Chapter Four

Secret Admirer

First of all I'd like to thank you guys for the reviews once again! And don't worry about blabbering; you can blabber as much as you want! Reviews are the best part of writing the story because it gives me a reason to write knowing that you guys look forward to reading my chapters. This was a difficult chapter to write and I had to keep changing a lot of things until I was finally happy with it. I'm still not sure if I like this chapter or not but I'll let you guys be the judge of that. Hope you enjoy!

Rachel stared at the box, knowing that whoever had been knocking on her door the night before had left it there for her. She picked it up slowly and brought it inside, shutting the door with her foot. Rachel walked to her kitchen table and placed it on it's the surface. She slowly opened the lid and her eyes lit up in astonishment. Not knowing what to expect, but of all things that it could have been, there sat a single red rose surrounded by white tissue paper. Beside it sat a small card, around the length of her pinkie. She opened it up and it read: 'From your secret admirer.' Rachel smiled as she picked up the rose to smell it. 'It must be from Bruce,' she thought. After placing the rose in a small vase, she picked up the phone to call Bruce. Alfred answered.

"Well hello, Miss!" Alfred was pleased to hear her voice.

"Hello Alfred, is Bruce there?" Rachel asked anxiously. The more she thought of Bruce as the one giving her the rose, the more she thought of how romantic it was.

"Yes, one moment," Alfred brought the phone to Bruce. "It's Rachel."

Bruce took the phone, excited to hear from her. "Hello Rachel, I'm not in trouble am I?" Bruce laughed as he was only joking.

"It depends, you sure gave me a scare last night," Rachel giggled.

"Last night?" Bruce's voice toned down into a very confused and curious one.

Rachel faltered a bit and also grew confused, "Yes, the rose. Were you not the one who left it at my door?"

There was a silence on the phone for a moment. "No," Bruce finally said, "Rachel?"

Rachel lost her voice; she didn't know what to say.

"Rachel…?" Bruce spoke again, "You've been seeing someone? I didn't know, but if you're happy then I'm happy for you," Bruce spoke fast, evident that he was lying.

"What? No," Rachel cleared her tracks, making sure to let him know that it wasn't another man, "I've got to go, I'll talk to you later."

"Wait! Rachel!" Bruce yelled out, but she hung up the phone.

Rachel scratched her head and stared at the rose once again. 'If it wasn't Bruce, then who was it?' she thought to herself. Her mind raced, thinking of the Joker. She didn't want to believe it was him.

Everyday after she had received her rose, she would wake up and leave her apartment only to find another box on the ground containing a single rose. By the sixth day she got disturbed to the point where she would rip up each rose that was brought to her. Bruce would call her sometimes and ask what was wrong because he could tell she was lying each time he asked about the rose.

At one point in time he asked if she would go to dinner with him to talk. At first she said no, but after he convinced her they decided to go on the twelfth which was the day they would both be free from any other plans or work.

When the twelfth day had arrived, she had also received another rose, but this time a card was placed in the box with it. Rachel read it out loud.

"You've received the twelfth rose; I think we should meet, don't you?"

Rachel shivered when she read 'I think we should meet.' A small smiley face was poorly drawn underneath the writing. The news was on in the background, and she overheard the reporter talking which caught her attention.

"It's been twelve days now since the Joker has escaped from jail. Is that the last we'll see of him? Or is he planning something? Keep your eyes peeled and please contact the police for any sign of the Joker."

Rachel's mouth dropped open. 'It's been twelve days since the Joker has escaped from jail.' That line finally brought her back to Earth and she realized that it WAS the Joker sending her the roses. Rachel started to panic, afraid that the Joker would show his painted face to her. She was glad to be going to dinner with Bruce tonight, that way she could tell him what she was keeping from him for so long.

Rachel got dressed in her formal wear gown. It was a long fitted red dress with a V cut around her neck. A gold chain wrapped around her waist as a finishing touch. Leaving her apartment she decided to go early. Being in the apartment only scared her more and thought that it would be safest to be with a crowd of people in a restaurant.

As Rachel was walking towards her car after leaving the apartment, she suddenly heard a noise that sounded as if a garbage can had fallen over. Rachel starter to scurry her way to the car, her heals tapping the ground until she stopped in her tracks. She heard a laugh behind her.

"Leaving so soon beautiful?" A voice spoke.

Rachel spun around to see a figure in the shadows. It walked closer to her into the light of the moon. The Joker's painted face appeared, showing his wide grin. Rachel placed her hand over her mouth and backed away to her car.

"What do you want?!" She shouted.

The Joker took slow steps towards her, talking as he did. "Did you like the flowers?" The Joker licked his lips.

"I tore them up," Rachel told him with fury, "Why did you send them to me?" Rachel's eyes were filled with questioning.

"You interest me, Miss. Dawes," The Joker smacked his red painted lips; his voice was in a low tone.

"Why, why do I interest you?" Rachel asked as she slowly backed off until her back hit against the car, disallowing her to go any further.

"Since our last…little meeting…you called me 'clown boy' which really…amused me. People don't amuse me very often." The Joker said taking out his knife. The Joker was so close to her that Rachel could feel his breath upon her. Rachel exhaled loudly as she saw the blade.

"Shh," The Joker whispered, placing the cold steel against her cheek, and then sliding it to her lips.

"You are beautiful," He smiled.

Suddenly Rachel kneed him in the groin and he bent over laughing.

"I like it when you fight back," He spoke over his laughs.

Rachel took out her keys from her purse, only getting her wrist grabbed by the Joker.

"I think you're just a little bit curious about me too. I think we're in the. Same. Boat!" The Joker gave a wide grin.

"Think all you want, but I'm not!" Rachel lied, trying to get her wrist free from the Joker's grip.

"Then why don't you call the cops?" The Joker replied sharply.

"Give me a phone and I'll call!" Rachel yelled.

"Hmmm," The Joker looked around and spotted a payphone. He pulled Rachel towards it and put a quarter in the slot, then picked up the receiver and handed it to Rachel. "I put in the money, which leaves you to dial." The Joker smirked.

Rachel put the phone to her ear. She pushed in the 'nine' button but started to think. One side of her wondered what if this was a game? She didn't want more cops to get hurt. The other side told her that the Joker was right. As crazy as it sounds, she was curious about the Joker. Rachel hung up the phone and sighed.

The Joker laughed. "I proved. My. Point. But I hope you know that you wasted my quarter." The Joker said comically.

"It was just a quarter," Rachel spoke bluntly, not knowing what else to say.

"You're a lawyer. You should know that, uh, every little. Bit. Helps. One word of advice though," The Joker smacked his lips, "When a man calls you beautiful…never kick them in between the legs, it's an insult."

"Not when you have a knife to my face!" Rachel rolled her eyes and the Joker finally let her go. Her wrist was coloured red by his handprint. The Joker lifted his brow, forming the creases on his forehead.

"As much as I'd like to…stay, I've got places to go to, things to do, and people to, uh, meet." The Joker looked at her gown and knew she must be going somewhere with someone, "Have a horrible evening, Miss. Dawes," The Joker ran his hand through his green curly hair to get it out of his face and laughed as he turned the corner of the building out of Rachel's site.

Rachel leaned her back against the wall, her emotions overwhelmed her. She wanted to cry, scream, and be happy that she was still alive in one piece. Rachel couldn't believe what happened. She had the chance to lock him away once again, possibly for good, but didn't take it. "What is wrong with me?" She moaned, placing her hand on her forehead. Suddenly realizing that she would be late, Rachel quickly got into her car and drove to the restaurant.

When Rachel arrived at the restaurant, she asked to be seated under the reserved table with the last name Wayne. As Rachel was being brought to her table, she could see Bruce sitting anxiously by himself waiting for her to show up.

"I thought you stood me up," Bruce smiled when Rachel came into his view and sat down. A sigh of relief grew over him. "What happened?"

"Oh I-uh…" Rachel's reason to go to dinner with Bruce was to see him, but mainly to tell him about her admirer who was actually the Joker. After her conversation with him in the parking lot, Rachel held her breath and told a lie, deciding not to tell him, "I got stuck in traffic." Rachel scratched the back of her head, hoping Bruce would believe her white lie.

"Traffic? That's weird, when I got here it-" Bruce was abruptly interrupted by a waiter.

"Have you two decided what you would like to drink?" His voice and his way about him seemed strange, but Rachel quickly forgot about it as she was relieved.

'Saved by the bell' Rachel thought. When you tell a lie, more lies have to follow up on that one, and sooner or later if asked enough questions, she would be caught in the lie, which is exactly why Rachel hated doing it. For this reason, however, she had to.

"Margarita please," Rachel smiled looking up at the waiter.

"And I'll have bourbon on the rocks," Bruce nodded.

As soon as the waiter wrote down their orders and left, Rachel quickly changed the subject in case Bruce decided to bring up their conversation before they were interrupted.

"So how are you?"

"I'm doing better, my bullet wound is healing up pretty nicely," Bruce smiled showing his brilliant white teeth, "What about you? You've seemed distant lately, like you're always in a hurry."

"My work…it's just been hectic, so many files being piled up on my desk. It's nice to have a break for once, and to see you again." Rachel tired to sound as casual as possible. She wasn't lying however when she said she was glad to see Bruce. Rachel still felt for him, and if there was a chance for them to get back together again, she would most likely take that opportunity when she is ready, and Harvey grew to be just a shadow in the back of her mind.

Before Bruce could speak, once again they were disrupted by the waiter bringing their drinks. "Here you are," The waiter placed the drinks in front of them; "You will be able to order your food shortly."

"Thank you," Both Rachel and Bruce said with appreciation.

"Now, where were we?" Bruce smiled while taking a drink of his bourbon, the ice clinked into each other against the glass, "I believe it was where you said how you were glad to see me again?"

Rachel chuckled with admiration. Bruce always knew how to make her laugh no matter the situation.

"Yes, I'm very happy to see you again, Bruce Wayne," Rachel said, still chuckling.

Bruce smiled, but it suddenly disappeared. "Tell me the truth Rachel, are you okay?"

"What?" Rachel was surprised by this absurd question.

"Since that morning when you called me about that rose, you've been acting strange. I'd like to know why."

"It's nothing, I had received a rose and that's all."

"Nothing else happened after that?" Bruce wasn't sure if he should believe her or not.

"No, nothing else. You know, you should stop being so worried about me Bruce, I'm a grown adult who can take care of herself," Rachel smiled to let Bruce know that she didn't mean it to offend him.

"Alright, I'll promise not to bother you again on one condition."

"What's that?"

"Tell me when there's something wrong, okay?" Bruce placed his hand on hers as a friendly gesture.

"Okay," Rachel nodded with a smirk, "I'll do that."

The waiter walked up to them once again, holding out his pen and notepad to write down their orders. Unexpectedly the building started to vibrate, and the lights flickered several times. People started to scream for a moment, but stopped when everything was calm again. However, they didn't continue to eat but instead talked to each other, wondering what all of that was about. Taken by surprise, Rachel was grabbed by the waiter, pointing a gun to her head. She screamed followed by other screams at the sight of the gun. Bruce stood up immediately.

"Let her go!" Bruce yelled.

The waiter backed up. "Sit back down or the woman dies!"

"Ah now now now, be nice." Someone came up behind them. Rachel shivered at the familiar voice.

The Joker came into view, and Bruce's eyes grew wide with anger.

"You!" Bruce pointed, his fists clutched.

The Joker looked down at himself, and then looked back up, "Well it is me, isn't it? Hmmm…"

"Let her GO!" Bruce yelled again.

"Oh okay!" The Joker laughed, and then turned serious. "Do you really think I would just let. Her. Go?" The Joker smacked his lips.

"What do you want?!" Bruce grew frustrated.

"Hmmm…what do I want? What. Do. I. Want? The Joker stroked his chin, and then glanced at Rachel. She gave him a foul stare. "I want you to tell her how you…feel."

"What?!" Bruce and Rachel said at once, both shocked and confused. "That's what all the commotion was about?" Bruce asked.

"Well I uh, had fun on the way up." the Joker laughed.

"If I tell her, you'll leave us alone? No strings attached?" Bruce asked, still confused.

"Do I look like a puppet master?" The Joker said sharply and continued, "Tell her how you feel, NOW!" The Joker had pure anger in his voice. Rachel was confused about how the Joker was acting. It was almost as if he had no reason for his appearance, so he made one up.

"I…I love her." Bruce blurted out, almost seeming happy to find a reason to tell how he feels, although this wasn't the most romantic way to do it.

Rachel looked at Bruce with a slight smile. Suddenly the Joker backhanded him across the face, allowing him to fall from his chair for catching him off guard. The Joker started to laugh and mock him. He looked over at Rachel.

"Did I make your evening horrible, Miss. Dawes?" The Joker liked his lips. "Let her go!" he yelled. The man who was the waiter pushed her to the floor, and the two of them ran off.

Rachel crawled towards Bruce who was still confused on the floor. His lip was bleeding.

"Are you alright?" Rachel asked him in worriment.

Bruce didn't answer her but instead stood up and took her hand to help her up as well. He then started to walk hastily to leave.

"Where are you going?" Rachel called after him.

"To take care of a few things." Bruce had no expression in his voice.

"Don't go!" Rachel yelled but he had already left. She knew exactly what Bruce was about to do: become Batman once again. He didn't want to let the Joker go, not after this. For all the times the clown had gotten under his skin, this was the worst.

Well that's chapter four. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Confused about the Joker's reason for appearance near the end? I hope you are, because there's a reason for that whole scene. Until next time!