Author's note: Hello friends. No, I have not abandoned this story, but the last two months have been extremely hard for me personally. Writing unfortunately had become secondary priority as I dealt with some personal matters. It is one of those times, you know? But things are looking brighter. I have my muse back in gear and I have new things prepared for you in the upcoming chapters. In case you have not noticed, we are almost two thirds up in the complex plot of this story. I hope you're enjoyoing the ride so far. Thank you all for your patience and most of all, thank to those of you that have added this story to your faves. That means a lot to me, since this story is dedicated to you all Joker fans out there.

These next two chapters promises some revelations, that will force the character to desperate measures as the wheels turn towards the resolution later on. I wish I could promise more often postings, but I'm not all out in the clear yet. I can promise though to try my best to not leave you for too long. It's not fair for anybody. Anyways, Enjoy this chapter that was crafted with all my love to you all. Hope you'll enjoy it as you have the rest of the story. Please...feel free to comment on the story. It is those little shared thought that keep us writers on our toes and I love to hear from you all. Now...on with the story.

DISCLAIMER#1: BATMAN and RELATED CHARACTERS belong to DC UNIVERSE, not me.

DISCLAIMER#2: There are instances of MATURE LANGUAGE and SITUATIONS and some SEXUAL INNUENDO. This story contains some RELIGIOUS elements that might offend some readers. I'm sorry, but I've tried to present an interesting mythology for the purpose of entertainment only. My purpose is NEVER to indoctrinate or teach and some GRAPHIC VIOLENCE might be depicted so please be warned. Read at your own risk.

BETA: This chapter has been wonderfully beta-ed by my friend DOLLHOUOSEDISASTER without whose help, this would be a much harder write. Thanks a million to her for making the time to help me on this.

Chapter 36: FALL FROM GRACE

Joker entered Black's office with a flouncy step, as he snacked on a bag of popcorn. Standing beside Mask was Gabriel, who greeted him with a perverse smile that seemed to mock him. You slimy little bastard…I'm going to feed on your rotten soul for all eternity, Rancor thought as he controlled the urge to spit fire on the mortal body of the fallen angel and looked at Mask who was busy going over some notes on his desk.
"You requested my presence, Lord Skeletor?" Joker said popping a kernel in his mouth.

"Where have you been?" Black inquired without lifting his eyes from his bundle of paper.

Joker glared at Gabriel who almost imperceptibly shook his head. What, like this wasn't your idea Gabby? Rancor thought as he scoffed and inhaled deeply. He smelled betrayal. "Well, let me see…had some Reiki on Monday, on Tuesday did my nails, then joined a gym on Wednesday, and yesterday played a little cat and mouse."

Black looked at the Clown through narrow eyes and a knitted brow. "You're not funny."

"But proves that I've been really busy this week, right? Now really, what's up, Your Ugliness…?"

"SHUT UP, RANCOR!" Black growled forcing Joker to back off a few steps, the smile in his face fixed in a mocking gesture to his superior. "You're here because I have not heard from you in weeks. Why didn't you report?"

"I didn't deem it necessary. You're goals are being met, Lord Skeletor…" Joker ate more of his popcorn totally unconcerned by the glowing green eyes piercing through him. Neither popcorn nor anger ever tasted so good. "I'll deliver your Bat for dinner before you can even say…"

Black roared and the atmosphere in the office became hot and thick like a sauna. Gabriel backed off a few paces behind Mask. The Mafioso took a deep breath and the air around him ignited in a hot green flame that suddenly spiraled from his burning aura to envelope the Jester. Joker's body tensed, making him spill his popcorn as he fell on his hands and knees in obvious pain. Mask stood beside and stared down in clear indignation.

"What happened to you, Rancor? You used to call me…Master."

"I find Skeletor…much funnier," the Jester responded when Black knelt and pulled Joker by the hair.

"Really, Clown? Then let's see how funny it feels when I rip out that tongue of yours. In case you don't remember…I hated Joker before. Don't make me start hating you too." Joker just smiled malevolently, and Mask's eyes glowed with an even brighter green hue.

"Master Eligos, Joker has been very busy with the preparations of the ceremony." Gabriel finally interrupted. Both Mask and Joker turned to see the albino as he approached them carefully. "I can testify to that."

"How do you know what this piece of filth has been up to?"

"Because I've been keeping my eyes on this Clown for you since the merge and though in a very insane Joker way, he's been fulfilling your plan. You'd be happy to know you'll have your Bat by the next full Moon if not sooner."

"No more failures and no more delays." Black warned, eyeing Joker who seemed to mock him with a toothy smile. "Lose the smirk, Rancor."

"You know I can't. It's my PERMANENT sex appeal." The Jester said trying to hold some giggles. "And you should thank me 'cause I've actually done more than any of the other Hunters. Thanks to me you'll have a Bat and a Cat for dinner for the D-day buffet."

"Is this what it is all about, Rancor? You're jealous of your brothers?"

"No…just saying. I'm a doer…and my mission requires I have freedom to do the little evil things I have to do, just like the real Joker would. And he would never give you weekly reports…unless he could lace the paper report with some lethal poison…or make your phone explode while your listen to the report." Joker giggled. "Oh, so many ideas are coming to me now…"

Black's eyes narrowed, the green flame burning bright deep within. "But you are not Joker…right?"

"Maybe not to you…but everybody else thinks I am. Wasn't that the joke?"

Mask made a pause as he studied the Jester's face for any sign of deception. "Joke…I see. Playing your mortal counterpart to the end, eh? I hate it when you take on the personality of your victims, Rancor, but I don't want any more delays and not knowing what you're up to makes me…nervous."

"Then I'll report for you, my Lord," Gabriel volunteered. Both Black and Joker looked at him in disbelief. "Assign me to his team and I'll monitor his progress."

"You? What made you change your mind about working with the Clown?"

"Look at him, Lord Eligos. Underneath that pale skin he's still your faithful Hunter." Black exchanged looks between the Jester and his henchman then nodded complacently. Joker just looked perplexedly at the white haired man defending him. "His methods might be Joker's, but his soul is still Rancor's."

"Alright. You have a new assignment now, Gabriel. Rancor will keep his mortal role and you will report to me." Black let go of the Jester's green mane. "And to dissipate your jealous trends that make you so….disgustingly human, Rancor, I relieve you from your duties in retrieving the Songs. I will send Crane instead and give him a little of the…field training you think he's lacking."

"Thank you Ugl-," Joker took his time to answer, while still on his knees. "…I mean… Master. May I return to my dark duties? I'm a little behind in my schedule...things to do, people to kill…souls to feed on."

"Yes, and I want daily reports from you, Gabriel. Not a single thing should be omitted." Black said looking disdainfully at the Clown still on the ground. The moment Joker tried to stand Eligos pulled him down by his bowtie and forced down onto the floor. "But first, I want you to clean this mess you made. Clean every kernel on the floor…with your mouth. Maybe that way you'll not forget who do you work for, Rancor."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Gordon waited patiently in the small office of the Museum Curator. In the last two hours he had the opportunity to enjoy a few pieces of ancient Egyptian pottery that lay scattered on a nearby table as well as sift through the pages of an original King James Bible. The office, no larger than the twenty by fifteen he had at MCU, had been reduced to half its size with relics from a myriad of places from around the globe, most of them just waiting to be entered into the museum's database. Dr. Tom Steinbeck, an old and feeble man in his early sixties, with thick glasses that hid his tired grey eyes entered carrying one large stack of old black and white photographs between his hands that Gordon promptly helped to set up in the office's desk. Steinbeck unrolled the sleeves of his wrinkled shirt and extended a friendly hand to the Commissioner.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting long, Commissioner Gordon." The curator said cleaning the stack of folders on his desk chair.
"It's alright," Gordon lied. The truth was that if Steinbeck would have been in his jurisdiction, he would have had him brought to the office in chains an hour and a half ago. "Glad you could make some space for us tonight, doctor."

"It was tight, especially when we're opening three more exhibits this week. As you can see it's past nine in the evening and I'm still preparing the photographs for the Jewish Holocaust exhibit." From underneath the desk, Steinbeck pulled an icy cold bottle of Evian. "You want some? It's a little warm in here."

"No thanks," Gordon responded with a gentle nod. "What brings me here is an Etruscan statue that the Gotham History museum lent your institution three months ago.

"Oh," Steinbeck took a sip of his water bottle, "with all the work here, we've slacked on the paperwork for the loan extension. Hope we didn't break any law by keeping it here for a little bit longer…but it's one of our most popular exhibits."

"I'm not here to arrest anybody, but the police want the statue back in Gotham as soon as possible." Gordon stretched on the chair. "It has become evidence in a case and the police needs it to examine it for leads."

"Really? I would expect that it would be of more interesting to another archeologist since the statue is not really Etruscan and a lot older than previously described." Gordon's eyes opened in surprise. "Thought you already knew."

"No, and I'm sure that will help in the investigation."

The curator said leaning on his desk towards Gordon. "Was this statue in a crime scene?"

"I can't give you any details now. It's an ongoing investigation."

"I see. But regarding your request, I can't authorize the move tonight. Unless you brought a crane from your precinct, I have no way to get one until the working crew arrives in the morning. Sorry, it's just too heavy for a forklift."

Gordon looked at his watch. "You sure that you cannot pull some strings with the administration? This is a crucial piece of evidence and it would help if-."

"I understand Commissioner, but my hands are tied. And your statue is in the safest place, we have a security system comparable with that in the Pentagon and without equipment, it's not going anywhere. It's just…"

"…like at the Library of Congress with a similar security system and these criminals didn't only steal ancient documents, but also killed a few people before leaving the museum without a trace. So much for a security system."

"I…can assure you that your statue is safe." The Curator insisted while tapping a nervous pencil on the desk.

"I'll feel better if I can have a contingent of police officers from my department patrolling the building and staying guard by the statue."

"If it makes you feel better, I have no problems with that," Steinbeck said throwing his hands into the air as he grabbed one folder from behind him. "Just let me a list of names to give security tomorrow. And I'll meet your crew at six in the morning to transfer the statue back to your city."

"Will do." Gordon stood and offered a hand. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Steinbeck." The curator responded with a firm handshake.

"Not a problem." Steinbeck opened one of the files and searched over the collection of photographs inside. "Good night Commissioner."

Gordon nodded politely and headed out of the office taking the elevator to the exhibit level. As he waited, he pulled his Blackberry and texted in a message to a private number from his secured contact list. Within seconds, a response came through.

"MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH. THEY MIGHT STILL TRY SOMETHING TONIGHT."

"I KNOW," Gordon texted back, "BUT IT'S ALL I COULD BARGAIN FOR AT THIS HOUR. OFFICERS WILL KEEP GUARD OF THE STATUE ALL NIGHT LONG. IT'S A TWO TON PIECE OF ROCK. I THINK WE CAN KEEP IT SAFE UNTIL THE MORNING"

There was a long pause before the next text message. "OK. I'LL BE AROUND."

"I KNOW. YOU'RE NEVER GO TOO FAR."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Joker pulled a deck of cards from an inside pocket of his green jacket and started shuffling them between his hands. Gabriel sat beside him in the back of the Jester's sedan, checking what the Clown was doing. Twenty minutes have gone through with hardly any word exchanged between them and before that, it had been very limited to Gabriel asking questions and Joker responded in monosyllables that might or might not be related to the question, but were definitely meant to be insulting. Even Punch in the driver's seat could read the tension as he kept looking through his rear mirror.

"You know I had to intercede for you in there. Shouldn't that mean something?"

Joker grunted angrily. Orange vapor escaped his mouth. "You let him humiliate me so you could look like a good little puppy."

"Eligos was extremely angry with you and you were still pushing his buttons. Bad idea."

"His anger was my dessert, and you left this Clown with no cake." Joker picked an ace of hearts from the top of the deck and the card instantly busted in flames in his hand. "If you had them, I would make you eat your wings while I'd shoved that halo of yours up your-."

"All right, that's enough. Do whatever you want," Gabriel said slapping his hands on his thighs. "At least Eligos will not bother you with the daily reports for now."

"Whatever I want...now that's an idea." The Jester looked out the window and then at the thug on the front seat. The whole deck in his hands turned to ashes and sifted to the car floor. Only a blacked Joker card remained in his hand. "There's so much anger in this mortal that I could kill half the city and not regret it. Add mine and we could set this whole city on fire. Let's play a little game. Punch, new heading: 1007 Mountain Drive."

"But that's just outside the city limits, Boss…where the rich people live."

"I know exactly where that is, idiot. Limit yourself to make the right turns to get me there fast before I decide to set YOU on fire." Joker set the last card on fire by his henchman's ear. Punch responded with a silent nod and accelerated the sedan.

"What are you going to do? Wait, isn't that-"

Joker shushed Gabriel. "SHHHHH! Nothing better for the soul than to linger on guilt and regret, don't you think? We need an angry bat and I need some good oneliners..."

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"You really think they are going to come for the statue tonight?" Robin said switching to heat vision mode in his goggles to scan the darkened exhibit room. He only saw two guards sitting at each side of the Etruscan sculpture, the one on the right looked like trying to fight falling sleep. Nothing his partner on the other side could not fix, by keeping a conversation open. Everything else in the room seemed calm.

"Their time is running out, and if this is the Warrior's song, they have to get it soon. We cannot risk losing it now." Batman responded through the communicator in Robin's ear. "Anything?"

"Not yet. I just think this is the greatest waste of time ever. What if that demon was not telling us the truth?"

"Specter seemed convinced, especially after he saw the symbol of Augor's principality on the shield."

"Yeah, and if Eligos knows we know, you really think he's going to show up like that? Gordon officers are guarding the statue and an army of patrol cars is outside the Museum. Mask might be desperate, but he's not insane." Robin turned the goggles on heat vision and scanned the gallery for the fifth time "Where are you?"

"The Millstein Hall of Advance Mammals on the fourth floor. Hold on…"

"What is it?"

"A shadow off the corner of my eye. Switching to infrared scanner…nothing."

"This place is full of strange shadows at night. It could have been an illusion."

"Maybe, but that illusion seemed headed to the other exhibit in this floor. I'm going to investigate. Even if Mask does not make his move tonight, we'll make sure the statue makes it until the morning."

"Right. Be careful, and keep me posted." Robin responded when he saw one of the museum security officers enter the exhibit to meet the guards. In his hands he carried a thermos and two small paper cups. Tim analyzed the guard in every electromagnetic region of the spectrum. Nothing abnormal there, except that the core body temperature, seemed higher than normal. He kept looking as the security guard as he joked around the two police officers and offered them some warm coffee. Very kind of the guard to share his coffee while in the middle of his shift. Was the security officer even supposed to be in this floor? The sleepy officer was the first one to accept the offer. The guard offered him a paper cup and poured some coffee

"Thanks man. This helps a lot." Sleepy officer said downing the coffee in one gulp.

"No problem. I know that looking at all these old things, gets boring after a while. Just don't tell my supervisor, OK? You want some too?" the guard said to the other officer who accepted silently as his cup was filled to the rim.

"Thought you were running the upper floor," the cop said sipping from his coffee. The security officer shrugged.

"Hey, it's only five minutes out of my post. Who's going to notice, the mummy in the Ramses exhibit next door?" The guard said with a shrug. That voice. Where had Tim heard that voice before and why didn't the guard try some of the coffee himself? "It'll be our little secret."

"Robin, someone's in the museum. I just found…"

"A dead security officer?" Robin whispered into his com. The sudden pause confirmed what he already suspected. This was not just one generous security guard. "I think I'm looking at his replacement right now."

"Only one guard?"

"Yes, and I think he just-." Robin responded when the cops convulsed to the floor and the exhibit wooden doors shut close on their own. "Yep, he poisoned Gordon's guards. How fast can you get here?"

"On my way. Don't do anything without back up."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

The phony security guard leaned over the dead guards and smiled complacently. With an assertive nod, he removed his hat and came into full view of the flood lamps illuminating the sculpture and started to examine it closely, paying attention to the inscriptions decorating the base. Tim immediately recognized the lanky officer's profile.

"Scarecrow? This makes no sense." Tim whispered to his microphone. Crane knelt beside the large statue and ran a hand to dust off some of the inscriptions. Once he felt the stone, Jonathan pressed a shoulder against the smooth surface and started to push. "What the hell is he doing? He can't move that statue all by him-"

It took Crane only two tries to tumble the statue over its side effortlessly. The ancient stone shook the entire museum floor and cracked once it hit the floor, while still holding together in one large piece. Jonathan moved over to look under what had been the base.

"What was that noise?" Batman panted into him microphone.

"I can't believe it. He just tumbled the statue, like nothing. All the two tons of stone are now on the floor. He's now reading some inscriptions at the bottom of the base. Can he really read those symbols?"

"I can't get a hold of Gordon or his unit. Just wait for me. I'm almost there."

Crane stopped what he was doing and looked up at the mezzanine where Tim was hiding in the darkness, his lips stretching into a mischievous smile. Extending his arms to his side, the psychiatrist mumbled something unintelligible and all the floodlights and emergency lights went off leaving the gallery in total darkness.

"Damn, I think he knows I'm here. He has just—." The communicator in the Detective's cowl went dead.

"ROBIN!" Batman screamed to his microphone as he arrived at the gallery doors. He tried to open them, but it was obvious they have been locked from the inside, so he tried a skeleton mask from his belt with no success. No time to pick the lock. Bruce pulled a small ball of plastic explosive from his belt and packed the keyhole with it while introducing a short piece of metal into through the clay. He stepped a few feet from the door, behind a bench set at the ample hall for the tired visitors and waited a few seconds. The lock exploded leaving a fist sized-hole in its place. He jumped over the bench and kicked the door open.

The Gallery was in total darkness. Batman switched to night vision and examined the whole room. The large Etruscan statue was lying on its side along the main axis of the room with the top facing the entrance, but as far as he could see, there was no sign of Crane. The good professor was probably out of here trying to leave the building. He should search for the professor before he escaped, but his first priority was to find Robin and make sure he was fine. Batman opened a channel to Gordon and his team, only getting static. It seemed that whatever Crane did, also affected his communications.

"I knew you could not be too far." A voice reverberated from above. Sitting on the rail of the mezzanine, Crane rocked himself amusingly looking down at the Detective. Odd…why was Crane still here? Batman thought knowing how much Jonathan would avoid a close encounter with him. And while he was not wearing any special gear, Crane seemed to be able to see him through the thick darkness in the room. "You were not invited and still you want to crash this party. You know how annoying that is not to mention…rude?"

"It's over Crane." Batman warned. "You're under arrest."

"Sure," Jonathan said with a soft chuckle. "But speak to my promoter first. Mr. Drake, if you please…"

Drake? What the hell is he talking about? Batman thought as a dark blur jumped down from the mezzanine to land just a few feet from him. The identity of the attacker took Batman by surprise as he saw his partner kneeling on the floor, holding his fighting shaft firmly in hand and staring at him with eyes that seemed to glow even through the night vision gear Robin was wearing.

"Leave," Tim growled acquiring the familiar fighting stance ready to attack when he saw fit, "or I'll make you regret it."

"Robin whatever Scarecrow has done to you…you're stronger than that. Fight it."

"Nothing has been done to me. I just see you now for what you truly are, a manipulative son of a bitch."

"OUCH! That has to hurt," Crane mocked from the rail when he was surprised by a small throwing star that flew close to his head to get embedded on a nearby wall. As he looked down, he noted the angry glare Robin gave him from below. With a shrug, he jumped effortlessly to ground level and walked over the tipped sculpture. "OK, that would be my cue to get back to work. Take care of him for me, kid."

"Robin, do you even know who I am?" Batman inquired.

"Yes, you're the bastard who enjoys seeing us all in pain. Did you enjoy it when Nightwing was almost killed by the Clown? I bet you loved it when Joker killed Jason too. How much more do we have to hurt before you care for us instead of him?"

"I've always cared for you all. I don't want to see anybody else hurt. YOU KNOW THIS. THINK!"

"I'm thinking and you should've thought too before selling us to the Clown. You care more for that psycho than you ever cared for any of us. Didn't you think we'd notice you're holding back with him?"

"What?"

"Oh, don't act all innocent now. I have put it all together now and it hurts here." The Boy wonder held his chest plate hard and his face contorted in an expression of excruciating pain. "I know you're protecting Joker at the cost of innocent people…at the cost of your friends and family. WHY? How could you do that to us?" Robin spat acidly as he doubled over and reached again for his chest with a groan. This was definitely not Tim Drake speaking and Bruce wondered if one of the Hunters had taken possession of his partner. Could he undo what Crane had obviously done to him? He was resolute on asking the one responsible of this situation personally.

Batman sprinted to the base of the sculpture to face Crane when he was tackled by Robin. In the floor both men exchanged punches and kicks when the Boy wonder tried to stab Batman with the sharp end of his staff. The Detective reflected the shaft with a gauntlet and with a quick twist connected an elbow to his young partner's lower jaw sending him backwards to the floor. Batman took the shaft and collapsed it to only a foot long to dispose of it when a rain of throwing stars hit him. He looked around but he had lost the Boy Wonder's location. By his feet he heard a few metallic clinks and before he could react the ground under him exploded sending him hard against a wall.

"This is it, Batman." Robin said, "You've hurt your last innocent kid." That was the confirmation Bruce needed that Tim was not playing. He was aiming to the jugular and murder was his goal.

The Detective reached for the communicator on his cowl, but there was nothing more than static through the speakers so Alfred was out of reach. This time he would have to fight alone, and worst of all, he might need to permanently cripple his attacker. How could he bring himself to hurt his own family without looking like a villain?

As Bruce tried to stand, still dizzy from the explosion, Robin had re-initiated his attack with a kick hard to the Batman's chest plate. Bruce fell back on the floor again. Robin jumped on him, throwing punches to vital parts of his body where he knew he could cause the most damage, but the Detective deflected them fast. Using a small window of opportunity, he held to his partner's elbow and pressed hard. The sudden pain paralyzed the young man for a second and Batman got a grip on the boy's cape and flung it over his adversary's head. He rushed a fist to Robin's head and then kicked him hard enough to send him to the floor. He reached for his belt for some gas pellets he slammed against the floor creating a thick cloud of black smoke. Batman switched to heat vision and reached for the taser in his utility belt firing a charge at Robin as the boy was trying to stand. Tim's body stiffened and went down to the floor convulsing as the weapon discharged. The Boy wonder didn't move and the Detective reached to feel a faint pulse on the boy's neck. Weak but steady. It was time to concentrate on the real target in the room.

Bruce scanned the room realizing that Crane probably used the diversion of the fight to make his escape. From atop the mezzanine he saw a shadow move fast. Not even the professor could move that fast. Crane or not…he decided to follow and fired his grapple towards the mezzanine. Whatever it was, it was moving incredible fast, but he could still hear footsteps outside of the gallery. He followed them and halfway through the main hall, he made visual contact with the psychiatrist. Making a sharp turn to keep up, he tossed a set of bolos that wrapped around the Crane's legs. Parchments fell from the Professor's hands as he fell on his face. Crane crawled to retrieve the documents when Batman stood full weight on his hand.

"OUCH, THAT HURTS!" Crane screamed with a flood of curses as the bones in his hand crunched under the vigilante's weight. The Dark Knight grabbed the psychiatrist by the collar of his uniform and slammed him against one of the columns on the hall. He followed that with a punch to the stomach that let the professor gasping for air. He threw the psychiatrist head first against the stucco wall ahead. Crane slid down to the floor moaning as Batman yanked him again by his shirt and forced him hard against the column to face him.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!" Batman yelled just inches from Crane's bleeding face. The psychiatrist looked back at him amusedly through a bleeding nose and bloodshot eyes that seemed to glow in the dim lighting of the hall. "TELL ME!"

"Pain is not so good when you are the one feeling it…is it?" Crane said throwing a blind punch that missed the Detective's face by an inch. Bruce growled, turned his enemy around and twisted an arm behind him then slammed the psychiatrist's head against the column. If Scarecrow was asking for pain, he was going to get it even if it meant ripping his arm off.

"I'm not asking again, Jonathan."

Crane growled and threw a wild elbow that Batman quickly dodged. Using the momentum, the Detective turned Crane around and prepared to punch him when the psychiatrist blew yellow smoke onto the vigilante's face, and Batman felt a painful knot at the base of his stomach. Suddenly Bruce was ten years old again and the gory image of his dead parents lying in the damp alley invaded his brain, reliving the pain of seeing their blood stain the pavement and having lost all he loved in just a second. He heard a gunshot and images of the bloodied naked body of Barbara Gordon lying on the floor of her father's apartment filled the walls of the dark alley. He had not being there, but he remembered the pain in her eyes after Joker… It had been his fault. These were not just memories, but painful baggage he had been carrying with him and now weighed heavy on his heart. The pain of the loss and the suffering of his loved ones made it hard for him to breath.

"Is having your friends turned against you as painful as losing them all over again, Detective? Pain is such a liberating feeling…or a terrible burden. In your case I'd say the latter, Batman."

"WHAT…DID YOU DO…TO ME?" Batman responded overwhelmed by the pain and the sorrow in his heart. He's knees faltered and he fell hard on the tiled floor panting hard.

"Just playing a little pain game of my own. What about you…ready to beg for relief of the pain of your mistakes or maybe I can make it the only feeling you'll ever have and see how you deal with it? And I always thought your pain made you stronger. Maybe we overestimated your worth."

We? Hearing Crane speaking in third person made even less sense, but then…maybe it was the last clue to this absurd puzzle." You've always obsessed over fear, Jonathan. Why the sudden focus in pain?"

"Because everybody is afraid of pain, Bats. Why would you fight your failures away if it wasn't to escape the pain they cause you? See…even you are just human after all," Crane chuckled. Batman glared at him.

"Maybe it's time we bring forth your greatest pain…just to see what it tastes like. Jason Todd's death was your greatest-"

"Unë ju urdhëroj të më thoni emrin tuaj talentuar!" (I command you to tell me your demonic name!)

At that moment, Crane's body tensed. His eyes open wide and glowed in a yellow fire as he tried to avoid the Detective's glare. Fear was clearly visible in Jonathan's face. Batman stood and walked over the petrified psychiatrist. Clenching to Jonathan's clothing he repeated his request. Jonathan fixed his eyes on the blue orbs of the Knight, his body shaking in fear, unable to utter any word.

"A-Argor," the psychiatrist finally said as his body went limp and unresponsive under the Detective's grip.

"You're…the Hunter of Pain," Batman said remembering what he had read from Fred's book. Hunters fed on human souls and took over their bodies like a puppet master had control over their puppets and Scarecrow had become their latest victim. Batman's pain turned quickly into pity. "I'm sorry Crane. Not even you deserved this."

Crane blinked and looked around as if disoriented by his surroundings and tried to disengage the hold Batman had on him.

"Where am I…how did I get here?"

"I'm not falling for your lies, Argor". Batman responded connecting a fist hard on Crane's face that sent him across the floor.

"Lies…what lies and what's wrong with you? Don't you know who I am…Crane? Scarecrow?" The psychiatrist said cleaning the blood from a busted lip as he scooted back putting distance between him and the Batman as fast as he could. "Have you gone insane? Get off me…get off-"

"I know what you really are, monster," Batman grabbed Crane by the jacket and threw him to a wall across the hall. Crane protested as the Detective shoved him against a wall and lifted a fist ready to knock the living daylights of the professor. As he was ready to strike, a loud screeching sound from the speakers in his cowl left them disoriented and dizzy. Jonathan tried pushing the vigilante off, but Batman just slammed him against the wall again, using his body to contain the squirming psychiatrist.

"ONE. TWO. THREE, TESTING. How do you work this piece of crap, Jarvis?" The unmistakable falsetto reverberated through the Detective's communications unit. "HELLO…IS ANYBODY HOME?"

"Shut up, Joker I can hear you." Batman barked at the microphone as he secured a protesting Crane against the wall and lowered the volume of his speakers.

"No...not Joker. Not the Clown. He- " The psychiatrist sputtered before Batman silenced him with his gauntlet.

"Wheewh! I thought I had really screwed up your bat-phone. Your butler over here was not too nice when I asked him for the instruction booklet so I had to improvise. Sorry for any technical difficulties," Joker made a pause as Crane kept fighting the Batman's grip. "Is that Scarecrow wailing like a fangirl at a Justin Bieber concert? Pathetic."

Was Joker really in the Batcave or was this one of his bluffs? Stupid…Joker knew Bruce Wayne and Batman were the same person, but the nerve of returning to the Mansion after what he had done at the gala a few nights ago even surprised the vigilante. Crane tried to speak through his gag without making much sense.

"HELLOOO! Joker yelled angrily. "YOU STILL-."

"…here. What you want?"

The Clown giggled. "Originally I wanted a friendly chat between friends, but Alfie here told me you were not home. Decided to take a self guided tour to the lower levels and guess what I found behind the grandfather clock."

"You'd better not have hurt the butler."

"Oh yes Alfie…the missing father figure, eh Brucie? Don't worry, he's still breathing, for now." Joker chuckled. "I'm kind of honored to see that you have my oversized Joker card on the cave's spotlight. Wait, what did you do to my eyes? You made holes on my card in one of your tantrums, didn't you? You and your anger, dear boy…kudos!"

"THE PAIN….WHY ME…IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" Crane screamed while thrashing under the Knight's weight making it difficult to control. Batman warned the psychiatrist to hush without much success as the psychiatrist's body started to convulse. "PLEASE…STOP HURTING ME…GO AWAY."

"If you want to talk…we can meet somewhere else. You don't have any business in there."

"But you have so many wonderful toys in here and look…is that Boy Blunder's memorial? Cute. Have you found a place for Dumbwing's yet? If I can make a suggestion on the subject…"

"Joker…that's enough…" Batman growled

"PLEASE…MAKE IT STOP HURTING…" Crane spurted when Batman put a hand over his mouth again.

"What are you doing to good ol' Crane, Batsy? He sounds in a lot of pain," Joker protested. "If you value your butler's life, unhand my straw-brained brother. Pretty please?"

"What guarantee do I have you-" Batman was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot and breaking glass. A knot formed on his throat thinking that he might just have caused Alfred harm.

"I don't need to guarantee anything and I think you're gonna need a new display for your bird's tights. You just do what I tell you or my next bullet will blow Alfie's head." A tense silence built between the Clown and the Knight.

"You know what he is, don't you?" Batman inquired while staring at the dark brown eyes of the psychiatrist in front of him. In the bottomless darkness of those eyes, the Detective noticed the same yellow glow he had seen before in Tim's eyes. "A Hunter…"

"Oh my…is that a joke, Bats?" Joker busted in a loud laugh. "Crane is just an idiot who likes to cross dress and play with himself all the time. Perverted and creepy, especially when he dresses like Cher."

"I heard that." The Psychiatrist growled as he brushed away the Detective's hand from his mouth. Joker giggled through the communication link. "Release me, Detective, or I'll show you pain like you've never felt before."

"You heard the boy, Batsy. Let him finish his work or I will decorate this cave with your butler's brains."

Batman pondered for a moment and realized he had no options. With Joker in the Batcave there was too much at risk, even if he could trust the Clown with keeping his side about not hurting Alfred. He just couldn't trust him, but he could not risk it either. With an angry grunt, he let go of the psychiatrist creating some space between them. Crane backed off carefully then walked over to where the scrolls had rolled away to rest by the wall and after dusting them he hid them within the folds of his uniform. He approached the vigilante gingerly. A perverse smile beamed in his face.

"Who's the man now, Batman…you have been reduced to nothing." Crane said mockingly.

"Don't push your luck, Argor…"

"Pathetic excuse for a hero…" Crane spat on the floor and rushed down hall to promptly disappear from view. Batman started to walk back to the gallery to check on Robin. At the gallery's door, the Boy Wonder rested painfully against the frame. The Knight extended a hand carefully towards his partner, who barely noticed him. As the boy's strength faltered, Batman helped him carefully to the floor.

"OUCH! That has to hurt…" Joker said over the speaker

"That's what Argor does, Joker…cause pain. But what is it that you do?"

"Excuse me?"

"You called Crane brother…."

"We both share the same floor accommodations: Psycho ward seven at Arkham." Joker chuckled. "I guess that makes us family."

"You lie…you're one of them now." Batman pulled a small portable comm device from his utility belt and checked for a full signal. He tried texting Gordon with the news about Crane in the hopes he would have better luck in stopping him.

"If by that you mean that I must be on Black's payroll, you'll be glad to know that I'm doing this for free."

"Unë ju urdhëroj të më thoni emrin tuaj talentuar!" Batman said and a tense silence filled the airways. An answer from the Commissioner reached his portable computer. There was no sign of Crane anywhere in the perimeter. The police were getting ready to raid the museum.

"What is that supposed to mean? Are you asking me out, Bats… in Romanian?" The Clown busted into a hysterical laughter. "You're such a flirt."

"GIVE ME YOUR NAME NOW!" Batman roared as he walked back towards the gallery. Once he arrived, he noticed Robin leaning precariously against the door frame holding tight to the side of his ribcage as he breathed precariously. The looks the boy's eyes were a combination of confusion and exhaustion as sign that he was obviously still in pain after the taser attack.

"Whatever you want to call me…as long as you whisper it softly into my ear. I love taunting you, and you love to see how far I can push you before you cross your moral line. It is a wonderful relationship we have, the perfect marriage. The comedian and his straight man…"

"What are you getting out of this?"

"You…and some added bonuses. You know…I like this little hole you like home. Can we be roomies?"

"And what about all that you told me about trying to change. Control the monster inside you?"

"An addict will always be an addict, and a monster will always be a monster. Why not enjoy it while it lasts?"

"So that's it? You will just turn back and let the darkness eat whatever humanity you have left?"

"You need to listen to Tom Brokaw more often. He's the one who has said I have no humanity left. I'm just the monster who feeds in human misery while laughing at it. It's not that hard to understand. This is me…love me or hate me…"

"Doing this," Batman said as he helped his partner to sit on the floor and rest, "the only thing you inspire is hate."

"Then hate me," Joker said with a deep sigh. "…with everything you got. Now I would recommend you come home soon. This city feels empty without you and with no one else to play with I'm getting bored. What about you Alfie? Up for a game of tag the butler?"

"Leave him alone…" Bruce growled as Joker fired again and screamed TAG through the phone. Bruce's stomach turned into a knot as he heard the hysterical laughter over the speakers. He should had foreseen this…prevent it in some way…

"Come and make me…'sweetheart'." After the last word, the comm. link went dead. Batman set a hand over Robin's shoulder.

"You OK?" Tim nodded and wetted his lips.

"What happened? All I remember was every painful moment of my life…and you were in each one. You became…my pain and wanted to kill you for that. Now the pain is gone except for this damn headache." Tim held his head between his hands. Bruce remained silent. "What I said in there…I'm sorry…I didn't mean it."

"I know. You were over the influence of a Hunter." Batman sighed. "I have to hurry back to Gotham."

Robin gave Bruce a quizzical look. "Why…what happened?"

"Alfred-." Batman saw the confused look in Drake's face and his heart sank. How was he going to explain that the Clown was now at the mansion without feeding the pain in the boy's heart with the knowledge the he might have put the butler and them at risk. How could he face the boy with the truth that all this was happening because he trusted Joker? "I'll explain later. Now stay with Gordon and tell him what happened. Tell him Crane is possessed by a Hunter and possibly all the other rogues too and that we're going to need the help of the League and the Pact on this."