"Sit still," Barbara ordered, pointing her pen at the observation table Dick had just abandoned to pace the room. "Everything is going to be fine without you." She didn't look up as she scribbled more things into her bulging notebook. "Besides," she caught a piece of paper that nearly fell out, "shift change isn't for a while, so just relax."

"I'm not tired," came his muffled reply, his hand over his mouth as he turned again to pace back the way he'd come. "And I don't want to... Relax. Rest. Whatever."

"Well humor me," she told him. "You worry me enough as it is without being attacked by apocalyptic cults."

"Jeez don't-" Dick shuddered. "Don't say that."

"And that," she pointed at him, "is why you shouldn't be all excited to leave. You need a break."

"No I don't. There could be more of them out there, and while I think Batman is perfectly capable, I thought that I was, too," Dick stopped and looked at her. He'd taken a shower and scrubbed the sewage off of himself, changing into a soft cotton t-shirt and sweatpants after his examination by the medical staff. "I trust him, but he needs help. What if they weren't the only ones?" Dick straightened up and winced a bit. His taser burn hurt like hell, but he wasn't about to accept medication that could benefit someone else. He wore his mask now, and his damp hair left little water spots on the shoulders of his gray tee.

"Dick," Barbara rested her notebook against her thigh, "I know you can't see it, but you're not thinking about this clearly. It's your break day anyway-"

"-I always go out on my break day-"

"-and Batman's out on city patrol instead of in the labs. And it's only been a day." Once Dick had gotten back to the tower, he'd been kept in isolation aside from those he'd given his report of what happened to and some medical staff that watched him in case he was Infected. He'd had some cuts and scrapes and a lot of Infected blood, and Damian had covered his supply shift with Batman running damage control in the city with Gordon. Barbara had been on edge after the attack until after twelve hours there was still no sign of him changing. She still hadn't been focused enough to work for the past day. "You could have been killed or Infected. Please don't go charging out there. Please."

"Batgirl I'm not charging into anything. I wasn't charging into anything when it happened!" Dick ran a hand through his hair. "I was very cautious. I just got overtaken, these things happen." He stopped pacing, staring at his feet for a moment, lost in thought. These things didn't happen. They shouldn't. What he'd seen was disgusting. They never would have happened in the world before, not the way they did. For people to turn themselves into monsters- willingly- Dick stumbled back a bit before falling against a desk, trying to tear himself away from the panic and despair clouding his thoughts and elevating his breathing.

"Hey!" Barbara tossed her notebook on the table and moved over by him. She cupped his face and lifted it up to look at her. "None of this is your fault. I'm not saying you were being reckless or anything. These things do happen, and I'm sorry it happened to you."

"The kid was ten, Babs," Dick breathed, closing his eyes. He stood up, waving his hand to show her that he didn't need help balancing.

"It still isn't your fault. Actually," she looped her arm through his to help balance him anyway, "more people would have died if you hadn't found them."

"I know. They just..." Dick looked down. "I know," he sighed.

"We can't save people that don't want to be saved," she reminded him quietly.

"Right," Dick bit his lip, looking down. "I'm sorry Babs."

"It's okay. You should really rest." She led him back over to the observation table. Dick obediently sat down, watching Barbara walk around him on the table.

"I don't need to rest." Dick glared at the floor and then looked back up. "I can't get the image of that… that kid. To turn him into a zombie…" he sighed. "Infected. Sorry."

"That's…" Barbara watched him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'll be fine," he dismissed her. She studied him a while longer before sighing and picking up her notebook.

"Okay." She tucked it under her arm. "Well you're clearly not going to turn at this point, and we're done running tests and quizzing you on what happened, so…"

"So I'm free to go, Ma'am?" Dick grinned, but it seemed forced.

"As long as you promise not to sneak out of this tower until your patrol begins," she warned. "I know you don't want to, but try and rest for the rest of your break."

"I'll try. I can't make any promises," he smiled a little. "Thank you, Batgirl," he stood up. There was a pause, and then Dick hugged her tight. He took a deep breath, holding onto her.

"Don't go almost dying on me again, okay?" she told him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Dick smiled and closed his eyes.

"I can't make any promises," he whispered. Barbara smacked his arm.

"Don't make me kick your ass, Boy Wonder."

"You couldn't if you tried," he smirked, pulling back a bit to look at her. Their lips weren't far apart, and Dick breathed shallowly, watching her.

"Ha," she laughed. "It's cute that you think you're better than me."

"I… never have been," Dick chuckled, still not moving. He looked down a bit, and she could see his eyes through the lenses of his mask.

"You've only been better than me at not being as good," she pretended to sigh, smirking up at him. Dick laughed a little, watching her.

"Yeah and it always bothered me," he breathed.

"So," she inched closer to him, "I could take a break too," she offered. Dick smiled a little, but it faded slowly.

"I think…" he spoke quietly, his lips brushing hers. Dick looked down and away from her. "I'm afraid."

"Of wha-" Barbara was cut off as the both looked toward the door as it opened. Ivy stepped in but hesitated when she saw them.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"Um… No," Dick stepped back. "Nope," he ran a hand through his hair, sighing slowly. "I was just going to go… did you need something?" Dick asked.

"I heard rumors of someone else under house arrest and decided to see if it was true." She glanced around the room. "Am I even allowed on this floor?"

"We had him in here for medical testing." Barbara crossed her arms. "What if he'd been Infected?"

Ivy cocked her head at her, a smile playing on her lips. "Then you'd be out of luck, wouldn't you?"

Barbara blushed, and Dick coughed a bit, looking down. "No," he laughed. "No, you're probably not allowed on this floor, actually. Allow me to escort you out," Dick nodded at her, chuckling, guiding her out. He glanced back at Barbara before the door closed. When they stepped onto the elevator, Dick looked at Ivy. "How did you even get down here," he muttered, pressing the button for the cafeteria floor.

"You guys have these fancy things called elevators here," Ivy replied sarcastically. "I don't know if you noticed, but they stop on every floor." She flicked her hair over her shoulder and leaned against the elevator wall.

"But… oh never mind," he chuckled. Dick glanced at her. "This is weird," he muttered, keeping his eyes on her face. She was scantily dressed, and he suddenly shifted uncomfortably. "You're not going to gas me or something, are you?"

"You're not asking me to, are you?" She watched the floor numbers tick up.

"Why would I ask you to?" he said slowly, looking at the door.

"Why would you?" she challenged. Dick fell quiet.

"So you and Jason, huh?" He glanced at her again, smiling.

"So you and Batgirl and Harley, huh?" She gave him a wicked grin. Dick sucked in a breath.

"Ouch," he laughed, wincing at the taser burns in his back again. "It's complicated." The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out into the hall, holding the elevator door open for her.

"Complicated like Harley thinking being with the Joker is a good idea?" she asked as she walked past him and then stopped and waited for him. "Or are you just saying it's complicated because that makes it easier?"

"No, I'm saying it's complicated because it's complicated. I've fallen in love with a woman who's a known psychotic and murderer, who's in love with another known psychotic and murderer, a virtual kingpin of crime." They walked down the hall towards the cafeteria. "But I still have feelings for my ex girlfriend, who is a vigilante. So am I. It's a Romeo and Juliet of epic proportions. And-" Dick opened the cafeteria door for her- "I don't even know if she likes me, let alone loves me back." he smiled. "When I say complicated, I mean it's complicated." The door swung shut behind them.

"Jason told me you were overly dramatic," Ivy laughed. She stopped in front of him, staring him down. "How does that saying go? If you love two people, you never really loved the first or you wouldn't have fallen in love again." She headed over to the cafeteria line. "It's not complicated. You're making it that way."

"Wow. That was profound," Dick chuckled. "I'll have to think about it," he glanced over the counter, pulling things out. They didn't exactly have staff, and half of the lights were off, to conserve energy. Dick dug through some of the bags of food and grabbed a box of crackers. "What about you? Doesn't your little crush on my brother kind of undermine your 'men are the scum of the earth' thing?" He sat back a bit, leaning against the counter. "Also, if you hurt my little brother, I swear-"

"-Calm down, Commander." Ivy rolled her eyes. "I doubt your threat was going to be as creative as you thought it was going to be." She crossed her arms as she stared at him. "Besides, aren't you proving my 'all men are scum' thing?"

"How so?" Dick frowned, rummaging around for more food. "What do you even eat...?" he muttered. She laughed.

"Isn't the Joker using Harley and not really reciprocating her feelings something that really bothers you about their relationship?" Ivy reminded him. "And the fact that she's with him and you at the same time, doesn't that just gnaw at you?" She smirked. "I mean I don't like Batgirl, but you're the Joker in this whole little scenario with her." She wandered down the counter from. "Unless you're done with Harley of course."

"I'm not. I'm just trying to figure out what to do. So is she, I guess. And I'm not parallel to the Joker, I'm parallel to her. I'm sleeping with her, but I'm also still in love with someone that I probably shouldn't be in love with. Babs and I are complicated." Dick opened the box of crackers and pulled out a sleeve, walking to the table. "Your problem is you can't see that men make mistakes, just like you do. We make mistakes like not knowing who we want to be with and thinking we can have both." Dick turned to smile at her. "You make the mistake of thinking that we're scum who hurt nice girls like Harley, or destroy the earth or whatever on purpose. It's accidental. We're not scum, we're just stupid."

"Yes, being a moron does appear to run in your family." She sat down at an empty table, brushing crumbs off the surface. "So you're not done with Harley," she pried with an amused look.

"It would run in the family if we were actually genetically related, but I get your point," Dick commented, sitting down with his box of crackers and a water bottle. He ignored her second comment.

"Experiences shape who you are just as much as genetics." Ivy shrugged. "And don't think I don't recognize that guilty expression. It's the same one Harley got every time she'd go see you after I told her not to. How's she doing?" She leaned her elbows on the table.

"Worried about you." Dick took a drink of water, taking his mask off and tossing it on the table. "And him." Ivy rolled her eyes.

"He's going to be the death of her. But at least he hasn't killed her yet," she sighed.

"Yeah how lucky," Dick muttered, looking down. He fiddled with the crackers, his arms crossed on the table. His breath whispered past his lips as he ran a hand through his hair. "I love her." He said simply. Dick looked up at Ivy with a smile. "And I want her out of there so bad... But I'm not sure what else to do," he sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"Trust me, I want her away from the clown just as bad. I couldn't convince her to come with me when she told me to leave because he wanted to kill me, and apparently killing him was not a proper response." She shrugged. "But if she's seeing you, she must not be that happy with him."

"Let's hope," he breathed.

"She has no one else in Arkham but him," she reminded him, "and let's face it, she's the only one who thinks he loves her. It can't be too long before he pushes her away."

"So what do I do?" He leaned forward, blue eyes fixed on her.

"If I knew, she'd be here. Locked in this... very fancy dungeon with me." She brushed her hair behind her ear. "I don't even know how you two ended up seeing each other in the first place. It was a bad idea then and a bad idea now." She grinned at him.

"You're telling me," Dick laughed. He smiled back, watching her. "You're one to talk, though."

"I'm not a hero. I embrace bad ideas. I guess Harley does too, which would explain the conversation we're having."

"So Jason's just another bad idea?" Dick pried, leaning forward.

"We're actually digging into your love life right now if you don't mind," Ivy said stiffly. Dick laughed.

"Relax, Gaia, I'll back off." He smiled. "Are you sure you're not just curious about Harley?"

"Of course I'm curious about Harley," Ivy scoffed. "She warned me the Joker wanted to kill me, pissing him off. She started sleeping with you, pissing him off. And now she's in there alone with him, and who's going to protect her if she pisses him off? The proper term is worried. And you're worried about her too," she added. Dick looked down, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah," he said quietly. Ivy watched him. He looked practically pitiful.

"Why did you two stop seeing each other?" she asked curiously. He was clearly smitten with Harley, and when Ivy had last seen her, Harley hadn't been able to stay away from him either.

"It's... Complicated." He laughed. "She had her mind made up about me, and she thought that I was using her. We said some things we shouldn't have, and now I don't know... I want her. So badly, and I don't know what to do. I have to get her back."

"Well moping around here isn't going to change that." She smirked at him.

"If you didn't notice, I'm not exactly free to go just yet," he chuckled. "Why are you helping me?"

"I may not like you, but you're better than the Joker." She shrugged, leaning back in her seat.

"I'm almost flattered," Dick laughed. "I can't say you're the best decision Jason has made."

"But I'm not the worst," she challenged. She almost laughed. After a brief pause, her face grew serious again. "Don't you dare tell Harley this, but I miss her."

"Oh I'm definitely telling her that," Dick grinned. "She'll be thrilled. She'll never let you hear the end of it."

"That would be a problem if I ever got to see her again. But at least I got you to admit you'll be seeing her." She beamed triumphantly.

"I said I shouldn't, I never said I wouldn't. I don't think I've ever seen you smile," he commented.

"And you never will again," she told him seriously. "But you will see plenty of eye rolls and condescending glares."

"I'm sure." Dick looked down at his watch with a sigh. Ivy's mouth twitched in amusement. She grabbed the end of her hair and played with it as she waited for him to say something. He watched her curiously. "What?" He finally asked, taking a drink of water and clearing his throat to dispel the awkwardness.

"Nothing." She was amused by his discomfort. Not many people would sit down and talk to her like a normal person, and she somehow found it funny that he felt awkward.

"Why do you like Harley?" he asked suddenly, watching her. "You don't like anybody. You look like you tolerate Jason and Selina, but otherwise..."

"I tolerate you maybe," she muttered before sighing. "She's never once treated as different. She's crazy enough to date the Joker and you at the same time, so she's crazy enough to have a plant as a best friend. She reminds me that I'm human."

"You are?" Dick teased, smiling at her.

"Cute," she said drily.

"Sorry. I get what you mean. She's a lot saner and smarter than people give her credit for."

"Whenever I feel like I've lost my humanity, she reminds me that being a 'normal' person isn't what makes you human." She said it then shifted around like she was self conscious about her words. Dick nodded.

"So what do you see in Jason, then? I mean he makes me want to tranq myself on a daily basis," Dick chuckled, his food forgotten.

"If you hate him so much, what do you see in him?" she countered.

"He's my brother. And I knew him before his… Well Jason's had a bad life. Really bad. None of us have been good, but he's… He's a little worse than the rest of us. A lot. That tough as nails shell is just that; a shell." Dick leaned back before standing. "And I think he likes you enough to let you in." Ivy smiled to herself before realizing she was doing it and scowling at him. Dick laughed. "You're so cute I could practically ruffle your hair, if it wouldn't kill me. I'm going to sneak out," he smiled. "I'm going to see if I can go see Harley. Any message you want me to give her?"

"Tell her that if she gets herself killed by that creepy bastard, she knows I'll resurrect her just to murder her again." Dick watched her for a moment and then shrugged with a smile.

"Okay then."

Joker looked down the barrel of his gun, grinning ghoulishly. He stood on the street, shooting rats as they scampered around the concrete. He had the bullets to spare.

"Joker!" Scarecrow called for the third time, hurrying towards him from behind. Joker hesitated and then turned around, firing shots at Jonathan. He cried out, dropping his notebook as he stumbled back, the bullets biting the concrete at his feet. Joker laughed cruelly, pulling the trigger until it clicked empty. Crane stared up at him from the pavement, panting. He stared at him incredulously. "Why!?" he gasped, kneeling to gather up the papers. Joker started reloading his gun, chuckling.

"Hi Crane." Harley waved at him from where she was sitting against the wall, watching the Joker. Crane stared at her and took a shaky breath.

"Hello, dear," he coughed, and then looked down, tucking his papers into his notebook.

"How's your zombie?" she asked curiously. She tucked her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, leaning her cheek on her knees as she looked over at him. Crane pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Well. Not dead, I managed to save him. And that's what I came to talk to you about," he stuttered a bit, clutching his notebook to his chest. He turned, putting a whistle between his lips and blowing it shortly. Suddenly his zombie, the same one he'd had strapped to the table, came scurrying around the corner. It stopped beside him and snuffed the air, and the whistle dropped from between Crane's lips as he smiled slowly.

"No way!" Harley sat up. "Scaredy McDead face turned into Fido the zombie dog?"

"Shhhhhhhh," Crane pointed a finger at her. "He's not a dog, so much as a domesticated wolf." He whistled again and it sat on the ground. "He is only tame as long as he's calm. No sudden movements."

"Aww," Harley pouted, "I thought this would be a pet I'd actually get to keep."

"No, he listens in a way Dent already listens to you. I thought of the idea when I noticed how he behaved around you. He still has a personality. He was very fond of you in life and he still is, in a way. He's subdued around you."

"Aw shucks Scarecrow," Harley giggled, "ya flatter me."

"Don't," Joker muttered, walking around the zombie slowly. He suddenly raised his gun and fired at a rat crawling towards the gutter. The zombie, spooked, snarled and lunged at Crane. He fell back, struggling, as the Joker laughed hysterically.

"Puddin!" Harley cried in outrage. She jumped up to help pull the zombie off Crane.

"Oh what?" He groaned as Crane whistled frantically at the zombie, trying to calm it. Joker twirled his pistol on his finger. "Sorry mom," he muttered, and then jumped when the gun went off, a bullet shattering the window of the house beside them. The zombie launched into a fresh panic, and the Joker fumbled the gun and dropped it in shock. Harley squealed and jumped back as the zombie swung its arm at her, its hands nearly clawing into her arm. Crane grabbed it's hair and whistled shrilly, pulling it away from her and whistling until it calmed down. He released it slowly, and Joker giggled before covering his mouth, still snickering.

"That wasn't funny!" Harley smacked his arm. "We coulda died."

"I just- it slipped," he gestured to the gun, laughing harder. "Happy accident."

"And what about that was happy?" she asked, sliding down the wall to sit in her spot.

"It was pretty funny," he chuckled, glancing down at her. "So now we have our zombie puppets. We need to know if Batman is mobilizing."

"What would he be mobilizing for?" She resisted the urge to scratch at the bandaging under her jacket.

"Well we did blow in there and we have been continually, stealing their nuts, and attacking their tree-" he picked up his gun and dusted it off.

"But it's Batman," she said. "He wouldn't attack us. Why would they try and stop us now? Everything been goin' pretty okay."

"Right. Though apparently not," Joker turned shrewd eyes on her, grinning slowly. He held a hand out to her until she took it, and he helped her stand, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Crane tells me you're not happy," he said with a smile, pulling her close. When Harley glanced back at Crane, he rubbed bruises on his neck and looked away. Joker cupped a hand under her chin and turned her face back to look at him. "Why are you unhappy, doll?" Joker stroked a finger down her cheek gently, watching her.

"You ignore me," she said simply, her lower lip sticking out as she pouted.

"I don't try to," he sighed. "Crane says you're upset because you 'can't have both.'"

"I mean-" Harley stared up at him, "I know I can't. I just- I'm sorry." She glanced back down.

"Well why not?" He smiled slowly. "I want you to be happy, Harley," Joker purred, stroking her cheek. "But if I can't make you happy, if I don't have time to... I suppose you're your own criminal," he waved a hand, glancing at Crane. He watched them, his face pale, but he didn't say anything.

"You..." Harley stepped back, staring at him in confusion. "No. You don't like it when I go see him. Ya..." She reached her hand up to her chest before dropping it back down. "Ya told me ya didn't want me seeing him again, and ya..." Her lower lip quivered.

"Well I don't love the idea..." He cocked his head a bit, pausing to watch her, before he took her hands and pulled her close, cupping her cheek gently. "But I do love you, doll, and I want you to be happy. Besides, I owe you for my fit the other night..." He tugged her jacket away from her collarbone, glancing at the bandages. "It's a miracle I didn't hurt you worse."

"No," she grabbed his hand, "that wasn't your fault. An' I'm really okay. I know-" she cut off when she realized what he'd said. He'd said he loved her. It was surrounded by so many words he may not even have realized he'd said it; she couldn't remember the last time he'd said it. But she wanted to hear it again. "I just don't wanna upset you again," she breathed.

"And I'm telling you you won't," he smiled, gently. Not cruelly.

"No." She shook her head. "I just want ta make you happy."

"Harley, I need to be left alone," he said bluntly. "Through the majority of the day, and the night. That would make me happy." He watched her, eyebrows raised. It was strange times like these when she was suddenly reminded he was human at one time. A man with a job and a home and bills. He never seemed any less than larger than life except in times like these.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I've been tryin' not ta bother you."

"I know, but that makes you miserable!" He sighed in exasperation, and then smiled. Harley bit the inside of her cheek.

"But I just wanna make you happy," she repeated, looking down at the ground.

"Seeing you happy makes me happy," he replied, smiling. He turned her face up to meet her eyes. "Go."

"You-" she hesitated, "you really want me to go?"

"I really do," he grinned, talking through his teeth. "I'm sure you won't go switching sides on me, correct? I trust you."

"No I- I," she got excited, "I won't..." Her face fell. She wanted to see Dick, she really did. Especially if Joker approved of it, but she didn't want him to see her with... She clutched her jacket. "I won't go. I don't want to anymore." Joker sighed slowly, turning away.

"Very well," he said forcedly. "Just so long as you know you're free to go. This isn't a prison anymore," Joker hissed, and he stalked away back towards the tower. Crane watched him go, gnawing on his lip nervously.

"I don't know what to do," Harley breathed. She slid slowly down the wall, dropping her head onto her knees.

"I'm at a loss as well," Crane said quietly.

"I mean, I want ta go," she admitted. "But what if he's disgusted because of the..." She looked down at her jacket like she could see the stitches. "What if I disgust him?"

"You won't. And even if you do-" Crane signed slowly. "Look what you have to fall back on." He gestured to the Joker in defeat as he went inside. Harley glanced up at him helplessly.

"Then maybe I shouldn't even bother." She couldn't get hurt if she didn't go, but she'd also never see him again. That hurt more than the idea of him rejecting her. It still felt like she was betraying the Joker feeling like this. He'd been fine with her being friends with Ivy, but this felt different. If she could go, she wanted to, but she was still terrified.

"Why not? Harley has he ever given you express permission on anything?" Crane sighed, looking down at her. He'd chained his zombie to a light post, and it sat on the ground with its head down. "I'd say take advantage of his generosity."

"Okay." She looked down at her lap. If Dick turned her away, she'd be back to where she started, only now Joker had told her he'd be busy all the time. Because of Dick. She rested her forehead on her knees. "Okay."

"Do what you want to, Harleykins," Crane stood and ruffled her hair, unchaining his zombie. She nodded; she still didn't know what she wanted. He sighed. "Tell you what. You go see Nightwing one more time, either to say goodbye or to see if you still want to spend time with him. Just to make absolutely certain that you want to do one thing or the other." He watched her, and then he smiled gently. Harley glanced up at him before looking at the wall. After a second, she stood up and looked at him again, giving him a small smile.

"Okay."