Hey guys sorry it took me actually forever to post this chapter and that it's awful. I've had a lot going on in the interim of me starting and finally finishing this chapter however I am back and updates should be more than once every million years :P

A Killing Joke

Chapter Six

Two days, it had been two days since I had my encounter with the Joker and it had left me physically shaken. It wasn't like he wasn't what I was expecting; in fact he had exceeded my expectations. I had tried getting a hold of Edward the entire day after I met with him but he wasn't answering any of my messages. I even resorted to going to see Edward's friend Oswald but he claims he hadn't seen him either which was a blatant lie. I'd been lied to enough in my profession to know when someone is being dishonest with me, well I hoped I was able to notice it.

I had even spent most of the day talking to Barry and Cisco about the whole Joker thing and asked for their input. Of course Cisco was there to ask me at least a million questions about his tattoos and his overall behaviour, being a fanboy over some nut job in clown paint. Barry, well his take was that I should move back to Central City and let Gotham tear itself apart. Which I guess was Barry Allen speak for let him do his superhero duties with his new Bat friend and come back to where I was actually safe.

I knew Gotham wasn't safe but it was where my family was; I couldn't just leave Edward alone here without anyone beyond Oswald. He wasn't a bad man but he wasn't particularly good either, I had no idea what he was saying to Eddy to make him act the way he had been acting. If Oswald was doing anything at all, I mean my professional self was telling me that Edward could be having a psychotic break and this could all really just be him. Something that had been there our whole lives and just now finally reaching the surface.

I looked over at my phone as it sat next to my on the table, I had messaged Bruce the other day regarding getting dinner with him. To be honest I was more than nervous about that, well I was more concerned about what the Joker had said to me in our meeting. Why me? Was I just another Harley cop out to him? My screen began to glow showing my brothers name lighting up the screen causing my heart to skip a few beats. I fumbled the phone in my hands before swiping across the screen pressing the phone to my ear.

"Eddy!" I practically shouted in the phone , "I was hoping to hear from you, something happened at work… I… well… where have you been? I went to the precinct they said you hadn't been to work." I paused hearing my brother soft cuckle.

"Amelia, Edward is fine." The now dark voice of my brother filled my ear.

"I don't...I-" I had started to say before he cut me off.

"The Joker is in Arkham I hear, you should be careful. I promised Edward I would take care of you. Was the one request he had. I have somethings for you…" He said causing my brows to furrow in frustration.

"What things?"

"If you can get the answers I'm sure you'll decode the message, you're a smart girl."

Riddles.

"It's how you'll find out who I've become… "When you do not know what I am, then I am something. But when you know what I am, then I am nothing. What am I?"

I had to admit this stumped me; not the answer but how it could possibly be whom Edward had 'become'. "A Riddle? You've become a Riddle?"

"You'll see Amelia this is the only way I can be who I am meant to be-" I cut him off with one of my own. "Until I am measured, I am not known. Yet how you miss me, When I have flown. What am I?"

"Time?" He questioned me.

"You're wasting all of ours divulging in this darkness Edward… stay safe." I told him hang up on our call.

I knew I shouldn't have hung up on him, hell I probably should have tried to get him to come home or come in. I knew he wouldn't have thought, something was going on with Edward and as much as I wanted to be there or him and help him. I couldn't it was as simple as that. Sitting there at my table I knew I should have started getting ready to go to work, however I was supposed to talk to Floyd and Digger today about their latest "Suicide Squad" mission.

Once I got to work I sat there at my desk hoping the day would just speed by so I could get on with my life. I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to talk to anyone that I had to speak too. I honestly wanted to crawl into a shower and sit there with the scalding water until my skin peeled off. Just thinking about the Joker made my skin crawl.

"Miss Nygma, Floyd is in the infirmary would you like us to send up Captain Boomerang?"

"George. Yes send George in please." I sighed, with Floyd in the hospital that would mean I would have to accept anyone who wanted to talk to me and that would more than likely be the king of laughs. I stood up gathering my file before making my way over to the couches as usual waiting for Digger to enter the room.

"Aye lass, always good to see a pretty face that doesn't come with an attitude problem yea?" Which I wasn't sure if he was asking me or telling me to be honest, most of what he said seemed rather nonsensical.

"We're here to talk about the mission you came back from, I understand Deadshot was injured." I asked him.

"Yea, shot in the shoulder. Nothing too serious, I was shot too, want to kiss it better?" He winked.

"I would rather throw up. You promised me you would be serious in these sessions Digger."

He rolled his eyes, "I know I promised ye', but the time I get to sit here and talk to you is the only time I get to talk to someone who isn't either trying to kill me or yelling at me. You actually want to save me, erry'body else wants me to fail and die." That was probably the most sincere thing he'd ever said, possibly in his entire life.

"Fine, what do you want to talk about?" I asked him.

"I want to ask a question, yea… one of those if we was in a different life ones." He started.

"A hypothetical question? Go on."

"Do you think, I would have been a better guy had I grown up under different you know...uh-" He muttered off.

"If you didn't grow up into a life of crime? Maybe it's possible."

"So you think I may have had a chance with someone like you." We had had this conversation before, this was either deja vu or his way of wanting to talk about something seriously personal while being very impersonal.

"Digger is there something you want to actually talk about besides the off chance you weren't into theft and heavy crime and the possibility of being with me? What is it, talk to me it's why I'm here."

"I thought about running off today, love. Running off and letting them blow off my head. I hate this, these missions to save the lives of people who even after I rescue them or stop an attack still look down at me like I'm worthless… I will never be a good guy but knowing I'm doing something good and still being mired in -" I stopped him and placed my hand on his knee.

"You don't need their validation to know that what you are doing is the right thing. Once you're entire sentence is reduced you can change your life around, fix things. You don't have to return to crime, there's a better life out there." I told him as he placed his hand on mine chuckling.

"The world knows my face love, I can never have a normal life. Why do you have so much faith in us changing our lives around when you know we can't." He asked me.

"Because, people all over the world commit awful acts everyday. So the world knows your face, so what? Once you're out you don't have to prove to anyone - anything. You'll be a free man to make your own choices." I reminded him.

"I have three life sentences on my head. Waller only takes off five years every time we finish a mission, and that's only if it was a difficult mission, if it was easy… two years." Waller obviously wanted them to be on her leash for the rest of their lives which was a cruel punishment in and on it's own. I couldn't imagine what they were going through or feeling half the time.

"That is such shit." I muttered quickly realising it wasn't in my head but outloud. I saw the smile on his face, "You aren't the only one who thinks so love, we're all pretty pissed off about it. We all think she's taking a piss."

"There's nothing I go do sadly, I mean I can try to talk to Colonel Flag. Though the likelihood of anything I say mattering is really small. Waller never striked me as a woman with any ounce of a soul." I told him as He chuckled.

"You're alright Doc', you're alright."

"Pass that through the grapevine of my patients maybe then they will actually talk to me." I smiled.

"Well, with the Joka' around I don't think anyone is gonna be getting too personal with you."

"Which is ridiculous he doesn't own me, and he will not get under my skin like he did Harleen. I have respect for myself." I looked over at the clock, I had to send George back to his cell which from my understanding was much nicer than the hole they had him and the others in back at Belle Reve.

"Well, thanks for letting me talk to you as a friend and not a Doctor." I explained to him as he nodded. "Well love, with him here… you'll need all the friends you can get. He didn't just turn Harley when he was here… he got to guards too. Who do'ya think sprung him loose?"

I nodded, "Be careful love," He winked at me before the guards came in to take him back to his cell. Sadly he was right, and crazy enough if the Joker ever escaped… I would find a way to free George and Floyd. I knew they would keep me safe from him, however they were also criminals and you really can't trust criminals.

"Same time in a few days?" He teased as they dragged him out of the room leaving me sitting there to my thoughts. He couldn't escape there was no way he could, I mean they had updated the security tenfold since his last escape from Arkham.

"Sorry to bother you Mam' a patient requested to speak with you?" I heard a voice from the door, causing me to turn to face them slowly. "Which one would that be?" I asked dreading the next words that were about to fall from his mouth. I didn't need to hear that the Joker was still asking to speak to me. It was two days ago when he even got here and I was still shaken from the encounter not to mention I felt disgusting.

"Victor Zsasz, Can we bring him in or should we take him back down?" He asked me, my entire body just filled so quickly with relief and some small bits of joy. It wasn't that mad clown, that was all that really mattered is that it wasn't him.

"No, let him in. Please." I said as I made my way back towards my desk sorting through and grabbing the small notebook for my notes with Victor which had been a very few number of visits by far.

"You seem rather disheveled Miss Nygma. Shirt untucked, hair rather a mess, desk is quite out of sorts. The Joker's words got to you, that's all they are is words yet you should heed them as a warning. Your brother has completed his transformation too hasn't he? You're scared, worried, a little bit concerned for your safety. Safety is not a thing you will find in abundance here Miss Nygma… you're in Gotham now. Date with Bruce Wayne you have it put off why?" I turned around, I could swear this man was a mind reader with the information he always seemed to have on me.

I looked down and noticed he was right, my shirt was untucked. Which meant his other observations were probably spot on. I quickly tidy up my desk, tucked in my shirt and just let my hair down rather than in it's messy bun it was in. "His words hit me yes, but I'm not sure I am scared of him." I lied. "You wanted to speak that's why they brought you here?"

"You were away for nearly three days since you spoke with the clown. I wanted to be sure you were ok. You may have zero trust in us criminals however that does not mean we haven't grown the smallest bit of attachment to you. You seem to care for us 'villains' with no care or cause to how that will likely affect you in the future." He told me as I just sighed, "And don't tell me some lie about how we are just musing your mind to get freedom. We are most certainly not."

I just sat there trying to even form words in my own mind before he could continue. "You're right." I told him. "I'm completely at a loss here for what I'm supposed to do, how to react. I've completely lost my brother though I refuse to allow him to end up in this place. They would never let me treat him, so he wouldn't even be getting treatment."

"You still actually believe you can save us?"

"No one is beyond help Viktor. If you were beyond help you wouldn't be sitting across from me now talking to me as though we are friends, wouldn't be concerned for my well being."

"The last Doctor that actually cared for the patients of Arkham died over forty years ago. His name was Doctor Rikton Gerald. He came here from Germany when he was fresh out of University. He tried so hard to try and get the people here rehabilitated and put back into the general public. Like you Gerald also thought people were capable of change, of course the people he treated wanted nothing more then to show him that they could be. They weren't they just saw how good he was, how pure and honest his intentions were and even as horrible as they were they didn't want to disappoint him. That is you to us."

I let out a long sigh; "I'm not pure, and good. I just don't believe anyone deserves to spend their entire life locked in a cube with a giant glass wall having eyes on them the entire day. No glimpse of the outside ever again, locked away like rats in the dark. You may all think you're incapable of good but that's just not true."

"You really are the Ying to the mad King's Yang. My hope is that he doesn't see this. You will eventually have to face the Jokers music. Refrain from mentioning Harley Quinn, he wants nothing but to see her head on a pike."

"Which he never will, She will one day return to her proper self."

Viktor just sat there laughing; "That's a silly thing to assume, Miss Nygma." He said as the doors opened with the guards there ready to take him back to his cell. I didn't want to be the Jokers Ying or his Yang. Though to be fair he was right, the Joker was pure unrequited madness and I couldn't be more different from him.

"Miss, the um...Joker wishes to have a meeting with you. He's been asking every few hours since he left your office the first time he was here." One of the men had said from the doorway. He looked scared, almost like he was in a panic. Did the Joker really scare everyone here? Maybe Barry was right and I should just go back home… maybe Gotham was beyond saving. Sure they had the Batman but he was just as mental as the people in here. "Yes, of course. Send him up. In chains please and the jacket." I requested from him as he just nodded to me before shutting my door.

I quickly fixed my hair, and clothing. I did look a bit out of sorts. I heard the door open again, rather quickly too which worried me a bit. That means they had always intended to bring him up here regardless if I was prepared to take him or not. I turned slowly to see the Joker in a straight jacket being led to the table and being secured in place. His eyes never moving from mine which did leave me rather shaken.

I heard the door shut again telling me that the guards had left the room. Left me in this room alone with this mad man. "Please Miss Amelia. Please take a seat." His voice sounding eerily different than it had the last time we spoke. It was so stagnant, however I walked across the room with his file and sat across from him. He kept his eyes on me, they felt as if they were piercing into me. "I apologize for my over step." He said cooly.

This wasn't the Joker. He was playing a game, he had to be. Where were the laughs, the menacing comments, the remarks about what I wore, who I was seeing, this all seemed very off. I went to speak when he started up again; "From the chatter I've heard from guards and guests alike you are a very different Doctor. I like different." He remarked.

"I want to make a difference with the patients of this Asylum. I don't think they should have to be in here for the rest of their lives." I commented, which caused him to chuckle this dark almost scary chuckle.

"This is my fourth visit here, Miss Amelia. Do I scare you?"

I felt my skin crawl knowing it was apparently that easy for someone like this to just escape from this place. Said a lot about the Guards and Security of this place. Did he scare me? What kind of question was that? Obviously he terrified me, was that an amount of power he needed over me? Though maybe that would be how I could get through to him, maybe that was my in? Viktor did say they didn't want to disappoint me maybe the Joker could be the same way?

"The things I have read about you, have indeed scared me. They would scare anyone."

"I didn't ask about anyone. I asked about you, and I asked if I scare you not what you've read. Most of that isn't even stuff I did, most of that was Harley trying to impress me. That girl is truly sick."

I didn't even believe that was all Harley, there was no way she did all of those crimes without him or at least without him telling her too. Harley was a submissive personality she needed someone to control her, she thrived off being someone's puppet. She's textbook for that personality.

"Yes. You scare me." I finally let out since his gaze on me was starting to leave me uneasy. "I was so terrified by you I almost went back to Central City."

"That wouldn't have deterred me from wanting you Amelia." He said his voice turning almost cold.

I just stared at him blankly why did he have to say things like that? "Can we just use this time together for therapy not whatever it is you have in your own agenda? I will not be a pawn in your next escape attempt. I am your Doctor." I told him trying to keep my voice as calm and commanding as I could.

He just rolled his eyes at me before contorting his body and laughing. "If that's what you want." He snicked telling me he was back to his normal self unless, that serious him was the normal him. This must have been exactly how he tricked Harleen into his game, turning her into some murdering lunatic. Making her think there was more to him than just this psychopathic killer, he was just a deranged mental case.

"If you're not going to take this at all serious, what is the point? Why would we waste time I could be focusing on other patients? People who actually want to grow and change" I questioned him as I slowly shut the notebook that I had going for him.

"You actually think these people want your help? One thing you'll need to accept quickly Doctor is that this is just… who we are. There isn't anything wrong with us, but plenty wrong with everyone else."

"You speak for all of them? Somehow I don't think you speak for the entire population of Arkham. You're just one silly little man covered in childish tattoos who thinks blowing up buildings solves his mommy issues." I snapped, watching the glee grow in his eyes.

He started to laugh mechanically; "It must be really rough trying to contain all these, wild emotions you have going on in your head. With your brother becoming a maniac, I can't imagine the thoughts swelling that beautiful little head of yours."

"You know nothing about what is going on with Edward." I said, I was a Doctor why was I allowing him to get under my skin, act unprofessional, was it that maybe just maybe I thought that I would have a breakthrough with him? I must be crazy or he just really hit a trigger with me.

"No, you're not wrong. I don't know what's going on with dear sweet wittle Eddyward. However what's going on with Enigma… I know plenty about that… word travels baby." He smirked at me

I felt completely unnerved; shocked even. How could he even know about what was going on with Edward? How did anyone know? Was this weird alter ego Edward grow go and seek out people like the Joker? The criminally insane? I wanted to press the Joker on the subject, I needed to know how people knew, I needed to know who knew about this. There was no way I was going to allow anyone to get Eddy sent into this place. Knowing very few people in here actually cared about these people… I knew he would be in horrible hands would they not be my own.

"How?" I questioned him my voice growing quiet.

"What was that?" He asked me his lips curling up into a grin as he let his head fall backwards before he jolted upright causing me to jump slightly. "You need my help?" He questioned laughing mechanically.

"How do you know about what's happening to my brother? Who knows…"

He just sat there in his chair smiling at me with this dark growing look in his eyes, almost changing them from a bright blue to this almost black color. "What's in it for me?" He asked.

Of course there was a catch to this, of course I would have to do something for him to get the information needed about my brother. So clearly since he couldn't twist me using my heart like he did Harley, he was going to use my brothers mental health. "I think this is enough for today, I'll get one of the guards to bring you back to your cell." I had to talk to Edward.

"Sending me away right as things are starting to get good? Oh come on Doctor, we both know you want to know what I do. You want to know if the police know yet, you want to know what he's doing."

"I won't compromise myself anymore than I already have been since coming to this City."

"Too late for that now isn't it?" He commented just as the door opened revealing the two guards ready to take him from my office which left me with a small bit of relief. The moment he was taken away I practically ran to my desk in search for my phone to call Edward. I needed to know he was ok. I needed to know this extended personality wasn't going to get him caught or worse; killed.

I must have hit the wrong contact name about three times before actually hitting Eddy's name on my phone. It was like the phone wouldn't stop ringing, and each time it would just ring until it got to his voicemail. Finally after what felt like four or maybe even five times of trying to get ahold of him the phone finally picked up. "Amelia?" The sick sound of his new personality came through the other end.

He sounded so curious as to why I was calling him, as if me calling my brother was completely out of the blue. Here I was even acknowledging this insanity. "I need to know you're safe Edward. No one has found out… have you told anyone. I need to see you."

"Amelia; I can assure you Edward is fine, and no one you wouldn't want knowing knows about his and my switch-a-roo. Stop worrying so much, it ages you. Edward is safe." Was all he said before hanging up.

'No one you wouldn't want knowing knows.' The words began to fester in my mind growing my fear for whatever it was Edward had going on in his head. What was this clown trying to pull, why was he trying to make me sick with worry over my brother. What did he want with me? Obviously he had to know that I wasn't going to play his sick game like he had played on everyone else around him had been. This was going to be a nightmare if I stayed any longer in Gotham...