Chapter 3: First Encounter

Lots of action in this chapter. I hope you like it :)

Days had passed in silence for residents of Gotham City. The Joker had not made a single move. People were getting anxious. Rumors spread like wildfire that the Joker had been finally taken out by a mobster looking to gain some extra cash in their bank account. Jim Gordon and his detectives remained on edge as they waited for the next move in the clown's strange, little game. Autumn leaves fluttered to the ground from the trees, a harsh reminder to the restless law enforcement of Gotham that life was still moving forward even if a criminal had taken a few days off. The newspapers had decided to not focus on Harvey Dent's ability to lock up half of the mob, but instead they chose to focus on Bagheera Lewis. Falsified stories about her past made the bottom half of the top page under the headlines about the Joker's time off. The stories stated that she had slept with her professors to graduate, she had been the offspring of poor white trash parents that was on the fast track to become a new, real life Clarice Starling, and that she was the one detective that did not have the skills to catch the lowest of scum that resided in the Narrows. Pictures of her apartment had been leaked to the press. Questions rose within the public about her ability to protect the city when the Joker had entered her home and murdered his own men inside her home. If she couldn't protect herself and her home how was she protect the citizens of Gotham?

Bagheera Lewis found herself moving on the outskirts of Bruce Wayne's large party. She did not wear a formal gown to the gala as Bruce Wayne's invitation had asked of her only days before. The invitation had arrived at her desk, seemingly out of the blue. It stated that, at the request of Bruce Wayne, he would like her to join the party to welcome her to the city of Gotham and congratulate her on the opportunity to take down one of the biggest threats that had hit Gotham City recently. She wore no fancy jewelry and her hair was clipped up against the base of her head, her composure was professional. She wore plain black shoes that were comfortable enough to run in in case she needed to pursue a criminal running on foot.

The Gotham elite looked her over as she walked passed them in her simple attire. Their eyes moved from her ironed black pants and starched white button up shirt and then stopped at her weapon that rested like the baby that she had decided that she would never have on her hip. She kept a watchful eye out for men that seemed out of place at the party. Her bright blue eyes kept close watch on the waiters and waitresses that scurried from the large ball room and back into the kitchen. The Joker had told her to join the party, and here she was at the party.

"Where are you," she whispered under her breath. She looked around to make sure that no one had overheard her talk to herself.

"And how are you enjoying yourself Detective Lewis," an almost fatherly voice asked of her.

Bagheera turned slightly and smiled as the butler handed her a glass of white wine. Her smile was genuine as the butler gave her a warm smile that reminded her of her own grandfather before he had passed away into the afterlife.

She took the glass and said, "I shouldn't have this," she motioned at the wine, "being technically on duty," she gave him a larger smile and asked, "You're Mr. Wayne's butler? I'm sorry I never caught your name."

"Alfred," he answered with a curt nod of his head. He started to walk away as someone waved for him to bring a glass, but Bagheera quickly stopped him by placing her hand upon his elbow.

"They are looking at me like I have two heads," she confided as she took a small sip of the drink that he had handed her, "I feel so out of place."

"It may," Alfred said with a knowing grin, "if I may, have to do with what you are wearing around that hip of yours."

She eyed him with a sparkle in her eyes as she added, "So, is there any one at this party that could be hiding secrets that I should know about?"

Alfred chuckled and began to walk away as he said, "Oh, you have no idea."

The young detective downed her drink for courage just as a loud beating sound entered the grand hall. She looked up over the crowd to see a helicopter beginning its descent onto the landing paddock. She began circling the crowd once again, as if she were a lioness on the prowl looking for the lame wildebeest. The staff met her suspicious glances with go to hell looks as she moved through the crowd as the handsome billionaire playboy entered the building through the large glass doors with three beautiful women by his side.

"I'm sorry that I'm late," Bruce announced to his guests, "I'm glad to see that you all got started without me," he walked to the middle of the large room and glanced through his guests, "Now, where is Harvey? Where," he smiled and clapped his hands together as a smile grew across his face as Harvey moved forward, "Harvey Dent, the man of the hour. And where is Rachel Dawes?"

Bagheera's eyes moved across the inner circle of the crowd as a handsome woman moved regally towards Harvey Dent.

"She is my oldest friend," Bruce Wayne explained, "Come here. You know when Rachel told me she was dating Harvey Dent, I said 'that guy from those god awful campaign commercials'? I believe in Harvey Dent."

The crowd laughed at the playboy's joke. Bagheera kept her eyes on guard for suspicious behavior as Bruce continued on about the district attorney that had been rather blunt with her on their first meeting. She continued making her round about the group of elites as he continued on with his praises of the district attorney. She couldn't help but roll her eyes when he did not mention her or the work that the Gotham Police Department had put in in hopes of catching the Joker soon.

"I believe in Harvey Dent," Bruce announced as he caught sight of Bagheera in the background in her plain clothes, "I believe in Gotham PD and I believe in this new detective that has been brought into our city. I believe that Detective Bagheera Lewis," Bruce stopped with a chuckle as he held his hand out to her, "which why haven't you changed your name yet?"

The crowd laughed at his joke at her expense. She couldn't help but smile and roll her eyes as the crowd suddenly turned towards her.

"I believe that she will be the one to bring in the Joker," Bruce informed the group.

"Yeah," a man billowed enthusiastically from the large crowd.

"I believe that under these two that Gotham can feel a little safer," Bruce said, "a little more optimistic. Look at these faces."

Bagheera felt the eyes move from her to Dent and she felt a relief move from her as the attention moved away from her. She had had enough of her fame in Gotham via the tabloids and the newspaper to last a lifetime; she didn't need the elites looking down on her at the request of Gotham's richest elite.

"These two faces are Gotham's bright future," Bruce announced and the partygoers clapped at his speech and sipped at their wine.

...

"Lieutenant," Ramirez said as she hurried after Gordon, "That Joker card pinned to the body? Forensics found three sets of DNA."

"Any matches," Jim Gordon asked as he continued to walk through the corridor.

"All three," she answered, "The DNA belongs to Judge Cerillo, Harvey Dent, and the Commissioner."

"Bagheera was right," Gordon informed her as he recalled his new detectives warning, "The Joker is telling us who he is targeting. Get a unit over to Cerillo's house; tell her to get Dent and Bagheera from that party. Have her get them both to safety. Where is the Commissioner?"

"City Hall."

"Seal the building," he demanded, "Let no one in or out 'til I get there."

"Got it," she answered as she hurried away from him to do as he ordered.

...

Bagheera's phone rang. Her partner's name looked back at her as she looked at the caller ID on the front. She quickly answered her phone and looked around her quickly.

"Lewis," she answered quickly.

"Where are you," Ramirez's voice asked with a hint of panic laced within it.

"At Bruce Wayne's party," she answered as she moved away from the guests and into a darkened hallway for privacy.

"Do you see Dent," Ramirez asked harshly.

"He's here," she answered, her voice hastened, "What happened?"

Fingers grabbed her shoulder and pulled her backwards. She reached for her pistol, but her eyes met with the dark eyes of the mysterious vigilante of Gotham. Her heart raced as she looked into his eyes with her bright blue eyes.

"Harvey is a target," Batman said in a deep, hoarse voice.

"The Joker," she began, but the masked vigilante pulled her deeper into the hallway. She watched with wide eyes as he pressed a button and a hidden hatch opened.

"This will take you downstairs," he informed her, "Take care of any of the ones that escape."

"But what about the Jo-"

The secret door closed on her and hidden lights appeared to show her the way down the hidden staircase just as a shot from a shot gun rang through the room filled with guests. Bagheera stood behind the doors listening closely to what was to unfurl.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," she heard the Joker announce to the room full of rich Gothamites.

She closed her eyes, wishing that she could figure out how to get the secret door back open so she could capture the Joker like she had been assigned to do. She moved slowly back from the door and forced herself forward, but there was no movement from the door.

"Shit," she whispered under her breath just as the sound of something metal hitting the ground rang out.

"We are tonight's entertainment," she heard the clown announce. She closed her eyes and groaned. She wanted to see this. She wanted to see him. She had to actually see the clown in action. He had surprised her by being so bold. He had been different from the other criminals and she wanted, she needed to see him in the flesh.

"I only have one question," the Joker announced to the crowd as he scanned the many faces for the face that he wanted at the moment, "Where is Harvey Dent?"

"You know where Harvey is," he asked as he went from person to person, "Do you know who he is? Do you know where I can find Harvey? I need to talk to him about something, just something little, hmm?"

"No," he asked in annoyance as he looked around the crowd, "You know I'll settle for his loved ones? Even that little detective that's after me? Rumor is none of you like her anyways? Why not just hand her over to me?"

Bagheera closed her eyes at the mention of herself by the mass murderer on the other side of the wall. She wondered how easily this town would hand her over to the mad man on a silver platter if they thought it would save them.

"We're not intimidated by thugs," she heard a new voice speak out in defiance.

"Stupid," she whispered to herself as she listened closely.

"You know," the Joker announced, "You remind me of my father," he grabbed the man violently by his head, his knife was instantly at the man's mouth as if it appeared like magic, "I HATED my father," his words were harsh and dangerous.

"Okay, stop," Rachel Dawes demanded from somewhere in the crowd.

Bagheera felt a strange tug inside of her that told her to make her move, to hurry to the main floor to stop the Joker during his escape if the Batman failed to bring him in. She took a deep breath. She didn't want the Batman to bring him in; she wanted to be the hero. Her vanity and pride were eating her up inside as she thought about the Batman ordering her to do something.

"Well helllooo beautiful," she heard the Joker announce. He had used the same childish voice that he had used when he had talked to her on the telephone days ago.

"You must be Harvey's squeeze," the Joker said as he sashayed towards her, "and you are beautiful."

Bagheera leaned closer to the door as silence invaded the party. Curiosity had gotten the better of her as she leaned her body against the barrier that kept her from placing her gun against the clown's head and arresting him. She needed to hear him speak. She needed to know just who this criminal mastermind was and how he thought to help herself put him away.

"You look nervous," she heard the Joker say to Rachel Dawes, "Is it the scars? You want to know how I got them?"

Bagheera allowed her brows to lift ever so slightly as she awaited his story, which she knew would be complete bullshit.

"So I had a wife," he said with a false lilt of sadness, "beautiful, like you. Who tells me you worry too much. Who tells me I oughtta smile more. Who gambles and gets in deep with the sharks. One day they carve her face like this."

She knew that the Joker was referencing his own scars and she looked to the floor. She had wondered, late at night while she lay in a half sleeping state on her couch, how he had gotten his scars. She had asked Gordon and he had told her that there had been several different stories floating in the rumor mill about them. There simply wasn't an answer to explain the strange stranger.

"We have no money for surgeries," the Joker continued, "She can't take it. I just want to see her smile again. I just want her to know that I don't care about the scars. Sooo, I stick a razor in my mouth and do this to myself. And you know what," his voice took a dangerous, bitter tone, "she can't stand the sight of me! She leaves. Now I see the funny side. Now I'm always smiling."

Bagheera heard the sounds of fighting and she pushed herself away from the door. She could hear the Joker talking to the Batman, but she ignored it as she forced herself to run down the long, dark corridor of stairs.

As she hurried down the stairs, the absence of sound pushed her legs to move faster. Her heart pounded like tom toms inside of her chest as she picked up her pace down the stairs. Her hand quickly moved to her holster as she came upon a door. Two small black buttons were placed beside the lining of the hidden doors. She quickly pressed both buttons with her shaking fingers. Her other hand quickly pulled her pistol from its holster on her hips as the door quickly opened to reveal henchmen disguised in clown masks running with the Joker in front of them.

"Freeze," she screamed as she hurried into the lobby. The floor was polished shiny and a large chandelier hung from the high ceiling. She stopped the shaking from her hand as the adrenaline rushed through her. Sweat beaded above her brows as she aimed the gun at a group of armed men that outnumbered her. Her bright eyes moved away from the man in the purple jacket to a man that held a scared teenage girl against her will.

"Don't move," she demanded once again as she watched the Joker turn towards her and smile.

"Well hellooo beautiful," the Joker said with a little skip in his step as he waved his gun about, "What is a gal like you doing in hole like this? This just is not your," he purred as he pointed to her with a sly smile, "scene Detective."

"I said don't move," she demanded, her bright eyes never left his as she ignored his words, "I don't want to shoot any of you. I'm not a very good shot."

The Joker giggled at her own little joke and watched as her hand remained steady with her aim towards him and his henchmen.

"Baggy," the Joker said with a hint of dejection in his voice as he looked towards his henchmen, "I really would like to chat, buuut," he turned with a flourish that allowed his purple coat tails to dance in the air, "I really need to get going," he pointed to the girl and added, "I really have younger berries to pluck."

Bagheera moved closer to the Joker, closing the small distance that he had created for them. The Joker backed away from her, ignoring the gun. He smiled at her as he watched her holster on her hips move with each step she took towards him. His henchmen stood behind him, anxious to get out of the crime scene.

"Don't take the girl," she demanded as she shook her head.

"Ohhh don't you seeeee," he asked with a chuckle, "she's just an experiment," he popped the t, "I want to see how long it takes for Stockholm Syndrome to kick in."

Shots rang out around Bagheera and she quickly pointed her gun away from the Joker and towards the henchman that was firing at her. She shot twice and watched as one man fell to the ground and the others hurried towards the exit. The detective could hear the man moan from the marbled ground.

"You fucking shot me you stupid bitch," she heard him moan over the blasting bullets that had never been intended for her.

Bagheera heard a large thud from above her and watched as shards of glass from the chandelier from the high ceiling disconnected from its base and fell to the floor causing smaller chards of glass to fly into the air from impact on the hard ground. Bagheera backed up quickly as small shards flew at her. Her hands moved in front of her eyes for protection just as the shots ceased. The kidnapped girl screamed and the Joker laughed uncontrollably as he watched the detective move away from the falling chandelier pieces.

She looked up with small cuts on her chin and right cheek with a deeper cut above her right brow. Blood drizzled slowly down the arch of her brow as she stumbled forward.

"Catch ya later Baggyyy," she heard the Joker sing out to her as he left the building with the young girl in tow. She took a deep breath and pushed herself forward, her gun tight in her grip as she moved after the clown and his goons.

Her eyes were wide as she came to the busy night street just as the Joker hopped into an old black van. He smiled at her and as he watched her lift the gun.

"You just don't know when to give up, do you," he asked as he raised his own gun and shot.

Bagheera reacted quickly and shot just as a soaring pain entered her right shoulder blade. The impact took her breath away and pulled her off of her balance. Dizziness fell over her mind as she looked up to the dark Gotham sky from the dirty, concrete sidewalk; not a star blinked back at her in reassurance that life was better somewhere else as she looked heavenward. She could hear the van's engine jumping forward in haste, the wheels screeched as the clown and his goons made their escape. Bagheera took a deep breath as a couple came to rescue. She couldn't hear what they had said, but she allowed her free arm to move toward the area where she had been shot. A cold anger passed over her as she felt underneath her shirt. A tender whelp touched her fingers and she tried to stifle a soft chuckle.

The Joker had shot her with a bingbag like bullet. He hadn't tried to kill her. In the back of her mind his sing song voice reminded her that he would catch her later.

And so we have the first actual encounter with Bagheera and Joker. What do you think?

What about the young girl that the Joker kidnapped?

Reviews are always great!

(I'm thinking Dr. Crane may make an appearance in the next chapter if I can fit him in)