MCU [open]

[Jim Gordon]

Jim Gordon stormed through the doors of MCU, clearly furious. Everyone who was able to see him visibly winced. They didn't want to have to deal with a pissed off Commissioner. His mind was racing. The Joker, the most wanted criminal in Gotham, had escaped from Arkham Asylum. The most heavily guarded prisoner in all of Gotham had escaped with hundreds of other criminals Gordon and his men had locked up. Gordon's immediate concern was his family, the safety of his loved ones. With The Joker back, there was no telling what he would do.

Gordon looked around and ground his teeth together. "Is there anyone who can care to explain how the breakout occurred? How the most heavily guarded prisoner escaped?!" He said, his voice rising steadily. Gordon was still appalled that the breakout had happened. It was as if The Joker had gained control of more cops when he was inside Arkham. It was possible. The Joker probably threatened the staff with harm to their families, that part didn't surprise Gordon.

"I need names, fingerprints, birthdays, anything you can find on those leeches and I need it now!" He yelled at no one in particular. It was a very general message, and he knew someone would obey him, if not several. Gordon ran a hand through his messy hair and pushed his glasses up further in his nose. He wouldn't sleep. Not until he either had a lead, or a trace on The Joker.

[Daniel Avery]

Wonderful.

This was NOT what he needed. Not after the day he had. Four mob bosses in lock-up and not a single confession. It was enough to make his head throb. Luckily, Rebecca had eagerly called, wanting to take him out to make him feel better after such a long day. The nearly three hours of fantastic, mindblowing sex didn't hurt either.

The phone wouldn't stop ringing, and Daniel groaned slightly, bringing a hand up from the tangle of sheets, pillows, skinny arms and legs, until he grabbed the phone sleepily. "Oui--Hi, yeah, what's--" he cleared his throat to get the sleep out of it. "Hi, this is Daniel--"

The words he heard made his blood go cold. "You've--You've got to be kid--" Daniel brought a hand up, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose. "No. No, I'll be down there. No, I'm sure he's already there, thank you."

He tossed the sheets back violently. This couldn't be happening; it had been almost a year since he had gotten basically placed into office, taking over where Harvey had left off, and in that year, this had slowly started to turn for the better. The dawn had been approaching and now...

"What's wrong?"

"That god-damned clown. Somehow...he broke out of Arkham." Daniel seethed, searching the apartment for his pants. "Where the hell are my pants?"

"Did you try under the bed?" The woman lifted herself up onto her elbows, too tired to process the fact that the Joker was back out on the streets. "So are you going to be here later?"

"The JOKER is back out on the streets. The same person that blew up Gotham General, and you're asking if I'm going to be back for a NOONER?"

"It's early!" The woman whined, slamming her head back down on the pillow. "I don't know why they need to call you at an ungodly hour about it. It's already happened. You aren't Batman."

"Yeah, Batman." Daniel echoed, dressing quickly. It barely took him any time at all, and soon, he was ready to walk out the door. "Hey, I'll call you, okay?" he asked as he walked out of the apartment.

The drive to MCU was quick, only a few blocks away from his apartment, and he exited his car in a huff, sure that James Gordon was moree pissed off about this situation than he was. He entered, not bothering to speak to anyone until he heard Gordon's voice down the hall.

"Gordon. Gordon, it's three in the morning. I got woken up after what had to have been the best, most relaxing night of my life to the news that the JOKER has escaped?! Seriously, if this isn't a kick in the nuts, I don't know what is, but I refuse to have another Harvey Dent situation on my hands."

[Jim Gordon]

"Thank you," Gordon snapped as someone scurried over to him, handing him a stack of files. Quite a large stack, at that. Gordon dropped them on the nearest desk and shoved through them, looking for one in particular. He shoved aside a few more until he found it, The Joker. He threw open the file, scanning the pages quickly for anything that might've hinted at a breakout. Nothing. He carefully looked at the notes from his psychiatrist, Harleen Quinzel, had written nothing but praise about him. Gordon's eye twitched, The Joker... good behavior? Well, the man did know how to manipulate people. But other than that, there was nothing. Nothing that entailed he was planning a breakout. Gordon slammed his fist down on the table, swearing under his breath.

"Gordon. Gordon, it's three in the morning. I got woken up after what had to have been the best, most relaxing night of my life to the news that the JOKER has escaped?! Seriously, if this isn't a kick in the nuts, I don't know what is, but I refuse to have another Harvey Dent situation on my hands." Gordon's head snapped up as he heard the voice of Daniel Avery.

"I have no idea how he escaped," Gordon said, his voice cracking from lack of sleep and frustration. "No one has any leads as to where The Joker is. It's as if he just... disappeared. Again," he sighed, shoving the file over to Avery to look at.

Gordon looked up, searching for anyone. "Get every cop out on the streets, I want SWAT, everyone looking for this man. And contact--" he paused to look down at the file again. "Dr. Harleen Quinzel, see if she has any leads on where her patient might be!" Gordon ordered to everyone. He ran an hand through his graying hair, sure that this case would cause it to turn completely silver within the month.

[Daniel Avery]

Pulling up a chair, Daniel felt a headache brewing as he sat down, pulling the file over. His heart was pounding in his chest, from the instant stress, and the thought that there could be deaths. Many deaths. His own could be one of them. His eyes scanned the file, bringing a hand up to press at his forehead. "The Dedication Ceremony." Daniel said, worriedly as he moved, rubbing his eyes before looking at Gordon. "If anything, this is where he'll show up again. He can't resist this--why the HELL do we not have any pictures of this bastard without any make-up? How the hell are we supposed to know what the hell this guy looks like if we have no pictures?"

Daniel looked up from the file to Gordon. "Gordon, I want you to get your family out of Gotham. After everything that happened...there's no telling if he'd go to your family." Daniel told him surely, and felt a sigh escape his lips. "Everyone in that hospital, I want them arrested. We can keep them for at least 24 hours for questioning."

This was a snafu if ever one, Daniel thought. "There's talk already, I heard on the way over there, on the radio of all places, that the cops say that the Joker is dead. You've got any cred to that statment?" Daniel asked, and looked back down at the file. "Jesus, can you believe that this woman offered a possible release date? What the hell is going on in her head? This guy's crazy and she wants to release him?" Daniel asked, and pointed a finger down onto the paper. "Look, 'It is my professional opinion that patient has rehabilitated from his status on coming into Arkham Asylum, and it is my professional opinion that patient is ready and willing to be an active member of cival society'-- You have GOT to be kidding me."

[Jim Gordon]

Gordon's eyes widened. His family. Where would they go? Where would he send them? His mind raced over everyone he knew. Both of their parents were deceased, as was his brother and Barbara was an only child. That complicated things a bit. He had to know someone outside of Gotham... it would be quite sad if he didn't. Then he remembered. He had old college friends out in California, very far out of The Joker's reach. Perfect! He thought.

"Wait, wait, wait. You mean... she was going to release him?! Is she insane? It's The Joker for Christ's sake! He's not someone who can be slapped on the wrists and told "no" and he'll learn. No, if he was slapped on the wrists he'd probably giggle and ask for more. I want to speak to this Harleen Quinzel." Gordon was absolutely shocked that someone would order a possible release for that man. No one in there right mind would let him leave, no one. Maybe she's not in her right mind. Why do you think she got on with The Joker so well? His inner voice prompted. Gordon shook his head.

"Excuse me for a moment, I have to go call my wife," he sighed, walking off a distance and dialing his home number. He knew it was early, but he had to get them out as soon as possible. "Barbara," he sighed in relief when she answered the phone.
"Jim? Jim it's three in the morning, what--?"
"Barbara, I need you to take the kids and get on the next plane to California. The Joker has escaped and I can't risk your safety. I have a buddy from college out in Berkeley, his name is Michael Wright. He'll be at the airport waiting to pick you up when your flight gets in. I love you with all of my heart and tell the kids that too, will you? Call me as soon as you land so I know you're safe."
"Jim... I can't leave without--"
Gordon shook his head though he knew she couldn't see it. "I'll be fine. I swear, go. I love you."
"I love you, too," her voice cracked as she hung up.

Gordon bowed his head and walked back over to Avery and sat down, sighing softly. "Here we go..." he murmured softly, looking at the Joker's picture on his file and hearing the insane man's laugh ringing in his ears.

[Daniel Avery]

Brows narrowed in both frustration and sleep-deprivation, Daniel half listened to Gordon's phone call to his wife. He actually felt bad for the man; his wife and children had been in danger before, they had to deal with hardships, painful thoughts that Gordon had died. Even Daniel had thought that Gordon had died from being shot by the Joker. However, he had beaten the odds and lived.

As Gordon sat down in front of him, sighing out and muttering, Daniel flipped through the file. "There's another doctor here. Donovan McVane. We need to speak with both Harleen and Donovan; these are the people that had the most contact with the Joker that we know of. These are the first people I'd pick that had something to do with him breaking out of Arkham." he paused and looked at Gordon. "Look, I know after we captured this clown we did a good sweep of your boys, Gordon, but--" He sighed out, looking at the older man. "I can't help but think that he got them again. Easily took them again. This town isn't free from corruption, Jim, no matter how much Harvey wanted it to be."

A sigh escaped Daniel's lips, tired and shellshocked. "Everything that he worked for, everything that's on my shoulders now, it's for nothing now that the bastard's back on the streets." He looked at Jim. "You've got somewhere to take your kids, then, yes?"

[Jim Gordon]

Gordon shook his head, a low groan passing through his lips. "Check them again, I don't want to take any chances having dirty cops in my unit. We can't afford it," he said, sighing and looking up at Avery. "And I did find a place for my family, thank God."

Gordon's mind raced with any ideas he could think of to get The Joker off the streets of Gotham, to get his whereabouts known. He came up with nothing. They key person was Harleen Quinzel. Maybe... just maybe she was in on it. I mean, honestly, who would let The Joker out of Arkham? Maybe she'd opened the doors and let everyone go. Listen to yourself, Jim! You sound crazy. Don't pin the blame on anyone until you talk to them.

Gordon's lip twitched faintly as Avery mentioned Harvey Dent. Gordon, his family, Batman, and The Joker were the only ones who knew about what had become of Harvey 'Two Face' Dent. The once White Knight of Gotham, easily corrupted by The Joker after the death of his Rachel. Gordon's fists clenched into fists as he remembered how Harvey had taken his family hostage thanks to a corrupt cop in his office. Gordon almost watched his son get murdered by Harvey, luckily Batman saved him. Gordon owed the Batman more than he thought.

"We need Batman," he whispered faintly. Batman would find The Joker. Even if it meant finally taking off that mask once and for all.

[Daniel Avery]

"Well, it looks like Gotham's tax dollars are going to be put to good use. I'll have all of the officers questioned. Alibis have to be checked, questions need to be asked..." he felt a sigh escape his lips. "Mon Dieu, this is a giant cluster fuck. I can't believe no one heard anything about this happening; not a word or even whisper. How does something like this stay secret? Someone was bound to let SOMETHING slip." When Gordon said he had a place for his family, Daniel nodded. "Good. That's great, I'm glad for you."

However, when Gordon mentioned Batman, Daniel's jaw clenched instantly. He looked around at the other people passing in the room as if they had heard the man's low whisper, before looking at Gordon. "You can't be serious." he whispered almost in a seethe. "Have you seen the people in this town? They're ready to hang that freak just as ready as they are to hang the Joker. Now, I don't know about you, Gordon, but I don't think the lesser of two evils is what we need right now. The last thing we need is a vigalante wandering around Gotham; we're going to have too many of those at it is if the clown does in fact happen to be alive."

"Bringing the Batman back in will ruin both of our reputations, and I'm sorry, Gordon, I don't know about you, but I want to finish out the rest of my 3 years in office."