Disclaimer- Nope, still don't own any part of Batman the Animated series

A/N-Guys you are just too awesome. Reviews like these keep me writing. That and blackmail from another author....but that's a different story entirely…

I hope I managed to keep everyone in character. Please read, review and enjoy!

Chapter Twenty Three

Dénouement

Arkham was a very creepy place to walk through, Alice discovered, as Dr. Leland led her through the building. She couldn't say she was surprised at this but it didn't make it any less unsettling to be walking past so many occupied cells. Luckily Dr. Leland didn't seem to be taking them to a cell.

"I was planning on meeting with Jervis after I talked with you." Dr. Leland replied, after Alice asked where they were going. "He's in one of the conference rooms at the moment." Alice nodded as they continued to walk along the long corridor.

The room wasn't that far away and it wasn't long before they reached a door. There was a window on the wall, showing into the room. So Alice could see the guard standing inside the doorway, flipping through a magazine. There wasn't much in the room but the figure of a man sitting slumped by the table drew her attention quickly enough.

It took Alice a moment to realize that Dr. Leland had opened the door and was having a quiet talk with the guard on duty. However, when the guard walked out of the room she realized that Dr. Leland was looking at her expectedly.

"Jervis." Dr. Leland started as Alice walked over into the doorway. "I'm sorry I'm late, but I've brought someone to see you. I believe you know Alice Pleasance."

Alice bit her lip as Jervis' head shot up at the mention of her name. He looked completely shocked to see her standing there.

"Alice…?"

Alice smiled shyly at his expression. "Hello…Jervis."

"What…why…how… are you here?"

Dr. Leland cleared her throat, drawing the attention back to her. "Alice called and asked if she was allowed to come and visit you Jervis. I saw nothing wrong with this, given the circumstances being what they were." She looked at the two of them. "I'll give you two a moment alone but after that I will need to speak to both of you."

Alice nodded and Jervis still looked taken aback.

"Good." Dr. Leland smiled slightly as she walked out the door. She was getting the feeling that things were going to start looking up with Jervis' treatment. One could only hope, she thought wryly as she looked down the hallway. They had enough repeat patients as it was.

--

As Dr. Leland left the room, Jervis stood up, nervously as though expecting everything to disappear when he did. "Alice, how did…" He started to ask again but was cut off a moment later.

Alice ran over and hugged him. "Jervis!" She smiled up at the look of astonishment on his face.

"What…" Jervis still seemed at a loss for words

"I…I wanted to see you again." Alice replied. "I wasn't sure if you were allowed to have visitors though." She smiled. "But you are!" Alice's enthusiastic tone brought a small smile to his face as well. In a moment he found himself sitting across from her at the table.

"How are you doing?" Alice asked, some worry has seemingly been added to her features.

"Oh, fine, fine." Jervis shrugged, still amazed at the circumstances in which he was in at the moment. "I am in solitary at the moment."

"Crane is too then?"

"Most likely."

Alice nodded; she still wasn't sure what to think of Professor Crane. However at the moment she was more focused on talking to Jervis. She started telling him what had happened since she'd seen him. She wasn't sure if she was going to bring up the fight she'd had with Billy though. At the moment she just wanted to forget about him.

In Gotham, night had descended upon the city. Bringing with it, a start to the towns booming and mostly illegal night life. In any other city it might have seemed suspicious that two women had a man tied to a chair on the top of a roof.

Actually that might have seemed strange in Gotham as well. That is, if it weren't for the fact that these two women wore the brightly coloured costumes that placed them as among the criminally insane. They also were on the roof of a very tall building so very few people saw them.

"What a wonderful night!" Harley grinned, her arms stretched out. "Oh look Red, there's a star!"

Ivy shook her head with wry amusement as she looked on at Harley. The top of the roof was covered in spots with a roof top garden that she had created. "Yes Harls, very nice. Now if you don't mind…?"

"Oh, yeah…that guy." Harley did a flip backwards and landed in front of the man tied up in the chair. "Now mister…."

The man in the chair…Billy, was not at all happy that attention had been brought back to him. He had no idea what these nuts were planning to do with him. Well he had a few ideas and most of them ended with his death, so he tried not to think of them. This just meant that he thought of them all the more though.

Billy couldn't say anything, or even try to call for help as he had a gag around his mouth. He doubted anyone would have been able to hear him anyway at this height. He tried not to think of how high up they were as the thought only served to make him nauseous. He'd always hated heights, though if these women knew that and had placed him very close to the edge for that reason, or if it had just been more bad luck on his part, he wasn't sure.

"What are we doing with him up here, anyway?" Ivy asked Harley as the women still hadn't said anything relating to a real plan. "If we're going to drop him off edge can you do it quickly?"

Harley pouted. "But this is fun too. Look how scared he is!"

Ivy shook her head with a sigh. "You've been spending too much time talking to Crane."

Harley just crossed her arms. "Fine then…spoilsport"

Rolling her eyes she walked over to the squirming man. And with a quick shove pushed him off the side of the building. "There, happy now?"

Ivy smirked. "Much, now come on, there's a show that I want to watch."

"Alright Red."

.

"I don't think so." Before they could think what happened a figure leaped in front of them.

"Bird boy?" Harley looked at the costumed sidekick standing in front of them.

"Where's the bat?" Ivy asked with a smirk. "Doesn't he know that you shouldn't leave children by themselves?" Her smirk grew into a dangerous smile as she held up an arm. "They might get hurt."

.

Robin dodged an arrow from the cross bow and rolled to safety.

"I got him!" Harley shouted out and again Robin just barely moved in time to miss being hit, this time by a mallet. "Never mind!"

Robin winced as he hit the ground harder then he'd intended to. He really hoped Batman would was finished soon.

---

Billy would have said that his life passed before his eyes as he fell. He would have, except for the fact that he did not fall very far before he was caught by a swinging figure.

How they ever managed to land safely, Billy had no idea as his eyes were tightly shut the entire time. All he knew was that when he opened them he was safe on the top of a building. And also Batman was standing in front of him.

The next thing he knew he'd been cut free from the chair. "You're behind the stairs." Batman said as Billy pulled the gag out of his mouth. "Get out of here, and you'll be safe."

"They…tried to throw me off the roof!" Billy was trying to wrap his mind around what had nearly happened to him. As he looked up, he saw that the figure that had been standing in front of him was gone. With great difficulty he got out of the chair and attempted to take in his surroundings.

He was behind a wall of some sort and he realized with a groan that he was still on the roof of the building that he had almost been thrown off of. He leaned against the side of the wall and closed his eyes. He was safe enough here, if he moved after that, he was going to be sick.

--

The fight between Robin, Harley and Ivy was hardly fair. As skilled as he was, Robin was spending most of the time blocking the two woman's attacks. Unfortunately for him the two criminals actually fought really well in tandem. Against the two of them the most he could do was to avoid being hit.

Dodging a kick from Harley he ducked and rolled, clearing the area. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Batman in the shadows. Ivy noticed also and turned to confront Batman.

Robin leaped to his feet quickly and pulled from his belt what he was looking for. Harley was running after him and as she came closer, he threw the weighted rope.

"Hey!!" The rope wrapping around her feet Harley soon tripped and fell. As she fell Robin glanced over to see how Batman was making with Ivy. He didn't seem to be having any trouble, so Robin turned his attention back to the Harley. Underestimating Harley Quinn would only give her the advantage.

The clown woman was attempting to escape from the rope wrapped around her legs. Unfortunately for her she wasn't having much luck. Robin slipped behind her and snapped a pair of handcuff on her hands and clasped them behind her back.

"Gothcha." He smirked as Harley glared at him.

"That's not fair! It's cheating!"

Robin just shook his head. As he looked over to where Batman was last he realized that things might have gotten a little more complicated.

-

Billy was starting to wonder if fate hated him. He realized later that he really should have run for it when he'd had the chance. The fight between Ivy and Batman had spread over and cornered the woman had grabbed the cowering man as a hostage.

"Another step and I'll kill him.' Ivy said coldly. She had an arrow to his throat at the moment.

"Ivy. Don't do this, you're not a killer" Batman held up a hand and said in a calm voice. "Let him go. He's done nothing wrong."

Ivy scoffed. "Nothing wrong? You don't realize who you're talking about. But then I suppose you males always stick together. Don't you recognize this scum?"

.

"Ivy…" Batman watched the woman carefully. Ivy was temper mental at best, he didn't think she would kill him but you could never really be sure. The man though…he knew him from somewhere…

"Billy Travis…." Batman remembered the last time he'd seen the man. "Did Tetch put you up to this Ivy?"

.

Ivy chuckled. "Jervis? He has no idea. Besides we're not doing this for him. We're helping a friend of ours. The one he's stalking." She nodded her head towards Billy as she said this.

"I would never-" Billy started to protest but was cut off as the blade came closer to his neck.

"Of course not." Ivy replied. "But that's what they all say."

"I'll look into it."

Ivy's eyes widened. "What…?"

"I said I'll look into it." Batman replied. "Just let him go."

Ivy seemed undecided then nodded. "Fine…" Releasing her grip she pushed Billy forwards. "Here."

Taking a step backwards Ivy glanced around for an escape route. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't easy to stall Batman and in a moment she was handcuffed.

-

Getting to his feet Billy found that Ivy was now captured. Wincing he saw Robin walking Harley over.

Batman nodded when he saw Robin.

"Back to Arkham then?" Robin smirked as he reached them. Harley was still sulking but cheered up considerably when she saw Ivy.

"Yes." Batman replied. "But first." He turned to Ivy. "What were you saying about Mr. Travis?"

"You're not listening to them are you?" Billy protested. "I'd never stalk Alice, she's my fiancée! It's that Hatter's fault, he has her under his control."

"I thought the Mad Hatter was in Arkham." Robin put in.

"He is." Batman replied.

"He's doing it from there!" Billy said.

Robin looked skeptically at Batman. "Is that even possible?"

"There's only one way to find out."

There was a pause. "Alright, road trip!"

Ivy winced and glanced over at the grinning woman, probably the only criminal to consider going to Arkham a road trip. "I can't wait for solitary." She sighed.

The guards in the entrance to Arkham weren't particularly surprised to see the two rouges being escorted by Batman and Robin into the building. They had worked there long enough to realize that it was something that happened on a regular basis. However it didn't stop them from going through with the formalities.

"We'll take them from here Batman." A guard said when the strange party made their way up to the door.

"Where is Dr. Leland?"

"She's in a meeting with a patient."

"Where?"

"142" The guard replied. "But she's not to be dis-"

He was cut off as Batman walked past him. "Thanks." Robin nodded as the group walked by.

-

"I'm telling you." Harley protested as they walked through the corridors of the asylum. "He's not doing anything to her."

"Save your breathe Harley." Ivy responded as they past another cell. "Oh, hello Crane."

Professor Crane was sitting on a cot in his cell. Glancing up when he heard his name he rolled his eyes. "Hello. I must say, I didn't think it was going to take this long for you two to be back here." With a nod he went back to the book he was reading.

Billy by this time was starting to feel even more uncomfortable. Unfortunately his luck managed to get worse. If that was at all possible.

"Hello Billy." The person in the cell next to Cranes held someone that he was hoping he'd never have to see again. "I though you said you were never coming back here."

"Who's he?" Harley frowned as they walked past the smirking man's cell.

"Malcolm Travis." Batman responded shortly.

"Also known as the Weather Man." Robin continued. "I think he's this guy's cousin." He pointed to Billy, who at the moment was trying to look invisible.

For the rest of the walk Harley pestered Robin to explain the entire story to her. Luckily it wasn't that much longer of a walk.

--

"And I suppose that's about it for the moment." Dr. Leland straightened the papers she had. "I really don't—" She was cut off as there was a knock on the door. Walking over she opened the door slightly.

"Dr. Leland." Batman nodded.

"Hiyah Joan!" Harley grinned, turning away from Robin, much to the young man's relief.

Sighing, Dr. Leland pushed her glasses into place. "Harleen, Pamela…"

"Hello again Doctor." Ivy nodded.

"Well I suppose this isn't much of a surprise." Dr. Leland continued, looking at the strange party in front of her. "I'm just finishing up a meeting with another patient at the moment, if you'd wait for a moment."

"We need to speak to you." Batman spoke up. "About Jervis Tetch."

Dr. Leland frowned. "What about Jervis?"

"He's controlling Alice…" Billy started but was cut off as Harley kicked him. "Hey!"

Dr. Leland looked skeptically at Billy. "That is quite an accusation. I suppose you have proof to back this up?"

"Is it possible?" Robin asked.

"Well you can speak to him if you'd like." Dr. Leland replied sternly. "However I can't permit you to be alone with him."

"Very well."

With another sigh the doctor opened the door.

--

Alice glanced up from the table, where she'd been sitting next to Jervis.

"What…?"

Jervis' tensed slightly next to her as Batman walked into the room.

"Alice!!" Harley said still grinning. "Hi!"

"Harley…what?"

"We got caught again." Harley replied with a shrug.

"As you can see." Dr. Leland spoke up. "There is nothing wrong with Miss Pleasance."

"Then why is she here." Billy pushed his way to the front, causing both Alice and Jervis to tense up.

"Alice called and asked if she could come in and visit Jervis." Dr. Leland replied calmly. "She is not under mind control."

"How do you-"

"You would be able to tell she was under mind control and she is not. Also her blood work came back." Dr. Leland cut through Billy's protests. "It shows no traces of any foreign substances."

Batman nodded. "Very well."

"Ha!" Harley stuck her tongue out at Billy. "I told you!"

"But…" Billy shook his head, trying to figure out what was going on.

"I'll call some more guards to take these two to their cells." Dr. Leland motioned over to Ivy and Harley.

With that she walked over to the phone.

Alice sat there quietly, next to Jervis and as guards arrived to take Harley and Ivy away she looked up.

"Bye Alice! Come and visit sometime!" Harley called out and Ivy nodded as they were lead out of the room.

Alice smiled slightly as they left. She glanced over at Jervis who was still sitting there nervously. With a soft smile she took his hand, causing him to look over. He smiled nervously when he saw it was her. Alice grinned at his expression, as they held hands until guards came to take Jervis back to his cell.

Later that night, Alice was sitting in her bedroom. She had gotten a message from Billy. This would have worried her if not for the fact that he said he never wanted to see her again. This time it finally had sunk in it seemed. And she was glad of that.

Dr. Leland had told her that Jervis' was on of the more likely patients to be let out of the asylum and until that happened she was going to visit him as much as she could. Harley and Ivy too, maybe, she thought to herself as she glanced over to the side of the room. She just had to get her nerve up, that was all.

Alice almost jumped as when she looked back at the window, it was open. And Batman was standing in her room.

There was a pause and then. "You're sure about this?"

"A..a..about what" Alice stammered nervously.

"About Tetch." The vigilante continued in a calm voice. "You have to be sure. It could undo any progress he makes if you don't."

Alice realized what he was talking about. "I do…I mean I am." She raised her head and looked up at him. "I love him."

Batman nodded. "Good luck then." With that he was out of the window again.

A moment later, Alice got up and glanced out the window. The Bat signal was in the sky tonight but for once she didn't feel nervous at all. Her waiting period was over. With a sigh she closed the window and went to pick up the book she'd been reading. Dinah jumped onto the bed as she flipped through "Alice in Wonderland"

Epilogue

"What is it?" Batman asked as landed on the rooftop next to his sidekick.

"Robbery." Robin nodded. "Gordon got a tip that someone was going after a museum piece. We just have to wait."

"Alright."

There was a pause before Robin spoke up again. "Hey Batman, do you really think the Mad Hatter is going to reform?"

Another moment passed before Batman glanced down at Robin and uncharacteristically he smiled slightly.

"You know, I think he might."

At that moment the noise of an alarm went out through the night and they got to work.

---

And that's all folks! I leave the rest up to your imaginations as this tale is finished.

Many, many thanks to all that reviewed throughout the story. Without you this story probably would not be finished at all. I had the best time writing it and I hope you enjoyed it.

Please leave one last review telling what you thought.

TheMadMaiden