Chapter 18

Disclaimer: I own nothing (except Joker's name Jared Prentz-name only though).

For once Batman felt as if he was towering over a city completely held in the mercy of two madmen: one with cape and cowl and one with dressed a gothic twist. As he stared down in vengeance at his enemy, he thought, now, the true competition begins.

Joker kept his eyes on Barbara as she struggled against the ropes that bound her.

"Gee, I must admit I am rather disappointed in you, "Joker said. "I mean, you used to be Batgirl weren't you?"

A smirk greeted his face. "At least you used to be. Maybe it was too long ago for you You have more important things to tend to now, "he said implying her infant. ."

He walked away without a laugh, totally in silence. Barbra knew that it wasn't a good sign.

"What do you want?" She asked him.

Joker looked down at her from where he stood.

"I want a lot from you, my dear. Some of which you will provide on your own and some well maybe a bit more than some, will have to be …extracted from you for lack of a

better word."

His eyes…. she had seen eyes that like before when she worked the streets with

Bru…Batman. They never, though, were looking at her. For once Barbara felt the fear those she had once protected must have felt.

Barbara tried to defy her captor.

"Who are you really? I think you should at least give me that much before I give you …"she paused, "everything."

Joker looked at her, not really sure what the trap was but thinking that hell why not? Anything for a little fun, right?

Joker smiled and wiped part of his make-up off. He neatly combed his hair and straightened out his jacket. Barbara's gaze pierced straight into his eyes. Oh my God, she thought. Why didn't I see this before? Jared Prentz! That is how he knew about me…but if he knows about me he must know about…

"That's right my dear. I do know who Batman is. He's that dumb fuck, Bruce Wayne, "he said while prancing around.

"Look at me, aren't I cute. I can screw anything I want including me!" the last words were said in a high pitched scream.

"I could have offered you so much. IF only things had been different between us, but now I will get what I came for and you will get to see Daddy again. Sound fair?"

Barbara held back tears, but her thoughts kept falling on Bruce, Dick and little Martha.

While Joker was looking at Barbara and slowly removing his gloves to caress her, he heard a buzzing sound at his ear. Joker followed the sound to see in its place a small shining batarang. It was Barbara's symbol of hope.

"Damn Bat, "Joker mumbled.

Before Joker could even prepare to strike, Batman had come from behind him and knocked him to the ground.

"Let her go, Prentz, this is between us now." Joker couldn't help but stifle a giggle.

"Us? Prentz? Do you even know who you are dealing with? Prentz is not here, Bat Man (he emphasized). Just us boys."

Batman stared intently into Prentz's eyes. For once in his life, Prentz was probably telling the truth. Joker was the only one there.

Joker quickly took advantage of Batman's weakness and aimed for the groin causing Batman to be thrown off guard for a moment.

Batman quickly regained his senses and struck Joker on the back of the neck. He fell unconscious to the floor. Batman knelt down to help Barbara finish undoing the ropes.

"Come on," he said gruffly.

Barbra searched the room for the other men that had been there but they had vanished and along with them so had Prentz.

The two ran and minutes later they heard a loud explosion coming from behind as they swung to the nearest rooftop.

Barbara gripped on tightly to Bruce's armor. Yes, even thought he was in mask, she still thought of him as just Bruce. He used to get so angry at her when she would slip up and call him that.

'You are going to jeopardize the mission' he would say. Barbara thought that their relationship was the true mission, not playing dress up.

Bruce placed her gently on the roof as they both turned their attention toward the burning building. Joker must have planned on setting the building on fire after he got what he wanted. Since that didn't happen, it was set off much sooner.

Barbara looked to Bruce. She could tell he was tired and not just physically. His breathing pattern had changed since he had been fighting the Joker to just standing next to her. She could always tell with him, sense what his mind and body were saying even though his words often said otherwise. He turned to face her. His eyes had softened as Barbara saw him tear off the cowl as if it were standing between him and the air he breathed.

"Barbara…God…Are you Ok? I am so sorry I wasn't there to stop him…"

Barbara placed a finger to Bruce's lips. "Shhh…" she whispered. Bruce gently closed his eyes savoring her finger's touch to his skin. Distant thunder could be heard and soft pellets of rain began to fall. The first kiss…he remembered.

Bruce opened his eyes.

"I have something for you."

He pulled a folded piece of paper from his cowl trying desperately to keep it from getting wet but it was to no avail. The rain had found its place and neither one of them could escape it. Barbara read the letter Bruce had given her. It was from her father….he knew about Prentz…his reasons for retirement…he knew about the baby? So many questions and she knew that all of the answers would never come to pass. Bruce nodded.

"He knew who Prentz was and that Prentz knew about me. It was my fault Barbara …if only …" She shook her tired head. Bruce was starting again. The cycle had to be broken,

"Bruce, you didn't know. If Dad had wanted you to know he would have told you. He was hoping that the problem would go away and that the solution was right behind. He had forgotten about all that was in between." She gestured toward them and their surroundings. Bruce remained stoic but his eyes were still soft.

Barbara smiled recalling something.

"He must have known about the baby when I went to eat Chinese food with him one day. I was so sick and he just gave me an odd look, but said nothing." She began to wipe the tears that came from her eyes and let them melt with the rain.

"He knew." She whispered.

Bruce reached up his hand to her face and began to stroke it slowly. Barbara leaned her face into his hand. He had powerful hands. They were hands that could make any woman feel like she was his first to touch and any criminal feel like he would steal their last breath. Bruce lifted her head till they faced his eyes. His hair was dripping wet from the downpour. Strands of brown hair fell into his face. Barbara knew she shouldn't be feeling this way and knew what was about to happen. He leaned toward her to kiss her lips. While waiting for the taste of her lips, Bruce hadn't realized that instead he was feeling her small hand against his chest. Bruce opened his eyes only to see her blue ones gazing intently into his.

"Martha needs you in her life Bruce, "she said as she removed her hand from his chest, "as much as I need Dick in mine."

Bruce's heart stopped cold. There was no turning back. He would have given up anything for her. This was to be his last mission: saving her and putting Joker away. TI would be one less sin to make up for. Didn't she know that? No, came the answer. She had made her decision and he wasn't in it. Bruce felt as if his world that had once been divided had made a decision for him that was now beyond his control Why would she believe him this time anyway? After all, he once gave up her for everything. He quickly returned his cowl to its proper place and put his feet on the edge of the ledge ready to leap.

"Are you coming?" he growled.

By his tone Barbara knew that Bruce had become like Prentz. Any chance of him abandoning this life for another was lost. All of the paths he had traveled had lead to one road: this one that was standing before her. Only one man was left remaining and it wasn't the man she once loved, the man who would fight for others but save time for her and himself. This man was driven beyond anything. . Stifling a cry for him, she hurried to his side as the two leapt off the roof and back to their homes.