A/N: Thanks to everyone for the reviews

A/N: Thanks to everyone in mentioned in past chapters as well as deadsmurf, Warriors girl 1, Via, Lorendiac, Devryn, FantomeAngeDarcy and Chloe Magea. I know this is a little late in the story, but I've decided to switch to first person POV. I think it'll help my writing and there won't be as many repetitive words or grammar problems. Plus, for all of you who like to imagine yourself in Jessica's shoes, I think this will make the story better and, not to mention, easier to read. Now, when it's in another person's POV (aka Bruce's) I'm going to keep it third person omniscient. Also, thoughts will now be italicized. Another thing, constructive criticism is great and I really welcome it. However, downplaying my intelligence is not something I will tolerate. That's all I'm going to say about that. Now read on wonderful readers!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Batman characters. I do own Jessica Wayne, any original characters and the plot.

Joker Town

The Joker jumped back in the car and sped off down the street. Everyone was being completely silent; even Bob had the decency to turn the radio off.

"W-what are we going to do now?" Nick said from the back. His voice was so small and tentative it was hard to tell whether he meant for anyone else to hear his question or not.

Bob decided to speak up next. "Boss, we have to leave the warehouse. Sh-"

"I KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO!" the Joker roared. Everyone, even the bad-ass Angela, jumped. They all knew they were going to be in for it. Even though there was nothing most of them could have done when Jessica decided to jump out, the Joker would find some way to punish them all.

The van was filled with an eerie silence the rest of the way back. When they were finally stopped in front of the warehouse, the Joker got out and slammed his door. Bob had to lean down and check to make sure he hadn't broken the already loose hinge.

All the remaining henchmen looked at one another before following suit. Nick decided to lag behind the rest of the group; he had already been hit once and he didn't want to be forced to endure more injury.

The group of henchmen slowly made their way into the warehouse and waited for their boss to appear.

Meanwhile, the Joker was sitting on his bed; the same bed he had shared with Jessica just this morning. He was having some trouble comprehending how he got himself in this predicament.

Stupid Nick. He's too young, too stupid, for his own good. How could he just sit there and watch her run out of the fucking van!?

He got up and punched the wall, causing the paint to chip even more and a small hole to appear. He stormed out of the room and back into the front of the warehouse where all his "trusty servants" were standing.

Nick swallowed hard. The Joker immediately saw his weakest link.

"Tell me Nicholas, what was it exactly you and Jessica were talking about before you allowed her to ESCAPE!?" he questioned, breaking at the last word.

"I-I was just asking her if she was ok-"

"And you found this more important than following my instructions? Tell me Nicholas," he licked his lips, "what were my instructions again?"

Nick continued to look down at his hands. This just irritated his boss even more and the Joker took out his gun. He pointed at Nick's temple.

"ANSWER ME!"

"You told me to make sure she…she didn't get out," he replied. He felt a bead of sweat fall down the side of his face.

"And what did I tell you to do if, by chance, she was to get out?" the Joker asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"To shoot her," he replied nervously. I couldn't shoot her. She was finally free.

"Now what exactly is so fucking complicated about that? Does your brain not comprehend simple requests?" the Joker asked before letting out one of his inhuman laughs.

He slapped Nick lightly in the face as a football coach would do to one of his players.
"You're lucky I'm actually in a pretty good mood right now," he said, a smile now playing on his face. "See, you're going to play a major…part in my next little scheme-ah" he said and turned to face the others. Nick let out a relieved sigh when the gun was finally pointed away from him.

"You mean…we're going to get her back?" Angela asked. What the hell is it with this girl?

"But of course," he said and licked his lips in excitement. "It's all part of the plan."

Jessica's POV

I'm currently sitting in Gordon's office at the Gotham Police Department. I just had to endure four hours of interviewing by, not only Gordon, but Harvey Dent, Rachel Hawes, Bruce and the mayor. They all wanted to know exactly where the Joker's hideout was, what type of things he had done to her, if he'd mentioned anything about future plans; all the regular stuff. It was all so repetitive I'd managed to memorize my previous answers word for word by the third conversation.

I sighed deeply and walked over to the window that overlooked the city. Looking at it now you wouldn't think someone like the Joker even existed. Each light in every skyscraper seemed to be turned on, creating the magical sensation of it being noon in the middle of the night. There was no screaming or explosions. No cackling laughter filling every inch of the room. No knifes or blood. It was a great feeling; freedom.

I heard a sudden rush of voices enter the room and looked over to see Harvey Dent standing in the doorway. He gave me a small smile. I smiled back and turned around fully to face him. He really wasn't such a bad guy.

"I was just discussing the idea of a press conference with Bruce," he shut the door, "and he said it's all up to you," he said and walked over to stand in front of me. He had his hands in his pockets and was wearing a smile, though there was the constant air of seriousness around him; he was definitely a politician.

"A press conference?" I asked nervously. I was never one for public speaking and you couldn't get more public than a press conference.

"Just to show the community that you are indeed safe," he said and picked up a newspaper that was on Gordon's desk. "You've been the talk of the town," he said as he referred to the front cover. There was a huge picture of me on the cover with an article beside it.

I sighed and looked back up at him. "What do you think I should do?"

"Well," he thought about it for a second, "I think it would be a good idea. It will show the Joker that he can't affect our city as much as he thinks he can. It will show the citizens that we can overcome this chaos that has recently gripped this city." He let out a sigh.

I could now see the lines of stress on his face. He was such a handsome man that any signs of imperfection seemed…wrong; out of place.

I nodded. "We should do it then," I said more confidently than I felt. The truth was I had a fear inside me that the Joker was going to show up and steal me away again. But next time, I wouldn't be so lucky as to escape after three days. If it would have been the Joker in the backseat with me today instead of Nick I know I wouldn't have escaped. I probably would have got the worst beating of my life, actually.

He smiled with a look of relief. "I hoped you would say that."

"Well why didn't you start persuading me to do it when you first walked in?" I asked with a laugh.

"Didn't want to seem pushy," he said with a shrug. "I'll go let the others know your decision." He made his way back over to the door.

As his hand touched the handle I asked, "Will I have to speak at the conference?" I know I sounded like a shy child on show and tell day, but I always despised show and tell anyway.

"Not if you don't want to. I'll do all the talking if you'd like. You can just stand by and look pretty," he said with a warm smile, showing off his sparkling teeth.

I smiled back; the first real smile in days. I sat down in the chair I'd occupied before and picked up the newspaper with my face on the cover. Beside me was a mugshot of the Joker. Seeing his dark eyes staring up at me caused a shiver to go down my spine; he still had the same affect on me when he wasn't even in the same room.

The same boom of voices came back in and I looked over to see a disgruntled looking Bruce. I gave him a smile. "It's my decision," I told him, already knowing what he thought.

"I know. But are you sure you want to do it? They could ask some tough questions," he said sitting down in the chair beside me.

"I'm sure," I said, remembering me and Harvey's conversation. "Harvey said he could do all the talking. And I don't mind having to answer a few questions. I've had to answer a billion already." I took a deep breath. "I think it'll help me get over it, too," I said truthfully. I knew I was one of the lucky people who escaped a mere three days after being captured, but it still affected me. Spending too much time with a psychopath is bad for your health.

Bruce nodded in understanding. "I'll be right there beside you, then," he said with a smile.

Press Conference

Harvey Dent was currently speaking to a room of journalists and photographers who were clicking away at their cameras. I was standing beside him, wearing a pair of khaki's and a pink dress shirt. I could feel my cheeks were slightly flushed; being in crowded rooms always does that to me.

"The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming," Harvey said confidently. I couldn't help but look at him in admiration. He somehow managed to stay strong through any ordeal.

"Now, I'm going to allow Jessica to answer a few questions," he announced. He gave me a quick wink before I took over his position at the podium. I looked at the crowd with a blank expression. The journalists all waved their pens in the air, repeatedly yelling "Jessica! Jessica!"

Harvey pointed at a stern looking woman in the center of the group. The rest of the people in the room grew quiet and alert.

"Jessica, what sort of crimes did you witness while in the hands of the Joker?"

"I watched the bombing of the old apartment complex take place-"

"How many men were there in that building?" a man in the front row asked.

"There were six men in the room the Joker entered and there were six of us," I replied easily. These were the types of questions I'd been asked before.

"Did the Joker ever mention why he's committing these crimes?" another man farther back in the crowd questioned in an agitated voice.

"No…it was like…he didn't need a reason to do something. He just…did it," I said, sounding a little distant. I felt a hand on my back and looked over to see Bruce guiding me down the stairs.

"That will be all," Harvey said in the microphone before following us to the other room as well. The lights were blinding and I was glad when we were finally away from them.

I took a deep breath before asking Harvey, "How do you do that all the time?"

He shrugged. "You just get used to it. You did a great job. Amazing for a first timer," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," I said as we walked out of the building. There were two cops now walking us to our separate cars.

"I'll see you tonight at your fundraiser," Bruce said to Harvey.

"You really don't have-"

Bruce held up his hand to stop him mid-sentence. "I told you before, I want to do it."

I shook my head slightly after we parted ways with the District Attorney. "You're not going to embarrass him, are you?"

"Of course not," he said with a smirk. I laughed slightly and looked over at the busy street. My heart caught in my throat as I saw a familiar white van pass by blaring "Pain" by Three Days Grace.