A Girl for Jack

Chapter 2

Mary was frozen by fear,  she quietly thought to herself "Is this really how it's my life is going to end?". She didn't dare move, not knowing how trigger happy the unknown man was. Mary couldn't see the mans face but noticed the tattoo that covered  his hand. There was a smiling set of teeth etched in the mans pale skin. Mary's heart sank, when she realized who she was dealing with. The joker raised his face so he could met Mary's gaze. " Do you know who I am?"

Mary quietly nodded. The joker seemed slightly amused by this immediate discipline he had over his new victim.  " If you want to stay alive, you will do exactly what I tell you to. Do you understand?" Mary again quietly nodded. "Good girl.. Now , I'm assuming you live around this shit hole? " Mary confirmed his suspicions. " Do you live alone?" Mary hesitated, but told the truth about living alone. "Perfect.. Now  your going to help me up and your taking me to your place. If you cooperate, I'll set you free. If you fuck with me.. " 

Mary quickly interupted, "I'll be dead.?"

Joker smiled a big silver grin, "Precisely.."

Mary offered her hand to him and helped Joker to his feet. She noticed blood seaping through his jacket on his left shoulder. As they made their way to the end of the alley, they checked to see if it was clear. " How far is it?" Joker gruffed.

"It's right here on the left, up the stairs."

The two quickly made their way into Mary's appartment. Mary had a sigh of relief, and quickly went to work assessing her patients injury. Joker was quiet, as he took in his new surroundings. The tiny appartment was in need of repairs, but it was clean, warm and private. As Mary was looking for supplies to dress The jokers shoulder wound, she nearly jumped out of her skin when he spoke. "Gemme your cell.."

"I'm sorry..? My what..?" 

She turned to see the Joker holding out his demanding hand, "Your phone.."

Mary reached in her pocket and handed it to her new guest and watched it disappear into his pocket. "You'll get it back when we are done." Mary silently nodded and continued to search for bandages. "So.. You live all alone in this scary city..? You know there are monsters out there."

Mary answered without interuping her search, "No kidding". Her inner voice kicked in, "Shit! Did I really just say that?" She was too afraid to see if she had pissed him off.  After finding all of her supplies she was ready to practice her medical skills. " I uh.. Need you to remove your shirt so I may dress your wound properly." Mary could feel her checks blush and was angry at herself for being such a school girl.

"Just the shirt..?" Joker smirked.

Mary stuttered, "ummm... Yes please, just the shirt."

Joker stood up and proceeded to remove the blood stained garment,  "Well.. Since you asked so nicely.." 

Mary could feel her checks burn with her shyness. She could hear herself gulp at the image standing before her.

Mary started press around the area of the wound and noticed him flench when she pressed to see if his collar and shoulder bone was intact. "Sorry about that." She continued her examination. " It looks like who ever tried to kill you was a bad shot. No shattered bones and it looks like it exited out the back. By the looks of your jacket and shirt, you lost a good amount of blood, are you light headed?" 

Joker just looked straight ahead, "My head is killing me." 

"Once I finish dressing this, I'll get you  some pain meds. You can rest here for the night and then we can go our separate ways." 

"What kind of pain  meds.?"

Mary made her way to a kitchen cabinet, "I have OxyContin, tramadole.. (Starts to mumble) uh.. regular Tylenol..?"

Joker held out his hand, " Gemme the Oxy.."  Mary tossed him the bottle and is shocked when she turns around. He his right in her face and roughly grabs her by the chin. " You said you live here alone...!" 

Mary's face was in pain from the pressure form his grip. Tears started to form in her big eyes, "What are you taking about? I do!" 

The joker talked through his gritted teeth, "Is that so.? Then who the fuck is Alan Parker..? Huh!! Huh!"

Mary was now crying with tears running down her cheek's. " He was my uncle.. ! Why?" 

He held up the prescription bottle. " So when does the bastard come home huh..?" 

Mary had difficulty talking through sobs, "He's not coming home."

Joker smirked at her pain while he teased her, "Oh.. And why is that..?"

"Because he's already here." Mary turned her tear soaked gaze to a small porclean object on a book shelf.