AN: Ok, so this chapter took way longer to get out than I ever thought possible. I am really sorry it has taken me this long to update. Anyways, hope you guys like this update. I'm curious to see if anyone can pick up on some of the Batman references in here by the way.

Chapter 11: Just remember what you are

XXX

River's POV

Most people express anger loudly. They yell, they scream, the make demands. Flag is a textbook example of this anger right now. I can vaguely hear various words mixed in between the high pitched yells he's hurling my way, but nothing registers of any importance. No, my attention was fixed on something else.

The face of Amanda Waller.

Waller was the master of keeping her cards close to her chest. You'd never know what hit you until it was done.

And now? Standing on the roof of this building, with the Joker, Flag, and this whole crazy bunch? Waller never faltered. She never lost her cool. All she gave me was a singular raised eyebrow.

That eyebrow was enough to convey her thoughts. Enough to pierce through the din of all the other voices swirling around me. That eyebrow screamed just as loudly at me as Flag did.

"Situation averted and transport arranged." I said matter of factly.

"Have you lost your goddamned mind?" Flag questions as he moves towards me.

Again, I can't help but think how textbook he is and I have to bite my lip to suppress a small giggle.

The look I must give him as I surprise that giggle seems to infuriate him further. "Oh this is funny to you, Tam?" He yells in my face.

"Subjective. As for your previous question, did I have a mind to lose? I think that point was always up for debate."

The Joker's guffaw and slow clap seemed to pull everyone out of their stupor. "Oh kitty-cat, you're just so so entertaining."

XXX

Amanda Waller eyebrow remains raised as she continues to eye Tam. The girl had proved herself capable, proved to be worth the risk and investment that she had put into her. But standing on this roof, Waller can't help but call the girl's judgment into question.

"Flag!" Waller barks at her first in command. It's just loud enough to get him to stop screaming in Tam's face to turn and face her.

"Ma'am, you can't…" But Waller cuts him off before he can finish.

"I want to hear this from her." She says as she nods to Tam in front of her.

"Yes, let'sss hear what the kitty-cat has to say…" Joker all put purrs as he sidles up beside them with a smile on his face.

Flag instantly pulls his sidearm on the man, and the echo of guns being pulled and cocked around the roof is heard all around. It doesn't take a psychic assassin to know everyone is on a hair trigger.

Waller watches with amusement as Tam merely pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Care to explain then?" Waller says with another arch of her brow. It wasn't a question, and Tam knew it.

XXX

River's POV

I release a sigh and will the voices bouncing around in my head to dissipate. It takes a moment before I can clear enough of the voices out to answer. "Albert Anastasia." I say to a captivated audience.

While a majority of people on the roof are more confused by the name I give, it registers with three of them. Three different trains of thought then begin to penetrate my mental barriers again.

The first is from Waller. There is no arch of an eyebrow from her this time, but there is a twitch of a grin momentarily on her lips.

The next is from the Joker, who's mind somersaults with glee. "Oh kitty, you are so deliciousss."

But now the Joker's voice seems to break Flag's trance. "Who the hell is Albert Anastasia?" Flag questions.

The third mind that registers the name speaks up from behind me. "Murder Inc." I turn and watch as Deadshot walks closer to where the we are standing. "He was an associate of Lucky Luciano who ran the eastern shipping ports in World War II - guaranteed no dockworker strikes throughout the war."

It's then that realization hits Flag. "Jezzus Christ TAM!"

I roll my eyes. His temper tantrums are so… predictable.

"Repetition is irksome. Situation averted and transport arranged." I repeat myself.

But before Flag can begin to try and jump down my throat again Waller intervenes. "At what cost?"

I grimace. I know she isn't going to like this part. "Similar terms. Your safety will be guaranteed and so will his."

The Joker seems to spring to life hearing this and bounces around us getting particularly close to Waller. "We're going to be such good friends."

Waller's irritation radiates off her in waves, and I am quick to step in and try and wrap this up. "Harley and GQ will accompany you…"

But before I can continue Waller cuts me off with a stern "No."

I blink is disbelief. She may have her doubts, but she had never rejected one of my plans out of turn so hastily.

"You're putting me on a helicopter with Gotham's Clown Prince and his Queen and expect nothing to happen to my safety?"

"What's the matter, don't trust us?" Harley questions in her sing song voice as she moves to stand next to her King. "Not good enough to guard ya?"

"Now now, Harley." The Joker playfully scolds her as he throws an arm around her waist. "Wouldn't want to give our new friend the wrong idea."

"Fuck it. I'll go with them, GQ can take command of Alpha." Flag interjects.

"Flag, that's not your decision to make." Waller responds.

"And letting you go of with the freak show and GQ is hers?" Flag says as he motions to me and GQ behind his shoulder.

It's then that I feel the Joker's attention shift, and a pang of realization cut into his mind as a smile spreads on his painted lips.

Shit. I'm not going to be able to stop this. Shit.

"GQ… interesting new nickname kiddo." The Joker says as he walks towards the Navy Seal. "Nice to see you out of that awful red suit though."

Everyone's attention is shifting, and Harley is soon to follow the Joker's lead. "Awww… now I see it! It's been years little birdie." She says as she bounds over and give him a side hug.

GQ looks over at me like he is ready to murder them on the spot. He knows he won't be able to keep his cover. Not when these two recognized him. I send him an apologetic look as everyone else begins to question what the hell they are talking about.

"Someone care to share with the rest of the class?" Digger says before taking a swig from another can of beer he seems to pull out of more hidden pockets in his jacket.

Flag's irritation begins to prickle on the back of my neck and Waller's curiosity is piqued.

"Tam, what are these freaks going on about?" Flag asks.

The Joker laughs loudly now while seeming to mimic Harley's sing song voice. "Oh? Didn't you know! Seems a little birdie found a new home… Didn't you Robin?"

I pinch the bridge of my nose again as the sea of thoughts flood into my brain again.

XXX

"Lieutenant Edwards?" Waller asks aloud for confirmation.

"It's true." He says as he grimaces and glares at the Joker.

"You've got to be shitting me." Deadshot lets loose.

Digger seems a little impressed. "Really? Pretty boy?"

Croc just lets loose a laugh that rivals Joker and Harley's laughs.

"Interesting." Waller remarks. "Explain."

"He did shoot me. Like it was reported." GQ says as he motions with his gun towards the Joker, a tiny bit of a sneer on his face. "But he only hit my shoulder."

The pieces aren't adding up for Waller. She prided herself on knowing everything of consequence and this had been a huge oversight. "Then why was your death reported?" Waller asks.

She isn't the only one who wants to know more. The wheels in Deadshot's mind are clicking through, trying to figure it all out.

GQ doesn't hold back his sneer now. "Wasn't by choice."

Joker's laugh is finally starting to die down and he focuses on GQ. "Aww did you and Batsy have a falling out?"

"We didn't see eye to eye on a few things." GQ replies curtly.

"Awww, poor Robin." Joker says as he meanders around. "Now if you don't mind… I'd like to get this show on the road.

There's more yelling and arguing now. Between Waller and Flag… Joker and Waller… Harley and GQ… Digger and Chato… everyone seems to erupt. But what startles them all is the sound of a gunshot ringing out into the air. The arguments die down, and they all focus on the small woman holding the smoking gun.

XXX

River's POV

I couldn't hear…couldn't concentrate. Their voices bash into and around my brain violently I feel like I'm on Serenity crashing all over again… but that's not right… Serenity never crashed… did it?

They're quite now, and I am puzzled as to what caused everything to go quiet. It's only when the smell of gunpowder reaches my nostrils that I look in my hand and see the barrel of my gun still smoking from being discharged that I realize it was me.

"It's just an object…it doesn't mean what you think." My own disembodies voice echoes in my head. But it's not my voice, because there is the distinct cackle of Enchantress just behind those whispered words.

I quickly holster my pistol and step towards Waller. I need to get her off this roof… and get back to what needs to be done.

"You brought me here to do a job, you trained me to do a job… so let me do my job."

Waller's eyes never leave mine, and she doesn't say anything out loud. But I can hear her running all the various situations through her head, and she knows I can hear them. She's showing me everything that can go wrong… for me… and for them. Everything that she is capable of doing should it prove 'useful' to keep me in line. But I never look away from her. I refuse to let her cow me into submission.

"Just remember what you are… and who you belong to." She says as she walks past me and towards the helicopter.

I release my breath as she takes the somewhat chivalrous hand Johnny Frost extends her as he slides the door open for her to climb inside.

"Harley, Mr. J." I say as I nod my head towards them.

"Stay safe kitty cat." Joker says as he returns the gesture.

Harley bounds over to me and gives me a quick hug. "You finish this up and we can have more girl talk." She say as she releases me, skips back over to the Joker and walks with him back towards the waiting helicopter.

"Flag?" I ask as I glance in his direction. I am met with a stern glare from Flag. Flag is GQ's commanding officer, so it's his call if he goes with them.

"GQ radio me when you hit the evac zone." He responds while still glaring at me.

"Sir." GQ responds while looking over his shoulder at me as he walks away. He gives me a small wink and I give him another apologetic smile.

"Thank you." I say quietly as I watch him mount up and the helicopter lift off the roof.

XXX

…Inside the helicopter…

The Joker, Waller, and GQ sit in silence for a few moments as the helicopter takes off the roof and begins its flight out of the city. Harley flitting around the back of the helicopter, looking out the windows at the swirling lights some more. But noise of the motors whirring is soon broken by the slow laugh of the Joker.

Amanda Waller rolls her eyes, and refuses to rise to the Joker's bait. But he doesn't seem content on letting her be.

"You know it's funny… seems like you're having an awful bad day… And all it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest person alive to lunacy."

Waller smiles. Amused at what she perceives as a flaw in his logic. "It takes more than a bad day."

"Oh I don't know about that…we all have our days…that just drive us a little insane… Take the little birdie here." He says as he motions towards GQ. "You had a bad day once. Am I right? I know I am." He says as he's laugh fades into a toothy smile.

Waller shoots GQ a look of silent questioning that he fails to pick up on.

"I'm not insane Joker, that's your department."

And this is the rise that the Joker wanted. The open door he was now going to waltz right thru. "See that's where you're wrong, little Robin. You had a bad day, and it drove you as crazy as everybody else... only you won't admit it! You have to keep pretending that life makes sense, that there's some point to all the struggling!" He says as he falls into another fit of laughter.

"And what made you what you are? What was your bad day?" Waller questions the Joker. "Old girlfriend killed by the mob, maybe? Sister carved up by some mugger?"

The Joker's laughs die down enough for him to respond. "Something like that happened to me. I... I'm not exactly sure what it was. Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another... If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice! Ha Ha Ha!"

"You're just crazy Joker." GQ replies candidly.

"But that IS my point... I went crazy. When I saw what a black, awful joke the world was, I went crazy as a coot! I admit it! So why can't you? You're not unintelligent, you must see the reality of the situation? Anything anybody ever valued or struggled for, it's all just a monstrous, demented gag. So why can't you see the funny side? Why aren't you laughing?"

Before Waller or GQ can say anything else and continue on trying to futilely argue with the Clown Price, the chopper begins to violently shake and plummet to towards the ground.

XXX

AN: Again, I hope you all liked this chapter and I will try and update sooner than last time.