The following day they were surprised when Clark and Jean returned.
"How did you get back so quick?" Lorna asked.
"It was an idea that Bruce had. Instead of trying to travel through time and space at the same time he called in one of the Avengers who can actually travel to various timelines. He took us back to this time and then I simply moved us to the right dimension." Jean explained.
"Wow, maybe we should ask Bruce to send some of the time travel tech to us." Dani grinned.
"I am not fighting a T-Rex for you Dani." Clark frowned.
Dani just pouted; ever since she saw that broken tooth on the mantelpiece she had bugged Harry and Clark about it. She had a list of people and creatures that she wanted Clark to fight for her… just for fun.
"How long were you gone?" Scott asked.
"Six months." Jean answered. "Rachel still isn't back." She informed them seriously.
"What do you think the Council will do?" Laura asked.
"The same thing that Harry did to Loki and this world's Thor. Revert her to a baby and try again." Phoebe said with a serious expression.
"A Phoenix with no sense of responsibility is far too dangerous." Jean nodded. "I don't like it but we all saw what happened when I couldn't control myself."
"But you learnt to do so!" Scott argued.
"Sweetheart, I wanted to learn. I wanted to return to you. Rachel has avoided all sorts of ties to things that would give her that. She doesn't really accept us as her parents which is why she doesn't listen to us about Emma."
"What are the other options?" Laura asked.
"The Phoenix council would unite and destroy her or ask Harry to do it." Phoebe answered.
"Harry wouldn't do that though, he would take the first option." Jean added.
"Where is Harry?" Clark asked.
"Gotham." Scott told him. "Alfred called Harry, there is a nasty situation with a man, the type of which, Bruce has never had to deal with."
"Oh, would one of you mind taking me to him? I'm still off sick from school so I might as well help out."
"That must have been some vacation." Laura smirked.
Clark grinned happily. "I got the crap kicked out of me."
Laura dropped Superman off in costume next to Harry and disappeared so quickly that it appeared Superman had teleported himself.
Unfortunately Superman found himself in the basement of a police precinct surrounded by very edgy cops.
"EASY! Easy!" The newly promoted Commissioner Gordon said loudly as his men and women went for their side arms.
"Quite the entrance Superman." Came the smirking reply of Harry.
"Sorry about that. I didn't know you were with company and my ride didn't check." Superman muttered.
"Good to see you again, Superman." Gordon offered his hand, which Superman shook.
"Good to see you too, a shame that it has to be for something like this." Superman said sadly as he watched the Batman lay into the man calling himself the Joker. "Is that really the most effective method?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. Months ago Superman would ask if it necessary, now he asked a different type of question. His apprentice was growing.
"It's not. But this man wants this to happen. He wants to engage the Bat. He enjoys it." Harry explained.
"Who is Harvey Dent?" Superman asked as he heard Batman demand information.
"Local District Attorney. He and Miss Dawes have been kidnapped."
"Couldn't you get Miss Dawes now?"
"I could, but we need to do it simultaneously otherwise we risk losing Dent."
The door suddenly crashed open and Batman stormed out.
"Who are you going after?" Gordon asked as he grabbed his coat.
"Rachel!"
The room was a rush of activity as Gordon organised his people.
"Is the Joker telling the truth?" Superman asked quietly.
"Yes and no. He told us the locations but not the truth about who was at which one."
"So Batman is actually going after-"
"Harvey Dent." Harry nodded. "Go with Batman, assist him as needed. I'll wait for word so I can save Rachel." He instructed as he teleported out.
"Hello Rachel."
"Doctor Potter!"
"I'm here as Lord Death for now." Harry corrected.
"You have to save Harvey! The City needs him." She begged.
"I've never met him. Bruce and Clark are on their way now. They will save Harvey and I will save you."
"What if they are too late?"
"I'm Death. He doesn't go anywhere I don't say he does." Harry smirked.
"Why hasn't Harvey said anything? Harvey!?" She called loudly.
"Oh, sorry, I put up a few privacy charms." Harry said as he dispelled them.
"Harvey?"
"Rachel?"
"Help is coming Harvey. I'm safe now. They tell me the Batman is coming for you with Superman." She said reassuringly.
"No! Tell them to save you! Please!" Harvey begged.
"Relax Mr. Dent. Rachel Dawes is quite safe and in no dang-"
There was a huge wave of heat and pressure as the warehouse went up. Rachel screamed in agony for a second before Harry had her protected and healed.
Rachel was still panicking though so he took her back to Alfred.
"Doctor Potter. Where is Mr. Dent?" Alfred asked worriedly as Harry transfigured the couch into a bed.
"Bruce and Clark are on it. Unfortunately I have never met the man so I can't grab him like I did for Rachel."
"What happened?"
"I made a mistake. There was a phone line between Rachel and Harvey so they could torture themselves with lies and kind words in their final moments. I informed Harvey that Rachel was safe but didn't take into account that someone else might be listening. They blew the warehouse when they heard I was there."
"Miss Dawes was in the explosion."
Harry nodded gravely. "It was only a second but it was still agony for her. I have removed that particular memory but she could use some sleep so if you wouldn't mind…?"
"Of course Doctor. I will be right here with her."
"If you feel the need then take her straight to the castle. Take no chances."
"I understand."
Harry teleported straight back to the Precinct as he wanted to talk to the Joker before he killed him. What he found was pure chaos. The place was the scene of a bomb explosion. He quickly released his magic healing everything and fixing the destruction.
"What the hell happened here?" Harry demanded.
"It's my fault." An older cop named Stephens admitted as he got off the floor. "I let the bastard get to me and he got the upper hand. He made a phone call and a bomb went off."
"Why would you let him make a phone call?" Harry asked in disbelief. "This guy has been setting bombs off all over the place. He's a mastermind, he thinks in spirals not straight lines. Never assume you know what he's going to do… in fact, the next time you get him, if you refuse to kill him then strip him completely naked and keep two cops on him at all times but never within reach."
"That's against the law." A female cop named Ramirez argued.
"Extreme circumstances. You know what he is capable of and you should not give him any opportunities."
"I just got word from Gordon, they got Dent but he was severely injured." Another cop called out.
"I'm going to meet up with Gordon. In the meantime I suggest you strip search those prisoners." Harry said as he vanished.
"Ramirez… was I just dead?" Stephens asked nervously.
"What happened? Where's Dent?" Harry asked as he appeared next to Gordon. Superman was still there but Batman was gone.
"Dent tried to free himself but got his face covered in gasoline." Superman explained. "We got him out before the bomb went off but the flaming debris caught him and… it was bad Harry. Really bad."
"Well take me to him. I can fix it."
"Paramedics wouldn't wait! They wanted to get him to the hospital quickly."
"Gordon, which hospital?"
"I don't know, but I can find out." He said as he turned away with his phone.
"Did you get Rachel?" Superman asked.
"She's fine. I made a mistake but she's with Alfred for now."
"A mistake?"
"I made a bad assumption. I'll explain later. Where's Batman?"
"I think this hit him hard. He doesn't know Rachel is alive and he thinks he failed Dent. I tried to explain but… I think you need to talk to him."
"Alright, you stick with Gordon, keep him safe and I'll go talk to Bruce. With any luck he's back home and knows about Rachel."
"Harry, we really need a better method of communication, I had no way to call you about Dent."
"We'll break out the gear we used on the Avengers. Thor and Ares both served and we used electronics with them."
"In the meantime, use your phone. It's not as effective as an always open line but it will do."
"Bruce, you look like hell." Harry chastised as he appeared in the billionaires pent house suite.
Bruce was seated in a chair, still in his armour but with his cowl off.
"I failed. I couldn't save Rachel and I barely saved Harvey." Bruce said morosely, barely acknowledging Harry's presence otherwise.
"Well I saved Rachel. She'll be fine. As soon as someone tells me where Harvey Dent is I can fix him too."
Bruce's head snapped to Harry. "Rachel's alive?"
"She's sleeping. Or should be. Alfred must have taken her to the castle. Do you know where Dent is?"
"No. But he was in bad shape. Half his face was practically burnt off. Clark took most of the blast but we didn't account for the burning debris, he was drenched in gasoline, he got hit by a single spark."
"Clark filled me in on the events. You probably don't know that the Joker blew up the Precinct and escaped with your witness."
"We'd better get started." Bruce said wearily as he levered himself out of his chair.
Harry put a hand on Bruce's shoulder revitalising him.
"Am I going to crash later?" Bruce asked worriedly.
"No, you'll be fine."
"We need to find the Joker. The sooner we find him the sooner we can put the city at ease."
"Unfortunately I didn't get close enough to him to be able to teleport straight to him. We have to do this the hard way."
"I might have a- hold on." Bruce reached for the TV remote and turned the volume up for the news piece currently being broadcast.
"We have Coleman Reese on next with some amazing news. He claims he knows who the Batman is and that he plans to unveil him live in just a few minutes." The presenter announced.
"How credible is this man?" Harry asked.
"He figured it all out and he likely has the necessary proof. He approached Lucius in an attempt to blackmail me."
"I think it's time I added some protection to your identity." Harry frowned.
"You're a goddamned idiot, Reese." Harry snarled as he appeared in the SUV with Reese, Gordon and one other officer. The Joker had threatened to blow up hospitals unless Reese was killed to prevent him revealing Batman's identity. Now they had to deal with everyone with a loved on in a hospital.
"Oh god! Who are you?" Reese cried out in fright.
"I'm the one you should be really afraid of." Harry told him. "What's the word? I know you have the hospitals evacuating, where's Superman?"
"I asked him to search the hospitals for the bombs. If he can save the hospitals we can get the patients back into care." Gordon explained.
"Good. I'd hate to have to try and do a mass heal. The hysteria would be worse than anything the Joker can pull."
"I need to get Reese to safety, I still haven't gotten word on Dent. I know he's at Gotham General though."
"He'll have to wait. For now I am going to put you and this idiot at the Precinct."
Superman had already cleared a few small hospitals. It didn't take long to look at the building with X-Ray vision and then take out the explosives. Fortunately his training with Laura had included bomb disposal.
He finally reached Gotham General Hospital and he realised he should have come here first. The place was huge. A quick check of the building showed massive amounts of explosives that lined the hallways. The previous buildings had one centralized set of explosives in the basement. This place was rigged to reduce the place to dust.
He also saw two bodies slowly dying. Cops. Walking away down the hall was the Joker who was pressing something in his hand.
Superman swooped in as fast as he could and grabbed both cops as explosions began to rock the building. He quickly made his way back out to the waiting buses that were evacuating patients.
He deposited the bodies with the doctors and began searching for the Joker.
Unfortunately in the chaos he had slipped away. Superman decided to continue on to the next hospital just in case the Joker decided to blow more stuff up.
The Joker had made another threat. But he hadn't specified a specific target. Gotham was in a panic as they tried to board the ferries to cross the river as the Joker had warned against the bridges and tunnels.
"The bridges are clear. Not a single explosive on them, same with the tunnels." Superman reported to Gordon back at the precinct.
"Good, I'll have my men start redirecting traffic."
"You might want to have them check every car they let in. That might be how they intend to blow the place." Superman advised.
"God that's going to take ages." He sighed. "Any word on Death and Batman?"
"No, but if they need me they'll call. There is very little that I can do that Death can't do better."
"Still feels wrong calling him that."
"This is wrong." Lucius said with a mix of wonder and disgust as he looked up at the arrays of monitors in the large warehouse.
"I need you to use this." Batman instructed. "If the Joker is within range of any phone, this will pick it up."
"I'll do this. But you can consider my resignation on your desk. As long as this machine is here I can't work for Wayne Enterprises."
"I'll take it." Harry spoke up.
"No." Batman said firmly. "Enter your name when you're done." He told Lucius as he headed out.
"Why would you want this? It's a complete invasion of privacy." Lucius asked as he and Harry were left alone.
"It's all about who you have moderating it. The rules you have in place. This device never has to be used to eavesdrop on regular citizens, but the potential for it to be used to track down someone like the Joker, or find kidnapped children. I'd sell my privacy for that."
"It's wrong. People shouldn't have to worry about who is listening in to their conversations."
"People who are committing no crime don't have to worry about that, we aren't interested in their conversations. But if they are committing a crime, do they really deserve the privacy? We are eventually going to stick them in a prison where privacy is moot."
"It's still wrong." Lucius asserted.
Superman received instructions from Harry to stick with Gordon. Harry and Batman soon arrived on the roof opposite a tall construction site where Lucius had discovered the Joker was holding hostages. Gordon was already set up to breach the building with snipers on backup.
"We have a problem." Gordon said as Batman and Harry approached him and Superman.
"What now?" Harry sighed.
"Two ferries, one carrying civilians and one carrying prisoners have stopped in the middle of the river as they were taking passengers out of Gotham. The Joker rigged them both with explosives and has given the passengers of each ship the detonator to the other ship. They have fifteen minutes for one of them to blow the other ship or the Joker blows them both."
"Superman, can you get in and out without being seen?" Harry asked.
"I could go under water, but I don't know how to get into the ships that way. I'm fast, but still a visible blur. If they see me there won't be anything I can do." Superman admitted.
"I'll handle the ships then. You help Batman." Harry said as he teleported to the river.
"I have men targeting the hostage takers and a SWAT team heading up the elevator." Gordon announced.
"I want to go in first. If you move now you will spook the Joker and he will destroy the ferries." Batman warned.
"We don't have time to wait."
"Sure you do." Superman shrugged. "Harry can handle the ferries and I can see the Joker from here. Have your men switch targets from the hostage takers to the hostages themselves though."
"What?"
"The ones with guns are the hostages and have the guns duct-taped to their hands. The ones on their knees have concealed weapons."
"How can you tell?"
"X-Ray vision." Superman smirked as he gave a pointed look at Gordon's waist. "Bugs Bunny?"
Gordon blanched but quickly gave the order for his snipers to switch targets and the SWAT team to hold its position.
"What's the plan then? We need to stop the Joker from detonating the-"
There was a gust of wind as Superman vanished.
"What is he-"
There was another gust and Superman was standing there with a naked Joker.
"Hey! No fair!" The Joker whined. "It's cold out here."
"Why is he naked?" Gordon asked.
"Because we don't know what tricks he has in his clothes. Although he did have this," he handed over a detonator, "and an assorted collection of blades and grenades."
"Well let's at least give him a blanket." Gordon said unhappy at the thought of helping the psychotic bastard.
"One moment." Superman placed his hammer on the Joker's chest and let out a burst of lightning that sent him flying back into the wall.
"What was that for?" Gordon demanded.
"We do not want him awake. The next time he regains consciousness we need him in a plastic box with air holes." Clark explained.
"I'd avoid letting him have his one phone call as well." Batman mused.
"I'll start at the top, you start at the bottom?" Superman asked Batman as he indicated the building.
Batman didn't respond other than to leap off the side of the building.
Superman followed suit, only he flew up instead of gliding down.
"I think I prefer it when all I had to deal with was corrupt cops and mob bosses." Gordon sighed.
"You and me both, Jim." Stephens muttered.
Harry had finished dealing with the bombs on the boats. He would have to let Gordon know so he could have them tugged to the docks.
He teleported straight to the man in question only to find him begging a gravely disfigured Harvey Dent not to kill his son.
"Dent, what are you doing?" Harry demanded.
*BANG*
Harry looked down at the hole in his shirt as the Gordon women screamed.
"Was that really necessary?" Harry asked in annoyance.
*BANG*
*BANG*
"You can keep shooting but it won't have any effect." Harry sighed. "Although it will reduce the number of bullets in your gun." He smirked.
Dent hastily put the gun back to the boy's head.
"Who are you?" Dent asked, fear creeping up on him.
"Death. Now what do you think you are doing with that boy? Let him go back to his mother and put the gun down so I can heal your face." Harry ordered.
"No… Gordon made me lose Rachel and he is going to feel what it is like to lose his own family." Dent snarled.
Harry waved a hand and Gordon's wife and children vanished.
Dent was startled for a moment as the boy disappeared from his grasp before screamed in rage and began firing at Gordon. The bullets never made it to him as Superman swooped in and caught them. Seconds later he was holding Dent firmly.
Harry stepped forward and stunned him.
"What happened? I thought Dent was supposed to be the good guy." Superman asked as he picked Dent up in his arms.
"The fact that he thought Rachel was dead combined with the pain and despair of his face drove him to madness." Harry said sadly.
"The Joker had a hand in it." Gordon added. "At least I assume he did. Harvey was being treated at Gotham General and you said you saw the Joker there. He must have been the one who released Harvey as the reports said he needed to be restrained."
"What do we do with Harvey?" Superman asked.
Harry placed a hand on Harvey's disfigured face and began healing the damage, causing new flesh and skin to grow. "The body is easy. I don't want to burden him with the memory of the pain he was in. I want one of the telepaths to check his mind and see how he got this way, but then I will erase everything up to the point where he was kidnapped."
"It's not that simple." Gordon spoke up. "Harvey admitted to killing several people after he escaped the hospital. It's going to destroy what is left of the cities hope."
"No. It won't." Came Batman's gravelly voice. "The city needs Dent and men like him. I can take the fall for him."
"Why?" Superman asked.
"Because I can take it. Gordon can chase me and make the city hate me whilst Dent vilifies me and cleans up the city. If word got out that Dent went bad… Gordon's right. It would destroy Gotham."
"Noble… but you underestimate the affect you have had on the city." Harry argued.
"I agree." Superman said. "Think of all the criminals you captured and took off the street. You were the one who helped capture the Joker initially. It was Gotham PD who let him escape. No offence." He added to Gordon.
"No, we royally screwed the pooch on that one. If Stephens wasn't the only good cop on the taskforce I'd have him up on charges." Gordon admitted.
"We can't lose Dent like this." Batman argued heatedly. "If he goes down for those murders."
"Give me some credit Batman." Harry rolled his eyes. "It will take some careful planning but we can get Dent out of this."
"You mean you don't actually have a plan already?" Superman asked with amusement.
"Shut up Superman."
Commissioner Jim Gordon was sitting at the table in his kitchen laughing hysterically. His wife and kids were looking at him strangely as Bruce Wayne glared at him. Clark and Harry seemed to find Jim's mirth amusing.
"This is no laughing matter Jim." Bruce snapped.
"Please! The most effective heroes on the planet are a playboy billionaire and an alien god farm boy!"
"Let him have his moment Bruce. He's earned it after the past few days." Harry smiled.
Eventually Jim calmed down, he was far more serious despite the humour. "I honestly don't know what to do with this."
"Nothing." Harry answered. "We told you because you are trustworthy. We wanted you to know just whom you were dealing with."
"It also makes it easier for you to contact us without needing a fancy flashlight." Clark added.
"People would take note if I started conversing with billionaires."
"I can explain that." Bruce assured him. "I have never forgotten the cop who took care of me the night my parents were murdered. I have good reason to contact you."
"That was a horrible night." Jim shuddered. "But what happens now? If people discover I know your identities, or my family knows…" He indicated his wife and kids.
"Don't worry, you are protected." Harry smiled at them. "No one will know and you wouldn't be able to tell anyone anyway."
Clark and Harry managed to get back to the castle in time for a drink before bed. They each other caught up on the goings on. The girls at the school had had to deal with Ian Randall, an over achieving student who killed anyone who got in the way of his academic dreams and was able to duplicate his body so he had alibis.
"He was a creepy little sod." Phoebe shuddered.
"He would have gotten away with it too if his ego wasn't so big that he was crowing to himself in his head about getting away with it." Mindee scoffed.
"Creepy little sod."
Everyone looked at Celeste.
"He was! It deserves repeating!" She said defensively.
"I can't believe he thought he could get away with trying to date all four of us." Lana giggled.
"Do you think he would have tried to date Chloe as well?" Clark asked.
"If he could mooch off them academically he would have." Laura nodded with a grimace.
"He didn't?!" Jean gasped.
"Creepy little sod." Laura nodded.
"What did he do?" Clark asked.
"He tried to ask me out." Laura explained. "I offered him a week of afternoons and weekends together." She smirked.
"Detention?" Clark guessed.
"He seemed fairly eager at first, but then I reminded him that it would go in any letter the Principal writes for him. He ran pretty quick after that."
"How's Ryan settling in? I haven't seen him yet."
"He's doing good. He's happy on the farm, he attends classes with me during the day." Lorna answered. "He seems reluctant to go into town though, I think he likes the quiet on the farm. He has gotten used to Martha and Jonathan's thoughts."
"I know someone who has some quad-bikes that Pete and I used to borrow. I'll see if he wants to go for a ride in the woods this weekend, just the two of us."
Lana sighed and stood up. "I have classes first thing and I have to put the Torch to print by myself tomorrow with Chloe gone. I'll see you all in the morning."
"Night Lana." The triplets chorused along with a variety of farewells from the rest.
Lana paused at the door.
"I'll watch through your eyes and guide you on the way." Celeste smirked.
"Thank you." Lana laughed.
"Guide her where?" Clark asked.
"Lana is living in the castle and she gets lost sometimes, she still isn't used to the moving staircases." Laura explained.
"Why is she living here?"
"Nell and her boyfriend are moving to Metropolis, she doesn't want to be uprooted, instead of trying for emancipation we arranged with Nell to sign custody of her over to Scott and Emma. They are all going to move into her house." Amara informed him.
"Actually, Lana has suggested that we all stay in the castle and rent or sell the house." Jean said. "I think she likes the idea of having more space than trying to live with six people in the one home."
"Plus it makes it easier for us to spend time with Harry." Mindee smiled happily.
"Always a plus." Harry winked at her.
"Any word on Chloe?" Clark asked Amara, or Queen Amara as she now was.
"Diana has taken personal responsibility for Chloe. I made it clear to the Amazons and her that though I may reign as Queen; Diana is still princess and heir to the throne. Should I be unavailable she will assume my duties. Because of this she has decided to get experience by helping a temporary subject integrate into their world."
Clark noticed that Dani seemed to be hiding a smirk behind her mug. He looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"Something to add, Miss Moonstar?"
"Me? No. Nothing." She said hastily.
"Daaani?" Lorna drawled slowly.
"I may have suggested the idea to her. It will help her when she comes to stay here."
"Why do you look so guilty?" Clark asked.
"She did it so Amara could spend more time here." Phoebe smirked.
"You! You sneaky Pete!" Dani lunged at Celeste who was the nearest of the triplets… it didn't really matter which one you tickled… they all felt it in the end.
"I think I'll head home before Dani moves on from tickling." Clark sighed. He'd seen it happen before. Of all of Harry's bond mates, Dani was the most physical; she loved all her mates and loved showing it.
"Actually, you have a room here. We need to expand your home as Ryan is in your room. I'll show you the way." Scott said. He too preferred to be out of the room before he witnessed Dani defile his adopted daughters.
