Hey everyone! Sorry about how long it's taken me to update. I've been so busy lately with moving, graduating and final projects that I haven't been in the mood for writing. Nevertheless, I've written Chapter 11 and I hope it's to your satisfaction!

Chapter 11

"This Is Getting Old"

Rachel was getting exhausted following the Joker. He was quick, but she finally caught up to him. It was almost frightening driving behind him. Cars were swerving every which way to get out of the Joker's path. In which case, those cars were left for Rachel to avoid and dodge. As she drove closer to the back of the van, Rachel caught a glimpse of movement through the window on one of the back doors of the vehicle. At first she assumed it to be one of the Joker's henchmen, but as she squinted her eyes to focus more on the figure, the face was not masked. In fact, the face was very familiar. Rachel couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her body fumed with anger as she watched Alfred struggle to get her attention, or anyone's attention, through the window of the van. He was suddenly pulled away and out of sight by one of the clowns before Rachel had the time to absorb what she just saw. Because the Joker knows who Batman really is, he has new ways of playing with his head.

"Of course he would do something like this!" Rachel yelled to herself in frustration.

Suddenly as she was lost in her thoughts, Rachel swerved in the wrong direction and into chaos as a car drove straight to her. The loud honk of the car vibrated through her. Rachel's heart pounded in her chest as she screamed to get out of the way. However, it was too late. The car collided with hers, and as the loud noises of hell was brought to her ears, everything became black and forgotten.

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The Joker laughed and chuckled as he watched the mess he was creating, oblivious about what had just happened to Rachel. He enjoyed listening to every screeching honk a car made at him. His plan was now set in motion, and Batman found his bait. The Joker glanced over at the man sitting beside him on the passenger seat. His face wasn't masked, nor was it bare. It was painted just as the Joker's, only neat and looked more like a clown would at a circus. The man slowly turned his head over towards the Joker, his side grin extended far up alongside his left cheek.

"Are you, uh, ready to play some gaammes Mr. Thompson?" The Joker asked dynamically.

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After Batman had left Gordon, his next step was to find the Joker. He wanted so much to give him pain, just as much as the Joker thrived to play games with him and let everyone know who Batman really is. It was sick and twisted, and a part of him feared that this would never end, but he knew he couldn't let that happen.

It didn't take long before Batman spotted one of the Joker's henchmen. It almost seemed strange; it was as though the clown didn't have a sense of place, just standing there alone under a flickering lamp post. Batman glided cautiously down towards his target so he couldn't be seen, but the clown had already noticed Batman before Batman had spotted him.

The clown glanced around nervously; just waiting for the bat to strike, but everything remained silent. He quickly took out a radio and spoke quietly through the device, letting another henchman know that he was found by the Batman, and it was only a matter of time before he would show himself.

Suddenly Batman raced down on top of the clown; swiftly tying a thin black wire around his arms to his waste. The clown did little struggle, if nothing at all. Batman pushed him hard against the brick wall of a building and his lips curved into anger. He then seized the mask from the clowns face and threw it violently, breaking it in half as it met the ground. Batman spun his head from the broken mask to the man tied up in front of him. He looked straight into his gray eyes that kept no expression.

"I'm going to ask you once," Batman spat demandingly, "Where. Is. The Joker?"

The man just stared into his eyes, slightly showing a grin. He knew it didn't matter whether or not he told Batman where the Joker was. He was on his way here anyway. Sure, it would save him the pain, but he wanted to see the look on Batman's shocked face when the Joker arrived.

As every second past Batman grew more irritated. As he watched the man's pathetic face show a grin with no answer, Batman clenched his fist and clobbered him in the side of his face. Blood splattered from the man's mouth as he choked out a laugh.

"You clowns are all the same," Batman snarled as he beat him down again.

The man fell to his knees, no longer laughing. He took a few breaths and cocked his head to the left so he could meet Batman's dark eyes. Everything became hazy as he watched Batman warp into two. Their stares were then abruptly interrupted by the sound of an engine and head lights were cast upon them. The injured clown looked back over to Batman, but he was gone. Once the vehicle pulled in, the engine was turned off but the headlights remained on. Everything kept quiet and still with no one exiting the vehicle.

Batman recognized the van, knowing full well it was the Joker. He readied his stance, waiting for someone to open a door and walk out of the vehicle, but as five minutes past he started to wonder if they were going to come out at all. Batman knew then that he would have to make the first move. He flew down off the three story building and landed on the ground in front of the van. Batman watched as shadows moved around in the front seat. Finally both the driver and passenger doors opened, and without any hesitation the Joker hopped out first holding a machine gun. The man in the passenger followed after, holding a machine gun as well. Batman recognized the man as Drew Thompson. He scoffed as he noticed the guns.

"Why do you bring a gun when you feel you can't kill me?" Batman asked suddenly.

The Joker tilted his head as both he and Drew walked up towards Batman.

"Why, isn't it obvious?" The Joker asked licking his lips, "I like the way I look with a gun!" He looked back behind him and waved his hand.

The rest of the Joker's henchmen jumped out of the van and stood behind the Joker and Drew. The last two remaining clowns dragged out a man from the back of the van, and Batman peered over the Joker's shoulder to see who it was.

The Joker watched Batman's face with glee. He almost felt like clapping his hands in excitement. "I believe you know. Who. This. Is?" The Joker pushed his green curly hair aside and walked backwards beside Alfred; tightly wrapping his fingers around his forearm. He then pushed him towards Drew for him to take.

"Alfred?" Batman spoke in utter surprise and confusion.

"Ah poor batty. Y'see, I have all this new information about your i-dent-it-y and I thought 'Why not use it against you?'" The Joker explained as he patted Alfred's head, "So heeerreee we are," He bit the inside of his cheek.

"Let him go," Batman spoke stiffly as he took a step towards them.

"Now now," The Joker took out a knife and placed the cold steel against Alfred's neck. Alfred jumped in surprise by the metal sliding across his skin. This action stopped Batman in his tracks, "We don't want anything stupid to, uh, happen do weee?"

"What do you want?" Batman asked with disgust as he stared at the tape on Alfred's mouth.

"That's more like it," Joker said with a heartless grin. "I think you know what I wan-t."

Batman didn't move a muscle. He knew exactly what the Joker wanted, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't admit to Gotham who he really was. The Joker would stop at nothing until he got what he wanted. Batman wouldn't let him have it.

"Would you really risk a life," Drew spoke up to break the silence, "One that you know so well?"

Batman shot a glance at Drew. Who was he to say something? To be so important to the Joker? As he kept quiet and still, Drew continued on talking.

"If you don't do what we want, there are many more people in your life that we can kill one by one," Drew smirked.

Batman suddenly thought about Rachel, and slowly his fists clenched together in anger. The Joker kept quiet as he listened to Drew's wonderful words. He smiled at his comment, but then he thought about Rachel as well. Without realizing his smile vanished.

"Let's not, uh, get ahead of ourselves, hmmm?" The Joker interrupted and cleared his throat. "This is the deal. You tell Gotham your true self and, uh, we will bring Alfy home safe and sound. If you don't, well, he'll look just a little bit. Like. Me," the Joker growled, taking the knife to the corner of Alfred's mouth.

Batman looked at Alfred in the eye who was already staring at him. Alfred started to shake his head in plea. Batman knew he was telling him not to listen to the Joker, but he didn't want Alfred to get killed. He couldn't just leave him.

"This is getting old," Batman said bluntly out of his thoughts.

The Joker faced the ground, but his eyes shot up at Batman. A grin curved his face as a curl of hair fell forward. "Pity."

Suddenly the Joker stabbed Alfred incidentally in the arm when it really was supposed to be in the gut. Alfred knew it was coming, and he pivoted himself around so the knife would stab his arm instead. Alfred's cry in pain was muffled behind the tape as the Joker kicked him to the ground, already trying to block himself from Batman's wielding arm. The Joker's laugh filled the air as he ducked under the flying fist plummeting down at his face. The red, white and black colours of paint on the Joker's features danced around in a blur as he tried to dodge the bat's punches. Unexpectedly to the Joker, Batman striked him in the abdomen with his boot. One of the clowns jumped onto Batman's back, trying to swipe him in the head as many times as he could until Batman finally grabbed him by the arms and flew him forward across the ground.

As Batman was occupied, Drew walked over to the defenceless Alfred lying on the cement. He crouched down and picked up the bloodied knife. Drew cocked his head and watched Alfred squint up at him.

"Poor little rabbit has got no where to go," Drew chuckled ludicrously. It was just as chilling as the Joker's laugh.

Drew placed the knife on Alfred's face and slid it back and forth until it reached his neck. Alfred's sweaty face was filled with distress.

"Shh shh, don't worry. This will be over in a moment," Drew whispered in his ear.

When he was free from the Joker for the moment, Batman spun his head around at Drew and Alfred. Without a thought he bolted towards them, kicking the knife out of Drew's hand. Thompson was caught off guard as Batman pulled him up and tossed him into a brick wall. He fell hard on the ground, not getting up from his spot. The Joker gritted his teeth as he fixed his purple coat and green tie.

"Well done Batman," The Joker clapped, "I hope you had as much excitement tonight as I did," The Joker smacked his lips.

Batman was crouched beside Alfred as he watched both the Joker and Drew get into the van. The rest of the henchmen followed behind them and climbed into the vehicle as well.

"Next time," Batman spoke to himself as he watched the van sped off, "You won't get away."

Alfred's muffles caught Batman out of his trance and he slowly took the tape off of his mouth and cut the rope in half.

"Alfred, are you alright?"

"Yes, Master Wayne, thank you," Alfred replied within breaths, "Although, I don't think someone is."

Batman stared at him with confusion, "What?"

"Rachel," Alfred coughed.

Batman's face went completely blank, "Rachel? What about Rachel?"

"I saw her following us, but just as I was pulled away from the window, I think I saw her get into an accident. I fear it was my fault…" Alfred's voice was sad as it trailed off.

Batman did not have all of this room to absorb the information that was just given to him. "Rachel was in an accident? How bad? And why do you say it's your fault?!"

Alfred paused for a moment before he spoke, "I didn't see how bad it was, she might not have been in an accident, I couldn't tell. She must have seen me, and I might have distracted her."

Batman shook his head, "It's not your fault, but we've got to bring you to the hospital and check if Rachel is alright. She has to be."

Batman changed his outfit and helped Alfred get to a taxi. They kept completely quiet on the way there. All Bruce could think about was if Rachel was still alive. The thought stayed in his mind although he knew the best thing to do was to stay positive. If he had the choice, he'd be having a mental break down right now. The one thing that ate away at Bruce was the last conversation he had with her earlier on the phone. He'd been so selfish lately with what he wanted that he never thought about how Rachel had been feeling. Bruce rubbed a hand over his face as the truth came screaming back to him.

Once they both arrived at the hospital, Alfred left to get stitches for his wound. Bruce walked over to the counter where a woman with blonde hair stood. He asked for Rachel Dawes, and found out that she was in room 233. Bruce was half expecting that she wouldn't be here. As soon as he found her room he peered into the small window on the door. She was unconscious for the time being after just having her surgery. Rachel had many injuries, including a fractured arm and a concussion that would cause her to have some disorientation.

Bruce walked into her room, upset to have to see her in this state. He slowly sat beside her and placed a hand on hers. He was unsure on what to say as she laid there unconscious, so he stayed quiet. Bruce wanted nothing more but to hold her. In some way he felt this was his fault. Rachel wouldn't have been following the Joker if he wasn't the Batman. Bruce shook his head, realizing that he was being just as ridiculous as Alfred. He stared at her cut up face and choked up a bit. He'd do anything to take her place, and keep her safe. Bruce thought about what Drew had said. The Joker will keep trying to take the people he knows and use them as a way to get him to confess. Sure, he's saved them so far, but for how much longer will he have to do this? Until the Joker finally gets locked away? That could take a long time. Bruce sighed as he stayed by her, hoping soon she'd wake up, if only she would wake up.

I know I said I would let the Joker and Rachel have their first kiss on this chapter but I never got to it, so I'm sorry! I'm also sorry I didn't have any Joker and Rachel parts in it either, but I figured since the last few chapters had some I should add a bit of Bruce/Batman this time, seeing that I haven't for a while. This is supposed to be a love triangle between these three characters so it's expected! Don't worry though, the next chapter will have plenty of Rachel/Joker action, I promise! :D