He hunted her in her dreams, this shadowy presence that she was certain would be her downfall. She didn't think he was intentionally trying to hurt her, she didn't think it wanted to kill her, it just wanted her and she couldn't let him catch her. Sometimes it would try to trick her as she ran past trees with branches scratching her. Sometimes it would wear a familiar face, sometimes someone she loved, sometimes someone she hated. She couldn't let him trick her; she couldn't let him have her.

She awoke like always, feverishly hot, her sheets sticky against her skin. It had been a few weeks since she had started staying at her place again but she still half expected to find Clark's roving hands on her. Even when he slept his hands always gently explored her, like they were trying to memorize every plane, every angle. But trying to live with Clark had been an entirely different matter. They both acted like, well teenagers in heat. Everything else fell to the wayside including the JLA and after a few days they decided it would be better for the future of mankind if they pulled out of their sex haze. She had half wondered if this is what Brainiac had meant about her bringing about the world's destruction. That maybe she prevents Clark from saving the world because he's uhh…buried elsewhere. She laughed softly to herself as she rolled out of bed.

"Hey Buddy." She greeted casually as she entered the kitchen. The purple clad form held up a coffee pot in response.

"I think I'm rather insulted that my visits don't disturb you anymore."

"Why should it?"

"Oh I don't know; most people are somewhat…terrified of me."

"Well if you were going to kill me or torture me, maybe slash my mouth open, I know that's your thing, I figure you would have done it by now." She casually pretended to sip her coffee and picked up the newspaper.

"Have you told your friends?"

"Told them what?"

"Have you told them about us, about your destiny?"

"Jokester, there is no us, I tolerate your presence nothing more."

"Maybe I should tell them. Do you think they would still stand by you if they knew you were the Destroyer."

"Ah see you're interpreting the prophecy to suit you, it never says I'm the Destroyer."

"It doesn't matter you, you are thhhe one…" The Joker had a startled expression on his face, he tried to stand up and immediately fell over.

"You drugggedd mmmee?!"

"Sorry Jokester, can't have you running around making evil minions and trying to cause your mayhem and chaos. I thought you knew me better than that?" He mumbled something that sounded vaguely like 'rudimentary' before passing out. Batman flew through the window after she flashed her lights twice.

"I didn't think he'd fall for it." His gravelly voice bit out.

"He didn't expect it from me, he really thought he had managed to forge some bond with me."

"After everything we've tried, a simple drugging did the trick." He shook his head in disbelief as he reached down to pick him up.

"Are you going to be okay?" He knew she wasn't talking about his body weight.

"I hate him for Ra…for her. But he hurt a whole lot more people then just her. They have a right to face him, to have him face all that he has destroyed."

"Okay." She said simply and nodded for him to be on his way.

"You have Superman tailing me anyway right?"

"You know I'm a fan of contingencies. Just making sure you guys make it safely to the asylum."

He slung the limp form of the Joker over his shoulder and took off.

Chloe dumped the contents of the coffee down the drain and threw the coffee pot in the trash. She made herself a fresh cup and settled against the counter feeling…bored. That had been so anti-climactic. After all the grand scheming, it came down to a simple deception. Deception…that was something to think about.