SwordStitcher-That fall HURT. I had bruises! I was in no condition for anything rough. At least, I wasn't when we started. I thought you had a concussion. Why? Seeing as you'd smacked your head... Yeah, that hurt, too. I'm sure it did. Now, what did we learn from the experience? Standing on a stepladder on tiptoe is not a good way to change a light bulb. That's right.

Jasmine Scarthing-Oi! No pictures! Does it matter at this point? We're leaving anyway, and your father's getting that new camera for Christmas. Oh, great. Now Mum'll break out the embarrassing baby pictures. These I have to see. NO YOU DON'T. How bad can they be? They're bad. Don't be so dramatic. What are they, naked broom jousting? Never you mind what they are. They're bad, and that's all you need to know. This should be interesting.

The Batman will be here in a few minutes. He always is. Jonathan's a little surprised he wasn't here earlier. Oh, well. Something else to mock him with next time.

They had plenty of time to leave, but it's getting cold out and they don't have their flu shots. It's time to go in, for a check-up and a few weeks of R&R.

"He's late."

"I know."

One of the few survivors groans and earns herself a vicious THWACK! with a folding chair.

"What was that for?"

"I have a headache."

She's not the only one. It's cold out here and he's probably a little dehydrated. It's been a busy evening. Not bad, for a spur-of-the-moment thing.

There's a low VROOM a few blocks away. Good. Another few minutes and they can go back to Arkham and its working heater. Besides, he's had a stiff neck for the past few nights, ever since a subject got out of the restraints and attacked him. Could be whiplash.

It's starting to snow. Jonathan surveys the mayhem and thinks that this really was a good nights' work. They should do this sort of thing more often. It's not healthy to be cooped up all the time.

Kitty leans against him and slips her hands inside his shirt. COLD! What'd she do that for? Is she trying to give him hypothermia?

"Kitty!"

"My hands are cold!"

"My ribs are cold!"

"They feel warm to me."

Well, that's all very nice, but her hands are freezing! Doesn't that coat have pockets?

"Is that really necessary?"

"Yes."

Of course it is. Because she can't just use her pockets, oh no. Maybe he should get some sort of hand-warming things…oh, who is he kidding? She won't use them. That's what she has him for.

"Let's not stay too long this time."

"Why not?"

"Because my parents said that either we go down there for Christmas, or we come up here."

Oh. Oh, god, no.

"Okay."

"Yeah. I tried to talk them out of it, but…"

"No, no, it's…it's fine."

"Mm."

Now that he thinks about it, Christmas dinner will probably include apple pie.

They have to get out of Arkham as soon as possible.

A big, black tank pulls up a few feet away and he puts his hands up.

"Evening, Batman!" he calls. "Sorry for the chaos, but you're not in the phone book."

"What do you want, Crane."

"A lift home?"

After taking their gas masks, their toxin, and Kitty's emergency nail file, he cuffs them and throws them in the back seat. Ahh. Heat.

It'll take some time to get there, even with Batman's crazy driving, and he makes himself comfortable against the window. A few minutes later, Kitty makes herself comfortable against him.

They're asleep by the time Batman reaches Arkham.

THE END

AN: The following is a taste-if you can call it that-of the October set. Buyer beware...

"The door opened and a ray of light illuminated the steep staircase. Then there was the sound of something rolling down, down…and coming to a stop at her feet.

She looked.

There rested Steve's head, mouth frozen in an eternal scream, a ragged rim of flesh where his neck had been attached to his body..."