BTAS (Batman Animated Series)

Alice Pleasance is happily married... well sort of. Though the criminals in Arkham have other things on mind.

Sorry for any grammar mistakes, typos, anything else. Yeah GERD is such a B-word!

Chapter 8: Headline

Commissioner Gordon paced around the roof top of Gotham's Police Department. He tugged on his long trench coat as a cold breeze blew. Snowflakes began to slowly fall as if nature was taking its time specifically placing each flake in a special spot. He stopped contemplating about buttoning up when he heard a familiar swish of material. The commissioner turned, Batman stood there cloaked in his usual attire, standing quietly as he always did.

"So you showed up, thought you weren't going to make it," Commissioner Gordon started. He paused as he waited for Batman to reply, though Batman just continued to stare quietly. Commissioner Gordon shook his head. "Well let's get down to business. I just got the autopsy report for the double homicide from the nightclub. There was a foreign substance along with some moderate traces of alcohol." The commissioner pulled out a vanilla folder and opened it. "It seemed to be some kind of hallucinogen. The crime lab couldn't quite figure it out what, but they had a heavy dose of if," he said as he closed the file.

"I see, it can't be the Mad Hatter," Batman said simply.

"What do you mean? We have probable cause," Commissioner Gordon asked confusedly.

"Check Arkham Asylum I have a feeling it wasn't the Hatter who escaped," he replied. With that Batman disappeared with a harsh blow of the wind and flurry of snow.

An older gentleman woke up before the break of dawn. He walked from the second story of his home to the first floor. He was groggy, though the smell of coffee was enticing and he was than ready to take the first sip. He stepped into the kitchen, where his wife Gertude was already drinking her coffee, eating her eggs and toast.

"Good Morning darling. I'm assuming you had a typical night sleep?" she asked uninterested. He made his way toward the table ignoring her.

"I told you to wait until I get my coffee before you start sniping," he sat in his usual chair adjusting his robes in a more comfortable position.

"Yes dear," Gertude said in a long sigh. The man opened his newspaper as he stiffened. He picked up his coffee and took a sip, within a second he tried his best not to spit it out.

"What's this? Damn Gotham Post!" he yelled as he sat up and tossed the paper onto the table. He got up and rushed upstairs.

"Did you see the headline of today's newspaper?" a security guard asked a nurse at Arkham.

"No haven't had time, what is it?" she asked curiously.

"Here take a look," the man said and handed her the newspaper. It read: Hatter Takes Two Down at Nightclubs Grand Opening

"Oh Oh," the nurse let out.

"Oh oh is right!" The warden retorted as he entered. The nurse looked worried. "Why haven't I heard of this? I thought Tetch was still in Arkham?!" he asked bitterly.

"The last time I checked he was sir," she said nervously.

"Well you better check again," he scolded the nurse. The nursed nodded and left the room. "Where is the heard nurse?" The warden asked the security guard. The man flipped through his pages.

"She hasn't came yet," the man replied.

"Great just great, who's the psychiatrist in charge of Mr. Tetch?" the Warden asked the guard again.

"Uhmm, I'm not sure," the man looked a bit alarmed. "You're useless," the warden let out as he left the room.

Alice typed slowly every once in a while she would stop and become teary eyed. Her fellow employees became worried as they examined her as if she was a specimen on display. Soon whispers were heard amongst them.

"Man she doesn't look too good. I think she needs more time off," one of them leaned in and whispered to another.

"Yeah I know but the Vice President needs her to finish her report by the end of the week I heard," the woman replied.

"Really, then why won't he give it to one of us?" the woman asked. The other woman just shrugged.

Alice got up and made her way to the water cooler. She needed to keep hydrated as she kept crying out her fluids. Like a zombie she slowly made her way to the cooler room. Though the sound of her name made her stop suddenly, she slid against the wall listening.

"Did you hear about Alice's husband?" one girl spoke.

"Yeah, poor thing must be taking it really hard," another replied.

"Really I don't see why, he was such a dog!" another woman butted in. The other two gasped.

"What do you mean?" the first girl she heard asked.

"Well, before they got married, Billy would totally flirt with me while he waited for Alice to return to her desk," she started.

"So," the other woman said. "All men flirt," she replied unimpressed.

"Yeah, well he was found dead at a nightclub along with another woman, I heard it was his secretary," she continued. The other two women remained silent for a while.

"Oh my," one let out.

"Yes, I mean come on, he was such a prick. I can't believe she's even still crying over him. How naïve could one woman possibly be," she said. Alice could feel her chest tighten as she started to choke up tears. She turned hastily and knocked over a plotted plant. She ignored it as she continued to run away from the scene sobbing. Alice hid in a bathroom stall trying to calm herself down. She didn't want to believe what the women at the water cooler said. It couldn't be; Billy treated her so nicely, he cared about her. Why else would he ask her to marry him? It took her half an hour to collect herself and return to her desk.

Alice returned home, she had barely finished her report on time and got a few more extra weeks off. It seemed her fellow employees couldn't stand her moping and demanded her boss to let her have more time to grieve. Days passed and Alice hardly left bed, hardly took a shower, hardly ate. The only reason she got up was to use the restroom and check the door. Every once in a while Alice would receive flowers of condolences from co-workers and friends. Alice felt helpless and empty, she couldn't stop imagining her and Billy together. Couldn't push away the images of Billy and the future, then images of Billy talking to her co-workers while she was gone would quickly follow after. Alice shook her head, she didn't want to live a life without her beloved. A few more days passed and friends started to visit her. It gave Alice enough initiative to at least get up in the morning and get dressed. Alice decided to visit Billy's grave, as she received more flowers from an unknown source and decided that Billy should have them instead.

The days were windy and filled with rain. Though Alice stood there drenched as she placed the bouquet that started to tatter with the rain and wind.

"Oh Billy, I miss you so much," she started. "If only you could hear the awful things my co-workers say! They're so jealous!" she stammered. "I can't take going back to work, I can't take waking up without you there, I need you, why! Billy, why?" she mourned as she lunged to his tombstone and hugged it.

Alice returned to her apartment and there was a large orange envelope. It simply stated: "For you"

Alice took the envelope inside and closed the door. She made herself some hot cocoa before deciding to open it. She reached inside and felt the gloss on her fingertips. She pulled the items out. "Pictures," she said to herself lightly. Though when she looked at the picture her face redden and she dropped them immediately. She felt her legs grow weak as her heart tore once again. Pictures of Billy and his secretary Denise kissing each other, holding each other. She let out a loud cry.

"Why! It can't be true, why Billy? Why!" she raved out loud. She curled up in a ball on her kitchen floor crying, her wounds opened once again.