11. The Real Dark Knight

Disclaimer: Thank you so much to my reviewers!! You're all amazing!!

The only reason I was released from the GPD was because they had more important things to attend to than an alleged Joker suspect—Gotham General was rigged to blow and I knew that Harvey Dent wouldn't come out of it alive. The Joker would undoubtedly take Dent before the hospital blows, but only he knew when that would be. Till then, all I could do was wait, and anticipate, because there was no way I'd get anywhere near Gotham General—not with my name listed as a Joker suspect. They would think I was a part of the plan—if there even was a plan! The Joker was up to no good, but by the time the hospital blew up, where would he be? Would he come seeking me out again, like he did the night before? Where would I be? Would I be locked up in protective custody? What would the Joker do then—if his dear, like-minded, match ended up behind bars. How would he know to get me? How would he know where I was? Would he even consider getting me? It's possible that if I got locked up, he wouldn't even come get me—it would be his chance to hightail it out of the Gotham. Maybe that was his plan all along—to get close to me, have me become a suspect, have me get caught, then leave town scott-free! There were too many options. In any event, I decided to steer clear of Gotham General for my own good. I wished I could just fly home for the rest of the week—to just get away from Gotham and its antics. It was driving me crazy. I was truly heading towards the deep end and for my own sanity, I needed to get out. But that would be exactly what the police would be looking for—if I left town, I'd have a hit on me back in Boston! There was no way out, but to stay right where I was.

I could do one of two things—stay at the GPD by request, or go home. I opted for the latter. I gathered my things and headed back to my apartment.

Once home, I cleaned up the living room, sat down and decided to finish up my Joker analysis. Just as I was really into my typing, I was disrupted.

"Why bother with that?" the Batman asked in his low voice. I looked up, startled. I saved my document and shut my laptop.

"Because I need to hand it into the GPD, remember? You asked me to do the analysis of the Joker—well, here it is," I responded, gesturing to my laptop.

"But why bother with an analysis of someone you're an accomplice to?" he asked.

"Who gave you that idea?! The GPD found his card in my trash at work today—but that's it!"

"And the recording of your interview—it's not what they expected the interview to be—it was…different," Batman responded.

"Well, I'm more curious as to how they even retrieved the recorder from my apartment when all my doors and windows were locked," I replied.

"Maybe the Joker gave it to them," Batman stated.

"No, he wouldn't do that—" I paused, realizing what I had just said. I just somewhat confirmed that the Joker had been in my apartment last night.

"The Joker's a mad dog—he'd do anything to anybody. He doesn't care for you, Giada," Batman stated.

"What makes you think I'd care for him or that he'd care for me?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I came here last night—I saw him. He was here, Giada. You can't lie to me about it," Batman confessed.

"But why were you spying on me? I thought you trusted me," I stated.

"I did trust you—and I wasn't spying on you…I had come to speak with you, but I saw the Joker was here. I figured it wasn't the best time," Batman explained.

"So because you saw the Joker with me last night, you automatically assume that he and I were conspiring? Conspiring to do what? Blow up Gotham General? It couldn't have been that I was cooking dinner and he just showed up by chance?" I asked, furiously, which was the truth.

"I saw you two sitting at that table conversing. I need to do what's best for Gotham and its people—even if it did so happen he showed up by chance," Batman responded.

"So you do think I was conspiring with him," I confirmed.

"But you shouldn't trust him Giada. He's the one who turned you in this morning to the GPD. He's the one who turned in your tape recorder, so don't blame me for this. You only have the Joker to blame," Batman explained.

"I just don't see why he'd expose himself like that," I responded, my heart sinking into my stomach.

"I know you have feelings for the Joker, but it won't do you any good. I saw the way you looked at him through the window—and believe me when I saw this—he isn't capable of feeling the same for you—he isn't capable of feeling anything for anyone! The man's a crazed sociopath with no purpose but to kill. I want to help you and I want you to help Gotham, but by teaming up with him won't do any of us any good," Batman continued.

"I…I don't know what to say. How can I just…I don't have feelings for the Joker. He simply came to dinner last night—uninvited, and we got to talking—it's what I do with Bruce's employees—we talk," I stated, my voice shaking. I wanted to cry, but the anger rose up inside me for letting myself fall in love with the Joker. I truly started to believe him last night, but it was all gone—wasted and useless. I should have known better. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion and the whole apartment shook. I fell to the ground and Batman covered me with himself. We waited like that for a few moments then we stood to our feet.

"Gotham General," I said, as I stared out the window.

"Giada, I know you have it in you to do good—don't fall—it's so easy to fall in with them, but you are strong. Don't be like me," he said and then rushed away. Watching the smoke rise into the air from the distance, my heart sank. The Joker blew up Gotham General—he had gotten to Harvey, I just knew it.

"The Joker wouldn't turn me in! I just know he wouldn't!" I shouted suddenly, though knowing Batman had fled from my apartment already. I fell to the floor and began sobbing.

"He wouldn't do it—I just know he wouldn't," I cried.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"The Joker blew up Gotham General," Commissioner Gordon said to Batman.

"I know he did," Batman responded flatly.

"We can't find Harvey—he's gone," Gordon continued.

"They brought Giada DiMarco in for questioning today," Batman stated.

"Oh?" Gordon asked.

"Yes—she's appeared to be an accomplice to the Joker. I'd advise you to take her into protective custody as soon as possible," Batman continued.

"You think she's a threat?" Gordon asked.

"We have to get to her before the Joker does—no doubt she'll believe him over me," Batman continued.

"Believe him over you? In regards to what?" Gordon asked, confused.

"Her recorded interrogation with the Joker—I told her the Joker turned her in early this morning, but he didn't. It was me," Batman confessed.

"Well you did it to help Gotham—to make sure she doesn't take up sides with the Joker," Gordon stated.

"Of course," Batman replied and then disappeared before Gordon could look back at his masked friend.

"Oh Batman, is it really wise to be lying to the one person you need to get into the Joker's mind?" Gordon sighed.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I sat in my apartment and finished up my analysis on the Joker. There. I placed the final period at the end of my final sentence. It was…done. I hooked up my printer and printed out the 17 page document—a complete behavioral, cognitive analysis of the Joker. I stapled the pages together and placed it into a folder. Well this was it—time to head down to the GPD and deliver to them their gift of the hour. I gathered my things and headed out of my apartment.

I walked briskly to the GPD but was intercepted by a dark stranger down an ally right around the corner from the police.

"What the fuck you do you want?" I shouted to the stranger as they covered my mouth with their hand and dragged me further down the ally.

"Sh sh sh sh, Giada, it's me," the Joker whispered into my ear. Still holding onto my tightly, he spun me around so I could see him. He was wearing nurse's clothing with a gait belt fastened about his waist. I wanted to giggle at him, knowing he had just blown up the hospital, but I was furious with him.

"Nice outfit," I commented.

"Where are you going? I was on my way to see you," he responded.

"I'm heading to the GPD—It's time they receive their gift of the hour," I said as I held up the manila folder.

"What's that?" he asked, trying to grab it from me.

"Uh uh, it's my psych analysis on you, sir," I replied, holding it away from him.

"Now why would you want to give them something like that? You know you're only writing the things they want to see—not what' you actually believe," he stated, pouting his lips.

"And why did you turn me in to them? So all of a sudden you feel it necessary to sell me out to the GPD? What the hell is your deal?" I loudly whispered to him.

"Me? I didn't do anything! I was…blowing up Gotham General…remember?" he asked, gesturing to his clothing.

"Right—but you turned in my recorder early this morning—I did wake up alone this morning, by the way," I sneered at him.

"Sorry! I had a hospital to rig! It's not easy you know, rigging a hospital the size of…well…Gotham General!" he exclaimed, waving his hands around.

"So you didn't turn in the recorder to the GPD this morning before you rigged the hospital?" I asked.

"Why would I waste my time turning in something as private as that conversation on the day I decided to blow up Gotham General? Why would I waste my time trying to get you to join me only to turn you in? There's just no sense in that, Giada," he responded, raising his eyebrows.

I let out a sigh of frustration.

"Well I don't know who did then," I replied.

"Wait—the GPD heard that interview?" he asked, his eyes widening.

"Yes! They came and escorted me out of work today and brought me to the GPD for questioning. They have their eye on me as your accomplice!" I exclaimed.

"Sh sh sh," he held up his finger to my lips, "It wasn't me, I can assure you on that,"

"Well then who was it?" I asked, hushed by firmly.

"…It was the Batman," the Joker stated finally.

"Batman? Why would he…wait, how could he have…what?!" I shrieked.

"Exactly," the Joker responded with a grin, "that's right—get mad at the Batman, not the Joker,"

"You don't even know if it was really the Batman who turned me in!" I exclaimed.

"Well, it makes the most sense—he doesn't want you to be allied with me, so while I'm rigging said Gotham Hospital, you'd be an easy target. Since you're helping them anyway with your…little…analysis on my psychosis, it would make sense that they'd do anything to turn you against me," the Joker stated.

"You're insane," I said flatly, "I need to go give this to them or they'll never let me off the hook," I went to turn around but he stopped me.

"I'm only as insane as you are, Giada, dear. You can turn that analysis in to the GPD, but they will still hunt you—you'll never be off the hook—not as long as Batman believes you're joined with me," the Joker coaxed.

"Well, I might as well give it a try—you know, there are some people I can put my hopes in," I replied.

"I'll be on the look out for you when they decide to lock you up anyway," the Joker called after me as I walked away and around the corner.