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As usual, I own nothing in the CM & Nolanverse worlds.
"Bruce said he's 5 minutes away. By the time we get through security he should be here." Reid read from his cell phone.
"I'm surprised acronym city let him leave base camp. He is a target you know."
She ran her fingers through her hair, "I think he should've stayed. Jack and Bruce never played nicely together. Oil and Water," she added as she picked invisible lint from her skirt. She wanted to tell Reid about Bruce being the Batman and how before they... Bruce and Jack- knew each other's true identity they were nemesis. Wait, I don't think Jack knows that Bruce was the Batman but Bruce sure knows who Jack is. She wondered how this secret could damage the case and chances of getting Alfred back—maybe when they were alone she could get him to tell the team or at least Hotch and Reid who he was.
Reid was in the middle of explaining why oil and water actually do play nice together. Something about oil and water... respecting the rules... and being able to coexist separately.
She sighed, what she would give to be in her lair working remotely, she thought.
Through the final security check Dr. Grey and Bruce were waiting for them.
"How did you beat us?" Reid asked flustered and surprised by his presence.
"I know a short cut," he said with his billionaire smirk. Penelope knew that Reid added that to the list of things wrong with Bruce. But she knew Bruce hid behind his personas like a turtle retreats into his shell… only he could feel safe being a pompous ashat… she chuckled at the thought.
As Dr. Grey walks them to his room, she informs them of his state - "He hasn't spoken in a year. He decided there wasn't a point and just stopped. He reads though—a voracious reader-"
"He's always been," she looks at Reid, "he loves books."
"But we had to take away his computer privileges because he was hacking into Wayne Enterprises and creating user groups for his fans."
"Did you facilitate his internet ban?" Reid asked Bruce wondering about his relationship to the hospital.
"He has fans?" Penelope asked simultaneously and miffed.
"Thousands," Dr. Grey replied
"If he doesn't talk why are we here?" Bruce asked ignoring Reid's question.
Dr. Grey looked at Bruce, "He'll talk to Penelope."
Penelope shrugged, "We think he will," she said walking through the second security door.
"Which wing is this?" Reid asked
"His wing," Dr. Grey replied
"He's alone," Penelope asked defensively, "what kind of treatment is this?"
Dr. Grey, "he is dangerous—he killed his last doctor for the fun of it. We take no chances. The staff doesn't want to work with him. Some of them are afraid."
"And your not," Bruce asked wondering if the doctor was under the same spell as Dr. Quinn.
"No—he deserves – no I'm not."
They open the last door.
"He's in a glass room?" Penelope observed
"You can talk to him through the glass?" Dr. Grey informed her.
"Very silence of the lambs," Penelope said without thinking. Bruce knew she was nervous. He put his hand on her back knowing it would soothe her.
"Or you can go in which would require us to restrain him," Dr. Grey proposed cautiously.
"I'll go in," she said.
"Lu," Bruce said preparing a speech about why this was all wrong.
"He won't hurt me, Bruce."
"Garcia, you haven't seen him in years and he could've devolved," Reid suggested trying to keep her protected.
"I'm not a profiler but I know him. Through and through. He'll pull my hair but he won't hurt me."
She looked at the three of them, "I know Jack."
"He hasn't been Jack for a long time, Lulu," Bruce reminded her.
"This is for Alfred," she turned to Dr. Grey, "I'm ready."
Dr. Grey informed the orderlies via walkie-talkie to strap him down and prep him for in person interview.
"Ok, when we go in- I will repeat these rules. You do not cross the table, you do not touch him, you just talk. If he talks. He will be either strapped down or siting in restraints depending on how he was this morning."
She pointed to the corners of the room; "We have to guards with tranquilizers ready to diffuse any situation that might…"
Penelope shook her head, "I can't hear this we either go in now or we don't—I don't need to be prepped it's just freaking me out and I wasn't freaked out before so we either go in or we don't," she sputtered.
"Remember keep it on Alfred. He will try other topics but keep it on this. He will know we are watching. He will try to get a reaction out of you so just remember - Alfred."
"Ok, Spencer."
She walks in and he's wearing a facemask with a grill on the mouth.
"Jack," she whispers, "I'm …"she is overwhelmed with emotion.
The Doctor repeats the rules and Penelope can barely hear her – her eyes are on Jacks—
"Do you understand? "Dr. Grey asked
"Yes, Uhm can you take off his mask," she asked wanting to humanize him—subconsciously at least.
"We can't,"
"You have him tied to a chair and desk which is bolted to the floor… he's not the incredible hulk."
"He's permanently injured 2 orderlies," Dr. Grey informed her
"He's not David Banner or He- Man," Penelope countered
The doctor concedes, the orderlies remove the mask, "and can we have two waters?"
"Hi Jack," she said in her chipper Penelope voice.
He looked up at her evilly, "I mean Joker. Is that what you want me to call you?"
He sat back in his chair and his shoulders relaxed and he licked his scars. His tongue played with the creases… exploring the healed wounds as if he just discovered they were there. She couldn't help but stare—In her memories, he was always scar less… in her memories he was always Jack.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
The silence hung in the room as he held her eyes.
"Are you not going to talk?"
The guard came in with water and placed them on her side of table. Derek always talked about making the unsub feel a bit at ease but here she was all uneasy in his Hannibal Lecter space. Heck, she requested a water for a man tied to a chair. Maybe Reid should come in, she thought.
"Well I'm here because I wanted to know if you have any information about Alfred."
She opened her water and took a sip.
"He's missing and I thought you may know something," she took a long sip.
"Do you?"
She let the question hang as she sipped her water.
She played with her pendant
"She's nervous we should go in," Bruce said as he walked towards the door.
"No she'll let us know," Reid said, "she'll flash us the sign."
She looked at him and bit her lip realizing this was all for naught—slightly relieved that he didn't have anything to do with it.
"Ok," she rose from the chair and proceeded to head to the door—
"Mmmmmhhhhmmmm," the Joker hummed.
"You always bit your lip when your nervous or turned on—which one is it sweetie?"
She took a deep breath, crossed her arms around her, and held the pendant, Damn, he spoke she thought, fuckindity frack… I'm not a profiler. She turned to the window where Reid was and flashed him a semi-worried look. She could imagine Reid giving her an encouraging smile; she took a deep breath; and turned around.
"DO you know where he is?" She repeated
"Do the scars make you nervous? Do they scare you? Or do they remind you that I'm not Jack?"
"You told me there never was a Jack."
"MMMMMmmmmm-memory of an elephant I tell ya," he giggled as he looked at her leisurely.
"I don't remember if I liked your hair more red, blond with pink, or just blond."
She returned to the table, "you stalk me from here to Quantico?"
"Stalk is such a harsh word – I like observe."
And he leaned closer and "I like to watch."
Bruce on the other side of the glass, "He's been stalking her—we should end this interview, now." He commanded them as he was used to commanding everyone in his life. Dr. Grey fell in line.
She was too happy to comply, as she started walking to the door.
Reid stood firm.
"No," Reid stated, "She knows what she's doing – she in control. Look at her posture. She is trying to get a rise out of him."
She sat down, and the Joker began.
"The first time I knew you were the one- I didn't even know what that meant. We were in your backyard, camping and your brother went to get s'mores fixins. You were eating the homemade marshmallows your dad made – they were divine.
DE-VINE," he said "and you kissed me."
"An 11 year old,"
"12." she corrected
"12," he said with a smile, "year old Penelope kissed me and as I touched your hair – your beautiful blond curls I knew in that moment what heaven felt like. Then a smell wafted into the yard. It still haven't forgotten that smell—you know the smell of your parents burning—that smell," he gritted out, "interrupted our..."
She leaned closer, "where's Alfred?"
"You still use the same shampoo? I haven't smelt that in years. Holly hated that shampoo in the beginning she said it dried her hair out. But she grew to love it—she grew to love a lot of things. Clamps, rope, restraints, crops, plugs, groups. She liked being shared… being filled… being naughty Penelope. Things I knew you wouldn't do."
"Where's Alfred?" she asked trying to keep the bile from passing the halfway mark of her esophagus.
"She wanted to be you so badly—did you know that? Admired you? Looked up to you? Heck she dropped out of school just like you."
Penelope couldn't keep her game face on—she couldn't keep this about Alfred when he kept on bringing up Holly—he killed Holly.
She glared, "don't say her name."
His eyes lit up and a slow smile crossed his face, There she is, he whispered.
"Holly," he said slowly," Holly Holly"
"You want to hurt me? Is that why we're here?" She asked angrily.
"Do you even know why you're here?" he quipped back with laser speed.
"Alfred's been kidnapped"
"Whose Alfred?" He said incredulously.
She looked at him "and I thought this would be different."
"You never came," he said solemnly.
"I don't visit killers – You killed them," she said as she slammed the table—she rose from her chair and began to pace
"I am your family," he growled, "and you left me to rot in here"
"You chose prison," she reminded him
"Well Brucey made it—I should've put the bomb closer—"
He smiled at the mirror and said, "Next time."
"You will not," she showed signs of defeat and said, "This was a mistake."
She turned to the mirror yet she still didn't make the sign to leave or for intervention. She drank her water.
She finally saw who Jack was, "You are a monster," she said crossing the threshold
"Tell me how you really feel," he asked egging her on.
"I hate you and I would give anything for you to trade places with Holly."
He quickly turned in his chair, cut his hands on his restraints to grab her, pulled her to the table.
She put her free hand up and said, "Don't shoot him. DON'T. I'm fine."
"Are you finnnne that is." He growled an inch from her face
"Joker, your scars don't scare me, you don't scare me, and you are nothing but a little boy whose is having a temper-tantrum because his father made one bad decision. You're here because you don't know how to be happy, you don't know how to let go, you are here because love was never enough for you."
As he felt the effects of her words she ordered him to "Let me go!" And he released her – yet, she didn't move from his reach – she wasn't afraid of him
"And according to the DSMV... you are a psychopathic sexual sadist." She said fixing her cardigan.
"Now where is Alfred?"
"Roll Brucey in here and have him ask me." Jack gestured towards the window, "Open marriage? I always say if the equipment doesn't work but a new one."
"What are you talking about?" She turned to the Joker, "Is that what this is about—are you trying to break him? Like Dent?"
"Anarchy just shows people their true selves?"
"And who are you?"
"Chaos?"
"And Bruce?"
"Obvious. I thought you would out grow him but—you married him," His eyes danced frantically, "who says money can't buy you love... Right Penny Bear"
"Are you targeting him?"
"The point of a secret is to never tell and the point of a riddle is to solve it—neither come easy."
"Riddles?" she said looking up at him worried.
"Now, I've got your attention," he let out a dry giggle, "but we aren't playing chess darling or should I call you my black queen?"
Was this about her? She wondered… chess, above board, black queen.
He watched her think for a bit then he said, "All I know is the joker is wild, "he said rotating his pelvis in his seat.
"I've heard wild cards cheapens the game."
"Interesting—it makes the game interesting. "
" No games," she said abruptly and directly.
"Here are the rules," he countered
"Not playing," she said taking her seat.
"We are not in your yard - kissing. Which was nice—you were nice then."
He sighed, "I didn't take Alfred," obviously he said with his eye roll, "and I don't know who did nor do I care but—I will help."
She played along, rolling her eyes, "I don't need help."
"Trust me – you need me—you've got a team lead by a stoic sudo batman, is he the batman – I've always wondered? You're always by his side... even when his stab wounds re-opened. Then I remember the way you spent your last moments saving him at CES. You chose a stranger instead of me but I've forgiven you—" he paused
"Thought you would keep your word." He whispered that last part.
"A Boy genius, Italian Moses, 2 from Charlie's Angels and brawny. Are you and Brawny a thing? You have so many pots cooking these days… it hard to tell from here."
He looked at the mirror again waiting for Bruce to answer on the other side.
"I always thought we would have another go—like before?" he said returning to her.
"Jack," she began
"They can't help you catch this guy—because he has one mission—Bruce. I don't care about Bruce but if he's the Neo to your Trinity so be it—I'll be Morpheus."
"You like good guys," he said smacking his lips, "I can be a good guy, Penny Bear"
"Ok—so what do you want?"
He looked over surprised, "why do you say that?"
"You once said if you're good at something don't do it for free."
He looked at her adoringly and said, "You did pay attention in school."
"I will help you. If –" he paused-
"When you get him back and you will – you come here and we share a shake."
"What?" she said surprised by all the things he could ask for better accommodations, time served knocked off, anything and he wanted a shake?
"I'll be Jack and you just be you and I'll wear no make up, no restraints and we'll play battleship – over strawberry shakes."
"No," she said licking her lips.
His face became menacing, "you would rather some crazy unsub kill the closet thing you have to a father in law then let your oldest and dearest help you?"
"That wuss Bruce is praying that you say yes and so is your boss—Agent Hotchner."
"First, What do you know?"
"I don't take promises lightly—I kinda know where you live he chuckled and I hate liars," he growled.
"I didn't promise anything," she said in a neutral tone.
"Good Luck then," he said as he resumed his I don't speak face… or was that the I haven't spoken in a year face.
"Really," she looked at him waiting for him to speak and he just gave her dead eyes in return.
"Fine," she whispered, "I pinky swear it," she conceded.
"Good," he said as if he knew her end game. Heck they wouldn't be here talking with him if they had a clue—Jack was always smart like that she thought. Two steps ahead was his mantra with the hoods.
"Have Dr. Grey give you my letters from Edward Nigma—it's an alias – he said he was writing a book about me but he cared more about Bruce and his death or lack there of than me. I thought Bruce was hiding in your pink couch until your place had the fire. He was in DC but not with you – then I realized that you never read my letters."
"But who wants to read the ramblings of someone clinically insane," he sang
"Speaking of the letters," he said in his normal voice, "Eddie's letters are coded but I'm sure your Dr. Reid can figure it out… or maybe Bruce—I never understood why the wuss pretends to be so dumb when his IQ is 30 points lower than Reid's. Is that why you loved him? I mean but he fights like a girl but he talks geek in bed – you always liked geek talk in bed."
He took a deep breath, "Edward is smart though—he didn't tell me details but he wanted to know about my chaos theory and I taught him."
He leaned in and whispered to her loud enough so the boys behind the two way glass could here, "Only you can call me – and I will help you get Brucey's daddy back."
Penelope doubted his ramblings and hoped Derek and Emily had more luck uncovering clues, "Don't worry you can trust me—I want a strawberry vanilla shake. Haven't had one in years."
"How did you know this Edward was planning something?"
"He asked me about my crimes and I told him—about the crimes but I changed a thing or two just to see what he was going to do. Was he going to add to my signature… I think that's what Rossi would've called it. Does this case get you your profiler badge? "
"And I read – I read a lot and I started to see duplicates pop up in different areas Vegas, southern California and you know how possessive I am of my brand. Often imitated never duplicated."
She instinctively caressed his hand knowing that this case was taking him on a manic high, "Calm down," she said. His eyes started to flutter in the excitement. "Joker," she called quietly.
"You can call me Jack—I'll play nice," he whispered as he leaned in.
He held her hand— "I know you don't trust me and Heck I don't trust me but I do want that shake—and a burger?"
He caressed her hand and she sat closer
"You happy?" He whispered, " Does Daddy Warbucks do it?"
"I tried to – but" Jack looked towards the glass mirror, "he was the saner choice," he giggled.
He continued in a low whisper that Bruce and Reid could not hear.
"You tried and I failed – I should've stopped running and then it would've been me and you. You made me want to control the spinning but I know now I would've hurt you – and I would've enjoyed it—a lot. I don't know if Jack would've stopped me."
"Agent Garcia please return to your side of the table," Dr. Grey called over the loud speaker.
She realized where she was and he smiled this evil smile to the mirror.
"There is a part of me on both sides that would have wanted to stop but I'm not sure if I could and I would gone insane if I didn't."
He whispered one final thing as she sat down in her seat, "But the part of me who always found you would have wanted to stop. He loves you."
She looked up with tears in her eyes. She knew what he meant.
"I will make sure you have access to a phone and can you send me the incidents of the duplicates," she asked regaining composure.
"Cheese burger deluxe," he said playfully.
"With fries," she added
"I get it Jack—We're done." She said not knowing where her pretending ended and reality began. She needed air.
The orderlies aggressively put the mask on and slam Jack into the table to restrain him for travel back to his room.
"You don't need to be," Penelope began to chastise the orderlies.
"Aaagh they do sweet pea—and I like it…" he said laughing demonically.
She always wondered when did normal end and crazy begin in Jack head—one day she will realize not to ask the question.
When she came out—
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I 'm fine." She said to the 3 anxious adults waiting to grill her.
Before they could utter a sound, in her chipper Penelope voice she said, "I'm fine but I need to use the restroom."
Bruce asked, "what did he whisper to you—we couldn't hear it—are you ok?"
"Bathroom," she asked Dr. Grey. She turned to Bruce, "Reid can tell you he can read lips and has a didactic memory. I had way too much coffee."
She turned to Reid, "You were right he was trying to build to me—the female victims. I was his anchor and he was battling on how to overcome the weakness."
She turned to Dr. Grey who gave her a list of rights and lefts that led her to the bathroom.
As soon as she entered the stall she locked the door and braced herself in a hug that never felt tight enough.
She tried to calm her breathing but it just became more rapid. She began to gasp and she felt flushed, sick, hot, and queasy at the same time.
She took two quick steps to the toilet where her breakfast ran as fast as it could from her stomach.
Tears fell from her eyes and she couldn't think of a mental pep talk that could help her.
She needed Derek.
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