Heya! This is my first time posting my fanfiction, this is one i wrote up last night and decided to post...sorry for my grammar guys! Its a work in progress im gonna write more hopefully (and edit out mistakes) but please tell me what cha think :)

Disclaimer I do not own any batman characters or any such, this is just my own interpretation of beloved characters :)

I couldn't help but stare at my reflection, not that I was particularly vain, but everything was crucial. The slightly flaw could result in a failure, and when my life and career was on the line…..I couldn't make any mistakes. I attempted to stare down myself the mirror showing only complete calm but even I could see the fragile intern behind my eyes.

Dr. Harleen Quinzel, top of my class, getting into college on a scholarship no less. A fully fledged psychiatrist and I liked to think I had serious ambition. I had worked hard to be taken seriously. Now I was confronted with the most amazing opportunity, to further my career and truly have a fascinating patient. The only problem was the thought of him completely terrifies me, and I haven't even meet the Joker yet.

I'd only been interning at the Arkham Asylum for a few months when the notorious Joker was send to the Arkham Asylum. I'll admit I had shiver of fear at the thought of such a dangerous villain being in the Asylum. I knew I spend all time amongst the criminally insane, but he was something else…..I'd watched all the news clips I could find on him when I head he was being transferred. His maniac moods, his cruelty weren't out of place for me. It was the cunning behind his eyes that made me shiver even from the safe distance of my living room.

But even I couldn't deny to myself how much I would love to talk to him, not just because it would rocket my career forward. No, what drew me was the thought of such a fascinating patient. I wanted to delve into that mind and see what was behind those cunning eyes. Yet the thought of delving into that dark chaotic mind of his send me into a panic.

The day he'd been brought in, I'd just been in the staff room chatting to a few of the nurses who I actually vaguely knew. I'd only made a joke, well it sounded jokey at least, about how I would kill for a chance to interview him, but it was overheard by the head of the institute Peter Kingston. He was as stern as he was patronising. He'd actually laughed.

"Listen Harleen, you've impressed us that's not in question. In fact you are quiet brilliant, I did see the tape of your session with David the other day and he's certainly so much calmer in his sessions now" Followed with a classic patronising smile as though he was a proud father "But, you're still just out of college it's a bit early to be thinking you could handle someone like the Joker"

All it needed was for him to pat me on the head.

Even three months on that smile was seared into my mind, even thinking about it brought out a furious blush. For a solid three months I'd devoted my entire time to proving just how brilliant I was. It wasn't as if I'd aimed to get the Joker as a patient. Yes, the idea played at the edge of my conscious but in practise being in a room alone with him terrified me. If only I'd kept my mouth shut.

It wasn't exactly hard to shine in Arkham. It wasn't a place for the weak hearted and not just surviving but thriving had put me in the lime light, an up and coming star at Arkham. I remember coming in so smug only a few days ago, my newly earned respect making me feel more confident in the halls of Arkham. But you should always be careful what you wish for. I just wanted to be taken seriously, that and wipe of Peter's infuriating smile but I got more than I bargained for.

Peter had come into my office looking all serious and instantly my mind went into a panic, thinking off all the damage any one of the patients could do.

"What's happened?"

"Ohhh nothing bad Quinzel, in fact I think you'll be very pleased." There again was that patronising smile again, "We've all taken notice off you. I must say I always knew you were brilliant. I'm so glad you'd progressed well here"

While repressing the urge to gag, I had given my best fake smile "Ohh Kingston, it really is all thanks to all the support I get here." I paused waiting for him to tell me the reason he'd come to my office, but of course he just kept smiling waiting for me to ask. "So what's the good news" I remember trying to act casual but my heart rate was increasing, my lungs seemed to have disappeared because I already knew what he was going to say.

"Well Quinzel, I've convinced the other officials that you would be just perfect to take on the Joker as a patient. I'm sure you've heard we've had no luck with him so far, but you seem to be so good at really connecting and calming your patients. We figure you might be the one finally get him to….open up"

That had been three days ago and I've felt like I was on death row since. I spent all my spare time going through taps of the Jokers sessions and any notes I could get my hands on. I noticed sickly that no psychiatrist lasted more than two sessions. It was easily to pick up his routine, he was either unresponsive simply looking bored. If they managed to catch his attention he was cruel, causing breakdown in even professionals.

There were even violent outbreaks, just watching him almost strangle one of the orderlies before he was dragged off by two others, laughing the whole time. But surprisingly violent outbreaks where rare, but that didn't mean it wasn't possible. After watching a of his session with a female psychiatrist, who's face I vaguely recalled, I decided to wear my hair pulled up as tightly as possible. Watching him grab her hair as she lent to close and pulled out a noticeable chunk before he could be pulled away made my blood run cold.

I couldn't sleep without nightmares or at due to nausea. I didn't want to waste this chance, I wanted to prove, to myself most of all, that I could handle any patient that came here. Half way through trying once more to perfect a cold unaffected expression Peter opened my office door. Despite my resolve to be strong all I couldn't even hear whatever bullshit encouragement Peter was spewing, all I could hear was my heart beat pounding.