~*~*~

67. This Time Around

~*~*~

Disclaimer: Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I can never say it enough—you are all so amazing!!!!!!! The title is my mini tribute to MJ—RIP (good song, check it out if you like MJ!)The songs used in this chapter were used in previous chapters—they are obviously not mine. They belong to Heart, Muse, and the Chantels. Enjoy!

Much to my surprise, the bathroom door didn't slam shut behind me. The rhythmic tapping of shoes running on marble tiling followed close behind, sequenced by the thud of the heavy bathroom door on the flat of the palm of hands.

"Giada, wait!" the Joker called after me, his voice high and slightly frantic. His hand reached out and grabbed hold of my wrist. I froze in my step and spun around to face him.

"What? I'm really not in the mood to chat," I stated curtly, yanking my wrist from his grasp. I think whatever kind of remorse he had felt up to that moment for what I had endured that evening disappeared with my snatching of my wrist. His brows furrowed as his deep eyes glared back at me.

"First off, no one walks away from me," he sneered, as he sauntered closer to me. I took a step back from him, glaring hard into his peering eyes.

"Well, I do," I stated firmly, and turned to walk away once more, until his hand snatched my wrist again. This time, he spun me backwards into the wall and held me there for a moment, while his tongue edged the inside of his mouth.

"Giadaaaa, I hate it when…people…walk away from me; when they just turn...and leave. I suppose I expect it from low and mid-level criminals in this city. But there are two…individuals…I do not expect it from: the Batman, and you," the Joker explained, his voice low and grumbling as he spoke directly into my ear. I squirmed in his firm grasp, unable to free myself from being pinned between him and the wall—not really a situation I ever thought I'd want to free myself from, except this. It seemed the more I squirmed, the tighter his grip became, and it was in that moment I realized that I knew he would stop holding me I ceased to move. I knew him. I knew his thought process.

I stood still and just as I suspected, his grip on me loosened and he took a small step back from me. His eyes were still dark and harsh as they bore into mine, but I kept a firm glare in return, my face unwavering.

"I don't appreciate this—I just delivered your son from a woman I despise. The least you can do for me is let me go and find Bruce. I just want to go home," I explained calmly, but sternly. The Joker's gaze softened immediately and his tongue found the edge of his lower lip. He finally stood off to the side of me and gestured for me to take my leave with his left hand. Not taking my eyes from him, I hoisted myself away from the wall and began making my way into the ignorant crowd.

"So the rumors are true, Dr. DiMarco," a familiar voice chimed into my ear from just behind me. I spun around to find Dr. Crane, finely dressed and sipping on a martini.

"Dr. Crane? How did you get here? You're supposed to be in Arkham!" I exclaimed, suddenly my heart racing.

"First of all, call me Jonathan. Second of all, you are much more beautiful when you're not working in Arkham. And third of all, it appears that the rumors are in fact true," Dr. Crane mused as he walked closer towards me. He took another sip of his martini and grinned back at me. My eyes narrowed in disbelief. I had never anticipated this moment in a million years.

"I have to say, regardless of how you escaped from the asylum, I do not feel comfortable conversing with you outside of a therapeutic setting," I stated finally, gaining control over my ethical self. I nodded to him and turned to leave once again. All I wanted to do was to find Bruce and get the hell out of this place! It was slowly turning into my worst nightmare. Actually, I think it already was my worst nightmare.

Dr. Crane ran after me and stood in front of me so that I could not walk any further, "Giada, you know very well that's not true. You're no longer my psych nurse. I just had no idea that you were this kind of person. There I was, back in Arkham, thinking this whole time what a sweet and innocent woman you are—and then I escape and find you here with the likes of these people. You've certainly confirmed everything I'd heard about you while in the asylum," he smirked at me and winked.

Irritated, I released a sigh and rolled my eyes, "Try me. What did you hear and what do you believe to be true? What rumor are you claiming that I confirmed?"

Dr. Crane's eyes darted about the room, and before he spoke, he took another step closer to me, "You're the Joker's Jade," his voice was low and soft as he spoke into my ear. My heart sank. He did know. I had to deny this.

"The Joker's Jade?" I chortled, "Where on Earth did you hear that?" I tried remaining calm. I did not want Dr. Crane to know I was in cahoots with the Joker—that I was in love with him—that I helped him escape from Arkham.

"Sorry—you're the Joker's Jade from the Joker's Wild," Dr. Crane clarified, "I know this to be true. I had a background check on you done—you're from Boston—the daughter of Italian parents. Mother divorced from your father. Your mother got remarried to an abusive Italian man. You got a job stripping at the Joker's Wild—your name was Jade," Dr. Crane explained to me. My face must've turned ghostly white, because I actually felt the blood drain from it as he told me my own past. There was no denying that I had been a stripper at the Joker's Wild.

"Okay, so you know my past. Big deal. We all have skeletons in the closet, don't we?" I asked, cross my arms across my chest, "I don't still strip as the Joker's Jade,"

"No—but I just saw you and the Joker consorting over there—looks like the other rumors were confirmed there too," Dr. Crane responded smugly.

"What rumor?! I have nothing to do with the Joker!" I protested, angrily at this point.

"There were rumors going around that you helped the Joker escape from Arkham—that you and the Joker are working together," Dr. Crane explained, taking a nonchalant sip from his martini.

I shook my head, "No way. The only connection I ever had with the Joker was through Arkham. I was his therapist. That is all the contact I had ever had with him until this evening. Of course, you can imagine how frightening it would be for me to run into my former patients here—all of whom should still be my patients at Arkham come Monday morning," I responded with a tint of accusation in my voice. I raised my eyebrows as a smirk crossed my lips.

Dr. Crane let out a small laugh, "I can see your point. Well, you'd be glad to know that all three of your favorite patients are here, then,"

"All three? Who else is here?" I asked, feeling my heart sink deeper into my stomach.

"Edward Nygma—he's over there. Please tell me you remember the Riddler," Dr. Crane laughed as he pointed to a corner of the room. My head followed his direction and sure enough, Edward Nygma was conversing with some man, another Gotham City criminal, no doubt. I found it so strange in that very moment that each of these criminals, including Bruce, other alias's that many others did not know of. Dr. Crane was the Scarecrow, but by day, he was Dr. Crane. Edward was the Riddler by night, but no one knew that he was the Riddler. Of course no one knew the Joker's name—except for me. And Bruce—the best of them all—Batman. No one would ever suspect Bruce Wayne to be Batman. And yet, each of these criminals had come face to face with Bruce as Batman in the streets of Gotham. And yet, perhaps not even Bruce knew that Edward was the Riddler. He didn't even know that his beloved Selina Kyle was Catwoman.

And there I was—just as bad as the rest of them. Giada by day. Jade by night. I didn't know how well known I was becoming—not until just now speaking with Dr. Crane. Luckily he only knew of me as the stripper Jade, and not the criminal Jade who is a consort of the Joker's.

"So there he is," I sighed, "it's nice to see you both out and a about, I guess. If you don't mind my asking, how did you both manage to escape?"

"A true magician never reveals his tricks, especially not to you, Giada. I know very well you run on both sides of the line here in Gotham. You may come off as your daytime persona—the intelligent, morally bound Giada DiMarco NP, but I know you have another alias. I may not know what it is, but I know there's more to you than what meets the eye," Dr. Crane spoke as though he were falling in love with me. His eyes were intense behind his glasses, but he was always handsome. I almost wanted to tell him I was Jade by night, but I knew it was for the best he didn't know about my flaws. I was still, by law, his asylum therapist and nurse practitioner.

"I'll neither confirm nor deny anything, Dr. Crane. Until we meet again under different circumstances, our relationship must remain professional…unfortunately," I replied finally, as my heart fully plunged into my stomach.

"That's a shame. I really felt like we had a connection, Giada. But, as a psychiatrist myself, I do know where you're coming from. I'll not bother you any longer this evening. Until we meet again—because we will meet again," he raised his martini glass towards me and then wandered off into the crowd.

A part of me almost wanted to chase after him and confirm everything he had just called me out on, but stopped myself. I knew it would be a horrible idea to confirm anything of the sort—especially since I was there with Bruce. I could never taint Bruce's name—not while he was at a gathering like this undercover for Batman.

"Giada! There you are!" Selina greeted me as she and Bruce approached, hand in hand. I smiled at them both, finally relieved that I could go home.

"Sorry I didn't get to say hello before, Selina. It's so good to see you," I responded as I hugged her.

"Did the Joker find you? He was looking for you," Selina stated as soon as we separated from our hug. I shook my head.

"No—I was just with him like…ten or fifteen minutes ago. I told him I wanted to find Bruce so that I could go home. As you can imagine, I'm not exactly in the greatest of moods since delivering Pixie's baby," I explained.

"I think he was going to take you home," Selina responded, "if you couldn't find Bruce,"

My heart just started fluttering at the thought of him caring enough for me to take me home, but just as my eyes darted about the room to find him and his wonderfully painted face, a loud commotion rose from beyond the dance floor. Selina and I both turned to Bruce, who was on full alert.

"Who is that?" Selina asked Bruce, as she followed his eyes with hers.

"Is that…the Joker?" I asked, astonished by the commotion. I could have sworn I saw him holding a knife to someone.

"No. It's not. It's Edward Nygma. That man was, last I heard, in Arkham. From the looks of things, he and Dr. Crane have both escaped," Bruce explained, trying to appear nonchalant.

Suddenly, The Penguin came running up to Selina, Bruce and I in a panic. He looked frazzled and slightly sweaty around the brows.

"Ms. DiMarco, I have a huge favor to ask of you," he panted desperately.

"What is it?" I asked, eager to help out how I could. I felt bad that he had thrown this enormous networking ball only to have Pixie deliver her baby and a fight break out.

"Please get up there and sing something—anything! I need my guest's nerves put at ease and there has been nothing but tacky nuances this evening! And besides—you're the hero who delivered a baby. My business partners will surely enjoy listening to you sing something while I clean up this fight," he explained.

I nodded my head in shaky agreement as he dragged me up to the stage where the band was playing. All I wanted to do was get the hell home!

"This fine lady here would like to sing 'Maybe'," the Penguin instructed the band.

"They already played that earlier tonight," I pleaded, really not wanting to sing that song, even though I loved it.

"I don't care—just sing it," the Penguin retorted and then left the stage and headed for the fight.

The band kicked up the song and handed me a microphone. I felt so exposed standing on the stage knowing I had amniotic fluid stained on my dress; not to mention I knew the Joker, Dr. Crane and Edward Nygma, all my former patients, were out there somewhere listening to me sing. Though, Edward was supposedly engaging in a fight, which didn't seem at all like him to me, but I guessed at this point, anything was possible.

May-hay-be if I pray every night, you'll come back too-hoo me,

And may-hay-be, if I cry everyday, you'll come back to stay,

Oh, maaayybeeee

May-hay-be, if I hold your hand, you will understand,

And may-hay-be, if I kiss your lips, I'll be at your command,

Oh, maaayyybeee

I sang the song in the style in which it had been sung back in the late 1950s. I felt stupid, but it was the only way I knew the song. But by the time I got about half way through the song, I felt the need to spice things up a bit. I turned around mid-lyric and signaled to the band to change it up.

"Alone, by Heart," I mouthed to them. It was my song for the Joker—it had always been how I felt about him. The band switched mid-chord from 'Maybe' to 'Alone'.

"We're gonna change it up a bit here. A little Heart does everyone good," I spoke into the microphone while the band vamped, "This one's for you—you know who you are, though it's not really a secret any longer,"

I hear the tickin' of the clock, I'm lyin' here, the room's pitch dark,

I wonder where you are tonight, no answer on the telephone,

But the night goes by so very slow

Ohh I hope that it won't end though, alone

Till now I always got by own

I never really cared until I met you

And now it chills me to the bone

How do I get you alone?

How do I get you alone?

You don't know how long I have wanted to touch your lips and hold you tight

Ohh, you don't know how long I have waited, and I was gonna tell you tonight

But the secret it still my own

And my love for you is still unknown,

Alone

Ohhhhhhhhh

Till now, I always got by on my own

I never really cared until I met you

And now it chills me to the bone

How do I get you alone?

How do I get you alone?

It wasn't until the end of the song I realized I made a crucial mistake by introducing it as a song for someone I knew. I knew the Joker hadn't had the faintest idea of what I had been talking about, because he was nowhere to be found. Dr. Crane, however, hung on my every lyric. My heart nearly exploded at the realization of what I had just done.

The crowd of guests all applauded when I finished singing and I hesitantly bowed in appreciation, gave the mic back to the band, and made my way down off the stage.

"Another! Sing another song!" someone shouted. In order to avoid Dr. Crane, who was making his way towards me, I ran back up on stage and asked the band for another song. I guess I would just sing my song—my stripping song that was my actual relationship with the Joker, 'Time is Running Out'. The band, thankfully, knew the song and began playing it. I began singing the song, but to my dismay, the guests were far from paying attention. The fight between who had supposedly been Edward Nygma and another local criminal, escalated to a full blown brawl. My eyes darted amongst the crowd, searching for Bruce and Selina, and maybe to see if the Joker would make himself known. It seemed that Bruce had vanished, but it was soon apparent to me that Dr. Crane, too, had vanished. I felt completely alone, singing a song that only brought me terrible memories.

"Come with me, Giada," a familiar voice echoed from behind me on the stage. I turned around, still singing, to find Dr. Crane holding out his hand to me. The band members nodded their heads for me to get out while I could, but something about the situation made me weary.

"Giada, it's not safe here—come with me!" Dr. Crane persisted. I shook my head anxiously as I finished the song. It wasn't long before I felt his arms wrap themselves about my waist and felt myself being lifted off the ground.

"Dr. Crane, put me down!" I shrieked, squirming in his grasp.

"You're coming with me, Ms. DiMarco," Dr. Crane murmured as he dragged me down the stairs and into the brawling crowd of guests.

"Where's Bruce?!" I shouted to him, trying to break free.

"He left—it's just you and me left," Dr. Crane explained loudly, over the cries and shouts from the fight.

"That can't be true! Bruce wouldn't leave me here! Please let me go so I can find him! You don't understand—he's my best friend!" I exclaimed, now shoving myself away from Dr. Crane. For such a thin man, he was impeccably strong. I could only imagine his muscular sculpture beneath his clothing to be quite impressive. But it was clearly not the time for me to croon over Dr. Crane—I was pretty sure at this point, he was capable of anything, just as the Joker was.

"Dr. Crane, the Scarecrow," another familiar voice appeared from behind Dr. Crane. Dr. Crane turned himself around, with me still in tow. I glanced up, as Dr. Crane had my head tightly pressed to his chest with one hand over my mouth. My heart nearly exploded. The Joker stood before us with a switchblade in hand.

"It's been…too long," the Joker mused, grinning widely at the both of us and then running his tongue across his bottom lip.

Dr. Crane grinned back at the Joker and then glanced down at me, "It seems I've gotten myself a little friend of ours," Dr. Crane stated, tightening his arms around me.

"So it does," the Joker agreed, raising his eyebrows, "it also appears like this, uh, brawl that's begun, isn't quite what it should be,"

"So it does," Dr. Crane agreed in return, "but if you will excuse me—I have a friend here who apparently needs to be alone with me," Dr. Crane winked at the Joker, but the Joker simply rolled his eyes and played with the scars inside his mouth with his tongue.

"I think you'd enjoy yourself more…if you joined the…fight with me," the Joker flashed Dr. Crane his switchblade and flashed him a Glasgow smile.

Dr. Crane was about to agree, but paused before he said anything. His eyes met he Joker's, but for a brief moment, he noticed the Joker's gaze at me—a gaze that not just anyone makes upon anyone. Dr. Crane glanced back down at me and saw that I hadn't taken my eyes from the Joker, as though I were pleading with him to save me. The hell I needed saving! I was just about the kick Dr. Crane in the balls, when he finally decided to speak.

"It seems to me that there's more here than meets the eye, am I right…Joker?" Dr. Crane mused, narrowing his eyes knowingly.

"With you, there's always more…than meets the eye, Crane," the Joker responded stiffly, flipping his switchblade repeatedly. "Okay, how about this—how about you hold…Giada here, while I cut her face with my little friend," The Joker raised his eyebrows and licked his lips in amusement.

Dr. Crane looked horrified, "Why would you ever suggest that?! It would ruin her perfectly beautiful face!"

"I'm not the one holding her hostage while a perfectly exciting brawl is occurring behind me," the Joker pointed, using his knife as his pointer, "Now, if you are in fact the Dr. Crane I remember, you'll be…glad…to join me against these…miscreants who call themselves criminals,"

"Well, if you're the Joker I remember, then you'll have no problem cutting her face—like you just suggested," Dr. Crane stated, provoking the Joker's reputation. The Joker sighed nonchalantly, rolled his eyes and licked his lips.

"I don't know what you take me for, Crane—I'm a man of my word," the Joker replied in a low voice as he approached me with his knife in hand. I squirmed in Dr. Crane's grasp as he held onto me tightly, while the Joker grabbed my face with his left hand.

"You wouldn't dare," I said between squished lips.

"Shh, sh, sh, sh," the Joker placed his finger to my lips as he switched his blade up, "if I were you, I wouldn't be so sure this time around,"