WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE after Harleywing: Part Five. This is an entirely theoretical chapter; a "what if the Joker had won" alternate ending. This is in no way canon to the story, all of our characters are alive and well.

Dick glanced down at his phone again. No answer, still. He tapped his fingers on the desk, staring at the screen.

She's fine, you overprotective, worrying son of a...

"Boss? You ok?"

Dick looked up. One of the newer stable hands that worked with the show horses, Peter something-or-other, had poked his head around the corner of the trailer door. Dick could hear the sounds of the circus just outside, a sound that used to comfort him. At the moment it only served as a reminder that he wasn't beside her. "Boss," Peter got his attention again, looking worried.

"I'm fine," Dick waved him away. "Just finishing up the tour paperwork. You guys are heading out of Gotham soon."

"I'll be glad of it, boss, this place gives me the heebies," he chuckled, closing the door behind him. Dick tapped his pen on the table again, glancing at his phone. 4:39. Harley would be expecting him home for dinner soon. He shrugged and started in on the paperwork on his desk again.

No sense in waiting another half an hour, he thought, standing and walking to the door. He drove back home, thinking about the last time she texted him. The more he thought about it, the more he worried. She hadn't responded since this afternoon.

She's napping, he scolded himself. Stop worrying.

"Harley?" Dick called, pushing the front door open. It slammed against the hall wall and he didn't bother to close it on his way into the dark house.

He tripped and landed hard- his head slamming on the carpet as he cried out. It was so dark he couldn't see, but he didn't have to. He could smell the sharp, metallic scent of blood, coating his face shoved into the carpet. He trembled, lifting a hand to feel it on his face, and he looked back at what he'd tripped over, fearing the worst. When he reached out he felt fur, sticky with blood.

"No," he choked, his eyes already welling with tears. He picked up Wally's head and stroked the dog's face, Clark was down the hallway in a bloody heap, and Dick looked at the stairs ascending into darkness.

"Harley!?" He screamed, scrambling up them.

Dick burst out of his bedroom. It was so dark, he couldn't see- he was cold, and he couldn't breathe.

"Dick!" Barbara shouted, grabbing his arms. He couldn't hear her, and he couldn't figure out why. She pushed him back and he fought her. His back hit the wall, and he finally realized that he was screaming. He felt weak suddenly, and slid down as Barbara pushed him. "Dick," she breathed, wiping the sweat off of his face. Blood was on her fingers when she pulled them back, and she gasped and covered her mouth.

"Harley- where is she-?!" He breathed. Barbara went pale. "Where?!" He shouted, and she jumped.

"She's gone, Dick. Harley's been dead for months now-"

"-no- no," he choked. "See that was a dream. How those work, is I eventually get to wake up."

"She died four months ago, she was killed by-"

"-No!" Dick shouted at her. His heart was still pounding. Why would she tell you this? Why would she lie? She wants to steal you from her. "I won't let you lie to me," he cried.

"She was killed by the Joker," Barbara talked over him. If she could snap him out of this haze, like last time; she could save him from what was inevitably coming. "You remember, Dick. You found her. Her and Haly-"

"-NO." He snapped, grabbing Barbara's hair, his face twisted in pain. Barbara cried out but fought to keep her face calm. "That didn't happen. She's alive here, somewhere- you never liked her!"

"Dick," she said quietly. "She's gone."

"She's here," he insisted. "I was just late coming home-"

"Please."

"-She must have tried to come find me-"

"Don't do this. Don't make me do this. Harley and Haly are gone."

"They are not!" He screamed releasing her hair and shoving her back. Dick stared at her, panting, his face twisted in anguish. "No!" He pushed her again. Barbara opened her mouth in a silent cry of pain, but she didn't say anything more. Dick stared at her before walking back into the bedroom. With a scream, he pulled over the dresser against the wall, collapsing to his knees. Whats happening...? His breathing hurt his chest, and he could see the room around him, but it was all black and white. Torn from reality.

"-I think it's time- we can't- he needs to be cared for-"

Barbara's voice wafted in from the hall, talking on her cell phone. Dick looked down, a hand on his throat.

"Barbara?" he asked, and there was a moment before she came into the room. Her eyes were wet behind her glasses and she ran her hand through her hair.

"Yeah?" She sniffed, crossing her arms.

"My throat feels cold," he whispered. She looked down.

"I'm sorry. Do you want some tea? Something warm? I could fix you something…"

"Where's Harley?" Dick breathed.

"She's… busy. Um… Selina and Ivy took her out for the night," She lied, her throat closing.

"Oh. Did they take Haly too?" He closed his eyes.

"Yeah, Dick. They'll- well tomorrow we'll take you to them."

He thought for a moment. "Aren't they coming back?"

Barbara watched him carefully. "No, they um…" she cleared her throat, putting on a good act. "They didn't want me to tell you, but they're planning a surprise party," she smiled forcedly. He didn't notice. "For you. I'm supposed to take you."

"Really?" He whispered.

"Yeah. Yeah so you should sleep. Get some rest so you're awake for the party." She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. He was so much thinner than she ever could have imagined. He'd lost weight, muscle mass- she had to look away to keep her lip from trembling.

"Okay," was his only response. He climbed back up onto his bed carefully. "Have to be rested for Harles, Harley hates the dark circles. Make me look too old you know. Have to get some sleep or she knows I didn't sleep. She always knows…" he continued muttering to himself as he stared at the window. Jason had nailed it shut a few weeks ago. He couldn't remember why. Dick missed the curtains blowing in the wind at night.

"Sleep well, Dick," Barbara choked, walking back into the living room and covering her mouth, her body racked with sobs. She took a couple of gasping breaths before regaining her composure and lifting her phone to her ear again. "Did you hear that?"

"I heard it," Bruce said evenly. "I'll call Arkham in the morning."

"Where are we going?"

"I told you, sweetie, we're going to Arkham. We're paying Harley and Ivy a visit," Selina smiled brightly, glancing at Dick in the rearview mirror.

"Oh shit, you did say that. Sorry Selina," he smiled a little bit

"Jason, what's… what's going on?" Dick said nervously, turning away from his brother to escape the solemn looks, only to run into his father. "Bruce?"

"Dick. You know that I… I love you. I'd do anything for you, my son. You know that, don't you?"

"What? You… You guys are scaring me," he frowned, his heart beating in his ears. You can't trust them. These aren't birthday wishes, these are goodbyes. "Are these… Is this some sort of goodbye? I don't-" Dick stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. His back went rigid, and his jaw tightened.

"Dick-" Bruce snapped, panicking for a split second before Dick had grabbed the hand of the doctor that had touched him and twisted, not stopping when the man screamed. He pushed down on it, snapping his arm from the socket, and he kicked him away.

"Dick, stop!" Barbara sobbed, and Bruce caught his hand. Dick swung at him with the other, his teeth grit in a fury, a murderous look in his eye that Bruce had never seen. Three more doctors rushed forward to restrain him.

"Alright, alright," he smiled, relaxing. One held each of his arms, and Dick stopped struggling. "I get it. This is a joke. Harley put you all up to this." He grinned. His family watched on, their faces painted black and white, his vision hazy. "Come on, it's funny," he struggled a bit, and the grips tightened on his arms. "What, they take me to a cell now, and there's a cake and balloons? I bet Ivy's even there, huh? And Jim too?" He laughed. "This is a great surprise party, guys!" Dick began to struggle harder as the doctors dragged him back towards the regular patient wing. He cackled.

Selina choked back sobs and hid in Bruce's chest, who was rooted to the spot as he watched his son dragged away.

"It's so funny!" Dick shouted, his voice rising, the words spat through his teeth as he kicked and struggled. "You sure know how to plan them, babe! What a party!" He screamed, fighting with all his might against the doctors' grips on him, and he laughed. Dick howled with laughter as they dragged him down the corridor.