Author's Notes: This is a story I wrote a long time ago when I first saw the Dark Knight. Reading it back now some of the dialogue is shamlessly taken from the film and now makes me cringe, but the story isn't too bad. It's my take on the start of the relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn. I haven't read another origin story like it, I know the usual story but I just thought I'd try something different. If people like it I may continue with another story. Please review! P.S. I only own the plot!

Fallen Angel

It was a cold clear night in Gotham City when Batman took the injured Joker to the only major hospital left standing. The Joker had been badly beaten after Batman had left him suspended from the roof by the docks, he was barely alive. Many of the police officers involved had felt that he should have been left to die; one last scumbag to worry about was not something worth shedding tears over, however none of them were willing to admit who had caused him the damage. By the look of the Joker they had all taken a turn.

The hospital was busy, full of patients being transferred from the destroyed Gotham General. Batman left the Joker in a dark unoccupied room in a part of the hospital that looked like it was being re-built. There were no other patients in the adjoining wards it was completely isolated.

In the main reception of the hospital Commissioner Gordon was arguing with the Director of Medicine; Dr Griffin, it seemed no one was happy to treat the Joker.

"If you don't agree to treat him he'll die!" Gordon was becoming more and more frustrated with the Doctor's unwillingness to act.

"He has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people not to mention the damage he has caused to the fabric of the city. May I remind you he destroyed our sister hospital Gotham General only this morning and now you expect us to save his life?"

"He needs to live so that he can be brought to justice and answer for his crimes, he can't do that if he's six feet under"

"If he goes to trial he'll most likely get the death penalty as well you know, let's just cut out the middle man"

Several other doctors and nurses had gathered around as the raised voices of the two men had drawn attention to their conversation. Most of them appeared to agree with Dr Griffin that the Joker should simply be left to die. He had done nothing to deserve their sympathy.

Suddenly a voice spoke up above the two men arguing. "I'll treat him"

All heads turned toward the voice, Dr Harleen Quinzell stood her ground as several of her colleagues glared their disapproval.

"Thank you doctor" Gordon sounded relieved.

"I'll brief you on what needs to happen."

Harleen nodded and walked with Gordon towards the empty wing where the Joker lay.

"You understand that his injuries are serious but we need you to assess him so that we know fully what we're dealing with. The threat to his life is serious; every member of the mob left alive will want him dead as will most of the people in this hospital. Do you understand what you are taking on?"

"Yes Commissioner, I believe he needs to be brought to trial and given the opportunity to speak for his crimes. If we let vigilantes kill him then we are no better than he is."

"You'll be given security at all times, nothing will happen to you, you'll be given every resource you need in order to get him fit enough to be taken into custody. He wont be here a second longer than he needs to be."

They had reached the Joker's room; Harleen paused then pushed the door open. He was led on the bed unconscious and covered in blood. His clothes were stained with it, as was his face. She gasped aloud at the sight of him; someone had really given him a beating.

"I'll need to carry out a full examination" she said to Gordon "I'm going to sedate him and give him some pain relief, I'll come and find you once I know the extent of his injuries"

Gordon nodded "I'll leave a guard outside the door, I'll be in the staff room when you're ready"

He turned and walked from the room, the door shut firmly behind him. The shadow of the guard was visible through the frosted glass.

Taking a deep breath Harleen filled a syringe with a sedative, it would allow her to examine him fully with no danger and would also give him some much needed pain relief. Rolling up his sleeve she injected his arm. His skin was warm, smooth and unmarked; it looked to be the only part of him that was unscathed. She unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt and slid them off; his coat was laid across a chair by the bed. His body was covered in bruises, some of them huge and black others smaller and purple. He had several large gashes across his chest and one particularly nasty one across his stomach. She checked his ribs; he had several broken along with a dislocated right shoulder. All things considered he was lucky to be alive. She started to clean his wounds, he was covered in blood most of which had started to dry in crusty streaks down his sides. As she stitched up the minor wounds she glanced at his face. He had some swelling round his eyes and his face was bloody but it seemed to be his body, which had taken the brunt of the beating. She turned her attention to the large wound on his stomach. It would require careful monitoring to ensure infection did not set in. It was a deep cut stretching across his belly above his navel; the edges were ragged as if it had been cut with something blunt, he must have been in agony.

She managed to clean it and stitch it but he would need strong antibiotics to fight any infection if the blade was dirty. She managed to put his shoulder back into place and strapped it to his chest. He looked better with the dried blood cleaned away but the vivid bruises that covered him seemed to be multiplying before her eyes. Covering him with a sheet she left the room to go and tell Gordon the bad news. The Joker would not be fit to go anywhere for at least two weeks if not more. If he developed complications from any of the wounds it could be months before he was fit to stand trial.

Commissioner Gordon was sat drinking his third cup of coffee when Harleen walked into the staff room. He stood up to greet her. "What's the verdict doctor, will he live?"

"The Joker has sustained some very nasty injuries but as far as I can see there is nothing life threatening. He has one very deep cut on his abdomen which will need careful monitoring in case of infection. He also has a couple of broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. I think under the circumstances it could have been a lot worse."

Gordon sighed and sat back down. "How long before he's back on his feet?"

"Hard to say for sure, he looks in good health otherwise, he's young so all being well he should be fine in a couple of weeks. If he gets an infection in that stomach wound however, things could be more serious. I'll do my best for him."

"Thanks doc I appreciate you're going against pretty much everyone else in this hospital. I'll ensure you don't have any problems from your superiors."

"Thanks. He'll need 24 hour care at first to monitor his condition. I'm going to put him on some antibiotics as a precautionary measure and his wounds will have to be cleaned and redressed every few hours. I'm going to have to stay with him round the clock for the first few days so I'll need plenty of supplies brought down."

"My men will make sure you have everything you need. I can get someone to pick up some clothes for you too if you like. You'll have an officer on the door all the time and two more on the entrance to the wing itself. I assure you Dr Quinzell you will be well protected."

She smiled at this "I don't think he is in any condition to pose much of a threat at the moment Commissioner."

"Maybe not physically but be careful what you say to him, he can be very manipulative and he'll try and get under your skin."

"I'm sure I'll be fine Commissioner, I have your men if I need them and I'm not as helpless as I look."

Gordon smiled as he looked at her, she was young probably only mid twenties, small in stature and slim. She had long very blond silvery hair and pale skin, which gave her a delicate appearance. He would rather have had an older more experienced preferably male doctor looking after the Joker but he was grateful for this young woman volunteering. He knew he would have had a hard time getting anyone else to do it.

"I'm very grateful to you Dr Quinzell, if you need anything please don't hesitate to call me."

He stood to leave and she began to realise that she was on her own now, just her and the strange man lying unconscious in the empty ward. A small knot of apprehension formed in the pit of her stomach, she knew what the Joker had done, how could anyone not, with all the damaged buildings in the city and the ever increasing obituary column in the Gotham Times. She took a deep breath and began to walk back down the corridor to her patient, she had volunteered for this and she would do a good job.

The Joker was lying exactly how she had left him, his left arm handcuffed to the metal bed frame. He was still sedated but would probably be coming round soon. Harleen started to check his dressings, they seemed to be clean. The large gash on his stomach was still oozing blood but that was to be expected. She set up an IV of antibiotics and slid the needle into his hand securing it with tape. With nothing more to do she sank wearily into the chair next to his bed.

"Might as well get some shut eye while I can" she thought.