Flashback Chapter 27 The Killing

"I really don't get why you're bothering," Jason said. "Reasoning with Joker? What's the point?"

"Call it a premonition," Bruce replied. "I have a feeling that it won't be long before it's too late to stop us from destroying each other."

"I don't think it's gonna work," Jason said flatly.

"I have to try," Bruce answered simply. "Gordon is expecting me at Arkham."

Batman stared at the clown in convict's rags. The cell was in shadow, showing little but the shock of green hair and death-white hands laying out cards.

"That's the way I see it," Batman concluded softly. "One of us will be forced to kill the other, sooner or later." His gloved hand shot out and grabbed Joker's hand. "Don't you get it? This might be our last chance to resolve this." With a sigh he released the madman. "It's not like I want to die, but I'd rather not have your blood on my…hands…"

Batman let his voice trail off as his attention was taken by the smears of white face paint on his fingers – and the patches of exposed flesh on the back of 'Joker's' hand.

"Where is he?!" Batman half-screamed, half-growled as he lunged for the imposter's throat.

Robin took aim and let fly with a batarang. The massive photos of Joker splashed across the computer screens as Batman scoured his reports for the slightest detail were seriously creeping Robin out. But he was getting better with the old 'rangs. Pretty soon he'd be hitting the bull's-eye on the dartboard at twenty paces.

"Your refreshments, Master Bruce, Master Jason," Alfred announced as he entered the cave. "Is there anything I can assist with? Sir?"

"I've been trying to figure out what he intends to so," Bruce murmured. "It's almost impossible. I don't know him. All those years and I don't know who he is any more than he knows who I am. How can two people hate so much without knowing each other?"

The question hung in the air. Alfred cleared his throat.

"Master Dick has agreed to patrol Gotham with you tonight," he offered. "He is bringing Miss Barbara over."

"We can afford to go out in pairs, then."

Gordon scowled at the paper. "I hate this," he muttered at the headline – 'Asylum Security Uproar, Maniac Escapes Again'. "Whenever we jail him, I think 'please, God, keep him there'. Then he escapes and all we can do is all sit round hoping he won't do anything too awful this time."

Babs sighed as she emerged from the kitchen. "Please, Dad, you need to leave your work at the office and relax. You can't do anything properly if you spend all your off time fussing. Here, I made some cocoa."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Gordon murmured. "It's still going on, and it's been how many years?"

There was a knock at the door. "That'll be Dick," Babs said. "We're just going to hang around the Manor. You know, I remember you describing the white face and green hair to me when I was a kid. It scared the hell out of me."

"I thought you'd be interested…" Gordon said plaintively.

"Well I had some interesting nightmares," Babs grinned, looking back at her father over her shoulder as she opened the front door.

White skin. Rictus grin. Pistol. Move! Now! Bang. Too late- Ah!

The bullet punched through Babs' abdomen. The force caused her to lose her balance as her legs lost the ability to hold her up. Her head smacked into the ground, and the impact added to the intense pain all over. Everything else became dim and she was only half aware of her father taking blows. A flash helped her focus, as a hand reached for her blouse.

"Wuh…why are you…duh…doing this?" she croaked.

"To prove a point," Joker grinned. "Here's to crime."

Batman strode through the hospital, Robin on his heels. Dick's call had derailed everything. The Commissioner had few objections to Babs spending the night at the Manor with her 'boyfriend' – the relationship was mostly for show these days; too much chemistry between Nightwing and Starfire, but Nightwing and Batgirl were still partners out on the streets, so no hard feelings – and it provided a good excuse to get Babs out of sight so she could suit up.

Having Dick call to say Batman needed to come to Central Hospital at once because Babs was injured…

Dick was sitting next to the bed, holding Babs' hand. A nurse and one of Gordon's men watched over them. "Bullet through the spine," Dick said, voice choked. "She's paralysed from the waist down. Most likely be in a chair for the rest of her life." He looked up, anguish clearly visible on his face. "That bastard stripped her off and left a lens cap behind. Could you two give us some privacy, please?" He glanced at the nurse and detective, who shrugged and left.

Batman brushed his fingers down Babs' cheek. "Barbara? Can you hear me?" he murmured. "It's Bruce."

"Bruce?" she croaked, cracking her eyes open. "Oh, Bruce, it was him! He took Dad. He's taking it to the limit this time…You didn't see his eyes."

"I'm not leaving," Dick scowled. "He might come back. Nightwing is keeping watch." He paused. "And if I come across that bastard, I may just tear off his testicles and shove them so far down is throat they come out the other end. Which might make a mess."

"Just stop him," Babs pleaded. "He's trying to prove a point. Whatever it is, don't let him win."

AN: Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...and my muse has finally come back.

Also updating now, Black and Red. Can't be sure when or what I'll next update, but hopefully it'll be soon.

A huge thank you to everyone who's followed/favourited anything over the past few months, and especially those who reviewed. It helped me remember that I still have a loyal readership.

Please review to keep my poor musey around.

Katara