"No, Gordon, if you need me-" Rebecca tried again, frowning, but Gordon waved her off.

"Go." He answered. "Your sister's right, Harvey might be a target. And we can't do anything until forensics gets back to us anyway – our hands are tied. You might as well stay close just in case."

He pointed at her as he added sternly, "But keep your phone close, Sergeant. I'll let you know as soon as we get results, and if Dent's not the target then I'll need you out immediately."

"Trust me, sir, I won't let it out of my hand." Rebecca answered grimly, and trying not to feel guilty that she'd used Rachel as her excuse. What else was she supposed to say? Batman called personally, during the day? "I can't believe Joker blind-sided us like this."

"Yeah." Gordon sighed, rubbing his hand down his face tiredly. "And, of course, Lau couldn't have told us sooner that Joker was looking to make a deal with the mob."

"At least he came clean in the end." Rebecca muttered. "Though it was probably because he was fearing for his life."

"For good reason, apparently." Gordon answered, before he nodded at her. "You'd better get going now, Sergeant, if you want to get to get there to protect Harvey Dent."

"Yes, sir." Rebecca answered, standing up and leaving Gordon's office.

She nodded to Ramirez as she left, the tired-looking officer nodding back once, and Rebecca thought sourly, 'To think we were all celebrating just this morning. I'm dead beat again already, and Gordon and Ramirez haven't even had the chance for a breather yet.'

"Going to a party like that, Dawes?" Wuertz asked as she passed him, and Rebecca answered, "I'm going to work, Wuertz; so yes, I'm going like this."

"Still, it's a party thrown by Bruce Wayne." Wuertz noted as Rebecca grabbed her stuff to leave, her gun being one of the things she took. "That's gotta be something."

"Maybe if I wasn't working." Rebecca answered dryly as she left, and Wuertz watched her briefly before he headed back to his own work.

Rebecca arrived at the penthouse about five minutes after her sister texted her to let her know she and Harvey had arrived.

The moment the elevator doors opened, Rebecca could see that the party was already in full swing as all the rich and famous and powerful in Gotham chatted about in small groups. She did feel slightly out of place considering she was still in her work clothes – combat trousers and a collared shirt under her jacket - while everyone else was dressed in their finest, but, as she'd told Wuertz, she was working.

And she felt much safer sticking out amongst the elegantly dressed now, than if she were to find herself in a crisis against the Joker while wearing an evening dress and four inch heels, armed with a clutch bag. Rebecca shuddered at the thought.

It was then that she finally saw Rachel, leaning on Harvey's arm as his date for the evening. Rachel also spotted her sister, and whispering something to Harvey, the brunette hurried over.

"I'm glad you made it." Rachel murmured as she hugged her sister. "I have to say, I agree that I feel safer with you here with Harvey, although I'm still worried because you might be in danger now, too."

"It's fine, it's my job – I signed up for it." Rebecca dismissed, and Rachel said wryly, "Why does everyone around me say that?"

"Because we're all morally-righteous idiots." Rebecca joked lightly, and Rachel smiled.

Rebecca then nodded at her sister as she added, "You look stunning, Rach. Harvey's a lucky man."

She winked, and Rachel nudged her sister as she laughed, "Shut up. I wish I could have dressed you up for this, too."

"Thank goodness I'm on duty, then." Rebecca said lightly, and Rachel smacked her sister jokingly.

"You're already beautiful, Becky; but imagine what you could do dressed up." Rachel insisted, and Rebecca answered flatly, "Get killed?"

"Becky." Rachel shot her a look, and Rebecca smiled to show she was kidding – sort of.

She then changed subjects as she nodded to where Harvey was looking distinctly uncomfortable, commenting, "I never thought I'd see the day Harvey Dent actually looked scared."

"I know." Rachel chuckled. "I told him something similar as well. A mobster aims a gun at him in the middle of a trial, he doesn't bat an eyelash; but faced with the trust fund brigade, and he's scared stiff."

The two sisters shared smiles, especially as they saw Alfred approach Harvey to offer him a glass of champagne and possibly help the man feel at ease.

Although, as the two men exchanged what appeared to be small talk, Rebecca got the impression that that hadn't been Alfred's intention at all. A few words later, Alfred was walking away while Harvey looked slightly confused before he appeared somewhat alarmed as an understanding of some kind dawned.

"Uh oh, I wonder what Alfred told him." Rachel commented, noticing the same thing, and Rebecca muttered, "Ten to one, since it's Alfred, something about Bruce."

"Speaking of, I wonder where he is?" Rachel noted, looking around, just as they heard the distinct sound of a helicopter coming from outside.

Rachel's shoulders slumped and she sighed, "Of course."

"Yup." Rebecca muttered as they – and everyone else in the room – turned to watch as a helicopter arrived on the landing pad right outside the penthouse.

They all watched as the door to the copter opened and Bruce stepped out – and then Rebecca's brow rose as not one, not two, but four models came out behind her boyfriend. Sometimes, she wasn't sure how people hadn't yet figured out Bruce was Batman – he could never resist theatrics, whether he was Batman or Bruce Wayne.

'It's like he doesn't know how to act if he doesn't act big.' Rebecca thought as they watched Bruce and his models link arms to walk as though they were on the red carpet down towards the penthouse party.

"He can't resist a dramatic entrance, can he?" Rachel muttered, a hint of disgust in her voice as she eyed the models on Bruce's arms.

"Nope." Rebecca agreed, and Rachel muttered as she shot her sister a sympathetic look, "I'm sorry you have to watch this, Becky."

"I told you, Rach – it's not like that with Bruce." Rebecca sighed. She wasn't lying; just telling a half-truth. That's what she told her guilty conscious anyway. "Though I agree that four models does seem like he's pushing it."

Bruce had arrived by then, and he called out lightly as he stepped inside the penthouse, "I'm sorry that I'm late; I'm glad to see that you all got started without me."

He waved the models off his arm with another charming smile as he made his way amongst his guests while asking, "Now, where is Harvey?"

He looked around for said man, saying with all the usual Bruce Wayne swagger and confidence, "Where- Harvey Dent!"

He smiled, holding out his hands as he spotted the blond DA. Harvey straightened, drawing on his own confident face though he couldn't quite mask his unease and discomfort while Bruce smiled, "The man of the hour."

Bruce then turned as he asked, "And where is Rachel Dawes?"

Rachel cringed, while Rebecca gave her a sympathetic pat and shot Bruce a quick 'behave' look before she stepped back before everyone could look at her as they looked towards Rachel.

Bruce smiled as he gestured at Rachel, saying, "Rachel is one of my oldest friends and as dear as a sister to me; so when she told me she was dating Harvey Dent, I had one thing to say."

Bruce looked around at his audience, as he joked while mimicking a confused frown, "The guy from those god-awful campaign commercials?"

His guests laughed as Harvey looked a little embarrassed and Rachel shot daggers at Bruce. Rebecca also grimaced, but Bruce was still speaking.

"'I believe in Harvey Dent.' Yeah, nice slogan, Harvey." He added, nodding at the DA. "But then, I started paying attention to Harvey, and all he's been doing as our new DA, and you know what?"

Bruce looked around at his guests as he said firmly and sincerely, "I believe in Harvey Dent."

Instantly, the mood switched, and Harvey even looked a little surprised as Bruce continued, "On his watch," he nodded at Harvey again, "Gotham can feel a little safer. And a little more optimistic. And look at this face."

Harvey smiled, touched, while Rachel also raised a brow as Bruce gestured at Harvey with a warm smile as he said genuinely, "This is the face of Gotham's bright future. To Harvey Dent. Let's hear it for him."

Bruce led the applause for Harvey, who was smiling a little bashfully now as everyone clapped, all nodding supportively. Because if Bruce Wayne was going out of his way to honour him then the crowd knew that Harvey Dent was someone to get in good with.

Bruce smiled as he let his eyes slide just briefly over to the redhead standing quietly in the corner, somehow managing to blend into the background despite her clearly out-of-place outfit.

And Rebecca's lips twitched as she clapped with the others for Harvey, a soft and proud – and a little amused – look in her bright blue eyes as she looked right back at Bruce.

A little later

Bruce stepped outside onto the balcony, needing a moment's fresh air after all the greeting and socializing he'd had to do with his guests. Normally, he kept it light but since he was trying to gather support for Harvey tonight, he'd been laying it on a little extra today, spending a little longer with each of his guests.

And it was wearing him out. And he hadn't even managed to talk to Rebecca yet, the redhead having stuck firmly to the outskirts of the party as she watched Harvey and the surroundings constantly, only stopping to chat with her sister or on occasion Harvey when the party got a bit much for the poor DA.

But she couldn't do it for when it got much for him, Bruce thought a little petulantly. He leant on the railings, looking down at Gotham below, before Bruce glanced back hopefully when he heard a noise behind him.

However, he was surprised to see Rachel instead of her sister walking out towards him.

"Rachel." Bruce greeted, but Rachel began with narrowed eyes, "Harvey may not know you well enough to understand when you're making fun of him, but I do."

Bruce smiled slightly as he shook his head, answering softly, "I meant every word I said, Rachel."

Rachel paused at that, raising a brow, and Bruce explained, "I know I've been a bit… different, a bit arrogant."

Rachel lifted her other brow, and Bruce teased, "Yes, I am aware of it."

Rachel smiled a little, softening as she saw her childhood friend again in the man before her while Bruce continued sincerely, "But I do still think about the city and what might be good for it. Sometimes, anyway. And when I look at Harvey, I know he's what's good for it."

"Is that so?" Rachel asked, tilting her head as she examined Bruce thoughtfully.

She had to admit, she was surprised. She'd been fully expecting to chew Bruce out and still be left frustrated and annoyed – as had happened often since Bruce had returned from the dead – but now, she was seeing the boy she'd known as a child. It was as Rebecca said; Bruce was still there, even if he usually hid it for some reason now.

As the thought crossed her mind, Rachel frowned slightly. Something… something in her mind had dislodged at that, a memory or feeling she couldn't quite put her finger on.

But Bruce had looked behind her suddenly, and Rachel turned to see Harvey coming out onto the balcony as well.

"You can throw a party, Wayne; I'll give you that." Harvey admitted as he came out to stand beside Rachel and across from Bruce.

Bruce smiled as he nodded back at the man, while Harvey added gratefully, "Thanks again."

"No problem." Bruce returned lightly, a hint of that arrogant rich playboy back in his attitude, and instantly Rachel felt the flare of irritation return.

So much for Bruce still being Bruce. But there was still that niggling feeling…

Harvey gestured at Rachel as he asked Bruce, "Mind if I borrow Rachel?"

Bruce lifted a brow while Rachel also glanced at Harvey curiously, but Bruce's reply was gracious as he answered, "Feel free, Harvey."

Harvey nodded once again towards Bruce while he took Rachel's hand, tugging on it as he led her back inside.

"Oh, and Harvey?" Bruce called after the man.

"Yeah, Wayne?" Harvey asked curiously, glancing back, and Bruce said seriously as he nodded at Rachel, "I meant it when I said Rachel is like a sister to me; so you be good to her."

Harvey blinked while Rachel's brow furrowed slightly, bewildered by Bruce's abrupt personality switches.

"Ah… right." Harvey answered, adding something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Alfred did warn me about a crazy older brother…"

But Harvey was as honest as Bruce had been as he told Bruce firmly, "Don't worry, Wayne – I will be."

Bruce smiled and nodded, waving them away to show he was done.

Harvey glanced at Rachel questioningly, but she was also confused so she just shrugged. The pair left, while Bruce looked down at the city again before he too left the balcony.

Instead of rejoining his guests, however, he picked his way to the redhead still standing in a corner of the penthouse.

Rebecca didn't notice him at first, too busy tracking Harvey's movements as the blond man headed into a quiet place near the kitchens. When Bruce got closer, however, Rebecca glanced over and she raised a slight brow.

"I'm working, Bruce." Rebecca said lightly, and Bruce pointed out as he nodded to where Harvey had disappeared with Rachel out of sight into the kitchens, "You can't even see them anymore. And I know you won't go after them because you want to give Rachel her privacy."

Rebecca pulled a small face, though she smiled as Bruce gestured slightly with his head for her to follow him around the corner out of sight of his guests.

They moved, enough so that Rebecca still had quick access back into the penthouse but so that they too had privacy now.

"What is it?" Rebecca asked softly, and Bruce shrugged as he answered, "I just wanted to see you. I missed you."

Her face softened and she murmured, "I did too. It feels like this morning was weeks ago."

Bruce nodded. Neither mentioned the Joker footage, nor the reason they needed each other – they both knew it without the words needing to be said.

Instead, Bruce said lightly, "I wish you could have been dressed up, Becky."

"Oh, not you too." Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Rachel was saying the same thing, but I really am working. How you manage to change each time…"

She trailed off suggestively, and Bruce answered with a small smile, "Quickly."

"I suppose you have the advantage since men usually aren't required to wear stilettos to parties." Rebecca remarked lightly, and Bruce countered, "Women aren't required either."

"Social construct requires." Rebecca answered. "And since this kind of party is all about social construct…"

She gestured to the fundraiser party, and Bruce noted, "Touché."

"It was nice of you to do this for Harvey, though." Rebecca added softly. "And to dedicate him a speech."

"Well, he deserved it, and more." Bruce replied casually, but Rebecca smiled knowingly.

"You did that to apologize to Rachel for ruining her date, didn't you?" Rebecca noted, and Bruce grinned as he asked, "Was I that easy to figure out?"

"For me? Yes." She tossed back lightly.

She grew serious, however, as she asked, "You're really planning to hand things over to Gotham's 'White Knight', aren't you? I could tell from your speech."

Bruce nodded, as he murmured, "This thing with the Joker, it's only shown me how right I was in saying Gotham needs a true face for its hero – one without a mask. Harvey is that."

Rebecca nodded, though she didn't look like she quite agreed, and Bruce continued firmly, "As soon as things are secured for Harvey, I mean to really pass the mantle along, so to speak."

He took her hand in his as he added seriously, "And when that happens…"

"You won't miss all your dates with your ballerinas and four models?" Rebecca asked dryly, and he pointed out, "I'm here with you, aren't I?"

She smiled softly, but it dropped instantly as her phone rang.

Bruce also dropped her hand, his eyes steeling along with hers as Rebecca swiftly answered, "Dawes."

Her eyes remained locked with Bruce's as she answered Gordon, "Affirmative, sir."

She hung up, and Bruce said before she needed to, "They're coming for him."

"Forensics found three prints."

Bruce stopped at her words, and Rebecca informed him, "Judge Surrillo, Commissioner Loeb, and Harvey; all potential targets tonight. Gordon's split the team up since we don't know where the Joker will turn up, and he's ordered me to bring Harvey into protective custody."

"If Joker's telling us who the targets are, he's probably planned for that." Bruce pointed out grimly, and Rebecca replied as she and Bruce moved swiftly into action, "Obviously - that's why I'm putting Harvey under Batman's protection."