Joker had gotten himself thrown into solitary. He killed Dr. Wyke. He had made a scene. When Joker had slit Dr. Wyke's throat, he looked directly at Hope. She felt sick.
The security gaurds managed to tranque Joker. Hope returned to her office. She shut the door, locking it. She leaned up against the door, and slid down to the floor.
She didn't know what to do. What the hell was she going to do if Joker escaped? He would keep his word, and take her. Hope put her head in her hands.
He looked rightinto her eyes, with that insane grin on his face, while he killed his therapist. It was sickening.
Her cell started ringing. A sob escaped, as she grabbed her purse. She quickly found her cell, and answered it.
"Hope? It's Bruce."
"Bruce." She gasped.
"What's wrong Hope?"
Hope closed her eyes, resting her head against the door.
"Hope? What happened?" Bruce asked.
"Bruce, it was aweful!" She gasped.
"Now, I'm starting to worry. Hope, what happened?!" Bruce demanded.
"Joker killed his therapist. In front of an audiance. He looked at me when he did it." She gasped.
"I'm coming to get you." Bruce told her.
She shook her head.
"The police are on their way, I need to give a statement." She told him.
"I'm on my way. I'll see you soon." Bruce told her.
She hung up, and took a deep breath. She got to her feet, and went to sit down on the couch. She put her head in her hands.
About five minutes later, there was a knock at her door. Comissioner Gordon walked in.
"Dr. Lake, I'm told that you witnessed what happened with the Joker." Gordon said.
Hope nodded.
She told him what she had seen. She also told him about everything that had happened in the last few days, everything that she'd told Batman. He was not thrilled, but nodded.
He wanted to put her in protective custody. She informed him that she was staying at a friend's place.
There was a knock at the door. It opened, and Bruce walked in. He walked over to her, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Mr. Wayne." Gordon said.
"I'm staying with Bruce for a while." Hope said.
Gordon gave a nod at Bruce.
"Good idea. I would take a couple days, to recover, Doctor. Mr. Wayne, please, keep an eye on her." Gordon said.
Bruce gave a nod.
"Of course Comissioner. Hope, please tell me that you're leaving." Bruce said.
Hope nodded.
"Yeah, I just need to let my boss know." Hope said.
Gordon finished with Hope, then left. Bruce pulled her into his arms again. Holding her tight. She buried her face into his shoulder. She was shaking. He rubbed her back, as he held her.
They stayed like that for a few moments, then she left a message for Dr. Daniels, and rescheduled all of her appointments. Bruce patiently waited for her to finish.
Hope gathered her things, and Bruce carried them for her. He wrapped his arm around Hope protectively, as he led her outside. Alfred was waiting for them. He opened the back door for them. They got in, and he pulled her close. She held on to him, shaking still.
"You should lay down when we get to the manor. You must be exhausted." Bruce said, his lips at her ear.
She gave a nod.
"How long do I get to keep you for?" She asked.
She felt him smile.
"I'll stay as long as I can." He whispered.
"I'll take it." She mumbled.
Alfred pulled to a stop, and opened the door for them, when they got there.
Bruce led Hope to the bedroom, and laid down next to her. Before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
X*X*X
Hope heard a comotion out in the hallway. Whe walked to her office door, and looked out. Her colleagues were hurrying past her.
She followed, and gound Joker. Joker had his therapist against his chest, with a piece of glass at Dr. Wyke's throat.
"His blood is on your hands doll face. You could have saved him." Joker told her.
She shook her head.
Joker laughed, and then cut Dr. Wyke's neck. Blood gushed from the wound. Hope gasped, and covered her mouth, with her hands.
Hope fell to her knees, sobbing. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, and saw Batman standing over her. He held his hand out for her to take. She put her hand in his, and stood up.
Batman pulled her close to him, and held her.
"Hope, I won't let him hurt you. I will protect you. I'm in love with you, and nothing, or no one, will ever take you from me." Batman told her.
He leaned down, and kissed her.
It didn't last long though. Batman was pulled away from her, violently. Joker pointed a gun at Batman's face. Before anyone could blink, or even breathe, Joker pulled the trigger. Batman fell to her feet, dead. Hope screamed, in horror. Joker laughed.
Hope sat up in bed, gasping for air. That had been a nightmare. She looked next to her. Bruce was facing away from her, as he slept. Hope exhaled loudly, and ran a hand over her face. Just a dream, that's all it was. Hope turned so that she was pressed up against his back.
Something didn't feel right.
"Bruce? Bruce?" She said.
No answer. She frowned. She sat up, on her elbow, and gently shook him. The force made him fall onto his back. His eyes were open, and unfocused. Blood was coming from the wound at his neck.
Hope screamed.
She scrambled off of the bed, tears falling from her eyes.
"Bruce!" She sobbed.
"Brucey is gone, Bats is gone, all that is left, is me! You're mine now, and you're never leaving my side, ever again."
Joker had come up behind her, adn whispered in her ear. Hope screamed, and fell to her knees. She screamed, and screamed, as Joker stood over her, laughing.
*X*
"Hope! Wake up! It's just a dream!"
Hope gasped, as her eyes opened.
She looked around, trying to get her bearings.
"Bruce!" She gasped.
"I'm right here."
She jumped, as he put his hand on her shoulder. She gasped when she saw him. She threw her arms around him, and held him. Bruce wrapped his arms around her, and rubbed her back.
"It's okayy, I'm right here. It was just a dream. Nothing can hurt you now." Bruce told her.
"It was aweful. Joker killed Batman, then killed you. He told me that I was his." She told him.
He held her tighter.
"I will never let that happen. Ever." Bruce told her.
She sobbed into his chest. There was a knock at the door.
"Master Bruce, is everything okay?" Alfred asked.
"We're fine Alfred. Go back to bed." Bruce told him.
Alfred gave a sympathetic look, then nodded, and left.
"Hope, I'm right here, I've got you." He whispered to her.
She cried herself to sleep, in his arms.
X*X*X
Two weeks. Her boss had given her two weeks off. Bruce was happy about that. He actually took two weeks off at Wayne Enterprises, so he could be with her.
She told him that he didn't have to do that, but he insisted. He did have to make a couple calls, to set things up first.
She got in the shower, while Bruce made his calles.
She tried relaxing while in the shower, but it was useless. Her nightmare was still fresh in her mind. Tears fell again. She needed a distraction, so she quickly washed, and got out. She dressed, and went to find Bruce. He was in his library.
"I need a distraction." She told him.
He walked over to her.
"A distraction?" He said.
She nodded.
"Yeah, all I can think about is my nightmare. Joker, killing you, to get to me." She told him.
He pulled her into his arms, and held her.
"A distraction is in order then. Have you been to the circus?" He asked.
"The circus? No, not yet." She said.
"Good, we're going. Go get ready, then we'll leave." He told her.
She gave a nod.
"I'll be right back." She said.
She gave him a kiss, then hurried back to the bedroom. She slid on a pair of heels, to go with her dress suit. She left her hair down, and did her make up. When she finished, she grabbed her clutch, and went to find Bruce again.
He smiled at her.
"You look great." He said, kissing her temple.
She smiled up at him.
"Thank you. I'm ready, when you are." She said.
"Let's go." He said.
Alfred drove them to the outskirts of Gotham. Bruce reassured her that she would enjoy it.
Bruce led her inside, when they arrived. There was almost no one there.
"Bruce, is it even open yet? No one else is here." She said.
"It's fine, I know the owner." Bruce told her.
She smiled.
"Of course you do." She said.
He led her to an office, and knocked on the door.
"Yeah."
Bruce walked in, with Hope right behind him.
"Bruce, I wasn't expecting to see you, this soon, after we spoke on the phone."
A young man was sitting behind a desk. He stood, when Bruce and Hope walked in.
"Hope needed a distraction. I thought a trip to the circus would help with that." Bruce said, hugging the man.
"Of course, you are more than welcome to watch the performers practice." The man said.
Bruce nodded, then turned to Hope.
"Hope, this is Dick Grayson. Dick, this is Hope." Bruce said.
Hope smiled, and shook Dick's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Hope, I've heard so much about you." Dick told her.
Hope looked over at Bruce, but spoke to Dick.
"Really? All good things, I hope." She said.
Bruce smiled.
"Of course, but I do think that you and I should talk, in private. I have some stories about Bruce, that you need to hear, before you go too far in the relationship." Dick said, giving her a wink.
She laughed, as he put his arm around her shoulders, and started walking away with her.
"Dick." Bruce said.
"Oh Don't worry Bruce, I'll only tell her the most embarassing stories." Dick called back to Bruce.
"Richard Grayson! Don't you dare!" Bruce yelled.
Both Dick and Hope laughed. Bruce followed them.
"Listen, Hope, I know how Bruce can get at times. If you need to talk about anything, or anything at all, just call me." Dick told her.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'll keep that in mind." She said.
Dick shook his head.
"Okay." Dick said.
Dick led them to the big tent.
"Don't listen to anything he tells you, Hope." Bruce told her, catching up to them.
"Worried?" She asked.
"I know him." Bruce said.
Dick rolled his eyes.
"You two have fun, stay as long as you like. I have some paperwork that needs to be finished. Enjoy. Hope, it was great to meet you, finally." Dick told her.
She smiled up at him.
"You too Dick." She said.
Dick gave Bruce a hug, then left them alone. Hope turned to Bruce. She crossed her arms in front of her.
"So, you've been talking to people, about me?" She said.
He smiled down at her, and pulled her against him.
"Nothing but praises, I swear." He told her.
She laughed.
"Okay, I guess." She joked.
He kissed her.
"Let's go get a seat, and watch the practice." Bruce said.
They took a seat, and he pulled her close.
"So, how do you know Dick?" She asked.
"Dick used to perform here, when he was a child. Her performed with his family. I took Dick in when his family died. Alfred helped me raise him." Bruce told her quietly.
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. She took his hand in hers, and squeezed gently.
"I didn't realise." She said.
He gave a small smile.
"It's okay Hope." He told her.
He leaned in, and kissed her.
X*X*X
Hope had a great time, with Bruce. They had even stayed for the show later that evening. Joker was the furthest thing, from her mind. She laughed, and clapped along with all of the other spectators. Half way through the show, Dick came up to them.
"I'm sorry to interupt you two, but I need to speak with Bruce for a moment." Dick said.
"I apologise Hope, I'll be right back." Bruce said.
She smiled, and nodded.
"Go ahead, I'll be right here." She said.
"I'll try to be quick." He told her.
He gave her a kiss, then followed Dick. Hope returned her attention to the show.
About fifteen minutes later, Bruce returned. He smiled and gave her a kiss.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Don't worry, Dick can handle things. Everything is fine." He told her.
She frowned.
"If Dick needs your help, you should help him. Don't push it off, because of me." She told him.
Bruce shook his head, and gave her a smile.
"Dick will be fine, he knows what he's doing. I'm here with you right now." Bruce told her.
She bit her lip.
Bruce smiled at her, leaning in closer to her.
"You can't get rid of me that easily." He whispered to her.
She laughed, and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, if I'm stuck with you, I guess that's okay." She said sarcastically.
He laughed, and kissed her.
X*X*X
The show had ended, and Bruce led her out to the car. Bruce wanted to go out for dinner, and she finally agreed. Alfred brought them to Bruce's restaraunt.
They had a wonderful meal, and an amazing dessert. It was delicious.
"Lets go for a walk." Bruce said, once they had finished dinner.
She nodded.
They walked to the park. They walked hand in hand, along the path. The moon shone down on them brightly.
"I had a wonderful time tonight Bruce. Thank you, I need this." She told him.
They stopped walking, and they faced each other. She smiled up at him.
"Good, I'm glad." Bruce said, with a smile.
"You know exactly how to distract me, when I need it." She said.
He laughed.
"I'm glad I could help." He told her.
He leaned down, and kissed her.
"Well, well, well, look at what we have here. Mr. Wayne is here, with the good doctor. Exactly where expected." A voice said.
Bruce stepped in front of Hope, shielding her from the escaped Arkham patient.
"What do you want Crane?!" Bruce demanded.
Crane laughed.
"Not this time. I'm working with someone, and they want what you have." Crane said.
Hope grabbed Bruce's arm, and held him tightly.
"Bruce." She gasped.
Crane looked at her, smiling.
"Dr. Lake, wonderful to see you again. You get prettier every time." Crane said.
"Leave her alone Crane." Bruce said.
"I've been told her to bring her with me." Crane said.
"That's not going to happen scarecrow." A voice said.
A man walked out of the shadows.
"Nightwing, where's the bat?" Crane asked.
"He's busy, I'm here though, to take care of his light work. I'm taking you back to Arkham." Nightwing told him.
Crane laughed.
"I don't think so boy blunder. It's my job to get her, and I will not fail." Crane said.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let that happen. Mr. Wayne, please get your date out of here." Nightwing said.
Bruce gave a nod, and pulled Hope away. Bruce never looked back, as he called Alfred.
"Alfred will be here to pick us up soon. Nightwing will be able to handle Crane. Whe should get back home, it's getting late." Bruce told her.
Alfred pulled the car up to them, and drove them back to the manor. Hope yawned, and Bruce caught her.
"Up to bed." Bruce told her.
She groaned.
"Fine." She mumbled.
"Come on, I'll help." Bruce said, holding his hand out for her..
"Oh yes, because I am so incapable of doing it myself." She said sarcastically.
He laughed.
"You know that's not what I meant." Bruce said.
She smiled.
"Fine." She said.
He led her up to the bedroom.