ElseWorlds™: Saving James
Chapter 9
By: Christopher W. Blaine
e-mail: darth_yoshi@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: Refer to chapter 1 for the disclaimer for this entire story.
"I cannot believe this circus," Dick whispered from behind Barbara. She was seated at the Respondent's table next to her lawyer. It was the second day of testimony in the case of Napier versus Gordon, a hearing in front of Gotham County family court judge, the Honorable William Wankerhan, or "Willy Wanker" as he was referred to by persons who lost judgments before him.
She only nodded and the lawyer motioned for Dick to be quiet. Alfred noted that Dick stiffened, ready to give the counselor a piece of his mind. After all, Dick was paying his fees for Barbara. The former Wayne Family butler put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Master Richard, he is only trying to listen to the testimony so he can respond."
Dick nodded and sat back, returning his attention to the witness being questioned. The lawyer for the Joker, alias Jack Napier, finished and smiled to the judge before returning to his seat. The man wore a suit that Dick was pretty sure was a knock-off of a more expensive brand. How the Joker was able to afford any lawyer was beyond Dick's ability to understand. Any monies that the Joker had were considered ill-gotten gains and were therefore illegal tender for lack of a better term.
It meant that either this lawyer was crooked, working pro bono or the Joker had himself a sugar daddy. "Your witness," the other lawyer said to Barbara's. Barbara whispered something to her lawyer and let him get up. She turned and regarded Dick, thankful that he and Alfred had come along. She needed their strength to add to hers because she simply couldn't hold onto the edge of sanity for much longer.
The Joker's goal in life was to drive people insane and he was working his special magic on Barbara. In her hand, underneath the table, she held her rosary, praying for the strength to not kill the Joker right here and now.
"Ms. Quinzel…" Barbara's lawyer began.
"That's Dr. Quinzel," the pretty blonde woman corrected him. She looked too you to be a psychiatrist, but then Barbara had received her doctorate at a very young age too.
"I'm sorry?"
"I go by the title of doctor, sir; I believe I've earned it," she replied with a large smile. The smile took away from her stunning good looks and made her look like a predator.
Dick wanted to scream because the lawyer had now paused. With the first question, he was now on the defensive. "Of course, my apologies," the lawyer started as he looked down on his legal pad. "Dr. Quinzel, you stated that you believe that the Petitioner is not a threat to his child, can you explain why?"
She straightened her glasses and crossed her shapely legs. "Over the past two years, Mr. Napier has made a remarkable effort to become adjusted."
"Yes, yes, but is he cured?" the lawyer asked, trying to regain the advantage.
"I don't like to use that term, sir; it indicates that he is diseased."
"But, was he not incarcerated in the Arkham Asylum for mental defects? Does he not suffer from a mental condition, a disease that slowly eats away at his moral compass?" The lawyer turned and winked at Barbara. Slowly he turned back to Dr. Quinzel. "He's responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people! He has killed children before."
"Mr. Napier suffers from exposure to a chemical bath that has affected his own brain chemistry." She nodded to the Joker. "It has caused physical irregularities that have made him a pariah of our society. He is the equivalent of a leper in a primitive society. That sort of shame and feeling of self-loathing, combined with the effects of the chemical bath drove him to several psychotic episodes."
"Does the reason really matter?"
"Indeed it does. In the past two years, Mr. Napier's brain chemistry has begun to revert to normal. It is the reason why there have been no incidents since his last arrest…"
The lawyer jumped on the point. "Ah, that arrest was for the assault and brutal rape of not only the Respondent but also former Commissioner James Gordon! Are you willing to put your reputation, which I am sure is formidable given your extensive experience," he smiled as he jabbed at her youth.
"Yes, I am. Mr. Napier is not asking to be set free; he's asking to try and develop some sort of relationship with his son. That, in and of itself, is indicative of a return to normal behavior."
The lawyer rolled his eyes. "Or it means he wants to kill his own son! He's a homicidal maniac!"
"That's a lie!" the Joker shouted, standing up at his table. He was handcuffed and clad in the gray jumpsuit of the Arkham Asylum. Two deputies grabbed him by the shoulders.
Judge Wankerhan started beating his gavel. "Mr. Napier, sit down!"
"This lawyer is saying terrible things about me!" the Joker exclaimed as he was forced to sit back in his chair. His lawyer leaned over and started whispering excitedly into his ear. The Joker shook his head. "No!"
Dick couldn't take it. All of the rage he had held inside for two years burst out and he was up and over the railing his fist back to lay the Joker out. Both Barbara and Alfred shouted out for him to stop and Barbara's lawyer ran to the far corner.
A deputy made the mistake of getting in Dick's way and old reflexes kicked in. The deputy was down with two quick punches and the judge started screaming for order. In the back of the courtroom, the doors were flung open and several more deputies and a couple of regular GCPD cops came running in, some with weapons drawn. It was no secret that the Joker was here and nobody was taking any chances.
The Joker tried to put his hands up, but Dick punched him square in the nose, sending him flipping back out of his chair. "You son of a bitch! It's time to pay the piper!"
The second deputy pulled out his nightstick, only to have it taken away from him and used to trip him. Dick head butted the lawyer, breaking his nose. The lawyer fell back with a final cry of "Ill sue!"
All hell broke loose as several men and women in uniform jumped the railing and tackled Dick. He was forced to the floor, but kept struggling. He found himself face to face with the Joker. The Clown Prince smiled as Dick's arms were forced behind his back. "Looks like you'll be a jail bird now, Robin old boy!"
Dick's face turned white as the Joker's as he realized the secret was out. "Come on, lover boy," a cop said as Dick was hauled to his feet. Two more were helping the Joker up. He was crying and sobbing, claiming he couldn't defend himself.
"And my lawyer is dead!" the Joker said to the judge.
"He's not dead, Mr. Napier," the judge said, shaking his head as Dick was being read his rights. It wouldn't do to not give a Miranda reading in a courtroom! "Young man, I don't know what your problem is…"
"He's got bats in his belfry," the Joker said, appearing fearful. "There's terrible men like him at Arkham! All full of rage!"
Barbara started crying and Alfred immediately took her into his arms, trying to sooth her with reassuring words even as Dick struggled against his restraints. If he were in costume, he would have already produced a lock pick from his gauntlet and would be free. Part of the training the Batman had subjected both Barbara and Dick to involved such escapes in less than thirty seconds.
Judge Wankerhan kept beating his gavel until the little wooden hammer broke in two. Dick was finally dragged out while a paramedic team, which happened to be in the courthouse as well, came in to examine the Joker. Barbara looked over as the restraints were removed from him. She started to cry out but Alfred cautioned her. "Mistress Barbara, please remember Master Dick's folly!"
The Joker rubbed his wrists and allowed the medics to examine his injury. After a few minutes they pronounced that he would live and began treating his lawyer. Barbara's lawyer came over from his hiding place and straightened his tie before packing his papers into his briefcase. "That didn't go very well," he said.
"You think?" Barbara shot back, sickened by the man's cowardice. She would fire him later that day. "What happens now?"
"Well, this hearing is a mess now. The judge is so pissed at us right now he'd probably grant full custody to the Joker if he wasn't incarcerated." The lawyer closed and locked his briefcase and picked up his hat. "We'll probably reschedule, but more than likely the Joker's lawyer will request a restraining order against Mr. Grayson."
"I don't think he'll be coming back into court any time soon…"
The lawyer shook his head. "No, you don't understand. Mr. Grayson has shown himself to be unpredictable and violent. It was the Joker who got beat here; it was the Joker who was defenseless. No doubt the restraining order will be to keep your boyfriend away from the child until this matter is settled."
"What? Dick is the one helping to support James!" Barbara said in a voice a little too loud. She saw the Joker look over at her and give her a wink. That disgusted feeling welled up inside of her and she thought she might vomit right there. She turned her head and locked eyes with Dr. Quinzel, who was still seated next to the judge.
She gave Barbara the exact same wink.
"Thanks for coming an getting me," Dick said to the tall man in the expensive suit. "I couldn't call Bruce."
Clark Kent nodded and put a reassuring hand on Dick's shoulder as they walked out of the county jail. "Lucky for me I have a somewhat decent reputation in Gotham City as well." They were just about to Dick's car when Clark stopped him. "That was pretty stupid."
"Clark, I can't explain it. It felt like the entire scene was being manipulated to just piss me off. It was like that doctor knew that everything she was saying was BS, but she didn't care." He kicked at a small rock on the sidewalk. "The Joker knows I used to be Robin."
"Then he must also know that Bruce is Batman," Clark said, rubbing his chin. "Do you want me to tell him?"
Dick shook his head. "No; it's my responsibility. I just can't figure out how he found out unless he knew Barbara was Batgirl. It's possible he could have put two and two together…"
"It's not important," Clark told him. "If he was going to announce it to the world, he would have already. It doesn't change anything. He's a dangerous madman."
"Except the courts aren't seeing it that way. My little stunt today has the local cops pissed at me too. My attorney told me that I'm already being sued." He leaned back against the car and looked up into the night sky. "Bruce's lawyer contacted me as well; he was in the courthouse filing Bruce's new will when the commotion happened. He wants me to give up my wardship in order to protect Bruce's assets."
"Can you do that?"
"Cut myself off? Sure, but it can't be fake. I'd have to be really cut off, severed permanently from the Wayne Fortune."
Clark nodded and pushed his glasses up on his nose. He really liked Dick and always had. He had been the light to counter Batman's darkness, but he could see that the current events were weighing on him heavily. "Are you going to be okay?"
Dick gave a chuckle. "I've faced Trigon, been to the edges of the galaxy and been shot by a guy who thinks everything is a joke. A few lawsuits can't hurt me." Clark noticed the papers in Dick's hand and saw the younger man was crushing them without thinking. Dick saw where his gaze was going and held them up. "Restraining order. I can't even go home."
"Do you need a place to stay?"
"Shack up with Superman? A few years ago, you wouldn't have been able to stop me! I already called Wally West and he's letting me stay at his place for awhile."
"Keystone City?"
"Actually, he also has an apartment in Central City. It was Barry Allen's when he first became the Flash. When Wally won the lottery he and I went in and bought the building. It's rent controlled now and signed over to the Flash Museum…"
Clark nodded. "Being surrounded by the honest simplicity of what was Barry Allen's life might do you some good." Barry had sacrificed his life years before to stop a powerful being called the Anti-Monitor from destroying the universe. He was a hero that even his enemies respected. "I'll look in on Barbara if you want."
"I appreciate it. She's going to try to visit me when she can, depending on her schedule at the Planet," he replied, hinting to his friend that he would gladly accept any help in that area he could provide.
"I'll see if I can convince her boss," Clark said with a twinkle in his eye. "Go on, get some sleep."
"It's a helluva drive to Central City," Dick said as he looked out onto the horizon. Maybe he did need to get away from here. He wanted to stay in Metropolis, but he was too afraid that the Joker might strike at him, or that his continued presence might ruin Barbara's case. She had Superman to watch over her now.
She didn't need him.
