Ana huddled under the covers of the bed, holding the still sleeping Lisbeth in her arms as she heard the commotion outside the door. Dig had left 4 men guarding the house while he went on business. He didn't expect Joker to find where he was hiding so he didn't feel the need to heavily guard it. What he hadn't counted on was his wife deceiving him; he thought she was completely under his spell.
She held the girl closer when she heard the door being kicked in and soft footsteps walk into the room. She cautiously peered out the top of the covers and stared; it was the first time she had seen Batman in the flesh. He stood there scanning the room. He was a huge, imposing man but Ana couldn't help but notice the aura of gentleness around him. Just his presence in the room made Ana feel comfortable and calm.
She slowly lowered the duvet as Batman took a step closer.
"Ana, I presume." He said in a low voice.
She just nodded.
"Bruce said you needed my help. Where is the injured girl?"
Ana slowly lowered the covers revealing the figure next to her. Batman walked over to the side of the bed, shaking his head in sadness.
"I did what I could to help her....but I know it wasn't enough. She needs a doctor and equipment and medications that I don't have here."
Batman nodded, looking the girl's extensive injuries over.
"Bruce said you would take her to his manor, and have his doctor take care of her before I call her boyfriend to get her. I don't want to make him see her this way." She sighed, brushing Lisbeth's hair from her face.
Batman put a gentle hand on Ana's shoulder, wishing he could hug the woman he loved but he couldn't let her know it was him.
He gently scooped Lisbeth up in his arms as Ana quickly hurried over, covering her in a blanket. "Please, please get her to Bruce as soon as possible."
Batman nodded and then walked over to the door, turning around at the doorway. "Are you sure you don't want to come too? I...and Bruce, we can protect you and your kids."
Ana just shook her head sadly as she took out her phone. "Please tell Bruce I have to destroy my phone so I will be out of touch for awhile..."
Batman gave her one last look and hurried out the door.
Ana held back a sob and walked into the bathroom, closing the door. She quickly took out her phone and dialed a number, sitting wearily on the sink counter.
~~~~Joker's House~~~~
Joker paced his office looking around at all his men. They all look exhausted but he would not let any of them sleep until his doll was back in his arms. He looked over when he heard a quiet sob. He shot a look of disgust at Hatter who was working on a laptop and had red-rimmed eyes from crying.
Joker walked over to him, pulling him up by his collar. "Stop crying, little boy!!! You don't see anyone else crying."
Hatter looked with skepticism at Joker's own red-rimmed eyes. "But boss...I....I love her. We have to save her."
Joker threw the boy down in frustration as Frosty ran into the room, his eyes wide and his phone in hand.
"Boss!" He exclaimed. The whole room got quiet.
"It is Ana Leon. She says she has news about Lisbeth."
Joker hurried and grabbed the phone, quickly pulling it up to his ear. "Where is she?" He growled.
Ana's calm voice came over the line. "She is somewhere safe now. Before I tell you where, there are a few conditions."
"No one puts conditions on Joker, you bitch."
Ana sighed; she was used to dealing with stubborn, dangerous men. "There WILL be conditions Mr. J. I am sorry, but I must lay them down for the safety of my children. But I can promise you, none of these conditions involve not laying a finger on my husband. When you find him, he is all yours."
Joker heard the venom in her voice and couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Fine, what are these conditions?"
"First, my husband must never find out I helped the girl or called you."
"Fine."
"Second, you will leave me and my children alone. No harm must come to them."
J let out a low growl. "Agreed."
"And finally; she is currently in the care of a powerful but good man; unlike my husband and you." She spit out. "He would never release little Lisbeth to you. I told him that she has a boyfriend. A rich, good man, much like himself who has the resources to care for her. Because." She took a deep breath. "I am sorry Mr. Joker, because though she is alive, she is not in good shape."
J let out a hiss putting his head in his hands.
"Therefore you must send her little guard dog. The innocent-looking blonde. He must play the part of her devastated lover for her to be released. Then he can bring her back to you."
Joker looked over at Hatter, rage in his eyes. He wanted to be the one to get her, not her little emotional pet.
"Do we have a deal, Mr. Joker?"
He growled in frustration. "Fine! We have a deal!"
"I will send the details to Jonny's phone. And please, Mister J, for the sake of this girl, who you seem to care so deeply about, please follow the plan. For her sake."
As he was about to hang up the phone, he heard her voice again.
"And I would recommend having a doctor and medical equipment on hand; she will need it. And please prepare yourself, Mr. J. She does not look like your little doll anymore."
Joker heard the line go dead. He stared over at Jonny as the phone slipped from his fingers, falling with a soft sound on the carpet below. He slowly made his way over to Hatter, the boy standing up eagerly.
"She needs you now."
~~~~New Paltz, New York~~~~
Ana sent the details to Frost and then forwarded Hatter's phone number to Alfred. She hoped everything would work out and, of
course, that her children would survive this whole ordeal.
She sighed and threw her phone to the ground before stomping on it with her stilettos. She picked up the shards and threw them in the toilet before flushing and walking out of the bathroom.
It was now time for her to play the innocent damsel in the wrong place at the wrong time. She grit her teeth before throwing her forehead forward into the sharp edge of the bedside table. She fell back to the floor, moaning in pain as the world became black around her and she slipped into a deep sleep.