Jack's Descent

A/N - WARNING: This chapter contains rape and other slightly disturbing elements, so if that sort of thing offends you, please do not read.

CH 5: Ghosts of the Past

"And you're sure you have all the papers on the Anderson case? Yeah? Ok good, I'll be sure to drop off the affidavit in the morning. Goodbye."

Hanging up the phone on her desk, Rachel gave a start when a warm voice suavely cut in, "Friend in need?"

"Bruce!" she exclaimed, placing a hand over her chest, "Dear God, you scared me -- Harvey said you wouldn't be coming until later."

"Well should I leave and come back in an hour?" he teased. When Rachel failed to answer, the playboy pulled something soft and silky out from behind his back...an evening gown. Noticing her eyeing it inquisitively, Bruce wryly explained, "Harvey asked me to give you this, so I guess I've officially been demoted to messenger boy. Pretty nice, eh? You'll be the belle of the ball at the fundraiser tonight."

"And let me guess, I have to be home by the stroke of midnight?" Rachel gibed, her eyes boggling when she finally got a good look at the turquoise, matronly gown. "My God, where did Harvey find that thing, his mother's closet?"

Bruce chuckled as he hung the dress on her coat rack. "Now, now, now, did your mother teach you to be such an ingrate? I know the guy has some real spiffy hair and all, but that doesn't mean he has good taste in women's clothing. I mean, all we men really care about is if your clothes match our carpet when you take them off."

Rachel smiled wryly. "Oh, yeah? I should've known the silken panties Harvey gave me had an ulterior motive." Stacking a load of papers into a drawer, she distractedly added, "Anything else on your mind? As far as I know, that dress was the only surprise Harvey had in store for me, and I don't know about you, but I think I've had enough surprises for one day."

"Well what's one more?" Bruce asked, a soft smile upon his thin lips. "I know today's always been rough for you, so I figured I'd get you a little something to brighten up the day." Before Rachel could even argue, Bruce placed a small figurine of a star onto her desk. It was beautiful, but simplistic, the genuine crystal glinting in the light as Rachel gave Bruce a questioning look. "It's to match the picture that Ja -- uh, he gave you all those years ago. I know it's not much, but I immediately thought of you when I saw it."

"Oh, Bruce..." Placing a hand over her heart, Rachel blinked back tears as she gazed upon the crystal star, her fingers subconsciously touching the ring around her neck as she slowly shook her head. "How can I ever thank you? Even though I've constantly mistreated you over the past six years, you've always been so good to me, and I..." Rachel sniffed. "...I'd just like to say thanks for being such a great friend. I only wish that I'd realized this before Jack's passing."

"Yeah, me too" Bruce softly agreed, "but hey, no hard feelings, right? I just want you to be happy, and it would seem that Harvey's doing a bang-up job of making that happen."

Rachel smiled weakly. "Yeah, he's great -- real great. I'm really glad you introduced us."

As Bruce moved to give a small response, a redheaded blur burst into the room in full excitement, its voice reaching up to the heavens as it exclaimed, "Hello, hello, hello, you're lookin' at the new and improved Lieutenant Stephenson! Oh, and guess what, ladies? He's single!"

Rachel laughed as she rose from her desk. "Craig, what on earth are you doing here? I'm pretty sure Gordon won't approve of you flouncing around all over the place like this."

"Well why not? It's my lunch break!" he innocently defended. "And besides, I wanted to swing by to make sure you weren't wearing red to the thingy tonight. April would flip if you are since it took her five damn shopping trips to find the perfect tux for me, so just lemme know the color you picked, alright?"

"It's some ugly turquoise thing" Rachel grumbled, a smile tugging at her lips when she noticed Bruce's pleased expression. "If it helps any, I think our outfits will coordinate fairly well together, so you can spend the evening with me."

Craig grinned. "Sorry, but no can do, Racheroni. Gordon's got me signed up as security for the evening, so I've gotta stand around and act all tough."

"In a red tux? Yeah, real intimidating" Bruce teased.

"Hey, I'll have you know that red is the color of confidence, buddy, so you remember that the next time you see me!"

Grinning, Rachel added, "Yeah, maybe the notorious Batman should trade in his kevlar for the dipped-in-ketchup look."

Bruce gave her a warning glare, but it immediately melted away when he realized how happy she was. It had been so long since he'd seen Rachel look that radiant, and he wasn't about to be the one to take that glow away. Sending her a warm smile, he reluctantly announced, "Welp, I've got to go pick up my suit for the evening, but I'll see you two later tonight."

Craig grinned cheekily. "Mmm, well tell your hot mama I said hello!"

"Craig, for the last time, his name is Alfred!"

Stifling a giggle, Rachel averted her eyes and pressed her lips together as Bruce left the room, both she and Craig bursting into a fit of laughter once they knew they were alone.

"Oh man, you are so bad!" she admonished, now red in the face as she choked on a laugh. "You know how much he hates that joke by now!"

Craig grinned. "Well yeah, but he knows how much I hate it when he flirts with you, so he had it coming. I mean, c'mon, a crystal star? What a lame-o!"

Rachel's cheeks burned crimson. "H-how long were you listening?"

"Long enough."

"I see..." Keeping her gaze glued firmly to her desk, she mumbled, "I don't have feelings for Bruce, if that's what you're worried about."

Craig winked. "Well good, 'cause I was hoping I could get appointed as a priest or somethin', and then I could perform your wedding ceremony to da Harvster. Can't you just picture it?" Holding his arms up in a dramatic flourish, he mockingly recited, "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife...you may now do the bride."

"Craig!"

He laughed. "What, you don't like my little alteration?"

"Well to be fair, it sounds like the name of a porno" Rachel admitted. "And besides, I'm not so sure that there will be a wedding in our future."

"Uh-oh, trouble in paradise?"

Sighing, she mumbled, "No, no, it's just that I still don't think I'm ready for marriage. Harvey's been asking me for the past month now, so I'm waiting for the day when he says 'You know what? I've had it!'."

"If he's the right guy, it won't be like that" Craig gently assured her. "When it's all said and done, he'll be willing to wait for you as long as it takes."

Rachel looked up from the floor and gave him a surprised smile. "Wow" she remarked, "you sure wouldn't know it, but you've actually got quite a bit of common sense floating around in that brain of yours."

Craig grinned. "Well, I come through every once in a while..."

Laughing, the two linked arms and set off for a non-permitted lunch break.

--

"Why's everyone staring at me like that?"

"You're the guest of honor, Harvey -- people are bound to stare."

"Well yeah, but it's making me uncomfortable" he complained.

"Aww, well heaven forbid you be uncomfortable for a little while" Rachel teased. "You spend hours grilling criminals in the hotseat, so I guess it's only fair that you finally get your turn." Noting the look of concern in Harvey's eyes, she hurriedly added, "Now don't worry, you won't have to write a speech or anything -- Bruce will probably introduce you for a couple minutes, and then after that you and I can make our grand disappearing act."

Harvey grinned devilishly. "I love the way you think, my little jezebel -- makes me wish we could go home and celebrate this thing our own way."

Wincing, Rachel maneuvered around his outstretched arms with a firm "Don't", Harvey watching on in bewilderment as he demanded, "Well what'd I do wrong? We've been dating for two years now, so I think it's ok if we finally start talking about taking our relationship to the next level."

"I can't" Rachel whispered, her heart giving a torturous dive, "I can't."

His eyes coloring in recognition, the DA released a frustrated growl before snarling, "Christ, Rachel, the guy's been dead for six years -- let it go! You said so yourself that you didn't lose 'it' to him, so the subject matter shouldn't be so damn taboo!"

"Oh!" Bursting into tears, Rachel reared back and struck Harvey across the face as hard as she could, her voice cracking as she sobbed, "No, I didn't lose 'it' to him, you pig, and I don't plan on losing it to you, either! Just get out of here -- go on, get out, get out, get out!"

Not even caring about the looks they were receiving, Harvey gave a heated "Fine, have it your way" before storming back toward the elevator, Rachel quickly wiping away her tears as she felt a hand come down on her shoulder.

"Need a friend?" Bruce asked, his voice surprisingly soft.

Biting her lip, Rachel slowly turned and nodded, her hand touching his arm as she agreed, "Yes, if it isn't too much trouble -- I know you'll hate me for this, but could you go downstairs and try to smooth things over with Harvey for me? Tell him I'll leave -- it's his party, after all."

Bruce gave her a bitter smile, but like the good friend he was, he willingly agreed. "Yeah, sure thing, Rach, but just remember that you owe me big time."

"Well hopefully it'll be something I can afford" Rachel teased, a grateful smile coming to her lips as she watched Bruce head toward the elevator. Once he was out of sight, her lips drooped into a frown and she made a prompt beeline for the refreshment's table. A bountiful array of goods laid spread out before her, but what she truly wanted was a flute of the bubbly champagne found alongside the shrimp.

Selecting a glass with a shameful amount of eagerness, Rachel tossed her head back and swallowed the corrosive liquid in one burning gulp. It slid down her throat like fiery gold, but the sensation was so soothing that she found herself going back for another glass. As she did so, she barely had time to react before the sound of a loud, hollow gunshot filled her ears and pounded through her chest like a drum, her blue eyes widening as she spun around and took in the sight of a well-dressed, gun-wielding clown.

"Goo-ood evening, la-dies and gen-tle-men -- we are tonight's entertainment" he drawled, his odd, nasal voice almost turning hostile as he held his firearm out before him. Now aiming the gun toward each guest he passed, he began asking for someone by name...Harvey Dent.

"Oh, God" Rachel breathed, her hand coming over her heart as she fell into a cold sweat. With any luck, Harvey and Bruce were still talking downstairs and would have the sense to stay there. Even though Rachel wasn't particularly up to date with the specifics on this new criminal, she knew enough to discern that a run-in with the Joker meant certain death.

In accordance with this thought, Rachel perked back up when one brave soul coolly ventured, "We're not intimidated by thugs!"

The entire room fell deathly silent, only the sound of a rattling dish being heard as the Joker approached the man with an inquisitive eye. "You know" he thoughtfully began, "you remind me of my father..." Seizing the old man viciously by the back of his neck, the clown prince felt a sense of pride when he witnessed his victim's fear. It oozed from his pores like the sweat dripping down his face, and the Joker couldn't help but lay it on thick as he growled out, "I hated my father!"

With a sense of helplessness bursting within her breast, Rachel pushed her way through the crowd and clenched her fists, her eyes wild and dangerous as she thundered, "You leave him alone!"

The Joker immediately stopped heckling the old man, his predatory eyes sliding away from his victim in order to take in the sight of a proud, sickeningly confident female. Grinning over the excitement of a new challenge, he pushed the old man to the floor and turned to Rachel with a high-pitched giggle. "Well hel-lo, beautiful!" he greeted, giving her an appreciative once-over. "You must be Harvey's lit-tle whore!"

Setting her jaw into a firm, grim line, Rachel glared back at the Joker as he began to jauntily approach her, his thumb now caressing his blade as he observed her with a newfound interest. Now so close that Rachel could feel his breath on her skin, the Joker twisted his scarred lips before revealing, "Y'know, you remind me of someone I once knew..."

Averting her gaze down to the tiled floor, Rachel swallowed and subconsciously dug her nails into her upperarms, a small yelp escaping her lips when he seized her by the hair and viciously yanked her closer.

"She was, uh...beautiful, like you, and she was just as much of a struggler" he crooned, his blade now flicking against the svelte curve of her cheek. "Wanna know how I killed 'er?"

Rachel whimpered in response, so the Joker giddily tilted his blade so that it ran along the full arc of her lips. Leaning in so close that it seemed he was trying to tell a secret, he eagerly whispered, "I, uh, met this girl in the streets one day, and she was looking for a lit-tle bit a' money, so I thought I'd, uh...give her a try. She was one of those blonde, skinny types -- I personally like a little meat on my women, y'know? -- but she took me back to her place so we could play." Licking his lips, the Joker looked to the left, then to the right before pleasurably sustaining, "Apparently I didn't know how to play her games right, 'cause she started screaming and screaming when I began cutting her to pieces. I just wanted to see how her blood tasted! Is that such a crime?" Not even waiting for a reply, the Joker licked along the curve of Rachel's cheek and gave a small, pleased little moan, a grin stretching his lips as he purred, "But what about you, Miss As-sis-tant DA? Shall we find out how good your blood tastes?"

Shivering in disgust, Rachel turned her head away, but the Joker seized her by the chin and forced her to look deep into his dark irises. They were cold and lifeless, like a doll's eyes, and Rachel felt her stomach churn as his lips curled back into a yellowed sneer.

"If you didn't wanna play, you should've kept your big mouth shut" he hissed, Rachel giving a cry when he punched her in the gut and sent her sprawling onto her backside. Coughing and wheezing, Rachel moved to crawl to safety, but the Joker seized her by the ankle and began pulling her back toward him. "Ah, ah, ah, Princess, you can't leave me just yet!" he condescendingly chided. "After all, just look at all the fun we're having!"

"You leave her alone, you sick freak!"

Looking up with a start, Rachel's eyes widened in panic once she saw Craig standing with his gun in hand, his brows furrowed in grim determination as he kept it aimed straight at the Joker's head. "Just back away slowly and drop your weapon" he urged, his eyes meeting with Rachel's as he gave her a reassuring smile. Unfortunately for him, that brief distraction allowed one of the Joker's goons to smack him across the face with their firearm, Craig giving a pained shout as he fell back onto his rump and clutched at his bleeding nose.

"Craig!" Rachel shrieked, her hands covering her mouth in horror as more goons aided their friend. Kicking and striking Craig as he laid prostrate on the floor, the goons held him in place as the Joker gave a disappointed click of the tongue.

"I trust that no one else will try to play the hero?" he mockingly demanded, his voice almost sounding bored as he twirled his knife along his fingers. As he did so, Rachel moved to kick him across the face with her stiletto, but he easily caught her by the ankle. "Oh-ho-ho, you're a real spitfire, aren't you?" he mocked, his fingers digging painfully into her skin as he began to lick, nip and suck his way down her long, slender leg. Growling against her soft skin, he shifted so that he wouldn't aggravate his erection and grinned up at Rachel. "Aww, don't you like that?" he cooed, promptly pinching her thigh so that she gave a pained yelp. Giggling at her predictable response, he then brought his blade to the hem of her dress, but this time Rachel managed to successfully nail him across the face with her heel.

Giving a whoop of a laugh, the Joker giddily caught Rachel by either leg and pulled her forward so that their hips melded snugly together, his dark eyes burning into hers as he purred, "Y'know, I think I'd like to take you some place more, uh...private. That way you can scream as loooud as you want."

Feeling tears burning along her lashes, Rachel found that she could only glare back at him in response, a startled cry escaping her lips when he began grinding his throbbing erection against her nub.

"Mmm, doesn't that feel gooood?" the Joker cooed, his eyes rolling back in his head as he continued to frantically jerk his hips against her own. "Doesn't it just make you wet-uh?" Giggling against the crook of her neck, the clown prince shuddered like a virginal teenager before suddening ceasing his actions, his eyes wild and determined as he seized Rachel by the hair and yanked her roughly to her feet. Now holding his jacket open in order to reveal several tiny explosives, he smugly announced, "If anyone tries to follow me and Harvey's lit-tle bunny, I'll blow you all skyyy-hiiigh." Sending Craig a pleased smirk, he lowly added, "Not quite worth being the hero now, eh?"

Craig looked as if he were going to do something stupid, but to Rachel's utmost relief, he remained on the floor as the Joker giddily dragged her toward the elevator. As she found herself being thrust past the open doors, she somehow managed to lock eyes with Alfred over by the refreshments table. He appeared so lost and helpless as he watched her, but instead of gratitude for his concern, Rachel felt nothing but shame... Shame for having allowed the Joker to win and demean her in front of all her friends and colleagues. But then, wasn't that what this monster wanted? According to the tabloids, he enjoyed targeting government officials and those who served justice, so didn't that put her on the chopping block as well?

Rachel couldn't help but give a humorless laugh at this realization. She should've known! The fundraiser had left every single person of importance at risk, but she'd failed to see this and warn Bruce in advance. By God, she couldn't believe how stupid she'd been!

"Care to fill me in on what's so funny? I just love a good laugh" the Joker purred, his eyes glimmering with mirth as he slowly approached her.

Realizing that she must've laughed aloud, Rachel felt her cheeks grow hot as she wedged herself into the furthermost corner of the elevator. Keeping her gaze firmly diverted, she pitifully choked out, "You don't have to do this, you know. I-I've got connections, so I could get you money or whatever it is you've come for."

The Joker gave a derisive snort. "Money? Oh, puh-lease, honey bunch, you actually think I want money?" Waving the hand with his blade, he dismissively argued, "Only fools ask for money -- I want anarchy, chaos...de-struc-tion."

"Well I'm afraid I can't give you those" Rachel coolly returned. "Anything that's against what Gotham stands for, I'm automatically against."

The Joker clicked his tongue. "Well that's alright, beautiful, 'cause you can help me in, uh...other ways, too."

Immediately getting his meaning, Rachel held her arms out in front of herself as if this would stop him, her eyes narrowing as she warned, "If you touch me, I'll rip your balls off and feed them to my cat!"

Giggling uproariously at her threat, the Joker hopped up and down like a child while exclaiming, "I like you, Miss As-sis-tant DA, I do, I do! Such spunk...such vi-o-lence. It's a wonder I've never thought of visiting you before!"

Moving to give a snarky retort, Rachel cried out when the Joker seized her by the hair and pulled her against him, his moist tongue now gliding across her lips as he purred, "I haven't had a spunky woman in a long, long time, Miss Dawes, so I'm sure you can tell it's nothing personal when I say I need this. It'll be quick and painful, I prom-ise."

"Perhaps if you tried a different approach, you'd have more women" Rachel snarled, her eyes prickling with tears as she felt his hand drift along her hemline. "I fail to see why I should suffer for something that you and you alone can fix."

The Joker giggled at her peevish response, his tongue reflexively licking his lips as he watched her squirm beneath him. "Aww, shh-shh-shhh, no need to be so bitter" he cooed, his hand touching her cheek as she promptly turned away. "Has Harrrrvey been mistreating you in the bedroom? Do you not get enough, uh...pleasuuuure?"

"That's none of your business!" Rachel spat, only to give a squeal when his blade flicked against the neckline of her dress. With a ridiculous amount of expertise, the Joker sawed through the homely gown with little to no effort, a predatory grin tugging at his lips once he took note of her lacy lingerie.

"Mmm, niiiice" he purred, his hand eagerly cupping a breast. "I wouldn't have taken you to be the sexy lingerie type, what with your being such a stuffed shirt and all, but I like it...I like it a lot-uh."

"Yeah, I'll bet you do" Rachel seethed, tears streaming down her cheeks as he lowered his mouth to her skin. Wincing at the sensation of his teeth and tongue upon her breasts, she gripped at his hair with the hopes of pulling him loose, but the Joker clearly misinterpreted her actions and giggled.

"Mmm, you like that, huh?" he purred, his lips now brushing against her neck as he slowly made his way to her mouth. "You, uh, like this more than you're letting on, don't you? I guess you really are Harvey's lit-tle whore!"

Before Rachel could give a vicious rebuttal, the Joker crashed his scarred mouth against her own and gripped at her hair, his tongue storming past her lips as he began to rub his throbbing arousal against her crotch. Eyes watering, Rachel tried not to gag once the taste of cheese and onions pervaded her senses, her small frame trembling as the Joker slipped a hand down his pants and began to stroke himself. Growling against her lips, his tongue battled with hers as he continued to thrust into his awaiting hand, his grunts and moans leaving Rachel with a queasy feeling as his fingers brushed against her panties.

Breaking free of the kiss with a gasp for air, Rachel looked up at the clown prince with big, pleading blue eyes as she begged, "Please...please stop."

The Joker grinned at this pitiful display, but not out of mercy. Dipping his fingers past the thin, flimsy barrier of her panties, he began to finger her dry opening until he felt something soft and spongy that caused him to laugh. "Ah, so maybe you aren't Harvey's lit-tle whore" he observed, licking at the tears on Rachel's cheek as she sobbed bitterly. "Were you, uh...saving yourself for me, by any chance?"

"Go to Hell, you pig!" Rachel seethed, tears blinding her vision as she watched him eagerly unzip his pants.

Pushing his trousers down to his knees, the Joker began stroking his erect member as he got off on her fear, a little moan escaping his lips as he watched her breasts heave amidst her terror. "Oh, my dear lit-tle Miss DA" he sighed, "you're so, uh...de-lect-able when you're scared."

Choosing to glare back at him in response, Rachel swallowed sharply when he pocketed his blade and tugged at her panties, her eyes closing in fear when she felt him press longingly against her entrance.

"Please don't" she begged yet again, her throat feeling tight and restricted as she choked on her tears. "Please!"

Suddenly freezing abruptly in place, the Joker (to Rachel's delight) backed away, but only to lick his hand and rub saliva along his swollen tip. "You're drier than the Sahara, sweetcakes" he explained, a feral glimmer coming to his eyes as he eagerly repositioned himself. When she began to cry harder than before, he sighed while insisting, "Look, I could've just driven on in there without any consideration for your comfort, whatsoever, so in the long run you should be thanking me, sweetheart."

"What, thank you for raping me!?" Rachel sobbed.

The Joker gave her a look of mock horror before bursting into a fit of giggles, his voice now low and husky as he purred, "Well if I'd've known you were gonna thank me for this, I would've done it a whole lot sooner", a low grunt escaping his throat as he thrust forward and buried himself deep inside Rachel's everlasting warmth.

With an agonized scream, Rachel clawed at the Joker's shoulders as a sharp, splitting pain ripped throughout her center, her eyes squeezing tightly closed as she felt her warm, thick blood trickling down his shaft and onto her thighs.

Groaning, the Joker began to hammer his hips against her own in a frantic desperation, his eyes rolling back in his head as he choked out, "Fuck, you're tight..."

Sobbing pitifully in response, Rachel whimpered as each thrust caused her head to crack against the metal wall, his nails digging into her hips as he bit her shoulder and growled against the heated flesh. When Rachel's blood pervaded his senses like a fine wine, he gave a small, pleased little moan and raised his gaze in order to observe his trembling conquest. "Rachel" he purred, grinning when she refused to look at him, "don't you wanna know how that girl left such an im-pres-sion on me?" When Rachel stubbornly remained silent, the Joker sighed and used his free hand to unbutton the front of his blue, honeycombed shirt, his thrusts now punctuating each word as he spoke, "Theeeere, ya see? She, uh...left me a lit-tle scar there when most women only scream. She actually fought back and left a mark, just like you would."

Rachel found that she could only squeak in response, her eyes widening as she gazed upon the familiar, slightly curved scar by his left nipple. Jack had gotten a scar just like that from a minor car accident...

Oh God, oh God, oh God!

In accordance with Rachel's scrutiny, the Joker became taut as a bowstring and pulled out before coming all over her breasts and stomach, his face burying against the crook of her neck as she sobbed, "No, no, oh God, no!"

"Well that's a pret-ty odd thing to say after climaxing" the Joker remarked, only to giggle when she choked on a sob. "Awww, you upset 'cause I ruined that Godawful dress? I could always make you a new one!"

"You can't be him" Rachel miserably whispered, her head shaking wildly back and forth as he gave her an inquisitive look. "You can't be my Jack!"

The Joker laughed. "Baby, I'll be whoever you want me to be, but I'm afraid you're right...I can't be this Jack you speak of."

"But the scar" she whispered, "h-he got one that looked exactly like yours eight years ago, and he..." Trailing off, Rachel forced herself to look deep into the Joker's eyes for a hint of humanity -- for a hint of a soul -- but instead found nothing but cold, shrouded darkness amidst a lifeless abyss of brown. This was not her Jack, she decided, but a monster.

Before Rachel could even think to study him further, the Joker pulled up his pants and started up the elevator, a grin suffusing his lips as he announced, "Well, I sure hate to just fuck and flee like this, but I've got another, uh...engagement to attend. I'm sure you understand, right, sweetcheeks?"

Rachel found that she could say nothing in return, her lips opening and closing wordlessly as she watched him get off on the top floor. As the elevator doors closed directly behind him, Rachel hugged herself for support and slid down to the bloody floor, a sharp sob escaping her lips as she curled in on herself and wished she would die.

A/N - Whew, DONE! That took me SO long to write, and it was ridiculously hard for whatever reason, so hopefully it lived up to your expectations. :-S I also took one helpful reviewer's comment into consideration and altered the beginning so that some of the past 6 years were explained, or rather, I HOPE it tied everything together, haha. Poor Rachel...that scene was hard to write. Hopefully I can get the next chapter up soon, but there are no guarantees since I've got finals next week. GAK! If you revieeeeew, I'll probably update sooner, though. -wink wink nudge nudge- lol