A/N: This is the last chapter of "A Series of Unfortunate Events"... until the Dark Knight Rises comes out that is. Until then, I'll be editing chapters of this story and writing chapters to "Nine Months of the Bat", my companion piece to "A Series of Unfortunate Events". If you like this story, please a take a look at the other one too. I'd also like to give thanks to jaguarspot for giving me ideas for this chapter and helping me edit (If anyone would like to send me reviews or PMs suggesting spelling/grammatical changes questions you have or, any suggestions in general I'd love to hear them). I'd also like to give credit to the animated Batman movie "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" since I used a few lines and situations in this chapter. I also have new links on my profile for Jenna and Harley Quinn's outfits, as well as a photo which summarizes the Dark Knight trilogy as a whole to me. And as final note, in an episode of the Joker Blogs (a series on YouTube that is absolutely amazing) the Joker explains what different cards mean: hearts=emotions, like Harley Quinn; diamonds=wealth like Bruce Wayne; Clubs=power like Harvey Dent; and spades=wisdom like the Batman. It'll make sense later on. Anyway, please leave a review and enjoy!
Return of the Joker
"How do I look?" Jenna asked Bruce. Jenna was getting ready to go to her junior prom. She was currently wearing a short yellow dress and was showing far more skin than Bruce had ever seen her show.
"It's a little short," Bruce said.
"Bruce, I'm seventeen now. I have to grow up at some point." Bruce grimaced.
"Sorry. I sometimes look at you and I still see the little girl who liked putting on shows and blowing raspberries at me."
"Bruce!" Jenna cried, blushing slightly. Bruce just smiled halfheartedly and hugged her.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," he said. Seeing as how Jenna avoided dating like wildfire, Danny, who had moved in with her cousin, was sick with mono, and Helena Bertinelli's parents outright refused to let Helena go, Jenna had no friends or date to go with and was likely going to end up dancing alone, which alienated her even more than she already was.
"I'm not sure I want to go. But, if I can face the Joker and Scarecrow, I refuse to be afraid of a bunch of stupid teens."
Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon looked down the hall of Arkham Asylum, which was currently filled with policemen and doctors.
"So, you mean to tell me that the Joker's own psychiatrist broke him out of here?" he asked Doctor Arkham.
"According to the security tapes and guard's testimonies, yes," the Doctor said.
"Willingly?" Doctor Arkham nodded. Gordon cursed.
Everyone in this damn asylum seems to be losing their minds, even the doctors who are supposed to be curing the insane, Gordon though, looking darkly at Jonathan Crane's cell. Scarecrow looked rather pleased with all the activity and fear he sensed in the policemen. Gordon walked up to his cell and looked at him.
"What did you see Crane?" Crane smiled.
"It was something to see actually. I was resting peacefully in my cell when I hear shouting and explosions down the hall. I looked out of the window to see Dr. Quinzel dressed in a red and black leather jumpsuit, breaking the Joker out of his cell and after talking a bit, they ran off."
"What did they talk about?"
"Something about a club and paying an old friend a visit."
"Sir, we found something under the Joker's mattress," one policeman said. Gordon walked over to him and was handed a playing card. Not a Joker though, but a Queen of Spades, with the Joker's gruesome grin painted on it. Gordon turned the card over to see a name painted on it: JENNY D.
Gordon immediately ran as fast as he could toward the exit, pulling out his phone as he went. "Sir, do you know who his next target is?" the policeman asked.
"Yeah, and I have to warn her," he said, calling Jenna Dawes.
Jenna felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled out and saw it was Gordon's number before answering. "HELLO?" she shouted, trying to make herself heard over the music.
"Jenna, the Joker escaped Arkham and has named you as his next target, where are you?" Gordon told her but was drowned out by the music.
"HOLD ON! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! LET ME FIND SOME PLACE QUIETER!" she yelled at him. She moved to the edge of the dance floor and toward the bathrooms, but she dropped down to the floor and under a table a second later upon hearing the sounds of gunfire. The kids on the dance floor screamed and crowded together.
Oh come on! Jenna thought to herself. Can I go to one party without it getting crashed? She looked up to see several thugs in clown masks, lead by a horribly familiar man in a purple suit, a blonde woman in a red and black leather jumpsuit by his side.
"Well, now that I have all of your attention, I'm looking for a girl, around yay tall, brown hair, loves Batman, can't keep her trap shut? Know her?" the Joker said, holding his hand to around nose height, which was around how tall Jenna was. The kids looked around, scared and uncertain, before Christy Collins stepped out.
"Jenna Dawes?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yep."
"Yeah we know her. I think she headed that way," Christy said, pointing to where Jenna was hiding. The Joker nodded to one of his goons, who headed toward Jenna's hiding spot.
Damnit, Christy, you're actually gonna get me killed! Jenna cursed in her mind. The Joker turned back to Christy.
"Thank you for your help. However, I do not like squealers sooooooo…" The Joker took out a gun and pointed it at her. The crowd screamed and scuttled away from her, while Christy paled and her eyes widened in fear. The goon searching for Jenna looked under the table next to the one Jenna was hiding under and she jumped out, grabbed his gun, elbowed him across the face, and hit him around the head with his own weapon.
"Leave her alone Joker!" Jenna shouted, turning to the Joker and cocking the gun. The Joker looked at her and smiled.
"Knew that'd get you to come out. Always playing Batman."
"You know I don't do that anymore."
"Judging from all the trouble you keep getting yourself into, I'd say you do."
"Well someone has to stand up when no one else will, so it might as well be me. Oh, and nice job standing up for your girlfriend like that Jordan! You're a real knight in shinning armor." Jordan glared at her from his position behind several others.
"Well you'd now all about knights in shinning armor," the Joker commented.
"Ok, enough banter. What are you doing here?" Jenna demanded.
"I need some a-ssis-tan-ce and you're gonna give it to me."
"And what makes you think that?" The Joker turned his gun on the students, many of whom screamed and tried to move away. Jenna responded by turning her gun on him, causing the goons to turn their weapons on her. The Joker smiled.
"Your move Jenny." Jenna paused for a moment and shot the light above the dance floor, plunging the room into near darkness. People screamed and Jenna quickly made her way out of the back exit and into an alleyway, praying that the Joker and his goons would take the bait and follow her, rather than hurting her classmates.
"Ok, I can talk now," Jenna said, putting her phone to her ear.
"Jenna, where are you? I need to pick you up," came Jim's frantic voice.
"I'm at the Olympus Nightclub. On 42nd street and Adams."
"Got it. I'll be there soon. Stay safe."
"Don't worry. I'll be− AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jenna screamed and her phone slipped from her grasp as someone grabbed her from behind. She tried to throw them off but they were too strong. Jenna was eventually able to turn herself toward the wall and pushed herself off of it, slamming the man behind her into the wall. He grunted in pain but still held on. Jenna continued to struggle, trying desperately to throw him off.
"Dude, come on! How hard is it to grab a little girl?" shouted someone behind Jenna and the thug holding her.
"She's stronger than she looks!" he shouted in reply.
"Well then knock her out!" The goon holding Jenna slammed her into the wall and Jenna fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Now boys, is that anyway to treat a gues-t?" a voice called from behind them. They turned to see the Joker wander toward them, the blonde woman in a red and black jumpsuit skipping by his side.
"Sorry Boss. She's tougher than she looks."
"Just put her in the van." The two goons picked Jenna up and carried her into the back of the van."
"Do we have to get her Mistah J?" Harley whined, pursing her lips and looking at Jenna with disgust.
"Of course we do pooh. She's the only way to get to the Bat." Harley looked unconvinced. "Just trust me, honey, baby, pumpkin pie."
"Ok puddin'," she smiled. The Joker grinned at her and picked up Jenna's cell phone.
"Jenna? Jenna, what's going on, are you alright? Jenna!" came Jim's frantic voice.
"Evening Commissioner," the Joker drawled. There was silence at the other end of the phone.
"Where – is – Jenna – Joker?" Jim grit out.
"Oh I can't give that away. That'll spoil all the fun."
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing."
"Joker–"
"Ah ah ah. I can't spoil the surprises. But I'll be in touch. As will Jenny darling."
"You lay a hand on her, you die."
"Oh, getting a little dark aren't we Commish? What would ol' Batsy think?"
"Things have changed. And he's not here to stop me."
"Not yet."
"What are you talking about?"
"You'll see. Keep Gotham Tonight on and you'll find out. And you might wanna send someone to check on your little family. Oo, I gotta go, my gal's waiting for me." The Joker hung up and pocketed the phone. "Now, time to introduce a little anarchy."
Jenna woke up, groaning, tried to a pole in the middle of a room, her charm bracelet and phone missing. "Well, this seems slightly fa-mi-li-ar, doesn't i-t?" Jenna turned to see the Joker leaning not far away. Jenna sighed.
"Unfortunately. So, what do you have planned for me this time?" Jenna asked.
"Well, tonight, you'll be helping me bring a certain mutual friend of ours out of hiding."
"And may I ask who that mutual friend is?" Jenna inquired, even though she already knew.
"The Batman, Jenny." Jenna scoffed.
"You're joking. The Batman is gone, he left and he's never coming back, he'll get arrested or shot on sight if he does."
"Oh well, thankfully, I have a little remedy for that problem. Now, time to administer Gotham's medicine. And what's better medicine than laughter? Harley!"
"Right here Mistah J!" Harley said as she skipped into the room, a video camera in her hand.
"Mistah J?" Jenna repeated, trying to keep herself from laughing at the ridiculous nickname. Harley looked at Jenna with disgust.
"You got somethin' to say, Batbrat?"
"Oh, I just realized you two haven't been properly introduced. Jenny darling, meet my little Harley Quinn, formerly know as Doctor Quinzel."
"Your psychiatrist?" Jenna said, incredulously. Harley nodded, her blonde pigtails bouncing. "Ok, when I get out of this, Jeremiah Arkham is going to be getting an earful from me."
"From what I hear, he already does." Jenna just shrugged.
The Joker took out a roll of duct tape and taped over Jenna's mouth, effectively silencing her… again. He then took out a video camera and turned it on, before handing it to Harley. "Hold the camera steady, ok hon?"
"Right o' roonie, Mistah J!"
"Well, good evening Gotham! Guess who's out of Arkham? I bet you all thought that I was gone, didn't ya? Thought that you'd never hear from me again, hm? Well, my dear little Harley Quinn and I have proved you wrong!"
"Yes we have!"
"And to celebrate my little uh, homecoming, I've brought a few friends along for the ride." Harley turned the camera over to Jenna and the Joker kneeled down and grabbed Jenna's face, turning her toward the camera for all of Gotham to see. "I believe you recognize little Miss Jenny Dawes? Daughter of a dead cop, niece of deceased DA Harvey Dent and his little bunny, now the ward of Bruce Wayne, prince of Gotham? And then there are her relationships with Commissioner Gordon and formerly with the Batman. I'd say she attracts a good deal of attention to say the leas-t." If looks could kill, Jenna's glare would have reduced the Joker to a pile of ashes by now. However, with her hands tied and her mouth gagged, she was currently unable to. For the moment at least. The Joker stood and began pacing, Harley following him with the camera.
"And now we come to the real problem. Things have changed a good deal since I last stretched my legs. The DA's dead, not at my hands but at the hands of the Bat, and now he's being hunted just. Like. Me. And here's the problem. He's vanished; vamoosed, disappeared, gone without a trace. And tha-t simply. Won't. Do. No, no, no he's the only fun person in Gotham. Well, other than dear Jenny here," the Joker stated, bending down and squeezing Jenna's cheeks. Harley made a noise of annoyance and the Joker looked at her and grinned. "Now Harley, you know you're the only girl for me." The Joker turned back to the camera.
"Now, if the Batman doesn't come out to play, then I start bombing random Gotham buildings. What will it be? An orphanage? An apartment complex? A homeless shelter? Who knows? I certainly don't. At midnight, the chaos and carnage begin, starting with the death of dear Jenny Dawes. That is, unless the Batman comes out and stops me. So come and find us, my dear deluded Dark Knight. We'll be waiting." Harley moved to turn off of the camera but was stopped by the Joker.
"Oh, and before I forget; if anyone but the Dark Knight comes looking for me," the Joker took out his switchblade and stabbed Jenna in the shoulder. Her screams were mostly blocked by her duct tape gag as the Joker dug the knife in deeper, blood pouring down her shoulder, staining her bright yellow dress. Tears leaked from Jenna's eyes; she had never been in so much pain in her entire life. It felt as though her body was being torn apart and set on fire at the same time. The Joker finally pulled his knife out and waved it at the camera, still coated in Jenna's blood. "I will separate Jenny's head from her neck." Harley turned off the camera, looking a little nauseous. "What's the matter toots?"
"Nothing puddin' I'm just… not that used to blood."
"Oh, are you a little squeamish?" the Joker said sympathetically. Harley smiled sadly and nodded.
WHACK! The Joker slapped Harley across her face and she fell to the ground, clutching her cheek.
"You'll have to get over it; you'll be seeing a lot more blood and guts hanging around me kiddo. Now get someone to take that to GCN." Harley nodded and stumbled out of the room. The Joker walked over to Jenna and pulled the duct tape off of her mouth.
"He won't come… He's smart, he knows a… trap when he sees one… He won't fall for it," Jenna gasped, even though she didn't believe it herself. The Joker raised an eyebrow, clearly showing he didn't believe it either.
"Jenny, he'd have to be even more heartless than me to not come." The Joker kneeled down and cut the ropes binding Jenna's hands. She immediately tried to push him away from her but her grabbed her shoulder and squeezed. Jenna bit her lip, threatening to bite all the way through, trying not to scream. The Joker dragged her up by her arms and handcuffed her arms in front of her, before dragging her out of the room. "Now, I have another little surprise for you." Jenna looked up and what she saw made her want to collapse. Barbara Gordon was holding a cowering Jimmy and Babs Gordon, trying to shield them from yet another nightmarish reality.
"BARBARA!" Jenna cried. She broke the Joker's grip on her arm and ran to the Gordons. Barbara quickly enveloped Jenna in her embrace, Jenny wincing due to her shoulder, and Jimmy and Babs clung onto their surrogate sister for comfort.
"Jenna, honey, are you alright?" Barbara inquired tearfully.
"I'm fine. A little banged up… but I'm fine." Barbara noticed Jenna's shoulder and tore off a bit of her coat, tying the piece of fabric around the wound.
"I'm sorry, but I'm no doctor. That's the best I can do for now."
"You've done enough Barbara." Jenna looked to Jimmy and Babs. "Are you two alright?" Jimmy and Babs nodded, their eyes wet and terrified, and Jenna kneeled down to their level. "I'm going to get you guys out of here safe and sound, ok? I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't kee-p, Jenny." Jenna turned and scowled at the Joker before standing and facing him.
"Let. Them. Go." The Joker smiled and shook his head. "Listen, you already have me as leverage and you've scarred them enough. Let them go and I won't try to escape. And I won't cause any trouble for your plans – anarchy!" Jenna quickly corrected herself, not wanting to get on his bad side for once.
"See, the problem is, they know where we are, and if I let them go, they'll just run back to their loving daddy and tell him everything, before the Batman can even pull on his tights. I can't leave any loose ends."
"Where are we exactly?" The Joker smiled and turned on the lights.
"Recognize the place?" Jenna looked around and her jaw dropped. They were in Arkham Asylum. Not the new one, the one that had been in the Narrows. After Scarecrow's Fight Night, Arkham had been abandoned and partially demolished and the remaining inmates were relocated to a new, supposedly more secure location.
"Like it? I picked it out myself!" Harley bragged, skipping over to Jenna and the Gordons, perky as ever, even though the Joker had slapped her just a minute ago. Jenna glared at her, breathing heavily, trying to avoid cursing the building that had aided in the attack on the Narrows and the death of her mother. Harley turned and flounced away and Jenna made a split second decision that she never would have even considered before she'd met the Joker. Jenna threw her handcuff chain over Harley's head and kicked Harley in the backs of her knees, forcing Harley to the ground. She then tightened the chain and Harley started to choke.
The Joker's goons turned their guns on Jenna but the Joker shouted, "Stop!" so they lowered their weapons. The Joker wandered toward them and chuckled shaking his head slightly. "My how the tables have turned."
"Let. The Gordons. Go," Jenna ordered through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the pain in her shoulder.
"Or wha-t?"
"I'll kill her." The Joker laughed.
"Oh my, what would you dearly be-lo-ved Batman say?"
"He's not here and I'm not going to wait for him to come and save them."
"But threatening to kill someone? Sounds awfully dark for you."
"That was before you turned my uncle into a monster and made me lose one of the few family members I had left. I'm not losing anyone else to you."
"Well then, kill her." Harley and Jenna's jaws dropped.
"What?" they said almost in unison.
"You're willing to kill her to save your family, I'll let them go if you kill her."
"Why should I trust you?" Jenna pointed out.
"I've already told you, I'm a man of my word." Jenna hesitated. The Joker sighed, pulled a gun out, and pointed it at the kids, whom Barbara quickly pushed behind herself. Jenna moved in front of them, dragging Harley with her. The Joker smiled expectantly. Jenna breathed heavily, and after a few moments of silence, closed her eyes, lowered the chains, and shook her head.
"I can't." She unwrapped the handcuffs from around Harley neck and pushed her away. The Joker looked at Jenna and shook his head, putting his gun away.
"One day, I'll make you snap." Jenna shook her head.
"No you won't. You didn't break me then, you won't break me now, or ever." The Joker stepped closer to Jenna.
"Funny. Because I'm pretty sure you almost broke." Jenna looked away. The Joker left, leaving two of his goons there to guard the hostages.
"What is he doing to you Jenna?" Barbara asked after a little while. Jenna looked at her and swallowed.
"I have no idea."
Hours passed. Jenna didn't know how long it was until midnight, but she knew it couldn't be too long and she was getting nervous. Not as much for her own life as much as for the Gordons and the rest of Gotham. Suddenly the door banged open and Harley entered, straightening her clothes slightly. "Boss wants 'em in the main room." The goons nodded and dragged Jenna and the Gordons to their feet, Jenna throwing them off angrily. They were escorted into the hallway and to the main meeting room. The Joker sat there in an old cushioned chair, looking out of the hole in the roof at the ruins that had once been the Narrows.
"Beautiful. Just beautiful, isn't it Harl?" the Joker asked Harley Quinn as she walked over to him and sat on the arm of his chair.
"It sure is, Mistah J," she replied dreamily, leaning her head on his shoulder. Jenna tried hard to keep herself from gagging and Barbara kept her children close to her, eyeing the Joker warily. "And It'll be all ours once you kill the Batman right?" Jenna's eyes widened. The Joker gave her a smile which Jenna could tell was falsely reassuring.
"Of course Harl."
BANG! BANG BANG BANG!
RATATATATATATA!
Everyone, minus the Joker, jumped at the sounds of gunfire and shouting down stairs, which was steadily getting closer. The Joker sighed turned to Jenna and the Gordons.
"Sounds as though your beloved Bat is here. Which means it's time for you to disappear." The Joker grabbed Jenna and dragged her to one of the cells, before pushing her and the Gordons in and slamming the door shut. "Can't have you helping him." Jenna glared at the Joker and he simply smiled and sat back in his chair.
Harley started to straighten weapons and blueprints scattered across the table, as though trying to make the place presentable, singing, "Hush little baby don't say a word, momma's gonna kill for you the whole damn world. And if they don't laugh at our jokes momma's gonna stab 'em in their goddamn throats." Jenna raised an eyebrow. How exactly was this woman ever a doctor at Arkham Ayslum?
Because Doctor Arkham is a freaking psycho, that's how, Jenna thought to herself. Harley continued to sing her little song until the Batman burst through the doors.
"Puddin' company!" Harley called. The Joker looked up.
"Well, lookie here Harl, it looks as though we have a Bat in our belfryyyy."
"Where're the hostages?"
"Oh, now, come on Bats, why don't you have a seat? Take a load off? Then again, I guess you've had a chance to recharge your batteries hidden away in your little cave, haven't you?" The Batman glared and looked over at the cell door Jenna and the Gordons were trapped behind. He moved toward it.
"Ah, ah, ah, no peeking," Harley scolded. She took a bazooka from the weapons on the tables, and fired it at the Batman, who was trapped in a net. Harley smiled at her handiwork and moved over to guard the cell door.
"Well, now that you're, uh… comfortable, we can begin," the Joker drawled. The Batman glared at him but kept still.
"Why haven't you said anything about Dent?" the Batman rasped, trying to keep the Joker distracted while he slowly worked a Batarang into his hand and sawed at the net, which thankfully only Jenna noticed.
"Dent? Because it's funny! No, no, it's not just funny, it's hilarious! Gotham's white knight, who in reality is the worst of them all, turned martyr, while you, Gotham's Dark Knight, is condemned and hunted just like the criminals he despises so much."
"So, why bring me out?"
"Because it's a whole new playing field now Batsy. You're as wanted as I am. And I figured the only reason you'd come back is if Gotham is in true danger."
"Which it's not."
"Eh, well, tha-t depends."
"On what?"
"On you, my dear, delusional, Dark Knight. You see, the bombs will go off at midnight, no matter what. Unless you kill me." The Batman narrowed his eyes, while Harley squirmed with apprehension, but was either confident in the Joker's decision or else to scared to say anything. "You see, the detonator is hook up to a heart rate monitor, which is remotely hooked up to me. And before you unhook me from the monitor, I figured you'd try that and if you do, the bombs go off automatically. So, it's either kill me oooooorrr watch. Gotham. Burn." At this the Batman broke his bonds and threw the Batarang at the Joker, who simply ducked and laughed.
The Batman threw a grenade at Jenna and the Gordon's cell door, which shattered the lock on impact. Jenna kicked the door open and quickly disposed of Harley with a simple sweeping kick. Holding the former psychiatrist down, Jenna took the keys and her charm bracelet and phone from Harley's belt and unlocked her handcuffs, Barbara and the kids running out of the cell. Jenna looked over at the Batman before Barbara grabbed her hand and they all ran for the main staircase.
"Harley, they're escaping! Get them!" the Joker barked at her, trying to fight the Batman off.
"Right away Mistah J!" Harley got up and raced after them, grabbing a huge bazooka as she went. She raced after them and stopped when she got to the staircase that Gordon, the Batman, and Jeannie Dawes had once met on. She looked down and aimed at a lower set of stairs, hoping to cut off Jenna and the Gordon's escape route. "Hey Bratgirl!" Jenna looked up at Harley Quinn, and her jaw dropped when she saw the bazooka. "Hold still will 'ya!" Jenna pushed Barbara and the kids further down the steps just as Harley fired. The Gordons tumbled down to the next landing just as the stairs exploded and collapsed. Jenna jumped to the platform above just as the stairs fell from under her feet, down into the black cavern beneath Arkham, and she somersaulted away from the edge. Jenna ran back up the stairs toward Harley as Harley continued to fire. "What part of hold still don't 'ya understand!" Harley whined as she continued firing. Jenna made it to Harley's level and jumped on the railing. "You're mine!" Harley fired at Jenna, who leaped off of the railing and landed on top of Harley. The bazooka flew from Harley's grasp and shot at the landing they were standing on. The balcony crumbled and partially fell away, causing Jenna and Harley to slip toward the edge. Jenna quickly grabbed onto the ledge, before grabbing Harley. "DON'T LEME FALL DON'T LEME FALL DON'T LEME FALL!" She screamed.
"I'm trying but your – gloves – are – slipping!" Jenna gritted, trying to keep her hold on both Harley and the ledge, her shoulder screaming in pain. She slowly started to raise the psychotic former psychiatrist, hoping Harley could grab onto the ledge too when Harley's hand slipped from her own. "NO!" Jenna lunged, trying to catch Harley but it was too late. Harley screamed and fell down into exposed black cavern at the foot of the stairs. She vanished and her screams ceased. Jenna gaped at the hole for a moment, before pulling herself onto the ledge, breathing heavily. She looked down at the Gordons. "Are you guys ok?"
"We're fine!" Barbara shouted. "But how are you going to get down?"
"I'll figure something out," Jenna replied. She turned at the sound of the Batman and the Joker fighting back down the hall. "Barb, get the kids out. I'm going to help the Batman."
"Jenna, don't you dare!"
"Someone has to help him and I owe him my life several times over."
"Jenna, please, he can take care of himself, just listen!" Barbara screamed. But Jenna didn't listen, and she turned right around and headed for the sounds of fighting. Sneaking up behind them, Jenna saw the Joker on top of the Batman. "Well, deja vous, isn't it Batsy?"
"I'm not going to kill you."
"Oh,a re you sure about that? You have your chance. Just throw me over the wall, into the bottomless pit below, and you save Gotham. If you don't, how many people will die? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions?" Jenna picked up a piece of wood. "Let's find out shall we?" The Joker brought the detonator out of his pocket and was immediately hit around the head with a piece of wood. The detonator flew from his grasp and Jenna kicked it away. She turned to face the Joker, who slammed his fist across her face. Jenna fell to the ground, stunned, and the Joker picked up her piece of wood. Before he could beat her with it though, the Batman leapt back up and threw him away from Jenna. The Joker stumbled, but quickly regained his footing and shot at the ceiling above the Batman. The roof collapsed on top the Batman, pinning him down, and the Joker took out a gun, cocked it, and aimed it at the Dark Knight. "And so the Clown Prince of Crime, defeats the Dark Knight."
BANG!
The Joker fell to the ground, clutching his chest, trying to stop the bleeding. He looked up at his attacker, smiled, and chuckled. "Now, that… is pretty funny." His laughter increased, before he broke off coughing. He keeled over, took one last breath, and lay still, smiling at the sky, eyes wide open. The Batman looked to see Jenna Dawes, wounded and battered, a gun in her shaking hands, pointed right at the Joker. Jenna started sobbing, the gun tumbled from her fingers, and she fell to her knees, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The Joker might have died, but with his death, her had truly defeated Jenna Dawes. Because she had broken her idol's one rule and taken a life.
The Gordons, Alfred, and Lucius Fox were the only people told about what really happened in the ruins of Arkham that night. The Batman was marked as the murderer of the Joker, as well as Harvey Dent and several others. Harley Quinn's body was never found but after a few days of searching she was declared dead.
Barbara had put her foot down after the incident and taken the kids to Cleveland, without Jim.
Jenna, after much counseling from the Waynes close family friend Dr. Leslie Thompkins, recovered. However, she was never the same. The new Jenna became far more mature and isolated, and less sarcastic as well. Thankfully, the students at her school got the message and left her alone, even Jordan Hill and Christy Collins. Her friends also seemed to understand and while they were supportive and there for her, things were never the same between them and Jenna slowly developed into less of a sister and more of an aunt to her friends.
Over the next few years, Jenna also involved herself in the city much more, donating and volunteering in any and every organization in Gotham worth helping, from hospitals to orphanages, which led to her being dubbed "The Angel of Gotham" by the press, a title that made the guilt and blood on Jenna's soul feel like anchors. The Joker's death marked the end of Gotham's Age of Darkness and shortly afterward, the Dent act was passed and organized crime was eradicated. Gotham rose to a pinnacle of glory, peace, and prosperity not seen since long before the depression and the deaths of Martha and Thomas Wayne. However, not all good things last, and Gotham would soon face a fall greater than any in its history.
A/N: That's all for now folks. See you after December 4th!