I was beginning to get worried that I wasn't going to have many reviews, but then you all came through. Thanks guys! =) And apparently I didn't do too bad at the romance! YAY!!!

Lady Slone—Yeah, I totally agree about the romance writing, and thanks for the compliment. Well, maybe not soon enough, but yes soon.

ILuvOdie—Glad that you liked it. Joker time!! Mwahahahaha

Hannah—Thanks, and I'm sure that it wasn't that crappy. Here's more.

Johanna—Thanks!!!

Hrsracer00—I'm glad that it at least fit, and I hope that I can write it once it's needed. You're totally right, and I will become one with the story, I guess. Thanks again.

Haha21—Well, I think as the story progresses there will be something, I'm not saying what, but there will be something. I'm not exactly sure how, but maybe. I see your point though about him not being romantic and being afraid to lose loved ones, just like Alex. Maybe it will work, but maybe not.

Sabre—Okay, glad that you enjoyed it. Yes, it is a fun scene, and Dent deserved it all the way. HAHAHA!!! Definitely one to make you laugh.

Masqueradewitch—Glad that you liked it. This was as fast I could update. It will be interesting, and you'll just have to read to find out.

Okay, Joker time!!!

I walked back in, not knowing what to do. I didn't have any backup, except for Flass, but he wouldn't help me. I saw Dent and Rachel talking. I rolled my eyes at his stupidity and stood in a corner waiting for the Joker to show up as I dialed for backup, and grabbed a hair tie and slipped it on my wrist. It was going to be there in five minutes, I was told before the call was ended. I continued to watch Rachel and Dent, but he looked disappointed at Rachel. She probably said no. I covered up a smile. Something needed to break down his ego, but what was really making me smile was Bruce walking up behind him. He closed his forearm around Dent's neck and opened up the pantry and shoved Dent inside.

"What are you doing?!" Rachel squealed loud enough for me to hear.

I couldn't hear Bruce, but I could read his lips. "They've come for him."

At that precise moment, as Bruce locked up the pantry, the elevator doors opened and Flass stood there with his badge up. He was pushed over by the Joker. "We made it," he said quite normally.

I froze as I saw the pathetically dyed green hair frame his freakishly white face with that red smile. No matter what I did, I couldn't stop the images of Martin from rushing back into my eyes. I saw the shotgun fire and the rich people back away from him, but all I could hear were Martin's screams. I tried hard to fight them away, but no matter how I tried it didn't help. I saw his pleading face with my hair down; I couldn't go through this again. I needed to be here for these people that hadn't worked an honest job in their lives. "Great time to freeze up, Gordon!" I yelled at myself in a whisper.

I finally snapped out of it to see the Joker staring evilly at some old guy that had nerve. "We're not intimidated by thugs."

"You know? You remind me of my father." He chewed the rest of the shrimp he was eating before grabbing the man's head and sticking the knife to his cheek. "I hated my father."

"Okay, stop." Rachel stepped out. I desperately tried to grab her wrist and pull her back, but it was too late. She had more guts than me.

The Joker looked at her and began walking towards us. "Well, hello, beautiful," he said coyly as he brushed the oily green hair from his face.

I turned my head and slowly lowered myself and began crawling to the other side of the room. I had a plan up my sleeve, but it needed Batman. Where the heck was he? How long does it take? I accidentally ran into someone.

She looked down at me. "What are you doing?"

I wish I had brought my badge. "Gotham PD. I know what I'm doing," I hope. "Now don't bring attention to yourself." I must have looked like an idiot sneaking across the floor, but that's why I normally wore pants. I finally reached the elevator when I heard that telltale growl of Batman. I closed my eyes, thanking God that he had come.

"Then you're gonna love me." He punched the Joker in the face.

I stood up. I was about to shout "GPD!" How would that help me? It would only cause more panic. I reached the closest thug and slammed my elbow down at the base of his neck, causing him to fall to the ground, unconscious. One down; I didn't want to count how many there were left. Luckily, all were surrounding Batman, but he was taking them out rather quickly. I saw the Joker grab one of his thugs to get the thug to catch Batman by surprise. I could've easily grabbed the gun and shot the Joker, but I froze for that split second as Batman was knocked to the ground. This was a time when pants would've helped, but I went to help him anyway. He was up but the Joker had gotten a knife out of shoe and stabbed him, and he was still screwed. I was able to grab the thug and pull him off of Batman. The Joker met my eyes and smiled as he grabbed a gun on the floor and held it to Rachel's head.

Everything stopped, and everyone's eyes were on the three of them. Thankfully, they had given up on me because I looked a mess; the dress was torn in places, I had a cut on my arm (it was small), bruises everywhere I hadn't managed to dodge and my hair had fallen completely out. I slipped the hair tie off my wrist and pulled my hair back to a normal state and stared at the elevator, waiting for doors to slide open and the SWAT team to come storming in.

"Drop the gun," Batman ordered. He looked fierce, but there was a shiny wetness flowing from his suit where the Joker had stabbed him and his chest was heaving in tiredness.

"Sure," the Joker agreed. Now for the catch, "Just take off your mask and show us all who you are."

No! That was one thing that would completely ruin everything, but that was his goal. I saw Rachel shake her head, and I really hoped that he would listen. The Joker shot the glass and it shattered. He held Rachel at arms length over the city.

"Let her go," he growled.

He cackled. "Very poor choice of words," and let her go, as Batman had requested. She fell out of the window. Batman followed.

"GPD! Freeze!" I ordered the Joker as I held a gun that I had grabbed from one of the unconscious thugs.

The Joker looked at me as he stepped into the elevator. "Another time, Sarg." The doors shut and he was gone.

I cursed and let the gun hit my side. I heard the quiet banging on the pantry door and pulled the mop out of the door handles. Dent spilled out.

"Where's Rachel?"

I shook my head, defeated. "She's safe." Everyone was safe as long as Batman was around.

"And Wayne?"

"Who knows?" I lied. "Must've hit another party joint."

The elevator binged and everyone stepped back. A SWAT team from MCU walked through the doors and, after making sure that the area was secure, began to arrest the thugs that were just now waking up. Dad strode in with his gun drawn. He holstered his gun and went to my side.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be okay."

He looked me over. "What the Hell happened to you?"

"You would've known if you had shown up earlier," I accused. "Maybe we could've gotten the frickin Joker!" I felt a tear trickle down my bruised cheek.

Dad took my hand and led me to a chair by the fireplace and grabbed my purse. He held in his hand as he squatted down to my level. "This isn't about me or the SWAT team; it's about you and Martin isn't it?"

I nodded and wiped away the one tear that had fallen. "I froze up, Dad. If I hadn't frozen he could've been caught."

He shook his head. "No. You went through some incredibly frightening things and still managed to walk into work the next day. The fact that you froze up means nothing."

I cut him off. "Yes it does. We don't have him in custody because I froze up." I wrung my hands together in frustration.

"Relax. I know that we'll get him." He had this look on his face that said, "Eventually," and the lines seemed deeper.

"Yeah, when pigs fly."

He cracked a smile.

I smiled back and slid my feet out of the uncomfortable heels. I leaned my head back. "Can I go home now?"

He laughed quietly. "Of course. I'll drive ya there." He took my hand and led me to elevator in my bare feet.

The tile was cold, but it was such a nice relief to the uncomfortable shoes I had been wearing all night. I clutched the torn dress in my bleeding hand and wondered how I got the cuts on my knuckles. I shrugged and stood by the doors of the elevator, vowing that I would never go to one of Bruce Wayne's parties again. Work just always seemed to get in the way, but for some reason, I liked that a lot more than a personal life. Gosh, I was turning into a workaholic. I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes as Dad was talking to Harry about the situation, which I was sure was under control.

Someone tapped my shoulder. "Thank you for tonight, Miss Gordon."

I rolled my eyes before opening them. "Your welcome."

"It was quite brave," he complimented.

It's my job, idiot! "Thank you."

He nodded, smiled, and walked away.

The elevator door rang as the doors slid open. Bruce strode out. "I'm so glad that you could make it, Alex, and I'm sure that I'll see you around." He winked and walked off.

I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. The man was crazy! I shuffled into the elevator with Dad's dress shoes clicking softly behind me, and the doors slid shut.

"Alex," he murmured, "are you sure that you're okay?"

I let my shoulders droop. "Gordon," I used for emphasis, and he spun around, "I'll be all right. Stop worrying!"

He glared. "I'm your father! It's what I do, Sergeant!"

I raised my hands up defensively. "I'm not mad; I just want you to figure out that I'll be okay."

The fire in his grayish-blue eyes diminished. "You're old enough to take care of yourself, essentially?"

I smiled. "Essentially."

The rest of the way of the way home was silent, minus the occasional cursing from Dad as he dealt with the strangely heavy night traffic and the faint sounds coming from both radios. I vaguely thought about the night because I was just so exhausted that thoughts couldn't form clearly in my mind. I leaned my head against the headrest and stared at the lights flashing by as we took a few turns to get to my house. My eyes eventually faded shut and my dad flicked me about ten minutes later.

"We're here, Alex," he chided.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm aware of that," I retorted.

He shook his head and flung the clutch at me as I stepped out of the SUV. "You might want this," he chuckled.

I sighed and waved as I walked into my apartment building and rode the elevator up to my floor. I fished for my keys in the clutch and stuck them in the lock and pushed into my dark and empty apartment. I let out my breath, unaware that I had been holding it, because I was thinking about the Joker being in the kitchen again. I sighed when there was no stirring and tossed the keys onto the table before walking into the kitchen to get a glass of water. I downed the glass of water and changed into plaid lounge pants and a t-shirt and sat on my bed. I stared at the picture of Martin that sat on the bedside table. I picked it up and clutched it to my chest, letting out a sob.

"Martin, I'm so sorry. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself." I gulped down a sob. "I will get him. I promise you that! I won't stop until he's caught." I laid down. And with the picture still clutched to my chest, I fell into a fitful sleep of nightmares.

Okay, I like it a lot better than the other one. I hope that you do too. Review please! I need to continue working on my report for school. Peace!