Unsuspecting Hero (Batjokes)

Chapter 27

"I really hadn't meant to" That was the jist of the words Damella Bailey had been hearing for the past hour, since her and Jack had gotten some privacy. She was trying to reach out to him, to help aid his mind, but to no avail.

"Jack, please-"

"Why did I even bother!?" Well, that was new. Doctor Bailey piped down, just to hear what Jack would say. It didn't even seem like he was talking to her, really, more so himself. Trying to justify all of the running thoughts within his mind. "This- This rehabilitation stuff was never going to work!"

"Jack, you've made a lot of progress-"

"Have I?!" And that, too. She shut herself up again, at the first real sign that he had acknowledged her presence. "I'm just a danger to them! To Alfred, Bruce, to them all! I should just go-"

"Stop it. Listen to me, please" And that was unorthodox of her, she knew. But when did she ever really play by the rules? But it got his attention. He looked up at her, a mixture of fear and resignment within his expression. "Do you want to know what I thought, when I first got your case?"

At his lack of response, she took that to continue. "I thought it would be impossible. I thought that there would have been no point, as it would prove fruitless. Afterall, when does anyone trying to reform the Joker prove to be fruitful?" She watched as her words made him sink back in his chair, and carried on. "But then I got here. And was genuinely surprised how they had even gotten you to agree to this. And then I talked to you, and you didn't try to manipulate the situation, or work around it, you faced it. You sat there, and you talked to me. You gave me a chance, you warmed up to me. And that alone. That alone is proof that this is working"

"But-"

"No. You spend too much time in that chaotic head of yours. For once, listen to those who are trying to help you. That's what this is about, right? Getting the help you need. Listen. I promise you will understand"

Jack sat quietly for a moment, and Damella could only refer to that expression as a lost puppy. That term didn't really sit right with her considering who she was talking about, but she had no other words for it. Those green eyes were wide and searching, lost and pleading for something. For answers, for comfort, for reprieve, she didn't know. But she intended to find out. 

"Harvey Dent is dead. You killed him, yes. But what about those you have saved? Batman, your friends, those people at the mall during that hostage situation. That one person is dead. But those others, who you helped save, they aren't angry. They aren't mad, aren't upset with you. They are worried about you. And that. That is what this rehabilitation is about for you"

"But that's not the point" His voice was raspy, telling to the screaming, the crying, the yelling he had been doing. Jack looked exhausted, but frankly she was planning to use that to her advantage. "The whole point of rehabilitation was to not kill. Joker kills, Jack doesn't."

"You're doing it again. What did I say during our first session? Referring to yourself as two beings will not help you to co-exist"

"But how can I not? I-It's, like...like a switch. I can't help it. It's like I can feel myself changing everytime. Jack slips away and Joker forces his way into me and it's like...I have no control over myself. Like I can see what I am doing, but controlled by a marionette's string. How can you just co-exist with that?"

"And you feel this so called 'switch' within yourself at emotional strain, yes? I assume Harvey Dent laid before you would have been emotionally taxing. Tell me, just what happened leading up to the event."

"He was moving. And it...filled me with so much fear. I knew he couldn't hurt me. Harley was right there, and he was already injured. He couldn't get to me. And yet I felt so scared"