Corroded, Ch. 2
Edward woke up because his phone wouldn't stop ringing. When he finally turned the screen over he saw that Dennys had left forty texts and fifteen voicemails.
Ed.
ED.
Babe, turn on the TV.
EDDY.
The Joker escaped GCHEM.
…..U ok?
I'll call the police if U don't answer me.
Edward Wheeler I stg…
I'm fine, don't worry. Ed replied. He reached for his remote and let his phone balance on his thigh. It took a bit of channel surfing, but he finally found the news channel.
"-oker has escaped from Gotham Central Hospital for emergency Medicine. Authorities have no leads on his whereabouts; but as we understand, the Joker was wounded and couldn't have gotten far." Ed felt his stomach drop as the reporter continued. "Authorities from GCPD are interrogating GCHEM staff as to the situation, and we'll keep you updated. Lois, back to you." Edward snatched his phone up and called Dennys.
"Have you seen the TV?" His boyfriend asked.
"Yeah, yeah I saw it," Ed replied, "I'm scheduled for another shift this afternoon, so I have to go in. Apparently they're interrogating everyone, and I have a feeling that this is going to go really south really fast."
"I can drive to Gotham." Dennys offered, "It's only an hour from Jump."
"No." Ed told him sharply, "Stay in Jump City. The Joker is loose, and I told him my name. I don't want you getting caught up into this. Wait until he's caught, then you can visit." Dennys' voice was strained.
"Why did you tell the Joker of all people your name?" He asked. "I mean, Eddy- what the hell was going through your mind?"
"I don't know!" Ed snapped, "Nobody else would treat him!"
"With good reason!"
"I know. But I thought if I could save him he could face trial-"
"Babe, when has he ever faced trial or paid for his crimes?" Dennys asked seriously. "Maybe you should move back to Jump, Gotham is too dangerous."
"We have the Batman." Edward replied.
"He got his back broken. You really think he's going to be as available and everywhere-at-once as he used to be?" Dennys prompted. "Please, come back to Jump City. I don't want you to get hurt." Ed chewed on the inside of his cheek, then sighed.
"I'm going to give this a week to blow over," He said, "If the Joker isn't caught or I get fired- which is the more likely answer- I'll move back. Alright?" Dennys made an unhappy sound over the line.
"This is the first time I hope they don't catch him." He said solemnly. "Be safe."
"I will," Ed promised, "Love you."
"Love you."
They hung up.
Edward wanted to go back to sleep to prepare for his impending shift and the harassment he knew was coming; but his nerves were making his heart leap into his throat. The Joker had escaped from the hospital, and the GCPD was investigating. They'd find out that he was the doctor who'd treated him; nobody at GCHEM would cover for the new guy. Much less the new guy who'd taken care of one of Gotham's worst criminals.
The irrational thought of fleeing to Blüdhaven entered his mind; but Ed frowned and pushed it away. Blüdhaven wasn't any safer than Gotham; and if GCPD wanted to find him, they would. Edward flopped onto his bed again and stared at the cracks in the plaster on the ceiling. If he explained his thought process, maybe he wouldn't be incriminated. He could use the Hippocratic Oath almost like a shield; and really, it was his only argument. Without it he didn't have a leg to stand on.
Ed rolled over and stared at his clock. He still had five hours to go before he was on call; but he rolled off the bed and went to take a shower anyway. When he returned, his phone was blinking to let him know that he had a voicemail.
"Dr. Wheeler, this is Commissioner Gordon from the GCPD. We were told you're scheduled for a shift tonight, but we've spoken to your supervisor and would like you to come down to the station as soon as possible. Thanks." The message ended abruptly, along with Ed's hopes of avoiding interrogation. He stood there for a minute, with his head shrouded in a towel, before letting loose a slurry of curses and kicking at the foot of the bed. He ended up stubbing his toe, but the pain helped bring him back to reality. Edward slowly composed himself, then got dressed. He'd go in and tell the Commissioner everything. After all, he had nothing to hide.
. . .
The Gotham City Police Department was crowded, as it always was. Ed had never had the unfortunate luck of going in; but he'd seen the steady flow of cops and their arrested charges on his way to work when he passed the building. As soon as he stated his name to the secretary at the desk, she leaned over and spoke quickly into her pager, then led him to an office with windows looking out into the lobby of the GCPD. A tall man was ready to receive them, and Edward knew from his moustache and glasses that he was Commissioner Jim Gordon, the same man he often saw on the news.
"Dr. Wheeler, take a seat." The Commissioner said, shutting the door behind Ed and nodding to an extra chair by the desk. Ed readily sank into the chair; but Gordon spoke before he could launch into an explanation. "Dr. Wheeler, you worked the 1pm to 1am shift at GCHEM last night, right?" He asked. Edward nodded. "And did you receive any strange patients last night?" The Commissioner continued.
"Commissioner, let me save you your time. I treated the Joker at GCHEM last night." Ed interrupted. "I was the only doctor to step up and see him, everyone else violated their Hippocratic Oaths." He saw Gordon's eyes tighten, more with disappointment than anger. It looked like he had been hoping he had the wrong man.
"That's what I thought." Gordon said quietly. "Would you mind explaining why you decided to treat the Joker's wounds?" Ed sensed the mood in the room change. The Commissioner wasn't being as polite anymore, he was interrogating. Like Ed was a criminal. Like he'd done something wrong. Ed pushed the thoughts aside, willing to do whatever it took to get on the Commissioner's good side.
"The Joker was brought into the ER with a severe gunshot wound to the abdomen, close to the left sternum." He explained, "I was the only person who volunteered to treat him; because nobody else would. They all knew the things he'd done."
"And you didn't?"
"No sir, I did." Edward answered. "But I figured that if he survived, he could stand trial and pay for all of the things he's done. So I helped him." Gordon slid his thumb and forefinger under his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"You moved to Gotham recently, right son?"
"Yes sir."
"But you've definitely heard about the things the Joker has done?"
Ed hesitated only slightly. "Yes sir."
Gordon sat back in his chair and laced his hands together. It struck Ed that maybe even the Police Commissioner might not be on his side. The person that Ed had hoped would set everything right when given a proper explanation.
"Son, there's no amount of trials or life sentences that can make the Joker atone for his crimes." Gordon said slowly. "He's a madman. He even-" The Commissioner dropped off as his eyes glazed over in memory, and Edward didn't want to know what the Joker had done to place that kind of look on Gordon's face. The moment quickly passed, however, and Gordon shook his head.
"So you thought that you could be the one to essentially bring the Joker in." He said.
"No, no sir." Edward said, trying not to look appalled. "I was just trying to do my job." Fear started to gnaw at his insides. Would he be arrested? Have his medical license revoked? What if the police wanted to look at his phone? Would they arrest Dennys as an accomplice?
"Well, I can't hold you under any real charges, and I'm not going to hold you under suspicion just yet." Gordon said as he pushed back from his desk. "But know that you're a part of an ongoing investigation; and your driver's license will be apprehended and you're forbidden from leaving Gotham City until the investigation is closed and you're cleared."
"But I thought I wasn't being charged!" Ed argued. Gordon flashed him a sharp look.
"I'm on your side right now, Dr. Wheeler. Don't push your luck, alright?" The Commissioner looked exhausted, and Ed had the feeling that the Joker wasn't one of his favorite topics for small talk. Gordon held the door open, and Edward quickly slid past him into the lobby. He walked silently behind Gordon as he was led to the door; but then found his voice.
"I'm sorry, Commissioner. I really had no intention of-"
"I know, son." Gordon assured him. "But in this city, doing the wrong thing for the right reasons is dangerous. Just look at how Gotham treats Batman." The Commissioner's choice of words wasn't lost on Ed. Gordon thought he'd made the wrong choice in treating the Joker. He was barely an ally. Ed saw a sad but sympathetic smile on Gordon's face as the door closed, and fought the urge to start cursing in the middle of the street. His temper was being tested more and more frequently, and he hated that he was losing his cool.
With his license gone, Ed had no choice but to walk home. It wasn't even three, but he made a beeline for his apartment. With the news of his involvement with the Joker probably spreading; he didn't want to feel peoples' eyes boring into him as he passed.
When he finally made it back to his apartment, he was fuming. Edward fumbled for his keys and shoved the door open. He shuffled to his closet and pulled the doors open, but noticed something flicker out of the corner of his eye. As Ed spun around to face the threat, something hit him soundly in the face and threw the whole world into blackness.
. . .
"I swear I didn't mean to hit ya that hard. You turned and- wham!- you got a full face of ugly." Someone was talking to him; but Ed couldn't see them. His entire head hurt, and he could feel concrete against his scalp and neck. It felt like his eyelids were glued shut; but with enough effort he pried them open. His eyes watered at the circle of bright light surrounding him.
"Oh you're awake! Goodie." A high voice exclaimed. A women in an oddly colored suit leaned over him, and one of the tassels on her headpiece brushed Ed's nose. She giggled.
"I was worried I'd hit ya too rough. Mister J wouldn't be too keen on that." She said. "I'm Harley. Harley Quinn." She stuck her hand out to Edward for him to shake it; but when he didn't move, she rolled her eyes and pulled him off of the floor. "Don't act so groggy, I only gave you a busted nose. It could've been worse." She admonished, hustling Ed out of the bright light and through a maze of corridors and hallways. Ed tried to keep track of where she was taking him so he could escape; but he was still disoriented and weak. Harley pulled him to a stop in front of a door with its numbers rusted off, then promptly opened it and shoved Edward in.
He faltered for a second.
The Joker lay on one of the beds from GCHEM, hooked up to the same equipment he'd been connected to in the hospital. The only difference was the dingy motel room instead of the sterile ER. Harley gently pushed Ed forward and waved off the two enormous men standing ominously by the bed.
"He's with me, fellas." She steered Ed to the Joker's bedside and took a small step back. "Please tell me you can help him." She said in a different voice. It almost sounded like she was pleading. "I know you got his bullet out and all; but he'll die if you don't keep helping him." Edward stared down at the pallid man on the bed. The Joker's breathing had steadied into long, deep draughts; but his skin looked limp and lifeless.
"Please." Harley whispered, "He's all I got. And you helped him before so I figured you would again. If ya can just-"
"Are you insane?" Edward asked lowly. Harley blinked at him like she didn't know the right answer.
"Is that rheto-"
"No I'm not going to help him!" Ed snarled. "I've spent the last twelve hours regretting that I already did. My career is ruined, I'm under investigation by the police, not to mention the fact that I'm probably going to go to court at some point over this… take me home!" Harley sat through his demands like she was used to being shouted at, and when he'd finished; she nodded.
"I gotcha. Well, this is a tough spot to be in; but here." She stepped forward and snatched Ed's wrist in a grip like steel. She swiftly swung a pair of handcuffs around his wrist and clasped the other end around the Joker's. Ed snorted.
"Are you shitting me? I'll just drag his body to the GCPD. No guilt on my conscience." He snapped. Harley's face darkened.
"You'll do no such thing. You're here to save my J, and that's what you're gonna do." She replied lowly. "These fellas will be happy to shoot you if you try to run, but that's only if I don't get to you first." The cold look in her eyes told Ed that she wasn't kidding. For some reason, she saw something in the maniac handcuffed to his left wrist.
"Fuck." Ed growled. "Even if I did help, I don't have my-"One of the burly men slung a duffel bag across the bed, and it spilled medical tools onto Ed's lap and the floor. "Oh, nice." Ed said bitingly, "Now that all has to be sterilized. Great fucking job." Harley smirked at him.
"Then you'd better get to work. I'll wait." She perched herself on the edge of the bed and cast one short but longing glance at the Joker's face. Ed could feel his stomach clenching. There was no way he was going to repeat his mistake again. Not twice in twenty four hours. There was no way; but Harley pulling out a small pistol and resting it in her lap was enough to motivate him to at least clean the tools.
. . .
"It's infected." Edward said shortly. "Now let me go." Harley bit her lip and leaned over his shoulder. Ed had sterilized the area around the Joker's bullet wound, which had puffed up quite a bit since he'd been at GCHEM.
"What can you do?" She asked, ignoring his demand to be set free. Ed growled and prodded at the mess with a scalpel. The Joker groaned on the bed, and Harley instantly pressed the muzzle of her gun against Ed's ribcage.
"Be careful with him!" She hissed. Ed didn't bother to hide his scowl.
"I need some rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Ideally I'd put him on antibiotics; but I don't think there's a pharmacy in this motel." Harley didn't seem to pick up on his sarcasm.
"Oh we can fix that!" She chimed, waving the two men over. "They'll grab whatever ya need, just tell em."
"I want a helicopter, my boyfriend, and the GCPD." Ed muttered, "And hell, maybe even the Batman." The heart monitor by the bed picked up, and Ed jumped when he turned and saw the Joker's black eyes following his every move.
"Puddin!" Harley cheered, looping her arms around the Joker's neck and hugging him to her.
"Harley, Harley! You're smothering me!" He snapped, pushing her off before he dissolved into a coughing fit. Harley quickly tried to help him sit up; but he shoved her away. "Don't make it worse." He growled, swiping at his mouth as his eyes drifted back to Ed.
"Oh, it's you. The Doctor kid. What was your name?" He asked, tilting his head in curiosity. Ed's gaze roved to the angry wound on the Joker's side, then back to his eyes. They were unnerving, unwavering. Little dots that tracked and calculated Ed's every move.
"I'm Ed Wheeler." He finally answered. The Joker's face split into an unnaturally wide grin.
"Wheeler. Wheeler. Wheeler-Wheeler-Wheeler-Wheeler." The Joker let a whistle pass his lips every time he toyed with Ed's name. "What a cute name, makes me think of popping wheelies on a Harley." He winked at Harley, and she giggled. Ed wasn't amused.
"You're talkative for someone I pulled a bullet out of twenty-four hours ago." He said blandly. Joker cut his eyes to him, and Edward did his best not to flinch. The maniac stared at him intently and Ed felt an uncomfortable feeling crawl up his spine. He felt like prey, like he was being sized up and tested.
His mind flashed to the nature documentaries Dennys liked to make him watch; one of them had been about wolves. When the alpha wolf stared at another, the lower wolf had to avert their eyes to avoid a fight to the death. After a split second of weighing the odds, Ed looked to the hem of the sheets. The Joker chucked, although it sounded more like a rattle in his chest.
"Aww, don't be scared little man. I won't bite." He laughed again, but doubled over to catch his breath. His movement jerked the handcuff connecting him to Ed, and the chain seemed to surprise him.
"Harley. What is this?" He asked lowly. Harley hopped off the side of the bed, and Ed could see the wariness in her eyes.
"I did that to keep him here, Mister J. He said he was gonna run otherwise." She told him. "I can take it off if you-"She moved to reach for the handcuffs, but Joker grabbed her wrist and twisted it backwards. Harley made a small squeaking noise but didn't pull away from him as he bent her arm back further.
"Hey!" Ed interjected. "Let go, you'll break her arm!" Joker slowly turned to look at him, still sitting upright in the bed and still gripping Harley's arm. Edward stared down the criminal for all of five seconds before Joker scoffed and tossed Harley off the bed.
"Get these cuffs off." He demanded. "And you," He turned to Edward. "Fix me."
"Excuse me?" Ed bristled. The Joker's grin curled his lips again.
"You should watch that mouth of yours, Eddy." He warned, "It's entertaining; but it might get you into trouble." Ed didn't miss the underlying warning in the Joker's tone. He was a prisoner, not an equal; and definitely not someone to be respected.
"Here's my deal: I'll help you fight the infection; but you have to let me go home. I'll leave you instructions for the last part of the recovery, and then you never contact me again." Edward said lowly. He made sure to maintain eye contact with the Joker, who looked more amused than anything.
"Oh Eddy, so sweet. So naïve." He cooed. "I can get you whenever I want. You, your family, your boyfriend in Jump City…." Ed felt like a cold hand was crushing his lungs. In an instant, his cold façade broke.
"You wouldn't-" The Joker pushed himself upright and leaned into Ed's face.
"Don't tell me what I will and won't do." He said lowly, "I'd go kill him just because I feel like it. Don't push your luck, Eddy." Ed seriously considered poisoning the Joker but realized that he'd be at Harley's mercy once he was dead. Despite being thrown, she'd righted herself and was nodding devotedly to every word the Joker said.
"So, do we have a deal?" He asked, running a hand through his hair and smiling smugly. Ed stared at the irritated wound on the Joker's side, then gritted his teeth.
"Fine." He snapped. The Joker's lips curled upwards once again at his victory.
"Good."