As soon as they got in the car, the kid let the old man have it.

Josie started screaming like a banshee, and surprisingly, both the old man and Gabby.

Honestly, Gabby didn't know the kid had the pipes.

'Colin is a nice boy!' She shrieked. ' Why did you hurt him?'

'He would have tried to follow us!' Joker defended.

'Nuh-uh.'

'Yes-uh!'

'Nuh-uh!'

Joker turned to Gabby. ' Help me out.'

'You make a fair point, but I'm going to have to side with the kid because you just pistol-whipped two little boys.'

'A couple of pussies is what you two are!'

'What's that?'

'What's what?'

'A pussy. What's a pussy?'

'It's, well?' he turned to Gabby.

'Yes, what is it?' She asked with a smile.

'Well, uh, it's a cat.' He said, glaring at her.

'You're calling us cats?'

'Yes.'

'So, we're acting like cats?'

'Scaredy cats.'

'Oh.'

'The point is, he would have followed us, and then I would have HAD to kill him.'

Josie's eyes widened, and she sank back into her seat; it was quiet for a while.

'So, uh, how long will the test take again?' Asked Gabby to lighten the mood.

'About five days, a week tops.'

'Uh... are we going to tell Ivy?' Asked the kid.

'Tell her what?'

'About our... outing... she might get mad...'

'Then, we don't tell her.'

'You want me to lie to her?'

'Not lie, just... omit the truth.'

The Kid frowned but said but didn't dispute the subject further.

'Uh, what do I call you?'

'What do you mean?'

'Should I call you Joker or dad?'

He made a face. 'Joker, just call me that for now.'

Gabby thought he should let her call him dad, but then again, he didn't know if she was his kid.

But it didn't phase The Kid; she just shrugged and looked out the window. There was an awkward silence; then, she turned to him.

'Joker?'

'Yeah?'

'How come you don't like Batman?'

'Don't like him? Darling, I'm crazy about him.'

'Then why do you want to kill him?'

Gabby wondered about the older man and Batman as well. Whenever someone mentioned The Bat, the Joker would gush like a girl with a crush. He always did act quite funny, but he had Harley; maybe he went both ways.

'Did he make you crazy?'

'Yes.'

'Did he chase you down in the rain and slam your head on the ground?'

'We've fought in the rain a couple of times.'

'Does he scare you?'

'Does Robin scare you, Girl Scout?'

The Kid didn't respond; she only looked out the window.

'Do you want to learn how to fight?'

'Grandpa said fighting never solves-'

'Grandpa is a Vietnam Vet.'

'I know.'

She looked at the older man and stared at him strangely.

'What's wrong, kid?' Asked Gabby.

'I was just wondering...'

'What were you wondering about?' He asked.

'You.' She said quietly. 'Did you ever fight in a war as my grandpa did?'

'No, not exactly.'

'Did you ever meet them?'

'No.'

'Has he always been like that?'

'Who?'

'Robin?'

'It's not the same Robin; he's just the latest model.'

'Is Batman a late model?'

The old man paused for a second and scowled. ' Yeah, he is.'

More than one Batman?!

'Do you know where the old model is?'

'No, but he can't hide from me.'

Gabby glanced over at him, then turned to the girl.

'Why not?'

'He's a bit of a control freak; he convinced himself that he's the only person that can deal with me. He'll return, he's compelled to.'

'What does compelled mean?' Asked The kid.

'Force or obligate someone to do something.'

'You mean obsession compulsory distress?' She asked as she chewed on the lock of hair sheepishly. 'Is that what it's called?'

'No, not exactly.' He said quietly with a smile, not his usual smile, but a more natural one.

'What is it called?'

'Obsessive-compulsive disorder and you might be on to something.'

'He's a cleaning freak?'

'More or less, but there are four types of OCD.'

'4?' Repeated Gabby.

'Contamination, perfection, doubt and harm, and forbidden thoughts.' The man sighed, rolling his eyes.

'Where does Batman fall?'

He drove in silence for a while, rubbing his chin. He'd been pondering this question for a while.

'I'd say he's between contamination and perfection.'

'Do you have OCD?'

'Why the sudden interest in mental health?'

'I dunno.' She shrugged.

Maybe she thinks that she can help him, Gabby thought glumly.

'It's getting late; we should get you back.'

'If you return to Arkham, do you think they'll lemme see you?'

'Probably not, unless.'

'Unless...?'

'Unless The Bat allows it...'

'You don't think he would-?' Asked Gabby.

From what she learned over the years, The Bat had a soft spot for kids.

Indeed, he would let The Kid see him.

Right?

'Shit!'

Colin woke up to Robin swearing and kicking trash cans.

'What-'

Colin tentatively rubbed the top of his head and winced when his fingernail scraped the sore spot.

'Shit.'

'How did I get here?' Robin barked; he turned to Colin. 'How'd you get knocked out?'

'Joker hit me with his gun.'

'You saw him?!'

'Saw him? He ran his fingers through my hair.'

'What? Why?'

'He's a weird guy.'

'I didn't know he was that weird. He let you go? Do you have any idea why?'

Colin replayed the scene in his head. ' Well.'

'Well, what?'

'Don't freak out.'

'Why? What have I got to freak out over?'

'I saw her, too. Josephine Kerr.'

'You what?!' Robin choked.

'Don't freak out!'

'I'm not freaking out.'

'I saw her and Gagsworth.' Colin was hesitant to say the next part. 'They were with him.'

'Gagsworth is probably a drug dealer; The Clown often recruits children to move product. Maybe she's a worker.'

If it was good enough for Robin, it was good enough for him.

For now, at least.

'Did you see which way they went?'

'No, I was knocked out.'

'Damn.' Robin muttered as he rubbed the back of his head. 'Do you...?'

'Do I what?

'Do you want to get something to eat?'