You've had quite the wait for this chapter and once again I apologise, uni work is taking a lot out of me and it obviously has to come first, I don't fancy waitressing for the rest of my life while my friends are driving round in fancy cars. And yes Speed does get better to those who emailed me to ask, if I killed off Speed it would be like killing off Bambi...no way could I do that! Enjoy this!

Chapter 18: Screaming Into The Night.

Nightmares becoming a reality; it sounds like something out of a Freddy Krueger film. Nightmares are darkened dreams, they scare us into believing they're real, that the demon chasing after us will get us, that there's no waking up. Dreams can become a reality, we can get the dream job we always wanted, find the love of our lives, endure lifelong happiness. If dreams can coming true can happen so can nightmares, ask anyone and they will tell you the same; life can be a living nightmare. A life filled with terror, threats around every corner, not being able to breathe in your own skin, nor being safe in your own home; doesn't sound like it could be possible does it?

"Sam..." "Sam..." "Sam..."

My grip loosens on Speed's hand, the bile rises in my throat and I swallow nervously.

"Maddie, promise don't tell...you said so, don't tell him."

I try to talk, I really do but my words catch in my throat, I'd forgotten about Sam, actually forgotten about him.

"Why..." I cough trying hard not to show my worry in an attempt to ease Speed, "Why did he do this to you Speed?"

He starts twisting the fabric of his shirt in his good hand, his gaze anywhere but on my face. "He got me when I weren't looking, too scared I guess. He told me something, after he got me bad, he told me."

"What did he say?"

Speed's face raises to mine, his expression sad and remorseful, "He waiting for you...said watch your back."

I slam my hand over my mouth to stop my cries from coming out, Speed tries to shift towards me and I back away from him, hitting my side on the table, I barely notice the pain, Speed's words keep echoing in my head...how could I forget him? What he did to Dwayne, how could I think he'd just left? My mind starts turning, he was helping James, which means he told James everything; which means he knows about me and Jack all of his guys do, about our son, what else could he know? What is he going to do to me?

"Speed, what else did he say?"

He shakes his head, I move towards the bed, shaking him, ignoring his injuries, "Speed I know that you're not all there, I get that really I do, but I need to know what else he said."

"Said...said no one will help you, you're alone, he got you."

He eyes me nervously as I release him, I clench my fists and try to remember how to breathe, "Maddie, you be ok, he can't get you, you got your brother..." he yawns and his eyes flutter closed. Oh shit...

"Maddie, you both ok doll?"

I didn't even hear Jack open the door, I plaster a smile onto my face and face him, his frame takes up most of the door, no slipping by him for me.

"Yeah I'm good, Speed's sleeping now, the drugs should wear off soon and he'll wake up when he wants."

He grins, strolling towards me, "You ok? You did so good doll, his alive thanks to you. Seeing you do that..." he trails off and smirks suggestively at me.

"Speed said..." He nods at me, "Speed said what? Did he tell you who did this?" "Maddie, promise don't tell..."

I can't, I can't get Jack involved in this, he won't die because of me, Speed almost joined Dwayne I can't let anyone else.

"Speed said thank you, for cleaning him up earlier, his glad you're not mad."

His eyes trace my face, I smile nervously at him, not wanting him to guess the truth, instead he shrugs and nuzzles his face against mine, I cling to him, breathing in his comforting scent. His stomach rumbles and we break apart he grins, scratching at his stomach and gesturing with his thumb to downstairs.

"Guess I should eat something huh? Think the boys have pizza down stairs if you want some doll? You gotta eat something after all of that work doll."

"I'll cook for you," he smiles, "I'd appreciate that but it means cooking for the rest of my men, they don't take too kindly to food being put in front of them and being told no."

I shake my head, "No, I meant I'd cook at the manor for you, you can come in the way we left. Bruce and Alfred are gonna be out tonight. It's just gonna be us...and Mat."

His eyes light up, then he looks at Speed's still form, he snores gently, "He'll be fine Jack, Bozo can stay with him and you can leave when you need to."

Please don't leave me on my own.

He points to his face and bloodied clothes, "What about these? Gonna look funny walking round that place looking like this, won't be able to touch anything doll."

He notices my fallen face and sighs, cupping my face, "I'll come if you want me there then I'll come. Hell whatever you cook has to be better than the crap I eat here."

He crosses the bed once more and leans down over Speed, satisfied he stands back up, grabbing his coat. "You er have to wait outside for a second doll ok? I need to do something with the guys, I'll be quick ok?"

I shiver slightly when we leave Speed's room; Jack notices and rolls his eyes, stopping to put his coat over my arms.

"The doors just there don't move away from it. You do and I'll have to ruin your pretty little face if any of these guys get their hands on you."

I stand shivering in the cold, pulling Jack's coat closer to me, I wince removing my hands from his pockets, examining the cut on my finger. I gingerly feel around, removing a small blade from the pocket.

"Oh yeah should have warned you about that, you're lucky you found one of my smaller ones, any other pocket and I'd be the one operating on you, although I didn't expect to be giving that to you and freezing my ass off."

I laugh, looking nervously around the woods whilst Jack finds his keys, all the shadows look like Sam.

"Jack, Jack come on."

He flashes his keys to me, muttering about 'impatient women.' I squint and look at the figure stepping out of the shadows; it raises a single hand at me, slowly waving. I close my eyes and look again, it's gone.

"Come on doll, not to push you but I'm pretty hungry, watching you sort out Speedy was er tiring."

"I'm coming," I look back into the shadows again, willing for the shape to come back, for a sign that I'm not going mad, that the signs are real, though as usual nothing appears.

Jack slams his hand down on the horn and pushes the door to my side open, "You planning on coming sometime tonight?"

I climb into the car, hands shaking as I do so. I look to Jack as he drives, there's fresh blood on him, saturating his shirt and waistcoat. I catch his eye and nod towards the blood.

"What happened back there Jack?"

He rubs at the side of his face, avoiding my eyes, "Jack, what happened are you hurt?"

My fingers reach towards him and I touch the spot closest to me, I startle when his hand closes around mine, we remain like that for a moment before he kisses my hand and releases it.

"That guy the driver," "Johnny?" He frowns at my interruption, looking bemused, "Yeah him, whatever. He saw the way I looked at you, saw us together, he would have said something to the rest of them, I had to er quieten him."

"You killed him then," I refuse to look at him, staring straight ahead, avoiding him, he grunts and the van jolts to one side as he breaks, I cling to the side of my seat, finally looking at him.

"What the hell was that Jack?"

He swerves his body towards mine, grabbing my face and tilting it back by tugging on my hair, "Listen here doll, this is what I do, you know that ok? I'm not gonna change even for you, it's too late, I don't expect you to like it but I had to do it, be damn grateful it wasn't Speed I finished off."

"Stop saying that..." he pulls my face closer to his, his breath hot.

"You've got me acting soft in front of them, he saw how we were, how's it gonna look if anyone else catches on? Huh? The mob, someone else who wants my head on a platter in front of them, it's not gonna happen; you and the kid are separate to that part of me. I can't let the two of you mix, look what happened tonight, I kill anymore of my men and I'll only have Speed and Bozo left."

He nips at my neck when I don't answer, I wince and nod my head, "Ok, I promise I won't say anything else, I just don't like that side of you...the killing part. The makeup the clothes, the hair I've gotten use to...I just can't."

He taps me on my nose and I wiggle it, he laughs and slaps my knee, "You've got all of me, no separate parts here doll. Oh and its war paint not make up, I'm not a girl."

I laugh and trace his inner thigh, "Oh I know you're not a girl Jack, that's one thing I am sure about...very certain about actually, think I would have noticed something wrong by now."

"Maddie, if you ever want us to get back you're gonna have to finish that later," his voice is strained and barley controlled.

I get closer to the bulge in his trouser, he nods and grunts, jerking his hips, I let him for a second before kissing him softly and then pulling away from him, folding my hands over one another.

He glances down and scowls at me, "That's it, you get me going like a horny kid, I'll just sit here and wait..."

"You should learn to keep it in your pants," he grins and ruffles my hair slightly.

"Where is Brucey tonight then? Out saving the world? Or screwing some supermodel?"

I grin, tilting my head to him, "He's busy at Wayne Enterprise, Alfred goes with him to keep him company and make sure he's actually doing work."

He looks at me, scanning my face, before nodding to a billboard of Bruce, "You look nothing alike you know? I can't see any of you in each other, Bozo looks like his brother but you and Brucey look nothing like each other."

"What's that suppose to mean?" I'm on the defence now, I hate this types of comments, innocent so they may seem.

He holds his hands up, keeping the car straight as we near the manor, "I'm not answering when you're giving me that look, I'm shaking in my shoes."

I laugh and relax my face, "There, didn't realise I was scaring the scary Joker."

"Scare me? I don't think so doll" he points towards himself, jabbing his chest hard, "Jane's still here, how we gonna get passed this one without twenty one questions?" he nods looking at her black SUV, pulling in near the side of the road, careful not to be seen.

"You just go up the balcony like you did before, I'll talk to Jane."

"I'll er see you in a minute then doll." I grin and kiss him before leaving the van; he follows close behind me, glancing back occasionally.

"I'll be two minutes ok? Just wait for me to come upstairs."

I open the door as quietly as I can, the chatter of Riana greets me, I let out the breath I was holding in, nearly jumping back through the door when I see Jane.

"God Jane can you warn me in future? I swear people are trying to kill me off tonight."

"What happened? Why was he here, did he hurt you?" I can almost laugh, Jack hurt me?

"His friend was hurt; he wanted my help so I gave it to him. The guy who was hurt is a sweet guy, I wanted to help out and no he didn't hurt me, he wouldn't hurt me."

Jane gripes my hand, "Maddie he is capable though, look what he did to James he killed him."

I glance to the side, the guilt mounting up, "Maddie? He did kill James right?"

Mat's wail over the monitor saves me and I head upstairs, "Maddie, I'm here ok, if you want to talk, I'm just a phone call away and you know where I live. I just love you so much that I worry, just stay safe and if that means being with him then do it."

My eyes sting at her 'acceptance' of me and Jack, if more people could be like her... "Thanks Janey, I'll see you tomorrow yeah?"

"Oh yeah, big operation tomorrow Maddie, we'll all be there for you, I gotta go now before Riana gets too tired. Oh and Alfred just called in to get some food or whatever I can barely understand him but he said they'd be back late and his sorry he can't cook dinner with you tonight."

"Ok thanks Janey, take care sweetie, give Riana a kiss from me."

By the time I reach the top of the stairs, Mat's cried have gone, I edge my way to his room, stood by the window showing him the moon is Jack, his waistcoat and shirt gone, so blood doesn't transfer from him to Mat.

"Good looking guy aren't cha? Take after me don't ya kid?"

Mat gurgles in response, grabbing at Jack's dancing fingers.

"Nah, you're stunning, it's all your mom kid, I tell ya. She's got me wrapped round her finger and you've got her wrapped round yours..."

I have to strain to hear the last part, so quiet is Jack, "and mine, you got me good and proper kid, I don't see you much Mat but you're still mine, got that? You're not that Cop's or any other dicks, you're mine."

"I don't think you're suppose to swear in front of a baby right Mads? Or is that what people do these days," I don't even look at him, "Shut up James, leave my family alone for tonight please."

"Good job tonight, for once you didn't fuck it up," I stop and smile at him before I push open the door, both of my gorgeous men turn their heads to the noise, Jack relaxes and Mat smiles, before returning his focus to his dad.

I lean my head on Jack's shoulder and look down at Mat with him, "He's a good looking kid isn't he; we er did good didn't we?"

I laugh at his cockiness before nodding in agreeance, "I think we did, he still has your eyes."

As if to show off, Mat raises his eyes to Jack's, the exact shade of his own eyes. Jack stares for a moment before settling a kiss on Mat's head before passing him to me, "You er got a shower somewhere in this place doll?"

"Yeah sure, use the one in my room, you know where that one is, it'll be easier."

Mat yawns and rubs his eyes, trying in vain to keep them open, "Let's put you back to bed baby, as much as I love you, mommy wants a night with daddy."

I lay him back down, wrapping the shirt around him, "you know it's a good job you don't talk, let's keep this between us ok? No need to tell Uncle Bruce or Alfred anything do we?"

He gurgles slightly in response, "no or Uncle Bruce won't be a happy bat will he?"

He smiles and falls asleep, shattered, "ok baby I can take the hint."

I lean down and kiss him, wiping a tear off his cheek, "I won't let Sam get you ok? As long as you're safe, that's all that matters."

I close the door quietly behind me, Jack's clothes are strewn everywhere on my bedroom floor; the shower bursts into life and steam curls up from under the door.; Jack sings in the shower and occasionally giggles, I laugh myself and shut the door behind me, leaving him to it. I'm going to make Spaghetti Bolognese, after a quick root through the cupboards and fridge I realise I was suppose to go shopping today and this appears to be the safest choice. It's more peaceful in the kitchen for some reason than anywhere else in the house; it gives me time to think, time to gather my thoughts. I mix the tomatoes and mince together, it's a quick and easy meal, I even remember making it myself the first time; the mince was overdone and the spaghetti soggy but Bruce and Alfred had grinned and bared it, even cleaning their plates while I had a mouthful in the kitchen, spat it out and downed my glass of wine. Thankfully my cooking has since improved; I slice up some crusty bread, this is mainly for Jack, I scoop a larger portion onto his plate, leaving some more behind in the pan.

"Smells good doll, didn't know you could cook as well, I've picked right with you haven't I?"

I flick a stray bit of spaghetti at him; he dodges out of the way and it sticks to the floor, I point at it with my fork, "you can clean that up later you know, the 'old guy' as you call him won't take kindly to it."

He pulls out a seat and immediately starts digging into his food, I raise an eyebrow, he must be hungry to be eating my food.

"Tastes good doll," he talks with his mouth open, showing me the remains of spaghetti and chewed up mince, I grimace and turn away, shaking my head.

He finishes way before me and eyes the remaining food hopefully, I sigh and push back my chair, scrapping the rest of the food onto his plate, he tickles my arm gently as I turn from him.

I pick apart at my food, before pushing it away, "Can I ask you something?"

He looks up from his plate, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, "Sure thing, whats up got something on your mind?"

"Have you found Sam yet?"

He finishes his meal and pushes the plate away from him, "I'm working on it doll, just working on other things right now...why?"

I laugh at his evasiveness, "By other things you mean me?"

He nods, downing his water, before smacking his lips together, "Gotta help my woman out, he was a dick Maddie, it's about time people knew, why are you so scared?"

Oh Jack if only you could know.

"I'm just...it's a lot to take in you know? It's not like I'm used to this kind of stuff anyway... it's just a lot of focus on me that I don't need."

He groans and gets out of his seat, shockingly my mind has just registered that he's shirtless, he crouches down behind my chair, massaging my shoulders, " You don't need to be scared of him, his gone, it's not like his here right now is he?"

I resist the urge to scan the room and check the rest of the house; instead I lean back into his hands, enjoying his clever fingers. His lips get closer to my neck; they linger there, tracing my neck up to my ear.

"Come with me."

I don't hesitate to agree, he takes the lead, walking is up the stairs before stopping outside Mat's bedroom door.

"Shh" he whispers, he peers into the room, his eyes obviously use to the dark, he nods and pushes me into my bedroom.

I sit on the edge of the bed as he closes the door behind us, I feel unsettled as though this is his room. He turns and stalks towards me, kneeling down and tracing my ankles with his fingers; he works his way up, getting closer to my thighs, "So soft," he mutters, I set my hands on his shoulders, feeling his battered body.

I eye a new cut and stroke it gently, "aww fuck Maddie," he groans, shoving me as gently as he can on the bed.

"Lift up," he orders me, I support myself using my back and he pulls down my pants, "I want to see all of you now."

I nod and sit up helping him ease off my top, he pulls me close rubbing my back, I guide his hand to my bra strap, he takes the hint and pulls the straps down, his kisses all over my breasts and pushes me back down, "I want to touch you," I moan, trying to reach down to unbuckle his trousers.

He laughs and pulls away from me, remaining straddled to my lower body. He slowly unbuckles his belt, his eyes never leaving mine as he slowly teases me. He pulls his trousers down slowly, going as far as they can go in his position.

"Kiss me," I order him, pulling him to me by his hair, he complies and manages to kick off his pants, they hit the wall opposite.

He pulls away and I stare confused, "Get on top," he rolls me onto him and I lower myself onto him, I can't take it no more. I look down at him; his body is outlined by the moonlight, his head thrown back in pleasure, his teeth biting down on his lip, his eyes shut tight; the black circles around them smudged from perspiration. My hands move from his shoulders to his hips; his eyes snap open as if sensing danger and he smiles up at me; throwing his head back again when he thrusts harder. "Keep doing that," he pants, gripping onto my hips, "just there, right there."

I grip onto his shoulders, panting more; he scratches my back, groaning as I move slightly faster.

"Maddie," he grunts and his head falls onto my shoulder, I follow suit afterwards and cling to him as I try to catch my breath.

"Every time, every time with you is better than the last," he brushes my hair away from my face, his fingers knotted in my hair.

He rolls me to the side, wrapping me in his arms, crossing his legs over mine. "Thanks for tonight I mean it, with Speed and everything, if I dint know you he'd be dead by now. It's only thanks to you he's alive."

I shift as much as he will allow me, cradling his face in my hands, "its ok, Speed's great it doesn't matter what he does, what any of you do, I couldn't see him die."

"I'm glad," he kisses my forehead and yawns; "You need to sleep Jack."

He nods into my head, rubbing his face along my hair, Mat sighs over the monitor and I feel my own eyes drooping, for now everything can be forgotten.

Joker's POV

It's late by the time he wakes up, rubbing the sleep and paint form his face he glances at the clock; 1:45am. Rolling over he tries to get back to sleep, after five futile minutes he gives up and swings his legs out of the bed, looking for his boxers, locating them he slips them on, his trousers landed in a dark corner of the room; his shirt and waistcoat remain in the bathroom. He splashes his face with water and glances into the mirror, he looks more rested now, hell he hasn't had a good meal for a while, that is until tonight. The door to the bedroom eases open and he drops the towel into the sink, the door was left slightly ajar and he peers out. Well, well if it's not a Batman... right as always Jacky boy...score one to you. The Bat hovers over Maddie before Wayne pulls of his mask, checking over his sister he clearly concludes she's fine. He picks up the mask and leaves the room, not seeing the clothes flung in any direction. He could almost laugh with glee; instead he dresses quickly, roughly smearing paint onto his face, leaving the bathroom and bumping into Maddie.

"Jesus doll! Don't do that creeping thing I thought it was someone else."

She smiles and steps out of the way allowing him out of the bathroom, he scowls and pretends to rub his heart. She shakes her head and grabs his hand, leading him back to bed; he stands in front of her once again, smirking down on her.

"Tell me about Bruce, what does Brucey do?"

His question catches her off guard, she laughs nervously and fiddles with her sex hair, "You've just finished having sex with me and you're thinking about my brother?"

He laughs, noting how right she is, "I'm serious doll, what does Brucey do to get so many cuts? Hmm, cause I know he does something else than supermodels."

She's looking worried now, like her families dirty little secret is about to be revealed, "Bruce is Bruce, you know he has his toys that he plays with and sometimes these toys are married and have husbands or whatever that fight back. Jack what's the matter, why the sudden interest in Bruce?"

Honestly she's worse than Speed for lying and he is bad, "You know you're a crap liar Maddie when you want to be doll, real crap," she looks insulted, shaking her head to dispel his words, he stands up to allow her to move. "

I don't know what you mean; my brother doesn't do anything but what you read about in the papers or whatever. Just stop asking so many questions."

She crosses the room and turns the light on, the light floods into the room and they both blink trying to get use to the sudden brightness, "We said we wouldn't lie to each other anymore! Come on Mads we both know who he is I just want the... satisfaction of hearing you say it that's all," before she can move he backs her up against wall, putting his hands either side of her.

"Don't play games with me ok? We can't let Mattie get bad habits can we? Tell me who Bruce Wayne is."

She starts to stutter, looking for all the world guilty, "My brother is..." he nods at her, "uh huh, my brother is..." He lifts her chin to look at her face; he smiles encouragingly, "My brother is Batman..."

He pushes himself away from her, "I knew it I fucking knew it! This is just so rich!"

She grabs at his arm, her face set, "Jack, I'm not joking, you hurt him in any way I will hate you forever. If you do it in self defence or you're inches away from death then I get that but don't go looking for trouble. And don't make me pick sides."

He growls and walks back over to her, slamming her against wall, "Listen, I've known this for a while and er I haven't done anything to Batsy...Brucey, you remember that. I have feelings for you, not Brucey so if he does step one toe out of our little agreement Maddie I will go for him, brother or no brother I'm gonna want to fight back. I'm only leaving him alone out of love for you and Mat...this has nothing to do with him. Though he pisses me off just once and I'll kill him."

"Ok..." He prises her lips apart, "Louder I didn't quite catch that."

"I said ok Jack, but please just don't hurt him or let any of your other guys."

He ponders for a moment before an idea pops into his head, "I've made my promise but it's not gonna stop him for beating on me is it? Now I meant everything I said to you, but let's face it he probably will try to kill me the next time we meet, just be glad he didn't see me here."

She nods and he touches her bare forearm, "I should leave now, I go back to sleep and Brucey will find me in here for sure. You take care of yourself and the kid ok?"

"Yeah sure, take care Jack...will I see you soon?" He smiles, the smile parents reserve when their children say something stupid, "In this job doll it's not possible, I don't wanna make promises I can't keep...but I will promise I'll see you and the kid soon.

" His mouth curves into hers, tracing the line of her lips with his tongue, her hands come from her side to his biceps, he squeezes her side and leaves the way he came in, no more goodbyes.

Stephen's POV

"I get any phone calls just tell them I'm out in the field and I'll try and get back to them later, don't tell them where I am just say I'm out, even if it's my ma don't tell her ok?"

Charlotte nods and turns towards her desk, "I'll see you later, take care of yourself out there Stephen."

He raises a hand to the side of his head and mock salutes her; she laughs and waves him off before reaching for the phone. It'll take about an hour to get to the town where Sophia now lives with her new boyfriend, maybe an hour he'll be there then probably over an hour to get back and tell Gordon everything he finds out. Almost an hour later he reaches the town where she lives, the houses are grand and he lets out a low whistle when he sees the houses get bigger. Charlotte told him her house number was seventy two, which means he has a fair way to go yet. The houses become further apart alone here, they also if possible become larger, Sophia's new boyfriend is a landscape architect; which explains the house. He squints and shields his eyes from the sun as he tries to decipher the house number, he turns off the engine and steps out, badge on show should he need it. He is dimly aware of a pair of eyes following him from behind the blinds, they flick closed and an older woman steps out of the screen door.

"Ma'am Hi," he flashes her his badge, she takes a moment to scrutinise it, before smiling at him and offering up her hand, "I'm Detective Stephen Roberts, I'm here to see if Sophia is here? She's not aware I'm here it's a personal matter I came for."

"I'm sorry young man but her and Mr David's had to go to the village to see his mother, they usually do a few days every month."

He swears silently under his breath, "Official police business is it?" He looks up and nods at her, she licks her lips, "Well if that's the case I wouldn't want to get in the way, I'll tell you what I'll write down the directions, it's only fifteen minutes away, you should be there in no time."

He smiles as she searches her flower apron and brings out a small pad and pencil, "Here it is she's very popular this week I must say. She rarely gets any visitors, not even family, it's always Mr David's who does, that's why I was so surprised."

He nods, folding up the note wanting nothing more than to get to his destination, get what he came for and go home. "Handsome young man he was shame about the scars, but people these days, all kinds of accidents happen, still he was polite enough."

"Scars, he had scars?" She nods, glad to share the gossip, "Yes on the sides of his mouth, two I think, very awful looking but he didn't seem to mind them."

"Ma'am can I ask you what he looked like, anything particular you can remember about him?"

She thinks, scratching at her grey hair, "Now come to think of it, he did have strange hair, green I think it was, I wasn't shocked though, I've seen a young girl round here with bright pink hair, it's what young people do these days..."

"Was he wearing a suit, a purple suit? Did he have makeup on?"

"No, no suit or makeup, he had normal clothes on, slightly white around his hair line though to think of it... why what's the matter with him?"

She twists at her apron, her lined face worried, "I told him where she was, he said he was a cop too, showed me the badge and said he needed questions answering on an old case...I thought nothing of it...Is Sophia ok?"

"No it's fine, I remember now I did send another guy down, but that was for a different case, nothing to worry about ma'am. I should go, thanks for the help, really it's been a pleasure."

She looks hesitant, glancing back at his car, "If you're sure...I could get you some iced tea to take on the way?"

He swallows his throat dry, "That would be great thank you."

She smiles and hurries as fast as she can back into the house, "I'm Mrs Gant by the way, Trudy Gant, I'm their next door neighbour," she points to a white washed house, complete with blue window shutters.

"Well thank you Mrs Gant, it's been a pleasure," he gives a final wave and sets off, only stopping when he disappears from her view. Scars, green hair, remains of white paint...the Joker was here as always one step ahead of them in his game, another piece of the puzzle he has set before them. If Sophia were dead it would have been in the news, an ex cop she may be but she's still a cop all the same. She's in the garden when he gets there; she's dressed for the heat in a blue sun dress, talking under her breath as she pulls another weed from the garden.

"Now there's a sight I never thought I'd see, you gardening."

She straightens up, turning around slowly at the familiar voice, she smiles and walks over, he gets out the car and they stand in front of each other, neither quite ready to embrace. He refrains from staring at her bruised cheek and cut lip.

"You're looking good Stephen, how are you?"

"I'm fine, you're not looking so bad yourself, this pace is great, you've moved up from Gotham that's sure."

"I guess i have," a beat passes between them, "Not to sound rude but what are you doing out here? Pretty far from Gotham I guaranteed that."

He looks around, noting the swing chair in the yard, "Can we sit down? I really need to ask you some questions that only you could help me with."

She gestures for him to go first and picks up her sun hat, sitting down next to him and placing it in between them, widening the space.

"What's up then Stephen?"

"I found these pictures attached to my chair at work, they're the scan pictures of your injury when you cut your side... the Joker let them for me."

She flinches at his name and self consciously rubs at the bruise on her face, "Why would he do a thing like that?"

"I visited your house and Mrs Gant said you had a visitor a few days back, he matched the description of the Joke. His been leaving clues around about James and Maddie, so far it's not looking good for James."

She laughs, an empty hallow laugh, "Why would you care his dead isn't he?"

"Yeah his dead, doesn't make much difference to the Joker. You're original report of your accident was some drunk cut you in the street and you managed to stagger home to call an ambulance. Is that correct?"

"Stephen it's me you don't need to talk to me like some victim or whatever, but yes that was what happened."

He opens the folder he brought with him, looking at the correct highlighted part, "So I looked back at the case file the Joker left me, I didn't work your case so I didn't know what happened, made for very interesting reading actually, but we both know it would have been impossible for that to have happened. There would have been a blood trail leading to your apartment and there was none, just traces in your apartment."

She's agitated now, her face frowns in displeasure, "Maybe someone cleaned up after me, I mean Jesus I don't know Stephen! The other cop believed me."

"Harrison was two weeks away from retirement; I don't blame him for being eager to finish his last case. So you're telling me someone cleaned up a trail of blood where it would have ended at your front door and no one came to see if you were ok? Sophia people are dying because of this, Maddie almost died and so did you, if you'd been any longer calling the ambulance, if you'd waited then you'd be dead. Something's happening and the Joker won't give it up, he directed me here and if I go back empty handed he'll do more, it'll get worse, he'll have the whole city on its knees for this."

She breathes deeply, looking into the distance, "He came here, forced his way into the house, slammed the door into my face actually, made me tell him about James, told me to tell you what I told him. Said if I didn't he'd come back for me, told me he knew where I lived now, where his mom lives, said I couldn't get away from him. .."

"We had an affair me and James, that much you know, but I got pregnant, one stupid mistake, his fault but he made it mine, I wanted to keep it he said no, left me alone to get the abortion, surprised he actually paid for it. I wanted to tell people, Maddie deserved to know what she was dealing with by marrying him, that's when he cut me, smashed his beer bottle against the table and cut me. Pretty impressing stitching, he certainly thought so when he came to visit me."

He can't help it, his eyebrow raises and his mouth drops slightly, "Oh yeah he visited, to tell me to keep my mouth shut and if I thought that was bad he could show me worse. Told me to leave the force and Gotham and not come back, that if I told Maddie anything at all, then he'd give me another cut to match this one. He actually gave me a little taster, pretty good don't you think?"

She raises her palm to his face, a slanted 'J' for James is carved into the tender skin, his head swims with the information, "I saw you, at the funeral, I saw you at the back, why did you come if you hate him that much?"

"Why anyone else would go, to find closure. Didn't make me feel any better actually, but he had a way of making everything your fault, so charming one second then the devil himself the next. I'm glad the Joker is doing this, it makes people know."

"What..." he clears his throat, swigging more iced tea, "What if it makes it worse? What if people turn against us?"

She shrugs, "Not really my problem Stephen, but if you're worried I don't think it will, sure people will be pissed but their expectations of the force in Gotham are hardly high."

"Sophia, where are you?"

Her head shoots towards the house at the sound of the man's voice, "If that's it I should go, I've not much else to say, but I'm here if you need me and I'm guessing Charlotte gave you my number."

He gapes at her, "How did you know?"

"That woman cannot keep her mouth shut, still it's done now."

She leaves without saying anything else, as she steps on the porch she turns to him, "Oh he said something else, he told me it's not the end, he won't stop until you tell everyone what James was like...he knows he hurt Maddie doesn't he?"

He nods not wanting to reveal anything about Maddie to her, he knows what he has to do, he slides open the other envelope when he is satisfied Sophia is no longer looking, he didn't just find one envelope in his office, another, propped by his computer had been left there. The writing was different, looped and quite formal; if he could hazard a guess he'd say a woman wrote it. It was another set of pictures, this time of James' crime scene, a copy of Maddie's testimonial attached to it alongside a picture of James. He knew he had to go back to the crime scene, the pictures where telling him to go back, go over what happened, a new set of eyes, he didn't know who sent this, who went into his office and found the files on the bottom pile on his desk, but he knew he had to look closer at the night that James died. With a tugging feeling at his gut he knows all is not how it seems.

A/N Note: This is quite possibly the longest chapter I've done, but after all the great reviews I receive I think you all deserve it. Thanks for reading and those who have added me to their favourites, everything is appreciated! I hope you all like this chapter and fingers crossed the enxt one will be out soon!

Take care guys!

Feels-Like-Paradise