A/N: Okay, I have been talked into continuing Ready to Ignite, and... I caved and done it. If all goes well, I hope I can publish chapters twice a week. It will take a few to get back into the swing of the characters. If you haven't read Ready to Ignite, this story probably wont make any sense. Please let me know if you are enjoying the story. Following or favoriting the story helps. I love getting the emailed notifications. reviews are great too. If you are too shy to leave an actual public review feel free to PM me. Enough talk, please enjoy!

Joker had escaped...

Bruce found out and was not taking the news well. The last four months had been somewhat peaceful. How he had escaped still puzzled the asylum and the GCPD.

A lot had happened since that extraordinary night on the rooftop. It had devastated Bruce to watch the poor girl, who wouldn't have been there if he hadn't brought her there, jump in front of Joker, taking the bullet Bruce had meant for him. He wasn't sure what messed up mind frame you had to be in to save a madman.

To add insult to injury, Joker let her body slide off of his lap and onto the gravel covered roof, Bruce was at a loss. He didn't understand how Joker could dismiss the dead girl so easily. It only pointed to the insanity of the man who wore face paint.

Bruce had lost his mind, attacking Joker. It had taken everything in his soul to stop beating on the clown when he had been knocked unconscious. Bruce was standing over his body, waiting on the GCPD. Joker was headed straight to Arkham. A wet gurgling sound pulled Bruce's attention from his thoughts. He saw the girl take a labored breath.

He panicked when foamy blood leaked from her mouth. He left the rooftop, with the half dead girl in his arms. He left Joker unconscious on the rooftop waiting for Gordon and his men to show up. Bruce was taking her to the clinic and called his personal doctor to meet them there.

Dr. North was was trustworthy, he was paid well to treat Bruce's wounds from his extracurricular activities and keep his secrets.

"Hello?"

"Simon, I need you to meet me at the clinic. Now."

"How badly are you hurt?"

Bruce could hear the doctor getting ready on the other end of the phone. "Not me, It's a gun shot wound, pulse barely there, foamy blood coming out of her mouth."

"I suggest you get her to an emergency room."

"Can't, It's best if certain people think she'd dead. Just be there."

Dr. North was there when Bruce arrived. The man took charge, Bruce helping when he could, but he tried to stay mostly out of the way. She had lost a lot of blood some pooling in her lung causing it to collapse. The bullet had hit a rib, fracturing it, causing a small puncture in her lung.

The doc had removed the bullet and set the rib. He had drained the blood from the girls lung letting it reinflate. Bruce had been praying for the first time in a very long time. When he saw her take a full breath, he felt the relief rush through him.

Dr. North had set her up in the clinic, an entire floor of the building Bruce owned and lived in. She looked very tiny in the large hospital bed. She was propped up slightly, blood and saline tubes going into her arms. The monitor showing a steady heart rate and blood pressure.

"She needs rest and fluids. She is very lucky."

Bruce laughed. "You have no idea."

The doctor left, promising to be back later to check in on her. Bruce didn't leave her side. He replaced the saline bag when it was needed. It had nearly been 24 hours when the doctor came back to check on her.

He reassured Bruce she looked good, and would wake when her body was ready. Bruce left her side only to shower and eat. He had called his office letting them know not to expect him in for a while.

It had taken four days for her to finally wake. Her eyes had fluttered open. She groaned, her hand moving to her ribs. Bruce knew busted ribs hurt like nothing else while healing.

It had taken a while for her to calm down, and even longer to get her to stay put until she healed. Dr. North had come by to check on her, keeping her on bed rest. Bruce had brought her food, stayed to chat with her. By the time the doctor had given her a clean bill of health, Bruce had convinced her to stay until she got back on her feet.

After almost killing her, he just wanted to keep her safe now. He would help her stay far, far away from Joker and the Narrows where she told him she lived.

Unfortunately, she was very stubborn. She bucked his help at every turn. Finally, she let him help her get a job. Bruce had introduced her to a lawyer he knew. The man was in desperate need of a receptionist. She had gotten the job and seemed happy.

She had saved her money up and added it to what she had in her personal account and even purchased a house. She was getting ready to move out of the large penthouse and into her own home. Bruce had offered to pay for her therapy to work on her self. But she refused, she had no problems playing on Bruce's guilt to get him to drop the issue.

Bruce was sure she knew he was Batman, though neither had spoken about it. They didn't speak about a lot of things. When Joker had escaped, Bruce was worried for her. Joker thankfully thought she was dead. Bruce knew her house was on the outskirts of the city. Far from Joker's usual target.

Still, he needed to make sure she knew and could make sure to take precautions. He wondered if she would be upset if he had someone guarding her. He sighed, of course she would.

He needed to get the madman back off of the street. He wondered if Joker still had the phone from before? He needed to find the number. If he could get in contact with Joker he might be able to nip this problem in the bud. Bruce looked through the files and paper he had looking for the number.