Emily pulled the blanket up under her chin. The bed was soft and the room was quiet but she still didn't feel comfortable. It was like sleeping in a hospital. She didn't like hospitals. There was light coming in from over her head where the big window faced the streetlight outside. When a car passed, shadows would roll across the square of light like waves made of blackness.

She sighed, it had been three days since they had brought her here. They told her that she would most likely go to a foster home to live. They just needed to find the right situation for her, whatever that meant. It wouldn't matter. One place was just like the next. She missed her toys. They told her that once she got settled, they would send her things with her. She wanted her blue teddy bear. The one that had the Joker's gift tucked deep inside its belly. The blade was so pretty, how it shined.

Another shadow played along the wall. This one wasn't a wave though. She stared up at the wall. It was a tall, narrow, shape. As she watched, the long shadow began to shrink until it was the size and shape of a man. Emily sat up in her bed and looked towards the window. A ghastly white face was pressed to the glass. For a moment she thought it might be a ghost but then the figure wiggled his fingers at her.

She started to giggle in delight.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Batman swung onto the roof with practiced motion. The signal had been in the sky since early evening. He'd been on the streets since sundown searching warehouses and knocking heads. While the mob boys, for the most part, had learned their lesson about working with the Joker some would still sell him illegal goods. It came down to commerce. The Joker's money was just as good as anyone's. So far he hadn't had much luck getting information. He had vanished yet again.

"Jim?"

The police detective turned, a guilty expression on his face. He blew smoke into the air. Ruefully, he shrugged. "I keep trying to quit but then something happens and I'm back out here puffing away. My wife smells it on me. She's threatened to stop kissing me."

"Try the vapor ones. No odor."

Gordon's eyes widened. "I never thought about that." The cop looked him up and down. "You're a bad influence." A small smile touched his lips but there was something tragic in his eyes.

"Among other things. It's something really bad isn't it?"

He nodded. "Child Services. Emily Ross went missing last night." He walked over to where a large metal grate protruded and picked up a file. "This was plastered to the window." He held out a photo.

The image was of a large window. Outlined on the pane of glass was a greasy white smudge in the shape of a face, hints of black where the eyes should be. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst was the clear outline of a red slash in the shape of a big grin.

He'd been wrong. The Joker had gone back for the child. But why? Bruce shook his head. "Why would you do this?" he murmured.

"Why does that psycho do anything that he does? He's fucked up crazy." Gordon paced. "That little girl got lucky the first time around but this was a deliberate act on the Joker's part. He sought her out and he took her. So whatever his sick plans, she's part of them now. And I don't even want to consider what that could mean," he threw up his hands. The worn man raised his face heavenward. "It wouldn't be the first time that he's killed a kid," he quietly reminded.

Bruce just stared at the image. Jim was right. This was really, really, bad. He'd known that his brother would be angry and looking for some payback. He thought that it would be confined to the GCPD, that they would be his target. But this was more than that, the Joker was building to something. He wouldn't take a child like this unless he was going to use her to make a grand statement. If he didn't find a way to diffuse the situation, this could be citywide.

"No, its not." He handed the image back. "I need to go."

"Is it too late? Can we stop him this time?"

If Jack hurt that child he didn't know what he would do. What his conscience could bear. One way or another, this had to end. His brother wouldn't be going back to Arkham, not this time. Things had been set in motion, now he had to see them through. What it would mean for all of them, in the end he couldn't say, but something had to give. He couldn't face the guilt anymore.

"I'll stop him."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Shiff nervously shifted from one foot to the other. The Boss had told him to see to the little girl. Make sure she was comfortable. How was he supposed to do that? He didn't know anything about kids, especially not little girls. They were scary.

She sat at the table, coloring in the book that the Boss had provided her. She seemed ok. She wasn't screaming or crying like he figured she ought to be. "Um, Razor's getting supplies. He'll bring back food and stuff."

She looked up at him. "Ok," she responded amicably.

"You, uh, you need anything?" He couldn't figure out why she was here. She must be part of the Boss's plan somehow but he wasn't smart enough to understand. But it would be ok. Joker always took care of everything. And he always played the best games.

She shook her head, "No, not really but… I really miss my teddy bear. Mister Joker gave me a present and I put in my bear. I don't want to lose it."

"Where is it?"

"I think the police took it away. They said they had all my stuff. I don't know where they took it though. You think Mister Joker will be mad at me? I didn't want to leave it."

Shiff compulsively picked at his fingernails, the edges already torn and bloody in spots. "I don't know. Sometimes he gets real mad for little things. But right now he's all intense about what he's got planned. I don't think he'll pay much attention."

He sidled over to the table and sat on the edge of the chair. Looking like he was ready to bolt at the first loud noise. "You just try to do what the Boss says, ok? You don't want to get on his nerves. He hurts people that get on his nerves. You'll be ok."

"I know. I'm not worried."

The large metal door slammed open. "Honey, I'm home!"

Shiff jumped up with a squeak. "The Boss is back," he stated the obvious. "You just… just remember what I said."

The Joker swept into the room like a storm, an entourage following in his wake. Their arms were loaded with all kinds of bags and boxes. "I come, bearing gifts!" He threw his arms wide.

"Hey Boss," Shiff came running up to him. He danced around the clown like a hyperactive puppy. "I did just like you told me. I watched out for the girl."

"Just dump em anywhere, Boys." As Shiff made another pass around him, the Joker reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into a surprisingly friendly headlock. "You did good, Shiffy. I can always count on you."

"You can, yes. Whatever you need. I'm your man," he managed from his position under the clown's arm.

The Joker continued forward, pulling the headlocked man with him. "How ya doin there, Kid?"

She looked up with a smile on her face. "Much better being here with you."

Joker scoffed, "Really? Huh. Well, I hope you like my games cause it's about to get really interesting around here." He looked down at Shiff and squeezed, "Ain't that right, Shiffy?"

"Uh huh," he managed to cough out. "Can't breathe so well, Boss."

The Joker only squeezed harder. "Who needs air when you have friends?" He looked around the room at the gathered gang of miscreants. He was in a damn good mood. Manic energy coursed through his veins. It wouldn't be long now. He had to add a few more touches to his latest masterpiece of chaos. Brother bat would be so proud…well, maybe not proud, more like devastated.

Gordon had pushed his buttons one time too many. Now he was going to finish it. First, he would ruin him then he would take away his life. Joker looked at the sweet, little, child who stood smiling at him. He released his favorite dog, who slid to the floor unconscious. Chaos lit his eyes.