. "He's all concerned about his Batty. Did you boys kiss and make up?"

Jason looked up to see the Joker leaning over the edge of the roof of the building next to them. "Joker."

"The one and only. Miss me, Bird Boy?"

"Like a hole in the head!" Jason spat, and aimed his gun at the clown who withdrew slightly, cackling madly.

"I wouldn't do that, Bird Brain, can't you smell it?"

"Smell what?" Jason snapped, keeping his gun aimed until Batman's hand forced him to lower it.

"Kerosene. He's doused this whole building in it. You discharge that gun and it will go up like a powder keg."

"Very good, Batman, but I guess that's why you're the boss."

"So the building blows with you in," Jason stated. "I'm not seeing a problem here."

"You may not see a problem, but the nice people locked in the apartment below me might take offence if you blow them up." Joker smiled at him. "I'm sure you of all people know how much it hurts."

Jason clenched a fist and a low snarl escaped his throat.

Batman placed a hand warningly on his arm, an action that did not go unnoticed by the Joker. "Oh how cute! They've bonded! No killing for this Bats, mmmm, Bird Boy?"

"Go to hell!" Jason snapped, unable to stop himself. The clown knew all the right buttons to push to get under his skin.

The Joker shook his head sadly. "You Birdies are so much less fun when you grow up. Are those big boy pants too tight, is that it?"

This time Jason stayed quiet.

The Joker sighed. "And we used to have such fun together." He examined his nails. "Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to Bats here and announce myself to this new Gotham. I think I'm going to like it here; the people are so much more…trusting."

"You won't be staying, Joker," Batman told him.

"Oooo, he spoke to me. And I was beginning to think you didn't like me!" The Joker cackled while Batman scowled and crossed his arms. "No sense of humour in this world either?"

"Or maybe you're just not funny!" Jason snapped.

"Awww, Hoodie, I'm hurt that you don't think I'm funny. Maybe you need a little reminder?"

Suddenly, one of the buildings several feet away exploded, showering them with sparks and debris. Red Hood and Batman dived to the ground and despite everything, Jason felt a tiny spark of happiness when Batman used his cape to shield him. They clambered to their feet. The building up the street was now on fire and Jason was horrified to see people at the windows, signalling for help. Adding to the problem were the flames licking their way up the walls of the building beside them; some of the sparks had ignited the kerosene.

"I've got this building, you get them!" Batman ordered. "Go!"

Jason tore up the street. Some people were already clambering down the rickety fire-escape but there was a gaping hole where the fire-escape should have lead to the two upper floors, and three people were waving desperately for help from one of the windows. Quickly, he fired a line to the roof of the building, using it to propel himself upwards before smashing through a window into the uppermost room and startling the trapped men inside.

Ignoring them, he fired a second line down to fire escape of the building opposite and secured it at his end. He only had two portable iron bars on him. They would have to do.

"Quickly!" he ordered the two largest men. "Use the bar to slide down the rope to the fire escape on the building opposite!"

"I-I can't do that!" the fatter man stammered, as the other one took the proffered bar and prepared to jump.

"It's either that or stay and burn!" Jason snapped.

Gulping and sweating, the man watched as his friend used the iron bar to slide swiftly along the rope towards the building opposite and land awkwardly on the fire escape.

"You're turn," said Jason shortly, handing the man the other bar.

Whimpering, the man took one look at the flames licking their way across the floor towards him and sat on the window ledge. "I can't! I'm…I'm gonna fall!"

Jason wanted to slap him. The man was wasting precious time! "You drop; you break a leg…maybe two. Bones heal. You think recovering from a fiery death is easy?!"

The man had no way of knowing just how much Jason understood that statement to be true. He looked back at the flames which were slowly coming closer then closed his eyes and turned out the window. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" he screamed, allowing himself to drop off the ledge and sliding swiftly towards the building opposite. He screamed like a girl the whole way and hit the wall with a smash. His friend helped him to his feet.

"Well, I'll be damned," said Jason in amusement. "Fat ass did it!"

Quickly, he cut the line to prevent the fire from catching on the rope and travelling to the other building. He turned to the final occupant of the room; a teenage boy no older than fifteen or sixteen.

"Is there anyone else on this floor?" Jason demanded.

The kid shook his head. "Everyone else slept on the lower levels because Jack snored so loudly." He glanced out the window. "How are we gonna get out?"

"Don't worry, Kid. I've got more than one trick up my sleeve." Firing another line to the lamppost on the street below, he grabbed the boy around the waist and perched on the window ledge. "Okay, Kid, hang on!"

He jumped just as the floor started to creak. Hurtling downwards, Jason twisted in the air and spun around the lamppost to slow their momentum in a move similar to the one Batman had executed earlier. His feet hit the ground with a hard thump and he put the boy down.

The teenager stared at him with wide eyes. "You saved my life!" He threw his arms around Jason. "Thank you!"

"Whoa, Kid, it's no big deal."

The boy let him go. "It is a big deal!" he insisted. "You're a hero!"

By now, the other two men he had rescued had climbed down from the fire escape and joined them, adding their thanks to the mix. Jason tried to shrug it off, feeling a little awkward. It had been a long time since anyone had called him a hero and much as he hated to admit it, it felt pretty good.

"Whatever," said Jason gruffly. He spotted Batman exiting the other building. "Look, you guys call the fire brigade and get yourselves to a shelter tonight, okay?"

They nodded, waving after him and still calling their thanks as he jogged over to Batman.

"Is everyone okay?" asked Batman.

"I think so. The building was abandoned, just a couple of squatters inside. The kid back there thinks everyone got out. What about here, everyone make it out okay?"

Batman nodded.

"Where's Joker?"

"Gone."

"Gone?" Jason was surprised. "Not like him not to stick around…Joker likes to watch."

"You think he might still be around here?"

"I'd bet my life on it!" Jason growled.

Almost two hours later, Jason was forced to admit that he would have lost that bet. After searching the surrounding area thoroughly, they found no sign of the Joker. They did uncover several incendiary devices indicating that he had intended to blow up more buildings, but the clown himself had vanished.

Jason was troubled. It wasn't like the Joker to just vanish in the middle of the chaos he had created, especially not when he had more bombs up his sleeve. Joker only retreated if trapped with no more cards to play, and he had been far from trapped two hours ago.

"Ready to go home?" Batman joined him. He had just radioed Commissioner Gordon to warn him of more bombs within the city. "Commissioner Gordon is going to deploy the bomb squad to sweep every major building in the city."

Jason didn't move, his eyes scanning the empty streets around him. He wasn't ready to go just yet, something about this didn't feel right.

"What's wrong?" Batman asked.

"I don't like this. Where did he go? Joker wouldn't just vanish like that, not when he knew he had half the buildings on this block rigged to blow and could play us like fiddles!"

"You think he has something else planned?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Jason frowned. "But then why rig all those other buildings?"

"Maybe it was a plan B in case we cornered him?"

Jason gave a bitter laugh. "Joker doesn't need to be cornered to blow stuff up! No way he didn't plant those explosives and not plan to set them off."

Batman frowned. "So then something he didn't expect must have happened."

"Exactly! That's what's bothering me; what could have happened to distract Joker enough not to blow things up?!"

"I don't know. And I don't like it any more than you do, but we're not going to find any answers tonight. Joker is long gone and we should get back. We need to rest and make a plan if we're going to catch this maniac."

Feeling like a quitter, Jason had to admit that Batman was right.

oOo

Alfred was waiting for them when they got back to the cave. "I take it tonight's exploits were unsuccessful?"

"Unfortunately," said Batman.

Jason didn't answer, he was too disheartened. The idea of that lunatic rampaging through a Gotham that was totally unprepared for him left Jason sick to his soul. Frustrated, he removed his masks.

"I wouldn't worry, Sir," said Alfred gently, coming up beside him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I have no doubt that you will apprehend the Joker soon."

Jason gave him a tired smile. "Thanks, Alfred." Then he realised something. "Where's Dick?"

"I'm afraid the young sir was rather put out after you both left. He watched the news for a while and then retired to bed. I checked on him a little while ago; he's sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Jason repeated and Alfred nodded.

"Yes, he– Master Jason, what's wrong?" Alfred demanded as Jason rushed past him and up the stairs to the house.

Jason had a bad feeling about this. Dick had been pissed when they left. Angry teenagers didn't just go to bed and sleep. Angry teenagers waited up to yell at the people they were mad at…or disobeyed them.

Jason took the stairs two at a time, his heart pounding and the blood rushing in his ears. Please be in bed, please be in bed!

Dick could be as pissed as he liked at him just so long as he was in bed.

He reached the boy's room and threw open the door, ignoring the crash it made as it bounced off the wall. He flicked on the light switch but the figure in the bed never moved. Striding over to the bed, Jason threw back the covers. His heart plummeted when he saw the pillows bunched up to look like a sleeping figure and an anguished moan escaped him.

Jason knew exactly what had caused the Joker to disappear tonight. The one thing in the world that appealed to him more than blowing up buildings; a little bird to torture.