Author's Notes: Just a few more chapters until the end of When it Rains, I really hope you guys are enjoying the story. I really didn't know what to expect doing my first BatmanxJoker story. I got some new readers, some who review and comment on this site and on deviantART that are really nice and encourage me and this ship. I'm really happy on how far it has gotten. I think I am planning another fanfic after this one is done, maybe. Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter.

No, Bruce hasn't forgotten the horrors and the misery the Joker rained down on the streets of Gotham. He's witnessed firsthand as Batman these atrocities the infamous Clown Prince of Crime has committed. From the many faceless strangers of the city of Gotham, to the more familiar faces of his friends, his young wards, his friends and his family. There was no forgetting any of that. But, through it all he was still going to hold onto the silver lining of hope that the Joker could be able to redeem himself as Jack. "Alfred, please understand. I can never forget any of that. But I just don't want to be driven by my hate for this man."

"Master Bruce…"

"Please let me finish. I haven't forgotten I'm sure I never will be able to. But that doesn't mean I can never forgive him. I want to believe he can change; I want to help him heal. Something happened to him Alfred; he's been hurting long since he fell into the chemical bath that created the Joker. I know he's sick, but I don't want to give up on Jack, not like everyone else."

"Do you truly believe that, Master Bruce?" asked Alfred, still taken aback by his master's confession.

"Yeah, I do."

"And do you believe you are capable to help him while so many others before you who are more qualified in psychiatry than you have failed."

"Yes, I know it sounds impossible. But isn't that what I'm known for? Doesn't Batman do the impossible every night? Doesn't Batman help anyone who is in need of it?"

Alfred let out a huge sigh. He really didn't like how all this sounded, but the confidence in his master's eyes showed the old butler that Bruce was adamant and earnest in his conviction to help the Joker rehabilitate. No matter how unlikely and impossible it all seemed. "I only have one question; do you love this man Master Bruce?"

It felt really awkward talking about this with Alfred, yes he was like a father to him for so many years, but it didn't make it easier to explain. He wanted to tell him everything Jack made him feel. Things he had only felt with a few others like Selina and Talia. But Jack was different, in more ways than just the obvious fact that he was a man. Where they failed and left him because he couldn't leave behind the mask, Jack was someone who truly understood what he stood for, someone who made him feel not so alone in his convictions. But Bruce didn't feel all that comfortable talking about every aspect of his feelings for Jack to the butler. "I do care for him Alfred."

The butler felt a bit dissatisfied with that answer, it got the point across but in an indirect way. Alfred felt a bit hurt that his master did not wish to confide in him wholeheartedly, but in a way he was used to it. "All right sir, I think I understand what you mean now."

"I know by your tone you don't entirely approve."

"In all honesty I don't. But I can tell you are very determined and serious about this. It's a very idealistic hope to want to help the Jok- I mean Jack, after all he's done. To me it seems that man does not want to change, he's very ill. But if it is your wish to do your best to help him, then I shall support you in your endeavor the best of my ability sir."

"Thank you Alfred, for everything," smiled slightly Bruce. The gesture was in truth a huge relief of stress. He felt like he didn't have to hide his feelings for the clown so much anymore. Throughout their entire conversation, the harsh pitter patter of rain droplets hitting the window and ground outside could be heard. Cold gale winds could now be heard howling in the background.

"My word, the weather outside has turned rather nasty," commented the butler as he straightened himself from the seriousness of their conversation.

"Heh, I'm really glad I came home before it started raining," smirked the billionaire.

"Would you like for me to prepare some hot chocolate for you and your guest then, since he's so fond of sweets sir?"

"That sounds great Alfred; I'll be in the library then. Jack must be bored out of his mind in there," noted Bruce lightheartedly as he returned to the library.

Bruce began heading back to where he had left Jack, he was really in better spirits after getting Alfred to better understand his views. As he stepped inside the library he had a genuine smile across his face. "Did you manage to find anything interesting Jack?" he asked as he came in. He was met with silence and an empty room. "Jack?" Bruce began to walk around the room finding absolutely no sign of him. Maybe he stepped in the bathroom or he wanted to sleep and went back to the cave? He started checking the manor's bathrooms all while calling his name. No answer. He then descended to the cave, again calling out Jack's name, still no answer. A deep and sinking feeling began to resonate inside Bruce as the seconds turned to minutes. There was no sign of Jack anywhere. He immediately returned to the kitchen, his face full of evident worry.

"Sir is something the matter?" questioned Alfred as soon as he saw his master's expression of worry.

"I can't find Jack; he's not in the manor or in the cave!"

"Would it be wrong of me if I said I told you so?" said the butler sardonically.

"Please Alfred I don't want to hear it!" screamed Bruce as he stormed out the kitchen back door.

"Master Bruce where are you going!?"

"I'm going to find him, he couldn't have gone far!"

"But sir it's raining out you'll catch cold!" called out Alfred. But it was too late, Bruce was already out.

He didn't care that he was getting wet, he didn't care that it was freezing outside and that he was ruining one of his best suits. He just had to find Jack; he wasn't going to let him revert back to the Joker not after making progress with him. Bruce didn't know how long ago or why Jack had left the manor. All he knew was if he wanted to salvage the person that could be Jack from the depths of his madness, he had to find him. "Jack!" the thunder in the background made it difficult to hear even his own voice. "JACK!" The harsh wind whipping his face made it hard to see, the rain obscured his vision. He hurried and searched the tremendous property. There was no way he could get far, not in this weather at least. He probably hid somewhere for shelter. Bruce knew exactly where to go, sure enough as he made his way to the garden area he saw the pale clown sitting underneath a small gazebo among the roses.

Bruce came up to him, he was soaking wet and violently shivering. "Jack, why did you run away?" He felt hurt was this really Jack's attempt to escape him and go back to a life of crime and death as the Joker?

"I-it's c-co-cold."

Bruce instinctively knelt down and wrapped his arms around the shaking man. His skin was like ice, even more so than before. This was bad, in such extreme conditions and he being in thin clothing that provided little to none protection against the cold, hypothermia could easily set in, especially in his weakened state. He quickly picked him up and carried Jack in his arms. He hurried back to the manor, the wet grass sloshed as he ran as fast as he could without slipping.

As soon as he returned through the back entrance Alfred was surprised of what he saw. "Alfred go get some towels and blankets, hurry!" Without hesitation or delay Alfred swiftly did as he was told while Bruce carried the disoriented clown to the den near the roaring fireplace. "Jack can you hear me?"

"I-it's c-co-cold," he repeated in a slurred shiver, his eyes were confused it didn't seem he was looking back at him. Bruce reasoned that he must've been outside longer than he had thought.

"You're going to be fine in a moment," assured Bruce as he held him tighter in his arms. Alfred soon came in with a stack of towels and some blankets. He helped Bruce dry off the wet and pale man in his arms. "I got it from here Alfred."

"Very well sir, there is a change a clothes in your bedroom." The butler was about to make his leave to prepare something hot for his master until he took in the image before him for a moment. He saw how Bruce was holding Jack, the look of worry he held for the man in his arms was all the proof the servant needed to know his master was serious. "Master Bruce, forgive my little comment from before."

"It's all right Alfred." Once he was gone his blue eyes gazed at the quiet clown. He continued running the towel over his disheveled wet green hair and began stripping the soaked clothes off his trembling pale form. As soon as he was dry he wrapped him in the thick blankets. Jack was staring away from Bruce; he still seemed so disoriented and unfocused. His lost fluorescent green eyes gazed outside through the den's enormous windowpanes.

"It's raining," he whispered as his violent shivers were reduced to a small tremor.

"Yeah, it is," agreed Bruce. He really wanted to ask why Jack had fled but he rationalized that now might not be the best time. But that didn't stop the chaos of his thoughts from flood his mind. Everything around him just seemed so chaotic. The harsh rain outside, the doubt of this relationship, down to the man he was holding onto. The man reveled and embodied the word.

"It's raining," he repeated, his voice broke through the rain, the distant thunder and the doubt in Bruce's mind. "Just like – our first dance…" Bruce knew exactly the memory the clown was remembering, 'their first dance' as he put it was that fateful night Batman let the Red Hood fall off the catwalk and into the chemicals that created the Joker. It had been raining that night so long ago. "It was raining… it hurts – when it rains."

"Jack what are you saying?" He wasn't making any sense, what was the meaning to those words. The jester was already fast asleep in his arms; he must've been so exhausted. He gathered up the pale and sleeping clown and began to ascend the steps to his bedroom.