Authors note: This is the first fanfic I've ever actually published, and I'm super nervous about it, but honestly I'm so in love with the Joker and Harley that I couldn't not write it. I hope someone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. There's definitely more to come... I know this chapter was super short and didn't give anyone much, but I have to set up the story before I can get into the fun stuff (wink* wink*)... anyway I would love some feedback.


"We can't just keep sending new doctors in every time he drives the last over the edge Joan." Sighed one of the higher ups that Harleen constantly struggle to remember the name of; to be fair, Harleen reasoned, most of the Doctors in the drab Asylum held the same lifeless demeanor that consequently turned them into the lackluster mass of smart-ass intellects that Harleen loved to hate. However, somewhere along the line of Harleen's very brief employment at Arkham Asylum she had mentally dubbed him Doctor Piggy: not only because his remarkably round face and small ears resembled a pig, but because in a addition, he had a maddening habit of snorting when he inhaled, even after making the simplest of assertions.

"Well what do you suggest we do then Doctor Clarke? Leave him in his cell to rot?" Joan Leland shot back, and Harleen could sense the heat behind her glare, even without looking up from her notepad. When she did raise her eyes to glance at the other Doctor she was shocked to see his pig head subtly nodding, confirming that yes, that was exactly the kind of thing he was suggesting. "Look all I'm saying is I'm not giving authorization for anymore of my physicians to be given his case. I mean Joan come on, this is already the fifth one! And it's only been three months!" He managed to snort out, more eloquently than Harleen had previously thought him capable of.

Joan Leland narrowed her eyes, clearly deep in thought. Harleen looked up from the notes she had been furiously scribbling down throughout the meeting, and saw several of the other Doctors staring at Leland in a restless manner, shifting somewhat in their cold metal chairs.

"Let's just give him one more shot." Leland finally stated, and the other Doctors groaned. "Listen carefully," she spoke in a stern voice, glancing around at each doctor in the room "Doctor Arkham trusts each of us in choosing the course best fit for our patients, and no where did we agree to simply give up when a patient proves to be more difficult than the usual. Calling it quits is not an option, and if any of you think it is… well than you damn well don't belong at a place like Arkham." Leland spoke out sounding more like a disappointed parent than a Doctor talking with her peers, however, some of the other Doctors in the room reluctantly showed their agreement to her assertion through slow head nods.

"Well it has to be one of yours." One of the more skeptical Doctor's sternly stated.

"How about Doctor Johnson… he's got a good head about him" called out another Physician.

"No, he's far too busy treating Harvey Dent to take on another high profile patient." Leland rejected the notion, and then tilted her head, glancing around the room waiting for the next suggestion.

Soon several of the other doctors in the room began suggesting other physicians under Leland's authority, but each was rejected for one reason or another.

Harleen, who had remained silent throughout the duration of the conference, suddenly had a realization: this was her chance to finally prove herself within the stark, white halls of Arkham, a golden opportunity to at long last show that she wanted to be more than Leland's personal secretary.

Harleen made point to clear her throat in a sad attempt to be heard over the sudden chaos of the conference room; not all too surprising, her efforts were futile as the doctors continued to shout over one another, paying the young blonde no attention. "Doctor Leland?" She tried, but there was no response. "Doctor Leland?" She said a bit louder, and was still not acknowledged. "Doctor Leland?!" She finally said it a voice that broke out over the noise of the conference room. As each head turned towards her, Harleen felt a blush dance across her pale cheeks.

"What is it Doctor Quinzel?" Leland spoke in a surprised voice, she had completely forgotten that Harleen was even there.

Harleen for her part swallowed harshly and tried to push her nerves down. "I was thinking…" She stole a quick glance around the conference room, trailing off slightly as her pale blue eyes made contact with several of the other doctors quizzical gaze.

"Yes?" Doctor Leland urged her on, trying not to let any impatience slip into her tired voice.

'No time like the present' Harleen sighed to herself before quickly saying "I was thinking perhaps I could take on his case." She was cautious to avoid saying his name, choosing to omit it like the previous Doctors had.

"You?" Leland said in a doubtful tone.

"Yes me." Harleen replied feeling frustrated with the lack of confidence she was greeted with by her colleague.

Joan Leland sat back in her silver chair and studied the blonde for several long seconds. "Alright Quinzel, Iguess we'll give it a go." she finally said, surprising everyone in the room, Harleen included.

"Let's see how long you can last with the Joker as your patient."


As the other doctors were clearing out of the conference room some gave Harleen looks of piety, some looked deeply concerned, and the remainder looked at Harleen with what she could only guess was doubt. Doctor Piggy, for his part, had the audacity to leaned in and whisper in a harsh snort "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." Then he abruptly brushed past her and retreated out the doors of the conference room in a manner that was not at all graceful, or Harleen thought dignified. 'Was that his sad way of expressing concern for her current predicament, or some resentful attempt at scaring her out of her decision?' Before Harleen had a chance to debate the pros and cons of it all Doctor Leland called out to her. "Doctor Quinzel, stop by my office at the end of the day, so I can brief you on his file."

"Alright." Harleen bite her cheek hard enough to draw blood, while not letting her original answer of okie dokie slip out from between her pink lips. Quickly, she almost skipped out of the conference room, before remembering where she was, and how she was expected to act in such a place. Solemn, professional, boring, she almost groaned.

Eventually, Harleen pacified her excitement and continued on with her routinely scheduled day. She had been working at Arkham Asylum for only two short months and already was much further along than the other interns who had began with her. Letting a smile escape her lips she almost laughed as she thought about how she was about to make them all the more envious of her. 'Who wouldn't be jealous?' She had just landed herself a place evaluating the most notorious criminal in Gotham and she hadn't even had to beg for it. She desperately tried to sit still and take notes for the Doctor analyzing one of the newest patients, but her mind kept wandering elsewhere. All she did was simply ask for the case and Leland had obliged, which made it all the more sweeter because it showed that she trusted her abilities. Harleen continued on her day with an excitement that she hadn't felt in years.


Meanwhile, deep in the belly of Arkham Asylum a green haired psychopath sat musing over the suicide of his latest Doctor. 'What a pity, this one had seemed stronger than the last…how many was it? Five.' A dark laugh emitted from the man as he adjusted his arms in his tightly bound strait jacket.

"Quiet down in there!" Came a guards gruff voice. "Or maybe you'll just have to be kept in confinement and miss your next session." He threatened.

A sinfully dark voice oozed out of the completely dark cell. "So they're sending another Doctor for me to fuck up?" The voice broke into a fit of giggles before growling out "ahh Arkham always wanting to lavish little old me in all of its poorly equipped resources". Than the voice erupted into more laughter that grated against the otherwise silent hallways of Arkham Asylum. The guard shivered uncomfortably, and remained quite, wishing to be far away from the madman in the cell.