~Later in the Week~

"So, you all decided to get a little closer to society, did you?" the Joker asked, laughter spilling from between his yellowed teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Bruce said. His mask was torn in a few places and Tim could tell he'd been through a hell of a fight before he'd gotten there. Tim had been beat up himself, probably too much for what he was worth. Harley had given him a real beating for the last time they'd gone head-to-head at the jewelers. There had been no tricking her this time, she went straight on the offensive and drove him right into the ground with the first six punches.

Joker didn't usually take hostages, but as they stood at the top of Gotham Tower Tim started to get sick. The clown was going to drop her out the window, whoever she was. There was a black bag over her head and she was dressed in nice jeans and a pretty red shirt. Tim could tell that she was young and pretty from her figure. She was dressed for something special maybe a date or a meeting. That thought sent an inch of fear creeping toward his heart.

It reminded him of Maddie, he'd had to call off their second date because of the Joker. They were going to go to dinner together, much to Bruce's displeasure. One of the hardest moments of his short life was having to call her two minutes late after their meeting time at the park, to tell her that he wasn't going to be able to make it. She had already been at the park. She'd gotten there early because she'd had nothing better to do.

"Oh, I think Robin knows what I'm talking about" the Joker said, pulling on the girls hands that were behind her back, closer to the window.

Tim heard her try to stifle a whimper.

"We don't talk to anyone, Joker. You should know that. It's not right" Bruce said, looking pointedly at the Boy Wonder.

"You don't talk to poor Selena anymore, Bats?" the Joker asked, looking most sincere, "Tsk, tsk, tsk"

Bruce tensed, his fists clenched

"Selena?" Tim asked, unable to help himself, "…Catwoman?"

"Looks like you'll have a bit to talk about when you get home to the Bat Cave, huh?" Joker laughed again, "But no, I didn't come here for your social life, Batty. Just the kid's"

Tim tensed. It can't be. He only had one friend in the world, and she had been dressing up for something special.

Joker pulled off the bag. The girl's tear-stained face was yanked back by her brown hair. Tim took a step back in utter panic. It felt like someone had dropped a pile of bricks on him.

"Oh yes, it's her" The Joker laughed.

Maddie looked at him, not knowing who he was, not knowing that she was about to fall 60 stories to the streets below. But knowing that who she thought was a masked vigilante was not going to save her.

The mad clown cocked his gun against her forehead and she cowered away from it. "I saw the way you jumped after her at that mall accident. Maybe it would have been different if you hadn't known that I'd cut your Batarang ropes, but you watched me do it. I did it right in front of you!" He cackled, "Oh, how could you do it? Knowing that you would more than likely die trying to save her life! Oh, you heroes can't resist your damsels in distress can you?"

"Joker, put down the gun" Bruce said, his voice holding authority. Bruce didn't know who the girl was. He'd never met Maddie before; he said he didn't want to. Tim didn't blame him. It was wrong to bring someone into their lives like Tim had. It was too dangerous, because they would constantly be at risk. And he'd been right. Joker didn't even know that the two of them were dating and he was already on her tail, because he'd saved her…once.

"I picked her up in the park. She was going on a date with some Tim fellow"

Bruce glanced at his young protégé through his mask, a glare coming out profoundly though the white slits for the eyes.

"Not that it matters. Too bad he never got to pick her up" The Joker said, "She looked so pretty before I got my hands on her" He pinched her cheek, blood seeping from one of the many cuts on her face.

A gunshot sounded in the small office room and she screamed, wincing. Tim knew the Joker wouldn't shoot her, it would be too easy, but it made him wince anyway. Joker did love his games. The shot shattered the window behind the pair and cold wind blew into the top story of the building. Maddie's eyes widened and in that instant she knew exactly what was going to happen. There was no way some "hero" was going to risk his neck to jump out after her, especially with everyone else up here to pummel his partner. Batman would be left all by himself with over 30 thugs with practically no escape and no assistance.

"Robin" Brue cautioned, but Tim had already made up his mind. He was going after her, no matter what.

"Are you ready for a little fly?" Joker said to the girl, kissing her cheek. She nodded slightly, tears in her eyes as the Joker released his grip, pushing her back. "Bye-bye, sweet-heart" he said, waving.

I caught one glance at Robin's cold, emotionless mask and felt my balance tip backwards. The Joker's maniacal laughter echoed in my head as I screamed, my shoes slipping off the broken glass and into the empty abyss. The wind was deafening as I kept falling, fear had already engulfed me earlier when I had been kidnapped, but now it had been released into all my screams. I kept screaming and screaming, although I knew it would do no good. My tears had frozen from the cold wind, but they kept coming. I was flying to my death, and there was no hope, because I would be dead before anyone could reach me.

I felt I hand snatch at my arm and tried to look up, catching a glimpse of red and black. He was falling with me, and I tried to grab him, hoping to hold on so that I wouldn't be splattered on the Gotham streets. He gripped at my arms and the rope he'd sent up went taught. I lost my grip on him from the sudden stop and gravity pulled me to the ground. It was almost as though death wanted me.

"MADDIE!" I heard yelled after me. I was too panicked to realize he knew my name when I'd never told him. I screamed then yelped as I was caught by something tied around my waist. He'd thrown another line after me when he'd first caught me, to catch me in case he couldn't hold on tight enough. My breathing was so ragged and hysterical that when he pulled us both into the 12th story of Gotham Tower he had to calm me down; afraid I would collapse because I was hyperventilating.

I felt tears build up in my eyes again although I was more relaxed then earlier. I thought about what would have happened if he'd waited just a second more and an image of myself splattered across a street popped into me head. Something in my mind snapped and I collapsed into tears, gripping at his shoulders in hysterics. The boy pulled back, surprised at my reaction, but then his arms surrounded me and he joined me to sit on the floor. To myself I had just died, I had been so close to death. If he had taken another breath before jumping out of that window, I'd've died.

I clung at him desperately, burying my face into his shoulder. I didn't care that I didn't know who he was, I didn't care that I would probably never see him again…He was there at the time when I was weakest as I sat there, burying my pain into his spandex costume.

It should have been awkward, seeing as how tight I was clinging to him, but it wasn't at all. He held me close, almost as tight as I was holding him. I didn't know that he was close to tears himself, thanking god that I was safe.