Funny how much can change in such a short time. To think Harley was once walking through the halls of Arkham to the therapy rooms as a doctor and now, just about a year later, was being escorted into one as a patient. The irony was almost too perfect, like another one of the world's jokes. She had no idea who they were going to put on her case, but it didn't matter. She didn't need to be fixed; Joker already managed to help her find her true self. Harley smiled to herself as the guards lead her into the room for her first session.

"JOANIE!" Harley screeched as the guards pushed her into the chair and secured her into it. "Good to see ya again!"

Joan Leland was taken aback by the woman in front of her. Of course she had been following Harleen's antics over the year since she ran off with the Joker, but seeing her in person was almost too much. She had expressed her concerns to Dr. Arkham about whether or not she would be able to handle counseling Harleen considering their history, but he insisted there was no other person qualified enough to deal with such a case. It wasn't everyday you had a former doctor come in as a psychopath.

Pulling herself together Joan nodded for the guards to leave as she took her seat across from Harleen. Opening up her notes in front of her Joan took a deep breath and pushed 'record' on the tape recorder.

"Session one. This is Dr. Joan Leland sitting in with Patient #91192, Harleen Quinzel. How are you today Harleen?"

Harley giggled to herself, rolling her eyes. 'Is that what I used to sound like?' she thought. 'So dull and boring; no wonder nobody ever gets better in this place.'

"Harleen?"

"Joan, really? You know I hate that name, call me Harley."

"I'm not going to call you that."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm trying to help you get back to your old self. By using that name that you have now tarnished it's only going to encourage your unhealthy behavior."

Harley started laughing out loud. She was in hysterics; this was just too funny.

"Care to let me in on what's so funny?"

"You don't actually believe that do you? You always called me Harley, everyone did. This is just stupid. I haven't been exhibiting any 'unhealthy behavior'. I've never felt healthier to be honest with you. For once in my life I can say I feel more like myself."

Joan shook her head. She hated seeing Harley like this; she had so much potential. Then that psychotic clown got a hold of her and brainwash her into his minion. Joan was always concerned about her being assigned to the Joker case when she was so young and fresh out of school. She had been worried for her safety more than anything else; never did she think Harley would fall for his evil charm.

"Fine. Harley, when you say you never felt more like yourself what do you mean?"

"Pretty self explanatory isn't it."

"You really believe you were meant to be criminal? To work hand in hand with a man who has no regard for anyone or anything including himself? I'm sorry, but I knew you and that is not the woman I saw."

"The woman you saw was a shell of herself. Someone who was never truly able to express who she was. A woman always trying to please everyone else. What you saw was a broken woman just trying to make it through her sorry excuse of a life, trying to fit into a society that never understood her. I was a prisoner Joan, but Mistah J was able to break me out. He opened my eyes to what the world could be if you just let go and laugh a little. For once in my life I found someone who cares about me."

"The Joker is not capable of caring for anyone."

"That's not true! He cares about me! Why is that so hard for everyone to understand? Jesus, you all walk around talking about him like he's some kinda animal. For your information, he has done nothing but protect and care for me since we've been together. He loves me!"

"Then why did he throw you out of a window and leave you for dead Harleen!?" Joan was practically yelling. Harley sat back in her seat staring at Joan with wide eyes in shock.

Trying to calm herself and control her breathing, Joan closed her eyes for a second. She lost her head there. For the first time in 15 years she snapped in front of a patient. This was just too sad, too personal. She knew it was a bad idea to try and play doctor to Harleen, they had been too close at one point. Opening her eyes she looked at Harley who was still in shock at her outburst, but there was also sadness in her eyes she hadn't seen until now.

'Damn it, I've upset her. I shouldn't have brought that up like that. Attacking her isn't going to make her better. I have to take my time and get her to realize herself that this isn't who she really is. Time for damage control' Joan thought to herself.

"Harley, I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have…"

"Is that what people think? That Mistah J threw me out of the window?" Harley said.

"Isn't that what happened?"

Harley had tears in her eyes; she began to sob as she shook her head.

"No" she said barley above a whisper "That's not what happened."

"Then can you please tell me exactly what did happen?"

But Harley wasn't listening anymore. She was crying harder than before; talking to herself. It seemed as if she forgot Joan was in the room with her.

"This is horrible; I've made him look like a monster. This is all my fault. I was too selfish. If I hadn't been so stupid. It wasn't his fault, he didn't know I couldn't handle it. It was too much. I needed him to myself. This is all my fault. I should have been as happy as he was. This is so wrong, so bad. I've made him look like a monster, all my fault…"

The phrase 'all my fault' was now the only thing Harley was saying. Joan stared at her in shock; she didn't know what was happening. She went off the deep end so fast. Joan had to bring her back into reality.

Slowly reaching her hand across the table she took Harley's hand in her own. The gesture snapped Harley out of her crazed state. She let Joan hold her hand for a moment. Neither said a word, Harley slowly got herself calmed down. Now the room was silent; Joan had to break it. As much as she wanted to let Harley go back to her cell to rest, she needed to get some answers.

"Harleen, I need you to tell me what happened that night."

She looked like she was going to snap again, but Joan squeezed her hand in encouragement. Taking a deep breath Harley prepared herself to tell her story.