Lee paced the warehouse, it didn't make sense, how could everyone be so blind? No, maybe more accurately they were choosing to stay blind, after all if they exposed the vigilantes it was possible they would quit on them. Gotham couldn't afford to lose their protection, his protection. How could she be so blind? She was being hypocritical of the Gothamites since she didn't know until now either. She sighed and sat down heavily then looked at the paper on her desk. She had stayed up the entire night trying to figure everyone out. She rubbed a hand across her face and discovered that she was still wearing the makeup from the gala. Harley groaned and pulled open a drawer inher desk. She picked up a packet of makeup wipes just to toss it down in dismay after finding it empty. She pushed away from the desk and moved over to the cot, bending to look beneath it. She pulled out a duffel bag and rooted through it finding a spare pack of makeup wipes.

"What on earth am I going to do?" She asked herself, beginning to take off her makeup.

When Lee rejoined the party she had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. As she searched for Dick she snagged a drink from one of the waiters walking around. She couldn't taste the champagne as she chugged it. 'Not possible not possible not possible not-"

"Hello Lee, excuse me."

Lee was snapped from her desperate search of the crowd looking over to who had spoken.

"Oh hello Dames, I didn't think I would see you here."

"Tt, I do not enjoy these galas, however," he held up a plate of desserts. "I came down to get a plate and then return to my room."

"That's fair, I uh will see you around okay?" She stepped out of his way, ruffling his hair as she did.

Lee looked around again trying to find Dick, after a few more sweeps of the room she spotted him talking to Jason. They were laughing at something Dick had said but she couldn't hear what it was. She headed over making both of them look up.

"Lee! There you are!"

Lee watched Dick's face, noting the look of confusion flash across it.

"Dude I told you she was with Alfred," Jason said.

"Yeah sorry, he sort of whisked me away."

"It's okay, I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"Yeah I am."

Harley thought about that response. Was she okay? She flopped back on the dirty floor, she needed to go home. When Dick had dropped her off last night she had come here instead stopping only long enough to change into something she could move in. She pushed her hair out of her face and stared up at the ceiling. What was she going to do? She picked up the necklace that she still wore studying it. Her eyes were tired and she gave up rubbing at them, pushing her glasses out of the way. She stood up dusting herself off and checking the time - it was almost 7:00, 'shit I'm going to be late for work.'

When Lee got home from work she was exhausted, she dropped down onto her bed with the full intention of skipping dinner and just sleeping. Just as she started to doze off though her phone rang, making her groan.

"Hello?"

"Come out tonight he wants to see you."

"Huh? Who is this?" Harley sat up suddenly awake. "Who wants to see me? Do you mean-"

The line clicked and she was met with dial tone. She shook her head and flopped back down. Lee set an alarm for an hour figuring that a nap would have to do.

Nightwing sat on a rooftop running surveillance, he had talked to Alfred after dropping Lee off the night before. The butler had informed him that he had come across the necklace while cleaning and had assumed it was a present for Lee. Although he had apologized and Nightwing had brushed it off he was still worried. That necklace was Harley's and now Lee had it. That could lead to a lot of problems if he wasn't careful. He heard his comm come to life and pulled himself out of his thoughts.

"Batman to Nightwing."

"Go ahead," Nightwing replied yawning slightly.

"How are things looking over there?"

Nightwing looked down from the roof he was on. His job tonight was to watch a speech from the mayor to make sure there were no villain attacks. Everything seemed peaceful and he nodded approvingly.

"Things are okay, just bored."

"Keep sharp," Batman replied before switching off the comm.

Nightwing sighed and looked over the crowd again. While it was a fair chance there would be an attack things seemed quiet tonight. He ran a hand through his hair and thought about trying to find Harley. The speech was almost over and Nightwing was ready to leave when he heard a few gasps from the crowd. He looked around trying to find the cause. He spotted green gas starting to seep out from the doors behind the mayor. Then the doors blasted open and two large banners fell from the roof. He didn't wait to see who it was, quickly grappling down to the ground. The crowd had started to run so it was difficult getting to the mayor. He was too late to stop a figure from stepping out of the smoke and grabbing the mayor. Laughter filled the air.

"Hello hello hello Gotham! Have you missed me?"

Nightwing skidded to a halt at the bottom of the stairs.

"Joker!"

"Bird brain! I've missed you too!"

"Joker let him go!"

"Oh come on now, we haven't played together in so long and that's how you greet me?"

"Nightwing to Batman," the vigilante said tapping his comm on.

"I copy go ahead."

"Joker is here."

"Keep everyone safe, Robin and I are on our way."

"Will do."

"Oh birdie," Joker laughed again. "You needn't worry. I'm not going to hurt anyone, I'm just here to talk to them." The clown pointed to a news camera that had been reporting the mayor's speech.

"Let the mayor go!" Nightwing repeated.

"Oh fine," Joker rolled his eyes and then pushed the mayor down the steps.

Nightwing raced forward to help the mayor, helping him up and passing him over to one of the cops that had showed up.

"Now then," Joker looked back to the camera. "City of Gotham I am back! We are going to be having some fun very soon! I so very look forward-"

Joker stopped talking, looking over to Nightwing who was rushing towards him. He snarled and snapped his fingers. There was a loud bang and Nightwing's fingers passed through smoke, he coughed waving the green cloud away. He looked up, seeing a small figure dressed in some sort of pattern dip around the side of the building. Nightwing moved to follow before one of the policemen shouted and pointed to the roof. He looked up to see Joker scrambling to get onto the roof, whatever gadget he had used having deposited him on the edge. By the time Nightwing had pulled out his grapple Joker had made it onto the roof. He quickly shot up and started to give chase, he only made it a few steps before someone tackled him from behind. They hit the ground and before he could see who it was they smeared what felt like a blob of bubblegum over his mask.

"Hey!" Nightwing reached behind him trying to get the attacker off his back.

"Ssh! Just stay down!" Whoever was speaking was working to change their voice and he didn't recognize it.

"Get off!" He snapped.

"It's for yer own good pretty bird." The voice snapped back.

Nightwing fought to get the person off and they struggled for a minute before he heard what sounded like a cap falling to the ground and a steady hiss. 'Oh no.' Something was shoved under his nose and he did his best to hold his breath. A sharp blow to his back made him gasp and he unfortunately took a deep breath of the laughing gas. As he did his best to hold back laughter he felt the pressure on his back leave.

"Just stay down, trust me," and with that the voice was gone.

In moments of lucidity between laughter Nightwing scraped at the gum substance on his face. He didn't know how long he was out for, only that it was probably too long. At one point he thought he could hear Robin speaking and the gentle fingers start to pick away the gum. When he came to fully he was sitting in the backseat of the Batmobile though he had no recollection moving from the rooftop.

"Nightwing!" Robin's voice sounded worried but only to those who had known him long enough.

"Hey little D," he greeted turning to look at the boy sitting beside him.

"Tt no names."

"Oh that's hardly your name," Nightwing rubbed his face finding it free of the gum. "How long was I loopy?"

"A little less than an hour, it didn't seem to be a strong dose. What happened?"

"I was chasing Joker and let someone jump me from behind." He frowned, "I messed up. His henchmen aren't usually able to get the drop on me and I assumed I was safe."

Nightwing didn't like the look of suspicion that bloomed on Robin's face.

"Are you sure it was a henchman?"

"Don't start," Nightwing sat up and pulled a water bottle from the stash in the car.

"It's a possibility."

"Wasn't her - I would've known."

"Fine then. Are you good to go back out?"

"Right as rain, I'm assuming Bats is out there right now?"

"You assume correctly. He was last known to be en route to Joker's old hideout."

"Then let's join him shall we?" Nightwing swung the door open and stepped out. "Don't tell him but if you want to drive I won't stop you," he said as he dipped into the passenger seat.

Robin didn't say anything as he scurried into the driver's seat.

"Nightwing to Penny One," Nightwing said as they started to drive.

"Good to hear you're alright," came Alfred's response through the comms.

"What's the media coverage on Joker's little display?"

"As expected it's everywhere, 'return of Gotham's Crime Clown'. Should I run interference?"

"There's no point, people should know that he's back."

"What do you think his plan is?"

"I have no idea."

Harley ran from rooftop to rooftop, she was winded and ready to collapse but she had to make it before they left. She really should try to convince Bats to get her a bike or something. As she approached her destination she could see the Batmobile parked out front. 'I knew it.' She thought as she dropped down to head inside. Harley tried to catch her breath as she opened the door.

"Hiya boys," she greeted the three bats inside.

"Harley!" Nightwing looked up from a spot he was investigating. "What are you doing here?"

"Saw the clown bastard's performance, an' I figured ya guys had too."

"How did you know we would come here?" Robin asked.

"Lucky guess," she shrugged. "It's what I would do but no luck he's wiped this place."

"Do you know where his new place is?" Robin continued to look around.

"Nu-uh," Harley shook her head.

"Could you find it?" Batman asked finally speaking up.

"With the proper tools maybe, but if ya mean just running around searching then hell no. Y'all got your cars an' bikes an' stuff an' I have nothing."

"We'll have to start on that then. For now," Batman crossed his arms, "we figure out what the Joker is planning."

"Right."

"Affirmative."

"Roger roger."

I foolishly thought I would have time to style three wigs and write this.

I was wrong.

As always many thanks to my wonderful beta orangesunset12