Chapter XVIII: Harley is our friend.

At Gotham hospital main entrance, specifically standing in front of the translucent glass door; eight men dressed in black commando with coarse combat boots and skull scarves covering the lower part of their faces, along with dark glasses to hide their complete identity and carrying large arms in their hands, some were long distance rifles, while others were MW3 machine guns; they formed not even the smallest part of the army of men who, at that moment, were with all the hostages and medical staff in the downtown section of the hospital by strict orders of Johnny Frost, who knew that his boss always planned each strategy in absolute silence.

Accompanying the eight right-handed men commandos, was one of the most crazy and effective men of J, who preferred to stand out from the rest hiding his identity with a goat's head showing his madness and pleasure for the blood, this, restless and with machine gun in hand was walking behind the men waiting anxiously for the moment to be able to shoot. But there were still a few hours left for that to happen, because the Joker's right hand was looking at the clock above the hospital door which indicated that it was only five thirty in the morning while he also waited for the presence of his boss, who It would take him a while to appear sleeker than he was a few moments before.

Joker left the long corridor leaving all his worry behind and entered the reception room with a serious look that indicated he was ready to make his mind work and start planning his strategy coolly. J glanced at Johnny, who already had the deck of cards in his hand along with a cup of bitter and concentrated coffee to awaken the abilities of his particular boss.

The look that Joker gave him was enough for him to accompany him to the long reception desk and give him the coffee without saying a word, leaving humor behind, it was time to plan.

The coffee was drunk in the dry, as if it was alcohol and J, after leaving it on the counter and standing in front of it, took the lapels of his golden jacket and made a sharp movement adjusting it while unintentionally sounded the Lots of gold bracelets on his left wrist.

A strange sound of animal roar came out of his mouth, followed by a long purr that ended with a snap of his tongue, then, showing the palm of his hand to Johnny and he immediately handed the deck of cards.

Joker broke the deck in two with his hands and the cards rang quickly when they began to accommodate one after the other in the instant they were skillfully shuffled twice. Immediately and with a sudden movement, J made them sound again putting them on the counter in front of him, to immediately break the silence of the room while he drew two cards with his fingers.

"Mmm... let's start..." J opened his eyes greatly.

"I hear you boss" Johnny answered him with his arms folded beside him and then began to observe how, on previous occasions, his particular boss began to form a house of cards while talking and from time to time he bent to observe the precision of these.

"The mayor will pay us a visit this morning Frost... I can't say that Bat will not come with him, but something tells me that if... he has too big an ego to leave everything in the hands of the police... and I know that fun is never lost... even though I warned him that this is not a game-J observed the first row of cards finished."

"If it is probable that Batman comes and will be ready to everything" Johnny said to him and immediately he asked without any tone of concern.

"What will we do?"

"That's where the mayor's visit comes in... the mayor is the base of the plan... it would cause an unparalleled scandal if it is eliminated in front of the press, which surely... will also participate."

"No doubt, we must be on all the news at the last minute at this time... will you kill the mayor?"

"That depends on the attitude that Bat brings... everyone would hate him more if the mayor falls dead in front of his eyes and that would be a point" gave another guttural purr that ended with a sound of excitement and J continued to continue forming the second row of cards as he spoke "the mayor is important, but will have more commotion, when we show the city the amount of lives he have in my hands despite the roughness in his voice, the letters remained firm. Frost, tell them to a part of my boys that take all those lives to the roof of the hospital... and they will show their heads being pointed by all my toys"

"I understand, you will have the mayor and the hostages, but... you will not kill them, because we would be left with nothing."

"Yes, that's right..." Joker smiled dementially taking another letter "it will be just a reminder indicating that I have control... lining him with the others finishing the second row and started with the third one "but I would not be surprised if they wanted to continue... if something I've learned over time, is that the police become very idiotic when they deal with me... that's why we will have prepared a third surprise" J finished putting together the third row quickly that was only conformed with four cards and continued to move away back looking at the tower almost finished.

"What is the third part?

"I warned Bat that if he played dirty he would explode part of the city.

"We could, if we had the time.

"Exactly, you don't have to remind me of Frost... It will be enough for a building to explode and believe that it is its downfall, it will be tied by hands without being able to do... nothing" J released air and his right hand asked.

"What will we blow up this time?"

"You will tell the boys that they will have their pay in one of the most important banks of the city... they will have a lot of money and I will have the explosion that I need."

"Who will we send with them?"

"A two of my men of absolute confidence of course!... will be directed by K..." J ran a hand through his hair and smiled machiavellically "I see him very anxious at the door... ooh... Panda will also accompany him... both know how make people scream!" Joker exclaimed with euphoria.

"Make them scream?"

"It's what I need Frost... the explosion doesn't help me if Bat doesn't listen as his beloved little people shout for not following my orders."

"I see, that's why you wanted the radio."

"Yes, it's Saturday morning, time just when people make lines and ranks to get their dirty money... It will be so... intense when Batsy hears the ladies scream!" J took out two more cards with his fingers smiling and king reigns of diamonds ended their perfect tower "and not only him, that idiots will also make their withdrawal. J stopped smiling hastily and put a dark face I hope... Frost... or all my men will practice shooting with their bodies"

"It will take less than two minutes to finish with everyone, call the best" Jenjo smiled "I also haven't told you, we have the rehabilitation room loaded with half a ton of explosives."

"Are you serious? Ha Ha Ha Ha-Joker cackling with his tattooed hand "I didn't expect that Frost!"

"No, I didn't have to wait for you to tell me, women and children are also separated from the rest."

"Oh! They will be the first to show their heads on the roof."

"We're prepared J, but I think I have to tell you what I think... I have a feeling that Harley's friends will come too."

"WHAT? They're not invited Frost and I do not want any of them hanging around here... THIS IS NOT A FUCKING PARTY!" Joker toppled his tower of cards with his arm and then left the altered reception room carrying a chair under his arm.

Frost did not ask where his boss was going, it was clear that he was going to see Harley and he would start giving all his men instructions to start as soon as possible to prepare everything for the arrival of the police officers. It would have been pointless anyway to try to convince his boss to count on the help of the Suicide Squad and he hoped that they would not make their appearance or explode J's fury if they ruined his elaborated strategy.

J went into the emergency room and set the chair on his side to Harley's stretcher to face his sleeping face directly. He took out his weapon and placed it next to his queen's arm while he took one of the blood transfusion bags and replaced it replacing the one that was almost empty, buried the long needle gently again in his forearm and sat down to observe it in silence. He looked at her and despite all the necessary medical devices around her, she still looked beautiful, maybe more now, that she knew she was pregnant. I could not kiss her on the lips as I would have liked, I was still with the oxygen tubes. Then she held his hand firmly and put it on his leg, intertwining his fingers again and stayed watching over her while he waited for Frost to come in two or three more hours telling him that the officers had brought the mayor.

The hours passed and Joker absorbed in worry watching Harley asleep, thought he heard the heels of his Dr. Harleen echoing in the hallway; He did not care, he thought his mind was rambling again, reminding him when he met Harley. However, he was wrong and realized when the clacks of the heels sounded stronger distinguishing a female silhouette behind the door and a male, which was not Frost. Without releasing Harley's hand, he took his gun with his free hand and pointed to the two intruders who dared to bother him in that moment of vulnerability. The door opened and a gunshot sounded. One of his men fell dead with a bullet in his heart, which fortunately was not one of his full confidences, because obviously they would not have dared to interrupt him being with his queen in those conditions.

"Go! The poor boy was not to blame! You know I can be very persistent when I want to be" said the red haired woman in green dress and red boots.

"What the fuck are you doing here?! GET OUT!" J yelled angrily, but the ivy advanced kicking the man lying on the floor to get him out of the way and observed their joined hands.

"You have really changed J, now you seem crazy in love with the hospital in this state" Joker released Harley's hand and got up suddenly taking Ivy's arm and putting the tip of his gun on her cheek.

"Harley has no visiting hours Ivy... now GET OUT!"

"Don't you talk to me like this J or do you plan to shoot her best friend? I care about her and I'm not leaving, so can you let me go?" Ivy said, grappling with J.'s arm.

"I'm going to shoot you if you keep putting up resistance... I have a fucking devil humor right now and my patience is almost empty..."

"If you shoot me she will hate you" Ivy let go with all her strength and moved fast until Harley stroking her hair "how are you doll? The asshole of your boyfriend will not let me see you." Joker growled angrily and this time pointed at him in the head doing rough pressure.

"If you were her friend you would know that Harls can not hate me, now I will not say it again... GET OUT OF HERE!"

"I was wrong! You are still the idiot J - Joker pulled her arm and pushed her hard to the exit, but then came his right hand.

"Boss, they're here.

"You're just in time, Beau" the Ivy slumped back and he grabbed her by the shoulders "your boss's idiot has not learned manners yet... he's lucky I don't use my toxins with him."

"I'll take her to exit J, but we're already surrounded."

Joker growled furiously and Ivy smiled.

"Other times those grunts, God! you should control the animal you have inside... now listen to both of them, I'll take care of Harley while you go and smash those idiotic officers" she said, standing in front of the door to which J looked at the angry ceiling.

"Well, listen to Ivy... you know I didn't trust you... but you will take care of Harls only because Frost must accompany me and I don't want her to be alone in this state."

"Why do you say that? How is she?" Ivy asked, very worried.

"WRONG! This EVIL, what don't you see?... now no more questions AND TAKE CARE OF IT!" J yelled again with his exalted breathing.

Ivy looked at the worry that was hiding behind J's angry eyes and spoke to reassure him.

"Don't worry... if something happens, I'll run to tell you"

And then he looked away and said to Johnny.

"Can you remove it? It makes me nervous to stay with him, "he said, indicating the corpse of the man who was bleeding to death on the floor inside the room.

"Sure" Johnny replied; he grabbed the man's ankles and dragged him out leaving him a few meters down the hall. J turned around with an annoyed expression beginning to walk down the hall.

"Thank you..." Ivy smiled at Johnny to immediately caress his chin with her green nails.

"Take care of you, yes?" Johnny smiled with a half smile and the ivy grabbed Johnny from both sides of his face giving him a quick kiss "it's for luck, now you've to go."

"You should give me luck more often."

"FROST!" Joker shouted to his right hand several steps back. Johnny caught up with him quickly and the two with guns in hand went to the front of the hospital.

Outside the hospital daylight was present with the cold dawn. The situation was similar in terms of the number of police and armed officers that surrounded the hospital building as the first arrival they had made the night before. The only difference was that the two police helicopters were not flying over the skies; because Gordon gave the specific order that this be done in order not to unleash the fury of the King of Gotham; who surely would find the helicopters as a reason to lean against the hostages of the Hospital. What Gordon did not know, is that if he had done otherwise, he would have been able to see that all the hostages were hidden on the roof of the building with an abysmal number of armed men ready to shoot them if their boss indicated it. On one side of Gordon, was Néstor Carbonell, Mayor of Gotham.

"Are you sure they handled the situation well? Look I don't forget that he was about to kill me when he looked like crazy to his supposed queen."

"We'll handle it as best we can, but we had to bring it or he would kill everyone if he didn't see it.

"For the only reason I'm here putting my life at risk Gordon, it's because there are children there."

"You don't have to remind me, that's why we put this operation."

"You haven't told me what kind of operation you have in hand, but although I can hardly admit it, Batman is the only one who manages to deal with him and I don't see him anywhere."

"It will not be long before Mayor Carbonell arrives."

"I hope so, because... although my pride is great, I must admit that it was he who saved my life when this insane psychopath was about to torture me because of Mrs. Waller."

"I already said it mayor, will come at any time, always does."

As Gordon said, at that moment the Batmovil advanced at maximum speed positioning itself in the center of all the containment patrols. Batman got out and moved his black cloak with the wind and advanced to Gordon.

"They did not have to come" said the bat bitterly.

"If you mean the number of officers, we had to do it; we can not let him do what he wants with the city."

"This time it's worse Gordon, you know it's not about the city."

"Wait, Gordon, what are you talking about?" asked the disturbed mayor, and after seeing that Gordon was silent, he addressed Batman "what did you mean?" It's from my life we're talking about!"

"It is not only your life mayor; it is the life of all the people inside the hospital who will die if you dismantle the operative now."

"Why? What's going on? Answer to me!"

"His girl... is pregnant inside" Batman answered seriously.

"What? No, I'm getting out of here now" the mayor spoke quickly and Batman quickly grabbed him by the throat.

"The life of a man is nothing in comparison to the life of all the people who will die if he does not stay with us" Batman pushed him roughly causing the mayor to whip his back with the police patrol.

"Don't talk to me like this, you're talking to the mayor if you do not remember" he said arrogantly to what Batman punched him causing blood to drain from the mayor's mouth and violently grabbed him by the shoulders talking hoarse face to face.

"A true mayor cares about the safety of his people."

Then Gordon took Batman from behind.

"Wait, do not hurt him is the press here, you will leave more harmed."

"I've never been interested in what the press says about me. It is the price that I have to pay."

At that time one of the officers shouted.

"Boss, on the roof!"

Everyone, including Batman, looked up at the roof to see all the women, nurses, doctors and children who lay screaming and crying with their heads on the concrete edge of the roof and an alarming number of men in black commando suits. they were pointed directly at their skulls. While others pointed to all the officers with their long-range rifles.

"SHIT, SHIT!" Gordon shouted angrily.

"Oh no, I don't like what you're saying, tell me that doesn't affect the plan you had" the mayor said desperate.

"In fact, yes..." Gordon combed his hair back "we had thought to enter with tear gas bombs to destabilize everyone inside... but they are all up now; I never thought he would!" Batman took Gordon by the shirt.

"You didn't think it Gordon? I told you again and again, with him you never know what to expect" he said rudely and then took the mayor by the shoulders to start dragging him to the hospital entrance, but Gordon tried to stop him "I have a plan B, three snipers that are hidden in the buildings in front will shoot you when you give the signal."

At that moment J went out the door with Johnny at his side.

"Here's Joker," he threw the mayor and J immediately put his gun on the one hundred of his forehead.

"Oh mayor, it's an honor to have you on a visit" the mayor shook abruptly scared.

"LET ME GO, PLEASE LET ME GO PSHYCO DEMENT!" he shouted, moving his face as he struggled.

"I see you haven't forgotten me, but you will be my special guest these four days... so don't start if you don't want to get hurt" he finished saying that Johnny saw a red dot in the center of his boss's chest for his shirt between open and pushed J screaming

"BOSS."

The two of them fell to the floor and the shot went through the glass door of the Hospital while Batman turned around, glaring at Gordon. Johnny grabbed the mayor pointing again and J got up off the floor taking off the golden jacket with a snarl, leaving a dark wine shirt and with his arm turned to Batman giving him a hard punch.

"I thought I told you I didn't want dirty games, you disobeyed my order Bat" Batman punched J again with a hand on his shirt and said face to face "I came for the safety of the people."

"Be careful, don't forget my armed men."

"You don't have to say it" Batman released him and J wiped the blood from his mouth.

"Then what was that? I thought I told you I didn't want dirty games."

"I didn't give the order."

"You didn't give the order? You did not give the order?!... you came and disobeyed me" J looked at his right hand a few steps away "Frost... show Bat what happens when they disobey me" Johnny took a portable radio out of his coat pocket and he stretched the antenna adjusting one of the main radio stations in Gotham.

"What are you saying, Joker?" Batman blurted, and Johnny threw the small portable radio at Batman who held it, looking angrily at J.

"Oh, that radio is my gift for having disobeyed Bat ... you'll love hearing what it has for you.

Bat approached the radio a little more without turning his cold shadowed gaze from J's eyes and clearly heard a great riot of shouting people and loud explosions with walls colliding, along with the feminine voice of anguished radial madness.

"This is a catastrophe of great proportions; people keep jumping so as not to be hit by the flames. It's exasperating the situation we are in, seeing all those people falling to try to get out of the Bank of America is amazing. We still don't have the identity of the author of this horrible attack, but it's suspected that it could have been cause..." Batman threw the radio with anger and punched J again and then gets on top of him on the floor.

"You didn't have to do it" Batman said giving him another punch and when he was going to give him the room, J forcefully stopped him with his open hand "you put me to the test by coming here and keep doing it if you want to see everyone die for your imprudence"

Both looked at each other defiantly. But the tension was cut off when the noise of a black van at full speed broke through crashing one of the police patrols and advancing between the steps a few meters from Batman and Joker still lying on the floor. The two turned their faces watching the first person get off with arrogance. It was Deadshot, who immediately pointed Batman in the head while his other teammates got off; Rick Flag, in a special forces sergeant costume, but this time in dark colors and with a big red X on his chest, Killer Crock, Katana and finally Captain Boomerang.

The first thing Deadshot said when he saw the anger in Joker's eyes was

"We came for Harley, not for you, now you can remove that damn face."

Joker roughly pushed Batman out of his way to stand up while Deadshot kept aiming at Batman who imitated him by standing to one side and the other members of the Suicide Squad were put in attack position facing all patrols and armed officers.

"I didn't send them any invitation cards, so why don't they around and GET AWAY FROM HERE!" J yelled angrily, but Flag answered him.

"We saved your life a moment ago, that's no way to say thanks."

Captain Boomerang also supported him.

"Hey, yeah, don't look at us like that, you heard Flag, we saved your ass a while ago" he said hinting that they eliminated the three snipers, but J did not know and even if he knew he was still angry responding.

"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about, but I didn't ask them anything. You can go where you came from, because this is not your damn playground.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but we came to save Harley" Deadshot said which Killer Crock affirmed with two grunts of affirmation.

"No, we will move out."

"What did you say? Did you come to save her? Who are you for that? A damn super hero?" Joker asked in sarcasm with anger.

"So what about that idiot? You can call me Deadshot and my friend is Harley, that answers your question and I want to tell you something... we will not move from here until we see she was okay, you understand?" he said and Katana also affirmed with a few words in Japanese.

Joker approached Deadshot with an intimidating look.

"If you dare to talk to me like this again..."

"Oh if I don't what?" then Batman moved and Deadshot ignoring J and yelled at Batman "DON'T MOVE DAMN BASTARD, DON'T FORGET THAT I SPENT A LONG TIME AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER FOR YOUR FAULT"

"Deadshot, this has to stop, don't forget your daughter" Batman said serious, who was also targeted by Frost who held the mayor's neck.

"Oh... you know each other... STOP WITH CUTE GREETINGS AND GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" J followed and Flag responded without lowering his officer's weapon to the front.

"Listen, if we are gathered here it is because your girl helped us, it is our turn to return the favor."

"You would be garbage if you don't let us help her" Boomerang said and Joker stopped pointing to Deadshot to point it at him "I didn't say garbage; I meant good man... you know, I like your hair"

"I will not say it one more time... I want everyone to get out of here now and consider that I'm being nice just for Harls."

Then at that moment Ivy came running and open the door desperate.

"J! HARLEY ISN'T BREATHING! SHE IS WITH THE DOCTOR NOW!"

At the exact moment Ivy shouted, Joker in a second put a hand to his chest with a lump in his throat, to which the police officers also listened to the Ivy and seeing that it was his moment of weakness. Gordon said on the radio

"NOW" making all the officers starts moving forward with quick shots. The Suicide Squad also began to counterattack by getting behind the van and Joker ran through the door reaching to listen to Deadshot screaming at him

"WE'LL COVER YOUR BACK AND YOU'RE WELCOME!" Deadshot then pointed to Batman that was going to go after J "you are not going to move from here bastard"