A/N - This was supposed to go out last week but we've had out fair share of sicknesses this month, so hopefully that's it for a LONG time. We're nearing the end people... Let me know what you think...

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Five minutes prior

Wayne Penthouse Apartment

David ran. His sock covered feet slipping slightly as he rounded a corner. He reached out and grabbed the wall to keep himself from falling and kept running. He could feel his heart in his throat as it continued to beat wildly as it did from the first moment he saw Joker walk in the door. David replayed those first moments in his mind. He watched as the man choked Jill until she fell to the floor unconscious and it took David a few beats to realize what was happening before he ran. He raced up the spiral staircase, praying that Joker hadn't seen him make his escape, but he was wrong.

"David, David, David," Joker called out as he sauntered up the staircase, his voice echoing towards David.

David tried to catch his breath as he hid behind a corner for a moment. He knew that he had to hide, but in his fearful mind, he couldn't think of a place safe enough.

"I just want to talk," Joker said, as he twisted his knife in his fingers. "It's just you and me."

David heard the Joker's words and looked down the hallway. Quickly, he raced down to Bruce's bedroom and pushed open the door and gently closed it behind him before grabbing the phone off the table.

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Wayne Manor

5 minutes later

7:02pm

Olivia couldn't breathe. She could hear Bruce talking but couldn't understand what he was saying. She felt her insides turn upside down with fear for David's life. Olivia quickly turned towards the veranda doors and unlocked them before pushing the door open against the snow that had accumulated behind it. She couldn't believe it. Joker was at the penthouse. Everytime that thought ran through her head, she felt sick to her stomach. It wasn't until she felt a hand on her shoulder that she swiftly turned. She saw Alfred, his face with visible worry.

"Come inside, my dear," he said. "You'll catch your death out here."

Once again, she tried to speak; her mouth moving but no words coming out. Alfred nodded in understanding.

"I know," he said softly, ushering Olivia back into the manor as though she was a child.

Olivia looked around the library.

"Where's Bruce?"

"He left," Alfred replied.

Olivia looked down the hallway, watching as Bruce walked past the large dining hall where the multitudes of guests were busy drinking and enjoying the evening, oblivious to the anguish that their hosts were experiencing.

"Bruce! Wait!" Olivia called down the from down the hallway. Guests turned as they saw Bruce's ashen face walk past them followed by Olivia, tears on her face. They could only speculate as to what was going on. The gossips would have a field day for sure.

Olivia finally caught up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He quickly turned, his face like she had never seen him before. He glanced past her at the guests who hoped to get within earshot to hear what was going on with the newly engaged couple. He took Olivia by the shoulder and ushered her into the garage.

"I'm going after him," Bruce said softly. "I want you to stay here."

Olivia clenched her teeth, fighting the urge to break down in a pile of tears.

"No," she said, forcefully. "I can't stay here and pretend that nothing is happening to David. I'm coming with you."

Bruce sighed and shook his head.

"I don't want you to get involved in this," he said, turning away from her to leave.

"I am involved!" she exclaimed. "And I'm going to go whether you're with me or not."

Bruce stopped and glanced over his shoulder. He looked at the determined woman and saw the pain as well as the anger in her eyes. He recognized it. The fear for a child's life. Finally, he nodded.

"Okay," he said softly.

Olivia followed him and climbed into the passenger seat of the Lamborghini.

"I thought you'd be going as someone else," she said, as he started up the car.

Bruce glanced back at the throng of vehicles parked alongside the drive.

"We've already given the media enough of a story that this will be the icing on the cake," he said as he sped towards the road. He passed the cell phone to Olivia. "David is still on the phone."

Olivia pressed a button to put it onto speaker phone.

"David? Honey?"

"Mommy," he said, breathlessly as his voice filled the expensive car. "Where are you? Are you almost here?"

"We're on our way," she replied. "What's going on?"

She could hear David's sniffles as he whispered, "He hurt Mrs. Craig and......" He paused for a moment before he whispered even quieter. "I'm hiding under Daddy's bed."

"Stay there, okay? Don't leave that spot."

He didn't reply but she could hear his breathing as well as the occasional soft sniffle.

"David? Is he there?" Bruce suddenly asked.

David didn't answer but Olivia could hear the Joker's taunting voice over the phone. Suddenly the line went dead.

"David?!"

She looked at the cell phone, praying that it was merely her battery. Her heart sank when she saw the word 'disconnected' on the screen. She glanced over at Bruce who increased his speed as they were approaching the downtown core.

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Olivia was certain that she looked like a mess when they ran into the lobby of the building. She carried her heels in her hand as she held the front hem of her dress with the other. Bruce ran past the security desk towards his private elevator.

"I'm sorry Mr. Wayne but that lift is out of order," the security officer called over. "It's been out for about an hour. I have maintenance coming in the morning."

Bruce turned and ran his hand through his hair as Olivia repeatedly pressed the up button on the remaining elevators, pacing impatiently as she waited for one to open.

"Duncan, has anyone been through here tonight? Have you seen David?"

The security man, Duncan shook his head.

"No sir," he replied. "Not since Mrs. Craig and Mr. Pennyworth earlier this evening." He looked at the couple, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

Before the man could say another word, an elevator chimed and Olivia slid in before the doors had a chance to completely open. Bruce rushed over and quickly pressed the button for the highest floor. They would have to take the stairs to get to the penthouse level.

Bruce couldn't open the door to the penthouse fast enough. Once it was open, he saw Jill laying on the floor. He bent over and checked for a pulse, seeing the bruising around her neck.

"Oh my God," Olivia gasped as she saw her friend on the floor.

"She's alive," Bruce said, looking towards the rest of the penthouse. Nothing looked touched and it appeared to be quiet.

"DAVID!!" Olivia called out, her voice echoing throughout the large room.

Olivia raced past Bruce towards the stairs, calling for David. Bruce quickly stood up and ran in front of her.

"Stay behind me," he said, as they made their way up the stairs. Olivia could feel the strain on her stomach muscles and injured leg as she pushed herself to move faster.

They ran straight for the master bedroom. Bruce pushed open the door, finding the room had been torn apart. Olivia raced towards the bed and got onto her hands and knees to look beneath it. Nothing.

"David?"

She raced towards the closet and swung it open, pushing aside the clothing that hung and looking between them. Nothing. She was beginning to loose hope.

"David!?"

With each passing second, Olivia grew increasingly worried. She turned and ran into the bathroom. Finally, she walked out as a feeling of dread washed over her.

"He's not here," she said softly as she took a deep breath. "He's gone."

Bruce walked towards her.

"I'll find him," Bruce told her, as he reached towards her for a hug. Olivia was thankful for the comfort, but gently pushed him away when something caught her eye. She walked over towards the bed and picked up the note. Bruce stood next to her as she read it.

Shame on you for not inviting me to your fake party. I guessed the brat wouldn't be there. Parties are much more fun at your castle in the sky. Thanks for the good time!

"He knew," Olivia said deeply after reading the note and handing it to Bruce. She turned away from him and looked out the window. "He knew that this whole engagement scheme was a trick to catch him and we left David alone!"

"We couldn't have known that he'd come after him," Bruce countered. "I was certain that he'd come after me. Olivia, I had no idea he'd do this."

Olivia let out an exasperated sigh.

"David would still be safe if I didn't agree to this farce!" she exclaimed.

"Joker would've still came after us," Bruce said, calmly.

Olivia looked down at her hand and bit her lip before she pulled the ring off her finger. She held it for a moment between her thumb and her finger before turning to Bruce. She held it out to him.

Bruce felt like he had been punched in the stomach when he saw Olivia holding the ring out towards him. Slowly, he took it from her.

"I'll find him," he said again, this time softer as he couldn't trust his own voice. He put the ring into his pocket when they heard the sound of someone calling aloud into the penthouse.

"This is Commissioner Gordon! Is anyone here?"

Olivia glanced up at Bruce as he walked silently out of the room. As soon as he left, Olivia finally let out the breath that she was holding and sat down on the bed, as she let herself cry.

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Bruce walked down the staircase as Gordon holstered his gun. Two EMT's were in the process of moving Jill out of the penthouse on a gurney. Another three officers fanned out around the main level of the penthouse.

"He's not here," Bruce said, quickly answering the Commissioner's unspoken question. "No one was here when we arrived."

"You shouldn't have come alone," Gordon said, which only elicited a glance from Bruce. Gordon recognized it as one that he would often receive from Batman when he would suggest an idea to the dark knight which he didn't agree with. "I'm sorry about your son."

Jim glanced up at Bruce as he was handed the note. He opened it.

Bruce could see the change of emotions on the Commissioner's face as he read it. He folded it back up and handed it to Bruce.

"I'll have every precinct in Gotham on the lookout for them," he said, as Bruce walked away towards the windows to look out at the city. Jim walked up to Bruce and stood a few meters behind him. "I haven't heard any mention about the Batman from anyone on the street or in lockup. It's safe to say that he's kept that card to himself."

Bruce nodded.

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As hard as she tried, Olivia couldn't stop crying. Whenever she was certain that she was calming down, she'd start up again. A simple image in her mind or the thought that she heard David's voice in the room would cause her to break down once again. She laid on her stomach, still in the beautiful gown that she had been wearing all night. Olivia turned her head on the blanket when she heard a man coming into the room.

"Olivia," Bruce's gentle voice filled the room. "You should head back to the manor. Would you like me to call Alfred to pick you up?"

She sat up, shaking her head and wiping her face with her hands. "Are you going out?"

With his hands in his pockets, Bruce nodded. "I'm going to try my best to find him tonight." He pulled a pair of keys from his pocket. "You can take the car back if you'd like."

Olivia stood up and walked over to him. She knew her face was red and her eyes were puffy. Without looking up, she took the keys, but Bruce didn't let go.

"I'll find him, Olivia," he said, softly. This time she looked up into his eyes and nodded before walking past him and out of the penthouse.

She passed the officers who stood around in the lobby and smiled weakly to them as she exited the building. Once she was inside the Lamborghini, she sighed and turned on the car. Suddenly, she heard a beeping sound. She looked down at the passenger seat and saw a small light illuminating from the cell phone. Olivia reached over and picked it up, seeing the name Wayne, Bruce on the ID. She answered the call.

"Bruce."

"Hello Sweetheart."

Olivia gasped when it wasn't Bruce's voice.

"Where's my son?!"

"Oh, he's with me," Joker replied. "And I'm fine, by the way."

"Let him go, please."

"No. I..uh...I can't do that," he said. "I'm having far too much fun. But you can do something for me and I might consider letting the brat go."

"What?"

"Come see me," Joker replied. "And go ahead and let Wayne know too. We'll make this a little family gathering."

"Where are you?"

She heard a slight chuckle.

"Don't you know? I'm sure you saw the number on your cell phone ID. You'll find us there."

Joker hung up on her. Olivia glanced back down at the cell phone, seeing Bruce's name alongside the number but didn't recognize it to be from Wayne manor. Suddenly it clicked and she sped off towards Wayne Tower.

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Wayne Tower

7:45pm

Olivia parked the Lamborghini inside the empty executive parking garage before making her way to the elevator. She stood, and wrapped her arms around herself. The bitter February air was freezing and she was no where near dressed for the weather.

Olivia couldn't help but be spooked by the sounds of the garage. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the elevator door opened and she stepped in and turned to press the button. Instead, she nearly screamed when she saw Batman standing in front of the door. She put a hand to her chest.

"You scared the crap out of me!" she exclaimed, as Batman took a step into the elevator and the doors closed.

"It's not safe to be downtown at night," he said in his deep voice.

"Normally I'd be freaked out to be alone out here but that's the farthest from my mind right now," she said, watching the floor indicator light slowly go higher.

When they reached the top floor, Batman stood in front of her as they waited for the doors to open. The hallway was darkened. Only a few lights were on as it was after hours and the only people in the building besides them was security and they obviously had no clue what was going on.

They slowly made their way towards the large doors with the name Bruce Wayne engraved in gold lettering. Batman opened the door.