I was processed quickly, and put in a cell next to the one full of people. I think it was more of a courtesy than a happening. But I ended up being moved not long later to an interview room. A cot had been set up, a thin blanket on the thing and most of the lights out. I knew they were trying to make it harder to find me, but I felt so tired and wanted to sleep badly.

I awoke to a dark room, sober and blinking at a figure in black. I let out a startled scream, rolling off of the cot and slapping the floor hard. I peaked over the cot at the figure, breath slowing a bit as I learned to as a child. Quiet breaths meant you could hide better. He looked right at me, a few lights coming on by the door on the far side of the room.

"You're safe," he growls in a voice that was clearly not his natural one.

"Batman?" I whisper, using one arm and hand to brush the tangled mass of hair over my shoulders. I could see his masked face a bit now, lights slowly flooding the room. Those eyes followed my injuries, taking in my bruised face, my bandaged hands, and the one hidden by my dress. I flinch a little as I raise to my feet, bending a bit wrong on my stitches. It was clear this kind of injury was far from new to me. I absently hugged myself as I shelled up, hurt and saddened eyes watching him warily.

"How do you know the Joker?"

I look away, hiding behind my hair. I felt utterly small as his eyes needled me, taking in my injuries, how small I looked, pathetic. Just like I felt years ago.

"I work at Arkham," I whisper. "I'm the six to two shift nurse for the ward he was held in."

I turn away from him, memories trying to surface. My anger at his treatment within that ward surfaced as I turned my head a bit to look back at the Batman, cutting him off. "They treated him like an animal. He was in a straight jacket at all times. They made him eat like a dog!" I cover my mouth fast, shock at my out burst clear as day. "I'm sorry," I say quickly. "I should not have raised my voice. It's just so…inhumane. I fed him for a few days, he would try to mock the guard that sat in, listen in to Olens and me."

"Listen in?"

"Just normal stuff, weather, news, updates in our lives. Such as things my friends try to get me to do, my pile up of work at Wayne Ent. Olens' new home, his bonus coming in finally, and normal stuff. I would try to engage him on things, such as stating things posted on the news, putting in a few of my thoughts on it. He liked to listen."

"What did you last speak about with him?"

"I-Olens was not in on that meal. He had to make a run to calm a patient a few doors down. So I undid one strap on the patients jacket, giving him one arm to eat with, and stood by the door, in view of the cameras. I mentioned my friends making me go to a party. He said something about getting dolled up, and that most girls like to look pretty. I went on to tell him of the dress I found in the closet at my home, was my mothers. He didn't push on the subject of my family, but let me complain about having to go to a crowded party full of people I don't know. Olens showed up as the Joker asked about the place and what 'yuppy' was throwing the 'bash'. I casually mentioned who was having it and Olens strapped him up again."

"You saw it with your own eyes?"

"Of course, code says I must check them if I do not do it myself. Poor Olens." I sadly look away, thinking of the man I had befriended at Arkham. "He had a daughter in college."

"Aliza-"

I tense, snapping out quickly. "I'm not Eliza! It's just Beth or Elizabeth." I pause, shaky hands clutching tighter to myself. "Where did you hear that name?" I whisper, fear in my voice.

"Gordon has informed me he calls you Eliza."

"Because he has a friend named Beth," I snip. "It is to insure he does not get confused. Do not call me Eliza." I plead the last word, "Please?"

"What are you hiding, Gates? How were you hurt?"
"I fell," I reply automatically. "Look, I don't want to be babysat. I have work I must attend to."

My eyes were set on his now, I wasn't being shy with my work, I hardly ever was. He shifts forwards, holding something out to me. I glance down at it, a photo of my mother and father, mother held me close to her, my lip busted and arm in a cast, years old. I shelled up.

"Do you know these people?"

"GORDON!" I cry as I avoid the sight of the photo.

The door flew open, Gordon had clearly been on his way before I called for him. I held myself tighter than before, back to the corner, trying to hide.

"I told you to listen!" the man screamed at the young girl. She cowered in the corner, trying to look smaller, less of a target. "You were to pack her things while she was gone!"

"I DON'T WANT MOMMY TO GO!" she screamed back. The woman in question entered the room, furious as the girl tried to stand up to her father. The child's arm was broken, in a cast.

The man swung, hitting the girl's mouth. Her lip busted from the contact of the fist, falling to the ground hard. The woman snatched the child up, eyes furiously on the man.

"What a happy moment," a man mocks, snapping a Polaroid. "Get the bitch and leave the child," he cruelly orders to the other men who were behind him in the living room.

I tried to resist the sound of the angry voice. But it was hard.

"I told you not to show her the picture or ask her," Gordon growls as he stands close to me. He turns to look at my pain filled brown eyes. "Elizabeth?"

"I'm fine," I whisper, eyes pointedly avoiding them. I felt like all I had worked for was gone, utterly broken, pathetic. "Can I go home?"

"We can't let you return to your home, Miss Gates. The Joker undoubtedly knows where you live. It is unsafe," the Batman growls out.

I whip around to glare at him. "It was unsafe for me to feed him, unsafe for me to work at Arkham, unsafe to move to Gotham. It was doubly unsafe to rush back into that party to help the people. Do you think I care what is safe? I want to go home." I never thought I had that kind of back bone. I blush, angry, and embarrassed. I pushed through it though. Gordon sent a surprised look my way.

"Elizabeth, please understand," Gordon says softly, resting a hand on my shoulder. "We don't want you hurt, we want to protect you."

"Then you should have done it years ago when I actually needed it," I snap furiously, eyes flashing dangerously him.

"Are you saying your father hurt you and your mother, Eliza?"

I frown, pulling away. "I'm saying nothing on the matter, Jim. He did nothing out of the ordinary for Gotham." I look away, staring at the mirrors, fury at my past. "I will not condemn a dead man to sins he has already confronted in his passing.," I whisper.

"Eliza, you just said-"

"I don't care!" I snarl, hands tangling in my hair, eyes shutting tight. "I see you as a father, Jim, but please, just let me forget my past. I worked so hard." I was begging, eyes watering. "I can't take the memories and all I have is normalcy. Please, just let me pretend to have it."

"I can not allow you to return home, Aliza."

"She can go under witness protection," Batman suggests, making me remember that he was there.

I looked up at him, eyes showing my broken soul for once. "I-"

"She wont leave town," Gordon says with a knowing look at his shoes, hands on his hips.

"Then send her some where within town, with lots of eyes to watch her."

"I don't have many friends," I suggest, "If I van-"

"We are not risking you," Gordon snips sternly.

"One for the price of many, James!" I cry indignantly, hands motioning with my words and strong emotion. "I have nothing to live for, what right do I have to risk the lives of others? I am nobody!" I was ranting, moving in my anger, hands flying with my words. "I will not let some man dressed as a clown hurt others when I am at fault! I nursed him, he obviously holds something for me! Just let it be as it should…"

I had tears in my eyes as I let the end run off, my pain showing with my voice. I was avoiding looking at the two, arms hugging myself, back to them, face toward the back mirrored window. I pressed to the window as I felt the person nearing me.

"Don't," I plead, hair hiding my face. They paused, not touching me. Yet. "Jus-Just let me…" I took a calming breath. "I cannot miss my work. I will not."

"Aliza-"

"Don't call me that."

"You'll have to take refuge with somebody."

"What of her boss?" the Batman offers.

"I will not stay with anyone I do not know."

"You do not know your boss?" Gordon asks.

"I know the ones of Arkham, they are no doubt out of the question. But I do not know my other boss. I come in, do my work and leave. I do not know Bruce beyond the party tonight. He is a stranger. I will not intrude."

"I'll call around."

"I want out of this dress."