Rebecca stood with Gordon and Harvey behind the two-way mirror of the interrogation room as Rachel paced before Lau and the Chinese man's lawyer.

"Give us the money, and we'll deal." Rachel demanded firmly, but Lau retorted flatly, "The money is the only reason I'm still alive."

Rachel pretended to be surprised as she asked pointedly, "You mean when they find out that you've helped us, they're going to kill you?"

"Are you threatening my client?" Lau's lawyer demanded instantly, but Rachel was good at what she did.

"No." She answered archly as she settled down before Lau. "I'm just assuming your client's cooperation with the investigation."

She looked right at Lau as she added pointedly, "As will everyone."

Lau stared back at her, tight-lipped, and Rachel asked, "No?"

As Lau continued to sit silently, Rachel shrugged as she said lightly, "Okay."

Gotham's best assistant DA stood up, making to leave the room as she said casually over her shoulder, "Enjoy your time in County, Mr. Lau."

She hadn't even gotten five steps, before Lau finally called, "Wait."

Rebecca leaned forward intently, watching as Rachel turned back to face Lau as the man said carefully, "I won't give you the money. But I will give you my clients. All of them."

Rebecca lifted her brow, while inside the interrogation room Rachel folded her arms as she returned skeptically, "You were a glorified accountant; what could you possibly have on all of them that we could charge?"

"I'm good with calculation." Lau answered as he met Rachel's challenging stare evenly. "I handled all their investments. One bit pot."

Harvey hit the button instantly, letting Rachel know he had something, while he murmured, "Got it."

Both Gordon and Rebecca turned to the DA in surprise, while Rachel told Lau, "One minute."

She left the room, coming around to join the others as Harvey explained to the two police officers, "RICO. If they pooled their money, we can charge all of them as one criminal conspiracy."

Rebecca frowned while Gordon asked skeptically, "Charge them with what?"

"In a RICO case," Harvey explained, "if you can charge one of the conspirators with a felony, we can-"

"-Charge all of them with it." Rachel realized. "That's great!"

She spun around and headed excitedly back towards the interrogation room, though she masked her feelings when she returned to face Lau.

"Will it really work?" Gordon asked Harvey, while Rebecca piped up, "What about the money, though?"

Harvey grimaced, while inside the interrogation room, Rachel announced, "Mr. Lau. What kind of details do you have about this communal fund? Ledgers, notebooks-?"

"Immunity," Lau cut across her firmly, "protection, and a chartered plane back to Hong Kong."

"After you testify in open court." Rachel answered without skipping a beat. "And I'm just curious, but with all your clients locked up, what's gonna happen with all that money?"

Lau smiled slightly as he answered smugly, "Like I said – I'm good with calculation."

"He can't go to County." Gordon muttered, and Harvey glanced over. "I'm keeping him here in the holding cells."

"What is this, Gordon, your fortress?" Harvey answered sarcastically, and Rebecca sighed as Gordon argued back, "You trust them over at County?"

"I don't trust them here." Harvey shot back as he looked Gordon in the eye, and Rebecca interrupted warningly, "Lieutenant, Counselor – please."

Harvey pursed his lips as Gordon thinned his own, before the latter said quietly but firmly, "Lau stays."

And both Rebecca and Harvey knew there was nothing more to be said.

"It's your call, Lieutenant." Harvey muttered as he turned back to watch the interrogation. "Be right."

"… I am, Counselor." Gordon answered, while Rebecca pursed her own lips as she watched Rachel and Lau work out their deal.

The next day

Bruce was already smiling in anticipation as Rebecca burst into his penthouse, grinning widely.

"We got them!" She exclaimed excitedly as she threw her arms around Bruce's neck and he laughed with her, sharing her joy as he swung her around in the air.

"I know – I saw your and Gordon's handiwork on the news." Bruce said warmly as he nodded to where the television was on in the sitting room.

"Well, it mostly shows Harvey, but he deserves the credit – he's the one who figured out how to nab the mob with Lau's information." Rebecca said with a wide smile, still giddy with their triumph. "Besides, the key point is that we actually got them! I wish you could've seen Chechen's face when we arrested him. It was priceless!"

Bruce laughed with her as he led her to the sofa, settling them both down as he asked, "And the trials went smoothly?"

"They're going well." She agreed. "Surrillo's intent on making this a fair and just trial. I mean, Chechen and Maroni themselves will probably still be able to get bail, but we got the others. 549 criminals, all at once – it was insane!"

"I'm happy to hear it." Bruce agreed, smiling widely. "And to see you finally got to have some time off."

"Says the man who doesn't sleep because he's busy prowling the nights as Batman." Rebecca teased, still grinning like a mad man. "But yeah, Gordon gave half the team the morning off to rest after the last week; he and the others are taking tomorrow morning off."

"You deserved it." Bruce said sincerely. "Though you're looking too happy for only half a day off."

"Can you blame me?" Rebecca sighed contently. "After years of making almost no headway, to see things finally go up after you showed up was amazing. But this, this isn't just up, Bruce. This is the sky. And you made it happen."

Bruce laughed, shaking his head as he said, "You're drunk."

"Yeah, I am – on happiness." Rebecca agreed. "But I mean it, Bruce. And I'm so proud and happy to be able to share this victory with you."

"It's your victory, Becky." Bruce answered firmly. "You, Gordon, Harvey, Rachel – you're the ones who made this happen. Batman can only start the spark – you're the ones making the flames."

"Shut up." Rebecca answered. "You give yourself too little credit. Do you know how hard it is to be the one who lights that spark? Don't actually answer that." She added as Bruce opened his mouth. "I know you do, and that's why you don't let your guard down."

She smiled as she hugged Bruce again, sighing contently, "But, just for now, I want to be happy without worrying."

Bruce chuckled as he hugged her back warmly.

"I'm happy too." Bruce answered softly. "And I'm glad that you got through this without getting hurt."

"I think that's my line." Rebecca joked as she pressed a kiss on Bruce's cheek fondly. "I was worried I'd come by and find you patching yourself up after your stint in Hong Kong."

Bruce smiled as he agreed, "Yeah, it went considerably well. The new suit's much better."

"That's good." Rebecca smiled. "Though it won't really stop me worrying, at least I'll hopefully see you come back with less injuries from now on. Especially with the streets cleaned up now, for at least the next year if not 18 months."

Bruce laughed as he admitted, "That does sound good. And maybe now you'll also have time for us to see each other more often – I'm not the only one to blame for us not being able to see each other, Sergeant Dawes."

Rebecca smiled as she kissed Bruce, which he answered enthusiastically.

Unfortunately, it was at that moment that Rebecca's phone rang.

"What is it?" Bruce asked as they broke apart, both frowning at the sound of her ringtone.

"I don't know." Rebecca admitted, checking the caller ID.

Her frown deepened, and she answered quickly, "Gordon?"

Instantly, her whole expression and posture changed.

Bruce stiffened with her, watching her intently as Rebecca sat up straight instantly while her eyes widened in alarm and then narrowed intently as she listened to whatever Gordon was telling her.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." Rebecca confirmed, before she hung up.

"What's wrong?" Bruce asked instantly as he got up with her, and Rebecca said grimly, "The Joker struck – and he's upped his game."

Bruce tensed, before he was blown as Rebecca said, her blue eyes filled with anger, worry, and sympathy for him, "He killed one of the Batman copycats – still in costume."

Bruce didn't move, going absolutely still as he processed through the shock, while Rebecca continued after taking a deep breath, "The victim died after being stabbed in the chest. The Joker apparently then hung him from the city hall flagpole – gave the mayor and Harvey quite a scare. That's why Gordon called."

"They're sure it's him?" Bruce asked quietly, and Rebecca nodded.

"He left his calling card pinned on the victim's chest." She explained. "And… he apparently painted the victim's face, to match his Gloucester smile."

Bruce's expression hardened, and Rebecca took his hands in hers as she warned, "Don't blame yourself for what happened to the man. You told them to stop, and they should have listened to you."

"They were copying me." Bruce answered flatly, and Rebecca answered softly, "But it was still their choice."

She glanced at her watch, saying regretfully, "I have to go now. Please, Bruce, I'm begging – don't let this get to you too much."

He didn't answer, and Rebecca took his face between her hands, forcing him to look at her as she said seriously, "I'm still proud of you and what you do. We have to focus on stopping the guy that's really to blame for that man's death."

Bruce nodded once at last, and Rebecca pressed a soft kiss on him before she hurried away, waving goodbye to Alfred as she went.

As the elevator doors closed on Rebecca, Alfred turned to look at Bruce.

"Miss Dawes is correct, Master Wayne." The old butler comforted. "The man to blame is the man who killed the innocent."

"Maybe." Bruce muttered as he fell back onto the sofa. "But it doesn't change that I have a share… in…"

Bruce trailed off as the television screen caught his eye, and he sat straighter as he watched the news change to show the scene outside the city hall where Rebecca was headed now.

It was a breaking news story as they showed clips of the 'Batman' hanging from the city hall flagpole before the police had gotten the man down; and they were now reporting that additional information had come in, in the form of a video clip from the Joker himself.

Bruce turned the volume up as the news anchor was saying grimly, "Police released video footage found concealed on the body. Sensitive viewers be aware – the image is disturbing."

The broadcast cut into the footage, which depicted the Batman copycat whom Bruce recognized as the man who'd been wearing the hockey pads from a week or so ago. He looked beaten up, and he was tied up in what appeared to be a butcher shop while an off-screen, slightly lilted voice encouraged in a deceptively sweet tone, "Tell them your name."

"B-Brian Douglas." The Batman copycat answered, his voice shaking with pain or fear Bruce couldn't tell – probably both, if he had to guess.

The off-screen voice – presumably the Joker – giggled, and the camera shook slightly as Joker moved in closer to Brian, asking, "Are you the real Batman?"

"No…" Brian whimpered, and Joker repeated in false surprise, sounding almost like a parent lightly scolding a child, "No?"

"No." Brian repeated, slightly stronger, and Joker giggled, "No."

The camera shook again as Joker apparently carried it in his hand while he used his other hand to pull Brian's mask off as he demanded, his tone dancing between giggling and dark, "Then why do you dress up like him?"

The Joker giggled again in that strangely light yet dark voice while he dangled Brian's Batman mask in front of the camera, jiggling it about mockingly as he laughed and made fun of Brian.

Bruce's hands clenched into fists as he watched, while Brian answered as staunchly as he could though his voice often faltered, "He's a symbol, th-that we don't have to be afraid… of scum, like you."

His voice broke slightly at the end, showing his fear beneath his brave words, while the Joker almost sighed thoughtfully, "Yeah…"

Brian whimpered in fear, while the Joker continued, "But you do, Brian."

The Joker's hand appeared as he grabbed Brian's chin, forcing the man – who'd been avoiding gazing up at the Joker – to look up as he said darkly, "You really do."

Brian whimpered, still keeping his eyes lowered, and Joker's hand grabbed Brian's hair, tugging his head harshly up as he growled menacingly, "Yeah."

Brian whimpered, and suddenly the Joker was back to 'caring' as he caressed Brian's cheek with the back of his hand as he hushed, "Oh, sh, sh, sh, sh."

And then he was back to mocking as he lightly smacked Brian's cheeks on each side while he asked, "So, you think that Batman has made Gotham a better place."

Bruce's jaw tightened, and Alfred's face was also grim as they watched the terrible footage.

Brian didn't reply, averting his head, as the Joker paced back, asking, "Hm?"

As Brian didn't answer or look up, the Joker said impatiently, "Look at me."

When Brian didn't, the Joker yelled, suddenly violent, "Look at me!"

Brian's eyes flickered up uncertainly, the terrified man eyeing the Joker uncertainly, and suddenly the Joker turned the camera around so it was showing his heavily painted face as he announced, "You see, this is how crazy Batman has made Gotham."

The camera was shaking quite badly as the Joker held it in his hand while he paced around the room he was holding Brian in, and it added to the horrifying image of his face while the Joker continued, "You want order in Gotham? Batman must take off his mask, and turn himself in."

The Joker smacked his lips together, before adding casually as though in after-thought, "Oh, and every day he doesn't, people will die. Starting tonight."

He smacked his lips again – apparently a habit of his – before he zoomed in on his painted lips and scars as he added darkly, "I'm a man of my word."

And then, the Joker started laughing manically as he pulled the camera back from his face again, spinning it around so that it went out of focus on the fluorescent lights on the ceiling while Brian screamed in the background.

The footage ended there, and Bruce's hands were fisted so tightly his knuckles had gone white.

Alfred looked down at his young master in concern, and he asked, "Master Wayne?"

Bruce didn't reply as he abruptly stood up, grabbing his cell and dialing quickly.

"What are you doing, Master Wayne?" Alfred asked, concerned as he watched Bruce, and Bruce answered grimly, "Calling Becky; I want her back here, at least by this evening."

"Sir-" Alfred began protesting, but Bruce insisted, "I don't care if I have to say she's here as police escort for Harvey Dent at the fundraiser; I don't want her out of my sight."

"She probably won't come quietly." Alfred mumbled, knowing it was useless to argue at this point.

And sure enough, Bruce countered as he waited anxiously for Rebecca to pick up, "She will if it's to protect Harvey – I'd pin him pretty high up on the mob's hit list right now."

"You think the Joker is working for the mob, sir?" Alfred inquired, and Bruce answered grimly, "I wouldn't know about for them yet, but the timing of his attack is too coincidental with the mob being rounded up yesterday."

He turned his attention back to his cell as Rebecca finally answered, sounding harassed, "Dawes."

"Becky, it's me." Bruce said swiftly. "Get Gordon to assign you onto Harvey for tonight."

"Wha-" Rebecca started to protest, but Bruce cut in, "It's the fundraiser tonight, Becky. I'd say Harvey Dent's probably a good guess for the Joker's next target."

"We're running tests on the Joker's card right now; I can't leave just because you tell me to." Rebecca snapped, already stressed with the sudden Joker's sudden threat and the ensuing scramble to try and stop him.

But Bruce was adamant as he pleaded, "Please, Becky. I can't go out tonight, and I need to know you're safe."

"You know I can't-" She began, and he persuaded, "Think about it – you're protecting Harvey by doing this."

"… I'm going to kill you." She growled, and Bruce muttered back, knowing he'd won the argument, "I love you, too."