Chapter 30: Sanity Plea

At Arkham Asylum, Jack Napier, a.k.a. the Joker, was being informed of Barlowe's death and will. "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" The Clown Prince of Crime laughed. "Barlowe? Leaving a fortune to me? There must be a catch!" He then started frowning. "What's the catch?"

"You won't be allowed to claim your inheritance until you're declared sane, Mr. Napier." A probate court employee in charge of informing the Joker of Barlowe's death stated.

"I knew there'd be a catch." The Joker muttered. "So, what happens if I never become sane?"

"If you die without being declared sane, Mr. Barlowe has set an alternative beneficiary, Mr. Napier." The employee said and showed a copy of the will.

The Joker started laughing again. "Now everything makes sense." He commented. "Barlowe wanted his right-hand-man to kill me for his millions. I might hate the guy but he's a genius." He then grew desperate and turned his attention to the doctor. "You must declare me sane before he kills me! It's the only way to save me!"

One day later, Danny Phantom was sucking Skulker into a Fenton Thermos when the communicator Batman gave him beeped. "Batman? What happened?"

"Danny Phantom, you're needed at the Batcave. It's an emergency." Batman said.

"I'm on my way, Batman!" Danny replied. Before leaving, he called his parents to inform them.

Meanwhile, Tucker and Sam were at the latter's mansion waiting for Danny to arrive for a videogame session. "What's taking him so long?" Sam asked with a frown.

"Sam, you know his enemies won't hunt themselves unless it's Walker trying to get them back into his prison." Tucker commented.

Sam's cell phone then rang. "Mr. Fenton?"

"Sam, Danny can't go playing videogames with you and Tucker because Batman called him for an emergency meeting at the Batcave." Jack Fenton explained. "Is Tucker there with you or must I call him as well?"

"He's here with me, Mr. Fenton." Sam replied. "I'll inform him. Bye."

"What happened?" Tucker asked out of worry.

"Danny's not coming because Batman called him to Gotham for an emergency, Tucker." Sam answered. "Do you know what that means?"

"Yes!" Tucker was excited. "Danny may get Batman's autograph this time!"

"No, Tucker." Sam replied. "I mean about the fact Danny didn't even tell any of us directly. That means Danny no longer needs us."

"Sam, you're exaggerating." Tucker argued.

While the techno geek argued with his goth friend, Danny phased his way inside the Batcave. Besides Batman, the second Robin, and Alfred, were also there the original Robin, and Supergirl. "I'm here, guys." Danny said. "What's the emergency?"

"The Joker is trying to have himself declared sane." Batman stated.

Danny was confused. "Batman, I understand you not wanting it to happen but, where do I enter?"

"It's not about preventing the Joker from being declared sane, Phantom, but about making sure he lives long enough to see the result of the hearing." The original Robin explained.

"Robin, I know there's a gangster who…" Danny tried to say but the original Boy Wonder interrupted him.

"It's Nightwing now."

"With or without a 'K'?" Danny asked.

"It doesn't matter!" Batman furiously stated. "And the gangster who stands to inherit Barlowe's millions if the Joker dies insane is far from being the only person wanting his death."

"What do you mean?" Danny asked.

"During his criminal career, the Joker has associated with several criminals whose only reason not to fear he'd testify against them is the fact insane people's statements are inadmissible as evidence." Batman explained.

"And Supergirl is here because Batman is worried about Lex Luthor being among those villains and Superman wasn't available." The second Robin (who will be just called Robin from now on since the previous Boy Wonder finally started calling himself Nightwing) explained.

"Lex Luthor?" Danny asked in surprise. While he knew some Leaguers suspected Luthor of being what Danny considered a Plasmius without ghost powers, he still wasn't certain about the Metropolis billionaire. "What does he have to do with the Joker?"

"Have you heard of the time the Joker went to Metropolis and tried to kill Superman?" Batman asked Danny.

"It was the first time the both of you worked together, right?" Danny asked in return.

"Yes." Batman bluntly answered. "Luthor hired the Joker to kill Superman but it hasn't been proven. The Joker being declared sane enough to testify might change things."

"The more I'd like a chance to finally put Luthor behind bars, are you sure that's worth saving the Joker's life?" Supergirl asked.

"It's not our right to decide criminals' punishments, Supergirl." Batman argued. "That's for the courts. And besides, since the Joker is claiming to have faked his insanity all this time, it means he'll stay in jail for a long time unless he's actually sentenced to death. Time spent in mental institutions doesn't count as time served."

"That brings some comfort." Danny muttered.

"Danny, I understand if you don't feel comfortable defending the Joker but at least don't become someone I must defend him against." Batman warned him.

"I think I'll go see my girlfriend." Danny said. "Bye."

After phasing out of the Batcave, Danny flew towards Barbara's home. As nobody responded, he figured out the Commissioner was at work and, since he didn't have anyone to take care of Barbara while he's away, took her with him. Danny then flew towards the police station.

"Danny, what're you doing here?" Commissioner Gordon asked.

"I had some business with Batman and decided to visit Barbara, Sir." Danny replied.

"Danny?" Barbara asked as she showed up.

"Hi, Barbara." Danny replied.

"Did Batman ask you to watch over the Joker, Danny?" Barbara asked her boyfriend.

"Did you know?" Danny didn't expect Batman to have already discussed the matter with her.

"I guessed." Barbara answered while she winked, suggesting she knew about it but couldn't explain in front of people who didn't know she was Batgirl. Since it wasn't a matter of love, Danny didn't miss the clue.

"Well, yeah, Batman asked me to help." Danny told his girlfriend.

"Do it." She asked him.

"What?" Danny was shocked at hearing this. "Do you want me to protect him after what he did to you?"

"The more I mate that clown, we can't just let others kill him when he's not causing trouble, Danny." Barbara explained. "After all, the worst it could happen is him being sent from Arkham to Blackgate."

"Blackgate?" Danny asked.

"That's the prison sane criminals are sent to in Gotham, Danny." Barbara explained.

"Okay." Danny replied.

"Danny, I'm enjoying this conversation but my next shift is about to start." Barbara said.

"Right, you're managing the Gotham City Police Department's website as your summer job." Danny commented.

"So you'd better leave before I arrest you for interfering with police work." Barbara's Dad said.

"Yes, Sir." Danny replied and left in fear. 'How come overprotective parents can be scarier than ghosts? At least Phanty's Dad is someone I can use my powers on and claim self-defense.'

"Dad." Barbara moaned.

"Sorry, Princess, but daddy must keep you safe." The Commissioner explained.

"From my boyfriend?" Barbara was skeptic. "Did he have to face this from his other dates' Dads?"

"Probably yes." Detective Bullock answered as he showed up to pick another donut.

Danny eventually joined the Bat family for Joker protection. "Is it as awkward to you as it is to me?" Danny asked Supergirl.

"Well," The Girl of Steel started answering but suddenly zoomed away and came back with an armed thug. "This guy was trying to break into Arkham." She told Danny.

"What do you care?" The thug asked. "I was just trying to kill the Joker."

"It's not our right to decide punishments, dude." Danny replied.

"Not to mention the innocents that might be hurt as collateral damage." Supergirl added.

Meanwhile, inside the funny farm, two orderlies approached the Joker. "What're you guys doing?" The Clown Prince of Crime asked as one of them grabbed him.

"Wrist cutting is a common form of suicide, clown." The other orderly answered as he drew a scalpel.

"Help! Help!" The Joker screamed.

"Scream as much as you want." The first orderly said. "Who cares?"

"I do." They heard as a batrang caused the scalpel to fall. Enraged, the orderlies tried to take down Batman but the Caped Crusader knocked down the both of them with one single strike.

"Thank you, Batsy." The Joker said. "Remind me to reward you after I get Barlowe's dough."

"I'm not doing it for money, Joker." Batman replied. "I don't approve vigilante execution. If I didn't make an exception for the Sewer King, I certainly won't make one for you."

Meanwhile, Danny and Supergirl kept looking around until the latter spotted something. "Bank robbery!" She exclaimed and flew towards the bank.

"Now I know it wasn't a total waste of time for her." Danny commented.

It didn't take long until news of Supergirl back in Gotham reached the police station. "Wow! Supergirl and Danny Phantom make a nice pair." Detective Bullock commented. "Ouch."

"Sorry, Detective." Barbara Gordon sarcastically replied. "I guess I'm having trouble getting used to this wheelchair."

"Hehe. It's okay." Detective Bullock uneasily replied.

Eventually, it was time for the Clown Prince of Crime to be evaluated by a psychiatrist chosen by his lawyer. "Do you really believe the things that clown is saying?" Danny asked Kara.

"The day non-Kryptonian pigs fly, Danny." Kara answered. Danny didn't know if Kara was joking about pigs ever existing in Krypton and decided he didn't want to know.

So a lazy writer wouldn't have to find out as well.

Whatever, Wade.

"So, is that it?" Danny asked. "Once a diagnosis is given, this mission is over, right?"

"Wrong." Nightwing answered. "If the Joker is declared insane… again, we'll no longer have to worry about people trying to kill him so he won't testify against them but we still have to worry about Barlowe's right-hand-man. If the Joker is found sane, the diagnosis will have to be taken to court to be validated."

Meanwhile, an elite shooter known as Deadshot was about to shoot the Joker. Before doing so, he was consulting his business account. A recorded message confirmed a million-dollar deposit. "Baldy's a good customer." Deadshot commented. "Nothing bad for a guy some people detract as a skinny version of New York's Kingpin. Maybe that will make Fisk realize I'm a better hitman than Bullseye."

His musings were interrupted by a batrang making him drop his weapon. "No murders in my city, Floyd." Batman declared.

"It's the Joker." Deadshot argued, scared that Batman knew his identity. "What do you care?"

"I care because it's not right to decide the punishment for his crimes." Batman replied.

Meanwhile, from Arkham Asylum, Supergirl was observing the battle. "Deadshot!" She exclaimed and flew after the bad guy.

"So, how's Starfire?" Danny asked Nightwing.

"She's doing fine, Danny." Nightwing answered. "We're dating now."

"Cool!" Danny commented and Nightwing was shocked the halfa wasn't being resentful.

Supergirl then returned. "Deadshot tried to kill the Joker. Batman and Kal suspect Luthor paid him to do it."

After taking Deadshot to jail, Batman returned and told Danny to go home. "You probably won't need to help protecting the Joker until his day in court." The Dark Knight told Danny.

End chapter.

Deadpool's comment: I'd have done a better job than Floyd unaliving that clown.

Author's note: This chapter is a mixture of "Joker's Millions" and "Sanity Plea", the latter being a story from The Batman Strikes! Comic book series.