No Joker.

No little girl.

This is the longest he's been quiet; Bruce didn't like it.

A quiet Joker is deadly...

No one has died yet.

He's planning something big...

Could it have something to do with the little girl?

He's been in the cave, staring at the computer for hours.

Where was he?

What was he planning?

And how did it involve Josephine Kerr?

If she's still alive...

The thought made him sick.

If she's still alive... Oh, God, what if she is dead?

He needed-

'Father?'

He turned to find Damien standing behind him.

'How long have you been behind me?'

'Ten minutes.'

'Ten minutes?'

'Yes.' stepped into the light. 'You're slipping.'

'Hmm.' He turned back to the screen. 'Aren't you going on patrol with Richard?'

'Yes, but I wanted to talk to you about Josephine Kerr.'

'Damien-'

'I was wrong.'

'What?'

'I was wrong.'

Did he miss the memo of hell freezing over?

'Come again?'

'I overreacted to my encounter with Josephine Kerr. She's not one of your repeat offenders. She is a child.'

'And what brought on this change of heart?'

'I would like to earn your trust.'

'Well, this is a surprise.'

'Father,' he sighed, 'I... you... Colin and I have a lead on the girl.'

'A lead?!'

'She was last seen with a woman called Gagsworth-'

'Gabrielle Gagsworth?'

No! This isn't good...

'You know her?'

I can't have him on Josephine Kerr...

'Met her, once as Batman.. and once as Bruce Wayne.'

The last person I need giving me grief about this...

'What?! How? When?!'

'She was introduced to me.'

Can Richard handle them both?

'By who?!'

'Jason Todd.'
****

Everyone in the Cadillac was quiet; the awkwardness could be cut with a knife.

Gabrielle was scared; what did Joker want with Josie?
She glanced over her shoulder, looking at the kid.
Josie looked like she could be the main character of a Disney channel show.

She was someone whom Joker would consider boring.

But he just kidnapped her.

What the hell did he want with her?

'So, Girl Scout,' he said after a while, 'tell me, why are you in Gotham?'

Both Gabrielle and Josie exchanged glances, then Josie said, 'Am I Girl Scout?'

'Yes.'

'Oh... well, my grandparents died.'

'Oh.'

No one spoke for a while; Josie looked away from them.

'How'd they die?' He asked after a while.

'Car crash.' She said as she glanced up at him. 'We-'

'How did you find me?' He asked in the most severe voice Gabrielle had ever heard him use.

'What?'

'How did you find me? Fess up, girl!' He sounded impatient.

'Miss. Ivy brought me to you!' She said quickly, clearly afraid.

'How did you get here? In Gotham.'

'My grandpa drove us here!'

'Tch! Then hell must've frozen over! Because James and Jane wouldn't set foot in Gotham.'

'You knew my grandparents?'

'Why did they come to Gotham?'

'The circus.'

'Try again. The circus was two months ago.'

'No, it wasn't!'

'Wait a minute!' Gabrielle said as she turned to him. 'Two months ago, I saw something on the news an old couple dying on the way to the circus.'

'That was the night I broke out of Arkham.' He said as he stopped at the light. He turned to Josie. 'You've been comatose for two months?!'

'I was only sleeping for two weeks!' She said firmly. 'It was May 3rd when I went to sleep-'

'It's July 2nd, Girl Scout.' He said quietly as Gabrielle handed her cell phone to confirm it.

'I've been asleep for two months?' Josie said, dumbfounded. 'How come the doctors didn't tell me when I woke up?!'

'My friend's a doctor, a psychiatrist.' Joker said as he resumed driving. 'He'll be able to talk to you.'

'Doctor?'

This was the first time Gabrielle heard Joker say anything about a doctor.

'You're taking her to see a doctor?'

'Yeah.'

'Why?'

'I can feel that look!' He growled.

'Why are we taking her to a doctor?'

'To square things up.' He said casually.

What the fuck did that mean?

'I don't like doctors.' The kid said quietly.

'You and I have that in common.' He said quietly.

'What's your friend's name?' Asked Gabrielle.

'Hugo Strange.'
*****

It's Bruce; it has to be. Dick thought as he looked at his vibrating phone.

He then looked over at a sleeping Barbara Gordon.

Since the moment he found out about the girl, he's been debating on whether or not to tell Barbara.

She, of all people, should know...

She needs to know.

'Babs.'

'Insatiable tonight, aren't we?' She said in a playful voice as she opened an eye. When she saw his face, her demeanor changed. 'What's wrong?'

'Don't freak out.'

'Every time you start a conversation with don't freak out,' she said as she sat up, 'I instantly freak out.'

'I wouldn't blame you for this one.'

'Go on.'

'Bruce confessed something a few days ago...'

She paled at the admission, then ran her fingers through her hair. 'What did he confess?'

'Do you remember when everyone thought the Joker and Batman were dead?'

She relaxed and nodded. 'Uh-huh. The longest he's ever been quite.' She shook her head. 'I remember hoping that the Joker was dead. Oh, God... does that make me a horrible person?'

'No, not from where I'm sitting.'

'Clearly, this is relevant. Does Bruce have a lead on him?'

'Sorta.'

'Sorta?' She repeated. 'What do you mean sorta?

'It's not a lead on where he is, but it's crucial information.'

'You're scaring me, Grayson...'

'Joker met a woman.'

'What?' She said, amused.

'While he was in hiding, he met a woman.'

'Is he hiding out there now?!'

'No, she's dead.'

'He killed her.'

'No, she died... in childbirth.'

'Oh.' She said. Her blue eyes widened. 'No.'

'Yes, the Joker is the father of an eighth old girl.'

'Oh, shit.'

'There's more.'

'More?'

'She's in Gotham.'

'How long has been in Gotham?!'

'About two months.' She jumped out of bed and grabbed her pants. 'What are you-'

'He tells you this now!'

'She's been in a coma for two months.'

Barbara turned to him. 'What did that bastard do to her?'

'Nothing, I purely believe it was a coincidence. Her family died on the way to the circus.'

She looked away, shaking her head.

'Of course, it's a circus.'

'It gets worse.'

'How does it get worse than being the Joker's daughter?'

'Do you remember the kid Damien says bested him in combat?'

'Wait, she's the one who...?'

'Yeah.'

'Poor kid.'

'Bruce thinks she's in danger.'

'He's right.' She looked at him. 'Does my dad know?'

'I don't think so.'

She scoffed. 'He should have told him! Richard, you need to tell him!'

He wasn't expecting to hear that!

'I what?!'

'Dad, Jason, Tim, and Damien, they all need to know!'

Bruce is going to kill him.
****

Josie wasn't entirely sure why the Joker wanted her to see a doctor. He did say it was his friend, but still...

Gabby looked nervous; maybe she was scared of the dark.

'Why couldn't I meet your friend in the daytime?' She asked as he held her door open for her as she climbed out of the Cadillac.

'What?' Was his reply as the door slammed shut.

She could tell the question caught him off guard.

'Why couldn't I meet your friend in the daytime?'

'So we can hide in the dark.'

'Hide?'

'Yeah.'

'Why?'

'Because I'm the bad guy.'

'Oh.'

'Don't you remember?'

She'd forgotten...

'... Yes.'

'Tsk. Tsk, princess,' he said in a playful voice as he pulled her close, 'daddy doesn't like little girls who lie.'

She floundered, unsure if he would allow her to address him as such.

'You look flustered, Girl Scout.'

'I do?'

'Yes.'

'Sorry... '

Joker looked down at her, letting her go as he did; he looked like he didn't like her answer.

'Did I say something wrong?'

'Yes.'

'Er... I'm-'

'Don't you ever apologize! To anyone! Especially about how you look!'

'Oh... sor-' She looked at him as he started picking at the lock with something. 'I don't look ugly to you?!'

'Not at all.' He turned back to her as Gabby got out of the car. 'Who told you that you were ugly?'

'The girls at the orphanage.'

'You're not ugly, princess.'

'Really?!'

'No. You look like her.'

'You mean, my mother?'

'Yes.'

'So-'

'I don't want to talk about her.'

He turned back to the door; he looked uncomfortable.

She looked over at Gabby getting out of the car; she wasn't dressed in a pretty dress like the last time.
Tonight she was wearing a purple shirt, black jeans and boots, and a leather jacket. Her hair was in a messy bun.

'How old are you, Gabby?' She asked in an attempt to change the subject.

'I would also like to know.' Joker proclaimed.

'20.' She said as she looked at him.

'I'm 8.' Josie said. 'You're 12 years older than me.'

'That's right.' Gabby said with a grin.

'How old are you?'

'Hm?' Joker looked at Josie and Gabby and found them staring at him expectantly. 'What?'

'How old are you?' Asked Josie.

'Old.'

'How old is that?'

'I'm... old enough to remember the 70's.'

'Are you the same age as Grandpa James?'

'A little younger.'

'How much?'

'Uh... little J,' Gabby said slowly, 'some adults... don't like to tell their age.'

'Why?'

'Some adults are embarrassed-'

'Because they're so old.'

'I'm not old!' He snapped. 'Just be quiet and get inside.'

Josie jumped at the harshness; he was so lovely up until now...

Why didn't he want to talk about himself?

She buried her face in Gabby's leg as she put her arm around her.

The Joker sighed, rolled his eyes, and ushered them inside the run-down building.
****

She's been quiet since they came inside, and she wasn't smiling either.

She didn't talk in the car, but she was smiling, now she's not.

She and Gaggy stood near the door they entered.

They'd break into an abandoned clinic, waiting for Strange to show up.

He didn't clue them in on why they were there...

It feels odd not to see her smile...

He glanced over at the girl as Hugo Strange crept in.

'Strange.' Glancing his way to acknowledge his presence.

'Joker.' He said matter of fact. 'Why am I here?'

'Don't be like that, Strange.' He said with a grin.

'I'm sure there's a valid reason why you're risking both your freedom and mine.' He said tightly. 'So, let's hear it.'

Joker rolled his eyes and turned to Josie and Gaggy. 'I need you to do a paternity test.'

He looked at Gaggy, then looked at him.

'How old is she?'

'What?'

'Listen, I know you've been lonely since Harley left, but this isn't the way! She looks like she is selling candy for new band uniforms.'

'No, the little girl!'

'My God. I knew you were sick but-'

'I need a paternity test. The kid might be mine...' he hissed. 'Idiot...'

'She doesn't look like Harley.'

'Harley's not her mother.'

Strange raised an eyebrow at the remark but only said, 'I see.'

'Josephine,' he called, 'would you come here please?'

Josephine, followed by Gaggy, gingerly approached the two men.

Her bushy hair looked like she hadn't seen a comb in months, she had bags under her beautiful eyes, and her full lips were pulled in a pout.

Her clothes looked like they came from a two-bit dime store, clothes that made The Goodwill look like Dolce and Gabbana.

She still looked beautiful, but he made a mental note to take her shopping.

If she's mine, he thought bitterly.

'I'd like you to meet Dr. Strange.'

'Hello.' He said.

'Hello.' She didn't look at Strange. 'I'm Josie.'

'Dr. Strange wants to run some tests on you.'

She looked at Strange, then turned to him. 'What kind of test?'

'Blood test.'

'Blood?!' Gaggy choked.

'What did I say about that look!' He growled.

'Why do you need her blood?'

'To square things up.'

'What does that mean?' Asked Josephine.

'Well,' he said as he squatted down to her level, 'I need to be sure that you belong to me.'

Gaggy, finally catching on, turns to him, mouth ajar. 'Wait, she is your...?'

'You think I'm lying?'

'I think you're misinformed.'

Her cheeks puffed and reddened as she scowled; her mother did the same thing. She made her angry.

She's Rebecca's daughter. He thought as he bit back a grin

'I'm not a liar.'

'Never said you were.' He said quietly.

She turned away, and he stabbed her in the arm with a syringe.

'Ow!' She howled as she burst into tears. 'That hurt!'

'I need your blood, princess.'

She slapped him sharply and rushed into Gaggy's arms; Joker chuckled as she sobbed.

I'll buy her something later...

'How fast can we get this done?'

'A few days,' Strange said, calmly, '5 at the most.'

Joker stood up. 'Well, we should go. Who wants hamburgers?'
****

'You finally answered.' Bruce growled.

He'd trying to reach Richard for an hour; Damien's been driving him crazy about going to talk to Jason.

'Yeah...'

That, yeah, doesn't sound right...

'What have you done?'

'Don't be so suspicious.' He said quickly.

'Just tell me.'

'Tell you what?'

'What you've done.'

''Nothing, I've done nothing...'

'The same nothing you said when you crashed my Porsche...'

'I didn't cause property damage!' He said weakly. 'I just... Well...'

'Well?'

'Barbara...'

'You told her?!'

'Don't freak out.'

'Do you realize what you've done?!'

'Yes...'

Oh, no...

'What is it now?'

'She wants to tell the others...'

'What?'

'She wants to tell Jason, Tim, Damien, and her father.'

'I see.'

'That's the same thing you said when I crashed the Porsche. You're mad...'

'Goodbye, Richard.'
****

'Josie, Josie,' said Joker as he scooped her lithe body in his arms, 'what do you want to eat?'

Josie didn't want to be held by him and struggled to get out of his grasp.

For someone so skinny, he was solid!

'Josie, Josie, are you still mad?'

Josie looked away; she didn't want to talk to him anymore.

'Josie, Josie, you're not looking at me.'

Josie.' Said Gabrielle timidly. 'Joker is trying to be nice.'

Josie glanced up at him, Joker looked aggravated, and his face shook.

'You hurt me!' She shrieked.

'Bird boy nearly cut you half a few weeks ago, and you're mad because I stabbed you with a tiny needle?!'

'I'm still mad at him!' She huffed. He grinned, looking much friendly; Josie felt her face heat up. 'I don't appreciate that!'

'Are you hungry?'

'Maybe...'

'I know a great 24-hour diner-'

'But you're in hiding!'

'Tch! It's down in the Bowery,' he laughed, 'everyone there minds their own business!'

'But what if Batman shows up?!'

'Don't you want to meet him?!'

'No!'

'Ugh!' He put her down, but he took her hand. 'Fine...'