What Comes Next? Ch 2: Terror
Title: What Comes Next
Fandom: Batman
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Starts after 'The End'.
Disclaimer: Not my characters. Just my story idea.
In the end, Bruce had to conceded. If the Joker was loose, then they would need Jim to get all the information possible. It could be another trap. But, neither of them were willing to take that chance.
Bruce carefully helped the other man dress. In all honesty, the Commissoner probably would have gone to the police station half dressed without Bruce's help. Alfred brought breakfast in, and Bruce bullied his friend into eating before he left.
"Unfortunately, Bruce Wayne has a board meeting that cannot be avoided. Remember the cellphone, and the numbers. As soon as you find out what is going on, call me. Batman will put in an appearance after dark." Bruce watched his friend carefully as they made their way to the front foyer of the penthouse.
"Bruce, it will be okay. If there is something to this, I will call you when I can. I have been hurt worse. I won't shatter because of a broken arm," Jim smiled tiredly as he said this.
Bruce reached out and touched the Commissoner's forehead with the back of his hand. "You have a slight fever."
Jim pulled away. "Bruce, I was a cop when you were a boy. I will be fine." With that, Jim went out the front door.
Nothing could have prepared him for the next few hours.
It was dark when the Joker was captured. After Jim had spent several hours out in the bitter cold of a Gotham blizzard, word had come that the Joker had been spotted. Gordon debated about calling Bruce, but it was still daylight. He was also concerned that Batman would stand out too much in the snow. He refused to make the call to his friend. Bruce would be a sitting duck with all the snow that had fallen. Plus, it wasn't dark yet.
They captured the Joker by cornering him in an alleyway. Jim had ended up whacking the side of the evil clown's head with his cast. He hit the mad man hard enough to knock him out. Gordon was pretty sure he would need his arm reset. Not having time, he popped a couple of pain pills and trudged on.
By the time Gordon had supervised the return of the Joker to Arkaham, his coat was soaked through. He tiredly returned to the police station. Once he was in his office, he tried to pull the coat off, but it was stuck on his cast. Shaking his head in amusement at being outwitted by the coat, he pulled it back on. He was planning to leave in a few minutes.
There was an envelope on his desk. It was from a lawyer with a Kansas address. The sight of it pole-axed him. He had thougth Barbara and him were going to talk this weekend. He guessed she was through talking and through with him. Wearily, he dropped into the chair behind his desk. He stared at the envelope for a moment. He reached out to pick it up, and then hesitated. Finally, he stood. Grabbing the envelope, he shoved it into a coat pocket and headed out the door. He sneezed twice and coughed once as he went down the stairs. Opening the door to the preceint, he plunged back out into the blizzard.
\Authors note: not a clue where this is going to go. guessing jim is going to end up going through the ringer somemore, and maybe bruce will pick up the peices.\