Harley Quinn has chosen the Joker.

He'd intended on carrying out his escape plan at Arkham, freeing Gotham's most dangerous criminals, today. But where was Harley? In a rash attempt at gaining the Joker's affection, Harley got him what she knew he wanted most in the world. She kidnapped the Batman. All for him.

Dazed, Batman awakes in a warehouse to Harley's grinning face. Dick receives a mayday from Alfred, so Nightwing goes looking for Batman. Despite his recent heartache, he's ready for action, but he won't get the chance. This is the end. Everything from here on out, will test Nightwing's limits, and Dick's emotion.

Batman opened his eyes and blinked them a few times, confused by his surroundings. His head was pounding. It looked like an old, abandoned commercial building, but everything seemed wrong.

"Hello," a cheery voice called. His eyes zeroed in on Harley Quinn. She twisted her head sideways so that she could look into his upside down face. "Nice to see you're finally awake, so glad you could hang with me." She laughed wildly to herself before backing a step away from where Batman was hanging upsidedown over a tank of water. Batman tried to focus through the blood pounding through his head.

"It's okay to be confused," she told him as he twisted around a little. "You might not remember me popping into the Batcave to see you and all with your concussion." Batman stared at her, his eyes narrowing to slits. "Oh don't look at me like that," she scolded, wagging a finger at him. "It wasn't very hard to find once I knew where to look." She paused before adding, "Brucey."

"I swear Quinn-"

"-Now don't get your cape in a bunch B-man. It was a well kept secret. I would say more, but then I would be breaking a promise I made." She giggled to herself. She looked unfocused and didn't even look into Batman's eyes.

Harley started spinning through the room with her hands in the air. "Just wait until Mistah J gets here and sees what I've done. He's gonna be so proud." She stopped to turn back and look at Batman. She put her hands over her mouth as she giggled to herself. "I did it. I proved my worth."

"Congratulations," Batman said sarcastically. Harley beamed at him and skipped over closer.

"Thank you," she said genuinely. "He should be here any minute. Oh, he's gonna be so happy with me!"

Batman was silent as they heard the click of Italian leather shoes coming toward them in the dark. "Harley, I really don't see the need for the secrecy; if you want to talk to me you could have just…" The Joker trailed off, standing just outside the light, his face hidden by shadows. "What is that?"

"Surprise!" Harley called happily.

"What. Is. That?!" The Joker repeated, his fists clenching at his sides.

"I caught the Batman for you," she said, running over toward him. His hand shot out and he caught her by the throat before she could touch him.

"You what!?" he hissed, bringing her face close to his. Harley's eyes widened in surprise.

"Now you don't have to chase him anymore," she said. "I thought you wanted to get the Batman!"

"Only if I do it, you little-" he shouted, throwing her as hard as he could. She hit the ground and skidded along the concrete, and the Joker stormed past her, grabbing Batman's ear. "One moment, please, Bats…" he violently released Batman's cowl and stomped back to Harley.

"Puddin, I don't understand! Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Do you know what I wanted?" he screeched, grabbing both of her hat tips and yanking her to her feet. "Do you know what you were supposed to do today!?" Harley's face fell as she realized she had forgotten that she was supposed to initiate the Joker's plan at Arkham.

"I'm sorry," she pleaded. "I didn't remember. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"I've given you chances." Joker hissed, throwing her down again, his face twisted in fury.

"I'm only trying to make you happy. I did this for you. For us," she sobbed, crawling away from him. Joker watched her, howling with laughter. He returned to Batman.

"So sorry. Just having a little domestic! Trust me-" His face darkened. "-it won't last much longer." He walked to Harley and grabbed her hat tip, bending down to look at her. "There is no us!" he screeched, grinning madly. She met his eyes with a trembling lip.

"No," she whimpered, a tear splashing over her mask. Harley trembled slightly. She couldn't believe it. She had chosen them. Chosen him.

"You've ruined plan after plan, dear, and it has to stop." He smiled, his eyes wide. He nodded slowly, tugging on her hat tip. "Yes..."

"I've only tried to help. I love you!" she begged him. The Joker stared at her, and then burst into laughter.

"Oh Harley!" He bent over, a hand on his knee, laughing wildly. He wiped a tear from his eye. "You kill me." He dragged her to her feet, accidentally tearing her hood off, and grabbed her hair. He looked at her, holding her head at an angle to look at him. "Looks like you're the punchline, Darling," Joker hissed, and then heaved her headfirst through the dirty window to his left.

"NO!" Batman shouted, and the Joker raced to the window, leaning out to watch her fall. The night wind snatched away his howling laughter.

Harley felt the rush of the air around her as she fell, flew, and she closed her eyes before she hit the ground.

"Oh don't worry, Bats, there's nothing you could have done. I've done us both a favor-" Joker giggled as he turned around, and then frowned. Batman was gone.

"Bruce!" Nightwing sprung out of the elevator into the Batcave. Batman was sitting at the computer banks and spun to see Nightwing as he ran down toward him. "What was Alfred's mayday about? He said you were gone!"

"It was Harley Quinn," Batman said, flipping his cowl down. Nightwing skidded to a stop. His blood ran cold.

"Harley Quinn?" he asked. Bruce smashed his fist into to the table.

"She found the Batcave, and she knew who I was!"

"Bruce," Nightwing whispered quietly. Bruce talked over him.

"I don't know how she found out, but I swear-"

"-Bruce-"

"-Her kidnapping me was some kind of crazy. If the Joker hadn't gotten there-"

"-Bruce-"

"-and he was beyond furious." Bruce shook his head. "I feel bad for that little clown now that I think she's-"

"-BRUCE!" Nightwing yelled, grabbing Bruce's shoulders and forcing him to face him. He'd promised her that he wouldn't tell, but he'd also told her not to lay a finger on anyone in his family. It was only a matter of time before she broke another promise. Bruce finally noticed the tortured expression on Dick's face. "Lee is Harley Quinn." Nightwing bent his head. He took off his mask and tossed it on the table. Bruce was too stunned to know how to react.

"Dick, I think she's dead," he said automatically.

"You- what? Bruce, that is not funny-"

"-No, Dick. She's dead."

"I don't… I don't understand." Dick stared at him, his eyes wide.

"The Joker he…" Bruce trailed off, not wanting to hurt Dick more.

"He what? Bruce what happened!?" Dick shouted desperately, grabbing Bruce's shoulders.

"I think she was working on her own, and the Joker was disappointed in her because of something she hadn't done. He pushed her… It was a seven story fall. I saw the body."

"She…" Dick still looked at Bruce like he didn't understand. He exhaled sharply and released Bruce's shoulders, blinking slowly. "I don't… no." Dick looked up at Bruce, and he couldn't face him. Bruce looked down, closing his eyes. Again he'd looked into the face of the young boy who'd watched his parents fall to their deaths. Dick stood, frozen to the spot.

"Dick, I'm sorry. I didn't know she was…"

"No, you couldn't have- she must've- I've seen her catch herself she- she…" Dick ran both his hands through his hair, desperately searching for an excuse, an explanation. Anything.

"She couldn't have escaped. The Joker watched the whole thing."

Dick stared at him and swallowed hard. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out; Bruce didn't know what else to tell him. Dick closed his eyes and looked down, covering his face with his hands. The elevator dinged before the doors slid open. Alfred stepped calmly into the Batcave.

"Master Wayne I am glad to see you've come back," he paused when he saw Dick. "Master Dick?" he inquired. Dick tried to walk, a hand reaching out to steady himself as he stumbled. Bruce caught his arm, and Dick suddenly collapsed against Bruce, sobbing. Alfred looked at Bruce in alarm.

"Is he alright? Should I go get the first aide?"

"No," Bruce told him. "That won't help." Dick sobbed helplessly, resting his forehead on Bruce's shoulder. He was so confused and hurt that he didn't know what to think; all he knew was that he'd tried not to cry for so long and he just couldn't hold it in anymore. Not now, not when she was gone. Bruce stared at Alfred in bewilderment. Alfred looked at him seriously and made a gesture for Bruce to put his arm around Dick. Bruce followed Alfred's instruction and put his arm around Dick's shoulders. Dick leaned against him weakly, gasping as he sobbed into Bruce's cape. Bruce closed his eyes sadly and held Dick tighter.

She was gone.