Thank you guys for the reviews for chapter six! I really appreciate them! As for your question Kendra Luehr, the scene with the Joker and Rachel was the continuation of the ending of chapter five. :)

Chapter Seven

A Hero

Rachel stared at Batman with unbelieving eyes. Tears flowed down her cheeks as a smile appeared upon her face. Rachel accepted his hand and he pulled her up off the ground and onto her feet. She was surprised that Bruce had found her in time. Now seeing Batman standing in front of her, Rachel realized that he never turned himself in. She knew he could never do that, but Rachel was wonderfully pleased that he came to risk his life to save hers and the lives of others. Maybe now the citizens of Gotham City will finally realize how heroic Batman truly is. It still would never replace the five lives that were taken only a month ago, but maybe saving these people will heal the small piece of the wound that was put upon Batman, even though no one will ever know the real truth of what happened.

"Bruce…" Rachel whispered in case anyone was listening.

Batman nodded and walked passed her, leaving his presence with a brush of air. Rachel whirled around, noticing him cut everyone loose with his blades that were connected to his forearm. There was no sawing needed; each rope was severed in half in one slice, giving a clean cut. A few people were surprised that Batman had showed up to help, the rest didn't care, they just wanted out. There was five more minutes left until the building would be destroyed. Rachel flipped the knife out of her pocket and hastily began to help him. Each person that was cut free had been given the order to leave the building at once, and they all obeyed. Rachel smiled as her and Batman had freed every single one of them. There was finally hope.

"Two and a half minutes left," Batman spoke while looking at a clock. He gazed at Rachel; she had a look of despair that they wouldn't make it out of the building alive.

"I know," Rachel replied, looking down at the floor.

Batman placed his index finger under her chin to raise her head. "Hey," He smiled, and Rachel smiled back, "You ready?"

Rachel stared at him with confusion and lifted her left eyebrow. With no time to think, Batman tied her around his waste. Rachel suddenly realized what he was about to do. Bruce turned around towards the large glass window that stood tall in front of them. With no hesitation Batman obliterated the window into pieces with his boot. The shattered glass glimmered in the night sky as it plummeted twelve stories down. Rachel hated heights, so she squeezed her eyes shut. She was glad that the Joker had not left her on the highest floor of Wayne Enterprises, but that would have been to obvious anyway. Suddenly Rachel felt the air sweep under her and she held her breath. Batman's wings flapped open as they slowly descended towards the street. Rachel opened her eyes, glad that the worst part was over. She looked down at the red and blue lights below them. There were officers everywhere, watching the building that situated in front of them. As she saw the police, she spotted the men and woman, one by one, leaving the front door of the building.

Once they reached the ground Batman untied her. Rachel was glad to be back on her feet. They stood away from the tall building which towered over them. She turned her head and looked intently at Batman while his eyes were fixated on Wayne Enterprises. He had to let go of one of the most important things in his life. Bruce chose to save Rachel and the others not by turning himself in so the Joker would deactivate the bomb, but by risking his life. He still had his identity a secret, but to trust the Joker with that information would be hopeless.

"Should we go?" Rachel asked Batman, hoping to get a glance.

He answered with a firm voice that almost scared her, "No, not yet."

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Four hours ago…

Bruce was frozen in his place. Time to him no longer existed, but time was delicate since he only had four hours to decide what his choice would be; his identity, or Wayne Enterprises and Rachel. The Joker just could not leave well enough alone. Bruce slammed his fist on the coffee table, not realizing his strength as it broke in half with wood splinters flying all over the living room. Alfred was startled in shock, not because of the coffee table, but also of the video that they had just finished watching.

"Master Wayne…" Alfred's voice drifted off in concern, "…What should we do?"

Bruce didn't answer him at first, but as soon as Alfred cleared his throat to get his attention his head shot up coming out of his daze. "I've got to warn Rachel."

"Of course you do," Alfred responded, "Anything you'd like me to do Master Wayne?"

"Call the police station; tell them the Joker plans to blow up Wayne Enterprises." Bruce spoke fast as his patience was wearing thin. Already dressed as Batman, he walked towards the door to leave. His pace was almost unfamiliar.

"I will do that, sir," Alfred called after him before he shut the door.

Bruce made his way up to the roof of the apartment building. He stood on the edge as he looked down at Gotham. Rachel's apartment was not very far from his. Suddenly Batman jumped off the building, his wings spread out allowing him to glide from one building to another. The cool air stung his face but that didn't fizz on him at the moment.

Once Bruce finally arrived to the ceiling of Rachel's apartment building, he quickly glanced down at the parking lot. A van had caught his attention for only a moment as it was leaving the parking lot and onto the road. Forgetting about the van as it was not important, Batman spun around and headed for the door. He rushed down the stairs until he reached Rachel's level. As soon as he got there he knocked on her door, but there was no answer. Bruce became worried for her. He knocked one more time but a little harder then the first. When there was still no reply Bruce tried using the door knob. Surprisingly the door was unlocked. He called Rachel's name, but the room stood quiet. The lights had been left on, and there was a few things scattered around on the floor as if there had been a struggle. Bruce clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He wanted to kill the Joker for laying his hands on Rachel. Batman then spotted one of her kitchen knives lying on the living room floor. He checked it, and thankfully there appeared to be no blood on it. Bruce was too late, but he knew where the Joker had brought her: Wayne Enterprises. Before he could go there, however, he had one more stop to make.

As Batman left Rachel's apartment building, he could hear sirens which assured him that Alfred had phoned the police. Bruce's next stop was to visit Gordon. When he reached his house he knocked on the door. It opened to show Gordon's very, very confused face.

"Batman…what are you doing here? I don't want to get you arrested." His voice was shaky but he was really curious as to what Batman wanted.

"I need a favour from you." Bruce's voice was deep and to the point.

Gordon stared at Batman for a few seconds before he answered. "Possibly, what is it?"

"I've been having a bad rap over the past month," Batman continued and waited for Gordon to answer.

"Yes…?" The commissioner questioned.

"I have an idea to run by you that can be for the better of Batman."

Gordon tilted his head, wondering what the hell his favour could be.

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After talking to Gordon, Batman's next stop was to rescue Rachel from Wayne Enterprises. Sure, he could just turn himself in, but that is something he could not do. He had to give up the building of Wayne Enterprises; there was nothing else that could be done. There was around an hour remaining before it would get blown up into smithereens, so he had to hurry. Time was getting on, and Batman knew it would take a while to find Rachel in the building of the great Wayne Enterprises. He was agitated and distressed just thinking about it.

The moment Batman reached the building right across from Wayne Enterprises; he glanced down at the police. They were yelling and demanding orders for the men with the guns guarding the inside of the lobby to drop them and come out with their hands on there heads. The front was to heavily protected by clowns who wouldn't let you get by without a password. That was fine for Batman; he rarely ever used the front door. Instead, he leaped off the ledge and glided his way towards a window of Wayne Enterprises. The breeze that gusted through under his wings helped him stay up in the air. Suddenly Batman used himself as a giant boulder and smashed into the window.

The office he had entered was empty and the only light that brightened it up was the moon. Batman took a quick glance at the clock to know how much time he had left. He sighed. With only thirty minutes to go he knew it would take a miracle to find Rachel. After all the people of Gotham City no longer wanted Batman, every device he owned was locked away. He didn't have anything to track Rachel down, so really all he could use was speed and his wits.

After searching the building for Rachel for fifteen minutes, Batman began to grow irritated and angry. He couldn't live with himself if she was taken from him along with his business. Unexpectedly, as Batman was darting down a hallway, he bumped into a man who sounded anxious and afraid. He was wearing a clown mask, and Batman snared at the sight of him. Without warning he immediately picked the stranger up by his collar and threw him up against a wall.

"Please…d-don't hurt me!" The man stuttered.

"Why not?!" Batman gritted his teeth.

"B-because I can help you."

Batman stares at him without a word, but edges him to continue. The man clears his throat.

"When the Joker, you know, arrived with his buddies, I hid until the time was right. I jumped on one of the men in the clown masks and I, well…I knocked him out. I then took his mask. I heard that the Joker has kept everybody on the twelfth floor, if that's why you're here," The man gripped his right hand on Batman's arm, "I stayed clear of the Joker and the other men until they left. There gone now, they vacated the building about twenty minutes ago. I was just on my way out."

"Why haven't you tried to save those people?!" Batman spat. His fists clenched harder on the man's collar, "And why should I believe you?"

Suddenly the man let go of Batman's arm and used it to take off the mask. His dark brown hair fell forward, and his young face was broad and cleanly shaved. His grey eyes looked fiercely into Batman's.

"My name is Drew, Drew Thompson." He was out of breath.

Batman loosened his grasp until he finally let him go. He recognized Drew's face, and must have seen him around here before.

"Thank you," Drew spoke with sarcastic appreciation as he wiped off his chest.

Batman became angry once again and yelled, "Why have you not tried to save those people?!"

Drew shrugged as he turned around to leave, showing the back of his head, "I have to save my ass!"

Batman watched him in disbelief as Drew put his mask back on and turned around the corner out of site. However, Drew became little importance now that he knew where to go. Batman was on the sixteenth floor and everyone was on the twelfth. It took him about five minutes when he finally reached the floor. Batman's pace quickened when he could hear muffled moans and sobs. Batman followed the noise, and a few people had scurried by him while giving him a stare as they went. Once Batman turned the corner he suddenly halted. He sighed in relief when he saw Rachel in tears, running in his direction. In Batman's surprise she bumped into him, not even knowing he was there.

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Rachel sighed as she looked back at the building. She was shocked that Batman didn't want to leave but instead wanted to see Wayne Enterprises be blown out of existence. Rachel's fists clutched as she thought of the Joker and what he has done. It's not a surprise though, seeing that he was the prince of destruction. Rachel tapped her fingers on her crossed arms. She just wanted to go home and get this over with. Suddenly she was thrown away from her thoughts. A loud and crashing BOOM rang through her ears followed by a few more and she blinked hard in alarm. Everything became red and orange as she watched in horror at the explosion in font of her. At that moment she thought she was in hell. The smoke flowed up quickly over the building as it slowly crashed to the ground. It appeared as if the smoke was the devil's hand itself, pulling and tearing Wayne Enterprises down as if it had been built of newspaper. Rachel's eyes started to water and burn from the smoke, and the heat upon her skin made her sweat with discomfort. She placed the collar of her shirt to her mouth and nose to keep any of it from entering her lungs.

Rachel glanced over to her right and saw a figure standing across the street in the shadows. She suddenly realized that it was the Joker that seemed to glare in her direction. She swore she could hear his shrill laughs over the destruction of the building. Rachel took the time to glance back over at Batman. He showed no sign of movement. His eyes reflected the orange fire before them. When Rachel took a momentary look back at the Joker, he was gone. All that was left was the shadows from which he stood. Rachel sighed and looked back at Batman. She knew she had to say something.

"Bruce…I'm sorry…" Her voice dragged on as she waited for a response. Rachel was frightened at how quiet he was.

Suddenly Batman turned to look at her and a small smile creped up his face, "There's always that choice to rebuild."

Rachel smiled softly as she turned her head back to watch the ruin in front of them. She was glad that Bruce wasn't all to upset over it. He was probably angrier at the Joker then anything.

It had been a while before everything became quiet except for all the people conversing about what just happened. Some screamed 'The Joker needs to be put to justice!' at the cops and others hoped that nobody was inside the building when it collapsed. The fire that settled on the rubble was all that remained, which was being taken out by the firemen. Rachel and Batman hadn't talked since right after she saw the Joker, so she decided to bring something up which was burning away in her mind.

"Why did you want to stay and watch?" Rachel asked, breaking off the silence between them.

Batman glanced down at her and locked his eyes with hers, "I didn't stay here simply because I wanted to watch."

Rachel stared at him with confusion, "Then why? Why did you want to stay?"

Unexpectedly their conversation was cut short when Gordon walked up towards them with a few officers. Rachel shook her head worried, but when she saw a smile appear on the commissioner's face, she suddenly sighed with relief that his visit wasn't a bad one.

"Ladies and gentlemen can I have your attention!" Gordon yelled out to the crowd.

People started to shush each other as all they looked over to the man calling out to them. Some whispered in shock as their eyes fell upon Batman. Rachel became very uncomfortable as she was standing beside him.

"This man," Gordon continued as the whispers subsided, "Who we all know as Batman, saved eighteen people from that building while even risking his life. You have all made the mistake in believing that this man is no good to Gotham. It's not because the truth is too difficult to see, but because we have *all* been too selfish to care. We don't know exactly what happened a month ago, but is it possible that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't his entire fault? I think we should give Batman a second chance because that's what we all deserve. I believe that Batman is a hero, and we all need a hero."

A few people in the crowd started to clap in agreement, followed by a few more, until everyone decided to clap. Gordon glanced at Batman through his glasses and their eyes met. Rachel beamed with exhilaration. Gordon then winked at him and started to walk towards them.

"Looks like the crowd loves you," Gordon spoke.

"Thank you for helping me out with my favour," Batman nodded in appreciation.

"It was no problem, I'm just glad that everything has worked out. Although, Bruce Wayne wont be to happy," Gordon was concerned. Batman took a deep breath. "I wonder why the Joker chose Wayne Enterprises of all places."

"Whatever it is, I'll be keeping an eye open," Batman said sharply.

"Of course you will. Welcome back." Gordon smiled then looked at Rachel, "I'm glad you're alright. Would you mind if I ask you a few questions about what happened?"

"Sure," Rachel grinned, although that wasn't something she really wanted to do at the moment.

Gordon and Rachel turned away closer to the crowd, leaving Batman. She turned her head back at him, but he was gone.

It didn't take long before Gordon finished asking her questions and they both went their separate ways. They were mainly about how the Joker found her and what he did. Gordon was surprised at how odd the act was of the Joker's generosity when he left her the knife. Rachel sighed but kept a smile on her face as she walked down the sidewalk. She took one more glance behind her at the rubble of Wayne Enterprises, and then positioned her hand out for a taxi.

When Rachel arrived home she placed her keys on the counter and went to the sink. It had been a really long night, and Rachel's throat was dry from all the yelling and screaming. She turned on the tap and waited a few seconds until the water was cold, and then placed her glass under the faucet. As Rachel gulped down the water she felt revived. She turned and leaned her back up against the counter, closed her eyes and sighed in relaxation. Rachel rubbed her forehead with her right hand and looked at her sore wrists. She then slid her left hand up her right arm. A large bruise situated itself there from when she was on the chair and fell. Rachel grabbed some ice from the freezer and put them in a zip lock bag. She placed them onto her bruise and she clenched her teeth in pain. After the pain was relieved, Rachel started to think about the Joker when she last saw him. He knows she survived and that Batman never turned himself in. Now what? What was the next big plan of the Joker's? Rachel knew she had to stop the Joker from doing this madness, but how?

Thank you guys for reading! I know there wasn't any Joker and Rachel scenes but don't worry, I'm dedicating my whole next chapter for them! I had to get everything else out of the way first and now that I have, things will start changing, so stay tuned! As for Drew Thomson, I may be having an even bigger reason for his appearance in the story but I'm not to sure yet. I'll leave you guys to wonder about it :)