Author's note: The events in this chapter took place one year and six months ago, but it is written like Margo is telling a story. Enjoy and REVIEW.

Chapter 3

It was an apartment building I think, some run down building condemned forever ago. If we hadn't gone in then maybe, maybe things would have turned out differently. But we did go in, ready to fight our way out of a surely fatal situation. We were supposed to wait for backup. Why didn't we wait for backup?

Robin went in first, surveyed the area and motioned for me to follow. I told myself that it was too late to turn back. We were already in, why go back now? We rounded corner after corner of decrepit hallways lined with old furniture, tech, you name it. This was the place where obsolete items came to die, so what did that make us? When lady death comes knocking we heroes tend to great her enthusiastically. Not me, not anymore. Call me a coward or selfish or whatever you want but I can't face my demons with a hello. Not anymore.

I heard the laugh before he did. So the evil clown was there. We should have called Batman. That's all we should have done: find out if the Joker was there and then call Batman. Of course we didn't. I followed Robin as he lusted after danger, after glory. To say the least, I'm an idiot.

We crept farther toward the center of the building with that awful laugh reverberating off every column. I wish that I could've seen his face, had a target to shoot at, instead of the laugh that was everywhere and nowhere at once. I wanted to have at least some control over the situation and my hand shaking around the handle of my crossbow, my finger resting on the trigger.

Robin skidded to a halt in front of a door, me nearly colliding with the back of him.

"You know I think we should just go in. I'm sure the Joker has a pot of tea going. We could all sit around and make fun of Batman."

"Shut up Jay. I'm going in,"

"You're so funny Jay. Hey you know this was a pretty stupid idea. Why don't we turn around so we can live to die another day? Donuts on me." My high pitched impression was less than impressive to Robin. Once he got a thought in his head, there was no getting it out.

"If you didn't want to be here than why didn't you request to be teamed up with your secret boyfriend? I'm sure he would have loved to have you tag along so you could do nothing and watch him shoot arrows at no one,"

"Shut up Robin. It's not like I care if you live or die or anything." We had apparently settled it because he opened the door letting it swing open. I hate guns. No, I am revolted by guns but in that moment I wished one of us was holding one. Instinctually I grabbed Robin's shoulder. "Wait." I pulled him into a hug, staying a little too long.

"Don't forget to cover your mouth and nose," he said as he pulled his suit up over his face. I did the same, willed my hand to stop shaking, and followed him into the room.

As expected, a Joker's noxious green gas cloud dropped on us. My lungs burned with the effort of not breathing. I could feel us moving faster. I could feel us fading as we tried to escape the toxin in the air. One breath and we'd be dead, absolute worm food.

Robin broke through a door; we collapsed on the other side, choking on stale but sweet air. If a fight could be declared over before it began it was this one. I remember feeling as though the musty walls were living breathing things, as if they were helping conceal The Joker from us. He came out of the shadows with that evil grin plastered on his face. Robin clenched his staff. He had fought The Joker before. I had not. So tell me, who should have had a better chance?

He came swinging at us with a crowbar. My loosed arrow barley missed his head as Robin met the crowbar with his staff. I loaded another arrow, missed again. Another. Missed. If only they'd stop moving I could secure a target. Robin hit the wall next to me. Another arrow. This one hit its mark, exploding against The Clown Prince and sending him flying backwards. Robin groaned and jumped back up but I'd already advanced. My fist hit flesh and I ducked as the crowbar cut the air above my.

"My beef is with The Boy Wonder Dear. I'm perfectly willing to let you walk out of here without a scratch on you."

"Good One. And I'll just hand over my crossbow, tip my hat, and whistle a merry tune too." He laughed and my stomach churned. I didn't like the idea of him finding me funny.

"It's ok. Your distraction will do well enough." Confusion spread over my face and he grinned wider at the sight of it.

"What are you talking about?" I still can't believe I didn't notice the open window, the air whooshing in and out, my missing partner, or my missing weapon for that matter. It took one glance, one second. Joker smashed the crowbar against my face, catching me just above the eye. Blood rushed from the cut, stickying my eye lashes and blurring my vision.

Joker skipped over me toward the window. Before he could get farther, I grabbed him by the ankle, dragging him down. I stood up, faltered and steadied. Laughter rang out in the air. Two kicks, one to the chest and one to the jaw. Joker groaned without losing his grin and I for some reason felt safe enough to turn away from him. Stupid me.

It was a signal from behind. I know it. As I turned around I could see the flick of his wrist and a light blinking from across the alley.

Robin perched on the fire escape, watching someone, waiting with my crossbow, thinking he had the upper hand on the invisible enemy. A cry escaped my lips as I lunged towards him.

"Robin!" He turned towards my voice. My voice like the siren's song a call of death.

The Harpoon came fast, ripping violently through the flesh of his back. My tears came steadily as the cold reality seeped onto his face. He groped the wooden pike protruding from his breast, slicked with blood. My legs went forward and his went back. His knees hit the rail sending him tumbling over.

"JASON! NO! NO! NO! AHHH JAAAAASSSSOON!" I yelled, throwing myself forward. My screams were deafening, my tears never-ending, and my fall bone shattering. My earth stopped, crumbled into a million pieces as Jason hit the ground. The Joker's cackles echoed throughout the building, tormenting me even though he was long gone.

It was seconds, maybe minutes before I heaved myself up. It was a lifetime before I reached his body. His broken figure yanked at the tears hiding in my eyes. I fell to the ground cradling his head. No words could describe the anguish that rushed through me. The sound of cars driving by harmonized with my sobs as night fell over us and then as the Batman carried us home.