EPILOGUE

When Gordon first heard of the Fourth of July breakout he had lost it. He'd thrown his phone against the wall and screamed "Son of a BITCH!" in an uncharacteristic display of fury.

After that people in the MCU began to whisper. They said he was cracking up over this whole Joker thing, that he'd have a nervous breakdown.

Sometimes, when his frustration was at its peak, he told himself that next time he'd make sure someone killed the bastard. Put an end to it once and for all. Shame would invariably follow. If he did that he'd be no better than the crooked cops he'd fought so hard to get rid of, no better than the Joker himself.

Samantha had been taken and that scared him. Dr. Peloni told him what had transpired, that the Joker had threatened to release Level Three inmates if she didn't go with him. God only knew what had become of her.

Most thought she was dead. Gordon wasn't so sure. They'd had a relationship, an odd one to be sure, but a relationship nonetheless. Maybe she was still alive, held captive. But where?

That was the problem. The Joker had vanished, Samantha had vanished. He had no leads. He had tried to track her ex boyfriend down only to find out the guy was himself missing. His roommate had filed a missing person's report when Eric had failed to come home from work.

After that he found Sam's father in Florida. The man was in jail, as was his girlfriend. They'd been put in on various drug charges and the girlfriend's baby had been put into foster care. He'd heard someone had been checking on the well being of the baby and had said in no uncertain terms what would happen if the infant were not well cared for. An anonymous donation had been sent to ensure the child would never go without. No leads on the caller. It was a man and that was all anyone could remember.

Samantha's house was bought by an old lady who never lived in it or rented it out. She hired someone to keep an eye on it and mow the yard. When detectives came by her home and asked why she bought a house she didn't plan to live in she told them it was none of their business and slammed the door in their faces.

Gordon could only hope that Samantha was out there somewhere, alive and well and untouched by the Joker's madness.

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She sleeps peacefully, as she always does these days. Her life holds little worries compared to the nightmare existence she'd had in Gotham.

When the bedroom door squeaks open she awakes and when she sees the man who has entered her room she smiles. Most people would have screamed at that face, that slouching walk, and scrambled to call 911. But not her.

He gets into bed with her and she welcomes him fiercely. Both of their bodies bear shallow cuts, scratches and bite marks. The wounds are a matter of course for them and are not received in a traumatic way.

Moonlight coming through the window reflects off an item on her bedside. A knife, remarkably beautiful and pristine. Lately it has been well used. In her hand it has finally drawn blood but in a most loving way.

Later that night she falls into the dark embrace of sleep yet again, with the man at her side.

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A/N: And that's the end.

I'd like to thank my readers and reviewers who enjoyed this story. You made it indescribably fun and for that I'm forever grateful.

As for what's next, well I've got an idea or two and I do need to finish Test Subject D. I had two chapters of that one completed before my computer died and now I can't get them back....so I'll have to redo them. I haven't given up on that story though and I know a couple of you are wanting it to go on.

Anyways I'm rambling. Again thank you so much!