Disclaimer: I do not own The Dark Knight

Chapter 3: Untitled

Here I stand on Rachel's doorstep; the bitter winter wind stinging my face. I know I was going to walk home, but something told me to just go to Rachel's and things would be okay.

I find it to be amazing that I have been in a thousand fights about Rachel, but I have never been in a fight with Rachel. I thought about the debacle I just had with Bruce and I couldn't really figure out wether it was about Rachel or not.

That thought really caught my attention. What was our arguement actually about? Why had it turned so sour so quickly? Why did I behave the way I did? I was appaled by my earlier behavior and I knew that I had to apoligize to Bruce the next time I saw him.

Feeling ashamed and stupid I opened the door to Rachel's apartment and closed it quietly behind me. The warmth was an enormous comfort considering I was out in the twenty degree weather for over an hour.

I suddenly felt overburdened and tired so I removed my shoes and collapsed onto Rachel's white suede couch. I covered my face with my hands and exhaled deeply. The days events really wore on me, but I couldn't figure out why. Maybe that's why I came here, because Rachel always had a way of seeing things that I couldn't.

Speaking of Rachel, where the hell is she. I stood up and walked into the kitchen, then down the hallway to the left. I noticed that the bathroom door was closed and the light was on.

Instead of sitting down on the couch again I decided to walk around while I waited. Rachel's apartment was always... incredible. In comparison my place looked like a hole in the wall. The space in this place was definitely adequate, and it always looked so neat and tidy. The decor was so simple and elegant.

I used to tell Rachel that she should become an interior designer so that she could renovate my place for free, but she would always come back by saying that she would always put business before personal relationships.

I laughed at the memory and started to look at the picture frames that lined her mantle. There was one in a silver frame of her and her boyfriend, Harvey Dent, at the commissioner's ball last fall. They looked like the perfect couple, Harvey with his broad smile holding up a glass of champagne with his arm around Rachel while she leaned into his shoulder looking blissful. Being honest with myself it brought up a pang of jealousy to see their happiness. To be clear I'm not jealous of her being with Harvey, I'm just a little jealous that she found so much happiness with someone else but I just can't seem to find it.

I shook the thoughts from my head and moved on to the next picture. This one was of her and myself when I had graduated from college. She had both her arms around me in an embrace while I held up my degree. We both looked so happy and I couldn't help the grin that crept up on my face.

There were a few pictures of her with people I didn't recognize that I skimmed over briefly, and there was also one with her and her parents that I definitely passed by.

The last picture that caught my attention was small, and hidden behind a few larger frames. I picked it up gently to inspect it. It was a picture of her with Bruce. They looked to be ten or eleven, and they were playing with a frisbee. Upon closer inspection of the picture I saw myself in the background... six years old and playing in the dirt. The nostalgia was overwhelming, and I couldn't help but wish I could go back and be a carefree child again.

I heard the bathroom door open so I placed the picture back in its original position among the others.

"Hey, Rach?" I called out to her knowing that she was probably busy getting ready for the event.

Upon receiving no reply I started toward the hallway and noticed that the bathroom door was open and her bedroom light was on. Rachel was busying herself, going back and forth between the two rooms, trying to get ready.

I laughed softly and leaned against the wall, content to watch the chaos ensue. Despite how much of rush she was in she looked incredible. Her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, slightly curling over her shoulders. The dress she was wearing was absolutely gorgeous. It was a simple black evening dress that had a strap going across her chest and over one shoulder. Simple and elegant, as usual.

After another minute of observation I decided to make my presence known to her.

I cleared my throat loudly, "Rachel."

As she was passing between her bathroom and bedroom her head whipped toward me and she jumped a little bit. Realization dawned on her face and she let out a breathy laugh.

"You scared the hell out of me." She walked up and hugged me quickly before returning to the bathroom to put on the final touches of her makeup.

I chuckled and stood in the frame of the bathroom door, "Hello to you too."

She rolled her eyes as she lightly applied her dark mascara, "What do you expect when you're skulking around my hallway in the dark?"

I feigned shock, "Skulking?! You think I was skulking? Perish the thought dear sister."

"Okay, okay. So what's up? Not that I don't enjoy your company, but why are you here? Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

I turned and walked toward her bedroom, "That was way too many questions in a row."

She hurried into the bedroom while I lazily sprawled across her bed and sighed.

"Aren't you going to the charity event tonight?"

"No." At my quipped answer she turned to me with a look on her face that was asking for answers.

Not knowing exactly what to say I decided to just tell her everything that had happened earlier with Bruce. By the time I finished explaining the situation I was sitting up with my legs crossed and Rachel was standing by her closet just listening to me. That's what I love about her, when I talk to her she never judges - she just listens.

I began to wring my hands together anxiously. She was being so quiet and the look of contemplation on her face wasn't any help either. I'm not even sure why I was so nervous for her response.

She brushed a stray hair from her brow and tilted her head to the side slightly, "I'm confused, Jen. Why did this little tiff start in the first place?"

"I have no idea! I mean we were joking around at first then you came up and things got tense..."

Realization dawned on her face, "Are you sure it was about me?"

Okay, now I was the one confused, "What else could it have been about?"

"Well, maybe..." She trailed off for a moment and contemplated her choice of words, "Do you think it was less about me and more about you... and the possibility that you might be harboring secret feelings for Bruce?"

"Hell no!" I shouted indignantly... possibly a little too indignantly.

"Really?" She put her hands on her hips and eyed me suspiciously, "Are you sure?"

My cheeks burned a little so I turned away quickly with a scowl painted on my face, "Yes, positive."

Rachel sighed lightly and began to put her shoes on, "Okay then, whatever you say." She proceeded to grab her clutch from her nightstand and stood in front of me once more. I turned my head back to her as she began to speak, "Are you sure you aren't going to go?"

I thought for several moments and decided that it would be better if I did not attend, "In light of the days events, I think it might be in everyone's best interest if I do not go. You know bad juju."

Her eyes fell downward in dissappointment, but she swiftly regained her composure and squared her shoulders, "I think it would be best that you go and apoligize. You do feel bad right?"

My eyes widened, "Of course! I was stupid and childish, and...dramatic."

"There you go. So go and get ready. I expect you to be there in the next two hours."

"Okay, mother." She let out a loud laugh at my defeated tone and tapped me on the shoulder with her clutch.

"It'll be okay, I promise!" She smiled widely then looked at her watch, "Is that the time? Shit, I have to go! Harvey is probably already there!"

I laughed and removed myself from my position on her bed and followed her lead out of her apartment. We were standing outside in the bitter cold as she fiddled with her keys, looking for the right one. She let out a quiet "Aha!" as she found the right one.

Once she locked the door she turned to me, "About what I said earlier about you having feelings for Bruce... I think you should really think about it and try to figure out what's really going on."

"I'll try. Thank you Rachel."

We embraced tightly then she pulled away and began walking north to catch a cab. I began walking south toward my home not even hoping for a cab to pass me. The walk was long, and obviously I had a lot to think about.

"Don't forget I want you there in two hours!"

I smiled widely, turned around, and waved at Rachel in acknowledgement of her order. My thoughts would have to wait until later, because now I had to run home - lest I make Rachel angry.

A/N: Ok... so this was just supposed to be a filler chapter and I think it fits that description perfectly. I've been thinking about the original story and I have no idea what to do with it... I guess if you guys want me to continue I could try, but I would definitely have to rewrite some things and maybe make it a joker fic.
Please review :)