Chapter 11

Breathless minutes had passed, each one seeming to die a little quicker. They would come and then go just as quick as they had emerged and she felt she could do nothing, nothing at all to relinquish her drooling thoughts of shame and heartache. Here she was right between the two people she loved and adored like no other and they were being taken away from her. Not even a mere day had she finally received the marvelous gift of the reemergence of her father, the gratifying and greatest present of knowing that her family was finally going to be together again, happy and smiling just like those many years ago…and yet she could do nothing but question her predicament. She felt her sore tears sting at the corner of her angry eyes and she violently cowered into her father's shoulder.

"You're leaving me again."

"No…no I'm not leaving you again DD, I'll never leave I'll always be here."

Danielle hugged her father and Officer Strider coursed his eyes to the small family opposite him, "I don't advise you make much more contact with him Miss, he's dangerous."

"You think I'd hurt my daughter officer?"

"You had a gun pressed against her skull, I'm pretty sure it's obvious you were going to hurt her if I hadn't shown up. You probably think she's nothing, that she's just a-"

"Shut your mouth!" Joker lunged forward as far as he could toward the officer and yelled harshly in vibrant fury, "I think nothing less of her than a god!"

But the officer only shrugged, not frightened by Joker's jumping, "Nothing less than the god of trash?"

"I'll rip you apart, limb by limb!" he yanked at his restraints that were attached to the wall of the truck, just begging for them to snap so he could keep his word and attack the ill fated guard.

"Come on clown, you know you can't break those."

"The hell I can't!"

One guard chuckled, "Look at him go! Ya got him all riled up rook…"

Danielle pushed to her mother at her father's agitation and quietly comforted herself in Harley's motherly warmth, watching her father's rage boil endlessly.

The rookie, Officer Strider, adjusted his helmet and black face mask after nodding conceitedly to his fellow officer's comment, but a plague of guilt overtook him as he again glanced over to Danielle and noticed her depressed demeanor. "Are you alright? You aren't hurt are you?"

"Don't talk to her! Don't even look at her!"

"Easy Joker," the chuckling guard spoke and aimed his gun at the furious clown's face.

"Mistah J! Sit down!"

"Don't worry, just tranquilizer darts in this gun. Real guns right here," he pointed to his pistol holster nonchalantly, "so just sit back and shut up."

"You talk to one of my girls in a way that I believe to be rude again and your head will be mounted on my wall!"

"Yea yea…just everyone pipe down."

Joker made one last thrust forward in his exploding rage and could just barely feel one link in his restraint give slightly. With that extra give however, he huffed a pout and sat back down. Even he knew that taking on three armed guards alone with weapons in such small surroundings was suicide. Now of course Danielle wasn't secured down, but he couldn't put trust in her abilities to fight, she wasn't ready or skilled in that area yet.

"Dannie…" he smiled and turned his lowered head toward her, "come here."

She looked to her mother and then at the guards, crawling her way back to The Joker's spot. She snuggled back into his side still staring at the officers across from her then devotedly pressed her cheek against Joker's shoulder, "What?"

Joker scrunched his nose and gave another smile as he pestered the back of her ear with a quiet whisper, "Want to do daddy a favor?"

His words were so menacing but she hid her grin and gave a small secretive nod.

"Good, one of the links in the chain on my left restraint gave a little. I want you to slip that link out so I can have at least one arm free. But you have to be careful, one look see from any of those officers and I get a nice dose of happy juice from a tranquilizer gun…possibly even a bullet…" Her eyes went wide at his last statement and Joker giggled, "So no pressure princess."

She sighed still keeping her sights on the officers, and then casually pressed her back against his side and sneakily began gliding her finger across each link and examining them with her touch.

Joker rested his chin on top of Danielle's head and smirked at Harley who seemed to be getting nervous. He just knew she was racing with thoughts on how their little Dannie was going to manage on her own now that her parents were going to be back in Arkham. He could see it in her eyes, the way they were almost frozen into an icy and lifeless glare at the ground, she thought they were trapped and there was no way out. It pained him to see that. He did love her so. "Harley."

Soon her frozen eyes had shattered and she looked to Joker through a hood of long unhappy lashes. She caught his charming smile and then barely opened her mouth to plead for him to do something, anything, but he silently shushed her with his lips and then smiled again.

She bit the inside of her lip before taking in a quick breath, making it impossible for her to stop a speedy tear from breaking out of her gloomy eyes.

"Aw…" he frowned exaggeratingly which caused Harley to at least let out a short laugh. She wiped away her tear with her shoulder and watched Joker lean toward her, his eyes docile and wanting, and then decided to lean as far as she could to him.

"Pud'…do somethin'."

"Both of you sit back in your spots, stop movin' around."

Joker created a single chuckle in his throat and pressed the tip of his lips against his harlequin's. "Everything will be fine."

"That's disgusting," the third guard gagged and turned his head away.

"That's enough, get back to your spots."

Harley's entire being seemed to melt from the kiss she had received, and so she swooned back to her corner letting her eyes flutter in pure bliss. Once Joker too was back to his seat Danielle leaned her head back to his ear, "I found the link…but it still isn't loose enough for me to slip it off the other links. You're going to have to give it another yank."

"Danielle, is it?"

She looked to Officer Strider, surprised he had talked to her, "Yes."

"I'm going to have to ask you to stay put in your seat. I know you want to be close to your dad, but it'd make me feel more comfortable if you weren't so close to him. I'm sorry."

Danielle nodded and slid away from her father, keeping her eye peeled on the officer. "Sure, no problem."

"Thank you. So how old are you?"

Joker looked angered by the officer's questioning but he let it continue, eager to hear how Danielle would respond.

"I'm sixteen. My birthday was yesterday."

"Oh really? Well happy birthday to you."

"Thanks. So you're a rookie?"

"That I am, first year on the force."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-one. I know it's young but, I passed my tests with flying colors."

Danielle scooted closer to Joker until she was once again by his side, however this time the guard wasn't protesting her decision. "Flying colors huh?"

"Yea…you know a pretty girl like you shouldn't get tied in with criminals like these. You could have a bright future without them. You should embrace this opportunity as a sign."

"These criminals happen to be my parents and I love them regardless of what they do."

Officer Strider smiled, "I'm sure you do. I'm just giving you my two cents on the subject and you don't have to agree with it. I'd just hate to see a smart girl like you get hurt because she wanted to be like her parents."

"Who said I wanted to be like them?"

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time Gotham has seen a child of high class criminals follow in their parent's steps."

"Rest assured," she lied, "I'd never want to do what they do. It's wrong, but I still love them. They raised me and brought me up and I think I've come out somewhat decent."

"From what you say, I think you've grown into something that's more than decent. You're a special girl and you'll have a bright future. I bet you'll even make some guy truly happy."

Danielle raised a brow and crossed her arms, "Excuse me?"

"Oh now you've done it," Joker giggled.

"I didn't mean to upset you, I was just saying you'll make someone very happy in the future."

"And you think I'm not making someone happy now?"

"Oh…well no I just assumed that-"

"Exactly, you assumed. What is it with Gotham and thinking that Danielle Diamond Quinn can't possibly have a boyfriend? I mean it's just unfathomable right?! The daughter of The Joker and Harley Quinn? Having a boyfriend that actually loves her?! Unbelievable and with out a doubt a lie!"

"Look, really I'm sorry."

"I'll let you know, officer Strider, that I have the greatest boyfriend who would do anything for me! He'd jump off a building, run through fire, rob a bank, and even be a kindergarten teacher if he knew it'd make me happy!"

"Do you love him?"

"…What?"

"Do you love him? Do you love your boyfriend?"

She stared long and hard at the officer, questioning such an abrupt question. "Why do you ask?"

"It just seems that he loves you a lot from what you say. Is the feeling mutual? I'm curious."

"Maybe your curiosity has run a bit too far…"

"Perhaps it has."

She narrowed her eyes in her own curiosity, "Do you make someone happy…officer?"

Casually he looked to the floor of the truck, a small smile creeping on his face as he rubbed his knee, "I'd like to think so."

"But…you don't know for certain do you? You think for the most part, sure possibly. But deep down it troubles you, day after day, night after night. Are you just living a lie with 'the girl of your dreams'? Or are your acts of affection and 'on your knees' begging of approval really worth it?"

He shot his glare back up to her, "I think you've drawn the line there."

"I've barely pressed the pen to the paper…"

"You're completely wrong, I make her happy."

"Oh I never you said you didn't!" she lightheartedly explained, "Just…you don't know for certain if you do or not. I think you make her happy, you just question yourself."

Joker was fanatically excited at his daughter's words and readings. It was truly remarkable and imaginative and he never wanted to stop watching her play this officer's mind. "I promise you, she didn't pick up my rude habits. Must have gotten those from Harley…"

As Joker spoke, Danielle let her finger glide over the broken link in her father's restraint again, trying this time to pry it open herself.

"Of course not," Officer Strider managed to grin, "and I don't think it rude at all. I questioned her, she questioned me. It's fine." Then very serenely the officer tilted his head, "Danielle?"

She prayed he hadn't seen her snooping, and slowly let her eyes dance to his black mask. Instead of a strict warning or even a harshly aimed gun however, she surprisingly saw a very secretive finger rise up from his lap, a sign she could only read as 'wait'.

"I'm sorry for my rude actions, that was very inappropriate of me to jump to conclusions."

She nodded, "That's alright," then watched Officer Strider's finger lower back down to his lap.

"How much longer to Arkham?" Strider asked the guard beside him, "This seat isn't too comfortable on the back."

The officer laughed and pulled out his radio, "Never is rookie...where's our location at Henderson? The rookie back here is gettin' antsy."

"We just got onto the outskirts of Gotham, in about two minutes we'll be crossing over the Arkham Bridge. From there, it's about another ten to fifteen minutes."

"Got it, thanks Henderson."

Strider popped his neck, and then laid his hand on the gun in his holster. "Arkham Bridge, that was where that last escapee from Arkham committed suicide right?"

"Yea," the officer's voice seemed to die in shame, "he escaped and everything, but he didn't count on the cops arrivin'. By that time, he was too afraid and decided to end it then and there. If you ask me, dying is better than being taken back to Arkham Asylum. I can't blame the guy for doing what he did."

"Would you have jumped?" the other officer joined in.

"Hell, who knows. I would say no, but who can really say yes or no before that situation arises."

"I think you would…"

"Who asked you clown?"

"No one…but…well…"

"Well what?"

He shrugged, "I mean considering the patient who escaped just happened to be your father and all…it'd be sort of an ironic twist! Why not…follow in your father's falling steps?"

"That was your dad man?"

"…No, no it wasn't my dad!"

"No?" Joker seemed amazed, "aren't you Officer Cortez?"

"Yea…"

"And the loony who jumped off the bridge…why…he just happened to be, if my memory serves me right, Victor Cortez."

"So, we share the last name. That doesn't mean he was my father."

"Don't hide from the truth! Just because dear ol' daddy went whackers and slit his co-workers throats because he thought they were, what was it again? Oh yes! 'Revolting against his methods and trying to brainwash him into revealing the location of his secret military base'."

"Was that really your dad? Don't be ashamed Manny, you couldn't do anything about what he did."

Officer Strider, unlike his fellow officer, stayed away from the topic of discussion and let his hand relax on his gun.

"Poor little Manny," Joker edged on, "why with daddy and mommy both gone now, who will ever see your brilliant dream of becoming a detective on the force come true?!"

"How the hell did you know my mom was gone?!"

Joker raised his brow and smiled a chilling grin, "Intuition?"

"How did you know my name? How did you know I wanted to become a detective?!" He flew off the bench and dropped his gun, wringing his hands around Joker's throat before throwing off his helmet.

"Dannie come here!" Harley called out and grabbed her daughter's arm, pulling her towards her side.

"Woo! When the Arkham…docs get…a load of the rings around my throat…they'll know you abused your position! And you'll never become a detective…oh yes! I can see it now! Arkham Asylum escapee's son follows suit of father's suicide! Irony! Twisted, beautiful, irony! Oh, I've got a hunch you'll be jumping sooner than you think…"

The other officer grabbed onto Cortez's shoulders, "Joker's right! The doctors see those marks and you won't get that title! Let go of him! Strider! Give me a hand, don't just sit there!"

"Of course," he stood up and withdrew his gun, then swiftly and effortless he pressed it against the back of the officer's neck and pulled the trigger. "Let go of him Cortez."

Shock overtook Cortez and he was stationary with his hands around Joker's throat, not able to believe what actually just happened.

Strider sighed and pressed the gun now to the frightened officer's head, "I said let him go."

"Okay…" he lifted his hands, "okay there. Don't shoot."

"Undo The Joker's and Harley Quinn's restraints."

"Sure," he pulled out the ring of keys in his pocket, "just give me a sec."

"Hurry up."

He first undid Joker's restraints, and Joker smiled at Danielle, "Come here sweetheart. Don't look so panicked."

"What the heck is going on?" she mumbled to herself, slipping past officer Strider with hesitation.

"What's the matter princess?" Joker asked lovingly and swept his hand over her hair.

"Well, I'm thoroughly confused. I think that should answer your question."

As soon as Harley was let loose, she instantly picked up the backpack from the floor holding her babies and hitched it over her shoulder, "Geesh Dannie, don't you know your own boyfriend?"

"…What?"

Harley cuffed Cortez to the wall and gave her daughter a playful grin, "What do ya think I mean baby girl?"

"Really Dannie," Joker added, "I figured out Strider was Jasper the second he looked at you like a sad puppy in here! He saw you were sad, and his shoulders slumped…it was a dead give away. No one likes anyone related to me in Gotham!"

"Why didn't you tell me?!" she yelled as soon she realized what was actually going on.

"Because it was funny! I could tell you had no clue that he was Jasper! We need to work on your concentration of things Dannie…but don't you worry!"

Danielle turned to Harley, "You saw how distressed I was! Why didn't you let me know everything was going to be okay?!"

"I played my part sweetie girl. If I thought you were gonna get hurt, I would'a told ya."

She scrunched her nose and stared at Jasper as he pulled off his helmet and dropped it to the floor, "I could have sworn I made it pretty obvious for you with that whole boyfriend bit."

"I hate all three of you…" and she sat down and crossed her arms in a deliberate pout.

Jasper sighed and handed Cortez a radio, "Get this truck to stop, I don't care how you do it, but if you say you're a hostage I'll shoot you point blank got it?" He received a nod and then turned back to Danielle, "Don't worry baby love," he kneeled down to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, coming face to face with her.

"Don't touch me."

"Oh come on, don't be sore with me. You just aren't used to this kind of thing, you'll get better at it. It was better that you didn't know it was me anyways."

"I said…don't touch me."

"Okay," he let go of her but kept his spot, "you aren't happy?"

"No."

"Not even to know that I'm okay?"

She looked away, "No."

"Look at me?"

"Why would I want to look at you?"

"Because I'm good looking, as you say."

Danielle held back a grin, "I would never say that." Then heatedly slid away from him.

"Dannie," he slid with her and touched his hand to her chin, but she jerked her head away and he let his hand fall. "Fine," he stood, "if you're going to act like that."

"I'll act anyway I want to act!" she protested and stared deathly at him.

"Good! I wanted you to act like a brat! You're so good at it!" Jasper turned away from her and put his attention on Cortez.

But Danielle quickly stuck her tongue out at his back before he could notice.

"Did you stick your tongue out at me?"

"No…"

Joker and Harley sat in the corner of the truck, quietly observing the, rather entertaining, argument. "Should we do something?" Harley asked.

"What? No! It's just getting good Harl!"

"I told you to quit sticking your tongue out at me." Jasper said calmly as he undid the restraints on Cortez.

The truck came to a slow stop, and Danielle quietly watched her twiddling thumbs, "I told you I didn't."

"You're lying."

"No I'm not! I didn't stick my tongue out at you!"

Jasper lifted the officer off the bench and stormed back to Danielle's spot, "You're the most unappreciative thing I've ever met in my damned life! Do you know what I had to do just to get out of that apartment?!"

"What'd ya do? Use the elevator?!"

"No!" he pushed his face to hers and yelled louder, "I had to jump over that fucking hole your father blew in the ground! I had to fight off a group of six armed officers! Then I had to go down the elevator shaft, not using the elevator but the God damn cable wires because they turned off the power to the building and the stair ways were all locked! Now that may sound like nothing, but when I reached the ground level, I was introduced to a blocked off exit! So, I had to go all the way back up the elevator shaft and use the roof as an exit! Joyous me as another officer saw me and placed the tip of his automatic rifle right between my eyes! What did I do? I had to knee him in the groin and pray that he didn't shoot his gun before I could knock it the hell away! Then I had to undress him and steal his uniform! Thank the heavens there was a damn helicopter crew there! But it doesn't end there…oh no you precious girl…I had to somehow persuade those fools to go against Gordon's orders and land right in the fucking street amidst a hundred armed weapons! All because I wanted to make sure you were safe! I wanted to make sure that the girl I love more than anything in the entire world was safe! And what do I get?! …What the hell do I get?!"

Just then the back door opened to the truck and Henderson gasped just as a bullet from Jasper's gun broke into his skull. He popped his neck and kicked Cortez out the door and onto his knees, then turned his head back to Danielle who sat wide eyed. "I get denied…because I only wanted to make you happy."

Please leave a review! Sorry for the long update wait, busy busy as always! Hope you enjoyed!