Bruce POV

I was having a nice chat with Selena when Gorden and a small group of people show up. "We need your help Bruce."

"Why what's happened?" I ask in concern. In reply Gorden turns in the tv to reveal Jerome.

"Don't you know it's rude to keep a person waiting? My trigger finger is getting itchy. Bring me my hostages Jim."

"The hostages he wants is his brother and you."

"What don't make me laugh. Absolutely no bloody way." Alfred replied.

"I don't like it either but Bruce you have to trust me. I've got a plan."

"You know what? I don't think your taking me seriously. Enny meni Miny moe one of these peoples got to go." With that Jerome hits a trigger and the bishops head is blown off.

"Do you see what just happened? That man is a raving lunatic he can't be trusted." Alfred states.

"For once I agree with Alfred." Harvey says.

"Only you can prevent more deaths." Gorden pleads.

"What's the plan?" I reply.

"Jerome is using a dead man's trigger using radio waves. You get this decivce close enough and he won't be able to activate the bombs."

"So I wear this, get close to Jerome."

"That will give us time to get the snipers in position to take out firefly, Jerome and the others."

"What are we waiting for we have people to save." I replied.

Jeremiah POV

Soon Bruce, Alfred and Jim were standing in my apartment. "I know why your here. I watch the news. You must be out of your mind if you think that I'm going to be lead like a lamb to the slaughter."

"Your brother does many things but he doesn't bluff. If we ignore his demands there no knowing what he will do." Jim replied.

"We can block his transmission with this. If you and Bruce can get close enough it will disable his remote. Our snipers can take it from there. He will be a sitting duck."

At this, I scoffed. "You've got to know what he wants. To murder us both on live television."

"Mr Valeksa. I'm Bruce Wayne. It's nice to meet you:"

"Likewise. I only wish it was under better circumstances." I reply with a sigh as I shake his hand.

A young boy tugs on my pant sleeve. "What's that?" He asks pointing towards my generator.

"It's a power generator."

"How much power?"

"Enough to light up all the buildings on the south side."

"You have a brilliant mind. I can only hope that we can rid the world of your brother so that you can live without fear. I understand if you don't want to help us."

"I trust that Gorden won't let any harm come to me. But even if it does maybe by standing up to Jerome I can show Gotham that standing up to terror is the only way to take its power away."

"Oh and there is the matter of  the other two hostages Jerome has taken. Your friend Quinn and a little girl. Jerome will kill them if we don't show."

"What little girl?" I replied suddenly filled with concern. I knew that Jerome would never hurt Quinn but who was this child they were talking about?

Gorden flipped on the tv to reveal Jerome holding a struggling Quinn."Come on out, don't be shy. Come say hello to the cameras."

A few seconds later, a small little girl was sitting next to Quinn. As I looked closer at the image I felt the wind being sucked out of me and I suddenly felt quite faint.

The small girl next to Quinn looked just like my baby sister Desdemona. Yet, it couldn't be. This had to be some sort of cruel trick. My baby sister had to be at least 16 or 18 by now this child seemed to be only two maybe three years old.

"Hi." The small child whispered.

I slumped into a nearby chair in shock. "He wouldn't. He wouldn't harm a child just to get to me. Even he's not that cruel."

"Who am I kidding? Of course he is... But who is that little girl?"  I whispered in shock as Jerome clasped a collar around the small girl's neck.

"Hello brother. I hope your watching this broadcast. You have fifteen minutes to show up or our baby Sister takes your place. Make your choice. Your life or hers?" Jerome replied with a sadistic laugh.

"Jerome leave Her out of this. This is between you, me and Jeremiah." Quinn stated.

"Well actually, it's between you, me, Jeremiah, Bruce and Jim." Jerome replies.

"Then let her go. She's done nothing to deserve to be treated like this." Quinn pleads to no prevail.

"Now where would the fun be in that?" Jerome replied with another laugh. "But in all seriousness, you have ten minutes before I blow the heads off of everyone on this stage including our baby sister and Quinn."

"Don't keep me waiting Jeremiah. You won't like the consequences." At this, the small child next to him whom I could only assume was my baby sister began to tremble.

"Jewome? Is you weally going too blow me head off if Miah not show up?" Our baby sister asked her eyes filling with tears and she began trembling. Jerome didn't reply instead He begin singing.

"Why are we still waiting waiting waiting? Someone's gonna die." Jerome sang as we walked into the crowd. "Well look who finally decided to show up, if it isn't my two guests of honor."

"We were starting to get worried especially the mayor and our baby sister. Come on up here. Come on, we don't have all day." Jerome replied impatiently. "Oh and I almost forgot, send Jayden and Sabrina up here too."

"No."

"No?" Jerome replies with a slight frown.

Detective Gorden gave me a nod of reassurance and I slowly walked towards the stage.

"Just let them get a little closer."

"On my mark."

"My men have all targets in view." The head sniper replied.

"Hello brother." Jerome said as I approached and I semi smiled at him.

"Now. Fire." Gorden ordered suddenly gun shots went off but not in the expected places.

"I had my men stake out the vantage points last night. They've been watching your little swat team all day." Jerome said with a smirk. "Now Bruce, brother dear, come on up here. It's time to get this party started."

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Jarvis, Scarecrow and Oswald approached a blimp. "The concert, its to get all of the people in one place so you can disperse the laughing gas. This is madness."

"I thought you saw the beauty in all of this. Jerome was right, you know he anticipated your betrayal. You went to Gorden. Your a Judas." With that Scarecrow hit Oswald on the back of the head knocking him unconscious.

"Tie him up. Jerome wants him to get a birds eye view." Jarvis said.

Back in the square Jerome had Bruce and I exactly where he wanted us. "You know no parent will admit it but they have their favorite. Isn't that right brother?" Jerome asked sitting down in a chair next to me. "The one who cleans their room, doesn't try to kill everyone."

"Little Mr. Perfect here he was that guy. He got adopted by rich folks. Went to the top schools, top college. Even my little sister here, had a better childhood then I did. Me, I was dragged around the circus by my depressed drunk mother forced to clean up elephant dung everyday."

"Who cares?" Someone in the crowd yelled.

"Do you realize how big those things are folks? But I know something that mommy and daddy they never knew. Your as crazy as I am."
I look at Jerome my eyes filled with distaine a disgusted scoff curling my lips. "You see we have the same blood running through us."

"We are practically identical. Your a killer. It's in your blood. Stop trying to fight it." With that Jerome cut the ties that bound my hands to the chair and handed me the knife. "Take your best shot." I didn't hesitate I lunged at Jerome who proceeded to deck me and laugh in delight.

"That's why he's stalling. He's going to release the laughing gas right here. Get these people out of here! Time to kill this maniac once and for all." Jim said while glaring at Jerome.

"That was awesome! I love you!" Jerome laughed as he kicked me over and over again.
Suddenly Jerome was shot and he scurried away.

I heard both a scream and a growl come from behind me. I looked up to see fear in my baby sister's eyes and a very angry Quinn.

"Now Quinn, don't do something you're going to regret."

"Shut up Jeremiah!" Quinn replied through gritted teeth. Before I could try and reason with Quinn, I heard the sound of a gun cocked and I looked up to see my baby sister pointing it directly at me.

"Uh-oh. Umm, sweetheart, put that down!" I pleaded with her and Quinn whirled around and let out a gasp of shock.

"Bella baby, that's not a toy. Put that down." Quinn pleaded with Bella to no prevail.

"No! Dis is all his fault! Jerome's huwt and it's all his fault." My baby sister replies with a frown.

"Bella put that gun down."

"No."

"Bella I said put that gun down!" I replied more sternly. Bella frowns and continues to point the gun at me.

"Make me."

"Bella, sweetheart, I know that your upset, but this isn't going to solve anything. You know Jerome won't be happy to hear that your messing around with something as dangerous as that gun. Now put it down." Quinn asks.

"No."

"Roseabella Katrina Tina Marie Valeska you put that gun down right NOW!" Quinn replies sternly.

My baby sister's eyes go wide and she lets out a whimper. "But Pooh Bea...."

"Don't but Pooh Bea me young lady." Quinn replies sternly. I can see the look of hurt in Bella's eyes but this doesn't sway Quinn at all. "Put the gun down. NOW."

Quinn replies sternly however, instead of obeying Quinn's instructions Bella turns and runs off the stage in the direction that James and Jerome had gone.

"Pooh Bea?" I reply cocking and eyebrow at Quinn who frowns at me.

"Now is not the time to discuss this."

Gorden POV

"Beautiful isn't she?" Jerome asked as the blimp floated past. "Just give me a second I've got to tell the pilot that he's in position." Before Jerome could finish the call I shoot the phone out of his hand.

"It's Too late. Bombs away!" He yells and a second later, I shoot him in the chest. He looks down at his chest and says "hum. Funny." Then falls off the building.

"No!" I hear someone scream from behind me and I turn to see Bella standing there a look of shock on her face. I watch in horror as she rushes toward me and the edge of the roof.

"Stay back Bella, it's dangerous." I try telling her but She refuses to listen to me.

Bella POV

I arrive just in time to see Jerome standing  on the edge of the rooftop. Gorden shoots him and he falls. Both Jim and I rush to the edge of the building and sees Jerome struggling on a ledge. "Quite the delema Jim. Are you going to stand there and watch me fall and die?"

"Or are you going to help me up and arrest me? What's it going to be Lawman or murderer?" Jim reaches his hand down towards Jerome but he doesn't take it. "Good old Jimbo always playing by the rules."

"That's why I'll outlive you. That's why I'm loved. I don't care about the rules." It's then that he spots me and the gun in my hand and he shakes his head in disappointment. "What are you doing with that gun? That is not a toy, put it down this instant."

"No. This is his fault, He did this to you. He hurt you and for that He has to pay." I reply pointing the gun at Jim.

"Bella please listen to me...."

"No Jim." I reply cutting him off. "I'm done listening to you. Back off owa me will shoot."

"Bella you don't want to do this..." Jim states taking a step towards me and I shake my head in disappointment. I sigh and pull the trigger intentionally missing.

"Me did dat on puwpus Me didn't habe to miss."

"I believe you."

"He falls you go bye bye. Tic Toc." I say to Jim as I blow on my nails.

"Roseabella Katrina Tina Marie Valeska this isn't a game! You put that gun down and get off this rooftop this instant!"

Jerome replies sternly and I whimper and shake my head no as tears fill my eyes. "Me nu want you to go bye bye agains. You pwomised me. You pwomised we always be togethas."

"I'll always be with you Bella."

"It's a long way down are you sure you'll outlive me?" Jim replies still holding out his hand.

"Oh I'm sure. Because I'm more then a man. I'm an idea. A philosophy and I will live on in the shadows within Gotham's discontent. I'll be seeing you soon." With that, Jerome let go and fell to his death.

"Noooo!" I screamed letting out an ear splitting wail as I watched him fall. I go to jump after him but and grabbed by Jim. "Let me go! Let me go!" 

"I'm sorry. I didn't want this to happen." Jim whispered to me pulling me into a protective embrace. I glared up at him angrily.

"Me hate you! Me hate you!" I scream at him hitting him in the chest over and over again. Jim sighs and makes no attempt to stop me. Suddenly I break down into sobs.

"Shhh. Hush now. Everything will be alright." Jim whispered picking me up and rubbing circles on my back until my sobs became quite whimpers.

WC 2367