*Authors note*

*I was kidding! Please put down your pitchforks and torches! I wouldn't be cruel enough to only give you guys an 88-word chapter, that would be beyond cruel. I just have a sadistic sense of humour. Here is the full chapter. Love you guys (please don't murder me.) *

"Miss me Ror?" I was so shocked I didn't even know what to say. I just stood there with my mouth, I'm sure very attractively, hanging open. "Come on Ror, usually I can't shut you up." Jack laughed, although he was quiet, much more than normal.
"Jack? How are you talking to me? How did you get Dr Jenkinson's phone? Are you still in Arkham? Is she still alive? Did you kill her?" The questions just kept tumbling out of my mouth.
"There she is. That's my girl." Jack chuckled more as I stood dumbfounded.
"Dr Jenkinson gave me her phone, willingly." I silently thanked god, I didn't like the Dr, but I didn't want Jack to murder her. Especially not for a single phone call with me.

"I told her how mummy didn't hug me enough and daddy hit me with a belt. She ate it up. Seemed really excited over child abuse. She's crazy." I could just see Jack shaking his head talking about the Dr, I had to agree she was not too different from her patients. But him calling someone crazy, was more than a little ironic.
"So, she just gave you her phone to call me?" I asked, not entirely believing him.
"I told her I wanted to ring my ma. Tell her I forgive her." He aww-ed and scoffed.
"Your mum died 9 years ago. You might need a Ouija board. She'll see you called me, Jack. That'll just raise more questions." I was worried when Dr Jenkinson got her phone she would see he called me for however long this phone conversation lasted. And email me incessantly. 'What did you talk about, did you know about his troubled youth, did he think you were his mother? Are you his mother?!'

"I'm not giving her the phone back. I'll say in a fit of rage I smashed it into dust. What is she going to do? Cavity search me?" He joked but I raised an eyebrow.
"She might." I cringed just at the thought.
"Don't worry, I can handle the Dr. She is desperate to try and figure out how I turned into the legend I am now. She'll give me whatever I want."
Legend? I thought, it was more like a nightmare.
I settled back into bed.

"If you say so." I said, unconvinced. "Still. You shouldn't be talking to me."
"I wanted to hear your voice." He finally said after a silence.
"Jack…" It felt good to say his name, to not call him Joker. Just Jack. My Jack.
"I want to see you." He added. And I struggled to find a good reason against it. Apart from obviously my neighbour. Gordon. And everything else.
"Jack, I can't." I tried but he wasn't taking no for an answer.
"I need to see you Rory. Not behind a table, not with an audience. Unless that kind of thing turns you on." I didn't expect the joke and a giggle escaped before I could help it. "I mean, I could get behind the bondage." He quipped again, making me laugh more.
I couldn't help it, I did miss this Jack.

He laughed along with me, our laughter lasted a few more seconds until it died down. I took a deep breath, about to tell Jack it still wasn't a good idea. But he spoke up before I could.
"I'll set it up, doc will give me anything to understand the trauma of my past." If only she really knew. He chuckled darkly. "Just come." There was a pause. "Understand?" He asked, and I tried to say no, but my voice spoke without my brain agreeing.
"I'll be there." It said, and I bit my lip. Well, fuck.
"Good. I missed your voice Rory. And don't worry, I'll be out soon." I was about to reply when the phone clicked off and my home screen stared back at me. I collapsed back into my pillows, groaning at my phone. Why did I even have this? All it brings me is trouble! I took a pillow and screaming into it.

My head instantly turned to my neighbour. Should I tell Gordon? I was becoming great at lying to him. Which made my heart squeeze painfully. But I couldn't tell him, he would freak out. How long did we speak, what did he say he was going to do, am I in danger, should I be shipped off to Switzerland? I sighed, I definitely could not tell Gordon. Not a hope in hell.

Should I tell the Batman? Surely, he would show up again. Probably on my balcony again, like a creepy peeping tom. Or Gordon could put me in touch with him. But this might just add more fuel to the fire of Batman's witch hunt against me. Well, it wasn't exactly a witch hunt if I was a witch to begin with.

But it would be dumb to only give him ammunition to use against me. I sighed, torn between doing what was right which was telling Gordon or Batman. And doing what was wrong, which was not telling anyone. I turned over in bed and grabbed my laptop, I could at least investigate how Jack got out. If he hurtled babies out of windows and used puppies and kittens as cannon balls, then maybe I'll tell someone. If not, then maybe I won't?

I googled 'Joker escape methods from Arkham'. And the results just came flooding in.
'Joker uses household chemicals to create famous Joker gas, escapes with makeshift gas mask and death count of 85.'
'Joker brainwashes recent psychology graduate Harleen Quinzel and escapes.'
'Mayor slams Arkham Asylum for lax security as Joker escapes once again through ventilation system.'
'City under siege! Joker bombs his way out of famous Arkham Asylum. Releasing hundreds of other inmates.'
'Joker once again terrorising Gotham after escaping just days after incarceration.'
'Famous Joker gang orchestrates a jail break for Gotham's #1 wanted fugitive.'
'Public outrage as Joker walks out of Arkhams asylums front door!'

Who the hell was Harleen Quinzel?! I quickly googled her name and a blonde blue eyed young woman stared back at me. Blonde? I ran a hand through my own thick brown hair, has Jack changed his type? I tried to not let my hazel eyes turn anymore green and clicked off the image search.

Shutting my laptop down entirely. I released a sigh. What the hell? He walked out of the front door?

I thought this would reassure me that the Joker was under tight lock and key. But he had broken out dozens of times, and those are only the reported times. He could have broken out hundreds of times? I would put it past him, Jack was many things and stupid wasn't one of them. He was resourceful and intelligent. I doubted there was anywhere that would be able to trap him for long.

I rolled over and buried my face in the covers, trying not to think about the Joker, or Jack. I couldn't think of one without the other. Surely, they would be ready for the Joker now though, made sure everything was extra secure?

But then a thought blind sighted me. Did I even want him out?
It took me a few moments to even think of an answer.
And I realised. I didn't.

It was easier to imagine being with him when we were together, up on a roof, no one else in the picture. But Gordon isn't dead, his family is there for me. I have a job that I enjoy, a home that didn't have rats or suspicious mould, plans for a cat. A sort of friend in Bruce Wayne even.

But what would I have with Jack? A life on the run, looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life? No one to turn to but Jack, no friends or family, turning to crime for money, for protection. No place to call home, moving every time someone got suspicious. Not the life I wanted. Not the dream life I had imagined for Jack and me. More like a nightmare.

I know I promised him on the roof.
"If I did leave Rory. Left all this behind. Would you leave with me?"
"Of course, I would Jack. Just you and me, right? Against the world."
"You're right."

But things have changed. I've even changed. I finally have a chance for a semi normal life, with people who love me. Not the girl I used to be, but for the woman I was now. I was in love with the memory of Jack and he was in love with the memory of me. The way we used to be.

Now that Jack knew I was alive, I don't think he'll ever be able to let me go.

Maybe Gordon was right. Maybe I did make a mistake going to Arkham, seeing Jack.

Maybe I really was in danger.

I just hope Jack won't be the death of me.

Again.