CHAPTER 2: Not All Jokes Are Funny
"Hey, where were you yesterday? I went looking for you after the shift was over." Hugh asked, approaching Harleen on the way to the staff room.
"Sorry about that." She said. "I was tired, wanted to go home as soon as I could."
"Is everything ok?" Hugh had a worried tone.
"Sure. Just, ya know…"
"Teresa?" Hugh guessed immediately.
"Bingo!" Harleen winked, playful. "But it's fine, once I get all the money that I need I'm outta there."
"I already offered you the extra room in my apartment." Hugh said, grumpy.
"Hugh, we're co-workers. I already told ya. People would talk."
"So what?" He was getting annoyed.
"So, we could both lose our jobs, dummy." Haleen gave him a soft punch on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go inside." She said, opening the staff's room door.
"Fine." He said, entering first. "Morning." Hugh said, followed by Harleen.
"Oh, morning. You guys came in together, huh?" Penelope asked with an annoyed tone. "Cute."
Harleen merely rolled her eyes and sat on the couch, she wasn't in the mood for Penelope's provocations today.
"Knock it off, Penny." Hugh replied, embarrassed.
"Why? I always though you guys were a very cute couple. Don't you guys?" She turned her head, asking the other doctors in the room. Some of them laughed mockingly.
Harleen knew exactly how the other doctors felt about her. They didn't consider her worthy of working at a place so important to Psychiatry like Arkham. To them she was just a pretty face with nothing in her brains, that probably spread her legs open to get that job. Rumors like these had been following Harleen since the High School. If she received a medal for gymnastics, it was because she was probably screwing the coach, not because she stayed until late hours practicing her exercises; if she got a B+ or an A- on a test it was because she was probably screwing the teacher, not because she stayed up all night studying for that test, and so on. In College wasn't any different, thanks to Penelope. She was one of the first people to spread such rumors around the Campus. According to her, Harleen had a certain "reputation". That was one of the many reasons why Harleen despised her so much.
"Ya might wanna mind watcha say, Penny. You could get in trouble one of these days." Harleen let it out, angry. Her Brooklyn accent that she tried so hard to disguise came out automatically.
"Did you just threat me?" Penelope asked, frowning.
"Me? No way. I just worry, especially now that ya treating someone like Victor. With that fierce tongue of yours, you might end up sayin something he won't like very much." Harleen shrugged, pretending to look away. Though, in honesty, she wouldn't mind that much if Penelope eventually became just another cut mark on Victor Zsasz's body.
"You don't need to worry, Harl, I'm a professional. You, on the other hand…" She laughed, followed by some of the other doctors. "Well, I should get going, Victor is waiting." She said, leaving the room, being followed by the rest of the doctors until only Harley and Hugh were left.
Hugh was feeling the tension as he walked with Harley trough the corridors of Arkham, heading for their sessions.
"You shouldn't take it so seriously, she's just…"
"A bitch." Harley said, bitter. "Thanks for standing up for me, by the way."
"Come on, this isn't High School, she's making a fool out of herself." Hugh said, trying to calm her down.
"Everyone seems to enjoy her sense of humor." Harley replied.
"It's just a joke, Harley."
"Not all jokes are funny." She said, heading for a different direction.
"Hey, where are you going?" Hugh asked, surprised.
"I gotta have a little chit-chat with the big man in charge." She said without looking at Hugh's face.
"Come in, Miss Quinzel." The voice came from behind the wooden door. Harley took a deep breath and entered the room.
"How do ya know it was me?" Harley asked, a bit confused.
The man pointed at the monitor on his desk that showed the long corridor through a surveillance camera. Harley felt rather stupid after the obvious question, but tried to play it off.
"I think you're getting a little too paranoid, boss."
"There can never be too much security in a place filled with lunatics. Who knows what might happen?" Sharp said, sitting back on his chair, encouraging Harley to do the same. "Now, what is the nature of this unexpected visit, Miss Quinzel? Are there any problems at your department?"
"No sir, everything is working fine with the group therapy. That's why I've been thinking…" She stopped for a second.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if I could be entrusted with a single patient, sir." She said it fast, already regretting her decision.
Sharp looked at her for a brief moment before answering. Harley didn't know if the expression on his face was of shock or if he thought she was trying to be funny.
"Miss Quinzel, this is a very delicate request. I usually design the patients to the doctors who I know are ready to take on bigger challenges." He answered, vague.
"But I am ready, sir! I've been studying and trying to prove myself in here every single day!" Harley replied feeling slightly offended.
"I understand Miss Quinzel, but I'm afraid that, for now, it is best for you to continue the marvelous work you've been providing to those poor cuckoos at the group therapy." Sharp said, a fake tone of sympathy in his voice.
"I understand sir." Harley said, taking a deep breath and rising from the chair.
"Don't worry. Your time will come, as well as it did for all your co-workers." He forced an encouraging smile as Harley walked towards the door.
"Let's hope so." She said, walking out of the room, the tears already starting to come out.
"Are you sure you're okay? We can grab some take out and head for my place, what do you think?" Hugh said as they walked towards the garage.
"I appreciate but I'd rather just go home and try to clear my head with my books." Harley said, looking at the ground.
"Hey, look at me". Hugh said, gently lifting up her chin. "You are a great doctor and I'm sure in no time you'll prove all those idiots wrong. But these things take time, Harley."
"I don't wanna talk about it." Harley moved away. "I just wanna go home."
"All right, then." Hugh replied, a tone of hurt in his voice. "You can call me if you change your mind."
Harley didn't answer, entering her car and driving away from that toxic place. She knew she had to be strong and wait, but all the doubts surrounding her abilities were taking it's tool on her. The voice of the Lieutenant came from the radio, answering in an annoyed tone all the questions about the bank robbery.
"All good things come to those who wait, huh? So, let's wait." Harley thought, driving fast through the dark night.
