Alright, a quick note before you read, I just want to let you all know that Melanie is not a Sue. It may seem close at times, but you never hear stories about the people that aren't important right? So whatever you think about this chapter, (especially toward the end) Don't sigh and give up. Please. :) Review if you want any changes or if you have an idea that you want to incorporate! I can try and work things in!

Thanks for my loyal reviewers, and for all of the alert/favorites! They make me super happy!

Oh, and thanks to Neverland Child for the FANTASTIC link to an awesome video! :) It inspired an idea for a possible oneshot... :)

As I lay, I try to think. I probably can't just walk out of the place. The way that Gordon and Bruce were talking made it obvious that I am bait. They also made it clear the the Joker is outside somewhere.

He's trying to figure out a way in, while I am plotting to get out. The thought is almost humorous. I can only hope that we don't meet in the middle...

This is Bruce Wayne's penthouse. I don't think a man as important as him would live in a place unguarded. Although I'm not a prisoner, I don't know how I am supposed to get past him and out.

Even if I do manage to escape, where am I supposed to go? I still can't go home. But I could try to stop there, and get my savings to go somewhere else. Maybe a cheap hotel or something for a few nights. And I could try and find some relative to call. It's a poor plan, but at least it's something. But to even get there, I need to get out first.

I pick myself up and decide to look around again, but to focus on exits and ways to create a distraction. I leave my room and start in the grand room again. I ignore al of the fancy things around me, and try to focus. I don't see any doors with locks, so I doubt I can get out from here.

I turn around and am surprised to notice something I had neglected to notice earlier. Two metal sliding doors were against one wall.

An elevator.

Maybe this could be easier than I thought. But before I go running down an elevator, I want to take another quick minute and try to find another option.

I head outside on a huge balcony, and look for a fire escape. It's not really convenient, but it will do if the elevator doesn't work out. I walk to both edges and look but I don't see one. What kind of building doesn't have a fire escape? Isn't it against the law or something?

I guess if you're a multi-billionaire you can afford to break the laws.

I glance down to the street and realize how high this floor is. My view shimmers, as the ground seems to move side to side causing me to feel slightly motion sick. I am about to back up when something catches my eye. Two people are standing directly outside the building. The only reason they draw my attention is that they are the only things stationary below me. Everything around them moves quickly and yet the two of them just stare at this building.

I'm too high to see any detail about them, but I'm left curious as I back away from the railing.

I walk back inside, and am happy to see that I am still alone. I remember the elevator, and walk briskly over to it. I press the down arrow on the side, and smile as I hear the elevator making it's way up to the penthouse. I only need thirty seconds and I can get out. Thirty seconds without Alfred or Bruce coming in and stopping me.

After a moment, the doors slide open, and I hop inside quickly. I look at all of the buttons and see "Lobby" at the bottom. I push it, and wait for the doors to close, feeling ecstatic that I'm making progress.

Seconds tick by, and nothing happens. I hit the lobby button twice more, and bounce a little as I wait. I find the button that closes the doors and click it too. I would hate to be caught this early. The doors remain open however, and I sigh in frustration. Why would the elevator come if it wasn't going to take me down? Then I see it. A small numeric metal keypad above the floor buttons. A little red light flashes, and it all clicks together to make sense. I need a password to work the elevator.

Great. That means I can't get out the easy way. I need a new plan.

I walk out of the elevator, and am angry when the doors close behind me.

"Hey!" I say, as I hit the metal with frustration. "Why didn't you close when I wanted you too?"

Am I talking to inanimate objects because I'm crazy, or is that something normal people do? I turn around, and walk away fuming. I need to find another way out. I can't give up only after one try.

I walk down a hallway, and decide to try more doors. I'm disappointed though, after the first door, because it's familiar, and I see that this is the same hall that I already went through. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a Penthouse, not an actual house, so it is bound to be smallish.

I walk back into the fundraiser room, and stand there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to try. I am only alone for a minute however, when I hear footsteps coming down the hall. I turn around and see Bruce coming with his hands in his pockets. He looks deep in thought, and a little troubled.

"I'm sorry that I'm here." I say, looking at the ground. "I don't want to be a burden."

He looks up and his eyes widen a little. "A burden?" He asks. "Miss Ryder, you are in no way a burden here. I volunteered my home, and it is definitely big enough for two people."

"Ahem." Alfred's voice startles me a little. I turn to see him standing on the side of the room patiently

"Sorry Alfred." Bruce says, "Three people."

I smile a little, and look back down.

"But if I hadn't written that article about Batman, I wouldn't be here, and everything would be fine."

"I don't know about fine. The Joker always seems to create chaos around Gotham. He would have done something with or without this trigger. Who knows? Maybe he would have blown up a school if you hadn't shown up."

He looks down for a moment as if he has said something bad, and then I remember the night when Joker kidnapped me.

"See this? I push a button, and a school full of itsy bitsy children blows up. You don't want that do you?"

I tilt my head a little and say "How do you-"

BOOM!

The echoing crash comes from below us. It rattles the floor, and I wobble a little as I try to regain my footing.

Bruce and Alfred meet eyes for a moment, and that second is all it takes for them to get into action.

Bruce grabs my arm, and hurries me over to Alfred.

"You know what to do." He says quickly, as Alfred takes my arm with surprising force and leads me down the hall.

"What's happening?" I ask.

"Well, it appears that the Joker is after you again Madam. We are going to protect you."

"We? What about Bruce? Where is he going?"

I struggle to turn around because he isn't following us, and I don't know where he's gone.

"Bruce has specific instructions from the Police. They require him elsewhere."

"Oh." I trail off.

Another explosion rattles the building, followed closely by a third. When the shaking stops, Alfred pulls me a little more quickly, and we get to a metal door. He presses his finger against a small panel beside it, and I hear a small click. He pushes the door open and leads me inside, closing the door firmly behind us.

"Are we safe in here?" I ask, nervous.

"Of course. Do not underestimate the power of Wayne Enterprises. We are completely safe."

"We sit in silence for a few minutes, and I examine my surroundings.

We are in a small room with metallic walls. Light comes from recesses in the ceiling where it meets the walls. There is a small cupboard on the opposite wall that I imagine stores food, and a small box attached to the wall with a red cross on the outside; marking it as a first aid kit.

There are no windows, making me feel slightly claustrophobic, but I repress the feeling. There's no need for a panic attack in here.

After a few minutes, I sit down against the wall, and am about to ask Alfred something when his watch beeps.

"I'm sorry Miss Ryder, but I am needed elsewhere. Please stay here, and I will be back in a few minutes." He says with a frown.

"Um, okay?" I say.

He presses his finger on the wall again, and leaves the room. But before the door can close all of the way, I stick my foot in between it and the frame.

It's my only chance. I have to get away from here, and protect Bruce and Alfred. He's after me, and I don't want anyone else hurt because of it.

I pull the door open, and check to see if Alfred is gone. When the coast is clear, I hurry out and hear the door click behind me. It's too late to change my mind. I head down the hallway, and stop at the end. I close my eyes and listen.

The sounds of screaming and gunfire come from my left, and I follow it, hoping it will lead me out. After a minute, I smile when I see that I am right. The front door is slightly open, and I slip out quickly. I run down the hall way and to the main elevators. I hit the down button, but nothing happens.

I want to hit myself when I realize they must have turned them off with this emergency. I see a sign pointing to the stairs, and I'm not happy, but it's my only option. I run down the hall, and push open the door. I run down the stairs, and try to concentrate on not falling.

I only make it about ten floors when I run out of breath. I allow myself thirty seconds to catch my rest. After the thirty seconds, I continue downward, just at a slower pace. The further I descend, the more I have to compete with other people coming down.

I make it to the fifth floor, and I have to stop. I feel dizzy, and my adrenaline is waning. I push the door open onto the floor, and am happy to see it empty. I slouch onto the floor, and try to get the world to stop spinning. I put my head in between my knees, but it doesn't really help, and I feel like I'm going to throw up.

I hear footsteps, and look up. My vision is clouded with dark spots, and I can't see who it is. I look at the floor in front of me, and try to focus. Purple shoes come into view, and I'm confused. Who would wear purple shoes?

"Lane! I'm so glad I could find you."

Oh no. I really am going to puke. Only out of fear this time instead of exhaustion. I look up, and my stomach drops as I look into his deep, joyful eyes. His paint is fresh, and he's grinning from ear to ear.

"What's wrong?" He asks, "You don't look very, uh, happy, to see me!"

I swallow nervously, and he grabs my arms. He pulls me up and looks me in the eye.

"Now Lane, I came here for a reason." He said.

"What?" I whisper.

"You've... changed. Me." He whispers close to my face.

"I don't understand." I stammer. How the heck could I have changed anything about him?

"When I made the mistake of having you rob that poor woman. When you left, I realized what was missing from my life."

Please don't say it's me. That would be absurd.

He continues after a second, "Goodness."

"Huh?" It's the only noise capable of coming out.

"The ability of being a, good, citizen. Like you." His gloved hands squeeze my shoulders, making me more nervous. "I've never felt like this before! I need you to uh, teach me."

"Teach you? To be good?" I manage to whisper.

"Yes." He says dramatically. He looks down at the ground and says, "Ever since I was a teenage boy, I've been a criminal. Don't you think it was time I changed?"

I don't say anything, but am unsure of how to get out of this situation. He looks back at me, and his eyes seem to plead.

"Look," He says. "I understand if you don't. want. to. But think of all the good I could do if I was given the chance!"

"I... Don't know." I say.

Then he says the one thing, I would never guess from the Joker. "Please."

The word crumbles my defenses. I know it probably is only because of stress, but it doesn't involve knifes, or guns, and it can keep Bruce from getting hurt.

"Okay." I say softly. "I'll go with you."

We make it down to the main floor, and its utter chaos. Smoke is everywhere, and people are moaning on the floors. We walk down a side hall, and out an emergency exit, but the alarm is already blaring so it doesn't make a difference.

There is a black SUV waiting and we get in the car quickly. The driver starts it, and we leave quickly.

As I see Gotham passing by, I can only think about Bruce and Alfred. I hope they aren't too worried. I hope they are okay as well.

One question remains though. Where did Bruce go?

I have no idea and I let one tear fall for everything that has happened in the past hour.

It's all my fault.

Okay, what did you think? Is the Joker lying? Is he telling the truth? Why? :) Thanks for reading, and tell me what you think! :)