A/N: Sorry it took a while to update, I've been slacking a little. Thanks for your reviews and PMs, I really look forward to them. Ohhh, I can't wait for "Caprica" to come on, I hope it's as good as BSG.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

Origin unknown

"Don't bother trying to trace this call, it won't do you any good. Now....you have to listen to me Gordon. Please."

"Listen to you? You ran away with him Samantha and don't give me one of your goddamn lies either. The motel had a surveillance tape. I saw you leave with him willingly. You wasted my time, wasted my men's time. One of my detectives is dead. Remember Nash? And I'll go ahead and say it, he's probably dead because of you!"

He was shouting at her, his anger and frustration boiling over. After all he'd done for her and she'd betrayed him, made him look like a fool. And now she had the nerve to call him in the middle of the night - on his home number no less! - and tell him to listen to her.

A deep sigh on her end. Then: "Finished? I know you're pissed but you're gonna have to yell at me some other time. I'm calling because of Dominic. Now, do you want to scream or do you want to listen?"

A pang of anxiety overrode his fury and he swallowed. "Go ahead."

"Good. Now, a question and answer me honestly.....what does he remember?"

"Nothing really. Leaving the tunnel outside Arkham and then Dr. Peloni shooting him. Why?"

"Is that it? You need to tell me if it isn't." Samantha's voice was hard.

"No, you need to tell me what the hell............"

"Gordon, I don't have time to fuck around with you. Do you want Dominic to die? Because if you do then just keep running your mouth. I'm asking for a reason, I'm trying to help him. Now, let's try this again. Is there anything else he remembers?"

"No, nothing."

"And what do the doctors say about his memory?"

Gordon fought the urge to question her and answered the question. "They say that night will probably be a blank, that it's unlikely he'll ever remember anything else. The bullet is still in his brain, he'll never be like he was."

Her voice softened. "I'm sorry Jim."

"You should be," he growled. "You could have helped us, could have saved some lives. Instead you put your loyalties with him and, mark my words, you'll wind up dead because of it."

"I didn't put my loyalties with anyone," she responded. "I'm not on anyone's side."

"Don't give me your wishy-washy bullshit Samantha. You chose this, you wanted it. My family is in hiding because of the Joker, Barbara is going to divorce me because I'm not a husband anymore, or a father. All I've done is obsess over catching that bastard, there's nothing else in my life anymore. I eat it and breathe it and it's killing me. I'm losing it all Sam, everything I believed in, everything I held dear. What have you lost?"

A long pause before she spoke. "I've lost everything."

"Not yet you haven't," he snapped. "You had the power to end this and you tossed it...."

"I love him Jim. I always have."

For a moment he was dumbstruck, sure he'd misunderstood her. When he was finally able to speak his throat was tight with disgust. "Then you're a fool," he whispered. "A goddamn fool."

"Yes," she agreed. "And I apologize for everything. But know this, I did try to help Dom. I'm never coming back to your side but if we ever meet again remember that I tried to help him, okay?"

"If we ever meet again I'll have you arrested."

She laughed. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that. Fair enough."

Gordon heard a muffled sound, as if the phone were being moved. Then a new voice on the phone, tremulous and mocking. The sound of it made the hairs on his neck stand on end.

"Aw don't be so hard on her Jim. You ought to be thanking her you know. 'Cause that nephew of yours.....hm well he could be a problem. But thanks to her, um, persuasion I've decided to let him live. For a while anyway. Hey, how's your bat friend?"

Gordon's heart seized up and for a moment he was frightened. Then he steadied himself. "You'll know soon enough. He'll find you, you know. And when he does....."

The Joker clicked his tongue, as if disappointed at Gordon's hostility. "Promises promises. Look, sorry to hear about Barbara cutting you loose. Think she'll still let you see the kids?"

His hand clenched so tightly on the phone his knuckles went white. "You sonofabitch, don't you ever...."

"Now now Jim, don't be so defensive, hm? It isn't healthy. No, not at all. See, I was only trying to make conversation and you jump to conclusions. But....." the Joker's voice lowered conspiratorially. "If you ever want her taken care of look me up. Ex wives can be a real hassle."

A malignant giggle and then the line went dead.


"Well, looks like you burned a bridge tonight." Jack shut the phone off and dropped it into his pocket.

"That's one way to put it." Samantha sat down on an empty crate and looked around the warehouse. "Since we're back in Gotham shouldn't we find a new place? You've been here a while and Glen's head is stinking the place up something awful."

"One more night won't make a difference. Anyway I've already got another place lined up. A deserted factory by the docks, you'll love it."

She couldn't tell if he was serious or not. "As long as it's warm and I'm not sleeping on concrete I won't care."

He slouched towards her, head cocked curiously. "That cop......he means that much to you? 'Cause you can't go back now. Ever. You're in it with me."

She shrugged. "No point in killing him if he doesn't know anything. Besides, you like risks, right? Well there you go."

Jack dropped to his knees in front of her. His make-up was back, as was his suit. "Oh I think there's more to it than that. Like, oh I don't know, the fact you've got a soft spot for him."

"A soft spot? I hardly knew him. But I do feel bad that I didn't trust him when it was that fucking old man I should have been worried about."

He grinned. "Surprise."

Samantha leaned back on one arm and regarded him. "I'm a little tired of surprises. Speaking of which, you're going to keep your end of the deal, right?"

"Of course. As long as you keep yours."

She nodded, trying not to think about what she'd agreed to. "I will. It's something I want to do."

Jack pointed to the doorway eyes glinting with amusement. "Because he doesn't count, ya know?"

He was referring to Glen. Her eyes flickered to the severed head, then to Jack. "I guess not."

There was no way out of the deal and she knew it. But she wanted to do it, as wrong as it was. It was simple really. One life for another.

I'm pretty much damned anyway. Might as well make it official and get a little payback while I'm at it.


A/N: So what kind of deal have they made this time? Always a catch with Jack. And no, one of the lives isn't hers. I like that she finally came clean with Gordon. Figured it was about time.