This chapter explains the last chapter in much more detail, it also helps out with those of my lovely readers that may have some questions, hopefully I've answered them here. The 'intro' part is quite long before there's any 'real speech' but trust me it's all relevant. You're reviews have once again made my day; I think the pitchforks are out for James! Maybe he'll get what's coming to him...then again maybe he won't! I hope you enjoy this chapter guys and thank you so much again my lil 'Jokerettes'. Oh and p.s there's been lil clues in this chapter and the couple before about something that will happen in the future...if you read carefully enough you may figure it out my clever readers!

Chapter 11: Watch Me Unfold

It's strange the things we do for love; I mean look at Romeo and Juliet, they loved each other so much they killed themselves out of love. Jack and Rose in Titanic another example of love; she was willing to leave her while life behind for love. I once thought I knew what love was; I thought I had it, James did a pretty good job of making me believe that and I lapped it up; desperate to be loved. What is love? It's one of the most difficult questions out there. Most people would say it's that feeling you get when you see that special someone; butterflies I think it's called. I once heard that love was everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it...It really is worth fighting for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more. To love and be loved is one of the greatest gifts available to us. Some may call it unconditional, because isn't that what it's supposed to be? You never think you could fall out of love, but as they say there's a fine line between love and hate. I may not know what love really is but I can tell you what it's not; it's not making someone feel so worthless they question their existence, making them feel they are nothing without you, that if you ever left them they would find you and make sure you regretted it. Why did I stay with someone who made me feel so low? Honestly at first I loved the way he made me feel like I was the only girl in the world, no one else mattered, everyone around us was blurry, outside while we were inside. Old child-hood fears of abandonment surfaced, if my mother and father could leave me why couldn't he? He played on this, often twisting the love I had for Bruce and Alfred into something more sinister; threatening to call the doctors up at Arkham as I wasn't stable. Words that were meant to cut and hurt, the harsher the words the deeper the cut. And I believed every one of them, swallowed them down like they were gold; tried to dye my hair brown once because he told me he preferred brunettes. I soon wised up to some of his tactics, even once tried to leave him before he found me and pleaded with me, told me he would get counselling; he attended one counselling session before storming out and calling them 'ridiculous'. I couldn't escape that way so instead I worked harder and longer, pretending everything was fine when all it was all I could do not to scream. I didn't understand it at first; he was my best friend, we had a great relationship at first, I'm still trying to understand it now. James makes it easy to pity him; when I first met him he told me how his dad had given his mom six stitches on their honeymoon; in a strange way I was drawn to this man, who like me was desperate for love and attention; we craved each other in all the wrong ways. To me, James had turned his life around into something amazing; he had ignored his father's put downs and strove to make something better for himself. To James, the happy home life that me and Alfred had made was idyllic and dangled in front of his desperate eyes like a carrot in front of a hungry rabbit. His anger soon turned into bitter resentment when his father tore him apart even more on his death bed, to Baron Dawson James was and would always be worthless. I began to feel the heat of James' hate directed at me, I represented all that had been denied to him. The first time he hit me was a backhander with complete force. Mixed in with the apologies was subtle blame: I'm so sorry, I love you, I'm sorry but you did twist my wrist backwards when we were fighting and it hurt like a son of a bitch. But I'm sorry forgive me; they were never questions always demands that I forgave him. Soon I started to feel like I deserved to be hit, I soon grew so empathic with battered women at the hospital that I was always called upon when a domestic violence case was brought to the chief's attention and I got on with it, gave them the shoulder I never had to lean on. I slowly withdrew from everything and everyone and made an odd peace with the bruises and cuts that adorned my body. I remember the time I fell into the glass table so well, after it happened the images came at me like snapshots in my head on a constant repeat.

Flashback

"How do you think it makes me feel when I see other guys looking at you, wanting you? Guys who I work with and you just lap it up" He's screaming at me more than I can ever remember, yet on that night I didn't want to take it anymore.

"I don't like it, how could you say that when I'm with you? I chose you, I love you!" I'm surprised the neighbour's don't hear us, or either they practice 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'.

He grabs me by the arm and pulls me tight to him, eyes wide and face red, "Of course you like it I see how you dress when you go out. I'm not fucking blind!"

"I never said you were, just let go of me!"

He brings me close to him, so close it feels like we're one, "You want me to let you go huh? Oh I'll let you go" he pushes me with all his might before I can realize it.

I don't remember actually hitting the table just waking up afterwards in the car, his shirt wrapped round me and a pain in my back that was worsening by the second. Afterwards when people knew I would be ok, there was much teasing, jokes that I couldn't handle my drink, pats on the back for James for acting so quickly and being so calm. Bruce even thanked him for being there and all I could do was sit there and smile and laugh. Just a week later he proposed and in the heat of the moment, in the moment when I realised someone actually wanted me I said yes, ignoring the voice in the back of my head that was telling me that it was wrong, that I needed to get out and fast.

(End of flashback)

Jack may not be perfect but there is a safety I feel around him that I never have before. The absolute calmness when I'm with him and the knowledge that if I ever had to pick between him and James I would pick Jack, no questions asked. Someday I will understand why everything has happened; everything happens for a reason right?

My crying is muffled by his thick coat, to calm myself down I inhale his scent; soap and aftershave ,which brand I can't quite put my finger on it. He pulls my face away from him and I stare at him through blood shot eyes. (God I normally don't cry this much what's happening to me?)

"You should have told me, I could have taken care of it for you, I could have helped..."

He's more than upset, there's an anger in him which isn't directed at me, but the sadness, it's suffocating.

"I wouldn't have known what to have said. I didn't want you doing anything to get yourself killed either."

"I will kill him for this" he vows darkly and instead of feeling scared I feel elated, Jack is a man who doesn't make idle threats.

"Bruce and Alfred don't know, I could never tell them so don't..." I trail off when he kisses me gently.

"What was that for?" I ask smiling a little, it's moments like this when you can tell love exists, that it hasn't be made up.

"I had to shut you up somehow, this seemed a good excuse as any to kiss you," I laugh at his explanation, kissing him again.

"I er gave Jane some pictures of you, show Bruce and everyone that you're ok. Just like you asked" I'm surprised that he admitted to doing it, even more creeped out by the fact that the only way he could have taken pictures of me was when I was sleeping...tad creepy. And also makes me wonder how I looked; Lord I hope there wasn't drool involved.

"We'll have dinner later properly this time ok? I just have something to do" Before I can ask what he means by having dinner properly he is kissing me once more and then is gone. I'm also a little concerned; if he was leaving he would have said, whats happening in here that is so important? By the mood he's in I'm not about to waltz downstairs and investigate, plus I'm tired I don't really have the energy to be fighting with him or seeing what he's up too. He may let me in on his plans later on anyway; it's not Batman or he would have bragged about that, no something else is happening.

Joker's POV

"I've gotta say I'm disappointed in one of my men..." Speed, Bozo and Dwayne eye up their boss with great apprehension, luckily they're the few men who the Joker seems to trust; not that he would ever admit to that.

"We could follow some of the guys after hour's boss, not all of them stay here. Whoever it is has to slip up and meet the Cop soon" Dwayne offered, even though he was relatively new he was glad he wasn't under suspicion, god he would crack in a second even if it wasn't him.

"Not bad, keep a look out for those who stay near Maddie, take an extra interest in her or whatever. Oh and watch out for those who go anywhere upstairs; don't trust anyone."

"What was it that you found at the Cop's apartment boss?" Speed, isn't the sharpest out of all the guys, but then again it's better to have men that are like that rather than too clever.

"Pictures, notes stuff like that, someone's trying to back me into a corner and it won't work."

"We'll find out whoever did this boss" Bozo adds, the other two men agreeing, they owe so much to the Joker who gave them all food, homes and an actual paid job, good time as any to pay him back.

Sam's POV

He may not be the most well built guy or the cleverest, he can't shoot well and he isn't at all imposing. But the one thing Sam has is his ability to melt into the background, to hear round corners, listen in at key holes. He was always known as the school 'snitch' quick to tell on anyone, his 'few friends' soon got fed up of him. But when you have a talent why hide it? There was a reason why he was hired, by both men, sure he's a junkie whose seen more time inside than even the Joker himself but that's beside the point. He has no reason to panic; sure the Joker found the pictures and files he took, all the notes he made on the Joker and his habits but he's more pissed off at the Cop for some reason; he tried to go upstairs yesterday to find out but all the men were keeping their eyes on each other. It seems he only trusts the three men in that room, Bozo and Speed having been here the longest, yet it is a testimony to the trust the Joker has in Dwayne that has him in that room. He knows he needs to be more careful now, especially with what his just heard. It's comforting to know that at least he has his own place; with more exits and escapes than anyone would think of. There is no proof he's even involved, no need to be worried. He has ensured that he has merely become part of the wallpaper; un-noticed and never bothered by any of the others, no one could ever expect poor slow Sam to be any bother. This is what he's counting on.

Maddie's POV

Dress nice he tells me, how the hell am I suppose to dress nice when all I have to wear is my 'scruff'? (You know scruff, the bottoms and top that have seen better days, that you chill out in, take off your makeup scrape your hair back). Wrapping the towel around me I emerge from the steamed up bathroom to see a box waiting for me on the bed, I edge towards the bed, I don't know why but I've got a feeling he's up to something like I'll open the box and something will jump out at me. Swaddled in green (what other colour?) paper is a black dress; high collared and with designer written all over it. Black ankle boots that I recognise as mine sit in the bottom alongside a card with a smiley face on it. I'm surprised he even got me a black dress I was expecting something in either green or purple, neither one of them being my best colour. Pulling the dress on I note it fits well, I roll my eyes at the tight fitting of it, designers clearly don't expect you to breathe. I sit on the bed and wait for him, I don't have to wait long when the door knob turns and he steps in. My mouth almost hangs open in shock at what he's wearing; black trousers, a white shirt and black waistcoat, he looks normal. If it weren't for the scars he would look like one of those male models, so glad I bothered to style and brush my hair. He offers me his hand to stand up and I take it; amused at his behaviour.

"Come on I cooked dinner" he says as we walk out of the room.

Somehow I don't quite believe him, "You cooked?"

He smirks and chews on the inside of his mouth, "Well I got one of my men to fetch it but it's pretty much the same" he replies defensively. Yeah course, keep telling yourself that, not that I'd be winning awards for my cooking I mean I burn toast.

He surprises me even more when we get downstairs; he or should I say one of his men have cleared the TV room out a bit, put cushions on the floor, even made it smell clean. He's looking at me anxiously waiting for my reaction.

"It's nice, really nice; I can't believe you did this for me." He runs his fingers through his hair looking relieved, as if I would have said no; it would have been like kicking Bambi. I lower myself to the floor an d he sits opposite me; it's not a fancy meal, like we're eating lobster or oysters, instead his brought pizza and chips with different types of dip; proper comfort food. Mid way through the meal I feel his eyes on me, I look up and his staring at me, I feel nervous and a little paranoid; like I've spilt something down me.

"What? What is it? Do I have something on my face or something? You could tell me you know instead of staring at me." And he's laughing. Again.

"You don't have anything on your face doll; can't a guy look at a gal without getting questioned?"

"There's always something behind it with you" he crawls towards me and I try to shuffle away, shaking his head he grabs my feet and gently pulls me towards him.

"I stare at you because I still can't get it into my head that you're still here and because I can't believe anyone would have any reason to hurt you."

"I've got something to tell you..." I'm quickly stopped by his kisses and annoyingly he doesn't move away to let me continue. He lays me down so my head is resting against the pillow. I believe his words; I've no reason to think his lying or manipulating the situation. We're too engrossed in each other to see the shadow in the corner move away.

Sam's POV

Oh this is too good to be true, he actually didn't intend to do anything tonight; but when he heard what they were saying he had to stop and listen. His words alone weren't enough; he had to take picture evidence; the cop had a nasty temper and he sure as hell didn't wanna be on the receiving end of it. During the weeks he hadn't actually got anything decent; the Cop was tiring of him and he knew it wouldn't have been long before the cop kicked him into the street. But these pictures were surely worth something; who would have thought the princess of Gotham, prized doctor would be getting it on with the clown prince of crime?

And I leave you on something of a cliff-hanger...again! I hope you all enjoyed this and thanks for all the comments etc you have all made; I know I've said it before but without you guys I wouldn't have carried on with this story. So has anyone picked up on my clues in this chapter? There's a 'surprise' in it for those who guess! Look out for the next update you guys rock!