Not Done Yet

A/N: I'm sorry I haven't posted here lately; I will get the next few chapters up soon. Reviews would be very much appreciated!

***

Beth stood by the bleachers, nervously dividing her attention between watching Ethan's pre-practice antics with his friends, and the parking lot. A flashy sports car drove up and parked, and a tall dark-haired man emerged. Even at a distance, it was clear that Bruce Wayne truly was a very handsome man. She hastily dug in her handbag for her little-used tube of lipstick, but his long strides brought him too close too soon for her to discretely apply it so she tossed the bag at her feet and turned to greet him with an outstretched hand.

"Mr. Wayne? I'm Beth Kendall."

"Hello, Miss Kendall. Please, call me Bruce." He shook her hand warmly.

"All right, and I'm Beth. Wow, I can't believe you were willing to come all the way out here--"

"Oh, well, I've learned to grab opportunities as they come. If you don't, everything seems to go on interminably."

"That's true, isn't it? So--how did you hear about the Parent/Teacher initiative?"

Bruce glanced around, searching for Ethan. He was running after a ball, but his curly blond hair was impossible to miss. "Someone who works for me brought it to my attention. I liked it because it sounded like a very organized group, getting a lot done."

"Well, I think we are. There are a lot of good people willing to lend a hand, so..."

"How did you get started?" Bruce was hoping he would find a way to smoothly transition the conversation to his real purpose.

A shadow crossed Beth's face. "I--uh, well, a few years ago my marriage ended and I was suddenly a single mom. Money was tight. But when I started teaching, I found that there were many families far worse off than Ethan and I. I could see that they were struggling to come up with basic things like school supplies and lunch money, even with government assistance. I got together with other teachers and some of the more financially secure parents and we pooled funds and bought school supplies at a quantity discount, then sold them to the students for cost. It's been working really well."

Bruce nodded. "Yes, and that's where I think Wayne Enterprises can help. We recently acquired an office supply chain and I was thinking we could donate supplies to your initiative in exchange for a small credit in the PTA bulletin."

"Oh, Mr. Wayne, that would be fabulous! Of course, that's perfect--"

"I also have a small check for you--" Bruce pulled a check out of his pocket made out to the school organization with quite a few zeroes following the first number. "I was thinking it could contribute to some sort of nutritional program, but I'm sure you're the right person to figure out where this is most needed."

Beth took the check and looked up at Bruce with an open mouth.

"Mr. Wayne! Small! This is--this is amazingly generous. This is fantastic! You can't imagine what this will mean to so many struggling families--"

"Well, the children are our future. They'll be choosing our old-age homes, won't they?"

Beth laughed, still overwhelmed. "Yes, I suppose so. I just--"

"Mom! Mom! Mom! Where're my shin guards?" Ethan came racing up to Beth's side.

"Oh, baby, aren't they're in the equipment bag?"

"And, who's this?" Bruce asked.

"This is Ethan. Ethan, this is Bruce Wayne. He's helping us with our Parent/Teacher project."

"Hi." The boy unhesitatingly stuck out his hand and Bruce gave it a firm shake. Ethan looked up at Bruce and Bruce smiled down at him. It was like looking into Jack's eyes on a good day.

"Hello, Ethan, it's nice to meet you."

"Yeah. Hey, Mom--"

"Here they are, son. Hurry up, coach is calling you."

The boy dropped to the ground and hastily pulled on the guards and then ran off again.

"I'd love to have his energy," Bruce said.

"Me, too. He's a real wild man, there's not enough hours in the day for him."

"I can imagine."

Beth stood awkwardly for a moment, then said, "Well, I guess you've got a busy evening ahead of you, so--"

"Oh, well, actually, I have something else I'd like to discuss with you."

"Really?"

Bruce looked at Beth. She had a delicate face with large blue eyes and full lips, and a slim figure. Bruce smiled slightly. I can see how Jack would go for her, he thought. "Yes. It's... Well, it's a bit difficult."

"What is it?" Beth frowned.

"I--well, I know your--I know Ethan's father."

Beth's expression turned to surprise, tinged with suspicion.

"What? How could you, he's--"

"He's in Arkham."

"Yes, finally. Again. Where he belongs. How do you know him?"

"It's a long story. But I took an interest in his case when... You see, I was learning about Gotham's mental health facilities as part of a project I was working on--" Bruce thought of Rachel's comment regarding his bullshitting abilities and hoped she was right--"and I found Arkham's to be deplorable. Jack was being--well, they weren't taking very good care of him."

"Good. He deserves whatever he gets." Beth clenched her jaw and turned away, her arms folded over her chest.

"He--I don't agree. Arkham's supposed to help its patients, not abuse them. I stepped in and... I got to know him."

Beth turned back, her eyes flashing.

"Did you? Really? Did you get to know how crazy he is? How violent? Have you ever seen him with a knife in his hand, or a gun? He's a murderer, Mr. Wayne. A cold-blooded murderer."

"I know what he was. But--"

"Do you have any idea what it was like for me after he escaped? I couldn't relax for a second. Every noise, every shadow--I was sure he was coming back to kill me."

Bruce looked into her eyes and saw the still-raw pain. "Why would he want to kill you?"

Beth stared out toward the field. "I took his son away from him. He hated me for that. But, he's irrational anyway, you wouldn't believe the things he's done."

"Did he--hurt you? Or Ethan?"

Beth faltered slightly. "No. No. He... He never did that. But, you don't have to touch someone to hurt them. He was jealous and controlling, he couldn't stand it if another man looked at me. Once, I came home to find he'd cornered the mailman and was threatening him with a meat cleaver because he thought he'd flirted with me! I had to go to the post office for weeks to get our mail."

Bruce tried to hide a grin. He could just see Jack wielding the kitchen weapon over the poor mail carrier.

"And--he lied to me about his so-called 'work.' I--I was stupid, I should have seen it, should have figured it out, but I guess I didn't want to know. I should have gotten out long before, but..." She trailed off and Bruce finished her thought. "But, you loved him."

She bit her lip, and nodded. "Yes."

"He loves Ethan."

She sighed. "I know he does. But if he wanted to be a part of his life, he should have--"

"He should have what?"

"He should have gotten help a long time ago." She turned away again.

"You agree that he's ill, then?"

"Of course. He wasn't--he wasn't like that when I met him. He was--God, he was wonderful. Unpredictable, but...exciting. Sweet, funny--he made me feel--oh, boy, I can't believe I'm saying this now, but--he made me feel safe. Like nothing bad could ever happen to us. And when Ethan came along, he was--he was just the best dad. He loved that boy... He loved him so much. And Ethan loved him." She stared at the ground, her voice now low.

"I don't know what happened, but he changed. I watched it happen, day by day. I didn't want to believe it, I ignored everything, hoping it would go away, that he'd get past the bad patch and be himself again. But, one day..."

"You couldn't ignore it anymore."

"No. And I couldn't take a chance--I couldn't risk Ethan being hurt. I left. Jack went crazy, well, crazier. I had to get a restraining order, I finally had to leave town. I only came back after they locked him up the first time, there was a job offer that I couldn't pass up and I thought we'd be safe, never thinking he'd be able to get out. Of course, he did. He would."

Bruce nodded. "But, he's back in there, now. And, he's doing really well. The treatment he's been under has helped him so much--"

"Well, good for him," Beth snapped bitterly. "So, is this why you're really here? To speak on his behalf? What does he want? He's not trying to get me back, is he?"

"N-no, no. He knows it's over between the two of you. But--he wants to see Ethan." He said it as gently as possible, but even so, he could see a frightened look pass over Beth's face, followed by raw anger.

"No. No way. No way. That treatment's not working as well as you say if he thinks I would bring Ethan anywhere near him--"

"Beth." Bruce used a level tone. "He has a right to see him."

"Right? That's ridiculous, he's a criminal--"

"Even so. He's in a treatment facility and Gotham law says he has the right to supervised visitation. I know this is a shock, but there's going to be a court order, and I wanted to--"

"Oh, my God, they can do that? They could force me to make my son visit a madman in an asylum? No, that's insane. Impossible. I won't do it, I'll leave town--"

"Beth, please."

"No! I vowed I would protect my son, no matter what, and I won't expose him to that--that monster."

"He's not. He's working so hard to get well, and he's doing it for Ethan." Bruce looked into Beth's eyes. "And, I can't help but think that Ethan would benefit from knowing his dad."

Beth stared blankly at Bruce. "Benefit? Oh, I don't think so. Uh-uh, I'm going to spend the rest of his growing-up years preventing him from knowing the truth about his father. I don't want him to think he's going to end up like him, or to be shamed by things that aren't his fault. No, Mr. Wayne, I'll fight this. I'm not going to let my little boy in the presence of that maniac ever again."

Bruce sighed and said gently, "You'll be held in contempt of court. If you leave town, a warrant will be issued. You don't want to put Ethan through something like that."

Beth's mouth fell open. "I cannot believe this is happening," she gasped.

"I know, I know. That's why I came here. I thought I could help you to understand. Jack wants Ethan to be safe and happy. Surely you can't blame him for wanting to see him again, can you? And, it will be safe, completely safe. He won't be alone with him. You'll be there, I'll be there--"

Beth looked at him. "Why would you be there?"

Bruce shrugged. "I told you. I've been involved in his case and he's come to trust me. I think my presence will help keep things calm. He's worried that Ethan will hate him. I've tried to convince him that it won't be like that. It won't be, will it?" Bruce gave her a searching look. Beth pursed her lips. "Beth--what have you told Ethan about his father?"

"Nothing, not really. I told him that something happened with his work, and that he had to go away suddenly. Whenever he asks about him, I just say I don't know what happened. That he didn't want to leave him, but he had to. That he loved him. That's all." She took a deep breath. "He doesn't ask much anymore."

Bruce nodded. "I'm sorry, I know this is upsetting. I just--I just wanted you to know that Jack wouldn't hurt Ethan. And that I'll be available to help in any way I can." Beth refused to look at him and he decided to give up and leave. He turned and started to head toward the parking lot when Beth spoke, her voice strained with the effort of suppressing tears.

"Mr. Wayne, wait. Obviously, I don't have a choice. But, you don't know what I've been through. You say it will be safe. I sincerely hope you'll make sure that that's true. If anything happens to my son--"

"It won't."

Beth stared at him, her lip trembling. "He's all I have," she whispered.

Bruce strode back to her and took her hands in his, squeezing them tightly. "I promise you this. Ethan will be safe. Jack will be fine. And, anything I can do to make things easier, like paying for counseling, or facilitating communication, I'll do it, anything you want." He gave her hands another squeeze, then fumbled in his pocket for a business card and gave it to her. She stared blankly at it.

"Call me anytime," Bruce continued. "I want this to be a good thing for everyone, and I'm willing to do whatever's necessary. You have my word on that."

He smiled reassuringly then turned and headed for his car. Beth didn't try to stop him. The tears ran down her face and she picked up her handbag to find a tissue.

***

Bruce headed straight for Arkham. It wasn't one of his usual visiting days, but he had to see Jack. He had to tell him what he had done, and he had to reassure himself that he could make good on his promises to Beth.

He arrived at the asylum and checked in. A nurse met him at the front desk.

"He's outside in the courtyard," she explained.

Bruce smiled. "Smoking, I guess."

"Oh, I imagine. He says he's communing with nature, but I think he's communing with tobacco, myself."

She took him to the yard and led him to where Jack was sitting, cigarette in hand.

"Mr. J? You have a visitor."

The Joker looked up and shot a suspicious glare at Bruce. "What the hell? This isn't Thursday."

"Can't I come to see you unexpectedly once in a while?"

"Sure, except you've come to see me unexpectedly exactly, oh, let's see now, never, so what's up?"

"Could we go back to your room?"

Another suspicious look. "Yeah." He ground out his cigarette and indicated that the nurse should unlock the door back into the building. She took them to the Joker's room and let them in. The Joker turned to Bruce with an intense stare.

"All right, spill it. What's going on?"

Bruce actually felt nervous. "I went to see your, uh--I went to see Beth, today."

Bruce couldn't remember ever having seen real surprise in the Joker's eyes before. "You did what?"

"I wanted to let her know what was going on, I wanted to prepare her--"

"Are you out of your mind? You gave her lead time? She'll hit the road so fast, it'll make your head spin. She'll--"

"No, Jack, she won't. I talked to her about the consequences if she did that, and she understands that she would be breaking the law--"

"You are one crazy fucker. So, you told her she'd have to bring my kid up here to see me. All right, what did she say?"

"She--she wasn't happy."

"Oh, there's a shock."

"But, I told her how much you wanted to see Ethan, and how well you were doing."

"Uh-huh."

"And I really think she'll be ok with it after she's had a chance to think it over."

"Wayne, you are an idiot." The Joker shook his head and walked over to the window. "She'll tell Ethan what a creep I am. She'll turn him against me so that he won't want to come, so that he'll be scared of me. He'll hate me even more than he already does."

"I don't think so." Bruce went to him and put his arms around him, hugging him from behind. "I don't think he hates you, and she wouldn't do that to him in the first place. She's smart enough to know that no little boy wants to hate his father..."

"You don't know her! Aw, fuck it. Look, just call the whole thing off. I'd rather he remember me from when he was little than see me in here like this anyway. I knew this was a mistake."

"No, Jack, it isn't. It's going to be ok." Bruce made him turn around and gathered him close, then kissed him. Jack pulled away and jerked out of his embrace.

"Sorry if I'm not a wide-eyed innocent like you, Brucie. I know her, I know how she is. She'll fuck this up for me, and that'll be it. She'd love to make me miserable if she had the chance. And Ethan's the only weapon she's got." He strode over to the bed and sat on the edge. Bruce followed.

"Jack--" A fist came out of nowhere and met Bruce's jaw. He stumbled backward and managed to right himself just as another came at him. He blocked it and shoved the Joker aside. He attacked again, and Bruce wrestled with him, finally forcing him onto his back on the bed, with the Joker's wrists pinned to the mattress.

"Stop it! Stop it, Jack, calm down. I know what you're doing--"

"I'm beating the shit out of you, or I would if you'd let me up--"

"Jack, no. You're not going to do this." Bruce stared down into his eyes, straddling him to keep him still.

"Not going to do what?"

"You're not going to make me call the orderlies to come in here and take you to lock down. You are not. I won't let you."

"Now, why would I want to do that?"

"Because that would call into question whether you're capable of handling a visit with your son. Because you'd save yourself from doing something positive with your life. Because you could prove me wrong. But, I'm not wrong. And I'm not going to let you fuck this up. I'm not."

The Joker continued to struggle for a time, then settled down and lay still, panting from the exertion. He stared past Bruce's shoulder at the ceiling.

"Just butt out, will you? I never should have told you about the damn kid to begin with. I shouldn't have trusted--"

Bruce grinned in spite of his aching jaw. "What's this? The Joker second-guessing himself? I don't think that's ever happened before."

The Joker gave him a sideways glare. "You've never happened to me before. Asshole."

Bruce bent forward and kissed him gently. He trailed kisses down his neck and gradually slid off to lie next to him. He held him closely until he felt the fury draining away.

"Please don't worry. It's going to be fine. It will..."

"Well, fuck, if you aren't little Miss Sunshine today--"

"And I'm not going to let you mess this up."

The Joker cast a sly glance at him. "Ok, good for you. Glad we've got that settled. Now, I'm bored--but, I have an idea. Let's play a game."

Bruce frowned. This couldn't be good.

"What game?"

The Joker wriggled out of his arms and sat up. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Bruce's eyes widened.

"They let you have a lighter in here?"

The Joker made a scornful noise. "Well, nooo... But I seem to have one. Cool, huh?" He put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, taking a long drag and expelling the smoke into the room. "Now, here's the game--let's see who's tougher, you or me. I'll go first."

"What do you mean?"

"Watch." The Joker rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm. He then touched the lit end of the cigarette to his forearm. It made a singeing sound and the smell of burnt skin hit Bruce's nose.

"Stop that!" he cried, reaching for the cigarette. The Joker grabbed his wrist and held it away from the ember.

"Ah, ah, ah, your turn. Hold out your arm."

"You're crazy!"

The Joker shook his head in sarcastic amazement. "You're a genius. Look, just do it. Or are you...chicken?" His eyes danced with mischief.

Bruce felt a surge of anger and his competitive streak rose to the surface. "This is the stupidest, most immature--" The Joker made a clucking noise. "Fine." He rolled up his sleeve and stuck out his arm. The Joker grabbed his elbow and said "Say when." He put the glowing ember against Bruce's flesh, and Bruce clenched his jaw in pain. He forced himself to not react for a few seconds then said, "When!"

"Not bad." The Joker pushed his own sleeve higher. "You want to do me?" he asked, accommodatingly offering his arm and the cigarette to Bruce.

Bruce huffed in disgust, but said "Sure." He took the cigarette and held it to where the Joker pointed, in the crook of his elbow. He watched the Joker's face for signs of discomfort, but he never so much as flinched. "When," he said after several seconds. They traded back and forth two more times, extending the torture slightly each time.

It was the Joker's turn. He took off his shirt and pointed to his upper arm. Bruce placed the cigarette. They locked eyes and the Joker grinned as seconds ticked by. He finally glanced at the burn site. "When." A trickle of blood was trailing down his arm from the wound.

Bruce stared in horror. "All right, that's enough!" He stubbed out the cigarette and hastily confiscated the lighter for good measure. "What the hell's the matter with you?"

"I'm just making a point." He spoke quietly. "You can't outlast me. Even if you can stand the pain, you're too full of basic human decency to go the distance. You think you've found something that means something to me, that caring about someone will cure me, but it won't. Ethan's just going to end up getting hurt. It'd be better for everyone if you'd just let me go." The dark eyes bored into Bruce's, and he shook his head.

"No. You're not a monster. You're just getting cold feet." Bruce ran his hand through the Joker's tangled hair and pressed a kiss on his forehead. "I'm going to help you, and--"

"You're not in control, Bruce. You never were, and you never will be." The Joker closed his eyes, grimacing as if in pain. "I almost wish you could be. That you could make me be--different. But, you can't."

He sighed and lay back. Bruce found a tissue and wiped the blood from his arm, then wrapped him in a tight embrace.

"Jack--I thought you were the tough guy."

"Huh?"

"You said you'd try. Well, do it."

"I--"

"Don't tell me you're chicken." Bruce smiled down at him, then made a clucking sound. The Joker stared for a moment then chuckled slightly. He could feel Bruce's heart beating. He smelled good, it was warm in his arms, and he was so damn strong. Why was he here? Why did he stay? A surge of lust heated his groin.

"Ok. Ok, I'll try. Enough of that. Let's fuck."

"I--what?"

"Come on, come on. That's how we solve everything between us, isn't it? Or, are you going to make me seduce you? It's a pain, but I will if I have to."

"You did a good job of seducing me a long time ago," Bruce smiled ruefully. "You don't have to do it again." He leaned in for a kiss and then nipped playfully at the scar on the Joker's lower lip. The Joker made a low growl and sank into Bruce's neck, biting and sucking at him.

They got ready for sex, stripping off clothing, fumbling for lube. Bruce slipped his fingers into his lover, making him arch and writhe against him. The Joker settled into a comfortable position with his legs around Bruce's waist and groaned as Bruce entered him. He thrust in deeply and pulled back slowly, then did it again and again. The Joker grappled at him feverishly, digging fingernails into the flesh of his back. The thrusting became more frantic, more powerful, and the Joker's hand worked his own cock until he spurted onto his belly and chest. Bruce watched, then felt the blessed release of his own orgasm overtake him, and he cried out with a choked curse.

Afterwards, the Joker lay with his head on Bruce's chest. And, suddenly, he laughed.

"So, you went to see Beth. What was that like?"

Bruce smiled. "I can see how she caught your attention."

"Mm."

"In fact, if I wasn't spoken for--" he looked down at the Joker--"I am spoken for, aren't I?"

"Huh?"

Bruce sighed. "Never mind. I was just saying, she's very pretty. And, smart. Caring. Remarkable, really."

"Great. Why don't you marry her?"

"I've developed other interests, it seems." He squeezed the Joker's ass, making him squirm. Then Bruce added, "She said you were a jealous bastard."

"Oh?"

"Uh-huh. She said you went after the mailman with a meat cleaver."

"Aw, she told you that? That was just a big misunderstanding."

"I'm sure."

"Well, you know, I don't even like sharing my toothbrush with anyone, if you know what I mean."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "And, I met Ethan."

The Joker looked up at him, suddenly interested. "You did? What--what did he say?"

"Just hello. But I could see that he's a great kid."

The Joker smiled slightly. "He used to be so serious. The most serious little guy you ever saw. I'd tell him jokes, and he'd just look at me. Then, when he got older, he started trying to tell jokes himself. He'd just string stuff together that made no sense, but he'd use the rhythm--imitating me--and he'd crack himself up, and you couldn't help but laugh."

"I bet he's got it down by now. You better come up with some funny stuff to top him."

"Oh, I've got a million of 'em. Hey, Bruce, what did the bartender say when the neutron tried to pay for a beer?"

Bruce gave him a look. "What?"

"He said, 'For you? No charge.'"

"I think I have to go home now."

"So, one atom says to the other, 'I think I've lost an electron.' 'You sure?' he asks. The first atom says, 'I'm positive.'"

Bruce rolled out of bed and began to dress. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Well, I might be a little rusty. How about a knock-knock joke?"

"No, thanks."

"Ok, here's one for Rachel--I hear they're using lawyers for lab tests. 'Cause there's some things even a rat won't do..."

"Goodbye."

"Yeah, don't get me started on lawyer jokes--"

"I shouldn't have got you started on any jokes. But, there's one thing I learned from this."

"What's that?"

"You desperately need a little time with someone who can appreciate your humor. As far as I'm concerned, Ethan can't get here fast enough." He finished buttoning his shirt. leaned down and kissed the clown goodbye.

The Joker watched him leave his room, then lay back and shut his eyes. Memories were flooding his mind and he dozed off, smiling.