Book Two: Chaos

Chapter 18

Thanks for the story. Thanks to fairyofdreames, to Queenyyy, to Harley Quinn Queen ofthe Geeks, to nyaw2468, to grapejuice101, to Lara Barnes, to DarkDust27, to cmpunk4ever28, to josephguy217, to Lady Deebo, to Anna10473, to Julia N SnowMiko, to heroherondaletotherescue, to lilfergy99, to RiverOfTheWolf, to Guest, to Ninavs2, to Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967, to .2016, to DeadlyShadows-KuroOni, to SilverNeira, to LittleApollyon, to tigergirl1723, to Guest, to Girl-luvs-manga, to Guest, to Scarlett Winds, to hella happy (Guest), to DeityOfDeadlyRose, to McflyGoonieFaxFan, to Guest, to silverfoxkurama, to Amrit (Guest), to Shannyrox101, to Guest, to icantfindacreativeusername, to GreenOnBlack, to Guest, to ThePhantomismyLove, to ScottDerekLover and to Dormidera for their reviews. Thanks to all the followers and the one who favorited this story.

New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

I was too busy watching the scene unfold exactly as it did in the movie, almost relieved that nothing has changed. That I didn't see that one of the men aimed their rifle at me. But I felt it when the bullet hit me. I felt it when my body it the concrete after I was shot. I heard the screams of the panicking crowd running away from the scene. I heard everything as if I was under the water. Until I couldn't hear anything. Until I couldn't feel anything, anymore.

When he first met Emma, she was one of the rare people that wanted to bring justice in Gotham. She wasn't scared to fight against the mob in Gotham's streets. She wasn't corrupted, she wasn't dishonest. When he first met her, Emma was one of the last people that were still honest in Gotham, along with James Gordon and Rachel Dawes. When he first met her, Emma was a mystery and she still was.

Emma knew almost everything about him and about the things that was going on in Gotham. She was right about Ra's and right about the Joker. She knew about him being the Batman. She was willing to protect his secret. Still, Bruce Wayne didn't know Emma Sanders, not as well as she knew him. He knew that she was loyal to her friends. He knew that she risked her life to protect the people of Gotham. He knew that she was very close to James Gordon. He knew she died at the hands of the Joker.

He came to care for her. He came to care for the mysterious woman more than he thought he did. He came to like her red hair, he came to like the freckles on her nose and shoulders, he came to like her green eyes and especially her smell. It was a combination of bergamot, jasmine and wild strawberry. He came to like the occasional kiss on the cheek, she gave him. Or the way, she would go red in the face everytime she did it.

Now she was gone, it came as a shock. He felt his stomach dropped, it became hard to breathe. His heart was beating wildly and yet it felt as if it didn't beat anymore. She was laying on the ground, people running away from the scene and Emma wasn't moving. Her eyes closed as if she was sleeping. But he knew better, she has been hit right in the chest. She wasn't asleep. She was dead.

The two corpses have been brought to his morgue. Dr. Bill Johnson waited for the police officers to leave the room. He understood their grieving of these two respectable detectives. James Gordon and Emma Sanders were good at their jobs and it was a real pleasure for him to work with them everyday. He just wished he didn't have to do this. He just wished this day would never come. Because he won't be able to perform their autopsies. Not alone.

He unzipped the first bag and he was looking at James Gordon.

"They're gone." Johnson said.

James Gordon opened his eyes and sat up slowly. He groaned as he opened his shirt under which he was wearing a bullet proof vest. "This is going to bruise."

"No doubt." Johnson retorted. "I hope you are very aware of what you are doing, James?"

"It was the only choice I have left to protect my family." Gordon stood up. "What about Sanders?"

"She's still breathing." Johnson said walking up to the second bag.

Emma Sanders sat up with a hand on her chest. "This hurt like a bitch." She groaned.

I took off the bullet proof vest, and noticed the nasty bruise the bullet left right above my right breast. I put my uniform in a bag and dressed in my new set of clothes. A black tank top, skinny jeans, a purple hoodie and a dark jacket over it. I walked back into the Lab where Johnson and Gordon were talking in hushed tones.

"Thanks Doc." I said tying up my hair.

"It was my pleasure." Johnson answered. "What's next?"

"Sanders and I are going in hiding but we'll keep an eye out." Gordon told him.

"You're staying together?"

"Yeah." I replied immediately. "We stick together." I put on a baseball cap and pulled the hoodie over it. "Thanks again, Doc."

"Yeah, thank you Dr. Johnson." Gordon nodded at the man. "If you could just…"

"I won't say a word." Johnson shook his hand. "Now, you two need to go before someone sees you."

We went through the back door and walked side by side away from the morgue. We took small alleys, shortcuts. Everyone thought we were dead, Barbara thought her husband was gone. Bruce probably thought I was gone too. How is he feeling right now? He's grieving? Is he angry? Does he want revenge? In the movie, when he thought that Gordon was gone, he went after Maroni and went as far as breaking his legs. When Rachel died, he was just broken. What was he feeling thinking that I was gone? Was he broken or angry? It didn't matter either way, I had things to do.

"I can't believe you kept this old flat for years." Gordon said as we got in.

"I thought it might come in handy later." I retorted going to the mini fridge. I pulled out a beer. "Stephens will stop by later. With food, I hope."

"Thanks." Gordon took the beer I handed to him. "Electricity still running?"

"Yeah, you can watch TV." I nodded taking off my baseball cap and ruffling my hair. "Actually, that's all we have to do. Watching TV and waiting."

And that's what we did. We waited. Stephens stopped by quickly, he dropped us some food and told us about Harvey calling up for a press conference the next day. And he left shortly after.

It was a necessary evil to make the people we love the most in this world believe that we are dead. We didn't have a choice, the Joker was coming after us both and one way or another he would have hurt the people we love. Neither Gordon and I were ready to take this risk. So, we took matter in our hands to make sure he won't hurt anybody. But I knew that he would. I knew he would do something to hurt them. He was going to kill Rachel and Harvey, unless I could stop it.

I had other things on my mind. Gordon was sleeping on the couch and I was sitting on the windowsill. Looking out at the city lights. I was thinking about Bruce, about Sue and Liam. I thought about Barbara and her children, she was probably mourning for Gordon's death. Probably mourning for me too. I thought about the Joker, out there somewhere waiting for Batman to reveal his true face. I knew what was the next step. Batman would let the mask fall in order to stop the killings and the Joker would try to kill him. Except that Bruce Wayne would never get to hand himself over, Harvey would do it for him. All I hoped for was that things would turn out alright, at least for this part.

Concerning Harvey and Rachel abduction, I knew the address. I knew where they would be and I was planning on freeing them once the Joker would be behind bars. Of course, I could have given the address to Bruce, since the beginning, I could have. But I needed for Bruce to believe, for Batman to believe that the Joker really had them. The Joker needed to think that he had the upper hand. I wanted him to believe that he had some leverage on us. Some leverage on Batman.

I didn't want the story to go off course. To go differently that it went in the movies. But I wanted it to change, I wanted Harvey to live, for Batman to be seen as a hero and not as a vulgar criminal. It seemed clear to me that things were starting to get out of my controls. But it wasn't too late for me to fix that, I still could do something for that.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I've called this press conference for two reasons." Harvey started. Gordon and I sat on the couch watching him. "Firstly, to assure the citizens of Gotham that everything that can be done over the Joker killings is being done." Murmurs rose from the room. "Secondly, because the Batman has offered to turn himself in. But first, let's consider the situation." Gordon and I exchanged a look. "Should we give in to this terrorist's demands? Do we really think he's gonna…?"

"You'd rather protect an outlaw vigilante than the lives of citizens?" A woman cut Harvey off. And my heart skipped a beat. I knew he was going to be there. I did. Still, I was happy to see him which was strange considering that I saw two days ago.

The crowd agreed to what she said, Gordon scoffed. "As long as Batman is protecting them, they're okay with him. And now he's criminal?"

"They're afraid of the Joker because he's not scared of Batman." I retorted.

"We've been happy to let Batman clean up our streets till now." Harvey continued.

"Things are worse than ever." A police officer yelled. Again, the people around agreed to his words.

"Yes, they are." So did Harvey. "But the night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you…the dawn is coming." Harvey said. "One day, the Batman will have to answer for the laws he's broken. But to us, not to this madman."

"No more dead cops." A second officer shouted.

"Yeah."

"He should turn himself in." Another man yelled.

"Give us the Batman! Come on!" "Where is he?" All of those kind of words were coming from the crowd. It felt unfair back then when it was all just a movie. Now, it felt different. I understood what they were feeling. I understood they wanted the killings to end but Bruce never wished for all this to happen. He never wished or hoped that one day the citizens of the city he was protecting, would come to hate him one day. Would come to fear the Joker more than they love the Batman.

"So be it. Take the Batman into custody." Harvey ordered to the officers next to him. "I am the Batman." He finally said. Confusion rose among the crowd.

"What? What the hell is he doing?" Gordon exclaimed while they handcuffed him.

"Buying some time for the real one." I retorted. "He wants the Joker out of the circulation and the only one that can do this, is Batman." I got up.

"Well, we need to call Stephens." Gordon said getting up and getting his phone. "If they follow the procedure, they're going to move Dent to the Central Holding. If we want any chance to get to the Joker, we have to be in this convoy."

"I'm all in." I nodded to Gordon, getting up too.

We sat behind the wheels of the GPD truck that will take Harvey to the Central. Gordon and I were both dressed in Special Unit uniform. We had the whole gear, the helmet, the vest, everything.

It started off quietly. Nothing to signal. It didn't stop me from feeling anxious, asking myself the eternal question: "and what if something goes wrong?" Anything could go wrong at this point? The Joker might not come or Harvey could actually be killed right there, right now. Everything and anything could happen at this point.

"Obstruction ahead, obstruction ahead." Came up on the radio. "All units divert down onto Lower Fifth. I repeat, exit down."

I just sighed deeply and looked briefly over at Jim. We drove passed a fire truck on fire. See the irony in that? I do. Anyway, I knew it was the Joker. He was leading us into a trap, leading us where he wanted us to be. The streets were empty after all. No one around. It could only be him.

As soon as we got on Lower Fifth, things got downhill. Heavy trucks appeared out of nowhere, that was to be expected, and started to jeopardize the convoy. It went a little bit chaotic. The trucks expected the police cars out of the road before trying to get us off of the road.

"We've got company." I radioed the SWAT team that was ahead of us. "We need back up."

But a truck crashed into them, sending them in the river. It wasn't over though. A bigger truck rode on our left side. A door slid open and the Joker was officially in the place.

He fired at us immediately; the truck behind us kept pushing us forward. Joker switched weapons and again fired at us. There was nothing we could do, except keep driving. And then he switched for the bazooka.

The Joker fired his bazooka and hit the police car riding in front of us. The car was still on the road, still rolling. The Joker fired again and this time the police car didn't resist. We were left without an escort.

And then he came.

The Tumbler was in front of us, riding in our direction. Gordon kept to his course until the very last moment. He veered to the right and the Tumbler collided with the truck behind. One truck down but the Joker was still on our tails. He loaded his weapon, aimed it at us, and hit…the Tumbler.

We went around a car and lost control of the truck. The truck skidded off and came to stop in the middle of the road. We didn't waste any more time before moving again. We had to get Harvey to safety and give Batman more time.

As soon as we were back on the road, the Joker's truck was onto us. We exited Lower Fifth and were now driving in the City. A helicopter was flying over our heads. But as it did in the movie, it got caught in some wires. It went out of control. It flew in circles several times before it crashed in the streets, right in front of us. The skeleton of the flying object bumped over the truck. We kept on going.

Batman was back in the game. He drove to the Joker's truck. We drove a little further, letting Batman taking care of the crazy man. And he did.

"The truck's down." I said looking at the right outside window. Gordon stopped the truck. I took off my helmet, grabbed my shotgun and got out of the truck.

I ripped the hood off of me, my red hair free. I fell into steps with Gordon, both running to where the Joker's truck has been intercepted. We saw Batman on his bike, the Joker on foot. Both about to meet halfway but at the last moment, Batman swerved his bike to the left. The bike slid on the concrete before finishing its course in the wrecked truck.

In a matter of seconds, the Joker was standing over Batman. In a matter of seconds, we were aiming our shotguns right at the Joker's and his thugs' head.

"We got you, you son of the bitch." Gordon said to the Joker.

"Move and you're dead." I warned his thugs.

The Joker was being put away, Harvey was talking to the journalists, and I thought for one split second that everything I've done so far was finally paying off. Things were under control. The doubts that I was having before, just vanished at this very moment.

But everything wasn't over. There was still Wuertz. He has walked around the MCU for weeks, thinking that we ignored everything about him. We gave him the information that we wanted him to have but in the chaos that took place tonight, Wuertz wasn't under our surveillance. He was free to do whatever he wanted and after all the man we lost tonight, his presence was needed. If I had seen him took Harvey away, it would have been too late for me to do something. But I didn't see him took Harvey. I didn't.

But let's not go too fast. Everything in time.

"Stand away! All of you!" Gordon yelled as we arrived where the prisoners were being held. "I don't want anything for his mob lawyer to use, you understand?"

"Back from the dead." The mayor walked up to us.

"I, uh, couldn't risk my family's safety." Jim replied shaking his hand.

"What do we got?" He asked.

"Nothing. No matches on prints, DNA, dental." Gordon informed him. "Clothing is custom, no labels."

"Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint. No name. No other alias." I finished for Gordon. "Believe we looked."

"Go home." The Mayor retorted. "The clown'll keep till morning. Go get some rest. You're gonna need it. Tomorrow, Gordon, you take the big job." The Mayor continued. "You don't have any say in the matter. Commissioner Gordon."

My face split in two. I grinned madly and applauded along with the other officers. "You deserve it, Boss." I congratulated him, hugging him briefly.

I changed in more casual clothes, as casual as a buttoned up white shirt and dark suit trousers could be. I breathed deeply as the lift was going up to the loft. The doors opened on the quiet room, lit dimly. I stepped further into the loft, looking around me. Happy to be back. It was a strange feeling. This wasn't my place and yet I was glad to be here.

"Miss Sanders?"

"Hello, Alfred." I smiled at the Butler. "You're still up?" Alfred walked up to me and hugged me tightly. "I missed you too, Alfred."

He pulled away from me. "How is this possible?"

"I faked the whole thing." I replied. "A necessary evil."

"Master Wayne was…devastated." Alfred told me. "He would be happy to see you."

"Where is he?" I asked him. As an answer, Alfred looked over my shoulder. I turned around and he was standing in front of me, in casual clothes. "Hello, Bruce." I greeted him softly.

"Call me if you need anything." Alfred said before leaving the room.

"I, uh, I had to do it." I started. "I didn't know he was going to take a shot at me but…it was a possibility."

In two strides, Bruce reached me, he trapped my face in his hands and before I could take a breath, his lips were on mine. His lips were soft and warm and so inviting. It sent a chill down my spine, sparks through my veins. I put my hands around his neck, and leaned into him a bit more. We pulled away for lack of air.

"I missed you too." I smiled up at him.

Really hope you liked this chapter. Let me know what you think.