Chapter 9 – What is this?
12th of august 3:28am Gotham city
J sat on the bed, staring down at the infant who was fast asleep on top of the covers. Not a care in the world as her chest rose and fell, a calm peaceful look on her small face. She'd been asleep for a while now and he'd put her down on the bed twenty minutes ago.
It was fascinating that he hadn't put her down for so long, she'd been asleep for two hours, maybe less but for most of that time, she'd been in his arms. Comfortable in the position, proving what he'd already known.
She slept with Harley.
He'd been tempted to put her in her crib, break it in but he found it difficult to put her down.
He'd made it into the nursery, he'd even walked right up to the crib, preparing to lay her down but she'd made a little shuddering sound in her sleep and he'd hoisted her right back up against his chest.
"What have you done to me?" he asked the girl in quiet frustration. He didn't want to feel this, he didn't want to feel anything towards her but somehow just being in the same room with her conjured up feelings.
He looked away wishing he could just cut it all off, hating himself for not being able to.
Once he could, once the idea of feelings was laughable but then Harley had come into his life and those things changed.
Harley had done the impossible, she'd made the ghosts of the past fade away. As the doctor, as herself. She'd done that, she'd somehow made the fog of uncertainty go away and even though he had no memory of that past, or who he had once been, it no longer haunted him.
Harley haunted him, this child haunted him but having Eve there, it was that same feeling of a fog being lifted.
Maybe that was the problem, this little girl in only a few hours of being in his presence was, healing his mind.
"Is that such a terrible thing puddin?" Harley whispered, as if she didn't want to wake Eve up. "Is having an anchor so bad?"
Yes, because he didn't know how to cope with it. He'd told Harley once that he wasn't someone who could be loved, he was an ideal, a force of nature. So why did he feel so utterly human right now?
Eve started to stretch, he watched as she held her arms over her head and stretched her whole body out. Shelly had come in and he'd allowed her to change her for him, never letting her go while his second's wife took care of Eve's needs, changing her clothes into the ones he'd left out for her.
The colors suited her better than the pink, a brighter pink might work for her but not those that she'd come in.
He'd told Frost to throw them out.
She looked comfortable.
Her eyes blinked open, a lazy yawn as she looked around.
Her legs were moving with more ease now, Eve tested out her limbs with no rush before catching sight of him.
They sat there, staring at each other. Eve still waking up and him unwilling to pick her up again, to even try to take care of her. He should call Frost, get his wife to come and get her.
As if sensing his distance, Eve started to cry. He witnessed the change, as her features changed from that sleepy contentment into a scowl that became a cry. Her hands turned into fists and she clenched them tightly.
"What?" He asked her and the baby continued to cry. "Don't expect me to help you."
Her crying got louder, that was exactly what she expected and she was going to scream until he complied.
No, he wouldn't. He would not submit to a child, not even his child. He was a criminal, he was a fucking villain, he did not submit to anyone.
Eve had his will though and she cried harder. She opened her eyes and he watched as she teared up, staring right up at him with the expectations of a princess.
He didn't even know what she wanted.
Eve grew louder, that pitch changing to a near blood curdling sound that he could have bottled to break glass.
He let her cry for ten minutes, feeling his resolve being ripped away by Eve.
He tried to look away but he couldn't, understanding why her screams really hurt. Not because they had some power behind them but because that power was something different. You didn't want to hear her cry, she made you not want to let her be unhappy, to be upset. You wanted to see her content and happy.
He growled at her but picked her up anyway.
Eve let her cries die to a whimper and when he cradled her in a position she liked, she stopped completely.
"Your mother taught you that trick didn't she?" he accused the little girl. "She does the same damn thing."
Eve took a deep breath and stuck her tongue out at him. As if to say. 'Duh daddy, course she taught me how to get under your skin.'
"You think you're going to wrap me around your finger?" he asked her, he tilted his head at her.
'Yep.'
"No one's done that."
"Not true puddin, I claim that right." Harley's voice whispered. "And she's already got you chained."
He threw his head back slowly, sighing in agitation before he looked back down at the minature Harley.
It shouldn't be this easy for her, it shouldn't be possible like this to get to him, they'd only met a few hours ago, he couldn't...
He did.
"Puddin, you've loved her since you picked up the picture of me holding her in my arms. You loved me from day one, is it so impossible to love her the same way?"
He wanted to tell her that he hadn't loved her from day one but, he couldn't say that and mean it.
Maybe he had loved Harley from day one, seeing her behind the glass, seeing her smile, her excitement as she discovered that her request to sit with him had been accepted. That she would have her chance to talk to him.
Maybe from then he'd been damned to her, shaken.
How was it these women were able to do that to him? How was it that these two females, mother and daughter managed to pull him apart and then put him back together in a way that pleased them.
It was a brilliant talent that he wished he possessed himself.
He could bring out the worst in people, he could change them but not like this, not like they could.
J adjusted Eve so that he was holding her under her arms, keeping her steady as her legs dangled and kicked, he brought her to eye level.
She was so unafraid of him, even with her eyes still wet from the tears, she didn't fear him and her expression was totally and completely unmasked, he was seeing Eve, not a mask but the real person.
"I haven't even said it to your mother, what makes you think I'll say it to you?"
No answer, only coos and gurgles.
"What do you want from me?" he demanded quietly and all Eve could do was squeal and smile at him, as if all she wanted was what he was doing. Paying attention to her, holding her, talking to her.
She just didn't want him to leave her but he would leave her, he'd left Harley hadn't he? He'd get arrested again, the bat wouldn't just let him slide forever. He'd go off for his own selfish reasons. He was a villain, he was an agent of chaos.
"I'm a bad guy." he warned her. "I kill people, I do unspeakable things, I've used kids your age as hostages, I've tortured people and held whole cities to the brink of madness. I won't stop for you, I won't change that for you."
Eve let out a breath and he could imagine an older version of her doing that in exasperation. As if to say. I know daddy.
"I'll end up making you as bad if not worse as I am." He warned her and Eve just smiled again. "Is that what you want?"
He wanted answers she couldn't give him, she had no clue what he was talking about. She only enjoyed the sound of his voice, understanding with some internal instinct that he was daddy, because Harley had been drilling the idea into her undeveloped mind that she loved him from before she was born.
"Why?"
"Why what puddin?"
Why everything? Why was she alive, why did she exist? Why did he love her?
"Stop questioning it, just enjoy it." Harley sighed and Eve sealed the deal with a outburst of laughter when he made a move like he was going to drop her back onto the bed.
It made him stop. He lifted her back up and repeated the movement and got another giggle, it was so pure, elation with no worries, no cares or fears. She was fearless right now, she only felt the chaos and fun and it felt infectious. When he did it a third time she squealed as she laughed, her whole face breaking out into a smile that chained him.
He could almost see the tiny invisible chains that she was latching onto him as she laughed.
"When you learn to talk, you're telling me the secret of your power." He told her, pulling her close to his chest, finally just relenting and submitting to her.
How the hell was he supposed to do this?
He couldn't be The Joker and be soft, he couldn't.
"But you don't have to be soft puddin, you think she loves you because of someone you can't be? You think I love you for that? Please give your girls some credit, we love you for what you are. Chaotic, malicious, damaged and all."
He looked down at Eve who'd cuddled up to his chest and was idly playing with one of his diamonds.
"You want to go downstairs?" he asked her, thinking of something.
He couldn't be a normal father, he couldn't do that. He'd never be the father who worked a 9 to 5 and helped with homework, that wasn't who he was but he was still her father and he could be that.
He still didn't care about anything, the idea of running rampage on the city disgusted him without Harley but Eve somehow brought back some of his life force, he felt it flow through him, the desire to wreck havoc, to be seen, to be heard and for this city to fear him again.
Eve was the princess of Gotham and the princess was home.
She'd been born in some prison, god knew where. She'd been born somewhere unworthy of her status in life. Maybe he should show her what her life was meant to be, what it would be now that he held her.
He got up, taking her with him, he grabbed his jacket and walked out of the room. Easily switching arms to slide the sleeves on.
If she gets hungry I'll send Frost to get the damn bottle. He thought to himself as they rode the elevator downstairs.
The club was booming, this hour was their busiest.
The guards turned when the doors opened and they stared silently as they saw their boss fully dressed with his infant daughter in his arms, staring at them curiously.
"Problem?" He asked as he walked up to them.
"No sir." One muttered, looking down at the child.
"Jonny down here?" He asked impatiently.
"Yes sir, he's dealing with some people who came in." the man continued to stare at Eve.
"What Tony?"
"Nothing sir, just, well you know..."
They were acting like they'd never seen a baby before.
Well, they wouldn't have seen a baby in here before.
The others all had that same look about them, that awe struck look.
When J looked down, Eve seemed quite pleased with the male attention.
She was completely at ease with them, not bothered that they were all much larger than she was.
He finally moved past them, looking very seriously at her.
"Don't even think about it." He told her.
To say that people were surprised was unnecessary, it's what they were surprised about that was far more fascinating.
For one, none of them had seen J in months, so catching a glimpse of him walking through the club to head to the VIP section was in itself a thing to gawk at but to see him holding a new born looking baby in his arms. …..
It felt unreal, as if it couldn't really be a living baby, that maybe it was a doll that he was carrying around as a joke to fuck with everyone. Somehow show that he was still out of his mind and completely over Harley's absence but anyone who was close enough as he passed them could see that the baby was real, that she was very much alive.
For the few who believed that the child was not a doll, their surprise came in another form. Why the hell did the Joker have a baby who seemed completely at ease and comfortable in his arms?
Jonny was waiting for him at the edge of the VIP area, looking as neutral as normal but J noticed the slight curiosity that he was trying to hide.
"Boss." He said smoothly, glancing down at Eve who cooed up at him before returning to her exploration of this new place. "Princess."
The music was loud, the bass was heavy but she seemed to be enjoying it. She reached a small hand out to touch one of the golden strands handing nearby, separating the sections from each other.
"The great white whale's here." Jonny told him quietly.
"Well, lets go be proper hosts." J smiled down at Eve who was still completely enthralled by the golden beads. He peeled her hands off it and followed Jonny to his private lounge area.
The large man was ignoring his presence, a dangerous thing to do in his house. The Metropolis man didn't normal come in here when he'd run things completely, he waited until he was out of commission, arrested or how he'd been for the past few months, completely uninterested in making any money.
He knew what he was doing here, he was trying to pry Frost from him, he wanted Frost to set the deals, thinking the second in command was more pliable, easier to control.
"We'll just have to teach him a lesson now, won't we princess?" He whispered to Eve.
Frost went to sit back down, pretending that J wasn't standing behind the over sized man, as silent as always and Eve sensing her father's mood change, became incredibly quiet, sucking on the side of her hand.
"It's good you didn't keep me waiting, I can assure you that I've got better places to be than here."
"Joker isn't interested." Frost said calmly, keeping his eyes away from his boss.
"I didn't come for your boss's interest, I came for yours."
"I'm not interested if my boss isn't interested." he countered glaringly.
"Well that's a mistake my friend, I hear your boss has finally gone the whole way into the deep end, dangerous place to be when you don't know how to swim."
"Oh, well not all of us have your buoyancy Tobias." J purred as he walked around the large couch. "Maybe you could lend me some water wings."
For his credit Whale didn't flinch at the sound of his voice, he was a leader and leaders didn't have the luxury of showing weakness.
Surprise though, well he hadn't been paying attention like some of the others had. It was his own fault if he was surprised that J was holding a little baby in his arms.
"Wasn't expecting you around, heard you decided to become a hermit." he taunted, glancing from the infant to the Joker. "Hadn't heard you found the kid."
J sat down on the opposing couch, moving Eve so that she could watch the conversation.
"Well Tobias, I wasn't aware you belonged to my inner contact list." He smiled at him, showing off his silvered teeth.
Eve stared around, her head moving around, even craning back to look up at the ceiling. She was in the company of the criminals of Gotham, dangerous men and women who killed, who stole and did unspeakable things to innocent people, to each other and yet she was in the safest place in the world.
No one would dare hurt her, not her, not the Joker's princess.
"So, shall we discuss business?" Whale asked, ignoring the child completely.
"Didn't Frost already tell you? We're not interested." He said, rolling his neck lazily. His senses on high alert, the familiar feeling in the air that spoke to him. Ithe scent of violence that flowed off everyone.
The promise of death.
J didn't look over at Jonny, he knew he didn't have to. He'd have sensed it too, he always did and when J made his move he'd do what needed to be done.
Now the question was, how would Eve react to all of this?
He knew this was a telling moment of the future, of how much he'd have to expose her to, how much he'd have to teach her to even survive her childhood, let alone her adulthood but tonight was an introduction of sorts. Something easy, something that wasn't going to cause too much of a fuss with anyone.
"You ain't as strong as you thought clown, your power has weakened over the past year." Tobias taunted, taking a large drink of cognac.
J watched as the large man pulled out an expensive Black dragon cigar, one of his lieutenants coming forward with a lighter. J watched as the cigar lit up, the strong smell wafting around them. He risked a glance down, Eve's blue eyes were already watering.
"You may want to put that out... friend." J warned in a honey pleasant voice.
Tobias puffed out a large smoke ring, smiling as it went directly for Eve, hitting her with a powerful force that sent the two month old into a fit of coughing.
She squirmed in J's arms, a cry coming forth the second she stopped coughing, a short little cry, as if she couldn't decide whether she wanted to breath in more smoke or let go of the scream. She let out a few more hesitant cries before letting go of a longer one. Her nostrils flared angrily, hard coughs coming in between, only making her angrier. Her face turning red as she sneezed and coughed.
Everyone stopped, watching the baby, even Whale stopped. It was as if a spot light had suddenly turned on Eve and the whole world was watching what she'd do.
J let her cry, he watched her carefully. Learning the consistency of her lungs, of what this meant.
This was a very angry baby.
As if finally able to comprehend what she felt, Eve let out a very loud and painful cry. Loud enough to be echoed through the club, over the music, her fists clenched with a death grip and she started to kick and squirm as she threw an almost violent tantrum that could have rivaled one of J's.
The dancers stopped, all of them, staring up to the VIP section. Some of them even moved, obviously being mothers of children of their own and instinct taking over. His boys stood motionless, unsure of what to do, what was protocol for this, the bastard had just blown smoke at the kid and she was screaming her lungs out in protest.
They knew what that sort of thing would mean if it was J but for Eve.
J finally turned her around and rocked her soothingly, after he'd made sure she got a good few screams in.
"That, wasn't a very smart move Tobias." he said once he had Eve under control.
"Kids cry, it's what they do." He brushed it off, now that her crying was over and obviously the Joker didn't seem to care very much about it, he felt relaxed now.
"Oh yes, children cry but see, that was... an offense." He looked down aat Eve who was calming herself down, still coughing a little, her new outfit covered in smoke.
He glanced at Frost who had risen from his chair, he nodded subtly and left the room, obviously going to get Shelly with a change of clothes for the baby.
"An offense, you aren't in the position anymore to be claiming yourself king Joker." the man puffed another ring of smoke but he wasn't stupid enough to try the same trick twice. "You should count yourself lucky that I've come here at all, you're not considered the most reliable of collaborators anymore."
"Now see, ya keep throwing your weight around like that then you're gonna fall out a window." J said rising from his spot. "Ya see, you're right. I've been dealing with some personal matters as you can plainly see and well most self respecting criminals in this city would know better than to step over into places they aren't welcome but then again, you're from Metropolis, I can't expect you to understand anything about respecting the king of Gotham."
He watched the man's jaw tense, the tendons in his neck flexed as he tried to keep his composure.
"You are nothing, you're no king and you're not even that good a criminal. You were nothing when you started, just a freak show who caught a break, I owe you no respect. You think I'll pretend I see you as anything but a coward and pathetic excuse for a criminal in front of your brat? She'll be just as much a nothing as you are."
J felt the colors in the room change, he felt the madness in his subconscious bubble to the surface but he kept on smiling.
It was the same kind of anger he got when someone eyed Harley for too long, the same sort of rage he felt when he was disrespected and now he felt it because this fucker, had dared disrespect his daughter.
"What do you say princess? Does this man owe your daddy respect?"
He held Eve away from him, keeping his grip on her firm so she wouldn't fall. She was still snorting and trying her best to growl, still unable to make the sound properly so it came out as a grunt.
Tears had streaked her face, her cheeks which had been so pale before were red with anger.
"I think he does." J nodded at her. "And do you think he owes you an apology for his offense against the crown princess of Gotham city?"
Eve flailed angrily, her legs kicking furiously as she squealed a protest.
"Well, Tobias I'm afraid you've been tried and judged." J said, Jonny had returned, moving quickly around the couches to grab Eve from J as he handed her off. Jonny held her so that she could still watch J work.
"You think you can play that game? So what, she's just another freak in training. By the time I'm done with you, she'll be lucky to get into a foster home as an orphan_"
Before he'd finished talking, J had pulled his gun out. He pointed it at the man who rose to his full height.
"What, you stupid enough to shoot me? Try it and my boys will leave a blood splatter of your bastard kid all over the club."
That was definitely the wrong thing to say.
Guns were upholstered everywhere, every single one of J's boys pointing their weapons at the intruders, the message clear.
J's message to his men was easily understood by each and every one of them. When he'd spoken to her, they'd all been listening.
Eve was declared publicly the crown princess of Gotham, the same way Harley and J were self proclaimed king and queen. Their lives were on the line if anything happened to her, they were to if necessary lay down their lives for her, without question and seeing the disrespectful way this bastard had treated her, she'd been a good kid, hadn't cried. Just sat there content to be in there and he'd made her cry.
Only Frost held no gun, both hands on the baby who was staring around curiously now.
Probably thinking oh, shiny. J thought to himself with amusement. "You were saying?"
He dropped his tone, so it was a gravel tone mixed with his unmistakable purr.
Whale tried to look confident, like it didn't bother him that the room was now full of weapons aimed at him but J saw the fear creep up in his eyes.
He walked around, closer to Eve as he spoke aloud.
"You see princess, it's daddy's job to educate you on the finer points of life. Since one day, all of this... will belong to you, I feel it's my... parental obligation to make sure you are aware of how the world really works."
Eve gave a little sigh as she focused on J, something she was obviously finding difficult now that she was surrounded by so much excitement.
"You can know a man his whole life princess, you can see him every single day of his life and you'll never know him until he faces death. In those last precious seconds of life, you see who a person really is and so with that in mind, here's daddy's first lesson for you."
He turned with an almost whiplash motion and pulled the trigger of his pistol.
The shot went off with a loud bang, he expected to hear Eve cry but she didn't. He didn't turn around to see if Jonny was covering her ears, he took another shot, the first one hitting Whale in the shoulder, the next on in his kneecap. A third to his shin.
They watched as the man collapsed to the ground, J could have shot him in the gut, the torso but Tobias was a big guy, it'd take a good few rounds to take him down and well, he didn't put it past him to take a cheap shot. He was known for playing dirty but literally taking the legs from under him, well how could you play dirty when you were laid out flat?
"Next lesson for the night princess, be prepared for everything." He shot the man's hand when he caught a glimpse of his gun, enjoying the yell of pain he gave.
"Third thing and this one... is very important." J moved again, a little further back so that he could stare at Eve directly without taking his eyes off his targets.
Tobias's guards all subdued without anyone noticing.
"Make sure when you find yourself in a situation where things are just looking awfully dull, to have a little fun." He shot Tobias's other shoulder and laughed as the man lay there.
He scanned the room, the red in his eyes turning into a lighter rose tint, his anger somewhat appeased.
Whale's guards were all on their knees, guns and knives to their throats and heads. Tobias himself lying there bleeding out all over his very expensive carpet and Eve, in Jonny's arms with her hands pressed against the man's jacket, staring at it all with a look of complete and utter awe.
"Eve." He said in a hissed breath.
Her little head turned to look at him, reacting to his voice and her name.
"You like that?" He gave her a crooked smile, she didn't look distressed at all. "Your mamma training ya huh?"
J holstered his gun, holding out his arms so that Jonny would return the baby. He did and Eve went more than willingly.
She cooed and buried her head in his shoulder. "I think you did enjoy that."
J sat back down and looked down at the man who was writhing in pain.
"Oh, now that's just sad Tobias. My two month old daughter is making less of a fuss than you are."
No one moved.
"Clean up this mess." J ordered, waving them off. Bored with the whole thing. "Jonny, where's your wife?"
Frost made sure the boys moved Whale's bleeding body, they'd probably chuck him somewhere, sure J should have killed him but well, he wanted to make an example of him. He'd bleed out all the same and well, his boys were going to have quite a bit of fun with his men.
Shelly came in after they'd gotten everyone moved. Tobias took six men to grab him, he fought, admirably J thought with mocking respect.
Shelly took Eve from J as he removed his jacket, still smelling the smoke from Whale's cigar, watching as the woman placed his daughter on the bar, changing her with soothing whispers and wiping her down with a wet wipe.
"She only jumped." Frost said once they'd removed the carpet. "She didn't even cry."
"You seem surprised Jonny boy, you act like that's a bad thing."
"Is that, normal?"
"Not in the least." J grinned at him. The hyena grin that scared the living day lights out of everyone but his daughter seemed to love. "Not at all."
"I brought her a bottle, do you wnat me to feed her?" Shelly asked once she'd finished.
She'd put Eve in a different outfit, jeans and a long sleeve shirt with a J on the front, lilac colored.
"Jonny, knock your girl up so she stops trying to take mine." He teased before taking Eve back from Shelly.
He didn't want to share her, He let them hold her when they had to, he didn't want them to hold her, he didn't want her to get used to anyone elses arms but his and Harley's.
He grabbed the warm bottle and offered it to Eve who took it greedily but made a face when she took a drink.
"It's not mommy's milk but it's what you get." he told her in warning. Ignoring the rest of the room.
Eve whined a little but then continued to drink.
"Atta girl."
Across the bay, in a temporary rent apartment, Terry was pacing the room. Rubbing her temples as she waited for Sarah to finish relaying what had happened to their superiors.
"No, I understand sir..."
"I had no choice,"
"Yes sir. No she was fine when I left."
"I know exactly who has her."
"Yes, I gave her the first series of injections hours before this..."
Terry had known this was going to happen but she hadn't expected it so quickly.
Someone at the hotel must have recognized her, how, she wasn't sure herself. Eve looked like any other baby but somehow they'd known about her.
She'd have to get a hold of some of her friends in Gotham and find out the details of how the Joker had pulled that one off. Though it might be risky doing that if he had her now.
"Yes sir, tomorrow morning, yes, no I'll take full responsibility for this."
She hung up the phone and Terry sat on the coffee table. "How bad?"
"Bad." Sarah sighed and rubbed her eyes. "How the hell did they know?"
"It's the joker, I told you this was stupid." She still had no intentions of telling anyone that she'd known. It was her ass if she confessed now.
"I'm being removed tomorrow, they'll probably ask you to get her back."
"Well, that's why I'm here." Terry said with fake enthusiasm. "Cause lets add kidnapping to my list."
"He kidnapped her, we're just getting her back."
"You honestly believe that sarah?" Terry arched an eyebrow at her. "He's her father."
"He's a monster."
"So are we."
"If you care so much then don't get her back, that'll be just great, then they'll probably kill both of us for failing."
"I never said I wasn't gonna get her back I just think they're playing with fire, really, fucking crazy fire."
"How did they know?"
"They'd been looking for Harley since she went missing, you seriously think he wasn't going to stumble on something this big, Harley Quinn pregnant?"
"But how did they know we were going to be in Gotham city?" sarah asked more urgently.
"If I knew that I wouldn't be having this conversation with you. I'd know everything."
"Someone had to have leaked."
"Probably." Terry shrugged. Of course someone leaked, someone had to have opened their mouths the question was, who.
"For all we know sarah, it could have been Logan himself, he can't shut up about this project. How Waller's supporting him, how he's already seen so much progress with the other subjects he's tested on, bullshit like that."
They stopped talking and Terry paced back and forward in the living room.
"I told you not to get a hotel." Terry berated the blonde. "I told you to be careful."
"I was careful, how the hell was I supposed to think that the fucking Joker was going to come for his kid?"
"You prepare for everything stupid." Terry leaned in with a snarl.
"Can you get her back?"
"Of course I can but this is going to be tricky. He's probably expecting us to try, he'll have security everywhere and to be fair, I don't even know where he lives."
"You know they're going to want her back by the morning."
"Well they ain't gonna get her back in the morning. I am goin to need a few -"
Her phone started to ring.
"Speak of the devil." sarah muttered, agitated with the whole thing. She was sore, she'd had to climb down several ledges and balconies, trying not to be seen by anyone.
"Yes sir." Terry was still pacing. "No, it'll take me days to find her but yes I can retrieve the detail. No I have no idea how they knew. I can ask around but I think that would endanger my objective sir..."
She paused her pacing, listening to whatever the other person was saying.
"Because I think he'll be expecting an attempt sir and if I start asking about a baby and the Joker, I'm pretty sure someone's going to get back to him."
Terry rolled her eyes and made puppet hand motions with her free hand.
"A week?" she winced silently. "Yes sir, I understand. No more than a week. Goodnight sir."
She closed her phone and threw it on the couch.
"Can you find her in a week?"
"Find her? Yeah, that's easy. Getting her back..." Terry flopped down on the floor and stared up at the ceiling.
"Not on my own, I'm going to have to enlist some help, that'll take me the week to find."
"Use our people."
"Nope, last thing I need is for one of them to get caught and spill their guts. No, I think I know what to do."
Terry rose and walked towards the entrance of the apartment. "You alright here on your own?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just going to contemplate everything and start working on my Russian."
"You think they'll send you there?"
"I failed, I fucked up. Where else would they send me?"
"Oh, I don't know. Antarctica?"
Terry slung on her jacket and pulled out a mask from one of its pockets, adjusting it onto her face before grabbing her car keys.
"If you're gone before I get back, it's not your fault. Not really, even though your gonna get it either way."
She didn't wait for a response. She had a lot of work to do.
A/N I had a lot of fun with this chapter, I got to show J be big bad and still be daddy and I hope that came off as realistic. The new extended clips I've managed to watch on youtube have helped a bit though not fully. Though since my beta is still on vacation I am gonna do something. I have two chapters for MaP I'm gonna post one today and see how the reviews go.
As for this story, yeah it's gonna get intense so just be prepared for that. I'm gonna keep on the chapter a day once I reach double digits for the rest of this week. Up to sunday I think, since I think that's how many chapters it's gonna take to get this arc finished and we move onto the next one. I know you guys already know the outcome of this arc but I want you guys to see how it all unwinds and the emotional status of both J and Harley through it and lets see who can figure out what they're planning. Something to consider, these people all work for Waller directly. That's something to consider in this story. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this universe, I hope you continue to enjoy it though. Since, ya know. I gotta be an awful person at some point.
Anyway, please review, they are life giving and help the writing vibe. Love you guys and oh, please watch your step. The next ride is a little rocky.
