Melanie did a quick spin around the alley, eyes darting everywhere as she searched for anything that may lead her and Dick to Victor's attacker.

"See anything?" Dick asked as he walked past her, looking at the other end of the alley. Melanie walked towards a trash can, slipping on a pair of gloves and moved it away from the wall. Dick turned at the sound of the wheels squeaking along the cement, and watched as Melanie gently picked up a large syringe.

"Either someone is extremely addicted to heroin..." Melanie said and looked up at Dick. He huffed, shrugging.

"Or Victor was telling the truth." Melanie placed the syringe in a plastic evidence bag, standing up. Melanie looked over to Dick, frowning at the look on his face. He was clearly debating something, eyes flashing everywhere before landing on Melanie.

Melanie stayed quiet for a moment before turning towards the street. "We should head back to my lab. See if the liquid in here matches the paralytic from the jewelry store murder."

"Melanie." Dick spoke quickly, his mouth clamping shut just as fast as he debated continuing. She turned back to him, holding the evidence bag by the corners, staring at him with an uncertain look. "Uh..."

"Did you see something?" Melanie started looking around the alley, curiosity consuming her for a moment.

"No.. No I didn't." Melanie looked back to Dick, who clenched his fist as he concentrated on what to say next. "I was wondering... Uh... I know we're partners and all—"

"No." Melanie interrupted him quickly, shaking her head. Dick raised his brows, more in confusion than shock. "It's been a month, Gray. Probably longer. And I get why you're probably asking me out."

"You do?" He raised a suspicious brow and Melanie nodded.

"Well it's not because of my looks." Melanie scoffed as Dick's eyes widened. For a moment, the thought did slip her mind that maybe he did think she was pretty and just wanted to take her out for a drink. But then the other reason came back to mind. "We work together, and I haven't spilled my entire life story to you. That's what you want, isn't it?" Dick let out an awkward noise and Melanie nodded. "I get it. I'm new, you've probably tried to look me up and found nothing. You want to know who I am."

Dick scratched the back of his neck, nodding slowly. "Well, here's one thing you get to know: I don't go out for a drink with my coworkers. Not with coworkers that don't open up when they want to know me, at least." Dick pressed his lips together awkwardly, and continued nodding.

"Right. Yeah, I understand." Melanie waved the bag, gesturing towards the street.

"Let's go before you make it any more awkward."

•••

Melanie dripped some of the liquid from the syringe onto a petri dish, sliding it under her microscope as Dick stood near the desk. He looked to the computer, staring at the picture of Melanie and her dog.

"What's the dogs name?" Melanie looked up at Dick before turning to the photograph, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Kaida." Melanie answered quietly and turned to Dick, only for her smile to slowly fall. Dick gave her a puzzled look, only unsure for a moment as to why she was suddenly unhappy.

"She was a good dog, y'know. Loved being held like she was a puppy." Dick looked back to Melanie, watching her smile grow as she remembered her beloved pet. "I got her when she was a few months old..." Melanie's smile faltered for a moment, and she sighed quietly. "She was hit by a car a few months ago."

Dick gave her an apologetic look, silently regretting that the first question he asked about her personal life was about a dead dog. Melanie hummed, turning back to the microscope.

Melanie's computer chimed, kicking Dick out of his thoughts as the two turned to the screen. "Suxamethonium chloride." Melanie mumbled and quickly stood up straight. "It's the same toxin that Jackson used to kill David Juneau."

"But Jackson's in prison." Dick furrowed his brows, looking down at the toxin. Melanie continued to stare at the computer, so deeply lost in a memory that Dick had to wave his hand in front of her face when she didn't answer to her name.

"You okay, Annie?" He asked with a concerned stare. Melanie turned to Dick quickly before back to the computer, then to him again.

"I'm fine." She answered quickly, crossing her arms. Dick gave her an unsure look and Melanie sighed quietly. "I had a copy cat killer my first year as a CSI... I never found them."

"I'm sure we'll find them this time. We just need to dig deep." Melanie nodded in agreement, looking to her computer again. She walked around to her desk, pouring herself a cup of coffee and sat down in her squeaky chair. She took a quick sip of coffee before typing frantically.

Dick slowly walked around behind her desk, frowning when Melanie had a list of Victor on the screen. "Holy shit."

"What is it?" Dick asked, leaning closer to see.

"Victor used to work for the Joker. His last prison sentence was for helping him send a bunch of bombs throughout the city." Melanie turned to see Dick had the same look she did a few moments ago. Melanie opened her mouth to speak before deciding against it and looked at the screen.

"Maybe one of Joker's goons is framing Victor for the murders. Might be getting money to try and break him out." Melanie suggested as Dick nodded slowly.

"Maybe. You should pull up people that have worked with him in the past. If they aren't dead... Maybe they know something." Melanie started searching through the GCPD database before her fingers started to slow down. Eventually, she stopped typing. "What?"

A few more seconds passed and Melanie turned to Dick. "I think we should try and talk to the Joker."

"Are you fucking crazy?!" Dick straightened up, giving Melanie the most bewildered look her could as his voice rose in shock. He gestured to the computer screen, scoffing. "The Joker is a lunatic and wouldn't even want to attempt to help us."

Melanie shrugged, glancing away before back to Dick. "It's worth a shot, isn't it? How long has the Joker been locked up?"

"Three... Four years?"

"Maybe he's gotten bored of staying in the same boring cell." Melanie stood up, crossing her arms. "Maybe he'll help us just to feel something again. I'm sure Arkham doesn't have many fun activities." Dick stared at Melanie with uncertainty, glancing to the computer before shaking his head again.

"It's too risky, even if he has a straight jacket on. He messes with your head and will find any weakness about you and drive you crazy." Melanie frowned at Dick.

"You clearly have experience with handling him. You can talk to the Joker, try and reason with him? Maybe offer a fake deal in exchange for information." Dick still looked unsure, crossing his arms next. "This is our only lead, Gray. We have to try."

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither realizing how close in proximity they were until Sterling walked in without knocking. He stood there ineptly for a moment until Dick and Melanie backed away from each other at the same time.

Melanie bumped into her chair, which squeaked loudly as it spun, the three watching it for a moment before looking at one another again. Sterling cleared his throat, nodding awkwardly as he tapped a case file with Victor's name on it.

"I uh... Talked to the girl Victor was with when we arrested him. He was with her the entire night of the first butcher shop robbery." Sterling walked slowly into the lab as Dick shoved his hands in his pockets. "What'd you got here?"

"Suxamethonium chloride." Melanie answered and Sterling raised a brow.

"Ain't that the same shit that killed Juneau?"

"It didn't kill him. It paralyzed him." Melanie corrected and Sterling popped his lips, nodding. "We got a lead about who might be framing Victor."

"What's the lead?" Sterling set the file down, turning to the microscope and examined the drying liquid underneath.

"The Joker."

"The fucking who?!" Sterling half-shouted, turning to Dick. "You told her he's a fucking lunatic, right?" Dick nodded as Sterling turned back to Melanie, scrunching his brows as he flailed his arm at her. His accent became more prominent as he argued. "What are you, trying to get yourself killed? Are you fucking nuts, Mel?"

"I'm trying to catch a copy cat serial killer." Melanie looked between Dick and Sterling, both of whom continued to look at her like she was, in fact, a crazy person. "Come on, he's the most secured prisoner in Arkham, straight-jacketed, and locked behind bars. How the hell is he going to attack us?"

Dick stayed quiet, glancing over to Sterling, who scoffed loudly. "You can't be serious, right? C'mon, Grayson, this is the Joker we're talking about! That guy would never help anyone especially cops."

Melanie's face dropped immediately into a look that clearly meant 'I have the worst idea imaginable.' Slowly, she looked to Dick, who gave her a confused look.

"What the hell is that face?" Sterling frowned and put his hands on his hips. "You look like someone just put a slice of hot apple pie under your nose."

"Annie?" Dick raised a brow, watching as Melanie slowly cracked a smile that sent a nervous shiver down Dick's spine.

"I have a terrible idea."