Author's Note: Some fluff...some action...this chapter should make a range of people happy! Show me some love with the reviews!

Chapter Twelve: Masquerade

True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .

-Masquerade, The Phantom of the Opera

Jon took a chance asking Lynnlee to go into his and Amy's apartment and getting the duffel bag that was tucked into the closet. She had done it, without question, even asking if he needed anything else from the place. He was thankful she didn't look through it. He would have a hard time explaining the four fear toxin canisters that were still in there. Which brought him to an interesting crossroads…what was he going to do with the stuff?

Keep it. You may need it.

"For what?"

There's always a calm before the storm.

He opened his mouth to say something but quickly snapped it shut. He shouldn't be talking to Scarecrow, least of all now.

Aw, come on now, Jonny, there's no harm in talking.

No, but there was a harm in listening. He reached into the bag and pulled out the straitjacket that had served as full length coat that night in the Narrows.

Go ahead, try it on.

He was so used to doing what he was told by that raspy voice in his head that he found himself in the jacket before he realized he put it on. Rummaging through the bag again, he came up with the burlap mask. As he held it in his hands, looking at the off centered eye holes and crudely stitched up mouth, for the first time it looked frightening to him.

No, Jon. Not frightening. You made it, remember? To give you someone to talk to since your sister wouldn't.

"She couldn't. Not after…"

After what?

"You know."

Ah yes, the man in the back seat of her car. They say California is known for it's nut cases. She survived though.

"Barely. She hit a telephone pole at forty miles an hour." It had been warning to him from Ra's al Ghul, showing him that al Ghul knew where his sister was and that she was his soft spot. He had tried to eliminate her from his life in an effort to protect her from the man he had to become to do what al Ghul wanted.

And just when being alone became too much for you, I showed up.

"But I'm not alone anymore."

Ah yes, you're still putting your faith in Amy and Lynnlee. They won't save you. They won't be with you forever. They don't know you inside and out like I do. I will never leave you, Jon. You're stuck with me till the end. Put the mask on and be who you were meant to be.

He turned the rough material over in hands some more. He could do this. He could handle Scarecrow but not by himself. He tossed the mask on the bed and started to pull the straitjacket off when someone knocked on his door. He was about to ask who it was when they announced themselves.

"It's Amy."

"Come in."

She opened the door and immediately noticed the jacket as he dropped it over the mask, hiding it from her view.

"Nice," she commented. "Though I would stay away Alfred when you wear that. I'm afraid he might be inclined to strap you up in it just so you keep your hands off Lynnlee."

He frowned. "I hadn't thought about that."

"I'm teasing, Jon. Don't look so serious."

"I'm sorry," he rubbed his forehead. "I guess I'm just nervous that's all."

"Is it anything in particular?"

Don't tell her.

"No, nothing in particular." Jon couldn't believe he had just lied to his sister and that she looked at him like she had believed him.

"Well, if you want to talk about anything, you know where I am. And let's try to have some fun tomorrow night. Put everything behind us and start fresh."

"Sounds great."

"Great." She gave him a quick hug. "Night, Jon."

"Night. Oh wait, I forgot to ask you. What are you going as tomorrow night?"

Amy shrugged. "I don't know what you would call it. It's just black pants and tall boots with some sort of black and red diamond pattern corset over the typical billowy white shirt."

"And your mask?"

"Plain white with black edging around the eyes and the mouth. I guess it's like a female jester. Bruce is dressing up like Henry the Eighth."

Jon smiled. "You're just going to be a walking harlequin."

"I guess so." She gave him a cocky smile. "It doesn't beat a scarecrow but what can I do? Get some sleep."

"You too."

Amy was walking out the door when she let out a surprised noise. Jon turned to see Lynnlee poking around the corner of the door frame.

"Jon, you have a guest," Amy said, giving him a wink before leaving the room. He felt his face flush in response to her insinuation.

"I hope I'm not keeping you up," Lynnlee was saying.

"No, not at all." He shoved the straitjacket and mask back into the bag and closed it up. "What can I do for you?"

"I haven't seen you all night and just wanted to check on you."

"Oh." He was still getting used to another person being concerned with his whereabouts. It was expected from his sister, but Lynnlee did it because she cared. He was still trying to wrap his mind around it.

"Did I bring the right bag?"

"Yes, you did. Thank you." They had spent many hours together in the last few days but it did nothing to quell his nervousness around her. He was terribly frightened to lower his defenses, let her in and then have Scarecrow take over and hurt her. He couldn't live with himself if anything happened to her, especially by his hand. She looked so fragile, looking up at him with expectant eyes.

So pretty…

"No," Jonathan thought as strongly as he could. "You have no business being here."

You're right. Have your fun so I can have some tomorrow.

He wanted the voice to go away so badly and the only thing that seemed to work was being close to Lynnlee. Without giving any warning, he grabbed a hold of her and kissed her much rougher than in the previous few days. He could feel her shock but she quickly overcame it and matched his force. He had to pull away before this got out of control but Lynnlee had latched onto him in a desperate hold. There was only one way to break the kiss without pushing her away and hurting her feelings, he turned his head.

Lynnlee rested her forehead on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. It was my fault."

She laughed slightly. "You make it sound like you did something wrong."

He laughed too. "You're the one who apologized."

"I guess I did." She pulled back slightly. "I'm just…afraid of you leaving after tomorrow night and then I'll never see you again."

He pulled her back to him. "I won't leave without saying good bye."

"Promise?"

He closed his eyes and lied for the second time that night. "Promise."

Amy tried to watch her brother carefully without making it obvious what she was doing. She met Rachel Dawes, Bruce's first choice as a companion for the evening, who seemed to do nothing but scowl at her. Amy had watched Bruce and Rachel exchange words, heated on Rachel's side and disarming on Bruce's from what she could see from the body language. When she asked Bruce, he had merely brushed it aside, saying Rachel was concerned it was Jon in the Scarecrow costume but Bruce had just said it was Lynnlee's new boyfriend and not to worry so much. It didn't look like Rachel was following Bruce's advice.

"Aren't you enjoying yourself?"

Amy looked up at Bruce. "Yes, I am."

"Then look like it."

"I'm just worried-"

"I know." He put an arm around her waist and maneuvered her around the throng of people over to where Lynnlee, in her blue checkered dress, ruby slippers and ruby colored mask, and Jon, in his full scarecrow regalia, were standing. "Jon."

"Bruce," her brother's voice, slightly altered by the material, replied.

"You doing alright?"

"Yes."

"Tell your sister to stop worrying. She's bringing down my party."

Amy watched Bruce move off to mingle but she stayed behind, smirking behind her white and black mask. She told him she didn't want to be hanging on his arm all evening for the chance someone would put her blue eyes and the matching ones in the burlap sack together and make the announcement the Crane twins were in attendance. He had graciously agreed to that stipulation.

"You're not really worried are you?"

Amy shrugged. "Just a little I guess." She looked him over, the burlap sack over his head, the straitjacket buckled halfway over his suit. "It's just really freaky to see you dressed like this."

"Wow." Lynnlee said. "You want to see freaky, check out the guy who just walked in."

Amy turned to see a man dressed in a purple suit and white painted face enter the ballroom. It didn't take her long to realize who it was. She searched the room for Bruce but couldn't find him anywhere. Hopefully he had seen the party crasher and was off to get suited up. A gun shot echoed through the room and all attention was on the new arrival.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen…" he was saying, "we are tonight's entertainment."

Amy turned to Jon. "What should we do?"

"Stall until I get back."

She watched him turn and sneak out one of the hidden side entrances of the ballroom. Amy didn't know what else to do. The Joker was walking around, ripping people's masks off and asking where Harvey Dent was. Out of the corner of her eye, Amy saw Rachel make a move to step out from the terrified crowd. Before she knew what she doing, Amy had beat the assistant district attorney to the empty ballroom floor.

"What do you want?" she brazenly asked.

His eyes focused on her immediately and Amy was thankful for the mask covering her face. She didn't want him to know she was afraid.

"Haven't you been paying, uh, attention?"

Amy held her ground as he stalked towards her. "Sorry, the gunshot threw me."

He gave her a "uh" before repeating his question. "I'm looking for Harvey Dent."

"Haven't seen him."

His eyes narrowed and before she could stop him, he swiped the mask off her face. "You're that sister of the psychiatrist gone Scarecrow." He looked around the sea of masked faces. "So where is big brother?"

"Actually," a raspy voice answered, "she was born first."

Amy watched as Jon emerged from the crowd and her worry of the Scarecrow taking over overtook her. His gait was jerky but confident and his voice had more of a metallic rasp to it. She realized he must have put the gas mask back in the burlap sack and that meant he was armed with those canisters of fear toxin.

"You know where Harvey is?" Joker asked.

Jon shook his head.

The Joker shrugged. "Ah well."

Amy thought she was forgotten but a flash of purple went past her and she felt the cold steel blade of a knife against her throat.

"Tell you what," Joker was saying, "you and your…uh, little sister come with me and I forget about Harvey for a little while."

Amy tried to nod to her brother, letting him know to go ahead with the plan but the knife dug into her throat. Apparently, he got the message.

"Fine," Jon agreed.

"Excellent."

Amy felt the knife leave her throat and she was pushed roughly. Without thinking, instinct kicked in and she spun around and pushed the Joker back. All fear was gone out of her, only anger remained. How dare he walk into this home and take away her and Jon's peace. She held his gaze and tried to hide the shiver that ran down her spine at the cold, dark eyes that stared back at her. He wasn't just insane…he was coherently insane.

"Got a little fight in ya," he said, walking in a wide circle around her like a predator. "I like that, you little Harlequin. Maybe that's what I'll call you…Hrm…Harley Quinn. You like that?"

Amy scowled and walked away from him, purposefully turning her back on him. Jon was watching the whole scene, he would give her a heads up if Joker tried anything. When she was close enough to her brother, she whispered, "Let's get out here before he hurts anyone."

Jon didn't say anything but turned on his heel and walked through the parted crowd at a fast clip. Amy had to almost jog to keep up with him and then she realized why. She could hear Lynnlee calling after them to stop. The front doors of the Manor opened and there was a large, unmarked van idling by the steps. Where was Bruce?

"You sure about this?" Jon whispered.

Amy saw he had taken the mask off, his worried blue eyes fixed on hers. "Don't have much of a choice."

"I'm sorry."

She forced a small smile. "We'll get out of it." As she climbed into the back of the van, she could still hear Lynnlee's voice. By the time she turned around, Lynnlee was at the van, grabbing at Jon's straitjacket, a jumbled string of disbelieving words and pleads came pouring out her mouth. Amy could see the pain in her brother's face as he tried to disentangle himself from her grip.

"Lynnlee, no. You stay here."

Amy reached out, trying to pull her brother into the van and away from Lynnlee. But one of the straps had wrapped around Lynnlee's arm.

"Hey, if Dorothy wants her Scarecrow," Joker came up behind the two struggling people and pushed Lynnlee roughly into the van dragging Jon with her, "who I am to deny her?"

The van door slid shut and Joker jumped into the driver's seat. "And there he is."

Amy leaned over the passenger seat and saw the moving shadow that had to be Batman. Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief. But Joker threw the van into drive and pointed the shotgun at the advancing figuring. Amy grabbed a hold of the steering wheel and yanked it just as Joker fired the shot gun. Yelling a curse, he shoved the gun backward, nailing Amy directly in the face, knocking her out cold.