Thanks to michelle1203, Shmellington, Phantom-Roses, and all-good-girls-go-to-heaven (Don't worry, it didn't seem mean to me! ;-) ) I just wanted you all know how greatly I appreciate you, taking the time to say a few kind words. See, I'm trying to publish a book and getting rejection letters really hurt, but when I read your reviews, I know that I was meant to do this. Thank you so much!! Your Literary Slave, Chelsea

Everything between being shot and being totally conscious is a blur. I remember my boss finding me and that it was raining when he did, little bits of the ambulance ride and misplaced bits of conversation like the doctor saying that I'll live. My first thought to that was…

'…Shit.'

That's how I felt when I totally woke up. My head and shoulder was killing me and felt like I could pass back out in seconds. I started to gag and choke over that tube in my throat. I lost control over the movement of my head and started to toss it back and forth. I tried to move my hands to pull the tube from my throat, but they felt like lead bricks. I couldn't breath. Have you ever been on the lake in a speeding boat and the driver is gunning the boat for all it's worth and the wind that's hitting your face is making it hard to breath? Yeah, that's how I felt with the air from the tube being forced into my lungs. Seriously. How does Darth Vader do it?

"It's nothing to worry about. He just woke up and needs to be taken off the ventilator." I hear someone say. By the way he said it, it sounded like he was used to this happening and tired of it too.

I hear a rush of air and the tube stops breathing for me. Then, the tube is yanked from my throat. I open my eyes and see Gen standing next to me. She looks tired and worn, worse than she did when she had Jeremy. I feel terrible for putting her though this again.

"I feel like shit…"He said with a raspy, tired voice.

A doctor that I faintly recognize chuckled, "Yeah you probably will for awhile. You'll be ok." After he checked everything, he and his nurses left me and Gen alone. Too bad the Joker had taken up permanent residence again.

Gen grabbed my hand and my skin prickled. When the Joker is in control, all my senses are heightened. Her skin feels ten times as smooth.

"I'll be ok." I said, squeezing her hand and grinning.

She asked me how it happened and told her what I remembered.

"He didn't say anything, he just shot me in the shoulder. I mean, when I was like that, I was nice enough to say a few words before I killed my victims." I said in annoyance, then I let my voice drop several octaves, to the voice I used as the Joker to make a point. "I will not let that bastard get away with this."

"No…Jack. Not again." Gen said, closing her eyes and shaking her head. Unfortunately, she's too late to play the sympathy card.

"Yes. Again! Gen, when I'm The Joker, I'm…I'm invincible! I don't feel pain and I have no fears! Death, it means nothing to me!"

"It should!" She exclaimed.

"Well, it doesn't." I said stubbornly.

"The shooter knows who you are. He wants money and if he doesn't get it, he'll tell everybody."

"Well, now that's he drug my family into it, he really isn't gonna get away with it."

I opened my arms for Gen. "C'mere. I haven't held ya or seen ya in what feels like forever."

She smiled despite herself and climbed into the hospital bed with me, and soon we both fell asleep.