Harley left the butcher shop after getting the cuts of meat for her pets. Returning to Wayne Manor, she looked forward to seeing her babies again.

When she arrived at the palatial estate, she thought it odd the main gate was open, but she dismissed it because she was expected this morning. Bruce and Alfred always seemed to know when she was coming or going. Turning around the long curve of the driveway, she followed it around behind the house to the back yard.

She was no sooner off her motorcycle when a pair of hyenas came bounding across the yard toward her.

"Babies!" Harley called out, kneeling down with outstretched arms. "Come to Mommy!"

The large animals raced over to her, knocking Harley over backwards in their enthusiasm.

"I missed you too," Harley said while petting the two beasts. She pushed them away momentarily. "I got something for ya. Wait right there."

Harley reached into the sidecar of her motorcycle and pulled out what she'd picked up at the butcher shop. The cuts of meat were still on the bone to give the hyenas something to gnaw on afterwards. Her pets wagged their tales eagerly and started salivating. She tossed the meat chunks into the air, and the hyenas jumped up to snatch them away before they hit the ground.

Harley smiled as she watched them enjoy the snack. Deciding she could use a bite to eat herself, Harley headed for the house.

The hairs on the back of her neck jumped to attention when she discovered the front door slightly ajar. Alfred would never have left it open in such a manner. Harley flattened herself against the wall and peered into the darkness of the interior, but she couldn't see anything of consequence.

Easing the door open slightly, she spotted something on the floor and realized it was Alfred. The butler was unconscious on his back, a green mist on his face and mustache.

Harley had seen this particular method employed before. Leaving the entryway, Harley raced for the library, pulling down the pendulum on the grandfather clock as she'd seen Alfred do when she'd first been taken to the cave by the butler. The clock moved aside, and Harley took the steps down two at a time to reach the bottom.

Digging through shelves and pulling out drawers, she rummaged through the extensive medical supplies to find what she needed. Locating a small vial and a pressurized injector unit, she ran back upstairs and knelt beside Alfred.

Breaking the seal on the vial, Harley shoved it in the open end of the injector's handle grip. She pressed the device firmly against Alfred's neck before pulling the trigger. A slight hiss sounded as the medicine was injected.

Alfred came awake with a start.

"It was Poison Ivy," Alfred explained.

"I know," Harley admitted. "I recognized her mist toxin and got the antidote from the cave medical supplies."

"How did you know we had any?" Alfred asked as he stood up from the floor and brushed off his suit.

"Batman's come up against the toxin before, so I thought he might have some of the antidote lying around," Harley explained.

"Speaking of Batman," Alfred mentioned. "Where's Bruce?"

"Isn't he at work?" Harley asked. She'd memorized his work schedule during the time she'd spent stalking him.

"He was working on something for you, a surprise," Alfred explained. "He came home early, and we were ambushed."

Harley whistled loudly, and after a few moments, her hyenas came scampering through the front door. Taking one of Bruce's coats from the closet by the front door, Harley held it out for them to smell.

"Find Bruce," she instructed.

"I'm afraid I must tell you, those aren't bloodhounds," Alfred spoke up.

"My babies are versatile," Harley countered with a grin.

The hyenas caught the sent and sped out of the house; Harley motioned for Alfred to stay while she chased after them. She didn't think Alfred was up for following hyenas or facing Poison Ivy again.

Having worked with Ivy in the past, Harley knew the woman's patterns of behavior and preference for plant based weaponry, so she had an idea where to look for her former partner. Additionally, Harley had a fairly good idea what to expect when the fight started between her and Ivy. A fight would break out between them, and if Ivy didn't start it, Harley would. Ivy would pay for messing with Bruce, especially after she'd been ordered to back off. Ivy had disregarded the warning, and Harley was going to make certain she regretted it.

Jumping on her motorcycle, Harley roared off after her hyenas.

***

In order for Ivy to get the money she wanted from Bruce, there were several methods she could employ, but all of them made use of a cloud of microscopic parasites capable of controlling minds. Once under her influence, Ivy could take Bruce somewhere and have him do a wire transfer, walk him into the bank and withdraw all his money, or take him to Wayne Enterprises and transfer company funds.

The last thought reminded Harley of what Ivy had said about the rich using their wealth to step on others. Why take only Bruce's money when Ivy could take Wayne Enterprises' treasury as well?

Pulling over to the curb, Harley whistled for her pets, and they hopped into the sidecar. Turning toward downtown Gotham, Harley ignored the speed limit and pushed her motorcycle to the full limit of its powerful engine.

***

Wayne Enterprises was still deserted after the evacuation caused by Joker's attack on the building. The police had come and gone already, leaving behind a chalk outline on the street and wrapping everything in bright yellow, crime scene tape.

The front doors had been boarded up to keep the building secure after Joker had driven into the lobby, but giant vines had grown out of the sidewalk and pulled the planks away. Harley instantly recognized Ivy's handiwork. Reaching between the motorcycle and sidecar, Harley removed her baseball bat.

"Stay," she told her hyenas when she noticed all the broken glass across the lobby floor. She couldn't risk her babies getting their paws cut up, so she'd handle Ivy personally.

Plants were everywhere around her as Harley marched across the lobby toward the elevators. It reminded her of something post-apocalyptic where civilization had ended and nature had overgrown the cities. Harley realized Poison Ivy might like the world in such a state, and it left no doubt as to what the money Ivy stole would be used for.

A part of her wanted to protect the fun things of civilization, since she enjoyed TV, motorcycles, and bubblegum. And yet, another part of her mind thought the leafy plants were pretty, relaxing, and would provide excellent shade in the summertime if Gotham's cloud cover lessened to the point of actually letting sunlight in.

No matter how she felt about Ivy or the plants, Harley couldn't let Bruce's abduction go unchallenged. Her time with Bruce was already limited by his work as Batman, but if every villain got the idea of coming after Bruce and his money, Harley wouldn't get any quality time with him at all. She needed to draw the line here and make sure everyone in Gotham, or better yet - the world, knew her man was off limits. Anyone messing with Bruce would have her to deal with,

Harley jammed the up button and tapped her foot impatiently while waiting for the elevator to arrive. When the doors parted, she was forced to wait again while the elevator seemed to be taking its sweet time getting to the top floor. While glaring at the slowly changing floor numbers, Harley's thoughts twisted into an angry knot.

She and Red had been friends, but friends didn't steal boyfriends from each other. Money was one thing, but boyfriends were supposed to be off limits. After leaving Joker, who had walked all over her, Harley wasn't about to be a doormat for Ivy.

Reaching into her black and red leather jacket, Harley removed a bottle of perfume and sprayed herself generously with it.

The elevator arrived with a soft ding of a bell. The doors parted and Harley, fuming mad by this time, stormed to Bruce's office. She ignored the bullet holes in the walls and pictures of business executives. She had eyes for only one businessman.

The moment the doors to Bruce's office swung open, Harley noticed two things. Poison Ivy was sitting behind Bruce's desk while attired in something resembling a one piece swimsuit made from sewn together leaves. Bruce stood behind Ivy and to her right. Harley thought he looked so important in his suit and tie, standing tall and strong by the massive rear window of the office, but his normally blue eyes were noticeably green, a side effect of Ivy's parasites.

Before Harley could demand Ivy release her hold on Bruce, a pair of sizable vines moved down from where they'd been perched above the door and seized Harley by both of her wrists, lifting her off the floor and suspending her in the air.

Ivy stood from behind the desk and walked slowly toward where Harley was hanging.

"Harley," Ivy said. "Whatever am I going to do with you?"