Hey Readers!

I hope you are enjoying the story so far (if so please review… pretty Pretty please). One more chapter and this story will head over to the Dark Night world for Bruce's Memories... then land in Crossover fic land.

Back to love (my other fic) will be finished soon. I have about 4 chapters in the bank – and let me tell you – we're going dark (I get squeamish just writing it—but it's what the story demands).

Thanks again for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 3

Alfred appeared on the screen with a newspaper in front of him.

"Lucius," he began.

And his face was slapped.

"Mr. Fox,"

"Hmmms, That's mooorrreeee like it," a computerized voice said with a giggle

"Sometimes who we are in this life isn't about our titles or our stature but more about who we are to strangers – the unseen. Some may see me as a man, or as a mere butler, or your boss. It all depends on your perspective."

"But what if I'm more—and you can't see that or never have."

"I'm here to invert the view – turn everything on it's head - ground you in a new reality of the people – that you've been oblivious to for so long."

"You will receive 3 challenge questions—you must solve them correctly or I will go the way of the Golden 67."

"Your first task – is to find my roots—you can't know who I am if you don't know where I'm from."

"Very Good AL," he squealed, "Now say something to your friends..."

"Say it from you heart," he growled slowly "this may be your swan song" he chuckled as he pulled Alfred's face to closer to the screen. The unsub wore white gloves… his face and was out of camera frame.

"Lucius, I hope you can forgive me for the secret I've kept – love often blinds you and we share the same soft spot." He said as his lip quivered, "I've lived a full life, I've had a family and often felt like I had a son," a few tears trickled down his eyes and navigated through his wrinkled face to his shirt, "and regardless of the outcome I hope you have these things too – a man deserves that much in his life and you have been that blessing. You let your life end – sacrificing one happiness for another without understanding that you deserved both—worthy of both. Remember Burma, sometimes we cannot buy, negotiate, or fight our way out—I'm too old for such theatrics. But I beg you " He cleared his throat, "don't add me to the weight you carry. Leslie, I love you. Forgive him Lulu - fear creates our worst selves... always."

"Now I don't understand the message 100% but we can come back to that." Lucius informed the group, "Wayne Enterprises is an international company with footholds in technology, defense, and national government. Over the past 3 or 4 years we had security breaches—We've put the relevant ones on your tablets. To view the entire list, click the resources folder."

"As you can see our system has been hacked several times from Arkham Asylum – we believe it's Jack Napier aka the Joker. We have reported it to the proper authorities and upgraded our system—while the new Director of Arkham Asylum has refused to remove Jack Napier's Internet privileges – we have retained a digital restraining order, which has kept him at bay for a year. The information that was accessed leads us to believe he had something to do with Alfred's disappearance."

Commissioner Gordon began, "At the peak of the Joker reign of terror on San Francisco he released this video to Gotham Nightly News."

On the screen appears a bloody and beaten man in a homemade Batman costume.

"Tell them your name"

"Brian Douglas," the man whimpers out

"Are you the real batman"? He asks with a demonic chuckle filling the space between his answer.

"No"

"Then why do you dress up like him?" he asks as he takes off his mask

"He's a symbol that we don't have to be afraid of scum like you."

"Yeaaah you do Brian," he growls "Yeah you really do!"

He rubs his face like a cat—"do you think Batman has made Gotham a better place?"

"Look at me"

"LOOK AT ME," he growls so fiercely it echoes in the camera's microphone.

He turns the camera around and puts it on his face.

"This is how crazy Batman has made Gotham. You want order in Gotham. Batman must take off his mask and turn himself in. Everyday he doesn't people will die.

Starting tonight."

"The Joker and his gang killed 5 people then went underground and could not be located for two years. He was still a top priority but we had no leads—until CES—the Consumer Electronic Trade Show"

"After targeting the Batman he began targeting Bruce Wayne. We looked into our system and couldn't find anything that would directly link him to any of our recent hack attacks and this kidnapping – but the similarities on the video and language is uncanny."

Commissioner Gordon continues, "Jack Napier is responsible the deaths of DA Harvey Dent, ADA Rachel, Holly Diaz, Falconie. He and a group called the hoods are responsible for the CES bombing attempt and warehouse fires along the coast – which killed a total of 68 people. 67 at the CES bombing, which was referenced in Alfred's video and 1 from the warehouse fire. He has murdered the head of 2 crime families, and robbed 3 banks in Gotham, and several other crimes outlined in the document. His total number 75 and those are the ones we know about."

"That's all," Lucius added, "we can take your questions."

The questions flew in—every department trying to prove their competency and importance by creating the most unanswerable question. Penelope drifted far away from the conference room Reid noticed and he hoped that she would be ok. She knew the motivation of the CES bombing, which was never printed in the paper—wealth disparity was never brought up—the Joker was a narcissistic sadist—a true psychopath.

She cleared her throat, "the programs he used to hack the system do you have them?"

"Most of them, Penelope. This game for instance when you get to the construction wire frames – a program over takes it and flashes "Happy Fun Meow Meow" on the screen."

She contained her surprise – as Hotch's eyebrow raised while looking at her.

"I would like to look at the programs and the game when possible."

"Has anyone targeted Mr. Pennyworth before? It doesn't make sense why anyone would target Bruce Wayne since he's been dead for 4 years." asked a CIA agent.

"Presumed dead," Bruce corrected as he walked towards the front of the room – wearing his Billionaire Bruce Wayne Costume—cocky, rich, and carefree.

Penelope grabs her pendant and quickly sucks in air

He continues to the front of the room, the agent continued.

"Why fake your own death again—Mr. Wayne?"

"I've never faked my death. I took a long vacation and left Alfred in charge—few people were privy to this information, not the board, or even Lucius. Just Alfred and a less than a handful of others."

He stood by Lucius, looked out, and saw the wave of emotions hit Penelope. Shock, happiness... I think I saw a smile he thought and sadness. She hated to cry but could never control her tears they always just fell—he bowed his head for a long second – he couldn't look at her—he continued trying to avoid eye contact with her.

"I know it may not make sense to look into a man who has been in Arkham for the past 4 years but we as a city have seen what kind of destruction he is capable of. Like Manson, the Joker has a way of getting people – under his spell – regardless of gender. The last Director of the Asylum, Dr. Quinn, helped him escape twice before he murdered her. I asked Tom and Richard to bring in Lulu's group because of her intimate knowledge of the perpetrator… I mean Penelope's team."

Her team contain their surprise … but she knows they are full of questions. Worst nightmare realized in that instant, she thought.

Emily mouths Lulu and looks at Penelope. Alfred's final message was to her.

She looks at her team who is perplexed, leans into the microphone in front of her, and says, "Yes, I know Jack Napier Is that why we're here – you need us to deliver a profile of an old," she paused as she searched for the proper description when-

Bruce offers "lover?"

"Friend,"—she corrected curtly "—family," she added as her voice waivered.

"We can do that," she said trying to remain as professional as possible given the circumstances. She began to understand the lies Alfred told her to protect Bruce—the anger rose and she knew that Nice Penelope was about to leave the building. Hotch covered the microphone, "are you ok?"

"I'm fine," she said remaining composed.

Clancy asks, "What do we know about him?"

Jack's image comes up on the screen in full Joker garb. "He writes you, Penelope religiously," Commissioner Gordon stated, "he sends emails and letters."

"I, uhm. I never read them." She said playing in the tips of her hair, "I mean to throw them out but I keep them in a box. Maybe a letter a month or every other month. I've never received an email."

"In addition to you, he started writing two other people who are alias that we are trying to track down. He's taken a vow of silence and hasn't spoken in a year"

"We believe that his a partner who has taken Alfred," Gordon informed them "this isn't a simple kidnapping but a matter of national security given Wayne Enterprise government and international business contracts. We can't assume this is personal. We have embezzlement charges pending with Lex Corporation and Veselov an Afgani/ Russian Intelligence company. "

He nodded.

An Homeland Security Agent, "so just to reiterate—this could be a personal attack, corporate posturing, or terrorism depending on what? It could be one man or many? Do we only have the emails and video to go by?"

Richard Tracey annoyed by the question, "That is why the BAU is here to take the lead and streamline this process. What is your name?

"David Friedman,"

"Thank you for your service David – you may head back to DC." A silent murmur irrupted in the room as he gathered his items.

Erin jumped in and informed the room, "We'll need to use the breakaway room to assess all of this new information and create a preliminary action plan." She really just wanted to regroup with Penelope and the team since she was the main reason they were here.

"You can use Room B and we'll upload all the information we have on the PD servers – that should take 10 minutes."

"Now Jack has hacked our systems a few times since his admittance to Arkham" Lucius began as Penelope rose and headed to the nearest exit.

Derek rose as well and Emily took his hand, "give her a few moments Morgan."

"But she needs..."

"She needs time," Emily said "and we need to be focused here."

Penelope didn't make it two steps outside the doors before the tears started to flow. She ducked into the stairwell and started to pace.

To remember Bruce was to remember Washington DC during the cherry blossom season—full of color, vibrancy, and excitement. They had a bumpy start but no one had ever touched her soul like he did. They were like magnets - who couldn't ignore the laws of attraction. Holly was the first to see it – Holly championed them before they even existed. Holly was her living guardian angel—a few years after her parents died she met Holly Diaz - this spunky teenager taught Penelope how to live again and Bruce taught her how to love – he became the definition of it.

She thought of Holly every day … she couldn't help it—Holly gave Penelope her first pair of cat-eyed glasses. Holly made her shed her flannel Seattle dreams, and embrace a life of enjoyment, laughter, love and color. Holly helped he shed the last bit of her mourning and depression over her parents death. She showed Penelope how to celebrate life – and Penelope never stopped. She's the reason behind the wacky accessories and the electric colored clothing. Holly is the sole reason I wear stockings old school style with the garter belt and heels. High heels—The first time Holly made her wear them she swore she walked like a penguin or a duck but she got the hang of it and it became normal- bright heels became the norm.

She remembers the good times.

Holly loved Bruce instantly and was convinced they were a match made in the stars. Despite his pompous billionaire "I only date models" asshat persona – Holly coined the term PG because she was going to be the future Princess of Gotham… she hated that name but thinking of it made her laugh. Her chuckle quickly turned into sobs as she thought, Bruce is not dead.

You have a real sense of humor she said talking to whoever was listening in heaven. She couldn't be mad because she prayed for this most nights until she stopped praying all together. Holly and Bruce's death left her completely empty and she promised herself that she would never feel that way again. Love was never an option because those she loved always died or left. She always was always left empty, mourning, and alone.

A tear filled with mascara landed on her knee and she hoped she didn't ruin her dress with tears.

He'd never seen her like this and once again her knew he was wrong and Alfred was right – Alfred was always right.

He passed her a handkerchief and knelt in front of her.

She knew whatever explanation he had would not be good enough, soon angry Penelope would be here, and the mood would be changed. But if Holly were here she would ask her, how do you feel in this moment PG?

And in this moment she was just happy.

She wiped her tears and reached out her hand to touch his face, "I just can't believe it," she whispered as her trembling hand touched him. His beard was coarse like she remembered and he had a few strands of grey mixed into his ginger beard. His skin was slightly sun kissed and his eyes—her favorite pools of chocolate. – He used to say the same thing about her. She often found the truth in those eyes when his mouth couldn't form the words.

"You are really here," she said as she caressed his face and made her way to his hair. She always loved a shaggy Bruce. His hair was longer than how he used to keep it. It was a layered thick mess that found it's home between the space of his ears and mid neck.

"I've wished for," but the urge to kiss him overwhelmed her and she placed her lips on his. She felt like that moment in Back to the Future where the lights are moving so fast that they are simply a rainbow of electric lines. Her heart raced still unable to comprehend the reality of the moment. She deepened the kiss and she was teleported to a rainy day in Paris – when they made out like teenagers under a weeping willow tree until the sun shower past. Part of her wanted to go back there. To be anywhere but here.

Bruce touched her face and kissed her back. He tilted her head slightly and went to his favorite lip. She tasted as she did in every dream, her hair still smelled of lavender and mint. As his heart became heavy—he tried to understand the source of his mistake – was he still operating from a place of fear—a place born on Crime Alley that always seemed to keep him from his heart's desire- that kept him from her. Regret tugged his heart lower and lower into the abyss.

She broke away. She was fine until he started to kiss her back. Angry Penelope filled her head, her heart, her soul… calling her stupid, foolish, naive.

She pushed him away and stood up.

"You must be masochist," she said "or maybe it's me. It must be me. I keep on finding myself in this place," she said dabbing her eyes.

"I didn't want you to find out like this."

She let out a mocking chuckle, "This feels familiar, am I dreaming? I mean I've dreamt about this, prayed for this, looked for you and you're here – alive," she said letting the revelation sink into her brain, "living. So tell me how did you want me to find out - how did you think it would play out? You've always had a flare for the dramatics."

"Lu," he began

"Penelope ," she corrected firmly, "I thought you were dead—I visited your grave every," she stopped talking because the anger took hold of her heart. She was being pounded by realization after realization and she became stony.

"I always thought that you cared about me… but I didn't realize how little till today. I mean everything between us," she shook her head, "meant nothing. Was I that disposable? I spent 1 year, 2 months, and 17 days searching for you. I went off the grid and looked for you—every special surgery hospital in South America and Europe. I went to every place we shared hoping to find you. I never gave up on you. Us.

Hope," she wiped her eyes.

"Alfred told me you wouldn't want this life for me –but, I told him if it was reverse you would never stop searching for me. I've never been so wrong."

She looked up and past the ceiling for strength, "We have a connection .. I thought..." she looked at him as a tear sailed down her cheek, "you were that piece. and I swore to him in my heart I could feel you and your weren't dead. See I know dead—my parents dead, Holly dead, Bruce- but then that the day he showed me your headstone and said you would want me to have a life, a family, be happy. I decided to try."

She leaned against the wall "why would he do that? I mean I thought you me Lucius were a family—and he knew you were here and he let me search for you then mourn you. Then you stroll in here like we were nothing… not even a blip that registers on those freakin machines that trace the blips."

"You left me to burn Penelope—I watched you run from the building with Jack as it collapsed on me. If it wasn't for Holly," he started trying to defend himself

"What?" She said perplexed. "You were with Holly?"

"She saved my life while you and Jack," he continued.

"There isn't a me and a Jack – he," she started when she realized it didn't matter.

"I just don't understand you—I don't get any of it. I can't believe they didn't tell me," she said completely perturbed.

He stepped closer to her, "Penelope, I wasn't able to," he stopped mid-sentence when he saw her cold distant eyes.

"Don't," she said glaring, "Nothing you can say can make this better. You continuously hurt me and I let you."

"Penelope let me explain."

"No, you don't get ease your conscious with your version of the truth. You could've explained any day before today. Any Day," she took a deep breath, "You died."

"You've been dead for 4 years."

"There is no reasoning that away. I will do this profile because it is my job. My team is my family and they'll yours back. Our work here will be done and you can live your life like it was yesterday."

"I've tried to get in contact with you but—"

"Really I don't care. the Bruce I know and loved is dead and buried next to my parents and you are the – I don't know – like the evil spawn of him that traveled across galaxies to haunt me or something- but you aren't real to me."

"Lulu we need you—we."

Raising her hand in the air like a crossing guard, "part of me wishes I was Derek so I could just kick your tucus officially and then part of me wants to just hold you because I can't believe you are here."

She began to hyperventilate,

"I can't be here.

I can't think and I feel like

I can't breathe and I just don't understand anything.

How could you hurt me like this?"

He held her as her breathing normalized, He kissed her forehead lightly and she walked away.

She shook her head, "Joker once told me that Jack was the mask and the Joker was always there. And now I can't help but wonder was there ever a Bruce – maybe Bruce Wayne died with his parents in Crime Alley and all that is left is a spoiled, vengeful shadow of who you were supposed to be. But Alfred deserves more in life than to be the fixer of your messes. He deserves a life—something you've always taken for granted. I mean even as he faces a madman—he wishes his love to Lesley and asking me to forgive you in the same breath. When have you ever been so selfless?"

She leaves the staircase and as the door closes, Bruce punched the wall, "selfless," he murmured to himself. She had no idea what he'd given up.

As he heard her heels click down the hall, he decided he needed to explain everything- now. Alfred would say the truth needs to have it's day. As he opened up the door, he heard-

"Baby girl, slow down."

"I need some air Derek,"

"Unfortunately, air isn't up next," He took her hankerchief and blotted her eyes, "what's going on? How do you know Bruce, Lucius, and Alfred?"

"It's along story,"

"should I go get popcorn," he teased.

She smiled, "There's that smile I Love," he said making sure her face looked good as new, "There's that face I love."

"You may not after you hear about my past,"

"Your chocolate Thor isn't going anywhere,"

"Thank you – I guess we should gather the group,"

He took her hand and kissed it- and led her to the conference room.

His heart stiffened watching her with Derek. He remembered the first time he saw them together.

It was a fall day and the leaves were golden brown.

Alfred wheeled him to the window, in the library.

"There she is Master Bruce. She comes ever year to visit her parents."

Bruce let out a raspy sigh, Alfred continued "You should invite her up—tell her"

"What Alfred, that I'm a tetraplegic? That I'm stuck in this chair?"

"If you do your exercises the doctors said you could" Alfred said challenged.

He interrupted him, "They can't give me a new spine, Alfred! She deserves more than what I've become. Than what I am."

"She never gave up on you even when I did. You owe her the truth."

"I owe her peace Alfred and she is happy. Look at the way she looks at him. She never looked at me like that."

"She looked at you with more love," he said passionately. Alfred tapped his chest… his heart. "She never gave up on you – and you sit here feeling sorry for yourself making up stories to suit your fear."

"You used to be a fighter—you used to be the Batman."

"Now I'm not even a man Alfred—please."

"She deserves more than this," Bruce whispered, "Reverse," he said into the command chamber of the chair.

"Shouldn't she decide? What she wants?" He called after him, "Or better yet, shouldn't you at least try to get out of that chair?"

When he made it to his bedroom he rolled to the window and saw them through the sheer curtain. Her boyfriend was holding her and kissing her forehead as she cried. They held each other for a while and then he said something to her and she smiled. That smile that lit up a room – that smile that he loved. I wish I told her that he thought. He wiped her tears and kissed her hand – she smiled again as they walked to their car. He was a good looking, tall fit black man and she looked at him like he hung the moon. She was happy and he was in the chair—the end he thought—the end.

Selfless… letting her go was the hardest and most selfless thing he's ever done…and now she hated him.

He entered the hallway and saw her with her love, Derek Morgan. Derek held her hand and led her to Conference Room B. Bruce couldn't believe that a few moments ago he just had her in his arms, a moment he dreamt about for the past two years and as quickly as it happened it was over. Maybe the kiss was a knee jerk reaction. She and Derek lived together, she was happy. But that kiss he thought as he touched his lips made him think – when Alfred was returned all he would say, was I told you so. Maybe she did feel something, after all this time – maybe if given the choice she would've chosen…argh, he thought, today wasn't about his broken heart. It was about Alfred and where the Joker put him.

He had to get Alfred back—living in a world without him wasn't an option. He lost her—he couldn't loose him too.

Thanks for reading and please review... do you like it so far? or is it kinda blah? just wondering