Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DC Universe's characters, only the ones I have created.

Chapter 24: Tom and Jerry

It was strange having bullets pushed out of you by your own body. I can't really explain it.

Of course, I was dead during it all and so very much unaware of it.

When they were all out, softly clattering to the marble floor and the wounds closing after, I awoke.

I gasped for air that my lungs suddenly needed with a burning sensation and lay still on the cold marble floors of the Iceberg Lounge. I could feel my leg had healed as well from the gunshot wound. There wasn't even a bruise left any more.

My hands lay flat on the ground and they were sticky with my own blood.

My eyes were closed as I slowly breathed in and out. I didn't need open my eyes to know that the lines on my body were softly glowing, an aftereffect of the regeneration.

My muscles were all tensed up and strained as they were when I had fallen to the ground and died. I tried to relax them when I heard voices.

"I don't see why you would need an explanation. He's the fucking Joker. The crazy son of a bitch does whatever he likes." It was a voice I recognized.

Jason? He sounded very angry.

"It just doesn't really makes sense. Last I knew he was buddies with Cobblepot. So why would he come in here to shoot a few rounds, kill that doctor and then leave." This voice was low and gravelly.

It was Batman, I realized with a shock.

What the hell happened?

With a sudden jolt everything came back to me. The night out with Harley, my talk with Jason and Wayne and then-

The bastard had shot me.

Anger shot through me but underneath there was also hurt. I thought I had earned the Joker's trust? I worked for him, didn't I?

"Maybe he was trying to lure you out. Wouldn't be the first time he's done it."

"But why kill her?" Batman replied. Uh, hello, Doctor and Her over here has a name.

I was surprised to find out he knew I was a doctor at Arkham before all of this. Not many people I encountered since my little hero stunt seemed to remember that.

Then again, he might be working with Waller. Though somehow, I didn't think Batman would approve a government controlled team of villains out of jail and working missions.

"We shouldn't keep the police out any longer," Jason said after a minute. "They'll likely want a word with you and move the,-" he paused for a second almost as if he couldn't get the words out.

"The body."

Batman gave a confirmative grunt.

"You want me to suit up? Play Robin while they question you?"

Wait, what? Did he say Robin?

My eyes flew open and I was momentarily blinded by the bright lights which had been turned on in the Lounge.

Everyone had gone, even the bartenders and through double doors, I could just make out the crowd and police lights.

I pushed myself into a sitting position and saw Batman and Jason standing not too far.

"Bloody hell, you're Robin?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

They both jumped at the sound of my voice and I was met with two shocked expressions.

"Eva?" Jason asked, almost as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "You're alive?"

I snorted. "Do I look dead to you, you twat?" I don't know what came over me but I was feeling grumpy.

Jason moved towards me and held out a hand to pull me upright which I accepted. The world spun in front of my eyes and my head ached.

"Oh, bugger," I cried, rubbing my forehead.

"Are you okay?" Jason or Robin, or whoever he was, asked.

"Fine," I snapped, pushing him away. He held up his hands defensively.

"Okay, easy. I knew they said you were immortal. Didn't actually know that meant dying and coming back alive." In the meantime, Batman was assessing me with a wary expression – not that I could make out much with the mask on his face.

"Just, sit down, for a second." Jason gestured to one of the stools at the bar and I did as he said, not trusting my legs just yet.

Jason glanced at Batman with his eyebrows raised as if urging him to say something.

"You knew the Joker was coming here tonight?" Batman asked, his arms crossed.

I glanced down at my dress and the holes in them – it was soaked with my blood. I winced ever so lightly and I noticed Jason's eyes following my stare.

"Of course not," I said. "You think I would have stayed if I knew he was going to fucking shoot me?"

Jason ran a hand through his dark hair. "She didn't know, man."

"Are you working with him?" Batman asked as if he didn't hear us. Jason snapped his eyes to him.

"What the fuck man?"

I frowned, not giving an immediate answer. I wasn't working with him, exactly. "No."

Batman narrowed his eyes at me – they were of a stunning blue colour – and I mimicked his expression.

"Are ya done questioning her?" Jason asked, his voice sounding a little annoyed. "Maybe she just was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Batman grunted. "Maybe." He took another step towards me so that I had to crane my neck to look him in the eyes. To my surprise, he held out a card for me.

"Give me a call, if you're in trouble or feel like you need help. He might come after you again." I gritted my teeth at the notion of needing help but took the card anyways.

"Todd, take her out through the back. I don't think she's gonna like having fifty cameras in her face and the cops asking her to come to the station for questioning. I'll deal with them and Cobblepot."

I couldn't help but feel gratitude shoot through me for the Bat at hearing that. He was right, I didn't feel like meeting the press or the cops for that matter.

I let Jason help me up since my muscles were still feeling cramped up and followed until we were outside in some alley at the back of the Iceberg.

"So, Robin, huh?" He had let go of my arm and was now rubbing the back of his head, making his hair stand up.

"Yeah, you're not mad, are you?"

I blinked at him. "Why would I be mad?"

He stuck his hands in his pockets. "I don't know. For not telling you, for telling Terry about the Suicide Squad you're in."

Now it dawned on me how Terry knew exactly about Task Force X - he got it from Jason aka Robin who likely got all the info from Batman himself.

"Was. Was in the Suicide Squad. And I do hate that name. It's as if everyone dies fighting and then I'm the only one who survives amidst their corpses."

Jason scrunched up his nose. "That does sound gruesome."

Ï sighed. "But I'm not mad at you, Jason."

He grinned at me and gave me a playful push. "Good."

We both started walking back to the main road and I refrained from looking up at the crowd and the police cars – not wanting to pull the attention in case anyone recognizes me.

"Why didn't you tell him I was there with Harley?"

Jason didn't answer at first, his brows furrowed. "I didn't really know you were there with her in the first place. She seemed to be occupied talking to someone else."

I waited for him to continue since that wasn't really an answer at all.

"I seemed to remember Harley Quinn working at Arkham alongside with you and not too long ago she was on the same team as you." He shrugged.

"Harley Quinn is a pain in the ass when she's with Joker, but… Who am I to judge who you're friends with? As long as you're not doing anything illegal with her for sports."

I grinned at him and he gave me a pointed look. "But, maybe Batman wasn't that far off and Joker is going to come after you again. Maybe it's got to do with Harley being your friend."

I wanted to tell him it wasn't like that at all, but how could I? So, instead, I said nothing.

I was beginning to get some weird looks from people on the streets and I realized I looked like hell. My dress was torn and soaked with blood. I grimaced. Jason seemed to notice it too as he said:

"Do you want me to give you a ride?"

I shook my head and smiled at him. "No, thanks. I'll get a cab home." I didn't particularly feel like telling him how I lived around the corner in the most expensive apartment of the building.

He seemed a little crestfallen but nodded all the same. "Okay. Then I'll see you later, I guess."

I pursed my lips. Did he want to see me later?

"Listen, I know the Bat went a little too far flinging those accusations at you, but he means good."

I nodded, not really listening and already longing for a hot bath.

"But seriously, if he,-" he paused a moment, scratching the back of his head.

"If the Joker has something over you. If he manipulates you somehow and you think you can't tell us, you can, all right? If that's the case, then we will find a way to keep you safe from him."

I felt touched by his words, but how could I tell him that there was nothing to be worried about? Joker and I were friends. He actually looked out for me and provided me with a home.

But then again, he did fucking shoot me an hour ago…

Maybe he had a good reason though? I shouldn't jump to conclusions before I learned the truth.

I forced a smile on my face and touched his arm. "I'm really fine, Todd. Thanks anyways."

We went separate ways but as I turned my back to him I yelled:

"If I hear you've been telling people about the damn Suicide Squad again, I'll put you in the hospital for at least a week, you git."

~.~.~.~.~

The smell of pancakes and a loud kid show on tv woke me up. I felt someone sitting on the bed beside me, chuckling to himself softly while cutting up a stack of pancakes on a plate.

I opened one eye warily to see a lock of green hair on the pillow next to mine.

"Morning, sleepyhead." His voice sounded husky and his eyes were focused on the tv hanging on the wall of my bedroom.

It was Tom and Jerry.

"You want some pancakes? Harls made some."

I pushed myself up and looked him over. He looked fine.

So, the Bat didn't catch him then the other day.

He was wearing a white shirt that said Keep Calm and Juggle On and – wow – sweatpants. It was strange seeing him here in his casual clothes.

"Tom and Jerry, really?" I said while swinging my legs over the bed on the floor. My voice was hoarse and I had to clear my throat.

A hand curled around my wrist, pulling me back on the bed and the blanket was placed around me at the same time.

"Relax, Doc. You had a rough night. And what's wrong with Tom and Jerry? I like to pretend I'm Jerry and Batman is Tom."

I stared at him perplexed as he almost pressed his face into mine and a grin pulled on his red lips. "Jerry always wins," he said in a low voice. He smelled sweet and his breath fanned my face.

I gulped and he laughed at my expression before sitting back.

"You fucking shot me," I said, not being able to keep it in any longer. Joker let out a sigh and set his plate aside before flopping down on his side, his head propped up on his hand.

"Come oooon, Doc. You're not really mad at me for that, are ya?" His other hand took hold of a lock of my hair and he twirled around his finger.

"I didn't know you were going to be there. Cobblepot and I are at somewhat of a disagreement and I meant to stir up a little trouble at his club. You smiled at me and then when Batman came storming in you looked like you were about to step in.

I couldn't let you do that after we worked so hard to make the public like you. I couldn't have you throw all that away. Everyone was gonna think you were in league with me."

I frowned at his face – his green eyes intense, his face pale, the unfaltering grin adorning his lips.

"I guess," I eventually said. Because when he put it like that, I really was about to ruin my reputation by smiling at him as if greeting a friend.

"You're right."

He smiled at me pointedly, his fingers stroked my cheek. "It's alright, doll-face. Everyone makes mistakes. Just remember that out there no one can know we're friends." His last words almost sounded like a threat.

I nodded and my eyes dropped to his clothes again. "Nice shirt."

He chuckled. "A gift from Harls. She's sleeping it off at home at the moment."

My eyes narrowed and I felt hurt at the mention of Harley. I still didn't know where she ran off to last night and practically dumped me with Todd. Joker

misinterpreted my change in mood and snuggled close to me. He wrapped an arm around my torso and laid his head on my chest.

"I'm truly, completely sorry for killing you, Doc. I wouldn't have done it, of course, if I hadn't known you would come back or it would have been the clown giving CPR to the doctor."

I chuckled at that and I could feel him smiling against my dress – that's when I realized I was still wearing the destroyed, bloodied dress, remembering I was too tired to change or to even shower.

As if reading my mind, Joker said: "I must say I like this look you got going. That dress looks exceptionally great on you with bullet holes."

_
A/N: Thanks for reading! I changed the name, by the way, at first Van Helsing was just something quick to call it and I never really thought long about it. What do you think? I'm still deciding over what would be better fitting lol

silverwinterwhite: I'm happy that you are happy! Thanks!

OTPwarriorPrincess: Haha, that was what I was going for! Well, sort of... Lol.

WillSmith5S0S: AH THANK YOU!

WickedlyMinx: Haha! Maybe it's just me that it seemed so long! But thank you!

Roxy: Ah, thank you so much! Glad you like it!